This Title Will Not Contain the Word "Character"

...Oops.

I've had some trouble connecting to characters in Romeo and Juliet, but that's true of anything I am expected to connect to. A traditional "character" is usually nothing like me. I fit quite a few different roles, not one, and not the same one all of the time. I, like Tybalt, am prone to sudden flashes of anger, however I am not short-sighted and thick. Most of the time, in fact, I'm not at all like him. Like Friar Lawrence, I am often the one who holds back and gives sagely advice about the future. I could identify as sort of a cross between the two most different characters in Romeo and Juliet. I guess that says something about me, doth it not? I will, however choose Friar Lawrence as my character, since it is hard for me to say that Tybalt made a right decision when he represents the side of me that acts rashly and makes bad decisions. I agree with Friar Lawrence in marrying Romeo and Juliet, because a way to connect the two warring houses with love and a union of two young people may be just the thing to keep the peace.

Also, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is turning out to to be a very interesting book. I've read three words so far and I am very frightened, but intrigued.

Word Power

Oh, man. Word Power. I've had a particularly extensive active vocabulary for all of my life, but I have leaned so many new things. I quite enjoy expanding my vocabulary. I have a particularly amusing anecdote to blag about a time when I was in P.E.
Since we're reading R+J Foreverz!, which is a play, I'll write it in a script format.
BLAKE: Man, she's hot.
MYSELF: [languidly] She does display a rather callipygian figure, does she not?
BLAKE: What the ****'s that supposed to mean?

Enriching conversation, as one can clearly observe.

Due to word power, I can communicate with my fellow classmates and impress people who are impressed by the use of sesquipedalian language, or sound pretentious to those who are not. I'll surely find the opportunity to bust out my word powers and save the day, or perhaps sentence, someday.
I SHALL RISE FROM THE ASHES LIKE A VERBALLY ARTICULATE PHOENIX AND SHOW THE WORLD THE TRUE MEANING OF LANGUAGE!

Sorry. Listening to touching music gottapostthisnowBAM!

Shake Shake Shakespeare

I really quite enjoyed the movie A Midsummer Night's Dream. Having never read or seen performed the play, I had no premonition of the movie failing in comparison to the original story, so I just saw it like it is, and I was rather entertained. I had little trouble understanding the movie; however, I believe that is made possible in part by interpretation of the gestures and body language of the characters.
Reading Shakespeare will ergo be very different. While there is effectively no nonverbal communication in text, it is also not progressing steadily through time. I can stop at any time I wish, and go back, slow down, or do anything I need to to help me understand the play. I think this will allow me to understand Romeo and Juliet better than A Midsummer Night's Dream, at the price of additional work.

Compeyson: Villain, Thief, Messer-Upper of Pretty Much Everything.

(Interior monologue of Compeyson)

"A fool and his money are soon parted." Never has that been more true. Some might say that what I do is wrong, but they are the ones guilty of error. It's not wromg to break the law, it's all part of the natural order of life. I weed out the gullible folk. Others will then learn to be on their toes. I teach the human race a lesson. People should be thanking me for helping them. Swindling is honest work; just like any other trained laborer, I must use my skill and wits to make a living. I do wonder what has become of Magwitch. That was a smooth job, pinning the blame on him. I got off easy. Was that just? Perhaps I-- No. He's a fool and a barbaric murderer. He tried to kill me! He's still at large, somewhere in the world. I must do something about him.

Star Man: Pip!

If I were to write a five-paragraph essay, I would use the theme of what is important in life, and how that is shown through the text, especially in the relationship between Pip and Estella. I chose this because it's the only thing I've really enjoyed about the book so far. I especially liked Pip's killer speech. Knock 'em (well, her, because Estella's merely a weapon) dead, Pip. The way that Pip gives up Joe, deeming Estella more important, and then is forced to give her up due to Magwitch, whom Pip does not even like, shows that Pip should have realized that Joe is an important person in his life. Bros before, well, you get the concept.

EXPECTATIONS OF GREATNESS

Great Expectations, so far, has been a somewhat interesting book. Most of the time, it's quite difficult to understand. However, to help me cope with the Dickensian language, I have a copy of the book on my Kindle that has an integrated study guide, complete with chapter summaries. Normally I will read the chapter, make notes of what I did not understand, and then read the summary to help fill in those gaps.

At school, I just do the assigned work, because that's all I have time for. Sometimes we discuss questions, but we don't do that so much anymore. That's okay, though. What I don't understand I get from the chapter summary. I do quite enjoy discussion, however. It not only lets me look real smart-like, but it allows for a greater understanding of the text.

The Importance of LIFE.

In Great Expectations, the importance of life is shown through the text, much like a mustard stain on yellow paint is clearly visible through a six-foot-thick wall of lead to a blind person. That simile means that this isn't easy. According to me yesterday, something that is important in life is working hard to achieve your goals. In the story, Pip is very excited to go to London and is expecting it to be a beautiful place. It's dirty, the streets are narrow, it's dark, and people are dying a lot. He doesn't get a big manor, but rather an apartment with dirty windows. To have his dream completed for him, without any of his effort, caused him to appreciate London less.
In my experience, working for something makes it so much better, as you are able to see the fruits of your labor for yourself. When something is given to me, that's nice, but I don't appreciate it the way I appreciate something that I've worked at for a long time.