Celestina - Day One (Chapters 1 - 2)

1. The opening scene opens in a garden because it seems to symbolism the beginning or growth of the story/plot. When I thought about the garden the first thing that came to mind was The Garden of Eden.  It is the place where first man, Adam, and his wife, Eve lived after God created them. The garden is also used to explain the origin of sin and mankind’s wrongdoings. When Melibea curses Calisto it is because of the love he bears for her is forbidden: “Why do you scheme to bring ruin upon yourself by pursuing a virtuous women like me? Be gone, you selfish foo. I can’t bear to think a man felt it right in his heart to tell me of the delights of forbidden love” (1). Calisto praises Melibea’s beauty by basically calling her one of a kind. But to Melibea it seems that he is insincere with his actions and his words. Melibea thinks that he wants to sleep with her because she calls it “forbidden love” and this could be the reason why she questions what he schemes on a virtuous women like her she doesn’t deem his praise and the things that come out of his mouth as love, but instead some secret plot or plan. This is why she doesn’t seem to trust him or his words.
2. Calisto’s illness doesn’t seem like a mere illness, but it seems more like defeat. His charm didn’t work as he thought it would but he is more so upset because of the rejection from Melibea. When he is discussing Melibea he says he worships her and he treats her as if she is some type of God: “‘Aren’t you a Christian?’Me?  No, I’m a Melibea. I worship Melibea, I believe in Melibea and I adore Melibea” (4). Melibea is his want/ desire, but he can’t have nor get her so he suffers from it. Calisto is so fixated on her that when he doesn’t get her he goes on a rage wanting to be locked away in the dark not wanting to talk. When they start to talk about women they talk about how women make men renege. Like women are the curse of men that make them commit sins. Like they are some type of devil or curse: Just think of the pea-brains under the flimsy fabrics holding those tresses in place, the giddiness under the ruffles, finery and long, regal dresses, the whims sluicing behind those painted temples. That’s why people say, “Instrument of the devil, sin of sins, ravagers of paradise.” Don’t you remember that bit in the prayers for the Festival of St. John where it says, “This is women, the ancient curse of man that cast Adam from the delights of paradise that sent the human race to hell” (7). They try to put all the blame of mankind on women and their devilment. It’s like they saying from day one women have been at the fault of men down falls because their cunning and beauty, a devil in makeup.  They also talk about a woman’s feelings and how they are hard to fathom so it’s hard for a man to figure out what it is that they want or how they really feel.

The Decameron (Day Five)

7.5: The theme in this book seems to be jealousy. In the prologue the narrator looks down and feels that a jealous man deserves anything that is coming his way. The narrator oppresses this idea of male dominance in the marriage. The narrator talks about how the women is pint down and lock away like she is a prisoners, while the husband is free. The narrator says that “whatever a wife does to a husband who is jealous without a reason is certainly to be praised rather than to be condemned” (508). Our society is in the middle.  Compared to this text our society is in the middle while there is this idea of women independence and dominance in the air there is still more male dominance so it’s hard to say whether or if we can truly say that we regressed or progressed.

8.3: Boccaccio uses this idea of not knowing and tricky to fool Calandrino. Bruno and Buffalmacco both are tired and hungry from helping Calandrino try to find these magic rocks. Calandrino picks up a ton of rocks and is still trying to go in search for more in the heat. When Bruno and Buffalmacco act like they can’t see Calandrino and he falls for it thinking he found the rock that brings humor into the vignette. Also when they are throwing stones at him on the way home as if they can’t see him and he so caught up that he foolishly falls for the trick, walking through the town thinking no one can see him, not realizing that Bruno and Buffalmacco got the people to go along with the idea to make him think he was invisible even though he is not.

8.8: Passion is still celebrated today. There are lots of people who have more than one wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, and there spouse is okay with the idea of sharing. For some people they rather share what they have than to lose it in whole. People would rather have a part of something to then to give it away altogether. At the end of 8.8 when it said the four made a packet to stay with each other and now the two husbands had two wives and the two wives had to two husbands. The idea of it being okay to not be faithful in a relationship/ marriage. Making it okay to cheat and not be monogamous. Which goes with today’s society because it’s this idea that it’s oaky to not be monogamous and it seems like it is more so common in society today than before.

Almodovar's "All About My Mother"

4. The 'range' of women in the film, including straight women, a pregnant HIV+ nun, transsexual prostitutes, lesbians. What do you think the film states about gender, femininity and sexuality? The film questions the idea of femininity. In the film you have Lola who is man/women who is having sex with women and getting them pregnant, and Manuela she asks Rosa how she could sleep with Lola since he is a woman/man even though she did it to. The film seems to question whether or not there is a barrier between being masculine and feminine. In the film there is a lot of transsexuals. Manuela’s friend talks about being confused with a drag queen and being a transsexual, he says how he is no drag queen because he doesn’t walk around pretending to be something that he isn’t because he is a women at all times although he still has his male sexual organ. He talks as if he is an actual woman like he himself embodies what a woman would. Even in the film there were men who were trying to sleep with woman knowing they were men so it’s like almost saying questioning whether there is an, if any variance between a man and a women.

5. Who is the "mother" of the film's title? Might there be more than one "mother"? (Also, who is the speaking "I" - 'my mother' - of the title?) Why and how? The mother refers to Rosa and Manuela. I think that the speaker could be Rosa’s son because Manuela son dies and he never seems to really know the truth, but Manuela promised Rosa that she would tell Esteban everything and would hold nothing from him so it could possibly be him speaking and referring back to his childhood story. The story could also be told by both of the Esteban’s because the first half could be the oldest one up until he dies and then the second half could be Rosa’s son because he is the last of the Estebans and it would make since for him to finish the story that his brother left off on seeing that Rosa and Manuela is his mother and he is telling the story of both of his moms.

The Decameron (Day Four / 5.8, 5.9, 5.10, 6.7, 6.10)

5.8 This story starts off by playing off of the power that women hold over men. As the story continues on though it is apparent that in this story the men hold the true power over the woman. When Nastagio goes to Chiassi he sees Messer Guido degli Anastagi trying to kill this naked innocent woman whom he had fallen deeply in love with like Nastagio had for the Traversari girl. She was condemned to pain and suffering for as many time that she had caused Messer pain each time she denied him love. Messer had eventually killed himself for her love, but instead of getting love at his death she was joyous, and happy so when she died and was condemned to hell she was to feel the pain he felt. Messer would have to cut her in half, rip out her heart and feed it to the dogs, and then she would come back alive and the chase would begin all over again. Nastagio saw this to his advantage in trying to win the Traversari girl whom hated him, so when he invited her and others to dinner he made sure that they would witness this act. After seeing this and hearing Messer’s story the Traversari girl had a change of heart because she didn’t want to be condemned in death for something she did in life so she married Nastagio. This eventually helped all men: “Nor was this the only good that came from this terrible apparition, for all the ladies of Ravenna became so frightened that from then on they became a good deal more amenable to men’s pleasure than they ever had been in the past” (425). Women had become easier to woo, for they feared the pain they would feel later which gave the men more empowerment because at this point women were afraid to deny their love to a man.

5.9
“…I would much rather have a man who lacks money than money that lacks a man” (431). Monna Giovanna was saying that she would rather have someone who will give his last valuable possession for her than a man who has money but is still a boy, and childish and his manners. Federigo had shown that he was a true man; he had given up his falcon which was his most valuable possession in order to feed her, and then when he couldn’t give it to her he cried because he was unable to give her what she asked of him.  “a man who lacks money”  is someone who doesn’t have money but what he values the most he will give to make you happy and to make sure your needs are meant, and ‘money that lacks a man” is some who is going to be with you, but not cherish you or value you as much as their possessions. Monna Giovanna didn’t have to worry about whether Federigo loved her or not because he loved her when he was rich and he loved her when he was poor, and he being poor didn’t stop him from showering her with gifts only this time is wasn’t a luxuries gift, but it was his bird, which was his pride.

The Decameron (Day Three / 3.3, 3.6, 3.9, 4.3, 4.9)

3.3: This story shows how it is easy for someone to deceive someone. It also shows how someone who is naïve and unwise will easily falls for things. The women was very deceptive, but the friar believed her because she was married, upset, crying, and a noble women who gave him money. She knew she couldn’t send a messenger, or write him a letter so she used the friar to communicate with the guy. I didn’t really think that the friar was going to fall for her lies because the friar is with the guy most of the time so wouldn’t he have seen him or noticed something. I thought it was ironic how she sent the messages by saying the opposite of what she meant, which shows how words and how people say things can hold more than one meaning all depending how you look at it.

3.6: The story shows how our jealousy can blind us. When we are jealous we never fully think things out but instead we react. The main character Ricciardo takes advantage of the fact that Catella is a jealous woman. The fact that she is insecure doesn’t help the situation because she isn’t really thinking things through, but instead is going off what Ricciardo is saying. Catella isn’t confident within neither herself nor her marriage so anything that is said to her about something bad her husband does or doesn’t do she will believe because she has no trust in her husband. This makes it easy for her to fall for Ricciardo trick. It’s funny how the whole time she was worried about her husband cheating, but then she turns around and has an affair with Ricciardo. The only time someone can be insecure with their relationship is when they are accusing their partner of something that they are doing or thinking of doing.

3.9: Giletta is a doctor. When Beltramo di Rossiglione is sent to France she is saddened because she fallen in love with him and he was being taken from her. Giletta would marry no other man and waited for her chance with Beltramo. When she heard the King of France was ill and no one could cure him, and only made it worse she took this opportunity not only to help the king, but to get Beltramo. When promised the king she could cure him in 8 days if she didn’t she would be killed, but if she did the king promised her Beltramo’s hand on marriage.

4.3: The story shows how love is blind and it can take over your mind. Sometime what you think is love truly isn’t. Love is made to be this passionate and happy ever after thing, like nothing bad happens. Love can make people do things that they thought they would never do. This is apparent with the three sisters running off with their lovers, thinking everything will end in harmony, but instead four people die and only two are left. The story shows how sometimes love can be tragic; in this story love was an emotional toll. The difference between actual love and perceived love is actual love is “real” love its genuine and perceived love is superficial. On the outside you see something or some sort of affection that is perceived as love, but on the end side it’s not love but merely an act of kindness.

4.9: the revenge in this story is gorier. Rossiglione doesn’t kill his wife, but instead kills Guardastagno and makes her eat his heart. Rossiglione could have killed her, but instead it seems he leads her to take her own life which makes it more dramatic. Either way in the end Rossiglione wife still ends up with Guardastagno when they are buried together so it’s like that eternal love, Rossiglione wife kills herself so that she can be with him.

The Decameron (Day Two / 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.9, 3.1)

1.   Story 2.5: Andreuccio learns how to play their game in Sicily: “You’ve got to know; but if this is what it is like to be related in Sicily—that you forget your ties so quickly—then at least give me back the clothes I left up there, and in God’s name I’ll gladly be off!” (Boccaccio 107).   When he is robbed by his ‘sister’ Madam Fiordaliso he soon finds that he is left on the streets with nothing. There is this reoccurring theme of abandonment in the text first with his abandoned ‘sister’, then when his ‘sister’ takes his money and clothes and abandons him, and finally when he goes with the two guys to rob the pope of his goods and jewels he was buried with. This attributes to his education because at the end when he is left behind he doesn’t cry, but he waits and finally when he is out he returns home with twice the amount of money then when he left.  You could say that Andreuccio learns how to play the fool without getting the burnt end of the stick
2.  Story 2.6: This story questions humanity as a whole. Here in the story you have Madam Beritola who is a noble women revert to these inhuman ways of life. In the story Madam Beritola when she is left on the island has survival instincts and it seems that it comes natural to her. When she breast feeds and takes in the two roebuck’s it’s kind of like Boccaccio is saying that there really is no division or separation between being human and being inhuman: “And as the milk from her own breast. They did not refuse her kindness, and so she suckled them just as their own mother might have done, and from that moment on they made no distinction between her and their mother” (Boccaccio 115). Boccaccio tries to show how there is no distinction between humanity and inhumanity. Humanity influence the story because when Currado finds Madam Beritola she is referred to as “Cavriuola” (doe), even after they put her in nice clothing which is like saying how clothing, formal language, and proper conducts can’t change the inner ‘beast’ within someone  and almost how everyone has a ‘wild-women’ or ‘wild-man’ within them.    

Decameron 1.1-1.4 & 2.3

1.1

“Nor should we believe that such special grace descends upon us and within us through any merit of our own, but rather it is sent by His own kindness and by the prayers of those who, like ourselves, were mortal and who have now become eternal and blessed with Him, for they followed His will while they were alive” (Boccaccio 25).  This quote drew my attention because it talks about how saints of God where once mortal and they have become eternal and blessed by Him because they have done his will while they were alive. This quote seems to sort of contradict the main character Ser Cepparello who came to be known as Saint Ciappelltto. Cepparello was conniving, manipulative men, who con people and the courts. When Cepparello was on his death bed he lied to the friar when he was confessing his sins and when he died he was seen as a saint and was buried by the church, he was seen as so holy that people called him saint and honored him. This goes back to the quote because when he was only seen as a saint because of the lies he told and the gullibility of the people, hence his burial by the church. Cepparello was able to get past the people, but his true test and trial would be when he dies and has to deal with God. It’s untold what his fate is, but you can assume that he isn’t a “saint” unless he was forgiven for his sins by God.

1.2

“Mercy patiently endures faults of those who with their words and deeds ought to bear witness to this mercy and yet do the contrary; I shall show how it makes these things an argument of His infallible truth so that with firmer conviction we may practice what we believe” (Boccaccio 38). This quote drew my attention because it says how people practice what they believe meaning whatever people see as true or worth following or believing they will turn that into a custom or habit and people who hold the same belief will follow and do the same thing.  The quote correlates with the theme of the story because when Abraham who was a Jew goes to the court of Rome he sees the wickedness of the clergy. Abraham returns to Paris wanting to convert to Christianity. The reason he wants to convert is because all the people follow the clergy   and if the clergy is wicked then the people who belief and follow them are going to be wicked to therefore although what he saw he said the people should go to hell for their sins he also saw that they were only following and doing what they were taught.   

1.3

“You should know, my dear companions, that just as stupidity can often remove one from a state of happiness and place him in the greatest misery, so, too, intelligence can rescue the wise man from the gravest of dangers and restore him to his secure state” (Boccaccio 43).  This quote drew me in because it talks about how lack of knowledge can often put people in a state of distress, but knowledge from someone with intelligence if used right can rescue a wise man from dangers and restore his state. This relates to the theme because Melchisedech, an Jew knowledge saves him from entrapment by Saracen King named Saladin. Saladin asks Melchisedech which faith is better between Jews, Saracen, or Christianity.  Melchisedech tells the story of three brothers who father was a king and held a ring which was to be passed on and was a tradition. The king was dying and had promised to leave the rings with the three sons but didn’t know who because he loved each son equally, so he had two more rings made and each son received a ring. This story goes back to the theme and the quote because Melchisedech was trying to say that each religion is just as worthy of truth as the other and who’s to say which religion is better than the other. Melchisedech used his knowledge and what he knew to get out of the trap which the king tried to set. Saladin satisfied with the answer had to be upfront with Melchisedech and ask him to borrow money, and he let him and they became friends. This shows how knowledge when used the right way can remove someone from any situation.

Almodovar's "Talk to Her"

Benigno relationship with Alicia seems at first harmless and he seems like he just admires her, but then as the film develops and you get more information it seems that Benigno is harmful. Benigno comes off as being kind and meaning well but then it seems that he is obsessed with Alicia especially the pictures of her that he has in his apartment and him consistently watching her. It’s like he is in his own world and he believes or feels as though Alicia feels for him the way he feels for her . Benigno seems sort of delusional. Benigno and Alicia ‘relationship’ contrast with Marco and Lydia because what Marco and Lydia had was an actual relationship with each other. Marco was somewhat different from Benigno because Marco didn’t know how to interact or what to say to Lydia because he felt like it would be hard because she couldn’t hear him or respond. Its similar because both men were fighting for love it was like they both were trying to hold on to something that seemed like it was almost unattainable. Benigno and Marco are in similar situations and they seem to grow to become friends and dependent upon each other. Marco and Benigno relationship is crucial because towards the end of the movie there relationship sort of brings together Alicia and Marco. There is this tie between Benigno, Alicia, and Marco. When the movie leaves off it seems that something is going to happen between Marco and Alicia, but then again it’s like maybe not because what Benigno ‘had’ with Alicia so its sort of open ended and leaves you wondering.