The Gate to Women's Country: Chapters 1-5

At what age are boys sent to Men's country?

• At the age of 5, boys are sent to Men's country, where they stay except for twice a year, when they visit Women's country. Once they turn 15, boys/men either choose to stay in Men's country, or rejoin Women's country.

How does Stavia constantly describe herself?

• Stavia constantly describers herself as having two personalities. Her normal daily self, which freaks out easily at crises, and her other daring, acting self. This part would take over, allowing Stavia to remain calm and make good choices at times of stress.

Why do we see her as both an adult and a girl?

• Stavia is seen as both adult and child due to her childish nature at some moments. Also, the numerous flashbacks from her point of view allow the world of the book to be seen through her eyes as a child.

The Taming of the Shrew: Induction

Induction Scene 1:
What happens:

• sly passes out
• lord tells players to put on play, not to laugh at sly
• lord plans for page to act as wife, persuading sly that he went mad for 7 years as a beggar

My reaction:

So far this definitely seems like a comedy. I mean, this lord is going all out in order to pull a prank on some random drunkard. With beautiful clothing, a play, and even some wearing of drag in order to make it even more fun.  When people think of Shakespeare, they think of proper and stiff characters, not the funny and crazy schemes of someone with too much time on their hands. So far, I am enjoying the story. 

Induction Scene 2:

What happens:

• lord dresses up as one of the servants
• offer paintings, activities, delicacies to sly
• convince him that he was mad for 15 years
• tell him that he talked to people who never existed
• get "wife" (page) to come in
• Sly wants to have some alone time with his wife, however the page quickly covers up by saying that they would wait so he does not go mad again
• Sly and his "wife" go to watch the play

My reaction:

And so begins the next part of the tale, after this frame story. The frame story was actually quite interesting however. It is interesting because the story of the Shrew could either teach Sly a lesson, or be completely random, yet I have no way of knowing.

The Arabian Nights: Reading 12

Tales Read:
Jullanar of the Sea
My reaction:
A recurring theme of this book if for people to be transformed into animals. King Badr alone has become a bird twice.
Also, all that people seem to do is motivated by sex.
The queen turned into a bird just to satisfy her "needs" with another man who she had turned into a man.
I found it interesting how there are many female enchantresses, however the old man is the first magic-practicing man that was in the entire book. At least important ones.
Women only seem to have power through either witchcraft or good looks, while the men go on adventures and fight battles.
While each tale is unique, the themes are a common thread through such a mish-mosh of compiled stories. Character types come back, as do certain quotes on how people should live their life. Whether its on not being curious, or being nice to everyone, these are important both in the tales and in the culture from which these tales developed.

The Arabian Nights: Reading 11

Tales Read:

·         Jullanar of the Sea

My reaction:

I realize that this is an entirely fictitious work of literature, however the fact that someone can fall in love after hearing a description of someone, is just not possible. I actually like Jauhara, because she does something to get back at Badr for her father. While changing a guy into a bird isn’t optimal, I still respect her for not just giving up. She would have killed him too, if the maid had not put him as a bird onto the nicer island. 

The Arabian Nights: Reading 10

Tales Read:

The Story of Jullanar of the Sea

My reaction:

This king has issues. Jullananar refers to hims as a kind and pious man, however the moment he bought her, the king basically ripped her clothes off. At least Jullanar doesn’t have a unibrow like that one girl in the third dervish’s tale. While I understand why Jullanar doesn’t talk (from missing her family), I personally would never be able to be quiet that long. How does the king not realize she was pregnant? When she finally talked, she was at least 6 months pregnant. I feel like the story does not teach important values. What it teaches:

1.      It is okay to fall in love with someone, and then take their virginity an hour later

2.      You can’t buy love, but you can buy a slave to love you

3.      As a king, you can disregard the problems of the kingdom, so long as its is because you are in love with a woman

The readings just end up irritating me more and more. I just want the characters to grow up and solve problems for once, rather than having their fortune handed to them on a silver platter.

The Arabian Nights: Reading 9

Parts Read

• Finished Third Dervish's Tale

This third dervish irritates me. He makes the tale borderline unbearable. Learn some manners, follow your instructions and promises for once. Wait the 40 days. You were fine in waiting 40 days to kill a young boy. Now you can't wait one day to not go into the room. There are chambers of beaches and riches, and instead you have to ride your little pony for fun. Yeah, no wonder the dervish admitted he brought this upon himself. He needs to make better choices as a person. The blind men tell him not to ask, he still asks. Don't go into this room, and you get to be rich, and have a great time with 40 sisters. 40! What more could a guy want? So just wait the time. One thing I didn't understand was why the other blind men refused to let him stay, if all of them did the exact same thing. Where is the fairness in that?

The Arabian Nights: Reading 8

Tales Read:

• The Third Dervish's Tale

My reaction:

Wow. This guy is a real idiot. Reasons why I believe this to be true. 1) He can't follow instructions

2) He obviously does not know to be cautious when dealing with fate

He had one job. To not invoke god. Literally, that was the only thing he couldn't do. Of course he has to pray, and ends up on the little island. Also, after hearing the fate of the boy, why wouldn't he just leave for a day when he was scheduled to kill the boy. Instead of screwing around with knives and crap. Oh, and I almost forgot how stupid it is of him to not listen to instructions yet again. The young men tell him not to ask about their conditions, but as in all tales it seems, they have to be curious. So he decides at the end to figure out about their blindness. The third dervish as a person just irritates me. For a king, he does not have much sense.