Antigone

"You want to bury him although it's forbidden in the city!"

This quote shows Ismene's surprise when her sister, Antigone requests help to perform her brother's burial, a main right of Greek women, a right stolen by their own uncle, the general, Creon.

The characters of this play are distinct, all having their own personal struggles.

• Antigone- brave, independent young woman struggling to find her place; takes a stand; unafraid of being caught and sentenced to death.
• Ismene- finds herself in a struggle to simultaneously maintain loyalty to her family and obey the law.
  
• Creon- tyrannous ruler who abuses his power to declare unjust laws and proud to admit mistakes.
• Haemon- son of Creon betrothed to Antigone; promises loyalty to his father yet he eventually takes sides with his soon-to-be wife, trying to reveal to his father the faults of his edict.
  

I dislike that Antigone is in book format. A story loses important detail when it is told through dialogue. Sophocles' Antigone confused me by leaving much to the reader's interpretations. Unless you are truly interested in Greek culture and dramas, I would not reccommend this play.

"The Call of the Wild"

"Buck refused to move under the rain of heavier blows which now fell upon him. Like his mates, he was barely able to get up, but unlike them, he had made up his mind not to get up.(pg.112)"

Buck would have never experienced the love he had for John Thornton, a "love that was feverish and burning, that was adoration, that was madness"if he had not taken a stand. His refusal to obey his ignorant master saved Buck's life. This act was just one of the examples of the underlying theme of taking a stand.

The Call of the Wild is set during the Klondike gold rush, which caused thousands of men to migrate into the arctic conditions. The novel is presented through Buck's eyes, presented as the experiences of an abducted, southern-born dog who fell back on the ways of his ancestors in order to survive hardships on the trail.

Jack London's The Call of the Wild intrigued me through events described so vividly that they seemed like personal experiences. I encourage you to take a step into this unknown world; journey with Buck over thousands of miles of arctic trail and the accompanying toil.

Taking a Stand

For some individuals, taking a stand may be as easy as tying shoelaces. A shy, soft-spoken seventh-grader, I personally found taking a stand extremely challenging. In English class, I sat in the back left corner of the room with my best friend Tia, at a rectangular table that comfortably seated two. She sat to my right. On Tia’s left, in a desk about five feet away, sat Nick, a typical, self-absorbed jock. During a class discussion one day, Tia asked a simple question to which, apparently, most of the class knew the answer.

“You’re stupid,” Nick laughed. Tia immediately fell silent; I could read her expression. She winced in pain that was not physical, but emotional. She wanted to disappear at that moment to another place, any place where she would not be forced to endure Nick’s thoughtless comments. He realized he was hurting Tia, yet his verbal abuse was relentless.

“Tia, you are so stupid!” he continued. I fought internally with myself, knowing I should speak up to defend Tia but unable to find the courage. Then I wondered how I could sit there and not say anything. I knew I had waited too long. My best friend visibly struggled to contain tears, and I sat right beside her as though I was oblivious to the entire situation. I should not have had to think about it that much; my duty was clear.

“No she’s not,” I argued, “She’s not stupid.” Nick shut up instantly, not because of what I said, but because of the fact that I had spoken up at all. Tia looked at me with eyes that were both grateful and relieved. Even though I hesitated for too long, I was proud of myself for finally supporting my friend. Sure, a lot of bravery and initiative is involved, but taking a stand is definitely worth the cost.


Looking back, I find this situation pretty insignificant, but at the time I thought it was a big deal.

Sophomore year

At the sophomore meeting, before the school year even started, I felt completely lost. I had no idea how to get to some of my classes. By the end of the first week, I knew my way around and I couldn't believe how lost I had been. Now I wish the school campus was larger.

Compared to last year, my math and science classes are harder, but my Spanish class is easier. Another main difference is that I am driving now. As soon as my parents let me take the driving test, I can finally get my license, not that I have a car or anything....

The highlight of my year so far has probably been playing tennis and volleyball. This was my second year playing tennis, and I played much better this year. I played volleyball for the first time, and even though I have a lot of room to improve, I really enjoyed myself. My main sport is soccer though, and it is killing me that we haven't started yet! Last year, we were already conditioning by now.

In general, I think I like the High School more than the Junior High. This semester has gone by so quickly, yet it seems like a million things have happened.

Fate is Permanent

It is evident that Shakespeare believed that your fate was set; you couldn't do anything to change your destiny. He illustrated his beliefs through his play, Julius Caesar.

At one point, when the conspirators were doubting if Caesar will even come to the Senate House, Decius assured Cassius that he would able to persuade Caesar to come. Even when Caesar had planned to stay home, his fate took charge and brought him to the Senate House. Despite even the warning from his wife Calphurnia, Caesar, according to his fate, went to his the Senate, to his death.

Also, Brutus had the opportunity to agree to Antony's murder, which might have saved him in the end. Antony would not have been able to give his speech that moved the Romans so greatly.

Qualities of a leader

Leadership plays a huge role in Julius Caesar, a play by William Shakespeare. Each trying to gain power and recognition, the politicians turn their backs on what being a responsible leader truly means.

Mark Antony used his leadership capabilities throughout the play, Neglecting to consent the other politicians, he assumed the authority to offer the crown to Caesar. Also, through his speech at Caesar's funeral he turned the crowd against Brutus, bringing also, whether intentionally or accidentally, the death of Brutus.

Caesar led the defeat of Pompey, and he was so anxious to be crowned king that he didn't listen to Artemidorus's attempt to warn him of the conspirators' plan to kill him.

Caius Cassius had an astounding talent of persuasion. He was perhaps the most influential leader of them all, gathering a group of conspirators including Brutus, one of Caesar's most beloved friends, to murder Caesar.


If the above are examples of poor leaders, then what makes a great leader?

• COMMUNICATION. A good leader collaborates, listens as much or more than he/she talks, and makes decisions with the consent of others, not single handedly.
• RESPECT. Good leaders are bestowed authority by other people rather than assume it for themselves;they do not just take charge and dictate what others are allowed to do.
• HUMILITY. A great leader does not have their position for glory or to benefit themselves. Sometimes a leader is not the person in charge, but a person willing to follow orders instead of give them.
  
• INTEGRITY. Leaders need to recognize when they have made a mistake and have the integrity to fix whatever they can.
  

Brutus may have been the only great leader among them. Even Antony agreed in Act 5, Scene 5 saying "[Brutus] was the noblest Roman of them all." Brutus only took part in the murder for the good of Rome, not for power and personal gain.

Outstanding leaders aren't just world known politicians, army generals, or religious leaders such as the Pope or the Dalai Lama. Librarians, coaches, team captains, camp counselors, teachers, youth pastors, parents, even older siblings, just everyday people are the outstanding leaders
of today.

Reading further into Sean Covey's book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, I have found that my communication skills are not up to par. I become really frustrated when I am trying to talk to someone and they think they already know what I am going to say. They do not listen; they just sit there and pretend to listen. When I finish talking, they respond to what they "heard", which does me no good. Even though I am aggravated by this poor listening, I frequently and unconsciously do the very same thing. I need to be a little bit more open-minded when I am listening to people, so I catch what they are really trying to communicate.

I, like everyone else, crave to be understood. Often times, life would be so much easier if my parents used the "mirror" listening Sean discusses in his book. When I tell them things, I feel like I am talking in a different language, because they just do not understand me. I hate repeating myself, and I usually don't have the patience to try to explain it a different way. My mom also has a problem with probing. The fact that she asks so many questions is not as annoying as the way she asks the questions. She asks looking for a specific answer, and so she does not listen to the answer I give her. When she does listen, she listens selectively and often twists what I say. I think my whole family could benefit from a lesson in communication.