Summary:
Chapter 3:
One discovery that Equality 7-2521 made is the "power from the sky". In other words, electricity. During thunderstorms, lightning strikes the iron rod.
Chapter 4:
The Golden One, formally known as Liberty 5-3000, calls Equality 7-2521 a new name, "The Unconquered". Also, it is known through Equality 7-2521 that the phrase, our dearest one is never said between a man and a woman. Also, Equality 7-2521 was drinking water from Liberty 5-3000's hands. (Were there any cups?)
Chapter 5:
Equality 7-2521 discovered electric light through a box of glass and wires. When he put the wires in the box and closed, the current, the wire turned red. Equality 7-2521 wants to share this discovery with men instead of sweeping streets all his life. He especially wants to show this discovery to the World Council of Scholars. He thinks they will see that this gift is greater than his sin of discovering something all by himself.
Chapter 6:
Equality 7-2521 has not written in his journal for thirty days. As soon as Equality 7-2521 returned to his home, the Council of the Home, questioned him, where has he been. Equality 7-2521 would not tell. So, he is sent to the Palace of Corrective Detention, to be lashed until he told the truth. He was to stay at the place until he gives up. However, he escapes from the Palace because there wasn't guards there and the locks are old.
Chapter 7:
The next day, Equality 7-2521 went before the World Council of Scholars to show his invention. They were outraged because a Street Sweeper does not have the right to come before them. It was against the rules. When Equality 7-2521 showed them how the electric light worked, they were furious because they think that Equality 7-2521 thinks that he is smarter than his brothers. It is also known that the light Equality 7-2521 discovered, his brothers doesn't think it is a new power. What's not thought by all men cannot be right and what is not done collectively is not good either. World Council of Scholars all agreed that the invention must be destroyed. Then, he ran off with his invention to Uncharted Forest, never to be seen by his town again.
Chapter 8:
In the forest, Equality 7-2521 cooked a bird and it was the best meal he ever tasted. Then, he goes to the stream, and he saw his face for the first time, and he was satisfied of how his face and body looked.
Chapter 9:
On the second day being in the forest, Equality 7-2521 had a feeling that he was being followed and he realized that Liberty 5-3000 was following him. Liberty 5-3000 ran away from the Home of the Peasants and she followed Equality 7-2521's footsteps once she heard the news that he had gone to the Uncharted Forest. She said she will follow him wherever he goes. Equality 7-2521 wants him and her to move on and forget about the city. Later on, Liberty 5-3000 said to Equality 7-2521 "we love you" but Liberty 5-3000 realized that was not the way to say. There was a word she can replace the word we with, but she doesn't know what.
Chapter 10:
Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000 discover a house left from the Unmentionable Times. They saw a mirror for the first time. Then, in the bedroom, they discovered there was only 2 beds, so 2 people must have lived in the house. There was another room full of manuscripts on shelves. Then, they decided that this was the house they are going to live in.
Chapter 11:
This chapter is important because now it uses the word "I" to individualize yourself. He will never describe himself by using the word we, but by using the word I.
Chapter 12:
Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000 changed their names to Prometheus and Gaea, respectively. Equality 7-2521 will teach his son to say I and be proud of it and be proud because only one of him exists. He will start a new race with his friends back in the City and stop the corruption of collectivism.
Quote:
"I am. I think. I will " (Rand 94).
Reaction:
The word "I" is important. It expresses freedom and individuality. That is what the government back in the city does not want to reinforce. Everyone should be different, not the same. "I" makes you feel that you're free, you are not chained to other people. The word "we" destroys individuality and it doesn't describe one's self. That is what's so dangerous about this word "we".
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Anthem (pg. 17-51)
Summary:
The novella's point of view is first person. A guy named Equality 7-2521, twenty-one years old is the narrator. He lives in a world where all men must be alike. He was born with a curse. He knows that he is evil but he cannot stop being evil. Equality 7-2521 tells about the time he was in the Home of Infants up until he was five years old. Then, he went to the Home of the Students where he has been learning for ten years. So he stopped learning when he reached the age of fifteen. He was not in the years of the Home of the Students because he thought learning was too easy. He is a quick learner and that is his curse. He tried to fight this curse but he couldn't. In school, he wanted to know what makes the earth, earth. However, the teachers forbids those kinds of questions. After the ten years of learning, the Council of Vocations decides where a person is going to work, like Home for Carpenters, or even Home of the Leaders. Equality 7-2521 was assigned to Home of the Street Sweeper. Also, Equality 7-2521 said when a person reaches forty, they are sent to the Home of the Useless. They don't work anymore. While being a street sweeper, Equality 7-2521 meets Union 5-3992 and International 4-8818. Two springs ago, Equality 7-2521 and International 4-8818 made a discovery of a big hole. At the "bottom" of the hole, Equality 7-2521 found there was a tunnel. Now he starts sneaking away to the tunnel every night for three hours and reads manuscripts that he stole. After that, he a girl named Liberty 5-3000, assigned to work in the soil. He stared at her until she could notice her. When the time came, when she finally noticed him, they were attracted to each other. That is against the law, women and men should not notice each other. Now, Equality 7-2521 renames Liberty 5-3000 the Golden One for himself. These two people move to another level, which is speaking to each other. Equality 7-2521 made the comment to Liberty 5-3000, saying that she beautiful. He broke 2 rules. One is thinking about women and the other is talking to them. After that, he starts wondering about the lost words of the Evil One and words of the Unmentionable Times.
Quote:
So, the setting of this novella is a world where the main government, or the World Council goal is make everyone the same. People living in this world are supposed to be different. That's why one person is called an individual. If you stand out, you will be discriminated. In the novel, even though the point of view is first person, there is no "I" or "Me". For example, "We, Equality 7-2521...". It is like "I" and "Me" is not in people's vocabulary. That is how much the government is against individualism. So far, the narrator didn't state the cause of individualism hatred, but I bet the cause was something big that happened. Everyone is supposed to be their own individual and that is what makes the world diverse.
The novella's point of view is first person. A guy named Equality 7-2521, twenty-one years old is the narrator. He lives in a world where all men must be alike. He was born with a curse. He knows that he is evil but he cannot stop being evil. Equality 7-2521 tells about the time he was in the Home of Infants up until he was five years old. Then, he went to the Home of the Students where he has been learning for ten years. So he stopped learning when he reached the age of fifteen. He was not in the years of the Home of the Students because he thought learning was too easy. He is a quick learner and that is his curse. He tried to fight this curse but he couldn't. In school, he wanted to know what makes the earth, earth. However, the teachers forbids those kinds of questions. After the ten years of learning, the Council of Vocations decides where a person is going to work, like Home for Carpenters, or even Home of the Leaders. Equality 7-2521 was assigned to Home of the Street Sweeper. Also, Equality 7-2521 said when a person reaches forty, they are sent to the Home of the Useless. They don't work anymore. While being a street sweeper, Equality 7-2521 meets Union 5-3992 and International 4-8818. Two springs ago, Equality 7-2521 and International 4-8818 made a discovery of a big hole. At the "bottom" of the hole, Equality 7-2521 found there was a tunnel. Now he starts sneaking away to the tunnel every night for three hours and reads manuscripts that he stole. After that, he a girl named Liberty 5-3000, assigned to work in the soil. He stared at her until she could notice her. When the time came, when she finally noticed him, they were attracted to each other. That is against the law, women and men should not notice each other. Now, Equality 7-2521 renames Liberty 5-3000 the Golden One for himself. These two people move to another level, which is speaking to each other. Equality 7-2521 made the comment to Liberty 5-3000, saying that she beautiful. He broke 2 rules. One is thinking about women and the other is talking to them. After that, he starts wondering about the lost words of the Evil One and words of the Unmentionable Times.
Quote:
"It was that learning was too easy. That is a great sin, to be born with a head which is too quick. It is not good to be different from our brothers, but it is evil to be superior to them" (Rand 21).Reaction:
So, the setting of this novella is a world where the main government, or the World Council goal is make everyone the same. People living in this world are supposed to be different. That's why one person is called an individual. If you stand out, you will be discriminated. In the novel, even though the point of view is first person, there is no "I" or "Me". For example, "We, Equality 7-2521...". It is like "I" and "Me" is not in people's vocabulary. That is how much the government is against individualism. So far, the narrator didn't state the cause of individualism hatred, but I bet the cause was something big that happened. Everyone is supposed to be their own individual and that is what makes the world diverse.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The Perfect Thing (pg. 197-256)
Summary:
Chapter 8: Apple
One fact that I found interesting is that Steve Jobs was fired from the company he created, Apple, in 1985. Now, 12 years later, 1997, he regained control of the company he confounded. He came back because Apple was having a financial crisis. Levy once asked Jobs if he will be CEO of apple. Jobs said no. His stay at Apple was only temporary, to help the company get back on its feet. In fact, Apple has been 90 days away from bankruptcy. Apple's revenues went down from 8 billion to 5 billion. Jobs was CEO of Pixar while he was out Apple. Jobs thought it is time to repair Apple. During that time, Dell computers were on the market. Michael Dell once said, if he was in Job's shoes, he would close down apple. In 1998, the iMac was released. This was the first project, Jobs worked on after his second coming to Apple. The original iMac was egg-shaped and was blue. The iMac was a big hit. Then after the iMac, there was the iBook (an iMac to go). Then, Apple was building wireless internet standard (Wi-Fi) into its computers. By 2000, Jobs does not consider himself an interim. the one thing that Apple always does is prefixing its products with "i", like iPod, iMac, iPad, iBook. Before the iPod came out, the iPod team was thinking about letting the PC people be able to buy iPods that is compatible with windows. The plan was realized. Jobs made a deal with MusicMatch to provide software for the iPod to work on Windows platform. There were disadvantages because Windows had to buy extra hardware like FireWire to put on their computer.Apple also needed to write iTunes for Windows. In 2003, Apple created a Windows version of iTunes. iPods cannot be downloaded from any other music sites besides, iTunes. After that, Jobs was think on how to make the iPod mini better and thus came the new iPod nano with a color screen, click wheel, built in games and other features. Apple has improved itself.
Chapter 9: Podcast (Last Chapter)
Adam Curry was trying to figure out how to merge radio and internet together. Working with Dave Winter, a software designer, they developed Really Simple Syndication (RSS). It allows people to subscribe to "feeds
or digital file deliveries. Blogging and iPod goes well together, so audio files should also be with the iPod. The name is of having unstreamed audio or video is called podcast. The name Podcast was created in September 2004. So the first version of iTunes that included podcasting was released in June 28, 2005. When you subscribe to a podcast, the next time you open up iTunes, new episodes would be downloaded. By the first of July, a million podcasts were downloaded. There would be podcasts about sports, news, and every other subject. Also, even Universities and college professors upload their lectures on iTunes as podcasts. Then, Apple distributed music videos for $1.99.
Quote:
This quote was said by Steve Jobs, referring to the people running PC companies not liking their own products. I can tell that Apple loves what they create because if they love what they create, then customers around the world will love what was created. For instance, 55 million iPods were sold by mid-2006. That is a lot of iPods sold. If that many people buy iPods, then the iPod is certainly a likable product. I agree with Job's opinion. If there is no inspiration in the product, then it will not sell as much as a company might have hoped. I think that inspiration is key to successful sales.
Chapter 8: Apple
One fact that I found interesting is that Steve Jobs was fired from the company he created, Apple, in 1985. Now, 12 years later, 1997, he regained control of the company he confounded. He came back because Apple was having a financial crisis. Levy once asked Jobs if he will be CEO of apple. Jobs said no. His stay at Apple was only temporary, to help the company get back on its feet. In fact, Apple has been 90 days away from bankruptcy. Apple's revenues went down from 8 billion to 5 billion. Jobs was CEO of Pixar while he was out Apple. Jobs thought it is time to repair Apple. During that time, Dell computers were on the market. Michael Dell once said, if he was in Job's shoes, he would close down apple. In 1998, the iMac was released. This was the first project, Jobs worked on after his second coming to Apple. The original iMac was egg-shaped and was blue. The iMac was a big hit. Then after the iMac, there was the iBook (an iMac to go). Then, Apple was building wireless internet standard (Wi-Fi) into its computers. By 2000, Jobs does not consider himself an interim. the one thing that Apple always does is prefixing its products with "i", like iPod, iMac, iPad, iBook. Before the iPod came out, the iPod team was thinking about letting the PC people be able to buy iPods that is compatible with windows. The plan was realized. Jobs made a deal with MusicMatch to provide software for the iPod to work on Windows platform. There were disadvantages because Windows had to buy extra hardware like FireWire to put on their computer.Apple also needed to write iTunes for Windows. In 2003, Apple created a Windows version of iTunes. iPods cannot be downloaded from any other music sites besides, iTunes. After that, Jobs was think on how to make the iPod mini better and thus came the new iPod nano with a color screen, click wheel, built in games and other features. Apple has improved itself.
Chapter 9: Podcast (Last Chapter)
Adam Curry was trying to figure out how to merge radio and internet together. Working with Dave Winter, a software designer, they developed Really Simple Syndication (RSS). It allows people to subscribe to "feeds
or digital file deliveries. Blogging and iPod goes well together, so audio files should also be with the iPod. The name is of having unstreamed audio or video is called podcast. The name Podcast was created in September 2004. So the first version of iTunes that included podcasting was released in June 28, 2005. When you subscribe to a podcast, the next time you open up iTunes, new episodes would be downloaded. By the first of July, a million podcasts were downloaded. There would be podcasts about sports, news, and every other subject. Also, even Universities and college professors upload their lectures on iTunes as podcasts. Then, Apple distributed music videos for $1.99.
Quote:
"These people don't love what they create. And people here do" (Levy 225).Reaction:
This quote was said by Steve Jobs, referring to the people running PC companies not liking their own products. I can tell that Apple loves what they create because if they love what they create, then customers around the world will love what was created. For instance, 55 million iPods were sold by mid-2006. That is a lot of iPods sold. If that many people buy iPods, then the iPod is certainly a likable product. I agree with Job's opinion. If there is no inspiration in the product, then it will not sell as much as a company might have hoped. I think that inspiration is key to successful sales.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
The Perfect Thing (pg. 135-196)
Summary:
Chapter 6: Download
The iTunes did not exist before the iPod. It actually came around 2 years later after the introduction of the iPod. In 1997, Justin Frankel created WinAmp, the application that can be considered a digital jukebox. He sold the program to AOL. MP3s used to be on computers, but in 1998, Diamond Multimedia, a small Korean Company, released a tiny speaker device called the Rio PMP300, that would play an hour's worth of MP3 songs that can uploaded from the computer. Record labels sued because a digital music players that can make computer copies of songs was a violation of copyrights. Record labels were desperate for people to listen to new releases, that they even bribe radio stations to play their songs. However streaming songs on the internet would let people hear new songs faster. Michael Robertson created a web site where one can search information about MP3 files. Visitors of the site requested Robertson to upload songs. So, he asked unsigned bands (bands that are not signed to a record label) if he can upload their songs on the website and the bands can use the website to promote themselves. Robertson also let people listen to music from their collections while they are online. Record labels sued Robertson . Napster was the next victim to record labels. Napster was a program where one can download songs for free. Record labels sued because of copyright. For iTunes, one way is that one can insert a CD and import the songs to the iTunes library. Steve Jobs wanted to give iPod users a way to buy music legally. So the iTunes Music Store was launched on April 28th 2003 with 200,000 songs. By 2006, the store more than 2 million songs. This made buying music much easier because it was part of the iTunes software. So, Apple needed to make a version that would work on Windows computers. Record labels are liking it. Instead of buying a whole CD, from iTunes one can buy their favorite songs instead of buying the whole CD.
Chapter 7: Shuffle
One feature of the iTunes and the iPod is shuffling, where you can listen to your songs in random order. However, the narrator (Steven) is questioning whether if his songs are really shuffling. On his iPod, he had about 50 Steely Dan songs , he felt that Steely Dan is being played too much. Some artists doesn't even come up at all. So it like the iPod is only playing favorites. When Steven asked other iPod users if the iPod is also playing favorites even when put on shuffle, they said yes. So in January 2005, the iPod shuffle was introduced. During that time, the Shuffle costs $99. It does not have a click wheel, display, or a menu-driven interface. The reason why this new iPod is called a shuffle because its main job is to shuffle songs.
Quote:
Using the shuffle option is really fun. It brings me suspense of what the next song might be. If there wasn't a shuffle button, the songs would play in alphabetical order. That would boring because it is predictable of what the song will be. I would have that moment that I didn't know this song was going to play next. If the shuffle feature is not working like I want it, there is always the forward button.
Chapter 6: Download
The iTunes did not exist before the iPod. It actually came around 2 years later after the introduction of the iPod. In 1997, Justin Frankel created WinAmp, the application that can be considered a digital jukebox. He sold the program to AOL. MP3s used to be on computers, but in 1998, Diamond Multimedia, a small Korean Company, released a tiny speaker device called the Rio PMP300, that would play an hour's worth of MP3 songs that can uploaded from the computer. Record labels sued because a digital music players that can make computer copies of songs was a violation of copyrights. Record labels were desperate for people to listen to new releases, that they even bribe radio stations to play their songs. However streaming songs on the internet would let people hear new songs faster. Michael Robertson created a web site where one can search information about MP3 files. Visitors of the site requested Robertson to upload songs. So, he asked unsigned bands (bands that are not signed to a record label) if he can upload their songs on the website and the bands can use the website to promote themselves. Robertson also let people listen to music from their collections while they are online. Record labels sued Robertson . Napster was the next victim to record labels. Napster was a program where one can download songs for free. Record labels sued because of copyright. For iTunes, one way is that one can insert a CD and import the songs to the iTunes library. Steve Jobs wanted to give iPod users a way to buy music legally. So the iTunes Music Store was launched on April 28th 2003 with 200,000 songs. By 2006, the store more than 2 million songs. This made buying music much easier because it was part of the iTunes software. So, Apple needed to make a version that would work on Windows computers. Record labels are liking it. Instead of buying a whole CD, from iTunes one can buy their favorite songs instead of buying the whole CD.
Chapter 7: Shuffle
One feature of the iTunes and the iPod is shuffling, where you can listen to your songs in random order. However, the narrator (Steven) is questioning whether if his songs are really shuffling. On his iPod, he had about 50 Steely Dan songs , he felt that Steely Dan is being played too much. Some artists doesn't even come up at all. So it like the iPod is only playing favorites. When Steven asked other iPod users if the iPod is also playing favorites even when put on shuffle, they said yes. So in January 2005, the iPod shuffle was introduced. During that time, the Shuffle costs $99. It does not have a click wheel, display, or a menu-driven interface. The reason why this new iPod is called a shuffle because its main job is to shuffle songs.
Quote:
"One was that using shuffle on the iPod has become incredibly important to people" (Levy 173).Reaction:
Using the shuffle option is really fun. It brings me suspense of what the next song might be. If there wasn't a shuffle button, the songs would play in alphabetical order. That would boring because it is predictable of what the song will be. I would have that moment that I didn't know this song was going to play next. If the shuffle feature is not working like I want it, there is always the forward button.
Friday, April 15, 2011
The Perfect Thing (pg. 92-134)
Summary:
Chapter 4: Cool (Part 2)
So the question is: how did the coolness of the iPod through its design came about? Well, a guy named Jonathan Ive, is responsible for the design and look for the iPod. In the early 1990s, Apple was looking for a young designer and Ive got the job in 1992. Back when the company just started, Jobs had an idea how to design the company's logo. It would be an object. Since "apple" is a fruit, the logo should be the apple, the fruit. He and Ive worked together to design the iMac and the iBook (that does not exist anymore). There was one time that Ive talked about the new design of the new fourth-generation iPod classic. It would be the first full-sized iPod with the click wheel with the buttons being part of the click wheel. Ive also thinks that a different shade of white should be the color of the new iPod. Then after the new iPod came out, there came an iPod mini. It is 50% smaller than the original iPod. With the mini, there are choices of colors, gold, silver, pink, green, and blue. Its costs $249 and holds up to 1000 songs. The mini was the best-selling iPod of all. Women especailly bought the mini. The pink color was popular. That is how the iPod became cool.
Chapter 5: Personal
On the streets, if one sees another with white earphones, then that is an iPod person. They are in their little world or bubble, and at the same time, they are bumping into other people. The narrator questions if the iPod turned the current generation into a zombie generation. Before the iPod, there was the famous Sony Walkman that was released during the late 1970s. The Walkman is a potable tape player. It has headphones that makes it sound that you hearing the music from your stereo system. Co-founder of Sony, Akio Morita, brought home a prototype and realized the person sitting next to you or beside, or even near you would feel left out because you listening to music and the person is not. So, another headphone jack was added to the Walkman so two people can listen. However not many people use the second headphone jack, so in latter designs, there was no second headphone jack. Having Walkman's headphones, it feels that you are in your personal movie theater, as Andreas Pavel describes it. The Walkman also had negative reviews. The iPod is the new Walkman. In Walkmans, you play the cassette over and over again, but it the iPod, you have whole variety of songs. There are negative reviews about the iPod. The iPod has a reputation in causing people losing their hearing. So in March 2006, Apple introduced a volume limit setting in the iPod where people can set the maximum volume of their iPod. The iPod is your personal friend.
Quote:
I definitely can relate to this quote. I bought my new iPod 2 weeks ago and when I used it, I felt as though I was in a different world. I was unconscious from the world surrounding me. One example is when my friends are trying to talk to me. With the iPod, I don't even realize that they are talking to me. Now while I'm on the train, I can barely hear what the train attendant is saying on the intercom. The worst thing is, I cannot put it down. The iPod is like a drug that I am addicted to and can't stop.
Chapter 4: Cool (Part 2)
So the question is: how did the coolness of the iPod through its design came about? Well, a guy named Jonathan Ive, is responsible for the design and look for the iPod. In the early 1990s, Apple was looking for a young designer and Ive got the job in 1992. Back when the company just started, Jobs had an idea how to design the company's logo. It would be an object. Since "apple" is a fruit, the logo should be the apple, the fruit. He and Ive worked together to design the iMac and the iBook (that does not exist anymore). There was one time that Ive talked about the new design of the new fourth-generation iPod classic. It would be the first full-sized iPod with the click wheel with the buttons being part of the click wheel. Ive also thinks that a different shade of white should be the color of the new iPod. Then after the new iPod came out, there came an iPod mini. It is 50% smaller than the original iPod. With the mini, there are choices of colors, gold, silver, pink, green, and blue. Its costs $249 and holds up to 1000 songs. The mini was the best-selling iPod of all. Women especailly bought the mini. The pink color was popular. That is how the iPod became cool.
Chapter 5: Personal
On the streets, if one sees another with white earphones, then that is an iPod person. They are in their little world or bubble, and at the same time, they are bumping into other people. The narrator questions if the iPod turned the current generation into a zombie generation. Before the iPod, there was the famous Sony Walkman that was released during the late 1970s. The Walkman is a potable tape player. It has headphones that makes it sound that you hearing the music from your stereo system. Co-founder of Sony, Akio Morita, brought home a prototype and realized the person sitting next to you or beside, or even near you would feel left out because you listening to music and the person is not. So, another headphone jack was added to the Walkman so two people can listen. However not many people use the second headphone jack, so in latter designs, there was no second headphone jack. Having Walkman's headphones, it feels that you are in your personal movie theater, as Andreas Pavel describes it. The Walkman also had negative reviews. The iPod is the new Walkman. In Walkmans, you play the cassette over and over again, but it the iPod, you have whole variety of songs. There are negative reviews about the iPod. The iPod has a reputation in causing people losing their hearing. So in March 2006, Apple introduced a volume limit setting in the iPod where people can set the maximum volume of their iPod. The iPod is your personal friend.
Quote:
"Each was in his or her own musical world, walking to their soundtrack, starts in their own music video, almost oblivious to the world around them" (Levy 107).Reaction:
I definitely can relate to this quote. I bought my new iPod 2 weeks ago and when I used it, I felt as though I was in a different world. I was unconscious from the world surrounding me. One example is when my friends are trying to talk to me. With the iPod, I don't even realize that they are talking to me. Now while I'm on the train, I can barely hear what the train attendant is saying on the intercom. The worst thing is, I cannot put it down. The iPod is like a drug that I am addicted to and can't stop.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
The Perfect Thing (pg.51-91)
* Just so the readers may know, Steven Levy, author of this novel is the narrator.
Summary
Chapter 3: Origin (Part 2)
In only four months SoundJam converted into what we know today as iTunes. iTunes can search songs in lightning speed. Now, the iTunes team made sure that it is possible to connect a portable MP3 player to the Macintosh. It did work, but the devices were not that great. Jon Rubinstein, senior vice president of hardware called in Anthony Fadell, who is not in the Apple company to help out. So when Fadell accepted the job, he started researching on MP3 players and its hardware pieces to create a better MP3 player, Apple style. When it was time for Fadell to present his ideas, he showed 2 models. One model is that it had a big slot where it can accept hard drive or a flash memory card to hold music. When the battery dies, the music has to be reloaded. Steve Jobs did not like that idea. Fadell then showed another idea and Jobs preferred the second idea. Paul Schiller brought out a variety of models if a playback device. There is a circular pathway on the wheel so it can be easy to search for songs. Fadell said he can build a model like that. the project was a go and that is how the iPod came about in 2001.
Chapter 4: Cool (Part 1)
Dr. Carl Rohde is a professor in the Netherlands who studies coolness. Dr. Rohde says that the iPod is a cool product. However, it is the quality that is important in the marketing world. While talking with Bill Gates on coolness, Gates says in order for something to be cool, it has to have high market share. So the question that comes up is how the iPod acquired its coolness. Jobs tried to make the iPod great, not cool or trendy. Apple does not care about coolness. However, Levy makes a point that the fruit logo is a cool indicator in itself. In 2003, Apple released a cooler campaign that had to do with silhouettes. Silhouettes are still being used today. Then in 2004, Apple promoted the windows version of iTunes. The iPod was listed as one of Oprah Winfrey's favorite things of 2005. Studies show that people can get a little too attached to their iPod because the design looks attractive.
Quote:
I agree with what Jobs said. I am not saying that design is not important, however the quality of the iPod is more important than the looks or design. I want an iPod so I can listen to my music. If the iPod only looked good but did not have good qualities, I would not have bought it. So, I am glad that Jobs put quality before design. Quality will make the iPod be in the markets, the Apple company selling millions of dollars.
Summary
Chapter 3: Origin (Part 2)
In only four months SoundJam converted into what we know today as iTunes. iTunes can search songs in lightning speed. Now, the iTunes team made sure that it is possible to connect a portable MP3 player to the Macintosh. It did work, but the devices were not that great. Jon Rubinstein, senior vice president of hardware called in Anthony Fadell, who is not in the Apple company to help out. So when Fadell accepted the job, he started researching on MP3 players and its hardware pieces to create a better MP3 player, Apple style. When it was time for Fadell to present his ideas, he showed 2 models. One model is that it had a big slot where it can accept hard drive or a flash memory card to hold music. When the battery dies, the music has to be reloaded. Steve Jobs did not like that idea. Fadell then showed another idea and Jobs preferred the second idea. Paul Schiller brought out a variety of models if a playback device. There is a circular pathway on the wheel so it can be easy to search for songs. Fadell said he can build a model like that. the project was a go and that is how the iPod came about in 2001.
Chapter 4: Cool (Part 1)
Dr. Carl Rohde is a professor in the Netherlands who studies coolness. Dr. Rohde says that the iPod is a cool product. However, it is the quality that is important in the marketing world. While talking with Bill Gates on coolness, Gates says in order for something to be cool, it has to have high market share. So the question that comes up is how the iPod acquired its coolness. Jobs tried to make the iPod great, not cool or trendy. Apple does not care about coolness. However, Levy makes a point that the fruit logo is a cool indicator in itself. In 2003, Apple released a cooler campaign that had to do with silhouettes. Silhouettes are still being used today. Then in 2004, Apple promoted the windows version of iTunes. The iPod was listed as one of Oprah Winfrey's favorite things of 2005. Studies show that people can get a little too attached to their iPod because the design looks attractive.
Quote:
Once I directly asked Jobs whether he had tried to make the iPod cool. 'No,' he said, ' we try to make it great. We try to make it great'" (Levy 80)Reaction:
I agree with what Jobs said. I am not saying that design is not important, however the quality of the iPod is more important than the looks or design. I want an iPod so I can listen to my music. If the iPod only looked good but did not have good qualities, I would not have bought it. So, I am glad that Jobs put quality before design. Quality will make the iPod be in the markets, the Apple company selling millions of dollars.
The Perfect Thing (pg. 1-50)
Summary:
Chapter 1: The perfect thing
The iPod as the narrator described, is 6.4 ounces of "white polycarbonate and stainless steel". It is a digital music player with a whole library of tunes. The iPod first arrived in October of 2001. It gained the fans of Macs their attention, but not the people who owns a PC. The iPod changed the way of life and by the end of 2005, Apple Computer sold more than 42 million iPods with prices ranging at $99 to $599. People want to thier hands on the new gaget. However, the cost of the iPod was originally $399 and the nano was half the price. Steve Jobs showcased the iPod in October in one of his casual shows. The iPod can hold a thousand songs, all of them in your pocket, Jobs exclaimed. It takes around six minutes to download songs on iTunes but only a few seconds to sync them in your iPod. One cool feature on the iPod was shuffling. You would never know what song is next.
Chapter 2: Identity
The songs that one choses on their iPod represents their identity. In the media, reporters have the question, what is on your iPod. Mayor Bloomberg of New York City uses his iPod to listen to Spanish lessons. Even then-President George W. Bush even has an iPod, a forty gigabyte. So, the new question is what is on the Presidential iPod. He definitely had Aretha Franklin on it. The author goes on by stating that iTunes can let one expose their entire music library to anyone on their local network.
Chapter 3: Origin (Pt. 1)
From the title of the chapter, this part will tell how the iPod existed. The author tells the reader that before the iPod, there was the Personal Jukebox. The downside is that they used memory chips that can't store even one song. Later on, the programmers found a way to a hundred of our CD's in your pocket. The Personal Jukebox is orientated sideways, horizontally. It has slow downloading and other shortcomings. Apple needed an good MP3 app, so SoundJam was created.
Quote:
Even though it is only three words, it is important. The songs that you put on your iPod, tells your character and that is one of the ways that people can judge your character. I can relate to what the quote is saying but it is not entirely true. People that you know may have songs on their iPod that may not reflect their character. In short, I think it is an opinion, so it cannot be proven that it is a fact.
Chapter 1: The perfect thing
The iPod as the narrator described, is 6.4 ounces of "white polycarbonate and stainless steel". It is a digital music player with a whole library of tunes. The iPod first arrived in October of 2001. It gained the fans of Macs their attention, but not the people who owns a PC. The iPod changed the way of life and by the end of 2005, Apple Computer sold more than 42 million iPods with prices ranging at $99 to $599. People want to thier hands on the new gaget. However, the cost of the iPod was originally $399 and the nano was half the price. Steve Jobs showcased the iPod in October in one of his casual shows. The iPod can hold a thousand songs, all of them in your pocket, Jobs exclaimed. It takes around six minutes to download songs on iTunes but only a few seconds to sync them in your iPod. One cool feature on the iPod was shuffling. You would never know what song is next.
Chapter 2: Identity
The songs that one choses on their iPod represents their identity. In the media, reporters have the question, what is on your iPod. Mayor Bloomberg of New York City uses his iPod to listen to Spanish lessons. Even then-President George W. Bush even has an iPod, a forty gigabyte. So, the new question is what is on the Presidential iPod. He definitely had Aretha Franklin on it. The author goes on by stating that iTunes can let one expose their entire music library to anyone on their local network.
Chapter 3: Origin (Pt. 1)
From the title of the chapter, this part will tell how the iPod existed. The author tells the reader that before the iPod, there was the Personal Jukebox. The downside is that they used memory chips that can't store even one song. Later on, the programmers found a way to a hundred of our CD's in your pocket. The Personal Jukebox is orientated sideways, horizontally. It has slow downloading and other shortcomings. Apple needed an good MP3 app, so SoundJam was created.
Quote:
"Playlist is character" (Levy 23)Reaction:
Even though it is only three words, it is important. The songs that you put on your iPod, tells your character and that is one of the ways that people can judge your character. I can relate to what the quote is saying but it is not entirely true. People that you know may have songs on their iPod that may not reflect their character. In short, I think it is an opinion, so it cannot be proven that it is a fact.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Reviews of "Becoming Jane"
Here are some reviews from the 2007 film, "Becoming Jane".
Roger Ebert said:
"Becoming Jane" is a movie that every "Janeite" would want to see. "If the real Jane Austen has been tall like Anne Hathaway, the actress who played Jane who is 5'8", then she would have been considered an Amazon". He argues that Jane Austen looks more like Winona Rider. What Ebert is confused about is whether or not if Jane is becoming a woman or a novelist. Overall, the film was good like Austen's novels, according to Austen followers. Even though it was fiction, it was still good. The film made England so charming, inviting, and very green. Rating: 3/4
Stephen Holden from New York Times said:
Jane is like a "modern chick-lit heroine", not wanting a guy who doesn't use his mind. Its doesn't matter if he is rich or poor, she is not interested in those men. She turns down a man who is rich and has inheritance. Tom Lefroy in the film is considered to be the real Mr. Darcy from the novel Pride and Prejudice. Director Julian Jarrold portrayed the women of England having limited choices or options of their own life. Becoming Jane had the best from Anne Hathaway, playing Jane in the film.
Stephen Hunter from Washington Post said:
The movie was "earnest and not quite charmless". Hathaway, acted more pleasant than she was in "The Devil Wears Prada". The rest of the cast was very good in their roles. Hunter considers Jane and Tom as start-crossed lovers that are not corrupt but "too noble for happiness".
1. Ebert, Roger. "Becoming Jane :: Rogerebert.com :: Reviews." Rogerebert.com :: Movie Reviews, Essays and the Movie Answer Man from Film Critic Roger Ebert. 3 Aug. 2007. Web. 24 Feb. 2011. <http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070802/REVIEWS/70710006>.
Roger Ebert said:
"Becoming Jane" is a movie that every "Janeite" would want to see. "If the real Jane Austen has been tall like Anne Hathaway, the actress who played Jane who is 5'8", then she would have been considered an Amazon". He argues that Jane Austen looks more like Winona Rider. What Ebert is confused about is whether or not if Jane is becoming a woman or a novelist. Overall, the film was good like Austen's novels, according to Austen followers. Even though it was fiction, it was still good. The film made England so charming, inviting, and very green. Rating: 3/4
Stephen Holden from New York Times said:
Jane is like a "modern chick-lit heroine", not wanting a guy who doesn't use his mind. Its doesn't matter if he is rich or poor, she is not interested in those men. She turns down a man who is rich and has inheritance. Tom Lefroy in the film is considered to be the real Mr. Darcy from the novel Pride and Prejudice. Director Julian Jarrold portrayed the women of England having limited choices or options of their own life. Becoming Jane had the best from Anne Hathaway, playing Jane in the film.
Stephen Hunter from Washington Post said:
The movie was "earnest and not quite charmless". Hathaway, acted more pleasant than she was in "The Devil Wears Prada". The rest of the cast was very good in their roles. Hunter considers Jane and Tom as start-crossed lovers that are not corrupt but "too noble for happiness".
1. Ebert, Roger. "Becoming Jane :: Rogerebert.com :: Reviews." Rogerebert.com :: Movie Reviews, Essays and the Movie Answer Man from Film Critic Roger Ebert. 3 Aug. 2007. Web. 24 Feb. 2011. <http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070802/REVIEWS/70710006>.
2. Holden, Stephen. "Movie Review - Becoming Jane - Our Wit-Lit Heroine Avoids Marrying a Juiceless Man - NYTimes.com." Movie Reviews, Showtimes and Trailers - Movies - New York Times - The New York Times. 24 Feb. 2011. Web. 24 Feb. 2011. <http://movies.nytimes.com/2007/08/03/movies/03jane.html>.
3. Hunter, Stephen. "Critic Review for Becoming Jane on Washingtonpost.com." Washington Post - Politics, National, World & D.C. Area News and Headlines - Washingtonpost.com. 3 Aug. 2007. Web. 24 Feb. 2011. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/becoming-jane,1135328/critic-review.html#reviewNum1>.
Film Reading!!!!! Becoming Jane
The book that I have read during this term and the film that I watched over break have 2 VERY different plots. The novel that I read was about Jane having a love interest with a man named Frederick Ashford. However, the film was about Jane's first love at age 20 with Irishman Thomas Lefory.
Plot of the Film
The plot of the film is that Jane Austen, the youngest daughter of Reverend George Austen, needs to find a husband. However, her dream is to be a famous writer, but her mother does not like that idea, but her father supports it. So, the parents are being matchmakers and search for a husband for their daughter. They thought a man named Mr. Wisley would be suitable. Jane thinks the opposite. When Jane met Irishman Thomas Lefroy, a lawyer, she thought he was "insolent, arrogant, impudent, insufferable, and impertinent of men" (Jane Austen, Becoming Jane). But once Jane got to know Tom a little better, their romance blossoms.
* If you want to know how this movie ends, see the film.
Favorite Parts
Plot of the Film
The plot of the film is that Jane Austen, the youngest daughter of Reverend George Austen, needs to find a husband. However, her dream is to be a famous writer, but her mother does not like that idea, but her father supports it. So, the parents are being matchmakers and search for a husband for their daughter. They thought a man named Mr. Wisley would be suitable. Jane thinks the opposite. When Jane met Irishman Thomas Lefroy, a lawyer, she thought he was "insolent, arrogant, impudent, insufferable, and impertinent of men" (Jane Austen, Becoming Jane). But once Jane got to know Tom a little better, their romance blossoms.
* If you want to know how this movie ends, see the film.
Favorite Parts
- When Tom and his uncle were trying out guns inside of a shed, Tom's cousin Lucy was spying on him. When she called his name from outside, Tom was startled, pulled the trigger inside the house. He could have killed someone, but no one got killed. That was funny but startling at the same time.
- When Jane, Henry, and Eliza visited Tom and his Uncle, at one point they were having dinner and when Eliza was speaking about her husband and her "portable wealth", Jane joked about happiness in a pocketbook. Tom's Uncle thought that Jane was being ironic for he thinks that irony is an "insult with a smiling face" (Judge Langlois, Becoming Jane). Jane corrects him by explaining that irony is "bringing together contradictory truths to bring out a new truth" (Jane Austen, Becoming Jane). There was silence and that was what made it funny.
- The cricket (a game, looks kind of like baseball) scene where Jane wanted to play with a group of men. She showed that women can also play cricket as well.
Shots and Angles
There were long shots like:
- Weather shots, background shots; to know the environment.
- The woods scene where Tom and Jane didn't know that they were both in the woods because they were taking different paths.
There was also 2 shots with Jane and Tom in the same frame. One scene that I remember that the 2 shot was used with Jane and Tom was the kissing scene while they were at the ball. The scene was outside, at night. The director used low-key lighting to detect that it is nighttime and maybe to show that what Tom and Jane did was secretive.
Overall, I liked the film.
The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen (pg. 187-298)
Summary
So when Jane, Mr. Morton, Alethea, and her father arrived at Pembroke Hall, they met the housekeeper and soon, Jane met Isabella and the Churchills again and she also met Sir Thomas Ashford (Frederick's father) and Sophia ( Frederick's sister). Morton was surprised that Jane knew these people. Later on, Isabella asked Jane for her opinion on a novel she wrote. Then, Jane's maid said that she has a gentleman waiting for her and that person is Mr. Ashford. Jane, Isabella, and Ashford felt weird being in the same room together. Next, while Jane and Morton was in the garden, he asked her to marry him. Jane, said no to his proposal and does not want to see Jane again. Then Alethea's received a letter from Morton and the letter stated that Alethea has captured his heart. Alethea however, did not want to marry him. During July of 1809, Jane, her mother, Cassandra, and Martha moved to Chawton Cottage, their home. Jane's mother especially loved the garden. Jane was eager to get back to work on her new novels, Sense and Sensibility and First Impressions. Then, when her family read her novels, they complained that one of the characters was mean, so Jane changed the attitudes of the character. Also, they complained that there wasn't a happy ending with marriage. Cassandra wanted Jane to publish her books in London. Jane didn't want to, but Cassandra talked her into doing it. Jane gives in and she will go if Cassandra comes with her. So they met Henry and he liked the novels so he is looking for a publisher. One night, Jane, Cassandra, and Henry attended a play, and Jane meets Mrs. Jenkins and Isabella again. At the theater, Jane met a famous poet, Sir Walter Scott. Then, Isabella was caught with a man named Mr. Wellington. The next day, Jane encountered Ashford in Henry's office. Jane was so upset, she wanted to rush out the area, but Ashford stopped her. He said that his father and Isabella's father agreed that their children would marry each other. He didn't want to but it was his duty to marry her. He wanted to tell the truth but something keeps coming up. Suddenly, Ashford asked Jane to marry him. Jane gladly accepted. So when Ashford read Jane's novels, he said that plot sounded familiar to real life, that a man left a woman unannounced. Ashford apologizes to Jane for his actions. In October, a publishing house accepted Jane's novels and will publish them. Later on, the reader learns that Isabella is engaged with Mr. Wellington. Her father approves but she will be cut off from her fortune. Mr. Wellington retracted his proposal. So Isabella and Ashford will have to marry. Then, Ashford learns that his family is bankrupt and the only way to save Pembroke Hall is if he marries Isabella. Jane told him to marry Isabella and save his fortune. However, Ashford doesn't want to and he wants to elope. Jane agrees with the plan until that night, she couldn't sleep and doesn't want to go through with the plan. She wrote a letter to Ashford calling off the plan. They were both heartbroken but knew it was for the best. They will never forget each other. So they never meet again.
Quote
Reaction
Jane said this quote. I bet it is really hard for Jane to say these words. This isn't a fantasy, but this is harsh reality that people have to face everyday. We cannot get what we desire all the time. In this situation, Jane and Ashford are perfect for each other, but the reality is, they can't be together because of family problems. Sometimes, life isn't fair but we have to deal with it.
So when Jane, Mr. Morton, Alethea, and her father arrived at Pembroke Hall, they met the housekeeper and soon, Jane met Isabella and the Churchills again and she also met Sir Thomas Ashford (Frederick's father) and Sophia ( Frederick's sister). Morton was surprised that Jane knew these people. Later on, Isabella asked Jane for her opinion on a novel she wrote. Then, Jane's maid said that she has a gentleman waiting for her and that person is Mr. Ashford. Jane, Isabella, and Ashford felt weird being in the same room together. Next, while Jane and Morton was in the garden, he asked her to marry him. Jane, said no to his proposal and does not want to see Jane again. Then Alethea's received a letter from Morton and the letter stated that Alethea has captured his heart. Alethea however, did not want to marry him. During July of 1809, Jane, her mother, Cassandra, and Martha moved to Chawton Cottage, their home. Jane's mother especially loved the garden. Jane was eager to get back to work on her new novels, Sense and Sensibility and First Impressions. Then, when her family read her novels, they complained that one of the characters was mean, so Jane changed the attitudes of the character. Also, they complained that there wasn't a happy ending with marriage. Cassandra wanted Jane to publish her books in London. Jane didn't want to, but Cassandra talked her into doing it. Jane gives in and she will go if Cassandra comes with her. So they met Henry and he liked the novels so he is looking for a publisher. One night, Jane, Cassandra, and Henry attended a play, and Jane meets Mrs. Jenkins and Isabella again. At the theater, Jane met a famous poet, Sir Walter Scott. Then, Isabella was caught with a man named Mr. Wellington. The next day, Jane encountered Ashford in Henry's office. Jane was so upset, she wanted to rush out the area, but Ashford stopped her. He said that his father and Isabella's father agreed that their children would marry each other. He didn't want to but it was his duty to marry her. He wanted to tell the truth but something keeps coming up. Suddenly, Ashford asked Jane to marry him. Jane gladly accepted. So when Ashford read Jane's novels, he said that plot sounded familiar to real life, that a man left a woman unannounced. Ashford apologizes to Jane for his actions. In October, a publishing house accepted Jane's novels and will publish them. Later on, the reader learns that Isabella is engaged with Mr. Wellington. Her father approves but she will be cut off from her fortune. Mr. Wellington retracted his proposal. So Isabella and Ashford will have to marry. Then, Ashford learns that his family is bankrupt and the only way to save Pembroke Hall is if he marries Isabella. Jane told him to marry Isabella and save his fortune. However, Ashford doesn't want to and he wants to elope. Jane agrees with the plan until that night, she couldn't sleep and doesn't want to go through with the plan. She wrote a letter to Ashford calling off the plan. They were both heartbroken but knew it was for the best. They will never forget each other. So they never meet again.
Quote
"That is easier said than done, my love. I know what is to lose your home, to be penniless. It is too high a price to pay. I cannot let you do it." (James 293)
Reaction
Jane said this quote. I bet it is really hard for Jane to say these words. This isn't a fantasy, but this is harsh reality that people have to face everyday. We cannot get what we desire all the time. In this situation, Jane and Ashford are perfect for each other, but the reality is, they can't be together because of family problems. Sometimes, life isn't fair but we have to deal with it.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen (pg. 92-186) Chapters 8-16
Summary:
So, we left off with the Austen Women accepting the offer of moving to Chawton Cottage. One afternoon, while Jane and Cassandra was window-shopping, they encounter one of their mother's friends Mrs. Jenkins. Mrs. Jenkins invited Jane and Cassandra to dinner Thursday night and wanted them to meet her niece, nephew, his wife and their friend. On Thursday night, at the dinner party, Jane meets the Churchills and Mr. Ashford again. Apparently, Mrs. Jenkins is Mr. Churchill's aunt and Ashford is the friend. The niece could not come because she was sick and couldn't make it. At the dinner party, Jane played multiple pieces on the piano and Ashford was amused of how well she can play. After that, Ashford promised Jane that he will take her on that picnic at Netley Abbey the next day. Cassandra and the Churchills will also be attending the picnic. So the next day, during their picnic, they got on a boat ride with a guide named Mr. Grady. Then at the end of the day, when everyone was tired, Jane and Ashford both decided to take a walk around the area. While they were walking, they form a conversation and the reader knows about Ashford's childhood of how it was lonely and he felt like running away. Then, when Jane confesses to Ashford that she wanted to be a novelist, he laughed a little and Jane took it offensively and ran away from him. Then when Ashford realizes what he had done, he sincerely apologized and he was happy that she wants to be a novelist. After that, Jane started revising her novels like Sense and Sensibility and First Impressions and Ashford also made suggestions on what to write. Then, they talked about which character in the book resembles Jane and went into a conversation with each other and then they had gotten closer to each other, physically. Jane expected something to happen like Ashford declaring his love to her or kissing her but that didn't happen. They just gotten so emotional with the plot of a book and what it means to them. The next day, Ashford was to leave Southhampton and wanted to tell her one last thing, but it was cut short by the Churchills, wanting him to come with them. Then Cassandra and Jane got invited to a small musical party by their neighbors, the Smiths. There, they meet Mrs. Jenkins again and meet her niece Isabella. Jane and Cassandra soon learned shocking news; Isabella is engaged to Mr. Ashford! Jane turned pale and was surprised at the same time. Jane thought why Ashford didn't tell her earlier and maybe that was the news he was going to tell her before he left Southampton. Then, Jane thought of Ashford as a dishonest and she does not want to think about him again. Then a few days after, Jane and Cassandra went to James's house where Mrs. Austen is now staying at. James's wife Mary is not so fond of her husband's sisters coming. One Sunday, the whole family was going to church and there, Jane encountered the Bigg-Wither family again. One of the sisters Alethea, wants Jane to come with her and her father to Derbyshire to meet Alethea's future husband, Mr. Morton, a clergyman. Jane said because she doesn't want to think of Pembroke Hall at Derbyshire or its heir(Ashford). Alethea begged and Jane couldn't say no. Mr. Morton's house was big. For the next 3 days at Derbyshire, Morton was going to show them a tour of every church, field, etc. The final destination was Pembroke Hall. Jane did not want to go on the tour anymore, however Morton wanted to come anyway. So Jane has no choice.
Quote:
This quote was taken from when Ashford laughed at Jane's dream in being a novelist. From this quote, I could tell that being a novelist is a "man's occupation" during the 19th century. Women cannot have the privilege to be a novelist, but Jane's dream is to be one. Jane tries to avoid the laughs that Ashford has committed. However, I don't think she should care what people think about her. If that is her dream, go for it. No one should stop or discourage her. If I was in Jane's place, I would also feel upset and embarrassed, but that will not stop my writing. As a matter of fact, that will encourage me to continue writing and hope that one day it will be published.
So, we left off with the Austen Women accepting the offer of moving to Chawton Cottage. One afternoon, while Jane and Cassandra was window-shopping, they encounter one of their mother's friends Mrs. Jenkins. Mrs. Jenkins invited Jane and Cassandra to dinner Thursday night and wanted them to meet her niece, nephew, his wife and their friend. On Thursday night, at the dinner party, Jane meets the Churchills and Mr. Ashford again. Apparently, Mrs. Jenkins is Mr. Churchill's aunt and Ashford is the friend. The niece could not come because she was sick and couldn't make it. At the dinner party, Jane played multiple pieces on the piano and Ashford was amused of how well she can play. After that, Ashford promised Jane that he will take her on that picnic at Netley Abbey the next day. Cassandra and the Churchills will also be attending the picnic. So the next day, during their picnic, they got on a boat ride with a guide named Mr. Grady. Then at the end of the day, when everyone was tired, Jane and Ashford both decided to take a walk around the area. While they were walking, they form a conversation and the reader knows about Ashford's childhood of how it was lonely and he felt like running away. Then, when Jane confesses to Ashford that she wanted to be a novelist, he laughed a little and Jane took it offensively and ran away from him. Then when Ashford realizes what he had done, he sincerely apologized and he was happy that she wants to be a novelist. After that, Jane started revising her novels like Sense and Sensibility and First Impressions and Ashford also made suggestions on what to write. Then, they talked about which character in the book resembles Jane and went into a conversation with each other and then they had gotten closer to each other, physically. Jane expected something to happen like Ashford declaring his love to her or kissing her but that didn't happen. They just gotten so emotional with the plot of a book and what it means to them. The next day, Ashford was to leave Southhampton and wanted to tell her one last thing, but it was cut short by the Churchills, wanting him to come with them. Then Cassandra and Jane got invited to a small musical party by their neighbors, the Smiths. There, they meet Mrs. Jenkins again and meet her niece Isabella. Jane and Cassandra soon learned shocking news; Isabella is engaged to Mr. Ashford! Jane turned pale and was surprised at the same time. Jane thought why Ashford didn't tell her earlier and maybe that was the news he was going to tell her before he left Southampton. Then, Jane thought of Ashford as a dishonest and she does not want to think about him again. Then a few days after, Jane and Cassandra went to James's house where Mrs. Austen is now staying at. James's wife Mary is not so fond of her husband's sisters coming. One Sunday, the whole family was going to church and there, Jane encountered the Bigg-Wither family again. One of the sisters Alethea, wants Jane to come with her and her father to Derbyshire to meet Alethea's future husband, Mr. Morton, a clergyman. Jane said because she doesn't want to think of Pembroke Hall at Derbyshire or its heir(Ashford). Alethea begged and Jane couldn't say no. Mr. Morton's house was big. For the next 3 days at Derbyshire, Morton was going to show them a tour of every church, field, etc. The final destination was Pembroke Hall. Jane did not want to go on the tour anymore, however Morton wanted to come anyway. So Jane has no choice.
Quote:
"To my mortification, a laugh escaped his lips. I felt my cheeks grow hot" (James 124).Reaction:
This quote was taken from when Ashford laughed at Jane's dream in being a novelist. From this quote, I could tell that being a novelist is a "man's occupation" during the 19th century. Women cannot have the privilege to be a novelist, but Jane's dream is to be one. Jane tries to avoid the laughs that Ashford has committed. However, I don't think she should care what people think about her. If that is her dream, go for it. No one should stop or discourage her. If I was in Jane's place, I would also feel upset and embarrassed, but that will not stop my writing. As a matter of fact, that will encourage me to continue writing and hope that one day it will be published.
The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen (pg. 7-91) Chapters 1-7
Summary:
Our narrator Jane, was born and raised in Steventon, Great Britain. Jane dreams of being a novelist, for only men can have that occupation as a living during that time period. She has 1 sister, Cassandra and 6 other brothers. Jane is going to tell the reader two experiences that altered her life. The first experience was set in December 1800. Jane's parents are moving from Steventon to another city called Bath. Jane was surprised and didn't want to believe it. Jane is not fond of Bath because it is too loud and full of pollution. In 1805, Jane's father George was very ill and his last words before he passed away is that she has to get one of her novels published. The income will go down and soon the Austens cannot afford to pay their home. Edward, Jane's brother, had multiple houses that he owed and his mother was hoping that she and her daughters can live in one. Edward said no, but he still give them 100 pounds per month. The mother thinks that his wife, Elizabeth doesn't approve them living in one of the cottages. So, Jane's other brother Frank and his wife Mary wanted Mrs. Austen, Jane, Cassandra and the family's friend Martha to live with them at Southampton. While living there, Mrs. Austen thought that live could be different if one of the daughters get married. One day, Jane's brother Henry wanted him and her to visit another city called Lyme. There, the siblings went to the Cobb, a stone jetty that has a good view of the sea and the cliffs. While going up the stairs, she lost her footing, waving backwards which will result in tragic fall. Fortunately, someone caught her. The person who saved her is named Frederick Ashford. The trio exchanged greetings. From that incident, Henry met his colleague, Charles Churchill, who is friends with Ashford. Then on, there is a romance between Ashlford and Jane. The reader can realize that by Ashford declaring that he would risk his life for Jane. They both like the same authors and novels and started a discussion on them. After that, Ashford wanted to have a picnic with Jane and the Churchills. However, that event did not happen because there was an emergency at his hometown Derbyshire. The second experience that Jane had started in 1802, when her father was still alive. Jane had friends, the Bigg-Wither family, at Mandydown Park and she was going to visit them. In the family, there is a shy brother named Harris and during dinner, he tries to impress Jane by ordering special food for her. Later that night, Harris told her that he is the heir of Mandytown Park and that he needs a wife. So, he proposed to her. Jane, during that time Jane is 26 years old and Harris is 21 years old. Jane said yes to the proposal but when she thinks about it again, she realizes she doesn't really love him and accepted for property and money reasons and she can't live like this. So in the end, Jane rejected the proposal. After that flashback, we come in the present in 1808 and we learn that Edward's wife Elizabeth has past away and after that, Edward made an offer to the Austen women of a house at Chawton. Cassandra went to Edward's place to console the children.
Quote:
This quote was said by Mrs. Austen with Jane in discussing whether Jane should marry Nathan. From this quote, I was questioning if back then in England, if there were still arranged marriages. Also, I wonder if couples marries each other because of wealth and money and property. I think Mrs. Austen thinks that to live a good, one needs to have great wealth so one won't worry about being poor or broke. Jane believes in true love and she doesn't want to waste a marriage in which she can't be happy or be satisfied with her decision. I wonder if she will find true love after all.
Our narrator Jane, was born and raised in Steventon, Great Britain. Jane dreams of being a novelist, for only men can have that occupation as a living during that time period. She has 1 sister, Cassandra and 6 other brothers. Jane is going to tell the reader two experiences that altered her life. The first experience was set in December 1800. Jane's parents are moving from Steventon to another city called Bath. Jane was surprised and didn't want to believe it. Jane is not fond of Bath because it is too loud and full of pollution. In 1805, Jane's father George was very ill and his last words before he passed away is that she has to get one of her novels published. The income will go down and soon the Austens cannot afford to pay their home. Edward, Jane's brother, had multiple houses that he owed and his mother was hoping that she and her daughters can live in one. Edward said no, but he still give them 100 pounds per month. The mother thinks that his wife, Elizabeth doesn't approve them living in one of the cottages. So, Jane's other brother Frank and his wife Mary wanted Mrs. Austen, Jane, Cassandra and the family's friend Martha to live with them at Southampton. While living there, Mrs. Austen thought that live could be different if one of the daughters get married. One day, Jane's brother Henry wanted him and her to visit another city called Lyme. There, the siblings went to the Cobb, a stone jetty that has a good view of the sea and the cliffs. While going up the stairs, she lost her footing, waving backwards which will result in tragic fall. Fortunately, someone caught her. The person who saved her is named Frederick Ashford. The trio exchanged greetings. From that incident, Henry met his colleague, Charles Churchill, who is friends with Ashford. Then on, there is a romance between Ashlford and Jane. The reader can realize that by Ashford declaring that he would risk his life for Jane. They both like the same authors and novels and started a discussion on them. After that, Ashford wanted to have a picnic with Jane and the Churchills. However, that event did not happen because there was an emergency at his hometown Derbyshire. The second experience that Jane had started in 1802, when her father was still alive. Jane had friends, the Bigg-Wither family, at Mandydown Park and she was going to visit them. In the family, there is a shy brother named Harris and during dinner, he tries to impress Jane by ordering special food for her. Later that night, Harris told her that he is the heir of Mandytown Park and that he needs a wife. So, he proposed to her. Jane, during that time Jane is 26 years old and Harris is 21 years old. Jane said yes to the proposal but when she thinks about it again, she realizes she doesn't really love him and accepted for property and money reasons and she can't live like this. So in the end, Jane rejected the proposal. After that flashback, we come in the present in 1808 and we learn that Edward's wife Elizabeth has past away and after that, Edward made an offer to the Austen women of a house at Chawton. Cassandra went to Edward's place to console the children.
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"Take him and trust to love after marriage," insisted my mother (James 82).Reaction:
This quote was said by Mrs. Austen with Jane in discussing whether Jane should marry Nathan. From this quote, I was questioning if back then in England, if there were still arranged marriages. Also, I wonder if couples marries each other because of wealth and money and property. I think Mrs. Austen thinks that to live a good, one needs to have great wealth so one won't worry about being poor or broke. Jane believes in true love and she doesn't want to waste a marriage in which she can't be happy or be satisfied with her decision. I wonder if she will find true love after all.
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