Blog #2-2

Happy Thanksgiving!

I finally finished reading Night by Elie Wiesel which was a pretty quick read. Night definitely blew my mind. It provided numerous vivid discriptions of events that took place during the Holocaust which came as a shock to me. For example, many people in the Aushwitz concentration camp were homosexual due to the nudity and gender seperation. In addition, the S.S or Nazi soldiers would kill a child without thought only because of their ethnicity. This came as a major shock because how could one human being kill another regardless of who you are. Of course with any book there is always questions. 

My questions to Eliezer is what did he mean when he said he felt free after the death of his father? Does he mean he is free of responsibility or drifting into death? What really kept me pondering was the last couple of sentences at the end of the book. "One day when I was able to get up, I decided to look at myself in the mirror on the opposite wall. I had not seen myself since the ghetto. From the depths of the mirror on the opposite wall. I had not seen myself since the ghetto. From the depths of the mirror, a corpse was contemplating me. The look in his eyes as he gazed at me has never left me". What does this mean? Was he referring to his late father? Overall, Night was an upsetting and distressing novel that taught me to cherish everything I have because you never know what tomorrow may bring.

Blog #2-1

Good evening!

The book I am currently reading is Night by Elie Wiesel which is a very riveting,wretched, and moving autobiography. Wiesel uses vivid descriptions to describe the characters in the story such as Moishe to ensure that the audience does not forget the cruel actions of the Holocaust. As a survivor Wiesel's duty is to be the "messenger of the dead among the living". His intent is to not live like glum because of such a catastrophic event that took place during World War ll but to assure people this won't happen again. Theologically, Wiesel plans to motivate the Jews during the Holocaust. Over six million Jews died, leaving many of those left to question how to still have faith? It became a struggle for many people to still have faith when their love ones were dying because of concentration camps and other torturing reasons. 

This book reminds me of the book and movie The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Both books take place during the Holocaust and explains the ongoing pain Jewish people suffered. For example, in Night while Moishe and his father are in a concentration camp the Nazi soldiers forced prisoners to run outside in a cold bath of disinfectant then beaten. Many of them were seperated from family members and often starved. In fact, most people died from hunger and overworking in concentration camps. The only difference in the two is that Moishe and his family are constantly on the move from concentration camp to concentration camp while in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is about a young boy who is not Jewish helps out a young Jew who he has become friends with in a concentration camp he lives near. Everyday the boy brings goods to the young Jew until one day the boy sneaks inside the concentration camp to help his friend find his dad. The story has a very upsetting ending which I won't spoil but shows how there was genuine compassion for Jews that was never fully respected until later on. Eliezer was too stuck in an unfortunate situation as well when he was torn between saving himself or helping his dying father. Interestingly, Eliezer doesn't pray, but he is not an atheist. My question is will Eliezer's unassertive faith in God help him and his father to survive?

Blog #5

At last, the war between the Capulet's and Montagues has finally come to an end. Romeo decides to risk his own life, by returning back to Verona after hereing the news about Juliet's death. Unfortunately, Friar John's letter letter did not reach Romeo in time to inform him of his death. Meanwhile, Romeo buys poison from a local apothecary that will later on kill him. Paris mourns his wife to be as Romeo arrives at the Capulet's burial chamber. Within a matter of time, Paris fights Romeo whom he believes is desecrating Juliet's grave. Paris dies leaving Romeo heartbroken only to see his one true love dead. Romeo kisses Juliet for the last time and takes the poison. Friar Laurence arrives but it is to late and Juliet has awaken seeing Romeo dead. After Friar Laurence leaves Juliet kisses Romeo and stabs herself. 

Why would Friar Laurence just leave Juliet all alone in the chamber knowing her love for Romeo was everlasting and passionate? He knew the both of them would do anything for each other and could have saved Juliet's life. The Prince, Capulets, and Montagues arrive only to see the ones they lost and cherished the most. If I could ask any character a question it would probably be both Romeo and Juliet. I would ask them probably what everyone who has read the book would ask, "why do all of this for love?" They've only known each other for a couple of days and instantly they've fallen in love and even died for one another in this case. I look forward to reading more of Shakespeare's books because they truly are captivating. Although the two families end their feud is this truly a happy ending or a tragic one? 

Blog #4

So I started reading Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare which is my second time reading it but I love it so much I've decided to read it again. I guess it's something about William Shakespeare's writing that sounds so sophisticated and endearing to me. Romeo and Juliet is basically a love story that ends in a tragic yet loving scene. Both two come from families who despise of each other which is preventing them from living an everlasting life together. These characters kind of remind me of Jack and Rose from the Titanic except the fact that the Titanic was based on a true story. They are both truly amazing stories that keep me with suspense throughout the whole movie or book.

I have to say the Netflix "new" version of Romeo and Juliet I did not like because it did not express as much detail as the book did. Throughout the movie Leonardo Dicaprio was an exceptional  actor as well as Claire Danes. The only differences I could spot was the Capulets and Montagues used swords instead of guns in the movie. Also, Romeo kills Paris at the Capulet's tomb which did not happen in the movie. In the book, Juliet finds a dagger and commits suicide while stabbing herself in the chest while in the movie Juliet uses Romeo's handgun to shoot herself. Also, when Romeo enters the tomb he believes Juliet is dead and takes the poison which kills him after Juliet wakes up in the book. The movie shows that Juliet shares one last kiss with Romeo why he lays dying. Maybe the 1996 version of the movie was a little better?