i was marked pretty well on my literary essay for the june exams.

the topic was sexual jealousy in Othello, i think i might have mentioned something about that in an earlier post.
anyhow. i started out waffling mostly, and that's where i cut down my words when it came to it - the essay only needed 450 and i think i was close to a hundred more than were necessary.

Mrs. Mackay actually put it pretty straightforward. i think it's easy to be marked well for essays if you listen in class. Teachers - well, mine at the least - like giving you tips.

I don't know how it works in other countries, but in SA, what you need to do, before you do anything else, is regurgitate the topic. this is your introduction. go ahead and use the very words used in the question. but state it as your intent. i.e. it is my intent...blah blah blah OR with this essay i will endeavour to...blah blah blah

so what i basically did is parallel the examples of sexual jealousy in Othello to the 'reality' of sexual jealousy in relationships.

There is the obvious distrust in the marriage of Othello and Desdemona and then there is the more subtle tension between Iago and Emilia.

I picked out the instances of jealous behaviour in the two relationships and showed how this is also found in practice - that is, the 'real' world.

e.g. "the instance of Othello murdering Desdemona and then taking his own life is often seen in abusive relationships when a spouse ends their lovers' life followed by their own. one only has to occasionally read newspaper headlines to know that this is a reality in our decadent society."

why am i writing this? because i know there are kids out there struggling with essays in school. what you need to know is that you don't need incredible skill to write an essay and get good marks. there is a formula to writing essays. but you need to start reading. build up your vocabulary. take note of current issues.

and when you are in class. LISTEN. i cannot spell it out more clearly.

okay, i'm a dork. but i get good grades. and you can too. :P

take some time to think about characters in whatever literary work is being discussed in class. think about their motivation and their background. try and visualise them. you have to make them real to yourself. get acquainted. this is crucial.

and lastly - unless there was anything specific you wanted to know - hand in your essay on time. if your handwriting is shoddy, type the damn thing. have we made all these technological advances for nothing? typewriters are also still available - somewhere.

<3 and good wishing for your next written assignment.

Yesterday, Matthew and i started reading Othello on the bus.
well, Matt was reading and i was craning over his shoulder, so he decided to share his book with me.
so considerate.

What really irritates me is Iago.
He's so cunning!
So deceiving!
So...villianous!
And hurt.

This i am basing on the principle of:
Hurt people hurt people.
i.e. when a person has been hurt, they are likely to hurt others.

Iago obviously has a very pretty wife (a man such as himself would definitely not marry someone plain)
and because of this he is jealous of her.
He imagines that every other man has had intimate relations with her. how typical?
i don't know yet if he has anything to base this on, i've only read up to the end of act 1.
But another thing that i believe drives him onward in his own jealousy and crudeness is the fact that he himself is an adulterer. He views (and treats) sex (and women) as something base and vulgar. Guilt can kill people. Even when they aren't ready to admit it.

Iago makes me sad. And mad.
He needs Jesus.

I've just finished watching the film adaptation of this darling children's book.
To be fair, i haven't read it myself..yet.
But i am a firm believer in reading the book if you've seen the film. and not necessarily vice versa.

There were many things about the film that struck me, but one of the main things was one simple line.

The strongest feeling a person can feel is forgiveness.

Now, my first question is:

Is forgiveness a feeling?

And the second:

What is forgiveness?

I'm curious as to what the response may be, but i'll try to define it more clearly.
Do you have to feel forgiving to be able to forgive?
Is it possible to forgive someone without feeling like they deserve it?
Is forgiveness independent of feelings?

And then something a little more personal...

Is there anyone you can think of right now who you think/know needs your forgiveness?
Is there anyone you can think of right now who you think/know doesn't even know they have offended or hurt you, but whom you need to forgive?
Is there anything you need to forgive yourself of right now?

If you haven't seen the film yet, or read the book for that matter, note the personal journey of Roscuro the Rat, and his particular experience with forgiveness.

All in all a truly darling tale.