great works ii – 2850 jta 12:25-2:05: love letters from the world

In the “Acrostic” by Killoffer, it is clear that there is a theme of desperation. The characters in the cartoon are showing they are in a state of unhappiness and misery. The black and white pictures showing a very rainy day, adds to the theme of desperation by making it clear that they are living a dark life. By reading the captions, it is obvious that they are unhappy with their lives and unhappy to come home. In the beginning of the cartoon it shows the characters are hopeful and want to start over by looking for something better. We see at the end that there is such gloom in coming home, that they compare going home to dying. The one character that is sitting throughout the entire cartoon and never lifts his head shows that even though they were hopeful in the beginning of the cartoon, starting over somewhere else might not be an option for their life. The common theme of desperation could also be seen in, “Kaspar” by Diane Obomsawin.

“JEAN: As Miss Julie commands. I’m here to serve. (4)”

“JULIE: That’s true, I am the lowliest–the lowliest of the lowly. Oh, now I can’t go. Tell me once more that I must go. (33)”

 In my opinion, Strindberg contradicts himself in the character Miss Julie. Class and gender are major themes through out the play. It is contradicting because in my first quote, Julie has all of the authority and power. Julie is superior to Jean in terms of class because he is Julie’s valet. On the other hand, in terms of gender Jean is superior to Julie because he is a man and she is a woman. She is asking for his help in making her decision, because she cannot make it on her own. Power is constantly shifting during the play.

I think Strindberg uses the term half-woman to define Miss Julie. She is a woman with a self-destructive personality and mixed feelings toward men. He described her as a man-hating half-woman which I think has a lot to do with her relationship with her father.