Mark Twain's famous novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is at first glance, a quaint tale of a young boy's pursuit of freedom. Perhaps it is. Many disagree on this issue. Whether or not Twain intended for his novel to have a clear theme, however, his opinions about society are made very clear. Twain very obviously has many objections to society during his day, and uses humorous situations in this novel to point them out. Throughout the story, superstitious practices and beliefs of the characters both white and black are commonly mentioned. Twain juxtaposes these practices and beliefs to once again point out the ridiculous ideas held oftentimes by society.
Twain first introduces the first set of beliefs in the characters of Miss Watson and the Widow Douglas. They have taken Huck in and given him a home like good Christian women should. However, their attempts to reform him are slightly extreme. They believe in a morality which involves taking off your boots at the door so as not to track mud into the house. For them, cleanliness is next to Godliness. They force Huck into a lifestyle they see as good and proper, one that he has never experienced and will never be comfortable with. Furthermore, they try to scare him into "salvation" by warning him of the horrors of hell. From their point of view, religion is simply doing the right thing in order to avoid eternal punishment. The same kind of situation occurs with Huck's father when the new judge tries to take him in and "convert" him. Yet another example of this outrageous "religion" is found in the case of the Sheperdsons and Grangerfords. The two families have a nasty feud taking place, but on Sunday they dress up to look their best, rave about the sermon, and discuss serious topics like "preforeordestination." Twain is making a very clear statement about the hypocrisy of society's religious views.
On the other side of the spectrum, however, is Jim. An escaped slave, he is a very superstitious character. He feels that everything that happens to him is because of luck or chance. All the misfortunes which he and Huck run into are quickly blamed on the old rattlesnake skin. He is also very ignorant about what would be considered Biblical teaching in those days. He knows some of the stories of the Bible, like the story of King Solomon, but his interpretation would be considered heresy by the people of the day. When really, he is just thinking through the story logically and with everyday smarts. Like the white people in town, Jim is concerned about other people's welfare, but he sees what they truly need. He cares for Huck like a father. This is very different from how Huck was treated at the widow's home, even though she was doing what she thought was best.
It is interesting that Twain uses a black slave as a juxtaposition to white, "Christian folk." It is very clear that Jim, though not educated, understands much more than the white people in town. Perhaps Twain is making a comment on racism, but more importantly he is making a comment about society and the hypocrisy of some "religious" people.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Romeo and Juliet Writing Assignment: 4
The greatest myths of all time will never die. Whether someone has read the story of Hercules or not, they know of his renowned strength. So it is with the infamous tragedy of the love between Romeo and Juliet. Not only did their deaths influence the society within the story, but its influence has also transcended generations, breaking the barriers of time and culture.
At the discovery of their children's death, Capulet and Montague settle their differences and agree to get along. Montague, wanting to give Capulet even more, stated that he would “raise her statue in pure gold, that whiles Verona by that name is known, there shall no figure at such rate be set as that of true and faithful Juliet.” By Juliet’s name,
The influence of Romeo and Juliet's story doesn't not remain stagnantly a memory of Verona within the story. Everyone knows the story of Romeo and Juliet, whether they have read Shakespeare's masterpiece or not. Their tale is the archetypal love story. A "special someone" is often referred to as a "Romeo" or "Juliet." The modern view of love, as opposed to the idea of courtly love, has been largely shaped by their story. It practically birthed the idea of "love at first sight." People today expect to find the perfect person and know it immediately. They want a short-lived, passion filled escapade just like Romeo and Juliet. People think that love is always exciting and always completely fulfilling.
One hundred years from now, people will still know of "Juliet and her Romeo," as they still know of the Greek myths today. Never will their story be forgotten or lose significance. It is a tale that was remembered long after their deaths in both the literary town of Verona and still today is influencing the modern world's view of love.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
A Disappointing Reminder
The Joad family has come a long way already. But the story has only just begun. Steinbeck, in his famous novel, The Grapes of Wrath, tells of the journey of this family looking for a better life. Their goal is to get to California. Everything up until this point has been centered on moving forward. Interestingly, Steinbeck stops this relentless movement when the Joad family reaches the Colorado River. He uses this river as a symbol for the remainder of their journey. It is a source of salvation and rest, a fount of newfound knowledge, and a point of great change.
During the Joads’ journey, water “grew scarce,” and quickly became a valuable resource for the travelers. The country of Arizona is made up of “jagged broken peaks” forming a wall, barring entrance to the “promised land” of California. Crossing the river is the only way to California; it is the salvation of the travelers. The Joads had been traveling in the darkness, but with the morning light came the sight of the river – a beacon of hope in their dreary plight. Not only does the sight alone provide a new emotional strength, a drive to go on, but its cool currents bring physical renewal as well. The family stops immediately after crossing the bridge to take it all in. They have arrived; they are finally in California. They descend to the water’s edge to take advantage of one of their last free pleasures. The men slip into the water and begin scrubbing themselves with the sand. As the dirt is washed away, so is the stress and tension brought on from the long journey thus far. The river symbolizes rest and renewal. The Joads will certainly need both for their trek across the desert.
This river is not just a symbol of sustenance, however. It quickly becomes a source of knowledge when they meet a father and a boy who are headed in the opposite direction. In the cool stream, they find out about the hard life in California. The father describes it as a “purty country” but also a place where work is hard to come by. He goes on to tell them about the cops and their mistreatment of the workers. At the river, the Joads begin to see that perhaps California is not the “promised land” as they had hoped. Although it serves as a symbol of rest, it is a bittersweet rest. It quickly becomes the symbol of new knowledge to the Joads, knowledge they would rather go without.
Finally, the river symbolizes a point of change, and new beginning, a gateway to a new life. This new life will not prove to be all that the Joads hope for, however. Nevertheless, the river symbolizes the changes which are beginning to occur within and around the family. After crossing the river, the Joads are called “Okies.” Their time there almost represents a baptism; they are given a new name and begin a new life. As Ma points, out, it is at the river that the group begins to fall apart. Noah abandons his family at the river, never to be seen again. The Joads leave the Wilsons at the river, never to return. The river symbolizes change, for better or for worse. The crossing of the river begins the crumbling of the family, and foreshadows what further changes the Joads will find in California.
The river as a whole symbolizes the disappointments of the Joad family. Though it is a source of rest and symbolizes renewal, it soon also becomes a source and symbol of disappointing knowledge and change. The Joads’ time at the river was briefly refreshing, but in the end the family comes out dissatisfied. Overall, it serves as a symbol of the hardships which they have faced and will face. Every time they experience some kind of blessing, they are hit with a harder trial. Steinbeck uses this symbol of the river to contribute to his theme of the human struggle. Its symbolic portrayal of disappointment serves as a reminder that life is not about ease, but man’s responses to the trials.
During the Joads’ journey, water “grew scarce,” and quickly became a valuable resource for the travelers. The country of Arizona is made up of “jagged broken peaks” forming a wall, barring entrance to the “promised land” of California. Crossing the river is the only way to California; it is the salvation of the travelers. The Joads had been traveling in the darkness, but with the morning light came the sight of the river – a beacon of hope in their dreary plight. Not only does the sight alone provide a new emotional strength, a drive to go on, but its cool currents bring physical renewal as well. The family stops immediately after crossing the bridge to take it all in. They have arrived; they are finally in California. They descend to the water’s edge to take advantage of one of their last free pleasures. The men slip into the water and begin scrubbing themselves with the sand. As the dirt is washed away, so is the stress and tension brought on from the long journey thus far. The river symbolizes rest and renewal. The Joads will certainly need both for their trek across the desert.
This river is not just a symbol of sustenance, however. It quickly becomes a source of knowledge when they meet a father and a boy who are headed in the opposite direction. In the cool stream, they find out about the hard life in California. The father describes it as a “purty country” but also a place where work is hard to come by. He goes on to tell them about the cops and their mistreatment of the workers. At the river, the Joads begin to see that perhaps California is not the “promised land” as they had hoped. Although it serves as a symbol of rest, it is a bittersweet rest. It quickly becomes the symbol of new knowledge to the Joads, knowledge they would rather go without.
Finally, the river symbolizes a point of change, and new beginning, a gateway to a new life. This new life will not prove to be all that the Joads hope for, however. Nevertheless, the river symbolizes the changes which are beginning to occur within and around the family. After crossing the river, the Joads are called “Okies.” Their time there almost represents a baptism; they are given a new name and begin a new life. As Ma points, out, it is at the river that the group begins to fall apart. Noah abandons his family at the river, never to be seen again. The Joads leave the Wilsons at the river, never to return. The river symbolizes change, for better or for worse. The crossing of the river begins the crumbling of the family, and foreshadows what further changes the Joads will find in California.
The river as a whole symbolizes the disappointments of the Joad family. Though it is a source of rest and symbolizes renewal, it soon also becomes a source and symbol of disappointing knowledge and change. The Joads’ time at the river was briefly refreshing, but in the end the family comes out dissatisfied. Overall, it serves as a symbol of the hardships which they have faced and will face. Every time they experience some kind of blessing, they are hit with a harder trial. Steinbeck uses this symbol of the river to contribute to his theme of the human struggle. Its symbolic portrayal of disappointment serves as a reminder that life is not about ease, but man’s responses to the trials.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Whodunnit?
Death struck in an instant. But who was to blame? Even the witnesses of the scene came out of it confused and in shock. Many people could have acted differently to keep this tragedy from happening. For example, whoever in the world started this feud between the Montagues and Capulets started the conflict initially. Without it, Tybalt would have had no reason to challenge Romeo. Also, if Romeo had defended his family's honor rather than leaving that to Mercutio, the fight might have ended in a more civilized way. It would have been very unlikely, but possible. In the end, however, the cause of bloodshed cannot be contributed to any one person other than Mercutio. He had no reason to challenge Tybalt other than the fact that he was a hot-headed, violent young man. A peaceful response from Mercutio could have spared his life and everyone else the trouble.
OBITUARY
Tybalt Capulet
January 19, 1284 - April 27, 1303
Tybalt Capulet, age 19, of Verona, died this past monday due to the escalating conflict between two feuding families in the city.
Tybalt was murdered by his foe, Romeo Montague after a brawl between Tybalt and the late Mercutio. Tybalt returned to the scene of his earlier fight to be slaughtered by Romeo, who was avenging his friend's death.
Although he died young, his family is going to great lengths to ensure that his memory is preserved. The entire family of the Capulets will mourn his death and bury his body with honor tomorrow.
Tybalt spent many of his days defending his family’s honor against the Montagues. He was often seen at large masquerades enjoying the festivities, as long as no Montagues were present. Tybalt was a favorite among the ladies. Unfortunately, he was embittered by his consistent second place standing for bachelor of the month, always just below of Romeo Montague.
To honor this bold young man and offer the family your condolences, you may visit the burial this Wednesday at noon.
January 19, 1284 - April 27, 1303
Tybalt Capulet, age 19, of Verona, died this past monday due to the escalating conflict between two feuding families in the city.
Tybalt was murdered by his foe, Romeo Montague after a brawl between Tybalt and the late Mercutio. Tybalt returned to the scene of his earlier fight to be slaughtered by Romeo, who was avenging his friend's death.
Although he died young, his family is going to great lengths to ensure that his memory is preserved. The entire family of the Capulets will mourn his death and bury his body with honor tomorrow.
Tybalt spent many of his days defending his family’s honor against the Montagues. He was often seen at large masquerades enjoying the festivities, as long as no Montagues were present. Tybalt was a favorite among the ladies. Unfortunately, he was embittered by his consistent second place standing for bachelor of the month, always just below of Romeo Montague.
To honor this bold young man and offer the family your condolences, you may visit the burial this Wednesday at noon.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Romeo and Juliet Free Response One:
The classic love story of Romeo and Juliet has become the archetypal model for nearly every other tale of love since. Of all the brilliant scenes in Shakespeare’s renowned play, the balcony scene is most famous. In it, Romeo and Juliet meet for the second time and profess their undying love for one another. In this excerpt, Shakespeare chooses his words carefully to evoke a particular mood for the scene. The encounter is characterized by not only great passion, but also a fearful secrecy. This overall mood is achieved through the contrast of Juliet’s and Romeo’s lines and Shakespeare’s word choice and use of devices such as metaphor and personification throughout the scene.
Romeo is undeniably infatuated with his new love, Juliet. His lines are the most significant contribution to a mood of passion in this scene. Shakespeare has written lines that read almost like poetry. The consistent use of iambic pentameter throughout the excerpt contributes to the poetic feeling. Romeo’s passion is made clear also Shakespeare’s diction and use of narrative devices. Romeo goes on and on about love and its beautiful power. He spews metaphors as he professes his love, only adding to the passionate mood. He compares love to a bird, on whose “light wings” he supposedly scaled the wall. Romeo also consistently makes use of hyperbole. He claims that there lies more peril in Juliet’s eyes than in twenty threatening swords. He also states that his “life were better ended by their hate” than should he die without her love. Romeo concludes by personifying love as a counselor, who prompted him to inquire about and seek out Juliet. Everything about the words Shakespeare chooses for Romeo’s lines evokes passion and deep longing. His long, flowery lines seem almost like poetry, further adding to the passion of the scene.
Juliet’s lines, however, contrast greatly with Romeo’s. This contrast draws out the mood of secrecy and anxiety in the scene. While Romeo practically sings to Juliet of his love for her, she only responds with short, practical statements. These short lines show how concerned she is and anxious about the situation. Juliet first asks how and why Romeo is within the garden walls. Immediately after his poetic response, she warns him of what her family will do if he is found out. She practically ignores all of Romeo’s poetry and cannot think of anything but the danger involved. She speaks of death and murder, knowing the inevitable if he were found out. The mention that it is night and that the lovers are hidden by it’s “cloak” also adds to the fearful secrecy of the scene.
In this scene, Shakespeare is developing a mood of passionate secrecy. In order to achieve these very different feelings, he uses Romeo and Juliet’s lines as a contrast to one another. Romeo’s lines are long, poetic, and full of metaphors and other narrative devices. He characterizes the passion. Juliet’s lines, however, are very short, to the point, and very obviously full of worry. She characterizes the secrecy. By the varied syntax and contrasting diction, Shakespeare is able to brilliantly achieve a mood of passionate but fearful secrecy.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Wanted:
Every resident of Oklahoma....
Come to California!
Have you been kicked off your land, left with no options?
Do you love the great outdoors and sleeping under the stars?
Are stale biscuits your preferred meal?
Are all of your children driving you crazy?
Is your wife a strong persistent woman?
Are you a man of many random talents?
Do you get great joy from working sunrise to sunset with the sweat dripping from your brow?
Are you a people person, do you love to be surrounded by hundreds of strangers?
THEN THIS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU!
Come to work in California today!
*coroner provided
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
The Vanguard of Progress
For many years, Istanbul has been the vanguard of progress in transportation development. Our set of traffic rules and regulations have no equal. Foreigners who visit our city are often overwhelmed by their complexity. They simply don't realize what they are missing.
Take America, for example. Most citizens spend much of their driving time waiting at red lights. This is very inconvenient and often means people arrive late for important appointments or meetings. Here in Istanbul, however, the drivers understand how pressing your personal schedule may be, so running a red light is simply not an issue: Just do it!
Furthermore, American drivers are much less personal with one another than those in Istanbul. The lines of communication are open on the streets and drivers are free to display how they feel to others. I have made so many new acquaintances who have sided with me in a roadside argument over a wreck. It's wonderful.
Even better is the sheer excitement of maneuvering a vehicle on the streets of this city. The traffic keeps you constantly on your toes; we wouldn't have it any other way. A unique benefit of this is increased safety. I have never heard of a single incident where a driver fell asleep at the wheel. In America, however, dozens perish every year because the traffic is not stimulating enough. We have adequately solved this problem with our elite system which saves many lives.
Finally, a sense of community pride is indirectly heightened by the traffic situation. What better way is there to gather as a neighborhood than congregating in the street and discussing opinions of the latest fender-bender? Also, people in America are often completely ignorant of the fascinating, unexpected areas right around them. On any given day I take a new back street to avoid the inevitable traffic jam. Not only does this add variety to my day, but I'm also able to discover the dark, smelly alleys of my community - which in America would be passed unnoticed.
Driving in Istanbul has never been and never will be boring. I've never seen any reason to dislike what ignorant foreigners coin as the "traffic problem." Who can truly say they wish to trade our beautiful symphony of horns for the dull roar of consistent American traffic?
Take America, for example. Most citizens spend much of their driving time waiting at red lights. This is very inconvenient and often means people arrive late for important appointments or meetings. Here in Istanbul, however, the drivers understand how pressing your personal schedule may be, so running a red light is simply not an issue: Just do it!
Furthermore, American drivers are much less personal with one another than those in Istanbul. The lines of communication are open on the streets and drivers are free to display how they feel to others. I have made so many new acquaintances who have sided with me in a roadside argument over a wreck. It's wonderful.
Even better is the sheer excitement of maneuvering a vehicle on the streets of this city. The traffic keeps you constantly on your toes; we wouldn't have it any other way. A unique benefit of this is increased safety. I have never heard of a single incident where a driver fell asleep at the wheel. In America, however, dozens perish every year because the traffic is not stimulating enough. We have adequately solved this problem with our elite system which saves many lives.
Finally, a sense of community pride is indirectly heightened by the traffic situation. What better way is there to gather as a neighborhood than congregating in the street and discussing opinions of the latest fender-bender? Also, people in America are often completely ignorant of the fascinating, unexpected areas right around them. On any given day I take a new back street to avoid the inevitable traffic jam. Not only does this add variety to my day, but I'm also able to discover the dark, smelly alleys of my community - which in America would be passed unnoticed.
Driving in Istanbul has never been and never will be boring. I've never seen any reason to dislike what ignorant foreigners coin as the "traffic problem." Who can truly say they wish to trade our beautiful symphony of horns for the dull roar of consistent American traffic?
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