Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

The story is set in Congo, Africa.This story is very difficult to understand. I have to read it for so many times in order to understand the plot and the messages that are conveyed. It is about a seaman named Marlow who works with Belgian Trading Company as a river-steamboat. The novel narrates his journey up to Congo River to meet Kurtz, a chief of inner station; who is known as a man of talents. In the journey, he encounters the brutality in the company's stations whereby the natives of the region are treated badly by the company's agents. The story is told by two narrators; firstly by one of Marlow's friends in a ship on the Thames and secondly by Marlow.

Colonialism is one of the themes of the story. The colonialism is exposed as Marlow reaches the company's outer station. He sees 'a lot of people, mostly black and naked, moved about like ants'. These men are called called as criminal and the outraged law who are forced to build a railway by the whitemen. As Marlow approaches the Central Station, he witnesses how the company's agents treat the natives of Africa. In the name of trade, they are treated as they are animals. Marlow calls the company's agents as the pilgrims, which it is actually an irony. They are supposed to be benevolent and help the natives but they are opposite of that.

Approaching the inner station, where Kurtz is to be met, Marlow sees a different way of colonialism. Kurtz shows his ability as a man that knows the power of words and moreover as a genius, he manages to make the natives obey him and even worship him as a god. He does not trade but indeed takes ivory by force, for example as what he has done to the Russian trader. However, the Russian finally becomes one of Kurtz devoted disciples.

In my opinion, the novel is quite different from other novels that I have ever read. Even though the novel is only about one hundred pages, it took a month for me to completely understand the whole story. I have to explore the language and the style of the story narrated. Besides, the story is about something that is beyond my experience, knowledge and culture. However, it is a good experience for me to study this novel since it teaches me to think critically.

Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw

When I read this play 'Pygmalion', written by George Bernard Shaw, I do not face any difficulty to understand the plot of the story since I have watched 'My Fair Lady' for three times. 'My Fair Lady' is the film version of the play. Moreover, my understanding towards the story is increased and I could make comparison between the literature and film. 'Pygmalion' is actually derives from the famous story in Ovid's Metamorphoses, in which a man named Pygmalion who is disgusted by the loose and shameful lives of the women of his era, finally falls in love with a perfect and beautiful statue that he creates. Having the same major theme where the sculptor falls in love towards his sculpture, 'Pygmalion' is written as a play by Shaw. However, the story is translated and adapted into Victorian era which does not seem like a myth but a real story which is more relevant.

We could even hear or face this situation in our real lives. In Malaysian culture, for example in Muslim culture, a husband has a total power towards his wife whereby a wife has to obey her husband in whatever condition as long as it is not beyond the Islamic rules. This condition sometimes creates the phenomenon such as in 'Pygmalion'. Some husbands or could be future husbands would take advantage by trying to change their spouses into a perfect lady. It is not wrong for men or husbands to lead and change their spouses to be a better person. However, sometimes they tend to forget that women are normal human beings that have feelings and as normal human beings, their feelings have to be respected. Moreover, they are not angels and they are imperfect. Finally, as what happens to Galatea or Eliza; love would be replaced by hatred. As a conclusion that I can make from the play is that love is very complex and we could not create love like we create a statue. Love comes deep from human' s heart and to enhance the love we should be tolerance and appreciate what is blessed for us.

She's All That

'The sculptor falling in love with the sculpture' is the main theme of the movie. The story is just like 'My Fair Lady' where Henry Higgins bets he could change a flower girl who speaks Cockney into a lady as well-spoken as a duchess. The difference between the two stories is that Zack Siler bets he could change any girl into a Prom Queen. A nerdy girl, Laney Boggs is chosen. Zack manages to change Laney's appearance and actually she is in fact quite beautiful. In the end, the story shows that Zack falls in love with his own creation. However, Zack is honest. He is able to put aside his ego and apologizes to Laney. He is not hesitate to reveal his feeling towards Laney which is totally different as compare to Henry Higgins in 'My Fair Lady'. This story also tells us that in order to love somebody and to gain one's love, we have to be sincere and sometimes we need to make some changes and sacrifice our feelings. The irony of this story is that instead of Zack's ability to change Laney's physical appearance, yet Laney is able to change Zack's perception and he learns that beauty is not only based on the outward appearance but it also involves the inner side of oneself. Hence, the real beauty is what is inside us.

As a teacher, I have my own opinion towards the story. Even though the story conveys a message that beauty is not only be seen through the outward appearance yet, I still would not encourage my students to watch the movie. This is because the story relates the lives of teenagers with only sex, drugs and beauty image which are not suitable for the culture of our Malaysian students. I don't really see the story shows they are students who are really concern about their studies and attitudes. It seems that although they are students, they have much time to spend for entertainment. It is not wrong for students to entertain themselves, but there should be a limitation. Too much entertainment is bad not only to students but to adults whereby we tend to ignore the priorities in our lives.

My Fair Lady

My Fair Lady is a very interesting story that really impressed me. I have watched this movie for three times. I still remember the first time I watched the movie when I was in Year Six.At that time my English teacher told the whole class on that night there would be a movie shown on television entitled 'My Fair Lady'. I could remember he mentioned that the movie is about the importance of using correct English Language and he even wrote the sentence ' The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain', on the blackboard so that all of us would take note on how to pronounce the words precisely. I could not remember when I did watch the movie for the second time but it was still due the encouragement that had been made by my English teacher.

Now as a TESL student and at the same time as an English teacher, my view towards the movie is widened. Of course I would watch it differently. In my opinion, the movie proves to us that education is important. Even a person from a low social status such as Eliza Doolitle could be changed through education. We can compare her appearance and attitude before and after she starts her lesson. She looks and acts differently. It is clear that Henry Higgins has changed her a lot. From a flower girl that speaks Cockney accent to a lady as well-spoken as a duchess. This movie also supports what I have learnt in Sociolinguistic last semester. The way we speak could tell us who we are. Furthermore, many sociolinguistic studies have grouped individuals into social classes on the basis of factors such as education. Therefore, as a teacher I would recommend my students to watch the movie not only for enjoyment but due the message that is conveyed from the movie.