4.+1+-+When+Love+Hurts

4. 1 - WHEN LOVE HURTS   As you all know Valentine's day is approaching and, therefore, it's the perfect occasion to speak about what I would rather call __LOVE DAY__. As usual, this page will only be unlocked for some time. Please, ** make sure you post your comments before the deadline: __4th MARCH.__ ** So, RUSH and POUR IN YOUR LOVE:)) We're going to develop one of "WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF"'s themes: __LOVE AND / VS HATE__ ** 4. 1. 1. Let's comment on a few song videos, soundtracks **** and cartoons first: ** media type="youtube" key="T4KS2JUrQCY" width="382" height="315"media type="youtube" key="W8BpcO4K9ao" width="382" height="315"media type="youtube" key="aU3RSB8-40E" width="382" height="315"media type="youtube" key="ZsrxwmV-h-o" width="382" height="315" I have to tell you that I was really impressed with the second video because the first film is just my favourite one. I loved the "Notebook", I thought it absolutely amazing. It shows that to love isn't necessary to be around and close, sometimes it is too hard to let go a relation that we know we could have done more. As Noah and Allie there are a lot of more couples that no matter how hard they try to overcome each one, no matter how many fights they're into they can't live without each other (this is something I'm really trying to believe, but this fairytale most of the times does not happen) Mariana Ferreira 12thF ** I tend to agree with you, Mariana, sometimes love relationships are too complicate and what brings people together also sets them apart. Is LOVE ever enough?(that's the eternal question) No matter how hard we need the other and love him or her, conflicts do arise. It's up to us to make our relationship function through fights, distance, moments apart... It's nice to believe in FAIRY TALES even if sometimes we do have to LET GO to preserve ourselves and our identity. ANA **In relation to the second video we have to consider the last but not least “Titanic”, one of the most romantic love stories of all time, everybody has seen this film at least once, and marveled at this love story . Jack and Rose are an example of eternal love, like old Rose said: “A woman's heart is a deep ocean of secrets. But now you know there was a man named Jack Dawson and that he saved me... in every way that a person can be saved. I don't even have a picture of him. He exists now... only in my memory.” Unfortunately nothing lasts forever,  but we can always enjoy one of the best things in life : love! :D Margarida Aguiar ** Yes, Margarida. Nothing does last forever, but I would sb to remind me as "sb that saved him in every way a person can be saved". I have to confess that I'm an incurable romantic:)) Ana ** Relations are not “a sea of roses”. Yet that’s always our goal. Turn our relation into something unique. No matter how difficult it is, no matter how fights can affect us, no matter how disappointements can let us down our aim, if we really love someone, is to never give up on the relation and never let she go....I believe love is also a question of will. Since we commit ourselves we shall do every litle thing to please our beloved, if that’s what we feel as right. There is not a secret to help relations, there are plenty of them!! And the first of all is friendship and trust in the very beginning. " Se perder um amor...não se perca! / Se o achar...segure-o! / Circunda-te de rosas, ama, bebe e cala. / O mais...é nada." (Fernando Pessoa). Tiago12F I must disagree with you, Tiago, when you say that relations are not "a sea of roses". They are if you want them to be. In relation to love songs, "F*** Her Gently" (Tenacious D), "Nothing Compares 2 U" (Sinead O'Connor), "Kiss From A Rose" (Seal) and "Definição do Amor" (Sérgio Godinho) are still my favourite.** Almeida 12F “Notebook” is one of the many movies based on the novels of Nicholas Sparks. With a strong story of love and with an incredible soundtrack it is definitely one of the movies you must watch on The Valentine’s Day. I also like very much the soundtrack of “Pride and Prejudice” composed by Dario Marianelli. [] It just seems an excellent choice, Teresa. The film is also an excellent choice. I'll never forget the Quote"We're such fools in LOVE" Here's the link for the trailer: [] Ana
 * Tiago, I'm so pleased to see Fernando Pessoa quoted here. Your answer proves that you are very sensitive and you know how to love and be loved. Congratulations on your maturity!:)) Ana **
 * You seem to be discussing the question of love being "a bed of roses" or not. I tend to agree with Tiago. Sorry, Almeida, :(( but most of the times it's not really a question of "wanting" but being able to keep the relationship going. Ana **
 * Teresa Silva **


 * 4. 1. 2. Now, let's analyse a few opinions about LOVE: **

 [|E. "We came by night to the Fortunate Isles, And lay like fish Under the net of our kisses."] [|Pablo Neruda] [|F. "The course of true love never did run smooth."] [|William Shakespea] re [|Dr. Seuss] [|Joyce Carol Oates] [|J. "Thou art to me a delicious torment."] [|Ralph Waldo Emerson] My favourite quote about love is by Bob Marley's: “He’s not perfect. You aren’t either, and the two of you will never be perfect. But if he can make you laugh at least once, causes you to think twice, and if he admits to being human and making mistakes, hold onto him and give him the most you can. He isn’t going to quote poetry, he’s not thinking about you every moment, but he will give you a part of him that he knows you could break. Don’t hurt him, don’t change him, and don’t expect for more than he can give. Don’t analyze. Smile when he makes you happy, yell when he makes you mad, and miss him when he’s not there. Love hard when there is love to be had. Because perfect guys don’t exist, but there’s always one guy that is perfect for you.” Sometimes love isn't perfect, your boyfriend/girlfriend isn't what you really dreamed about but if he/she takes care of you, loves you more than everything in the world and makes you smile just for beimg around, then hold on to him/her because those people don't come easy into your life. Mariana ferreira 12thF **Excellent opinion!:)) ANA** ** You're so right, Nuno. Distance tends to strengthen our feelings, or at least it seems so. And it tends to be a contradictory sensation too. Ana ** All the quotes are excellent and can really describe what is love's essence. I would pick the quote of Eduardo Sá. When we find our soulmate we are supposed to know each other without lies or illusions. It's easier to show our appearance and our body than show our heart, mind our secrets. And I think before we involve physically we should first show our insight, show what we really are not who we pretend to be. **Rita Pinto 12thF** ** Eduardo Sá really shows us, in a metaphorical way, the way we should love by unbuttoning our heart, being true to ourselves and showing our true selves. Ana ** I will not choose one of them. My favourite quote on love is from my idol, **Woody Allen****,** and it goes like this **:** “Men learn to love the woman they are attracted to. Women learn to become attracted to the man they fall in love with.” **Almeida 12F** ** As for your quote, I do agree with you because it's an interesting one. However, Woody Allen is far from being my idol. He may be an excellent director but his personal life is not really a model :(( Ana ** "You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." (Sam Keen) This was the quote that I most identified with, perhaps because it refers to something I don't think I have learned yet. I find some acts (of people who are in love) very corageous. When it comes to accepting that you love someone who is not perfect at all and deciding to stand by his/her side to guide or help him/her, there are not many people taking the risk. Of course, I'm thinking of true love and dedication, with a completely "unbuttoned" heart! (: J. Pereira 12ºF  I liked very much all the sentences but the one I liked most was G: “You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.”. We should first accept ourselves as we are, in order to accept the others and we should not only accept our beloved one but also our friends and family. Love is not like the fairytale stories were the end is always happy and bright, it has ups and downs but the most important is to see the imperfections and be ok with them unless it isn’t going to work because more difficult than look for perfection is to change someone so that perfection could be achieved.  ** Joana and Teresa, as you chose the same quote, it's easier to comment on both your opinions. Sharing your life with perfection (or close to it) is easy, but dealing with imperfection is a bit more complicate, isn't it? However, follow Joana's advice and "unbutton your heart" (only the heart, for the time being :P) Ana ** Eu Simplesmente amo-te. Eu amo-te sem saber como, ou quando, ou a partir de onde. Eu simplesmente amo-te, sem problemas ou orgulho: eu amo-te desta maneira porque não conheço qualquer outra forma de amar sem ser esta, onde não existe eu ou tu, tão intimamente que a tua mão sobre o meu peito é a minha mão, tão intimamente que quando adormeço os teus olhos fecham-se. This is also a Pablo Neruda's quote. I can relate my idea of love with it, maybe because I find it very hard to define such feeling. In the end, I suppose there will never be an universal and truthful way to describe it. It depends on several social factors and the society you live in, and most importantly, on the person you love and the kind of relationship you have. I assume that persistency is one of our strongest characteristics, so that's why we'll keep trying to achieve that perfect way to describe love. I don't mind because it's never too much to talk about love. And all this thinking about it took me to a place of beautiful and magical love songs. I guess that from what I learned today, these ones will put you in great mood teacher!! [] [] Emilia Mota
 * A. "Sem um amor não vive ninguém. Pode ser um amor sem razão, sem morada, sem nome sequer. Mas tem de ser um amor. Não tem de ser lindo, impossível, inaugural. Apenas tem de ser verdadeiro.O amor é um abandono porque abdicamos, de quem vamos atrás. Saímos com ele. Atiramo-nos. Retraímo-nos. Mas não há nada a fazer: deixamo-lo ir. Mais tarde ou mais cedo, passamos para lá do dia a dia, para longe de onde estávamos. Para consolar, mandar vir, tentar perceber, voltar atrás. **
 * O amor é o que fica quando o coração está cansado. Quando o pensamento está exausto e os sentidos se deixam adormecer, o amor acorda para se apanhar. O amor é uma coisa que vai contra nós. É uma armadilha. No meio do sono, acorda. No meio do trabalho, lembra-se de se espreguiçar. O amor é uma das nossas almas. É a nossa ligação aos outros. Não se pode exterminar. Quem não dava a vida por um amor? Quem não tem um amor inseguro e incerto, lindo de morrer: de quem queira, até ao fim da vida, cuidar e fugir, fugir e cuidar?" **
 * Miguel Esteves Cardoso, in 'Último Volume' **
 * B. "É obrigatório despirmo-nos por dentro. Porque nem sempre quem se despe por fora se dá por dentro. Despir por dentro implica que se desabotoe o coração. Há muitas pessoas que se despem, rapidamente por fora, enquanto, por dentro, permanecem de coração abotoado. Até ao último botão. E isso não é AMAR" Eduardo Sá **
 * C. __Amei-te por te Amar__Amei-te por te amarSó a ti eu não via...Eras o céu e o mar,Eras a noite e o dia...Só quando te perdiè que eu te conheci... ** Fernando Pessoa
 * D. SAUDADESEsquecer! Para quê?... Ah, como é vão!Que tudo isso, Amor, nos não importe.´...Quantas vezes, Amor, já te esqueci,Para mais doidamente me lembrarMais decididamente me lembrar de ti! **** E quem dera que fosse sempre assim:Quanto menos quisesse recordarMais saudade andasse presa a mim! FLORBELA ESPANCA **
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|G. "You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly."] **
 * [|Sam Keen] **
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|H. "You know you are in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams."] **
 * [|I. "In love there are two things - bodies and words."] **
 * ANY PERSONAL OPINIONS:)) **
 * I agree with all the quotes, we only give the proper value to our love mate, when she/he is far from us. Love is the most awkward 'disease' we can ever get, sometimes it's dreadful but it can also be invigorating. Nuno Branco **
 * Teresa Silva **

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #181818; display: block; font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">“In spite of everything I loved you, and will go on loving you--on my knees, with my shoulders drawn back, showing my heels to the headsman and straining my goose neck--even then. And afterwards--perhaps most of all afterwards--I shall love you, and one day we shall have a real, all-embracing explanation, and then perhaps we shall somehow fit together, you and I, and turn ourselves in such a way that we form one pattern, and solve the puzzle: draw a line from point A to point B...without looking, or, without lifting the pencil...or in some other way...we shall connect the points, draw the line, and you and I shall form that unique design for which I yearn. If they do this kind of thing to me every morning, they will get me trained and I shall become quite wooden.” by Vladimir Nabokov <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #181818; display: block; font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">I think this quote explains itself. Marta Ferreira

All quotes are just awesome, and you defenetly do identify with them if you are love sick. I would say that love is not looking for the perfect person, but all about respecting our beloved imperfections. There is no such thing as the 'perfect person', you just love the one whose defects you like the most. Nuno Bico

<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.917969); color: #2c2c2c; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> **G. "You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly."** <span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.917969); color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify;"> I tottaly agree with the quote of sam keen, when you are in love you sometimes do not love exactly the person that you have next to you but the one that you portrayed on your mind, the true love is when you accept that and start loving without constantly questioning the other one. sometimes people try to change each other, but true does not reflect in that actions but in the ones in which you accept and love at the same time. we all have to admit that no one is perfect and when we love we have to accept and admit that sometimes imperfection is good. Ana Paula 12ºE

**It is easy to behave like Martha and George, to prefer familiar pain to the unknown. Theirs is the tragedy of wasted life, not being able to grow up and transcend negative events from their childhood, trapped into being eternal victims. But the power of the love they share lies in its transforming quality. The romantic notion of love is shattered by the reality that love is the beginning of a creative process which, God willing, may never end. A relationship is, indeed, something two people create together, an invisible child if you will, but it must be based on growth, not stagnation, honesty, and not deceit, if it is to survive. Martha and George killed their fantasy child so that a new one could be born that is reflective of their hopes and strengths, rather than their fears and weaknesses. After all, they've survived, this birth should be an easy one."How would you comment on the above opinion?** I agree with it. I think it totally describes the kind of relationship that Martha and George have developed. Almeida 12F Shirley Galloway gives us an interesting idea that wasn’t mentioned in our class. “ ** Martha and George killed their fantasy child so that a new one could be born that is reflective of their hopes and strengths, rather than their fears and weaknesses.” ** I think it can also be related with the fact that Martha and George had a quite monotonous relationship. Even with the invention of a fantasy child they weren’t able to solve their problems and turned their love into hate more than what is supposed to be normal. Who knows if they won’t create a new child much more strength and that will be able to show the opposite of what they currently were.   ** I also thought it was a very interesting way of analysing the symbolic child they created. Was it, as you, Teresa, said, a question of spicing their otherwise dull life, or simply a way of trying to work their relationship out and figuring out a way to survive the increasingly violent connection? ANA ** One thing I've been realising is that in a relationship, as in life, we are in constant growth and learning. Sometimes we don't have notion of that or we don't want to admit it, but if we look back on some issues and discussions we had, we might even find it ridiculous. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has been trough that. Maybe George and Martha took a little bit longer and a lot more fighting to reach enlightenment, but they eventually got there. Emilia Mota
 * 4. 2. Now, it's high time we go back to our play "WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF"?. Shirley Galloway wrote: **
 * Teresa Silva **

4. 3. How do you yourself see the theme of "LOVE AND / VS HATE" in the play? "A love–hate relationship is an interpersonal relationship involving simultaneous or alternating emotions of love and hate. This relationship does not have to be of a romantic nature, and may be instead of a sibling one. It may occur when people have completely lost the intimacy within a loving relationship, yet still retain some passion for, or perhaps some commitment to, each other." Wikipedia Almeida 12F ** I think they exaggerate a little on their hate but, on the other hand, we can also see the unconditional need they have for each other. It must be hard to face these kind of relationships but probably even if they thought many times in the idea of living and being separated they wouldn’t be able to do it, which means there must be something more than just unconditional need to deal with a marriage like the one they have. ** ** Teresa Silva ** ** Very good, Teresa:)) ** <span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.917969); font-family: arial,sans-serif;"> I do not believe that George and Martha's hate surpass their love or need for each other. they both had a lot of frustratrions in life and they also blame each other for their failures but in the end they need to be together so that they could feel alive or at least find a reason for them to exist. however, I also believe that they got used to each other and couldn´t imagine life without each other.There was too much complicity to be bargained by a probable separation. ** Ana Paula 12ºE **
 * Sorry, Almeida, but my question was about the play itself and I did not intend to ask you the meaning of a "love-hate relationship:(( Ana **

Their relationship and the way the play ends up remind me of that portuguese saying "Quanto mais me bates mais eu gosto de ti". It's really hard for me to understand how can a couple live in a tumultuous marriage like that, so I tried to analyse all the people around me. I can think of one or two couples that treat each other in a similar way, therefore it appears to be possible. Still, I can not imagine those couples "killing" their child, there's not enough love to save the marriage. In the end, I get the idea that the saying can be applied to the play but, in real life, I can only relate it to flirting or the beggining of a relationship because something as important as that cannot be builted based on insults and fighting. **<span style="background-color: #7583ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Emília 12th E **

4. 4. Do you believe George and Martha really love each other:)) or do they hate each other's guts:(( Is there hope for these two "love birds"? They totally love each other. Almeida 12F I think that they love each other, and the constently fight they are up to, is the awkward way of showing it. Nuno Branco Their relation has its good and bad moments,but I thnk they love each other. <span style="background-color: #1f26ff; color: #f5f5f5; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Rafael Gonçalves 12ºE As I said in the class they developed a very strong conection and at a same point they ruined it... but one thing they discovered is that they couldn't live without each other and were happier together fighting, rather than alone and with friends. Mariana ferreira ** Despite all the problems they have, they like each other very much. Hope for their problems? I believe it’ll be difficult, as they both have some pleasure in being provocative with the other. ** ** Teresa Silva ** ** It seems you all agree on their loving each other. I do find Teresa's opinion very interesting as she mentions that they seem to "have pleasure" in provoking each other. But how can a couple survive this tension? Ana ** Fortunately, I can't say with experience but maybe some couples like those provocative games... Mariana Ferreira 12thF They really created a very strong bond, which could not be broken. They could fight, yell and hurt each other, however they could not be separeted. How to survive this problems and tension? I don't want to find out! I just wish the best to that kind of couples. Tiago12F

I wondered about that the entire play. Anyway, untill the end, I thought that there was no love left between them. But that final scene made me change my mind. There was love, it looked like they were trapped and they couldn't find a way to get out of that. Fortunately, they realised that they could only find peace and understanding on each other. And that beautiful sunrising scene was the perfect moment and way to portray that. **<span style="background-color: #7583ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Emília 12th E **

**4. 5. 1. Is there such thing as a perfect marriage, a "match made in heaven", or is it simply "a perfect illusion", "a match made in hell"?** Yes, of course. Two people can be fully in love with each other and thus consummate a perfect marriage. Almeida 12F ** Almeida, you do seem too laconic in your answers:(( Ana ** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">I think there's the possibility of having a perfect marriage,but a perfect marriage is not a marriage without any kinds of dscussion as the majority o people may think, <span class="hps" style="background-color: #f5f5f5; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">the true ideal relationship is a relationship in which there is communication and discussion of ideas to achieve a perfect relationship for both <span style="background-color: #f5f5f5; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">, and there are <span class="hps" style="background-color: #f5f5f5; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">relationships in which there are no secrets or betrayals although society is getting more corrupt in this respect <span style="background-color: #f5f5f5; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">, every time <span class="hps" style="background-color: #f5f5f5; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">binds less the value of a relationship, yet there continues to <span style="background-color: #f5f5f5; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> exist <span class="hps" style="background-color: #f5f5f5; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> people that give value to a true relation.<span style="background-color: #1f26ff; color: #f5f5f5; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Rafael Gonçalves 12ºE
 * Perfection is an illusion. All the couples have their problems, their discussions and no one is immune to some “storms”. Teresa Silva **
 * Rafael and Teresa, you really convey the idea that perfection is illusory. Does that mean that if they try harder they'll reach perfection? Does the saying "Practice makes perfect" apply to this situation? Ana **

As Bob Marley said 'there is no perfect guy', but there is always someone perfect for you. To be in a perfect marriage both people doesn't have to be perfect, but together they should complete themselves. Perfect realionships don't exist because perfection is something we create. to be perfect you just need to be yourself because everyone is perfect in their own way and what for me is perfect maybe it isn't that perfect for you. Mariana Ferreira 12thF

"'Till death do us part", did i got it right? Unfortunately those words are taken too lightly nowadays, that's why many times marriage seems more of a curse than a blessing, but it shouldn't. Marriage is technically a promise to God, but even more important is the person holding your hand, and breaking such promise in my opinion is somewhat shameful, because what's the point of making a promise if you wont keep it. Marriage lost it's influence on people, with the divorce and everything, people stopped caring as much, "if it doesn't work out i'll just get a divorce, and even make profit from it", that's what some people think and it's obviously wrong...marriage is not just some ceremony around 2 people that are in love, it should be about 2 people who know that no matter what happens, death will be the only thing that will keep them apart. ** Diogo Pinto 12ºF ** I agree with Diogo, a marriage is a great commitment. About the perfect relations, once more I believe the affection is so important as the discussions. So of course there are plenty of perfect relations, it just depends on the way you regard the term perfect. One discussion doesn’t imply that the couple stopped love each other, it means that both are solving a problem to build a stronger relation. Tiago

As a very wise man once said 'there are couples that support each other and there are couples that fight with each other. what as one tipe more than the other? Nothing. Just having a date that supports you gets much easier, and I learned it by the hard way.' Want to make an educated guess about who said it, Mariana Ferreira and Mariana Marques? Nuno Bico

Perfection depends on what you consider the word´s meaning. Perfection is when people love each other unconditionally no matter the beloved´s flaws or virtues ; perfection is fighting today and laughing of each one´s behavior the next day; perfection is telling the truth even if it will hurt; perfection is sharing responsibilities and home tasks; perfection is saying the right word to comfort the beloved one; perfection is criticizing one another as well as advising and being tolerant; perfection is living with somebody many years; perfection is just giving him/her the best moments ever. Summing up, the perfect marriage is the opposite of marriage of convenience where people build a relationship based on social prototypes, lies, deceptions, picturing and idealizing the beloved as a completely different person. Then it just crashes, people turn out to be total strangers and marriage becomes a nonsense. So, yes, based on what I just said, the perfect marriage is there if you look for it. Carolina Cunha 12ºE

<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.917969); color: #000000; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">I do not believe that there are people made for each other and that a marriage could ever be perfect but i do think that people could learn how to please each other needs so that they could be happy together. Perfection is in my opinion always an illusion "no matter what we start it always end up by being less", and that is also a reality in relationships. The ideia that there is a perfect guy for everyone, or a perfect gril to everyone is in my opinion an illusion. **<span style="background-color: #d492dd; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Ana Paula 12thE **

As Teresa said, perfection is an illusion. Although, I believe that a marriage or relationship can work if both sides put an effort into it. I guess that the idea of "soulmate" is not very realistic. Whether you call it coincidence or destiny, one tiny decision can change everthing. Circumstances define and take control of a lot of things in our lives. Maybe I have a limited view of this, but it would be unfair if there was simply a soulmate for each one of us, and that person could be anywhere in the world. If so, only very few could have the hope of having a successful love life. Probably I'm a fool for saying this, but it's the way I see it now. In the end, I believe that two people can be happy and love each other for a lifetime. It certainly takes a lot of pacience, passion, fighting and comprehension but it's all worth it. **<span style="background-color: #7583ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Emília 12th E **

4. 5. 2. How do you stand on issues like the ones you see in films like the following ones, namely a. "Just like Heaven", b. "The Notebook", c. "Dying Young", d. "The Vow". media type="youtube" key="hQ--24m9pn8" width="425" height="350"media type="youtube" key="FC6biTjEyZw" width="425" height="350" media type="youtube" key="oz1N-GlT2sc" width="425" height="350"media type="youtube" key="0utXWsKLOYQ" width="425" height="350" “The Notebook” represents the story of a boy called Noah who lives in a completely different world from Annie, a girl from a rich family whose dreams can be easily fulfilled due to her possessions. The contrast between rich and poor is as evident as their love. In the end, we are able to see each one of them will survive: love or their social status.** Teresa Silva ** So, can love cross all barriers, even the social ones and still survive? Ana

Giving up is an expression which doesn't exist in my dictionary. is it good or bad? maybe both, but The Notebook' is a proof that if you fight for your dreams you could succeed and be very happy. I love this film because of its message, which is that love can overcome evry situation anddistance isn't a problem. you don't need to be close in order to love :) Mariana Ferreira 12thF I’ve already seen “The vow”, the others I am not quiet sure. About this movie, it isn’t great althoug it convyes the same message as the others(I guess). It refers to the importance of trust and loyalty in a relation and the need to fulfil our promises. Tiago 4. 5. 3. Comment on their taglines/quote: a. "Love will bring you back."; b. "Behind every great love is a great story."; c. "She's giving him something nobody else could. A reason to live."; d. " I vow to love you and no matter what challenges might carry us apart, we will always find a way back to each other." Talking about “The Notebook” again, this movie has definitely a great story where Noah and Annie’s love is exposed since their adolescence until they became old. I won’t reveal more details. The only thing I can say is, for those who like this kind of movies, you really need to watch it. ** Teresa Silva ** **There's a great story behind their love, isn't there? Ana** I find really inspiring those taglines, I already knew them and I love the last one. As I have been saying in this page we should fight for what we believe but I want to have that bit of hope that love overcome every obstacle and wins over everything. Mariana Ferreira 12thF

Surely, there is a great story behind a great love. Even if the others don't see that or understand it, it's always there. Even in the love we have for our family and our friends, relationships are as great, unique and special as life is. But, as human beings, we make mistakes and often take people for granted. Luckly, there's another side to being Human: the gift of forgiveness. We all can use it and build our lives taking or giving a second chance, if one deserves it. **<span style="background-color: #7583ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Emília 12th E **


 * 4. 6. Edward Albee said in a later interview " I never felt comfortable with the adoptive parents. I don't think they knew how to be parents. I probably didn't know how to be a son" **** Do you believe his words somehow condition his views on the parents vs children relationship in the play? **

Yes, definitely. I believe Albee’s childhood traumas are very well expressed in the play, especially on Martha, who is extremely overprotective with her son. ** Teresa Silva ** ** Right again, Teresa. Any other examples in the play? Ana ** of course, as he never knew how to be a son he invinted an invisible one somehow to represent how lost he was at that time. And as Teresa said he created Martha's role to represent her adoptive mother who 'didn't know how to be a parent'... Mariana Ferreira 12thF

It's obvious that it did, we are only the product of the experiences we live through life, we continue living according to them and what we do it's thanks to what we leaned and suffered and acknowledged in the past. Maybe it could also be seen in nick and Honey, who were together mostly because they were having a child (supposedly) but with what occurred in that night is easily noticeable that they were nowhere near ready to have a real one. **Diogo Pinto 12ºF**

Yes I believe so. Albee´s adoptive parents didn’t want him to be a writer, but instead a “corporate thug”. In the play, in a metaphorical way, Albee sent several critics to that specific kind of parents: parents that smother their sons and that doesn’t in any way let them choose and live! Tiago12F

As we said in class and my group tried to portray in the roleplay somehow, the writer's personal life always has some impact on their work. In Albee's case, I guess that the most influential issues are the emotional instability between parents and children and the craziness of the society. **<span style="background-color: #7583ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Emília 12th E **

**4. 7. 1. Albee stated in his acceptance speech for the 2011 Lambda Literary Foundation's Pioneer Award for Lifetime Achievement: "A writer who happens to be gay or lesbian must be able to transcend self. I am not a gay writer. I am a writer who happens to be gay."** Comment on his words. Should the fact of being gay condition (or not) his work evaluation? Unfortunately, I agree his work evaluation is sometimes influenced by the fact that he is gay. People can’t distinguish between personal life and work which leads several times to unfair judgments that can affect self-esteem of these persons. ** Teresa Silva **
 * I tend to agree with you again. Unfortunately, our society is not really ready to separate things and evaluate people's work by itself. Labels are put on people and it's so difficult to transcend them, isn't it? Ana **

Yes, obviously his work was condicionated by his sexual orientation, yet his personality led to his success and i think that maybe he had much more confidence and courage to produce the play "who's afraid of being woolf?". What i mean is that on the other hand, his sexual orientation could probably led to the production of such revolutionary plays in that time. Tiago12F

I believe it conditions. Not necessarily in a negative way, but as our choices and beliefs, being gay does condition certain aspects of his life and work. But different views and oppinions make our society rich and full of magic. Once again, I guess that my group was able to show part of that, mostly in the speech that we wrote. By the way, I just saw this on youtube, is related to the rights of gay couples: http://www.youtube.com/user/AmericanEqualRights?feature=watch <span style="background-color: #7583ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">**Emília 12thE**

**4. 7. 2. How would you stand on the right to have a different sexual orientation? Would you justify any type of discrimination?** Different?! What does 'different' mean? Different from what? Almeida 12F That does not answer my question. Almeida 12F ** The point is I don't understand your point as it seems to me that I'm very clear when I ask my question. So, be more explicit, please! Ana ** Sexual discrimination isn’t the solution for this “problem”. We all have our own life and we should be able to “choose” whoever we like without being judged. ** Teresa Silva ** I completely agree with Teresa, everyone as the right to live their lifes the way they want. Mariana Ferreira 12thF
 * Just remember that this is question 4. 7. 2. therefore connected with 4.7,.1., OK? ANA **
 * Excellent answer, Teresa:)) **

Well the thing is, people do have the right to be who they want to be, but as soon as they "cross the boarder" and stop being "normal", they will never stop being different, and that's how people see it, as different, and it's always hard to accept what's different, that's why we make friends that are similar to us. Now is it right to discriminate just for being different, of course not, but again it's hard to accept difference and unfortunately no one is the same so some people just take it worse. We are trying to create an understanding society but as the time passes more difficult it is to make people understand of what is right or wrong, sometimes it's because we don't even know of what should be considered as right or wrong. ** Diogo Pinto 12ºF **

In Ancient Greece, homosexual relationships were accepted, but for the wrong reasons. As women's existence was believed to be a punishment by the gods (because women are evil creatures acording to greek philosophers), same sex relationships were actually better than straight relationships. As mankind entered the Dark Ages, homosexuals were viewed as Satan followers. Now, some people still think that, others think they are hedious people, or maybe ill (a possibility not yet discarded). I say this because I think a homosexual relationship is not normal as all living beings have one porpuse: reproduction (I'm not being religious, I'm being racional). Gays do not follow that porpuse, but they're not monsters either. They are different, yes, and you can't say they aren't, but they have the right to live and express themselves. Therefore, it is an abomination to try to make your children heterosexual, if it's the environment or genetics or something else (I don't know, I'm not a deity) that makes that decision. Not even your children have the power to change their sexual orientation. Alexandre Paya

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Discrimination is something that no human being must be subjected to. Personaly, I accept the people who have a different sexual orientation although I feel kind of pressured for our society, specially by the fact that most of the people in our country are Christian and so, they only believe in marriage between man and women. So, in a way, I was raised to see a gay person as a "freak" but I managed to have my own opinion on that. I must admit that the only insecurity I had in relation to the gay rights was about the adoption. On the other day I discussed this with my parents: what concerns me is the discrimination that a child might suffer because of having gay parents. A little child does not have the maturity to make an informed choice. But, overall, there's a stronger argument that makes me believe that that is not such a bad idea: it's better for a chid to be loved by two men or two women than being beaten, abused or abandoned by heterosexual parents. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Emília 12th E ** **4. 8. Albee also said that "Writing should be useful. If it can't instruct people a little bit more about the responsibilities of consciousness there's no point in doing it." Should a writer face his art and craft as a means of instruction or simply entertainment?** In my personal opinion, being a writer or not, every text or essay we make must be seen as a way of telling others what we think or feel, in our own accurate way. Even when writing seems to be merely entertaining, it often conveys a message from the author. We think with our minds as well as with our hearts; we express it not only through or mouths but also through our writing. Cerveira 12F I believe all types of art always convey a message, a lesson or an advice hidden behind the entertainment. ** Teresa Silva **
 * Excellent answers, Cerveira and Teresa:)) **

I most definitely agree with his opinion. And especially in our english classes we shape our personalities and learn to have our own ideas and to defend them. Maybe you're educating a bunch of lawyers in your classes, we certainly exercise our capacity od arguing. But that's always good, since we are going to be "released" in society we should be well prepared. We learn from each other's points of view and it's a proof of our important comunicating is. So, writers and all artists have even a most important role in all of this. They are able to reach everyone with their ideas and messages, so it should be seen as an amazing responsability. Emilia Mota

I link poetry with expressing our feelings and simply let them flow from our heart. But, I also think that literature it’s not just the writer’s diary. It is also a way to state several instructions and critics to the societies. Tiago

<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.917969); font-family: arial,sans-serif;">I believe that art should always come from artists feelings and from heart so that it is true and real art, so it should be something done based on the writers livings and memories. As a resolt of corse art should convey a message and add something knew to viwers knowledge but it also should be something that give plaser to the ones who receive it. **<span style="background-color: #d492dd; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Ana Paula 12ºE **