Jackson Baggins

Stranger Than Fiction

2008-09-24T16:44:00.000-07:00

In the movie Stranger Than Fiction the main character Harlod Krick attempts to change his fate which is his death. He slowly realizes while doing this that he can make choices but those choices only advance him further into the plot of the story i.e. his fate. He also realizes that he has never really lived his life the way he wants it to be, and that he has never really known who he is. Then finally he realizes that he cannot change his fate.

In the movie the voice of Karen Eieffel who is the author determining Harold's fate is not deciding his every move only narrating it. Harold discovers that if he does nothing the plot does not advance, Therefore keeping him further from his final fate, death. However, when he does make choices like bringing Ann Pascal flour, or learning guitar he only brings him self closer to his immanent fate.

During Harold's time trying to fix his fate he begins to realize that he may not be able to do anything about it and he should just try and make his life like the one he always wanted. Before he began to try and change his fate he was a simple man who never did anything exciting, and lived his life on a very tight schedule. When he began to live his life differently he began to have fun, and to do things he had never done before like chase a girl that he likes.

While he lives his life best during the time that he tries to change his fate, he also begins to realize there is nothing he can do to change or control his fate. His fate is not in his hands it is in Karen Eiffel's, the author's, hands. He can not change her fate only she can, she has the final say on whether he lives or dies. This movie ultimately shows that ones fate cannot be controlled by ones self.

Are our lives desided by fate?

2008-09-09T19:42:00.000-07:00

I trust that when decisions need to be made a person decides on their own with no predestination; However, I also opine That a person's DNA and life environments shape their decision to an enormous amount. The difference between a person who will jump in front of bus to save a child, and a person who will just wait for someone else to come to the rescue is colossal. Not only is their DNA different but they more than likely have grown up in to completely different environments. By developing and learning lessons in different settings they will accentuate dissimilar personality traits. For example someone who grows up in a strict household, that teaches good values may see the child in front of the bus and try and save them; however it is possible that some one who was brought up without a lot of role models, who also was not taught socially accepted things would stand back and wait for someone else to jump in front of the bus. I personally believe that fate is just an idea that can never be proven. I believe that everything that happens every day is just a random bundle of occurrences, but I can't prove that either.

Battle Royal

2008-08-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

The boxing scene in "battle royal" symbolizes how the black population was sometimes manipulated and controlled by the white population, and also represents the black population's losing battle for dignity, and what they believe is social acceptance. The white blindfold that the white men gave to the young black fighters represents how at that time the whites would manipulate and control the blacks, influencing them to do things like fight people of their same race, or automatically think of any white person as a superior, all for the white population's fake acceptance and amusement. This battle also shows that for anyone to find dignity it does not require any one's approval. The narrator thought that by doing whatever the white men asked him to do, he could say his speech, be accepted, and find dignity. However, he in fact lost any dignity he had already had by succumbing to the white man's wishes.

A Man With Very Enormous Wings

2008-08-21T05:52:00.000-07:00

I believe that the old man may not be an angle, but is definitely some sort of supernatural creature. His purpose for being in the court yard around all of these people is unclear, but I do think that the reason why he left is because he had completed his purpose with Pelyao and Elisenda, and it is possible that his purpose was to help Pelyao and Elisenda find better living conditions so that their child would live a long healthy life. I think that he may not be an angle because he did not understand Latin, the language of god, however the mere fact that he has wings, and that when the doctor, after checking him, was surprised that this man was walking around alive shows that this man is not human. Another factor that makes me believe this man with wings is a supernatural creature is his extreme patience with all of the people in the courtyard, and how he never once attacked any of them despite their unnecessary rudeness.

The Cathedral

2008-08-20T06:05:00.000-07:00

In the story, The Cathedral, the Narrators voice is male because of a few different traits. He is stubborn, jealous, and protective of his wife.
When the narrator first hears from his wife that this blind man whom she adores so much will be staying with them he says that he was not enthusiastic about his visit. The narrator's wife worked for this blind man for one summer reading things to him ten years earlier, and despite not seeing him for the past ten years they still have remained close, and have kept in touch. This relationship seems to have bothered the narrator. It seems that he holds unfair prejudices against blind people, and more than likely because of this blind mans relationship with his wife. The narrator is jealous of the amount that his wife cares for this blind man, and is protective of his wife in that he shows know excitement in welcoming this blind man in to his home.
The narrator makes the unfair assumption that because this man cannot see he is completely crippled. He acts as if having this man in his home will be a burden and wants nothing to do with it. However this blind man actually brings enlightenment to the narrator. By the end of the story the narrator respects the blind man as any other man. In the end the blind man tells the narrator to draw the rest of the cathedral with his eyes close. After doing this the narrator truly appreciated what the blind man went through every day. The narrator is stubborn because of his original unfair predictions, but in the end forgets his prejudices against the blind man.

I believe...

2008-08-17T14:56:00.000-07:00

It seems that when I am just handed something for doing nothing that I do not fully appreciate what ever it is and i eventually misplace it or forget about it. But when i work hard for what i want i learn important lessons and take good care of what i have earned and that is why i believe in earning what i get.

It is important in life to not expect things for free. I think Anything that is received for free is worthless because I have poured nothing of my self into getting it, and when I work hard for something I can usually walk away with some newly earned knowledge. In six grade I wanted a cell phone, but my parents said they would not just hand it over, they wanted some thing in return. So I struck a deal with them, if I could get straight A's they would buy me a cell phone. It was close, I barley snuck by, but in the end I walked away with a brand new cell phone, the knowledge of what procrastination can do, better writing skills, and I actually learned some stuff in my classes.

I also believe in going out and finding my own way to achieve my goals with work, and not just relying on my parents for fast cash. By working hard here and there I have learned values, self reliance, and responsibility. Earlier this summer my parents said that I would have to raise 700 dollars, for car insurance, if I would want to get my license. While I still think this was a little bogus, I now realize that by making me work for the responsibility of driving I care more for what I am doing when I am driving and in turn am a more responsible driver. There was also no last minute plea to my parents to lend me money, I had to have every cent of the 700 the day I went to get my license, they meant what they said. So I set a side my precious time with my friends during the summer and went out and did some work. No one was forcing me just my self, and that is how I gained self reliance through working.

If I do not earn what I receive I do not appreciate what it is, or understand the value of it, because if I lose it then I am just the same, and that is why I believe in earning what I get.

Your A Wizard.....

2008-08-14T19:45:00.000-07:00

"Your a wizard Harry... Im a what?"

In my opinion this line was what truly kicked of the Harry Potter phenomenon. Ever since then the Harry Potter books have been read throughout the world by children, adults, and even senior adults of all ethnicities and cultures. Harry was having his eleven birthday alone in a shack, when all of a sudden a huge half giant half wizard by the name of "Rubeus Hagrid" stumbled in to inform the clueless Harry of his true identity. Before this moment Harry had felt out of place and unwanted, He didn't know better but he had been living a boring "muggle" life. This line is significant because this is what kicks off Harry's colorful adventures. It is a complete life altering moment, Because he goes from being hated and being thought of as burden to being socially accepted and even a celebrity.