Ysidoro
194
The author is talking in first person.
- Title divine is mine.
The marriage is sacred accordingly with the gospel of Christ.
- The Wife without the Sign- / Acute Degree conferred on me - / Empress of Cavalry – Royal, all but the Crown -
She represents an empress without crown. Cavalry represents the husbandry institution..
- Betrothed, without the Swoon
Marriage indeed is not an award.
- God gives us Women/ When You hold Garnet to Garnet/ Gold to Gold/ Born – Bridalled – Shrouded/ In a Day/ Tri Victory.
Women cannot escape three elements of their destiny: born, marriage, and death; and support the men in their struggles for battles, and glory. Then women become like the queen of the arms: infantry; the soldiers (women) of the front. Regardless of men winning or losing battles women take the worst part of it.
- “My husband” Women say/ Stroking the Melody/ Is this the way.
Women are more intrinsically tied to men than men to women (during the XIX century this was common). Women should ask themselves: is it the marriage worthy?
Conclusion.
Marriage should be abolished as it is; women need more freedom in order to decide by themselves. Dickinson represents the advocate of women of her time.
225
Being a wife represents a terrible situation that is safer for women to be death than alive, even though they are the Czar of the house, their submissive destiny is insurmountable. We go back again to the first poem and found the same reason: the situation of women in the XIX century, they lack educational opportunities, and mostly stayed at home taking care of the children.
269
This is a courtly love poem. The courtly love appears around XII – XIII century in Europe. One of the first stories is “Tristan and Isolde,” (composed ca.1210) which it is represented later by the Richard Wagner opera of the same name. Courtly love represents the love in poems, all the scenes and action in love just in words, the lovers maybe never even get into sexual relation but vivid words.
This poem represents metaphorically the intensity of the sexual encounter. The intensity of love cannot b changed for any natural element, e.g. the winds. The compass and the chart represent the male and female genital organs. The compass penetrates the chart. Im thee means during the intercourse they are both like one.
Besides the sultry meaning of this poem, the author is exposing the woman as simple object of sexual desire. In another words women are cursed by love.
407
William Ernest Henley (1849 – 1903) was a famous English poet wrote “Invictus,” the last two lines of this poem: “I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.” Means we built our own destiny or we create our own havoc.
Poem 407 represents our own destiny, we create our own destruction. We create the material world, and we built the hate that conducts us to our self-destruction.
591
It is a funeral reported by the deceased. All the steps of a funeral are represented in this poem. The fly is the symbol of the death. The stillness in the room happens when mourners remain silent before the body is taken away in a coffin. The had wrung dry of much crying, no more crying; the coffin is taken away. The deceased want her body to be taken away. There interposed a fly with blue uncertain stumbling buzz, means the death is coming for hi/her flesh. The windows failed, and then I could not see to see,” means the coffin is closed and his/her existence is gone. The spirit cannot see the material world.
764
In the last stanza is the whole meaning of this religious poem where death is the speaker and God is the Master. The death is controlled by the wish of God. The death has the power to kill but no power to die. It is God who controls death. From the previous stanzas we can see death is brutal, bloody.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Final Exam Review Sheet
Final Exam Review and Reminders
The final will be divided into three portions:
- Short Answer (30 minutes). These will include fill in the blank, author recognition questions, and brief historical facts.
- 2 Short Essay (15 minutes each). Each essay is only expected to be about 5-6 sentences, where you answer two of three questions in a thorough way.
- 1 Long Essay (30-45 minutes). Of two given essay topics, you will write a more thorough and detailed essay. I do not expect you to be able to quote from memory the texts here, but I do expect you to be able to refer to specifics of the author or authors in question. This essay requires use of your formal writing abilities, so make sure you take time to organize your points, outline, and develop a thesis.
Study Tips
- As stated above, quotation will not be expected. Know the specifics of each writer’s work, and be able to think and write extemporaneously about each.
- Although I will give extra time should you need it, don’t think that taking 90 minutes for the final essay will guarantee an A. Make productive use of your time and understand I expect the kind of quality essay that can be written in the specified time.
- Think thematically, particularly for the essay questions. The midterm is a chance to synthesize the all the readings we have done and make some connections across writers and time periods.
- Know the trajectory of the writers we’ve read, but don’t get hung up on dates or the specifics of history. I won’t ask questions like “what year was Weiland published?”
Some Recurring Themes to Consider
--Homes and Domesticity--Representations of Slaves, Black Americans, and Native Americans
--The poetic developments of Whitman and Dickinson
--Nature and the changing landscape of the nineteenth century
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl By Harriet Jacobs
In the opening narrative Linda Brent talks about how she was fortunate and never fell like a slave during her early childhood till the age of 6. Here Linda introduces her father, though she does acknowledge that he is a slave she goes the great distance to point out all the qualities he possesses that were not the typical qualities in a slaved man, hence “…Was a carpenter and considered so intelligent and skilful in his trade, that when buildings out of the common line were to be erected, he was sent for from long distances, to be head workman”. In the opening of the narrative Linda also introduces her maternal grandmother whom later on we learn will become the center stone in Brent’s life. Her grandmother is given permission from her mistress to open a bakery shop and is able to make extra income which she is planning to save it and use it in the future to purchase the freedom of her grandchildren. Again here we see another quality not much seeing in other slaves. Though they were slaves I had the impression from the opening of the narrative that Brent and her Family were somewhat, if I dare say, fortunate in their lives as slaves. When Linda is 12 years old her mistress dies and Linda is sold to the daughter of her mistress sister whom is 5 years old. Dr. Flint had married the sister of Linda's mistress, and Linda is now the property of their young daughter.
Dr. Flint becomes obsess with Linda. He sexually and physically abuses her. When Linda falls in love with a free Negro man Linda asks Dr, Flint permission to marry him. Dr. Flint becomes violent and strikes at her. Fearing for the life of her lover, Linda tells the free Negro man to life town and forgets about her. Dr. Flint becomes Linda’s nightmare throughout the narrative. Dr. Flints tries countless times to try to win Linda’s Submission. He tries to plan a trip for him, Linda and other slaves to Louisiana but after sending his son to view the conditions of such place the son comes back with unfavorable news to Linda’s advantage. Linda comes up with her own scheme and become the mistress of Mr. Sands, an unmarried, white lawyer who has shown an interest in her. They have sexual relations and Linda becomes pregnant from him. Linda knew that by doing so Dr. Flint would remove her from his plantation. The first child was a boy. Later she bears another child, a girl, from Mr. Sands. She decides to escape the mall treatment of Dr. Flints and hides her self in her grandmothers house for seven years/ Later she lives the South with her children and finds hospitality with the Bruce family whom eventually buy her freedom from Dr. Flints daughter.
Summary Above
Analysis and thoughts below
I found the narrative fascinating. It was easy to read, though I have some difficulty following the family tree for both Linda’s family and their original owners.
Though I mentioned above that Linda and her family were “fortunate” in their lives as slave, it is a common theme in the narrative that there are no good masters. Many times throughout the narrative I kept waiting for one of the many masters or mistresses to grant them their freedom believing that their close ties to them would mean such thing.
The narrative was filled with many different human behavior and emotions, Mrs. Flint jealousy towards Linda due to her husband’s affixation with Linda. Dr. Flint’s animalistic and brute behavior towards Linda. He reminded me of a little boy who gets into a tantrum fit when they don’t get what they want. Linda’s grandmother was most beloved and supportive. Mrs. Bruce’s selflessness finally gave Linda and her children what her parents and grandmother so anxiously wanted for her.
Vanessa Martinez.
Dr. Flint becomes obsess with Linda. He sexually and physically abuses her. When Linda falls in love with a free Negro man Linda asks Dr, Flint permission to marry him. Dr. Flint becomes violent and strikes at her. Fearing for the life of her lover, Linda tells the free Negro man to life town and forgets about her. Dr. Flint becomes Linda’s nightmare throughout the narrative. Dr. Flints tries countless times to try to win Linda’s Submission. He tries to plan a trip for him, Linda and other slaves to Louisiana but after sending his son to view the conditions of such place the son comes back with unfavorable news to Linda’s advantage. Linda comes up with her own scheme and become the mistress of Mr. Sands, an unmarried, white lawyer who has shown an interest in her. They have sexual relations and Linda becomes pregnant from him. Linda knew that by doing so Dr. Flint would remove her from his plantation. The first child was a boy. Later she bears another child, a girl, from Mr. Sands. She decides to escape the mall treatment of Dr. Flints and hides her self in her grandmothers house for seven years/ Later she lives the South with her children and finds hospitality with the Bruce family whom eventually buy her freedom from Dr. Flints daughter.
Summary Above
Analysis and thoughts below
I found the narrative fascinating. It was easy to read, though I have some difficulty following the family tree for both Linda’s family and their original owners.
Though I mentioned above that Linda and her family were “fortunate” in their lives as slave, it is a common theme in the narrative that there are no good masters. Many times throughout the narrative I kept waiting for one of the many masters or mistresses to grant them their freedom believing that their close ties to them would mean such thing.
The narrative was filled with many different human behavior and emotions, Mrs. Flint jealousy towards Linda due to her husband’s affixation with Linda. Dr. Flint’s animalistic and brute behavior towards Linda. He reminded me of a little boy who gets into a tantrum fit when they don’t get what they want. Linda’s grandmother was most beloved and supportive. Mrs. Bruce’s selflessness finally gave Linda and her children what her parents and grandmother so anxiously wanted for her.
Vanessa Martinez.
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
In the reading, Narrative of the Life by Frederick Douglass, Douglass recalls the experiences of slavery in Maryland. Though many may argue about the lack of severity of Douglass's enslavement compared to others, any enslavement is horrific. In his childhood account, one must show sympathy for Douglass and others like him. Imagine the thought of not knowing your age and having to guess your birthday. The cruelty to slaves like witnessed by Douglass as a slave was so unbearable that he could not even explain in words. We see this in the lines "I wish I could commit to paper the feelings with which I beheld it." Being part of something so terrible allowed for Douglass to be brave enough in teaching himself many things once being introduced to the alphabet by a mistress. From slavery to freedom Douglass's recollection of his masters and their attempts to keep him blacks enslaved created the fire beneath him that would empower him to become the successful abolitionist he became. Douglass's text uses "lion" several times. This is a metaphor for the delegation of power between slaves and masters, blacks and whites. I believe this was to show those who really held power. Douglass was proved himself to be a prime example of this.
---Chanel Merchant----
---Chanel Merchant----
Sunday, April 26, 2009
House of the Seven Gables by Hawthorne
House of the Seven Gables that tells the story of the Pyncheon family. In order to explain some of the misfortunes the family undergoes as the present unfolds, the narrator takes us back to late 1600's, where a mysterious curse is conjured on the Pyncheons. The main reason for it was directly begotten by the building of the house of the seven gables, where generations of Pyncheons would perish. Matthew Maule, the original owner of the lot where the house was built, was stripped of his property by Colonel Pyncheon, a strict and greedy character, who was obsessed with building a house at the up-and-coming area. When Maule was hanged, he allegedly cursed the Pyncheons from the scaffold for having disgraced him and his family. At the house inauguration party, Colonel Pyncheon was found dead in his study, with his beard covered in blood. Although this was the first Pyncheon to die within the house of the seven gables, he would not be the last
Hepzibah is the surviving member of the Pyncheon family as the narrator closes in on the present. By this time, the Pyncheons are not the affluent household name they once were, in fact, Hepzibah is forced to open a store in the lowelevel of the house in order to keep from starvation. She is often visited by her young cousin, Phoebe, who eventually begins living at the house. Other Pyncheons begin to show up at the house as well, Clifford Pyncheon, Hepzibah's brother, who had been in prison, and Judge Pyncheon, who offers Hepzibah financial support. The funniest thing is that Holgrave, the house's only lodger, seems to know more about the Pyncheons than themselves. He tells Phoebe about how 100 years earlier, Alice Pyncheon was hypnotized by Matthew Maule, a carpenter and descendant of the original Matthew Maule, as part of a deal between her father and the carpenter. The purpose of this was to find Colonel's Pyncheon missing deed in exchange for the house and land. The awakened spirit of Maule prevent Colonel Pyncheon from revealing the secret, leaving Alice in a mortal trance.
The House of the Seven Gables not only gathers but keeps the Pyncheon family history alive. Through time, we see the family prosper and fall on its luck, but ultimately the house, as a symbol of unbreakable family ties, lives on.
Diana Sanchez
Hepzibah is the surviving member of the Pyncheon family as the narrator closes in on the present. By this time, the Pyncheons are not the affluent household name they once were, in fact, Hepzibah is forced to open a store in the lowelevel of the house in order to keep from starvation. She is often visited by her young cousin, Phoebe, who eventually begins living at the house. Other Pyncheons begin to show up at the house as well, Clifford Pyncheon, Hepzibah's brother, who had been in prison, and Judge Pyncheon, who offers Hepzibah financial support. The funniest thing is that Holgrave, the house's only lodger, seems to know more about the Pyncheons than themselves. He tells Phoebe about how 100 years earlier, Alice Pyncheon was hypnotized by Matthew Maule, a carpenter and descendant of the original Matthew Maule, as part of a deal between her father and the carpenter. The purpose of this was to find Colonel's Pyncheon missing deed in exchange for the house and land. The awakened spirit of Maule prevent Colonel Pyncheon from revealing the secret, leaving Alice in a mortal trance.
The House of the Seven Gables not only gathers but keeps the Pyncheon family history alive. Through time, we see the family prosper and fall on its luck, but ultimately the house, as a symbol of unbreakable family ties, lives on.
Diana Sanchez
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Benito Cerano by Herman Melville
Melville's "Benito Cereno" is interesting in its depiction of slavery. In the end, it is unclear whether Melville's intention is to promote the idea that slaves were in fact lesser beings with violent tendencies or, perhaps more controversially, he was examining the possibility that slaves were equal beings- capable of enslaving their white owners with intelligence and cunning. In this last observation it is important to note that the slaves utilized not only brute strength but their intellectual abilities (specifically Babo's abilities) to enslave the white officers.
Babo is portrayed as a loyal slave with an odd relationship to his "master", Cerano. He appears, to Delano, to be doting and caring with Cerano. In fact, Delano says he would like to purchase Babo for himself. That Babo can fool Delano and his men is testament to the fact that he is capable of complex thought and planning. Delano is also incredibly slow in unfolding the truth of the situation on Cerano's ship. I believe Melville purposely drags the narrative to reinforce Delano's inability to discover the slave rebellion until Cerano literally lays it at his feet. Melville seems to juxtapose Babo's cleverness with Delano's limited imagination and lagged abilities of discernment. The traditional roles of slave and owner are reversed here.
It's true, in the end Babo is sentenced to death and seemingly sentenced to justice. Perhaps to the casual reader, Babo's resulting death is yet another fitting end to the fairy tale where the villain is eventually discovered and punished. However, the last lines of Delano's conversation with Cerano present another possibility. Cerano does not seem able to recover from his ordeal and he dies shortly after Babo's sentence is carried out. When Delano questions his mental state- why he cannot recover, "what has caused this shadow over you"- Cerano replies, "the negro." Yes, Melville seems to be saying that Babo has cruelly left his mark on Cerano but Melville also has Cerano suffer a similar end. Perhaps Cerano's end was deserved as he is a villain himself. Cerano suffers a cruel demise for his role as slave trader (an inhuman occupation) as Babo suffers a violent end for his inhuman behavior towards the sailors. Whether Cerano's occupation was justified by the commonality of it and Babo's actions justified by the obvious horrors he was subjected to as a slave, a simple truth remains: they were both (as equal members of the human race) capable of inhuman behavior. In the same vein, they were also both capable of heroic behavior- Cerano in his attempt to save the lives of Delano and his men and Babo in his leadership and attempt to save his own people from enslavement.
- Irma Suarez
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
HERMAN MELVILLE "DON BENITO"
Benito Cereno and Amasa Delano are both captains of their own ships. Don Benito is a Spaniard and Captain Delano the American. Herman Melville gives us a Peter Pan story of two ships, Don Benito’s “San Dominick” and Captain Delano’s “Bachelor’s Delight”. Don Benito’s ship is described as a “negro ship” that looks deadly and full of sickness from its voyagers.
“Negro transportation- ship as the stranger in port was. But, in one language, and as with one voice, all poured out a common tale of suffering in which the negresses, of whom there were not a few, exceeded the others in their dolorous vehemence.” (2408).
The word “negresses” is used often by Melville. Africans are view as lower class and uncivilized throughout the passages. “All six, unlike the generality, had the raw aspect of unsophisticated Africans” (2409). Many prejudice remarks are made by Melville. Although Don Benito ship seems like hell for the Africans, Captain Delano didn’t approve of Babo. Babo becomes the third and African captain of the Dominick ship.
Don Benito is described as a Spaniard that has sudden mood changes, he is also described as selfish, rich and independent. The American, Captain Delano is “peter pan”. Delano is nice generous, friendly and he comes to the rescue of Don Benito in the end. Babo’s closeness to Don Benito,1. Because he is African, 2. Because he seems to influence Don Benito’s decisions, 3. He is the captain of the slaves, and 4. Because he is aware that many white men were lost when the ship got hit hard by the winds which cause fevers and deaths on board.
Don Benito’s character and ship are seen as irrational. The ship seems as a prison for the slaves. This made Delano think twice before helping Don Benito. In a certain part of the story, Captain Delano wanted Babo, he wanted to buy him from Don Benito and I was wondering if Captain Delano was willing to buy him just so he can kill him. Babo seems to be in charge of the ship more then Don Benito. Don Benito’s character also changes towards the end he becomes more talkative, he becomes more American I suppose.
Melville has one small description of the African women in “Benito Cerano”
“This incident prompted him to remark the other negresses more particularly than before. He was gratified with their manners: like most uncivilized women, they seemed at once tender of heart and tough of constitution: equally ready to die for their infants or fight for them. Unsophisticated as leopardesses: loving as doves”. (2427)
In the end both Don Benito and Captain Delano were not sure about each others intentions. Delano wonders and ask himself questions all over whether or not he should believe and help Don Benito. Don Benito becomes grateful and owes his life to Delano the American Captain and savior of not only Don Benito’s life but as well as his ship. A couple of witnesses tell the story of Babo’s plans and ideas of revolting. Babo and the other slaves saw an opportunity to be free and try to take advantage of it by revolting against Don Benito. This attempt failed and Babo was killed, his head was on a pole in a plaza. Babo becomes Captain of his own ship in the end; he also follows his master Don Benito to his journey to Peru.
----- TIMUR BRAVO
“Negro transportation- ship as the stranger in port was. But, in one language, and as with one voice, all poured out a common tale of suffering in which the negresses, of whom there were not a few, exceeded the others in their dolorous vehemence.” (2408).
The word “negresses” is used often by Melville. Africans are view as lower class and uncivilized throughout the passages. “All six, unlike the generality, had the raw aspect of unsophisticated Africans” (2409). Many prejudice remarks are made by Melville. Although Don Benito ship seems like hell for the Africans, Captain Delano didn’t approve of Babo. Babo becomes the third and African captain of the Dominick ship.
Don Benito is described as a Spaniard that has sudden mood changes, he is also described as selfish, rich and independent. The American, Captain Delano is “peter pan”. Delano is nice generous, friendly and he comes to the rescue of Don Benito in the end. Babo’s closeness to Don Benito,1. Because he is African, 2. Because he seems to influence Don Benito’s decisions, 3. He is the captain of the slaves, and 4. Because he is aware that many white men were lost when the ship got hit hard by the winds which cause fevers and deaths on board.
Don Benito’s character and ship are seen as irrational. The ship seems as a prison for the slaves. This made Delano think twice before helping Don Benito. In a certain part of the story, Captain Delano wanted Babo, he wanted to buy him from Don Benito and I was wondering if Captain Delano was willing to buy him just so he can kill him. Babo seems to be in charge of the ship more then Don Benito. Don Benito’s character also changes towards the end he becomes more talkative, he becomes more American I suppose.
Melville has one small description of the African women in “Benito Cerano”
“This incident prompted him to remark the other negresses more particularly than before. He was gratified with their manners: like most uncivilized women, they seemed at once tender of heart and tough of constitution: equally ready to die for their infants or fight for them. Unsophisticated as leopardesses: loving as doves”. (2427)
In the end both Don Benito and Captain Delano were not sure about each others intentions. Delano wonders and ask himself questions all over whether or not he should believe and help Don Benito. Don Benito becomes grateful and owes his life to Delano the American Captain and savior of not only Don Benito’s life but as well as his ship. A couple of witnesses tell the story of Babo’s plans and ideas of revolting. Babo and the other slaves saw an opportunity to be free and try to take advantage of it by revolting against Don Benito. This attempt failed and Babo was killed, his head was on a pole in a plaza. Babo becomes Captain of his own ship in the end; he also follows his master Don Benito to his journey to Peru.
----- TIMUR BRAVO
Sunday, April 5, 2009
John Augustus Stone: "Metamora"
John Augustus Stone chooses Metacomet as his inspiration to write a play about an "aboriginal" American hero. Metamora, chief of the Wampanoags, is a classic hero; he wants to protect his family and his people, and hopes for peace with a race who do not wish to have peace with him.
Metamora’s good character was especially evident to me when he said, “If my rarest enemy had crept unarmed into my wigwam and his heart was sore, I would not have driven him from my fire nor forbidden him to lie down upon my mat.” (p 21)
There is such a difference seen between the English and the Indians, even when they are helping each other; there is no impression of them ever living in peace together. He saves Oceana and is thanked for it, but he is still seen as a heathen in her eyes. I think the relationship between Metamora, Walt and Oceana in this play is done in a way to make each side seem capable of being kindhearted and sympathetic for one another. Often in stories, one side is the bad while the other is seen as the good.
I wonder how the people of this time (not including the Native Americans) felt about this play as they watched it. The English are portrayed in such an abominable light, while the Indians are sincere and peaceful.
Well, except for Annawandah, but anyway…
Metamora will do anything for the safety of his tribe, yet Mordaunt is prepared to hand his daughter over to marry a man she doesn’t wish to marry, to save his own life.
Other than Oceana and Walt, there is no benevolence seen among the English. We see the English pillage against the Indians as we have read previously, and see the many values of the Indians who were considered uncivilized. It's interesting to point out because the entire situation was and still is ironic!
Nahmeokee strikes me as very soft spoken and her character is a significant part of this story, because without her, I don’t think Metamora could have the will power to be the hero that he is. She is very peaceful and brings a sort of calm to Metamora. Meta tells Nah that their son will not be the white man’s slave and she responds by saying, “Thy talk is strange, and fear creeps over me.” (p 18) She is so peaceful and sadly, her life is completely destroyed. She is imprisoned, and then tortured when she is free, because she is free amongst people who want to harm her. Her child dies and towards the end Metamora kills her as the “pale faces” are coming to attack them. I wasn't expecting that, at all. Meta explains his actions by saying, "She felt no white man's bondage." (p 39) Pretty powerful; He kills her instead of watching her become a white man's slave. I think it's weird that he stabs his wife, but at the same time, how could he watch her enter slavery, torture, or death by the hands of the English?
In Act III, a prevalent theme in Native American stories (in my opinion, anyway) is seen when Oceana says, “Fiends and murderers!” to which Metamora replies, “The white man has made us such. Prepare.” (p 28) I think no matter how many times a person can read something along those lines; the effect of it is always powerful.
Luigia Gregory
Metamora’s good character was especially evident to me when he said, “If my rarest enemy had crept unarmed into my wigwam and his heart was sore, I would not have driven him from my fire nor forbidden him to lie down upon my mat.” (p 21)
There is such a difference seen between the English and the Indians, even when they are helping each other; there is no impression of them ever living in peace together. He saves Oceana and is thanked for it, but he is still seen as a heathen in her eyes. I think the relationship between Metamora, Walt and Oceana in this play is done in a way to make each side seem capable of being kindhearted and sympathetic for one another. Often in stories, one side is the bad while the other is seen as the good.
I wonder how the people of this time (not including the Native Americans) felt about this play as they watched it. The English are portrayed in such an abominable light, while the Indians are sincere and peaceful.
Well, except for Annawandah, but anyway…
Metamora will do anything for the safety of his tribe, yet Mordaunt is prepared to hand his daughter over to marry a man she doesn’t wish to marry, to save his own life.
Other than Oceana and Walt, there is no benevolence seen among the English. We see the English pillage against the Indians as we have read previously, and see the many values of the Indians who were considered uncivilized. It's interesting to point out because the entire situation was and still is ironic!
Nahmeokee strikes me as very soft spoken and her character is a significant part of this story, because without her, I don’t think Metamora could have the will power to be the hero that he is. She is very peaceful and brings a sort of calm to Metamora. Meta tells Nah that their son will not be the white man’s slave and she responds by saying, “Thy talk is strange, and fear creeps over me.” (p 18) She is so peaceful and sadly, her life is completely destroyed. She is imprisoned, and then tortured when she is free, because she is free amongst people who want to harm her. Her child dies and towards the end Metamora kills her as the “pale faces” are coming to attack them. I wasn't expecting that, at all. Meta explains his actions by saying, "She felt no white man's bondage." (p 39) Pretty powerful; He kills her instead of watching her become a white man's slave. I think it's weird that he stabs his wife, but at the same time, how could he watch her enter slavery, torture, or death by the hands of the English?
In Act III, a prevalent theme in Native American stories (in my opinion, anyway) is seen when Oceana says, “Fiends and murderers!” to which Metamora replies, “The white man has made us such. Prepare.” (p 28) I think no matter how many times a person can read something along those lines; the effect of it is always powerful.
Luigia Gregory
Pros and Cons of Emerson's "Self-Reliance"
Emerson’s “Self-Reliance" pretty much speaks for it self. It emphasizes people’s need to really rely on their selves, to not focus on being accepted by society, and to really focus on being an individual instead of having some kind of a desperate need of belonging to a community which I can say I do agree with, however, the idea of self-reliance here can be dangerous, can cause isolation, and it is a bit too idealistic. It is sound when Emerson brings up the issue of people who let go of their dreams or of their ideas just because they are afraid of how society perceives them. They easily let go of their dreams and allow other people who are not afraid of society’s opinion to steal their ideas, basically, it is better to follow your own thought, no matter how ridiculous it may seem or someone else will take that idea and run with it. Also, the idea of hard work and its consequences (good) are also emphasized in Emerson’s “Self-Reliance” which can be seen when he states, “A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart in his work and done his best”. There is no other feeling than feeling proud when you have worked so hard for something and you gave your whole heart into it and it becomes successful. The accomplishment makes you feel confident that you can do anything.
Although, I do agree with most of Emerson’s rhetoric, there were some statements that can be dangerous if used for the wrong reasons. When someone starts throwing out phrases like “the only right is what is after my constitution, the only wrong what is against it or What I must do, is all that concerns me, not that people think”, it becomes dangerous especially when read by, shall we say, a very angry, messed up (mentally), and lonely individual who can take this phrase and cause havoc on other people. For instance, Emerson states “To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart, is true for all men, -that is genius”. Hum, okay, are we forgetting about Hitler, Ida Amin, and other crazy rulers who believed in what ever the craziness they believed in and used that craziness that they called their beliefs to cause unbelievable brutality in the world. Should they be commended on following their own beliefs, on carrying out their beliefs, and causing havoc on their innocent victims? I am going to assume that Emerson is not advocating for people to be the next Hitlers or Ida Amins of the world. So, maybe, just maybe, Emerson is stating that the ability to have any belief, a belief that was not forced onto you, a belief that is yours and your alone, whether you want everyone to belief in it or not is not important, but the fact that it was your idea and your belief is what really matters; it is an authentic belief and idea.
It seems as if most of Emerson’s proverbs or advices have some sense of duality because they do seem as if they are good advice to live by, however, they can also seem arrogant and selfish. An instance is when Emerson states” Envy is ignorance” and “imitation is suicide”. Yes, being envious of someone can be ignorant, can cause jealousy , and hatred, however, why does envy have to be completely ignorance, why can’t it be a stepping stool for someone to better themselves. If I see someone who has something that I have been killing myself to get, why shouldn’t that motivate me to work harder to get whatever it is that I have been killing myself for. Also, why does imitation have to be suicide? Why can’t imitation be a sign of respect? Hell, I would love to have a life that resembles Oprah’s; I would also love to imitate the beliefs of Martin Luther King Jr., Pastor Festus Adeyeye, and Gandhi. Yes, maybe I am not following an original precept of living my life; maybe I am not coming up with my own rules of how I want to live, however, these individuals who have lived marvelous lives are my teachers in hopes of also having a life that resembles their own.
Yes, I do agree that people do not need to conform to societal pressure in order to fit in, people should believe in their ability to accomplish anything they put their minds to, people should believe that they are smart enough to come up with ideas that have never been though of before, however, there is a line between self reliance and selfishness. Why is it wrong to want to help the poor, why is it wrong to want to give to the poor? Yes, there are some institutions that use money that are suppose to be for the poor for their own benefits, which pisses me off, however, that does not mean that everyone is like that. Yes, have your beliefs, but don’t impose that belief onto others, have your own mind and do something wonderful with that belief, but don’t be selfish or completely secluded from the world just because you have your own beliefs. Again, Emerson makes some great points, however, caution is advised.
Although, I do agree with most of Emerson’s rhetoric, there were some statements that can be dangerous if used for the wrong reasons. When someone starts throwing out phrases like “the only right is what is after my constitution, the only wrong what is against it or What I must do, is all that concerns me, not that people think”, it becomes dangerous especially when read by, shall we say, a very angry, messed up (mentally), and lonely individual who can take this phrase and cause havoc on other people. For instance, Emerson states “To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart, is true for all men, -that is genius”. Hum, okay, are we forgetting about Hitler, Ida Amin, and other crazy rulers who believed in what ever the craziness they believed in and used that craziness that they called their beliefs to cause unbelievable brutality in the world. Should they be commended on following their own beliefs, on carrying out their beliefs, and causing havoc on their innocent victims? I am going to assume that Emerson is not advocating for people to be the next Hitlers or Ida Amins of the world. So, maybe, just maybe, Emerson is stating that the ability to have any belief, a belief that was not forced onto you, a belief that is yours and your alone, whether you want everyone to belief in it or not is not important, but the fact that it was your idea and your belief is what really matters; it is an authentic belief and idea.
It seems as if most of Emerson’s proverbs or advices have some sense of duality because they do seem as if they are good advice to live by, however, they can also seem arrogant and selfish. An instance is when Emerson states” Envy is ignorance” and “imitation is suicide”. Yes, being envious of someone can be ignorant, can cause jealousy , and hatred, however, why does envy have to be completely ignorance, why can’t it be a stepping stool for someone to better themselves. If I see someone who has something that I have been killing myself to get, why shouldn’t that motivate me to work harder to get whatever it is that I have been killing myself for. Also, why does imitation have to be suicide? Why can’t imitation be a sign of respect? Hell, I would love to have a life that resembles Oprah’s; I would also love to imitate the beliefs of Martin Luther King Jr., Pastor Festus Adeyeye, and Gandhi. Yes, maybe I am not following an original precept of living my life; maybe I am not coming up with my own rules of how I want to live, however, these individuals who have lived marvelous lives are my teachers in hopes of also having a life that resembles their own.
Yes, I do agree that people do not need to conform to societal pressure in order to fit in, people should believe in their ability to accomplish anything they put their minds to, people should believe that they are smart enough to come up with ideas that have never been though of before, however, there is a line between self reliance and selfishness. Why is it wrong to want to help the poor, why is it wrong to want to give to the poor? Yes, there are some institutions that use money that are suppose to be for the poor for their own benefits, which pisses me off, however, that does not mean that everyone is like that. Yes, have your beliefs, but don’t impose that belief onto others, have your own mind and do something wonderful with that belief, but don’t be selfish or completely secluded from the world just because you have your own beliefs. Again, Emerson makes some great points, however, caution is advised.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Syllabus Update
Students--
In order to get us back on track, I am efficiently combining two weeks worth of reading into one. For Tuesday, April 7th, please read:
Stone, Metamora
Irving, "Phillip of Pokanoket"
Emerson, "Self-Reliance" (1163-1180)
Thoreau, Walden, chapters 2,6,8
--The Stone and Irving readings can be found on our blackboard page under "course documents."
Best,
nm
In order to get us back on track, I am efficiently combining two weeks worth of reading into one. For Tuesday, April 7th, please read:
Stone, Metamora
Irving, "Phillip of Pokanoket"
Emerson, "Self-Reliance" (1163-1180)
Thoreau, Walden, chapters 2,6,8
--The Stone and Irving readings can be found on our blackboard page under "course documents."
Best,
nm
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Scheduling Update
Sorry again about canceling class last night (though I'm sure not too many of you minded). In order to get back on track, I propose this: Our midterm will still be next Tuesday, March 24st. We will move Weiland to March 31st. I will try to come up with an inventive to combine the Native American readings with Emerson and Thoreau (both of which will have to be cut back a great deal). But I will work it out.
I hope this is clear and I will see you all next week.
Best,
nm
I hope this is clear and I will see you all next week.
Best,
nm
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Class Update!
I'm sorry to put this to the last minute, but I have to cancel tonight's class. I've come down with the flu and am running down by the minute. I know this throws us off of our schedule. Check back on the blog in the next couple of days and I will post how we will handle getting back on track. And please e-mail or call any students you know who might not get this. Thanks so much.
Neil
Neil
Monday, March 16, 2009
Weiland By: Brown
The very beginning of this novel struck me as very peculiar. The first example we see of this is the narrators discussion of the first threat Carwin relayed to him. On page three in the second paragraph the narrator begins discussing this threat " He confesses that this has been hos second attempt." The paragraph goes on with an array of questions concerning this first threat and comparing it with the second. "The death was the scope of his thoughts; now an injury unspeakably more dreadful." Nothing however gives us any clue as to why any threat exists to begin with. Was it because he was "pursuing his father's manuscript" or something else unknown to the reader, or Carwin for that manner.
Not only is nothing straight forward, all of our beginning thoughts left unanswered, but the narrator seems to have constant debate in his own mind as to what is really going on. " The possibility that his return was prompted by intentions consistent with my safety found no place in my mind (pg.10)." This makes it seem as though fear is not even crossing his moing, all of a sudden with in the same paragraph there is a dramatic shift. Suddenly he has an impulse "It was an impulse of which I was scarcely conscious that made me fasten the lock and draw the bolts of my chamber door (pg.10)" All of a sudden his fear over took him. This idea that Carwin may be returning caused such an impulse, but what gave him this idea of return so suddenly. The narrator seems to be very confused as to why he is in this situation to begin with.
-Meghan Farrell
Not only is nothing straight forward, all of our beginning thoughts left unanswered, but the narrator seems to have constant debate in his own mind as to what is really going on. " The possibility that his return was prompted by intentions consistent with my safety found no place in my mind (pg.10)." This makes it seem as though fear is not even crossing his moing, all of a sudden with in the same paragraph there is a dramatic shift. Suddenly he has an impulse "It was an impulse of which I was scarcely conscious that made me fasten the lock and draw the bolts of my chamber door (pg.10)" All of a sudden his fear over took him. This idea that Carwin may be returning caused such an impulse, but what gave him this idea of return so suddenly. The narrator seems to be very confused as to why he is in this situation to begin with.
-Meghan Farrell
Saturday, March 7, 2009
J. Hector St. John De Crèvecoeur
“Ubi panis ibi patria” (598) -Where there is bread, there is one’s fatherland. According to J. Hector St. John De Crèvecoeur this should be the “motto of all emigrants” (598). In “Letter III, What is an American,” St.John De Crèvecoeur defines an American as a “new man, who acts upon principles” (599) and must therefore “entertain new ideas, and form new opinions” (599). To St.John De Crèvecoeur, the ideal American is one who is a combination of many “different nations,” (598) many religious backgrounds and is able to live peacefully with each other. This letter promotes a feeling of American nationalism where a good citizen may be characterized by qualities such as proper work ethics and individual responsibilities. To St.John De Crèvecoeur the farmer is an example of a person who represents an ideal American. America is portrayed as a safe haven where the oppressed from Europe are able to pursue their own self-interest as independent land owners while enjoying religious freedom. America is described as a sort of utopian project, in which its people’s interests are continually fostered. It is portrayed as “every person’s country” (604); a land of vast and endless opportunities to suit anyone’s needs.
In “LetterXII. Distresses of a Frontier Man,” St.John De Crèvecoeur’s vision moves from praising the possibilities of American life to the threatened destructions of those possibilities due to the violence of the revolution. There is a change in tone from his earlier optimism to one of hopelessness and despair. He mentions the effects of slavery and the revolution as causes of the divisions within the new society. He writes “I am conscious that I was happy before this unfortunate revolution” (204). It is evident that he denounces slavery (Letter IX) and may have opposed the revolution. This letter leaves the reader with an image of American social conditions and the American Dream as slowly disintegrating.
At times St. John De Crèvecoeur’s writing reads like a travel narrative filled with adventure and suspense. I found it interesting that he gives us vivid descriptions of nature on its own (Letter X.) or sometimes in relation to man (Letter IX.). He seemed very much into his environment but maybe that was because he was a farmer and saw the coexistence of nature with man as imperative to human survival.
-Vedi Ramdhanie
In “LetterXII. Distresses of a Frontier Man,” St.John De Crèvecoeur’s vision moves from praising the possibilities of American life to the threatened destructions of those possibilities due to the violence of the revolution. There is a change in tone from his earlier optimism to one of hopelessness and despair. He mentions the effects of slavery and the revolution as causes of the divisions within the new society. He writes “I am conscious that I was happy before this unfortunate revolution” (204). It is evident that he denounces slavery (Letter IX) and may have opposed the revolution. This letter leaves the reader with an image of American social conditions and the American Dream as slowly disintegrating.
At times St. John De Crèvecoeur’s writing reads like a travel narrative filled with adventure and suspense. I found it interesting that he gives us vivid descriptions of nature on its own (Letter X.) or sometimes in relation to man (Letter IX.). He seemed very much into his environment but maybe that was because he was a farmer and saw the coexistence of nature with man as imperative to human survival.
-Vedi Ramdhanie
Friday, March 6, 2009
Olaudah Equiano
Olaudah Equiano
This piece reads very easily, as opposed to the other material we have read, which was sometimes hard to understand and took a lot of effort and concentration. The author writes as if he was speaking, and uses certain techniques which I found interesting. For instance, he would write something like, “and then something terrible happened!” (not verbatim) but that would make you want to continue reading to find out what happened. Also sometimes he would be very passionate in his memoir: “O ye nominal Christians! Might not an African ask you—Learned you this from your God, who says unto you, Do unto all men as you would men should do unto you”? How different from Mary Rowlandson, who just kind of relayed the events as they happened. But the difference is that Mary had her faith in God to support her, while Equiano does not much mention God, not that you can blame him.
The author goes back and forth during the story from happiness (before he was kidnapped), to despair (when he was kidnapped), to unspeakable joy when he finds his sister, to unspeakable anguish when they are separated; then he finds a kind of peace when he is bought by some nice people, then despair again when he is sold. He is thrilled to make a friend, then devastated when the friend dies; and this goes on and on. I am surprised he didn’t have a heart attack!
Some images in the memoir really affected me. One was his description of the slave woman with a muzzle on. It brought to mind “Silence of the Lambs.” But the difference is, this was not a Hollywood movie; this was reality at that time. I wonder what Equiano saw in her eyes. What was she thinking? Another difficult part to read was when he and a poor old man have their bags of fruit stolen by whites. “The poor old man wringing his hands, cried bitterly for his loss.” Equiano felt so bad for this man that he ended up sharing his own fruit with him. As bad as things were for Equiano, he never gave up, and finally got his freedom. Talk about an indomitable spirit!
Mindy Pigue
This piece reads very easily, as opposed to the other material we have read, which was sometimes hard to understand and took a lot of effort and concentration. The author writes as if he was speaking, and uses certain techniques which I found interesting. For instance, he would write something like, “and then something terrible happened!” (not verbatim) but that would make you want to continue reading to find out what happened. Also sometimes he would be very passionate in his memoir: “O ye nominal Christians! Might not an African ask you—Learned you this from your God, who says unto you, Do unto all men as you would men should do unto you”? How different from Mary Rowlandson, who just kind of relayed the events as they happened. But the difference is that Mary had her faith in God to support her, while Equiano does not much mention God, not that you can blame him.
The author goes back and forth during the story from happiness (before he was kidnapped), to despair (when he was kidnapped), to unspeakable joy when he finds his sister, to unspeakable anguish when they are separated; then he finds a kind of peace when he is bought by some nice people, then despair again when he is sold. He is thrilled to make a friend, then devastated when the friend dies; and this goes on and on. I am surprised he didn’t have a heart attack!
Some images in the memoir really affected me. One was his description of the slave woman with a muzzle on. It brought to mind “Silence of the Lambs.” But the difference is, this was not a Hollywood movie; this was reality at that time. I wonder what Equiano saw in her eyes. What was she thinking? Another difficult part to read was when he and a poor old man have their bags of fruit stolen by whites. “The poor old man wringing his hands, cried bitterly for his loss.” Equiano felt so bad for this man that he ended up sharing his own fruit with him. As bad as things were for Equiano, he never gave up, and finally got his freedom. Talk about an indomitable spirit!
Mindy Pigue
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Washington Irving- Rip Van Winkle STASIS
Rex De Asis
“Rip Van Winkle” is a folktale which Washington Irving had learned about during his twenty year stay in Europe. The actual tale was found in the papers of Diedrich Knickerbocker who was an old gentleman of New York.
This folktale introduces us to Rip Van Winkle, a man who is good natured but careless to his obligations to his own societal status and family. Rip “unconsciously scrambles” (955) to the highest part of the Kaatskill (Catskill) Mountains and falls asleep for twenty years. As this popular tale continues, Rip finds himself waking to a world different from the one he had remembered. Although this story is completely unrealistic, it illustrates how the American Revolution had changed a small village but did not change Rip.
Rip Van Winkle represents the resistance to societal change. While his twenty year sleep is obviously impossible, it represents a stasis in character. This stasis keeps Rips character frozen and unchanged, thus giving the reader an insight to two time periods instead of one. Irving uses this tale to illustrate the village during England’s rule and contrasts it to a timeframe following the American Revolution. By keeping Rip the same, and without any alteration, we are drawn to focus more on Rips new surroundings instead of reexamining his familiar disposition.
Rip clearly see’s the changes in the village as it is has went from being rural to more urban. “The very village was altered; it was larger and more populous” (961) Additionally, Rip finds changes in politics but fails to assimilate and understand it. He was oblivious to being either Federalist or Democratic. "matters of which he could not understand: war-congress." (962)
Ultimately Rip, rejoins his daughter and continues his life with liberation that the American Revolution had brought. There is a contrasting parallel created between Rip and the village who had both faced change after the war. The village had completely changed, however, Rip seems to have stayed the same carrying over his familiar solitary and laid back characteristics. It is true he had now joined with his daughter but in the end he is happy to be liberated from “the yoke of matrimony” (his nagging wife) and “the tyranny of Dame Van Winkle” (964)
“Rip Van Winkle” is a folktale which Washington Irving had learned about during his twenty year stay in Europe. The actual tale was found in the papers of Diedrich Knickerbocker who was an old gentleman of New York.
This folktale introduces us to Rip Van Winkle, a man who is good natured but careless to his obligations to his own societal status and family. Rip “unconsciously scrambles” (955) to the highest part of the Kaatskill (Catskill) Mountains and falls asleep for twenty years. As this popular tale continues, Rip finds himself waking to a world different from the one he had remembered. Although this story is completely unrealistic, it illustrates how the American Revolution had changed a small village but did not change Rip.
Rip Van Winkle represents the resistance to societal change. While his twenty year sleep is obviously impossible, it represents a stasis in character. This stasis keeps Rips character frozen and unchanged, thus giving the reader an insight to two time periods instead of one. Irving uses this tale to illustrate the village during England’s rule and contrasts it to a timeframe following the American Revolution. By keeping Rip the same, and without any alteration, we are drawn to focus more on Rips new surroundings instead of reexamining his familiar disposition.
Rip clearly see’s the changes in the village as it is has went from being rural to more urban. “The very village was altered; it was larger and more populous” (961) Additionally, Rip finds changes in politics but fails to assimilate and understand it. He was oblivious to being either Federalist or Democratic. "matters of which he could not understand: war-congress." (962)
Ultimately Rip, rejoins his daughter and continues his life with liberation that the American Revolution had brought. There is a contrasting parallel created between Rip and the village who had both faced change after the war. The village had completely changed, however, Rip seems to have stayed the same carrying over his familiar solitary and laid back characteristics. It is true he had now joined with his daughter but in the end he is happy to be liberated from “the yoke of matrimony” (his nagging wife) and “the tyranny of Dame Van Winkle” (964)
Benjamin Franklin 1706-1790
Benjamin Franklin was a polymath. In addition to his world-renowned experiments with electricity, he was almost America's first diplomat and was responsible for France's aiding the new country in its rebellion against Great Britain. He was the American heroic figure of the eighteenth century, even if his critics didn't think so.
Who else would spend over forty years after his retirement devoted to representing the colonies, serving on committee or as a delegate, as well as many other obligations that he took on? If only politicians today would go so far to better our country, our reputation in the world would be secure.
Poor Richard's Almanac was extremely popular at the time because the encouragement it gave to ordinary people was important and truly needed at that difficult time. He stressed that one must work hard to achieve success. Franklin encouraged people to be frugal, to save their earnings and to be careful of even the smallest needless expenses. I especially enjoyed reading that he decided to wear his old coat a little longer instead of buying a new one and encouraged others to do the same in the name of frugality.
It is ironic that due to the great economic crisis that exists today worldwide, we are receiving similar advice to be frugal from financial advisers. However, no one can take Benjamin Franklin's place. He was able to make these points clear to all his readers in a direct and simple manner. His message was all the more effective because it was transmitted through aphorisms that were commonly known and easily understood.
Eva Rosengarten
Who else would spend over forty years after his retirement devoted to representing the colonies, serving on committee or as a delegate, as well as many other obligations that he took on? If only politicians today would go so far to better our country, our reputation in the world would be secure.
Poor Richard's Almanac was extremely popular at the time because the encouragement it gave to ordinary people was important and truly needed at that difficult time. He stressed that one must work hard to achieve success. Franklin encouraged people to be frugal, to save their earnings and to be careful of even the smallest needless expenses. I especially enjoyed reading that he decided to wear his old coat a little longer instead of buying a new one and encouraged others to do the same in the name of frugality.
It is ironic that due to the great economic crisis that exists today worldwide, we are receiving similar advice to be frugal from financial advisers. However, no one can take Benjamin Franklin's place. He was able to make these points clear to all his readers in a direct and simple manner. His message was all the more effective because it was transmitted through aphorisms that were commonly known and easily understood.
Eva Rosengarten
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Anne Bradstreet
By Umbreen
The simplicity in Anne Bradstreet’s writing appealed to me greatly. Also, the strength of her love - both for God and her family - is eloquently depicted. In my response, I want to discuss “The Flesh and the Spirit.”
The poem depicts a conflict of conscience - between the materialistic and spiritual selves. The flesh gives importance to material things. The soul in response, tries to draw the flesh out of this and show that real value does not reside in the object, but in the perception of the individual. Value is not inherent in a worldly object, value is a perception attached to higher ideals. However, the outcome of this conflict is peculiar. Although the promises to combat the flesh until, “Until I see thee laid in th' dust,“ victory appears to be achieved differently. It is not gained by the defeat of one self over the other. Instead it appears that the soul vows to separate itself from the flesh.
“If I of Heav'n may have my fill, / Take thou the world, and all that will."
This is curious, because one would assume that only in the denial of worldly comforts is true victory achieved. Yet here, the flesh is bidden to take what it wants. The only reason this can be, from what I can interpret, is that death will come; and the spirit is preoccupied with that destination, as it says,
“This City pure is not for thee, / For things unclean there shall not be.”
A I read and re-read this poem, I realized that the relationship between the flesh and spirit is not just one of enmity, “Sister we are, yea twins we be, / Yet deadly feud 'twixt thee and me.” Neither side speaks of fighting with the other. In the end, the Spirit seems to be the more powerful one, and thus distances itself from the Flesh, allowing it to remain as it is.
The simplicity in Anne Bradstreet’s writing appealed to me greatly. Also, the strength of her love - both for God and her family - is eloquently depicted. In my response, I want to discuss “The Flesh and the Spirit.”
The poem depicts a conflict of conscience - between the materialistic and spiritual selves. The flesh gives importance to material things. The soul in response, tries to draw the flesh out of this and show that real value does not reside in the object, but in the perception of the individual. Value is not inherent in a worldly object, value is a perception attached to higher ideals. However, the outcome of this conflict is peculiar. Although the promises to combat the flesh until, “Until I see thee laid in th' dust,“ victory appears to be achieved differently. It is not gained by the defeat of one self over the other. Instead it appears that the soul vows to separate itself from the flesh.
“If I of Heav'n may have my fill, / Take thou the world, and all that will."
This is curious, because one would assume that only in the denial of worldly comforts is true victory achieved. Yet here, the flesh is bidden to take what it wants. The only reason this can be, from what I can interpret, is that death will come; and the spirit is preoccupied with that destination, as it says,
“This City pure is not for thee, / For things unclean there shall not be.”
A I read and re-read this poem, I realized that the relationship between the flesh and spirit is not just one of enmity, “Sister we are, yea twins we be, / Yet deadly feud 'twixt thee and me.” Neither side speaks of fighting with the other. In the end, the Spirit seems to be the more powerful one, and thus distances itself from the Flesh, allowing it to remain as it is.
Judith Sargen Murray 1751-1820
Judith Sargent Murray believed that women were intellectually inferior to men because they are not given the same advantages that men are given. She does not believe that women are inferior to me because they do not hold the same intelligence capacity that men hold. She argued that women are disadvantaged from the start because they are conditioned to be housewives and nothing more. When boys reach a certain age, they are given opportunities in science, while girls are taken away and taught how to maintain the house. She argues that because of this inequality, women are conditioned to things such as fashion, gossip, and fiction novels (as opposed to science and mathematic books). Murray's main argument is that if women were given the same opportunities as men were being given, women could become equal to a man's intelligence. If women were allowed to make decisions that men make, they would be choosing their partners instead of being chosen. Murray points out that men fear women receiving an education because it will effect their duties as a housewife. She believes that the chores of a housewife do not exercise any intelligent function of the brain and that there would be plenty of time for women to hold their duties as a housewife while receiving an education. She also brings in religion into her argument. She believes that God created men and women equally and that they have the same souls. A woman's soul is not different than a man's soul. God created us equally and that is how we shall remain.
-Zinaida Ariyev
-Zinaida Ariyev
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Jonathan Edwards
If you are a Christian, names like Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, A.W. Tozer, C.S. Lewis, and Oswald Chambers (among many others) are known to be renowned men of God who had great zeal for the Word of the Lord. After reading Jonathan Edwards’ personal narrative, I felt like I could relate to his experience of frustration and “sweetness” in working out his salvation in Christ.
Before truly experiencing the presence of the Lord and the holiness of God personally, Edwards shared his frustration in how he “fell again into [his] old ways of sin” and “returned like a dog to his vomit, and went on in ways of sin” (387). There was such an inward struggle with Edwards in regards to sin that he finally resolves to make “seeking [his] salvation the main business of [his] life”. I think that many so called “Christians” in the 18th Century, and especially today, lack this conviction of sin that brought Edwards to meet God.
When I read Edwards’ personal narrative, his wife’s narrative, his letter to Rev. Dr. Benjamin Colman, and his sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, I can’t help but to wonder “Wow... how did this guy get to this point where he could so boldly challenge the salvation of the majority of ‘believers’ and still be so lost in God’s love that he can describe it as ‘sweet peace’” I tried to circle all the times he wrote forms of “sweet” and “pleasant” in his writing and lost count! I think that is the amazing thing about Edwards’ relationship with God.
He knew what it meant to be in the presence of God. His desire was “to behold the sweet glory of God”, to “be more holy”, “that God might be all”, “that [he] might enjoy Him”, and it’s not because he was a fanatical Christian. Rather, there was a lack of conviction of sin in the generality of Christians then. He knew the attributes of God; that He is majestic, holy, omnipotent, sovereign, and just (400). And THAT is that led him to Christ.
Further, being the in the presence of God gave him the boldness to be a witness of Truth in his generation. People might think he’s too into “preaching hell fire”, but I think in these days, there is a lack of this Truth being presented in churches today. Reading Edwards was like a breath of fresh air for me because he presented the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it is biblically.
I think he challenged the people of his time, as well as challenges Christians today to live a life of holiness (according to God’s standard). Because many Christians are too comfortable in their “faith” that they foolishly believe their “salvation” is guaranteed. Edwards stresses (the BIBLE stresses) that we are saved NOT by works or merit, but simply by the grace of God.
-Jane Hwang
Before truly experiencing the presence of the Lord and the holiness of God personally, Edwards shared his frustration in how he “fell again into [his] old ways of sin” and “returned like a dog to his vomit, and went on in ways of sin” (387). There was such an inward struggle with Edwards in regards to sin that he finally resolves to make “seeking [his] salvation the main business of [his] life”. I think that many so called “Christians” in the 18th Century, and especially today, lack this conviction of sin that brought Edwards to meet God.
When I read Edwards’ personal narrative, his wife’s narrative, his letter to Rev. Dr. Benjamin Colman, and his sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, I can’t help but to wonder “Wow... how did this guy get to this point where he could so boldly challenge the salvation of the majority of ‘believers’ and still be so lost in God’s love that he can describe it as ‘sweet peace’” I tried to circle all the times he wrote forms of “sweet” and “pleasant” in his writing and lost count! I think that is the amazing thing about Edwards’ relationship with God.
He knew what it meant to be in the presence of God. His desire was “to behold the sweet glory of God”, to “be more holy”, “that God might be all”, “that [he] might enjoy Him”, and it’s not because he was a fanatical Christian. Rather, there was a lack of conviction of sin in the generality of Christians then. He knew the attributes of God; that He is majestic, holy, omnipotent, sovereign, and just (400). And THAT is that led him to Christ.
Further, being the in the presence of God gave him the boldness to be a witness of Truth in his generation. People might think he’s too into “preaching hell fire”, but I think in these days, there is a lack of this Truth being presented in churches today. Reading Edwards was like a breath of fresh air for me because he presented the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it is biblically.
I think he challenged the people of his time, as well as challenges Christians today to live a life of holiness (according to God’s standard). Because many Christians are too comfortable in their “faith” that they foolishly believe their “salvation” is guaranteed. Edwards stresses (the BIBLE stresses) that we are saved NOT by works or merit, but simply by the grace of God.
-Jane Hwang
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Mary Rowlandson (1636-1711): “A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson”
By Yehoshua
In this piece Rowlandson portrays her captivity among the Native American’s during King Philip’s War, begun by the Native Americans as a protestation against English brutality and apathy regarding their culture and way of life.
Rowlandson’s faith and naivety are quite striking. First, she fails to realize the motives of the Native Americans, portraying them simply as brutal, animalistic creatures with scant morals or intellectual insight. She never reflects upon the possible wrong which the English have perpetrated against the Native Americans — the powerful uprooting of the Native American culture, their loss of home and resources, their pervasive illness, their economic disadvantage. She never contemplates the fact that her destroyed home, the English’s destroyed cities, were once the free domain of the Native Americans. She considers the starvation, the immorality, the ever-present fear of rape, the brutality of the Native Americans, instead of these very same conditions that the English colonizers imposed upon the former. I am not defending the Native Americans — but revealing the contemporary reality of their way of life.
Second, Rowlandson attributes every incident that occurs to her as manifestations of God’s every-present supervision and omniscience.
In this piece Rowlandson portrays her captivity among the Native American’s during King Philip’s War, begun by the Native Americans as a protestation against English brutality and apathy regarding their culture and way of life.
Rowlandson’s faith and naivety are quite striking. First, she fails to realize the motives of the Native Americans, portraying them simply as brutal, animalistic creatures with scant morals or intellectual insight. She never reflects upon the possible wrong which the English have perpetrated against the Native Americans — the powerful uprooting of the Native American culture, their loss of home and resources, their pervasive illness, their economic disadvantage. She never contemplates the fact that her destroyed home, the English’s destroyed cities, were once the free domain of the Native Americans. She considers the starvation, the immorality, the ever-present fear of rape, the brutality of the Native Americans, instead of these very same conditions that the English colonizers imposed upon the former. I am not defending the Native Americans — but revealing the contemporary reality of their way of life.
Second, Rowlandson attributes every incident that occurs to her as manifestations of God’s every-present supervision and omniscience.
When the English army with new supplies were sent forth to pursue the enemy, and they understanding it, fled before them till they came to Banquaug river, where they forthwith went over safely; that that river should be impassable to the English. I can but admire to see the wonderful providence of God in preserving the heathen for further affliction to our poor country (261),she says. Yet, too, “Another thing that I would observe is the strange providence of God, in turning things about when the Indians was at the highest, and the English at the lowest” (262). Further, “Though many times [the Native Americans] would eat that, that a hog or a dog would hardly touch; yet by that God strengthened them to be a scourge to His people” (262). The arrival of the English army is God’s salvation; their delay is God’s reprisal. Her travails are evidence of God’s punishment; her recovery is evidence of His reward. The Native American’s savageness is God’s reprimand of her and castigation of the iniquity of the English, while an opportunity to demonstrate His power. Her faith is Rowlandson’s contradiction; for her, there is seemingly no agency possible for people, for all is in God’s hands.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Christopher Columbus.
I thought Jens response to the Christopher Columbus reading was both insightful and informative. I myself remember learning about Columbus in grade school. I was even taught a poem to remember him. The poem was " In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue" It's a cute little poem and because of it I never forgot aboutColumbus.
I was a little surprised about the iformation in the reading about him because from my studies as a child I remember that the theory of the earth being flat was proved wrong but I didn't know that he had four voyages. I only knew about the one and that was the one where he landed in America. Even the whole landing in America thing I was told was an accident. I was told that in reality he left Spain and was intended on going to another place to look for gold and got lost and ended up here in America. I think that's the trouble with history and things where many sides of a story can be told. we never know what the real truth is. All we can do is gather everyone's account of events and put that together. In a way that's what our history is. Just a bunch of diffferent perspectiver of history's events from different people. We can't really know what was exagerated or what was the truth. A major question I always consider when reading about Christopher columbus and other parts of history is Did things really happen the way they say and were things really like that.
I found it facinating that there were letters and some kind of record of how things were then. That way there can't be speculation about certain things. By having those letters there is some kind of actual proof of those events. Just like that book, The Diary of Anne Frank. I surely can't deny the events she described in her diary entries because they were the actual diary entries she wrote while her and her family were in hiding. I wish I could get some perspectives on what it was really like but none of my relatives are not quite that old.
I was a little surprised about the iformation in the reading about him because from my studies as a child I remember that the theory of the earth being flat was proved wrong but I didn't know that he had four voyages. I only knew about the one and that was the one where he landed in America. Even the whole landing in America thing I was told was an accident. I was told that in reality he left Spain and was intended on going to another place to look for gold and got lost and ended up here in America. I think that's the trouble with history and things where many sides of a story can be told. we never know what the real truth is. All we can do is gather everyone's account of events and put that together. In a way that's what our history is. Just a bunch of diffferent perspectiver of history's events from different people. We can't really know what was exagerated or what was the truth. A major question I always consider when reading about Christopher columbus and other parts of history is Did things really happen the way they say and were things really like that.
I found it facinating that there were letters and some kind of record of how things were then. That way there can't be speculation about certain things. By having those letters there is some kind of actual proof of those events. Just like that book, The Diary of Anne Frank. I surely can't deny the events she described in her diary entries because they were the actual diary entries she wrote while her and her family were in hiding. I wish I could get some perspectives on what it was really like but none of my relatives are not quite that old.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Bartolome De Las Casas: "The Very Brief Relation of the Devastation of the Indies"
In his writing, entitled The Very Brief Relation of the Devastation of the Indies, De Las Casas illustrates the atrocities done to the natives of the land by the Spaniards, a group of people who claimed to be Christians. The work reflects a tone of remorse and repentance. A repentance that the author feels must be repaid by a change in treatment towards the Indians. An American theme is reflected here, the question of equality, love, and compassion for other human beings. The American nation has bestowed upon itself a responsibility to flee from injustice. There is a paradox that is borne to America, the fact that justice emerged later on through history, but the growth sprouted from a time where injustice abounded. Furthermore, a question that I continued to ask myself throughout the reading was, why does the author continue to repeat and label the Spaniards committing the acts against the Indians as Christians? Anyone who has a solid foundation in Christian thought will know that the acts committed against the Indians were contrary to Biblical doctrine. The question still lingers… There were a couple reasons De Las Casas continued his rhetoric in the fashion he did. The writer knew that the Spaniards claimed to be Christians, and in an attempt to open their eyes from a viewpoint of faith, he was reminding them that what was occurring was not Christ like. The actions taken place can not be justifiable by the Spaniards by merely proclaiming that they are Christians. In addition, he wanted to share his conviction with fellow believers. He wanted to shed light upon the truth of their actions, which were, quite frankly, barbarous. If the foul treatment done to the Natives was done to fellow Spaniards some type of judicial action would have taken place. He was trying to instill compassion, a Christ like love for all mankind, by challenging their standings through their claimed faith in Jesus.
-William Castro
-William Castro
Friday, January 30, 2009
Christopher Columbus
When I think of Columbus, I think of think of that song, "In 1492 3 ships sailed out to sea..." I think of the man who realized the earth was not flat. What I did not know was how he suffered. I think that this writing about Columbus is pretty straight forward and insightful for a short text. It tells us that Columbus went on four voyages and there are actual letters by him.
There is a big difference between the first voyage and the fourth voyage. In his first letter to he talks a lot about scenery and his thoughts on what will be. Columbus is very proud and wants Luis de Santangel to know what land he discovered. he first came upon the main land and thought it was India, but it was the Carribeans. he started naming islands on after the other He described them as, "All are most beautiful" (33), Columbas mainly talks about how happy he is and nature.
The fourth letter to Isabella and Ferdinand is a complete turn around. I was surprised to read that he was kidnapped and made a prisoner. A lot of never think that ok maybe this person is jut like everyone else. regardless of the what period. It is awful how the same people Columbus left there were the same people that turned everything upside down. Control became and issue. What I felt bad about was the end, when Columbus reaches out to Isabella to help him and get him out of there, and in return the Holy Trinity will preserve her life. If you are a believer, that might work. lol
I think the narrator was very powerful and believe able. He was factual as well. Good synopsis of Columbus voyages. It puts things into persepctive
Jen Marchese
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Blackboard Update
I'm afraid many of you won't read this for a few days, but Blackboard is down. As a result I cannot post next week's readings for you on it. I have converted them into a pdf. If you don't have the Norton anthology yet, e-mail me and I will forward the file on to you. Sorry about the delay.
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Friday, January 23, 2009
Welcome to our QC Class Blog
Greetings students and welcome to our blog. This will be a space where we hold informal discussions together before meeting in class. Each week, one or two students will be assigned to be the blog leader (or leaders). This student will post before Sunday at 10pm on a text or author to be discussed in the upcoming class. The rest of you will post a response by 3pm Tuesday (the afternoon before class). The purpose of our blog is to give you a chance to share your ideas and begin thinking about what the class finds most interesting, entertaining, and troubling about the readings.
Some words of advice:
1) The purpose of your blog entries is NOT to summarize the text or give excessive biographical information about the author.
2) You cannot simply write "I agree with what _________ said." The purpose of the blog is to engage with what students are saying. Feel free to agree or disagree, but give your fellow students something more.
3) Don't worry about writing a paper here. The purpose of the blog is informal--you don't have to try to show off, or edit your ideas 20 times before posting.
4) Pay attention to posting deadlines--if it's your job to be the blog leader, make sure you've read your chosen text before Sunday evening, when you have to post.
5) Posts are expected to be between 200-300 words.
I look forward to reading everyone's contributions.
nm
Some words of advice:
1) The purpose of your blog entries is NOT to summarize the text or give excessive biographical information about the author.
2) You cannot simply write "I agree with what _________ said." The purpose of the blog is to engage with what students are saying. Feel free to agree or disagree, but give your fellow students something more.
3) Don't worry about writing a paper here. The purpose of the blog is informal--you don't have to try to show off, or edit your ideas 20 times before posting.
4) Pay attention to posting deadlines--if it's your job to be the blog leader, make sure you've read your chosen text before Sunday evening, when you have to post.
5) Posts are expected to be between 200-300 words.
I look forward to reading everyone's contributions.
nm
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