To begin with, I don’t like to write, and I don’t like to read classic literature. So, when I had to register for Eng 102 (it is the last general education class that I needed to take, therefore I had no choice) the first thing I did was to find out what textbook is required. Most students choose classes according to schedule or professors. But not me, I choose a class according to the textbook. For instance, when I saw “Coraline” by Neil Gaiman, on the bookstore website for an English 102 class; I registered, and then I worked my other classes around that class. I am glad I did, because Professor Smith’s class is a unique experience.
For instance, the English class is themed around the supernatural, which is one of my favorite genres of novels and films. Also the class is taught on a microcomputer, the main form of writing in this class is blogging; which allowed me to go in depth with my writing, because I had the World Wide Web at my fingertips, and besides blogging made the class fun. In addition, blogging brings us into the future of learning and most important it helps us save the planet by not handing in hard copies of essays and buying a bulky textbook. But it was not all fun and games, it was just well disguised.
The many assigned essays was to identify various themes onarchetypes, tones, symbolism, literacy theory and monomyth; I, analyzed literary works ranging from narrative poems such as, “Goblin Market” to lyric poems such as, “Orchard Pit” Also I analyzed lyrics from the song “The Stairway to Heaven”we even watched the film “Spirited Away”. Furthermore, for my final research project I learned how to use Xtranormal text-to-movie program. I created a short film based on the “The Tale-Tell Heart”. Also, I took a heroic myth self-test, my results was the archetype altruist, which I had the opportunity to further research and to post numerous blogs entries on my findings.
In addition, Professor Smith’s lovely wife, Dr. Ximena Gallardo C. graced us for a guest lecture on the one thing that I dreaded the most and something I had no desire to read, Shakespeare. However, her enthusiasm for Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” rubbed off on me and I learned that I enjoyed reading the classic literature. Like the old saying goes, “Ignorance is Bliss”, but willful ignorance is just plain dumb. So, the one thing I was trying to avoid is the one thing I enjoyed most. I might even take an English (ENG266) course which examines Shakespeare’s writings.
Secondly, before this class I never heard of Joseph Campbell or “The Power of the Myth" and “The Hero’s Journey”. Campbell’s theories are that we have a“Hero’s Quest” in our life that we have to complete. Also, he claims that most “heroes” do not know the purpose of their journey, so, they go through life searching for clues of their fate and the “Call to Adventure”. The monomyth makes perfect sense when applied to our life, many books and films. For example, just the other day I watched a Disney movie and I found myself listing all the elements of the hero journey. I will never watch a film or read a book without thinking about the Monomyth.
Third, I learned many new things in this English class. For instance, the final project from Joseph Moneymaker was interesting because it included a look in different cultures and customs from around the world. Joseph did a good job explaining about the roots of the rebellious movement called Capoeira. I find out that the dance originated in Brazil as entertainment then evolved into a form of self-defense against the slave masters. Also, Capoeira is seen as a multicultural dance that was adapted by many tribes in Africa. Besides, I was most impressed by his presentation, because he showed his passion for the martial arts dance of Capoeira by doing some somersaults in such a small area.
Lastly, all things must come to an end, everyone loves the end of the semester and I'm certainly no exception. However, this is one of the few classes I actually enjoyed and didn't mind doing the many assignments. It might have been because I was blogging all my essays and it did not seem like a chore. Or maybe was it the supernatural theme? Or maybe was it the Professor?
As a final point, I think that teaching is a noble calling, and is something that has lasting value beyond one semester. Thank you, Professor. C. Jason Smith. I enjoyed your class; and also I had the benefit of learning many new things that I will take on my very own “Hero’s Journey”.
Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was born in Massachusetts, but was orphaned young when his mother died and his father abandoned him, he was adopted by John and Frances Allan, of Richmond, Virginia. His career of storytelling began with an anonymous collection of poems. He was part of the American Romantic Movement as a writer and poet; most of his tales was of mystery and had many symbols of death. Most of his work is dark macabre horror stories and brooding poems. And in my opinion his horror stories are some of the best ever written, his writing is imaginative and unforgettable; he will remain as a master of suspense for centuries to come. Poe's stories and poems, tap on the window of your conscious and unconscious thoughts with symbolism and archetypes. He was the first to create the detective story and the psychological thriller. In addition, if you never read any of his work, do so. But, be warned; make sure you have enough time to read the entire story at one sitting, because you will not be able to put it down.
The short story from Edgar Allan Poe "The Tell-Tale Heart" was first published in 1843. The story is a horror and psychological thriller told from a first-person perspective. The main plot of the story is a psychological portrait of a "mad" narrator who insists he is sane but suffering from a disease (nervousness) which causes "over-acuteness of the senses". Then he kills the old man and afterwards hears his victim's relentless heartbeat. (The classic version is at the end of this entry).
My adaptation is based on the 1843 classic by Edgar Allan Poe "The Tell-Tale Heart" and was created using Xtranormal text-to-movie online program. I typed the script and used the drag and drop animation system; which brings my characters to life. In addition, I had a choice of movie sets, characters and camera angles.
PART 1
PART 2
THE TELL-TALE HEART by Edgar Allan Poe
True! --nervous --very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses --not destroyed --not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily --how calmly I can tell you the whole story.
It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night. Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture --a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees --very gradually --I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.
Now this is the point. You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded --with what caution --with what foresight --with what dissimulation I went to work! I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him. And every night, about midnight, I turned the latch of his door and opened it --oh so gently! And then, when I had made an opening sufficient for my head, I put in a dark lantern, all closed, closed, that no light shone out, and then I thrust in my head. Oh, you would have laughed to see how cunningly I thrust it in! I moved it slowly --very, very slowly, so that I might not disturb the old man's sleep. It took me an hour to place my whole head within the opening so far that I could see him as he lay upon his bed. Ha! would a madman have been so wise as this, And then, when my head was well in the room, I undid the lantern cautiously-oh, so cautiously --cautiously (for the hinges creaked) --I undid it just so much that a single thin ray fell upon the vulture eye. And this I did for seven long nights --every night just at midnight --but I found the eye always closed; and so it was impossible to do the work; for it was not the old man who vexed me, but his Evil Eye. And every morning, when the day broke, I went boldly into the chamber, and spoke courageously to him, calling him by name in a hearty tone, and inquiring how he has passed the night. So you see he would have been a very profound old man, indeed, to suspect that every night, just at twelve, I looked in upon him while he slept.
Upon the eighth night I was more than usually cautious in opening the door. A watch's minute hand moves more quickly than did mine. Never before that night had I felt the extent of my own powers --of my sagacity. I could scarcely contain my feelings of triumph. To think that there I was, opening the door, little by little, and he not even to dream of my secret deeds or thoughts. I fairly chuckled at the idea; and perhaps he heard me; for he moved on the bed suddenly, as if startled. Now you may think that I drew back --but no. His room was as black as pitch with the thick darkness, (for the shutters were close fastened, through fear of robbers,) and so I knew that he could not see the opening of the door, and I kept pushing it on steadily, steadily. I had my head in, and was about to open the lantern, when my thumb slipped upon the tin fastening, and the old man sprang up in bed, crying out --"Who's there?" I kept quite still and said nothing. For a whole hour I did not move a muscle, and in the meantime I did not hear him lie down. He was still sitting up in the bed listening; --just as I have done, night after night, hearkening to the death watches in the wall.
Presently I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was the groan of mortal terror. It was not a groan of pain or of grief --oh, no! --it was the low stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe. I knew the sound well. Many a night, just at midnight, when all the world slept, it has welled up from my own bosom, deepening, with its dreadful echo, the terrors that distracted me. I say I knew it well. I knew what the old man felt, and pitied him, although I chuckled at heart. I knew that he had been lying awake ever since the first slight noise, when he had turned in the bed. His fears had been ever since growing upon him. He had been trying to fancy them causeless, but could not. He had been saying to himself --"It is nothing but the wind in the chimney --it is only a mouse crossing the floor," or "It is merely a cricket which has made a single chirp." Yes, he had been trying to comfort himself with these suppositions: but he had found all in vain. All in vain; because Death, in approaching him had stalked with his black shadow before him, and enveloped the victim. And it was the mournful influence of the unperceived shadow that caused him to feel --although he neither saw nor heard --to feel the presence of my head within the room.
When I had waited a long time, very patiently, without hearing him lie down, I resolved to open a little --a very, very little crevice in the lantern. So I opened it --you cannot imagine how stealthily, stealthily --until, at length a simple dim ray, like the thread of the spider, shot from out the crevice and fell full upon the vulture eye. It was open --wide, wide open --and I grew furious as I gazed upon it. I saw it with perfect distinctness --all a dull blue, with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones; but I could see nothing else of the old man's face or person: for I had directed the ray as if by instinct, precisely upon the damned spot. And have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but over-acuteness of the sense? --now, I say, there came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I knew that sound well, too. It was the beating of the old man's heart. It increased my fury, as the beating of a drum stimulates the soldier into courage.
But even yet I refrained and kept still. I scarcely breathed. I held the lantern motionless. I tried how steadily I could maintain the ray upon the eve. Meantime the hellish tattoo of the heart increased. It grew quicker and quicker, and louder and louder every instant. The old man's terror must have been extreme! It grew louder, I say, louder every moment! --do you mark me well I have told you that I am nervous: so I am. And now at the dead hour of the night, amid the dreadful silence of that old house, so strange a noise as this excited me to uncontrollable terror. Yet, for some minutes longer I refrained and stood still. But the beating grew louder, louder! I thought the heart must burst. And now a new anxiety seized me --the sound would be heard by a neighbour! The old man's hour had come! With a loud yell, I threw open the lantern and leaped into the room. He shrieked once --once only. In an instant I dragged him to the floor, and pulled the heavy bed over him. I then smiled gaily, to find the deed so far done. But, for many minutes, the heart beat on with a muffled sound. This, however, did not vex me; it would not be heard through the wall. At length it ceased. The old man was dead. I removed the bed and examined the corpse. Yes, he was stone, stone dead. I placed my hand upon the heart and held it there many minutes. There was no pulsation. He was stone dead. His eve would trouble me no more.
If still you think me mad, you will think so no longer when I describe the wise precautions I took for the concealment of the body. The night waned, and I worked hastily, but in silence. First of all I dismembered the corpse. I cut off the head and the arms and the legs. I then took up three planks from the flooring of the chamber, and deposited all between the scantlings. I then replaced the boards so cleverly, so cunningly, that no human eye --not even his --could have detected any thing wrong. There was nothing to wash out --no stain of any kind --no blood-spot whatever. I had been too wary for that. A tub had caught all --ha! ha! When I had made an end of these labors, it was four o'clock --still dark as midnight. As the bell sounded the hour, there came a knocking at the street door. I went down to open it with a light heart, --for what had I now to fear? There entered three men, who introduced themselves, with perfect suavity, as officers of the police. A shriek had been heard by a neighbour during the night; suspicion of foul play had been aroused; information had been lodged at the police office, and they (the officers) had been deputed to search the premises. I smiled, --for what had I to fear? I bade the gentlemen welcome. The shriek, I said, was my own in a dream. The old man, I mentioned, was absent in the country. I took my visitors all over the house. I bade them search --search well. I led them, at length, to his chamber. I showed them his treasures, secure, undisturbed. In the enthusiasm of my confidence, I brought chairs into the room, and desired them here to rest from their fatigues, while I myself, in the wild audacity of my perfect triumph, placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim.
The officers were satisfied. My manner had convinced them. I was singularly at ease. They sat, and while I answered cheerily, they chatted of familiar things. But, ere long, I felt myself getting pale and wished them gone. My head ached, and I fancied a ringing in my ears: but still they sat and still chatted. The ringing became more distinct: --It continued and became more distinct: I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling: but it continued and gained definiteness --until, at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears. No doubt I now grew very pale; --but I talked more fluently, and with a heightened voice. Yet the sound increased --and what could I do? It was a low, dull, quick sound --much such a sound as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I gasped for breath --and yet the officers heard it not. I talked more quickly --more vehemently; but the noise steadily increased. I arose and argued about trifles, in a high key and with violent gesticulations; but the noise steadily increased. Why would they not be gone? I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observations of the men --but the noise steadily increased. Oh God! what could I do? I foamed --I raved --I swore! I swung the chair upon which I had been sitting, and grated it upon the boards, but the noise arose over all and continually increased. It grew louder --louder --louder! And still the men chatted pleasantly, and smiled. Was it possible they heard not? Almighty God! --no, no! They heard! --they suspected! --they knew! --they were making a mockery of my horror!-this I thought, and this I think. But anything was better than this agony! Anything was more tolerable than this derision! I could bear those hypocritical smiles no longer! I felt that I must scream or die! and now --again! --hark! louder! louder! louder! louder!
"Villains!" I shrieked, "dissemble no more! I admit the deed! --tear up the planks! here, here! --It is the beating of his hideous heart!"
After hours upon hours of editing and creating; and also a few mishaps, such as, my Xtranormal video processing for hours and making my computer freeze, as a result I had to reboot my laptop a few times! I had this problem for days (and also many hives) until I realized the file was to big for my computer's RAM of 2 GB. So, to solve the problem I divided my video into 2 parts. IT WORKED. I am finally done with the Xtranormal mini movie of the Tell-Tale Heart. I am now in the process of unloading to my Blog. My blog should be ready for viewing in a couple of days.
As a final note: I should have done a research essay instead!! Live and Learn!
I Watched an adaptation of "The Tell-Tale Heart"; 1991 version of Edgar Allan Poe's tale about an evil eye, madness and murder starring Michael Sollazzo and Robert E. Reynolds.
In addition, I watched a 2008 modern day version inspired by Edgar Allen Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart", the title of the movie is "Tell-Tale", starring Josh Lucas. The movie was a pretty good spin-off of the original story by Poe, new plot, and a few good twists throughout the movie, the story line is different, but, has the same feel. Good movie if you like stories and poems from Poe.
When you think of a hero, what do you picture? Do you have an image of a muscular man in a spandex suit with a cape, fighting crime with his trusty sidekick? Well, that is what I always pictured. However, the hero in the book is Coraline; she is a scrawny ten year old girl with a black sarcastic cat as her helper and sidekick.”Coraline” by Neil Gaiman is a story that includes a definite hero’s journey with all elements, such as the call to adventure, departure, initiation and return. The story helps us understand the archetypal guest, and gives us a look into our own hero’s journey.
To begin with, Joseph Campbell was the first to breakdown and give names to the elements of the hero’s journey. However, the hero’s journey is an ageless story that has been around since the beginning of time. The hero’s story has been told and retold in different cultures and in countless ways. The hero’s journey started first with drawings and oral storytelling, and eventually modified and incorporated into books, films and even was adapted into “over the top” amusement parks, such as Disneyworld and Universal Studio theme parks, where the mythic elements of the hero’s journey surround you in 3-D.
Furthermore, you may ask why should we care about the hero’s journey. Monomyth does not always mean a falsehood. The hero quest is a very real representation of reality. “The Hero’s Journey,” is a pattern of birth, death, and rebirth or in other words departure, initiation and return. The elements in “The Hero Jouney” define the process and the purpose of our lives; it is your life story, your neighbors’s and even your mother’s. The story starts at birth and continues with many elements of the Hero’s quest. Such as, sometimes in our lives we are not sure which path to take or we are in the “belly of the whale” especially when we are experiencing stress, conflict with ourselves or with others. Sometimes we are the hero and other times we may be the helper in another person’s life. Many times in our life, the hero's journey reset to the beginning, and as a result we are given second chances in our journey of life (rebirth). However, in the end we all die and for those who believe, we are reincarnated (rebirth) which makes the hero's journey continue...
In addition, through literature the universal story of “The Hero Journey” lives on for us and for the next generations. For example, the monomythic stories connects us not only to those we know directly but also to all those throughout history, because we can relate to similar experiences and the power of “The Hero Journey”
One of the first elements that I have identified in “Coraline” is the call to adventure. For example, coraline is faced with the situation of her parents being kidnapped by the “other mother”. The words “help me” (53)from her trapped parents was the call and the beginning to her hero’s journey.
Moreover, in her departure, she also had the supernatural aid of the small stone with a hole. The stone came with advice from Miss Spink, she said “and be very, very careful, and don’t wear green in your dressing room (20, 21), so, Coraline took the stone and she wandered what does miss Spink mean by “danger”.
Secondly, the Initiation, 2nd movement is the descent and crossing of the threshold. Coraline enters a portal between her flat and the other world, one of the threshold guardians is the brick wall behind the locked door, but magically the wall disappears so Coraline can enter the dark version of reality, there she meets her “other mother” which is a woman as the temptress. For instance, the other mother tempts her to stay forever; she promises coraline, that she will never be bored and will never have to eat “recipe” food. Also, coraline would have all the delicious food, colorful clothes and magical toys that she could ever wish for. However, Coraline is tough minded and not a fool. So, she gathers her courage and continues to move forward on her quest.
Additionally, Coraline has to overcome the road of trail before she can continue on her hero’s journey. For example, she offers the “button eyed” mother a challenge, “an exploring game, a finding things game” (92). The gamble was her love in exchange for her real parents and the three lost souls of the children. The other mother agrees on the game.
However, the “beldam” does not play fair. For instance, she conjured up a sand storm ,dog-bats, jelly-like creatures and of course a dough faced, “grublike”(111) thing with button eyes that whispered “coralline”. All the evil things try to stop Coraline in her quest.
Lastly, Coraline overcame the obstacles, she received the ultimate boon, and she saved the three souls and her real parents and crossed the threshold for her final return. In addition, she also became the master of two worlds when she tricked the other mother’s spider-like hand into the old well which gave her the freedom to live. Most importantly, she received the well deserved attention and love from her parents. Also, Mr. Bobo had a new found respect for her, he told her that the mice said “all is good, they say that you are a savoir” (160). He even called her by her real name.
That night Coraline drifted off to sleep while being serenaded by little circus mice playing sweet music. Her hero’s journey is complete.
As a final point, we all have “The Hero’s Journey”, we might have our inner demons to fight and sometimes dreams are hard to follow. But if you look inside yourself, you will found the strength to carry on and overcome the fears of the unknown. The real hero is you, and only you can complete your personal hero’s journey.Coraline did!
Unfortunately my first ideas of creating a YouTube video of spirits or the paranormal can’t be done, because of technical problems. Such as, my Canon digital camera only shoots 30 second video clips. Also, the software I have on my PC is Roxio Creator Premier from Sonic solutions, which only creates DVDs and slideshows; therefore, videos cannot be uploaded on the internet. So, that being said, I go to my plan “B”.
I have always been a fan of anything supernatural, and thanks to Prof. Smith's embedded YouTube video on the “The Raven” by Poe. I realized my first love of stories inmysteryandhorror was back in grade school when my English teacher introduced me to the American writer, and poet EdgarAllan Poe, the rest is history.
I will create an adaptation of "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allen Poe; I will use Xtranormal , which is a text-to-movie online module that will bring the short tale to life. I will edit and crop the story to a modified 3 or 4 minutes video, which I will post on YouTube.
So far, I have created an account with Xtranormal; and, over the weekend I have made a few free test movies, so I can practice using the many tools and features. Also, I have read and reread “The Tell-Tale Heart”
The steps that I will take to complete my research project before the deadline are: preform research on Edger Allen Poe and the genre of gothic fiction. Also I will research mental diseases that cause "over-acuteness of the senses”. In addition, I will watch many videos; rent two or three of the many film adaptations of "The Tell-Tale Heart", and maybe watch a few Alfred Hitchcock classics so I can get ideas on camera shots, angles and direction.
Also, I have to decide on which parts of the story that have to be deleted in order to fit the time length of my project and to do it in such a manner, so I will not jeopardize the significance of the tale. Furthermore, the most time consuming and tedious probably will be creating the mini- movie; because, I am a perfectionist I will edit, edit and then edit again until I feel that it is done or I just ran out of time and have to meet the deadline.
The only problem I anticipate is being unable to upload the completed Xtranormal production of “The Tell-Tale Heart” on YouTube or my computer gets a virus and crashes.
I have always been interested in ghost, spirits and paranormal activity. Even though, I don't want to believe that they exist , however for some strange reason I am always pulled to the mystery of the unknown. For example, every new place I travel to, I will always arrange a ghost walking tour; I have photos of orbs from many places, such as, a Chinese cemetery in Hawaii, the haunted canals of Venice and the streets of Salem Mass. I even stayed in a haunted hotel (Hotel del Coronado in San Diego). Spooky.
In addition, my husband is the manager of a cemetery in Queens and the perks are a company car and the house. Yes, I live in a cemetery. I have never seen a ghost, but my family claim that they have seen spirits in the dark of the night. For instance, my daughter has seen a man in a fedora hat that whispers her name, my son claims that his blankets are pulled off when he is in bed. And my husband is the worst, he claims that the spirits stand over our bed or are floating in from the wall that faces the dead, and the ghostly figures are striking at him ( he strikes back ). I think my family are in a dream-like state and they are dreaming.
Also, I am a fan of the shows "Ghost Adventures" and "Ghost Hunters", and of course the movie "Paranormal Activity". So, because of my weird interest on anything spooky it makes perfect sense that I do research on ghost,spirits and the paranormal. I would like to produce a mini-movie on youtube or maybe write a haunted tale.................... I am open to any ideas on how to get started.
Lady Macbeth sleepwalking scene is the archetype of light/darkness symbol, as a matter of fact The metaphors of light and dark is maintained throughout the play, because it is known that black desires are not sensed in the dark. Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking takes place at night under the veil of darkness. However in the scene she now regrets her desires of wickedness and longing for dark. So, she carries a candle to expel the fear of darkness and evil.
Additionally, the archetypal pattern of purification by water is also essential in the scene. Water symbolizes the removal of guilt and can symbolize the cleansing of a guilty conscience; Lady Macbeth repeatedly rubs her hands together. Lady Macbeth washing her hands represents the hopes to clear her conscience by removing the "spot" from her hand, as she says, “Out, damned spot! Out, I say!” But no matter hard she tries to scrub the smell of blood, the stink remains.
Another symbol is sleep which represents innocence. Lady Macbeth can’t sleep because she have lost her innocence and is overcome with guilt. Also, Lady Macbeth speaks while sleep walking she is saying “what is done, can’t be undone” Her voice has an eerie and morbid tone, I think the tone expresses the deep anxieties that Lady Macbeth cannot handle any longer and is wrenched with guilt…
Lastly, as I searched on YouTube for scenes, I noticed that symbolism plays an important role in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. And I wish I had more time to read the entire play instead of pieces of a great story.
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth was written in 1605 or 1606 and performed at Hampton Court in 1606 for King James I of England. Macbethhas a timeless tale of the human nature. There is greed for power, murderous evil scheming, and the fight for good and evil. No wonder the play has stood the test of time.
I decided to compare two images from the production of "Macbeth"; the images show a dramatic difference on how plays or anything in general can evolve from one era in history to the other. Additionally, the two very different images show how producers have their own interpretation of the classic “Macbeth”. The opposing opinions show two different archetypes of the "weird sisters", such as, the "goddess of destiny"(the young girls from the 2006 version) as compared to the archetype of "witches"(evil red creatures from the 1827 version).
The Three Witches from Macbeth (1827) have features like a hybrid combination of women with masculine characteristics with evil red skin. Also, the image makes it hard to figure out if they are female, male or somewhere in the middle. The illustration makes me think of creatures that would live in the bowels of hell that somehow made to the surface of earth just to cause chaos among the human race.
Three Witches in 2006 version of Macbeth look more like angels with young innocence. However, the teenage girls also have mischievous look that give me the impression that evil lurks under the innocent veneer. In other words looks can be deceiving.
RIANNA FAIRES: 2.2 The Altruistic Orphan: "After taking Pearson's test I found that my dominant archetypes are Orphan and Altruist. I do see myself as an altruist but I was quite sh..."
~CHIVAS~: 2.2 The Altruist: " St. Mother Theresa (picture from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/) The Altruist type is defined by dictionary.com as, 'a person unself..."
Enoch: Blog entry 2.2: Altruist/innoncent: "My main archetypes are Altruist which is caring for others without expecting anything in return, and Innocent is a lack of guilt, with respe..."
Stefany: 2.2 Altruist Archetype: "The Archetype Altruist speaks to my senses, because I feel I am an altruist. Altruists help people in need, and help themselves. We assum..."
According to psychologist Carl Jung, the archetypes are preconscious psychic dispositions. Also, Jung states that they are innate with a permanent imprint of a possible type emerging at any given time in your life; and that they are the key to understanding human meaning and motivation.
The ways to unlock that elusive key is to see a psychologist and go through grueling hours of psychotherapy or just simply take the “The Heroic Myth Self-test”.
I prefer to take the self-test, because I can’t afford the expensive doctor bills. The heroic myth self-test is based on Carol S Pearson “The Hero within, Six Archetypes We Live by” http://www.herowithin.com/index.html.. Pearson’s guidebook interprets the archetypes and attempts to give advice on how we can gain the archetypal advantage to align what is meaningful and motivating. So, we can better use our archetypes for the greater good of our society, the world and ourselves.
The heroic myth self-test has four parts: how I see myself, how others see me, the influence of my family of origin and the influence of my workplace. After I completed the test I combined my results and came up with Altruist being my positive and orphan my negative. However, in the interest of not making my blog entry excessively long and boring, I choose to write about my positive archetype only.
The definition of the archetype Altruist, is helping behavior that is motivated by a selfless concern for the welfare of another person. However, not all helping behavior is altruism, because there are a number of possible selfish motives to help another person, such as for monetary reasons or to get “brownie” points from your boss, loved one, God and even society (Politician). The act of selfless helping has to be a true concern of the welfare for another person and also to have joy while helping that person. In addition, the altruist must have the virtue of compassion. I believe the one true meaning that reflects altruist archetype is motherhood.
I came across the beautiful poem "Mother, You Are the Greatest Gift in My Life" by Stacey Swayze. The words in the poem describe the unconditional most selfless acts one person can do for another human being. For instance, when a mother decides to make a selfless choice to become pregnant, does she not sacrifice her body for the growing fetus? Does she not give up drinking alcohol, smoking and ingesting other harmful substances, so, her child inside of her can grow and be healthy? Additionally, even though it is not common any longer as it was decades and centuries ago for mothers to die during childbirth, yet knowing that risk, the mother still would sacrifice her life for her child.
I Don't recall the first time you held me
Or when I first heard your voice
But from the first moment you held me in your arms
You made the most selfless choice
You chose to change your busy life so that my life could begin
You were my shelter from the rain, on you I could depend
You held my hand when I was afraid and helped me to mend my first broken heart
You bandaged my wounds, wiped my tears and kept me from falling apart
You loved me without question no matter what I did
You shaped me into a confident adult from such an awkward kid
Even though you're not always right beside me
Your love is matched by no other
And thank God each day for his greatest gift
Making you my mother
Moreover, it does not end with the painful childbirth, the selfless acts and sacrifices continue well into the child’s teen and adult years. For example, the mother has compassion like no other; if her child has pain physical or otherwise emotionally, the mother would literally give her right arm for her child’s pain to stop. I know I would. So, in my opinion the altruist is a mother.
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In addition, I made a collage that depicts the mothers’ undying devotion to her offspring. The photos were taken from Google images. The Archetype does not have to be of humans alone. In fact, most species from animals to the mythical mermaids will have the archetype of altruist.
Work cited:
The poem "Mother, You Are the Greatest Gift in My Life" by Stacey Swayze is from the Blue Mountain Arts publication For My Wonderful Mother “mother, you are the greatest gift in my life”.squidoo,Web.08 October 2010
Christina Rossetti was born in London,on December 5, 1830 and died December 29, 1894. Rossetti was one of four children of Italian parents. Her father was the poet Gabriele Rossetti, her brother Dante Gabriel Rossetti a painter, and she also had an older sister who was an Anglican nun. Rossetti was a devout member of Evangelical Church. She was twice sought after in marriage, but each time, because of religious reasons, she refused her suitors. In addition, she was a volunteer at the St. Mary Magdalene "House of Charity” a refuge for former prostitutes. Most of her poetry reflected topics such as death, unhappy love, religion, loss and grief. “Goblin Market”, was published in 1862.
To begin with,the plot of the narrative poem “Goblin Market” is of two sisters, Laura and Lizzie. The poem begins with them strolling though the glen, and were being mocked by goblin merchant men with animal faces to “come buy, come buy” their luscious and tantalizing fruits. Lizzie is able to resist the enticement and runs home. However, Laura is weak and succumbs to the fruits; she pays with a lock of her golden hair and a pearl tear. Laura gorges herself on the temptations but her hunger increases, instead of being satisfied. The next day, while doing her chores, her mind wanders to the goblin men and the temping fruits, thus, she hurries to end her duties. Then, Laura sets off to seek the goblins and their exotic fruits. Except, Laura can no longer hear their cry of “come buy, come buy”; and from that day forward never hears that call again. Laura starts to have withdrawal symptoms just like a drug addict does when he is taken off narcotics, you can say the fruits was her drug. Every day that passes, she grows more and more lethargic, because she refuses to eat. Laura starts to age premature and Lizzie begins to fear the worst for her sister. So, Lizzie decides to purchase the “antidote” from the goblins. However, the men refused to sell her the fruits because she did not intend to eat it herself. The evil like goblins throw her money back at her and verbally and physically “rape” her, they smear the juice and pulp of their fruit on her face. Lizzie runs home feeling used from the ordeal but hopeful. When Lizzie gets home she tells Laura to suck the juices from her face and body and says the words “Eat me, drink me, and love me”. The antidote works. Laura and Lizzie both become wives and mothers and live happily ever after.
I believe Rossetti wanted her readers to see the sacrifice that is similar to Christ's redemption of humanity's sins with Lizze being the Christ-like figure.” Eat me, drink me, love me” / Laura, make much of me” (471-72). Eat me refers to the host (body of Christ). Drink me is the the wine (blood of Christ). Furthermore, the goblins' fruit symbolizes temptations of Adam and Eve from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The fruit is detailed and is described as luscious and tempting. (5-30), the goblin is the serpent (Satan) that convinced Eve to eat from the forbidden tree. It is known that Satan has many faces just like the goblins (71-76).
At first I did not “see” the archetypes, but when I read the poem again, all of a sudden they were there... I think that Lizzie was pure and innocent, she had the most because at different parts of the poem she would act like: the virgin, exorcist, angel, guide, heroine, Samaritan, martyr, Jesus the savoir and of course the healer. The goblin men had the archetypes of many evil faces, such as, the devil, saboteur, trickster, the villain and death. Whereas Laura had the archetypes of the weak, for example: the addict, prostitute, victim, materialist (gluttony) and the shadow.
Additionally, the poem has many ideas and many different directions which made it difficult to come up with one opinion. For instance, the poem had many sexual overtones and exchanges of goods and money; which lead me to believe that Rossetti has written about prostitution (she was a volunteer in the “House of Charity” a refuge for prostitutes). Also,the poem had the biblical tale of Adam and Eve‘s temptations of the forbidden fruits (Rossetti was a devoted member of Evangelical Church).
Conversely, after reading the poem again for the third time and then taking a break from the “Goblin Market”. I went to my other studies; it just so happens that I have an exam on Developmental Psychology this week. As I was reading about Sigmund Freud, it dawned on me that the poem “Goblin Market” is about the id, ego and superego.
For instance, the characters Lizzie and Laura are one person (184-198 and 202). Laura is the Id. The id works in keeping with the pleasure principle, which Freud calls them instincts, sex drives and also wishes. The id is the devil on our shoulder. (the bad, in all of us). Lizzie is the Superego. The superego is the conscience of inner feelings like pride, shame, guilt, punishments and warnings. The superego is the angel on our shoulder (the goody, goody in all of us). The ego, unlike the id and superego functions on the reality principle. According to Freud, in a healthy person the ego is the strongest so that it can satisfy the needs of the id and also the superego, and still take into consideration the reality of every situation. But, if the id gets too strong, sexual impulses and self pleasure take over the person's life.
Finally, the entire poem seemed like struggle between id sexual urges and the superego Christ-like morals. However, in the end the ego did “restore one’s lost estate” and Laura/lizzie’s ego immerges, awoke as from a dream, and once again the personality is balanced.
Work cited:
“Character-archetypes”.” Listology,Web. 03 October 2010.
http://www.listology.com/list/character-archetypes.
“Jungarchtypes”.iloveulove,web.03 October 2010.
http://www.iloveulove.com/psychology/jung/jungarchetypes.htm
“Christina Rossetti”. Poets,Web. 02 October 2010.
http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/716
“Christina-Rossetti”.Britannica.Web.02 October 2010.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/510180/Christina-Rossetti
“Psychology 101”.Allpsych.Web.02 October 2010
http://allpsych.com/psychology101/ego.html
“Adam and Eve”. Wikipedia.Web. 02 October 2010
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_and_Eve
