Journal #21

Act Two Scene One really showed me what type of a character Iago is. He's a scheming liar who is constantly using people for his own gain. The thing is he is actually smart though playing on  multiple sides at once. I wonder how long he can keep it up without slipping. At this rate though, he seems to have everything worked out so well that he will eventually get what he wants to happen.

Journal #20

During the 16th century Venice became one of the most important musical centers of Europe. It was even called the "Republic of Music".In 1604 Othello was first performed in front of James I of England. the first edition of the Bible in Greek was also printed here. Sadly the sixteenth century was the beginning of a long decline for venice.

Comments:
Were the Greeks allies with the Venetians?
Is Moor a degrading term then?
I did not know that Julius Ceasar had epilepsy.
What do you mean by American?

Journal #19

Today's reading of Othello was actually a lot easier than I would have expected. I read the brief summary at the beginning of the scene and after that only had to glance at a few definitions to understand the meaning iof the scene.

Paragraph for report

“She ain’t got to sell it! I’m gonna sell it! Berniece ain’t got no more rights to that piano than I do.”
Act Two, Scene 4
Page 42 (Blake is working on this one)

In Act Two, Scene 4 of The Piano Lesson, August Wilson uses the conflict between Boy Willie and Berniece to highlight how greed can cause someone to forget about their family history and relations for the sake of self benefit. When Boy Willie and Doaker are arguing about Berniece not wanting to sell the piano, Boy Willie says, “She ain’t got to sell it! I’m gonna sell it! Berniece ain’t got no more rights to that piano than I do” (Act Two, Scene 4, Page 42). Boy Willie’s vision of self profit is keeping him from realizing what that piano means to his family and to Berniece. The piano has been in their family for multiple generations and even has their history physically carved into it. Boy Willie does not care about this though. He believes he has the right to sell it for money to a white man so he can buy Sutter’s land.

Journal #18

I think that Act Two, Scene Three really showed how long ago this play is set. Boy Willie seems to believe that women are just objects put on Earth for his own amusement. While Lymon seems to have more respect for them he is still talking about them like objects to Berniece. It also seems like he doesn't think their opinions matter because he says Berniece should marry Avery just since he's nice. And after standing there and listen to Lymon talk about getting girls she kisses him which was kind of confusing.

Comment:Well she is definitely involved with Lymon now but i'm not sure she was really involved with Avery. It just seems like everyone expects her to marry him so she has someone to support her which she doesn't need.

Journal #18

In act 2 Scene 2 I was kind of wondering what Avery is doing. He wants to marry Berniece, but he's not being romantic or anything he's just telling her she needs him, to move on from her dead husband, and quoting the Bible. This just struck me as odd. I also thought that Berniece seems very persistent in keeping the Piano but not using it ever. I wonder if they will end up taking it and selling it?


Comment:Wasn't Crawley Berniece's husband? and I'm not so sure she will end up marrying him she doesn't seem to like him so much.

Journal #17

Something that surprised me in today's reading was how fast the watermelons sold. Judging by the rascism that is evident so far I wouldn't have thought that the white people in the neighborhood wouldn't have wanted to buy from people of a different color. But apparently Boy Willie could even raise the price. I also realized how cheap Wining Boy was when he kept asking his brother for money and when he agreed to give him some he asked more more.

Comment: I agree that Wining Boy cheating Lymon is important. It enhanced my idea of both the characters as well.