Saturday, March 22, 2008

REFLECTION ON "OTHELLO BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE"

OTHELLO

In Venice, Iago bear a grudge to Othello, because he has chosen Cassio as his lieutenant rather than him. He and Roderigo then inform Barbantio that his daughter, Desdemona is making love with Othello. But, then Othello proves this is not so and Barbantio reluctantly blesses their marriage. Iago begins to plot his revenge against Othello for choosing Cassio. In Cyprus, Iago convinces Roderigo to fight with Cassio to get Cassio in trouble. Governor Montano was pulled into the chaos. After the fight, Cassio is not Othello’s lieutenant anymore. Iago continue his plans. He convinces Othello that Desdemona has affairs with Cassio. It brings suspicion into Othello’s head. Othello becomes rude to Desdemona. Emilia wife of Iago’s picks up Desdemona handkerchief, it is Othello’s first gift to her. But Iago takes it from Emilia. He will plant if in Cassio’s room to fuel Othello’s suspicions. Iago tells Othello that he has seen Cassio wipe his beard with the handkerchief. Bianca, Cassio’s mistress likes the handkerchief and asks Cassio to copy it. Othello becomes so irritable. He asks Iago to kill Cassio and he will kill Desdemona. The noble Lodovico comes to Cyprus and brings a leeter to Othello, orders him home and Cassio to remain in Cyprus. Iago tells him that Othello has changed. Later, Iago sets Roderigo to kill Cassio, Iago thinks the both must die or his plotting will be revealed. The both is still alive, but wounded. Iago finds Roderigo and stabs him, making sure he has die. Othello kills Desdemona. Emilia hears Desdemona’s Cry. Grantiano, Montano and Iago appear and Emilia reveals all Iago’s Plot. Then, Iago kills her and escapes. Montano and Grantiano chase him. In front of Lodovico, Cassio, Montano, Othello, Iago reveals all his deeds. In a closing speech, Othello kills himself. Lodovico leaves Iago for Cassio to torture.


Source : www.about-shakespeare.com/othello.php


Iago is the man who has created all melees in this story. In my experience, the story becomes popular today. You can watch on TV, there are so many “sinetron” which talk about villains and their revenge. They do everything to egg someone on making wrong, damage their family, company and everything someone has. But I am sure that every evil plot will be revealed. It’s only matter of time.


Monday, March 17, 2008

BOOK SUMMARY 2

TREASURE ISLAND


Author : R.L.Stevenson

Title : Treasure Island

Publisher : Dian Rakyat

City : Jakarta

Year : 2003

Page : 64

Price : Rp.12.000

Summary

Jim Hawkins was twelve years old. His father was the owner of a small inn. One day, an old pirate visited the inn. He brought a heavy sea-chest. He had stayed at the inn for several days, until one day another pirate murdered him and wanted to take his sea-chest. Before another pirates attacked the inn, Jim took a map of Treasure Island from the sea-chest. Then, he with Doctor Livesey and a rich man, called Squire Jhon Trelawney sailed to the Treasure Island on Hispaniola. Squire jhon Trelawney paid crews to help them. But he did not know that most of the crews were pirates. So, Jim and his friend had to fight with them to get the treasure.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Comment on "Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare"

Julius Caesar


Julius Caesar, a successful military leader wants the crown of Rome. Unfortunately, he is an imperious and overly ambitious. To get the crown, he manipulates the people of Rome into offering him the crown. But, Casca witness to the Caesar’s attempts. Then, he repots it to Brutus and Cassius. Later, Cicero, Cassius, Casca and Cinna organize a conspiracy to kill Caesar. They get some help from others (Decius, Brutus, Trebonius, and Metallus) to help them to kill Caesar. Cassius also try to convince Brutus to join too. Metallus talk to Caius Ligarius to convince him to join their cause. Finally, the conspirators succeed to murder him at the senate. After the Murder, Mark Antony incites the crowd to riot over Caesar’s murder. Then, Antony, Octavius and Lepidus form a triumvirate to rule Rome. Messala tells Brutus that the trium virate has killed 100 senators. Brutus, Messala, Titinius, Cassius decide to confront Antony’s army at Phillipi.

The ghost of Caesar appears at the Brutus’ tent and tells him that he will see him at Phillipi. The battle happens. Titinius is captured by octavius. Cassius commits suicide after convincing Pindarus to help him to commit suicide. Titanius kills himself with Cassius’ sword. In the second battle Antony’s army succeed to defeat Brutus’ army. Brutus finally convinces Strato to help him to commit suicide. Thus, Antony and Octavius prevail, while Cassius and Brutus both commit suicide, assumedly partly in grief over murdering Caesar.

Source: www.about-shakespeare.com/julius_caesar.php

This plays first written between the years 1600-01, first performed in 1623. The story is about tragedy of Julius Caesar. There is a conspiracy to murder Julius Caesar. They do it to prevent Julius Caesar to get the crown of Rome. They assume that Caesar is not the right man to rule Rome. He is too ambitious and will grow as the tyrants. But I think it is because of the power to rule Rome. Everyone wants to get it. Yeah I know that perhaps if Julius Caesar succeeds to reach the crown, he will be tyrants. But people do not understand it. After the tragedy the power of Rome was divided into 2; they are triumvirate of Octavius, Antony and Lepidus and in the other side, the conspirators. Later, the man who gets benefit from the tragedy is Mark Antony. In every riot there must be a man behind the gun who incites people to rebel.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

BOOK SUMMARY 1

Meet me in Istanbul


Author : Richard Chilshom

Title : Meet me in Istanbul

Publisher : Dian Rakyat

City : Jakarta

Year : 2003

Page : 64

Price : Rp. 12.000

Summary

Tom smith was a young English man. He wanted to meet his fiancée in Istanbul. In the middle of his journey to Istanbul, he met with Kemal. Tom made a friend with him. In Istanbul, Tom got something strange with his fiancée, Angela. Angela failed to meet him. Tom tried to find Angela. But he did not find her. The next morning, he heard some terrible news, Angela was killed in a driving accident a week before he arrived. it was strange because he had looked at her as the first time he arrived in Istanbul. so, he asked some help from Kemal to find Angela. Then, they struggled together to find her.

It is a good book to improve your English. if you are an English student, it is appropriate book for you in order to build your understanding about English. so,,,, enjoy it.!!

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

REFLECTION ON "BEOWULF"

BEOWULF

King Hrothgar of Denmark, a descendant of the great king Shield Sheafson, reigned his Kingom and brought prosperity to his people. He built a great mead-hall, called Heorot. In the mead-hall, his warriors could gather to hold a feast and listened to the stories sung by the scops and bards. But the jubilant noise from Heorot made Grendel angry. It is a horrible monster who lived in the swamplands of Hrothgar’s kingdom. Then, Grendel terrorized the Danes every night and killing them. No one could fight against Grendel, all effort they had done to kill Grendel was always fail, because Grendel could defeat the efforts to fight him back.

The kingdom and its people suffered many years of fear, danger and death at the hand of Grendel. The news spread widely. Eventually, Beowulf, a young warrior of Geat heard the Hrothgar’s plight. Beowulf was a nephew of Geatish king, Hygelac. Then, he decided to sail to Denmark with a small company of his bravest men. He determined to defeat Grendel. Hrothgar, who had once done a great favor for Beowulf’s father, Ectheow, accepted Beowulf’s offer to defeat Grendel. To bring a honor to Beowulf, he held a feast of hero’s honor. But an envious Dane named Unferth insulted Beowulf and accused him of being unworthy of his reputation. He claimed that Beowulf once lost a swimming match against Breca, the sea monster and that he would find his second lost when he faces Grendel in the mead-hall. Beowulf responded with explaining the true version of his battle with Breca. He also described of some of his accomplishment boastfully. His confidence cheered the Danish warriors, and the feast still went into the night. At last, Grendel arrived. Beowulf fought against Grendel alone, unarmed. He wanted to prove himself that he was stronger than the demon. Finally, Beowulf could defeat Grendel and tears the monster’s arm off. Mortally wounded, Grendel slinked back into swamp to die. The severed Grendel’s arm was hung high in the Mead-hall as a trophy of victory.

Because of his victory, Beowulf was showered with gifts and treasure at a feast. They sung the songs in praise of Beowulf, and the celebration lasted late into the night. But another threat was approaching. Grendel’s mother, came to the kingdom to seek for revenge for her son’s death. She could kill Aeschere, one of Hrothgar’s most trusted advisers, before slinking away. To avenge Aeschere death, the company went to the dark swamp. There Beowulf dived into the underwater of her lair and fighting against her. He killed her with a sword which is forged for a giant. He also found Grendel’s corpse, then he decapitated it and brought the head as a prize to Hrothgar.

The Danes are again overjoyed, and Beowulf became popular warrior and the fame spread accros the kingdom. He returned to Geatland. In the Geatland, he recounted his adventure in Denmark to his king and queen, Hygelac and Hygd. Beowulf then handed over most of his treasure to Hygelac, who, in turn, rewarded him.

In time, Hygelac was killed in a war against the Shylfings, and after Hygelac’s son died, Beowulf became the next king. He ruled the kingdom wisely for fifty years, made Geatland as a prosperous kingdom. When Beowulf was an old man, the kingdom was in the horrible obstruction, a thief disturbed a barrow where a great Dragon lied to guard a horde of treasure. The Dragon emerged and triggered horrible destruction to Geatland. To protect his kingdom and sensing his own death approaching, he went to fight against the Dragon. With the aid of Wiglaf, he succeeded in killing the Dragon. But the Dragon could bite Beowulf in the neck and its venom killed him moments after their encounter. After his death the Geats feared that their enemies would attack them now after Beowulf died. According to Beowulf’s wishes, they burnt their king’s body on a huge pyre and then buried him with a massive treasure in a barrow overlooking the sea.

Source:

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/beowulf/summary.html

http://www.humanities.mcmaster.ca/~beowulf/main.html

I like the stories. It is about the traits of hero. Beowulf shows that he cares with plight of his neighboring country and doing all effort to overcome the obstruction. Wow…it is a good deed! That’s the hero. He care with another kingdom’ plight. Can you find the such deed right now? I hope there will be a true warrior like Beowulf in the world and finish all obstructions which is being occurred in this world. I regarded Grendel and all monster of the story like capitalism system which is destroying and dominating the world. The system make many people sad, hungry, and death. So, I hope The next warrior will come to defeat the systemic monster with a sword to kill the system, and of course it must be a system too. The best system, the Islamic system. Rise! Rise!

I guess that why Beowulf wanted to do his best effort to defeat Grendel, it is because his father and Hrothgar had friendship.

His heroism can be explored in two separates phase-youth and age-and through three battle with Grendel, Grendel’s mother and The Dragon. When he was young, he was a great warrior and when he was age, he was a wise king for his kingdom. The ends of his life bring a conflict for himself, in other hand he had to save his kingdom from the Dragon, and also he had to defend his kingdom from another tribes attack. This conflict bring me a good aura of the story. Beowulf finally decided that he must defeat the Dragon, although at a heavy cost, he died. Was it wise choice? As a heroic tradition, I think he must take the best decision. And I think the Beowulf choice is wise. The old king must think best for his kingdom, and maybe he thought that from the kingdom will come a new great warrior to defend it. His virtue make him popular in across his kingdom. so get it and enjoy the story!!!