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Fate or Free Will?

 Do you believe events in your life have been guided by fate or chance? Why or why not? Based on the text, what do you think Shakespeare's attitude was towards fate? Does Macbeth have any choice in his actions or was everything predetermined? Use examples from the text as your support.

No, there is no such thing as fate. The theory of fate would suggest that every human being is living a scripted life that we cannot change. That notion is not correct or logical. As humans, we all have free will and full ability to control our lives as well as the lives of others. God has given us brains that help us work through our own problems that may arise along the way. Many people who believe in fate base it off of coincidences that they have encounter. They say that these are so large, that they could not merely be coincidences; however, when we are alive for such a long time, we are bound to encounter coincidences based on pure chance and nothing more. With fate, there is no purpose to live. If anything (or everything) is predetermined in life, what's the point of living? Life is a chaotic journey in uncharted lands were everyone experiences it differently, that's what makes it worth doing, it's something personal and intimate.

Shakespeare would probably not believe fate guided the actions of Macbeth. There is no clear evidence in the play that fate decided that Macbeth was going to become a murderer and a traitor. They were all based on his own choices and actions. He was weak, of course, and his ability to carry out the murders of King Duncan and the others that followed were not necessarily started by the witches, but by Lady Macbeth herself. Although Macbeth is told he will become king, he is not told how to achieve the position of king: that much is up to him. We cannot blame him for becoming king (it is his Destiny), but we can blame him for the way in which he chooses to get there (by his own free will).

Honoring The Captain

This advertisement was made by the Nike Brand of Air Jordan in honor of the final season of Derek Jeter. It was sent out to the public around the time of the MLB All-Star Game in early July. Derek Jeter spent 20 seasons in the Major Leagues all with the New York Yankees and has become the face of baseball in the 21st century. He was known by baseball as a very humble leader, great shortstop, and an all-around well respected person. Nike felt that they should make an advertisement to memorialize Jeter's impact and legacy on the game of baseball. The ad is in black and white with a picture of his back to the camera showing his famous #2. Across the ad is big letters that say "RE2PECT." 

The term "Re2pect" became a pop culture phenomenon and was put on t-shirts, hats, and baseball merchandise across the world. It's a clever play-on words that uses Derek Jeter's number as an "S" in the word "respect." The bigger picture to look at is that this word defines his baseball career in one simple word. No matter what baseball team you were a fan of or if you were a fan of baseball at all, you had to show respect for Derek Jeter. Put aside his 14 All-Star appearances, 5 championship rings, 5 gold glove awards, and many more achievements. Take a step back to admire his great character and humbleness through it all. "Respect" is just the perfect word to use when thinking about Jeter. A man to respect on and off the baseball diamond. Air Jordan was simply genius for coming up with this advertisement.

The intended audience for this ad is very broad. It can range from sports fans, people who wear the Jordan brand, baseball fans, or just fans of Derek Jeter. Anyone who has a knowledge of sports in general or those who have been alive to witness his entire career, should be able to understand the significance of the advertisement and how brilliant it is. Derek Jeter has not just been made an icon in sports by the media, but he has made himself that way with the kind of guy this is.

"Humility" is the best deadly sin to best describe the advertisement. Jordan wanted to create the ad to sum up Jeter's baseball career in the most modest and humble way possible, despite being the all-time great player that he is. The ad was very simple, yet genius at the same time. Jeter was known as a modest and humble guy and this is the way this ad was created. 

Derek Jeter was a sponsor of Air Jordan throughout his career wearing Jordan baseball cleats every game. The ad was not created to showcase a particular product, but to simply show respect for the great one. Notice how the Jordan logo is printed very small in the corner of the ad, but the term "RE2PECT" and the image of Jeter in the background covers the entire page. That was the ad's main intention, focus more on the endorser of the product and not the brand itself. 

Jane Eyre Chapter 7 Thoughts

"How would you best describe the central idea of this chapter? Which phrase from the chapter best helps develop the central idea?"

It's Jane's first month at Lowood and the headmaster of the school, Mr. Brocklehurst has been away the whole time. She becomes very nervous when he returns back because she remembers telling her aunt about her having the habit of lying. She made that promise to her and was afraid of the master finding out. He finds out and calls her a careless girl. He orders Jane to stand on a stool while he yells to everyone in the school that she lied. Every student was forbidden to speak to Jane the rest of the day. Jane was completely humiliated all because of her being careless and lying when she was not supposed to. The master is very harsh and cruel when it comes to rules and punishments, but she ultimately put the punishment on herself by not keeping her promise and impulsively admitting her mistake in front of Mr. Brocklehurst. "There was I, then, mounted aloft; I, who had said I could not bear the shame of standing on my natural feet in the middle of the room, was now exposed to general view on a pedestal of infamy. What my sensations were no language can describe; but just as they all rose, stifling my breath and constricting my throat, a girl came up and passed me: in passing, she lifted her eyes. What a strange light inspired them! What an extraordinary sensation that ray sent through me!" That statement defines the whole passage. A simple smile and nice gesture while she is misery mean't a lot to her and gave her hope. 

The Name "Jackson"

My name comes from English, Scottish, and Hebrew origin. Its English meaning is the "son of Jack." I've always been confused of who this Jack person is though. When the definition refers to "Jack," I think it refers to any Jack in general. According to some baby name websites, people with this name tend to initiate events, to be leaders rather than followers, with powerful personalities. They tend to be focused on specific goals, experience a wealth of creative new ideas, and have the ability to implement these ideas with efficiency and determination. They tend to be courageous and sometimes aggressive. As unique, creative individuals, they tend to resent authority, and are sometimes stubborn, proud, and impatient. Jackson seems like such a normal name with no historical significance, but it's a commonly used name throughout the world. This name really does not define me in any way that comes to mind.


Link: http://www.sheknows.com/baby-names/name/jackson


Times where I have felt an individual is where I think of my first name because no one else in this family has this name and I feel unique. I'm not sure why my parents chose this name for me but I like it. More times than not, I have felt more part of a group in my family with my last name "Kaplan." Kaplan is a historically Jewish last name and that Jewish tradition has been passed down in my family from generation to generation, My dad's side of the family is Jewish and I feel like part of the small Jewish population in the world with my last name because there are not that many of us.

Wing Young Huie's Work

Fourth of July, Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis, MN
Lake Street USA (1997-2000)

When I first observed this photograph, I thought it was a beautiful, well-timed piece of art. It takes talent to take a quality picture of an on-going fireworks show and I was very impressed. The black and white just adds to the beauty of it. A color picture would not make the photo as unique as it is because color pictures of Fourth of July are too common. It gives the photograph that "classic summer night" type of feel. The scenery is also very breathtaking in this picture. The glowing moonlight reflecting off the lake at night with three people looking on at the scene is just genius.

This a representation of what makes the United States of America the greatest country in the world and why everyone loves summer nights. This is a summer evening in the America represented in one picture. Everyone is gathered around the lake; cooking out on their dock, laying out on the grass, and enjoying a great fireworks show on our country's day of independence. The lake is a symbol of summer and so are fireworks. There are many lakes in Michigan and that's why Huie chose this spot of scenery. The lights of the lake houses, the black and white choice of color, and the trees surrounding the lake at night just make this photo more and more gorgeous.

Photo citation: http://know.wingyounghuie.com/


Both Young Huie and Margaret Atwood present the concept of "othering" through image, color, and layout. Young Huie uses black and white to make the photo more unique and takes in the photo from a sort of panoramic perspective. He wanted his audience to get the whole picure and create expectations of what a summer night in Michigan looks like. It sort of creates a stereotype and one-view perception, but he tries to create a beautiful image.