The Little Seamstress isn't so little anymore

3) There are many ironies present in the story. Choose one major irony and explain how/why the irony shapes the meaning of the story.



Luo is bitter and depressed that he must be "banished to the mountain" to be reeducated. He understands the wrong of trying to bend people to fit certain ideas or values, mainly because people are deciding for him how to think and act against his will. However, Luo is blind to the fact that he is trying to do some reeducating of his own. Luo sets out to "transform" the Little Seamstress into a "more refined, more cultured" young woman. His plan backfires. By reading her Balzac and other forbidden books, Luo, unknowingly until the end, plants a desire in the Little Seamstress to leave her little country side. He is left in the countryside while the Little Seamstress, who isn't so little anymore, sets off for the city. She has developed into this woman with a mind of her own. The irony is that if only Luo had not read her those books, the couple probably would have lived happily ever after. If only he had not changed her there would have been a different ending in which he would be happy. But by changing her he drives her away.

Throughout this book, the young girl becomes exposed to all the different worlds inside the powerful stories. These ideas and stories lead to a need for her own story and so she sets out to claim one. The innocent, ignorant, dutiful, uneducated, country girl develops into a independent woman looking for something more from the world. The books show her how much possibility is in the world.

Luo tries to "endow the lovely little seamstress with culture" and he succeeds. The books set her free into the world, to think and act for herself. Luo accomplishes exactly what he meant to but in addition he looses his precious cargo along the way.

Othello Test-Tragic vision

The characters are affected by Othello's actions because they are too trusting of their hero and of the world. Their downfall is not because of Othello's actions but rather because of their own trusting and loving nature. Cassio, Desdemona, and Othello himself are true and noble which is used against them by Iago. Ironically, their goodness and trust lead to the spiral of their own destruction.

Poor Cassio succumbs, like a "fool", to peer pressure. Iago urges Cassio to drink and Cassio listens to this advice most unwisely. His trusting nature of others blinds him to the real truth of what Iago is doing.

The problems began when Othello believed Iago's story instead of listening to the truth inside himself. Othello could not open his eyes to the real truth of Desdemona's loyalty because he put too much trust in someone completely fake. Othello's fears take hold of him and he lets loose on Desdemona. Desdemona's character trusts Othello so much that she doesn't see how unfair he's treating her. At the end of the play, her last words to Emilia were "I myself" was the killer. This demonstrates the blind love she feels for Othello.

The real evil of this tragedy was the overly angel-like qualities of the victims. The innocence and ignorance of the victims makes this play a tragedy.