Equation of Life

LaUgHInG is LoViNg AnD iT cAn Be gIViNg wHeN aDDeD wItH liVinG sUbTrAcTiNg tHe wRoNg.

ThE VoLUmE Of liFe Is ThE lOvE tHaT wE GiVe AnD tHe ArEa Of LiFe Is tHe Love hAlf LiVEd.

We LIvE On tHe NuMBeR LiNe, starting with zero, WE gRApH oUt oUr DrEaMs, TO sEE thEM cLeARer.

THe mOde Of tHe nUmbers Is tHe mOst SeEn by yoU, tHe moDe of yOur liFe iS whaT's deaRest To yOu.

ScIenTific notAtion is breaKing it doWn, maKng easier the prOblems that suRround.

But this life, as a whole, in its entirety, is a mere dot on a MaThEmAtIc graph of Society.

Jacques the Existentialist

The other day, I realized the parallels between existentialism and the famous monologue of Jacques, the very melancholy character from one Shakespeare's greatest comedies, As You Like It. 

Jacques states that men are "merely players." This is similar to the existentialist view that "the human being is all and only what that being does....existence consists of forever bringing [one]self into being..." (www.imp.utm.edu/existent, web). Our stage is given to us, but we must act, in some way or another. It is what we do that makes the play, not what we think or say. Also, the "stages of life" aspect of the speech reflect the idea that one must go through all these stages, just to get to the inevitable "sans (translates to without) everything." This parallels with the existentialist view on the absurdity of life; you live your life, assign meaning to it, but for what in the end? Death; sans everything.



Let's see what Nerissa has to say...hey Nerissa, what do you think?

Nerissa: I wish I had a monologue...

To protest or not to protest?

Evelyn: In Persepolis, Marjane's parents often go on demonstrations. They step out for their family members who have suffered, and for their community that has suffered. What would it take for me to get out of my comfy home and protest? What would make me step out my door with defiance and a strong opinion? It would take somebody close to me to be affected in a bad way. It would take that shock and realization that bad things can happen to your closest friends and family members. I think that's what it would take for most people. But I like to think that I can make changes in the world just knowing that bad things have happened to other people that aren't even close to me. I like to think that I would protest for the better of the community, not just for myself.

Nerissa: I made a big change in someone's life. Portia and I went so far as to dress up like men to free a friend. He wasn't my friend, I didn't even know him. He was Portia's husband's dearest friend, Antonio. He was sentenced to a most horrific and undeserving death. In a sense, we participated in a demonstration. We pretended to be a judge and his clerk, and at the last minute, Portia found a great loophole in Antonio's sentence! He wasn't close to me, but I knew he meant a lot to Portia's husband, so I helped. In the end, we saved a life.

A poem from Paper #1

In my first paper, I wrote about my experience as a homeschooler, and how it enabled me to have a huge role in writing my "life-script." This poem sums up a given day as a homeschooler.

Waking up to the smell of freedom

Speaking with my unhindered voice

Dressing up in my own creation

Walking out the doors of choice.

A Venetian Servant and a California Girl comment on Persepolis

Evelyn: Hey Nerissa, how's Venice?

Nerissa: It's alright, but my boss Portia is feeling a little repressed lately.

Evelyn: Oh, yeah? I've been reading about repression in my English class. Why is Portia feeling repressed?

Nerissa: Oh, I know all there is to know about English language. "To be or not to be," "All the World's a Stage," you name it.Well, in order for Portia to follow her father's will, she has to marry the first man that can guess which out of three caskets has her portrait inside. Kinda crazy, right?

Evelyn: That is rough! In my English class we are reading about an Iranian girl named Marjane, who lived most of her childhood years during the time of the Islamic Revolution. She was forced to wear a veil when she was 10!

Nerissa: Really? That's no fun. I believe in freedom! Heck, girls should even be able to wear guy's clothes if they wanted to! Although I probably wouldn't do that...unless I was forced.

Evelyn: Right...well anyway, tell Portia good luck on the caskets for me!