Semester Reflection

I feel as though I have come a long way this semester. I have had to write more essays on my own and read and analyze deeply metaphorical texts more than I have ever had to before. I tend to feel more confident in what I am writing instead of guessing and hoping that my ideas will make sense on paper. I see the arts differently now. I recognize deeper meanings in almost every book I read, movie I watch, television, etc. I especially recognize satirical humor when I see it. Before this semester, I would have thought what I was watching was funny and that it was making fun of the target, but not that it was truly exposing a flaw. I love being able to recognize these things everywhere around me. 

Not only do I recognize changes in what I experience in literature around me, but my own literature as well. I sense my writing style changing and getting better. I feel as though my writing is more clear and understandable. My hope is that next semester will take this even further for me. I would love to be able to see my writing improve at such a rate that it is now in this class. I am excited to see what I will accomplish next semester and what books and texts I will have the opportunity to experience and analyze. 

Semester Reflection

Lord of the Flies Reflection

In the end of Lord of Flies, it is to be noticed that all things go to hell after Simon dies. He certainly represents the good of humanity, while everything else represents the bad; the human flaw. Once Simon, the chosen one, is murdered, the peace is gone. The first disturbing event after Simon dies is the  immediate violence that takes place between the two groups of boys. They become savages who don't care if they harm, or even kill each other. "Ralph twisted on top of a writhing body and felt hot breath on his cheek. He began to pound the mouth below him, using his clenched fist as a hammer; he hit with more and more passionate hysteria as the face became slippery." (Golding 170). The tribe of boys is so savage that they would attack the other in the dark. Ralph senselessly beats one of the boys, "passionately", as he could feel the face become wet with blood. There is no humanity left after Simon. What is left is only the violent, insensitive, cruel animal. The senseless violence comes to a point where the opposing tribe kills Piggy. "Piggy fell forty feet and landed on his back across that square red rock in the sea. His head opened up and stuff came out and turned red. Piggy's arms and legs twitched a bit, like a pig's after it had been killed." (Golding 185). Piggy was the only good thing left on the island. He wasn't as good as Simon, but he was human intelligence, and now he is gone. Violence is taken to a different level, torturing. Jack tortures the twins to reveal where Ralph is hiding. "The prodding became rhythmic. Sam yelled. 'Thats not the way.' Roger edged past the chief, only just avoiding pushing him with his shoulder." (Golding 186-187). They boys are arguing over the best ways to torture the little twins in order to get information out of them. Civilization is truly lost on this island.