Literary Circle Book Review - Double Idemnity

     If you're into mystery and crime, "Double Idemnity" is definitely the way to go. A man and a woman set out to kill someone and it carries them farther than they had ever imagined. Twists in the plot come from every which way, as well as various love interests, and it leaves you hanging on the edge of your seat the entire way through, 

     "Double Idemnity" is about an insurance broker named Walter Huff who would do nearly anything to get where he wants and to get what he wants. However, he does catch some feelings towards his "partner in crime" which takes them both down a road they didn't necessarily plan. This book really clearly shines a light on the effects of crime on a person and it brings the reader into the mind of a criminal and personifies what a "first-time murderer" could be. 

     The novel might be slightly difficult to read if insurance and different policies aren't your forte. Walter and his associates have conversations about their business and different court topics that might be difficult to follow from the lack of exposition in the fast-paced plot. Even though the insurance aspect is important to understand the plot, the rest of the book is easy to understand and analyze because the way "Double Idemnity" is written feels like Walter is explaining the entire story to you personally. So for people who like intimacy of the narrator speaking directly to the reader, this book will suit your preferences. 

Double Idemnity: The Movie

Walter Huff played by Andrew Scott


I think Andrew Scott would fit best for Walter because, in my opinion, he looks the part. Being clean cut, young (ish), and having a slight mobster look to him, Andrew fits the quota for an insurance broker like Walter. Andrew Scott has played a manipulative and evil villain in the series "Sherlock" and he played the part phenomenally so playing Walter would be second nature to him.



Phyllis played by Angelina Jolie

With her stunning looks and mysterious personality, I think Angelina would be a great fit for Phyllis. Having starring roles in critically-acclaimed films such as "Maleficent" and "Girl, Interuppted", Angelina has got the personality of Phyllis down and I think that she would portray the role perfectly.

Double Idemnity Quiz Questions

1) Why did Phyllis want to kill Mr. Nirdlinger? (Could have multiple answers)

2) Why was Walter willing to help kill Mr. Nirdlinger? (Could have multiple answers)

3) Why did Phyllis want Lola to stay away from Nino Sachetti?

4) Why is Lola suspicious of Phyllis?

5) What was the manner of death the workers at the insurance agency thought the case of Mr. Nirdlinger was? (Could have more than one answer)

6) Briefly describe the plan Walter and Phyllis had to kill Mr. Nirdlinger.

7) How did Walter feel about Phyllis after the murder? 

8) What does Walter compare his job at the insurance agency to?

9) Why weren't Phyllis and Walter able to talk to each other directly after suspicions arose from the murder?

10) Where does the book take place?

Double Idemnity Prediction #2

     I think in the rest of this book, the murder is going to hit Walter hard. I don't think he's going to go fully off the deep end like Macbeth did, but it will still seriously affect him. I feel like he might go on the side of being suspicious that everyone think he's the one who committed the murder. Also, now that he knows that Phyllis has committed a murder before and that she basically used Walter, he's going to be angry. I think that in some ways, Walter never really won his bet with Mr. Nirdlinger and everything, and he has Phyllis to blame. Since he's always so focused on winning bets, he's going to want some form of revenge for Phyllis making him lose. I don't think it's going to be killing her, but perhaps something along those lines. Knowing how cunning Phyllis is, she already predicted that this was goingg to happen so she's ready for whatever comes at her. Since Nino left as well, I feel like they're going to band together as a pair against Walter (and maybe Lola??? To get back at Phyllis??)

     At the insurance company, I think, as Walter thought, Keyes and Nettie and the others will get suspicious about the whole case with Mr. Nirdlinger and soon enough all fingers point at Walter. Knowing him, Walter might try to persuade his way out of it so that he wouldn't get arrested (because who wants to get arrested?). As I said in the first prediction, I still believe that the book will end in Walter's death. I feel like he would die because of either Phyllis or Nino killing him in their "battle" against each other.

     

Double Idemnity In Class Essay #1

     Walter thinks of his business as just one huge bet, and he does not really think about what consequences come afterwards. However, when one of his bets goes too far, Walter's conscience slowly gets the better of him; however he chooses to shake it off. Later in the novel, his conscience begins to show and it deteriorates him. To some extent Walter Huff does have a conscience; it just takes certain measures to get there.

            Walter Huff works for an insurance business in California. The way that Walter describes the business as "the biggest gambling wheel in the world" (23) makes the insurance company seem more of like a game to him. Because the rest of the page goes on about how Walter likes to make bets and how he "lie[s] awake at night thinking up tricks" (24) so he can be ready for later, it really emphasizes that he thinks of a hugely important business as merely a game. This lack of seriousness he gives highlights that his conscience does not kick in and think about the consequences in situations of insurance.

           However, one of Walter's 'bets' goes a little too far when he meets a woman named Phyllis. Walter becomes so emotionally drawn to Phyllis that he will do nearly anything for her, even murder. They pair up and with Phyllis' motives and Walter's cunning mind and insurance experience, they set out to kill Phyllis's husband, Herbert. Later in the plans, Walter’s conscience starts to peek through when they are about to commit the murder. When he was waiting for the car, he said he “waited exactly two minutes, but it seemed like an hour” (42). Also, Walter stated that he was even “too afraid to breathe” (44). These moments in time before the murder emphasize Huff’s nervousness, signaling that his conscience was starting to set it. Other signs of nervousness he had were when they were going through the plan itself. He went through each step with grave detail on how he wanted anything and everything done leading up to the murder. For example, with getting Herbert’s crutches, Huff “show[s] her that her only chance was to talk dumb, not start the car, and wait him out, until he would get so sore, and so worried over time, that he would make a martyr out of himself and get it himself” (43). This passage, along with many other examples in the novel, underscores the nervousness he had, hinting at his consciousness.

            After the murder is all said and done, Walter’s conscience grows in time, making him deliberate on what he has done. He said that afterwards “everything cracked” and that he was “sicker than I had ever been in my life” (54). Also, he said that he tried not to think but “it would creep up on [him]” (54). He lies awake at night and he realizes what he has done, which makes him feel awful.  He says, “I had killed a man. I had killed a man to get a woman. I had put myself in her power…” (54). This entire night of reflection and regret of what he did shows Walter’s conscience growing so large that he is unable to ignore it.

            In conclusion, Walter’s conscience has little to no value in everyday life. In his insurance business, he goes about setting up bets and thinking of how to win all of them with ease, not thinking of what happens next. However, when a woman gets involved and he falls head-over-heels, he goes to great lengths to help her and win his bet at the same time. However, because of the intensity of this bet, the murder brings out his conscience. Even though he brushes it off on the night of the murder, it comes back harder than before and it really makes Walter think about his actions.

Double Idemnity: What Happens Next?

I think that Lola is going to join Phyllis and Walter's plan. She seems to be just as smart and manipulative as Walter is, constantly knowing what people are thinking and getting what they want out of a situation. As for Nino, I think he'll come up later in the novel as a huge obstacle of actually getting the murder accomplished, but not for a while. Walter and Phyllis will keep manipulating Mr. Nirdlinger throughout the novel but I'm sure he's going to get a bit suspicious about them and see Phyllis acting a bit strange.

     So all together as a band of three, Lola, Walter, and Phyllis all try to plan the murder of Mr. Nirdlinger. They have secret meetings and get farther into their plot but something goes awry part way through. The day they plan the accident to be Mr. Nirdlinger is not there, so their opportunity was missed. Because of this, more planning goes into his death and it is delayed. Eventually, suspicion aside, Mr. Nirdlinger is killed and they get the money. Because of this huge gain Walter just received, he becomes a very proud person, but in an arrogant way. Now his success has gone to his head. Phyllis., on the other hand, starts to lose her love in Walter, just like she did with her previous husband. Now, she and Lola are plotting his death without him knowing and it ends with Walter's death.

Lucifer Rising's New Album!!!!! (Paradise Lost Rock Album)

TRACK 1: "Adore the Conquerer"

     The title "Adore the Conquerer" is seen in book one of Paradise Lost on line 323. Satan says this while calling out to "his people" and giving them basically a half-time speech. Are you going to fight for yourselves or adore the conquerer? (the Conquerer being God). This song is definitely a power ballad to kick off the overall genre of the music and the feel of the album itself. The beginning of the song is a great crescendo that cuts to the chase and creates this powerful song, the lyrics confidently expressing their feelings towards God and his oppressive nature. In this piece there is a lot of guitar, a little piano here and there and occasionally an orchestra (very much like the band Muse). Lyrical content is stating the bad things, yes, but they are remaining very bold and heroic about the whole topic. I chose this song title to also be the album title because it's a very energetic song that leads up to the album and the subject content is basically a summary to the album overall.

TRACK 2: "We Now Debate"

     "We now debate" is found in book two on line 42. When this quote was said, Satan was talking to his council about what to do with the battle against Heaven. It portrays the theme of unity of demons in the Devil's democracy because it's not just Satan who's making any of the decisions: it's everyone. This track has a punk rock feel to it, it's pretty heavy on the guitars but it has a very prominent bass line, the lyrics being very confident and upbeat as well. "We Now Debate" is overall a happier song, the subject matter of the lyrics being unity and democracy. The end of "Adore the Conquerer" fades into "We Now Debate" so it sounds like one consecutive song. This represents the need for everyone to unity so they can all face the oppressive God together.

TRACK 3: "Heav'n of Hell"

     "Heav'n of Hell" is in the first book of Paradise Lost on line 255. This quote is said by Satan during his speech about how he is going to rise up against God. In his speech, he says he is going to make a "Heav'n out of Hell and a Hell out of Heav'n" (255). This means that he is going to make good out of the bad and bad out of the good. This follows the song subject of the "rebellious anti-establishment spirit of the Devil" because of his desire for uprising, as displayed in the quote. This is definitely another power ballad with guitar and drum solos throughout. The lyrics are intense and about Satan's overall plan to rise up against the tyranny of God but they definitely get the rebellion point across.

TRACK 4: "Of Hazard as of Honour"

     The track title appears towards the end of the second book of Paradise Lost, on line 453. Around this time, Satan and his council are debating who should go explore earth to try and find a way out of Hell. No one responded so Satan volunteers himself, saying that if he doesn't go on this journey then he doesn't deserve the throne. The title is saying that he needs to even out his "royalty" with different dangers like adventure. This track leans more towards a rock anthem, with a very catchy chorus. The guitars and the drums and the vocals mold together so well it's impossible not to have it stuck in your head. This songs matches with the subject of the "heroic strength and power of the Devil". The title portrays that he is very confident and powerful with the fact that he volunteered to go on earth while he still holds the throne, which is basically a summary of the lyrics .

TRACK 5: "Dark, Unbottom'd, Infinite" 

     This track is heavily based on the subject of "agony in Hell". Appearing in book two on line 405, this quote was said by Beelzebub after the council had the debate about the war with Heaven. He was discussing who should go on the treacherous journey out of Hell which he described as "dark unbottom'd infinite" (405). The song is overall the "Bohemian Rhapsody" of this album. This rock anthem starts off sad, as do the lyrics, talking about the agony and pain in Hell. Emotion floods in and the song becomes more powerful, adding more and more instruments and, in the process, getting louder. The song goes on for a while in this style then has a soft ending to finish the album.

     

Why does Lady Macbeth fall apart?

     I think the reason for Lady Macbeth's psychological breakdown is from her mind being permanently traumatized from killing Duncan. Because murdering someone is such a drastic measure to take, the guilt could probably poison a mind beyond repair. I feel like it is evident that all of her sleepwalking is directly related to the things she has done previously in the play. For example, one of the first things she says is from her mind replaying the event of her and Macbeth washing the blood off of their hands after killing Duncan. "Out, damned spot, out, I say!... Yet who would've thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?" (5.1.37-42). Just before her saying this the doctor told the gentlewoman that Lady Macbeth looks like she is trying to wash her hands. This quote highlights that she is in fact replaying that scene in her sleepwalking / sleep-talking. What I believe is Lady Macbeth is going through the same thing that Macbeth went through; how he felt like the blood will be permanently stained onto his hands. So then I think it correlates to Lady Macbeth trying to wash her hands to get the "spot of blood" off. Also, her sleepwalking is also reenacting all the problems she had with Macbeth and how much he was suffering. "Look not so pale. I tell you yet again, Banquo's buried; he cannot come out on's grave" (5.1.65-66). Perhaps all of the portrayals of her trying to talk to Macbeth is playing out in her sleepwalking is that she feels terrible remorse for persuading him to kill Duncan in the first place. Maybe she feels like Macbeth breaking down and having this rampage is all her fault.

PMW 2/5: Macbeth's Mental Stability

Q: What do we learn about Macbeth and his mental stability in Act 2 Scene 1?

     In the book, Macbeth's mind seems to kind of be all over the place as of late. In previous scenes / chapters, he starts to reconsider killing Duncan. But as the story goes on, he goes more towards thinking that he should in fact kill Duncan. Before doing so, Macbeth has a long internal monologue about his weapon that really seems to hint at him being unstable mentally. He goes on saying that he is basically reaching for a fake dagger. "I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. / Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible / To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but / A dagger of the mind, a false creation / Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?" (2.1.36-40). This quote really highlights Macbeth's inner struggle as he is trying to figure out if his mind created the dagger or if it is a hallucination that his brain had made. This struggle really gives off a feeling to the reader of being unstable, especially in this thoughts. Also, another confusing part about his monologue is that right after he talks about the fake dagger, he pulls out his actual dagger and that he can still see the fake one. "I see thee yet, in form as palpable / As this which I now draw" (2.1.41-42). Macbeth saying he is able "to see" the hallucinated dagger also highlights that he could be pretty unstable. Farther in the scene, Macbeth admits that there is no dagger and that the murder he is about to do is making him believe that he is actually looking at one. "There's no such thing. / It's the bloody business which informs / Thus to mine eyes" (2.1.48-50). This quote shows another huge sign of Macbeth having very low mental stability.

PMW 2/3: Lady Macbeth

Q: What are the defining attributes of Lady Macbeth's character? What character alignment would you give Lady Macbeth?

     I think that Lady Macbeth is not a force to be reckoned with. If she wants something done, then she'll get it done, no matter what the cost. One of her main goals so far in the text is that she wants Duncan dead so Macbeth can become king. No matter what her husband Macbeth says, she wants her goal accomplished. In act one scene seven of Macbeth, Macbeth is starting to not feel so sure on killing Duncan. Since Lady Macbeth wants it done, she starts to try and talk him back into it. "When you durst do it, then you were a man; / And to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man" (56-58). This quote shows Lady Macbeth's attribute of persuasion and how she uses it on her husband to complete her goal. In summary, I think some of Lady Macbeth's defining characteristics are her persuasion and her drive to get things done.
     On the character alignment scale, I would put Lady Macbeth at chaotic neutral. Someone who is chaotic neutral have basically no respect for laws and they are mainly focused on their own desires and interests. Also, "they are prepared to commit acts that are immoral or outright criminal" (character alignment packet). Like I stated earlier, Lady Macbeth is driving towards a specific desire of wanting her husband to be king. She is willing to commit an immoral act to do so as well, also characterizing her as chaotic neutral. In the text, she says to herself, "come you spirits / That tend on my mortal thoughts, unsex me here, / And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full / Of direst cruelty" (1.5.47-50). This quote shows her willing to change her mindset to do something evil to accomplish her desire of Macbeth being king.

Perfect and Broken Sonnets

"Perfect Sonnet"
The Golden sun us setting in the west
Finally home at the end of the day
All they are doing is trying their best
Sitting and wishing that things go their way
Piles of dead trees sitting on their shelves
Wake up, go to school, go home, and go eat
Pounds of stress on the minds of themselves
Do homework, go to sleep, and then repeat
This schedule has been ingrained in their brains
Spinning in circles not sure what to do
Their minds have been poisoned by all of these stains
Hoping that no one ends up like this too
We look outside to the sun shining bright
Hoping today is better than last night

Broken Sonnet
Magazines are laid out in front of her
In front of the mirror she says to herself
"If I try harder I'll be her for sure"
Taping pictures of models to her shelf
Using these pictures she starts to slow down
Her parents think that this idea is strange
Hopes that one day she'll be given the crown
Her young body is beginning to change
Her bones show in all the wrong places
The plates are getting emptier and emptier
Looks like she has completely changed faces
The things that she sees start to get fuzzy
Things are getting thinner


Explication for Broken Sonnet
My broken sonnet is about the dangers and realities faced when people have anorexia. It tells a story of a girl going through a tough time mentally and how she is self conscious with her body. She turns to magazines to look at all of the models as her inspiration and the idea that she needs to be perfect slowly gets to her. This causes her to go into a state of anorexia, ruining her life. Although this poem is by a girl, is also affects many men around the world. The turn of my poem is after line 8. The turn goes from the girl starting to form the disease to her completely changed by it, a drastic change. The two rules that I changed were the rhyme scheme breaking about a little over halfway through the poem and the poem ends a line and a half too early. The meaning behind the broken rhyme scheme is showing the deterioration of the girl's body because of anorexia. The deterioration of the poem translates to her body deteriorating from the harmful disease. The reason for the poem to end early is to show her life ending early. Anorexia is deadly, as well as many other eating disorders such as bulimia and EDNOS. Anorexia can kill people at a very young age so I feel like I cut the poem short to show the seriousness of her life and how the subject of the story (anorexia and how harmful it is) can be deadly and can cause people's lives to be cut short.