The first essay on my blog was about my experience in nature. The other one was about the flaws of the punishment in the Scarlet Letter. I was trying to link the nature experience with the beliefs of Emerson and Thoreau. My second piece talked about how punishment has become better since the days of the Scarlet Letter. My experience in nature was a very good one and really made me think about the world and our meaning in it, but I believe Ralph Waldo Emerson put that feeling in to the best words possible in his great writings. He was the Colonel Sanders of nature writing, a true rebel of the english literature in the early 1800's. As for the Scarlet Letter, I think that the punishment dealt out in that was dumb and had many flaws.
My writing obtained many flaws in which Mrs. Turner pointed them out. I used to many being verbs in my writings which is something that I am trying to improve on. It is a bad habit that is hard for me to fix in my pieces. I also have the tendency to lose meaning in my works towards the end, I can't really keep up the intensity that I set up in the beginning. I am also trying to improve on that flaw in my writings as well. I also have problems with the placement of my comma's, I'm what you may call "comma crazy", which means I use to many or don't know when to. I really felt like I've been able to identify these problems thanks to Mrs. Turner and I'm trying to fix them.
While reading through my fellow classmates blogs I noticed something, I'm deffinatly not as talented at writing as some of them. Ben's blog, for example, has alot of deatail and looks and sounds way better than all of my writings. Will's as well sound alot better than mine and I think that's something I need to work on. Also my introduction and conclusion have never really been up to par compared to everyone else's.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Scarlet Letter Essay
Throughout time people have always done bad things and have been caught; Although some of the choices people choose have not changed that much the punishments have changed alot. The Scarlet Letter is set in a very different time from the present, there is many differences in the way they handled issues back then. Punishment has changed, but not as much as one would think, punishment like the scarlet letter are still used today. Also the Church had a big role in governing the people, which has since died off and been the job of the government. I believe that the change in punishment has been better for the people in this country.
In the time of The Scarlet Letter the punishments varied from being sent to the gallows to being subject to public embarassment like Hester Prynne. In the book one of the goodwives said, "At the very least, they should have put the brand of a hot iron on Hester Prynne's Forehead."(5). This shows that back then they were very harsh on people that sinned, they were looked down on. The thought of branding a human as punishment today is unheard of, also the usual punishment is to go to the gallows for adulterers in that time. Hester was forced to stand on a scaffold in the middle of the town. The magistrates made it like a holiday, all the children were released from school to tease her. Adults did not have work and were all there to witness there "town fun" for the day. This is a sick way to punish somebody, the damage that could do to one's heart could drive one crazy. In the aftermath the punishment was even worse, for 7 years Hester was treated badly. She was automatically judged by everyone when the saw the scarlet letter on her chest so there was really no chance for her to make any new friends. This is almost like taking aways one life, if she did not have a child I don't believe she would've had anything to live for. Also the magistrates from the church were the ones who dealt out this punishment. In those modern times the Church dealt out most punishment, which I believe is not good because they really had all the power in the town and could do whatever they wanted. For these reasons I believe the system of punishment is faulty in The Scarlet Letter.
Today the government has changed for the better. The Church really doesn't have any control in punishing people for their sins. In this free country if the someone from the church attempts to punish one for sinning the government will butt in and will not allow it, unless it is considered illegal(such as stealing, or raping someone etc.) Being an adulterer nowadays is still considered a sin, but the government will not punish somebody for committing it. The punishments for other crimes are usually jail time, in rare cases of murder one can be sentenced for life in prison, or put to death. Most recently I've heard of a type of punishment similar to the scarlet letter, but not as harsh. The Wal-Mart corporation has given some captured thiefs a choice between jail time, or standing outside of their store for 8 hours holding up a sign that says, "I got caught stealing from this store." Even though this is an ambarrassing form of punishment it does not amount to the feeling one would bear having to wear that sign for the rest of their life. Most choose to take a few months in jail so they won't be recognized as a thief by the majority of the public. This shows that jail time is better choice than even a mild form of public embarassment. Sitting in a jail cell for long periods of time, in my eyes, is a lot better punishment compared to hanging or the scarlet letter. When being confined in a jail cell one must think about what they have done and have plenty of time to chew on it. In this way I think our forms of punishment are built more to help people who are in trouble, rather than in The Scarlet Letter they are very harsh with their punishments. I believe the way our government teaches it's culprits a lesson, rather than putting them to death, is a better choice for our society.
The punishment that is used in The Scarlet Letter is part of a horrible governing system. They were to harsh on the culprits and they shouldn't of let the church choose the punishment in the first place. The modern day system of punishment is alot more productive in todays society. The government, although sometimes is controversal, is for the good of this nation and its people. The differences between the justice system of 1642 and today are different, I believe through the oncoming years the punishment will only become better and never stoop down to what it used to be.
In the time of The Scarlet Letter the punishments varied from being sent to the gallows to being subject to public embarassment like Hester Prynne. In the book one of the goodwives said, "At the very least, they should have put the brand of a hot iron on Hester Prynne's Forehead."(5). This shows that back then they were very harsh on people that sinned, they were looked down on. The thought of branding a human as punishment today is unheard of, also the usual punishment is to go to the gallows for adulterers in that time. Hester was forced to stand on a scaffold in the middle of the town. The magistrates made it like a holiday, all the children were released from school to tease her. Adults did not have work and were all there to witness there "town fun" for the day. This is a sick way to punish somebody, the damage that could do to one's heart could drive one crazy. In the aftermath the punishment was even worse, for 7 years Hester was treated badly. She was automatically judged by everyone when the saw the scarlet letter on her chest so there was really no chance for her to make any new friends. This is almost like taking aways one life, if she did not have a child I don't believe she would've had anything to live for. Also the magistrates from the church were the ones who dealt out this punishment. In those modern times the Church dealt out most punishment, which I believe is not good because they really had all the power in the town and could do whatever they wanted. For these reasons I believe the system of punishment is faulty in The Scarlet Letter.
Today the government has changed for the better. The Church really doesn't have any control in punishing people for their sins. In this free country if the someone from the church attempts to punish one for sinning the government will butt in and will not allow it, unless it is considered illegal(such as stealing, or raping someone etc.) Being an adulterer nowadays is still considered a sin, but the government will not punish somebody for committing it. The punishments for other crimes are usually jail time, in rare cases of murder one can be sentenced for life in prison, or put to death. Most recently I've heard of a type of punishment similar to the scarlet letter, but not as harsh. The Wal-Mart corporation has given some captured thiefs a choice between jail time, or standing outside of their store for 8 hours holding up a sign that says, "I got caught stealing from this store." Even though this is an ambarrassing form of punishment it does not amount to the feeling one would bear having to wear that sign for the rest of their life. Most choose to take a few months in jail so they won't be recognized as a thief by the majority of the public. This shows that jail time is better choice than even a mild form of public embarassment. Sitting in a jail cell for long periods of time, in my eyes, is a lot better punishment compared to hanging or the scarlet letter. When being confined in a jail cell one must think about what they have done and have plenty of time to chew on it. In this way I think our forms of punishment are built more to help people who are in trouble, rather than in The Scarlet Letter they are very harsh with their punishments. I believe the way our government teaches it's culprits a lesson, rather than putting them to death, is a better choice for our society.
The punishment that is used in The Scarlet Letter is part of a horrible governing system. They were to harsh on the culprits and they shouldn't of let the church choose the punishment in the first place. The modern day system of punishment is alot more productive in todays society. The government, although sometimes is controversal, is for the good of this nation and its people. The differences between the justice system of 1642 and today are different, I believe through the oncoming years the punishment will only become better and never stoop down to what it used to be.
Nature Essay
This summer I visited the beautiful town of Sirnitz, Austria. Sirnitz is a simplistic town that lies in the Alpine Mountains, it's air is very clean and the people are extremely nice. A few of my friends and myself decided to go on a hike to the top of this massive hill to see the sunset over the hills. This was probably the most in-touch with nature I have ever been in my entire life. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were very in-touch with nature and believed it had a spiritual reflection of God. I felt like I had a very Transcendental experience that day, and it was very unique.
A small group of my friends and I found some hiking trails not to far from our hotel in Sirnitz, we decided (well they decided) that it would be a good idea to hike up this monstrous hill to watch the sunset. Personally I was a little against the idea because we had been walking a lot during our tours, but they convinced me it would be worth it so I tagged along. The hiking trail was a very strenuous climb, the hills of the Alps served very tough uphills. The woods were very beautiful and the clean environment made it all the better. Unlike the nasty woods outside of T.L. Hanna there was no beer cans lying out, no cigarette butts, and no trash at all; it was a very good environment. We went up for what seemed like at least 5 miles, but knowing my judgement it was probably around 2. After an hour of fighting brush and walking through very small trails we made it to the top. There was a clearing that gave way to a beautiful sunset, it was unlike any sunset I have ever seen before. I don't know why the sunsets aren't like that here in the US, maybe because of the massive amount of pollution we put into our air, or because nature is so mildly touched by humans that it is hard to tell that the forest has ever been seen by human eye. We stood there taking in the beauty of the moment until the sun was almost gone, we then noticed we would not be able to find our way back to the hotel if it was pitch black. I believe this was a very Emerson/Thoreau moment because they were very one with nature. Emerson liked to be a "transparent eye", I definitely felt like a transparent eye that day in nature. "Most persons do not see the sun. At least they have a very superficial seeing." (Emerson, From Nature) I think that Emerson was saying people do not look at the sun like the beautiful thing it is. I believe I did see the sun the way Emerson did, it was a golden sphere of beauty, I had never looked at the sun that way before. Therefore, with my transparent eye I related to Emerson and Thoreau.
Watching the sunset over the hills of Sirnitz was a true Emerson/Thoreau moment in my life. Emerson and Thoreau truly spoke of natures beauty in a way people can not understand unless it is witnessed. The feeling Emerson/Thoreau portray for nature is very accurate, they truly capture the essence of nature's beauty. My experience in Sirnitz was the most in-touch with nature I have ever been, hopefully remembering this will encourage me to look at nature in a different way again.
A small group of my friends and I found some hiking trails not to far from our hotel in Sirnitz, we decided (well they decided) that it would be a good idea to hike up this monstrous hill to watch the sunset. Personally I was a little against the idea because we had been walking a lot during our tours, but they convinced me it would be worth it so I tagged along. The hiking trail was a very strenuous climb, the hills of the Alps served very tough uphills. The woods were very beautiful and the clean environment made it all the better. Unlike the nasty woods outside of T.L. Hanna there was no beer cans lying out, no cigarette butts, and no trash at all; it was a very good environment. We went up for what seemed like at least 5 miles, but knowing my judgement it was probably around 2. After an hour of fighting brush and walking through very small trails we made it to the top. There was a clearing that gave way to a beautiful sunset, it was unlike any sunset I have ever seen before. I don't know why the sunsets aren't like that here in the US, maybe because of the massive amount of pollution we put into our air, or because nature is so mildly touched by humans that it is hard to tell that the forest has ever been seen by human eye. We stood there taking in the beauty of the moment until the sun was almost gone, we then noticed we would not be able to find our way back to the hotel if it was pitch black. I believe this was a very Emerson/Thoreau moment because they were very one with nature. Emerson liked to be a "transparent eye", I definitely felt like a transparent eye that day in nature. "Most persons do not see the sun. At least they have a very superficial seeing." (Emerson, From Nature) I think that Emerson was saying people do not look at the sun like the beautiful thing it is. I believe I did see the sun the way Emerson did, it was a golden sphere of beauty, I had never looked at the sun that way before. Therefore, with my transparent eye I related to Emerson and Thoreau.
Watching the sunset over the hills of Sirnitz was a true Emerson/Thoreau moment in my life. Emerson and Thoreau truly spoke of natures beauty in a way people can not understand unless it is witnessed. The feeling Emerson/Thoreau portray for nature is very accurate, they truly capture the essence of nature's beauty. My experience in Sirnitz was the most in-touch with nature I have ever been, hopefully remembering this will encourage me to look at nature in a different way again.
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