Thankful

This year I met a girl who has edited all my papers so far. Her name is Sandy Wu. She is extremely funny and always offers great writing advice. Her papers are always interesting and I always look forward to reading them. I also like her bag it is always decorated and full of anime that I too enjoy!

Then He Is Dead

Macbeth committed a series of morally wrong events in order to reach a higher position in his life. He killed King Duncan, who trusted Macbeth and thought of him as a hero. Taking advantage of the situation Macbeth killed Duncan while hosting a dinner. This didn't stop here though, he killed his friend Banquo and murdered the son and wife of Mcduff. Yes he did achieve what he wanted but he was always paranoid and never really at peace.
I feel that "Macbethish" acts are not justified/worth it ever. To me if one has to cheat or lie himself to the top one isn't as good as one thinks he is. If one was truly great and amazing at what they do, cheating and lying isn't necessary to move up. Many would disagree with me because our modern day society is full of cheaters and liars. However to me "Macbethish" acts are never worth it even if you do get away with it.

"From the crown to the toe, top-full Of direst cruelty"

"From the crown to the toe, top-full Of direst cruelty"
...Just think of this statement for a second...
"From the crown to the toe, top-full Of direst cruelty"
This line spoken by Lady Mcbeth says that she, from head to toe, wants to be full of cruelty. She wants this feeling because she knows that she needs to do bad deeds in order to achieve the one one thing she wants; royalty. If she isn't full of cruelty she will feel remorse or guilt about the things she has done. Having remorse will ultimately make her weak and lose her price.
A lot of people, in our modern society are like this. They feel the need to step over someone, hurt someone, and humiliate someone, in order to achieve their goal. This, however, is unfortunately true. People who are successful now, had to do some pretty terrible things to other people.
However, I feel that many times one does not have to be full of cruelty in order to achieve something. One just has to work hard and they can get what they want.

No New Tale To Tell

Throughout literature we have always been bombarded with cliches and no new stories. Even when these stories make the big scream, we can't deny that those cliches are still there. For example even in the most modern version of a horror film, the audience is always told the same story;a killer out on the hunt for revenge, a young girl who is usually the first to die,and a group of friends turned n each other in order to stay alive.
I the Pardoner' tale the Pardoner tells a story about 3 men turned on each other because of greed: not the most original story. Countless times we have seen friends turn on friends. Not necessarily for money but for other reasons. In a way we are telling these tales over and over again. I believe that there is no new tale to tell anymore. One must be extremely creative in creating a story, and even with that one manages to add bits of cliches into the story so the story isn't purely creative and new.

Truth

The truth is we will never know what the truth is because from the day we are born we are taught to think a certain way. To accept a one-sided truth.
Let me explain. In today's world students are told to be proud of their nation; all of this is done through propaganda. They are told to recite the pledge of allegiance, they are told that Christopher Columbus befriended the Native Americans, and that good old America has done (for the most part) nothing put spread justice and freedom. They believe that the American way is the good way, the right way, the truth.
This isn't true, as our fellow students grow up they realize this. The pledge of allegiance is tedious. Columbus didn't befriend any Natives, he instead murdered them and made them slaves. The near perfect America is now this political, nuclear monster that has killed many, many people.
The same happens to Grendel. Before meeting the dragon, Grendel had his own truth about men. He didn't really understand them, all he knew is that he disliked them and their ways. When the Shaper comes around he becomes even more confused.
The shaper is the ultimate propaganda to the Danes. He sings about their success and makes the Danes believe they are a true and good thing in the world, nothing they have done is ever bad. However Grendel's truth is that they are stupid and foolish killing just to kill and showing off their power.
Looking for answers he goes to the dragon who is the ultimate propaganda to Grendel, telling him that there is no meaning to man . Grendel then believes that everything is a machine, things do things because they are programmed to do so. This new truth was influenced by many ideas.

Modern Day Grendel

Jeffrey Dahmer

Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer is an example of a modern day Grendel. Grendel (as we all know) not only killed his victims but mutilated them and, in some cases, eat them.Jeffrey Dahmer is not very different than Grendel.

Dahmer was born on May 21st, 1960 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Also known was the Milwaukee Cannibal he was responsible for the murders of 17 young men.

However on July 22, 1991 Tracy Edwards, a young man that was about to be another victim of Dahmer, ran out into the streets,handcuffed, and contacted the police immediately.

At first doubtful of his story police made way to Dahmer's apartment. What they found inside was disturbing. There were many picture's of mutilated bodies, two skulls on top of a computer, various heads stuck in the refrigerator and freezer, and a 57 gallon drum full of decomposing bodies. There was also evidence of cannibalism. 

Dahmer was sentenced to 15 life terms but was killed by an inmate.

Like Grendel Dahmer had no reason to kill. He had no reason to kill, he grew up only with an alcohol problem, nothing that was too out of the ordinary. He seemed to be killing only to kill. He mutilated the bodies and ate them on occasion.

Dahmer is a modern day Grendel.

 

Me

My name is Elena Guzman. I am a junior at Whitney Magnet High School. Some of my hobbies are skateboarding, drawing, and playing music. Currently I only play piano but I am learning to play bassoon. Some of my favorite bands are Black Veil Brides and Blood On the Dance Floor.
I really also enjoy English class. To me English is a way of expressing myself in an intelligent and respectful way. When I'm reading a book I feel like I have power over that book. Like I as a reader choose what the book's message is whether or not the author meant it to be a certain way is a whole other story. Well that's me.