129..130
"But this very burden it was that gave him sympathies so intimate with the sinful brotherhood of mankind, so that his heart vibrated in unison with theirs, and received their pain into itself, and sent its own throb of pain through a thousand ofter hearts, in gushes of sad, persuasive eloquence" (129).
Because Dimmesdale has sinned, he now knows what all other sinners feel like and he can still feel their pain, and they can feel his. He now has sort of a sense of who has sinned. This could foreshadow that the people of Boston will be more lenient with the sinners because they know that they have sinned to, just no one knows it, just like Dimmesdale. He knows he has sinned, but no one but Hester's knows it, but now he feels all the pain of other sinners because he is keeping it a secret. Do you think anyone else will come forth with a sin that they have committed?
"When poor Mr. Dimmesdale was thinking of his grave, he questioned with himself whether the grass would ever grow on it, because an accursed thing must there be buried!" (130)
This quote brings up how sin is extremely bad to the people of Boston. They live in the Obedience model or morality. They see sin as breaking the law, it is that high for them. They do not sin, or do not tell that they sin, because they do not want to break the law. It also brings up the black weeds that Chillingworth was talking about. Since Chillingworth told Dimmesdale of that, now he thinks that the grass will not grow on his grave and that maybe black weeds will, so even if he does not tell that he has sinned, the people will know when he does. They will know when the black weeds grow on his gave.
Do you think sin is too bad to the people of Boston, with all the internal and external punishment going on ?
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Scarlet Letter 5: 107-126
"Why, with such rank in the learned world, had he come hither? What could he, whose sphere was in great cities, be seeking in the wilderness?" (110)
This quotation is hinting that the people of Boston are starting to think it is a bit sketchy that Chillingworth is in Boston. Why would such a smart man, want to be in a place like Boston. This quote foreshadows that the truth will come out. Someone will find out that Chillingworth is actually Hester's husband, and that he is making Dimmesdale sicker. Which will then lead to the people finding out that Dimmesdale is the other 'sinner'. He is Pearl's father. What kind of reaction do you think the people will have to this news?
"'I need know no medicine," said he.
But how could the young minister say so, when, with every successive Sabbath, his cheek was paler and thinner, and his voice more tremulous than before-when it had now become a constant habit, rather than a casual gesture, to press his hand over his heart?"
This quotation relates to the one above. The people of Boston are starting to think that Dimmesdale is getting really sick, and not naturally. This foreshadows the truth coming out, as does the one above. The truth of why and how Dimmesdale is really sick will come out. Do you think Dimmesdale will confess before this is able to happen?
This quotation is hinting that the people of Boston are starting to think it is a bit sketchy that Chillingworth is in Boston. Why would such a smart man, want to be in a place like Boston. This quote foreshadows that the truth will come out. Someone will find out that Chillingworth is actually Hester's husband, and that he is making Dimmesdale sicker. Which will then lead to the people finding out that Dimmesdale is the other 'sinner'. He is Pearl's father. What kind of reaction do you think the people will have to this news?
"'I need know no medicine," said he.
But how could the young minister say so, when, with every successive Sabbath, his cheek was paler and thinner, and his voice more tremulous than before-when it had now become a constant habit, rather than a casual gesture, to press his hand over his heart?"
This quotation relates to the one above. The people of Boston are starting to think that Dimmesdale is getting really sick, and not naturally. This foreshadows the truth coming out, as does the one above. The truth of why and how Dimmesdale is really sick will come out. Do you think Dimmesdale will confess before this is able to happen?
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Scarlet Letter 4: 91-107
"It was the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life!" (93).
This quote gives the scarlet letter a life. It is like, whatever Pearl does from now on is really the scarlet letter. The scarlet letter can now do things, it can act upon things, it is the mind and soul, and Pearl is just the body in which those actions can come through. Do you think the "scarlet letter" (Pearl) will only do bad things, or will it do good things?
"The scarlet letter was represented in exaggerated and gigantic proportions, so as to be greatly the most prominent feature of her appearance. In truth, she seemed absolutely hidden behind it" (97).
The scarlet letter is now the only thing anyone sees when they look at Hester Prynne, even herself. It has completely consumed Hester Prynne. She is now just a sinner, an adulterer, to everyone, to herself. No one sees Hester Prynne anymore, they just see a sinner. She does not even see herself anymore, she just sees a sinner as well. Will Hester Prynne ever see herself again or will she always be seen as a sinner?
This quote gives the scarlet letter a life. It is like, whatever Pearl does from now on is really the scarlet letter. The scarlet letter can now do things, it can act upon things, it is the mind and soul, and Pearl is just the body in which those actions can come through. Do you think the "scarlet letter" (Pearl) will only do bad things, or will it do good things?
"The scarlet letter was represented in exaggerated and gigantic proportions, so as to be greatly the most prominent feature of her appearance. In truth, she seemed absolutely hidden behind it" (97).
The scarlet letter is now the only thing anyone sees when they look at Hester Prynne, even herself. It has completely consumed Hester Prynne. She is now just a sinner, an adulterer, to everyone, to herself. No one sees Hester Prynne anymore, they just see a sinner. She does not even see herself anymore, she just sees a sinner as well. Will Hester Prynne ever see herself again or will she always be seen as a sinner?
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Scarlet Letter 3: 72-91
"She Shuddered to believe, yet could not help believing, that it gave her a sympathetic knowledge of the hidden sin in other hearts" (80).
With the scarlet letter being so beautifully embroidered, people cannot help but to look. But, Hester is now able to realize that some of the people who look at it, have sinned themselves. She can tell by the way they look at it. Even though Hester has to stand for three hours of shame, and for the rest of her life be known as a sinner, she still has sympathy for other sinners. Even though they get to hid it, that no one else knows, and they are not put to public shame, she sympathizes for them because she knows that shame of yourself is bad enough. The people may not know, but you know yourself and that it is still very hard to live with.
Will Hester get the courage to ask anyone else if they have sinned, and why they shouldn't be punished as well?
"The chain that bound her here was of iron links, and galling to her inmost soul, but could never be broken" (74).
Hester can never be rid of her sin and rid of this town. No matter where she goes or what does, a part of her will always remain there, and the worst part to. The part of a sinner with always remain there forever, never to be forgotten.
Will Hester get too fed up this, fed up with herself. that she may act irrationally?
With the scarlet letter being so beautifully embroidered, people cannot help but to look. But, Hester is now able to realize that some of the people who look at it, have sinned themselves. She can tell by the way they look at it. Even though Hester has to stand for three hours of shame, and for the rest of her life be known as a sinner, she still has sympathy for other sinners. Even though they get to hid it, that no one else knows, and they are not put to public shame, she sympathizes for them because she knows that shame of yourself is bad enough. The people may not know, but you know yourself and that it is still very hard to live with.
Will Hester get the courage to ask anyone else if they have sinned, and why they shouldn't be punished as well?
"The chain that bound her here was of iron links, and galling to her inmost soul, but could never be broken" (74).
Hester can never be rid of her sin and rid of this town. No matter where she goes or what does, a part of her will always remain there, and the worst part to. The part of a sinner with always remain there forever, never to be forgotten.
Will Hester get too fed up this, fed up with herself. that she may act irrationally?
Scarlet Letter 2: 56-72
"It was whispered, by those who peered after her that the scarlet letter threw a lurid gleam along the dark passage-way of the interior" (65).
In this quote, the gleaming scarlet letter could foreshadow that Hester's sin of adultery will soon gleam too, it will take hold of her body and soul and be the only thing that, not only everyone else, but herself see when they look at her. Her sin will gleam to much that it will embed the rest of her.
Will anyone, someone, come along in Hester's life that may sympathize with her, and that they may look passed the scarlet letter?
"'Thus she will be a living sermon against sin, until the ignominious letter be engraved upon her tombstone"' (59).
This quote, again, shows how unforgettable and forgiving the people in the town are. They want Hester to be a living example of adultery for the reset of her life, and even after when it is on her grave, still for people to see. These people will never let themselves or anyone else forgot that she has sinned. It is almost a way for them to forget about their own sins they may have committed because being so tangled up with Hester's sin, does not give them time to think about the sins they have committed. They no longer have to hide with their sin and shame, they are too focused on the sin of someone else.
With all this focus, any other sins ever come clean, or will Hester Prynne be the last sinner?
In this quote, the gleaming scarlet letter could foreshadow that Hester's sin of adultery will soon gleam too, it will take hold of her body and soul and be the only thing that, not only everyone else, but herself see when they look at her. Her sin will gleam to much that it will embed the rest of her.
Will anyone, someone, come along in Hester's life that may sympathize with her, and that they may look passed the scarlet letter?
"'Thus she will be a living sermon against sin, until the ignominious letter be engraved upon her tombstone"' (59).
This quote, again, shows how unforgettable and forgiving the people in the town are. They want Hester to be a living example of adultery for the reset of her life, and even after when it is on her grave, still for people to see. These people will never let themselves or anyone else forgot that she has sinned. It is almost a way for them to forget about their own sins they may have committed because being so tangled up with Hester's sin, does not give them time to think about the sins they have committed. They no longer have to hide with their sin and shame, they are too focused on the sin of someone else.
With all this focus, any other sins ever come clean, or will Hester Prynne be the last sinner?
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Scarlet Letter 1: 45-56
"'let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart."' (49)
This quote is saying that it does not matter if Hester covers the A for adultery because she will always know inside her that she did, and she will always be reminded of it wherever she goes. The towns people will always be there to remind her. This shows that the people are the type of people that will never let her forget this, they will never forgive her, even though their religion is big on forgiveness and redemption, they still won't forgive her. They are being hypocrites. Do you think the people would feel the same way if they're sins were out in the open?
"he laid his right upon the shoulder of a young woman, whom he thus drew forward; until, on the threshold of the prison-door, she repelled him, by an action marked with natural dignity and force of character, and stepped into the open air, as is by her own free will." (49-50)
This quotes shows that Hester is able to accept her sin. She knows what she did, she knows it was not the right thing to do, but she is willing to openly accept it. She is willing to forgive herself, something that John Proctor could not do for a very long time, and Hester is able to do it very quickly. Even though Hester is able to forgive herself, do you think it will take the town much, much longer to forgive her if they even do ?
This quote is saying that it does not matter if Hester covers the A for adultery because she will always know inside her that she did, and she will always be reminded of it wherever she goes. The towns people will always be there to remind her. This shows that the people are the type of people that will never let her forget this, they will never forgive her, even though their religion is big on forgiveness and redemption, they still won't forgive her. They are being hypocrites. Do you think the people would feel the same way if they're sins were out in the open?
"he laid his right upon the shoulder of a young woman, whom he thus drew forward; until, on the threshold of the prison-door, she repelled him, by an action marked with natural dignity and force of character, and stepped into the open air, as is by her own free will." (49-50)
This quotes shows that Hester is able to accept her sin. She knows what she did, she knows it was not the right thing to do, but she is willing to openly accept it. She is willing to forgive herself, something that John Proctor could not do for a very long time, and Hester is able to do it very quickly. Even though Hester is able to forgive herself, do you think it will take the town much, much longer to forgive her if they even do ?
Thursday, December 4, 2008
crucible essay 2
Ciara Lynch
AP English 11 - Mr. George
December 4th, 2008
“Toying with our emotions”
Have you ever apologized for something a million times, but still felt unforgiving? Well, so has John Proctor. During “The Crucible” John Proctor struggles with reaching his redemption. He is constantly looking in the wrong place and needs to look in the right place. He keeps looking for forgiveness in people, but does not realize it is himself that he has to look for forgiveness before people can forgive him.
John Proctor’s affair with Abigail leaves him distraught. He is ashamed of what he did but does not how to take it away, because in Salem, “These people had no ritual for the washing away of sins” (Miller 20). Therefore, he could not be redeemed and did not know how to deal with it. So, Proctor tried to find a way to deal with. He tried to find away to be redeemed by asking his wife for forgiveness.
When Proctor confesses to Elizabeth he believes that she will forgive him and he will be redeemed. But the complete opposite happens. When he does tell her, she acts very cold and suspicious toward him. But, he thinks that she should not act this way when he says, “I’ll not have your suspicion anymore!” (54). Proctor does not understand why she is acting cold toward him; he does not understand why she does not forgive him. He believes that since that she is another human being with emotions and makes mistakes herself, she should understand. She should be able to forgive him. He confessed and showed remorse, so why does he not feel redeemed? Maybe one person is just not enough to feel redeemed.
After Proctor confesses to Elizabeth and does not feel redeemed, he goes to look elsewhere. Since his affair with Abigail, Abigail has been causing a huge commotion in the town. She has been accusing others of witchcraft, just to clear her name and to get Proctor back. Proctor knows she is lying straight out of her teeth and wants to tell the town about it. He does not want her to get away with this, but there is one problem. The only way to tell the town that Abigail is lying is if he has proof, and the only proof he has is the affair. This gives Proctor the idea that if he confesses of the affair to the town, he must be forgiven. “Forgive me; forgive me […] for I thought of her softly. God help me, I have lusted” (110). There is no way he cannot feel redeemed after confessing to the whole time. But, once again Proctor does not feel redeemed; he continues to look in the wrong place. The fact that he has confessed to all the people compared to one person is not going to change the reaction. They are still other people. He must look to the right place, he must look to himself.
Finally when Proctor talks to Elizabeth and asks for her forgiveness, she says something to him that brings him to a realization. When Elizabeth says, “John, it come naught that I should forgive you, if you’ll not forgive yourself. […] It is not my soul, John, it is yours” (136), Proctor realizes that in order to get forgiveness from others, he has to forgive himself first. If Proctor can forgive himself, he can ask forgiveness of God, and then finally get the forgiveness from the town just like he wanted. With the one step of forgiving himself first, he can finally feel forgiven and reach redemption.
Since Proctor was looking in the wrong place, of course he would not find what he was looking for. Just as if a man was looking for clothes in the children’s section of a store, of course he would not find anything that would fit him. But, if he went to the men’s section and looked there, he would find clothes that would fit him. Just as if John Proctor looked to himself before others, he would have felt forgiven and found redemption.
AP English 11 - Mr. George
December 4th, 2008
“Toying with our emotions”
Have you ever apologized for something a million times, but still felt unforgiving? Well, so has John Proctor. During “The Crucible” John Proctor struggles with reaching his redemption. He is constantly looking in the wrong place and needs to look in the right place. He keeps looking for forgiveness in people, but does not realize it is himself that he has to look for forgiveness before people can forgive him.
John Proctor’s affair with Abigail leaves him distraught. He is ashamed of what he did but does not how to take it away, because in Salem, “These people had no ritual for the washing away of sins” (Miller 20). Therefore, he could not be redeemed and did not know how to deal with it. So, Proctor tried to find a way to deal with. He tried to find away to be redeemed by asking his wife for forgiveness.
When Proctor confesses to Elizabeth he believes that she will forgive him and he will be redeemed. But the complete opposite happens. When he does tell her, she acts very cold and suspicious toward him. But, he thinks that she should not act this way when he says, “I’ll not have your suspicion anymore!” (54). Proctor does not understand why she is acting cold toward him; he does not understand why she does not forgive him. He believes that since that she is another human being with emotions and makes mistakes herself, she should understand. She should be able to forgive him. He confessed and showed remorse, so why does he not feel redeemed? Maybe one person is just not enough to feel redeemed.
After Proctor confesses to Elizabeth and does not feel redeemed, he goes to look elsewhere. Since his affair with Abigail, Abigail has been causing a huge commotion in the town. She has been accusing others of witchcraft, just to clear her name and to get Proctor back. Proctor knows she is lying straight out of her teeth and wants to tell the town about it. He does not want her to get away with this, but there is one problem. The only way to tell the town that Abigail is lying is if he has proof, and the only proof he has is the affair. This gives Proctor the idea that if he confesses of the affair to the town, he must be forgiven. “Forgive me; forgive me […] for I thought of her softly. God help me, I have lusted” (110). There is no way he cannot feel redeemed after confessing to the whole time. But, once again Proctor does not feel redeemed; he continues to look in the wrong place. The fact that he has confessed to all the people compared to one person is not going to change the reaction. They are still other people. He must look to the right place, he must look to himself.
Finally when Proctor talks to Elizabeth and asks for her forgiveness, she says something to him that brings him to a realization. When Elizabeth says, “John, it come naught that I should forgive you, if you’ll not forgive yourself. […] It is not my soul, John, it is yours” (136), Proctor realizes that in order to get forgiveness from others, he has to forgive himself first. If Proctor can forgive himself, he can ask forgiveness of God, and then finally get the forgiveness from the town just like he wanted. With the one step of forgiving himself first, he can finally feel forgiven and reach redemption.
Since Proctor was looking in the wrong place, of course he would not find what he was looking for. Just as if a man was looking for clothes in the children’s section of a store, of course he would not find anything that would fit him. But, if he went to the men’s section and looked there, he would find clothes that would fit him. Just as if John Proctor looked to himself before others, he would have felt forgiven and found redemption.
Monday, December 1, 2008
letter 3
Dear John,
I miss you. It has been 2 year now and I miss you still. Aye, I will miss you forever. As will the children. They are doin' well, gettin' bigger and bigger, they have your eyes. Oh, how I loved your eyes. Anyway, I have somethin' to tell you John...
I met somehow. His name is Samuel. You'd like him, he takes of the family. I know you would want this for me. I know you would wantin' me to be happy and aye, I am happy. I have finally been able to learn to how to move on, but still be able to love you. Because I do love you. I will always love you, don't ever forget that. You were my first love. And now I have another love...
Jason, he is a wonderful man, aye he really is and you really would like him, and you will meet him someday. And I pray that you will. And I pray that we will meet again. Aye, just to see you one more time will be an eternity to me. I love you.
John Proctor, never forget that and I will never forget you. And I will be happy with Jason and the children. He is good for me and the children.
I’ll never forget you,
Elizabeth
I miss you. It has been 2 year now and I miss you still. Aye, I will miss you forever. As will the children. They are doin' well, gettin' bigger and bigger, they have your eyes. Oh, how I loved your eyes. Anyway, I have somethin' to tell you John...
I met somehow. His name is Samuel. You'd like him, he takes of the family. I know you would want this for me. I know you would wantin' me to be happy and aye, I am happy. I have finally been able to learn to how to move on, but still be able to love you. Because I do love you. I will always love you, don't ever forget that. You were my first love. And now I have another love...
Jason, he is a wonderful man, aye he really is and you really would like him, and you will meet him someday. And I pray that you will. And I pray that we will meet again. Aye, just to see you one more time will be an eternity to me. I love you.
John Proctor, never forget that and I will never forget you. And I will be happy with Jason and the children. He is good for me and the children.
I’ll never forget you,
Elizabeth
letter 2
My Dearest Elizabeth,
I would like to start with : I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Elizabeth, I never meant to hurt you. But, I know did put pain upon you and I am goin' to do everythin' that I am able to, to get you back. I must have you back. You might be wonderin' why I'm sayin' I need you back, when we still share a home, but you have been very cold toward me, and I blame you not. You are very well able to, but I want you back. I want your warmness. I want to happy. I am only happy with you, that William's girl means nothing to me. It were only lust. It over powered me, I no that will never be an excuse, and I'm not lookin' for an excuse. I'm just lookin' for your love back. That girl is nothin' but a whore and she's turnin' this town upside down. And the people be believin' her too. Something must be done to get them to stop believin' her, these people are not in the right mind, just like I was not in the right mind when I touched that girl. But I am in the right mind now, and soon they will if something is done, I just don't know what yet. But that girl is cut from my mind, my mind is all on you. It is all on lovin' you and gettin' your love back. To get your warmness back and to give you all my warmness. I am so sorry Elizabeth, will you give me your forgiveness, please. That is all I want, your forgiveness and your love.
Aye, what I did was a horrible thing, but I am willin' to do anything' to get you back. I want to do everythin' for you. Aye everythin'. everythin' and anythin' for my Elizabeth. I love you with all of my heart and my bein'. If i could have your forgiveness please, I will never hurt you again and be forever grateful. I love you Elizabeth Proctor, you are everythin' to me.
I'm sorry,
John Proctor
I would like to start with : I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Elizabeth, I never meant to hurt you. But, I know did put pain upon you and I am goin' to do everythin' that I am able to, to get you back. I must have you back. You might be wonderin' why I'm sayin' I need you back, when we still share a home, but you have been very cold toward me, and I blame you not. You are very well able to, but I want you back. I want your warmness. I want to happy. I am only happy with you, that William's girl means nothing to me. It were only lust. It over powered me, I no that will never be an excuse, and I'm not lookin' for an excuse. I'm just lookin' for your love back. That girl is nothin' but a whore and she's turnin' this town upside down. And the people be believin' her too. Something must be done to get them to stop believin' her, these people are not in the right mind, just like I was not in the right mind when I touched that girl. But I am in the right mind now, and soon they will if something is done, I just don't know what yet. But that girl is cut from my mind, my mind is all on you. It is all on lovin' you and gettin' your love back. To get your warmness back and to give you all my warmness. I am so sorry Elizabeth, will you give me your forgiveness, please. That is all I want, your forgiveness and your love.
Aye, what I did was a horrible thing, but I am willin' to do anything' to get you back. I want to do everythin' for you. Aye everythin'. everythin' and anythin' for my Elizabeth. I love you with all of my heart and my bein'. If i could have your forgiveness please, I will never hurt you again and be forever grateful. I love you Elizabeth Proctor, you are everythin' to me.
I'm sorry,
John Proctor
letter 1
Dear John,
I miss you. I have been drawn to my window and I have not see you for quite some time. You can not forget what we had. Aye, I know that Goody Proctor has banned me from your home, but that does not mean we can see each other not. I am still waitin' for you John Proctor and I know you want me. Oh, how you sweat when I come near. Now is that nerves of lovin' me or nerves of gettin' caught? I think it's cause of lovin' me 'cause I'm lovin' you. I love you John Proctor. Good Proctor is blackening my name 'cause of what he had, now if there wasn't' somethin' there, why would she go through all the trouble to do that. And I'm lettin' her. I'm sacrificing my name for you. So, the least you could do is make a sacrifice for me. Forget about your name, you will not need it when you have my love. That will be all that matters. Your name will not matter. Because all my love will make up for that, I promise.
Oh, John Proctor I need you. I have not hungered since your wife put me out. I cannot, I am too sick to my stomach because of my missin' you. Do you see how much I need you, so now will you come back to me? I know you want to come back to me, 'cause if you didn't you wouldn't get nervous around me, and you wouldn't have come to my window, which you have not come for a while. But I think that is because Goody Proctor has forbidden you go five mile to to here without her. Would you just come to Church this Sunday so we can arrange a meeting to talk. To Talk about out future, I see a future with us. If you would just be forgettin' about your name. It is not as important as you think, have trust in me, I have gone through with it. As I said before i sacrificed my name for you, so if you love me you will sacrifice yours. We can run away together, to place where no one knows either of us. Our names will not matter, you name will not matter there, you can have a new name. You can be a new person and have a new reputation,a good one, with me. We can be together and happy with no one blackening our names.
Please, John Proctor. Just come with me. I love you.
All my love forever,
Abigail Williams
I miss you. I have been drawn to my window and I have not see you for quite some time. You can not forget what we had. Aye, I know that Goody Proctor has banned me from your home, but that does not mean we can see each other not. I am still waitin' for you John Proctor and I know you want me. Oh, how you sweat when I come near. Now is that nerves of lovin' me or nerves of gettin' caught? I think it's cause of lovin' me 'cause I'm lovin' you. I love you John Proctor. Good Proctor is blackening my name 'cause of what he had, now if there wasn't' somethin' there, why would she go through all the trouble to do that. And I'm lettin' her. I'm sacrificing my name for you. So, the least you could do is make a sacrifice for me. Forget about your name, you will not need it when you have my love. That will be all that matters. Your name will not matter. Because all my love will make up for that, I promise.
Oh, John Proctor I need you. I have not hungered since your wife put me out. I cannot, I am too sick to my stomach because of my missin' you. Do you see how much I need you, so now will you come back to me? I know you want to come back to me, 'cause if you didn't you wouldn't get nervous around me, and you wouldn't have come to my window, which you have not come for a while. But I think that is because Goody Proctor has forbidden you go five mile to to here without her. Would you just come to Church this Sunday so we can arrange a meeting to talk. To Talk about out future, I see a future with us. If you would just be forgettin' about your name. It is not as important as you think, have trust in me, I have gone through with it. As I said before i sacrificed my name for you, so if you love me you will sacrifice yours. We can run away together, to place where no one knows either of us. Our names will not matter, you name will not matter there, you can have a new name. You can be a new person and have a new reputation,a good one, with me. We can be together and happy with no one blackening our names.
Please, John Proctor. Just come with me. I love you.
All my love forever,
Abigail Williams
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
crucible essay
Ciara Lynch
AP English 11 - George
November 25, 2008
The Crucible
The Crucible is a drama-filled play and there is one person to blame for all the drama, John Proctor. John proctor is a lustful, dishonest man with a high reputation who commits adultery that puts the wrong idea into a young, naive girl’s mind. He does, in fact, tell his wife about this affair but, decides to keep it a secret from everyone else to ensure that his reputation is not ruined. Because he does have this affair and wants to keep it a secret, horrible events took place that could have been completely avoided if John Proctor was a faithful and honest man from the beginning.
Abigail Williams was a servant for John Proctor and his wife, Elizabeth. While Abigail was a servant for the Proctor’s, Proctor had an affair with her which put the wrong idea into Abigail’s mind. He made Abigail think that he loved her and that he wanted her. Abigail said, while grasping his hand “John-I am waitin’ for you every night.” (Miller 22). Proctor clearly gave Abigail hope that he wanted her and the only thing standing in Abigail’s way to get to Proctor was Elizabeth. Since Proctor put the idea into Abigail’s mind that he loved her, it made Abigail want to get rid of Elizabeth, to kill Elizabeth, “You drank a charm to kill John Proctor’s wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!”(19). Although it may seem that Abigail is equally at fault since it takes two to have an affair, but Proctor is much older than Abigail. She is only seventeen years of age and very naive. Proctor was in a position of power, he was old enough to realize that this could give this young, naive girl the completely wrong impression, but he did it anyway which did indeed give Abigail the wrong impression, which made her want to kill Elizabeth. Abigail would have never wanted to kill Elizabeth with witchcraft, which would have never been a factor if Proctor had not gone through with the affair that not only could jeopardize his marriage, but his high reputation.
John Proctor was a man of high reputation, “Proctor, respected and even feared in Salem.” The people of Salem highly respected him and he was the kind of man that did not want to lose his high reputation. It was a big factor in his life, so big in fact, that he did not tell anyone about his affair except for Elizabeth, “God forbid you keep that from the court, John I think they must be told.”(53). If Proctor had just told the court he had an affair with Abigail, that would be the answer to why she was committing witchcraft and it would have avoided an emotionally distressing event with his wife.
Because Proctor does not tell of the affair, he cannot accuse Abigail because the only proof he has of why she would want to commit witchcraft to kill his wife would be that they had an affair but he does not want to admit to that. So, Abigail is empowered to accuse Elizabeth of being a witch because Abigail still believes that Proctor loves her. Abigail accuses Elizabeth of committing a voodoo act on a doll, that affects Abigail, “Abigail Williams, sir. She sat down to dinner in Reverend Parris’s house tonight, and without a word nor warnin’ she falls to the floor[…]stuck two in the in the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle out[…] she-to proctor now-testify it were your wife’s familiar spirit pushed it in.”(74). Because of Abigail doing this, Elizabeth is accused and is to be jailed and has a possibility of being hanged all because Proctor did not tell the truth about having the affair. He knew he should have told the truth because he knew that having the affair was the wrong thing to do. He should have admitted to it, to give the proof for all the more reason for Abigail to accuse Elizabeth.
Proctor obviously knew what he did was wrong or else he would not have asked for forgiveness, “I would have your forgiveness, Elizabeth.”(136). He knew it was wrong, so he should have just told the truth from the beginning and shown remorse then, asked for forgiveness then and the court would have believed him. Abigail would had never had the chance to accuse Elizabeth. But since, he did not tell the truth from the beginning it was just too little too late.
Since Proctor failed to tell the truth at the opportune moment to change things , it led to the death of twelve people, plus seven more to come, “Twelve are already executed; the names of these seven are given out, and the village expects to see them die this morning.”(129) Twelve people that were accused had already been hanged by the time Proctor did come out with the truth and seven others are to be hanged and they cannot be pardon because it would not be just. But as said before, it was too little too late for Proctor.
All this concludes that John Proctor is the most to blame for all the events that happened in The Crucible. All of the people accused, all of the people harmed, physically or emotionally, all of the people hanged, was all because of John Proctor’s lustful, dishonest, ways and of course to keep his reputation high.
AP English 11 - George
November 25, 2008
The Crucible
The Crucible is a drama-filled play and there is one person to blame for all the drama, John Proctor. John proctor is a lustful, dishonest man with a high reputation who commits adultery that puts the wrong idea into a young, naive girl’s mind. He does, in fact, tell his wife about this affair but, decides to keep it a secret from everyone else to ensure that his reputation is not ruined. Because he does have this affair and wants to keep it a secret, horrible events took place that could have been completely avoided if John Proctor was a faithful and honest man from the beginning.
Abigail Williams was a servant for John Proctor and his wife, Elizabeth. While Abigail was a servant for the Proctor’s, Proctor had an affair with her which put the wrong idea into Abigail’s mind. He made Abigail think that he loved her and that he wanted her. Abigail said, while grasping his hand “John-I am waitin’ for you every night.” (Miller 22). Proctor clearly gave Abigail hope that he wanted her and the only thing standing in Abigail’s way to get to Proctor was Elizabeth. Since Proctor put the idea into Abigail’s mind that he loved her, it made Abigail want to get rid of Elizabeth, to kill Elizabeth, “You drank a charm to kill John Proctor’s wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!”(19). Although it may seem that Abigail is equally at fault since it takes two to have an affair, but Proctor is much older than Abigail. She is only seventeen years of age and very naive. Proctor was in a position of power, he was old enough to realize that this could give this young, naive girl the completely wrong impression, but he did it anyway which did indeed give Abigail the wrong impression, which made her want to kill Elizabeth. Abigail would have never wanted to kill Elizabeth with witchcraft, which would have never been a factor if Proctor had not gone through with the affair that not only could jeopardize his marriage, but his high reputation.
John Proctor was a man of high reputation, “Proctor, respected and even feared in Salem.” The people of Salem highly respected him and he was the kind of man that did not want to lose his high reputation. It was a big factor in his life, so big in fact, that he did not tell anyone about his affair except for Elizabeth, “God forbid you keep that from the court, John I think they must be told.”(53). If Proctor had just told the court he had an affair with Abigail, that would be the answer to why she was committing witchcraft and it would have avoided an emotionally distressing event with his wife.
Because Proctor does not tell of the affair, he cannot accuse Abigail because the only proof he has of why she would want to commit witchcraft to kill his wife would be that they had an affair but he does not want to admit to that. So, Abigail is empowered to accuse Elizabeth of being a witch because Abigail still believes that Proctor loves her. Abigail accuses Elizabeth of committing a voodoo act on a doll, that affects Abigail, “Abigail Williams, sir. She sat down to dinner in Reverend Parris’s house tonight, and without a word nor warnin’ she falls to the floor[…]stuck two in the in the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle out[…] she-to proctor now-testify it were your wife’s familiar spirit pushed it in.”(74). Because of Abigail doing this, Elizabeth is accused and is to be jailed and has a possibility of being hanged all because Proctor did not tell the truth about having the affair. He knew he should have told the truth because he knew that having the affair was the wrong thing to do. He should have admitted to it, to give the proof for all the more reason for Abigail to accuse Elizabeth.
Proctor obviously knew what he did was wrong or else he would not have asked for forgiveness, “I would have your forgiveness, Elizabeth.”(136). He knew it was wrong, so he should have just told the truth from the beginning and shown remorse then, asked for forgiveness then and the court would have believed him. Abigail would had never had the chance to accuse Elizabeth. But since, he did not tell the truth from the beginning it was just too little too late.
Since Proctor failed to tell the truth at the opportune moment to change things , it led to the death of twelve people, plus seven more to come, “Twelve are already executed; the names of these seven are given out, and the village expects to see them die this morning.”(129) Twelve people that were accused had already been hanged by the time Proctor did come out with the truth and seven others are to be hanged and they cannot be pardon because it would not be just. But as said before, it was too little too late for Proctor.
All this concludes that John Proctor is the most to blame for all the events that happened in The Crucible. All of the people accused, all of the people harmed, physically or emotionally, all of the people hanged, was all because of John Proctor’s lustful, dishonest, ways and of course to keep his reputation high.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Crucible
Hale: "If you think God wills you to raise a rebellion, Mr. Danforth, you are mistaken!"(130)
Here Mr. Danforth says he must hang the people that were accused, and he cannot postpone it. But, Hale says that if Mr. Danforth is going hang this people it will cause a rebellion and God is not saying that. Mr. Danforth thinks he is doing God's work on the Earth and he has to hang this people for justice, but Hale says that this is not what God wants. He does not want a rebellion to start and if Mr. Danforth thinks that, he is wrong.
Why does Mr. Danforth thinks that he is doing God's work in the world?
Elizabeth: "John, it come to naught that I should forgive you, if you'll not forgive yourself. It is not my soul, John, it is yours."(136)
Here John is asking Elizabeth for forgiveness because he does not know any other way to ask for forgiveness but Elizabeth says that it's not her to forgive him, it's himself. Proctor has to forgive himself in order to be washed away of his sins. It doesn't really matter is Elizabeth will forgive him, he has to forgive himself first.
Does Proctor finally forgive himself at the end?
Here Mr. Danforth says he must hang the people that were accused, and he cannot postpone it. But, Hale says that if Mr. Danforth is going hang this people it will cause a rebellion and God is not saying that. Mr. Danforth thinks he is doing God's work on the Earth and he has to hang this people for justice, but Hale says that this is not what God wants. He does not want a rebellion to start and if Mr. Danforth thinks that, he is wrong.
Why does Mr. Danforth thinks that he is doing God's work in the world?
Elizabeth: "John, it come to naught that I should forgive you, if you'll not forgive yourself. It is not my soul, John, it is yours."(136)
Here John is asking Elizabeth for forgiveness because he does not know any other way to ask for forgiveness but Elizabeth says that it's not her to forgive him, it's himself. Proctor has to forgive himself in order to be washed away of his sins. It doesn't really matter is Elizabeth will forgive him, he has to forgive himself first.
Does Proctor finally forgive himself at the end?
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Crucible 11/20
Cheever: "I know Mr. Parris be arguin' with the farmers all yesterday-there is a great contention, sir, about the cows. Contention make him weep, sir; it were always man that weep for contention." (125)
Here, Cheever is saying that Mr. Parris is upset and crying because of an argument over who's cow is who's. But, I don't think a man, especially in this particular situation, would cry over something as small as that. He has bigger problems to deal with. Maybe the real reason he cries is because something worse has happened with Betty, or maybe even Abigail. Later we come find out that something actually has happened. Abigail has "vanished" and has been gone for three days. So, Parris must have been crying because his niece is missing, not over a impractical cow argument. There was much more to his crying, Cheever was being oblivious to the witchcraft event going on at the time to even think that it was something more than a small argument.
Proctor: "You are pulling Heaven down and raising up a whore!"(120)
Here, Proctor is making a very bold statement. He is saying that Danforth is bringing Heaven and God down and putting a whore (Abigail) above God and Heaven. He says this because he has done nothing but tell the truth through this whole event and Danforth is insisting on believing Abigail, who is lying out of her teeth. Proctor is being a good man, he is doing what is right and doing what God would want him to do. He is putting God and Heaven first, but Danforth is listening to Abigail and saying that Proctor is lying. He won't even think twice to see if Abigail really is lying, he is believing her because she is a "child" and since he thinks Proctor is a lecher, he thinks everything else that Proctor does must be a lie or ungodly like.
With Abby's disappearance, are the people going to think it witchcraft?
Or, are the people going to think Proctor or Elizabeth have something to do with her disappearance?
Here, Cheever is saying that Mr. Parris is upset and crying because of an argument over who's cow is who's. But, I don't think a man, especially in this particular situation, would cry over something as small as that. He has bigger problems to deal with. Maybe the real reason he cries is because something worse has happened with Betty, or maybe even Abigail. Later we come find out that something actually has happened. Abigail has "vanished" and has been gone for three days. So, Parris must have been crying because his niece is missing, not over a impractical cow argument. There was much more to his crying, Cheever was being oblivious to the witchcraft event going on at the time to even think that it was something more than a small argument.
Proctor: "You are pulling Heaven down and raising up a whore!"(120)
Here, Proctor is making a very bold statement. He is saying that Danforth is bringing Heaven and God down and putting a whore (Abigail) above God and Heaven. He says this because he has done nothing but tell the truth through this whole event and Danforth is insisting on believing Abigail, who is lying out of her teeth. Proctor is being a good man, he is doing what is right and doing what God would want him to do. He is putting God and Heaven first, but Danforth is listening to Abigail and saying that Proctor is lying. He won't even think twice to see if Abigail really is lying, he is believing her because she is a "child" and since he thinks Proctor is a lecher, he thinks everything else that Proctor does must be a lie or ungodly like.
With Abby's disappearance, are the people going to think it witchcraft?
Or, are the people going to think Proctor or Elizabeth have something to do with her disappearance?
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Crucibl 11/19
Danforth: "There is fear in the country because there is a moving plot to topple Christ in the country!"(98)
This quote is saying that all through the country there is a plot to conquer Christ; Christianity. In this time of people being accused of witchcraft gives all the more reason for this statement to be true. But we really only know of this one sac-religious event going on, so this quote is some what of a stretch. But, with the seriousness of this accused witchcraft, a stretch needs to be taken in order to get the truth out. So, why does everyone think that everyone else is lying, whether they are saying they are a witch or not?
Proctor: "A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything."(110)
At the time when Proctor was with Abigail, he was thinking that God couldn't see him do this, God can't see him do everything, but he was wrong and he knows it. He came to the realization that God sees everyone and everything. So it doesn't matter if he lies about to anyone because God still knows so he might as well just come out with anyway, so he did. Because God is the worst one to catch you doing something bad, and He already did catch Proctor. He caught him before Proctor even did, because as we learned in Theology 11 God knows everything that you are going to do it, before you even know it, but He does not make you do it. So, why didn't Proctor just come clean with it earlier, before things got this bad?
This quote is saying that all through the country there is a plot to conquer Christ; Christianity. In this time of people being accused of witchcraft gives all the more reason for this statement to be true. But we really only know of this one sac-religious event going on, so this quote is some what of a stretch. But, with the seriousness of this accused witchcraft, a stretch needs to be taken in order to get the truth out. So, why does everyone think that everyone else is lying, whether they are saying they are a witch or not?
Proctor: "A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything."(110)
At the time when Proctor was with Abigail, he was thinking that God couldn't see him do this, God can't see him do everything, but he was wrong and he knows it. He came to the realization that God sees everyone and everything. So it doesn't matter if he lies about to anyone because God still knows so he might as well just come out with anyway, so he did. Because God is the worst one to catch you doing something bad, and He already did catch Proctor. He caught him before Proctor even did, because as we learned in Theology 11 God knows everything that you are going to do it, before you even know it, but He does not make you do it. So, why didn't Proctor just come clean with it earlier, before things got this bad?
Monday, November 17, 2008
crucible 11/18
Danforth: "But you must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between."(94)
This quote shows the fine line of division between the people. Clearly stated, you have to be with the court and if not you are against it, which means you go to jail. Now, to the people of the court being "with" the court means that you are for every single cause of the court, but if you disagree on one small account, then you are "against it" and therefore jailed. This is basically a manipulation. The court are manipulating the people into being with them, because if you are against them, then you are jailed. People do not want to go to jail, so any disagreements they have, do not exist, for they are "with" the court. Will anyone speak up and disagree that will cause a thicker line?
Danforth: "The pure in heart need no lawyers."(93)
If you are an innocent in heart, or pure in heart, person, and always have been, there is no reason for you to have a lawyer. But if you have not always been an Innocent person you need a lawyer. But, someone can easily make everyone believe they are an innocent, can't they? And when they accomplish this, they can get away with anything because to the people they are innocent, "pure in heart." So as said by Danforth earlier, "The entire contention of the state in these trials is that the voice of heaven is speaking through the children." Children are innocent, heaven is pure. Why are the children being questioned?
This quote shows the fine line of division between the people. Clearly stated, you have to be with the court and if not you are against it, which means you go to jail. Now, to the people of the court being "with" the court means that you are for every single cause of the court, but if you disagree on one small account, then you are "against it" and therefore jailed. This is basically a manipulation. The court are manipulating the people into being with them, because if you are against them, then you are jailed. People do not want to go to jail, so any disagreements they have, do not exist, for they are "with" the court. Will anyone speak up and disagree that will cause a thicker line?
Danforth: "The pure in heart need no lawyers."(93)
If you are an innocent in heart, or pure in heart, person, and always have been, there is no reason for you to have a lawyer. But if you have not always been an Innocent person you need a lawyer. But, someone can easily make everyone believe they are an innocent, can't they? And when they accomplish this, they can get away with anything because to the people they are innocent, "pure in heart." So as said by Danforth earlier, "The entire contention of the state in these trials is that the voice of heaven is speaking through the children." Children are innocent, heaven is pure. Why are the children being questioned?
Thursday, November 13, 2008
11/14
Hale: "Man, remember, until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven."(71)
Here Hale is answering to when Proctor said "How may such a woman murder children?" Proctor means that Rebecca Nurse is not one to murder children, she is too much of a good woman to murder children, and Hale then responds with the above quote. It does not matter what a person has done all their life, and what they are made out to be. One tiny little thing can happen that can make them do something completely opposite of their usual self and no one will see it coming. No one will expect it, so even though Rebecca Nurse seems like a good woman, something could have made her opposite, therefore she has to be proven innocent not just said to be innocent.
Hale: "Let you counsel among yourselves; think on your village and what may have dawn from heaven such a thundering wrath upon you all. I shall pray God open your eyes!"(79)
This quote foreshadows that something will come out in the open that happened. Someone will admit to doing something like murder. This could also foreshadow to John Proctor admitting to have had an affair with Abigail. Now to save his wife from being hanged, Proctor might very well have to do this.
1. Will John Proctor admit to having an affair with Abigail in order to save Elizabeth from being hanged?
2. Will Mary Warren be accused for witchcraft for making the doll, even though she is apart of the court?
Here Hale is answering to when Proctor said "How may such a woman murder children?" Proctor means that Rebecca Nurse is not one to murder children, she is too much of a good woman to murder children, and Hale then responds with the above quote. It does not matter what a person has done all their life, and what they are made out to be. One tiny little thing can happen that can make them do something completely opposite of their usual self and no one will see it coming. No one will expect it, so even though Rebecca Nurse seems like a good woman, something could have made her opposite, therefore she has to be proven innocent not just said to be innocent.
Hale: "Let you counsel among yourselves; think on your village and what may have dawn from heaven such a thundering wrath upon you all. I shall pray God open your eyes!"(79)
This quote foreshadows that something will come out in the open that happened. Someone will admit to doing something like murder. This could also foreshadow to John Proctor admitting to have had an affair with Abigail. Now to save his wife from being hanged, Proctor might very well have to do this.
1. Will John Proctor admit to having an affair with Abigail in order to save Elizabeth from being hanged?
2. Will Mary Warren be accused for witchcraft for making the doll, even though she is apart of the court?
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
crucible 11/13
Elizabeth: "You'll tear it free-when you come to know that I will be yo our only wife, or no wife at all! She has an arrow in you yet, John Proctor, and you know it well."
This quote is full of emotion. Elizabeth lets John know that he will never have another wife so he has to let her spirit free. She also makes it clear to him that she is aware of him knowing that he still lusts over Abigail. Now that Elizabeth knows that John still lusts over Abigail, John will have to do something about and fast. He will have to stop it because it is all out in the open now. And he has to now come to the realization that he cannot have the both of them and he will never really have Abigail or any other woman at that. The only will he will ever have is Elizabeth even is she did decide to leave him.
Hale: "Theology, sir, is a fortress; no crack in a fortress may be accounted small."
Here, Hale is saying that any small mistake in theology is never considered small. It is considered big, just as a small crack is a fortress would be considered big. The small mistakes that John makes, like not going to Church every Sunday, may not seem like a big deal but it is. It is a very big deal, a big enough deal to put his family on the list of suspicion of witchcraft. Any "small" mistake in living the Christian life is just an asking for suspicion at this time. Any mistake that is made, suspicion of witchcraft is not far behind.
What part of the court is Mary Warren apart of?
Does John Proctor believe that Abigail does want Elizabeth dead and that Abigail does want to take Elizabeth's place?
This quote is full of emotion. Elizabeth lets John know that he will never have another wife so he has to let her spirit free. She also makes it clear to him that she is aware of him knowing that he still lusts over Abigail. Now that Elizabeth knows that John still lusts over Abigail, John will have to do something about and fast. He will have to stop it because it is all out in the open now. And he has to now come to the realization that he cannot have the both of them and he will never really have Abigail or any other woman at that. The only will he will ever have is Elizabeth even is she did decide to leave him.
Hale: "Theology, sir, is a fortress; no crack in a fortress may be accounted small."
Here, Hale is saying that any small mistake in theology is never considered small. It is considered big, just as a small crack is a fortress would be considered big. The small mistakes that John makes, like not going to Church every Sunday, may not seem like a big deal but it is. It is a very big deal, a big enough deal to put his family on the list of suspicion of witchcraft. Any "small" mistake in living the Christian life is just an asking for suspicion at this time. Any mistake that is made, suspicion of witchcraft is not far behind.
What part of the court is Mary Warren apart of?
Does John Proctor believe that Abigail does want Elizabeth dead and that Abigail does want to take Elizabeth's place?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Crucible 11/12
Proctor: "I've heard you to be a sensible man, Mr. hale. I hope you'll leave some of it in Salem."(37)
This quote implies that Proctor thinks that the people of Salem need some sense in them. That they are being irrational and need to be sensible and he hopes that Mr. Hale will bring that to them.
Hale: "What victory would the Devil have to win a soul already bad? It is the best the Devil wants, and who is better than the minister?"(41)
In this quote Mr. Hale is saying that the reason this is happening to Betty is because she has a good soul and she is the daughter of the minister so she must have the best soul. The people of Salem who are bad, the Devil has to do no work on them for they are already bad so he has to go after the good. And being the minister's daughter is by far the best.
What is 'incubi and succubi'?
Are the girls now completely free of the Devil because they have said who was with the Devil?
This quote implies that Proctor thinks that the people of Salem need some sense in them. That they are being irrational and need to be sensible and he hopes that Mr. Hale will bring that to them.
Hale: "What victory would the Devil have to win a soul already bad? It is the best the Devil wants, and who is better than the minister?"(41)
In this quote Mr. Hale is saying that the reason this is happening to Betty is because she has a good soul and she is the daughter of the minister so she must have the best soul. The people of Salem who are bad, the Devil has to do no work on them for they are already bad so he has to go after the good. And being the minister's daughter is by far the best.
What is 'incubi and succubi'?
Are the girls now completely free of the Devil because they have said who was with the Devil?
Crucible 11/6
Abigail : " I know you clutched my back behind your house and sweated like a stallion whenever I come near! Or did I dream that? It's she put me out, you cannot pretend it were you. I saw your face when she put me out, and you loved then and you do now!" (22)
This quote shows that Abigail and John Proctor had an affair and Abigail is convinced that Proctor loves her still.
Proctor: "I have trouble enough without I come five mile to hear him preach only hellfire and bloody damnation. Take it to heart, Mr. Parris. There are many others who stay away from church these days because you hardly ever mention God any more." (29)
This quote shows that in church Parris seems to only talk about hell and about damnation. Some of the people of Salem do not want to go to church any more because they do not want to hear anything about hell and about being damned. They want to hear about God, but Parris is not preaching about God any more.
1. What is diabolism?
2. Are the girls doing witchcraft to get back at people in the town that have done wrong to them?
This quote shows that Abigail and John Proctor had an affair and Abigail is convinced that Proctor loves her still.
Proctor: "I have trouble enough without I come five mile to hear him preach only hellfire and bloody damnation. Take it to heart, Mr. Parris. There are many others who stay away from church these days because you hardly ever mention God any more." (29)
This quote shows that in church Parris seems to only talk about hell and about damnation. Some of the people of Salem do not want to go to church any more because they do not want to hear anything about hell and about being damned. They want to hear about God, but Parris is not preaching about God any more.
1. What is diabolism?
2. Are the girls doing witchcraft to get back at people in the town that have done wrong to them?
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
homework 1
1. Mrs. Putnam: "They were murdered, Mr Parris! And mark this proof! Mark it! Last night my Ruth were ever so close to their little spirits; I know it, sir. For how else is she dumb except some power of darkness would stop her mouth? It us a marvelous sign, Mr. Parris!"(16)
This quote shows that Mrs. Putnam is not against witchcraft. She says that her daughter was "ever so close to their little spirits" meaning that she was nearly in contact with them and Mr. Putnam says she knows this because that is the only reason that Ruth would not be talking because Ruth tried to conjure up the dead. Mr. Putnam is excited about this, she wants to Ruth to get in contact with them. She wants to know who murdered them.
2. Parris: " Thomas, Thomas, I pray you, leap not to witchcraft. I know that you-you least of all, Thomas, would never wish a disastrous a charge aid upon me. we cannot leap to witchcraft. They will howl me out of Salem for such a corruption in my house."(12)
It is safe to say from this quote that witchcraft is definitely not excepted in Salem and that any word of it, you will be looked down upon. Parris is obviously worried about this, he does not want to have to leave Salem because he knows that he will have to if the people think it is witchcraft.
Questions:
1. Why do they call people 'Goody', for example, Goody Putnam or Goody Ann?
2. What did Betty do that was more horrible than the rest to make her sick and not anyone else?
This quote shows that Mrs. Putnam is not against witchcraft. She says that her daughter was "ever so close to their little spirits" meaning that she was nearly in contact with them and Mr. Putnam says she knows this because that is the only reason that Ruth would not be talking because Ruth tried to conjure up the dead. Mr. Putnam is excited about this, she wants to Ruth to get in contact with them. She wants to know who murdered them.
2. Parris: " Thomas, Thomas, I pray you, leap not to witchcraft. I know that you-you least of all, Thomas, would never wish a disastrous a charge aid upon me. we cannot leap to witchcraft. They will howl me out of Salem for such a corruption in my house."(12)
It is safe to say from this quote that witchcraft is definitely not excepted in Salem and that any word of it, you will be looked down upon. Parris is obviously worried about this, he does not want to have to leave Salem because he knows that he will have to if the people think it is witchcraft.
Questions:
1. Why do they call people 'Goody', for example, Goody Putnam or Goody Ann?
2. What did Betty do that was more horrible than the rest to make her sick and not anyone else?
Monday, November 3, 2008
Crucible Classwork
Characterize characters
Reverend Samuel Parris - paranoid "He believed he was being persecuted everywhere he went."
not that good of a father "He was a widower with no interest in children, or talent with them."
Betty Parris - Reverend Parris's daughter,
sick "Betty Parris, aged ten, is lying on the bed, inert"
Background of the play.
Salem, Massachusetts is a small town in New England. Everyone seems to know each other. It is a strictly Christian town, everyone is very religious and does not go against that. Any signs of non-Christians will be known to everyone. Everyone also seems very uptight and stuck up. They seem to look down to anyone who is slightly different than them. Even though they looked down to anyone they could not really say anything, until the "madness" that was soon to happen occurs and they are able to get everyone out.
There is a suspicion of witchcraft and these "witches" being hunted gave the people of Salem an opportunity to get all of their flaws, sins, and guilt out their systems without a price to pay. They were able to express their feelings and tell the whole truth without being judges for once. This was maybe the only time the people of Salem could lift all the wait off their shoulders without hatred and snobbery acted toward them in return. They could finally have a clean slate.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
perspective of a girl in an abusive relationship
Dear Journal,
Again...
More bumps and bruises to try and hide from everyone...
So, I woke this morning and got ready to go work and as I was in the shower my boyfriend called. I rushed out to answer, but I was too late... So I called him back right away. "I hope he's not mad." "I hope he doesn't yell." The ringing stopped...
"Why didn't you answer the first time?!"
"Sorry I was in the shower. It won't happen again."
"Yeah you bet it won't happen again... Anyway, when you get out of work do you wanna come over?
"Yyyeah, I get off at 3."
"Okay, love you Babe."
Why did I say yeah! I was supposed to go to Marie's after work and this would be the fourth time this week that I ditched her. But I can't tell Mark no, he'd kill me...
So, after work I went to Mark's, when I got there only his car was in the drive way... I didn't want to go in, I knew were this was going. But I had to. So I went in and he was in the kitchen making two turkey sandwiches and ice tea. My favorite lunch! I gave him a kiss and we went into the living room and started watching T.V. Things were going great, we were laughing cuddling and kissing. Then when we were kissing, he started moving his hand up leg. "Should I just let it happen again?" "But I don't want to, I don't like it" "But he'll get way to angry and I really, really don't want that." "No! I can't do this, it's not fair on me." So I moved his hand away, but he moved it back up. so I stopped kissing him and told him that I didn't want have sex...
Bad idea.
He turned his head and breathed deeply. I was so scared so I tried to get up, but before I could he grabbed me by the shirt and pinned me down...
For what seemed like eternity I was being severely hurt. Finally it stopped I sat up, it was almost 6 and his parents would be home soon so I knew I had to leave. Mark gave me a kiss, walked me to my car, and I drove home.
How could He do this to me? How could he beat me when he says he loves me? I've just had too much of this that I want to just pick up my phone and end it right here right now. But I can't. I'm too scared, God only knows what he'd do if I tried to break up with him. I just don't even know what to do anymore. I love him, he says he loves me, he beats me, I let him...
God, make it stop, please!
Michelle
Again...
More bumps and bruises to try and hide from everyone...
So, I woke this morning and got ready to go work and as I was in the shower my boyfriend called. I rushed out to answer, but I was too late... So I called him back right away. "I hope he's not mad." "I hope he doesn't yell." The ringing stopped...
"Why didn't you answer the first time?!"
"Sorry I was in the shower. It won't happen again."
"Yeah you bet it won't happen again... Anyway, when you get out of work do you wanna come over?
"Yyyeah, I get off at 3."
"Okay, love you Babe."
Why did I say yeah! I was supposed to go to Marie's after work and this would be the fourth time this week that I ditched her. But I can't tell Mark no, he'd kill me...
So, after work I went to Mark's, when I got there only his car was in the drive way... I didn't want to go in, I knew were this was going. But I had to. So I went in and he was in the kitchen making two turkey sandwiches and ice tea. My favorite lunch! I gave him a kiss and we went into the living room and started watching T.V. Things were going great, we were laughing cuddling and kissing. Then when we were kissing, he started moving his hand up leg. "Should I just let it happen again?" "But I don't want to, I don't like it" "But he'll get way to angry and I really, really don't want that." "No! I can't do this, it's not fair on me." So I moved his hand away, but he moved it back up. so I stopped kissing him and told him that I didn't want have sex...
Bad idea.
He turned his head and breathed deeply. I was so scared so I tried to get up, but before I could he grabbed me by the shirt and pinned me down...
For what seemed like eternity I was being severely hurt. Finally it stopped I sat up, it was almost 6 and his parents would be home soon so I knew I had to leave. Mark gave me a kiss, walked me to my car, and I drove home.
How could He do this to me? How could he beat me when he says he loves me? I've just had too much of this that I want to just pick up my phone and end it right here right now. But I can't. I'm too scared, God only knows what he'd do if I tried to break up with him. I just don't even know what to do anymore. I love him, he says he loves me, he beats me, I let him...
God, make it stop, please!
Michelle
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
perspective of a homosexual boy at school
Dear Journal,
School was so hard again today. Not because of the classes but because of all the kids at school and... my friends. It's so hard being in the closet and trying to keep it that way.
I walked into homeroom over to my friends and Joey goes "Dude, what are you, gay? Take that off!" because I was wearing what I think was a really nice vest, but I guess it was too "gay" for my friends. This is just so hard, I want to tell my friends that I'm gay so bad, I mean they are my best friends they should accept it right? Ah, what am I thinking, they're always making fun of me because of my clothing style and saying that stuff like "only a faggot would wear that" and they're always making fun other gay people. And that hurts me, just because someone likes to wear a different style of clothing than them, or likes a different sex than them doesn't mean there is something wrong with them, or that they are bad people. I don't think anything is wrong with my friends because they like girls and I don't, and they like a different style of clothing then me. I still accept them, they are still good people to me.
I think the only one that understands me is my sister because she has gay friends and she knows that I'm gay, and she doesn't act different to me. So, I would hope that my friends would do the same but I doubt it, and that sucks so bad. I just don't even know what to do anymore, the only that knows is my sister and she keeps telling me to tell my parents but I just don't know how to, I don't want to disappoint them. My dad is always bugging me about why I don't play sports. Like today when he walked in from work, the first thing he said to me was "So, did you try out for baseball today?" and I hesitantly said no and he just looked so disappointed and angry at the same time that I just walked away. He hasn't talked to me since. I know he wouldn't accept it, sometimes I'm afraid he might disown me if he found out. He's just such a typical sports dad and of course my little brother is all about sports so, we already know who's the favorite. I just don't understand why he doesn't just accept that I don't like sports, my brother didn't like sports when he was little and he didn't say anything... Maybe he suspects that I'm gay and that's why hes so angry? But that's even worse. Ah! This is just so hard, between my friends and my dad. The two people I would think would love me no matter what, I can't even tell them who I really am. It's not fair. Life is not the way I thought it would be in what are supposed to be the best years of my life...
For now,
Danny
School was so hard again today. Not because of the classes but because of all the kids at school and... my friends. It's so hard being in the closet and trying to keep it that way.
I walked into homeroom over to my friends and Joey goes "Dude, what are you, gay? Take that off!" because I was wearing what I think was a really nice vest, but I guess it was too "gay" for my friends. This is just so hard, I want to tell my friends that I'm gay so bad, I mean they are my best friends they should accept it right? Ah, what am I thinking, they're always making fun of me because of my clothing style and saying that stuff like "only a faggot would wear that" and they're always making fun other gay people. And that hurts me, just because someone likes to wear a different style of clothing than them, or likes a different sex than them doesn't mean there is something wrong with them, or that they are bad people. I don't think anything is wrong with my friends because they like girls and I don't, and they like a different style of clothing then me. I still accept them, they are still good people to me.
I think the only one that understands me is my sister because she has gay friends and she knows that I'm gay, and she doesn't act different to me. So, I would hope that my friends would do the same but I doubt it, and that sucks so bad. I just don't even know what to do anymore, the only that knows is my sister and she keeps telling me to tell my parents but I just don't know how to, I don't want to disappoint them. My dad is always bugging me about why I don't play sports. Like today when he walked in from work, the first thing he said to me was "So, did you try out for baseball today?" and I hesitantly said no and he just looked so disappointed and angry at the same time that I just walked away. He hasn't talked to me since. I know he wouldn't accept it, sometimes I'm afraid he might disown me if he found out. He's just such a typical sports dad and of course my little brother is all about sports so, we already know who's the favorite. I just don't understand why he doesn't just accept that I don't like sports, my brother didn't like sports when he was little and he didn't say anything... Maybe he suspects that I'm gay and that's why hes so angry? But that's even worse. Ah! This is just so hard, between my friends and my dad. The two people I would think would love me no matter what, I can't even tell them who I really am. It's not fair. Life is not the way I thought it would be in what are supposed to be the best years of my life...
For now,
Danny
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
girl with anorexia
Dear Diary,
Today was another normal day...
A day of misery.
I hate the way I am. I'm so fat and everyone knows it. Everyone is always looking at me and I know exactly what they are thinking, "Oh man shes huge!" I try to change but its just not working. Today all I ate was half a slice of toast with no butter for breakfast, a water for lunch, and nothing for dinner and I've been doing that or less for weeks now and I don't see a change. Every time I see a mirror and I look all I see is fat. BIG FAT ME! Why isn't any of this working whyyy!? I'm not happy ever. I can't sleep, but all I want to do is sleep and everyone is always asking me tons of questions. And when they do, I get so nervous, like today Nikki asked why I wasn't eating anything and I told her I had no money for lunch, but when I said that she offered to pay for me, but I was like "Oh no you don't have to do that, I'll be fine." but she insisted, so then i hurried off to the bathroom and didn't come out until lunch was over. I think she's suspecting something. I think my mom is too, I can tell and she's always telling me she's worried about me. I don't know why, why would she want a big, fat daughter anyway? She should be happy I'm doing something about it and not get mad when I don't want to eat dinner! She's so annoying and she doesn't understand anything! All I want is to be skinny and no one understands that. They just all stare at me and I get so scared of what they are thinking and it makes me so miserable to the point where I don't want to leave home because I don't want anyone to see me like this. If they did I think they would be more scared to see me because I am so fat... I just hate this, no one can accept that I'm and so I try to do something about it and none excepts that either. Like, I realize that I'm huge, you don't have to remind me so stop staring at me! It's not fair, I just want this to stop, I can't take it anymore. It's affecting my moods so much, one minute I'm happy and talking to Nikki, the next minute I'm flipping out on mom, and before I know it I'm crying myself to sleep. Why is this happening to me! I've been doing so good on watching what I'm eating and I only eat a tiny bit each day if anything at all. It's just not fair. I eat and I'm fat and I don't eat and I'm fat. Nothing is my life is right, I hate it so much. Seriously everyone just leave me the fuck alone, I know I'm a cow, so just stop staring! Like do they not think I know? Of course I know, if I didn't know I wouldn't be doing anything about it!
I'm way too upset write anymore so I'm going to go try and sleep now or something.
bye.
Today was another normal day...
A day of misery.
I hate the way I am. I'm so fat and everyone knows it. Everyone is always looking at me and I know exactly what they are thinking, "Oh man shes huge!" I try to change but its just not working. Today all I ate was half a slice of toast with no butter for breakfast, a water for lunch, and nothing for dinner and I've been doing that or less for weeks now and I don't see a change. Every time I see a mirror and I look all I see is fat. BIG FAT ME! Why isn't any of this working whyyy!? I'm not happy ever. I can't sleep, but all I want to do is sleep and everyone is always asking me tons of questions. And when they do, I get so nervous, like today Nikki asked why I wasn't eating anything and I told her I had no money for lunch, but when I said that she offered to pay for me, but I was like "Oh no you don't have to do that, I'll be fine." but she insisted, so then i hurried off to the bathroom and didn't come out until lunch was over. I think she's suspecting something. I think my mom is too, I can tell and she's always telling me she's worried about me. I don't know why, why would she want a big, fat daughter anyway? She should be happy I'm doing something about it and not get mad when I don't want to eat dinner! She's so annoying and she doesn't understand anything! All I want is to be skinny and no one understands that. They just all stare at me and I get so scared of what they are thinking and it makes me so miserable to the point where I don't want to leave home because I don't want anyone to see me like this. If they did I think they would be more scared to see me because I am so fat... I just hate this, no one can accept that I'm and so I try to do something about it and none excepts that either. Like, I realize that I'm huge, you don't have to remind me so stop staring at me! It's not fair, I just want this to stop, I can't take it anymore. It's affecting my moods so much, one minute I'm happy and talking to Nikki, the next minute I'm flipping out on mom, and before I know it I'm crying myself to sleep. Why is this happening to me! I've been doing so good on watching what I'm eating and I only eat a tiny bit each day if anything at all. It's just not fair. I eat and I'm fat and I don't eat and I'm fat. Nothing is my life is right, I hate it so much. Seriously everyone just leave me the fuck alone, I know I'm a cow, so just stop staring! Like do they not think I know? Of course I know, if I didn't know I wouldn't be doing anything about it!
I'm way too upset write anymore so I'm going to go try and sleep now or something.
bye.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Letter found on the Titanic
My dearest love,
The ship leaves in two days! Two more days until my long journey home to see you. I can't wait to see you, this time apart has made me realize so much. It has made me realize what you really mean to me...
You mean the world to me.
You have made me the person I am today, and without you I wouldn't be where I am today. Trough all the ups and downs you were always there. No matter what. Even if I was 150% wrong with something, you were always there standing by me and never doubting me and I thank you so much for that... I don't think I say that enough and I'm sorry for that. I don't show my appreciation for you enough and so I am now in this letter. I am showing my appreciation to you by saying "yes, I will marry you." I'm sorry it took me so long to give you my answer, I was just scared because I didn't know what I was feeling because I didn't know how to express it. But I have finally realized how to and that's is taking your hand in marriage because I love you with my mind, heart, and soul and you are the half that makes me whole. I need to be your wife. I need you to be my husband. I need to be without you forever, 'till death do us part because I love you more than anything and I know you do as well.
I finally understand how you feel. I now know why you were pushing me for an answer so much and I now know why you were so upset when I said I didn't know my answer. It was because of this unconditional love! And I'm so sorry for putting you through that, but now you no longer have to because the day return. The day you see me walk off the Titanic, is the day I will be in your arms forever. That day, we will tell everyone. That day we will pick a date. That day I'm yours for forever.
All my love,
your dearest fiance.
p.s. Hi my love again,
You are probably wondering why I'm sitting with you right now and I did not send this to you. Well that's because I had to there. I had to be there when you read this, I needed to see your face after this and I needed to be able to see your reaction. I need kiss after you read this. I did not want to leave you anticipating my homecoming with this on your mind, I knew you hate that. So instead I decided to bring it on the ship with me, bring it to you myself. So I can't wait to hold in my arms after i read this, I love you.
The ship leaves in two days! Two more days until my long journey home to see you. I can't wait to see you, this time apart has made me realize so much. It has made me realize what you really mean to me...
You mean the world to me.
You have made me the person I am today, and without you I wouldn't be where I am today. Trough all the ups and downs you were always there. No matter what. Even if I was 150% wrong with something, you were always there standing by me and never doubting me and I thank you so much for that... I don't think I say that enough and I'm sorry for that. I don't show my appreciation for you enough and so I am now in this letter. I am showing my appreciation to you by saying "yes, I will marry you." I'm sorry it took me so long to give you my answer, I was just scared because I didn't know what I was feeling because I didn't know how to express it. But I have finally realized how to and that's is taking your hand in marriage because I love you with my mind, heart, and soul and you are the half that makes me whole. I need to be your wife. I need you to be my husband. I need to be without you forever, 'till death do us part because I love you more than anything and I know you do as well.
I finally understand how you feel. I now know why you were pushing me for an answer so much and I now know why you were so upset when I said I didn't know my answer. It was because of this unconditional love! And I'm so sorry for putting you through that, but now you no longer have to because the day return. The day you see me walk off the Titanic, is the day I will be in your arms forever. That day, we will tell everyone. That day we will pick a date. That day I'm yours for forever.
All my love,
your dearest fiance.
p.s. Hi my love again,
You are probably wondering why I'm sitting with you right now and I did not send this to you. Well that's because I had to there. I had to be there when you read this, I needed to see your face after this and I needed to be able to see your reaction. I need kiss after you read this. I did not want to leave you anticipating my homecoming with this on your mind, I knew you hate that. So instead I decided to bring it on the ship with me, bring it to you myself. So I can't wait to hold in my arms after i read this, I love you.
Letter from mother to unborn baby
Hello little one,
I'm dying to meet you! I can't wait to see your tiny little fingers and toes, oh I'm so excited! I have so much to tell you and I'm too anxious to wait so I'm just going to start now (:
Well I'm your mother Caroline, but everyone calls me Kerrie, I know I know, those names have nothing to do with each other but that's a funny story I'll tell you when you are older. Anyway, your father's name is James, but everyone calls him Jim, and at work they call him Jimmy (but we don't like that, so for future reference, have your friends call him Jim.) Well your dad is also so excited to meet you, he always has a smile on his face when he sees you (my belly.) He has even bought your crib and put it together already and we haven't even painted to the room yet! But that's your father for you, always doing everything out of the order.
So it's been six weeks and we already have tons of names for you....
If you are a handsome little boy we have:
Rory
Conor
Sean
James
John
Anthony
And if you are a beautiful little girl we have:
Bridget
Mary
Brianna
Rory(it can be a boy or girls name)
Lily
Ciara
Any you fancy? If so you give me a little kick to the ones you like.
Well I can't write any more becase daddy and I going into the doctors office for my ultrasound.
See you in a few (:
Mummy
I'm dying to meet you! I can't wait to see your tiny little fingers and toes, oh I'm so excited! I have so much to tell you and I'm too anxious to wait so I'm just going to start now (:
Well I'm your mother Caroline, but everyone calls me Kerrie, I know I know, those names have nothing to do with each other but that's a funny story I'll tell you when you are older. Anyway, your father's name is James, but everyone calls him Jim, and at work they call him Jimmy (but we don't like that, so for future reference, have your friends call him Jim.) Well your dad is also so excited to meet you, he always has a smile on his face when he sees you (my belly.) He has even bought your crib and put it together already and we haven't even painted to the room yet! But that's your father for you, always doing everything out of the order.
So it's been six weeks and we already have tons of names for you....
If you are a handsome little boy we have:
Rory
Conor
Sean
James
John
Anthony
And if you are a beautiful little girl we have:
Bridget
Mary
Brianna
Rory(it can be a boy or girls name)
Lily
Ciara
Any you fancy? If so you give me a little kick to the ones you like.
Well I can't write any more becase daddy and I going into the doctors office for my ultrasound.
See you in a few (:
Mummy
Letter from aborted baby to mother
Dear "mother,"
It took quite the courage to call you that considering what you have done to me. What you did to me killed me
literally.
You aborted me. Now I just have a few questions...
Why did you abort me? Honestly, what was the big problem with keeping someone alive? Your own child! I was already your child, I was already apart of your family. I was alive! Why did you have to kill me? Was I not worth it? Was your own child now worth your time? I do understand that it takes a lot time and effort to raise a child, but if you took the time to have sex you should of thought about the consequence of taking the time to raise a child. I don't understand how you could do that to me. Would you ever think about taking a person that's walking down the street and killing them? Your answer is most likely no, so why would you want to take me from YOU and kill me? I'm your "daughter" I am "family" that person walking down the street is a complete stranger and you wouldn't think of killing them, but you would kill me...
You DID kill me!
I just don't understand anything. For some reason I still have love for you, even though you did this to me, I still do and I don't know why. Maybe it's because you were SUPPOSED to be my mother and I'm going to have an unconditional love for no matter what, but you my "mother" is definitely supposed to have an unconditional love for me, your "daughter" but yet you could take my life? None of this makes sense to me, I'm just so confused and hurt. I am unbelievably hurt by this that it's killing me (but I can't say that since you already did..) I just don't even know what to say anymore except, WHY? All I want to know is why, so please tell me. But, if you are going to give me an answer like "I wasn't ready to raise a child" or something equally lame, don't bother, it would hurt less to be unanswered.
Lividly,
your "daughter"
It took quite the courage to call you that considering what you have done to me. What you did to me killed me
literally.
You aborted me. Now I just have a few questions...
Why did you abort me? Honestly, what was the big problem with keeping someone alive? Your own child! I was already your child, I was already apart of your family. I was alive! Why did you have to kill me? Was I not worth it? Was your own child now worth your time? I do understand that it takes a lot time and effort to raise a child, but if you took the time to have sex you should of thought about the consequence of taking the time to raise a child. I don't understand how you could do that to me. Would you ever think about taking a person that's walking down the street and killing them? Your answer is most likely no, so why would you want to take me from YOU and kill me? I'm your "daughter" I am "family" that person walking down the street is a complete stranger and you wouldn't think of killing them, but you would kill me...
You DID kill me!
I just don't understand anything. For some reason I still have love for you, even though you did this to me, I still do and I don't know why. Maybe it's because you were SUPPOSED to be my mother and I'm going to have an unconditional love for no matter what, but you my "mother" is definitely supposed to have an unconditional love for me, your "daughter" but yet you could take my life? None of this makes sense to me, I'm just so confused and hurt. I am unbelievably hurt by this that it's killing me (but I can't say that since you already did..) I just don't even know what to say anymore except, WHY? All I want to know is why, so please tell me. But, if you are going to give me an answer like "I wasn't ready to raise a child" or something equally lame, don't bother, it would hurt less to be unanswered.
Lividly,
your "daughter"
From body part to me
Dear Ciara,
So rumor has it that you want get me pierced... Is this true? If so let me lay down the law.
This is going to hurt me like hell! A big metal bar is going through one part of skin and out through another, just for a little gem to be there? If that's what you call cute, that's your opinion... Anyway, that's beside the point. As I said before, this is going to kill so I would think that you would have enough common courtesy to even ask me! But NOO, so I'm going to be the bigger person here and let you do this. I'm going to let you stab me through my whole being...
For a cost.
You will follow all the instructions that the person physically doing this to me (oh how i would love to hurt them!) tells you to do. Other than that, will take extra special care of me. Instead of waiting those six months to stick all different kids of metal bars into me, you will wait a year. Yeah, I said it, a year. I want extra time to heal and to get used to it. What does that person piercing me know? He's not a bellybutton! He doesn't know how I feel and how long it really takes for me to stop hurting! So one year it is.
Another thing, none of those big dangling things are allowed. They will really just drag me down. Hey, I'm not a body builder here, I can't hold all that weight. So, please, stick to the little gems, you'll survive.
And last but certainly not least, keep me clean! Make sure you wash me everyday and dry me thouroly, I'm not trying to get sick. I've never been sick before and I'm not about to start here. So PLEASE keep me clean!
Now that's not too hard, right? Good. So, just do this for me, I'm doing this for you, I'm letting you stick me with a big metal bar, so the least you could do is respect these few wishes of mine.
Sincerely,
Bellybutton
So rumor has it that you want get me pierced... Is this true? If so let me lay down the law.
This is going to hurt me like hell! A big metal bar is going through one part of skin and out through another, just for a little gem to be there? If that's what you call cute, that's your opinion... Anyway, that's beside the point. As I said before, this is going to kill so I would think that you would have enough common courtesy to even ask me! But NOO, so I'm going to be the bigger person here and let you do this. I'm going to let you stab me through my whole being...
For a cost.
You will follow all the instructions that the person physically doing this to me (oh how i would love to hurt them!) tells you to do. Other than that, will take extra special care of me. Instead of waiting those six months to stick all different kids of metal bars into me, you will wait a year. Yeah, I said it, a year. I want extra time to heal and to get used to it. What does that person piercing me know? He's not a bellybutton! He doesn't know how I feel and how long it really takes for me to stop hurting! So one year it is.
Another thing, none of those big dangling things are allowed. They will really just drag me down. Hey, I'm not a body builder here, I can't hold all that weight. So, please, stick to the little gems, you'll survive.
And last but certainly not least, keep me clean! Make sure you wash me everyday and dry me thouroly, I'm not trying to get sick. I've never been sick before and I'm not about to start here. So PLEASE keep me clean!
Now that's not too hard, right? Good. So, just do this for me, I'm doing this for you, I'm letting you stick me with a big metal bar, so the least you could do is respect these few wishes of mine.
Sincerely,
Bellybutton
letter to myself (10 years to the future)
Dear Ciara,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! How does it feel that you (me?) are 26 years old? I always wondered what it would feel like, now you can tell me; or now I can feel it. Do you still remember what it feels like to be 16? Well, if you don't I'm going tell you because some pretty important and life-changing events have happened...
Well right now i am almost sixteen and half and already in these five months I've become a different person from June 16, 2008. On that day, you took your two finals at school and then your six best friends came over for cake and ice cream and to celebrate your birthday. That was a great day, not only because it was your sweet sixteen, but because that was last day you put your feelings last and the last day you let people walk all over you. After that day you learned how to stand up for yourself and how to express your true feelings.
All your life you have been too nice. If someone hurt you, you never did much to let them know. All you needed was a small apology and you didn't even care to think if it was meaningful or not. You never wanted, let alone asked, for a, explanation, reason, anything. Everything was an "I'll just let this one slide" situation. And you know, it never really seemed to bother you. Until the summer of 2008...
Problem after problem. Fight after fight. Lie after lie. This was changing you who were. Nothing was going right. and you couldn't stand it anymore. Finally you stood up for yourself. Finally no one walked all over you and you finally expressed your true feelings...
This changed your life..
You were finally happy.
Now do you remember what it feels like to be 16? Do still feel that way? If so, then I have succeeded. YOU have succeeded and this letter was just a mere flashback of how things used to be. Just a mere reminder to never let that guard down again, ever.
Have a wonderful birthday,
Ciara (16 years old)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! How does it feel that you (me?) are 26 years old? I always wondered what it would feel like, now you can tell me; or now I can feel it. Do you still remember what it feels like to be 16? Well, if you don't I'm going tell you because some pretty important and life-changing events have happened...
Well right now i am almost sixteen and half and already in these five months I've become a different person from June 16, 2008. On that day, you took your two finals at school and then your six best friends came over for cake and ice cream and to celebrate your birthday. That was a great day, not only because it was your sweet sixteen, but because that was last day you put your feelings last and the last day you let people walk all over you. After that day you learned how to stand up for yourself and how to express your true feelings.
All your life you have been too nice. If someone hurt you, you never did much to let them know. All you needed was a small apology and you didn't even care to think if it was meaningful or not. You never wanted, let alone asked, for a, explanation, reason, anything. Everything was an "I'll just let this one slide" situation. And you know, it never really seemed to bother you. Until the summer of 2008...
Problem after problem. Fight after fight. Lie after lie. This was changing you who were. Nothing was going right. and you couldn't stand it anymore. Finally you stood up for yourself. Finally no one walked all over you and you finally expressed your true feelings...
This changed your life..
You were finally happy.
Now do you remember what it feels like to be 16? Do still feel that way? If so, then I have succeeded. YOU have succeeded and this letter was just a mere flashback of how things used to be. Just a mere reminder to never let that guard down again, ever.
Have a wonderful birthday,
Ciara (16 years old)
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Frogiveness letter to me
Dear Ciara,
This is the last thing I expected myself to do and I know for a fact that this is going to be a huge shock to you as well, but here it is. Remember all those time we go into arguments? All the arguments that led to you saying stuff like “ good one, dropout.”, “and this coming from the 19 year old freshmen” or the worst “how does it feel that I passed you in school?” in front of my friends. Yes, I know that a lot of my friends did the same thing I did, but some have not, but the point is, that it is just damn right embarrassing. Not only did that embarrass me every time you said something like, it hurt like hell. I know I did not show it but, hey you know me… Do I ever show my feelings toward anything, to anyone? So for me to be writing you this letter is big, it means that it really upset me, especially coming from you. I know we have never really had that great of a relationship but you know I care, you know I love you and that’s why I want to say “it’s okay.” it’s okay that you said all those hurtful and embarrassing things. It’s okay that you made me feel like a failure, because deep down I know you only said those things out of anger, I know you look up to me and I know you wouldn’t purposely want to hurt me. Not only do I know that deep down, I know that because I’ve heard your conversations with your friends, ya know, the ones when you say “Dropping out is not necessarily a bad thing, school just isn’t for some people, and that’s okay. I know plenty of people, my brother, who have not finished school and they are doing great things with their lives.” You probably never thought I heard those conversations, but I did and those mean so much to me and so it’s okay. But, the hardest thing to deal with was even though I got my GED as soon as I could, and I passed the test with flying colors, you still said things like that. You still made me feel like a failure and just made me feel plain stupid. But it’s okay because I’ve learned to look past that and be the bigger person and say, “it’s okay.” So, remember this. Remember that I’m you big brother you still love you no matter what. Remember that I forgive you.
Your big brother,
Sean
This is the last thing I expected myself to do and I know for a fact that this is going to be a huge shock to you as well, but here it is. Remember all those time we go into arguments? All the arguments that led to you saying stuff like “ good one, dropout.”, “and this coming from the 19 year old freshmen” or the worst “how does it feel that I passed you in school?” in front of my friends. Yes, I know that a lot of my friends did the same thing I did, but some have not, but the point is, that it is just damn right embarrassing. Not only did that embarrass me every time you said something like, it hurt like hell. I know I did not show it but, hey you know me… Do I ever show my feelings toward anything, to anyone? So for me to be writing you this letter is big, it means that it really upset me, especially coming from you. I know we have never really had that great of a relationship but you know I care, you know I love you and that’s why I want to say “it’s okay.” it’s okay that you said all those hurtful and embarrassing things. It’s okay that you made me feel like a failure, because deep down I know you only said those things out of anger, I know you look up to me and I know you wouldn’t purposely want to hurt me. Not only do I know that deep down, I know that because I’ve heard your conversations with your friends, ya know, the ones when you say “Dropping out is not necessarily a bad thing, school just isn’t for some people, and that’s okay. I know plenty of people, my brother, who have not finished school and they are doing great things with their lives.” You probably never thought I heard those conversations, but I did and those mean so much to me and so it’s okay. But, the hardest thing to deal with was even though I got my GED as soon as I could, and I passed the test with flying colors, you still said things like that. You still made me feel like a failure and just made me feel plain stupid. But it’s okay because I’ve learned to look past that and be the bigger person and say, “it’s okay.” So, remember this. Remember that I’m you big brother you still love you no matter what. Remember that I forgive you.
Your big brother,
Sean
Sunday, October 19, 2008
finished my intros
1. From West Roxbury to Wrenthem, and it was never the same.
2. "Stop lying and things won't have to be like this." and the slam of a closing cell phone were the last meaningful actions for quite some time.
3. Rule #1: Never ride a tricycle in the house.
4. I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only suspicion, not proof to destroy it.
5. And I'll never forget the bitter sweet sounds of the bagpipes playing in warm spring breeze.
1. From West Roxbury to Wrenthem, and it was never the same.. No more than one day spent without each other. Walks back and forth from my house to her house, were always the best. But now, those walks would take ages. The distance between us seems like that of the Atlantic Ocean and so was the bond we shared.
2. "Stop lying and things won't have to be like this." And the slam of a closing cell phone were last meaningful actions for quite some time. The feeling of a knife being stabbed into my back by my very own best friend was unbearable. So, i had to do something, but now i don't know whats worse; feeling worthless because I guess I'm not worth the truth or feeling worthless because I guess I'm not worth her time.
3. Rule #1: Never ride a tricycle in the house. Three years old, innocent and rash. The second floor seemed like a perfectly good place to go for a ride.. Peddling, everything is going well until a hill, a bumpy hill.. One. Two. Three ... Ten bumps in a row, wait... those were stairs.
4. I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and it only takes suspicion, not proof to destroy it. Five years, a wonderful five years of a relationship...
Based completely on lies..
5. And I'll never forget the bitter sweet sounds of the bagpipes playing in the warm spring breeze. The beginning of May, such a beautiful time of the year, usually. But for me, not so much. Uncle Jimmy, Great Uncle Jimmy, one of greatest men i know was put to an eternal sleep and so was apart of me: 'the little one." That was he called me and I can no longer go on being that person if he is not there, i need "the little one" to be with him, not me, because without him there is no "little one" so with him "the little one" will be with him forever, I will be with him forever.
2. "Stop lying and things won't have to be like this." and the slam of a closing cell phone were the last meaningful actions for quite some time.
3. Rule #1: Never ride a tricycle in the house.
4. I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only suspicion, not proof to destroy it.
5. And I'll never forget the bitter sweet sounds of the bagpipes playing in warm spring breeze.
1. From West Roxbury to Wrenthem, and it was never the same.. No more than one day spent without each other. Walks back and forth from my house to her house, were always the best. But now, those walks would take ages. The distance between us seems like that of the Atlantic Ocean and so was the bond we shared.
2. "Stop lying and things won't have to be like this." And the slam of a closing cell phone were last meaningful actions for quite some time. The feeling of a knife being stabbed into my back by my very own best friend was unbearable. So, i had to do something, but now i don't know whats worse; feeling worthless because I guess I'm not worth the truth or feeling worthless because I guess I'm not worth her time.
3. Rule #1: Never ride a tricycle in the house. Three years old, innocent and rash. The second floor seemed like a perfectly good place to go for a ride.. Peddling, everything is going well until a hill, a bumpy hill.. One. Two. Three ... Ten bumps in a row, wait... those were stairs.
4. I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and it only takes suspicion, not proof to destroy it. Five years, a wonderful five years of a relationship...
Based completely on lies..
5. And I'll never forget the bitter sweet sounds of the bagpipes playing in the warm spring breeze. The beginning of May, such a beautiful time of the year, usually. But for me, not so much. Uncle Jimmy, Great Uncle Jimmy, one of greatest men i know was put to an eternal sleep and so was apart of me: 'the little one." That was he called me and I can no longer go on being that person if he is not there, i need "the little one" to be with him, not me, because without him there is no "little one" so with him "the little one" will be with him forever, I will be with him forever.
Friday, October 17, 2008
finishing intros
1.) There was darkness as far as the eye could see.
2.) Defeat was in the midst, as I saw the prize diminish right before my eyes.
3.) A falling sensation overcame myself.
4.) The potential of those beady, blue eyes seemed infinite.
5.) The silky gloss of fur was my best memory of the rabbits.
1.) There was darkness as far as the eye could see. There I was, standing alone in the forest not having any idea what i was about to come across. I started walking, slowly and cautiously, looking for anything but darkness, but there was nothing. Just darkness. Stillness. Silence, not
even a single howl of wind. It was then when i noticed... I was not alone.
2. Defeat was in the midst, as I saw the prize diminish right before my eyes. I went for the kick, to get the winning goal, But no slower than lightning, the ball was gone traveling down the other end of the field in the enemy's possession. Then, a thunder of screams and cheers was heard and the excitement of winning the championship was all around. Except for me, still on the grounded and the disappointed faces all looking down to me.
3. A falling sensation came over myself as I looked down to see nothing but deep, blue water. Should I do it? I had to! The ten faces behind me were all burning holes in the back of neck and no matter what I did those holes would still be burning. But, if i did it, would they do it to? They said they would but this looks too risky for even them. As i was still staring down into the water thousands of "yes's" and "no's" were rattling through my brain with a justification to each. The moment of truth came... Those holes burning more than ever now.
4. The potential of those beady, blue eyes seemed infinite. It was the first time i had ever seen him do such a thing. He was invisible, he the bravest person in the world. He, was my hero.
5. The silky gloss of fur was my best memory of the rabbits. Christmas day, 6 years back; the most memorable one. Instead of the usual beautifully wrapped parcels under the tree, there was a blank, brown box with hundreds of tiny holes. I ran darted over the box, opened it, put my hand inside and the silky gloss of fur was the best memory of the rabbits.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
cliff hangers
1. From West Roxbury to Wrenthem, and it was never the same.
2. "Stop lying and things won't have to be like this." and the slam of a closing cell phone were the last meaningful actions for quite some time.
3. Rule #1: Never ride a tricycle in the house.
4. I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only suspicion, not proof to destroy it.
5. And I'll never forget the bitter sweet sounds of the bagpipes playing in warm spring breeze.
2. "Stop lying and things won't have to be like this." and the slam of a closing cell phone were the last meaningful actions for quite some time.
3. Rule #1: Never ride a tricycle in the house.
4. I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only suspicion, not proof to destroy it.
5. And I'll never forget the bitter sweet sounds of the bagpipes playing in warm spring breeze.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
"Me Talk Pretty One Day"
1. Sedaris took a potentially boring experience and turned into a humerous essay by making fun of himself, telling about his flaws in a humerous way. He also told of his classmates and their mistakes and being made fun of by the teacher, the teacher also being very sarcastic with the students. The funniest parts of the essay were when the teacher would make sarcastic remarks to the students and when Sedaris would make fun of himself.
"Deadpan" humor is making or joke or being funny is a sort of effortless way. Speaking in a monotone voice and not changing the facial expression as if you are not trying to be humerous.
"I knew my fear was getting the best of me whe i started wondering why they don't sell cuts of meat in vending machines." (Sedaris 276). This is an example of "deadpan" humor because you can tell that Sedaris is not trying to be humerous, he is simply telling of an experience but used an unual experience that one could find funny but he is not coming of as trying to be funny.
2. Sedaris reveals parts of himself through the story by using humor. He subtly makes fun of himself and tells of his teacher making fun of him and pointing out his mistakes which reveals parts of himself. At the end we know alot about Sedaris and we come about this by him telling about his experience in this class my making fun of himself.
"Deadpan" humor is making or joke or being funny is a sort of effortless way. Speaking in a monotone voice and not changing the facial expression as if you are not trying to be humerous.
"I knew my fear was getting the best of me whe i started wondering why they don't sell cuts of meat in vending machines." (Sedaris 276). This is an example of "deadpan" humor because you can tell that Sedaris is not trying to be humerous, he is simply telling of an experience but used an unual experience that one could find funny but he is not coming of as trying to be funny.
2. Sedaris reveals parts of himself through the story by using humor. He subtly makes fun of himself and tells of his teacher making fun of him and pointing out his mistakes which reveals parts of himself. At the end we know alot about Sedaris and we come about this by him telling about his experience in this class my making fun of himself.
Monday, October 13, 2008
unflattering thing
Writing papers is not my specialty and last year I had to write a lot of them, specifically in English class. Every time the day came when Mr. George would pass out the rubrics for the essay we were to write, my day automatically became terribly stressful and upsetting. I dreaded the thought of sitting at my computer and trying put together an essay. From the moment I knew I was to write a paper I was in such a mood about seventy percent of the time and I took those bad moods out on other people, mostly people who were really close to me. Not only did I stress about that essay every single day I would not even try one but of it until the night before it was due. Not the best way to go about that.
So the night before the paper was due would come, it would be the worst night of my life each time. I would come home from school and do absolutely anything to stray from doing my paper. Finally the moment would come when I would have to force myself to sit down at my computer and start my paper. The hardest thing for me to do was how to start to it, I could not be able to think of something to write and I would just get so angry. From then on I would become so unbelievable upset and stressed about the paper that I would just not be able to do it at all. This was not in a self pity kind of way, it was that just physically was not able to do because I was so upset that I was incapable of doing it. Everyone would just tell me to calm down, relax, and they would help whenever I needed it. Instead I would do the exact opposite, I was get even more angry and say things like “ you don’t understand this is way too hard!” and “I suck at writing papers so it doesn’t even matter, I don’t know why I’m even doing it.” I would just completely over react and take it out on everyone else. Then once I got into the momentum of doing my paper, I was completely fine. I did it without complaints or help, because I knew that if I asked for any help I would just stress myself out even more because I would not be able to handle if I did something wrong at this point. So I went on without a word and passed the paper in the next day, then once I got my grade back I would get so upset again because it was not a good grade. This has become sort of a habit now. It is something that just automatically happens when I do not even notice it and has become a way of who I am. It is not something I’m very proud of at all but then again we can not all be perfect.
So the night before the paper was due would come, it would be the worst night of my life each time. I would come home from school and do absolutely anything to stray from doing my paper. Finally the moment would come when I would have to force myself to sit down at my computer and start my paper. The hardest thing for me to do was how to start to it, I could not be able to think of something to write and I would just get so angry. From then on I would become so unbelievable upset and stressed about the paper that I would just not be able to do it at all. This was not in a self pity kind of way, it was that just physically was not able to do because I was so upset that I was incapable of doing it. Everyone would just tell me to calm down, relax, and they would help whenever I needed it. Instead I would do the exact opposite, I was get even more angry and say things like “ you don’t understand this is way too hard!” and “I suck at writing papers so it doesn’t even matter, I don’t know why I’m even doing it.” I would just completely over react and take it out on everyone else. Then once I got into the momentum of doing my paper, I was completely fine. I did it without complaints or help, because I knew that if I asked for any help I would just stress myself out even more because I would not be able to handle if I did something wrong at this point. So I went on without a word and passed the paper in the next day, then once I got my grade back I would get so upset again because it was not a good grade. This has become sort of a habit now. It is something that just automatically happens when I do not even notice it and has become a way of who I am. It is not something I’m very proud of at all but then again we can not all be perfect.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Shooting an Elephant
1. This story is about two different themes; imperialism and peer pressure. Imperialism is sown because Britain has control over India and the main character is a cop from Britain in India. The Indian people do not like him at all, they do not like Britain because they have control over India, from afar. Peer pressure is the the other theme. He goes through peer pressure when he has to choose whether or not he should shoot the elephant. These two themes are intertwined because, he is not liked there at all because of the imperialism that is going on and then when the elephant goes into "must" and goes crazy, the Indian people want him to be shot because he has killed a man, and the man gets a gun and has the option of shooting the elephant. If he shoots the elephant, then the Indian people will have more respect for him, then will like him more, because they want the elephant to be killed. But, if he does not shoot the elephant they will still hate him. He wants to be liked, if he has the chance to be respected more then he would take it, and with all the people behind him waiting for him to shoot the elephant, he is peer pressured into shooting the elephant, to be respected because of the imperialism.
2. Orwell uses the tactics like peer pressure to reveal the unflattering aspect that all he really does want is to be liked even though he has authority over them he still wants them to like him. He uses peer pressure by saying that he was peer pressured into shooting the elephant by the people just so he would be liked by the people.
2. Orwell uses the tactics like peer pressure to reveal the unflattering aspect that all he really does want is to be liked even though he has authority over them he still wants them to like him. He uses peer pressure by saying that he was peer pressured into shooting the elephant by the people just so he would be liked by the people.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Lowering the drinking age
Ciara Lynch
AP English - George
October 4th, 2008
Debate
What seems more reasonable, dying for your country at eighteen or drinking in your country at eighteen? The answer seems obvious, but in this country at the age of eighteen you can enlist in the army and die for the country before you can have an alcoholic beverage. This needs to be changed. It does not make sense that you can die for the country, vote, and smoke a cigarette at eighteen years of age but you cannot drink alcohol. The drinking age should be lowered to eighteen.
In the army you have the responsibility of defending and saving peoples lives while putting your own life on the line. The people and the government of the country trust you with not only their lives but their country. At eighteen years old the government thinks that you have enough responsibility to save our country, but not enough responsibility to open a bottle of beer and handle your liquor. You must wait three more years to do that, but if you go in the army, you may not have three years left to wait. You also have the responsibility to vote for the leader of our country three whole years before you can have a drink of alcohol, something is not right.
At eighteen years of age, you can vote on the most important thing in our country; who the leader of our country is going to be. You have the responsibility and trust to make the right decision to the better of our country, but yet you do not have enough trust to handle your liquor and be responsible. Being able to vote is an exciting and enjoyable thing, if drinking is supposed to be a means of enjoyment, why can’t you enjoy a drink of beer at eighteen. By the time twenty one years old comes around, people are just so excited to finally be able to drink legally that they go crazy about it. Since they have waited so long they just abuse it. If you had to wait all the way to twenty one to vote, the people would either not care too much about the outcome or would be so excited to do it that they would make irrational choices. But, since they do not have to wait that long they appreciate it and are responsible and if the drinking age were eighteen people would appreciate that and also be responsible. Along with the trust to make the decision to choose the leader of the country and the trust to defend the country, at eighteen you have the trust to make the right choice whether or not to fill your lungs with numerous amounts of chemicals with a cigarette.
Smoking a cigarette kills your body with every puff you take. Not only does it kill your body but it kills the body of everyone around you also inhaling that smoke. Yes, alcohol does effect your body, but not nearly as bad and fast as cigarettes effect your body. At eighteen years old you can buy cigarettes and harm your body and other body’s but you can not buy alcohol which will only somewhat harm your body. When you consume alcohol others around are not consuming your alcohol, they are not breathing in thousands of chemicals, like the people who are around smokers. When you smoke there is really no way to be responsible, because not only are you hurting your body but you are always hurting someone else’s body by the smoke a chemical that linger in the air. When you drink you can be responsible, you can only effect your body and no one else’s body is being hurt by the alcohol that in going into your body. So, at eighteen you are allowed to do something that hurts everyone around, but you still have to wait those three long years to relax and have a good time consuming alcohol, only effecting your own body. This just does the make sense because it is said that the reason for waiting till you are twenty one to drink is because your body is not ready, well if your body is ready to smoke a cigarette is most certainly is ready to consume alcohol. The drinking age should be lowered to eighteen.
All in all, at eighteen years of age you have the responsibility and trust to defend your people and the country, chose the right leader for the country, and to chose whether or not you want to hurt everyone around you by smoking, but you still can not enjoy a glass of beer. There is no real excuse for waiting those three extra years to drink legally. If you are allowed to put your life and other’s lives on the line in many different ways, why not enjoy an alcoholic beverage? Lowering the drinking age to eighteen would only make people appreciate it more and ensure that they are responsible because everyone knows that if you have to wait and wait and wait for something, when you finally get it all you want to do is go crazy with it, especially if it is the last decision you can make. So if the drinking age were lowered to eighteen along with everything else, none of the craziness of anticipation would no go on.
AP English - George
October 4th, 2008
Debate
What seems more reasonable, dying for your country at eighteen or drinking in your country at eighteen? The answer seems obvious, but in this country at the age of eighteen you can enlist in the army and die for the country before you can have an alcoholic beverage. This needs to be changed. It does not make sense that you can die for the country, vote, and smoke a cigarette at eighteen years of age but you cannot drink alcohol. The drinking age should be lowered to eighteen.
In the army you have the responsibility of defending and saving peoples lives while putting your own life on the line. The people and the government of the country trust you with not only their lives but their country. At eighteen years old the government thinks that you have enough responsibility to save our country, but not enough responsibility to open a bottle of beer and handle your liquor. You must wait three more years to do that, but if you go in the army, you may not have three years left to wait. You also have the responsibility to vote for the leader of our country three whole years before you can have a drink of alcohol, something is not right.
At eighteen years of age, you can vote on the most important thing in our country; who the leader of our country is going to be. You have the responsibility and trust to make the right decision to the better of our country, but yet you do not have enough trust to handle your liquor and be responsible. Being able to vote is an exciting and enjoyable thing, if drinking is supposed to be a means of enjoyment, why can’t you enjoy a drink of beer at eighteen. By the time twenty one years old comes around, people are just so excited to finally be able to drink legally that they go crazy about it. Since they have waited so long they just abuse it. If you had to wait all the way to twenty one to vote, the people would either not care too much about the outcome or would be so excited to do it that they would make irrational choices. But, since they do not have to wait that long they appreciate it and are responsible and if the drinking age were eighteen people would appreciate that and also be responsible. Along with the trust to make the decision to choose the leader of the country and the trust to defend the country, at eighteen you have the trust to make the right choice whether or not to fill your lungs with numerous amounts of chemicals with a cigarette.
Smoking a cigarette kills your body with every puff you take. Not only does it kill your body but it kills the body of everyone around you also inhaling that smoke. Yes, alcohol does effect your body, but not nearly as bad and fast as cigarettes effect your body. At eighteen years old you can buy cigarettes and harm your body and other body’s but you can not buy alcohol which will only somewhat harm your body. When you consume alcohol others around are not consuming your alcohol, they are not breathing in thousands of chemicals, like the people who are around smokers. When you smoke there is really no way to be responsible, because not only are you hurting your body but you are always hurting someone else’s body by the smoke a chemical that linger in the air. When you drink you can be responsible, you can only effect your body and no one else’s body is being hurt by the alcohol that in going into your body. So, at eighteen you are allowed to do something that hurts everyone around, but you still have to wait those three long years to relax and have a good time consuming alcohol, only effecting your own body. This just does the make sense because it is said that the reason for waiting till you are twenty one to drink is because your body is not ready, well if your body is ready to smoke a cigarette is most certainly is ready to consume alcohol. The drinking age should be lowered to eighteen.
All in all, at eighteen years of age you have the responsibility and trust to defend your people and the country, chose the right leader for the country, and to chose whether or not you want to hurt everyone around you by smoking, but you still can not enjoy a glass of beer. There is no real excuse for waiting those three extra years to drink legally. If you are allowed to put your life and other’s lives on the line in many different ways, why not enjoy an alcoholic beverage? Lowering the drinking age to eighteen would only make people appreciate it more and ensure that they are responsible because everyone knows that if you have to wait and wait and wait for something, when you finally get it all you want to do is go crazy with it, especially if it is the last decision you can make. So if the drinking age were lowered to eighteen along with everything else, none of the craziness of anticipation would no go on.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Trouble With Self Esteem
Self esteem does have an impact on how people live and act. If someone does have a low self esteem, they will obviously be upset and be in miserable moods at times, now that does not mean all the time. Someone who is in a miserable mood is obviously going to have miserable actions. For instance, on day where someone is having low thoughts about themselves, they will already be upset as it is, and then if they have a paper to right that night, they probably are not going to do a great job on that paper because they are o upset. Now, if someone with a high self esteem and was thinking well of themselves one day would be in a good mood. If this person were to right a paper that night, the outcome would be good, I’m not saying that it would be the best outcome ever because I and everyone else knows that there are other things that could go on to make you in a bad mood, but with that notion of thinking highly of yourself at that moment is going to result in a much better paper than that of a person thinking very low of themselves. The actions people make reflect on how they are feeling when they are doing those actions.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
rebuttle for love
Love is not a burden, it is not something to dread. Love is a great thing to have and experience. It is not something to make you miserable if you do not have it. If you have it then, great. But if you do not have it is not supposed to make you feel like life has no meaning. When people love each other they want to do things for mate, they do not think of it has a burden because when you love someone you want to do things for them, you want to make them happy because you love them and you want to let them know that you love them. Love is not something you experience for a short amount of time and then get bored and sick of it, and it just ends. It is something that you can enjoy for years, for the rest of your life.
Love takes time, so if you are willing to wait that time to get love, you should know that love is time, love is not short, it can last a life time. When you are married you are not just stuck with them and you get fed up with or bored with your relationship and all love and intimacy gradually declines, now some marriages unfortunately do come upon that, but just because some do does not mean that all do. A couple can enjoy being with each other for life and can show it. It is capable to have a long-lasting, intimate, fun relationship. My parents are one example of that. My parents have been together 25 years and married for 21 and to this day they still have all the love in the world for each other. They still have fun with each other, they still laugh, you can still see the love they have for each other. They also, like doing things for each other and to this day still enjoy making the other happy. My parents and plenty others out there feel this way have that. They see love as a gift not a burden, and that how it is.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Notes on Rhetoric
Arrangement
- how an essay or individual paragraphs are arranged
- is it organized in the best way to achieve the purpose
- how a writer structures the argument depends on the purpose and affect
The Classical Model
- five part structure for a speech or an oratory
- introduction or exordium, which in Latin means "beginning a web" introduces reader under discussion
- introduction draws the readers attention by challenging them
- a lot of times the introduction is where ethos is used
- narration (narratio) this is factual information and the background material.
- the narration beings the development
- often appeals to pathos, because writer is trying to evoke an emotional response
- confirmation(confirmatio) usually major part of text
- has the proof or development to make the writer's argument
- most specific and concrete detail in text
- confirmation strongest appeal to logos
- refutation(refutatio) addresses counterargument
- bridge between writer's proof and conclusion
- conclusion (peroratio) brings essay to a satisfying close
- usually pathos and reminds the reader of the ethos said earlier
- brings writer's idea together and answered the question, so what
Patterns of Development
- another what to consider arrangement
- is writer's purpose to compare and contrast, to narrate an event, to define a term
- each suggest a method of organization or arrangement
- include a range of logical ways to organize an enitre text or individual paragraphs or section
Narration
- refers to telling a story or recounting a series of events
- can be based on personal experience or on knowledge gained from reading or observation
- chronology usually governs narration
- includes concrete detail, a point of view, and sometimes dialogue
- a story that supports your thesis
- often writers use it as a way to enter into their topics
Description
- closely allied with narration b/c both include specific details
- emphasizes the senses by painting a picture of how something looks, sounds, smells, or feels
- often used to establish a mood or atmosphere
- often not an entire essay is descriptive
- but description that is clear and vivid can make writing more persuasive
- by asking readers to see and feel what you see and feel, they can empathize with you, your subject or your argument
Process Analysis
- explains how something works
- how something works or is done
- how to improve a difficult situation or assemble a something
- the key is clarity
- important to explain a subject clearly and logically
- with steps, stages, or phases of the process
Exemplification
- providing facts, specific cases, or instances, turns a general idea into a concrete one
- makes argument clear and more persuasive to reader
- giving an example
- Aristotle taught that examples are a type of logical proof called induction
- which is a serious of specific examples that leads to a general conclusion
Comparison and Contrast
- juxtaposing two things to highlight their differences and similarities
- to analyze information carefully, often leads to insights into the nature of the information being analyzed
- often required on examinations where you discuss the subtle differences or similarities in the methods, purpose, or style of two texts
- can be organized in two ways: subject by subject or point by point
- subject by subject the writer discusses all elements of one subject then turns to another.
- point by point us organized around the specific points of a discussion
Classification and Division
- important for readers to be able to sort out materials or ideas into major categories
- by answering the question what goes where and why readers and writers can make connections between things that may otherwise seem unrelated
- ready made categories such as single, married, divorced, or widowed
- could be asked to analyze and essay that offers categories or to apply to them
- mostly a writer is to develop their own categories to find a distinctive way of breaking down a larger idea or concept into parts
Definition
- may lay the foundation or establish common ground or identifying areas or conflict to make sure the writer and audience are speaking the same language
- defining a term is often the first step in a debate or disagreement
- some cases it is only a paragraph but in others it is the purpose of the entire essay
Cause and Effect
- analyzing causes that lead to certain effect or the effects that result from a cause is a powerful foundation for an argument
- casual analysis depends on crystal clear logic, it is important to carefully trace a chain or cause and effect to recognize possible contributing causes
- don't want to jump to conclusion that there is only one cause or result
- don't want to mistake effect for an underlying cause
- often signaled by a why in the title or the opening paragraph
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Examples of appeals from "Pride and Prejudice"
Logos- "My Faults according to this calculation, are heavy indeed! But perhaps, these offenses might have been overlooked, had not your pride been hurt by my honest confession of the scruples that had long prevented my forming any serious design."- This is an example of Logos because Mr. Darcy says that what Elizabeth is saying may be true, but then states his opposing argument. He demonstrates that he considered what Elizabeth has said before saying what he believes.
Pathos - I perfectly comprehend your feelings, and have now only to be ashamed of my own." - This is an example of Pathos because Mr. Darcy clearly states his feelings.
Ethos - "I have no wish of denying that i did everything in my power to separate my friend from your sister, or that i rejoice in my success. Towards him I have been kinder than towards myself." - This is an example of Ethos because Mr. Darcy is saying this things and acting as a concerned friend. He is appealing to Elizabeth that he was looking out for his friend to make him better off.
Pathos - I perfectly comprehend your feelings, and have now only to be ashamed of my own." - This is an example of Pathos because Mr. Darcy clearly states his feelings.
Ethos - "I have no wish of denying that i did everything in my power to separate my friend from your sister, or that i rejoice in my success. Towards him I have been kinder than towards myself." - This is an example of Ethos because Mr. Darcy is saying this things and acting as a concerned friend. He is appealing to Elizabeth that he was looking out for his friend to make him better off.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Ethos, Logos, and Pathos
Ethos- Someone that is trying to encourage kid's to go to college and how important it is, they might appeal to them as college graduetes and say that they would not be anywhere near to where there are in life today if they did not go to college. that expresses Ethos.
Logos- If someone was constantly being told that their job is not worth what they are putting into because the pay is to good. A person who apeals logos would say it may be bad pay, but they enjoy doing it and they feel more rewarded with the satisfaction and happines out of it.
Pathos- Someone that is trying to display the dangers of smoking may use photograph's of smokers lungs to appeal to pathos.
Logos- If someone was constantly being told that their job is not worth what they are putting into because the pay is to good. A person who apeals logos would say it may be bad pay, but they enjoy doing it and they feel more rewarded with the satisfaction and happines out of it.
Pathos- Someone that is trying to display the dangers of smoking may use photograph's of smokers lungs to appeal to pathos.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Comparing The Great Gatsby and Fast Food Nation
The Great Gatsby and Fast Food Nation are similar because they are both books who have movies of the book as well. They both also tell about liars in a sense. The Great Gatsby tells about Jay Gatsby who tends to lie and exaggerate about most things and Fast Food Nation tells about all the fast food companies and manufactures that lie about their food. For example, how the food is made or what it is made with.
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