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The best work from my math and science classes in my opinion was definitely the EAA Bridge Project. The task that we were assigned to do was to build a bridge using foam board, string, glue, construction paper, and ping pong balls. Classes from around the Bay Area would then compete in an annual EAA Bridge Building Competition in San Francisco. The criteria it would be judged on was asthetic appeal and sturdiness among other categories. We also had to choose a scenario for the project. Groups could create a pedestrian walkway over San Francisco’s Embarcadero for visitors and viewers of the America’s Cup Sailing Races or make a replacement bridge over the Kesen River in Rikuzentakata, Iwate, Japan that was damaged by

Best Work: Math/Science

Best Work: English/History

Engineering Alliance for the Arts Bridge

the earthquake and tsunami. My group, consisted of 4 people: myself, Angela, Jordan and Brendan, chose the San Francisco scenario. Brendan was later taken out of our group due to Carlton's request because another group needed another person. Even though our group was crippled, worked through it, but ran into some arguments along the way. We had two leadership personalities in the group that conflicted throughout the time we were working, but we managed to produce the bridge you see to the left. We then had to survive the elimination round between the groups in our class to even make the competiton in San Francisco. The judges actually liked our bridge and presenation so much that they put us as one of the first groups to present in the competition. The Fog City bridge, which is the name we wound up coming up for it, won the Best in Class award at the competition. This was the only award an ACLC group won that year.

Hamlet Essay: The Murder of Polonius

Note: The work that I thought was one of my best in English/History was my Hamlet essay. You were supposed to focus on one particular aspect of the book so I decided to focus on the domino effect between characters in the play leading up to the death of Polonius, one of the more main characters of the book. I wound up getting a 92/100 on this essay, but I still strongly believe that it is one of my better works throughout my seven years at ACLC.           

 

            The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare is a play of revenge, greed, and manipulation. Throughout the play, there are many casualties. One of them is Polonius, father of Ophelia and Laertes, and councilor to the king. There are many events that led up to this one death. This begs the question: “Who is the true culprit in Polonius’s death?” The domino effect has a lot to do with these events. The actions of each character affected another character’s actions until it all led up to someone’s death, and eventually the death of most of the characters in the play. The fact of the matter is that there are three main characters to blame for Polonius’s death through their own actions and characteristics. They are Hamlet, Claudius, and Polonius himself.

             One of the main characters that are more responsible for Polonius’s death is Hamlet himself because of his rash actions and thirst for revenge. Let’s look at the facts: Hamlet physically stabbed Polonius, which is what killed him. This is the simplest, most obvious way to be guilty of someone’s death. But beyond that, Hamlet was the one that made Polonius examine Hamlet’s madness in the first place. Hamlet was afflicted by his father’s death and he forced himself into a world of melancholy and guilt. In doing so, he changed the way he acted around everyone, including his love, Ophelia. During his many encounters with Ophelia, Hamlet proceeded to act progressively stranger throughout the play. Ophelia, obviously worried and afraid for Hamlet, told her father about Hamlet’s so called madness. She said that “he took me by the wrist and held me hard. Then goes he to the length of all his arm… a little shaking of mine arm… a sigh so piteous and profound… without his eyes.” (II. I. 87-98). This quote displays how Hamlet’s journey through his sadness affected his actions and encounters with people. Polonius did not approve of Hamlet’s love for Ophelia in the first place, so this enhanced his disapproval of their relationship. This news also made Polonius worry for the safety of Ophelia. This gave Polonius the idea of investigating further into Hamlet’s craziness, which then dragged the king and queen into trying to cheer Hamlet up. Hamlet’s thirst for revenge also played a part in Polonius’s death. His sadness quickly turned to rage when he found that Claudius was at fault for his father’s death. During this stage of anger, Hamlet didn’t seem to care pertaining to whom he hurt, or what he did, and was only concerned about getting his sweet dish of revenge. When Hamlet was plotting the use of the play to see if Claudius was guilty or not, he completely ignored the aftermath. Did he not think that Claudius might become suspicious? He was lucky, because the king only thought that Hamlet was a lot crazier than he had originally seemed. The only downside was that he now viewed Hamlet as a threat and plotted to kill him. Polonius then volunteered to spy on Hamlet, because he was still worried for Ophelia. In doing this, he, without realizing it, had put himself in the position in which Hamlet thought that Polonius was the king. Hamlet only thought it was the king because it was something the king would have done himself if Polonius had not volunteered. When Hamlet seemed to be threatening the life of the queen, Polonius stupidly calls for help, giving himself away, and Hamlet proceeded to stab him with his sword. Hamlet, when revealed that the person he killed was Polonius, he said that Polonius was a “wretched, rash, intruding fool” (III. III. 32) and that he “took thee for thy better.” (III. III. 33). This means that he genuinely thought that Polonius was Claudius whom was secretly spying on Hamlet and his mother. The last part, however, when Hamlet says “Thou find’st to be too busy is some danger” (III. III. 34), he signifies that Polonius was too intrusive in other people’s lives, and that that eventually got him killed. That is only how Polonius was physically murdered.

            When looking deeper into the story, however, we can say that Claudius was the puppeteer behind Polonius’s death. In fact, Claudius was the “first domino” in the events of Hamlet because had started the events of Hamlet had started when he killed Hamlet’s father. This made Hamlet be very depressed because he did not know the whole truth about his father’s death. When Hamlet found out that Claudius had killed his father, Hamlet started plotting against Claudius. In a sense, all of Claudius’s actions before the events of Hamlet came back to him in the end as bad karma. His power hungry nature and selfishness proved to be an important role in the death of Polonius. Claudius was a character that always wanted to be in control. He did not want anyone to get in the way of him and his power, and he was so set on gaining it that he did not care one bit about the consequences. This is where Polonius comes in. Polonius was manipulated by Claudius in the way in which he thought he was in control, but in reality, it was not the case at all. This led to him volunteering to spy on Hamlet and the queen. He said: “My lord, he’s going to his mother’s closet. Behind the arras I’ll convey myself to hear the process.” (III. III. 28-29). If Polonius didn’t exist, this is something that Claudius would have done himself. This is precisely why Hamlet stabbed the arras without revealing who it was first because he assumed it was Claudius. Polonius had inadvertently took the place of Claudius, and died for him. The aftermath, also uncalculated by both Polonius and Claudius was that Ophelia would go crazy. Both the death of Polonius and the events afterwards were blamed on Hamlet by Claudius when talking to Laertes. All of the events overlap, but eventually lead back to Claudius and his personality.

Polonius was a catalyst in his own death because of his unfavorable characteristics, such as his intrusiveness in the other character’s lives. For example, when Laertes finished talking to Ophelia about how she should not interact with Hamlet, Laertes said “Farewell Ophelia, and remember well what I hath said to you.” (I. III. 84). In the next couple lines, Polonius walks up to Ophelia and asks “What’st it Ophelia, hath he said to you?” (I. III. 88). This is extremely intrusive in his daughter’s life. Especially when he says: “I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth have you slander any moment leisure as to give words or talk with the lord Hamlet.” (I. III. 132-134). Of course he cares about her and everything, but she’s old enough to make her on decisions, so why should he make them for her?  Maybe it was common in their time to do things like that and put a leash on their kid, but it seems a little much for an adult nowadays. In telling Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet, he, without knowing, made Hamlet’s love for her even stronger, because Hamlet only thought she was playing hard-to-get. His intrusiveness also got him to investigate into Hamlet’s madness. When he did this, he also brought it to the attention of the king and queen.

            Through the personalities of characters and their goals, Polonius was the collateral damage in a much bigger conspiracy. It seemed as if every character in the book was plotting against him, and taking advantage of him. Throughout the duration of the book, most of the characters took part in Polonius’s death, but only 3 people were mainly involved. We can narrow the list of characters that had a part in Polonius’s death down to Hamlet, Claudius, and Polonius. Hamlet is at fault through his thirst for revenge, Claudius, through his hunt for power, and Polonius through his interfering nature. The true culprit behind Polonius’s death, however, is up to you to decide.

Best Work: Miscellanious

My final artifact is a video that I made for ACLC's Ultimate team that I captain. Even though our 8 year streak as State Champions came to an end that year, I'm glad that I got to play with my awesome teammates. 

Warning: Explicit music is involved

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