Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

In Portrait, Stephen's religious environment at Clongowes did partly shape who he was. At the beginning of the book, he still led a rather uneventful life. He was not a rebel kid, and stayed as true to the rules as he could. He did not smoke, chew, drink, engage in women ect. The only departure was he love for art. While this was not looked down upon at the school, Stephen took a stand to his favorite poet even though called a heretic. However, this strict environment did not keep a hold on Stephen long once he realized the lack of enjoyment there would be in a future of the priesthood. Then, the environment around him began to shape how he saw the world and his ideals. The nature which inspired him to create art, also detracted from his religious learning. Suddenly his love of beauty was exposed as soon as he rejected the religious restrictions. The environment at Clongowes shaped him to later reject the ideology they taught him there. This is because in learning he desired more. And the proctor taught how to see beauty which inspired Stephen to seek more. But upon seeking, he realized that beauty is not in any book that is written but in his own mind. This cause him to reject the religious aspects of his life in order to seek beauty.

A Long Way Down

The book A Long Way Down, by Nick Hornby, focused mostly on the present. However, because the book was about suicide, it is fair to say that the environment the characters lived in led them to suicide. But most importantly, the environment shaped how the characters made the decisions which led to the the suicide and how they viewed the enforcement caused them to go to the top of the roof.

For Martin, because he was a TV host, and led a life in which he felt his life was "untouchable" and where he was considered almost a god for being on TV, it gave him the sense of being invincible. This led to the belief that he would never get caught and could do whatever he pleased. This led to the sex-with-a-15-year-old issue. But because Martin was in the spotlight which showed every flaw he ever had once he messed up, this indiscretion was taken and blown up into the fiasco which ensued. He went to jail and lost his wife and kids as a result. The loss of his known family makes the world appear pessimistic and harsh to him. Therefore, he became a sad, pathetic drunk who wanted to throw himself off of a roof. In the end of the book, it is the change in the environment of his friends which help him view life more optimistically and to do better in the world. In a sense, the change of environment by the addition of his friends he met on the roof allowed Martin to grow as a person and eventually believe in order to do good he must change himself.

Jess's problems were rooted in her environment at her home. Between a missing sister and separated parents, her environment was anything but stable, safe, and inviting. This might have caused the erratic behavior seen throughout the book. But when the other three of the gang get thrown into her life, the stability of having those friends allow her to calm down and reach some resolution with her parents. Her decision to be at the top of the roof was a reflection of the instability in her home environment.

JJ admits throughout the novel that because he was raised as a young American teen, he view himself as having greater worth than reality might say is true. Therefore, this false sense of grandeur causes JJ to feel under appreciated and neglected as a person in society when he cannot amount to any sort of fame or success. The hoping for a grand future left his reality less than appealing, creating irrational decisions, such as those to jump off the roof in an attempt to escape the boring life he never wanted. Instead of appreciating the little he had, he wanted more and more until that thirst led him to the idea he would never amount to anything, so he must die. When everyone else helps him see the irrationality in his thinking, then he allows himself to move on from the failed band, and start his own view of success.

Maureen's environment defiantly shaped who she was. She had a baby while she was young, and her lover left her. This depressing situation caused her to become a pessimistic woman who only stayed at home to take care of her disabled son. Once she realized that she needed to live outside of her past life with the runaway groom and son, she changed her behavior to match.

Crime and Punishment

This book was so long I feel that there is a lot to talk about so I'll just hit the main points. First, St. Petersburg as an environment: hot, miserable, poor, dirty, and often cramped. This might have shaped Raskolnikov because this extra pressure on his already deteriorating mental state might have pushed him over the edge once and for all, although i have no proof of this. Also, the environment in terms of what event occurred during the book may have really affected Rasky. From the meeting with Marmelodov, and the death by trampling of him, to the shady meetings with Svidrigalov and Porfry have certainly affected Rasky's decisions. Not to mention the problems with Donya and his mother that really affected Rasky. I think the most notable people who influenced Rasky were Raz and Sonya. Because Rasky loved these people in his life they really affected him. Also, their beliefs most closely mirrored what Rasky wanted to be. Sonya's purity and Raz's honesty affected when and how he confessed.

The most notable environmental influence was the destitution of Sonya's life which cause her to sell herself on the street for her family. A connection which was made early in the book, and was later proven that Sonya was indeed a good person and was not fallen because of her forced "profession" to save her family.

Katrina’s childhood was the only one mentioned (other than the children’s) and is obvious because of the impact it had on her life later. Because she was raised as aristocracy, she never allows herself to be shamed by her lifestyle. She also puts up the fight against her landlady because of her respect of herself that Katrina truly believes she deserves.

Henry IV Part 1

In Henry IV: Part 1 there was an emphasis on the father son relationships between the King and Hal, the fantasy relationship the King hold with Hotspur, the King/Prince and their country, and somewhat of a relationship between Falstaff and Hal. As a part of life, relationships define who we are. I think the most important relationship to Hal, was the one with his father. This relationship defined how he should act. For example, as the prince, he needs to behave well, and be "princely." The defiance against his father puts Hal with the pub crawlers, a lowly group who's only purpose to Hal, is to have sinful fun. However, as seen when the play progresses, is that Hal never loses his sense of honor, or view of the bigger picture. While not acting on those beliefs while friends with Falstaff, his character never changed, only his decision to change his actions. Those actions were decided when the King confronted him about his dishonorable actions and Hal stating his regret. This event changed Hal's attitude toward being a prince, much as a parent’s disapproval for bad grades who change a student's attitude toward schoolwork.
I also noticed how Falstaff's environment changed his though processes; failing, however, to change his behavior. Falstaff was probably raised poor, and from this became the stealing, thieving pub crawler he is. This way of living delights him in its sinfulness, but he never tries to say he wants anything different. However, as he confronts obstacles in his life, he voices his thoughts which parallels his behavior. For example, his honor speech, ultimately convinces him honor is nothing but air, and should be taken as such. This reality which Falstaff discovers does nothing but encourage his hedonistic behavior because there is no honor in the world.

Oedipus Rex

In Oedipus Rex, he was raised as the son a king, which allowed him to be the father as ruler figure of Thebes and Cornith. He was also raised to be live Merope was his mother, which allowed him to marry his real mother. Also, being raised as the son of a king, he was taught honor and integrity which he displayed through his ordeal in the tragedy. Oedipus's honor best exemplifies my big question.