The Message Behind "The Rabbits"

I think that the most important message in the book “The Rabbits” is that the effects of colonization drastically change the lives of the people that are being conquered. When the foreigners came to the native’s land, a lot of things were changed about the way they lived. Many of the people had to leave their home because they had to do what the foreigners would say because if they didn’t, they would overpower them with more sophisticated weaponry. A lot of their belongings, such as crop and livestock would be stolen for the people to discover about. Or maybe they would steal slaves of them so that they could have it easier off. There would be now a higher population density in the area and the natives would have to share a lot or give up all the water and food, just so the conquerors could sustain live on their land. Slavery would have a depression effect on everybody in the area because they might be taken, or a friend, or a family member.

Julius Caesar Duet w/ Aidan

In the scene that we will perform, Cassius is speaking to Brutus about how Caesar does not deserve to be king. Cassius is attempting to make Brutus join the group of conspirators that despise Caesar. This is an important scene because this is where Cassius makes the decision to speak out about what he thinks of Caesar, and then create a group of people to rebel against him. It is very important for Brutus to join the group of conspirators because with Brutus at their side, he brings the respect of a noble. This means that if he were to join the conspirators the people of Rome would respect them. That is why this passage is important. Also, this scene paints a great image of how the two character are characterized throughout the book.

The part we wil be reading is ActI SceneII Lines 25-77

CASSIUS

Will you go see the order of the course?

BRUTUS

Not I.

CASSIUS

I pray you, do.

BRUTUS

I am not gamesome: I do lack some part
Of that quick spirit that is in Antony.
Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires;
I'll leave you.

CASSIUS

Brutus, I do observe you now of late:
I have not from your eyes that gentleness
And show of love as I was wont to have:
You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand
Over your friend that loves you.

BRUTUS

Cassius,
Be not deceived: if I have veil'd my look,
I turn the trouble of my countenance
Merely upon myself. Vexed I am
Of late with passions of some difference,
Conceptions only proper to myself,
Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviors;
But let not therefore my good friends be grieved--
Among which number, Cassius, be you one--
Nor construe any further my neglect,
Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war,
Forgets the shows of love to other men.

CASSIUS

Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion;
By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried
Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations.
Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?

BRUTUS

No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself,
But by reflection, by some other things.

CASSIUS

'Tis just:
And it is very much lamented, Brutus,
That you have no such mirrors as will turn
Your hidden worthiness into your eye,
That you might see your shadow. I have heard,
Where many of the best respect in Rome,
Except immortal Caesar, speaking of Brutus
And groaning underneath this age's yoke,
Have wish'd that noble Brutus had his eyes.

BRUTUS

Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius,
That you would have me seek into myself
For that which is not in me?

CASSIUS

Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear:
And since you know you cannot see yourself
So well as by reflection, I, your glass,
Will modestly discover to yourself
That of yourself which you yet know not of.
And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus:
Were I a common laugher, or did use
To stale with ordinary oaths my love
To every new protester; if you know
That I do fawn on men and hug them hard
And after scandal them, or if you know
That I profess myself in banqueting
To all the rout, then hold me dangerous.

Leaning Profile

I learn the most by learning things that are relevant to me and is important. I learn best when moving around and doing hands on activities. I prefer to not follow the instructions, but instead creating something from what I think it would look like. In order to work the best I need to be situated in the front row in the middle so I can hear as well as see. I need to be shown the linear step-by-step side of learning or else I will remain unfocused and miss out details. Thing that would help me learn are reading out loud and cross-lateral hand things like writing and drawing with my left hand and throwing and catching with both my hands.

How Does Art Mirror Society?



School of Athens


     This painting is called the School of Athens, a fresco painting made by Raphael in the year 1510. The School of Athens represents what was happening in the Renaissance through different social classes. You can see most of the different social classes  in the painting through the way they treat one another. For example, the scholars are treated with interest because they knew a lot and people were interested in what their knowledge. Likewise, two men, probably highly respected people, walk down the middle of the painting while everyone else move to the side because they are superior. However, there is one man laying on the stairs, who seems to be a poor person, but as people walk by, they pretend not to even notice him. He is the class of person that would be ignored while others, like scholars and officials are idolised. Thus in the Renaissance, people must have been treated differently and shunned off to the side whilst others would be praised and be given power over others as they almost cower to their superiority. So altogether, the School of Athens mirrored the contributing force of social classes to the Renaissance.

Second Chances Allow for Improved Behavior

      In the story ‘Thank You Ma’am’ by Langston Huges, ‘second chances allow for improved behaviour’, is a key theme. In the story, when Luella opened her heart to Robert, she gave him a second chance by not getting him in to trouble and hospitalising him for while. Robert’s behaviour has improved from this by not being afraid to run away, he had become tolerant to the conditions he was in - not having a family. And as a result he was happy and realised he didn’t need to steal from people when they are so nice to you. Luella was also given another chance at life when she was little, she admitted it, she said, “I have also done things that I would not tell you, nor God if he didn’t already know”. This means that Luella used to be not understanding, like Robert, until she was given a second chance by someone. As a result she became a compassionate lady who was able to share empathy with Robert and be kind to people. Altogether, the two protagonists in the story get second chances to do the right thing in life, and as a result they were able to be more aware of their actions, and hopefully, for Robert, not do bad things again.

      In the short movie clip “Make a Difference”, it shares the same theme: second chances allow for improved behaviour. In the movie, after the teacher figured out what happened to Teddy’s Mom, she became easier on him and perhaps gave him a first chance and as a result, he became a better student in class and more active. he no longer failed class. Teddy will be able to lead a good life as he did. By doing this to Teddy, she will let him become a happy person, no longer picked on by herself but let into society by peers and others. Teddy would no longer be treated differently, just because one teacher showed him sympathy, showed him how happy he could be. she let him on-board the life he once had again. And just by doing that he could become much more than he could ever have without her. Teddy also slightly gave her teacher a second chance to redeem herself from the way she treated him. And if Teddy hadn’t accepted her apology, then the teacher would not improve her sympathy to other children later on which she could have done with his help. These two people would not have made it very far in life, symbolically, if they did not give each other second chances.

Driving Forces of the Renaisance

War and Rivalry were the most powerful driving force in the Renaissance because, War and Rivalry created compitision between the different city states. Then because there was compitision, it caused them to build taller buildings, make creative inventions, or even become smarter people. If the Renaissance didn't have War and Rivalry then people would not have the motivation to do the great things that they rediscovered through ancient knowledge.