To sin in private is not to sin at all

Tartuffe seems to be on par with the obsession with ocular proof we saw in Othello. For Tartuffe, it seems that it does not matter whether one sins or not, but whether or not the public sees it. This naturally leads into a discussion of masks and appearance and who he really is or who you really are.
Someone once told me that perception is reality. This person happened to be someone of prominent status in my hometown (I know, big freaking deal) and ended up needing to leave his job after certain revelations came about of his personal life... I never liked the man and knew that perception wasn't reality- his high profile and respected job didn't fool me, I knew the guy was shady. But for a long time, his mask worked. This also reminds me of Bernie Madoff, a man who wore the mask of successful and respectable and trustworthy businessman... And then I am flooded with numerous examples of the mask-wearers that populate our world. And then I wonder how many more are out there? I think we all wear masks, sometimes we might not even know it.
Is it always bad to wear a mask? What about when I have an interview and "sell myself" with my "confidence" and total assurance that I can definitely handle this job? Is that bad? Or when I put on a happy face for someone, when I really know that their situation is only headed for rock-bottom? That's a mask, but is it okay?
Tartuffe wears a mask that represents many people... Moliere's work is a critique of everyone- he makes fun of us all that wear masks, and when we are fooled by them...
Have I gotten too cynical?

All the cool kids are doing it.

Have you heard? The latest trend among our youth is staying in on Saturday nights to obsess over papers.

So what exactly do these students obsess over on the weekend? A select few wander around the internet to stumble upon fabulous websites, like BBC4 and drool over the network that did not set sail with the Puritans (okay, well maybe because televisions and radios were not yet in existence). Anyway, they find super cool spots like this one about Sir Francis Bacon and think that their friends might find sites like these an interesting supplement to the classroom.

Schweet
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/empire/episodes/episode_17.shtml

Sarah Gunn, a senior at Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, Ind., said, "Fawesome. Look at the quiz on the side. It's mos def for HUSTlas."

Hopefully she'll take an English spelling and grammar class before graduation.

Interactive timeline- really cool, relates to cultural history very well http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/empire/map/

I am just falling in love with Bacon! Firstly, I like his scientific thought process. Secondly "In 1576 Bacon began reading law at Gray’s Inn." I like this because I worked at 222 GRAY'S INN ROAD LONDON WC1X 8HB. FIRST FLOOR. DIFFERENT CUBICLE EVERY DAY. That is an address I will never forget. Ironically, I do not eat bacon. Or any pig products.

Let's Play the Blame Game!

Pointing fingers is my favorite activity. Boy oh boy, do I love to judge!

Since we've got to attribute the fall to something and someone had to succumb to temptation, let's talk about Eve. She did eat the forbidden fruit because that sneaky little snake told her to... she did have that awful dream beforehand and Adam warned her and the angel (Raphael?) even told Adam that Eve was of a lower intellect and she was great for lookin' but he'd better step up his lovin' to a more spiritual level... so basically I think Milton is telling us that it's sort of Eve's fault.

Go back to book 8 round line 499- "And they shall be one flesh, one heart, one soul." Adam even watched with his 'internal eye' the creation of Eve from his own damn body. So since she came from him and is a piece and image of him who is the image of God and they are one flesh, heart and soul are they both to blame? Shouldn't Adam be equally at fault? Is her utter stupidity a reflection of his? Was the source of the problem in Adam? Or God who created them?

Oh Milton, you spin my head right round right round.