Dear Tybalt

Dear Tybalt,

I am writing to you to advise you to not try to initiate a fight with Romeo Montague. No good will come from a fight. You must let go of your anger for him and his friends about coming to the capulet houses party as your uncle, Capulet did. If you fight Romeo, it won't just be a fight between you two but the beginning of a war between the Montages and Capulets

Firstly, if you were to fight Romeo only more Montague and Capulet blood will be spilled, worsening the already strained peace between the two feuding families. You aren't just risking yourself and Romeo. Think of your cousin, Juliet and what might become of her in the future if she were to be thrown in the middle of this violence or what it would do to her if she were to lose someone she loved dearly.

Secondly, not only the Montague and Capulet families are in danger if you initiate a fight with Romeo. Friends of both families and bystanders who never had any bad blood with the Capulet family are also in danger of the fight between your families. The same goes for the servingmen of both families, who are trying to show pride of the family they serve.

This will not just be a fight between you and Romeo but a war between both of your families. It may help to salvage your personal pride and dignity but at what cost? The prince is already holding your family and the Montagues on thin ice for your last fight. Don't sacrifice the civil blood of your family for a petty duel, prove the Capulet family better by being more dignified without the violence, but rather with maturity and wisdom. You may save yourself and your family a lot of loss, heartache, bloodshed and conflict. 

Don't do something you will regret.

Sincerely, 

 Stella Lowery

The Shining

During our book club, my book club and I read "The Shining". Steven Kings novel, "The Shining" is about the Torrence's peculiar experiences after they find themselves at the famous Overlook hotel over the lonely winter months. Jack, going to the hotel to manage it over the winter months and work on his writing finds himself falling into his past drinking problem and violent tendencies and trying to kill his wife Wendy, and son Danny who only narrowly escape the clutches of the hotel and Jack. In this book we found several occurances of symbolism, for example one symbol of the book was a hornet's nest that Jack found when maintaining the hotel that was interrupted to symbolize Jack's relationship with his son Danny and the family car that symbolized the Torrence's old life, which both acted to bring more depth to simple objects in the book and the plot.

In the book, when Jack found the hornets nest he immediately thought of the nest his own (abusive) father had once given him when he was a  young boy. Thinking it was empty he gave it to his own son Danny, hoping to restore the relationship he had had with the boy before he had accidentally broken his arm when he was three. Danny who had accepted the gift from his father lovingly, was accidentally stung by hornets Jack had unintentionally left inside the nest. This, had also accurately represented Jack and Danny's relationship. Jack had attempted to do something to bond but the only thing that he could use to connect with Danny was bring the same pain that Jack had also felt from his own father.

Another symbol, is the family car, that represents the family's old life, before the Overlook. On the way to the Overlook the Torrence's were transitioning into their new life and as they drove to their new temporary home, their car was dying which symbolized the end of their old life at their home and the rise of their new life at the Overlook. It was like the death of the past and birth of the future for their family. Also at the Overlook they had to leave behind their car and their old life and upgrade to a new snowplow(ish kind of car) so they could make minimal trips at the Overlook that represented their new lifestyle at the Overlook and their home

All of these simple objects held so much more meaning and depth to the characters and the plot, giving their actions and effects more meaning, that also spoke more deeply of the plot and character relationships.

Kick Ass Historical Ladies

Although the Greek and Roman empires are thought of as something of the past, many of their ideas and principles that they lived by are actually very forward thinking and modern. Especially their views on woman's roles and what they could and couldn't do in religion and mythology, from the goddesses and ancient heroes to the ancient Roman and Greek villains.

For example, the Greek goddess Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war strategy, which has stereo-typically been categorized as a role only capable of a man, who are apparently the only people capable of reason, wisdom and strength. Also Athena was a goddess born from brandishing a spear and shield. Also Athena what was known as a "maiden goddess", meaning she would never marry, which in the eyes of most of most empowered maidens was seen as being roped in by her husband. This figure is iconic after in later times, woman were seen as expected to marry, and hardly ever got the education that men received, nonetheless seen as wise and smart.

In addition, the goddess Artemis in Greek form, or Diana in Roman, goddess of the hunt and bow (and moon), also was an empowering female figure. Not only the goddess of the hunt and bow, but she devoted herself to the eternal hunt and also was a "maiden goddess". She never wed, and didn't like to have men in her presence at all, only allowing other maidens to attend her hunt. Not only was she a huntress, which is also stereo-typically seen as something very manly, but she also expelled men from her life as well as her immortalized companions.

Also, Artemis's companions were empowering in their own way as well. They vowed to expel men from their lives in return for immortality and the chance to hunt alongside Artemis.

In addition, Nike in Greek form and Victorious (or was it Victoria?) in Roman, the goddess of victory and winning was a iconic and empowering character. She too was a woman in the role of something often seen as being played by a more masculine character. 

Also, the Amazons, a group of female fighters much like the Hunters of Atremis were iconic female figures. They too chose to also reject male influences just like the huntresses. Not only was it impressive that it was said these groups existed but also that they were respected by women and men. 

Lastly, Bellona a Roman goddess much like Athena was a strong female icon during this time. And much like Athena she too played the role most felt should be filled by a man. 

For years unfair stereotypes have set woman as only loving, compassionate and motherly always seeking emotion and expression, but as it turns out even before that woman have been seen as wise, strong and skillful fighters who fight the characteristics of what we still stereotype as many traits and roles