Friday, March 27, 2009
Overhead Assignment
The person who I admire the most is my uncle. He is the exact definition of what a man should be. He loves his family, is a protector and provider, and though he has made a lot of mistakes in his past, he chooses not to let them weigh him down. He is also constantly moving towards a brighter future. He inspires me because he has risen from the slums and gangs of the west-side of Chicago to be a pastor of his own church right in South Holland. He might not have his own church but he is still aspiring and doing what he can to make his dreams happen.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Their Eyes Were Watching God
If this is confusing, I'm very sorry. It made sense to me at first, but now I can't tell what was going through my mind when I came up with this. Guess it's appropriate I named my blog "It seemed like a good idea @ the time."
“There are years that ask questions and years that answer. Janie had had a chance to know things, so she had to ask. Did marriage end the cosmic loneliness of the unmated? Did marriage compel love like the sun the day?”
Through out my life there have been many questions that have plagued my mind, but this particular question more than others. I too have wondered what the purpose of marriage was, why it was sacred, and why do most fail. If it’s supposed to be about companionship then why do people wind up leaving each other? Moreover I wonder why were there so many people that go on the dating scene, cruise the bar for a little action, only to be let down in some way. This Janie experiences with three failed marriages: one with a man she was never in love with, one with a man whom she fell out of love with, and one with a man she had to kill to keep from being killed. So what is the answer?
The answer to that question is simple; love. Though the answer is very simple to understand, it’s very complicated to attain. Since the beginning of man, from the bible’s point of view, man has always strived hard for love and tried to fulfill the need to have someone to be emotionally connected to. Even from birth, an infant strives for its parental figures attention and love. This child will go through extreme measures to fulfill that need and when it isn’t fulfilled properly it often leads to abandonment issues and scars the child for life. As portrayed through her dream about the pear tree Janie is striving and has a deep yearning for love. She never met her father. Her mother was never around long enough to fulfill that need and she lost the one person who did love. But it’s through Janie’s story that Hurston explores the concepts of love, what it has to do with marriage, finding love and loving you.
As displayed through Janie’s marriages, and looking at most people’s marriages today, marriage doesn’t end loneliness. She was married three times and in each marriage she felt a certain degree of loneliness. There are people today that are married but will feel lonely with their spouse sitting right beside them. I’ve known people to be alone that live in a house full of people. The reason for this is a lack of love and that is exactly Janie’s problem. Her situation is comparable to that of a child. All children have a need for love and when that need is fulfilled properly it often leads to abandonment issues and scars the child for life. This causes a child to begin to feel emotions of rejection and search for love in the wrong places. Janie experiences this when she won’t allow herself to feel Mr. Killick’s love for her and when she is eager to run off with Jody immediately after meeting him.
Also displayed through Janie’s marriages is that love might compel marriage but marriage doesn’t compel love. At the beginning of her relationship with Jody love was there but soon it was gone. Just as quick as love can enter a person’s heart even before the thought of marriage occurs, it can just as quickly be wiped from the person’s heart after marriage and the person can lose interest and, just like a child feeling rejection, reject love from those that do love them. This will also lead them reject sound advice from others, like when Janie was advised by her friend to be careful in dealing with Tea Cake.
In the end all the complications that involve love doesn’t really matter. As Janie learns loving yourself is the most important thing even if you can’t find the right one, or you aren’t able to fulfill that need for love through another person. That what a lot of people have to learn to do; be independent and love themselves instead of causing yourself pain by trying to find love through other’s.
“There are years that ask questions and years that answer. Janie had had a chance to know things, so she had to ask. Did marriage end the cosmic loneliness of the unmated? Did marriage compel love like the sun the day?”
Through out my life there have been many questions that have plagued my mind, but this particular question more than others. I too have wondered what the purpose of marriage was, why it was sacred, and why do most fail. If it’s supposed to be about companionship then why do people wind up leaving each other? Moreover I wonder why were there so many people that go on the dating scene, cruise the bar for a little action, only to be let down in some way. This Janie experiences with three failed marriages: one with a man she was never in love with, one with a man whom she fell out of love with, and one with a man she had to kill to keep from being killed. So what is the answer?
The answer to that question is simple; love. Though the answer is very simple to understand, it’s very complicated to attain. Since the beginning of man, from the bible’s point of view, man has always strived hard for love and tried to fulfill the need to have someone to be emotionally connected to. Even from birth, an infant strives for its parental figures attention and love. This child will go through extreme measures to fulfill that need and when it isn’t fulfilled properly it often leads to abandonment issues and scars the child for life. As portrayed through her dream about the pear tree Janie is striving and has a deep yearning for love. She never met her father. Her mother was never around long enough to fulfill that need and she lost the one person who did love. But it’s through Janie’s story that Hurston explores the concepts of love, what it has to do with marriage, finding love and loving you.
As displayed through Janie’s marriages, and looking at most people’s marriages today, marriage doesn’t end loneliness. She was married three times and in each marriage she felt a certain degree of loneliness. There are people today that are married but will feel lonely with their spouse sitting right beside them. I’ve known people to be alone that live in a house full of people. The reason for this is a lack of love and that is exactly Janie’s problem. Her situation is comparable to that of a child. All children have a need for love and when that need is fulfilled properly it often leads to abandonment issues and scars the child for life. This causes a child to begin to feel emotions of rejection and search for love in the wrong places. Janie experiences this when she won’t allow herself to feel Mr. Killick’s love for her and when she is eager to run off with Jody immediately after meeting him.
Also displayed through Janie’s marriages is that love might compel marriage but marriage doesn’t compel love. At the beginning of her relationship with Jody love was there but soon it was gone. Just as quick as love can enter a person’s heart even before the thought of marriage occurs, it can just as quickly be wiped from the person’s heart after marriage and the person can lose interest and, just like a child feeling rejection, reject love from those that do love them. This will also lead them reject sound advice from others, like when Janie was advised by her friend to be careful in dealing with Tea Cake.
In the end all the complications that involve love doesn’t really matter. As Janie learns loving yourself is the most important thing even if you can’t find the right one, or you aren’t able to fulfill that need for love through another person. That what a lot of people have to learn to do; be independent and love themselves instead of causing yourself pain by trying to find love through other’s.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Argument and Persuasion
Meaning
Koch's thesis is that all life is precious and that the death penalty helps to support it and to keep those that would do it harm at bay and protect its preciousness. That if the death penalty had even been a consideration in the murderers mind before the crimes were committed, then the murderers might not have committed them at all.
For the issue about capital punishment as a deterrent to murder Koch used the case where a man named Richard Biegenwald was released from prison after 18 yrs. for murder and committed 4 more since his release. He also used the case of Lemuel Smith who, while serving 6 life sentences killed a corrections officer and that most convicts of murder have murdered before. For the issue about capital punishment as a form of justice Koch argues that the death penalty strengthens the value of human life and the lowering for the penalty of murder would signal a lesser regard for the value of the victims life and that philosophers, such as Kant, Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Mill, all agreed that natural law authorizes the sovereign to take life in order to vindicate justice. Each issue relates back to the thesis under the premise that all life is sacred and that the death penalty helps support that fact.
Purpose and Audience
1. From my perspective it does seem like his view is political. It does seem like he is trying to persuade the audience to agree with him, but at the same time it seems like he is answering a question that you might hear in a presidential debate, that its rehearsed and instead of just getting the audience to merely agree, that he wants us to hop on the band wagon and follow him.
2. I don't think that he expects the audience to agree with him so he deploys a tactic that doesn't try to gain sympathy but get us to hear what he has to say. That is why he starts off with evidence and the story of the murderer trying to preach ethics and morality to everyone, to make the murderer seem insane for telling the audience what to do and deceitful and probably better off dead.
3. To fight for justice, help those that are in need and not to ignore pleas for help and to look the other way. That is the same thing that help kill Kitty Genovese and why he explains people want rights but don't the responsibility that come with those rights.
Method and Structure
The appeals that I find are most effective are the examples he use to convey that if any of the murderers used in his argument were put to death, then that would have definitely prevented them from murdering again.
The syllogism is that if the courts found both Willie and Shaw worthy of the death penalty that the state, the courts and the people who ran them were no better than both Willie and Shaw, because the state would be committing "murder" to show that murder was wrong. Koch says that what individual gives up certain right for the state to govern properly, giving that if an individual does then it would be murder, but because the state is doing it, it is in the name of justice.
Yes because he is saying what is truly barbaric would be to let these heinous crimes go unpunished just because there hasn't been a solution found that everyone can agree with.
Each of his example let the audience know that the murderers didn't just kill once and moved on with their lives, but that each one at some point killed more and more people and that some of those that were released from prison after being convicted of murder did it again. Each example also shows the audience that these murderers are without conscience and morality and don't have regards for human life.
Language
A combative tone, almost like instead of a general audience that he is talking directly to those that oppose his views and is saying these are the facts, you're wrong, get some common sense. His language just adds on the feeling that those who oppose his view are being talked down to, sort of like they are uneducated. I don't really too much care for his tone, if it wasn't for the examples I probably wouldn't even agree with his view.
That his views about capital punishment are right and that those who oppose him are wrong.
Writing Topic
I don't have too much experience with death. In my entire life I have only went to one funeral and have lost one person in my family that I knew. So I can just imagine what it feels like for someone to lose a loved one, or to have a loved one taken away brutally. I, as a Christian, believe that murder is wrong without just cause, such as self-defense, but I do believe that capital punishment is the best way to deal with those who murder just for the sole reason of taking a life. The bible talks a lot about how you reap what you sow, in our terms that’s what goes around, comes around, or karma. It's really the perfect way of keeping everyone in the world in check, it makes him or her think about the consequences of their actions, and makes them feel the pain they have caused others. If I steal something from someone, something should be stolen from me, if I hit someone, I should get hit back, if I murder someone intentionally trying to do someone harm, I should suffer the same fate.
Koch's thesis is that all life is precious and that the death penalty helps to support it and to keep those that would do it harm at bay and protect its preciousness. That if the death penalty had even been a consideration in the murderers mind before the crimes were committed, then the murderers might not have committed them at all.
For the issue about capital punishment as a deterrent to murder Koch used the case where a man named Richard Biegenwald was released from prison after 18 yrs. for murder and committed 4 more since his release. He also used the case of Lemuel Smith who, while serving 6 life sentences killed a corrections officer and that most convicts of murder have murdered before. For the issue about capital punishment as a form of justice Koch argues that the death penalty strengthens the value of human life and the lowering for the penalty of murder would signal a lesser regard for the value of the victims life and that philosophers, such as Kant, Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Mill, all agreed that natural law authorizes the sovereign to take life in order to vindicate justice. Each issue relates back to the thesis under the premise that all life is sacred and that the death penalty helps support that fact.
Purpose and Audience
1. From my perspective it does seem like his view is political. It does seem like he is trying to persuade the audience to agree with him, but at the same time it seems like he is answering a question that you might hear in a presidential debate, that its rehearsed and instead of just getting the audience to merely agree, that he wants us to hop on the band wagon and follow him.
2. I don't think that he expects the audience to agree with him so he deploys a tactic that doesn't try to gain sympathy but get us to hear what he has to say. That is why he starts off with evidence and the story of the murderer trying to preach ethics and morality to everyone, to make the murderer seem insane for telling the audience what to do and deceitful and probably better off dead.
3. To fight for justice, help those that are in need and not to ignore pleas for help and to look the other way. That is the same thing that help kill Kitty Genovese and why he explains people want rights but don't the responsibility that come with those rights.
Method and Structure
The appeals that I find are most effective are the examples he use to convey that if any of the murderers used in his argument were put to death, then that would have definitely prevented them from murdering again.
The syllogism is that if the courts found both Willie and Shaw worthy of the death penalty that the state, the courts and the people who ran them were no better than both Willie and Shaw, because the state would be committing "murder" to show that murder was wrong. Koch says that what individual gives up certain right for the state to govern properly, giving that if an individual does then it would be murder, but because the state is doing it, it is in the name of justice.
Yes because he is saying what is truly barbaric would be to let these heinous crimes go unpunished just because there hasn't been a solution found that everyone can agree with.
Each of his example let the audience know that the murderers didn't just kill once and moved on with their lives, but that each one at some point killed more and more people and that some of those that were released from prison after being convicted of murder did it again. Each example also shows the audience that these murderers are without conscience and morality and don't have regards for human life.
Language
A combative tone, almost like instead of a general audience that he is talking directly to those that oppose his views and is saying these are the facts, you're wrong, get some common sense. His language just adds on the feeling that those who oppose his view are being talked down to, sort of like they are uneducated. I don't really too much care for his tone, if it wasn't for the examples I probably wouldn't even agree with his view.
That his views about capital punishment are right and that those who oppose him are wrong.
Writing Topic
I don't have too much experience with death. In my entire life I have only went to one funeral and have lost one person in my family that I knew. So I can just imagine what it feels like for someone to lose a loved one, or to have a loved one taken away brutally. I, as a Christian, believe that murder is wrong without just cause, such as self-defense, but I do believe that capital punishment is the best way to deal with those who murder just for the sole reason of taking a life. The bible talks a lot about how you reap what you sow, in our terms that’s what goes around, comes around, or karma. It's really the perfect way of keeping everyone in the world in check, it makes him or her think about the consequences of their actions, and makes them feel the pain they have caused others. If I steal something from someone, something should be stolen from me, if I hit someone, I should get hit back, if I murder someone intentionally trying to do someone harm, I should suffer the same fate.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
"I Have A Dream"
Rhetorical Structure: Figures of Speech
King's opening phrase is an allusion to Abraham Lincoln. It was appropriate because the speech was given at the Lincoln memorial and Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed millions of slaves and made it possible for King to even give his speech.
Declaration of Independence: I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal". Bible: I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt.
"Justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."
The figure of speech displayed here is metaphoric. It's an effective method because it makes the listener to imagine someone being held back and weighted down with heavy chains. That though blacks were free they were still being held back because of discrimination and segregation.
The phrase ”Let freedom ring" and the phrase "One hundred years later".
These words can make the audience feel his passion and visualize his dream one day actually becoming a reality.
The second sentence in the second paragraph, which states "One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chain of discrimination. It opened up my eyes to the fact that slavery ended only a little over one hundred years ago. It also opened my eyes up to the fact that it was not long ago that King was walking this earth and fighting for my civil rights and for me to enjoy the freedoms that I take for granted on a daily basis. Furthermore its opened my eyes to the fact that though this country have come a considerable distance over racial inequality that there is still much progress to be made.
Understanding the Dream
King's dream was that one day that not only black people but that everyone of every nationality, religion, class, gender, age, anything that makes us different from one another, can one day live in a land of diversity and tolerance.
Acts of discrimination and segregation, poverty, banning from public places, separate facilities "For White People Only" and "For Black People Only", police brutality, denial of right to vote, and unreasonable jailing.
That all men are guaranteed life, the right to live as one wants to live, liberty, the right to be free and citizenship, and the pursuit of happiness, all the rights and liberties of a free citizen.
I think he names them because those are the states in which racial prejudice has been heavily rooted and has been since the birth of the country as a free nation, and is still heavily rooted today.
I do think I would've been moved because I would have been one of the abundant masses that have experienced some racial discrimination and segregation during their lifetime.
Relating to the Dream
1. The looking down upon another race as inferior or unworthy based on the color of their skin.
2. I think they resorted to violence as a scare tactic and another way to oppress the black community, I also think that they knew that it wouldn't be long before blacks finally fought for and won their rights. I think they didn't take revenge because violence only brings on more violence and that responding with violence would've only made matters worse for the black community.
3. I think that those who aren’t racist are more dangerous. Living in our day and age there are more and more people that racially tolerant, sure there are those that are racist, but those who aren't will not stand by and watch the years of progress this country has made concerning that area go to waste, if they have to take it to the proper authorities or take matters into their own hands.
4. Most of Kings dream has come true. Blacks are able to vote, can't be banned from public places, all facilities must be united and equal, there is also no more segregation and discrimination. But there are still some instances of police brutality, not only against blacks, but everyone, just police officers abusing their power and there are many that live poverty stricken lives and live in the ghetto instead of suburban areas.
King's opening phrase is an allusion to Abraham Lincoln. It was appropriate because the speech was given at the Lincoln memorial and Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed millions of slaves and made it possible for King to even give his speech.
Declaration of Independence: I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal". Bible: I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt.
"Justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."
The figure of speech displayed here is metaphoric. It's an effective method because it makes the listener to imagine someone being held back and weighted down with heavy chains. That though blacks were free they were still being held back because of discrimination and segregation.
The phrase ”Let freedom ring" and the phrase "One hundred years later".
These words can make the audience feel his passion and visualize his dream one day actually becoming a reality.
The second sentence in the second paragraph, which states "One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chain of discrimination. It opened up my eyes to the fact that slavery ended only a little over one hundred years ago. It also opened my eyes up to the fact that it was not long ago that King was walking this earth and fighting for my civil rights and for me to enjoy the freedoms that I take for granted on a daily basis. Furthermore its opened my eyes to the fact that though this country have come a considerable distance over racial inequality that there is still much progress to be made.
Understanding the Dream
King's dream was that one day that not only black people but that everyone of every nationality, religion, class, gender, age, anything that makes us different from one another, can one day live in a land of diversity and tolerance.
Acts of discrimination and segregation, poverty, banning from public places, separate facilities "For White People Only" and "For Black People Only", police brutality, denial of right to vote, and unreasonable jailing.
That all men are guaranteed life, the right to live as one wants to live, liberty, the right to be free and citizenship, and the pursuit of happiness, all the rights and liberties of a free citizen.
I think he names them because those are the states in which racial prejudice has been heavily rooted and has been since the birth of the country as a free nation, and is still heavily rooted today.
I do think I would've been moved because I would have been one of the abundant masses that have experienced some racial discrimination and segregation during their lifetime.
Relating to the Dream
1. The looking down upon another race as inferior or unworthy based on the color of their skin.
2. I think they resorted to violence as a scare tactic and another way to oppress the black community, I also think that they knew that it wouldn't be long before blacks finally fought for and won their rights. I think they didn't take revenge because violence only brings on more violence and that responding with violence would've only made matters worse for the black community.
3. I think that those who aren’t racist are more dangerous. Living in our day and age there are more and more people that racially tolerant, sure there are those that are racist, but those who aren't will not stand by and watch the years of progress this country has made concerning that area go to waste, if they have to take it to the proper authorities or take matters into their own hands.
4. Most of Kings dream has come true. Blacks are able to vote, can't be banned from public places, all facilities must be united and equal, there is also no more segregation and discrimination. But there are still some instances of police brutality, not only against blacks, but everyone, just police officers abusing their power and there are many that live poverty stricken lives and live in the ghetto instead of suburban areas.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Salvation
Meaning
His main point in telling the narrative is to explain how based off of him telling one lie and deceiving many, his world was turned upside down he began to doubt the existence of Jesus.
A child named Westley, whom was sitting next to him during the service, decided to quit wasting and pretend that he had found God and pretended to be saved. After noticing he was the only one left and seeing how everyone reacted just to get him to get up and become saved, Hughes decided to also stop wasting time and deceive everyone, a choice that only causes him turmoil in the end.
I think that Hughes is saying that no one is truly saved from or that the only path to salvation, in his mind, is to confess one's faults, which is what he did.
Purpose and Audience
1. I think Hughes wrote "Salvation" as sort of confession, to get the actions he had partaken in off his chest, the way he felt about the existence of Jesus, which is sort of criticizing his aunt and the other adults for, in this case, "lying" to him. Sort of his journey to salvation.
2. He assumes his readers to be familiar with the setting of a southern, all-black church with the long hours of singing, praying, shouting (dancing or clapping to a set rhythm of drums, bass guitar, and organ), and capping it off with a pastor preaching with high emotion and ending the service with someone getting saved (most times services wouldn't end until at least one or two people did).
3. It makes the reader sit right where he was on the mourner's bench, feel the people around you and smother you with begs and pleas the go get saved, and the anxiety and pressure he is under as he remains in his seat, and his faith slipping as he doesn't "see" Jesus.
Method and Structure
I think he chose a narrative to show others through his story that no one is truly saved from sin, but if he chose to have done an argumentative essay it would not be impossible, but it would be a one-sided argument. It would be "Still bound by the chains of Sin".
He basically does it through out the entire narration. This makes the reader aware of how long he waited for Jesus to show and how when Jesus didn't it forced Hughes to lie about what happened.
Paragraphs 5-7 and 13-15.
It's essential because it explains all that what he went and how long he waited for Jesus to show up.
Language
He felt shame and doubt and that's because he had to lie to get the whole torturing ordeal over with and Jesus never showed up.
The effect I believe he is trying to achieve is the influence of the younger generation. In his adult life, as well in his child life, that night in the church was a waste of time to him and what he had to do to get out of the situation troubled him. I believe he is trying to keep someone else from making the same mistake.
Hughes meaning of "seeing" Jesus is Jesus actually appearing to him in the flesh, while his aunts meaning of "seeing" Jesus is having a visitation from Jesus in your soul, where you can't see him but feel him. The significance is that because he didn't physically see Jesus, it made him doubt that Jesus ever existed.
His main point in telling the narrative is to explain how based off of him telling one lie and deceiving many, his world was turned upside down he began to doubt the existence of Jesus.
A child named Westley, whom was sitting next to him during the service, decided to quit wasting and pretend that he had found God and pretended to be saved. After noticing he was the only one left and seeing how everyone reacted just to get him to get up and become saved, Hughes decided to also stop wasting time and deceive everyone, a choice that only causes him turmoil in the end.
I think that Hughes is saying that no one is truly saved from or that the only path to salvation, in his mind, is to confess one's faults, which is what he did.
Purpose and Audience
1. I think Hughes wrote "Salvation" as sort of confession, to get the actions he had partaken in off his chest, the way he felt about the existence of Jesus, which is sort of criticizing his aunt and the other adults for, in this case, "lying" to him. Sort of his journey to salvation.
2. He assumes his readers to be familiar with the setting of a southern, all-black church with the long hours of singing, praying, shouting (dancing or clapping to a set rhythm of drums, bass guitar, and organ), and capping it off with a pastor preaching with high emotion and ending the service with someone getting saved (most times services wouldn't end until at least one or two people did).
3. It makes the reader sit right where he was on the mourner's bench, feel the people around you and smother you with begs and pleas the go get saved, and the anxiety and pressure he is under as he remains in his seat, and his faith slipping as he doesn't "see" Jesus.
Method and Structure
I think he chose a narrative to show others through his story that no one is truly saved from sin, but if he chose to have done an argumentative essay it would not be impossible, but it would be a one-sided argument. It would be "Still bound by the chains of Sin".
He basically does it through out the entire narration. This makes the reader aware of how long he waited for Jesus to show and how when Jesus didn't it forced Hughes to lie about what happened.
Paragraphs 5-7 and 13-15.
It's essential because it explains all that what he went and how long he waited for Jesus to show up.
Language
He felt shame and doubt and that's because he had to lie to get the whole torturing ordeal over with and Jesus never showed up.
The effect I believe he is trying to achieve is the influence of the younger generation. In his adult life, as well in his child life, that night in the church was a waste of time to him and what he had to do to get out of the situation troubled him. I believe he is trying to keep someone else from making the same mistake.
Hughes meaning of "seeing" Jesus is Jesus actually appearing to him in the flesh, while his aunts meaning of "seeing" Jesus is having a visitation from Jesus in your soul, where you can't see him but feel him. The significance is that because he didn't physically see Jesus, it made him doubt that Jesus ever existed.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Kate Chopin's Biography Updated
As told in her biography, Kate Chopin had a pretty awful life, disregarding the fact that she lived during a time period when women were under suppression by their male "overlords". Her life was surrounded by death and loss throughout her family. To top it off, her life was not only surrounded by death but she died of a cerebral hemorrhage after enduring the struggles she endured. I think that the deaths in her family played a key role in her stories. I've only read two of her short stories, but in the both of them the main character, both women, died and when they died they were miserable and died a miserable death. In Desiree's Baby, the main character, Desiree, lost the love of her husband, after which she took herself and the child and committed murder/suicide. Then there is The Joy that Kills, where the main character, Mrs. Mallard, thinks her husband is dead and is free from his "tyranny" and upon finding out he isn't, instantly dies from her heart disease.
It seems like these deaths in her stories symbolize more than what people think. It seems as if these stories are a cry for death to come, take her and to end the struggles and stress's of her life. Let’s recap, it first began with the deaths of both her sisters that died when they were infants before she turned five. Being five, she might not understand the concept of death, but there is still a void left by their presence being gone. After that her father is killed in a horrifying accident when the bridge his train was crossing collapsed. Once again at that age she might not understand the concept of death, but that doesn't overshadow the fact that she has to learn the answer to the question "where is daddy?". Chopin then goes to live with her mom, grandmother and great-grandmother, who are all widows, meaning she lost not only her dad, but also her grandfather and great-grandfather. She more than likely knew them both if she knew her grandmother and great-grandmother. Chopin then goes on to live a pretty decent life, until the Civil War comes along, which ripped apart the nation and snatched her away from her best friend Kitty Garesche. Sure it's not as bad as losing her sister's and dad, but nevertheless she has lost someone important in her life, then her grandmother dies directly before Christmas which should be a happy time of sharing gifts, not mourning over the lost of a family member. Her friend comes back, but then goes away on her own to become a nun and she also loses her brother. Chopin goes on to get married in 1870 and has seven children with her husband, who dies after twelve years of marriage and her last remaining sibling died sometime before her fifth year of marriage. Once again she has lost someone important in her life and is left with the responsibility of raising seven kids. Finally after two years of being on her own she moves back in with her mom, who dies the following year leaving her by herself to raise her children again. That's nine deaths, ten if you count the death of her friendship with Kitty, over a 30-year period. That might not seem like much during given the time interval but it is when the people who died are the individuals who were close and dear to you.
On top of the deaths and the seven children she had to raise on her own she has her book career that doesn't go very far because she is silenced by a society that doesn't yet value the women as they should. It seems that these stories she wrote provided release for her tortured soul as the women of the stories tortured souls are released from the indignity society has bestowed upon them and the misery they faced in their daily lives. But its through death, which makes one wonder, is it death that she hopes to escape her life and release her tortured soul?
It seems like these deaths in her stories symbolize more than what people think. It seems as if these stories are a cry for death to come, take her and to end the struggles and stress's of her life. Let’s recap, it first began with the deaths of both her sisters that died when they were infants before she turned five. Being five, she might not understand the concept of death, but there is still a void left by their presence being gone. After that her father is killed in a horrifying accident when the bridge his train was crossing collapsed. Once again at that age she might not understand the concept of death, but that doesn't overshadow the fact that she has to learn the answer to the question "where is daddy?". Chopin then goes to live with her mom, grandmother and great-grandmother, who are all widows, meaning she lost not only her dad, but also her grandfather and great-grandfather. She more than likely knew them both if she knew her grandmother and great-grandmother. Chopin then goes on to live a pretty decent life, until the Civil War comes along, which ripped apart the nation and snatched her away from her best friend Kitty Garesche. Sure it's not as bad as losing her sister's and dad, but nevertheless she has lost someone important in her life, then her grandmother dies directly before Christmas which should be a happy time of sharing gifts, not mourning over the lost of a family member. Her friend comes back, but then goes away on her own to become a nun and she also loses her brother. Chopin goes on to get married in 1870 and has seven children with her husband, who dies after twelve years of marriage and her last remaining sibling died sometime before her fifth year of marriage. Once again she has lost someone important in her life and is left with the responsibility of raising seven kids. Finally after two years of being on her own she moves back in with her mom, who dies the following year leaving her by herself to raise her children again. That's nine deaths, ten if you count the death of her friendship with Kitty, over a 30-year period. That might not seem like much during given the time interval but it is when the people who died are the individuals who were close and dear to you.
On top of the deaths and the seven children she had to raise on her own she has her book career that doesn't go very far because she is silenced by a society that doesn't yet value the women as they should. It seems that these stories she wrote provided release for her tortured soul as the women of the stories tortured souls are released from the indignity society has bestowed upon them and the misery they faced in their daily lives. But its through death, which makes one wonder, is it death that she hopes to escape her life and release her tortured soul?
Friday, October 31, 2008
As told in her biography, Kate Chopin had a pretty crappy life, disregarding the fact that she lived during a time period when women were suppressed by their male "overlords". Her life was surrounded by death and loss throughout her family. To top it off, her life was not only surrounded by death but she died in the most bogus way your life could end after enduring the struggles she endured, by dying of a cerebral hemorrhage. I think that the deaths in her family had played a key role in her stories. I've only read two of her short stories, but in the both of them the main character, both women, died and when they did they were miserable and died a miserable death. In Desiree's Baby, the main character Desiree lost the love of her husband and took her child and herself and committed murder/suicide. Then there is The Joy that Kills, where the main character Mrs. Mallard thinks her husband is dead and is free from his "tyranny" and upon finding out he isn't, instantly dies of a heart disease.
It seems like these deaths in her stories symbolize more than what people think. It seems like this is a cry for death to come and take her and to end the struggles and stress of her life. Lets recap, it first start with the death of both her sisters that died as babies before she turned five. Being five she might not understand the concept of death but there is still a void left by their presence being gone. After that her father is killed in a horrifying accident when the bridge his train was crossing collapsed. Once again at that age she might not understand the concept of death, but that doesn't overshadow the fact that she has to learn the answer to the question "where is daddy?" and has to find out what happened. She then goes to live with her mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother who are all widows, meaning she lost not only her dad but her grandfather and great-grandfather, whom she probably knows if she knows her grandmother and great-grandfather. She goes on to live a pretty decent life until the Civil War comes along and snatches her away from her best friend Kitty Garesche. Sure it's not as bad as losing her sister's and dad, but nevertheless she has lost someone important in her life, but then her grandmother dies directly before Christmas which should be a happy time of sharing gifts, not mourning over the lost of a family member. Her friend comes back, but then is taken away again because she wants to become a nun and she also loses her brother. She goes on to get married in 1870 and has seven children with her husband, who dies after twelve years of marriage and her last remaining sibling dies sometime before her fifth year of marriage. Once again she has lost someone important in her life and is left with the responsibility of raising seven kids. Finally after two years of being on her own she moves back in with her mom, who dies the following year leaving her by herself to raise her children again. That's nine deaths, ten if you count the death of her friendship with Kitty, over a 30-year period. That might not seem like much during given the time interval but it is when the people who died are the individuals who were close and dear to you.
On top of the deaths and the seven children she had to raise on her own she has her book career that doesn't go very far because she is silenced by a society that doesn't yet value the women as they should. It seems that these stories she wrote provide release for her tortured soul as the women of the stories tortured souls are released from the indignity society has bestowed upon them and the misery they faced in their daily lives. But its through death which makes one wonder, is it death that she hopes to escape her life and release her tortured soul?
It seems like these deaths in her stories symbolize more than what people think. It seems like this is a cry for death to come and take her and to end the struggles and stress of her life. Lets recap, it first start with the death of both her sisters that died as babies before she turned five. Being five she might not understand the concept of death but there is still a void left by their presence being gone. After that her father is killed in a horrifying accident when the bridge his train was crossing collapsed. Once again at that age she might not understand the concept of death, but that doesn't overshadow the fact that she has to learn the answer to the question "where is daddy?" and has to find out what happened. She then goes to live with her mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother who are all widows, meaning she lost not only her dad but her grandfather and great-grandfather, whom she probably knows if she knows her grandmother and great-grandfather. She goes on to live a pretty decent life until the Civil War comes along and snatches her away from her best friend Kitty Garesche. Sure it's not as bad as losing her sister's and dad, but nevertheless she has lost someone important in her life, but then her grandmother dies directly before Christmas which should be a happy time of sharing gifts, not mourning over the lost of a family member. Her friend comes back, but then is taken away again because she wants to become a nun and she also loses her brother. She goes on to get married in 1870 and has seven children with her husband, who dies after twelve years of marriage and her last remaining sibling dies sometime before her fifth year of marriage. Once again she has lost someone important in her life and is left with the responsibility of raising seven kids. Finally after two years of being on her own she moves back in with her mom, who dies the following year leaving her by herself to raise her children again. That's nine deaths, ten if you count the death of her friendship with Kitty, over a 30-year period. That might not seem like much during given the time interval but it is when the people who died are the individuals who were close and dear to you.
On top of the deaths and the seven children she had to raise on her own she has her book career that doesn't go very far because she is silenced by a society that doesn't yet value the women as they should. It seems that these stories she wrote provide release for her tortured soul as the women of the stories tortured souls are released from the indignity society has bestowed upon them and the misery they faced in their daily lives. But its through death which makes one wonder, is it death that she hopes to escape her life and release her tortured soul?
Monday, October 27, 2008
Disturbia
Shia LaBeouf/ Kale Brecht
Shia Labeouf’s character Kale Brecht is the image of every teen boy that loses his father at an early age. Seeing as how Kale lost his during the age when a close bond is already formed and he lost him during when they were on a bonding trip, it makes makes him troubled, to which I can fully relate. The comment from his Spanish teacher, doesn’t help either, which causes Kale to punch him. Doesn’t seem like something that’ll actually happen in real life but it happens in the movie thus causing him to come under house. His boredom takes him from troubled kid that punches a teacher, to a certified stalker that knows each of his neighbor moves and has it timed exactly, especially as he spys on the girl next door. This within itself screams “Help, I’m crazy, and need professional help. Then he goes from spying to accusing one of his neighbors of murder adding more to the cry for help. I can see him being troubled for the lost of his father, but I don't see how that leads into him being a stalker, kidnapping children maybe, but not stalking.
Shia Labeouf’s character Kale Brecht is the image of every teen boy that loses his father at an early age. Seeing as how Kale lost his during the age when a close bond is already formed and he lost him during when they were on a bonding trip, it makes makes him troubled, to which I can fully relate. The comment from his Spanish teacher, doesn’t help either, which causes Kale to punch him. Doesn’t seem like something that’ll actually happen in real life but it happens in the movie thus causing him to come under house. His boredom takes him from troubled kid that punches a teacher, to a certified stalker that knows each of his neighbor moves and has it timed exactly, especially as he spys on the girl next door. This within itself screams “Help, I’m crazy, and need professional help. Then he goes from spying to accusing one of his neighbors of murder adding more to the cry for help. I can see him being troubled for the lost of his father, but I don't see how that leads into him being a stalker, kidnapping children maybe, but not stalking.
Aren't I a Woman to Ain't I a Woman
The Aren’t I a Woman in 50 Essays isn’t much different from Ain’t I a Woman. It follows the same style that was to describe the proceedings of the meeting and the words spoken by Sojourner Truth. The only difference between the two is that in 50 essays it took some of the words Truth spoke and made them easier for the reader to understand . Other than that it still kept the southern dialect and imagery used. It also kept the same sentence structure.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Essay Response
Let me start off by stating that I commend Sojourner Truth for taking a stand. Most women, and many others of her time, would not have made the brave decision to stand up for what they believe, and she was not only a woman but also an African-American, doubling the barriers, opposition, and obstacles against her. Her purpose was clear; she was human and didn't think herself any lower than a man because she was a woman and no other woman should either. Not only did she take a stand in making her opinion known she also demolished anything that anyone had to say that was negative concerning the status of women equality. The most compelling part was that she did it by stating that though she was a woman, she could do anything any man could and more.
Her first compelling argument was that men thought women were fragile and needed help and deserved the best. But she states how she was a woman and no one helped her in these areas and that she provided for herself, without the help of a man. The next really made me feel, I can't think of the word, but its like whoa!!! She pulls out her arm, showing muscle power and says she has worked plantations and farms and that no man could've topped her, but yet she is a woman. She then goes to say that she works just as much as any man, eats just as much as any man, and as a former slave got beatings like a man and took it, unlike most guys who can't even take a punch, but yet she was still a woman. She then pulls at the strings of the heart by telling her story of grief that she went through as a mother, as her children were taken from her and sold into slavery, but no on ever heard a peep out of her about it, when most men where their outrage and grief on their shoulders and face, but she was STILL a woman. Her last two most compelling arguments involved the two most important women of the bible, showing Truth as a credible and intelligent source. The man she was debating had the audacity to come out and say that women weren't equal to men because Christ wasn't a woman, and instantly Truth said that Christ came from God and a woman. She also expounded on how Eve, the very first woman God created was strong enough to flip the world upside by just biting into a piece of forbidden fruit. In both cases man had nothing to do with what took place.
The most powerful part of her speech was when she took the time to encourage the women in her midst while still talking to the man. She was letting them know if Mary, the mother of Christ, and Eve took part and had the strength to change the world, and that she herself could do the things she could, and be stronger than any man, and stand there openly state her mind, that they could do it and do it better. And she still held herself in a lady-like manner and thanked the man for listening to her opinions.
Her first compelling argument was that men thought women were fragile and needed help and deserved the best. But she states how she was a woman and no one helped her in these areas and that she provided for herself, without the help of a man. The next really made me feel, I can't think of the word, but its like whoa!!! She pulls out her arm, showing muscle power and says she has worked plantations and farms and that no man could've topped her, but yet she is a woman. She then goes to say that she works just as much as any man, eats just as much as any man, and as a former slave got beatings like a man and took it, unlike most guys who can't even take a punch, but yet she was still a woman. She then pulls at the strings of the heart by telling her story of grief that she went through as a mother, as her children were taken from her and sold into slavery, but no on ever heard a peep out of her about it, when most men where their outrage and grief on their shoulders and face, but she was STILL a woman. Her last two most compelling arguments involved the two most important women of the bible, showing Truth as a credible and intelligent source. The man she was debating had the audacity to come out and say that women weren't equal to men because Christ wasn't a woman, and instantly Truth said that Christ came from God and a woman. She also expounded on how Eve, the very first woman God created was strong enough to flip the world upside by just biting into a piece of forbidden fruit. In both cases man had nothing to do with what took place.
The most powerful part of her speech was when she took the time to encourage the women in her midst while still talking to the man. She was letting them know if Mary, the mother of Christ, and Eve took part and had the strength to change the world, and that she herself could do the things she could, and be stronger than any man, and stand there openly state her mind, that they could do it and do it better. And she still held herself in a lady-like manner and thanked the man for listening to her opinions.
Aren't I a Woman? Discusssion Questions
1. She is responding to a minister that has made the remarks that women aren't equal to men and can't have as much rights as men.
2. The arguments are examples of her strength and how she keeps going despite her circumstances and what happens to her and help her make the argument that women are just as equal and strong as men and in many cases better.
4. She wouldn't have had to counter my perceptions because my perception would've been that she is a capable and strong woman.
2. The arguments are examples of her strength and how she keeps going despite her circumstances and what happens to her and help her make the argument that women are just as equal and strong as men and in many cases better.
4. She wouldn't have had to counter my perceptions because my perception would've been that she is a capable and strong woman.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Incidents and American Slave
These two stories are significantly different from each other. Harriet Jacobs tells of not only the hardships she endured as a slave, but her master's mission in trying, and almost succeeding, to break her spirit and separate her from the man she loved. Frederick Douglas's tells more of the horrifying experience he endured as he watched and heard his aunt be mercilessly and repeatedly beat with a whip. Though these stories differ far from each other, they are the same in one aspect; they were made with a purpose. They were made with the purpose to inform, not only of the trials they endured individually, but the trials the slave population endured as a whole, as a people. They were also made with the purpose of not only to inform, reveal to other's the horrors inflicted by slavery in hope that one-day the terrible and horrifying practice of trading humans like cattle would end and that everyone would be treated equally as portrayed by the idea of the Declaration of Independence.
Another way in which these two pieces are similar is through their preface. The one for American slave was written as a testimonial to the words of Frederick Douglas spoken to the abolitionist, and the uproar in response to making sure he became and stayed a free man. The one for Incidents was also written as a testimonial to the inspiration the author of the preface felt from Harriet Jacobs. They were also written by Caucasian authors, as an act of validating the words that flowed from the mind of the author of the different stories to the paper on which they wrote. They were written also to the one's in the north that needed a little a push to get on the band wagon with the abolitionist, and make aware of the cruelty of slavery in the ongoing effort to get the horrible practice dismantled.
Another way in which these two pieces are similar is through their preface. The one for American slave was written as a testimonial to the words of Frederick Douglas spoken to the abolitionist, and the uproar in response to making sure he became and stayed a free man. The one for Incidents was also written as a testimonial to the inspiration the author of the preface felt from Harriet Jacobs. They were also written by Caucasian authors, as an act of validating the words that flowed from the mind of the author of the different stories to the paper on which they wrote. They were written also to the one's in the north that needed a little a push to get on the band wagon with the abolitionist, and make aware of the cruelty of slavery in the ongoing effort to get the horrible practice dismantled.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Scarlet Letter Study Questions
1. Hester's sin was committing adultery. The consequence of this was she had to wear a scarlet letter that, in a sense, inflicted pain upon it wearer for they could feel a burning in the spot where they wore it and feel the stares of everyone that saw it. This affects her character because it killed her spirit making her gloomy and dead on the inside. It also left her dead to the people, as she tried to sink from the public eye, but alive, because of the distinctness of the letter. Dimmesdale's sin was committing fornication and living a life of hypocrisy before his people. His consequence and the affect on his character was the agony, pain and anguish he that tormented him and the burning pain of the scarlet letter that he could feel on his heart, which in the end left the faint image of the letter on his chest. Chillingworth's sin was his thirst for revenge and lying to Dimmesdale about being his friend. The consequences and the affect on his character was the cold and dark feelings that he felt on the inside, and his feeling of emptiness when Dimmesdale died, taking away his purpose for living, reason and need for revenge.
2. Hawthorne uses a lot of figurative language, some of what he writes uses imagery like when he describes the burning scarlet letter. But what he uses the most are metaphors and similes like, " had so early borne the black flower of civilized society, a prison." and "The eloquent voice, on which the souls of the listening audience had been borne aloft as on the swelling waves of the sea, at length came to a pause." He also uses symbolism like when he calls Pearl the scarlet letter endowed with life or said that the weed was on the grave because it grew from the heart of a man with a terrible secret.
3. During Hester's time there was this thing going around known as being a "true woman". Hester is one of literatures first feminist because she threw off the shackles of being a "true woman". The first was committing adultery. Due to the oppression of being a "true woman" she was forced to marry a man she did not love and whom she admitted and told straight to his face she didn't. By committing adultery she gave her self the choice of being with the man she loved and she didn't regret it, but embraced what she did. The second was being a single mother. Throughout the seven-year period in the book she not only raised a child by herself, but she provided for the child by working all the while taking care of the household duties that needed to be done. She also didn't keep her daughter from expressing herself freely, she let her play in the streets while they were going through the market-place and didn't discipline her for standing up for herself and showing some real human emotions which seemed to go against the Puritan religion. She also defied the magistrates by not telling whom it was she committed adultery with and protesting the governor when he tried to take her child away from her. Her last act was trying to flee with Dimmesdale, Pearl, and leave behind all the shame which she brought up herself, so in a sense she was trying to defy the authority of the town and flee with the people and acts that made her a feminist.
4. The second scene acts as the climax because it reveals the answer to questions that the reader wants to know. Who was the one that Hester committed her crime with and who was Pearl's father? It also serves as the turning point in Dimmesdale and Chillingworth's relationship when Chillingworth's true motives is finally revealed to Dimmesdale, and he doesn't hesitate in letting Chillingworth know that he knows who he is. It also confirms Chillingworth's suspicions about Dimmesdale and lets him know that his cover is blown and getting revenge is going to be harder.
5. Pearl name is symbolic because like an actual pearl she is rare and a treasure to her mother. Her mother says that not only is she the object of her greatest affection but the object of her greatest suffering, and that she brings her great joy and pain. Thus she is her treasure and her burden that keeps her from making the same mistake and falling to sin again. Dimmesdale is symbolic because he is a dimwit, (DIMmesdale, DIMwit) seriously he isn't very bright. He knows that there is something wrong and that something or someone is watching him waiting for him to slip up, and he knows he gets the feeling every time Chillingworth is around, but he can't figure out for nothing that Chillingworth is the reason he is getting that feeling. Chillingworth is symbolic because of the chills he sends down Dimmesdale spine and uneasiness he makes Dimmesdale feel. Its also symbolic because it represents his how cold he is now compared to the warm affectionate man he used to be.
6. Hester attitude changes from a dead feeling to acceptance. At first she couldn’t stand having the letter on her chest and it made her feel dead, shameful and embarrassed on the inside. She stays away from everyone throughout the story for the most part to avoid the stares and the feeling she gets from them. She even has the idea to run away and actually decides to run away with Dimmesdale so she could feel freedom from the scarlet letter, which she actually feels for a brief moment in the forest. Towards the end after Dimmesdale dies and she is given a chance to escape she takes it but inevitably comes back on her own free will and takes upon her the shame which she left behind, accepting the face that she committed a crime and that she has to and that to redeem herself she must suffer the punishment of her crime where she committed it and she must do it alone.
2. Hawthorne uses a lot of figurative language, some of what he writes uses imagery like when he describes the burning scarlet letter. But what he uses the most are metaphors and similes like, " had so early borne the black flower of civilized society, a prison." and "The eloquent voice, on which the souls of the listening audience had been borne aloft as on the swelling waves of the sea, at length came to a pause." He also uses symbolism like when he calls Pearl the scarlet letter endowed with life or said that the weed was on the grave because it grew from the heart of a man with a terrible secret.
3. During Hester's time there was this thing going around known as being a "true woman". Hester is one of literatures first feminist because she threw off the shackles of being a "true woman". The first was committing adultery. Due to the oppression of being a "true woman" she was forced to marry a man she did not love and whom she admitted and told straight to his face she didn't. By committing adultery she gave her self the choice of being with the man she loved and she didn't regret it, but embraced what she did. The second was being a single mother. Throughout the seven-year period in the book she not only raised a child by herself, but she provided for the child by working all the while taking care of the household duties that needed to be done. She also didn't keep her daughter from expressing herself freely, she let her play in the streets while they were going through the market-place and didn't discipline her for standing up for herself and showing some real human emotions which seemed to go against the Puritan religion. She also defied the magistrates by not telling whom it was she committed adultery with and protesting the governor when he tried to take her child away from her. Her last act was trying to flee with Dimmesdale, Pearl, and leave behind all the shame which she brought up herself, so in a sense she was trying to defy the authority of the town and flee with the people and acts that made her a feminist.
4. The second scene acts as the climax because it reveals the answer to questions that the reader wants to know. Who was the one that Hester committed her crime with and who was Pearl's father? It also serves as the turning point in Dimmesdale and Chillingworth's relationship when Chillingworth's true motives is finally revealed to Dimmesdale, and he doesn't hesitate in letting Chillingworth know that he knows who he is. It also confirms Chillingworth's suspicions about Dimmesdale and lets him know that his cover is blown and getting revenge is going to be harder.
5. Pearl name is symbolic because like an actual pearl she is rare and a treasure to her mother. Her mother says that not only is she the object of her greatest affection but the object of her greatest suffering, and that she brings her great joy and pain. Thus she is her treasure and her burden that keeps her from making the same mistake and falling to sin again. Dimmesdale is symbolic because he is a dimwit, (DIMmesdale, DIMwit) seriously he isn't very bright. He knows that there is something wrong and that something or someone is watching him waiting for him to slip up, and he knows he gets the feeling every time Chillingworth is around, but he can't figure out for nothing that Chillingworth is the reason he is getting that feeling. Chillingworth is symbolic because of the chills he sends down Dimmesdale spine and uneasiness he makes Dimmesdale feel. Its also symbolic because it represents his how cold he is now compared to the warm affectionate man he used to be.
6. Hester attitude changes from a dead feeling to acceptance. At first she couldn’t stand having the letter on her chest and it made her feel dead, shameful and embarrassed on the inside. She stays away from everyone throughout the story for the most part to avoid the stares and the feeling she gets from them. She even has the idea to run away and actually decides to run away with Dimmesdale so she could feel freedom from the scarlet letter, which she actually feels for a brief moment in the forest. Towards the end after Dimmesdale dies and she is given a chance to escape she takes it but inevitably comes back on her own free will and takes upon her the shame which she left behind, accepting the face that she committed a crime and that she has to and that to redeem herself she must suffer the punishment of her crime where she committed it and she must do it alone.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The Scarlet Letter: Study Guide and Angry Rant
1. There are three different reasons why the author, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote the Custom House. He tells in the first two pages, what the reasons were and why he wrote them. The first reason he gave is because during the last time he wrote an autobiography about his dismal and boring life someone actually took the time to read it, so he thought to again seize the opportunity and write about his drawn out, incredibly dull time at the Custom House. His reason to seize this opportunity, he claims, was he wanted to write for the people who were like him, and therefore could understand him. His next reason for writing this 44-page sleeping pill was that he wanted to establish a relationship with the audience. This within itself makes no sense; I ask how are you to establish a relationship with anyone by annoying them and putting them to sleep!!!
His last and final reason for writing the introductory, which he claims is the real reason, was to establish his credibility as an editor and narrator, appeal to ethos. Also to let everyone who took the time to read this drivel of an introductory, that this is a story based on facts that he happened to find and how he found them.
2. Hawthorne admits to making two changes to the story that'll ultimately have an impact on the whole story. He first admits to adding a few details to give a small representation of some type of life that wasn't in the diary. Hawthorne doesn't go into detail about what exactly it is, but he says that it follows the story line and moves along with the characters involved in the story. He also admits to adding a character to the cast of the diary. He also doesn't go into detail about who the character is or what role the character plays.
3. These changes can have a lot of different impacts on the story. With the adding of details and a character that wasn't there to begin with, you're changing the whole story itself. You're adding in scenes that never took place, conversations that didn't happen, events that never took place, adding people to scenes that weren't there to begin with, the whole storyline. Basically these changes are falsifying the story in some areas and defeating the purpose of what the introductory was for, which was to establish Hawthorne's credibility. With him adding things and changing the story, how are we to believe that he didn’t add more than he said he did, or took some things out. That then opens up the question did he read everything right and add all the correct details. Therefore these changes have ruined the credibility of the author, the credibility of the story, and have overall made the whole story false, in some areas.
His last and final reason for writing the introductory, which he claims is the real reason, was to establish his credibility as an editor and narrator, appeal to ethos. Also to let everyone who took the time to read this drivel of an introductory, that this is a story based on facts that he happened to find and how he found them.
2. Hawthorne admits to making two changes to the story that'll ultimately have an impact on the whole story. He first admits to adding a few details to give a small representation of some type of life that wasn't in the diary. Hawthorne doesn't go into detail about what exactly it is, but he says that it follows the story line and moves along with the characters involved in the story. He also admits to adding a character to the cast of the diary. He also doesn't go into detail about who the character is or what role the character plays.
3. These changes can have a lot of different impacts on the story. With the adding of details and a character that wasn't there to begin with, you're changing the whole story itself. You're adding in scenes that never took place, conversations that didn't happen, events that never took place, adding people to scenes that weren't there to begin with, the whole storyline. Basically these changes are falsifying the story in some areas and defeating the purpose of what the introductory was for, which was to establish Hawthorne's credibility. With him adding things and changing the story, how are we to believe that he didn’t add more than he said he did, or took some things out. That then opens up the question did he read everything right and add all the correct details. Therefore these changes have ruined the credibility of the author, the credibility of the story, and have overall made the whole story false, in some areas.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Anne Bradstreet
Being a fan of poetry, I can spot a great piece of literary work, and I can truly say that Anne Bradstreet's poem The Author to Her Book is a great piece of literary work. This poem, like most of her work, is about her and her family, which she wrote during the times her husband, Governor Simon Bradstreet, was away on political duties (annebradstreet.com). She married him at the age of 16 after her parents, Thomas Dudley and Dorothy Yorke, took him in when his father died while they were living in Northampton, where Anne Bradstreet was born in 1612 (annebradstreet.com). She soon moved to the colonies in 1630, where her husband, father and his friend, John Winthrop, established a government in Boston (annebradstreet.com).
But instead of this being about her family this is about how she got her start. In this poem she makes great use of metaphors, syntax and diction. The first sign of this is when she calls her work an "ill-formed offspring of my feeble mind". Here she is referring to her work as one of her children, whom she has great love for and though she has vast knowledge (annebradstreet.com) she remains humble and calls it feeble, which would be wise since it was frowned upon for women to pursue intellectual endeavors, and publicly broadcast their opinions. She then says " who after birth didst by my side remain, till snatched from thence by friends, less wise than true, who thee abroad, exposed to public view, made thee in rags, halting to th' press to trudge". Here she talks about how she never meant for to be seen by public eyes for it was written for family and personal friends, until her brother-in-law, John Woodridge, had it published in England, though it wasn't perfected (annebradstreet.com). Her next couple of lines say "at thy return by blushing was not small, my rambling brat (in print) should mother call, I cast thee by as one unfit for light, thy visage was so irksome in my sight". Here she talks about when she got a copy of the published edition and how she despised looking at it with its imperfection.. She then says " yet being my own, at length affection would thy blemishes amend, if so I could: I washed thy face, but more defects I saw, and rubbing off a spot still made a flaw" and " in better dress to trim thee was my mind, but nought save homespun cloth I th' house I find". Here she tells of how since the work was hers, she tried making it better and perfecting it, but it never came out quite perfect.
As I said, this is a great piece of literary work, with excellent use of metaphors, syntax, and diction. She has a great and brilliant mind and it’s a shame she had to stifle her creativity from the world due to the restrictions placed on women. I find it a true pleasure to be able to read her work.
But instead of this being about her family this is about how she got her start. In this poem she makes great use of metaphors, syntax and diction. The first sign of this is when she calls her work an "ill-formed offspring of my feeble mind". Here she is referring to her work as one of her children, whom she has great love for and though she has vast knowledge (annebradstreet.com) she remains humble and calls it feeble, which would be wise since it was frowned upon for women to pursue intellectual endeavors, and publicly broadcast their opinions. She then says " who after birth didst by my side remain, till snatched from thence by friends, less wise than true, who thee abroad, exposed to public view, made thee in rags, halting to th' press to trudge". Here she talks about how she never meant for to be seen by public eyes for it was written for family and personal friends, until her brother-in-law, John Woodridge, had it published in England, though it wasn't perfected (annebradstreet.com). Her next couple of lines say "at thy return by blushing was not small, my rambling brat (in print) should mother call, I cast thee by as one unfit for light, thy visage was so irksome in my sight". Here she talks about when she got a copy of the published edition and how she despised looking at it with its imperfection.. She then says " yet being my own, at length affection would thy blemishes amend, if so I could: I washed thy face, but more defects I saw, and rubbing off a spot still made a flaw" and " in better dress to trim thee was my mind, but nought save homespun cloth I th' house I find". Here she tells of how since the work was hers, she tried making it better and perfecting it, but it never came out quite perfect.
As I said, this is a great piece of literary work, with excellent use of metaphors, syntax, and diction. She has a great and brilliant mind and it’s a shame she had to stifle her creativity from the world due to the restrictions placed on women. I find it a true pleasure to be able to read her work.
Friday, September 12, 2008
This image depicts Cabeza De Vaca's rise to power amongst the indian tribes he dwelt with. Though he suffered from hunger and pain, he was allowed to due as he wished as he went from tribe to tribe and became immersed in their culture. He also mapped out a pretty good life for himself due to his skills as a merchant and a healer. Soon the tribes came to respect him and follow him and listen to what he had to say as he gained rank.
Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca
Just as Christopher Columbus, Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca was a fortunate individual. He was the grandson of a conqueror, son of an alderman, and descendant of a war hero. Unfortunately for him, he was destined to be a great as his ancestors. He endured many hardships upon the Panfilo de Narvaez's expedition. Under Narvaez's leadership, a quarter of his men deserted him, and all six ships he had went missing leaving Narvaez, Cabeza De Vaca, and the rest of the army stranded on Sarasota Bay, and abandonment by Narvaez, who became lost at sea, on Mobile Bay, and eventually becoming prisoner and slave of an Indian tribe. Though he had this run of bad fortune, things started looking up when he gained rank and power amongst the different tribes he was sent to due to his skills as a merchant and healer. But still he had a time of difficulty During the time he spent he with the different tribes he became immersed in their culture and managed to record his time with them.
First it starts with the life of the Malhado's and their way of life. He describes in such amazement how their weapon of choice is an arrow, how the men pierce themselves in the lips and chest, and how the women work consistently for their families. The part that seems to astonish him the most is the villages love for the children, and how they go to great lengths to protect them, and that if a child dies the whole village joins with the child's family and grieves over, celebrates them, and literally starve themselves for three whole months. What also astonishes him was that children were breastfed until the age of twelve, so they can be nourished till they're old enough to support themselves. Next he talks about how when a daughter gets married her husband and her parents stay completely away from each other, and that whatever food her husband kills or catches goes straight to the parents and in return they feed him. He also talks about the harsh life he had among the Avavres and Arbadaos. He talks about intense hunger that he and his group go through and how they only ate two handfuls of pears a day. He mentions how because they were naked most of the time, as is the custom, that the sun and air caused them great pain and that when they carried something it only made it worst because the cords cut into their flesh and made them bleed, just like the thorns when they were gathering wood. But he says he finds comfort and gets over it by thinking about how Jesus Christ shed His blood for him and how much greater punishment he went through than he was at that time. He also describes the time of great prosperity for him because he was able to feed himself due to his merchant skills.
Lastly he tells of the men who are childless to leave their wives, if there is a disagreement and to return when they felt, and how men with children never abandon their wives or child no matter what takes place. If only that custom still existed. He also talks about the power of friendship amongst the people. He tells of how when there is an argument between two men that they fist-fight until they are exhausted and separate for quite some time and come back when ready and act as if nothing took place and become and remain friends. He also tells of his joy when he realized that they were close to being rescued, but how that quickly changed to anger when the captain, Diego de Alcaraz, tried to make slaves of the natives that were so kind and hospitable to Cabeza De Vaca and his group.
First it starts with the life of the Malhado's and their way of life. He describes in such amazement how their weapon of choice is an arrow, how the men pierce themselves in the lips and chest, and how the women work consistently for their families. The part that seems to astonish him the most is the villages love for the children, and how they go to great lengths to protect them, and that if a child dies the whole village joins with the child's family and grieves over, celebrates them, and literally starve themselves for three whole months. What also astonishes him was that children were breastfed until the age of twelve, so they can be nourished till they're old enough to support themselves. Next he talks about how when a daughter gets married her husband and her parents stay completely away from each other, and that whatever food her husband kills or catches goes straight to the parents and in return they feed him. He also talks about the harsh life he had among the Avavres and Arbadaos. He talks about intense hunger that he and his group go through and how they only ate two handfuls of pears a day. He mentions how because they were naked most of the time, as is the custom, that the sun and air caused them great pain and that when they carried something it only made it worst because the cords cut into their flesh and made them bleed, just like the thorns when they were gathering wood. But he says he finds comfort and gets over it by thinking about how Jesus Christ shed His blood for him and how much greater punishment he went through than he was at that time. He also describes the time of great prosperity for him because he was able to feed himself due to his merchant skills.
Lastly he tells of the men who are childless to leave their wives, if there is a disagreement and to return when they felt, and how men with children never abandon their wives or child no matter what takes place. If only that custom still existed. He also talks about the power of friendship amongst the people. He tells of how when there is an argument between two men that they fist-fight until they are exhausted and separate for quite some time and come back when ready and act as if nothing took place and become and remain friends. He also tells of his joy when he realized that they were close to being rescued, but how that quickly changed to anger when the captain, Diego de Alcaraz, tried to make slaves of the natives that were so kind and hospitable to Cabeza De Vaca and his group.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Christopher Columbus
During his lifetime, Christopher Columbus was fortunate enough to gain the favor of the Spanish monarchs of his time, Ferdinand and Isabella, and to have gone on a series of voyages. Though Columbus was fortunate to do this, he unfortunately failed as all of his four voyages ended in failure. His first voyage, taking place in 1492, was to the island of Hispaniola. There he met the native tribe of the Taino and had good relations with them, until the settlers he brought and left exhausted the relationship from their demands of gold and sexual partners. The same disorder took place in his second voyage, during 1496 in Cuba and Jamaica, and soon he was forced to return to Spain to answer charges made against him by the Europeans of the Indies. His third voyage took him to South America, where he thought he had found paradise, but upon his return to Hispaniola he found the settlers openly defying his authority and had enslaved the Taino. He was then turned on and arrested and sent back to Spain to face more charges. His fourth and final voyage made him experience a time of suffering in Panama and shipwrecked in Jamaica. He was soon rescued and returned home, where he later died. In the midst of the despair he faced he managed to record down, seemingly sentimental details of his first voyage, and outrage and hatred for those involved in his second to fourth voyage. The letters he wrote were appealing to emotion, or pathos.
In his first voyage Columbus went to the island of Hispaniola. In his letter to Luis de Santangel, he described what he saw with such awe and amazement. He described the islands as marvelous, and the people who inhabited it innumerable. He also used words like beautiful, and wonder as he talks of the landscape, the animals, and the population. In the end he calls it a marvel.
Though he describe what he saw in such amazement in his first voyage, that changed after years of torment and persecution by his rebellious settlers, as perfectly shown in his letter to the Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella. He is writing this on the Island of Jamaica, where he was currently shipwrecked and " alone in my trouble, sick, in daily expectation of death, and encompassed about by a million savages". Here he writes in anger about his situation and the ill wrong dealt him. He says he can't help but to weep every time he thinks about Espanola in its exhausted state, and that not only the person responsible for what happened and his children, but also everyone that was involved should reap the consequences of what happened. He also describes the situation when he, even though the king favored him, was arrested and tortured without a trial or sentence, and how he has been dishonored, and how he wishes punishment to him where punishment is due and the restoration of his honor. He lastly describes how not only is his reputation ruined, but he is ruined spiritually.
Though he had experienced rough times and torment, and a time of peace and serenity, Columbus was still nonetheless a failure, and it's a terrible shame. He was given the chance to sail the world, was favored by the king and queen, but was turned on by his own people, leaving him tired and his reputation destroyed. He led a good, but at the same time a horrible life. He was a failed hero.
In his first voyage Columbus went to the island of Hispaniola. In his letter to Luis de Santangel, he described what he saw with such awe and amazement. He described the islands as marvelous, and the people who inhabited it innumerable. He also used words like beautiful, and wonder as he talks of the landscape, the animals, and the population. In the end he calls it a marvel.
Though he describe what he saw in such amazement in his first voyage, that changed after years of torment and persecution by his rebellious settlers, as perfectly shown in his letter to the Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella. He is writing this on the Island of Jamaica, where he was currently shipwrecked and " alone in my trouble, sick, in daily expectation of death, and encompassed about by a million savages". Here he writes in anger about his situation and the ill wrong dealt him. He says he can't help but to weep every time he thinks about Espanola in its exhausted state, and that not only the person responsible for what happened and his children, but also everyone that was involved should reap the consequences of what happened. He also describes the situation when he, even though the king favored him, was arrested and tortured without a trial or sentence, and how he has been dishonored, and how he wishes punishment to him where punishment is due and the restoration of his honor. He lastly describes how not only is his reputation ruined, but he is ruined spiritually.
Though he had experienced rough times and torment, and a time of peace and serenity, Columbus was still nonetheless a failure, and it's a terrible shame. He was given the chance to sail the world, was favored by the king and queen, but was turned on by his own people, leaving him tired and his reputation destroyed. He led a good, but at the same time a horrible life. He was a failed hero.
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