Thoughts on "Babylon Revisited" (CC)

        Out of all of the short stories we have read so far this month, my favorite is, by far, "Babylon Revisited". I really enjoyed the character development, as well as the overall plot. Charlie's actions and thoughts show us that he truly has changed from who he was long ago. While his sister-in-law may have her suspicions, we, as the readers, know that Charlie really does want to take his daughter back and become a responsible and worthy parent. I really didn't like Marion's character. I can understand that she wants what's best for Honoria, but I can't ignore the fact that she doesn't give second chances. The moment Charlie made a mistake (the locking-his-wife-out-in-the-heart-of-winter incident), Marion's image of him was tainted eternally. She lost all faith in the idea that he could become responsible and worthy of his wife and daughter, and took out her anger by keeping Honoria from going to stay with her father. Even when she did start to give in, a single occurrence that wasn't even Charlie's fault took away the glimmer of trust that had started to grow within her and shrouded her in doubt and stubbornness once more. Speaking of that occurrence, I was even more frustrated with Duncan and Lorraine than Marion -- mostly Lorraine. Lorraine was so tied to the past experiences she had shared with Charlie that she failed to see how he had changed and therefore kept pushing towards him in fruitless attempts at getting her way. Her and Duncan were the final straw that set off Marion. All three of these characters were so troublesome to Charlie's reunion with his daughter that I almost wanted to rewrite the story and give it a happier ending by leaving Duncan and Lorraine out completely.
        The part of the story I liked the best was the second section where Charlie is having lunch with Honoria and they attempt to get to know each other a bit better. I thought this part was simply adorable, with Honoria and her father conversing in a playful manner at first, and then delving into deeper thoughts -- like Honoria's mother. You can tell in this scene that all Honoria wants is to be with her father, as well as the fact that Charlie is, indeed, up for the challenge of becoming her actual guardian. That's why I was so sad in the end when it was determined that it could never be, that Marion would not put Honoria under Charlie's care. Charlie struggled throughout the entire story, simply striving to find a way to make amends with Marion so that he could finally live together with his daughter, and all of his efforts were simply slammed into a wall. The problem was never resolved, and that made me sad. I really liked the story line and the way it was written, I just wish the ending could have been happier.
        Well, that concludes my thoughts on "Babylon Revisited", as well as my blog posts for AP Lit. One more week to go, guys. Hang in there! :)

Rainy Days Can Be Beautiful Too (CM)

     

        Rain. One of the most common forms of precipitation in the world. Many people dismiss it as an inconvenience or something that simply dampens the mood. Compared to songs like "Singing in the Rain" that actually appreciate the importance of the rain, how many more songs signify rain as a form of burden or hardship? A lot. That's for sure. The "sadness" of rain is used frequently in movies - especially with deaths. I've seen so many movies that have a graveyard scene shot in the middle of a rain storm. Yes, it enhances the sadness.  Yes, the majority of people seem to be quite a bit gloomier on cloudy days. Yes, people tend to say that it's beautiful outside when the sun is shining high in a blue sky. But even so, can't rain be beautiful too?
        Today, as you all know, was quite a rainy day. At no hour did the sun shine too brightly behind the mass of darkened clouds above. I heard many comments at school about how frustrating rain is to some people, phrases like, "Aggghh. It's still raining?", "Why does it have to be so gross out?", and just plain "I hate rain". Well, on the contrary, I love rain. So much. It is literally my favorite form of precipitation. You want to know why? I, unlike the majority of the population, find it truly beautiful - even more so than a bright, sunny day. Little drops of water falling from the sky? It's like the world is raining tears of joy. The feeling of rain on your skin ("Unwritten" anyone?) is revitalizing, giving you a burst of energy with its chilling touch. And how could I leave out the fresh, comforting smell of rain as you stand beneath its misty blanket? I've come to associate that smell with Spring. New growth, new beginnings, new adventures to come.
        When you were a little kid, didn't you ever go out in the rain and splash around in the puddles? I sure did. I also loved jumping on the trampoline. The water made it bouncier and a whole lot more fun. I only had to be weary of thunder, because jumping on a trampoline in the middle of a thunderstorm may not be the best idea one can think of. However, when it does storm, turning off all of the lights and watching the magnificence of it all unfold through the window is another common hobby for those of us who appreciate rain and all it brings with it. Have you ever taken a nice, long walk in the rain? I did just today. In fact, I brought no umbrella. I hardly ever do. I don't feel the need to walk through life trying to avoid something so simple, yet majestic as rain. It is so refreshing to walk down glistening streets and just listen to the sounds of raindrops hitting the pavement. The peacefulness of a rainy day will always make me smile.
        To sum things up, who cares if you get soaking wet? Rain is fun and perplexing, a part of the world that we have always known and accepted. Even if people find it saddening or frustrating at times, they should at least be able to recognize it for what it is. Beautiful.

The Impact of Acting on the Actors Themselves (FW)

       Okay, so I know that I talk way too much about music and acting in my Free Write Posts - it's just who I am. Plus I can't ever think of other things I want to write about. Well, lately I've been feeling quite nostalgic as two weeks ago I performed in my last musical at Black River. I've been in plays and musicals at this school since fifth grade, and they've really shaped me into the person I am today.
        So, what I wanted to talk about was how important I think acting truly is, for the audience, yes, but also for the performers themselves. Let me explain. At least for me, there's no doubt that I love watching musicals and plays performed by others, but in all honesty, I find much more enjoyment in participating in plays myself. The feeling you get when you perform like that - it's just amazing. Being up on stage is something that is a reward in itself. That's why so many people choose to be in shows that don't pay them any money. They do it because they love to act. It allows them to express themselves in such a way that both the audience and the performers enjoy. I don't know much about the experience of performing professionally (like in movies or TV shows, etc.) but I know for sure that all forms of acting productions have huge impacts on the audience (of course), but even more so on the actors themselves.
       I honestly love plays and musicals. They allow actors to continuously hone their skills in both dramatic techniques, as well as in memorization. When I was in eighth grade, I didn't get into the musical Grease that our school put on. The next year, the choir directors switched halfway through the year and we therefore had no musical. At this point, I was so stressed out because I didn't have any lines to memorize. I know this may sound weird to some of you, but not having anything to memorize can be devastating for some people. It makes you feel like your mind is out of shape and needs a work-out to regain its full capacity. That's why I ended up getting involved with the Holland Civic Theatre that year. It felt so good to have something to memorize and block out again. Luckily, those were the only two years I didn't participate in a show at BR.
        It's also the people you meet along the way that draw actors to their hobby. Being involved in a show usually causes you to grow close to the cast you are working with. That's also why no show is ever the same experience. Different people are involved and it's always so sad on closing night when you realize that you may not ever be in a show with these exact same people again. I'm sure there are casts that some people can't stand to be around, but I've been fortunate enough to have great people to work with in all of the productions I've been in so far.
        Sometimes I wonder why I love acting so much. I guess it's because something about becoming a different person - a character in a story - is just so intriguing to me. You end up getting so enveloped by that new persona that they almost become a part of you. Sometimes they even effect your daily life. For instance, after playing Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz, I couldn't stop saying things with "Oh" in them because I said them so much in the play (seriously, I said "Oh my!" and "Oh dear!" and just plain "Oh!" like fifty times in that show). I still, to this day, say "Oh my goodness!" instead of saying "Oh my gosh" like I used to before tenth grade. Another example is how in the months before performing "The Boyfriend", me and my friends would always accidentally say certain phrases in a British accent before realizing that we were doing it. The things we pick up from plays...
        Okay, so by now I'm probably boring you from going on a tangent about the impacts of acting on actors, so I'll leave it at that for now. For any of you who haven't participated in any theatrical productions, I challenge you to do so sometime in the future. Acting is one amazing experience. It may seem strange or hard if you've never really done it before, but you never know, maybe you're amazing at acting and you never knew because you never tried. Haha! Well, I'll stop writing now. :)