The Plague Journal Entries After reading through the first chapter my initial reaction was to question the

Authors introduction of the narrator. I thought it was interesting that the narrator was unnamed but concluded that their identity would be revealed. Normally I have encountered works where it is either clear who is narrating or possibly the narrator is left unknown through the whole novel. Here I feel as if it adds mystery as to who the narrator is and builds anticipation to when their identity is revealed.

I feel as if an interesting aspect of this story is the humanity in the characters. The plague is much more satisfying because it explores the range of reaction people are capable of in times of crises. The chief protagonist is a hero for nothing less than his belief in the need to persevere and not give in to despair; as much as any other moral quality except his professionalism, I find that one central to his character.

In this respect our townsfolk were like everybody else, wrapped up in themselves; in other words they were humanists: they disbelieved in pestilences. (1.5.3) Given that many label The Plague to be Camuss humanist work, this is an interesting line. Humanists believe that all people are good and valuable; they seek rational ways of solving problems. The sentiment expressed here is clearly anti-humanist Rieux thinks they are too blind/stupid/ignorant to see that horrible things like plagues exist in the world.

There is definitely an interesting way that the author has gone about introducing the way this rebellion against death from the plague is treated by the people. Everyone who chooses to fight the plague, to rebel against death, knows that their efforts increase their chances of contracting the plague, but they also realize they could contract the plague if they did nothing at all. In the face of such a seemingly meaningless choice, between death and death, the fact that they make a choice to act and fight for themselves and their community becomes even more meaningful; it is a note of defiance thrown against the wind, but that note is the only thing through which someone can define himself.

Upon finishing the book, I think there is a lot of good development in the characters. Not all of them live to see the plague's end, but each of them struggles to find meaning in his own experience-e.g., one character continues living because that is what is required of human beings, to go on fighting for life in a meaningless world; another character seeks to become a saint of sorts by helping his fellow man fight the pestilence. The overriding message I was left with at the end is that life is worth living despite the arbitrary cruelties of an unforgiving world because there is more good in man than there is evil.

A Dolls House Journal Entries At the beginning of A Dolls House, Nora seems completely happy. MY first thoughts about her are that she responds affectionately to Torvalds teasing, speaks with excitement about the extra money his new job will provide, and takes pleasure in the company of her children and friends. She does not seem to mind her doll-like existence, in which she is coddled, pampered, and patronized.

RANK: "you [Nora] can command me, body and soul." (2.202) This passage was confusing to me as it left me wondering. Is Rank in love with the real Nora, or the idea of her? It seems like it could be either of these. Rank could either physically be in love with her as he admires her so much, but it can also likely just be this idea about her he has created for himself.

MRS. LINDE: "We two need each other." (3.58) By the end of the play it seems that Christine and Krogstad will have the marriage of shared responsibility that the Helmers aren't able to achieve. I definitely feel as though Mrs. Linde is entering into her new marriage with her personal integrity intact.

When reading this work I can only see how the play is heavily influenced by its Victorian time period. This era was especially strict in many respects. Talk of sex and even babies was distasteful. Gender roles were pretty darn confining. Women were expected to be submissive to their husbands; husbands were expected to dominate.

Upon finishing the book, it seems like Nora has gone through a kind of personal awakening. She's come to the conclusion that she's not a fully realized person. She has to spend some time figuring out who she is as an individual or she'll never be anything more than someone's doll. This would be impossible under the smothering presence of Torvald. She must force herself to face the world alone. Nora knows that she is about to suffer. It seems that some part of her may even welcome it.