Knowing The Future

I’ve never experienced a predicted dream nor did I have anyone suggest something about my future that actually came true. I don’t believe in trying to find out about my future before it comes to pass because I believe that the future shouldn’t be tampered with. If something is supposed to happen, whether it’s good or bad, it should be left alone to happen. I don’t think people should purposely search for the future. If the future is revealed to someone, then I don’t think it’s wrong for someone to take action but the choice is completely up to the person. Sometimes the future is revealed and may cause someone’s downfall, and other times the future saves someone.
Although I have never had a predicted dream nor have had someone tell me something about my future, I have had many precognitive experiences that I used to think were déjà-vus. For unknown reasons, I would know what would happen exactly or know the exact words someone would say. I wouldn’t know that I could see a glimpse of the future until a key word or action triggered the whole image in my mind. Then I would remember that I had seen this happen or said before and I would be able to know the rest of what is happening or being said. The strange thing is that these precognitive experiences feel like déjà-vus because I feel certain that I already had these same precognitive experiences before but they happen again. It’s a really strange and interesting experience.
I used to have frequent precognitive experiences when I was younger, but not as many now. The first time I experienced a precognitive experience, I was shocked and confused. I didn’t know what to expect so the events that unfolded occurred normally. It felt like I was watching a movie I’ve already memorized because I knew exactly what was going to happen next. I went with the flow of the events and just observed what happen to see if everything happened as I thought they would happen.
After I learned from the experience, I tried something different the next time I experienced a precognitive experience. When I realized I knew what was going to happen before something happen, I tried to change the events that occurred. I interfered with the natural flow of events. Fortunately, nothing bad has ever happened and I didn’t cause a huge change in the events. Knowing the future tempts people to try to have an effect on the events. Even if you only know an insignificant part of the future, you still feel compelled to change a small part. I understand how Macbeth felt although I don’t think I would have made the choice he made that led him to his downfall.

Reactions to Heinous Crimes Caused By Guilt

I think Lady Macbeth’s response to her guilt is very plausible. Lady Macbeth wringing her hands, unable to get the imaginary blood off because she participated in a horrendous crime is a plausible response. Lady Macbeth is covered by the blood of her victims that Macbeth has killed. She feels extremely guilty because the victims were innocent people who didn’t do anything wrong. Her first victim, King Duncan, was a man that greatly trusted and respected Macbeth. King Duncan viewed Macbeth as one of his favorites, but he was killed by Macbeth. The blood of Duncan and many other victims is the symbol of Lady Macbeth’s guilt. It’s a physical appearance of the guilt that Lady Macbeth can’t seem to escape. She wants to be clean and cleansed from the deed but she can’t let her guilt go so the blood stain doesn’t disappear no matter how hard Lady Macbeth tries to rid herself of it.
There are many incidents in my life that I wish to erase; some small and some large. Many times I act or say things without thinking and end up hurting many people I don’t wish to hurt. Unfortunately, what’s said is said, and what’s done is done. Even if they forgive me, I know that it’s not something that can be forgiven or forgotten easily. I am always filled with guilt because I know what I’ve done or said is unchangeable. My act may not be as heinous as Lady Macbeth’s but I feel the same guilt, but since my deed isn’t as big I am able to somewhat make up for my behavior with better behavior the next time. For Lady Macbeth, there is no turning back or erasing what she has done.
I do have things I’ve done that I wished had never happened and wished I could erase like Lady Macbeth. I didn’t wring my hands desperately to try to cleanse my hands of imaginary blood because I didn’t commit a murder, but I did a similar act of trying to rid myself of the deed. Of course, it didn’t help me overcome my guilt but I needed to do something even though it was a useless act. I think everyone is like that in the way that if they have done something really bad and there is no way for them to erase the deed either by apologizing or some other way, they would need to do some kind of a physical act as an alternate.
If I found myself wrapped up in a heinous crime as one that Lady Macbeth committed, I would most definitely be consumed with guilt. My reaction to my guilt would have been different from Lady Macbeth’s response. Guilt is a strong feeling that causes human beings to do things outside of common sense. I think such a crime would consume me with so much guilt that I would admit to the crime, which would probably get me executed. However, although I would have acted this way if I found myself committing a heinous crime I probably wouldn’t commit the act if I wasn’t prepared to face the consequences.

Macbeth's Character

It is extremely easy to make the right decision in an environment that allows or guides you to that decision. If all the conditions are set so that making the right decision is what you want to do and it benefits you in every way, then it’s not very hard to go with that decision. Doing what you’re supposed to do does not make you a good man, especially if all the factors direct you to make the right decision. Making the right choice that you’re normally supposed to is nothing to be praised for, but because of the significant number of temptations that cause you to make the wrong choice, people who make the right decisions are looked on as good people.
Macbeth was a loyal man to King Duncan and was admired by many. He was thought to be a good man because of his good deeds so far. However, after the murder of the King Duncan, he was no longer a good man. I believe that Macbeth was never a good guy to start with but this couldn’t be seen because Macbeth didn’t have to overcome great temptations and obstacles at that time. Once faced with a great temptation such as receiving the throne, Macbeth faltered greatly and made wrong choices. Macbeth couldn’t overcome the temptations and obstacles laid out for him. Therefore, I believe that Macbeth wasn’t a good man but instead a man who hadn’t been tested prior to the witches’ prophesies.
Banquo was presented with a similar situation as Macbeth but Banquo reacted differently to the prophesies than Macbeth. Macbeth kept his thoughts to himself and acted as if nothing had changed after he heard the prophesies whereas Banquo revealed to Macbeth that he was tempted by the prophesies. Banquo’s truthfulness reveals his nature. Banquo doesn’t commit heinous acts like Macbeth but instead does nothing. Macbeth hiding his thoughts because they’re bad shows the transition Macbeth goes through. First Macbeth’s thoughts go evil, then his mouth, and finally his actions. Banquo, as a contrasting character to Macbeth, shows that Macbeth didn’t have to make the choices he did.
The witches played a significant role in influencing Macbeth’s actions, but they are not to blame. Macbeth could have ignored their prophesies and let the events unfold without any inference. Macbeth wouldn’t have lost anything because of the great respect King Duncan and the rest of the nobleman had for Macbeth. Macbeth already had so much, but his greed for power and more led him to kill King Duncan. Macbeth’s actions are his own and none others. External factors largely influence his actions but in the end he is the one making the choices in his life. Going against the external factors that was leading him to kill Duncan may have been hard to go against, but it wasn’t impossible.
Macbeth chose to go down the road of evil. He knew what it meant to kill King Duncan, a guest at Macbeth’s house. He knew the deed he was doing was evil, but he did it anyway. Macbeth was presented with a situation. The choice he made in that situation revealed his character. Macbeth wasn’t a good guy in the beginning because from the time his evil thoughts started up to his death he never got back on the right path. Macbeth continued to walk down the dark path, going deeper and deeper into blood. He could have stepped back on the right path, but he never did.

Feelings on Lady Macbeth

I don’t feel sorry for Lady Macbeth for her mental deterioration. Lady Macbeth was the one pushing Macbeth towards the decision to kill King Duncan. Macbeth was the one who actually did the dirty work of murdering King Duncan, but Lady Macbeth was the mastermind in the beginning of the play. Lady Macbeth was the one who called upon the evil spirits to make her less humane so that she wouldn’t falter in her heart from committing this evil deed. She also pushed the dirty work of killing King Duncan to Macbeth as she physically did nothing.
The witches twisted Macbeth’s mind by telling him he was going to be king. At first, Macbeth was going to let the events unfold naturally but because the temptation of the throne was so great he decided to matters into his own hands by killing King Duncan. However, his mind was always in doubt and he wasn’t fully committed to kill King Duncan especially when King Duncan had come over to Macbeth’s house as a guest. Lady Macbeth, on the other hand, was eager to become queen and persuaded Macbeth into killing Duncan. Lady Macbeth slyly either insulted him or sweet-talked him, according to the situation, so that Macbeth would agree.
It’s Lady Macbeth’s own fault for making the wrong choice, which led to her destruction. Everyone makes the wrong choices in life. Lady Macbeth’s wrong choice was a self-centered and morally wrong choice. She should have realized the consequences of what came of the vile choice she chose and should have been prepared for it. Instead, she believed that her actions would never come back to haunt her and she would be able to live happily. Lady Macbeth’s unrealistic thinking is one of the factors that led her to a mental breakdown. The overwhelming guilt she felt resulted in her suicide.
If she was so prepared in committing such an atrocious act, she should have been prepared to push her guilt away or else she shouldn’t have committed the act. I don’t think any normal human being would have been able to forget about such an evil act, so Lady Macbeth shouldn’t have done such a thing in the first place. Lady Macbeth allowed her guilt to consume her because she couldn’t tell anyone so she imploded. Justice was served.

Poetry: Similarity With Dickinson

I think out of the three poets, Atwood, Plath, and Dickinson, I am most like Dickinson. All three of the poets aren’t really similar to me but I feel that I can relate more with Dickinson and her poems. I don’t usually like poems because I have a hard time understanding what the poet is saying. However, I have thoroughly enjoyed the few poems I have read by Dickinson although I don’t fully understand all of them. I really feel connected to the poems I’ve read by Dickinson even though there shouldn’t really be anything that helps me connect with the poems because I haven’t experienced the things talked about in the poems.

However, I feel attached to the poems by Dickinson unlike the other poems written by the other two authors. This is one of the reasons I feel I’m more alike with Dickinson than the other poems. I feel more connected to Dickinson’s poems than to Atwood’s or Plath’s. I feel the other two authors are too radical for me. Both portray immense emotions in their poems. Plath and Atwood had life changing experiences that greatly affect their poems and what the poems say. I feel too different from them because of my lack of emotions and people say that I am insensitive. Dickinson is also largely affected by events, such as the death of her loved ones. However her reaction and the influence of those deaths are more subtle and have a different effect on her poems.

I think that I’m alike with Dickinson in the way that she lived a secluded life and I would prefer to live in a secluded life. Dickinson didn’t live near a lot of people and kept to her area. She wasn’t totally unsocial but she wasn’t the outgoing type either. Dickinson spent a lot of time with her sister-in-law, who was one of her good friends. Even though I don’t seem like it and definitely don’t act like it, I prefer to be secluded. I’m not unsocial either and I generally get along with everyone but I feel a constant need to get away from society. I would really like to live in a secluded area, preferably in the nature, away from people but maybe not be totally cut off from society. I prefer seclusion most of the time. Dickinson may have not chosen seclusion by choice but through a set of events, but she did live a more secluded life than most people.

I think another feature that is common between me and Dickinson is the fact that religion has an influence in both of our lives. Dickinson was a Christian, although she may not have had a strong faith. Even so, I think that religion influenced her in both her writings and life. She also was raised in a Christian home. I am also a Christian and am raised in a Christian home. Christianity has definitely had an enormous impact on my life; in my thinking, in my way of living, and in my way of acting. I feel that out of the three poets, I am most similar to Dickinson.

PERSONALITY + LIFESTYLE VS. CHARACTER + LIVING

A personality is the set born individual traits of a person, which can change throughout that person’s life. A person’s personality consists of attitude, behavior, interest, emotions, and other traits. Many different factors, such as environment, culture, and people, can influence a person’s personality. A personality is very important because it is part of what makes up a person’s identity.

Everyone has differing personalities and may have different definitions for what a nice personality is. There is no set rule that defines a nice personality but rather a general, although not unanimous, agreement in the matter. Most people tend to be attracted to those with nice personalities because it is usually easier to get along with them and they are likeable people. However, having a nice personality doesn’t necessarily mean that the person is a good person.

A good person, just like a nice personality, doesn’t have a definite definition because goodness is subjective. Goodness is one of the possible elements of the character of a person. Different people have different opinions on what a good person is like but generally a good person is someone who upholds the moral values of the culture that the person lives in. A good person may have a nice personality but a person with a nice personality may not be a good person because a person becomes good based on the moral decisions he/she makes in life. People make moral decisions everyday. A good person may not be liked by many people because sometimes, in this corrupt world, doing the morally right thing is wrong in the eyes of some people. People are intimidated by those who are better, morally or skill wise. In simple terms, personality is more of the outer appearance of a person while character is the heart of a person.

A nice lifestyle and living well are both similar to a nice personality and a good person in their differences. While a person may have a nice lifestyle that person may not necessarily be living well, but a person living well can have a nice lifestyle. A lifestyle is the way someone is living and living well is how well or happy a person is. A nice lifestyle is the kind of life everyone wishes to live, a luxurious life. Again, there isn’t a set definition for what a nice lifestyle is because differing people have different standards for a nice lifestyle but most people want to live rich, comfortable lives. A person can live well without having a nice lifestyle. Most people are greedy, and wish for more than what they have and/or need. Even in a nice lifestyle, a person may not be living well because they are not content with what he/she has. If a person was given the basic necessities to live and that person had the attitude to be content with what he/she had, then that person would be living well. The person wouldn’t be living a nice lifestyle as seen by this materialistic world but in his/her perspective he/she would be. Attitude and perspective are key factors for determining each person’s standard for a nice lifestyle and living well.

A person’s way of living is dependent on the person’s personality because a lifestyle consists of what a person’s behavior, likes, and other factors. Willy’s lifestyle is one in which he prefers not to have any changes. In the beginning of the play, Willy is shown to be upset by the change of cheese. Willy’s lifestyle consists of a constant type of cheese but when Linda buys a different kind, the balance is upset. This sort of lifestyle is because of Willy’s personality of not liking change.

SUICIDAL

Willy tries to commit suicide many times throughout his life. His many car accidents turns out not to be accidental but instead deliberate actions by Willy. The insurance inspector has evidence that shows that Willy tries to commit suicide. Linda finds out that Willy is also trying to kill himself by inhaling gas. In the end, Willy ends up committing suicide by crashing his car because he wants his life insurance money to go to Biff.

At the end of the play, Willy talks to Ben about Biff and money. Willy still holds onto his dream that he wishes Biff would achieve and decides to give Biff a boost towards the path by giving Biff the life insurance money. He commits suicide for his dream for Biff. Willy isn’t able to accomplish his American dream. He isn’t able to succeed in life and live as Dave Singleman lived. He is so enslaved by the idea of the American dream and being ahead in life that he feels a necessity to pass it off to Biff. Willy believes that the money will help Biff get ahead in life, including ahead of Bernard. However, at the funeral Biff shows his resolve of not following in the footsteps of his blinded father. Biff wants to find his own path and live his life his own way. He knows and understands his identity unlike Willy.

Willy’s suicide attempts show how the only way to escape the American dream is through death. In addition, Willy’s suicide attempts are for the American dream of another person, Biff, although Biff doesn’t accepts the path in the end. Willy’s life and death are both centered on the American dream. Willy is freed from it when he dies but the reason for his death is still focused on the American dream. With his death, Willy wants to support Biff so that Biff can accomplish the dreams Willy has for him.

Willy expects his death to contribute to Biff becoming the succeeding character Willy always dreamed Biff would become, the dream Biff followed at first but gave up after discovering the delusions of it. Biff doesn’t go the direction Willy wants so Willy dies in vain. On the other hand, Willy’s death led to Happy following in the same footsteps as Willy. Happy is also blinded like Willy and can’t see the falseness of the American dream. In a sense Willy did accomplish what he wanted but with a different person. Willy wants Biff to be successful in life and he believes that the insurance money can help Biff. Willy is wrong in thinking that the insurance money will lead Biff to success because Biff won’t accept it. Willy may be right in thinking Biff is going to be successful in life because Biff gives up on the American dream and walks down the path his identity allows him to choose. Biff may not be successful in the eyes of the world but at least he is free from the delusive idea that enslaves many and leads them to death.