The transition from novel to screen play proved to be a letdown. By far I am not an excellent writer, however the film lacked the passion and emotion the original manuscript delivered. The script ignored vital lines in the original and lengthened certain scenes, creating a hollow feeling. While reading Othello, Shakespeare is able to bond the reader to the play, making it more than a read. The page turner uses minimal words while providing a detailed and symbolic analysis of each character. This is the major drawback of the film. Drawn out lines proved less interesting, rather dull, forcing the viewer to watch unnecessary footage. Cutting lines in favor of elongated scenes proved detrimental in my opinion. The film felt dull, a cliché of the romance genre. Shakespeare crafts sentences that deliver a punch to the reader, the detailed sentences must be broken down, forcing the reader to think. A classmate also points out the following using the example, “She wished she had not heard it, yet she wishes/That heaven had made her such a man. She thanked me,/And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her,/I should but teach him how to tell my story,/And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake.” (1, 3, 187-192). This line is beautifully scripted making words feel indescribable. It goes beyond saying that they have a mutual attraction toward each other, rather they are the current center of the universe.

Credit goes to  r.beregovich

As mischievous as he is, Iago is one of the smartest characters within Othello. Focusing on Act 1, the reader is launched into a pool of mischief, evil genius and hate toward the character. Iago has the ability to persuade persons to believe what he intends, planting corrupt information within them, which in turn leads them to act out of the ordinary. Iago’s start goal was to be lieutenant, nothing will stop him from getting his desire. What feeds his desire, reminds me of Ravana’s sister, Surpanakha, from The Ramayana. Jealousy drove both characters to manipulate and puppeteer others in order to fulfill their wants. Using the wants of others, they allow other characters to dirty their hands in order to fulfill their wants all while helping them in the process. As others do the heavy lifting, Iago and Surpanakha sit back and rile them up. Both characters used similar tactics to carry out their desires. Iago builds his friendship with Rodrigo, leaving Rodrigo to believe that he is on his side. From there he plants information into his head, frustrating the character which leaves him vulnerable. In this example, “Make all the money thou canst. If sanctimony and a frail vow betwixt an erring barbarian and supersubtle Venetian be not too hard for my wits and all the tribe of hell, thou shalt enjoy her” Act 1 Scene 3, Iago persuades Rodrigo not to kill himself. Rodrigo becomes convinced that Desdemona will become weary of Othello, thus he will have his chance to lie with her. Now Iago would have had no problem for letting Rodrigo die, however without Rodrigo becoming lieutenant would be near impossible. This simple act of kindness proves to be more of a manipulative gesture.

Surpanakha lusts for Rama, however it is near impossible for her to be with him as he is married to Sita. In order to be with Rama, Sita must be dealt with. Powerless, a scapegoat is needed to fight her battle. Why not her all mighty brother Ravana. Surpanakha is able to convince her brother to pursue Sita, doing so would give her the chance to marry Rama. Ravana believed his sister was doing what was best for him, on the other hand, it all boiled down to using Ravana’s power to get to Rama. Both characters display jealousy which fueled their manipulative power in order to quench their thirsts.

Detailed, extraordinary and exotic are the few words that come to mind while walking through the collection. Each piece was unique from another, varying in size, shape, color and design used by the crafters. What astonished me was the care that was used in each piece, they resembled pieces that were machine made. It was astonishing to witness what people were able to accomplish using the most primitive tools. In Islamic arts the broad use of colors and shapes were displayed throughout the museum, no two pieces were the same as each seemed perfect. Since items could not be mass produced and would take a handsome amount of time to craft, I understood that items were made to last. People of this time could not go to a store and select from an inventory of items. Crafters would have to take their time into sculpting an item since resources were limited. In sense I pictured what artists and crafters went through during these times, their vision and portrayal of the final product would be embedded in their mind before starting a piece.

The Arabian Nights proves to be a fun read from the start, having stories within stories, leaves me feeling as I did while watching the film Inception. From each of the short stories, there lies a lesson to be taught to the reader. Each story uses intricate examples of animals, magic, betrayal, and love to get a lesson across to the reader, all while maintaining a fresh and fluid plot. While reading the novel, the use of swords rang a bell as I remembered seeing detailed/priceless swords in the museum. Gazing at them only begged me to wonder the story behind them. The use of a sword is a powerful decision, as the user has a variety of emotions and purpose to draw the sword. Another big reminder of the museum was the mention of the Quran, which was one of the most detailed documents I laid eyes on. The Quran proves important in the novel, as characters use it for prayer in preparation for death or worshipping God. In the museum the Quran was displayed multiple times, in a variety of colors and sizes. It goes to show the importance of the Quran in Islamic culture, as it is almost a way of life.

The Parting at Ch’ang Kan has a completely different writing style compared to other translations of the poem. While all other versions boast modern day prose, this poem is written with language used in Shakespeare’s plays. With such language, the poem has a heightened romance story as the words flow seamlessly, giving the reader the ambience of the love shared between the two. By using an old language the words seem to have more weight behind them as they depict a broad picture using a minimal amount of words. Each line has the ability to stand on its own while painting a detailed picture for the reader. Compared to other translations some lines rely on previous lines as they build upon each other. This compacted poem has the ability to read more clearly and passionately compared to the other translations.

Another difference used in the translations are the grouping of words in stanzas. Each poem has a variety of stanzas, each containing different words giving the poem a different read. While reading through the poems, the translators placed certain lines in different stanzas depending on whether they felt certain sentences belong with or separated from certain paragraphs.  In Two Letters From Chang Kan- 1 “At fourteen I became your wife” is part of its own stanza. The translator did the same for ages 15 and 16, giving each age a different paragraph. This could signal the different time periods within the poem or the changes that occurred between the two lovers that occurred. However in A Song of Ch’ and Kan, the translator pairs the age groups all within one stanza. The translator may have felt that the age groups were part of the story and needed to flow one after the next. Each line may build of the other providing the need to keep everything together, adding to the creation of one entire picture instead of 4-5 small pictures that tell a similar story. With different placings of the text, each poem can be read differently shaping a similar yet different story of the original poem.

Lastly and the most obvious is the actual words used in each translation. Each translation varies as the words used can either have more meaning, sound simpler, or flow better in each paragraph. In That Parting at Ch’ang Kan, the protagonist hides his face as he is shy to be in the presence of his wife. It states “My shamefaced head I in a corner hung.” In contrast in Two Letters From Chang- Kang- 1 it states “But hung my head, and turned to the dark wall.” In the first translation the meaning has such a stronger feel. The sentence is crafted with a dense definition, highlighting the embarrassment displayed by the character, all the while using simple terms. The second sentence isn’t as vivid as the first as it sounds very plain and boring. As a whole, the entire paragraph lacks detail and cannot compare to the single line from the translation. The use of words is a powerful tool in displaying how something will sound and how it will flow as depicted by the translations.

My favorite translation is by W.J.B Fletcher. In my opinion I felt his poem read with the most fluidity while displaying the compassion between the two characters. The use of the old language made me read the poem as a love story similar to Shakespeare’s writing style. I was able to follow the poem with ease as the simplicity and straightforward words shaped the life of the characters.

http://library.artstor.org.remote.baruch.cuny.edu/library/secure/ViewImages?id=%2FDFMaiMuOztdLS04ejp5SXYrXQ%3D%3D&userId=hzdCcjMg&zoomparams=

Encapsulated by the mountains, the viewer is presented with a group cut off from the world. As I look at the image, the environment grabbed my attention. The painter has secluded the gods and the wise elder from interruptions, while leaving them intertwined with their surroundings. In such an environment their mind is able to roam free, open to any interpretations and advice presented to them. The image is simplistic yet powerful, showing the importance elders play in Hindu culture. Surrounded by gods, the elder is the center piece as the warm colors surround him. His importance is noted as the others pay close attention to him. Their faces are engaging showing interest and respect for the elder. The painter displays the gods respect for elders as they are walking computers. Elders are able to pass down knowledge, traditions, and religion to their audience, preserving Hindu culture while shaping persons to mature into stronger and wiser persons. The viewer should be open to anything, as the mind is always learning. Each moment in life is a lesson to be learned.

In chapter one of The Ramayana, the reader is taken on a journey with Viswamithra as he is set to carry out a Yagna. Under his wing, Rama and Lakshmana accompany him, learning and protecting Viswamithra. While traveling Viswamithra tells stories of past gods, depicting troubles they faced. Each story has a moral to be learned, allowing the brothers to grow from each story told. While the brothers face challenges, they display intelligence and valor, able to handle each predicament with god like experience. Much like the painting, the gods are absorbing knowledge being passed onto them by a wise one. The painting is able to depict prose much like the text with a deeper meaning. An image has a broader interpretation factor, while text can be analyzed to a certain extent. Take for instance the following quote, “Under a relentless sun, all vegetation had dried and turned to dust, stone and rock crumbled into powdery sand, which lay in vast dunes, stretching away to the horizon.” Containing a detailed description, the text paints the reader a painting of what the characters are experiencing, yet it cannot grasp what a painting is able to paint. Vivid, paintings are able to mess with your mind, pushing you to think harder, seeing what cannot be seen. It pushes the viewer to think on a broader base as the sight of something can differ from just reading about it. With sight, you are able to imagine yourself in a characters shoes more clearly. In almost all cases of art, you put yourself in the painters mind pondering what led he/she to create the piece. With prose however, you must read an entire text to get the full picture, while art is instantaneously. For me I am able to get more from a picture rather than reading text.

‘Royal son of Laertes, Odysseus, man of tactics, reckless friend, what next, Quoted from book 11, one of the many complements Odysseus receives on his quest to Ithaca. Many praise the war hero, his men, gods, lovers, etc., I too believed he was a great leader. Reading into books 9-12 my love for the character soured as I realized he is a selfish, wealth hungry and shallow leader. Scratching the surface of Odysseus, accomplishments and conquering skills shower the reader, giving the impression that he is godly. In my previous blog I believed he was a god among the mortal, how times have changed.

I turn my focus to book 12, page 278, second stanza. At this point Odysseus is faced with Scylla and Charybdis, two monsters of the sea. Warned by Circe to sail past them, do not put up a fight, it is better to lose 6 men, than the entire crew. As he encounters the monsters, Odysseus does the exact opposite and donned his heroic armor. Knowing that the monsters are immortal he wants to put up a fight, Odysseus cocky and bold mindset shines through, believing he can sleigh the beast. There are times when you must yield, great leaders know of this. Gambling with your crews lives is a bet never taken by a worthy leader. Odysseus on the other hand begs to differ. Having heard that Argo was the only ship unscathed by the beasts, he wants to recreate the impossible, giving intentions to duel the beast.  As they fight through the onslaught, Odysseus did not warn his crew of what was to come before hand. Expecting the beasts, the crew could’ve taken extra precaution when faced with the beast. This selfish act may have been the only option in order to restrain panic upon the crew members, however doing so gave his men an unequal survival rate.

The previous act is one of many where Odysseus puts himself before his comrades. It may seem he shows sympathy for his mates, however his duel personality is the Achilles heel in the novel. One minute he is a brave soldier, a respected and iron clad man, another he is filled with fury and greed. This leads the character to make foolish mistakes that are costly not only to his crew mates, but for his return home. Countless times in the novel the actions of Odysseus causes at least one death or mishap on his quest home. His weak mind and inability to lead is the main reason why his entire crew is dead. The entire first half of the novel is more than just reaching Ithaca, it describes the man of the hour, the one who caused peril for himself.

“A bad day for adultery! Slow outstrips the swift”

Taken from book 8, the act of adultery is a sinful act. One of the many lessons taught in the epic of Odysseus, the novel focuses on the return home of a king and the endeavors he faces. Upon starting the story I focused mainly on the plot, what will happen, who he will meet, etc. The epic is far more a story, instead it teaches readers lessons of life and how to deal with problems. An example being the previous quote. The Odyssey takes such a sin and blows it up, it creates a descriptive painting of anger, revenge and punishment for the crime. Think before you act, the main take away from this scenario, in fact a large takeaway from books 1-8.

Throughout the novel Odysseus encounters a situation that could lead to different outcomes. An example book 5, line 460, as Odysseus is near landfall, any attempt to near the coast line guarantees death. If attempted the waves will either crush him against the jagged rocks or rugged reefs. Instead of swimming into the coast line and hoping for the best, he stops and weighs his options. It seems time has stood still as he talks over what each scenario will lead to if attempted. Doing so the antagonist makes the wiser decision each time he consults with himself. This is done again as he approaches Nausicaa and her maids on the river’s edge and again when he is at sea and the Leucothea tells him to leave his raft and tie a scarf around his waist for safety. Bright minded Odysseus does not jump into a situation, he takes a step back, plays out each scenario and wisely picks the one with low risk. Every time this is done, he comes out on top. It’s no wonder why he was able to come away from Troy alive.

Odysseus has a mind that seems immortal compared to characters he meets. Every obstacle the gods place upon him, he does not doubt himself or go into a panic, determination is automatically programmed into his mind. The main lesson that ties this novel together is his will to push forward. As cliché as it sounds, especially coming from me, he pushes through each task he is given. Odysseus is able to do what many cannot. Once he has something locked into his head, there is no stopping him from prevailing. As mortal as he is, why the gods tinker with this man is beyond his knowledge. It seems he is more god like than they are.

Phaedrus highlights Socrates opinion on what written language could lead to. Letters in his words “will create forgetfulness in the learners’ souls, they will not use their memories” (96) Phaedrus magnified my thoughts on what the school system is, data being shoveled down your throat, with an expectancy to remember rather than know. It is the ability to regurgitate what is said instead of having a deep and mental connection with the information. I realized for the past 5 years I could not remember a quarter of the things I was taught. I took in data to pass tests, then deleted it from my mind. Having knowledge rather than memory can allow a person to delve deeper in a subject, allowing a person to open doors that appear shut. Socrates piece supports oral education however it does not recognize the flaws of it.

Although Socrates shed light upon me, I do not fully agree with his piece. “The Oral World vs. The Written World” by Nicholas Carr revealed the flaws in oral education. “Even though we no longer appreciate the emotional and intuitive depths that Socrates once praised, written language allows for a broad mind of expression and thought”. (3) Referring back to the previous article, I realized that in an oral society, documentation of events, records, laws, traditions, etc would have to be passed from person to person in order to stay alive. Humans would be walking computers and memory would be a key component in an oral society. As data is passed from different persons, the information can be changed or modified by the teller. As more people retell and modify the data, the end information can be completely different from the true nature of the origin. Once transcribed, information can be set in stone and can be passed on without being changed.  Letters provide a person to be able to vent their thoughts and make progress on works from the past. It allows for the advancement of society. If data from the past was not preserved for the education of today, the world may never progress.

The final article “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” By Carr revealed a problem with recording data. The internet allows persons from all over the world to connect and share data. Information is plentiful and abundant for intellects, yet we have less appreciation for this. The article showed me that the human mind is taking shape to take in small amounts of information at a time. People no longer connect with prose as Socrates would like, it seems as the advancement of prose is stagnated as the human mind seems disengaged with texts. People do not want to read in thought, but would rather skim and take snippets of information from many different places. There seems to be an overflow of information that we humans cannot process as computers are able to. Humans appear to be lazier yet as more information is generated every day, humans are making progress in smaller strides.

Hi my name is Mahipaul Sathu, but you can call me Paul. I am a Sophomore at Baruch majoring in Finance. From this class I want to gain the tools necessary to be a sharp and detailed writer. Here’s to a great semester.