Jessa's Online Journal

• What does Shelley say about the novel’s origins?

• What parallels can be drawn between the ‘birth’ of a monster and the ‘birth’ of Shelley’s novel?

If you had the power in your hands to potentially save a person’s life would you do it? Or would you stop them and have that little thought in the back of your mind about that patient who died, the one you could’ve saved. That innocent life, all they needed was access to the medication that is illegal in too many countries. The drug of Marijuana.

It is a vital part of curing some illnesses and it makes chemotherapy much more bearable for the sufferers. Yet it is only legal in Uruguay and around 30 states in the U.S.A. If those places have legalised it and nothing truly bad has actually happened because of it then why don’t we? Look at all the success stories of people who can now enjoy their lives and look forward to the following days all because of the choices which those countries have agreed on. The drug is safer than tobacco and alcohol. I will not deny the fact that in extreme cases where drug addicts get hold of cannabis it has the potential to ruin family lives, but so can tobacco, have you heard of lung cancer? And alcohol what about liver cancer?  Both of these drugs are considered safe and legal, people can use them freely, but, they both have just as bad consequences as marijuana if they are misused. If you take a look at the news or even the local newspaper I am sure you will find that majority of the crime which take place is due to alcohol and drunken people misbehaving because on most days something will go wrong thanks to alcohol based actions. There is hardly ever any articles about cannabis, yes it is illegal but lets face it, everyone knows someone who smokes it illegally, for medical reasons or not, and nothing bad ever happens to them if they use it safely, which more often than not, they do. So why is cannabis illegal? It has extremely useful properties used for healing and treating illnesses, unlike alcohol and tobacco, ever heard of them treating anything? No, I didn’t think so. It is unfair that people who suffer from terminal illnesses that cannot be helped are not allowed access to the one thing that could make their life just a tiny bit better. Why do they have to live with the penalties put in place due to the fear of some stupid idiot misusing the drug in ways it wasn’t intended for?

I know a very special person who currently uses medical marijuana to help with a bacterial illness, the super bug. This superbug is responsible for over 11,000 deaths per year in the U.S alone. This person however had to move their whole life, leave their family here in New Zealand, and now lives in Pennsylvania only so they could get the treatment legally which is saving their life. If this person has had so many benefits from their use of this drug then why are we denying others, with the same and many more illnesses from the amazing properties which this drug provides?

In New Zealand we have one form of medical marijuana available to us, Sativex. This medication however, is only available to people with multiple sclerosis. What about the people with epilepsy, there are children out there who have up to 50 seizures everyday. These seizures are life threatening and destroy the lives of the sufferers. How would you like it if you were not allowed to even go outside and cross the road? For people like this in New Zealand, they need to make a claim to our Ministry Of Health outlining the reasons why they should be able to take the drug. This claim might not even get approved. I am sure most of you would be able to relate to taking medication only available by prescription, for example if you are a sufferer of a rare form of severe migraines and need prescription medication. If that medication had marijuana in it then the Ministry Of Health would decline it. You are now faced with the fact that potentially every week you could come down with an intense migraine that means you are stuck in bed for days on end with no medication that actually makes a difference in the pain you endure. For the rest of your life the only way that you could change things was if you moved to a whole new country. How would you like that? This is what it is like for people who make claims for medical marijuana which do not get approved, but the Ministry Of Health don’t care about how their decision of illegallising marijuana even for medical reasons can impact so greatly on  persons life.

For many having no access to this medication makes life unbearable. Unbearable to the point that they no longer want to be alive. Having a life controlled so much by an illness, to the extent of not even being able to have a shower alone due to the fact you might have a seizure, choke on the water and die. No matter how hard you try life cannot be made more comfortable without cannabis. People in this situation are now faced with the thought that they cannot control. The thought that “wouldn’t I be happier if I was dead and up in heaven with no problems?” They volunteer for euthanasia. That too is illegal, and the victim is now faced with only 2 options, suicide or to withstand the suffering which their illness puts them through. The awful thing is that for too many people the first option, suicide, is the only option which seems worth it. This is because without marijuana their lives are dull and they cant do anything, not even work. All they wish for is a place where they can be ‘normal’ and be free of discomfort. The only other place is heaven.

A 14 year jail sentence in New Zealand is a punishment that can occur if you are found manufacturing cannabis, and compared to some other countries this is light. In some cases, marijuana is the medication which saves your life. Yet if you are found using it you could be sent to jail. In extreme cases you may not be sentenced to a death sentence, but it will turn into one as without your medication which is saving your life you have no hope of survival.

Things need to change. We take our lives for granted, our lives free of physical illness that practically disables us. There are many people who don’t get this though, we need to take a stand with them and support them in their fight for the drug that is so important in their lives. We need forms of it that are more concentrated than our country allows and we need to have it available like any other prescription medication.

Sumner beach- Night and day

I catch the subtle salty smell which is laden within the air. It’s a calm autumn day and the sun, not afraid to make an entrance, casts it’s rays towards the ocean. Golden beams, which are reflected off the ocean, stream into the eyes of many people who come out to breath the fresh air. I position my feet carefully at the tip of the rock face, right at the water’s edge. The grittiness of the slab provides me with the grip I need to be able to stay standing. I feel the water’s flow beneath my toes and little droplets spray against my calves, sending goose bumps up my legs. My mouth is open a little and the large waves which crash against the rocks send splashes to my face, the water slides over my cheek bones and into my mouth, the saltiness is horrid and makes me nauseous. Wind whistles past my ears, sending my hair flying back behind my head in a matted mess. My arms, held out like a ‘T’ get shot with the wind coming straight off the sea, my jersey serves no protection against the weapon which nature provides. Sounds of car engines rumbling along the main street muffle the bird’s songs and children’s laughter, yet they are not loud enough to block out the excited barks of dogs or the intense smashing of the waves. I slowly make my way around the numerous rock pools which lay nestled in among the jagged edges of the rock, taking my time at every little settlement. The red crabs stare up at me, their eyes like little darts awaiting the target. Starfish lie still, frozen and lifeless. I forget where I am, I am lost in my own imagination, my senses are a kaleidoscope of colors, indistinguishable from each other. I am kidnapped, I am falling into a trap, a trap that my own mind has invented.

A faint glow is cast over the ocean, creating a powerful feeling of vulnerability. The birds chatter has become alive, more alive than I could ever imagine, the comforting roar of vehicle engines has disappeared, replaced with an intimidating feel of loneliness. The new vibe is dull and eerie, a transformation from the loud and friendly vibe that existed here only hours earlier. Stars shine bright against the gloomy night sky, the moon, afraid to make an entrance lays behind the shadowy clouds that refuse to move. Crumbly rock towers stand tall, daunting and terrifying in this low light that the early hours of the night provides us with. A lone dog, lost and disorientated stands against the edge of the cliff and lets out a low, ghostly howl. There is no echo, the sound just travels out to where the murky water merges with the sky. I feel that sense of danger travel up my spine, that feeling you get when your in a graveyard. My head is whirring and I realize that that is it. The ocean is a graveyard. All those shark attacks, sunken ships and rips, this is the murder scene of hundreds of innocent people. Water rushes up to greet me, cold and hard, it’s not friendly, in fact quite the opposite, it’s face is stern, holding no emotion, completely unaffectionate. The sympathy it should hold towards humans, including me, just doesn’t exist. Vile voices bounce off the walls of my brain, taking up too much space, they’re the voices which lie hidden beneath the surface of my skin, the voices that anyone who didn’t know me would just think don’t exist, they make me hurt so much inside. The ocean is the only place I can set my emotions free. I feel terrible yet at the same time I feel satisfied. This is the only time no-one is around, able to hear or see my anger and fear being set free. The roaring of the ocean drowns out my screams, talking louder than I have ever witnessed. It is a dark hole, holding many secrets captive below the surface. Black slime rushes up to meet me, threatening with it’s slippery tentacles, threatening to take me and add me to it’s collection of dead bodies that lie rotting in the void space.

Macbeth, a play written by William Shakespeare includes two soliloquies from act 1, scene 5 and act 1, scene 7 which I will be comparing. These soliloquies are spoken by Lady Macbeth and Macbeth himself and they both contain ambition, not always good ambition, sometimes evil and for the wrong motives. Shakespeare explains the motives of the two characters through the use of metaphors. Macbeth, although he wants to become king is faced with the thought of murder, placed upon him and encouraged by Lady Macbeth. Using dark metaphors Shakespeare explains the thoughts of which Macbeth struggles against. He highlights the difference in the two ambitions and personalities. “Thou sure and firm set earth, Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear Thy very stones prate of my whereabouts, And take the present horror from the time, Which now suits with it. Whiles I threat, he lives. Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives.”

In the soliloquy by Lady Macbeth, Shakespeare writes “Art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it: what thou wouldst highly. that wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, and yet wouldst wrongly win.” to display the point that she believes Macbeth desperately wants the witches prophecy that he will become king to be true, but she thinks he lacks the evil spirit to do so. Using the metaphor “full o’ th’ milk of human kindness” it is portrayed that although Lady Macbeth is aware of Macbeth’s final goal she is also aware that he is a kindhearted fellow, who although his ambition is strong he lacks the courage required to pursue such a violent task. “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way.” Shakespeare uses the quote inserted above to tell us that Lady Macbeth knows Macbeth has managed to fulfill the hard task of becoming Thane of Glamis and Cawdor, and just as the witches prophecy has promised he will become king. She suggests that he will need to rid himself of the milk of human kindness, meaning he needs to pick up some strength and evilness which is required if he shall become King.

Macbeth thinks hard about the witches prophecy and whether or not he should pursue his dream. He thinks that should he choose to commit the crime that must take place for him to become king there will be rumors spread about the horrible deed. His doubts are strong. Shakespeare shows us as readers by saying “But in these cases we still have judgement here; that we but teach bloody instructions, which , being taught, return to plague the inventor:” this gives us insight to Macbeth’s sense of fair play and although his ambition to murder King Duncan may not coincide with what his heart is telling him to do, he puts his wife’s wishes first. He is fighting against his fears and pulling in the nasty streak which is required to pursue the violent crime. Macbeth is aware of the consequences that will spread like a wild fire once the terrible deed has been cleared. He knows that somewhere up in heaven the angels are watching him and they see whatever move he makes. He is aware of the fact that Duncan, as he goes to heaven will know that it was Macbeth who committed the crime. The unfairness of the deed plays on Macbeth’s mind. Duncan has been a fair leader and he has never done anything as vile as what Macbeth plans on doing. The unfairness of the murder hangs over Macbeth like a dark cloud that refuses to leave him alone. Using the quote “Besides, this Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been So clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against The deep damnation of his taking-off;” Shakespeare tells us that Duncan has been such a fair leader and doesn’t deserve to be treated like this.

The similarities between these selected soliloquies and the things that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth say is the fact that both portray the similar type of thoughts. By saying “And that which rather thou must fear to do than wishest should be undone” Shakespeare explains to us that Lady Macbeth believes Macbeth has the goals to be the best, yet he doesn’t have the strength to continue through with such a vile task, of killing King Duncan. Macbeth thinks about the deed he would have to pursue and he is aware that the end outcome would be great for him but it would also come with consequences that he will have to consider. Shakespeare writes “So clear in his great office, that his virtues will plead like angels, trumpet tongued against the deep damnation of his taking off.” telling us that Macbeth notices that if he was to kill King Duncan then there would be terrible chain reaction that followed. Macbeth is aware that everyone will hear about the crime he has committed. The rumor will spread like a big gust of wind. Macbeth is driven mainly by the ambition of Lady Macbeth. Her ambition is strong and powerful and it is the driving force behind his actions. She has the guts and the ability to commit the worst crime known. She insinuates that as she is a lady she cannot pursue a powerful crime such as murder, it should be committed by a man. The end outcome of the deed will bring great things to her, and she doesn’t consider or care about the burden of guilt that will be laid upon Macbeth, should he choose to pursue with her plan of killing King Duncan. Macbeth becomes haunted by the thought of murder, yet he refuses to let down his wife.

Shakespeare writes this statement  which Lady Macbeth says “Thus thou must do, if thou have it.” and it makes us consider her thoughts of Macbeth and his ambition and desire. She knows he wants to be the best; the most powerful, although to get that he must cheat or be nasty. She also knows he is aware of these facts yet doesn’t have the courage to pursue these terrible tasks. “Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly, That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, And yet wouldst wrongly win. Thou’ld’st have, great Glamis, That which cries, Thus thou must do, if thou have it,.” This quote by Lady Macbeth explains that Macbeth lacks the skills and audacity required to get to the top and be the best. He wants the witches prophecy to become true yet, he wants to do it fairly. Something that is almost impossible. It is a crime, and crimes cannot be done fairly.

Shakespeare uses many metaphors to show that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, although they both have the same ambition of Macbeth becoming king, they both have entirely different personalities. Macbeth thinks about the consequences of his actions whereas Lady Macbeth only thinks about the end outcome and the pride that Macbeth will hold should he become King. The pride though, of becoming King, will be overpowered by the guilt and unfairness of the murder that must take place for Macbeth to end up as king. The metaphors which Shakespeare chose to use when writing the story of Macbeth are dark but contrasting. For example when he talks about two different types of fluids, Human milk and poison. Human milk portrays the thought that for a human quality it would be kind, caring and compassionate whereas poison for a human quality would be evil, nasty and unfair. Both of these fluids can be related to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, the qualities which human milk contain is the personality of Macbeth and the poison is Lady Macbeth’s qualities. Lady Macbeth talks about filling Macbeth up with her spirits, showing us that she would like to replace some of Macbeth’s human milk qualities with some of her poisonous qualities. Lady Macbeth wants this to happen because she believes that it will ignite his ambition for king and allow his dreams to become true.

How does Shakespeare represent the ambition of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in the selected soliloquies? Compare and contrast the two texts and explore Shakespeare’s use of language it reveals the action of ambition on both characters.

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Here’s a second soliloquy, this time from Macbeth’s point of view, around the time when he and Lady Macbeth are plotting to kill King Duncan.

Perform the same analysis on this (summarise, explore the language) and then start to develop a list of the things the two have in common and the things that set them apart. Your essay will explore these differences and what this says about their differing motivations at the beginning of the play.

MACBETH
If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well
It were done quickly: if the assassination
Could trammel up the consequence, and catch
With his surcease success; that but this blow
Might be the be-all and the end-all here,
But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,
We’ld jump the life to come. But in these cases
We still have judgment here; that we but teach
Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return
To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice
Commends the ingredients of our poison’d chalice
To our own lips. He’s here in double trust;
First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,
Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,
Who should against his murderer shut the door,
Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan
Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been
So clear in his great office, that his virtues
Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against
The deep damnation of his taking-off;
And pity, like a naked new-born babe,
Striding the blast, or heaven’s cherubim, horsed
Upon the sightless couriers of the air,
Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,
That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur
To prick the sides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself
And falls on the other.