The Beggar's Opera

I really enjoyed The Beggar's Opera, however I noticed that all of the women in the story were looked down upon and referred to as derogatory names. Slut, vixen, hussy, and prostitute are only a few that were named. I feel as if the moral decline in our world today is growing and that the derogatory names are only the beginning. Women in this story did not seem to mind being called these things, however I do mind. I have been called such and by people who really matter to me and those who I barely knew, even hearing people call each other anything derogatory makes me cringe. I like to think that one day men will refrain from using terms that put women down, however I do not see it happening. In the mean time I will try to refrain from using such terms in reference to others and I will continue to try and respect others as I want to be respected. Another thing I found quite interesting was that Polly's parents wanted her to stay in the profession of prostitution and that when she said she wanted to get married they were enraged. Generally it is the other way around and I just found that quite funny.

The Taming of the Gilbert

            Gilbert is tall and lanky; he has long curly black hair that reaches midway down his back however he enjoys keeping it tied back. He is a street artist who enjoys wearing his favorite plaid pants and tweed jacket. Gilbert was one of the men who was chasing after a woman named Chastity. Chastity was the town flirt; every man that she passed would swoon and fall over her. Every man wanted Chastity, but no man could have her until her older sister, Claudia, also known as the local high school’s ice princess. No one would even approach Claudia because of her bad reputation especially with guys. Claudia was a ‘heartbreaker’ and was known for not letting guys get anywhere close to her. Chastity’s father had a rule that until Claudia found someone that she stayed with for more than a month then Chastity could not date. Gilbert had heard this rumor but did not believe it so he asked Chastity who replied to him by telling him what he had feared. Gilbert had a plan though, he would break Claudia’s cold heart and then free Chastity of her no dating rule so that he could date her. Gilbert, being the fine gentlemen that he was and seeing as every woman would fall for him as soon as he looked them in the eye, he thought it would be a piece of cake. Gilbert approached Claudia and started to speak to her, but she simply walked away. Gilbert was confused; he had never met a woman who could resist his wit and charm. “Perhaps she is simply deaf and Chastity forgot to tell me about her condition in fear that I would mention something.” Gilbert thought to himself, so he proceeded to stare into her eyes thinking that, that would cause her to fall for him without her being able to hear his sultry voice. “What the hell are you doing?” Claudia replied sharply to this strange act that some weird boy was doing in front of her. “So you can talk” Gilbert smartly added. “Great deduction Sherlock, now if you don’t mind, I don’t know what weird ritual you’re doing but I need to work on my homework.” Claudia said. As Claudia walked away Gilbert stood there puzzled and looked after her curiously, thinking to him, “She is going to be a challenge.”