Blood Wedding Journal #1

Within the first act of Blood Wedding, many information can be found. The author, Federico Garcia Lorca, tends to use many symbols in his writing. The symbol that is strongly found in the first act is the vineyard. This idea keeps repeating throughout the act. The vineyard and vineyards in general are referred to by the characters/actors. The vineyards are referred to when the characters are speaking of wealth, and prosperity.

Neighbor: He finally bought the vineyard!

Mother: He was fortunate

Neighbor: And now he'll get married.

This excerpt does not say much, but it does however show that the vineyard has some connection to prosperity, happiness, and wealth. When the neighbor says that he has finally purchased it, shows how he has been debating it. When one debates a purchase, it is usually an expensive purchase. Marriage ties into the whole prosperity thing.

Mother: He would have found it. The three years he was married to me, he planted ten cherry trees- (she thinks back) The three walnuts by the mill, one whole vineyard and a plant called Jupiter, with blood-red flowers, but it died (28).

This shows the Bridegroom's mother thinking about the past and her late husband. She is remembering the happy times, by thinking about the various plants and beauty she owned, which includes the vineyard. It symbolizes a more prosperous and happier time for her.

Mother: [...] You are richer than I am. Your vineyards are worth a fortune. Each young vine a silver coin! (30)

Her statement here clearly relates the vineyard to wealth. She states that they are worth a lot, and each vine is a silver coin. By giving the vineyard a value, than simply stating that it is an object, shows how it is valuable, and symbolizes wealthiness. This man is rich, and has vineyards because is he wealthy. Lorca puts these sentences in to emphasize the importance of the vineyards in the text.

Wild Duck Journal #2

The setting of Wild Duck changes occasionally from house to house. The main setting however is in Hjalmar's house. Hjalmar is one of the main characters of the play. With the play being set inside of his house, gives the reader and audience an idea of how Hjalmar and his family are. The setting is a personal setting, which shows the personal sides of the characters living in the house: Hjalmar, Gina, Hedvig, Ekdal, and now Greggers. The setting helps emphasize main points that the characters are trying to make, such as the family's status. Whenever making a meal, Gina will have to "strap down" and be delicate about servings and such, being that they do not have much as a family, especially when it comes to food and money. The fact that they have to rent out a room, which is being rented to Greggers, shows how the family lacks some money, and support. The detail given to set the stage definitely plays an important role in one's interpretation of the play. It helps make it easier to understand what is occurring, and where it is occurring. Plus, all of the details of the setting, draw large hints that this play is somewhat modern, compared to Oedipus, where the author simply states where the characters stand. Setting is an important thing to have when attempting to understand a play.

Oedipus Journal #4

By the end of the play, there are many things to be reflected, especially the play, Oedipus, as a whole. The plot is very straight forward. There are no subplots, or other things to be considered while following the main plot. Everything in the play occurs either in the palace, or right outside the palace doors. The plot is definitely not circular. It starts with Oedipus being king, content, and trying to avoid the prophecies. It ends with his world turned upside down, the prophecies appearing, making himself blind, Jocasta hanging herself, his family torn apart, and him not being at the throne anymore. The ending is very important. It is what makes the play a tragedy. By the end almost everything has been revealed. The truth has been revealed to Oedipus and the rest, obviously. What happens to Jocasta has been revealed. The fact that Creon now has the throne has been revealed. Many things have been revealed except for what exactly happens to Oedipus. Of course he has blinded himself, but he wishes to be exiled, and Creon will not allow that and states that the only people who have the power to do so are the gods. This does not necessarily matter however. The part that did was the matter of the prophecies and whether they were going to become true, and they did. The period of time covered is a day, at least. It does not clearly state the period of time, but the way the conversations keep going without break, gives the reader a clue that it takes place within a day. Time is not necessarily important, but what occurred is. Overall, I really enjoyed reading Oedipus.

Oedipus Journal #1

Since Oedipus is a play, there is not a definite point of view. The reader and audience learn about different characters as they speak in the play. The reader does not learn of the thoughts a character may have, unless they speak of them in their lines. However, the play primarily focuses on Oedipus, being that he is the main character, so the reader and the audience learn the most about him and his thoughts. Oedipus is a highly respected king in this play. He likes to think of himself as equivalent to the gods. It shows this on page 171, "You pray to the gods? Let me grant your prayers". This shows how he thinks that he is suitable to grant prayers, and has the capability to do so. It also shows how he tries to convince the people of Thebes that he is of god status. On pages 176 - 185, Sophocles gives the audience a disagreement between two strong characters. During this disagreement, Oedipus first appears to the reader as a furious, and determined man. Tiresias appears as a calm, but persistent being. Depending on the side one takes on this situation between the two characters, can ultimately play a role in which characters are liked, and which are not.