Photo Post

I chose this picture (of Anakin Skywalker, if you couldn't tell) because I think it relates to the theme of "becoming a gentleman" (ignoring the fact that later on he turns into Darth Vader). In the picture, it shows Anakin as a child, walking off into the distance, with great expectations awating him. The most important part is that in the picture, he's facing this part alone. Of course he has Obi-Wan (Jaggers) when he get's there, but he has to make the journey by himself.

Connections and Picture

It took me a while to think about it but then, suddenly, it came to me: The Lizzie McGuire Movie. It was almost to perfect. Similar themes, similar characters and similar settings...kind of, I mean Romes in Europe, right? Lizzie goes on a school trip to Rome (substitutable for London) with her best friend Gordo, who I think represented Biddy. Lizzie shares a room with her evil class enemy Kate Sanders who resembles Drummle.
    When their strict and rude teacher (I would say she's a like Jaggers but that would be a bit of a stretch) takes them to the Trevi Fountain Lizzie meets a famous European pop star Paulo (who totally reminds me of Estella, but he instead uses charm to trick Lizzie) and says she looks exactly like his ex-singing partner Isabella. After sneaking out and spending the next day with him, Lizzie is completley blinded by the new world of the rich and famous he's shown her. This fit's the theme of "Becoming a Gentleman", but with a modern twist. Meanwhile, Gordo lies to cover up Lizzie's absence, which makes Lizzie feel guilty, contributing to the "guilt" theme.
   Paulo told Lizzie that he wrote all the music and Isabella lip-synched (which she didn't) and asked Lizzie to preform for her to prevent her getting sued, which relates to the "convict theme" because what he was doing was illegal. Isabella ends up saving Lizzie from Paulo's evil plan and they become friends, which is why she reminded me of Herbert. This part was so similar it almost scared me: In the end Paulo got in trouble, in other words, "Crime and Punishment",
    Both of these stories have a big message about humanity. I think it's that people will want what they can't have, or something new or different, or "better" than what they have now. It's also saying that people can be very goal oriented, and won't stop until they get what they want. These stories say that possessions aren't everything and a higher social class won't make you completley happy (although I'm not completley sure that this is true).

Second Stage

    The part in the second stage that stood out to me the most was when Pip arrived in London. Ever since Pip had gone to Ms. Havishams and met Estella, he had felt ashamed of the way he looked and about his home. The only thing he wanted was to become a gentlemen, and somehow (the way he inherited his fortune is a mystery) he was able to. When he gets to London, he's dissapointed to find out how flithy and crowded it is. Pip meets the pale young gentleman once again, who helps him learn table manners. Pip's entire outlook on life has been warped by his single goal to become a gentleman.
    The second stage of Pip's journey puts a whole new spin on crime and punishment. Not only is Pips new gaurdian an excellent lawyer, the towns people enjoy watching thier fellow inhabitants be convicted of crimes and get publicly hanged. (That could also have a big impact on Pips sense of right and wrong). This has such a big impact because of the contrast of Pips old village and London. Not only is it different in appearance, the people act a bit differently as well. I found that this could also relate to people in our time, say if we we're used to living here in Olympia and we suddenly moved to somewhere like Seattle.