Theme essay, Romeo and Juliet

          Rivalries led to rebellion and tragedy within Shakespeare's, “Romeo and Juliet”. The Montagues and Capulets were unable to coexist in any way. Their constant feuding led to their rebellious teenagers. Romeo and Juliet wanted to be together despite their family feuds, which lead to their tragic deaths.

         Neither the Montagues or Capulets were safe on the streets of Verona. “What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word/ As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.” (act I, Sc. I, 71-73) This quote illustrates how the Capulets wanted nothing to do with peace. Tybalt did not care that Romeo wanted peace between them, his hatred blinded him to the thought. This led to a fight and the death of Tybalt. “We will have vengeance for it, fear thou not./ Then weep no more. I'll send to one in Mantua/ Where that same banished runagate doth live/ Shall give him such an unaccustomed dram/ That he shall soon keep Tybalt company/ and then, I hope, thou wilt be satisfied.” (act III, Sc. V, 92-93) Now that Tybalt is dead and Romeo killed him, Lady Capulet plans on having Romeo killed. She does not feel that his punishment is enough, she wants him dead. She is saying this to Juliet, now Juliet is torn between her love for her family and her new husband.

      Romeo and Juliet rebel against their parents by being together. They want to be together even after they find out each others last names. “My only love sprung from my only hate/ too early seen unknown, and known too late!/ Prodigious birth of love it is to me/ That I must love a loathed enemy.” (act I, Sc. V, 152-155) Juliet is saying that she loves Romeo even though she is supposed to hate him. “Deny thy father and refuse thy name/ Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love/ and I'll no longer be a Capulet.” (act II, Sc. II, 37-39) Juliet is saying that she loves Romeo so much, she is willing to give up her entire family for him. They want to be together despite their families and hope that their reunion will end the feuding. Instead it only leads to tragedy.

     Because of their rivalry, tragedy struck leaving both the Capulets and Montagues with dead children. Even before the wedding Romeo feared that their love would lead them to tragedy. “Amen, amen. But come what sorrow can/ It cannot countervail the exchange of joy/ That one short minute gives me in her sight/ Do thou but close our hands with holy words/ Then love-devouring death do what he dare/ It is enough I may but call her mine.” (act II, Sc. VI, 3-8) Romeo fears that because of the feud something bad will happen after their marriage. After their deaths, the two families realize the pointlessness of the feud. “See what a scourge is laid upon your hate/ That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love/ And I, for winking at your discords too/ Have lost a brace of kinsmen/ All are punished.” (act V, Sc. III, 302-305) The prince points out to both families that the feud is the reason they have to now bury their children.

    In conclusion, the feud between the Montagues and Capulets was the reason for the death of their children. If the families had gotten along, Romeo and Juliet may have lived. They wanted to be together despite the fact that they knew their parents would never agree. Mercutio said it best when he stated, “a plague o' both houses!” (act 3, Sc. 1, 94) Mercutio blamed the feud on his death and knew that there would be many more deaths to follow. The tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet could have been avoided, if only the rivalries could have ended sooner.

   In, the book "The Fault in our Stars"  by John Green, I don't find myself resisting the text a lot.  However, when I do resist the text, it's usually when John Green talks about cancer in strong detain.  

   I think that I resist the text at this point is because cancer is a scary thing to think about.  To me, it's crazy to think that someone fairly close to my age needs an oxygen tank everywhere she goes.  She was diagnosed when she was 13.  That's also scary toe because I'm currently thirteen. I do find myself resisting the text when John Green talks about how young she is. 

   I also find myself resisting the text when John Green lets you a little into Hazels (the girl with cancer) parents thoughts.   When he lets us (the readers) into the parents thoughts/feelings it makes me really upset to think about how they must feel.  I do resist the text a little because its so sad. 

  Lastly, I find myself resisting the text when John Green talks about cancer medically.  When he describes anything that describes the treatment etc I resist the text.  I do this because I become squeamish.  

   All-in-all I sometimes find myself resisting the text.  Resisting the text happens occasionally, especially when John Green describes things that make me feel a little uncomfortable.  

Non-Fiction critical analysis

   I read the article, "Time for a Raise" in the upfront new york times magazine. People who work in fast food restaurants, deliver newspapers, or mop a drugstore get paid only the minimum wage. Minors also get paid minimum wage and have the highest rate of unemployment.

   People who get paid minimum wage are usually those who work at fast food restaurants, deliver newspapers or mop a store. The minimum wage is currently $7.25. President Barrack Obama wants to increase the minimum wage to $10.10. Obama said, "No one who works full time in America should have to live in poverty." Minors get paid minimum wage and have the highest unemployment rate. 

   Business owners were afraid that if they had to pay the minimum wage workers more that they would have to pay all of their workers more. If the minimum wage is $10.10 everyone else will have to be paid more and again it wont be fair. But at least everyone will have enough money to live. Business owners are afraid they wont be able to pay everyone if minimum wage is raised.

   In conclusion the minimum wage should be raised to $10.10. Like Obama said no one should have to live in poverty. I hope that by 2015 Obama does higher the minimum wage. Minimum wage should be $10.10, period. 

The Fault in our Stars

     Recently I finished the book, "The Fault in our Stars", by John Green.  I absolutely loved it.  It was a heart warming and touching story.  

          (SPOILER ALERT!!!!!)

     Hazel Grace is a teenager with cancer. She meets in support group Augustus Waters and they instantly have a connection.  Hazels favorite book is, "An Imperial Affliction" and she would do anything to know the ending.  She traveled to Amsterdam with Gus (Augustus) to find out how the book ends from the author, Peter Van Houten.  Peter greatly disappoints them. He isn't how he seemed through his writing. He was an egotistical drunk.  Augustus says that he will try and make Hazel his own sequel.  Unfortunately Gus's cancer comes back. He suffers through a lot of pain. He dies after a while of this pain and suffering.  Hazel was devastated. She loved Gus.

            (END OF SPOILER!)

      All-in-all this book was really great.  If you haven't read it I recommend doing so. Also if you only made it half way through because your a slow reader, I am too, just push through and finish it.  It's really great and you'll really enjoy it! 

Blog response

I'm doing my blog response on Margo's blog post about ,"The Fault in our Stars". I chose this specific blog post because it really stood out to me.  She did a great job in doing a summary of the book.  I also read this book, and I loved it.

     If I had not read the book this post would have made me want to read it! I think that if you are doing a summary of a book, it should make people want to read the book and I believe that Margo did that.  Also, she did a good job with not giving away too much about the book (before the spoiler alert), it sounded like a blurb. It made you really want to read the book.  Even though I've already read the book I want to re-read it because Margo really captured a lot of the great moments.  Overall I think that Margo really did a great job with this blog post, I enjoyed reading it and I hope other people did too. 

     In, "The Fault in our Stars" I don't find myself resisting the text a lot.  However, when I do resist the text, it's when the author, John Green, really gets into detail about cancer.  I think that I resist the text at this point is because cancer is a scary thing to think about.  To me, it's crazy to think that someone fairly close to my age needs an oxygen everywhere she goes.  I find myself resisting the text when the author goes into depth with cancer terminology.

Argument essay

     Teens should be able to read what they want.  Books should not be banned because, then it only creates more interest about the book.  Adults however can have a slight say on the books being read.  Young adult fiction doesn't portray lies it portrays issues that are actually happening.

     Teens should be able to read what they want.  A book doesn't and shouldn't influence you to do bad things.  For example in, "Has young adult fiction become too dark" by Mary Elizabeth Williams, Williams states, "And let me further assure you, an entire generation of woman managed to devour the "Flowers in the Attic" series without having sex with their brothers.  In fact I can safely say that many of us read "Lace" and "Baldwin", and the one didn't rot out the others we read as teens continue to do now, to be moved to fall in love with characters, to learn and to sometimes just explore the things that scared and fascinated us." Like Williams said a book hasn't influenced anyone to do anything bad and so no book probably will.
     Books shouldn't be banned, but parents can have a slight say on what their teens read.  In, "Darkness too Visible", Meghan Cox Gurdon says, "…teen fiction can be like a hall of fun house mirrors, constantly reflecting back hideous portrayals of what life is."  Teen fiction is actually just an overview if real life issues, like self mutilation, kidnapping, pederasty, incest and brutal beatings.
     All-in-all teens should be able to read what they want.  These bad things happening in teen fiction actually happen.  Teens should be able to handle handle a book, if they can't what will life be like for them in the real world?