Something is Rotten in the State of BHS!

      After having viewed the three versions of Hamlet on tape, one immediately caught my attention; the Franco Zefferelli version. Because the Ken Branagh version did not accurately highlight the darkness, suspicion, and corruption of Hamlet, and the Mike Almereyda version seemed too abstract to grasp its plot and meaning, the Zefferelli version seemed to serve as a happy medium. The opening of the movie was an attention grabber as it starts off with a distant view of the castle, where flags flowed and torches burned. The solemn soldiers on horses that lined the castle inferred that something was wrong and the foreboding music that played in the background only added to the tension of the opening scene. The mood is set at dark and serious, and already made me curious as to what was happening. As the camera was brought to the Queen and showed her weeping over the body of her late husband, Zefferelli has her look up at Claudius. This one glance of the Queen can be interpreted many different ways- which is a huge reason why I enjoyed this scene so much. To add to that, the beginning of this version was so amazing because it cut right to the chase. While the real Hamlet play takes pages upon pages to set the tone, mood, and setting, Zefferelli does a phenomenal job of getting to the mystery and suspense right away. 

        In addition, the camera angles and zooming of the cameras played a crucial role in why this version is my favorite. For instance, when Claudius is speaking to Hamlet about being his father, there is a prominent shadow that hides half of his face; a symbol of his masked corruption. Also, whenever extreme emotion is displayed by a character, the camera zooms in on them, emphasizing the importance of their feelings.

     As far as characters go, I feel as though Mel Gibson made for the best Hamlet out of all the three versions. Also, Claudius' character has a natural suspicion to him that complements the true corruptness of his character. Although all three versions were interesting and a tribute to Shakespeare's ingeniousness, the Franco Zefferrli version definitely blew the other two away.

The Lost Art of Letter Writing: Daisy -> Gatsby

Dearest Jay,

     I know that when I was younger, I had many dates and was in many relationships, however the one we had was different than all the others. I will never forget the heart beat that danced around in my chest that one October afternoon. As we sat in my white roadster, I felt deep inside of me that you were the one. My feelings were like clay; molded into something that became solid over time. Although war came between us five long years ago, I can not hide the fact that your presence was noted everyday in my thoughts. Sometimes, at night, I wonder what my life would be like if I would have married you and not Tom.

     I lay awake some nights finding myself disgusted with the man I call my husband, the father of my child. The night before my wedding was the roughest of them all.The letter you wrote me only solidified my desire to be called your wife, but as the letter, the last physical memory I had left of you disintegrated, so did my hope. I needed to move on, Jay; I did not want to, but I had to. With that thought in mind, I made the biggest mistake of my life in marrying Tom. I wish you were my husband, Jay, I wish I could spend the rest of my life with you, but it is not that easy. I love you so much, and I always have. I hope and pray every night that we will once again be able to be together, as our love has been rekindled recently. I admire you and your home and your way of life. Hopefully we can share our ways of life one day.

                           Love always and forever, Daisy <3

What's really happening in Chapter Three?

Passage 1
"In his blue gardens, men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars"

 During Gatsby's party, Nick gives the reader an unclear understanding as to what the guests there are doing. This passage is a perfect example as to how a figure of speech masks the true meaning of what is really going on. As Nick compares the men and girls to moths, it can be implied that they repeatedly leave the blue garden, only to  return once again; as moths perform the same actions with lights. However, in this case, the "light" that continually attracts these "moths" includes the gossip of the people in the garden. (whisperings) In addition, the "light" is also associated with the stars, but includes champagne, an illegal aspect of the party, too. This passage makes the fact that people are addicted to gossip and alcohol seem like a positive aspect, rather than the real negativity of it all.

Some facts about me

-Monkeys are my favorite animals.

-I don't eat anything purple.

-I could live on pickles.

-I'm petrified of spiders, feet, and mayo. :x

-I could bake all day.

-I LOVE the color green.
-I'm vice president of Key Club.

-The sound of rain puts me to sleep.

-I play basketball, but i love all sports.