Desiree's Baby

http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/DesiBaby.shtml

The Custom House

1) The Custom House, it would seem, was not simply meant to bore the audience to tears (although, in my humble opinion at least, it certainly did succeed at that), but to serve as a introduction to the larger story. The narrator goes through great pains to describe everything to the reader, be it the candle flickering on the first floor or the slight peculiarities of his coworkers, and he does so for a reason. His descriptions not only prepare the reader for the probable abundant details in future chapters, but gives his audience a sort of feel for the setting, if not the time. For instance, the sentence ‘In my native town of Salem, at the head of what, half a century ago, in the days of old King Derby, was a bustling wharf’ (Custom House, pg 4) allows the reader to imagine the town of Salem at it’s peak, also offering a slight glimpse into what the life of the novel’s protagonist, Hester -Prynne. Alluding to Ms. Prynne’s Salem helps to familiarize the reader with certain things and places, so as not to confuse them too much in the later chapters.

The following sentence, -but which is now burdened with decayed wooden warehouses, and exhibits few or no symptoms of commercial life; except, perhaps, a bark or brig, half-way down its melancholy length, discharging hides; or, nearer at hand, a Nova Scotia schooner, pitching out her cargo of firewood, Custom House, pg. 4) gives the reader the sense of time that must have past between these two periods. It first establishes the fact that the novel is written from by an outsider, one who has little knowledge of the events in Hester Prynne’s life other than what is written in that diary. This fact is essential to understanding not only the Custom House, but later things in the story as well.

The Custom house also succeeds in acquainting the audience with people and customs that may appear frequently thought out the course of the novel. The author explains that the story takes place in puritanical times right off the bat, which would explain the radical differences in the customs and activities between his time and theirs. He describes people of the time as ‘grave’ and ‘steeple-crowned’, which might help the readers understand the harsh treatment of Ms. Prynne later on in the novel. Hawthorn also describes the ideals and opinions commonly held at the time. Doubtless, however, either of these stern and black-browed Puritans would have thought it quite a sufficient retribution for his sins that, after so long a lapse of years, the old trunk of the family tree, with so much venerable moss upon it, should have borne, as its topmost bough, an idler like myself. (Custom House). This, coupled with the information on the setting and detailed explanation, make The Custom House sufficient introduction and guide it was meant to be.

2) The narrator admits to altering the facts of the original diary. “I have invariably confined myself within the limits of the old Surveyor’s half a dozen sheets of foolscap.
On the contrary, I have allowed myself, as to such points, nearly or although as much license as if the facts had been entirely of my own invention.” (pg. 32) Here, he basically states that while most of the facts are indeed true, or at least as true as the ‘half a dozen sheets of foolscap’, he has taken the liberty of adding a few things in, jazzing the piece up if you will. He makes the book more his own work, even if the main facts and ideas are based on what he’s read in the diary.

On one of the very first pages of the introduction, Hawthorn expresses his wishes to become a well established author. This, in fact—a desire to put myself in my true position as editor, or very little more, of the most prolix among the tales that make up my volume—this, and no other, is my true reason for assuming a personal relation with the public. (Custom House, pg. 2) In finding the journal and the scarlet letter, he essentially becomes the editor that he’s always wanted to be, in some respects, as well as the 'author'. He 'edits' out what he feels will either hamper or impair the progression of his story, not unlike that of a modern day editor. He may have altered descriptions of people and things a bit to fit this purpose as well, but one can infer that somewhere along the lines, his own opinions and biases were intertwined with the diary's original contents. This is the change that Hawthorne admitted to making, as well as the true reason why this novel is even published in the first place.

3)The changing of details can have two impacts on the larger story. The first one of these impacts drastically change the overall tone and flow of the book. Instead of reading like a diary, The Scarlet Letter is jammed packed with descriptions of people and places and sounds, some of which are surely all of Hawthorn’s doing. These changes improves the flow of the story, allowing the reader to be fully immersed in Hester’s Salem instead of just being offered a glimpse of it, as most diaries often do. Although it does take away from the empathy level that often comes with first person narratives, it adds so much more in terms of details and descriptions.

The second impact effecting being, of course, the narrator’s credibility as a whole. If he has taken it upon himself to alter certain parts of the story that he may find distasteful or irrelevant, who’s to say if anything printed in the novel has any accuracy at all? Why should be we believe him, a simple Surveyor who was born at least a century after the events he’s writing about? The thing is, since Hester Prynne or any other character of this story weren’t coming back any time soon, there was no way to verify that Hawthorn’s ‘inventions’ didn’t make up the bulk of the book. It is possible that Hawthorn never did find a diary or a strange red letter, and he was simply making this all up so as not to be labeled simply as a fiction writer. Although the author’s credibility doesn’t effect the main story directly, it does have an impact on how the audience will view the novel and its so called ‘facts.’

sorry, I forgot to pass this up.

1) I think he's a bit grateful to the sea. In the last line of the poem, the author says 'lived on, and so did I, while he states in the previous lines that so many 'beautiful' men weren't as lucky. Maybe he feels indebted to it for spearing his own life.

This imagery reveals this particular attitude throughout the stanza, but he makes it more clear in the last line.

2) I think the second stanza is leaning more towards admiration that gratitude. This is revealed in the lines 'I watched their rich attire, Blue, glossy, green, and velvet black'. He seems more awed the beauty of the water than mournful for the loss of his comrades.

Vocabulary

Crossword puzzle- http://www.variety-games.com/CW/Puzzles/1141046990-puzzle.htm

abase- Base, Sea
abate- beat beta
abstruse- breast brass
abyss- bass bay
acuity- cut cat
affinity- faint tiny
alacrity- clarity, cray
alchemist- chemist, match
alloy-all, lay
amenable- able, blame
antipathy- paint, hint
append- pane, dean
arduous- sour, soar
ascend- case sane
ascetic- ties, set
audacity- city, act
augury- gray, guru
auspicious- cups pious
austere-steer, stare
balm- lamb, lab
benevolence-been, love
buoyant- bayou, you
betoken-token, note
blighted- light, delight

The importance of Pathos

As in the case of most poetry, Anne Bradstreet used particular words and phrases to invoke vivid imagery and pleasant connotations , as well as to evoke emotional and sensual responses from her readers. Her skill and fluency as a writer has led many to regard her as one of the greatest poets of her time, even the first in North America. She relies heavily on pathos in her poems, sending out themes of unconditional love and unwavering faith to appeal to her audience, succeeding tremendously in her efforts. “ I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold, Or all the riches that the East doth hold” (lines 5 and 6, To My Dear and Loving Husband) are particularly powerful lines, giving the reader an idea of just how deep her love for her husband runs. Even the fact that a woman in the times of Puritan restraint and modesty could express her passions toward a man so openly should give the audience a sense of tenderness and sincerity. When she admits that even the whole of Eastern treasures could not replace his love for her, she reveals her devotion and gratitude towards him. In doing so, she appeals not only to her husband’s feelings of affection (who I’m sure was her original target audience), she calls upon the feelings of affection of all her readers, stirring their own past or present sentiments and resulting in a sort of comradeship. This is further exemplified in the line “Compare with me, ye women, if you can” (line 4, To My Dear and Loving Husband). It may seem as though she is saying that no other woman could possibly feel the passion and adoration she feels for her husband, but it seems to me that she is instead asking them to compare her love to the intensity of their own romances.

She also uses specific diction to create the most impassioned and empathetic responses from her audience. Even in the more difficult lines like ‘The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray’, you can get the general gist of what that author is trying to communicate to you. There is again that sense of gratitude towards either her lover or her god, but the feelings of overwhelming appreciation are definitely there. When one reads the line ‘If ever two were one, then surely we’, the unity and contentment practically leaps off the page at you. You can’t help but feel a portion of the tenderness that is expressed in this poem, such is her skill.

Even in the cases that the author seems a bit contradictory, the basic message of her love still manages to resonate strongly. In the line, ‘Compare with me, ye women, if you can’ , the author gives the impression that her target audience is her female peers. In the previous and following lines, however, her extensive use of the word thee (which in Old English terms would be the equivalent of ‘you’), suggests that this poem is meant for the eyes of her husband alone. This inconsistency makes one ask the question of who this poem was truly meant for. Did Mrs. Bradstreet intend for this to be enjoyment and inspiration to her fellow women, or was this a private work never meant to be published at all? In the final line of this poem, the reader is again met with a contradiction. It is common knowledge to all who studied Anne Bradstreet and her works that her faith is deeply rooted within Puritanism, which fully embraced the Calvinistic ideal of Predestination. With that in mind, are we to believe that the line ‘That when we live no more, we may live ever’ is to be taken literally, and that she truly believes that they are both the ‘elect’ and will live in paradise forever? Are we to suppose that she believes that their love will conquer all, even death, despite their religious leanings? Were these paradoxes completely unintentional, or were they meant for the audience to ponder? If so, these contradictions add a bit of thoughtfulness along with the emotion, making this poem that much more enjoyable.

This was the main power of Anne Bradshaw, as well as all the great writers and poets in history; she possessed the ability to utilize pathos and rhetoric in her works, invoking the desired effect upon her audience. Her themes almost always clear to her readers, her messages and purpose for writing able to be deciphered by readers without much effort. Her whimsical verses and passionate vocabulary kept her writings interesting and captivating, each poem able to withstand the passing of nearly four centuries without losing relevance or applicability. It is because of these gifts that Anne Bradstreet is considered one of the greatest and most accomplished writers of the seventeenth century.

Anne Bradstreet

Anne Bradstreet was born into a life of privilege and luxery in the early fifteenth century, her father being steward to the Earl of Lincoln. Despite the attitudes of the age being against the education of a young woman, she was educated in literature, history, Greek, Latin, French, Hebrew, as well as English. She married young, moving to the New World with her husband and parents at the age of sixteen. The three month trip aboard the "Arbella" was a stark contrast to the life she was use to, with cold winds and dying passengers becoming a part of daily life. Despite this, Anne makes it to Massachusetts and starts over there. She has eight children there, and although she was sickly for most of her adult life, becomes a great writer. She writes about her lifestyle in the New World and its religious aspects, although most of her works were originally written for her family. She died in 1672, at the ripe age of 60.

(I have no idea what MLA citations are, and since the internet really didn't help much on the matter, I hope I did this right.)

http://www.biography-center.com/biographies/4179-Bradstreet_Anne.html

Culture Clash

In my opinion, this picture is a perfect representation if this piece not only because it shows Cabeza de Vaca in the way that most scholars have come to view him, but because it is jammed packed with symbolism as well. If one were to look at this image closely, they would notice the staff he is holding is not just a mere piece of wood, but that it is fashioned in the image of the symbolic cross. They would noticed that de Vaca, with his eyes cast upward as if speaking to the gods themselves, is intentionally potrayed as some sort of savior, maybe even reminiscent of Jesus Christ himself. The truly observant, however, would also note the food scattered across the ground as offerings, and that the Natives may have viewed Cabeza not only as a healer, but as a god.

This view may have also been held by the savior in question himself, as he makes many comparisons between the life and death of Jesus Christ and his own trials. “Blood flowed from us in many places where the thorns and shrubs tore our flesh….my only solace was to think of the sufferings of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and the blood he had shed for me.” This piece sure makes the connection between the Lord and Cabeza de Vaca, even if he himself did not. The Native Americans can be seen waiting patiently before the Spaniard, possibly hoping for some sort of miracle healing ritual to be performed.

There are also conclusions that can be drawn from this picture, besides any allusions toward the Bible. One could conclude that Cabeza de Vaca, with his clothing being nearly indistinguishable from the Native Americans surrounding him, has successfully assimilated into Indian life while still maintaining his Christian beliefs. In my opinion, this image not only embodies the esteemed reputation and benevolent attitudes that succeeded the man, but the blending of ideals and melding of the cultures may have resulted from him.

Bellringer

Other than color, what comes to mind when you think of a lipsticked girl?

I would think of a confident girl, maybe a bit vain, who spends a lot of time on her appearance. I might think of someone who was a bit more mature, closer to being described as a woman that a girl. The ‘girl’ would probably be glamorous and fashionable as well.

How would it change the meaning and feeling of the line if, instead of lipsticked girl, the author wrote girl with the lipstick on?

I think the line would become overly wordy and the flow would be messed up. As far a meaning, the girl would lose some of her extravagance and distinction. I would instead think of an ordinary girl who was trying too hard to gain attention, but the fact that she was merely wearing lipstick is unoriginal and easily overlooked.

Write a simile comparing a tree with a domesticated animal. In your simile, use a word that is normally used as a noun (like lipstick) as an adjective (like lipsticked). Share your simile with the class.

A maple like an empowered bull.

What Columbus was Really Saying

Is it just me, or does anyone else wonder why Christopher Columbus still has a national holiday in his name? Not only do we as Americans celebrate a man who both directly and indirectly led to the genocide of entire races, demanded non-existent gold and sex from survivors (Christopher Columbus, first page), and never really achieved what he set out to do (he never did find that trade route to India, did he?), most of us do so unknowingly. The vast majority of Americans are also blissfully unaware that their great icon ultimately died penniless and disgraced, the numerous atrocities he committed as governor surfacing and eventually leading to his arrest.

Columbus himself, however, was by no means shy in revealing this information. In his letters to Ferdinand and Isabella, Christopher packs on the pathos, using phrases like ’ I never think without weeping’ (letter to Ferdinand and Isabella Regarding the Fourth Voyage, paragraph 1) and ’the unmerited wrong I have suffered’ (paragraph 6) to appeal to the readers’, namely the king and queen’s, sympathy. Although it isn’t clear whether or not his methods had any effect on his chosen audience, his pity-inducing diction does do an incredible job on portraying him in a pathetic and almost admirable light; indeed, if this final plea to his patrons were coupled with the heartbreaking image of the fallen hero being herded off the ship in shackles, not even the most informed and callous person could help feeling even the tiniest ounce of pity for the poor guy. He certainly makes no secret of his depleted fortune either, willingly admitting that ’of worldly goods, he had not even a blanca for offering in spiritual things’.

Impressively, Columbus manages to both simultaneously induce the most sympathy possible in these letters while reminding his employers of all the ’wonder’ he has done for them. ’The land which here obey Your Highnesses are more extensive and richer that all other Christain lands. After I, by divine will, had placed them under your royal and exalted lordship…..I was made a prisoner and with my two brothers was thrown into a ship, laden with fetters, stripped to the skin, very ill-treated, and being condemned.’ ( paragraph 5 of the Ferdinand letter) Tsk, tsk, poor Columbus. He gains incredible wealth for his adoptive country and its sovereigns, governs the new lands justly and to the best of his ability, and this is the thanks he gets? Slandered, impoverished, and tried like a common criminal? Why, the outrage! He should be hailed as a national hero for all that he’s done; statues should be erected in his name, scholars should be tripping over themselves to get his account of the new world, or at the very least, he should be well compensated financially for his discoveries.

This is the true message that Columbus meant to be embraced by Ferdinand and Isabella, and he admittedly did one heck of a job getting his point across, even if it was not completely successful at the time. To answer my own question, Columbus is such a revered figure in our society not only because most of us still (mistakenly) believe that he discovered this great land of ours, but because the pathos his images and letters invoke make him someone we can relate to. When we are taught the biography of Mr. Columbus, the fact that he was an Average Joe son of two working class stiffs is always one of the first things to be mentioned; since most of us are Average Joe’s and Jane’s ourselves, we make a slight connection with him there. As stated before, he is also a true genius at invoking sympathy when the situation calls for it, and the fact that his life ended tragically only strengthens our bond with Columbus. These letters and images like the picture above paint Columbus as a pathetic and prosecuted, completely undeserving of the atrocities committed against him. This is why we celebrate October 12 as the recognition of a true hero, and why we will most likely continue to do so for years to come.

P.S. Okay, I can't get double spacing or tab to work on this thing.

Fall of a legend (Columbus Picture)

Now this picture is one that most students definitely don’t see every day. Instead of being portrayed in rich furs and dazzling jewelry as per usual, this image of Christopher Columbus is downright degrading. He is shown being herded off the boat in chains like livestock, his hair is matted, his beard is unkempt, and his clothes are simply filthy. He has lost his signature grace and prideful stance, adopting here a look of self pity and forced humility. His downcast eyes may indicate shame or humiliation, most likely caused by approaching his fellow countrymen as a disgraced prisoner. Columbus is obviously old and frail looking, yet is chained to his brothers by the neck as if a prospective runaway. This may have been done only to inflict further mortification on the once great conqueror, and if the defeated and downtrodden stance of Columbus is any indication, it had its desired effect. I’m not entirely sure if the artist’s intent was to enforce our admiration of the man or to dispute it, but both outcomes seem to be equally powerful.

P.S. Yeah, it would really help out if someone could tell me how the heck I'm suppose to keep this this double spaced.