Michael Rossi

Jane Eyre essay

2011-04-06T20:19:00.000-07:00

Michael Rossi
April 03, 2011
Advanced Placement British Literature/ Ms. Walter
Jane Eyre Essay

An End Victorian Society

Throughout history, man has always actively changed and shaped his customs and traditions. From building pyramids to hosting gladiator fights, humanity has changed substantially in her customs and traditions throughout the ages. Little has changed very little from the times of the ancient Egyptians in three thousand BC, to the time of the Victorian age in Britain, where the novel Jane Eyre was written, people always had a class system. In ancient Egypt the vast majority of people were peasants and farmers who followed the orders of the upper class pharos and warriors. During the late 1800s Britain valued class and wealth. These were two values that Bronte simply could not adopt. The novel Jane Eyre, is a piece of literary satire that truly demonstrates how misplaced the social standards were during the Victorian age in Great Britain. Bronte uses the fact that Jane was able to find success without starting off wealthy or being of a respectable class, the people who were ideal members of Victorian society were portrayed as fools, and Jane strived off of having no respect for the status quo.
Establishing Jane as the main character for the novel was very purposeful as means of eliciting a satirical literature against Victorian society. Jane was disadvantaged in terms of fitting the Victorian mold. She was financially distraught, without a penny to her name. Her parents had died , leaving her an orphan in the care of her aunt. In modern times (the twenty first century), the world pities an orphan as they often lack the familial love that most people cherish very dearly. In Victorian times, being an orphan was far worse. One’s class was typically directly tied to their lineage. To be without parents was to be a second class citizen. Jane was seldom allowed to forget her place in society as she was treated maliciously by her cousins and aunt. Her violent cousin John struck her and rather than be punished Mrs. Reed, sent Jane into solitary confinement: “Take her away to the red-room, and lock her in there” (Bronte 11). Also Jane, was not caught up in greed and other self destructive vices. Jane decided to spilt the money she received from her late uncle evenly with her cousins. Here Jane could have easily jumped to the upper class, but had no taste for it.
Jane’s progressive, rebellious attitude was considered completely outlandish during the Victorian Era. In modern society, Jane’s attitude is rather uniform in today’s society. She simply views everyone as an equal, having no respect for figures of power. Jane feels the need to speak her mind against Mrs. Reed who constantly subjects Jane to unnecessary mistreatment by locking her in the red room: “Oh aunt, have pity! Forgive me! I cannot endure it” (Bronte 17). Jane had no fear of berating her caretaker and superior and turn a blind eye to Mrs. Reed’s social status. At Lowood, Mrs. Reeds told Mr. Brocklehurst that Jane was a liar. Jane dropped her slate and Mr. Brocklehurst assumed she did it on purpose. Jane internally overcame Mr. Brocklehurst’s cruel punishment: “How the feeling bore me up! It was as if a martyr, a hero had passed a slave or victim, and imparted strength in the transit” (Bronte 64). Jane did not let mistreatment defeat her, but instead empower her. Jane simply sought justice and was ready to be treated like the other more Victorian girls in the novel. The fact that Jane is able to find happiness in treating people this way, shows that Jane’s modern attitude is a recipe for success. During the Victorian Era, the clergy were widely respected and held a lot of stock in society. Jane was not swayed, by John’s incessant requests to marry him: “A part of me you must become,’ he answered steadily; ‘otherwise the whole bargain is void’ (Bronte 380). Jane was simply not in love, and she grew to miss the love she had with Rochester, which ended up giving her happiness in the end.
Jane was constantly bombarded with stupidity of those around her who embodied Victorian values. Blanche was the prime example of this blissful ignorance. Blanche did not possess a single positive personality trait about her. Blanche was cruel and judgmental in her treatment of Jane, constantly judging Jane on her repulsive looks or intelligence: “ ‘No,’ I heard her say: ‘she looks to stupid for any game of the sort’ (Bronte 174). Blanche was in competition with Jane to win Rochester. Jane pursued Rochester in search of finding love, which she eventually found with him. Blanche is pursuing Rochester for very selfish and mercenary reasons as she exhibits her disgusts when she learns of Rochester loss of his fortune from the gypsy: “she looked neither flurried nor merry: she walked stiffly to her seat, and took it in silence” (Bronte 184). Rather than feel sad or try to seek Rochester to console him, Blanche simply wallowed in self pity. Just as Blanche represented a Victorian woman, John was the embodiment of a Victorian man, who was as backwards as humanly possible. As a priest, the one thing John ought to have been in touch with was love. Instead John simply wished to wed Jane in the absence of love even though she told him she was not interested. Bronte reinforces John’s utter ridiculousness, by having his sister’s support Jane’s decision not to marry him as she would merely become a tool for his ambitions. “Think of the task you undertook one of incessant fatigue kills even the strong, and you are weak. St. John-you know him-would urge you to impossibilities: with him there would be no permission to rest during the hot hours” (Bronte 387). The clergy is supposed to be at the top of Victorian society. By establishing John as not empathetic, Bronte is warning the reader of all Victorian men.
Bronte uses the facts that Jane was able to find success without starting off wealthy or being of a respectable class, the people who were ideal members of Victorian society were portrayed as fools, and Jane strived off of having no respect for the status quo. In modern British society, the power of kings and queens pale in comparison to their Victorian counter parts. Today British political power rests far more with the parliament and the people then with royalty. The king and queen are relied upon almost exclusively as representing the people, while in the past the royalty would rule the people. Freedom and the ability be in charge of their own destinies are values that people have come to value to the depths of their souls. In president day Egypt, the people struggle to topple their oppressive government and create a true democracy. These are people whose ancestors were slaves for their pharaoh, whose power was even more absolute than any British king or queen. Bronte’s novel about disregarding the class system was more than just revolutionary, it was clairvoyant. Through the eyes of Jain, the modern reader learned to appreciate a world without a social class as those who value such a system in the novel, are backwards people whose values are disgraces to modern society.

Works Cited
Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications, 2002. Web.

Mimetic Analysis of Jane Eyre

2011-03-24T18:12:00.001-07:00

Michael Rossi
March 24, 2011
Advanced Placement British Literature/ Mrs. Turick
Mimetic Analysis of Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre’s life is highly intriguing considering the historical context. During the Victorian Era, a fiery, outspoken woman, was considered highly rebellious and revolutionary. This idea of being fiery and rebellious is almost laughable, as In modern times, this is simply called expressing one’s opinion. The mind reels at the fact that woman were treated as less equal to men in the sense that their opinions were to considered less valid and ought to be kept within. The fact that men’s opinions of woman said that they should adhere to subservience is not indicative to feminine inferiority. Instead, this is indicative of Victorian Era, English men than anyone else. People only collectively suppress any other group when they fear them.

Intertextual Analysis of Frankenstein and Into the wild

2011-02-16T17:56:00.000-08:00

Michael Rossi
February 16, 2011
Advanced Placement British Literature/ Mrs. Turick
Intertextual Analysis of Frankenstein and Into the wild

The themes and motives of a Frankenstein and Into the wild, overlap quite substantially. Chris and Frankenstein both reject an aspect of their lives to focus on another. Chris rejects his family, friends, and wealth and tries to embrace nature, but he is unable to find happiness. This is expressed when Chris claims: “Happiness is only real when shared with others”. In the same way, Frankenstein rejects nature and only focuses on finding new knowledge through creating a perfect, artificial being. This is exhibited when Frankenstein declares his fear of his creation: “I beheld the wretch- the miserable monster whom I had created”. (Shelley 34).
Frankenstein and Chris fulfill the fallen hero archetype as they both have good intentions that are lead astray by flawed means. Frankenstein wishes to discover new knowledge, which is often a positive. Modern day people search for a cure for cancer and other illness. This requires the discovery of new knowledge. Frankenstein, however, isolated himself and lost sight of using new knowledge for the betterment of society, but rather, he created a monster and made himself into a monster. In the same way, Chris only looked to find a deeper connection with nature, but only ended up pushing away the people in his life that matter.
Frankenstein and Into the wild both purport the same common philosophies and universal truths. As expressed earlier, Elizabeth and Chris both demonstrate that isolation ends up betraying he whom endures it. Chris claims, “Happiness is only real when shared with others”. Elizabeth trying to prevent Frankenstein from enduring the same fate as Chris tells Frankenstein, “Get well- and return to us. You will find a happy, cheerful, home and friends who love you dearly” (Shelley 40). Here Elizabeth looks to save Frankenstein from the monster he has become.

Essay- The Canterbury Tales

2011-01-03T10:09:00.001-08:00

Michael Rossi
December 25, 2010
Advanced Placement British Literature/ Mrs. Turick
Research the concept of fabliaux and discuss the historical implications and how Chaucer perfects the style.

The Miller’s Fabliaux

In The Riverside, Chaucer defines the meaning of fabliaux, “fabliau is a brief comic tale in verse, usually scurrilous and often scatological or obscene. The style is simple, vigorous, and straightforward; the time is the present, and the settings real, familiar places; the characters are ordinary sorts - tradesmen, peasants, priests, students, restless wives; the plots are realistically motivated tricks and ruses. The fabliaux thus present a lively image of everyday life among the middle and lower classes. Yet that representation only seems real; life did not run that high in actual fourteenth-century towns and villages - it never does - and the plots, convincing though they seem, frequently involve incredible degrees of gullibility in the victims and of ingenuity and sexual appetite in the trickster-heroes and –heroines” (Chaucer 7). In the Miller’s tale, Chaucer perfects fabliaux through the gullibility of John, the characterization of Absalon, and through the characterization of the Miller.
Both the character’s John and Absalon elicit humor from their alarming rates of gullibility. John’s gullibility was that of complacence. He placed a substantial amount of trust in his eighteen year old wife. A key element of fabliaux is that the representation only seems real. Historically, it is not uncommon for older men to have younger wives. In that sense, The Miller’s Tale could be a realistic scenario. However, the disparity between John and Alison’s personality breaks away from the shackles of non-fiction and reminds the reader of the unlikelihood of the match. John is conservative, static, and old while Alison is adventurous, dynamic, and vivacious. Also, in the 14th century, men married young often to ensure fertility in their partner. Allison and John bore no children. This marriage was not mercenary, pragmatic, or (a visibly) loving one. It is a truly empty marriage destined for trouble. Allison, being young and rebellious, was sexually deprived. Since the main characters of fabliaux typically have a strong sexual drive that dictates their actions, it is only fitting that John’s sexual absence was to be filled by another.
Alison’s lust for rebellion was further emphasized by the inclusion of Absalon. Objectively, Absalon was a better suitor for Alison. He worshiped her and offered gifts and praise when he first met her: “Wooed her by go-between and wooed by proxy/Swore to be page and servant to his doxy/Trilled and rouladed like a nightingale/Sent her sweet wine and mead and spicy ale/And wafers piping hot and jars of honey?And, as she lived in town, he offered money"(Chaucer 93). Also, he was an established church clerk. He worked in the house of God. Today, working for the church in any way is smiled upon by most Christians. During the 14th century, the church was even more influential and the honor of being clerically employed was even greater. Nicholas, meanwhile, was portrayed as more of a boy than a man. He was an apprentice. In adherence with the principles of fabliaux, this is nearly a believable circumstance. Alison’s desire for danger and her rebellious nature would naturally lead her to choose a more dynamic partner. However, the author pushes believability from the cusp of one’s imagination when Nicolas grabs Allison by the crotch and declares his interest for her: "'Unless I have my will of you/I'll die of secret love- O darling, do!'"(Chaucer 91). No woman in their right mind would entertain such behavior, especially when they first met. Allison is miraculously unshaken by sexual assault and uses this opportunity to entreat Nicolas to sleep with her as soon as Nicolas is able to enact a plan to get both himself and Alison away from John. John falling for the feigned threat of a mass flood is a humorous, satirical way for Chaucer to demonstrate how complacence can plague even the most righteous souls. This was a man who trusted and provided for his wife, sparring her from undergoing childbirth, all while taking up a young apprentice.
Utilizing the Miller as the story teller truly demonstrates Chaucer’s mastery of fabliaux. If this tale was told by a knight or an old sage it could perhaps stand on its own and be a tale whose accuracy was up for heated debate, much like the tales of King Arthur. Instead, Chaucer selected a drunken man to be the bearer of the tale. The man preceded the tale with a disclaimer: “’Now listen,’ said the Miller, ‘one and all/To what I have to say. But first I'm bound/To say I'm drunk, I know it by my sound./And if the words get muddled in my tale/Just put it down to too much Southwark ale’” (Chaucer87).The Miller can be seen as a personification of the Miller’s tale. They both exude social indelicacies that make it difficult to focus on the true meaning of what is being shared, and more easy to simply judge for content. In other words, The Miller’s Tale is so obscure and humorous that it is difficult to search for symbolism and depth. This is a unique and interesting element of fabliaux. The reader easily ascertains the main messages from the story through the importance of presentation. This tale may teach one to avoid complacence because the reader does not wish to resemble the group of fools that they had read about and pitied in the text. Also, the Miller insisted on sharing his tale with his pilgrim audience directly after the crowd had heard the Knight’s tale. The Knight’s tale is a serious tale of love and loss taking place in Ancient Greece. Two men were plagued by prison and exile and found solace in the eyes of a beautiful young woman, and they fought against one another to earn her love. The story had an air of romance and glory to it that made it seem believable. The contrast between the first and second tale draws the reader’s attention more closely to the sloppy demeanor of the characters in the story.
In the Miller’s tale, Chaucer perfects fabliaux through the gullibility of John, the characterization of Absalon, and through the characterization of the Miller. Fabliaux has become somewhat of an obscurity in modern literature. It is a literary art sewn together in a quilt of knowledge. The way in which Chaucer was able to tailor the elements of fabliaux was second to none as he was a revolutionary in the form. His methods of characterization composed the fibers in the threads of fabliux that were woven into a magnificent literary tapestry.

Works Cited

"The Fabliaux." Www.harvard.edu. Ed. L. D. Benson. Harvard, 21 Apr. 2001. Web. 25 Dec. 2010. .

Essay- The Canterbury Tales

2011-01-03T10:09:00.000-08:00

Is the knights tale a misogynistic story?

2010-12-07T12:46:00.000-08:00

Through a historical perspective the knights tale is a not misogynistic story. The island of the amazons in an infamous story and is one of the most important stories in ancient Greek culture. The amazons were a band of women warriors who had never truly tasted defeat. According to the knights tale; " He [Theseus) had subdued the Amazons by force [...] their queen he took to wife, and, says the story (Chaucer 26). This time period, placed a heavy emphasis on chivalry, which Theseus demonstrated by treating this prisoner of war with utmost respect and offered for her hand in marriage. He could have easily slaughtered her and married a different woman. Also, Arcite and Palamon fought vigorously for Emily's love. Those who favor a misogynistic view typically claim that they fought over her like she was an object which is not a fair representation of women. This is untrue however, because the two men were willing transcend historically practices. Typically it the king would not only marry off his daughter, but also pay a dowry to the suitor. These two men had so much respect for Emily that no even an army, or brotherly love could stop them from winning her heart.

Final “Perfect Society” Write Up

2010-11-23T17:12:00.001-08:00

Michael Rossi
November 25, 2010
Advanced Placement British Literature/ Mrs. Turick
Final “Perfect Society” Write Up

While it was tempting to swap my trading cards, I was able to refrain from doing so, as it better catered to the goal of the assignment, to create our own ideal society. It was suggested that perhaps we could have made a poor choice and should look to rectify it through swapping with another. The only problem with this is that I actually took great care in the selection of my society’s members and felt extremely reserved about relinquishing any of my elite five. Mrs. Turick made the point that trading, “was all in good fun”, so I honestly did not wish to be stick in the mud, so to speak, so I rifled through my cards to determine the most disposable of the bunch. This was painfully difficult as I was not trying to determine who to trade, but whose departure from my society I would be the least disturbed about. Determining this proved to be a challenge as my mind was overwhelmed by each of my member’s positive attributes instead of their potentially negative qualities. Nevertheless, I turned around and offered Tim Rezendes my Muhammad Ali for his Chuck Norris card. With a perplexed look strewn across his face, he calmly responded, “no thanks, bro Chuck was my first choice” in a most polite manner. Through this interaction I realized that the warrior whom I had considered most disposable was Tim’s first choice. Tim had chosen Chuck Norris just as carefully as I had chosen Muhammad Ali and we were both looking to keep our society’s intact. Why fix something if it isn’t broken, especially if you just built it?

Choice rationale For the Perfect Society: What do you value in society and how does your construction reinforce those values?

2010-11-20T14:05:00.000-08:00

Michael Rossi
November 20, 2010
Advanced Placement British Literature/ Mrs. Turick
Choice rationale For the Perfect Society: What do you value in society and how does your construction reinforce those values?

My perfect society would consist of Scott Brown, Muhammad Ali, Sandy Cheeks, Mother Mary, Lewis Black as they would each be key societal contributors, in their own right.
Scott Brown serves the role of leader and representative of the society. Scott brown is a very versatile political leader whose dedication to the good of his people supersedes his dedication to his political party. Brown voted for his party’s line only eighty percent of what he did in the senate, but broke with the GOP on voting for an early version of the democrats banking reform bill, but forced them to drop a tax clause which would harm our local economy. Also, it is unlikely that Brown’s leadership would be contested as he holds a fifty five approval rating, compared to Barrack Obama whose approval rating is at fifty four percent.
Muhammad Ali is a the first three time Heavy Weight champion. He is known for his boxing proficiency and strength. He is the protecting and military of the society as he is a virtually undefeated warrior. His strength could also be used for labor.
Sandy Cheeks is a main character in the television program, SpongeBob Square Pants. She is known as an inventor and scientists in the series as she has created: A teleporter, spaceship, cloning machine, and so much more. Also, she has undergone many adventures with SpongeBob exploring the depths of their underwater town, known as bikini bottom. She can put these adventuring skills to use as the society’s explorer.
Mother Mary is a divine addition to an ideal society. Mother Mary is a nurturing mother figure who would have no trouble nurturing the other members of society, as she had the challenge of nurturing Jesus, the son of God. In stories such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Mother Mary’s image was put on a shield, emphasizing her worth as a protector. Naturally she would be society’s healer as she would protect everyone’s health.
Lastly, author and comedian Lewis Black is a comedic necessity for an ideal society. Black has hosted the laugh Detroit comedy festival, and is famous for many comedy acts of his own such as: “Red, White, and Screwed”. Black has a unique and an uncanny talent for satirical comedy covering many current topics from Gay marriage to his opinion on social networking sites. Also, Black is an intellectual who has written many books such as Me of Little Faith and Nothing’s Sacred. These books offer entertaining insight to some of life’s most peculiar dilemmas and trivialities and demonstrate Black’s talent as an enlightener.

Create your own chivalric code with ten steps

2010-10-19T11:38:00.000-07:00

1) A man in the military should always defend their country and be willing to sacrifice his own life.

2)A man in the military should always treat prisoners of war with respect.

3) A man in the military should never allow a fellow woman solider to enter a dangerous environment before himself.

4) A man in the military should share his income with his family.

5) A man in the military should never leave a fellow comrade behind to preserve his own safety

6) A man in the military ought to kill an enemy in order to protect his own men.

7) A man in the military should never loot enemy houses for spoils of war.

8) A man in the military should never kill unarmed civilians even if they support the opposition.

9) A man in the military should never except a bribe in any form.

10) A man in the military should retreat with honor when a battle is lost.

Essential Question #4

2010-10-07T18:48:00.000-07:00

Hrothgar's parting words to Beowulf attempt to remind him to stay away from one particular vice: arrogance. Hrothgar claimed, "He suffers no setbacks until the seed of arrogance is sown and grows within him, while still the watchman slumbers; how deeply the soul's guardian sleeps when a man is enmeshed in the matters of this world; the evil archer stands close with his drawn bow, his bristling quiver" (Lines 1702-1708). Here Hrothgar claims that arrogance is the root of setbacks and avoiding life's inconveniences is as simple as remaining humble. Hrothgar similarly commands Beowulf to be weary of his pride: "Arm yourself, dear Beowulf, best of men, against such diseased thinking; always swallow pride (Lines 1742-1743). This once again reinforces the necessity that Beowulf's self esteem is kept at a healthy murmur. Due to the nature of Beowulf, I believe this speech by Hrothgar is foreshadowing the very downfall of Beowulf. So far, Beowulf has slain numerous sea dwelling creatures and all of Cain's demonic lineage. Any physical adversary has proven insufficient to bring about Beowulf's downfall. The author would need to make Beowulf physically weaker in order to have him defeated. If Beowulf were to become arrogant and lose the will to train, another opponent who has been diligently training could potentially defeat him. A death of such a seemingly unbreakable hero would serve as the ultimate warning from the author to help his reader understand just how important Christian virtues are.

Essential #3: How is Wealtheow portrayed? What does she do? can we expect of Anglo Saxon Women

2010-09-29T17:34:00.000-07:00

Wealtheow is like high ranking slave. The fact that she serves the king his mead demonstrates her secondary nature.The author refers to her as, "excellent in mind" (615). In other words, a woman who serves a man is the ideal anglo saxon woman. We can expect very little from her due to to her subservient nature. We discussed in class, that a large part of being a hero involves gaining respect from others. The food and drink that she provides for Beowulf and his men are a token of her respect demonstrating that all women ought to offer tokens of their gratitude to men who look to protect them.

What are the social obligations of a hero?

2010-09-20T19:28:00.000-07:00

The social obligations of a hero are to weed out injustice where ever it may lie. The difference between a true hero and a good person is the manner in which they go about dealing with this injustice.In the story of the good Samaritan, a man was robbed and badly beaten, left to die by his aggressor. Men of high credibility who were particularly good in speaking what they believe were simply unwilling to aid a dying man. A priest and a Levite pass the man while a socially shunned Samaritan finally resolves to help the dying man. Here in the gospel of Luke, we are given a demonstration of the hypocrisy that can occur when believes do not coincide with corresponding actions.This would be an example of a good person who gives charity to the poor. While Jesus would be the Christian hero as he died to eliminate structural sin within the hearts and minds of the romans. Jesus's death gave way to the catholic as he died in the hopes to bring justice. In other words, Heroes are required to pluck the roots injustice rather than simply trim its branches.

How do we create division in our society?

2010-09-09T17:48:00.000-07:00

Michael Rossi
September 9th, 2010
Advanced Placement English Literature
How do we create division in our society (Respond in 15 sentences)

Division occurs on a small level, within the educational system. Students often organize themselves into cliques that share a similar interests or physical features such as the nerds, jocks, Blacks, Caucasians, Hispanics, Skaters, or any other kinds of cliques. Each of these groups are different organs in the student body that are magnificent on their own, but ultimately exist to give life to the student body. Just as an animal cannot survive with only seventy eight of any one organ, a student body would perish without variety. The more these groups try to focus on the differences between each clique, the more difficult brotherly unity becomes and the cancer of disunity begins to eat away at the student body clique by clique.
On a larger scale, countries are often guilty of spreading this cancer through foreign policy. A supreme example of this would be the tension that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union during the cold war. The United States government felt the need to contain communism as they considered it a grave threat democracy worldwide. The government portrayed communists are grotesque looking men whose heads were as blank as their hearts. America was thrown in to such hysteria that (for a short time) they began the red scare, hunting communists as puritanical Massachusetts had hunted witches.
Both large scale and small scale division often call for those who alien others to first dehumanize them. Rather than think of the soviets as our brothers from Russia or Kazakhstan, we were first ready to call them communists. Rather than recognize our peers as a community as brothers and sisters, one is often quick to categorize outsiders at school into a stereotype or clique, rather than try to welcome him or her as a brother. This connection emphasizes the fact that even modern world leaders are not exempt from a childlike form of alienation against their foreign brothers and sisters. If not put in check, a rugged sense of individualism can result in individual insanity or give rise to tyrannical rulers of an entire nation.

Use a character to reveal the writer's feelings about a place or a group of people.

2010-05-18T16:55:00.000-07:00

Michael Rossi
May 17, 2010
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition

My Front Is On Fire, I’d Better Stop, Drop, and Roll

My first week of high school started with a bang and ended in flames. All of the fellows from my old school had abandoned me to enlist in upper echelon schools, while I had attended a small school in Newton, expecting everyone to be Newtonians whose wealth is exceeded only by their intelligence. I had imagined that the student body’s most common names would include Charles and Darwin. I waited to be woven into the aristocratic fibers of Newton’s tapestry, however my imaginative tapestry was chewed to shreds by the infestation of hood rats.
A hood rat was the title that many of the inner-city student body labeled themselves as. The term stuck the moment that I heard it. As the year progressed I found hood rats to be an appropriate title as poison kills rats, and this brand poisoned themselves. I recall a group viewing a disturbing collection of photos and them shrieking like rats when they noticed the face of an educator lamely peering over their shoulders. The corner on the upper floor of the building reminded me of the arched hole that rats are often shown living in. Little did I know, in this playful analogy I was the rat food.
Within the first month I worked like a slave, and I treated my academics as if it was manual backbreaking labor. I was furious that I had not been placed in honors English so I figured I could do one of two things to demonstrate my protest: First, I could either do no work in order to demonstrate that I did not accept the class as my own. Second, I could do everything to absolute perfection, and read all my books ahead of time so that when the teacher went around asking us our initial thoughts about the book I would demonstrate a deep literary knowledge down to each book’s most subtle nuance. I chose the latter, as I felt it emphasized my class placement as their mistake, not mine. While I excelled academically, my social life was largely neglected. This never really struck me as a problem, until English class, where my class was reviewing vocabulary words for the weekly quiz. The teacher was reviewing the vocabulary, I guess to ensure that we were mentally capable of typing words into Google. As I had completed the assignment a day or two in advance, (and fairly confident in my ability to use Google) my mind was adrift in some far off land: “What class did I have next?”. I saw my classmate named Kalie turn to me and whisper, “Hey mike what was the last word”. I lunged for my paper underneath my chair and read the word that I had thought we were on, so as to seem like I had been following along the entire time. I said, “Commemorate means to observe semicolon (yes I actually said semicolon) to respond to memory” at the exact same time as the teacher. It sounded like a horrible duet. Kalie simply glared at me in astonishment so as to say, “Are you fucking serious?”. Apparently, I had said this a tad louder than a whisper, and the entire class was glancing to the back of the classroom where I had been sitting. After a dreadfully long wide- eyed pause of blankly starring at me, Kalie simply let out a languid, “Damn”. It was as if the verbatim recitation had sapped any fun she was having right out of her day. I actually felt quite badly and realized that a social life would do me quite a bit of good.
Later that day there was a boy named Sammy whose locker was directly next to mine. I decided to step outside of my comfort zone. He dropped a black pen behind him where I was following. He had absolutely no idea that he had dropped it as he had been storming towards our history class. “Hey man! You dropped your pen”, I said. He turned to face me as I handed him a pen. He did not extend his hand to withdraw the pen, but rather he stared at it and looked at me as if I had three heads. I looked at the pen I was handing him and it was blue. I laughed at the stupidity of the situation, as did a few bystanders. Apparently Sammy did not take it this way. He believed that I was laughing at his ability to distinguish his own black pen from the random blue one. Hey closed the proximity between his face and mine and yelled: “Step off dog, you’s fronting”. I was fronting? What the heck was fronting. I examine the shirt on the front of my body, It was immaculately clean. What else was wrong with my front? I looked a tad lower than my shirt and noticed that the metal part of my zipper protruded into the cloth part of the pants. Did he mistake this for an boner? That must be what fronting is! I cleverly responded, “No it’s actually just my zipper”. The peanut gallery behind me chimed in with a hysterical laugh, followed by numerous finger points in my direction. Sammy apparently deduced that I was not through with my verbal assault. He grabbed me by the collar of my polo and flung me up against the locker. The sharp pain in my neck set off waves of adrenaline and I was shaking with rage. My mind went wild with an infinite number of ways I could free myself from his clutches and use my knowledge of karate to make him beg for mercy. I resisted my bestial urges and simply uttered a barley audible, “sorry” through my teeth.
As the late bell rang Sammy issued a punch to my chest and ran into history. I hobbled closely after him only to have a door shut in my face. After the teacher let me into the classroom, I took up my seat in the front of the class only to be greeted by Sammy, who decided that his seat was not nearly as comfortable as the one right next to mine. Mr. Salvato resumed his discussion of World War II. Mr. Salvato asked if anyone knew the location where the atomic bombs were dropped. Without missing a beat I raised my hand answering Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I had not learned a thing from English class. Sammy recognized this display of historical knowledge as a challenge. Mr. Salvato resumed and spoke of the inescapable destruction of the atomic bomb. The atomic bomb was known to leave entire cities in smoking craters, leaving absolutely no life left in its destructive path. The atomic bomb would obliterate anything in a split second and reduce a victim to atoms. Trying to exceed my level of intellectual contribution, Sammy felt the need to question anything more impressive than himself when he cried out and the atomic bomb certainly stole the spotlight:“Wait couldn’t you just stop drop and roll!?”. The whole class roared with laughter. I did not even chuckle. I was shocked. Was that really a question? Mr. Salvato dully responded, “You can’t stop drop and roll if you’re completely incinerated”. Awakening from my stupefied comma I broke out in laughter based solely on the seriousness of Mr. Salvato’s response to such a ridiculous question. I was in for quite a year.

AP 40 minute timed essay: Report: China to Overtake U.S. As World's Biggest Asshole by 2020

2010-04-29T16:10:00.000-07:00

Michael Rossi
April 29, 2010
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition
40 Minute Timed Essay AP Test Practice: What is the author's message, and how does he use diction and syntax to achieve that goal?

This Town Ain’t Big Enough for the Both of Us

The United States lost its touch as being the most hated country in the international community, and the torch of despicable public opinion has been handed to China. The author utilizes aggressive messages, diction, and syntax to make for an unreserved, satiric work.
The author questions the significance in which the media and society place in attributes that make up a strong nation. Economic, financial, and political assertion is the stem of national progression in which China paints as positive. The Author’s main message, through syntax and diction, is to demonstrate his biased belief against the commentary in most articles.
The author’s clever us of utilizes syntax lays the censorious seed that eventually blossoms into full blown satire: “It’s the dawning of a new huge bastard era” (Article 1). Here the author weaves vulgarity into an otherwise orthodox editorial paper. Doing this exposes the ridiculous nature of China’s so-called progression. Replacing a vital part of the sentence with bastard shows how disposable and empty the sentence is as; anything could be put in front of it and have read almost exactly the same.
The author further waters his satire with the spring water of well placed diction By adopting the stylistic choices of commonly positive works, the author is able to attribute the written positive connotation into a vulgar denotation. An excellent exhibition of this concept can be seen as the other claims, “A country like Iran is obviously a pretty big dick, but ultimately it lacks the resources to be a truly world-class asshole” (Article 1). Pretty big dick and world class asshole could easily be replaced personify Iran as possessing it with insults that typically pertain only to humans. Through diction, the author is able to simplify the complicated national issues as childish insults, in order to expose the childlike values that some countries posses.
The author utilizes aggressive messages, diction, and syntax to make for an unreserved, satiric work. In the end, the author was forced to plan his satiric work with the hope that he could help revive from society from the fire of immorality that swept the political spectrums of the international community. The tree of knowledge starts stems from the nurturing of satire.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

2010-04-05T14:27:00.001-07:00

Michael Rossi
April 3, 2010
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition
The Picture of Dorian Gray Essay Topic #1

Study Up

Adhering to the conscience is God’s test. The notes of public redemption are the methods of studying test. One ought to treat society as a means of preparation for the most difficult test possible. If one cannot please his countrymen with his repentance how can he hope to please God? The characters from the texts: The Crucible, The Scarlet Letter, and The Picture of Dorian Gray had wildly different approaches to such an exam. In The Crucible, Abigail flunked the test by trying to cheat Salem’s court while Proctor simply did not study. In the Scarlet Letter, Dimmesdale crammed just before the test, while Hester passed with the flying colors of repentance after years of study. Dorian, from The Picture of Dorian Gray, simply refused to take the test.
In The Crucible, Abigail attempted to lean away from her conscience in order to peer over the court’s shoulder to exploit its knowledge. A fatal problem with private redemption is that it relies on the moral perfection of an individual to actively pursue self-improvement, while too many simply offer no room for self-reflection. Abigail is a perfect example of one who would exploit such a system. Abigail perfected the art of manipulation, enabling her to take the quiet insecurities of Salem and brazen them with color: “Let you beware, Mr. Danforth. Think you to be so mighty that the power of Hell may not turn your wits? Beware of it!” (Miller 108). Abigail never ceased painting her evil through the town, and never once allotted herself the time to reflect upon what she had created. Abigail is forced to pathologically lie in order to prevent Salem from learning of the threads of lechery that existed within the cloak of secrecy that shrouded them from Salem’s view. In the shallow confides of Abigail’s mind she never once considered the morality of her actions, because she never had to. There was no publicity to slow her down and remind her of sins. Abigail was caught up in her conquest of the people of Salem for any sort of reflection. Although Paris told Abigail, “your punishment will come in its time,” (10) one must consider the purpose of punishment, reform. Abigail became a prostitute and led a wretched life, however her punishment was worthless. The loose grasp of private redemption allowed Abigail to escape from her problems without addressing them, while public shaming at the gallows would have done well to ensure the she could never forget her trespasses.
Private redemption is not only a flawed system for cheaters, but also those simply do not know how to go about studying. One will seldom find serendipity of any kind if they refuse to confront repressed feelings. In The Crucible, Proctor’s lechery with Abigail was profoundly responsible for the witch-trails. Since Proctor could not reveal his sin to Salem, (because he would be hanged) he strived to cope with his sin by ignoring his sin in private. The only reason why Proctor was redeemed is because he was on trial by Salem. Although they were trying him for the wrong reasons, the trial taught him the fortitude and selflessness necessary to truly be redeemed in God’s eyes: “Because it is my name! […] How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (Miller 143). This demonstrates that no matter how erroneous a society is, so long as it forces some degree of public redemption, a better end product is produced. Proctor conducted himself as a bright man in the community who was capable of carrying out much of his redemption; however, he needed to be spurred by an outside influence. Imagine that The Crucible’s court is an awful parent and Proctor is its child. Although a parent may mistakenly adopt a parenting route that consisted only of public punishments (such as making the child stand in the corner) instead of afflicting his child with shame, the parent is still punishing the child for the right reasons. The child, whether he cares about his actions or not, will come to hate shame and develop a fear of punishment. The child will naturally try to bring about an end to shame in the future and will think about the actions that could potentially be the cause of his punishment. Eventually the child will adapt to their parents’ whims, and in doing so, the child will be forced into self-reflection. Thus, Proctor was forced by the results of the trial to be introspective and seek public redemption. With the town standing over him, he reviewed the class notes of public redemption and gave everything he had to pass the test (quite literally).
Proctor actively sought well, but was still largely spurred by external factors. Dimmesdale on the other hand, demonstrated altruism after his affair with Hester, but suffered at the neglectful hands of his private redemption. Dimmesdale was trapped in a vicious cycle. Dimmesdale sinned. He cannot stand his sin and feels the need to repent. Dimmesdale, bound by his responsibility to the community, could not repent, for he believed that his people would lose faith in God and be led astray. He cannot openly discuss his sin because he believes he will be harming his followers’ faith, so he only speaks of how wretched he is. The people love him even more as they view his self loathing as simply humbling himself: “He had told his hearers that he was altogether vile, a viler companion of the vilest […] They heard it all, and did but reverence him more” (Hawthorne 131). As the people’s love for Dimmesdale increases, his guilt and self hatred are only intensified. As a result, he punishes himself by flogging (which he believes is God’s will). Dimmesdale was struggling so intensely with his atonement because there was no clarity upon which he could draw his guidance from. Private redemption automatically assumes that since the redemption is done in solitude, so must come the all answers. The only problem was that Dimmesdale was stuck and could not figure a way out. Public redemption would have allowed Dimmesdale to atone for his own sins while still appearing as a hero to his people who would learn from him the rugged commitment of self-improvement.
Hester demonstrated what it means to take advantage of public redemption. Early in the The Scarlet Letter, Hester was branded with a scarlet A. Later on, Hester was able to change the meaning of the scarlet letter: “many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able;” (Hawthorne 146). Public redemption transformed Hester from a whore into a, “living sermon against sin” (Hawthorne 59). It was the notes and guides of public redemption that forced the impetuous upon Hester to reflect upon her sins and flee from the failure of lies.
In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dorian had no room for public or private redemption. He was far too busy absorbing and living Lord Henry’s witticisms. One of those witticisms happened to deconstruct the holiness that one typically considers as the nature of a conscience: “Conscience makes egotists out of us all” (Wilde 106). Even if one does not believe in a conscience or governing presence outside of one’s body, one must still chronically undergo self-improvement. If one does not, one is accepting iniquity, which does not satisfy even the most selfish beings on the planet.
Dorian’s fall from grace is far worse than any of the characters in The Crucible, The Scarlet Letter, and The Picture of Dorian Gray. Dorian’s fall emphasizes the need for public redemption as he received the least amount of societal pressure. While Hester succeeded in her redemption, Abigail, Proctor, and Dimmesdale ultimately failed in utilizing public redemption. Dorian was engaged in situations similar to those of Abigail, Proctor and Dimmesdale, yet he fared far worse and could not attain redemption.
Dorian does not run from his society like Abigail, but rather he wars against it. When Abigail’s plan was challenged, she ran away steaming with rage. Basil risked his good favor with Dorian in order to warn him of what he is becoming: “Then there are other stories-stories that you have been seen creeping at dawn out of dreadful houses and slinking in disguise into the foulest dens in London” (Wilde 156). Dorian did not simply run as Abigail did, but rather he cut Basil to ribbons. With no one around to help police him, Dorian in his naivety, did not possess the mental capacity to appropriately reflect and repent for his actions. Instead of reflecting upon his actions, Dorian simply had the body destroyed, in the hopes that his guilt would accompany it.
In The Crucible, Proctor took up private redemption in the hopes that his lechery would be forgotten. In the end, Proctor was forced to repent and he died in the name of his pride. Dorian never once sought any form of redemption, public or private. Proctor never had the luxury of having a picture that showed him his soul with which he could use as a stimulus for change.
Dimmesdale had a bout with his conscience and was being tested without studying. Dimmesdale’s vicious cycle of sin was only so devastating to him because he did not have the slightest drop of apathy in the sea of his mind. Dorian did not even know how to care. Since Lord Henry taught Dorian that his conscience would make an egotist out of him, he knew not what to attribute his feelings of guilt or a moral nudge to: “‘Good heavens! I have hit a beater!’ “[…] ‘ I wish it were stopped forever, Harry,’ he answered bitterly. ‘The whole thing is hideous and cruel’” (Wilde 207-208). If Dorian listened to his conscience, he would have stepped in to help the injured man instead of complain about what happened to him. In order to save himself, Dorian needed to publicize his problems and seek help from the community. Towards the novel’s end Wilde endorses public redemption when he claimed, “Yet it was his duty to confess, to suffer public shame, and to make public atonement.” (Wilde 228). Doing this would have been enough to change Dorian for the better. Dorian was not completely evil, only extremely ignorant, and education can always cure a misguided soul. Dorian turned to opium in order to suppress his problems: “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul” (Wilde 189). Curing the soul is done through meditation and centering oneself, in order to find peace and determine what must be done to fix life’s problems. Opium and other drugs only distract one from the chronic problems that only tend to worsen from neglect. Looking inward is the first step to fixing internal problems, not the conclusive one. After one is able to focus his thoughts, one ought to refer his ideas to a neighbor in order to insure the right path is chosen and one’s conscience is in check.
Adhering to the conscience is God’s test. Studying the notes of public redemption is the only way to pass the test. Dorian was once as pure as a fresh blanket of snow, until he stopped reviewing his conscience altogether. In Dorian’s eyes, Lord Henry became Dorian’s God and Lord Henry’s witticisms became Dorian’s conscience. Dorian’s failure is a message to the reader. Humans must never lose sight of what their test will be about; they must study by following their consciences. In the end, the conscience is God’s test and Dorian failed his test so that Wilde’s readers may pass theirs.

Works Cited
Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003.
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: Bantam Dell, 1986.
Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York: Penguin Group, 1976.

Lord Henry Character Descriptions

2010-03-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

Rossi, 1
Michael Rossi
March 28, 2010
Advanced Placement English - Mr. George

Morally Bankrupt

Lord Henry is unwilling to acknowledge the thread of morality as a part of the fabric in the tapestry of life.
Lord Henry is not morally neutral, but morally askew due to his responsibility for Dorian’s corruption. Lord Henry is to be held responsible for manipulating Dorian. While Dorian is a fool, someone as intelligent as Lord Henry is capable of being mindful of their audience and ought to exercise prudence. When Lord Henry advocates that Dorian, “cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul” (Wilde 189), Lord Henry is offering a tantalizing (for interpretation) concept. Dorian would naturally turn to the most obvious form of emotional suppression, drugs. Peoples’ environment must always be kept in mind. Lord Henry’s influence over Dorian is similar to the influence of father over a young child; his word is law.
Lord Henry is luring Dorian to his own grave. Each one of Lord Henry’s witticisms is a fresh pile of dirt that traps Dorian in a grave of confusion. Lord Henry’s influences over Dorian are the screws of self-destruction which found a home in the boards of Dorian’s coffin. Dorian is slowly being buried by Lord Henry’s tantalizing suggestions.
Lord Henry and Adolf Hitler both exerted their influence over a desperate group of people whom they led down the dark path to iniquity.

Rossi, 2
Works Cited

Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. New York: Barnes and Noble, 2003.

Dorian Gray Character Description

2010-03-30T11:59:00.000-07:00

Rossi, 1

Michael Rossi
March 28, 2010
Advanced Placement English/ Mr. George

No Love from Lady Luck

The beauty and opportunity that the world had given to Dorian proved to be a fool’s gamble.
Dorian Gray has exhibited only stupidity and imprudence with his beauty and position of aristocracy. Dorian was blessed with the opportunity of having Lord Henry around who could aid Dorian in his intellectual development. A master’s teaching is ultimately adopted or denied in relation to a student’s understanding. Dorian blindly accepted almost every word that escaped from Lord Henry’s mouth: “Pleasure is Nature’s test, her sign of approval” (Wilde 82). Dorian did not even analyze his new mantra before assimilating it into his own philosophy: “I have never searched for happiness. Who wants happiness? I have searched for pleasure” (Wilde 202). Lord Henry never acted upon his witticisms, but was rather fascinated by them in their emptiness. It was Dorian who had put this ideology to the test by lusting after opium only to brush shoulders with death.
Dorian is as worthless as a gamble. Dorian rolls the dice of destiny and blindly continues gambling away his innocence, ignorant of the fact that the three dice landed straight sixes. Dorian flushes every penny of his soul down the toilet of self-destruction and is drowned in debt. In the end, Dorian did not have enough moral capital in the bank to make a life saving withdrawal and suffered from his moral insolvency.
Dorian and Paris Hilton both abused their beauty and wealth throughout life only to lose their innocence in the process.
Rossi, 2

Works Cited

Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. New York: Barnes and Noble, 2003.

Witticisms

2010-03-30T11:57:00.000-07:00

Rossi, 1
Michael Rossi
March 28, 2010
Advanced Placement English/ Mr. George

Witticisms

1: Emptying a woman’s mind of all suffering, results in the emptying of a husband’s pockets.
2: I will not stand for women’s suffering, so let us not give them suffrage.
3: A servant is the best kind of friend. A normal friend will support you as you carry life’s burdens, while a servant will carry them for you.
4: I do not participate in sports because I am an excellent critic.
5: You say Dorian fell into moral darkness, but perhaps he never fell. He remained true to himself no matter what personality he wore.
6: Do I blame God for suffering? Of course I do not. I am a tad perturbed, that he refuses to
reveal himself to me, but since he does not exist I cannot blame him. Do you ask a ghost to come out of the closet?
7: Faith (in God) is the chain and lock that binds a life of intellectual growth. Thoughts are the key that shatter God’s shackles.
8: Learning English does not birth new knowledge. It simply teaches one to read what life has already written.
9: My synapses demonstrate their fitness as I turn lap after lap while your synapses exhaust themselves just stretching.
10: My wife looked forward to marriage because she looked forward to continuing her intellectual exploration of me, little did she know I looked forward to marriage under the impression that such development would stop.

Rossi, 2

Works Cited

Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. New York: Barnes and Noble, 2003.

The Picture of Dorian Gray Chapters 19-20

2010-03-26T14:34:00.000-07:00

"' But then one regrets the loss even of one's worst habits. Perhaps one regrets them the most. They are such an essential part of one's personality.' " (Wilde 218).

A renowned, ancient Chinese proverb claims that once one stops changing one start to die. A goal of life ought to be chronic self improvement. Once one is able to realize their poor attributes and accepts them, one is taking the first steps to iniquity. This is so because if one accepts a single vice,(which will lead to sin) then one learn to accept sin as a value effectively stripping one of any sense of morality. If one does not realize his sin it may be to quiet a thing to realize, like a cancer withering away at one's core. If one realizes one's sin only to thumb one's nose at change, it is like one simply refusing to step off train tracks. It is a small way to avoid a large problem. The train tracks of iniquity mark the path upon which one must step out of if they wish to avoid the sin steaming and chugging down hell's tracks.

"It would kill the past, and when that was dead he would be free. It would kill this monstrous soul-life, and without its hideous warning he would be at peace. He seized the thing, and stabbed the picture with it"

Throughout Dorian's life he dealt with an affliction of the soul. Since confession was out of the question for Dorian, he need a way to cope with his withering soul. He needed, " 'To cure the soul by means of the senses ' " (Wilde 189). In his past, Dorian simply refused to acknowledge his sins for repentance. Rather than acknowledge and atone for his sins throughout his life, he waited for a single moment to soak in the acidic liquid of sin. The sponge of Dorian's mind was useless when tainted by such a toxic chemical and Dorian realized it need to be wrung dry. No drug on earth could suffice to appease one so emotionally distraught. Through death did Dorian no longer have to worry about stimulating his senses. Instead he destroyed them entirely.

The Picture of Dorian Gray Chapter 16-18

2010-03-24T13:43:00.000-07:00

" 'To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul' : [...] "The hideous hunger for opium began to gnaw at him" (Wilde 189-190).

Intoxication often expedites the path to hell especially if one is already treading its way. In the Homer's Odyssey Odysseus encountered a island of lotus eaters where many people fell to its seductive grasp never to leave the island. Opium is a example of a present-day lotus eater. Dorian tries to cure worldly problems. Drugs only blind one to chronic problems, poisoning them. Yet, Dorian surrendered to his poor judgement and wanted an over stimulation of the senses only to meet another broken soul (James Vane) who had almost taken his life. Life is a workout. In order to become stronger, one must climb the stairs of life and not take opium's elevator for weak muscles and a quick high.

" ' I have never searched for happiness. Who wants happiness? I have searched for pleasure. ' " (Wilde 202).

Life is a gift. The bows of life's high points produce a smile of satisfaction when looked upon its aesthetic pleasure. Dorian claims that he replaces happiness with pleasure. Pleasure is immediate gratification and must be repeated. Happiness is a complex conglomerate of emotions converging upon the overarching disposition of one's life. Replacing a long term, deep happiness with short-lived pleasure is like using a relationship with a partner for sexual intercourse rather than mutual growth. One will leave one satisfied for a life-time, while another will satisfy someone for the afternoon and harm them later. Drugs are the step in which Dorian turns to in order to stimulate his pleasure. In the long run, his body will exhibit adverse consequences to his short sighted attempts to remedy life, ultimately expediting his death. The wrapping papers of pleasure are not enough to substantiate the gift of life made whole by the present of happiness beneath the thin layer of pleasure.

The Picture of Dorian Gray Chapter 15

2010-03-23T12:47:00.000-07:00

" 'A Man can be happy with any woman, as long as he does not love her' " (Wilde 184).

The rejection of love is the exact reason that Lord Henry cannot find happiness in marriage. Overcoming difficult internal obstacles yield far greater internal rewards, then simple ones. Lord Henry does not acknowledge that the goal of marriage should be love. Instead Lord Henry strives to resist love. The rejection of love is emblematic of the rejection of goals. Lord Henry has no goals so he cannot be disappointed. It is a juvenile psychological coping mechanism, that stems from a low self esteem. The thick shell of Lord Henry's feinged indifferance indicates a fear of being cracked.

"How inquisitive you are, Harry! You always want to know what one has been doing". (Wilde 186).

Dorian has been wary of Lord Henry's ever prying eyes. Dorian has not been talking to Lord Henry as frequentely ever since Dorian has acknowledge Lord Henry's influence. Dorian has effectively disconnected the communication's lines with which they have been speaking. Dorian is been expedentally selective with the information which he shares with Lord Henry. The problem is that Dorian is blaming Lord Henry for the disconnect. This situation shares many parallels with a child who becomes flustered at a parent who beset them with insistent request as to what they will be doing. In the child's eyes, the trust he believes that his parents hold for him would be questioned. In actuallity, the parents have to infer upon the side of their child which the child had not selected to show to them. The flame of Dorian's anger blames the kindling of Lord Henry questioning for the fire, which Dorian himself hadresolved to start.

The Picture of Dorian Gray Chapter 14

2010-03-22T11:55:00.000-07:00

"But youth smiles without any reason. It is one of its chiefest charms" (Wilde 166).

The youth's glimmering smiles belie a suppressed emotions. One does not smile out of instinct, but out of an emotion. If friends or family members see a loved one smiling it could never hurt as to inquire why, because it may be for a dangerous reason. In Dorian's case, an aimless smile was a hysterical smile which foreshadowed the destruction of Basil's corpse upstairs. Psychologically sound individuals often have little difficulty expressing their emotions. Stress ventilation is extremely important in some way. If one cannot displace their thoughts they are destined to think inwardly about them and eventually act upon them. Dorian does not have anyone with which he can freely and safely relate his feelings. Basil does not want to believe Doriah's poor qualities while Lord Henry simply hear everything through policital ears in which he wishes to gain control of the inter workings of Dorian's mind. Expression is the water of an intellect with constant thirst. Allow the lack of expression to continue and the tendrils of the mind will whither and die.

"Poor Basil! What a horrible way for a man to die!" (Wilde 169).

Haphazard ideology is the cancer of society. If everyone in modern day society lived life as Dorian does, the world would be a perfectly dis-topic. Dorian apologizes and retreats from his own thoughts and will not confess to his crimes. In the Middle East, war is difficult because the United States has difficulty identifying and locating its enemies. When there was a military to face the United States quickly defeated its enemies in the coalition of the willing. Now war is more difficult because we are not fighting organized ranks of men, but a concept of anarchy and hatred hiding under the skirts of the average citizen. In the same way, Dorian would be easier to stop if he was open about crimes and not cower before the punishment. If the waters of duplicity ran as fiercely through the rivers of society as much as they do Dorian, then the world is doomed (with no one to blame).

The Picture of Dorian Gray Chapters 13-14

2010-03-19T09:11:00.001-07:00

"The wind had blown the fog away, and the sky was like a monstrous peacock's tail, starred with myriads of golden eyes" (Wilde 163).

The fog is a metaphor for the discrepancy in Dorian's actions. He berated Sibyl Vane to the point where she took her life. He then decides to make amends for his scoldings by writing her an apology letter. Early on, Dorian fluctuated between darkness and light as frequently as the moon changes the tides. Ultimately, it was Basil who kept the tide of Dorian's emotions receding towards goodness while Lord Henry had his emotions flow towards evil. Dorian's fancy towards lord Henry whipped up an evil storm that is sure to have devastating consequences. Now that Basil has been murdered, there is no one who can keep Dorian's emotional tides at bay.

"No! don't think of that. Look at the matter purely from the scientific point of view" (Wilde 174).

Dorian flaunts his stupidity by exhibiting a misunderstanding of science. In humanity's very nature we are bound to question life. The very definition of science is the separation between knowledge and ignorance.The Scientific point of view entails the exploration of all the matters of an issue. For years Scientists believed that there was no definitive maximum speed in the universe. Albert Einstein set them straight. Einstein demonstrated that time is in fact relative. In his younger years (on route to work), Einstein, while riding a train, wondered if light reached if time was relative. Einstein taught that time is relative to the speed in which one moves. Nothing is truly at rest unless they are at rest relative to another object. What this means is that the concept of time as humanity knew it, was merely an illusion. Asking a scientist to employ science and not to analyze is like shooting someone at point blank range with a shot gun and asking them not to die. The request is unnatural and utterly ridiculous. In the sense of the definition, Dorian did help the reader experiment with the definition by helping them to organize Dorian into the ignorant section.

The Picture of Dorian Gray Chapters 11-12

2010-03-17T14:14:00.000-07:00

"It was rumored of him once that he was about to join the Roman Catholic communion; and certainly the Roman ritual had always a great attraction for him. The daily sacrifice,more awful really than all the sacrifices of the antique world," (Wilde 135).

The artists and sculptors who crafted Catholic art did not do so so others would worship what the statue looks like, but what the figure represents. Dorian wish join Catholicism because of sheer aesthetic pleasure is almost feral. Wishing to be a part Catholicism automatically evokes the endorsement of the message that it is trying to proclaim. Dorian's whimsy demonstrates his inability to bear true artistic wisdom. Catholic art is based on the advocation of morals, while Dorian embodies the artistic uselessness that Wilde proclaimed in his preface. Dorian's tanning rays of aesthetic acceptance externally beautify the body of Catholicism, unaware of the sheer cancerous malignancy being embedded in the core of its message.

"Dorian had been poisoned by a book. There were moments when he looked on evil simply as a mode through which he could realize his conception of the beautiful" (Wilde 150).

Art is aesthetic work which exceeds ordinary significance. The intentionality of the artist is factored into the value of art. Lord Henry's book was not given out of the hopes to artistically inspire Dorian but to control him. People may say that it is Dorian who makes the decision to act upon Lord Henry's influences, but it is Lord Henry who realizes the damage that the book will cause Dorian. Lord Henry's values are the hunger that Drives Dorian to indulge himself in every fantasy that his mind fabricates. Humanity extends its hands to accept art. It is the hot whips of evil that that burn art into an elusive vapor that flees from humanity's grip. One cannot appreciate the last glimpse of art as they are distracted by Lord Henry cynically clutching a match.

The Picture of Dorian Gray Chapters 9-10

2010-03-15T14:49:00.000-07:00

"Don't leave me, Basil, and don't quarrel with me. I am what I am. There is nothing more to be said" (114).

I am what I am. That is quite an interesting way to make a defense. Dorian implores Basil to ignore his actions and blindly accept him? Doing what Dorian asks will afflict Basil with the mark of a disloyal friend. An individual's identity is constantly changing. An ancient Chinese proverb (with no definitive author) once said that once one stops changing, they start dying. This could not be closer to the truth. An ideal friend would actively pursue the goodness in another, regardless of the personal risk. Imagine if the parchment of Dorian's philosophy was woven into the bills of legislation that is issued by our modern day government. The government could hostilely strip America of its rights, leaving our civil bodies exposed and open to abuse. The violation of our rights could be justified under the farce that government is taking the necessary steps in order to preserve its identity.

"His own soul was looking out at him from the canvas and calling him to judgement. A look of pain came across him and he flung the rich pall over the picture" (123).

The author makes the role of Basil's painting remarkably similar to the role of one's conscience (which is to act as an internal system for determining right and wrong). One's conscience screams like a banshee whenever an objectively wrong act is committed. The deafening blast is inescapable regardless of apathy's earplugs that vainly struggle to quell the noise. Dorian's conscience was replaced by a visual personification of his actions. Rather than constantly clench his ears in the hopes of drowning out his guilt he moves the source of his problems into the virtually soundproof realm of his old playroom. One's conscience calls from deep within us, immune to all riddance. Even if Dorian did not stow the painting away, but use it like a conscience, he could only reference the painting after he has committed the act. Dorian can only hear the echoes of the painting while his dead conscience screams in silence.

The Picture of Dorian Gray Chapter 7-8

2010-03-13T13:02:00.000-08:00

"The picture had not changed. It was a folly to think so" (Wilde 96).

The art itself did not change. It was Dorian's perception of art that was warped. When most people think of art, they think of an abstract criteria that man's aesthetic creations meet. Early in the text Dorian blindly accepts everything he is told and is happy. Now that Dorian has tried to uphold a certain criteria for art, his innocence has vanished. Originally Dorian consumed all beauty as artistic rendition. Now Dorian accepted very little and is beginning to starve his conscience of objective goodness.

"When we blame ourselves we feel that no one else has the right to blame us. It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution" (Wilde 100).

In The Crucible, the townspeople made the fatal error of valuing the publicity of a confession over its purpose to cleanse sins. This has existed as a serious problem for the haughty man in the bible to the haughty ones in the white house. The Speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi frequently spends large sums of tax payer dollars on military transportation and airline luxuries. The Military she used cost about sixty thousand dollars one-way. Some politicians pretend to carry a tired America on the backs of outward charity. They pat us on the leg with their promises of change, but when the burden becomes a tad difficult, America is abandoned only to find a violated pocket of American trust and the absence of the wallet of taxpayer dollars.

The Picture of Dorian Gray Chapter 4

2010-03-08T19:04:00.000-08:00

1)"You will always be loved, and you will always be in love with love" (Wilde 53).

This statement bears a strong parallel to the pointlessness of some analysis pointed out in the Abolition of man. C.S. Lewis claimed that a waterfall can be objectively
sublime. Gaius and Titius falsely purported that the waterfall was not sublime, but that the description was speaking towards the speakers own feelings. In the same way, one cannot be in love with love. The impetuous for love is the feelings towards another human. One may say that another is simply in love with those feelings, but in doing so one rejects the idea of love as a concept of selfless devotion and ineffable feelings of attraction. In doing so, one's entire basis for argument is striped from under his feet.

2)"You said to me once that pathos left you unmoved, but that beauty, mere beauty, could fill your eyes with tears" (Wilde 54).

Dorian and Harry both have trouble seeing things clearly. Dorian blindly accepts anything that appeals to him by its face value. Harry on the other hand, accepts nothing. Dorian cannot see through deception while Harry can see nothing but deception. The concept of Wilde's personality division within his characters is brazenly obvious and is once again demonstrated within the text. What makes this example, stand out is the fact that Dorian remarks upon Harry's views this time. Dorian is demonstrating growth towards his intellectual side. It leads the reader to believe that perhaps Dorian may be a dynamic character in the making. If Dorian can stay on the path of intellectual growth, he will be able to equip the eyeglasses analysis that will help to open his eyes to potential deception coming from his two closest friends. If Dorian regresses back towards his stupidity he will not be gifted with the clarity to prevent him from walking headfirst into a wall of deception.

Picture of Dorian Gray Chapter 3

2010-03-08T18:16:00.000-08:00

1)"What a pity it was that such beauty was destined to fade!" (Wilde 39).

Lord Henry is highly proficient in offering subjective conjectures that he does not necessarily believes. Psychologically, this is emblematic of a fear of intimacy. If one never speaks, no one can ever learn one's true thoughts. Similarly, if one is constantly speaking and they may say things that they do not believe, then how is one supposed to determine what the speaker truly believes? Basil, Lord Henry, and Dorian each represent individual parts of Oscar Wilde. Lord Henry happens to embody the insecurity of the intellectual part of him that is so lost in the woods of thought that he can never find action. This novel is a large wood where Wilde is hiding, confusing us with paradoxes and enthralling us with romance. It is only after the fires of clarity burn through Widle's the thicket of deception that the Wilde has beset us through his quirky set of characters.

2)"If the caveman had known how to laugh, History would have been different" (Wilde 44)

In societies all across the endless spectrum of history, stress has been chronic. Stress is chronic on a personal as well as a social level. On a personal level there are hobbies and other forms of methods that can help displace one's stress. For a society prayer and faith are two components that people have heavily relied on in order to alleviate stress. Personal distractions bring about an apathy towards the object of stress while religion claims that stress will be rewarded in the afterlife. These methods of stress relief (or others similar to them) and crucial to a society, however they pale in comparison to humor. Laughter (in the form of mentally sane humor) is the perfect method of coping. Laughter only exists in short blips that kicks stress down to a tolerable level. Also, without laughter, apathy and religion are worthless. If apathy is always called upon, one may come to habitually lose sight of one's problem's. If one only focuses in a strict religious manner, then radical groups develop. Look to our enemies in the middle east. The terrorist organizations put worldly emotions so out of sight that they have abandoned all laughter,save for one derived almost entirely from cynical hysteria.

The Picture of Dorian Gray chapters 1-2, 1 blog

2010-03-07T11:49:00.000-08:00

"Now the value of idea has nothing whatsoever to do with the sincerity of the man who expresses it. Indeed, the probabilities are that the more insincere the man is, the more purely intellectual will the idea be," (Wilde 11).

This statement is the art that Wilde referred to in the Preface. Statements,ought to be appreciated for their objective value. They ought not to be ignored because of their questionable source. The infamous artist Vincent van Gogh, produced a plethora of artistic masterpieces. He was emotionally and intellectually distraught in such a way that he sliced off his own ear and sent it to his girlfriend. On a personal level many critics laughed at his lunacy, however history has made a joke out of them. Van Gogh's Starry Night is one of the most valuable paintings on earth, in spite of his peculiarity. In retrospect, Van Gogh's insanity is, but a hint of dust on one of the stars in the Starry Night. Its unimportance remains unseen to the preoccupied eyes of the awestruck museum-goer.

The Picture of Dorian Gray -Preface Analysis-

2010-03-03T15:29:00.000-08:00

Wilde utilizes the artist as a metaphor for all people and art as a metaphor for all action. Happiness and sadness can be viewed as metaphors for right and wrong in terms of morality. Wilde claims that, "No artist is ever morbid" (Wilde 1). When this viewed metaphorically, Wilde is claiming that no person is ever wrong. Wilde is using the analogy of art and artists to plead ethical relativism. Through his metaphors Wilde claims that actions are simply actions and they cannot be judged objectively, but subjectively depending on the critique. Wilde claims, "All art is quite useless" (Wilde 2). In other words, morality is useless, the words of a true ethical relativist.

5-7 page; Public and Private Redemption

2010-02-24T15:59:00.000-08:00

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Michael Rossi
February 22, 2010
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition

Keep It Down, I’m Trying to Repent!

Is repentance a duty best undertaken publically or privately? The Catholic Church raises its members to repent with an audience only consisting of God. The Catholic Church teaches not to treat repentance as a performance to gain the attention of others. The Church is apt to point out that God is the only one who ultimately chooses to forgive or condemn, however, the Church neglects the possibility that a supportive community may help to cultivate a proper redemption. According to C.S. Lewis, one ought to ignore Church teaching if one’s conscience sings a different tune. Thus, public redemption ought to be societies’ methods of dealing with sin. Abigail, Proctor, Dimmesdale, and Prynne have demonstrated how private repentance can develop into neglecting faith altogether, while Prynne exhibited just how a social nudge can lead to genuine self-improvement.
Private redemption and public redemption are both equally important, as they are two steps towards a final goal. Redemption is usually forced upon an individual and then one reacts to it privately. The process of being fully redeemed is a lot like the process of a maintaining a plant. Public confession is the water that provides nourishment to keep the stem of redemption strong. The dormant seeds of privacy lay incomplete and worthless without the water of public redemption. Redemption requires the cleansing waters of confession.
In life, it is the internal victories that yield the greatest rewards. It is often argued that penance should follow this lesson as well, only without another’s help because it cheapens the victory. While this statement is not completely unfounded, it is rather incomplete. It does not
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consider the outliers that may be defeated from their own internal conflict. Abigail from The Crucible is an excellent example of this. When society is ignorant of her lechery she does not acknowledge her responsibility to repent. Instead, she simply tries to evade the repercussions for her sin. The purpose of shame is to bring about a sense of remorse to help its victim develop a commitment to self improvement. Abigail needed to experience shame in order to motivate her to change. In its absence, Abigail grew even worse and misused Danforth to punish certain members of the town: “Let you beware, Mr. Danforth. Think you to be so mighty the power of Hell may not turn your wits? Beware of it!” (Miller 108). When Danforth hinted at the possibility that Abigail may be to blame, Abigail stormed out of the court and out of the town. Abigail was not only running away from Danforth, but she was also running away from the shame that she dared not face. Rather than have society help her to work out her sins, Abigail misinterpreted this shame as a threat. The internal victory left Abigail with many people’s blood on her hands, and a job as a prostitute in the slums of Boston. In the end, Abigail was not defeated by her internal challenges because she officered no struggle.
Proctor, in The Crucible, is a perfect example of how private redemption can be misleading. Proctor’s main issue when it came to sin was denial. Proctor’s denial was not as chronic as Abigail’s, however it was there. Whenever Elizabeth challenged Proctor, he would resort to anger and aggression in order to protect this ego: “Woman. She turns to him. I’ll not have your suspicion any more” (Miller 54). Originally, Proctor was not looking for redemption, he was looking to have his wife forget the incident. Elizabeth demanded that Proctor
seek God’s forgiveness before he sought hers. Internally, Proctor was not urged to be forgiven in God’s eyes. Virtually the only reason why Proctor was redeemed is because he was on trial by
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Salem. Although they were trying him for the wrong reasons, the trial taught him the fortitude and selflessness necessary to truly be redeemed in God’s eyes: “Because it is my name! […] How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (Miller 143). This demonstrates that no matter how erroneous a society is, so long as it forces some degree of public redemption, a better end product is produced (as demonstrated through Abigail and Proctor). Proctor conducted himself as a bright man in the community who was capable of carrying out much of his redemption; however, he needed to be spurred by an outside influence. Imagine that The Crucible’s court is an awful parent and Proctor is its child. Although a parent may mistakenly adopt a parenting route that consisted only of public punishments (such as making the child stand in the corner) instead of afflicting his child with shame, the parent is still punishing the child for the right reasons. The child, whether he cares about his actions or not, will come to hate shame and develop a fear of punishment. The child will naturally try to bring about an end to shame in the future and will think about the actions that could potentially be the cause of his punishment. Eventually the child will adapt to their parents’ whims, and in doing so, the child will be forced into self reflection. Thus, Proctor was forced by the results of the trial to be introspective and seek public redemption.
In The Scarlet Letter Dimmesdale exhibits that private redemption can backfire even if one genuinely strives to fulfill its duties. The process in which Dimmesdale attempted to fulfill his penance trapped him in a vicious cycle. Dimmesdale sinned. Dimmesdale cannot stand his sin and feels the need to repent. It is understandable that any minister would have a problem with sin, however in Dimmesdale’s unique circumstance, he cannot atone for his sin. Dimmesdale believes that it will ruin the entire Christian faith in his colony. He is looked upon as an ideal
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individual. If Dimmesdale cannot remain true to God, how can anyone else? Dimmesdale’s faith is the most important aspect of his life, so he feels that he must speak to his people. However, he cannot openly discuss his sin because he believes he will be harming his followers’ faith, so he only speaks of how wretched he is. The people love him even more as they view his self loathing as simply humbling himself: “He had told his hearers that he was altogether vile, a viler companion of the vilest […] They heard it all, and did but reverence him more” (Hawthorne 131). As the people’s love for Dimmesdale increases, his guilt and self hatred are only intensified. As a result, he punishes himself by flogging (which he believes is God’s will). Dimmesdale is thus stagnated by two major obstacles. First of which is Dimmesdale’s inability to seek progression through penance. When one sins, the object of repentance is not only to demonstrate how remorseful one is, but also to bring about a change in one’s life. If one does not feel the need to change, then one will be perpetuating his personal injustice, by becoming mired in one’s feelings with a euphoric sense of self redemption. Consequently, Dimmesdale overlooks a second element of his redemption. Physical punishment is a selfish does not replace the justice that is due.
Prynne demonstrated what it means to take advantage of public redemption. Early in the The Scarlet Letter, Prynne was branded with a scarlet A. Prynne’s community utilized shame in its ideal form by utilizing the letter to change Prynne. Later on, Prynne was able to change the meaning of the Scarlet Letter: “many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able;” (Hawthorne 146). It was the mirror of public redemption that provided Prynne with the impetuous to reflect upon her sins and change the parts of her that she could not stand.
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A sublime out of text example is the Japanese soldiers during World War Two. Throughout history the allied powers in Europe had grown used to the style of warfare where each side would fight until a decisive victory had been won. Japanese soldiers fought until death. If lost or were unable to fight to the death for any reason they would commit mass suicide by cutting their stomachs open and removing their entrails in the hopes of regaining their honor. In a broader sense, this is utterly selfish, because Japan lost the war mainly because they lacked experienced Generals due to mass suicide. Thus, no one could learn from their defeats how to lead properly, which would then create more losses and throw Japan in the same vicious cycle that Dimmesdale was bound to. Both Dimmesdale and Japanese soldiers placed individual honor over the honor of their society’s who they were striving to protect. In the end, Dimmesdale and Japanese soliders spilled out their organs of cultural beneficence only to be awarded with the mind numbing pain of self righteous honor.
Abigail, Proctor, Dimmesdale, and Prynne have demonstrated how private repentance, can develop into neglecting faith altogether, while Prynne exhibited just how a social nudge can lead to genuine self improvement. Penance is a musical performance with God as its judge. The guitar of redemption is able to be played by many, but few are masters of playing both the simple notes of private redemption and the complex chords of public redemption. Private redemption is simple string plucking that even a novice could master in a short amount of time. Public redemption is a medley of strenuous difficulty. At first the mere thought of a medley makes one’s wrist ache and their fingers cringe. When the time for a performance rolls around, the notes of private redemption are the quieter notes that may be unnoticed in the event of an error. Public redemption is difficult, but if it is played with meaning, the judge will be left with a warm feeling
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in his heart and the performer with a gold medal in his hand. While both the quiet chords of private redemption and the brazen chords of public redemption are both key components of a performance, the loud chords are always the most reliable as they always enthrall an attentive audience, while singular quiet notes may fall on deaf ears.

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Works Citied

- Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: Bantam, 1850.

- Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York: Penguin, 1976.

Pearl Character Description

2010-02-20T20:03:00.000-08:00

Michael Rossi
February 20, 2010
Advanced Placement English Literature/ Mr. George
Pearl Character Description

Click Here For A Free Pearl!

Pearl is a signal in Prynne’s life who takes on different meanings at different instances in Prynne’s life.
Hester originally considered Pearl as a gift sent from God to alleviate some of her sadness: “But she named the infant ‘Pearl,’ as being of great price” (Hawthorne 81). While Dimmesdale and Hester kept their sin a secret, Pearl would constantly serve as a reminder of their folly. As Pearl grew into a toddler, she encumbered her mother with the responsibility of policing an unruly child. After Dimmesdale liberated his sin that Pearl was able to alter her emblematic status and exude the profits of leading a truthful life: “Pearl was not only alive, but married, and happy,” (Hawthorne 234).
Pearl is like an internet pop up. When an individual first notices a pop up they are usually excited as a flash of light and color decorates their screen proclaiming a free item. When Prynne was first given Pearl, she thanked God for her gift of a daughter. A few moments after the original shock the brain receives, the synapses recovers and begin to fire and remind one of the bad stories of viruses that their peers had received from clicking into one of these alluring messages. Similarly, Prynne was quick to denounce Pearl as the Devil’s child when Pearl disobeyed her. Some pop ups are true phenomena. Like a man who minimized a pop up only to have his roommate come and claim its bounty, Prynne was mistaken about Pearl who grew to lead a rich and happy life.
Pearl and Galileo Galilei were both brazenly criticized early in their lives, but were later appreciated by society.

Chillingworth Character description

2010-02-20T11:01:00.000-08:00

Michael Rossi
February 18, 2010
Advanced Placement English Literature/ Mr. George
Chillingworth Character Description

Directions: Taint Soil and Keep Far Away From Sunlight

Chillingworth is an ideal villain.
Chillingworth realizes that he can wreak greater havoc on Dimmesdale by avoiding direct confrontation and exercising patience. As the Devil persuaded Adam and Eve to bring about their own undoing, Chillingworth strive to have Dimmesdale poison his own life: “Roger Chillingworth […] strove to go deep into his patient’s bosom, delving among his principles, prying into his recollections, and probing everything with a cautious touch, like a treasure-seeker in a dark cavern” (Hawthorne 113). Chillingworth’s willingness to attack Dimmesdale mentally demonstrates how a more complex crime must come from a more complex criminal.
Chillingworth is like an Akai Ryu (which means red dragon in Japanese) Venus flytrap. Chillingworth seems to offer Dimmesdale the most kindness out of anyone in their community. In the same way, the Akai Ryu is the most decadent plant in the Japanese swamplands in which they reside. Like most skilled villains, Chillingworth relies on his wit as he advertises his skill with herbs and chemicals in order to attract Dimmesdale’s attention. In a like manner, the Akai Ryu releases an enticing aroma that attracts small insects into its seemingly harmless trap. Chillingworth does not deliver any overt singular blows to Dimmesdale, but subtly wears Dimmesdale down over time. In the same light, the Akai Ryu slowly constricts its prey in between the two lips of its trap rather than swiftly clamp its lips closed.
Chillingworth and Adolf Hitler both hid behind their outward charity while they perpetuated injustice that stems from their own personal vendettas.

English Essay The Scarlet Letter

2010-02-11T18:55:00.000-08:00

Michael Rossi
February 10, 2010
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition
Compose a paper no longer than 3 full pages relating to why Dimmesdale’s torment was especially poignant for him, and why he believes it is a blessing from God. Begin with his original sin and take us all the way to his end.

Officer Dimmesdale

In The Scarlet Letter, Dimmesdale was tormented by religion more than any character in the entire text. He was forced to live an entire life of impiety and he punished himself for it. The sin he originally committed grew too large and unruly for him to police. What made Dimmesdale’s torment more severe than those of the other characters within The Scarlet Letter? The answer is simple; Dimmesdale believed he deserved his suffering, which was not only just, but was also God’s will.
The reader is like a detective who seeks to find the reason for one’s pathological lying streak, only to blurt out the truth before his untimely death. From the first glimpse, Dimmesdale’s motive seems to be denial in order to avoid punishment. When the reader adjusts his lens objectively, the writing on the wall becomes clear, and Dimmesdale’s true motives are revealed.
Dimmesdale’s process of sin was complex and trapped him in its vicious cycle. Dimmesdale sinned. Dimmesdale cannot stand his sin and feels the need to repent. It is understandable that any minister would have a problem with sin, however in Dimmesdale’s unique circumstance; he cannot atone for his sin. Dimmesdale believes that it will ruin the entire Christian faith in his colony. He is looked upon as an ideal individual. If Dimmesdale cannot remain true to God, how can anyone else? Dimmesdale’s faith is the most important aspect of his life, so he feels that he must speak to his people. However, he cannot openly discuss his sin because he believes he will be harming his followers’ faith, so he only speaks of how wretched he is. The people love him even more as they view his self loathing as simply humbling himself: “He had told his hearers that he was altogether vile, a viler companion of the vilest […] They heard it all, and did but reverence him more” (Hawthorne 131). As the people’s love for Dimmesdale increases, his guilt and self hatred are only intensified. As a result, he punishes himself by flogging. To add insult to injury, Dimmesdale believes that all of his punishment is the will of God: “He is merciful! He hath proved his mercy, most of all, in my afflictions. By giving me this burning torture to bear upon my breast!” (Hawthorne 229). Dimmesdale believed that he could no longer influence his fate and he was forever bound to this cycle of torment. Unlike Hester Prynne, Dimmesdale had no safe means of repentance, and in the end, Dimmesdale’s repentance cost his life.
Dimmesdale is a police officer who works in solitude for the good of his town. Dimmesdale caught many criminals and for that he was praised, although his town was becoming a dangerous place dangerously fast. The only trouble is that he had stolen from the town early in his career. Dimmesdale passionately values justice and he would like nothing more that to rot in prison and pay for his crime. Dimmesdale however, is unable to because with him in jail, he will be leaving his abandoning his town and leaving it unprotected. Dimmesdale’s mind is constantly searching for a way to fix the situation, but in doing so, his mind is distracted and it has an adverse effect on his ability to keep the town safe. Dimmesdale painfully trudges through this process day in and day out until one day, he finally snaps. Tears well in his eyes and sweat drips from his palms. Dimmesdale runs to the town square where all the townspeople are gathered, snatches his gun from his holster, and shoots into a crowd. The shot sends frightened women and children running and screaming into the opposite direction while irate men take up arms and run in Dimmesdale’s direction, shooting at him. When all was over and done with, Dimmesdale was dead, and so was the townspeople’s complacence. They erected a citizen run police department and learned how to defend themselves. Dimmesdale sacrificed
himself to bring about a much needed change in the rapidly declining safety of the town. People let their guard down because they saw the cells were full. Dimmesdale showed them how to grow and learn while still allowing himself to be brought to justice.

Works cited
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: Bantam Dell, 1986

The Scarlet Letter blog #9

2010-02-09T16:42:00.000-08:00

Quote 1:
"After exhausting life in his efforts for mankind's spiritual goo, he had made the manner of his death a parable, in order to impress on his admirers the mighty and mournful lesson" (Hawthorne 231).

Analysis 1:
The main reason why Dimmesdale did not admit to his adultery with Prynne was because Dimmesdale believed that he would demoralize his followers by showing them that Dimmesdale could not lead by his example. This fear, however was proven to be unfounded. By dying in front of the crowd, Dimmesdale showed everyone how painful the sin was for him to endure. Dimmesdale also showed little indication of dreading his death. Few people would want to commit a sin that makes them welcome death with open arms.

Quote 2:
"Pearl was not only alive, but married, and happy, and mindful of her mother, and that she would have most joyfully have entertained that sad and lonely mother at her fireside" (Hawthorne 234).

Analysis 2:
Before Dimmesdale admitted his sin, Pearl acted as an emblem that represented the punishment that Prynne and Dimmesdale ought to have endured our their years of secrecy. Pearl was a burden to Prynne and Dimmesdale when they deserved to be inconvenienced. When Dimmesdale was cleansed of his sin, Pearl's cumbersome duty enforcing punishment was alleviated and she was free to enjoy her life. With parents such as Prynne who understands what repentance is and Dimmesdale who dies for his sin, Pearl lived a prosperous life, obviously learning from her parents sins.

The Scarlet Letter blog #9

2010-02-08T17:45:00.000-08:00

Quote 1:
"Children will not abide by any, the slightest, change in the accustomed aspect of things that are daily before their eyes. Pearl misses something which she has always seen me wear" (Hawthorne 189).

Analysis 1:
Prynne has always regarded Pearl as a reward sent from God. The way in which Pearl has acted thus far, would demonstrate otherwise. Pearl was not given to Prynne as a reward, because the only action that Pyrnne has committed that would warrant her a reward would be her penance. Pearl however, was bestowed upon Prynne before Prynne underwent repentance. Hawthorne uses Pearl as a means of policing the punishment that Prynne is entitled to. In puritanical Massachusetts, people took it upon themselves to enforce their own punishment. When Hester literally removes the scarlet emblem from her bosom, it symbolizes the disregard for punishment. Pearl loses her mind when Pynnne does so and regains her composure when the embroidery is properly replaced. Small children who are punished and banned from the television, often try to watch it anyway in order to test and see whether their parents still care about the restrictions that they had set. In the same way, Prynne is reminded by Pearl that the world still cares about her punishment and there is erasing punishment (wearing the letter) even through strict penance.

Quote 2:
"But here a sunny day, and among all the people, he knows us not; nor must we know him!" (Hawthorne 205).

Analysis 2:
Pearl points out duplicity in the innocent way that children often do. When an adult is smoking and tells the child never to smoke, the child ask why the adult is smoking. The only reason the reader interprets this as ill-will is because the reader understands the just secret that Prynne and Dimmesdale are trying to preserve. Pearl is only a child, as much as her mental astuteness would demonstrate otherwise. Pearl is only as much to blame as any other child would have been. In a modern day court of law, anyone seventeen and under is typically subjected to less severe punishment than those over the age of seventeen. Age is a basis on which judgement is cast. Those who are considered intellectually superior (excluding outliers, such as the mentally handicapped) are not treated with less tolerance.

The Scarlet Letter blog #8

2010-02-04T18:19:00.000-08:00

Quote 1:
"Yes, I hate him!" repeated Hester, more bitterly than before. "He betrayed me! He has done me worse wrong than I did him!" (Hawthorne 159).

Analysis 1:
Hatred is an emotion is that requires a constant stimulation. It is difficult to maintain hatred unless someone is constantly prodding. Prynne is unable to relinquish her hatred of Chillingworth because the Chilllingworth has not relented for even a moment in his quest for revenge. Pyrnne has watched Chillingworth become swallowed by his campaign for vengeance. It has not only become the dominant activity of his life, but it has also become the only activity in his life. Rather than try to resolve the problem by formally shaming Pyrnne and Dimmesdale (and moving on to new love) he is stuck in the past trying to hurt Dimmesdale in the vain hopes that time will tick backwards.

Quote 2:
"So strangely did they meet, in the dim wood, that it was like the first encounter," (Hawthorne 171).

Analysis 2:
What makes some people more deeply in love than others? The answer is a simple one, friendship. In the novel Pride and Prejudice Jane and Bingley's love did not compare to the true love of Elizabeth and Darcy. Jane and Bingley awkwardly stumbled past the stage of intellectual bonding and advanced -quickly towards the stage of over-infatuation. What this does is narrow the potential for love. Bingley and Jane could only love on a romantic level, while Darcy and Elizabeth could love on a romantic and intellectual level. In the same way, Dimmesdale and Pyrnne (should they choose to rekindle their love for one another) are able to bypass the awkward phase of courtship and engage on a level of understanding that no one else in the world can share with them.

The Scarlet Letter blog #7

2010-02-03T16:14:00.000-08:00

Quote 1:
"She was self-ordained a Sister of Mercy; or, we nay rather say, the world's heavy hand had so ordained her, when neither the world nor she looked forward to this result" (Hawthorne 146).

Analysis 1:
Prynne emphasises just how perfectly a punish can do. A scandalous adulteress is dead and a pious nun is born. When Prynne was first branded with the scarlet "A" one is left to wonder, what shred of happiness could still exist that provided Pyrnne with the drive to craft such a decadent embroidery? Prynne's adherence to the rules and her conscience has purged her character of sin. Perhaps Prynne knew that she had to be strong for her, Pearl, and Dimmesdale who depended on her. The embroidery was a small ember of hope which Prynne cultivated into a blaze of reformation and penance.

Quote 2:
"Individuals in private life, meanwhile, had quite forgiven Hester Pyrnne for her frailty; nay, more, they had begun to look upon the scarlet letter as the token, not of that one sin, for which she had borne so long and dreary a penance," (Hawthorne 147).

Analysis 2:
Prynne has made the Scarlet letter an emblem of success. Objects by themselves are not automatically accepted or rejected by society. Influential members of a social group are what is required to integrate certain emblems into society. By accepting the scarlet "A", Prynne carries a negative denotation,depicting her as an adulteress. By seeking penance and becoming an ideal woman in society, Hester Pyrnne has attributed a sense of honor to the scarlet "A". Michael Jackson was able to socially integrate the style of wearing a single glove. Without Jackson, this style would not be a style, but a social abnormality. In the same way, Pyrnne takes a mark of shame and transmutes it into an emblem of fame.

The Scarlet Letter blog #6 (1 blog)

2010-02-02T15:31:00.000-08:00

Quote:
"In Mr. Dimmesdale's secret closet, under lock and key, there was a bloody scourge" (Hawthorne 132).

Analysis:
As a transcendentalist, Hawthorne sees God in everything and uses Dimmesdale to make a critique of Protestantism. When one sins, the penance he or she endures is to be done in order to reinforce the mind that the sin was wrong and it never again should be committed. Dimmesdale is carrying out penance,but not being open with his sin and therefore, he is defeating the purpose of repentance. Through Dimmesdale, Hawthorn demonstrates how some Christians become so entangled in the actions and rituals of their religion, that they lose sight of what truly matters.

The Scarlet Letter blog #5

2010-01-30T16:31:00.000-08:00

Quote 1:
"[Dimmesdale] besought his friend to continue the care, which, if not successful in restoring him to health, had in all probability, been the means of prolonging his feeble existence to that hour" (Hawthorne 125)

Analysis 1:
Chillingworth has completed his mission to gain complete control over Hawthorne's life. Dimmesdale would like nothing more than to die and forget his sin, however Chillingworth is prolonging his miserable existence. Admitting his sin is a fate worse than death for Dimmesdale. Chillingworth is pushing Dimmesdale's buttons by attempting to make his sin the topic of conversation. One can logically predict that this will become expeditiously easier as Chillingworth has linked Dimmesdale physical illness to his mental anguish. Chillngworth is simply waiting for a formal confession of Dimmesdale's sin before he can cast his final judgement. Chillingworth is like a teacher who had just been pricked by a pin he had sat on. Who saw his student (Dimmesdale) walk into class earlier that day with an excessive amount of pins and a smirk on his face. Chillingworth has the probable cause to suspect Dimmesdale, but he is still awaiting a verbal confession.

Quote 2:
"Had a man seen old Roger Chillingworth, at that moment of his ecstasy, he would have had no need to ask how Satan comports himself when a precious human soul is lost to heaven, and won into his kingdom" (Hawthorne 126).

Analysis 2:
What makes Chillingworth such a dangerous villain? The answer is very simple, it is his reason for originally seeking vengeance. Chillingworth has a legitimate reason for extracting vengeance. His wife was successfully wooed by another man who only sought to sweep the incident under the rug and leave the incident Scott free. In the play Othello, Iago was almost a perfect villain. He was intelligent, duplicitous, and fought most of his battles through mental warfare. His one great downfall was the fact that he was without a motive for tormenting Othello. He was evil for the sake of being evil. Consequently Othello showed him no mercy in the end. In contrast, Chillingworth has a motive which Dimmesdale cannot question him on. Compared to the Brave Othello, the frail reverend Dimmesdale does not have the ability nor the right to defend himself against Chillingworth's vengeance. Most people can empathize with Chillingworth in the sense that most have experienced some form of betrayal. In short, The reader does not hate Chillingworth as much as Iago.

The Scarlet Letter blog #4

2010-01-30T07:35:00.000-08:00

Quote 1:
"She resembled, in her fierce pursuit of them, an infant pestilence, -the scarlet fever, or some such half-fledged angel if judgment,-whose mission was to punish the sins of the rising generation" (Hawthorne 93).

Analysis 1:
Chillingworth is using Pearl as a medium with which to inflict his vengeance upon Dimmesdale. The manner in which Chillingworth is pursuing his vengeance sharply resembles the tactics of Iago in the play Othello. Iago pretended to befriend Othello only to play upon his insecurities and fool him into his downfall. In the same way, Chillingworth, is seen in Dimmesdale's social ring at the Governor's house remarking upon the overly concerned manner in which Dimmesdale treats Pearl.

Quote 2:
"Therefore it is good for this poor, sinful woman that she hath an infant immortality, a being capable of eternal joy or sorrow, confided to her care [...] that, if she bring the child to heaven, the child will also bring the patient thither!" (Hawthorne 105).

Analysis 2:
One is easily swayed into feeling sympathy for Prynne. She has lost her honor and does not allow herself to rejoice in anything that brings her happiness, because she regard it as sin. Curiously enough, Pearl brings Prynne felicity, yet Pyrnne feels no guilt. Pyrnne is rather self critical and she still feels that the happiness Pearl gives her is righteous. Pyrnne's conscience screams for justice and forgiveness for the sin that Pyrnne has so heavily repented.

The Scarlet Letter blog #3

2010-01-28T18:09:00.000-08:00

Quote 1:
"It is probable that there was an idea of penance in this mode of occupation, and that she offered up a real sacrifice of enjoyment, in devoting so many hours to such rude handiwork" (Hawthorne 77)

Analysis 1:
The embroidery upon Pyrnne's chest has penetrated deep into her soul. The style of punishment in which has been cast upon Prynee has worked ideally. Not only is she feeling the shame that she ought to, but her reflection on her shame has also driven her to committing good works. Also, Pyrnne has accepted her fate as a sinner. She does not try to hide her embroidery, but rather she openly presents it knowing that a pang of shame with be following closely behind. Chillingworth ought to use this towards his advantage. He should try to convince her that only way that she can truly be absolved from her sin and escape its shame would be to reveal her lover.

Quote 2:
"Pearl was a born outcast of the infantile world. An imp of evil, emblem and product of sin, she had no right among christened infants" (Hawthorne 85).

Analysis 2:
Pearl's story bears a strong resemblance towards the story of Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve were initially pure, as they were the first to be created in God's image and likeness. In the same way, Prynne was the innocent and most beautiful girl in her town and Dimmesdale was quite the Renaissance man and an ideal pastor. When Adam and Eve sin they lose God's good favor and are removed from the Garden of Eden, giving all of humanity original sin. Prynne and Pearl have been made outcasts in their society and Pearl has received her original sin from the follies of Dimmesdale and Prynne.

The Scarlet Letter blog #2

2010-01-26T15:57:00.000-08:00

Quotation 1:
" 'Thus she will be a living sermon against sin, until the ignominious letter be engraved upon her tombstone" (Hawthorne 59).

Analysis 1:
The townspeople have taken a remarkable approach to enforce their punishment. Throughout history rebellions and war have taken place in spite of a government that unjustly punished people. During world war two, the allied powers were too easily provoked by anti-Zionist Germany and fought arduously to defeat the injustice the Nazis upheld. In The Crucible, society toppled their government because martyrs were being made out of a large portion of the townsfolk. The government in The Scarlet Letter have taken a route much like the central government of 1984. Rather than blindly kill the opposition, the rebels are converted and are forced to realize the shame that they previously shut their eyes to.

Quotation 2:
" "Not thy soul,' he answered, with another smile. 'No not Thine!' " (Hawthorne 72).

Analysis 2:
Chillingworth's attitude is a frightening one. He has taken on a God complex and bears a strong resemblance towards Danforth in The Crucible. Chillingworth has offered of forgiveness when he ought to be anger. He indirectly threatened Pyrnne's lover and is completely sure that he will discover who he is despite the substantial population. Ever since he walked in the Pyrnne's cell he began to talk of what he can do, from alchemy to murder.

The Scarlet Letter blog #1

2010-01-25T15:09:00.000-08:00

Q1:
" 'People say,' said another, 'that the Reverend Master Dimmesdale, her godly pastor takes it very grievously to heart that such a scandal should have come upon his congregation" (Hawthorne 48-49).

A1:
It is plausible that Reverend Master Dimmesdale would be the father of the Prynne's child. This is so because Hawthorne is a transcendentalist and would be making discreet critique of the Congregational church through the result of its teaching in its ministers. Specifically, the critique would be of the frailty of an organized church system. It calls people to appreciate God in church and act out lustfully (or in another negative way). Where as transcendentalists, in theory, are constantly surrounded in God's goodness and never lose sight of it.

Q1
" 'She hath good skill at her needle, that's certain,' remarked one of her female spectators; 'but did ever a woman before this brazen hussy, contrive such a way of showing it!" (Hawthorne 51).

A1:
The artistically sewn A is strange for someone who has been locked away. Usually, artistic expression is an expression of happiness, especially the way it has been described within the text. Prynne does not seem like she would have much to look forward to that would inspire such an elegant embroidery. Perhaps she believes that the man who has impregnated her will stay true to her and still love her in the midst of her predicament, however society's harsh treatment of such adulators would suggest otherwise.

2010-01-04T17:42:00.000-08:00

Rossi, 1

Michael Rossi
December 31, 2009
Advanced Placement English Language
Crucible Long Papers- Prompt One

Proctor’s Garden

Proctor led a fateful life in a twisted society. In Salem, it was understood that sins left a stain so dark that no holiness could ever again prevail within the sinner. Proctor’s soul was black with adultery and admitted he was the Devil’s man, but in reality Proctor was achieving redemption. The residents of Salem took a very teleological approach to making sure the Devil was purged from their society. In the process, they ignored forgiveness, which is one of the chief tenants of Christianity, and embraced pride. The Devil was loose in Salem, but not in John Proctor or Goody Nurse. Throughout the course of The Crucible, Proctor earned redemption through improving his understanding of his society.
At The Crucible’s opening Proctor is vexed by the fact that he could not earn Elizabeth’s forgiveness for his affair with Abigail. Proctor attempted to alleviate his guilt by coaxing Elizabeth to allow his lechery to escape her thoughts. This approach in itself is unworthy of forgiveness. Proctor’s initial goal is not to have Elizabeth forgive him, but to have her forget about the entire incident. This is best exhibited when Proctor declares, “You forget nothing and forgive nothin’. Learn charity, woman” (Miller 54). This is a serious problem not only for Proctor, but for relationships as a whole. When any group has an argument over a matter that they do not wish to negotiate, fighting takes place. Any war in the history of man can be looked to for reference. Proctor is ignoring the crucial fact that love requires two people. Elizabeth has dealt with Proctor’s dishonesty and he now demands that she also comes to peace with it.

Rossi, 2
Elizabeth made this lucidly clear when she said, “I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you” (Miller 55).
In the beginning, Proctor was swallowed by the lecherous evil that Abigail exposed him to. He demanded that Elizabeth extend her arm and hoist him from it, but he was unable to extend his own as it was heavy with lies and selfishness. When Salem decided that Elizabeth was a witch, Proctor learned that by burying the truth he not only blinds himself, but the very court who is judging his wife. When Proctor admitted to the lechery, he soiled his good name and admitted his flaw not only to the court but to himself. When Proctor buried the truth, and all the weight it carried, it was far too difficult to dig himself out. Like any relationship, one has to truly realize the offense before they can seek forgiveness for it. Understanding the problem was proctor’s first step toward redemption.
The author, Arthur Miller, made it effortless to empathize with Proctor, as repression is a common and negative coping mechanism that everyone has experienced. Utilizing the witch hunt, Miller demonstrates how repression can be harmful to an individual and the individual’s society. Any unchristian man, with no remorse, who was open about the affair, would have received a few whiplashes. By characterizing Proctor as the strong silent type, he demonstrates how even a devout Christian man can adversely affect society with nothing more than a repression of emotion, even if he is sorry. Miller shows that if Proctor was more in touch with his feelings, his proactive confession could have quelled the hysteria and exposed Abigail as no more than a lying strumpet. If Proctor had been more in touch with his feelings, he would have been able to testify in court instead of taking that time to first testify to himself. Miller makes it lucidly clear that tough guys create a tough guise, which in Proctor’s case, leads to the near
Rossi, 3
destruction of his relationship with himself, his wife, and the Court. Overcoming this state of mind and rapidly striving to understand things as he should for the sake of his wife, allowed Proctor to grow even closer to redemption.
Proctor was ultimately redeemed when he resolved to die in the name of those who were hanged. Proctor realized hysterical state that Salem was immersed in and the honorable nature of those who were hanged in the name of truth: “Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang!” (Miller 143). Proctor relinquished the last of his ego when he would not agree to the singed confession. Miller facilitates the reader’s ability to empathize with Proctor because Proctor’s last minute regression towards selfishness exhibits tendency that most people experience at some point in their lives. Proctor conquered his human instinct of self preservation in the name of truth and honor. This is a natural fear which most people will never conquer. Proctor was coming to grips with the fact that he was singing his death sentence by shredding his confession. Thoughts of fear and sorrow sped through his mind and left logic in the dust. Nevertheless, Proctor was able to gather his thoughts and be selflessly martyred. Proctor finally gained redemption because in the eyes of the reader, God, and Elizabeth because he ended the very witch hunt that he could have prevented. Proctor makes made amends to Salem by hanging alongside those who were hanged and destroying the court system which was responsible for advocating the witch hunt.
Throughout the course of The Crucible, Proctor earned redemption through improving his understanding of his society. Salem is like the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were negatively influenced by the devil and misused the tree of knowledge in order to try to compete with God’s knowledge. In the same way, Abigail fooled the residents of Salem to preserve the community.
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In doing so, Salem ignored the fact that a community cannot be a community without people. Whimsically killing cast numbers of people defeats the purpose of having an organized community, whose goal should be to protect people in the first place, and is the wrong approach to trying to preserve its members. Abigail tainted Salem. Similarity, God punished the devil and removed Adam and Eve from the garden. By acting selflessly Proctor became symbol of Christianity. In life, Proctor was a lecher who was partially to blame for the witch hysteria in Salem. In death Proctor was a martyr who demonstrated what it means to selflessly die for an injustice.

Crucible Character letter

2009-12-18T03:26:00.000-08:00

Dear Abigail,

They say that time heals all wounds and I assure you, that has been the truth in my case. I just wanted to begin by telling you that I forgive you unconditionally. You must return home. It has been six months since John Proctor‘s death and I have been dying of solitude. You must return to me Abby and forgive me just as I have forgiven you. I cannot stand being so lonesome. Salem despises me for all of my diligent work. They are all jealous fools. I need you and you need me. The hope of finally finding you is the only thing that gets these old bones moving every day. Now that I have found you, I must say that I cannot stand selfishness in anyone Abby and I hope that is what I am not seeing with you. I hesitate to say this, but it must be done. I have heard that you have become a harlot in Boston. This breaks my heart in two and draws sympathy to me from every inch of my being. You have soiled my name yet again. I would not mind that you fulfill your sensual pleasure so long as it did not threaten my very life. Last week a dagger was placed in my door with a note attached to it which threatened my very survival. How could yew? Why wood yew? I will run yew through! The threats played upon my fears and I ran to the courthouse and pleaded for help but they were too selfish to help a minister who had been bringing them to God since they could recall. Later that evening I hid within my study and waited for night to fall. By then I was surrounded by walls and the thickness of my overturned altar. It was impervious to any shot or blade. I had blessed numerous traps to give them a holy efficiency in subduing my aggressor and within the first hour of my refuge I had heard the soft thumping of a drum. It was neither loud nor sharp enough to be a firearm, but I approached my window ever so cautiously and peered onto my land. To my happiness there was no armed mob waiting to hang me by my entrails, but was no drum either. There was a fire ablaze in the center of my property. I did not sense my foe’s presence, however I waited six more hours, as one can never be too careful. When I arrived in my yard the fire was still burning! I had deduced that these logs must be an expensive breed. They bore a strong resemblance to my very own yew logs which I had received over my time as a minister. I ran over to my cache of yew logs and to my dismay they were not where those boys had stacked them. I noticed that there was a log not too far from my location. I walked over to it and stooped down to examine it when I noticed another right in front of it and another in front of that one. There was an entire trail that led me from my yew cache all the way to the fire. My precious logs! I broke down and wept. I was wallowing in my sadness and my mind sought out the worst possible scenarios that could have happened to put my mind at ease. I imagined my house being robbed. I chuckled at the fact of any man attempting to venture in that fortress. The entire house was solid yew and could not be broken into by anyone on their mightiest day. At that exact moment the fire finished burning as though it had been washed away by my tears. I dried my eyes and smelled more burning yew. I thought the aggressor was a fool to bring more wood to burn than I already possessed on my property. I turned round to see the madness unfolding. My home was completely engulfed by flames. So pray you Abby, return home before I lose more wood. I promise that I will allow you to earn your forgiveness back on the conditions that you relinquish your promiscuous ways and appreciate me as your father. You may wish to return quickly as I will eliminate your desire to be evil, for I will whip the devil out of you!

Sincerely,

Reverand Parris

2009-12-16T20:24:00.000-08:00

Rossi, 1

Michael Rossi
December 16, 2009
Advance Placement English Language and Composition/ Mr. George
The Crucible: Write a one page character description of John Proctor

Uncle Sam John Proctor am

Proctor is a righteous man in an evil society.
Proctor is the only man in The Crucible who is and demonstrates true integrity. Proctor did not shy away from death, and in doing so he earned forgiveness from himself, Elizabeth, and God. Proctor’s corpse fell with such an impact upon the trigger the sound of a gunshot rang into Salem’s homes and through the people’s hearts and minds: “I should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law, and an ocean of salt tears could not melt the resolution of the statutes" (Miller 129). Danforth cocked a revolver at himself and the hysteric court he represented. Proctor’s corpse fell with such an impact upon the trigger the sound of a gunshot rang into Salem’s homes and through the people’s hearts and minds.
Proctor is like the United States. He represents ideals and concepts far greater than himself. The people of the United States have always fought and died for themselves when their ideals have been threatened. In the same way, Proctor laid down his life for the eradication of witchcraft. Even in times of error, the United States has stood by its flag and tried to follow the constitution the best way its people knew how. Proctor still valued his commandments even when he failed to follow them. United States soldiers fought and died to help secure victory during World War II Nazi tyranny came to a screeching halt. In the same respect, Proctor liberated Salem from its Witch hunt hysteria by laying down his life for other.
Proctor bears a striking resemblance to the musician Tom Morello who had been arrested on multiple occasions protesting for the rights of the American people.

The Crucible read to the end

2009-12-14T15:48:00.000-08:00

Quote 1:
"If retaliation is your fear, know this-I should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law, and an ocean of salt tears could not melt the resolution of the statutes" (Miller 129).

Analysis 1:
Danforth demonstrates how ridiculous sixteenth century courts were. The modern day American idea of a law is that a law is created to serve and protect people. Any law that does not do so is an unjust law. Danforth is virtually stating that he will kill those who refuse to follow these unjust laws. This idea of ruling with an iron fist has many occurrences throughout human history. Louis XVI was beheaded by french revolutionists who thought it to be their duty to rid themselves of the tyrant. In the same way witchcraft had been eradicated by the end of The Crucible. The revolutionaries of Proctors time where set off by him and others like him to destroy Salem's hysteric tyranny. One can build a throne of bayonets, but he cannot sit on it for long.

Quote 2:
"Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!" (Miller 143).

Analysis 2:
Throughout The Crucible Proctor has been grappling with Elizabeth to try to get an ounce of forgiveness from her. In the end Proctor realized what Elizabeth had been trying to tell him all along, that he needed to forgive himself. Proctor was originally satisfied with signing the confession. He realized that signing the confession and running from the injustice would only leave him to his home with the same guilt. Proctor washed away his sins with his blood and became a martyr against Salem's hysteria. Through Proctor Miller demonstrated that in Salem, no morally upright man lives the life he deserves. Unless he abandons his purity through lies he will be dead and cold in a place where they are needed most.

The Crucible, to page 127

2009-12-12T11:07:00.000-08:00

Quote 1:
Proctor: "I say- I say- God is dead!" [...] I see his filthy face! And it is m face, and yours Danforth! (Miller 119-120).

Analysis 1:
Proctor is finally understanding his society as the reader does. The entire trial is debating the specifics of a a false concept (witches). Reason has long been gone and Proctor has finally accepted it. Proctor cannot convince the court that witches do not exist, so he found a new alternative. By accepting Mary's accusation and taking on the role of the devil Proctor has accepted his already inevitable death. Proctor is going to die in a more meaningful ways than those before him. Rather than deny his charges and pass without anyone remembering him, he will will bring Danforth down with him and cripple Salem's Court. This will frighten the officials away who would fill Danforth's position.

Quote 2:
Tituba: "We goin' to Barbados, soon the Devil gits here with the feathers and the wings" (Miller 122)

Analysis 2:
Tituba exemplifies the Salem's wickedness because she has developed a fear of God. In her experience, those who acted in God's name only persecuted her. It was only through blaming the Devil that she was saved. Tituba's concepts of God and the Devil were thus inverted. God has become the evil and the Devil has become the good. Tituba believes Salem to be evil and representing God. The Devil, who is emblematic of goodness, is closely associated with Barbados which harbors all of the happy memories in Tituba's life.

The Crucible 99

2009-12-10T17:09:00.000-08:00

Quote 1:
Hale: "Excellency, I have singed seventy-two death warrants; I am a minister of the Lord, and I dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it" (Miller 99).

Analysis 1:
Hale's logic against the court would reign victorious in present-day. Hale demonstrates a concern for human life and is using his conscience in the correct manner. The immense obstacle that Hale has been unable to over come is the mentality of the court, specifically Danforth. He believes that he acts as though he is infallible and since he has condemned so many, change would be a disastrous product. A historical parallel can be drawn to Adolf Hitler. Hitler forcefully advocated the Aryan race. Hitler's was to cleanse the world of those who did not have blue eyes and gold hair. When Hitler's Germany had allied itself with the imperial Japan his people were bewildered. If Hitler had openly acknowledged that the Japanese were not of the Aryan race, his position would be destroyed. Instead Hitler declared the Japanese were the long lost cousin's of the Aryan race, and amazingly appeased his people. In the same way, Danforth will not cease killing witches.

Quote 2:
"In an ordinary crime, how does one defend the accused? One calls up witness to prove his innocence. But witchcraft is ipso facto, on its face and by its nature, an invisible crime, is it not?" (Miller 100).

Analysis 2:
Danforth once again believes that he sits upon an infillable throne. If witches truly did exist, then Danforth would be making an insightful point, however he is not leaving his mind open to the possiblity that witches could not exist. Unless Danforth can open his mind his logic will remain clouded and Proctor will lose this case. A syllogism for Danforth's arugment helps to properly demonstrate where he is mistaken. Witches exists. Therefore witch's acts can be determined through the victims. Abigail can determind who is a witch. The error exists in the major premise. If witches did in fact exist, then the argument would be sound.

The Crucible, to page 98

2009-12-09T17:20:00.000-08:00

Quote 1:
"I-I think I cannot" (Miller 92).

Analysis 1:
Throughout history the vast majority of individuals who become zealots for a cause are those who are personally affected. History has painted the picture that the Northern abolitionists cared mostly for the black slaves laboring in the cotton fields. The personal experience drives the afflicted to stand up to injustice for others and defeat it as a whole. Proctor always believed witchcraft to be ludicrous and he now has developed an intolerance to witchcraft and will not rest until every woman i free even at the cost of his life. Dred Scott was once a black slave who exploited the court to help his fellow black slaves. Scott warrant more significance than other white abolitionists because he felt the lash of the whip and toiled in the plantations. So was it the North who cared mostly for the slaves? If not who did? The answer is the slaves.

Quote 2:
"I have until this moment not the slightest reason to suspect that the children may be deceiving me. Do you understand my meaning?" (Miller 91).

Analysis 2:
Abigail is the embodiment of evil. She plays on the hearts of the court, leads a cult (of sorts), and tortures Proctor. Because Proctor had fallen for Abigail he believes he growing farther and farther away from God. In actuality, Proctor is making amends for his adultery by washing away the evil he is responsible for. Abagail's punishment suits the crime. She has began her mischievous trend with drinking blood and now John will cleanse his sins with her blood.

The Crucible 67-81

2009-12-08T16:35:00.000-08:00

Quote 1:
Hale: "Man, remember, until an hour before the Devil fell. God thought him beautiful in Heaven" (Miller 71).

Analysis 1:
What Hale professes is a complete deconstruction of God. God is a perfect being. He is not a mythological Greek God, who is is like a human with magic powers. Hale's word choice suggests that God can be fooled. Hale is hiding behind his contorted book knowledge to justify his neutral suspicion. If God was not perfect why then would we need him? The truth is, God was not fooled. Hale is the fool for suggesting it, especially as a clergyman.

Quote 2:
Cheever: "You've ripped the Deputy Governor's warrant, man!" [...] "Pontius Pilate! God will not let you wash your hands of this!" (Miller 76-77).

Analysis 2:
Proctor uses religous justification in the correct way. Unlike Hale, Proctor states biblical law and does not offer his own interpretation. Hale uses his religion to try and calm Proctor, for no other reason than to surpress him to deal with the issue later. By drawing the parellel between Cheever and Pontious Pilate (with biblical fact) he is demonstrating that his society is commiting an injustice on a catastrophic level. Proctor's resolution is to save his wife, this was made lucidly clean to Mary Warren and show society the hysteria they have fallen into.

The Crucible 49-67

2009-12-07T19:32:00.000-08:00

Quote 1:
"Woman. She turns to him. I'll not have your suspicion any more" (Miller 54).

Analysis 1:
The contrast between Darcy and Lizzie's relationship from Pride and Prejudice and Proctor and Elizabeth Proctor's relationship is almost laughable. Darcy always spoke with the most extreme civility with Elizabeth and even then she did not wish to hear from him. Here Mrs. Proctor is being reprimanded like a child. Just like Salem proctor can be pushed from calmness to deplorable aggression by even the slightest bit of disturbance. John behavior is indicative of his society and does a good service to justify why some Europeans view Salem as utterly ridiculous.

Quote 2:
"I like it not that Mr. Parris should lay his hand upon my baby. I see no light of God in that man" (Miller 65).

Analysis 2:
John Proctor has a very profound religious critique that is what his society deems blasphemous. John Proctor has a very legitimate excuse for why he does not attend church. The man who is supposed to be teaching him christian virtues does not exhibit them himself. What then will he learn besides hypocrisy? If the church is supposed to be the closest thing to God on earth, how is it that it can be represented by a man who values his career more than his own daughters life. Mr. Parris is like bread, he must come together before he can rise.

2009-12-07T18:04:00.000-08:00

Rossi, 1

Michael Rossi
December 6, 2009
Advanced Placement English language and Composition/Mr. George
Prompt One: Compose an essay between 4 and 7 pages.
Don’t Judge a Crook by His Cover

First impressions are at the heart of anyone’s beliefs about others. While Pride and Prejudice are significant driving forces behind motives of the characters, they are mere tributaries to the first impressions. First Impressions often wash away objectivity and cloud one’s logic. The title of Pride and Prejudice ought to have been First Impressions.
Humans are always afraid of what they do not know. Humans have radically tried to define what lurks in dark, ignorant corridors. During the witch trials in Salem, tension, disease, and fear led humanity to use (often innocent) members of society as scapegoats instead of treating diseases and restructuring society. In the same light, an individual who first interacts with another person tries to define them, forcing a first impression. Judgments in themselves are not flawed. In Elizabeth’s case, she begins to hang witches when is unwilling to alter his initial judgments about Darcy. Elizabeth formed her obstinate opinion when she overheard Mr. Darcy say, “ ‘She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men’ ” (Austen 7-8). Darcy did not actually believe this, he was simply acting cool in front of his friend Mr. Bingley. This faux pas soiled Elizabeth’s objectivity and left her cursed to contort any new information into ammunition against Mr. Darcy.

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After a first impression, does anyone truly understand who someone really is? In a first impression, one sees outward conduct, dress style, and other inconclusive physical attributes. Why then, is so much stalk placed in a first impression? Austen uses the character’s first impressions to ridicule the emphasis they put in it. A way in which this critique can be recognized is through the author’s contrast between Mr. Wickham and Mr. Darcy. Through Mr. Wickham’s reputation and charm, he is easily able to win the good favor of the crowd and the heart of Elizabeth: “His appearance was greatly in his favour; he had all the best part of beauty, a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address. The introduction was followed upon his side by a happy readiness of conversation” (Austen 54). Elizabeth was whisked off her feet within a few minutes of meeting the man. In the end, it is discovered that he is a rouge debtor who only looked out for his selfish gain. Mr. Darcy’s cold and proud exterior is contrasted to his warm and humble heart. Elizabeth strongly resembles a modern day woman in the sense that she is independent, and intelligent. The fact that Austen chose Elizabeth to be deceived by first impressions, and that those impressions should be contradicted later in the text demonstrates that anyone could be betrayed by their first impressions of others.
The manner in which Elizabeth was fooled by Wickham shows her inability to analyze the interior and exterior and exterior of someone. In a similar respect, Elizabeth has demonstrated how her negative impressions of others can also render her blind to the truth. Caroline attempted to warn Elizabeth that Wickham was not to be trusted; however, Elizabeth was not in the mood to take advice from a woman who would badmouth her
with celerity. Elizabeth was forced to learn the hard way, that she should not judge a book by its cover.
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Mr. Darcy gazed at the world through clean, objective eyes even though Elizabeth kicked dirt into his face on more than one occasion. Is Mr. Darcy outside the influence of first
impressions? The answer is no. Mr. Darcy simply fell victim to a different edge of that double edged sword. Rather than having his mind bound by her wickedness, Mr. Darcy could not bring himself to think negatively of Elizabeth after he realized his love for her: “Mr. Darcy had at first scarcely allowed her to be pretty; […] he had made it clear to himself and to his friends that she had hardly a good feature in her face, than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes” (Austen 16). Mr. Darcy remained spellbound by Elizabeth even after he suffered through the most heart wrenching rejection. Elizabeth told Mr. Darcy, “I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed upon to marry’ “(Austen 148). When Elizabeth rejected Mr. Darcy’s hand she did so because of her attachment to her first impression of him.
Mr. Darcy’s objectivism actually did work against him when he wedged himself in between Bingley and Jane. Jane was being cordial and was showing genuine affection to Bingley when Mr. Darcy falsely perceived Jane’s indifference to Bingley. Little did Darcy know, Jane was showing the peak of her affection. Through Elizabeth, Darcy learned to appreciate the fact that not everyone is as perfect as Darcy believes they should be. His flawed first impression of Jane was put in check by Elizabeth, who could easily know more about her own sister than Darcy’s brief judgment allowed him to learn.
First impressions play a pivotal role within the text. The fastidious reader would question why? The answer is simple, in a first impression people adhere to idealized concepts they form

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in their mind, in the attempts to classify someone or something. To put this conception into perspective, imagine a young two-year old boy sitting on his porch with his mother gazing out into the street. A young jogger passes in front of the house with a golden Sheppard on her leash. The boy, lacking life experience, asks the mother what creature is with the woman. Naturally, the mother tells her child that it is a dog. By the end of the day, the child and mother witness more passers by who have dogs of different breeds. When the child keeps receiving dogs as the response to his question, the child begins to understand what it means to be a dog. When other animals pass by, either in front of his porch or in the pages of his books, the child will be able to distinguish any dog from a different member of the animal kingdom. In the same way, Elizabeth had relied upon her juvenile conception to classify Mr. Darcy. Her first impression of Mr. Darcy branded him as disagreeable. A child who had limited encounters with a dog may label the next thing he or she sees with a tail and bushy ears as a dog. In actuality the fur and tail could belong to that of a rabbit. In the same way, Elizabeth had not met anyone before her encounter with Mr. Darcy as disagreeable as Mr. Darcy seemed to be. Elizabeth made a hasty generalization as she assumed that Mr. Darcy’s reserve and outward pomp was indicative of his worthlessness as a person. Elizabeth’s first impression led to her prejudice, which she could not bring herself to relinquish because of her pride.
The title of the book ought to have been First Impressions. The entire plot development is centered around Darcy and Elizabeth’s ability to rise above the ominous clouds of her first impression. Mr. Darcy’s unwavering love he had for Elizabeth allowed him to turn the other cheek when he ever she struck him. Mr. Darcy showed Elizabeth how to love by loving. Elizabeth was trapped underneath her hellish view of Mr. Darcy. Once she was able to admit that
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her first impression of Mr. Darcy was erroneous, she released him from his personal hell, and gave him a little slice of heaven, herself.

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Works Cited

Austen, Jane. Pride And Prejudice. New York: Oxford UP, 1998. Print.

The Crucible, to page 49

2009-12-03T18:01:00.000-08:00

Quote 1:
"I mean it solemnly, Rebecca; I like not the smell of this "authority" (Miller 31).

Analysis 1:
Miller uses Proctor as the embodiment of the modern day response to Salem in the 1600's. In today's world, many Americans are having sex shoved down their throats through the media and have grown comfortable to certain degrees of laziness. The present day individual would lash out against the constricting society which they would be confined to. In the same light, Proctor rebukes the concept of mass hysteria which everyone around him seems to grow progressively more involved in.

Quote 2:
"I do believe somebody else be witchin' these children" (Miller 45).

Analysis 2:
Miller uses Tituba as a societal critique and demonstrates the absurdity of the witch trials. Tituba is the only known individual who has been born abroad. Therefore she is able to objectively view this cultural hysteria as a game. She originally tries to deny the accusation as honestly as fate would have it. Tituba realized her control over the questions she was being asked and twisted them to her liking. Just as Tituba realized, the reader is also supposed to see that honesty truly does not work in that society and the hysteria breeds complusive lying.

The Crucible, to page 30

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Quote 1:

"And I pray you feel the wight of truth upon you, for now my ministry's at stake, my ministry and perhaps your cousins's life. Whatever abomination you have done, give me all of it now, for I dare not be taken unaware when I go before them down there" (Austen 11).

Analysis 1:
In the text's infancy Parris has already shown two fallacies: Selfishness and insecurity. In the 1600's even ideal Christians were charged with witchcraft due to the jealousy of a neighbor whose recognition for exhibiting Christian values were once renowned. Someone like Parris who so easily shows his flaws will become easy picking for the community under its practice of witchcraft hysteria.

Quote 2:
"You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet! He turns abruptly to go out. She rushes to him. John, pity me, pity me!" (Austen 24).

Analogy 2:
Even in the 1600's in strictly regimented Salem, humans do give in to their sexual instincts. When people are trying to conceal something it often pays to look for a diversion. With Witchhunting on the rise, the stage is set for Abigail and John to denounce anyone whom could be considered a witch. They Abigail and John already tempted fate and speak of doing so in numerable instances. The likely target would be John's wife because she (most likely) harbors the most knowledge of the affair.

2009-12-02T19:19:00.000-08:00

Rossi, 1
Michael Rossi
December 1, 2009
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition/ Mr. George
Argue in two pages or less how Austen uses Lady Catherine to critique the class structure that pervades the novel.

The Wizard of Flaws

Pride and Prejudice has a vast array of insightful characters. Take Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth for example. Mr. Darcy was the only individual who could remark upon his peer’s inner motives and his own flaws with the delicacy of an evening’s greeting. Elizabeth learned to relinquish her self-indoctrinated prejudices and smooth her rough edges into a round character. In contrast, Lady Catherine has exhibited nothing less than an ostentatious display of her own selfish disdain of others. Austen uses Lady Catherine as a critique of society’s upper class.
Lady Catherine embodies what people of lower class strive to be. Conventional societal progression is determined mainly by monetary status, which is most commonly earned through hard work, intelligence, or a combination of the two. Lady Catherine has done nothing to achieve such good fortune besides simply marrying into the Longbourn family. Lady Catherine purports that she is naturally part of the Longbourn aristocracy. Her glaring inadequacy suggests that social status should not be determined by wealth, as the wealthy are not always worthy. Austen further exemplifies Lady Catherine’s absurdity through comparisons with Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy is emblematic of the other sect of the upper class. Mr. Darcy’s insight and selflessness make him the ideal recipient of aristocratic praise. The fact that he is without the influence of Lady Catherine, spur’s the reader into questioning the novel’s classist institutions.
Lady Catherine is like a weed in a perfect garden. The garden’s perfection is detracted by her very presence. All of the garden is sublime in its natural element while Lady Catherine is clinging on to whatever flora she may slither upon, using it as an attempt to rise to the surface
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with the other flowers. Lady Catherine’s desire to exert her influence is so intense that she utilizes her only known familial remnants to secure a long term position. Lady Catherine uses her daughter to seamlessly penetrate her roots deep into Mr. Darcy and further her family’s position. An ideal demonstration of this occurs when Lady Catherine explains to the importance of her daughter’s marriage with Mr. Darcy: “what is to divide them? The upstart pretensions of a young woman without family, connections or fortune” (Austen 272). Lady Catherine purports to Elizabeth that a plan is already in place and any resistance will be like swimming against the current. Lady Catherine constantly attempts to disperse her seeds of influence among those in her community: “’ No governess! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at home without a governess! – I never heard of such a thing. Your mother must have been quite a slave to your education’” (Austen 127). Lady Catherine tries to keep a governess in every possible family so that she may have a tendril in any affair that tickle’s her fancy. Lady Catherine will not be satisfied until she is able to become a parasite for the every plant within the garden. Through Lady Catherine, Austen shows that this parasite ought to be thrown off by society.
Austen uses Lady Catherine as a critique of society’s upper class. Lady Catherine hides behind a veil of unwarranted power much like the Wizard in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. He uses machinery to portray himself as large and powerful when in actuality he is a small man cowering behind a curtain. Lady Catherine believes herself to be irreproachable, however, Elizabeth rebuked her justly and Lady Catherine offered no retaliatory strike. Lady Catherine and the Wizard looked to deal with their inadequacies through projecting them onto others. In the end, projection led Lady Catherine and the Wizard from their reigned superiority to their aristocratic destitution.
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Works Cited

Austen, Jane. Pride And Prejudice. New York: Oxford UP, 1998. Print.

2009-11-29T18:42:00.000-08:00

Rossi, 1

Michael Rossi
November 29, 2009
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition / Mr. George
Students are to write two one-page descriptions of a character.

Is that what I said?

Mr. Wickham is the embodiment of the most inconvenient evil within the text and when people finally rise against him it is too late.
Lady Catherine, clearly an antagonist sometimes is problematic to Elizabeth and her sisters however, Elizabeth is rather proficient in dealing with Lady Catherine: “‘With three younger sisters grown up, ‘replied Elizabeth smiling, ‘your Ladyship can hardly expect me to own it.’”(Austen 128). This is so because Lady Catherine is very straight forward in her prejudice and expects the Elizabeth to bend at the knee. Elizabeth is able to brush her off very simply. Mr. Wickham on the other hand is significantly more difficult to oppose. Elizabeth must contradict the positive view of Wickham that she once advocated.
Mr. Wickham bears a glaring parallel to Al Qaeda. In Conventional warfare two armies would meet until a decisive victory can be determined. The Al Qaeda work to preserve their identity and keep the enemy from truly knowing who they are fighting. In the same way Wickham does not truly show that he is at war, so to speak, with the world. He simply wears a simile and drenches himself in agreeable manners. He does all this just to steal Lydia before the troops arrive.
Mr. Wickham killed his reputation that society seemed to think he represented. In the same way the Jim Jones killed the followers in whom his reputation once lived.

Rossi, 1

Michael Rossi
November 29, 2009
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition / Mr. George
Students are to write two one-page descriptions of a character.

Tough Love

Mr. Darcy is the embodiment of relentless love that is battling for positive change throughout the text.
The first instance in which Mr. Darcy offered his heart to Elizabeth, she ripped it from his chest and trampled it under her feet. Typically, when a man is rejected he never wishes to renew such an offer, especially when he has been so harshly rebuked. Rather than project the ill feelings upon Elizabeth, he looked inward to find a solution for the accusations. The way in which Mr. Darcy looked to discover what was wrong was done so in an objective manner. Mr. Darcy was mistaken in his accusation against the authenticity of Jane’s love. It was Mr. Darcy who convinced Bingley to renew his relationship with Jane. Mr. Darcy did all of this for a Elizabeth who said, “you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry” (Austen 148).
Mr. Darcy is a lot like Jesus. In his time people often professed their hatred of him, but eventually learned to appreciate his good will. In the same way, Mrs. Bennet and others like her eventually learned to love Mr. Darcy. Jesus told his people that in order to understand him they must follow him. Mr. Darcy was not understood until Elizabeth attempted to see from an objective lens.
Mr. Darcy strongly resembles Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots, because just like Darcy, some people often see him as cold and emotionally detached, but it was not until the influence of his leadership graced the Patriots that they started to succeed.

Pride and Predjudice Chapters 16-end

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Quote 1:
"Lady Catherine had been rendered so exceedingly angry by the contents of her nephew's letter, that Charlotte, really rejoicing in the match, was anxious to get away till the storm was blown over" ( Austen 294).

Analysis 1:
Lady Catherine is the only true antagonist in the novel. She is the only person who can never bask in others happiness unless she believed that the happiness was through her doing. She is internally frustrated by the fact that her influence has boundaries and she cannot separate two people madly in love simply of her own volition. Some one who works so diligently to glorify her name certainly shows a lack of regard for the opinion of her own nephew. Charlotte was forced to hide her felicity from Lady Catherine's self-righteous inquisition.

Quote 2:
"I do not think we shall have quite money enough to live upon without some help. Any place would do, of about three or four hundred a year; but however, do not speak to Mr. Darcy about it, if you had rather not" (Austen 296).

Analysis 2:
Austen utilizes the relationship between Bingley and Jane and Lydia and Wickham to demonstrate the true compatibility of Elizabeth and Darcy. The love between Bingley and Jane is a bliss one in which no unfortunate circumstance could ever been seen as disagreeable. For Bingley and Jane, any misfortune will simply be disregarded on the account that some be more deserving. Lydia and Wickham favor immediate gratification too heavily to be trusted with any long-term goals. As a result, their marriage is destined for a most downward trend. Elizabeth and a Darcy have the greatest form of marriage; one which grows and they will never have a dull moment exploring the depths of each others character. Their marriage is not so false as Lydia and Wickham's and not so plain as Bingley and Jane's and for that there is something to be said.

Pride and Prejudice 13-15

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Quote 1:
"Mrs. Bennet, with great, civility, begged her lady ship to take some refreshment" (Austen 269).

Analysis 1:
How is it that Mrs. Bennet's unhappy manners and stubborn disposition could yield to Lady Catherine? Disrespect and outward signs of her stupidity used to be her policy to people of higher class such as Mr. Bingley or Mr. Darcy. Inconsistency in action is emblematic of instability of the the mind. Until Elizabeths parents learn how to be good consistent parents who offer are able to offer constructive judgement, they will be forced to crawl across the street of life without the grip of reason.

Quote 2:
"Elizabeth had never been more at a loss to make her feelings appear what they were not. It was necessary to laugh, when she would rather cried. Her father had most cruelly mortified her, by what he said of Mr. Darcy, and she could do nothing but wonder at such a want of penetration, or fear that, instead of his seeing too little, she might have fancied too much" (Austen 278).

Analysis 2:
"Though Mr. Bennet has pledged to resolve his hands off parenting he has neglected to fix another one of his vice's. Mr. Bennet is emotionally detached. Although he does mean well as a father he is still incredibly insensitive toward Lizzie for any involved father would be able to pick out sensitive topics of conversation. It is permissible for individuals to learn and grow socially, especially if they do not consider themselves very sociable, however parents are ones who should (for the most part) be over the social growing pains.

Pride and Predjudice Chapters 6-9

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Quote 1:
" 'I should be sorrry indeed if it were. We were always good friends; and now we are better' " (Austen 249).

Analysis 1:
Mr. Wickham exhibits such a monotone effort to earn the good favor of his peers. If Lizzie had been addressed as Mr. Wickham's closest friends before she had learned of his true character she would have been flattered. Now that Lizzie is seeing clearly, Wickham is nothing more than a sad little man who has stolen her sixteen year old sister. Wickham should have come clean to show Lizzie that there is room for change, however his head has only left room for a soft mind.

Quote 2:
"Darcy had walked away to another part of the room. She followed him with her eyes, envied every one to whom he spoke, had scarcely patience enough to help anybody to coffee; and then was enraged against herself for being so silly!" (Austen 260).

Analysis 2:
This quotation exemplifies the role reversal which Lizzie and Darcy had become subject to. Darcy had once been the one to chase and scrutinize Lizzie in hopes of winning her heart. Now it is Lizzie who is so infatuated with him it hurts. Their role in character have also been reversed. Mr. Darcy was more readily engaging in conversation with others and seems to be more agreeable. Lizzie on the other hand is as silent and uninvolved as Mr. Darcy was at their first ball. Both Lizzie and Darcy are attempting to conform to the others advice and Lizzie takes it a step too far.

Pride and Predjudice Chapters 6-9

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Quote 1:
"Five daughters successively entered the world, but yet the son was to come; and Mrs. Bennet, for many years after Lydia's birth had been certain that he would. This event had at last been despaired of, but it was then too late to be saving" (Austen 234).

Analysis 1:
Disappointment is a misfortune that everyone is forced to deal with sooner or later in life. Tolerable disappointment stems from small failures such as losing a low-stake gamble or losing at a sport. Mr. Bennet is suffering from the massive failure of premeditated goals. All other aspects of Mr. Bennets life revolved around the fact that he would live comfortably and be able to provide for his family. Mr. Bennet had become complacent in the midst of his smooth sailing toward his goal. His dreams are now shipwrecked and only his entire family was on the boat.

Quote 2:
"Had Lydia's marriage been concluded on the most honourable terms, it was not to be supposed that Mr. Darcy would connect himself with a family. where to ever other objection would now be added, an alliance and relationship of the nearest kind with the man whom he so justly scorned"(Austen 236).

Analysis 2:
Many literary components are employed to create a great novel. This quote truly emphasises just how the story is climbing to its climax and how Austen creates such an epic romance. Lizzie is completely oblivious to Mr. Darcy's love for her and is convinced Mr. Darcy could not overcome her insults and rejections. In spite of class, insult, and society Mr. is will to put all of that aside for Elizabeth. The novel does not illustrate two perfect people with perfect familys who are perfectly agreeable. The novel highlights strenous obstacles that are highly intersting and lead to a most perfect love.

Pride and Predjudice 3-6

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Quote 1:
"Miss Bingley was venting her feelings in criticisms on Elizabeth's person, behaviour, and dress. But Georgiana would not join her" (Austen 205).

Analysis 1:
The quality of an individual is often measured by the manner in which they treat other individuals. Mr. Darcy declares himself blame worthy in Lydia's predicament. His sister lives up to these high moral standards. Even in Elizabeth's absence Ms. Darcy will not slander her in order to seem more agreeable in the eyes of Ms. Bingley. This attribute seems to run in the family.

Quote 2:
"Poor Kitty has anger* or having concealed their attachment; but as it was a matter of confidence on cannot wonder" (Austen 208).

Analysis 2:
The Bennet sisters blame themselves for not providing the information which may have saved Lydia. In some respects yes it would be ideal to have provided justice with the information however, The Bennets minds never remotely fathomed the morbid possibility. If they had thought of it and still refused to relinquish the information then they would have been significantly more at fault. The only person who is to blame is Mr. Bennet whose daughters behavior he did nothing to regulate, knowing that there could be consequences.

Pride and Predjudice chapters 19-2

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Quote 1:
"The possibility of meeting Mr. Darcy, while viewing the place, instantly occurred. It would be dreadful! She blushed at the very idea; and thought it would be better to speak openly to her aunt, than to run such a risk" (Austen 184)

Analysis 1:
Elizabeth undermines the significance of Mr. Darcy's influence over her. Elizabeth shies away from Mr. Darcy because he makes her feel uncomfortable. Elizabeth runs the risk of being read like an open book, insulted, or outwitted. Elizabeth tries to avoid the one thing in her life that she cannot control, and to an extent is controlled by.

Quote 2:
"She respected, she esteemed, she was grateful to him, she felt a real interest in his welfare; and she only wanted to know how far she wished that welfare to depend upon herself, and how far it would be for the happiness of both that she should employ the power, which her fancy told her she still possessed, of bringing on the renewal of his addresses" (Austen 201).

Analysis 2:
Ever since Mr. Darcy's first proposal Elizabeth's mind had been occupied with thoughts of Mr. Darcy. His presence once suppressed within Elizabeth's sub conscience has now bubbled over to the point of keeping Elizabeth from falling asleep. Since Elizabeth often acts and thinks with passion, It would be out of her character to ask Darcy's hand in marriage.

Pride and Predjudice 12-18

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Quote 1:
"She felt that Jane's feelings though fervent, were little displayed, and that there was a constant complacency in her air and manner, not often united with great sensibility" (Austen 160).

Analysis 1:
Elizabeth can no longer hide behind her blissful hatred of Darcy. Darcy's invalid opinion (according to Elizabeth) is being repeated by Elizabeth's closest friend. Blinded by her hatred for Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth's ego did what ever it could to protect itself from realizing her enemy is in fact her friend and vice versa.

Quote 2:
"Jane had been deprived, by the folly and indecorum of her own family!" (Austen 163)

Analysis 2:
Elizabeth is forced relinquish her negative coping mechanisms for Jane's misfortune. Jane projected Jane's misfortune on to Darcy when it was actually the fault of her own household. Mrs. Bennet needed to either learn temperance or she should not have been permitted to attend the balls. She was the only pragmatic obstacle impeding her dream of Jane's marriage. That matter should have been addressed prior to social gathering by Mr. Bennet. The bread must come together before it can rise.

Pride and Predjudice 6-11

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Quote 1:
" ' To Jane herself,' she exclaimed, 'there could be no possibility of objection ' " (Austen 143)

Analysis 1:
Elizabeth contorts each and every bit of information she receives about Mr. Darcy into proof of his horrid character. In comparison, Elizabeth has this emotionally induced blindness when it comes to Jane. Elizabeth tells herself that Jane has no flaw that Mr. Darcy could possibly see, yet earlier in the novel when Elizabeth was relaying criticisms, Jane was still exhibiting non- pragmatic optimism. In Elizabeth's eyes Mr. Darcy can do no right and Jane can do no wrong.

Quote 2:
" 'My faults, according to this calculation, are heavy indeed! But perhaps,' added he, stopping in his walk, and turning towards her, 'these offenses might have been over looked, had not your pride been hurt by honest confession of the scruples that had long prevented my forming any serious design' " (Austen 147).

Analysis 2:
The title bears its first clear significance within this quote. Both Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth see each other as the embodiment of pride and prejudice. Elizabeth is disgusted with Mr. Darcy's pride and questions his authority of his critiques of Mr. Bingley's romantic life. Mr. Darcy had already confessed his prejudice disposition to Elizabeth. On the other hand, Mr. Darcy sees Elizabeth's rejection of his proposal and prejudice against him, stemming from her wounded ego.

Pride and Predjudice Chapters 2-5

2009-11-08T18:32:00.000-08:00

Quote 1:
I pity, though I cannot help blaming her. She was very wrong in singling me out as she did; I can safely say, that every advance to intimacy began on her side [...]But I pity her, because she must feel that she has been acting wrong, and because I am very sure that anxiety for her brother is the cause of it (Austen 115).

Analysis 1:
This passage outlines the positive and negative aspects of Jane's blissful optimism. Jane truly and utterly feels guilt for blaming Caroline. Jane's philosophy does not allow her to truly give up on an individual always looking for the good. On the other hand, this becomes a problem when Jane believes all human beings are as good as her. Carolin does not feel that she has been acting wrong she simply drowns out the guilt with waves of conceit.

Quote 2:
"he addressed himself particularly to her, as if wishing to make her feel what she had lost in refusing him" (Austen 120).

Analysis 2:
Mr. Collins's backwardness constantly humiliates him. A clergyman who preaches for God and all he stands for is attempting to make a woman jealous for no other reason than to enjoy her potential reaction. It is disgraceful. Mr. Collins is and forever will be preceded even by his lowly reputation.

Pride and Prejudice chapter analysis 21-1

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" 'My dear Madam,' he replied, 'this invitation is particularly gratifying, because it is what I have been hoping to receive; and you may be very certain that I shall avail myself of it as soon as possible' " (Austen 95).

Once again Mr. Collins has proven himself to be unable to understand common social formalities. The Bennet's simply offered to have him return because it was the right thing to do and they had hoped he would not. After Collins was disrespected and rejected by Elizabeth it would be expected that he would never wish to return and he would conjure up some false excuse of why he would be unable to attend.

"Between Elizabeth and Charlotte there was a restraint which kept them mutually silent on the subject; and Elizabeth felt persuaded that no real confidence could ever subsist between them again" (Austen 98).

For friends to argue and issue harsh criticism to one another, demonstrates true friendship. If Elizabeth were to tell Charlotte that Mr. Collins was unacceptable Elizabeth would be showing that Charlotte's well being demands a higher precedence than how much Charlotte likes her. To simply say nothing is giving up on the friendship altogether. Times like these demonstrate the true character of a person. Charlotte was devoured by her selfish insecurity.

Pride and Prejudice- Chapter 17-20

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"'He has been so unlucky as to lose your friendship' [...] 'and in a manner which he is likely to suffer from all his life'" (Austen 70).

In this quote Darcy endures a verbal assault from Elizabeth. Elizabeth is guilting Mr. Darcy into feeling badly about his actions towards Mr. Wickham. However, she is shortsighted, since she does not think about Mr. Darcy's side of the story. She is always on the attack, ever since the dance where she specifically noted. However, it is not healthy for one to bear such grudges. Perhaps, later on, Elizabeth will realize that it is not Mr. Darcy that she hated, but it was his actions early on. Maybe Mr. Darcy will even change her mind about him in some way, perhaps through conversation, a letter, or some other means.

" 'Were it certain that Lady Catherine would think so, ' said Mr. Collins very gravely - 'but I cannot imagine that her ladyship would at all disapprove of you. And you may be certain that when I have the honour of seeing her again I shall speak in the highest terms of your modesty, economy, and amiable qualifications ' " (Austen 82).

Mr. Collins cannot hope to win Elizabeth's heart. This appeal is a failed attempt at logic because it implies the fact that an arbitrary third party should be responsible for the fate of a couple. Also it detaches Mr. Collins from the authenticity of his romantic venture. Also he has no backround with his cousins, yet he is proposing to her.

Blog chapters 11-16

2009-11-03T14:15:00.000-08:00

Quote 1: "Elizabeth went away with her head full of him. She could think of nothing but of Mr. Wickham, and of what he had told her, all the way home; " (Austen 64).

Description 1:
Thus far, Elizabeth has not showed any extended interest in the opposite sex. She was offended at Mr. Darcy's vanity and annoyed at Mr. Collins's utter ridiculousness. Elizabeth is not intrigued by men of similar mannerism (I.E. Mr. Darcy) or by men who are rather different from her (I.E Mr. Collins). Elizabeth's opinion of men seems to coincide with society's views. People gossip of Mr. Darcy's arrogance and Mr. Collins stupidity and Elizabeth shares these same view points. Mr. Wickham is well received by the characters within the novel and so it is a sound prediction that she will also find him intriguing.

Quote 2: "Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth-and it was soon done" (Austen 53)

Description 2:
Marriage is a loving union in which love is the feeling and marriage is the action. In between a feeling and an action there should be a passion which comes from a feeling being pushed by one's inner soul to an over infatuation. Mr. Collins approaches courtship with a certain obligatory formality that is considerably repulsive to Elizabeth.

Pride and Prejudice chapter analysis 7-10

2009-11-01T14:31:00.000-08:00

Quote 1: " 'A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word, and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, and her address and expressions, or the word will be but half deserved' " (Austen 29).

Description 1:
This mind blowing depiction of women is completely counter cultural in today's society. The quote infers that women are mere trophies and ought to exemplary in order to be recognized with a compliment that would not incite nearly as much dispute in today's society. Charming language is seen as uniform courtesy which people commonly expect for no extraordinary occasion.

Quote 2: " 'Oh! dear, yes; - but you must own that she is very plain. Lady Lucas herself has often said so, and envied me Jane's beauty. I do not like to boast of my own child, but to be sure, Jane- one does not often see any body better looking' " (Austen 33).

Description 2:
This quote emphasises the true intensity Mrs. Bennet has to marry her daughters. She never stops competing for her daughters whether they like it or not. She hopes by pointing out the faults of her competition she will be able to make her daughters shine even more. All of her self worth comes from the image of her daughters in the eyes of suitors. She tries to make her girls happy the way which society says they will be, rich and married. Elizabeth's intellect and individualism collide with these ideals and set the plot development in motion for a probable crash course.

Pride and Prejudice chapter analysis 1-6

2009-10-30T03:38:00.000-07:00

Rossi, 1

Michael Rossi

October29, 2009

Advanced Placement English Language and Composition

Pride and Prejudice

Quote 1L " 'How good it was in you my dear Mr. Bennet! But I knew I should persuade you at last' " (Austen 4)

Description 1:

The fact that Mr. and Mrs. Bennet address each other by their title is emblematic of their idealistic and emotional distance. Mr. Bennet wishes for his daughters to find the most happiness in their lives while Mrs. Bennet wishes to find it form them. Mr. Bennet favors Elizabeth because she is the embodiment of the self-sufficient characteristics that he values and wishes to impose upon the rest of his daughters by not planning for them as little as possible. In contrast, Mrs. Bennet favors Jane because she is complacently agreeable and therefore easily manipulated. The best way for a mother yo car for a daughter who would be easily stepped on in life is to guide her to a secure, wealthy suitor who can mold her in Mrs. Bennet's fancy.

Quote 2: "Mr. Farcy replied with great interpidiy, 'Miss Elizabeth Bennet' " (Austen 19)

Description 2:

Mr. Darcy's delayed intersest in Elizabether will prove to be a self-hampering factor if he so chooses to create a more intimate relationship with her. Mr. Darcy reserves his kindness for his inner circle of acquaintances. Elizabeth, similarly to the rest of the party, are offended by his snobbery and coldness. To have such a drastic change in option will seem as though he is making a jest at Elizabeth who already concurred with her town that Mr. Darcy exudes an over-bearing vanity.

Select one part of the Tao, and say why you think it is most important. Then try and add one concept to the Tao and support why it should be added

2009-10-20T17:31:00.000-07:00

Rossi, 1
Michael Rossi
October 20, 2009
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition
Select one part of the Tao, and describe why you think it is most important. Then try and add one concept to the Tao and support why it should be a part of the Tao. One paragraph each.

Selected part of the Tao: ‘To take no notice of a violent attack is to strengthen the heart of the enemy. Vigour is valiant, but cowardice is vile.’ (Ancient Egyptian. The Pharaoh Senusert III, cit. H. R. Hall, Anceint History of the Near East, p 161)
The significance of this passage is so sublime because the situation it describes is a common pragmatism. Individuals often search for routes in life that steer away from the stormy seas of conflict. For one to see another suffering and consciously tell themselves that they will not help creates insatiable waves of guilt. It is far easier to ignore one’s suffering and convince oneself that they had not actually seen it. One can simply organize the event as part of the natural atmosphere in the back of one’s mind; classifying it as a mere inconvenience instead of a rectifiable issue.

Create an addition to the Tao: Slow the thoughts which are the quickest.
This addition should be a part of the Tao because it will do a great deal to eliminate wrong if people accept it as a value. It is very hard to come to terms with oneself when it comes to accepting that one was wrong. Individuals fabricate excuses in order to alleviate the pressure of guilt. A simple remedy would be consciously note and analyze thoughts which one’s mind would normally remove. If one can be true to themselves they will able to follow their

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consciences more efficiently and leave less room for ignoring the problems that would not make one most delighted to deal with.

Abolition of man homework #3

2009-10-19T17:38:00.000-07:00

Rossi, 1

Michael Rossi
October 19, 2009
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition
Select two quotations that you think are the most important from the section of the text "The Abolition of Man." Then summarize his argument in one paragraph.

Quote one: “Man’s conquest of himself means simply the rule of the Conditioners over the conditioned human material, the world of post-humanity which, some knowingly and some unknowingly, nearly all men in all nations are at present laboring to produce” (Lewis 75).

Quote two: “But you cannot go on ‘explaining away’ for ever: you will find that you have explained explanation itself away” (Lewis 81).

In Lewis’s final section of his book he speaks of how humanity’s misperception of conquest will lead to their demise. According to Lewis humanity has in fact conquered nature, but in doing so itself: “At the moment, then, of Man’s victory over Nature, we find the whole human race subjected to some individual men, and those individuals subjected to that in themselves which is purely ‘natural’- to their irrational impulses’ (Lewis 67). As the glare of our conquest shines outward, mother nature reveals that we are only conquering what has been permitted for us to conquer by other men. We as a people must except this as a basis for not even our questions will be valid if humanity cannot clearly see this one, objective basis.

The Abolition of Man homework #2

2009-10-18T19:26:00.000-07:00

Rossi, 1

Michael Rossi
October 17, 2009
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition
Select two quotations that you think are the most important from the section of the text "The Way." Then summarize his argument in one paragraph.

Quote one: “If justice is a superstition, then so is my duty to my country or my race. If the pursuit of scientific knowledge is a real value, then so is conjugal fidelity” (Lewis 44).

Quote two: “The half hearted skeptics who still hope to find ‘real’ value when they have debunked the traditional ones. This is the rejection of the concept of value altogether” (Lewis 51).

Lewis begins by speaking of how selflessness cannot merely be derived from instincts. The concepts of posterity and martyrdom are not instincts because they one who promotes posterity will never enjoy the result, just as one who dies for a cause will never experience the fruits of their labor. These concepts originate from something greater than instincts: “This will cost you your life cannot lead directly to do not do this: it can lead to it only through a felt desire or an acknowledged duty of self-preservation” (Lewis 32). Lewis then shifts his lecture toward the concept of value. Lewis debunks his critics by claiming asserting that Lewis is defending and basing his argument off traditional values. His critics scrap these values and in doing so they reject the concept of value altogether, thus invalidating their argument.

The Abolition of Man homework #1

2009-10-14T17:52:00.000-07:00

Rossi, 1

Michael Rossi
October 14, 2009
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition
Read the section of The Abolition of Man entitled "Men Without Chests." When you have completed it, select two quotations that you think illuminate his main argument in the section. Then, once you have selected the quotations, try to summarize in a single paragraph his main argument in "Men Without Chests." Also, annotate his use of appeals, rhetoric, syntax and diction in the text itself.

Quote 1: “The right defense against false sentiments is to inculcate just sentiments. By starving the sensibility of our pupils we only make them easier prey to the propagandist when he comes. Famished nature will be avenged and a hard heart is no infallible protection against a soft head.

Quote 2: “We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at hour and are shocked to find traitors in our midst” (Lewis, 26).

Lewis remarks upon just how society has become entangled in an ignorant and contradictory snare. Educators, given the pseudonyms Gaius and Titus taught erroneous philosophy in the place of English. Gaius and Titus impose their philosophy of description merely being subject to the speaker and one’s perception merely becomes one’s opinion. Lewis vehemently disagrees and provides a counterexample to his opponents’ assertion: “This is pretty if those words simply described the lady’s feelings, would be absurd: if she had said I feel sick Coleridge would hardly have replied No; I feel quite well” (Lewis, 15). Lewis dubs the teaching not completely deliberate. Lewis claims that our method of inoculating the youth is like not creating an organ, but demanding the function.

Martin Luther King essay

2009-10-14T15:54:00.000-07:00

Rossi, 1

Michael Rossi
October 12, 2009
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition

History In The Making

How is it that a black man in the sixties, who was writing from prison nonetheless, was able to change the hearts and minds of a nation who was comfortable with black repression and unprepared for change? It is so simple and practical to dismiss annoyances that one does not wish to hear. It was not King’s pre-established character that had earned him the ears of his audience, nor his emotional pleas, but the unison of these two things working in harmony to support King’s irrefutable logic. This combination pummeled his points through society’s understanding of black repression. It was not logic understood by only blacks, uneducated logic, or circular logic that aroused America from its complacent slumber. It was universal logic that Christian social teaching and the American Constitution preached. King reminded America that such bold preaching should be boldly enforced. Logic is the crutch that emotion and character support throughout King’s speech.
King initiates his speech by firmly establishing his character: “My dear Fellow Clergymen, while confined here in the Birmingham City Jail, I came across your recent statement calling our present activities ‘unwise and untimely’ […] I would like to answer your statement in what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms” (King). Due to King’s status as an inmate it is imperative that he establish his character as a clergyman and an individual of intellect. After doing so, King draws parallels between Jesus Christ and himself as they both needed to preach their earth shaking messages to humanity: “You deplore the demonstrations that are presently taking place in Birmingham. But I am sorry that your statement did not express
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a similar concern for the conditions that brought the demonstrations into being” (King). Kings persuasion lies in the tone in which his argument is being presented. The phrase, I am sorry, has a certain aspect of condescension about it that seems to say; I do not see what is preventing you from seeing the fundamental problem as I do.
After making such a bold critique of the clergymen, King uses further logic to justify his assertions: “There have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than any city in this nation. These are the hard, brutal, and unbelievable facts” (King). King’s aggressive word choice paints a vivid picture in one’s mind as they hear the atrocities that King is bringing to the surface. King uses extreme examples of African American mistreatment to fully articulate his point. The white moderate is forced to feel a sense of remorse as the undisguised logic is thrust in front of their face. They feel the sharp pangs of the mistreatment they have caused by inaction.
King’s razor sharp logic cleaves through the paper-thin resistance presented by the white moderate. King uses inversion to supplement his cold hard facts: “The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jet-like speed toward the goal of political independence and we still creep at horse and buggy pace toward the gaining of a cup of coffee at a lunch counter” (King). United States is considered superior to Asia and Africa in a vast majority of ways. The fact that the United States was behind Asia and Africa in racial justice is a startling embarrassment. How is it that a nation whose diversity was the building block to its existence, is not on par with sections of the world that deal with problems of poverty and starvation?
Through his logic King was able to dramatize extremism and its role within his message. King said, “Jesus Christ. Was an extremist for love, truth, and goodness and thereby rose above
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His environment. So, after all, maybe the South, the nation, and the world are in dire need of creative extremists” (King). This quote is remarkably significant because the comparison to Jesus Christ is a warning. Jesus, who was hated by men during his time, preached a message that begun the entire religion of Christianity. If the men who had tormented Jesus were alive they would be fully aware and fully sorry for the sins they had committed. In the same light, King warns his listeners not to make the same mistake as the Romans made. King is calling them to rise above societies teachings and listen to what is right in their hearts.
King turns his attentions to the church whom had acted as an outright opponent, just as many of the Jews who persecuted Jesus and his followers. King voices his disappointment in the same manner in which he had addressed the clergy earlier: “I have watched white churches stand on the sidelines and merely mouth pious irrelevancies and sanctimonious trivialities. […] I have watched so many churches commit themselves to a completely otherworldly religion which made a strange distinction between body and soul, the sacred and the secular” (King). Calling the church out for their pious irrelevancies is no small matter. King is rallying the church to action. Too often in history the church had remained silent and distanced itself from world issues it could have changed. The church remained quiet against Nazi tyranny, American racial injustice as not just a small matter, but an immensely, influential matter that is on the same level as Jesus being ignored and the church ignoring the Nazi movement.
Logic is the crutch that emotion and character support throughout King’s speech. All forms of appeal are derived from logic and cannot stand alone. Crutches by themselves are simple tools that are created to support humans, and are meaningless on their own. In the end it is

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logic that kicks away the crutches of emotion and character and stands on its own as the most persuasive of appeal throughout King’s speech.

2009-10-06T18:12:00.001-07:00

Rossi, 1
Michael Rossi
October 6, 2009
Advanced placement English language and composition
Martin Luther King speech analysis.

-Martin Luther King begins with an ethos appeal. Luther speaks of himself and how he cannot respond to every bit of criticism he encounters, “Seldom, if ever, do I pause to answer criticism of my work and ideas” (King, 738). Luther establishes his character by stating he is a fellow clergyman.

-Luther then moves to an appeal at logos. He states his reasons for being in Birmingham. Luther references injustice and comparers his contribution to that of Paul.

-King speaks of how the clergymen are concerned that he did not have a license. King states that they should be concerned about the fact that a license is required in the first place.

-King speaks of how racial injustice engulfs the community. King backs up these assertions with facts, laced with aggressive words that paint a picture in one’s mind. In order to emphasize King’s statements of injustice he utilizes extreme examples of injustices: “There have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than any other city in this nation” (King 739).

-King establishes the character of the demonstrators responsible during the time near his arrest. King was the only man arrested because he was black. King speaks of multiple forms of protest that should be used to throw open the gates to negotiation. The extreme lack of negotiation that
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occurred was greatly emphasized by King: “Too long has our beloved Southland been bogged down in the tragic attempt to live in monologue rather than dialogue” (King, 741).

-King does a phenomenal job pointing out the potential argument his critiques will put forth: “ one of the[…]individuals” (King, 741).
-“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed” (741).
- King makes a logical comparison asking America what it lacks to take the steps needed to end slavery: “The nations of Asia […] (742).
-King uses more aggressive language to dramatize why blacks cannot simply wait for right treatment: “I guess-our legitimate and unavoidable impatience.
-King attacks the legal system separating just laws from unjust laws.
-King references Thomas Aquinas and Martin Buber, on page 743.
- King applies the just and unjust laws to his personal case of his arrest on page 744.
-King employs more historical evidence to support his logs appeal on page 744.
-King calls upon white moderates to change their ways and not wait: “I had hoped that the white moderate would understand that law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice, and that when they fail to do this they become dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress” (745).
-On page 746 King makes an ethos appeal to his audience. He describes his role as a medium between different kinds of blacks. Those who abdicate violence, those who have become accustomed to segregation, and those who profit from it.
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-“I’m grateful to God that, through the Negro church, the dimension of nonviolence entered our struggle. If this philosophy had not emerged I am convinced that by now many streets of the South would be flowing with floods of blood” (746).
- King glorifies extremism: “was not Jesus an extremist in love?” (747).
- King speaks of how the white church regards the southern issues as mere social issues where the gospel has no relevance on page 749.

Fallacies

2009-10-05T17:08:00.000-07:00

Rossi, 1
Michael Rossi
October 05, 2009
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition
Post one example of each fallacy studied in class:Hasty Generalization, Stereotype, Cause and Effect, Only Cause, False Analogy, Attacking the Person, Either-Or Fallacy, Non-sequitur, Circular Reasoning, Begging the Question.

Hasty Generalization- Mike Fullerton’s hair is unruly. He must be an academic failure.

Stereotype- Black people love fried chicken, cool aide, and watermelon.

Cause and Effect- I ate a pound of Chinese food. As a result, our golf team never won a game.

Only cause- If people stop playing the wii all people will be skinny.

False Analogy- Tim had unrivaled concentration like the men in a Chinese opium den.

Attacking the Person- Mr. George wants everyone to speak in proper English. Of course he does, he is an English fanatic.

Either or Fallacy- Either we have to kill the criminal or torture him.

Non- sequitur- I eat a lot of food. I should not permitted to play spots.

Circular Reasoning- I am very really cool and smart. You should really let me rob your store.

Begging the Question- Everyone agrees Mr. George is a poor teacher.

4 syllogism composition

2009-10-04T15:21:00.000-07:00

Rossi, 1
Michael Rossi
October 4, 2009
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition
Compose 4 syllogisms that are true, and four that are false. Describe in one sentence, how each false syllogism is false.

True Syllogisms

1: Soccer players have the Trinity Catholic soccer jerseys. Daryl Thomas has a Trinity Catholic soccer jersey. Daryl Thomas is a soccer player.

2: Harry cannot read books. The Little Red Riding Hood is a book. Harry cannot read the Little Red Riding Hood.

3: Human beings do not have wings. Scott Pero is a human being. Scott Pero does not have wings.

4: Fish cannot fly. A salmon is a fish. Salmon cannot fly.

False Syllogisms

1: A. Red Bull gives you wings. Dante drinks Red Bull. Dante has wings.
B. The syllogism is false because the expression, Red Bull gives you wings is an exaggeration, used to express the amount of energy one gains from drinking Red Bull. There the conclusion is erroneous as it is based off a false premise.

2: A. World leaders are moral people. Hitler was a world leader. Hitler was a moral person.
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B. The syllogism is false because world leaders are not always moral people. Hitler was a world leader and he was amoral.

3. A. Cars have four wheels. A wheel barrel has four wheels. A wheel barrel is a car.
B. The syllogism is false because many things besides cars have four wheels. Just because a wheel barrel has four wheels does not mean it is a car.

4. A. Humans have two eyes. An eagle has two eyes. An eagle is human.
B. The syllogism is false because other creatures besides humans have two eyes. Eagles are not human.

5. A. Mr. George reads books. Mr. reads street signs. Street signs are books.
B: The syllogism is false because Mr. George reads other writings that are not necessarily books. A street sign is not a book.

creat your own proposal

2009-10-01T16:14:00.000-07:00

Rossi, 1
Michael Rossi
September 30, 2009
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition/ Mr. George
Compose your own proposal. Should be no less than a full page and no more than 3 pages. You must incorporate all three forms of persuasion, and demonstrate which you are using by keeping logic in standard font, character in bold, and emotion in italics. The entire text does not need to be one of these three, but I want to make sure you know which appeals you are using.

Love is quite the word. It always scared me to say. To me it means I’m ready to marry you. Everyone used to use it all the time with no thought and it bothered me. It scared me not because I didn’t know how I felt but, because I always thought that there would be something I did not love about the woman and it would bug me until I ended the relationship. Eventually I learned that love wasn’t about finding the perfect person, but the person who is perfect for you. You are perfect for anyone in the world.
I love the way you would know I was home for the afternoon after I put everything the exact way it was before I left it. I love the way you smile when I play the guitar even if I screw up. I love the way you ignore what I’m saying and push my thoughts away with your lips. I love the way you fall asleep while the television is on. I love the way you try to make me laugh when I’m on the phone. I love the passion of your jealousy when you suspect that my eyes may wander.
You do make a few things a hassle for me that I hate dealing with. I hate the way I can’t clean the apartment perfectly before I leave and restore you sanctuary. I hate the way my nerves stiffen my fingers so I can’t show how much I love you with a chord. I hate the way I ramble and burden you with the details of my day. I hate the way I forget to turn off the television when I notice the entirety of your day carrying you off to sleep. I hate the way I try to resist laughing at your heavenly sense of humor. I hate the thoughts of you ever being anywhere but with me. I hate the way I don’t know the words to tell you that you mean the world to me. And I hate torment of knowing that you could have anyone in the
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whole damn world if you wanted. I hate the fact that you have to put up with me and my stupidity (I kneel down and take out a ring). Could you put up with me for the rest of your life?

Pride and Prejudice excerpt analysis

2009-09-28T18:00:00.000-07:00

Rossi, 1
Michael Rossi
September 28, 2009
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition
Analyze Mr. Collins proposal looking for examples of the appeals that he uses. Explain clearly why his appeals are ineffective and how he could have improved his proposal. I'd like you to have a one sentence thesis as your introduction, followed by at least two body paragraphs citing examples from the text. Focus on his diction and syntax in analyzing the appeals. Cite the text. The author is Jane Austen, and don't bother about page numbers.

Throughout the excerpt Mr. Collins verbalizes three types of crass appeal to win the heart of Elizabeth: Logic (logos), Pathos (emotional), and Ethos (character).
The first jab at romantic appeal Mr. Collins employs is one of logic. In the vast majority of speech and forms of literature, logic is the basis on which arguments are founded and support character and emotional appeal. Mr. Collins attempts to make Elizabeth understand the reasoning for his desire to marry her. His explanation exudes an unforgivable tone of condescension and only works against him: “”My reasons for marrying are, first that I think it a right for every clergyman in easy circumstances (like myself) to set the example of matrimony in his parish. Secondly, that I am convinced it will add very greatly to my happiness; and thirdly—which perhaps I ought to have mentioned earlier, that it is the particular advice and recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honor of calling patroness’” (Austin). This type of speech immediately breaks any potential positive reception because Mr. Collins’ wishes to wed are based on selfishness and the approval of a friend whose opinion matters more to Mr. Collins than that of the woman he wishes to marry. Mr. Collins logic shows that he will put himself before his wife and does not know how to treat a woman or even acknowledge the fact that his entire argument’s goal should be Elizabeth’s answer.
Based off a unique set of logic Mr. Collins attempts to change Elizabeth’s utter rejection by referencing characteristic points that only emphasize his arrogance and inability to understand
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a member of the opposite sex. Mr. Collins asserts his said qualities when he makes crude remarks upon the stern rejection Elizabeth had given him: “because I know it to be the establish custom of your sex to reject a man on the first application, and perhaps you have even now said as much to encourage my suit as would be consistent with the delicacy of the female character” (Austin). Not only does the argument lose steam for its insensitivity but it also defeats the purpose of Mr. Collins attempting to convince Elizabeth of anything. If her answer truly does not matter then why should he waste his time asking her?
Lastly Mr. Collins’ attempt at an emotional appeal was an insensitive faux pas. Mr. Collins states that he will open up to Elizabeth about his affection only to not follow through: “And now nothing remains for me but to assure you in the most animated language of the violence of my affection” (Austen). This, violent affection, is never displayed. In its stead Collins speaks coldly of fortune and inheritance emphasizing his absent mindedness and inability to elaborate on something he so boldly declared he would.

Huckleberry Finn Social critique

2009-09-15T16:12:00.001-07:00

Rossi, 1
Michael Rossi
September 15, 2009
Advanced Placement English Language
Huckleberry Finn Notes: How is Huckleberry Finn a social critique

Notes

Escaping society’s demands and punishments allows Huck to develop pure social critiques pertaining to the bigotry of the south. He makes an astounding growth away from the prejudice that the widow taught to him. When Huck and Jim escaped on the raft Huck was deeply vexed by the guilt of contributing to the freedom of an African American. He realizes he did not directly steal and liberate Jim from his owner, however he feels the guilt the one would
feel if he went on vacation and found that his neighbor’s pet cat slipped to into his luggage and he continued on vacation without bothering to notify the neighbors. It’s the sort of guilt that isn’t
serious enough to control your actions unless one ponders over it for extensive periods of time. Huck was aided in distracting himself from guilt by getting to know Jim as time passes. Huck feels torn between turning Jim in because he believes it is the right thing to do, when it is society telling him what to do. On the other hand, Huck believes delivering Jim to his freedom originated from a self serving motivation while in reality he is following Christianity. Without a modern Christian education, Huck is forced to make the decision that his nagging conscience and Christianity are one and the same. Huck believes that choosing Jim’s freedom means heading straight for hell. The sheer intensity of Huck’s decision is best represented in the following quote: “I was a trembling, because I’d got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: ‘All right, then, I’ll go to hell’ (228). Accepting the worst fate know to man is a bold step against the southern racial repression and because it shows how it is wrong through the eyes of a child.

Monte Cristo Notes- Religion

2009-09-13T13:28:00.001-07:00

Rossi, 1
Michael Rossi
September 9, 2009
Advanced Placement English Language
Prepare a page of notes on The Count of Monte Cristo:1 page of notes on Dantes playing the role of God. Post to blogs and have a typed sheet to hand in. Have quotes for support.

Notes
Throughout much of the text Edmond Dantes had believed that the riches given to him by Abbe Faria was actually a weapon given to him from in God in order for Dantes to extract vengeance upon those who had harmed him and to bless those who were true to him before his days in the Chateau D’if. Dantes’ mindset began with him taking his vow of vengeance: “This treasure […] doubled its value in his eyes; daily would he expatiate on the amount, holding forth to Dantes’ face would darken, for the oath of vengeance he had taken would come into his mind, and he was occupied with the thought of how much harm a man could do to his enemies in modern times with a fortune of thirteen or fourteen million (115).This vow led Dantes to believe that his life roll as an avenger was chosen by God.
Dantes became the Count of Monte Cristo and carried out all of what he believed to be his divine tasks. The Count emanated an aura of perfection and eloquence. The Count made a firm effort to squash any signs of his imperfection, however dealing with his long, lost love proved to be too overbearing for Dantes and his knees buckled under the weight: “Then his plans were frustrated at the eleventh hour through no action on his part; now, just as his schemes for revenge were materializing, he must relinquish them for ever, solely because he had no reckoned with one factor-his love for Mercedes” (567). Mercedes proved to be the single crack in Dantes’ armor, forcing the pain of humanity back into Dantes life. Other schemes of vengeance were foiled by Mercedes influence. Very soon it was not only those whom Edmond loved that pulled him back to humanity, but his enemies whom the Count had set out to destroy. This is best
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demonstrated when the count reached a realization of his cruelty when he was wreaking havoc on the house of Noirtier: “Realizing that he had passed beyond the bounds of vengeance, he felt he could no longer say: ‘God is for me and with me.’ With an expression of indescribable anguish, he threw himself on the child’s body, opened his eyes, felt his pulse, and, rushing with him into valentine’s room, locked the door” (475). It took the count a moment to step back to rise above himself and view the situation as the count should have viewed it, as the humble Edmond Dantes.

Monte Cristo Notes- Honor

2009-09-13T13:27:00.001-07:00

Rossi, 1
Michael Rossi
September 10, 2009
Advanced Placement English Language
Prep (2/3rds of a page of ) notes on the role of honor in the Count of Monte Cristo. Focus on Morrel

Notes

The theme of honor arises throughout the novel and has a heavy impact upon many of the characters and their behavior. An excellent example of an honorable character that lives by his word and exhibits incredible generosity is Monsieur. Morrel. Morrel was being assailed by debt due his cargo ships sinking. A group of surviving sailors from the Pharaon confronted the Morrel and spoke of the tragedy that had befallen them at sea and reported that they desired no such payment from their financially crippled employer “If you have no money, you surely shall not pay us; like the Pharaon, we can go under bare poles” (177). Not allowing himself to wallow in his sadness Morrel responded, “’Enough, enough, my friends!’ said Morrel, choking with emotion. ‘Leave me, I beg you’(177). Monsieur Morrel remained true to his word and showed the sailors out of his home so that he would not be tempted to stray from his code of honor.
The remarkable aspect about Morrel is that his desire to stand by his honor is so strict that it can only be the result of Christian purity , not the result of him simply trying to look like society’s perfect man in order to impress his peers. Morrel holds dear to his virtue of honor even in the face of death: “’you will be paid or else I shall be dead’ (178). Morrel was extremely close to taking his life when Edmond Dantes’ stepped in and alleviated Morrel’s debt much like God had sparred the child of Abraham.

Huckleberry Finn Essay

2009-08-23T18:08:00.001-07:00

Rossi, 1
Michael Rossi
August 12, 2009
Advanced Placement Language and Composition
Huckleberry Finn essay prompt two: How is Huck’s journey down the river a journey to a greater human understanding? How is Huck enabled to live outside of the confines of society, and in doing so, disinherit the bigotry that enveloped the south?

Intricacy at its Simplest

When an individual is raised within a society he inherits that society’s beliefs, values, and practices. Huck’s interesting condition of being taken from society and placed back into it allows him to issue pure judgment on society and its laws without any influence. Huck is able to witness and partake in the lives of others and partake in them while having the ability to move on to a new adventure any time he chooses. Huck escapes a handful of sticky situations by assimilating to multiple stereotypes. He is able to use this ability as magic and slip from society grasp continue his adventures. Throughout the novel, Huck attains a greater human understanding, is enabled to live outside the confines of society, and disinherits the bigotry of the south.
Huck gains a greater human understanding of relationships as the text progresses. Throughout Huck’s existence, he fluctuates between two extreme domestic environments. Huck’s father was an oppressive alcoholic who tried to force Huck to become like him and the widow imposed her strict Christian values and southern traditions upon Huck: “The Widow Douglas, she took me for her son, and allowed she would sivilize me; but it was rough living in the house all the time, considering how dismal and regular and decent the widow was in all her ways; and so when I couldn’t stand it no longer, I lit out” (9). When Huck was not with the widow, he lived with his father who only offered human interaction at its simplest form: submit or be forced to submit. Huck was a growing boy and his father’s lifestyle offered very little growing room, so it became natural that Huck broke his father’s hold on him. The next level of
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Huck’s human understanding that Huck achieved was being convinced to submit (not forced). Huck obeyed his father out of fear. Tom Sawyer, on the other hand was held in Huck’s highest regard. Huck obeyed Tom because Huck’s relationship with Tom has always been working under and trusting Tom: “Tom Sawyer he hunted me up and said he was going to start a band of robbers, and I might join if I would go back to the widow and be respectable” (9). Huck associated Tom with freedom and latched onto him like an iron clasp. Huck would include the fact that Tom would be able to complete the given task with the same efficiency and a greater style. It was only towards the end of the novel when Huck was able to achieve the courage to question those who he had become accustomed to obeying. Huck had an advanced level of human understanding. He taught himself to question authority. He was able to question and disobey the orders of his father and the widow. Huck challenged Tom Sawyer’s motives to place animals in Jim’s cell and the practicality of Tom’s plan. Previously Huck would have accepted his inadequacy.
Huck’s resourcefulness and worldly knowledge allows him to evade society’s grasp and enter society only when Huck deems it to be necessary. Huck’s raft is the physical sanctuary where Huck can escape from society: “ We said there warn’t no home like a raft, after all. Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don’t. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft” (128). Aside from running and hiding from society Huck was able to move freely in society while letting trouble slide off him like melted butter. Huck’s age and
intelligence are greatly masked by his poor grammar and youth. His incredible wit allows him to flee his father’s house and create a likely scenario that would explain his disappearance. Huck’s youthful and ignorant exterior was his fail safe method of shedding suspicion. He is able to
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portray himself differently depending upon how he wishes to be viewed. Tom Sawyer knew how to convince Huck of anything. Huck always presented himself as a brain dead lackey who was stupefied by Tom’s every move. In actuality Huck internally questioned the efficiency of Tom’s plan. Tom also relied on multiple stereotypes to provide excuses in his favor. After Huck and Tom attempted to free Jim the adults learned of their plan and commented on its intricacy. Huck explained the failure to Aunt Sally and she forgave them on the account that they were simply boys who sought adventure, ignorant of their boundaries and hazards. Huck commented on Aunt Sally’s leniency and attributed the cause to his gender: “and then she said she’d forgive us, and maybe it was all right enough anyway and about what a body might expect of boys, for all boys was a pretty harum-scarum lot, as fur as she could see; and so, as long as no harm hadn’t come of it, she judged she better put in her time being grateful we was alive” (296). In this quote Huck added the phrase, as far as she could see, which reveals that Aunt Sally could not distinguish Huck’s actual intentions. Aunt Sally simply regarded Huck’s mishap as a game, not as a stance against society and it’s values. Huck wanted to liberate Jim and to give him freedom, not to play hero or simulate a jail break. Huck challenges society while relying on society for protection.
Escaping society’s demands and punishments allows Huck to develop his own beliefs and disinherit the bigotry of the south. He makes an astounding growth away from the
prejudice that the widow taught to him. When Huck and Jim escaped on the raft Huck was deeply vexed by the guilt of contributing to the freedom of an African American. He realizes he did not directly steal and liberate Jim from his owner, however he feels the guilt the one would
feel if he went on vacation and found that his neighbor’s pet cat slipped to into his luggage and he continued on vacation without bothering to notify the neighbors. It’s the sort of guilt that isn’t
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serious enough to control your actions unless one ponders over it for extensive periods of time. Huck was aided in distracting himself from guilt by getting to know Jim as time passes. Huck feels torn between turning Jim in because he believes it is the right thing to do, when it is society telling him what to do. On the other hand, Huck believes delivering Jim to his freedom originated from a self serving motivation while in reality he is following Christianity. Without a modern Christian education, Huck is forced to make the decision that his nagging conscience and Christianity are one and the same. Huck believes that choosing Jim’s freedom means heading straight for hell. The sheer intensity of Huck’s decision is best represented in the following quote: “I was a trembling, because I’d got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: ‘All right, then, I’ll go to hell’ (228). Accepting the worst fate know to man is a bold step against the southern racial repression and because it shows how it is wrong through the eyes of a child. Huck simply believes he has agreed to burn in hell in order to save his friend which he eventually learns is just as humane as he is and whose life truly is worth saving.
Throughout the novel Huck attains a greater human understanding, is enabled to live outside the confines of society, and is able to disinherit the bigotry of the south. Huck relies on
the stereotypes that he fits to endure the main brunt of the blame that would reveal a grown man to be a criminal. Huck is able to cast blame away from him and escape from society with the expertise of a magician. He does not fully understand the complex forms of his speech structure that emphasizes his apparent inability to comprehend the main point of conversations and ignorance of the world around him: “And when it was late in the day, the people all went then I come in and told her the noise and shooting waked up me and ‘Sid,’ and the door was locked,
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and we wanted to see the fun, so we went down the lightning-rod, and both of us got hurt a little, and we didn’t never want to try that no more” (295-296). Huck’s emphasis of his remorse of grappling the pole is a small but significant statement that demonstrates that he doesn’t appear to understand what is truly being asked of him. Huck’s skilled and manipulative speech masks his true intellect to others and quells their suspicion even though Huck is not conscious of him doing so (he does it instinctively). That is the thing about magic. A great magician never reveals his secrets, in Huck’s case, not even to himself.

The Great Gatsby Esssay

2009-07-31T14:50:00.000-07:00

Rossi, 1
Michael Rossi
July 25, 2009
Advanced Placement Language and Composition
The Great Gatsby Essay prompt two: Shelia Graham writes: “I think Scott (Fitzgerald) wanted me, through my reading, to understand and perhaps share some of his basic tenets about existence: that as he so often old me, there was no such thing as happiness. …As he explains, “…the sense that life is essentially a cheat and its conditions are those of defeat and redeeming things are not ‘happiness and pleasure’ but the deeper satisfactions of the struggle.

Failure is Success ,Selfishness is Charity, War is Peace
How does Fitzgerald, through his novel, attempt to share and impose his beliefs upon his readers? This question arises from reoccurring instances throughout the characters lives within the text. Each character has qualities about them that bring them misfortune. Fitzgerald shows that no one, not even the great Gatsby, is devoid of these poor qualities. Gatsby is tormented by jealousy and greed, Nick is unable to stay true to himself and to others, and Tom is an ignorant racist. Each of the novel’s characters were set on a trajectory towards failure instigated by their poor attributes. Achieving success and happiness is an impossible feat. It is like a child trying to keep a beach ball submerged under water. Fitzgerald demonstrates that humanity cannot be truly happy due to these two pillars of reason: happiness is nonexistent and at the core humans are driven by selfish motives.
Happiness is a relative term unique to the individual. Humanity has struggled since the beginning of its existence to order to attain success. Gatsby was in possession of wealth and friends and his goal was to settle down with Daisy. Many would consider love a necessity in one’s life. For some it is what they perceive as happiness or success. Through Fitzgerald’s eyes, success is failure. Humans base their idea of happiness upon some form of achievement. Successfully accomplishing one’s achievements will leave them with a satisfied feeling that may be perceived as happiness. If one fails to accomplish their goal, then they become subject to a
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self induced agony. The only true form of happiness is the state of wanting nothing. The character who most relates to this is Nick. Nick regards his friends as fools because they have unrealistic goals. . This is best exhibited when Nick (in the attempt to offer courage to Gatsby) said, “ ‘Thery’re a rotten crowd,’ I shouted across the lawn. ‘You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together.’ I’ve always been glad I said that. It was the only compliment I ever gave him, because I disapproved of him from beginning to end (154). This quote is a great representation of Nick’s true feeling. He tells Gatsby he does not believe him to be in Tom, Daisy, and Jordan’s circle when in reality he disapproves of him from beginning to end because he is the circle’s main pursuer of happiness’s shadow. Tom wants Daisy to become subject to his ownership and Gatsby wants Daisy to abandon her husband and current life to be together with him. These high and lofty goals set Gatsby and Tom up for devastating failures. Tom was forced to realize that he can be wrong and Gatsby was forced to realize that people do change, and that the world does not revolve around him. Since Nick lived humbly and did not allow himself to be rendered head over heels for a potential lover, he did not experience such a drastic fall at the end of the novel. Nick was on the outside of the ring of great ambition created by his friends. Nick flowed through the novel and did not struggle through it. He simply socialized with his friends to witness the spectacle that was their existence.
Fitzgerald also made it possible for the readers to determine that characters within the text acted out of selfishness. Very often in life, people make friends who share similar goals and values in order to learn and grow with them. Through Gatsby, Fitzgerald was able to convey the concept of growing at the expense of others, not with them. Gatsby used Nick to grow closer to Daisy. Gatsby was portrayed as the most generous man throughout the novel. He threw parties in
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which he did not fully partake. He purchased food and alcohol for his guests that he did not consume. Fitzgerald tries to show that selfishness is part of human nature do to the elaborateness of Gatsby’s selfish rouse. Gatsby was conscious of his plan to obtain Daisy through his lavish parties. He did not try to stray from selfishness, but to disguise it from others so that meeting Daisy would seem more natural. He would simply be a guest and a generous man whose reputation and generosity were wildly renowned. To others Gatsby’s interest in Daisy would portray him as a man who simply wished to meet everyone and please everyone. Daisy would simply be the next of Gatsby’s list. If Gatsby had neglected to fortify his reputation he would simply be a heartbroken stalker who sought to steal Daisy from her husband. Through Gatsby his questionable business and obsession with a married woman seemed permissible due to his multitude of redeeming qualities. If Gatsby’s desires and occupation were to belong to another person who did not emanate an aura of perfection throughout the novel, then they would become clear as lucid selfishness, distinguishable to any reader. If Nick was involved in shady business, was still poor, had an unknown reputation, and sought after a married woman, the reader would show no sympathy towards him.
Fitzgerald believes that humanity cannot truly be happy due to these two pillars of reason: happiness is nonexistent and at the core humans are driven by selfish motives. The Great Gatsby could be read as Fitzgerald’s handbook. None of the characters within the novel were able to fulfill their dreams, however Nick had no remorse. Since Nick had no selfish dream he was able to witness the dreams of other and partake in their excitement. Nick was not happy about every aspect of his life; however he did come the closest to true happiness. He was not subject to life suppression, either by his financial status, his haphazard love life, nor the horrid
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death of his closest friend. Pristine happiness and success are impossible because life always presents new obstacles both internally and externally. Nick did not swim against life’s current, but rather coast along with its waves. Nick is like the child that continually pounces upon the beach ball and thoroughly enjoys the duration in which he is able to maintain his balance. He is used to the ball fighting with his weight and sending him in the cold ocean. He knows that it is impossible to stay atop the ball and he will fall just the same way in which Gatsby and the others did and he does not mind for he knows those who never give in come the closest.

Monte Cristo Essay

2009-07-15T08:40:00.000-07:00

Rossi, 1
Michael Rossi
July 10, 2009
Advanced Placement Language and Composition
Essay Topic One: “Is Edmond’s vengeance justified? Consider this question within the contexts of just retribution. Based on what he had taken from him, is what he does just?

The Black Hole

What are the contexts of retribution, and when is retribution just? In the novel The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas, the protagonist, Edmond Dantes was faced with this question of just retribution. Edmond was wrongly imprisoned, and his life was ruined because of this imprisonment. He was unable to be with the love of his life, he lost the position of captain, and he was unable to be at his father’s side as he died. Whilst in prison Dantes thought that his life was shattered and devoid of meaning. All Edmond had to reflect upon was the horrible intensity of his suffering and the betrayal he felt against those who had forsaken him. When he meets Abbe Faria, he is given newfound hope and a chance at escape. This, along with the prospect of an enormous wealth, inspires Dantes with thoughts of revenge. He undoubtedly believes that this revenge is just. Dantes uses the knowledge and techniques taught to him by Abbe Faria to aid in his quest for revenge. The vengeance that Edmond takes is indeed justified because he is unable to regain the fourteen years lost as a result of his enemies. Although the Count’s desire for administering vengeance wavers when he begins to see those who he is harming as people and not objects of hatred. The Count is still entitled to revenge.
The Count’s enemies are depicted as crude heathens that any of Dumas’s readers would be able to identify as horrid villains. Each of Edmond’s adversaries were worthy of his
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vengeance. Through the use of characterization Dumas portrays Fernand, Danglars, and Villefort as different forms of society’s evils. Fernand represents a juvenile form of jealousy. He simply desires Dantes’ lover Mercedes. His form of jealousy simply covets objects and Mercedes is subject to this objectification. Fernand does this to achieve his own happiness. Villefort is the embodiment of corruption. Villefort’s rash and hostile judgment towards Dantes represents the strife coursing through the government due to Napoleon Bonaparte. Edmond thought he was doing the correct thing when he wished to follow his conscience and distribute Napoleon’s letter only to be convicted of high treason.
Danglars is the novel’s most pristine embodiment of evil. Danglars sought to destroy Dantes simply because he achieved the rank of captain without arduously pursuing it. His jealously is clearly unjustified because Dantes hadn’t expected his promotion, nor had he boasted about it. Using unjustified jealously as his basis for revenge, Danglars committed an act that set him apart from both Fernand and Villefort as the main antagonist. He acted upon his anger toward Dantes and had others rally to his cause.
Dantes receives hatred from the antagonists as a result of circumstances which were beyond his control. He could not control who Mercedes chose to love, who Morrel chose as captain, nor could he choose the current political situation. Dumas inspires in the reader a hatred for Dantes’ enemies by attributing to them an unjust evil.
The Count had the courage and wisdom to spare those who were related to his three main enemies out of respect for Mercedes: “’What do you ask of me?’ He said. ‘Your son’s life?’ Well then, he shall live!’” (472). He even believed that these people were destined to receive his

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revenge. The Count showed mercy to young Albert who attempted to strike the Count with his glove. This action was one of the most despicable insults one could issue against another in
Dumas’ time. Not only would the Count’s emotion grant him the permission to return the blow, but society also dictated retaliation. For the Count to not retaliate allows him to rise above societal pressure and retain his God-like qualities: “’You cannot suppose I have the least desire to live after I have been publicly insulted, before a theatre full of people, in the presence of your friends and those of your son, challenged by a mere child who will glory in my pardon as in a victory?’” (473). This line truly emphasizes the sheer magnitude of Albert’s insult. Therefore, the Count deserves revenge against the entire society who had damned him so. The case of unjust imprisonment caused by the bitterness of villains was left dormant by society.
The Count was double crossed by his so called, “friends” and fellow worker. The fact that society had no desire to investigate the mistreatment of an innocent sailor whom most people adored alone, grants the Count the right to revenge. Everything that gave Edmond joy was destroyed by his imprisonment. His father died without him, Mercedes married another man, and his occupation was revoked.
Although the Count’s desire for administering vengeance wavers when he begins to see those who he is harming as people and not objects of hatred, he is still entitled to revenge. Through revenge the novel was able to portray the reoccurring theme of man versus God. While the Count sought revenge he thought himself to be God, however by seeking revenge be became more like Satan. Through mercy for Valentine and witnessing Edward’s death the Count was able to see through a humble lens and become more like God: “’Fool that I am,’ said he, ‘that I did not tear out my heart the day I resolved to revenge myself!’ (474). The Count was subdued
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by his ever present love for Mercedes and understood his error in acting like God. This turn of events illustrates a drastic change within the Count. The Count regresses from being the Count of Monte Cristo back to Edmond Dantes. He no longer has mortal enemies and his generosity and
love were revived. He gave riches to Morrel and Valentine and set off to be with Haydee. Edmond’s once blissful happiness was absorbed by the suffering within the Count’s heart was and replaced with a black hole that he sought to fill with vengeance. Dantes most important victory was not over his physical adversaries, but over the Count whom Edmond apprehended. Edmond filled the darkness with what he originally withdrew from it, the Count of Monte Cristo.

compose at least 1 paragraph about your life

2009-05-06T18:49:00.000-07:00

Middle school had me drowning in my own failure, and once it was through I was quick to submerge the experience to the depths of my subconscious beyond recollection. Experiences of all kinds were the result of lethargic inactions conducted under the impression that it would all arrive together effortlessly, in such a fashion that fled my influence like the alignment of planets. I often wondered if it would be once again permissible to resume my academic prestige now that Marc had become stricken with an undefined illness. Since my abilities were not in symphony with the court of public appeal, I continued to believe that a lazy stupor was the only way to achieve a bearable social status.
None of the personalities I tried to assume truly brought about any signs of alteration; however they did successfully mask my true feelings. To allow my peers to jeer at my ignorance to such an extent that they had found difficult to believe to be stored in a single mind, was just the nudge necessary to provide me with the incentive I needed to remove the shackles of a self-induced oppression.

Native son to page 360 - 381

2009-04-15T19:14:00.000-07:00

"He unfolded the Tribune and his eyes caught a headline: TROOPS GUARD NEGRO KILLER'S TRIAL. Troops? He bent forward and read: Protect Rapist From Mob Action." (365)

Bigger’s situation is similar to that of Jesus. Bigger and Jesus are both hated by people. The judge most likely feels some degree of pressure to appease the angry mob in the same way that Pontius pilate succumbed to the will of the people. Like jesus, Bigger is having trouble understanding why he must die for others, or abstract concepts like racial equality. Based off of these observations, I believe that Bigger’s death will not have immediate significance. Bigger sacrifice will be recognized after his death and create awareness to American racial injustice.

Will the mob cease if Bigger is not killed?

Does Max truly value the outcome of Bigger's trial?

Native son to page 340-360

2009-04-15T03:45:00.000-07:00

"He had to die. It was more important to him to find to find out what this new tingling, this new elation, this new excitement meant" (363)

Bigger’s new dream to find a deeper meaning to life is destined to fail. Even if he were not condemned to die Bigger would be thrown back into the under tow of society. If Bigger hadn’t been killed, he would still have to live with the history of his crimes. He would most likely be unable to attain employment to sutain himself in his family. Consequently, he would be forced to remember his family hardships and shame. This would set Bigger back on the track of his original cycle of life.

Does Max really care about Bigger or does Max just use Bigger to showcase his politics?

Will Bigger’s new dream lead him to happiness before he dies?

Native son to page 340 part 3

2009-04-12T18:31:00.000-07:00

“I can die without a cross!” (338)

This is outburst by Bigger is his last straw. In Bigger’s situation, with everything set against him, he mind as well act pious in case there, is in fact, a God. When Bigger rejects religion, he rejects his mother and the preacher which were the only people who never exhibited signs of hating him for his crime. Now that Bigger has turned away from heaven and earth, remaining sympathetic toward him is becoming an arduous task.

Will anyone visit Bigger before his death (besides max and Jan)?

Will Bigger regret turning away from God?

Native son to page 340 part 2

2009-04-11T11:12:00.000-07:00

“He wept because he had once again trusted his feelings and they had betrayed him. Why should he have felt the need to try to make his feelings known? And why did not he hear resounding echoes of his feelings in the hearts of others?”(310)

The society in which Bigger resides does not allow him to live naturally. He cannot trust his feelings or instincts because they are the ways in which Bigger violates the laws of society. When Bigger gives in to his sexual instincts and molests Mary it led Bigger to killing her. Bigger struggles immensely with surpressing his instincts and he wonders if others share his struggles.

Will Bigger commit suicide?

Will Jan be blamed for Bigger’s crime?

Native son to page 340 part 1

2009-04-10T13:28:00.000-07:00

"I want you to know that my heart is not bitter," Mr. Dalton said. "What this boy has done will not influence my relations with the Negro people. Why, only today I sent a dozen ping-pong tables to the South Side Boys Club...." (294)

In this section Richard Wright makes it apparent that communism is the only way that Chicago could have changed. It is simply insufficient for Mr. Dalton to donate a few pinball machines when those to whom he is giving them to cannot even afford to eat. If all of Mr. Dalton’s wealth was distributed to the masses then crime and negative feelings toward those who are more fortunate than you will be inexistent.

Will Bigger survive?

If Bigger does not get sentenced to death how will he face his family?

Native son 286

2009-04-08T17:33:00.000-07:00

"Sitting beside Mrs. Dalton was Mr. Dalton, looking straight before him with wide-open,unblinking eyes. Mr. Dalton turned slowly and looked and Bigger and Bigger's eyes fell." (277)

Throughout his entire life, Bigger attempted to ignore problems and responsibilities by concealing them under a curtain. Now that the curtain option is no longer accessible to Bigger he will have to face his problems. In doing so, Bigger will be forced to realize that he had been wrong about all of the other things that he had hidden under the curtain. Fainting during trial is but a morsel of guilit which due to befall Bigger.

Will the Dalton's forgive Bigger?

How will Bigger deal with his guilt?

Native son end of book two

2009-04-06T18:42:00.000-07:00

He thought he was in the Paris Grill listening to automatic phonograph playing; but that was not satisfying. Next, his mind told him that he was at home in bed and his mother was singing and shaking the matres, wanting him to get up[...] But that, too, did not answer the question. (253)

In nearly everyone's life there was a moment that is more enjoyable than others. This is typically referred to as one's happy place. Bigger has destroyed his happy places. He fought with his family, killed Bessie and cannont return to work for the Dalton's. When one is living without goals, anything to look forward to, and is scarred by the past, one may lose the will to continue the uphill battle of life.

How will the men who captured Bigger punish him?

Will Bigger attempt to commit suicide?

Native son 186-209

2009-04-02T17:30:00.000-07:00

"The muscles of Bigger's face jerked violently, making hi feel that he wanted to laugh. He turned his head aside and fought to control himself. He was full of hysteria." (206)

Whenever Bigger is in a situation when "blind" people fail to comprehend Bigger role in Mary's murder Bigger's second, hysteric personality seizes control. Bigger argues with that second self that violence is not the answer. This second self is derived from Bigger's anxiety that he does not understand. Very often this anxiety presents a great stress to Bigger and becomes misplaced aggression.

What will Jan tell the papers?

Will Bigger eventually speak to the men who work for the papers?

Native son 163-186

2009-04-01T16:50:00.000-07:00

“Say, what is this!” Jan demanded. “What’re you making this boy lie for?” (167)

Jan is still unable to understand Bigger. Jan’s belief in respect towards blacks has blinded him from even suspecting that Bigger is lying on own accord. It does not even occur to Jan that he gave Bigger pamphlets and preached to him about communism without Bigger’s compliance. Any white person could easily use this information to frame Jan and he would suspect it. However, in Bigger’s case Jan can only feel sorry for Bigger, unable to piece together the truth.

Will Jan finally suspect Bigger of lying or murder (on his own accord) now that Bigger pointed a firearm at him?

Will Bigger’s savage writing style allow the Dalton’s and Britten to suspect him?

Native son 140-163

2009-03-31T18:48:00.000-07:00

“He knew now that Britten was trying to find out if her were a Communist. It was something he had not counted on, ever.” (161)

For the first time Bigger felt doubt and failure in his plan. Britten represents adversity to Bigger’s success. Britten is the type of white that hates Bigger the most. He is a poor white, so he must repress Bigger in order to attempt to remind Bigger (and himself) that Bigger is below him. Bigger is not likely to take kindly to this so he may try to kill Britten so no one will be left to oppose him.

Will Britten give up on his suspicion of Bigger?
How will Bigger deal with the flaw in his plan?