Monthly Archives: September 2017

Do you think women are still raised to be “pleasing”? Why or why not?

I do not think that women are still being raised to be “pleasing”. Personally, growing up I never saw women as inferior to men as what was considered long ago; we’re all human beings and to me, the same opportunities that were always available to men, I thought it was the same for women. Today there is a lot more to life for women rather than being trained to become the perfect house wife. They are treated equally and for example can embark on education, pursue careers and be independent.

1. What is the narrator’s purpose in writing these “confessions”? How do you know?

The narrator’s purpose in writing these “confessions” is to shed light on his experiences in life. If you simply look at the narrator, you make think that he is normal like everyone else but according to him, he had some unfortunate experiences that lead from one thing to another(cause and effect). Due to these confessions, its his way in stating that he is different and by reading his story, we would have a better understanding about him and what he endured throughout his life.

Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

1. What aspects of women’s lives does Wollstonecraft seem interested in changing? Why?

2. Wollstonecraft quotes Pope’s famous line “Whatever is, is right.” How does she interpret this line? Does she agree with Pope?

3. Do you think women are still raised to be “pleasing”? Why or why not?

4. What does Wollstonecraft have to say about marriage? In her view, what would allow a woman to be a good wife and mother?

Rousseau, The Confessions

1.  What is the narrator’s purpose in writing these “confessions”?  How do you know?

2.  For Rousseau, what is the relationship between feeling and thinking?

3.  How does Rousseau describe his childhood?  What significance can we draw from this description

4. Why do you think Rousseau chooses to include the anecdote about stealing from his employer?

5. Using your own language, how would you describe the narrator, given his self-presentation in The Confessions?

1. Pope describes the purpose of his poem as “to vindicate the ways of God to man.” What do you think he means by this?

I think the purpose of Pope’s poem is to reason or justify the works of God and how man in this world relates to God and other human beings and living things. He writes about man’s position in this universe and gives examples of why human beings might blame God for certain things. Pope was a believer in God and tried to explain and ease the controversies people had or did not understand about God.

Alexander Pope, “Essay on Man”

1. Pope describes the purpose of his poem as “to vindicate the ways of God to man.” What do you think he means by this?

2. Choose one metaphor that Pope uses to describe the universe and explain its significance.  Which of these metaphors appeals to you the most? Why? What other metaphor might you use to describe the universe?

3. What would it mean to believe that “whatever is, is right?” How would that affect one’s outlook or behavior?

4. According to Pope, what place do human beings have in the universe in relation to other creatures?

5. What can we extrapolate from this text about Pope’s views on scientific innovation and exploration?

Ueda Akinari, “Bewitched”

1. Why do you think Toyo-o continues to be involved with Manago even after he suspects that she is a demon of some sort?
2. Why do you think people (both in the 18th century, when Akinari was writing, and in our own day) are attracted to ghost stories or tales of the supernatural?
3. Does “Bewitched” have anything to teach its readers? If so, what? What is Akinari’s message in this text?
4. The text describes Manago as”bewitchingly voluptuous.” What does the character of Manago tell us about feminine beauty?

Introduction

Hi everyone!

My name is Natalia, but I go by Natasha (it’s a Russian thing that everyone whose name is Natalia goes by Natasha)

I am a transfer student form BMCC. My major is accounting. It took me a while to figure out what I want to do in life, and I finally found it.
Graduating with a BS degree in accounting will help me to achieve my goals.

As you already know I am from Russia. I was born in Moscow. At the age of 14 I moved to California to attend a boarding school.

I’ve been in NYC for 3 years now, and I love it here!
Besides school I have a job (I am a Maître D’ at a restaurant in the heart of Soho). I also love to go to Central Park and The Met, as well as to go out to different lounges and cool spots around New York since I work in a night life/ restaurant industry).

It was really nice to read all of your introductions and I look forward to an amazing semester with all of you guys!

Introduction

Hi, my name is Qiaoyan Wang. I just graduated from BMCC, and transferred to Baruch. This is my first semester in Baruch. I like to spend my free time with my family and friends, and head out with them.

I spent this summer going back to China for visiting and traveling. China is a big country and has a lot of amazing places to visit, and a lot of delicious local food. If you love to travel, it’s not a bad idea to put China into your plan.

Grad to be in this class, and wish we all have a good time during this semester.

 

— Discuss the role of Dorine, Mariane’s lady maid. What kind of servant is she? What role does she play in the action of the drama?

Dorine plays the servant of Maraine and shares a motherly bond with her. When Orgon, Mariane’s father pops in and ordered her to marry Tartuffe, Dorine spoke her mind to Orgon despite the fact that she is a servant and infuriated him. Then later in the play, when Valere, Maraine’s original fiance came to meet Mariane as he learned that she was marrying someone else, they were fighting and was about to break up when Dorine came and knocked some sense into them, creating a plot to prevent the marriage to Tartuffe from happening.