Reflecting On The Essay

When I look back at The Alchemist essay, I see an improvement in between the two essays. This was caused by many factors, some of them I don't know. The factor I know that has made me improve was my readiness and understanding of the text that we were reading. In the Julius Caesar essay I was prepared because I went through my time at home to look for the quotes that I would use for my essay and thought how to explain it. For The Alchemist essay I wasn't prepared at all. At the time I was pretty lazy so I didn't come in for help when I didn't understand and that is why my Alchemist essay got an 'NP'. In terms of ideas, I think that my ideas were straight forward in the Alchemist but the Julius Caesar essay about Brutus was detailed in describing all the quotes and personality that is shown in them.

I believe that the organization aspect for my Julius Caesar essay was at the peak of any other work I had. In the case for the Alchemist, I didn't do much thinking into it. If I could improve on the Alchemist, I would have came in for help but sadly I am very lazy. For a good grade on any essay, I would advise those that need help to go and ask for help and be prepared for an essay that you already know is coming up.

Reason Critically would be the best Schoolwide Learning Result for this current essay. This is because with alot of quotes I couldn't leave it hanging there. I had to describe and show that the quotes that I chose have a reason for why I chose it. Without the details in there then the quote would make the paragraph make no sense. Reasoning Critically was needed and used in the essay.

Motivation Is Good For Romans

“ If it be aught toward the general good, Set honour in one eye, and death i’ th’ other, And I will look on both indifferently; For let the gods so peed me as I love the name of honour more than I fear death.” (Brutus; Act 1:2; Lines 84 – 88) This quote is one of the most significant characterizations about Marcus Brutus. It is significant because it shows that Brutus is a noble and honorable man. By this means he would rather kill himself than to lose his honor. “Let’s kill him boldly, but not wrathfully; Let’s Carve him as a dish fit for the gods, Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds.” (Brutus; Act 2:1; Lines 72 – 74) Brutus shows himself here as a determined person. He wants to kill Caesar so it appears that he didn’t kill him in hate but in love for the country. As an determined person, Brutus makes this sound easy but later on when they do kill Caesar he will find out that it wasn’t so nice because it looked like a cruel and bloody murder. Honor and determination motivates Brutus into killing Caesar for the good of Rome.

Brutus doesn’t want Caesar’s death to be so horrible but because Caesar is gaining power and is becoming dangerous, Brutus must kill the snake while in its shell. “[Aside] That every like is not the same, O Caesar! The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon.” (Brutus; Act 2:2; Lines 127 – 128) This quote was said when the conspirators came to fetch Caesar to the Senate. Caesar invites them in to have some wine and he says they’re “And we, like friends, will straightway go together.” (Caesar; Act 2:2; Line 126) This shows that Brutus doesn’t want to have Caesar kill but that must happen. Brutus’ honor and loyalty towards Caesar creates him to feel guilty to know that he is going to kill one of his best friends. The mood he gives in this quotes is the feeling of sadness because you can actually feel and see here that he is feeling guilty. In the meantime he knows that it is for the Romans. “Stoop, Romans, stoop, And let us bathe our hands in Caesar’s blood up to the elbows and besmear our swords: Then walk we forth, even to the market-place, And waving our red weapons o’er our heads, Let’s all cry, ‘Peace, Freedom, and Liberty’” (Brutus; Act 3:1; Lines 105 – 110) When Brutus says this it justifies that the act upon Caesar was an honorable one. That all Romans (mainly the conspirators, to tie them up together) will bathe their hands in the blood to show to everyone that what they did was for Rome and that Tyranny is dead. Honor makes certain people behave in certain ways. Brutus’ honor motivated him to kill Caesar so that he wouldn’t die a slave but an honorable and noble person.

Brutus’ downfall has chains of events that happened to it. These events were caused because of his determination to do what is right. ”By your pardon: I will myself into the pulpit first, And show the reason of our Caesar’s death. When Antony shall speak, I will protest he speaks by leave and permission: And that we are contented Caesar shall have all true rites and lawful ceremonies. It shall advantage more than do us wrong.” (Brutus; Act 3:1; Lines 235 – 242) Brutus thought that talking first would get the crowd to get on his side. But as it turns out people with better justification and evidence will win the war. Mark Antony does this by getting the crowd to go against Brutus by being ironic. The quote is ironic to the whole acts after Act 3 because it says “It shall advantage more than do us wrong.” (Brutus; Act 3:1; Lines 242) but it does do them wrong. The determination that Brutus had took over him and thus he was out smarted by Antony. “Our legions are brim-full, our cause is ripe: The enemy increaseth every day; We, at the height, are ready to decline. There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat, And we must take the current when is serves, Or lose our ventures.” (Brutus; Act 4:3; Lines 213 – 223) Here it happens to be that Brutus’ determination was right. He cut off Cassius just to say this out. Brutus followed his plan and led to victory over Octavious’ army. Cassius probably didn’t and that might be why he lost against Mark Antony. Brutus’ determination caused a lot of damage because if it weren’t for that they probably would have not had a war but look like butchers instead.

Throughout the lead of honorable Marcus Brutus, the conspirators were successful for some time. As we have seen in the book most motivators like honor can be positive and some like determination can be negative. Brutus’ honor and determination led him and his team to success for Rome. In the end Brutus does achieve his goal but sadly enough Mark Antony took over the situation and turned it against Brutus. Brutus achieved his goal because he freed his country from any slavery and soon died honorably. I believe that the cause that Brutus set out for was worthy and noble because not that many people would kill a high politician for the good of their country. If Brutus hadn’t done this, the country would probably be more different than it is now. As and honorable and determined person Brutus achieved his goal and then committed suicide.

Collage of Chaos

I call this artwork "The Collage of Chaos". It shows the cause and effect of the war going on in Sudan. On the right is the 'Muslim side' and on the left the 'Christian side/view'. This is indicated by the boys with guns. The men in the top right hand corner is Omar Al - Bashir, the president of Sudan, and behind him is Adolf Hitler. This part signifies that Omar Al - Bashir is like Hitler, genociding other race and cultures, creating chaos throughout the land. On the left hand side there is a peace symbol because all the people want is balance and harmony. Due to the unbalance the Lost Boys had to flee their home and this by the map is signified. I believe that Al - Bashir has listened to the saying "For one civilization to rise, one must fall." What the message being sent is that the UN can't be responsible for everything but it is us humans that make the change.

Manage Your Time Well

Peter And His Brothers Take On The World

Sudan’s history contains many conflicts that have impacted the citizens harshly. In the borders of Sudan there have been two civil wars that have raged for 20 years. When the Northern area declared war on the South it was due to religious reasons. The Muslims wanted the country to be a Muslim Sudan but the Christians refused. That was when the ‘Holy Jihad’ was declared. People such as the Dinka tribe have fallen victim to gunfire and genocide. About 4,000 boys fled their villages without parents because their parents died. Seeking refuge in Ethiopian soil, the government changed their mind and chased out the boys. When crossing the Gilo River many perished because they can’t swim, were shot at, or the crocodiles ate them. Finally, these boys ended up in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. Here they were given the name “Lost Boys of Sudan”.

A decade pasted since these boys arrived in Kenya and some of them have grown old and big enough to take care of themselves. About 1,300 boys and some girls were sent to the United States. Amongst these adults are Santino and Peter. Santino and Peter were moved to Houston, Texas where they had to assimilate with the surrounding area. It wasn’t too hard considering that the surrounding area was also some Sudanese refugees. At first it was tough for the boys to handle themselves but later on Peter moves to Kansas when he gets a car, leaving Santino behind with more weight on his shoulders. Santino had to pay most of the rent and Peter worked well in Kansas. Peter got a job at wall-mart. This meant that he could pay for himself. Also, he got an education unlike Santino and the others that was worth having. It seemed that Peter was more successful at laying out his future than Santino because of the age he was gave and how he managed his time well.