Essay Reflection (Alchemist and Juluis Caesar)

Ideas and Content
While reading my Alchemist and Julius Caesar essay I found that although I have a few grammatical mistakes, my writing is almost always related to the topic and mostly makes since. In both essay I show that I know my topic well. I found that my Juluis Caesar essay was more enjoyable to read then my Alchemist because I included interesting details. In my Alchemist essay I included details, but not ones worth stating. Another place that I have grown stronger in is explaining how my quotations relate to the main idea of my paragraph. To enhance my writing I would need to work on making sure all of my information is related to the topic and reread and be sure all my writing makes since.

Organization
The alchemist essy has a much better hook then the Juluis Caesar.
“When I have been truly searching for my treasure I’ve discovered things along the way that I never would have seen had I not had the courage to try things that seemed impossible for a shepherd to achieve.” (Coelho 250). In the Alchemist, Santiago, a shepherd, dreams of a treasure at the Egyptian pyramids and decides to follow his destiny.
In my alchemist essay I start with a quote that draws the reader in and then start with my topic, however I am very disappointed with my Julius Caesar essay. In my Julius Caesar Essay I do the opposite of this and the result is that it is not as impacting on the reader.
“This essay is based on the character Cassius, from the play Julius Caesar written by Shakespeare. “Ye gods, it doth amaze me a man of such feeble temper should so get the start of the majestic world and bear the palm alone.” (Act one, scene 2 lines 127-129).”
In both my Alchemist Essay and my Juluis Caesar I have a clear thesis statement. Alchemist: Santiago is able to achieve his destiny by acting courageous, staying open-minded throughout his journey and optimistic to new adventures.
Julius Caesar: Cassius’s jealousy of Caesar and greed for power is his motivation for killing Caesar, which he justifies as an act for freedom from tyranny.
In both my Alchemist Essay and Juluis Caesar I begin with clear topic sentences for my body paragraphs. I need to improve on establishing context prior to introducing my quote in both essays and I need to work on developing good transition sentences. I tend to enjoy writing my conclusions however in the alchemist essay I introduced new ideas and therefore didn’t stay completely on topic.

Personal Growth
After re-reading my essays I found that I have made small improvements from my Alchemist essay to my Julius Caesar Essay. I improved on establishing context prior to introducing my quotes and then explaining how my quote relates to the text however I still need to work on both. I had interesting details, unlike my alchemist essay where I did include details but not ones that attract the reader’s attention.In my Alchemist essay I introduced new ideas which means I didn’t on topic and didn’t summaries my essay. In my Juluis Caesar essay I learned from writing my previous essay not to introduce new ideas and stuck to my topic. However I did have one downfall, in my Julius Caesar essay my beginning sentence, to hook the reader’s attention lacked in interest and I found that my Alchemist essay was better constructed on that part.

SLR Reflection
While constructing my essay I did a lot o f reasoning critically. For my Julius Caesar essay I needed to reason critically while picking two dominant motivation traits for the character I was focusing on, Cassius. I also needed to do the same while writing my Alchemist essay, except I needed to pick three traits that help the main character, Santino, discover his destiny. I needed to use this SLR while choosing quotes to back up my ideas and to decide how to imbed them into my paragraphs.

Cassius, motavation to kill

This essay is based on the character Cassius, from the play Julius Caesar written by Shakespeare. “Ye gods, it doth amaze me a man of such feeble temper should so get the start of the majestic world and bear the palm alone.” (Act one, scene 2 lines 127-129). Cassius does not believe Caesar is fit to rule Rome, and is becoming a tyrant. The man Cassius is referring to is Caesar. Cassius believes a “man of such feeble temper” is not fit to rule all of Rome. Cassius thinks Caesar should not hold all power. Cassius’s jealousy of Caesar and greed for power is his motivation for killing Caesar, which he justifies as an act for freedom from tyranny.

Cassuis’s motivation to kill Caesar was driven by his jealousy of Caesar. Caesar has gained more power then any other man in Rome and Cassius thinks he does not deserve it, that he is not worthy. Cassius jealousy of Caesar promotes him to start the conspiracy against Caesar and later commit his death. “What trash is Rome, what rubbish, and what offal when it serves for the base matter to illuminate so vile a thing as Caesar!” In this quote Cassius is trying to convince Brutus to join the conspiracy with him. Cassius is comparing Rome to “trash” and “rubbish” and “offal” when it “illuminates”, Caesar like Rome is a terrible place when Caesar shall be king. Cassius refers to Caesar as “a thing” which shows how much disrespect Cassius has for Caesar. Cassius calls Caesar “vile” as if Caesar repulses him. The thought of Caesar ruling is disgusting to Cassius, he is saying that if Rome lets Caesar rule, it will be complete garbage and a terrible place to live and therefore Caesar does not deserve to rule. “And this man has now become a god and Cassius must bend his body if Caesar carelessly but nod on him” Cassius still trying to convince Brutus to join the conspirators and is now showing Caesar’s weak side. Cassius is telling Brutus of the time when he saved Caesar form the waves of the Tiber because he could not save himself. Again the “man” Cassius is referring to Caesar. Cassius is referring to Caesar being a “man” not “a god” like other Romans treat him, because a god would have been able to save himself. Cassius does not think Caesar deserves to be treated like “a god”. Cassius hates that he must “bend his body”, bow to Caesar, which builds up more hate for Caesar and the power he holds but does not deserve. Caesar cannot even save himself from drowning, so why does he get to rule Rome and why must Cassius bow to him. Cassius saved Caesar from the waves of the Tiber and yet Cassius must bow to Caesar if he “carelessly but nod”, Caesar should be treating Cassius like a god, not the other way around.

Cassius greed drives him to want the most power, and therefore cannot stand if anyone else has more power than himself. Cassius’s greed drives him into wanting Caesar dead, because he has more power Cassius must kill him. “When could they say, till now, that talk’d of Rome, that her wide walks encompassed but only one man.” Cassius is explaining to Brutus why he should join the conspiracy against Caesar. “When could they say till now”, Cassius is referring to how Rome has always been a democracy “till now”, because of Caesar. Caesar is becoming a tyrant. Cassius talks of Rome’s “wide walks” meaning there is room for more then “one man” to “encompass” Rome. Meaning not only “one man”, that man being Caesar, should have all power in Rome. Cassius is trying to convey the message that Rome is meant to be democracy, however Caesar is changing that by becoming a tyrant. Cassius wants democracy so that no one rules above him. Cassius does not want anyone to have more power than him because of his greed. “That part of tyranny that I do bear I can shake off at pleasure. Again Cassius is referring to Caesar becoming a tyrant only this time he is conveying this to Casca, who at this point is also being invited into the conspiracy by Cassius. The “part of tyranny” Cassius is talking about is having less freedom, which he makes reference to being treated like you are in slavery to Casca. This shows how awful Cassius believes it will be if Caesar rules above him. Cassius does not want anyone ruling above him “that part that I do bear”, Cassius feels like he must bear that fact of someone having more power then him, like it is a struggle for him. “I can shake off with pleasure” Cassius would rather kill himself then be beneath Caesar. Cassius is saying that he would rather be dead then live with Caesar as king and that he would be miserable alive if Caesar is king. Cassius wants the most power even if he must share it. Cassius’s greed motivates him to kill Caesar, and along with it his power so that Cassius’s hunger for power is satisfied.

Cassius believes Caesar is not worthy of his power and does not want anyone to hold more power than him. His jealousy of the power Caesar holds and greed for more power drives him into starting the conspiracy against Caesar, and then leading the conspirators into committing Caesar’s death. Cassius achieves his goal of killing Caesar however Antony resumes Caesar’s place and Cassius loses all power in Antony’s new government and therefore did not achieve his real is goal. Although Cassius makes his end goal seem like a worthy deed to other conspirators, for the good of Rome, his goal was primarily for himself motivated by his jealousy and greed.

Think creatively
In my collage I used symbols and pictures. I used the world peace sign for poster and pictures of the lost boys struggles throughout their life. I put all the images of the war, the destruction, death and exile on the continent Africa, where they took place and then all the images of the boys struggle with assimilation in America, where they took place. On each of the people, surrounding the poster, I placed powerful words to help describe the 'lost boys' situation. I used creativity while creating my poster.

Reason critically
I used the powerful words in my six word memoir like “Help” “Lost” and “Ambushed, Exiled” to tell a bit about the story of the lost boys and to show how harsh their journey is. I also used some images of the war and their struggles in the US to tell their story. I used pictures from their life in Africa and placed these pictures in the continent Africa and used pictures from their assimilation to the American culture in America. Where I placed the text I used and pictures I chose highlights my personal understanding of the 'boys' situation


Communicate Effectively
My collage helps the reader understand how much difficulty these ‘boys’ have gone through. I do this by showing images of war, destruction, and the struggles in America such as grocery shopping, supporting themselves financially, finding jobs, working, being thrown into a new religion/ culture and education. However I also show images of the benefits of their journey to the US at the bottom of America to show how some lost boys have benefited from traveling to America.

Live Ethically
Along with showing how difficult the ‘lost boys’ journey has been I also use the word “Help” in my six word memoir to evoke my readers to act.

Santino, a lost boy

The "Lost Boys" life had been far from perfect, orphaned at young ages, forced to migrate and excluded. Their journey was hard and many did not survive because of the attacks from wildlife, starvation and heat from the African sun. Life at the Refugee Camps was not much better, there was still a lack of food, resources, and it was over populated. All they wanted was a chance at a better life, what they believe they would achieve in their new journey to America, where associations give lost boys the chance to start over. (an example being CALBOS)

America was nothing like what the lost boy Santino planned it to be. He struggles with money, jobs, education, mixing with other cultures and supporting himself. When the lost boys came to America they were not offered high paying jobs, Santino struggled with at the beginning with his job because he was not introduce to the technology back at the refugee camp that was used in his new work. Not only did Santino have to support himself but he also had to support his "brothers" and at one point was the only person paying full rent. Santino was not offered the opportunity to go to school because even though the lost boys ages were not known, his guessed age was not eligible for high school. Santino enrolled himself in a home video course for electricians hoping to get some sort of an education and a better job. Santino was not mixing with other cultures and instead makes close friends with the other lost boys, goes to gatherings to celebrate his religion and camp for lost boys of Sudan. Santino opens up about his struggle with feeding himself paying the rent and keeping himself alive and which also motivates him into enrolling in the home video course for electricians to sustain a better job and therefore more money. Santino went to America looking for a better life and even compares the journey to America like the "journey to heaven" but after getting there soon realizes his new life in America is far from it.

Julius Caesar- Decuis and Caesar

Calpurnia has just begged Caesar to stay home because she has had a terrible dream which she understands to be an omen of bad fortune. Caesar has just given in to Calpurnia when Decuis shows up, to take Caesar to the Senate House, and Convinces Caesar otherwise. Decuis translates Calpurnia's dream to be one of good fortune and virtue, he tells Caesar that the Nobles plan to give him the crown on that day and if he does not show, they might change their minds. This convinces Caesar into leaving with Decuis to the Senate House.

This passage is significant because Decuis manipulates Caesar into going to the Senat House with him which leads to the death Caesar. Caesar was not planning to leave on this day, because his wife Calpurnia convinces him to stay home, however when Decuis arrives he reinterprets the dream to persuade Caesar to leave. This passage Characterizes Caesar, Decuis and Calpurnia. Caesar is characterized as guilible, when Decuis so easily convinces him to come to the Senate House and arrogant when he is explaining why he is nto going out "I will not come; that is enough to satisfy the Senate." This passage also shows that he trust Decuis, considers him to be a freidn and "loves" him. Decuis is characterized as manipulative, persuasive, easily able to turn around a situation (to his benefit) and quick on his feet. Calpurnia's characterization is that she loves Caesar and is at a very vunelable state at this time, begging on her knees that Caesar will stay at home. Calpurnia's dream uses metaphors, similies foreshadowing. "She dreamt tonight she saw my staue, which like a fountain did run pure blood." The metaphor is comparing Caesar's body to a statue, running blood, the simile is comparing the statue to a fountain, and this is foreshadowing Caesar's death, the stabbing of Caesar. There is both verbal and dramatic Irony in this passage, when Decuis telling his interpretation of Calpurnia's dream he relates Caesar to a god and talks about how Caesar will bring Rome together, on that day the conspirators are going to kill Caesar and after the death of him, war begins. This passage includes multiple literary techniques and is a very significant passage in the play "Julius Caesar".




Act 2 Scene 2
lines 57-107

Decius: Caesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Caesar.
I come to fetch you to the Senate House.

Caesar: And you come in very happy time
To bear my greeting to the senators,
And tell them that I will not come today;
Cannot if false; and that I dare not, falser;
I will not come today. Tell them so, Decuis

Calpurnia: Say he is sick

Caesar: Shall Caesar send a lie?
Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far,
To be afeard to tell grey-beards the truth?
Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.

Decuis: Most mighty Caesar, let me knwo some caus,
Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so.

Caesar: The cause is in my will; I will not come:
That is enough to satisfy the Senate.
But, for your private satisfaction,
Because I love you, I will let you know:
Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home:
She dreamt to-night she saw my statue,
Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans
Came smiling and did bathe their hands in it.
And these does she apply for warnings and portents
And evils imminent; and on her knee
Hath begg'd that I will stay at home today.

Decuis: This dream is all amiss interpret;
It was a vision of fair and fortune:
Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,
In which so many smiling Romans bath'd,
Signifies that from you Rome shall suck
Reviving blood, and that great men shall press
For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance.
This by Calpurnia's dream is signifed.

Caesar: And this way have you well expanded it.

Decuis: I have, when you have heard what I can say:
And know it now. The Senate have concluded
To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.
If you shall send them word that you will not come,
Thier minds may change. Besides, it were a mock
Apt to be render'd for some one to say,
'Break up the Senate till another time,
When Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams.'
If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper
'Lo Caesar is afraid'?
Pardon me Caesar; for my dear dear love
To your proceeding bids me tell you this,
And reason to my love is liable.

Caesar: How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia!
I am ashamed I did yield to them.
Give me my robe, for I will go.

Hypatia of Alexandra

If I were to put myself in Raphael’s fresco, The School of Athens I would be Hypatia of Alexandria. Hypatia was the first women to make a substantial contribution to the renaissance. She was a contributor to mathematics, philosophy and astronomy. She is a brave woman who strives to prove herself during a time period where women are not blessed with the opportunity to learn and are treated as less then men. Even though her work was considered paganism by the Church her passion for learning lived on.
I like to think of myself as a persistent person. I do not give in easily and I am passionate about my learning. Like Hypatia, I do not let people stand in my way and use my determination to overcome obstacles. I also hope to make some sort of contribution in order to better the world, like she did. Hypatia of Alexandra truly is an inspiration to all womankind.

'The School of Athens' bye Raphael

One way of finding out about an era in history, is looking at its art. From art, we can identify what the people of that time period were interested in, there clothing, values and religion. Usually you can look at a painting and know where it was originated, the Renaissance time period is a great example of this. As people started to become more interested in secular subjects, their art started to revolve more around it as well. This is shown in Raphael’s fresco, The School of Athens. The Renaissance was the “rebirth” of knowledge. People started to question and observe the world around them. They tested theories, looked for lost knowledge and enlightened others with their intelligence. Some of the greatest scientist, mathematicians, philosophers and astronomers lived during the renaissance, and were all brought together under one roof in Raphael’s fresco.