The Wisdom of Women

Left in the hands of the men of Rome Caesar's blood is making a mess on the floor of the capitol, Brutus and the conspirators are being chased through the streets, Cinna the poet is jumped for no good reason at all and mayhem has ensued.  But where are all the women?  Shakespeare conveniently leaves out a dominant female presence, but the absence of women amidst the turmoil in Rome speaks volumes in it of itself.

We have only come across two main female characters: Portia and Calpurnia.  Although these two figures play subordinate roles, their limited interaction with the men of the play significantly impact the actions and choices of others, if only for a short while.  Imagine how the events could  have played out had they been given a louder voice, greater respect and an equal opportunity to participate in the politics of Rome.

Calpurnia and Portia never meet in the play, but imagine a conversation between these two strong women following Caesar’s assassination. What would Portia say to Calpurnia, and Calpurnia back to Portia? If given the chance, how could each character have influenced Caesar's fate and the course of history?

"Women belong in the house... and the Senate. " ~Author Unknown

Pros and Cons

Everyone has an opinion and everyone wants to be heard, especially regarding hot topic or controversial issues.  Intrinsic in human nature is the desire to be a part of something, whether it be a group, a cause, a movement or a decision.  However, historically and currently, people have been denied the right to voice their ideas and beliefs; never has this restriction been more true than in the political arena when a debated upon law has the potential to hugely impact the way of life for a large majority of people.  And it is usually when this decision directly affects a person, that the person feels an urgency to speak up.

As students and teenagers you may feel that you are rarely asked for your perspective on policies within the very institution you attend 180 days out of the year.  This is your chance to be heard.  Take a stance on one of the issues listed in the student handbook and create an argument either for or against it.  Be sure to use some of the persuasive strategies and devices learned in class to get your point across.  Assume that your audience consists of Board of Education members, parents, teachers and school administrators.  Attempt to convince them of your cause.

*Be sure to reference another student's argument in your own speech that either directly relates to your chosen policy or may indirectly add to your point (the name of the student and the argument must be clear or credit will be lost).*

Click here for a link to the handbook for selecting the policy you wish to defend or oppose.

Love Through a Eulogy

All good things must come to an end and even Julius Caesar claims,
"It seems to me most strange that men should fear
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it come" (II.2.35-37).

So has Finny's life ended, although some may say too soon.  Assume Gene is to speak at Finny's fictional funeral (yes, the alliteration there was intentional).  He must deliver a eulogy in honor of his best friend.  Be the pen (or keyboard in this case) for Gene.  Write a speech from his point of view to be delivered at Finny's funeral.  Be true to his character and the details of the novel.  For this post only, it is not necessary to comment on another student's speech - but it is always encouraged.

"It is a sign of a creeping inner death when we no longer can praise the living." - Eric Hoffer

Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes . . .

Every seven years you become a new person.  If we think about our bodies and minds through a scientific lens, this statement is actually true;  every cell in our bodies renews over time and scientists claim that this process occurs during a seven year cycle.  If our biological being changes, are we really the same people we once were mentally and emotionally as well?

The influence our environment has on us is undeniable and responses and reactions to circumstances we either fall into (like Finny falling from the tree) or are forced to face (like Caesar's impending coronation) can often impact who we are and who we become.  In Chapter 10 of A Separate Peace, Gene visits Leper and it is clear that after his return from the war, Leper has changed. How have other characters, particularly Gene and Brutus, changed thus far?  Trace their development from our first impressions of them to their current states.  In what ways are they changing and what factors are prompting these changes?

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” Maria Robinson