Month: March 2025

IRJE#7 How To Die An Ancient Guide to the End of Life

In How to Die An Ancient Guide to the End of Life, the famous ancient Roman philosopher Seneca discusses how to accept one’s death and the certain conditions needed to be found. Seneca believed that life although beautiful in its own right was a long journey towards death and needed to be prepared for as best as possible. You must practice towards death by understanding how to die with the fullest life, how to have a good death, and what must you do to accept your own passing.

We ought to let our minds guide us in death more than in any other matter. A person should follow impulse when making an exit, whether he desires a blade, or a noose, or some kind of concoction to fill his veins, he should go ahead and break the chains of slavery. Each of us ought to seek a life that wins approval from others, but a death, from himself. The best one is the one that pleases him. These are foolish thoughts: ”Someone will say I didn’t do it bravely enough, or too recklessly, or that there was another kind of death that had more spirit to it.” Think instead that the plan you have in your hands is something that report is not concerned with. Look to this alone, that you get yourself away from fortune as quickly as you can. Otherwise there will be people there to judge your deed harshly” (p. 80).

Although the frequent concept of death seems fearful, and troubling at times there is a sense of long-term peace when practicing for your inevitable end. By universality accepting death, the true importance of life can be spread further and liberate whoever from the anxiety of the unknown. Whether you believe in an all-powerful God or nothing at all death will always be around us and it’s important to enlighten yourself before it’s to late.

PW#7 Child Psychology

Child Psychology is a controversial song from the 1998 album England Made Me. The song delves into themes of childhood trauma, mental health, and societal expectations. The song serves as a bold statement from the band, known for its darkly satirical lyrics and minimalist sound, about the feelings of alienation and emotional struggles of growing up.

The opening of the song features a calm, nearly indifferent vocal performance, narrating the story of a child who feels misunderstood by their parents and society.  It discusses themes like dysfunctional family dynamics, feelings of isolation, and the failure of traditional systems—like education and therapy—to address the deeper emotional needs of children. The narrative suggests that the child carries unresolved emotional burdens into adulthood, leading to a bleak outlook on life.

One of the most provocative lines in the song is: “Life is unfair, kill yourself or get over it.” This line, though controversial, is not an encouragement of suicide but rather a cynical commentary on the way society often dismisses mental health struggles, especially in children. It’s a reflection of the lack of understanding and empathy for people dealing with emotional pain. Due to this lyric, “Child Psychology” faced bans on radio stations, especially in the UK and the US. The song was seen as too provocative because it touched on themes of suicide and mental health, which were still highly stigmatized topics in the late ’90s. The band, however, often stated that their intent was not to promote negativity but to shine a light on uncomfortable truths about society’s treatment of vulnerable individuals. 

In the late 1990s, conversations around mental health, particularly among children, were less open and supportive than they are today. Child Psychology emerged at a time when bands in the alternative and indie scenes were often using their music to critique societal norms, and Black Box Recorder used a minimalist, almost detached style to address issues that weren’t commonly discussed in pop music.

I enjoy the song a lot since it reads more like a story than just lyrics put to music. While songs tend to tell a story, I found the way this one did it very unique.

 

IRJE #7: The Five

In The Five by Vladimir Jabotinsky, the narrator reflects on the changes in his generation, as well as their detachment from basic skills and self care. He describes how young people have lost basic skills, relying instead on the idea that others will handle their tasks/problems for them.

Our generation grew up without fingers, as it were: when a button was torn off, we hung our heads in despair and fantasized about family life, a wife—an astonishing creature undaunted by any challenges, who knows where to buy a needle and thread and how to set about the task. (p.7)

Despite this quotation seeming rather entertaining it does highlight how the now growing up generation heavily relies on others even in the simplest of tasks. It also reflects a romanticized view of family life, as well as gender roles, where women are expected to be skilled in households. The quote’s significance comes from its relativity in societal change —how modernity has made people less self-reliant and more detached from basic knowledge. It also touches on gender expectations, offering insight into how traditions and cultural values evolve over time.

IRJE #7 Nineteen Eighty-Four

George Orwell’s 1984 is a dystopian novel set in a totalitarian society where the Party, led by Big Brother, fully controls its citizens. The government enforces extremely strict surveillance, manipulates the truth and punishes independent thinking through tactics/mechanisms like doublethink and thoughtcrime. The protagonist, Winston Smith, secretly hates the Party and begins to rebel by writing in a diary, engaging in illicit love and looking for truth in a world where reality is constantly rewritten. His resistance is gonna come at a great cost.

1984 is often compared to Brave New World, as both depict dystopian societies where the government controls their citizens, but they do so in different ways. What really stuck out to me in 1984 is how extensive and detailed the world is, which Orwell set up. I really like how every aspect of the story and society feels so thought-through. The level of detail makes the world feel real, which adds to the novel’s importance and meaning. Another difference between the two books is that in 1984, the government relies on fear and is much more controlling, while in Brave New World, citizens are controlled in a more subtle way – through pleasure and conditioning, without even realizing they are being manipulated.

In this passage, Winston writes in his diary, hoping that one day, freedom and truth will exist. He realizes that just by having “rebellious” thoughts, he has already put himself in danger. He understands that the Party’s control is so strong that simply thinking for himself is considered a crime – so serious that it might as well be a death sentence.

He went back to the table, dipped his pen, and wrote:

“To the future or the past, to a time when thought is free, when men are different from one another and do not live alone – to a time when truth exists and what is done cannot be undone: From the age of uniformity, from the age of solitude, from the age of Big Brother, from the age of doublethink – greetings!”

He was already dead, he reflected. It seemed to him that it was only now, when he had begun to be able to formulate his thoughts, that he had taked the decisive step. The consequences of every act are included in the act itself. He wrote:

“Thoughtcrime does not entail death: thoughtcrime IS death.” (p. 35 – p. 36)

This quote perfectly shows Winston’s desperate hope that one day, there might be a world where truth and individuality exist. By comparing his opressive present to a free future, he emphasizes how well the Party has erased personal identity, truth and any real human connections and relationships. The phrase “what is done cannot be undone” shows his wish for a world where history is permanent and not constantly rewritten by the Party. His words/diary are a message to a future he might never experience, making his rebellions feel hopeless.

“Thoughtcrime does not entail death: thoughtcrime IS death.”

This line is especially important because it sums up the Party’s control. Winston realizes that simply thinking against the Party is enough to kill him. In a society where the government watches thoughts and punishes those who question its authority, rebellion doesn’t start with actions, it starts the moment someone thinks differently. By finally understanding this, Winston accepts that his downfall is unavoidable.

This passage is important because it shows Winston coming to understand how strong the Party is. It is a sign that he will eventually be conquered and highlights one of the main ideas of 1984: keeping people from thinking for themselves. The Party doesn’t just want people to follow orders – it wants complete control over what is real. Winston’s diary entry is a form of rebellion, but it also marks the beginning of his eventual downfall.

PW #7- Mama Mia

Since  I saw Mama Mia for the first time, it became my favorite movie. I remember the day I watched it for the first time, my friend forced my into seeing it because she loved it. At the beginning of the movie I didn’t really like it because I sat with a set mindset that it was only another cheesy romantic movie, but as the movie went by, I started to love it. After that day I became obsessed. Now a few years later, I still have the same obsession. Ecxept now my obsession for the movie also became a love fo the band ABBA. Now when I see the movie (which is once a week) I can happily sing along to every song and even some of the script. As I said, I’ve watched the movie so much that even my dad has learned some part of it. Luckily, here, I met some friends that have the same obsession as I do, so now I have someone to sing along with.

Now, Mama Mia has become my comfort movie, watching it every time the smallest thing goes wrong, this movie helps me to bring me up again. And even though to some point, it is only a cheesy movie, I think it makes an awesome job at bringing ABBA songs back to life and putting relatable emotions to it. Because of this, I would recommend this movie to anyone who hasn’t watched it yet, and if they haveand didnt like it, I believe it deserves a second chance .

Personal Response to Romeo and Juliet

I had never watched nor read Romeo and Juliet—aside from the Gnomeo and Juliet rendition—but I was always interested in consuming the “real” thing, as I had really liked The Tempest when I watched it with my fifth-grade class, and had a good opinion of Shakespeare. I enjoyed the movie a lot; the visuals, colors, and casting were all very good. However, I thought the story was a little bland, and I was a little disappointed by Shakespeare. I do believe that what they had was true love, but it was an insane kind. It bothered me how Romeo claimed to be in “love” with this girl, and the second he saw a prettier one with a better “vibe,” it was like the first didn’t exist. I think it’s completely possible that if the story were any longer, it would have happened again. I think he would have locked eyes with some girl whose name resembles a sort of flower or garden plant—like Rosemary—and fallen head over heels. Despite that, I thought it was interesting to see how language has evolved since Shakespeare’s time and it got me thinking how interesting it would be to trace the changing of the English language through media, reading one piece from every decade since Shakespeare’s time until we finally work our way up to the present. This would allow us to really understand and connect with how the language evolved and have a better understanding of its origins. Overall, the movie was good, but the story could have been better.

IRJE #7: The Litigators

The Litigators, by John Grisham. This book is a legal thriller that focuses on 31-year-old David Zinc, a lawyer at a high-stress corporate job who quits his job for employment at a small, dubious law firm called Finley & Figg in Chicago. The book is based around a large class-action lawsuit against Varrick Labs who has developed a cholesterol-reducing drug. However, with further research into the drug, it became known that it was a propellant for heart-attacks in individuals who may take the drug.

“As promised, my mother awakened me at 6:00 a.m. so I could watch the early morning New York news programs. I was hoping for a glimpse of Joe Castle. Channel 4 did a quick rundown on the National League games. The Mets had won in Atlanta to put them two games over .500.” (p. 487)

In this quotation, this shows the near end to the book. There is sort of a blend of resolution, but also some questions.

As the end of the story nears, the firm led by Oscar Finley and his partner Wally Figg are able to secure a settlement in the lawsuit against Varrick Labs regarding Krayoxx. This results in significant financial gain for them, as well as for the clients involved in this case. The future for Oscar and Wally is starting to  look brighter, and the two characters are starting to recognize the value of hard work and integrity, despite the focus that the two had on previous cases that they looked into. While the characters have grown and changed, there’s also a type of sense that the two are still attempting to navigate their own dilemmas. However, the main plot line has essentially concluded. The quotation presented essentially showcases how Wally is starting to slow down, and take a breath.

 

 

PW#6 The Last Unicorn 

Recently I rewatched the 1982 movie “The Last Unicorn”. It is an animated musical directed by Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr. The movie follows a unicorn that learns she may be the last of her kind and ventures out of her safe forest in order to learn more about the disappearance of unicorns, along the way she meets a magician and a woman who come along on her adventure. This movie was one of my favourites when I was a child. Unfortunately, the movie was not as magical as I had initially felt it was when I was younger, but I still enjoyed it a lot. The movie was also much deeper than I had remembered, it touched on complex subjects in a very satisfying way. The voice for the unicorn was so perfect and soothing, I wish every character in every animated movie would have been voice acted just as the little unicorn had been here. If I had any notes on the movie, I would say to remove the romance in it. The unicorn falls in love with a prince but it feels very forced and unnecessary to the plot. What was a movie focused on self discovery, the experience of morality, and spiritual decay, turned into some cheesy B-movie. 

IRJE #7 – The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Garden is the story of a young English girl called Mary who has been spoiled her whole life. After her parents die, she is now a 10-year-old orphan and is sent to live with her mysterious uncle at his estate in Yorkshire. At first, Mary does not even know how to dress herself and do things herself because she is used to being waited on her whole life. She is mostly ignored and spends her time wandering in the gardens. There are many secrets and rumours to her uncle’s estate including one of a mysterious garden that is locked up on the day of the death of her aunt and the year of Mary and her cousin Colin’s birth. Mary will discover the garden’s secrets which will bring her happiness and save her cousin, Colin, from an illness he has. I came across this quotation in the nineteenth chapter of the book when the doctor was visiting Colin.

Much more surprising things can happen to anyone who, when a disagreeable or discouraged thought comes into his mind, just has the sense to remember in time and push it out by putting in an agreeable, determinedly courageous one. Two things cannot be in one place (p. 170)

This is a meaningful quotation because it mentions that you have the power to control your mindset by replacing negative thoughts with positive ones. I think that the final sentence, ‘Two things cannot be in one place’, means that both positive and negative thoughts cannot be in your mind at the same time because just by thinking of one, slowing removes the opposite. This particular copy of The Secret Garden that I read is a hard-backed copy that was given to my mum on her 9th birthday by her grandmother. It was a special gift because it was a hard time in her family’s life. Her single mother and six children were poor homeless living in Oxford and were going between friends and relative’s homes. My mum was a shy child during this time and receiving this book was a special gift which also connects to the quotation I chose. I first read this book about five years ago and it has lasted in our family ever since.

PR To Romeo and Juliet

When I was in middle school I would always have some of the high schoolers tell me that the were reading and watching Romeo and Juliet and how it was such a good romance story. I knew that this year was gonna be the year where it would be my turn to watch and read the famous story of Romeo and Juliet. After watching the movie I realized, Romeo and Juliet is, in fact, a terrible romance movie. Their relationship is extremely rushed, and extremely unrealistic, and has more to do with passion than love. As soon as Romeo sets eyes on Juliet he falls in “love” with her although just seconds before meeting Juliet, Romeo was extremely heartbroken over another female, Rosaline, which only shows that he was in love with the idea of being in love than with Juliet herself.

The story also makes us understand and learn about the dangers of hatred and division. The fight between the Montagues and Capulets causes extremely unnecessary pain and suffering, proving and showing how holding grudges and violence can destroy and break families and lives. This theme is still meaningful today, as some conflicts whether it being between individuals, groups, or even some nations can have extremely negative effects.

More interestingly, the play Romeo and Juliet has become one of the most important stories because it teaches never ending lessons relating to love, conflict, and human character. From impetuous actions to hatred and the complexity of fate, it addresses many consequences, and proving to be extremely relevant for all ages.

In conclusion, the play of Romeo and Juliet hold an importance in terms of teaching timeless lessons concerning love, war, and mankind. Impulsive actions pursue those of hate, and these are the cleverest complications concerning fate. it is extremely useful for people from any generation. Although I didnt find the story as something I imagined I still enjoy and recommend it to anyone.

IRJE#3 AFTER by Anna Todd

The book that I just finished reading was called After. This book is a romance novel and as well as a movie. I first watched the movies a year or two ago and I loved them, I never enjoyed reading but this year I started to read more and more and I actually enjoy it a lot. Most people say to read the book before you watch the movie but for me I like to do the opposite. When I was looking for books to read I remembered when I watched the movie After and I knew which book was it I would like to read. The quote I chose from this book is.

“its you. You’re the person that I love most in the world”

“This isn’t part of your sick game is it?”

“No, Tessa. Im done with the games. I just want you. I want to be with you, in a real relationship. you’ll have to teach me what the hell that even means, of course. I want to be the one to make you laugh, not cry.”P370

I chose this quote because it means that he is willing to try something for the person he loves and he’s willing to give his heart to someone and trust someone when his past has been horrible and where he learned never to trust someone.

Personal Responde: Romeo and Juliet

I recently watched the 1960s Romeo and Juliet movie, and while I knew the basic plot: two young lovers from rival families. From my point of view Romeo’s and Juliet’s love is not real. It felt more like they were raised to hate each other without even knowing why. They are never really explained why the rivalry exists, it’s just kind of accepted because their families have been fighting for years. So when Romeo and Juliet fall for each other, it doesn’t seem like a deep, meaningful connection, it feels more like a crush and not true love.

From my point of view they’re just two confused kids who don’t know how to process their feelings, and they just end up acting on impulse. They fall for each other because they’re young and unable to contain their passion, but neither of them truly understands what real commitment is.

When it comes to the adult characters, it feels like they are immature. The rivalry between the families seems pointless, especially because it harms more people than it should. Instead of protecting their children, their actions lead to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. In summary it’s a story of poor decisions and many events that could have been avoided.