Relating To Romeo And Juliet

     It is somewhat difficult for me to connect to any of the characters in Romeo and Juliet. I would assume that most people would choose one of the two protagonists, simply because they have been developed more than any of the other characters and are therefore the easiest to write about. However, I feel that I have nothing in common with either Romeo or Juliet. I am very decisive and do my best not to keep wavering back and forth when I make decisions in my life, be they significant or otherwise. I don't see anything wrong with changing my mind for a good reason, but I am unlike Romeo in that when I make a decision I am careful to make sure that it is what I really want and I never change my mind without good reason. Additionally, I feel that I can not relate to Juliet, for if I would start an all out war if I felt that my future was out of my control, and instead in the hands of my family. As a result, I feel like I can relate the most to Mercutio, even though he has only been present in one small section of the play so far. Like Mercutio, I have the capacity for critical thought, and I use it often. I have very little patience for the romantics in life, and dealing with people who tend to be more whimsical just exasperates me. I also feel like I can relate to how Mercutio handles people like this. When he makes fun of Romeo for setting so much store by is dreams he does a good job of using satire. Instead of telling someonw "you're wrong, and here's why" I like to use satire and sarcasm to get my point across.
     I feel that reading in class, as well as at home is beneficial. Personally, I don't have a lot of trouble understanding what is going on because most of the unusual words and phrasings make sense in context. Even though the meanings of some of the words have changed, they still make sense in the sentences. I think the biggest thing reading in class does for me is make the jokes more obvious. At home, I notice most of the jokes, but there is something about reading aloud that really makes them stand out. Often, when we are reading in class simply hearing the words spoken aloud helps me to notice passages that are intended to be funny. Additionally, reading everything for a second time helps to convey meaning, and I always pick up on things that I didn't the night before.

Great Expectations Theme

     There are many themes and messages in Great Expectations, but the one message that was emphasized over and over throughout the whole book was that happiness can not be attained by means of material possessions. Instead, satisfaction in life stems from the simpler aspects of our existence. At the time, it seems that Dickens used the novel as a way to tell his readers that as a society they were becoming increasingly out of touch and materialistic. His message is that contrary to popular belief, money does not equal happiness, and if you spend your life pursuing portable property then you will become increasingly unhappy as you lose touch with the simpler parts of life. Through the contrasts between his characters Dickens says that if you want to be happy you should surround yourself with friends and family, as well as live an honest and noble life, instead of surrounding yourself with nobility, and alienating those individuals who love you. Although the book is over a hundred and fifty years old, sadly the message has lost none of its potency, as people have changed very little over time. Our culture is different but people still act in much the same way as when the book was written.