Much Ado About Nothing

William Shakespeare's play 'Much Ado About Nothing' is a comedy written for all class levels of people. Like most of Shakespeare's plays the story line is similar in ways to his other creations. This play in particular though, has several characters that share some characteristics.
To begin with, the women named Beatrice is an important part of 'Much Ado About Nothing'. She is Hero's cousin; they are so close they could be sisters. Beatrice is also the niece of Leanoto; who is the Governor of Messina, Italy. She is very smart, but is known for her wittiness. Beatrice is very sarcastic whether it be positive, or negative. It seems like she is almost afraid to love someone because she does not want to get hurt, or no one is good enough for her. Deep down inside she actually loves this man named Benedick, but shows her feelings for him by saying she can't stand him. Beatrice only knows how to express herself jokingly, through sarcasm.
Secondly, Benedick comes from the princes' side. He is very much like Beatrice in the sense that he too is very sarcastic. Benedick is mostly, only sarcastic towards Beatrice because of how she treats him. He is not always making the mean, sometimes funny comments. Benedick also shows his feelings for Beatrice by making her, and everyone else think that he dislikes her. Beatrice is related to Hero, and because of that Benedick does not think highly of her either. Benedick is friends with Don Pedro, the prince of Messina, and Lord Claudio. He is against marriage, and says that he will never marry.
In Addition to, both Benedick, and Beatrice have quite a bit in common leaving very little to contrast. Their excuse for fighting all of the time could simply be that they are so much alike that that is why they don't get along. Beatrice, and Benedick are caring, and they hide their emotions for each other by being rude to one another. Although, Benedick is only that way towards Beatrice, and shes quick to say things like that all of the time. They both don't think too much of marriage, but in the end they get together, and plan on marrying. As is turns out they never stopped liking each other. The whole thing was like being in grade school all over again.
To conclude, as I mentioned before this play has many characters with the same role, or attitudes. In this case, between Benedick, and Beatrice they have so many comparisons that they can't stand each other. They all live happily ever after married, everyone gets along, and the bad guy is severely punished.

Lessons learned, and memories from A Separate Peace

Lessons learned form reading A Separate Peace for the most part include taking precautions before you do anything whether it be on impulse, or if it was planned. For instance Finny's falling out of the tree was because of an impulse Gene had at that moment. Things that you think would never happen to you do when you take life for granted. Wars are violent, chaotic, and usually misunderstood events that affect everyone. Especially those who have the courage to serve for their country. Lepellier came back into town in a mental state; he had gone crazy stressing over being in the army. One of the things I will remember most about this novel is that competition definitely takes a tole on people. It is good, but in a moderation. Competition helps people grow whether they improve from a win or loss. Another thing I will remember most is that Finny fell out of the tree because of Gene, and he broke his leg. Then Finny re broke his leg by falling down the stairs, and dies during surgery because some marrow escaped into his blood stream and went directly to his heart. Out of all the characters you would never imagine that it would be Finny all of this happened to because of his athletic ability, and how perfect he was at everything. This brings me back to my point; don't take life for granted because anything is possible.

Analysis of ASP ch.1-5

The characters Gene and Finny from the book "A Separate Peace" have a pretty decent friendship. They get along well, but they are complete opposites in every part of life. Finny is a natural athlete. He does not have to try hard, and he still wins. To where Gene is more modest about his athletic ability. As far as school, and studies go Finny really does not show and effort in either. He is more adventurous, and works on distracting Gene because "somebody has to waste his time". Gene is a hardworking student; he is the leader in class, and is much more focused. Finny is also famous for bending every ones rules, and making his own. He is such a good convincer so he likes to see what he can get away with, and he constantly talks himself out of trouble. Over all Finny is laid back, and Gene goes with the flow, but Finny's outlook on life is based on living in the moment, and not worrying about the future because he knows he can get anything. Gene is planning on being something major in life, but he is competitive with out taking so many risks.


Gene and Finny need each other in a way. Although,Gene feels like Finny is purposely attracting all of the attention so he can be higher up on the pedestal. He believes that Finny is knowingly pulling him away from his studies so they can't be 'even'. God-for-bid if Gene was actually better than Finny at something. To Gene it feels like a game; as if they were trying to weigh each other out all the time. One major conflicting feeling Gene has towards Finny is basically pure jealously. He feels like anything he accomplishes Finny's right there trying to top it off, and usually does. Not too long after Gene begins to feel like this; he understands the real Finny, and how he thinks. When Gene realizes that Finny meant no harm in any of his actions he felt bad for thinking so wrongly of his friend, but was relieved. Finny just thought that good grades came easily to Gene; he did not realize that he worked hard for them. Gene also begins to see that when Finny wins at anything he does not brag, or rub it in. He is very civil about the matter.

In my opinion I believe that Gene is more emotionally mature compared to Finny because of their actions, and the way they look, and think about different things. It seems like Finny does not make a big deal out of the things he should. For instance when he broke the 100 yard swimming record, or even when he shattered his leg when he fell out of the tree. Finny does not like to deal with his problems so he brushes them off by acting like there not a big deal. He is also more laid back about life, and does not think about what he is going to do in the future. Finny is a live in the moment type of guy. On the contrary, Gene is more mature about things, and he handles them better. Gene is more focused on school, and he gets good grades. He is a class leader, and plans on being something major in life. However, Gene is not real serious he is spontaneous, and competitive in a good way without letting it go to his head. He just does not take as many risks as Finny does.

TCOT essay test # 4

The plot of "Three Cups of Tea" is similar to a mountain climb; I even thought that when I was reading it. In the beginning of the book it talks about Mortenson trying to summit K2, the second tallest mountain in the world. He has many problems occur during his long voyage. From natural disasters, to getting lost, and separated from the group leaving Mortonson without supplies for days.
To begin with, when Mortenson came across the small village of Korphe, and learned about how they had no schools, supplies, or even teachers to help educate the children he was appalled. He could not believe his own eyes; so he made a promise to the village's chief that he would come back and build them a school. It took Mortenson years to raise the money and get back to Pakistan to start building the school. That and buying the supplies, and getting them to where he wanted the school was a great struggle. Mortonson ran into several problems with people, money issues,or not enough of this, or that. When all said and done Mortonson accomplished his goal, and he ended up descending the mountain of obstacles as things ran more smoothly, and several more schools were built to help educate children.
The actual mountain climb, and the twists and turns of building the first school relates to the plot of the story because it too was like a mountain climb. When somebody first suggested to Mortenson that he should make a book he was thinking that was impossible, and he did not even know how to start. When he finally got with someone to write the book it took so long to put it together, and it was real stressful. All of the events in the book were hard to place in an understandable order because so much went on; a lot was said and done. From Mortenson traveling village to village, and back and forth between countries; along with a bunch of cities that were mentioned though out. It was hard as a reader to keep up with, and to understand the book, therefore I would defiantly consider "Three Cups of Tea" a book full of ups and downs literally and mentally because it was so hard to comprehend.

TCOT essay test # 3

Reading this book had affected the way I look at my education. To start with I am very grateful that girls are allowed to have an education here in the U.S. I could not begin to imagine how life would be if I were illiterate. Going to school and getting and education is one of the most important things in order to have a lifelong, rewarding career. Especially in the United States, you don't have much of a chance of getting a job unless you prefer to do fast food for the rest of your life.
Another reason why after reading this book has changed the way I look at my education is the fact that we actually have buildings to attend school in. When I read that they were outside in the cold weather scratching their lessons in the dirt with sticks I could not believe it. I had to reread that paragraph just to make sure. In Pakistan they don't have supplies either so it did not surprise me that the more "fortunate" children had a slab that they wrote on with sticks dipped in mud. What a great upgrade.
To conclude, I am very proud that I live in a free country, and that I don't have to worry about being left out of a great opportunity base on my gender. I'm grateful that here in America there are schools, supplies, and laws that don't discriminate against gender, and they keep everyone in line. Even if families can't afford to send their children to school there is still help to ensure that everyone has a chance at an education. Although I am happy to find out that Mortenson's plan had worked. Now all of those children in the remote parts of Pakistan can have a chance at something else in life besides farming.

~ Into Thin Air ~

In the story "Into Thin Air" there were so many problems that you easily lost count. So many things happen, and very few of them were positive ; most ended in a tragedy. To start with,the intolerable weather conditions that these people endured during the time they were on their journey. Their goal was to summit Mount Everest, the worlds tallest mountain which rises to a point a little higher than 29,000 feet. The higher they travel up the mountain the more extreme the weather gets. The oxygen level is so poor that climbers make irrational decisions. 26,000 feet is considered the 'Death Zone'. Winds were so fierce that they sounded like 747 jet planes, also the winds were so harsh towards the climbers that it felt like they were being whipped. With extremely low temperatures and a windchill of minus a 100 degrees ice accumulated on their faces, and if they did not clean it of regularly it could become frostbite. Other problems were that because of the weather peoples health was greatly affected. There were so many injuries. Some people had frostbite so bad that they had to get amputations. Many were sleep deprived; some were even beyond help because they went in, and out of consciousness. On top of that, things got worse when people got lost because they were separated from their group. Many people were found dead ,and some bodies were never recovered; they more than likely had fallen into a abyss, or they could of been buried by heaps of snow. The progress of the trip was slow because of the bad weather conditions, and rough terrain. This voyage was longer than most people could endure. There were definitely not many camps to rest in. Many in this story made it to the summit but had lost their lives making their decent. One man named Hall died the night after he talked to his wife; they were expecting their first child together. Hall was a determined man, with a high tolerance to pain. It was too bad that he had died doing something he enjoyed so much.

What does this mean? (To me)

"Even an ordinary person can in a small way turn on a tiny light in a dark room."

When something small is done to the advantage of everybody the ripple effect takes place. Soon they are following, and helping others too. You may become the leader or even their hero. Sometimes even the slightest change can make a difference for many people.