Laura's Blog

Shakespeare's play, "Coriolanus" demonstrates a social hierarchy. This is evident in the first scene of Act I of the play. At this point the audience can conclude that Shakespeare's purpose of his characterization of Coriolanus in Act I is to determine Coriolanus' importance in the play through social hierarchy. The character of Coriolanus is further characterized throughout the first act. Due to "Coriolanus" being a political play, there are opinions everywhere, especially from enemies and civilians. This causes conflict within the play and helps to develop the story line. Coriolanus' place on the social hierarchy is what leads to his actions throughout Act I. He is a Roman general as well as a warrior, and is therefore in the upper class of the social hierarchy.  He seems to have two sides to him. The side that is liked by the people, and the side that is not. In the first scene of the first act, Coriolanus is depicted to be somebody who is strong...

Bell Hooks' essay about the Language of Power, stresses how the English language is a tool for oppressing. "It has been hardest to integrate black vernacular in writing, particularly for academic journals. When I first began to incorporate black vernacular in critical essays, editors would send the work back to me in standard English. Using the vernacular means that translation into standard English may be needed if one wishes to reach a more inclusive audience," the author writes. This means that standard English is preferred in academic fields, as it demonstrates proper grammar. Users of black vernacular, at times, take offense to this practice as they yearn to use their own dialect to communicate. Hooks' quote can be applied to Jenna Graham's article, "I’m Black And I Refuse To Change The Way I Speak In Front Of My White Friends." In the text, Graham expresses her emotion towards her 8th grade teacher's opinion on black vernacular. “Oh, so a bunc...