Connections Made Between TWN and Just Add Water

TWN and Just Add Water both begin at a less than average state of normal. Illyria and Trona are both crazed places where the individuals are not very aware of others around them, nor the fact that life exists outside of their small civilization. A large emphasis can be put on disguise and the masking of individuals in both TWN and Just Add Water. Viola pretends to be a man throughout TWN. Ray and Nora mask their own insecurities and qualms with the town by going about their days with smiles on their faces. In both of these comedies, the individuals have to reach an all time low in order to be inspired to make a change. This relates to most of the articles we've read on climate change as well because society does not feel the need to be green until it faces "self-inflicted extinction." In TWN, the low point comes when Olivia marries Sebastian because there end up being two Cesarios according to Olivia, which causes havoc. Ray reaches a low point when he loses the adherence of his family. He catches his wife cheating and witnesses his son dealing drugs. Ray doesn't feel the need to change (similar to today's society and Viola in TWN) until his world comes crashing down.

Mark Smith's Animacules and Other Little Subjects

After reading his text, it is certain that Smith has a passion for life. Life on a microscopic level, pets, creatures that lurk in the water, or even humans: give Smith life and he'll ramble on for paragraphs about how much that various life form interests him. Although he cannot justify his fascination with the animalcules, I shall take a shot. I think part if his interest stems from the fact that nature itself is one of the cheapest, most intellectually stimulating, and available forms of entertainment out there in the world today. I think Smith likes to take advantage of nature for this reason because he knows it'll benefit him in the long-run. I think Smith's interest in animalcules mainly stems from his interest in the interconnectedness of natural beings and their environment. I share this interest with Smith. I am a sociology major and love studying how people are connected through groups and how they interact with each other given the division of said groups. I think Smith enjoys analyzing the similarities such as the fact that animalcules and humans are not so different because they're both eating all the time. He likes noticing that organisms all affect one another and are not as different from each other as they think.

I really enjoyed this article. His writing could have gone way over the reader's head if Smith decided to clutter his writing with biological terms and concepts. His decision to use figuration and an extensive amount of anecdotes made the reading interesting and enlightening. The anecdotes, especially, made the reading more like a conversation than a formal, scientific text like most of the other articles in the book were set up as. Smith's insight actually made me take a second look at the world around me, and how every living thing is connected in some way. Life does not just consist of one being; life is a collaborative group of many living things that coexist. Because we all coexist in this vast world, it is important to weigh our decisions accordingly and practice empathy with our fellow life forms.

George Carlin's The Planet is Fine

George Carlin's routine re-enforces Phelan's idea that the humanity is self-extincting. He points out that the earth has existed for far longer than humanity has, so therefore, it is fine. The earth doesn't need anymore meddling from humans. He points out that humans cannot even fix themselves, never mind a larger object such as the earth itself. There should be no attempts to save the planet until people attempt and succeed to save themselves. This is similar to what Phelan is saying. In his article, Phelan articulates that humans and the culture they have created are the most powerful too, yet, the worst potential enemy in remaining on earth. Similarly, humans should stop worrying about the environment so much as they should start worrying about how they are going to quickly adapt and keep up with the speedy climate change. Evolution is moving a lot quicker than biologists thought, but climate change is moving even quicker, so if humans don't start worrying about themselves, the environment will beat them to a pulp potentially ending in humanity's extinction. Depressing, right?

Focused Free Write - Symbol in Just Add Water

I think that Ray's tin box best exemplifies the film Just Add Water. Ray keeps the tin box in his car, and he's constantly referring back to it whenever he gets discouraged. The tin box and its contents represent hope. Inside it are pictures of Nora, which make Ray smile and also encourage him in a way to keep on going. He could have easily given up on himself and on the town on many occasions along the storyline, but he didn't. When he felt burnt out, he would refer back to his tin box and the pictures within, which restored his hope. The pictures send him back to the past, and thoughts of a better time. I think this symbol of hope represents the movie effectively because without some "ray" of hope, the town of Trona would have remained stuck in one place. The tin box and thoughts of Nora were Ray's source hope and encouragement to change the stagnant town of Trona.

Benjamin Phelan's "How We Evolve"

Phelan talks about "self-inflicted extinction" in his article "How We Evolve." The first three quarters of this article provided substantial evidence on how evolution works on a more technical level and how it is actually occurring quicker than biologists thought. Evolution used to be a rare concept that biologists and researchers did not really know much about because they did not have to tools to further such research. Now that the tools and technology are up to par, it has been discovered that evolution is actually moving at an incredible rate. "Up to 10 percent of the human genome appears to be evolving at the maximum rate, more quickly than ever before in human history" (193).

However, evolution may not be operating fast enough in order to keep up with the equally, ever-increasing speed of climate change. In as soon as five generations from now, humanity could be dealing with either extinction or a major evolution. Phelan calls this "self-inflicted extinction" because the culture we have created has provided the tools for us to advance into a complex society, yet it has also destroyed the tools like natural resources and a healthy environment necessary for our sustenance. In order for us to survive on this earth, science will have to evolve new tools that can control aspects of evolution. The culture we have created is our best friend, yet our worst enemy. A solution must be sought out using the same means we used to get ourselves in this mess before we're in too deep over our heads.

John Broome's "The Effect of Climate Change"

I do not think that examining climate change through a market-lens is the best way to go. Broome's essay was heavy on technical terms and hard to relate to. Through his writing, it was difficult to connect both issues being presented. Broome attempted to analyze climate change through a market economy. He believes that the more well-off an individual is, the more greenhouse gases he or she will emit into the environment because he or she has the means and money to do so. This is a difficult conclusion to draw because intent is also an issue at hand. Given the money, technology, and transportation, poorer people would most likely follow suit in terms of emitting greenhouse gases. This is not a safe conclusion to draw anyway because the lifestyles of many lower class individuals are not necessarily eco-friendly because they do not have the money to accumulate as many material goods. In a previous article, it was said that poor people actually end up carrying a heavier carbon footprint. Studies were done relating the significant correlation between obesity, poor people, and the carbon they emit. Poorer people tend to be obese and buy a lot of fast food, and food that is not made in a sustainable way. They also tend to be the ones driving around everywhere. Based on information like this, it is difficult to make the claim that the more well-off one is, the more greenhouse gases they emit into the environment.

I think it is difficult to look at climate change through the lens of a market economy. There is more to climate change then just economic issues. Human intent, the course of nature, and the expansion of technology must all be taken into account. Just because you're rich, does not mean you are any more of a burden to the environment than the next guy. It is humanity as a whole that must take a look at their actions and change them together. Solving the problem that is climate change is not an equation that can be solved by simple computation. It is more of an open-ended essay that needs to be developed by the writer over time. Therefore, I do not agree with Broome's conclusions made in his essay.

Blogging About Blogging

I think blogging is one of the best ways for this generation to communicate their ideas productively and in a new-age sort of manner. Students are constantly on their computers knowing that they are procrastinating and not doing the assignments they should be. However, having a blog as an assignment is much less intimidating seeing as how it is just another tab you open up on your search engine. Blogging also allows students to open up more than they would in a formal piece of writing because the blogs one follows are those of their individuals. Their audience is not just a teacher, but a number of students having the same qualms with completing homework as they do. Blogging enables a student to loosen up his or her language and opens up the possibility of having other students comment, criticize, and offer feedback on mini-writing assignments. This leads to my next point. There is no extensive writing assignment due on a blog. It is a cumulative effort of mini-assignments. I know when I blog, I let my fingers and thoughts just go and say what I want to say. Relating to Derrida's fear of writing, I make sure that when I blog I relinquish the beast and say what I want to say. I personally love blogging considering this is one of three that I have. Granted my other two are mostly photographs and music, this one like the others, makes me feel I can say what I truly want to say without the fear of it being harshly criticized solely by a teacher. I do not think simply blogging is appropriate for a class, but I think it is a great complement.

Just Add Water: Unanswered Questions

1. Ray's personality confuses me. Is he truly optimistic inside and out?

2. What kind of father takes his son to Betsy's to lose his virginity? Does he honestly believe in his choice?

3. Has Ray totally given up with Edward?

4. Is the fact that Charlene is sleeping with Ray's brother the only thing she has to hide? I feel like she still acts really uncomfortable and not simply from the guilt of cheating.

5. What's Nora's story? Is she single? Does she like Ray? Why does she stick around Trona?

6. What's in Ray's tin can?

This film reminds me of the book Holes where the town used to be a colorful, happening place to live, but because of environmental matters is not anymore. Trona is like the town in Holes because it is now a nuclear waste site that has not seen rain for days on end. This film also reminds me of a Wes Anderson film because of the way it is shot and written. There's a lot of awkward conversation, moments of silence, and simplicity in the way the people are portrayed. Instead of filming the best of times in the character's lives, the writer and director of this movie made it a point to draw on the mundane moments as well because those can be equally as important. On that note, I thought about Roebke's idea of things not existing until we observe them. This could make sense in this movie. For example, one may not recognize or question why Ray keeps going back to that tin can until the moment in the movie where they reveal what it is. The tin can does not exist until it is recognized by the viewer.

I think Wendell Berry would like the society portrayed in this movie even though they appear to be rather impoverished. They do not waste much because they cannot afford much. In this way, it makes me second guess Berry's idea. Sure, it is possible to be economically comfortable and ecologically friendly as well, but in most cases, it's the simpler folks who cannot afford much that are not doing much to abuse our environment. The individuals in Trona may not be able to afford lots of electronics, stress education, or maintain more commercial stores, but what they're saving in the environment, they're replacing in the behavior of the people. The adults bum and booze around in their front yards, the teens make drug deals and apparently pride themselves in going to brothels, and the younger kids ride dirt bikes on deserted football fields. This doesn't appear a great trade-off to me. It would be nice to find a happy medium between treating the environment well and raising valuable citizens, but what else is new?

Focused Free Write - Am I a writer?

A writer is anyone who has the capacity to express his/herself through the art of language, creativity, and written form. The type of writing I'm talking about does not have to be that which would be evident on a job application, graded essay, or anything being critically analyzed by another person. A writer is someone who jots notes down on paper, someone who stays up till the early morning getting thoughts on paper because the ideas would otherwise steep and boil up in his or her brain.

It is hard to define a writer. I believe everyone has the capacity to write, but there's an enormous stigma attached to the idea of being a writer being that one who writes is a bookworm, philosophical thinker, or an English major. Personally, I am not an English major, nor do I spend all of my time with a pen in my hand. Being a sociology major, I do complete a considerable amount of writing assignments, and do enjoy research writing. I consider myself a writer mostly because writing is a way for me to get my inner thoughts on paper when they are fresh in my mind. It is something I turn to on my own, not because it is forced upon me from outside forces like teachers. For me, it's therapy; the paper's a neutral friend who'll absorb the ink, preserve my thoughts, and help me move on. Writing may not be the therapeutic mode for everyone, but I find it very helpful.

Michael Specter's "Big Foot"

Michael Specter defines food miles as the distance a product travels from the farm to your home. It is a hefty concept weighing how much fuel is being used to transport food to different places. Specter and the researchers behind such a concept are trying to communicate that food may be fresh, organic, and manufactured by low-fuel standards, but the distance the food travels can make or break whether or not the food is actually good for the environment. I agree with Wilkington's statement about this era being one of creative destruction. I think the world's lack of creativity goes along with too much technology and overall laziness. If people opened up their minds to more than just technology as the safe-bet solution, I think our society could benefit in environmental, social, and economic ways. Americans have this idea that every solution requires lots of machines, lots of money, and lots of fuel. This is not always necessarily the case, and it is a philosophy that has been ingrained in the mind of individuals. Therefore, it will be very difficult for it to change. Creativity must be resurrected in the minds and solutions of individuals because seeing such a quality disappear in the American culture would be an extreme disappointment. What would the country then pride itself in?

I do feel personally responsible for global warming. I find that when I came to school, I got very lazy in terms of trying to be as eco-friendly as possible. In high school, I brought my coffee into school every morning in a thermos. Here, I go through two to three cups a day buying coffee because coffeemakers are not allowed in the dorms. I'm not trying to blame the school for what can also be deemed my laziness, but Hofstra does not only make it impossible for avid coffee-drinkers to reduce waste, but they charge you an arm and a leg to get your daily dose of caffeine. On the other hand, I find myself walking everywhere and reducing my carbon footprint in those regards. For a simple trip to the mall or the train station, my house jam as many kids as possible into the same car and make one trip. This is cheap and environmentally friendly. I cannot wait to live on my own to be in control of my food, laundry, electricity, and transportation. These are the most influential systems that can make or break whether or not an individual is being wasteful or not. I helped make my family's household an environmentally aware threshold, and I can't wait to do so when I end up purchasing my own place.

Joshua Roebke's "The Reality Tests"

"Do you really believe that the moon exists only when you look at it?" Such has been inquired by Albert Einstein while on the discussion of quantum mechanics' implications for reality. I do not fully buy into the fact that we create what we observe, and that things are evident because we perceive them being there. I think that properties we want to observe exist before we actually observe them. Sure, we cannot perceive the world as it exists fundamentally, such as in the terms of atoms and the building blocks of matter, but it is widely agreed and proven that there are physical components of matter that compose items available for our viewing. Atoms and tiny particles exist before we measure them, so why wouldn't they exist before we observe them? Properties and items exist before we observe them because if one individual just happens to no observe one item presented to them, another individual will come by and observe what the other had not. I think such a statement made about observation and existence is too broad because the power to observe is different between individuals.

Roebke attempts to conquer a very complex idea in reference to quantum physics. I do not even know if I fully understood what his thesis was, so I would say it was very weak. Most of the other articles in the book did a great job of connecting more complex ideas like global warming, e-waste, and the internet to issues with humanity that were easy for the reader to connect to. There was no accessible connection that was clearly made between the individual reading and the theory of quantum physics besides the mere example of perceiving the color of a blue couch. There was nothing tangible available in his article that could convince me about these reality tests because the concepts went over my head. All of the other articles did a good job of bringing the material down to eye level for the assumed un-knowledgable individual. Roebke's did not, and in this way, I believe he had a rather weak argument.

Wendell Berry's "Faustian Economics"

"The life of this world is small to those who think it is, and the desire to enlarge it makes it smaller, and can reduce it to finally nothing." In his article, Wendell Berry submits heavy claims as to society's deluded idea of limitlessness. He stresses that few things actually do have limits nowadays, or rather, limits that Americans would like to acknowledge. There is limitless wealth, growth, want, money, energy, and even debt. He does not think it wise that our society is founded on the basis of limitlessness because when the limits are recognized and pushed as far as they can do, everyone will just get hurt. The American way of life has become one established on waste, greed, and foolishness. Berry is very straightforward and rather harsh in the manner he addresses his thoughts, commenting on America as a possessing a "national insanity."

Berry addresses the country's fantasy of limitlessness as a concept of moral minimalism as well. As more technology and machines are added to the equation in order to be efficient at any cost, the idea of complex thinking disappears. People appear "to be genuinely embarrassed by any solution to any problem that does not involve high technology, a great expenditure of energy, or a big machine." In striving for ultimate freedom, Americans are trying to escape the limited nature of the world, but this is in fact, impossible because abusing resources will eventually catch up with us. Limits and restraints must be put on Americans in order to relieve them of their delusional ideas.

Berry uses the texts of Christopher Marlowe's Tragical History of Dr. Faustus and John Milton's Paradise Lost to reiterate and substantiate his thoughts on limitlessness in the human mentality. He seeks data from many political happenings such as summits held on alternate energy and statistics involving the burning of fossil fuels. He uses this data to stress that Americans are under the misunderstanding that limits constitute confinement. This is untrue seeing as how limits are necessary in order for society to function properly. Berry believes that Americans need to strongly re-evaluate the economic and environmental limits on this world. We, as guests to this planet, need to learn how to preserve and sustain the earth, economy, and morality since another world will not be given to us for mere abuse.

Freewrite: Waste and Greed

Greed is glancing at the power-strip under your desk and consciously viewing each and every occupied outlet. Your eyes follow the twisting veins that lead straight to the source that is pumping, pumping away, sucking the fuel from a source you probably could not describe in depth if you tried. To unplug one of the appliances would be to compromise flow and order of one's life. Necessary? No. Greedy? By, all means yes.

Waste is grabbing a cup of coffee from Starbucks every morning before work year after year. The smell of coffee beans must make the environment cringe a little bit knowing that there are individuals on automatic pilot who grab their venti lattes in the same green and black cups every morning simply to discard of the cup in the nearest trash receptacle.

Waste with a side of greed is having individual items from a grocery store placed in separate plastic bags for the sake of not mixing fresh and non-perishable items. When did we all become so unaware? When did we stop caring?

Jacques Derrida: Fear of Writing

Derrida appears to have a fear of letting his writing and thoughts go to a point where he may end up hurting the feelings or viewpoints of a particular colleague or fellow writer. For Derrida, his ideas and writings are powerful and purposeful at all times. He finds it necessary to write down the ideas that come to his mind, but this raw quality to his writing also produces fear. He does not want to harm others in the relinquishing of his heartfelt opinions, yet at the same time, he does not want to alter his writing in a way that would ruin its genuine nature. Derrida does entrust the written word with a particular power. He mentions that he has never revoked anything that he has written, meaning, the writing itself has power and authority enough over him to remain on the page. Writing, to him, is raw subject matter from his mind that makes its way to the paper in order to inform himself and other individuals of his ideals. Derrida entrusts an absurd amount of power in the written word. The written word has such a power over Derrida that it mulls over in his mind at times when he is about to nap or fall asleep as he addresses in the video.

I write freely sometimes at night, and it is there that I experience some anxiety in regards to the power of my writing. I will write after fights or any slip-ups I experience throughout the day. Sometimes a fear comes over me briefly that someone will read what I have written and know that it is about them, and that they'll take major offense. Another part of me doesn't care who reads it and what they think of it; it's a piece of my writing that I'm proud of and nobody can do anything to change my feeling about that. Writing is one of the best ways to draft one's feelings. For me, it provides a text for future confrontations I would like to make with the people I get in little conflicts with, who make me feel the necessity to write. In this way, I do realize the power of what I write, but I strongly believe in allowing written word to possess this power because it is a great tool that can be used by individuals.

Kenneth Bruffee's "Collaborative Learning and Conversation of Mankind"

Collaborative learning is a topic that can be debated about in terms of its effectiveness in the learning and working environments. Working with peers, whether they match one's intellectual level or not, can be a very valid and helpful tool in receiving advice, feed-back, and support on a particular project. Collaborative learning does not strive to change the content of what students learn nor dumb down the content, rather, collaborative learning aims at setting up a new social context in which students can learn. Peer criticism, or work done in small student groups, can be extremely helpful in creating a suitable work environment for students who are not inclined towards the traditional classroom setting. The way in which students converse about given material determines how they will think and how they will write. Working with peers also encourages the students to get more emotionally involved, more focused, and comfortable. Once all of these are achieved, it is easy to get right to work.

Knowledge is made through thought, conversation, reading, writing, and social interaction. Knowledge can be considered one's personal motivation to learn, question, and think. Conversations and thought begin within the individual and slowly externalize themselves through various conventions. For instance, when assigned an essay, there are many steps that an individual takes, sometimes subconsciously, when sorting out his or her knowledge on the subject. The day that the professor assigns the essay, students may have thoughts running through their heads regarding what they want to write about. This is reflective thought, more or less, and can be externalized by being written on paper in the form of an outline or talked through with peers by way of collaborative learning practices. The knowledge of the student will be ultimately expressed in the written essay. Knowledge can also be learned and expressed through social interaction. By sharing experiences with other people, learning side by side, or even by simply having conversations, knowledge is spread through direct contact with peers.

I do not think that is is necessary for alike intellectuals to converse exclusively when it comes to peer criticism and the furthering of knowledge. I definitely think normal discourse and peer criticism with like intellectuals is helpful, not completely necessary, but very helpful when it comes to seeking advice on a piece that is quite focused in its subject. In other words, I believe that more likely than not, it turns out to be useful and productive to partake in conversations with a group of knowledgeable peers. Once a set of conventions are set among a group of people, the group can just cut to the chase and get right down to work. Personally, I find it frustrating sometimes in class when working with others is practically forced upon the students, especially with no choice among who one wants to work with. It is refreshing to work with someone in a similar field and with someone who possesses the same level of motivation as me in that field. Overall, I think peer criticism is a valid option in terms of learning because not only does it help individuals learn more about the topic about which they're studying, but it enables individuals to come away with valuable social skills that can be used in greater communities. In this way, knowledge can be attained through the course material, and through the personal experiences of the peers who are working in a collaborative manner.

Language as a Slippery Vehicle

Language is a slippery vehicle. It's hard to steer, yet once mastered, can be very powerful. Language is composed of words, and words have definitions. Frequently, writers juxtapose words together that simply sound nice or evoke a meaning that the author wishes were the case in the actual context he or she is using. Overcome with eloquence, some writers rarely say what they mean or have difficulty describing what they are observing in an accurate manner because they are too caught up in using pretty words.

I think this is what Hass is getting at in his poem. It is good sometimes for poetry to disenchant us. Writing, and poetry, does not always have to be over-the-top in terms of word usage and imagery. Poems can be plain and still engage the reader. Writing is not a competition, and language is a gift. When putting the pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, it is important to say what you mean. Don't over-embellish because then no one will know what you're saying. In this way, meaning can be assigned to every word written, and the words chosen are important when deciding what to put on the paper because it will portray different pictures depending on what words are chosen.

In Jones' poem, it is very clear that he is addressing language as one of the most prevalent forms of illustration. No image like the image of language. He encourages the reader to unleash all inhibitions when writing. People should use their vocabulary to the most of their abilities because it is a beautiful vehicle of communication. Through the coconut shell full of rum and coconut milk on the ocean and let it wash over you. Let the words envelop you and use them to the utmost potential because through their usage, meaning is derived.

The Twelfth Night at Hofstra University's J.C. Adam's Playhouse

Thursday night, I was in attendance for Hofstra's production of The Twelfth Night. Overall, it was a great performance and unique interpretation of the play. I personally did not enjoy the setting of the play taking place during the Reconstruction period in Georgia. Shakespearean literature is already difficult enough to understand when spoken; adding a Southern accent atop all of that was a bit much. For some characters, it was difficult to understand what they were saying because Americn, British, and Southern accents meshed and voice proliferation was on and off. I would have preferred seeing a different setting for the action of the play. The set design was beautiful and intricate though for the given setting. The pillars and Spanish moss gave off a Southern feel while complimenting that classic feel that Shakespeare's writing emits.

My biggest surprise while watching the play was the performances of Sir Toby and Sir Andrew. While reading the play and even while watching the movie version in class, I was not very entertained by the roles of Sir Toby and Sir Andrew. However, while watching Hofstra's performance, I found myself awaiting their entrances on stage. They were simply hilarious! The actor who played Sir Toby was easy to understand and the perfect example of a party animal. His acting was spot on, his accent was perfect, and he was easy to understand on stage. Sir Andrew was the perfect amount of awkward for a flawless performance. While watching, Lindsey and I could not help but whisper to each other about how funny the two of them were in conjunction. Together, they were a spectacular team that stole the stage.

Viola's performance was a bit underwhelming. I expected a captivating performance from a character who's on stage the most during the production. For a student performance, the actress played her role very well. However, the fact that she was supposed to be a man was not very convincing, nor did she perform with a Southern accent like the rest of the cast. In my opinion, her acting was far from spellbinding and made the play drag on a bit in certain spots where in the movie, I would have been completely engrossed by the actress playing Viola.

The actress playing Olivia played her role well. Again, the Southern accent threw me off for the most part when she spoke. She seemed less contemplative and day-dreamy than she was in the text of the play. There was not as much believable chemistry between her and Cesario during Hofstra's version of the play. For all versions of the Twelfth Night I've seen, I wish there were more appearances made by Orsino. I enjoy his character a lot, perhaps because I can relate to him. The actor who played him did a great job in Thursday's performance. Feste, the Fool, was played very well also. He had a beautiful singing voice and many different identities. I actually found him to be more of a clown than the Fool in the movie. He was constantly using funny voices, jumping around like a prankster, and using a maniacal laugh.

Overall, I was able to sit through the entire performance, however, I was not enthralled. I am one who enjoys the theatre and productions of all sorts, especially Shakespeare. However, this particular show did not particular excite me. I was more eager to watch the film on YouTube than I was to sit through this performance. It was a nice take on the text, and the actors made a great effort. I will be excited to look out for another performance of the Twelfth Night elsewhere in order to experience different interpretations that drama company's have.

Lend Your Ear 3/4/10 at OneTrueMedia.com

Here is the thematic montage Lindsey and I made based on the motif of music. It is featuring the song "Easy" by Justin Vernon. Comments would be helpful. We put a lot of work into this project and we would love critiquing!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Freewrite - "I am not what I am."

3. Viola: Then think you right. I am not what I am. Olivia: I would you were as I would have you be. (III.i.148-149)

In this portion of the text, Olivia and Cesario are in the midst of a little debate about who they truly are. Olivia wishes that Cesario would stay and tell Olivia what he thinks of her. Cesario does not wish to linger and lead on Olivia anymore than he already has because anything beyond what already exists would be asking for trouble. Cesario bluntly says that he thinks that Olivia is denying who she truly is. Olivia gets a bit defensive responding that she thinks Cesario does not know who he is. Cesario puts up no argument because he is truly a woman, Viola. Viola does not know who she truly is or what she is going to do with the coming events so she does not deny the fact that she's confused about who she is. Olivia responds saying that she wishes Cesario was who she wanted him to be. Cesario admits that he wishes he was someone else because right now he is a fool. This is a point of dramatic irony because the audience knows that Cesario truly is a big fool putting on a drag act and fooling Olivia. Olivia has no idea what Cesario's statement truly means at its core. I thought it selfish of Olivia to say that she wishes Cesario was who she wanted him to be. I think that's a lot to demand of someone, especially someone you've just met. I feel as though she should know better because a comment like that could easily scare a man away. Olivia's selfishness in terms of chasing after Cesario is a bit annoying throughout this play.

Freewrite - crush & bow.

2. Malvolio: ...and yet to crush it a little, it would bow to me...(II.v.143-145)
Malvolio mentions this after he reads the primary portion of Maria's letter. After reading, he is baffled as to what all of it means, including the letters M.O.A.I. Malvolio is convinced that these letters have something to do with his name because they are all present in its spelling. Malvolio wants the love letter to be about him, so he is going to "crush" or shake up the words and their meanings in order to convince himself that it was written for him. Once he has assigned his own meaning to the words on the page, the words will favor him in a way that convinces him that the letter was truly written for him. Maria's faux love letter serves as a puzzle and false hope for Malvolio. I think what Malvolio has in mind for this letter is extremely whimsical and far-fetched. If one is direly in love with another person, I suppose it is plausible that he would read into the note so much and juxtapose the words in a manner that gives him the answer he wants.