Pygmalion

I realize that the opinion I am about to share is probably going to sound somewhat heartless, but I am willing to take that risk. I think that what I have read of Pygmalion so far is hilarious. At times I feel as if Eliza's character is meant to be sympathized with, but I just can't do it. It's too funny the way she is treated by Higgins, Pickering, and her father. Higgins and Pickering obviously think that because they are more affluent and of a higher class that they are better than Eliza and can therefore treat her like a dirty, common dog they found on the street. They talk about her as if she is not there and cannot understand them. In fact, they even state that she cannot understand them so it does not matter what they say in front of her. Even her own father speaks of her as if she is worth nothing. He sells her to Higgins and Pickering for a mere five pounds, which he openly admits is for him to get wastey face on. He says, "she's only a woman and don't know how to be happy anyhow". I might take more offense to the awful way the men treat her if, and I say this with the utmost sensitivity, I didn't agree. Eliza is a dumb broad. She can't speak correctly and she's overly emotional. We've only read two acts and she's already cried, what, three times? That's just annoying. If she says "ah-ow-oo-ooh!" one more time, I'm going to chuck my Nook off a cliff.

Orwell

I found it funny that a class full of English majors was given this reading assignment. I'm sure most of us agree with what Orwell said about the English language deteriorating, especially in this day and age where the internet and texting have taken a huge toll on the language. However, the thing that stuck out most to me was Orwell's comment on using vague, meaningless language just to say anything. I feel like most English majors and many other students have used words just to fill space in a paper, adding useless adjectives and meaningless statements in an attempt to meet the required length.

Wuthering Heights: Feminist Criticism

I did not realize that Wuthering Heights was so ahead of its time. The fact that the Catherines, the main female characters in the novel, do not always act necessarily ladylike, or as women were expected to act in that day and age. They do face struggles with society, such as when Catherine decides to marry Edgar instead of Heathcliff. She really loves Heathcliff and would love to marry him, but social standard simply would not permit it. It amazes me that the women are so influenced by the societal standards that say who they can and who they cannot be with, instead of choosing who to be with because of who they love. Times have certainly changed, but it is still possible to relate to this now. Many women in today's culture decide not to be with men they truly care about just because of things like income and social status. However, we are lucky in that this is not necessarily the required course of action and we are not shunned for rebelling against it and being with who we love for the sheer fact that we love them.