Details

There is something to be said for an author who can give a novel more depth with the details of the setting.  Most books, or novels, have the setting contribute mildly to the development of the plot and characters, or they try too hard and the book becomes boring.  One of the rare occurrences of great detail that compliments the other element of the book is Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights. 

The descriptions of the two houses, Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, and the moors in between are fantastic.  They are very vivid to the point where when you read about Wuthering Heights, you actually start to feel hopelessness.  The Characters of each house go along perfectly with the elements of each house as well.  Heathcliff is angry, has wild passions, and is primal.  The description of how Wuthering Heights is on the top of a hill so it is exposed to all of the harsh elements reinforces his character. 

Edgar, on the other hand, is very proper and respectful.  This is reinforced by description of how Thrushcross Grange is protected in the valley, and how it is said to have music drifting out of it.  The moors are a sort of safe zone.  This is reinforced when at the end of the novel it is said that a couple can be seen roaming the moors at night.  This is thought to be Heathcliff and Cathrine who are finally at peace with each other.  The details of this novel take it to a whole new level.

I Wonder

I would like to see into the mind of Oedipus right after he found out his beloved wife was his mother.  I wonder what he would be feeling as a result of this.  Would he feel like a failure because he could not escape the oracle.  Or would he feel foolish that he did not recognize his own mother, and went as far as to marry her and have children with her with out seeing their primary relation.  I also wonder if he felt remorse for killing his father, and if so what was the motives behind his remorse.  Did he feel bad that he killed someone as biologically close to him as his father, or did he feel bad because of what the murder represents.  Does Oedipus feel bad for his children because of their newfound lowered status or because of the emotional pain he caused them with his actions.  I wonder, I think most of all, if he would admit to the true answers of these questions, or would he tell everyone what he thinks they would want to hear.

Keep Thinking

During our Socratic Seminar, we did not get a chance to look at a few of the questions that I wanted to.  One of them was how in the Power Of One, Peekay claims at Hoppie's fight that he "learned the most important rule in winning-- keep thinking."  Peekay demonstrates that he has already learned this in his time at boarding school.  Peekay knew at the boarding school how smart he was.  He also quickly learned that that intelligence was going to get him in a lot of trouble if those around him saw it.  So Peekay learned to hide how smart he was and use it to his advantage.  He called this act his "camouflage," and he learned to use it well.  This also goes along with Hoppie's saying "First with the head, then with the heart."  That is a perfect way to sum up what Peekay had been doing in boarding school, and continues to live by for the rest of his life.
This is also something I have seen in my friends lives.  One of my friends is very smart, but their friends are not.  When they first became friends it was really hard for them to mesh together well because his friends could never understand his advanced vocabulary.  This caused him to tone down his smarts when with them so he didn't make them feel stupid.  He had to use his brain to hide his brain.  So in the end he is always thinking.
I believe that It is very important to be able to think in every situation.  You should be able to understand whats going on even if those around you do not. But I don't think you should have to hide who you are.  If you are smart then you should hang out with people who are smart as well and not limit yourself for comfort.  always accept the challenge of keeping up with your intelligent friends with open arms so that you can "keep thinking."