Transcendentalist Nation: Possible or Never Post

Rachel Montgomery

Honors Am Lit

December 19, 2011

1^st- Provenzano

Burself: A Dream

            A major goal for most humans is to be accepted in society. They want a sense of comfort and belonging in a society. Most of these people end up becoming conformists, doing whatever it takes to blend in with the crowd. Secretly, they have a person inside them that is unique and great, but are afraid to let anyone know. Burself, an island nation, was imaginary chain of islands created as a transcendentalist nation to give that feeling of comfort, belonging and unconditional acceptance to anyone who comes to live there. A place where external and internal affairs were taken care of by “Chiefs” and where being “green” and eco-friendly is second nature to all the citizens who live there. Burself would have a loving and understanding community that would accept all those who live there. Unfortunately though, Burself could never truly exist. There are problems that prevent Burself from coming to life. These problems are the form of government used, the inability to be truly self-sufficient, and human-nature in general, which all in some aspect, prevent its potential to be a true nation and keeps it as a dream only.

            Burself tries to be as secluded as possible to leave little room for outside corruption that could lead to negative thoughts and opinions that are not welcomed in the nation. This would make self-sufficiency key to the nation of Burself. All the food and goods needed for the islands would come straight from one of the islands so there would be basically no outside interaction. Some people in the nation would work as substance farmers or factory workers to make the food and power needed for the island. This is good in the sense that it would provide jobs for those on the island and help prevent as much outside corruption as possible for the islands. Also, it creates the secluded nation Burself works hard to have and indirectly, creates a happier and healthier nation as a whole. There are problems with having that secluded of a nation and creating your own food and goods on island chain though. With creating your own food and goods on islands, there isn’t an infinite amount of space. Someone can’t just expand the agricultural area to fit the needs of the nation. What is given is the only amount the nation has. Burself, being smaller islands, wouldn’t have enough room for all the necessary foods a human diet needs. Even the demand of other necessary goods couldn’t be met by the factories there on the islands. This means that there will be importation of goods. Seclusion would no longer be an option and outside interaction would occur. This leads to more corruption entering the nation and little can be done about it. So while seclusion and self-sufficiency are great ideas to keep the nation less corrupted and healthier, it would be an unsuccessful attempt for the islands. This is why Burself is only a dream and can’t truly become a transcendentalist nation.

            Burself’s government would never last and keep the order and peace it needs to survive. The government has too many flaws that could upset the citizens of the nation and cause disorder that is very carefully prevented. The government is run by leaders known as “Chiefs”. Each island has one “Chief” to deal with affairs more closely and a main “Chief” that works internal and externally for the entire nation. There is a democracy to vote for these leaders and the major issues they deal with, but the “Chiefs” are elected into office for life unless they decide to step down and retire. This was created to keep more rules free, open and have fewer obligations for the citizens to deal with. Unfortunately, if one “Chiefs” is voted into office and doesn’t do the job needed, it is very hard for those of the nation to remove them from office. This is because there are really only five “Chiefs” throughout the islands and there are really no others running the nation. So if the “Chief” does a poor job of running Burself, they could cause chaos to the citizens and disrupt the order that had been created by the “Chiefs” before them. When that happens, the transcendentalist nation can no longer exist because it will no longer be a safe haven for all people, but a nation of mass disruption. This makes Burself government easily destroyed and hard to keep in order. Since the form of government is corrupt, Burself can only remain a dream and not become an actual nation.

            Burself is a nation that allows people to be themselves openly and freely without being frowned upon. This includes anyone who is gossipy, rebellious or disruptive. By being the transcendentalist nation Burself is, they can’t turn down someone for having an opinion that could be negative towards others. By doing so, the belief that Burself is a place for all who want to be accepted and feel like they belong would be false. The nation has to accept all now because of this, including those who cause chaos and disorder. They can’t be judged because they like to talk about people behind their backs or are openly opinionated. For every human brain is programmed to like certain things and find other things weird or bad. This makes everyone have different opinions on different matters. Since we want people to be open and voice their opinions, we can’t just tell them not to say anything about others because it could cause problems or hurt feelings. This goes against being a transcendentalist if opinions of others are being silenced. So by admitting these people into Burself, the nation is naturally being corrupted and becoming disorderly. Naturally, others feelings will be hurt because of their admittance and the secure and safe haven known as Burself will be destroyed. This will be going against everything Burself has fought to created and have for the people of its nation. Human nature will naturally cause all this harm to a transcendentalist nation, like Burself. So Burself can’t truly become a transcendentalist and accepting nation and will remain just a dream.

            Burself is an imaginary, perfect, dream island, but can never become real. The government system is off, they can’t truly be self-sufficient and human nature in general prevents the nation from coming to life. No matter what, Burself can’t be a true transcendentalist nation without something or someone that could be a hazard or cause corruption to the nation. This leaves Burself a nation only in a dream and not reality. One day, there could be a transcendentalist nation like Burself, but only will last so long before trouble comes along.

"Dead Poet Society"- Going Too Far With Transcendentalism?

Transcendentalism is great in many ways. It encourages us to be ourselves and to stand-up for what we believe in. It inspires us to stand-out from society and show our true colors instead of blending in with a crowd. Transcendentalism seperates society into the group of people who have the power and strength to stand-out against society and the group of people who are more cowardly and follow "the current". So while this does show how transcendentalism can be helpful and good, transcendentalism has it's bad sides to. Transcendentalism can be really hurtful and dangerous to those who take it to the next level. Those who can be "extreme transcendentalist" can cause damage to those around them and to themselves. In, The Dead Poet Society, it is showed how extreme transcendentalists can get.

The Dead Poet Society is one of the most transcendentalist movies. Showing how one teacher or one person can give a different outlook on life and change the views of all those who listen to them. It also shows how that if someone hears it, they can take it the wrong way or go too far with it. Charlie (aka. "Nuwanda"), in the movie, is a perfect example of someone taking transcendentalism the wrong way. Charlie starts acting out against the boarding school the movie takes place at and trys to get himself expelled. The dean catches on to his act though and only spanks Charlie. There is a difference between stupidity and standing-up for what you believe in. It is people like Charlie that get this concept mixed up and end-up doing something stupid instead of standing-up for a belief or going against society. If someone does something that is just stupid instead of an act of transcendism, something worse could happen than just getting expelled from a fancy, expensive boarding school.

Those who aren't transcendentalists, can be that way for many reasons. There are those who may not have a fear of being different from the crowd, but those who are afraid of what someone important to them will do if they are different. Children are always trying to please their parents. They are trying to get their approval, respect and love at any means necessary. Neil, in the Dead Poet Society, wants to be an actor, while his father plans for him to be a doctor. When his teacher speaks of being a transcendentalist, he finally decides to go against his father and become a actor. When his father refuses to let him be an actor, he ends up commiting suicide. Neil is one of the few people who have felt "trapped" or "cornered" when trying to be themselves. Those people are the ones who end up taking the ultimate step and try to kill themselves because of their inability to be themselves. Transcendentalism can show them that there is a way to be yourself, but it can show people how "restrained" they are. Transcendentalism is great at showing at how being different is great, but it can be too much for some people.

Transcendentalism is viewed by alot of people as a great thing, but they just don't see how some people can take transcendentalism the wrong way. Being yourself is always encouraged by transcendentalism. It always inspires us to stand away from the crowd. It also can show us a dark side. A side that leads to stupid decissions and rash ones that lead to harm for everyone who listens.

My Experience Being Me

I am a high school girl who loves unicorns.

When given the assignment to make a t-shirt for myself to express who I truly was, I was actually really excited about it. I was excited to show the world who I truly was and was determined to go all out in my outfit. I knew the moment the assignment was given; I was going to make a shirt on my obsession for unicorns. I knew that while me and my friends act and pretty much are two-year-olds and really enjoy this kind of stuff, others find it “lame” or “uncool”. I went with the unicorn theme and wore my unicorn hat, bracelet, and necklace. I even brought in my stuff unicorn named “Pixie” to school.  I knew if I was going to do a project this intense, I might as well go all out.

                While I was totally psyched about the project to begin with, I have to admit, going into school and all my classes decked-out in my unicorn gear, made me nervous. I knew wearing that outfit may not get me a lot of compliments or respect from my peers. I knew being the transcendentalist I was trying to be wouldn’t be easy. A lot of teens in high school view things like unicorns, stuffed animals in general, princesses, faeries, legos, star wars and all those kinds of things as “nerdy” or “childish”. This makes some people lose instant respect for you, opens a door for them to make fun of you and just end up treating you like no one for doing something as simple as being yourself. While as harsh as it is, it is just the way it is and I knew that being my inner “two-year-old” self was going to be interesting.

                I have to say though, I had fun in the end and truly believe that we should have a day like this for everyone to make a shirt like Mr. Provenzano’s English classes did and wear it all day. While I did get some disgusted or judgmental looks from some people, particularly upper classmen, it was really an uplifting experience. I had a lot of people compliment me on my shirt. Some people thought it was funny. Others just asked why I was doing it and once I explained it, they thought it was cool that I was doing it. I loved being who I was for the day. I loved showing the world who I really am. For them to see me not as “one in the crowd”, but as a unique individual who stands out far beyond the rest. Some might have even seen my shirt and seen that it is okay to like unicorns in high school or just something abnormal for someone in high school to like. It might have shown them how we are all a little weird and that being yourself isn’t a crime. My shirt probably wasn’t as powerful to others as I clam it to be, but it was that powerful to me and really changed my outlook on some things.

                I don’t know if my shirt did everything I hoped it did. I am not sure if some people have no respect or dislike me now knowing my passion for something two-year-olds like. I don’t know if I will ever be a “Lady Gaga” and always stand out in a crowd. I don’t even know if I would ever do this again without a bunch of others doing it with me as well. All I know is…

                I am a high school girl who loves unicorns.

                And proud of it.

The "Lady Gaga" Teacher

                To be a transcendentalist, is basically to be yourself. To have the ability to be who you truly are and not care what others think. A transcendentalist is someone who has their own opinions and beliefs and is not afraid for someone to hear. So naturally, people would normally relate to Katy Perry, Lady Gaga or Madonna as transcendentalists. The pop divas who wear crazy outfits, outrageous hair styles, perform the weirdest performances on national television without a worry in site. Yet, there are those who may not always wear the weirdest clothes or sport the craziest of hair styles. There are those who are better at voicing their own opinions and speaking their minds. Those who may not always be able to say it in front of a crowd or a higher authority, but are more than willing to speak it to their students. Someone who is not afraid to say, “I don’t think swimming is necessary for humans”. Mr. Provenzano is the” Lady Gaga” and “Katy Perry” version modern-day transcendentalist teacher.

                Mr. Provenzano may not always be the one to voice his opinions to a large crowd or to his boss. He may not always be sporting his “nerd look”, but he is a transcendentalist in a different way. He is a transcendentalist teacher. Mr. Provenzano openly argues with his class on whether or not swimming should be required for humans along with many other topics. He voices his opinions and that allows the opinions of students to be heard. Compared to the usual, “this is what I say and that is how goes” as most teachers teach by. His English classes are taught with as much technology as possible to cut down on the paper used. He uses IPads, the Smart board and other technological advancements in his class, instead of the usual 20 stacks of papers students receive from other teachers. He wants his students to have blogs so they are allowed to do homework assignments on them. Mr. Provenzano encourages students to “tweet” him questions or statements on twitter. He prefers classes with kids talking and voicing their opinions on articles and pieces of literature instead having them listen to what he has to say. He creates a completely and different learning environment that is nothing like those of other teachers. He doesn’t match the traditional form of teaching. He makes his classes more interesting and unique with all the different form of technology he wants the kids to use. He brings in a different environment with encouraging kids to talk openly in classrooms. He marches to his own beat when teaching a classroom and makes it just that much more interesting and inspiring to the students he teaches. He is a true modern transcendentalist when it comes to being a teacher.

                He may not wear funky outfits, crazy hair styles or put on an amazingly weird performance on MTV, but he is a teacher transcendentalist. He makes the classroom a different experience for all those who have him. He doesn’t follow the guidelines of other teachers. He is different in every sense in this case and is ready to voice his own opinion when it comes to teaching his students. He is the “Lady Gaga” and “Katy Perry” version of a transcendentalist teacher.


SEE ZOIE UZNIS'S POST!

Waldon Post

Where Our Society Has Gone

                Humans like advancement. They enjoy the latest gadgets and gismos that have updated them to the “21^st Century”. These advances have caused their lives to become essentially, easier. They come with a high price to pay though. Humans are eating through their eco-system like a bug on a leaf to get the latest and greatest technological advancement. They have ignored and forgotten important skills from their history that are necessary for their education. Humans have become the essence of laziness and greed because of their advancements. The progression they have made has caused them to become a society that lacks in areas that are essential. The human society needs to slow down in their progression and look back on what is truly needed for humans to become superior and survive. Progression may be helping society, but at the cost of things more essential to humans.

                They are causing destruction to planet earth. Humans want the latest and greatest technological advance from a cell phone to a car. They don’t realize where they are getting these technological advancements from. Factories are being built all around the world in place of forests and natural habitats for animals. These animals are defenseless against the superior human intellectual and evolutions and have just as much right to live here on planet earth as humans do. Humans are treating them as inferiors and are removing them from their homes so they may have that cell phone and car they always dreamed of. By removing some animals from their homes though, the humans are essentially hurting, killing and destroying animals that are in need of the habitat destroyed for the factory. Then, once the forest is destroyed and the factory is created, it needs a source of energy. Humans then turn to fossil fuels and other resources of the earth to power these heavy machineries. These fossil fuels and other resources may power the plant, but they also produce toxins, such as carbon dioxide, which are pumped into the atmosphere and kill not only living things, but the planet’s ozone layer. This layer is essential for human life to live here on planet earth. Since we are producing so much carbon dioxide and other toxins, the hole just keeps growing and won’t stop. Just because one person wanted that cell phone or that car, they have basically killed off many habitats, animals and the ozone in the process. All because humans are spoiled by the progression they have made over the years. Humans are unable to stop and see, let alone care, about the damage they are causing. Progression has made the humans greedy and incompetent of what is truly going on around them. They do not see how their progression comes with the cost of destroying the natural life found on this earth.

                Humans rely on technology. They see it as the passage to making their lives simpler and easier to live. Their reliance on technology though has caused them to lose insight on the past. They are forgetting skills that use to be required and now use technological advances, such as computers and cell phones to do the work for them. People are forgetting how to spell and do cursive writing because of some of the advances. Day after day, people forget what it is like to write a paper or write something in cursive. Computers have become the main source for writing documents, such as essays and notes, and people slowly lose the need to write and eventually forget. No longer do they write out letters, but send emails. They don’t hand write essays, but type them. Humans are using the technology to do the work for them. Then, when they use cell phones to send messages to each other, they use abbreviations and acronyms in place of actual words. People no longer see the need or importance of actually writing out the words. They have become lazy and just use the simplest method possible. This gives them a harder time to use actual words when it becomes truly important for them, like on: essays, test papers and projects. People use these methods because they don’t see progression as a problem, but as a source of help to move forward into the “modern era”. They see it as an easier path to take and are willing to sacrifice whatever is needed to make their own lives simpler. Little do they know of the skills they are losing in process. Humans don’t see how lazy they have become and how reliant they are on all the advances to do the work for them. Humans are losing the skills and achievements made in the past and replacing them with ones that require less skill and are essentially, easier. Progression is causing our society to be lazy and less skillful as they once were.

                Progression may make life easier, but it does come at high costs. People see progression as making their lives easier, when it is really just destroying what was already there. Humans need to see the damage they have caused. They need to stop and look back to see what is really important: our lives and skills or that new cell phone.

Student Declaration

Everyday, decisions are being made for schools without the students’ representation. While a bunch of adults make decisions on our school, we, the students, are suppose to stand on the sidelines and concede to whatever decision the adults make. We want to represent ourselves and we are willing to fight for what we think is right. We needed representation on the school board and on the city council. The adults needed to hear the opinions we have as students, instead of basing it off their own judgment. It’s too late now though and we want to form our own source of representation. We, the students of the Grosse Pointe Public School System, believe we deserve the power to make the decisions made about our school.

While the adults may say we have representation by having student councils or student associations, we only receive partial representation. It’s one thing to be able to pick out decorations for a party, but another matter entirely to decide on matters that really affect our school. We, the students, want that ability to decide on the issues that truly could affect us, the school or even our education. We want our own school board that will be the one and only group of students that will make the decisions on our school. We can no longer have a bunch of adults, who are not in or graduates of our school, being the deciders on these matters. We, as a student body, needed to be the final deciders on everything. The students are the ones that know what happen inside and outside of the school. We are the ones that get the blunt of the blow whenever the deciders on the city council or school board make decisions about our school. They don’t really know what happens in the everyday lives of the students, so they shouldn’t be the deciders of our future. Issues that affect all schools, such as snow days, need the students to be the deciders. We don’t want the adults saying what happens because they are not the one’s walking to school in the freezing cold or even driving to it on the icy roads. Then when it comes to each individual school, we need to be the deciders on issues, such as the classes we have and class sizes, because these issues could affect our education as students. The adults aren’t there in our classrooms with us or know what classes we need. They don’t need to be deciding these matters for us. So we, the students, believe it is a basic right for the students to be the only representatives on these issues.

We, the students of the Grosse Pointe Public School System, deserve this basic right as students of the schools. We are willing to do whatever it takes for us to get what we think is right. We want our own representation and we will no longer wait to act upon this. The adults will no longer be the superiors, for we are stepping up and fighting back. We are our own deciders. We are our own source of representation. We are the Grosse Pointe Public School System.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->I. <!--[endif]-->The district has given us an early start in school, and an early start to the school day as well. Save Monday, the school day starts earlier than is acceptable to students. 8:00 a.m. provides little time to be sufficiently prepared for yet another school day in the morning. After rising out of bed, deprived of sleep by large amounts of homework from all seven classes, students have to make their groggy way to school and wake themselves up by first hour. Students need to have more time in the morning to be adequately prepared for the school day.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->II. <!--[endif]-->The district has provided us with dances as an opportunity to unwind. However, we students are locked into these dances as if they were jail sentences. Some students can only stay at the dance until ten, but are locked down until 10:30. Whether it's a large event the following day or just overly protective parents, most students have a reason. Should students need to leave a dance early, they should be allowed to.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->III. <!--[endif]-->Late homework in inevitable. It simply cannot be avoided: students will turn things in late. Steep penalties for late homework are being issued by teachers who seem to have little to no respect for students. After all, the concept of filial piety says that we should respect our elders, and our elders should respect us too. If students cannot complete their homework, they should not be penalized. Students should be given two days free of penalty to complete homework and turn it in late.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->IV. <!--[endif]-->Buses are a service that most other schools in the Detroit area have, and that we lack. Taking a look at a simple comparison, the amount of snow days between Grosse Pointe South and another school in another district show a landslide in favor of any other school in any other district. A simple way to make students happier is to increase the amount of time off, in the increments of a short but great snow day, sprinkled over the school year. The way to increase the amount of snow days is to add buses to the district. Thus, the way to the student’s hearts' is through a system of buses.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->V. <!--[endif]-->The lunchtime should be longer. It’s too short, barely have enough time to eat, socialize, being back in time for class without rushing in at the last moment. The lines in the school lunchroom are too long. They don’t have enough people working the lunch counter. It takes them four to five minutes to serve one person when there is at least twenty or thirty people waiting for food and by the time that the last person is served they only have about four or five minutes to eat. If they are in that long line waiting for food then they won’t have time to socialize with their friends and talking to teachers about extra help and catching up on the thing that they missed. Some kids like to go out for lunch, but they know that if they do then they will have to rush back to the school; they will have to get a carry out and eat the food on their way back to the school.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->VI. <!--[endif]-->Extra credit should be allowed in every class at all times. Students need extra to improve their grades. If a student isn’t a strong test taker they will need to have extra credit to boost up their grade. If an assignment is missed or failed by a student they can use extra credit to make up some points. Extra credit is a lifesaver to some students. Students also use it as a pull up. There could be a limit to how mush extra credit a student is given. So they don’t depend on extra credit too much really needs it then the teacher should provide. Extra credit is not a fall back for students, but only something to give you a little push.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->VII. <!--[endif]-->The class school schedule should be changed. There should be three classes in the morning and three in the afternoon. With this schedule the students will be less reluctant to go to school. With all of the information that is given to a student in one of our regular school day they will forget half of it before they leave to go home. If the day is changed to our way then the students will have enough time to process all of the information that they are given. More students’ homework will be done. The more time the students will have time to do it and study for tests and quizzes.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->VIII. <!--[endif]-->The rule of having no cellular devices in class has always been and issue. Students are constantly getting their phones apprehended by administrators for the simplest things as checking the time. It is one thing to get the phone taken away for texting a peer during a test or quiz to cheat but it is definitely another to be texting a parent asking for schedule changes or if they dropped something off in the office. Students do not want to use the school provided phones located in classrooms unless it is an emergency. It is much simpler and less disruptive to send a quick message to a parent or guardian instead of disrupting an entire class to make a phone call.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->IX. <!--[endif]--> Facebook is a social Internet site that is used by almost every student today. The fact that it is blocked in school is inconvenient to all students. The website keeps students connected with one another. Students can frequently check in with each other between classes to catch up on a homework assignment or compare study guides to do better on quizzes or tests. Facebook is not a bad thing like the administration seems to think. It will actually improve on student’s capability to communicate with each other and make our school a joined community.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->X. <!--[endif]--> The bathrooms in Grosse Pointe South high school are horrendous. There is graffiti in almost every stall. There is always a shortage of toilet paper and soap. The actual toilets are disgusting and unsanitary. It is not healthy for students to be associating with such filth. Regular cleaning and sanitary enforcements should be looked into. Not only will this give our school a better image but it will keep students from getting sick.

We as the outnumbering student body have agreed on ever matter included within the document, signifying our strength in number and ambition to receive basic and deserved rights. If we are not to receive such fundamental rights then actions against such unjust authority must and will be initiated within the next 30 days. We can no longer live under the wrongful dictatorship of Mr. Provenzano and the administration. Such tyranny has forced a separation between hierocracy and the people. We will no longer be subject to such oppression. We declare ourselves free of unwarranted and arbitrary rules and restrictions made and enforced by the school district. We now represent a new and free nation- of students. We will be taking our education elsewhere leaving the unjust Grosse Pointe South school district. Under this new administration we will be able to arrive at school at a decent hour of the morning, which will be around 9:00 A.M opposed the ruthless 8:00. We the students will receive an equal and fair representation involving school decisions unlike the strict and oppressing system of the old administration, which ultimately lead to such separation.

Crucible Epilogue

Epilogue

The cold wind blows against my face. I see the trees sway along with a melody being played all around me. Between the soft whistle of the breeze and the gentle rustle of leaves, it is like a song sung of sorrow.

It has been four years.

Four years since the man I loved died.

It’s all my fault.

I should have made him come with me on the boat. We should being living happily in the city of Boston, without a single worry in site. He would kiss me as he once did, just to show me just how much he loved me.

He would have left his wife for me, I know it.

But that is not what happened at all.

Now I sit in front of his grave and all the tragedies that I have caused pour back into my mind.

The memories of me sitting in court and accusing so many of being witches come back to me all at once. I have lost count of the people I accused. All the stomachs, headaches, and illnesses I have faked. All the fainting I did. All creativity I put into saving my own hide from being beaten by my Uncle Paris.

I was so stupid.

I killed the one person I loved to save myself.

Now I am all alone and on the run from the town I once lived in. The town I found love in. The town I went from being a whore to being a saint in. The one that now everyone hates me in. I am the town outcast.

The other girls have been hung. They were sent to the gallows after the judges and others hung the great and powerful Rebecca Nurse (worldwide known saint), her goody-two-shoes sister, Sarah Easty and my dear lover, John Proctor.

Once they were hung, everyone knew it was a scheme. They knew witchcraft wasn’t really in Salem and that all the girls and I were lying. Which is why they all got hung, the judges were fired and I got out of there before anything else could happen to me. Not even my dear cousin, Betty, kept me from leaving. Why shouldn’t I have been able to leave? She started it. If she didn’t fake the “trance” she was in, I wouldn’t have to have lied, everyone would have been saved and my John Proctor would still be alive today.

Sure, I probably ratted out the girls by leaving before the saints were hung, but who cares? It only matters that I am still alive.

I told John he should have left with me when we had the chance, but he didn’t.

I shouldn’t feel bad for his stupidity.

Yet, I feel strangely guilty.

I have been living in the town of Boston since the incident occurred.

I have been living in the fast life. I have become the whore that everyone said I was in Salem. And living off the money I get for being one.

I slept with a different guy every night and every night, I was told that someone loves me. That I am the most beautiful girl in the world and no one else could compare.

Yet, I have never felt the love I had for John with any of them.

All I feel is emptiness every night. One that causes excruciating pain and makes me want to weep in my own sorrow. I know something is missing from my life.

I am missing love.

The love I had for John and love he had for me. It is gone. And I need it back.

So I came back to Salem to find that love once again.

As I stand over his grave, on the fields he once worked, I feel a tear run down my face in sorrow. I feel pain in my heart and anger towards myself.

He loved me and now he is gone.

I hear the squeaking of a back door opening. So I run and hide behind the biggest tree on the property a couple yards away.

Once behind the tree, I peer around the corner and watch as Elizabeth Proctor makes her way towards me with a bundle of field flowers.

I have changed both physically and mentally since I left for Boston four years ago with Mercy Lewis, but that doesn’t mean I want to take any chances that Elizabeth will recognize who I am. She would probably be the first one that would like to see me hang for her husband’s death. I mean, I was the one he had an affair with and the one who indirectly got him killed. Why wouldn’t she want me dead?

As I watch her approach, I see her smile fade slowly on her face to a frown filled with pain and sorrow. Lines form on her face of years of sorrow and regret. Bags appear under her eyes that weren’t noticeable before. Her everlasting beauty was wiped from her face right before my eyes. This gorgeous woman turned from a young and beautiful woman into an aged woman with regret that is obviously in her eyes.

So I just watch as she kneels before John’s gravestone. She tries to smile, but the attempt is futile. You see the sadness in her eyes along with guilt and everlasting torture. But I still admire her for her strength to show no pain and look half way decent.

She bows her head and says, “Hi John. It’s me… Elizabeth.” She takes a breath and struggles to keep calm and poised. “I know I don’t come and visit as much as I should anymore. It’s just… Rosie is just walking around and she doesn’t stop. She keeps talking and has a whole lot to say. She just keeps going and going and won’t stop.” She pauses once again. “She looks like you John. She has my hair, but she has your eyes. She reminds me of you every time I look into them. Just like the boys.” Elizabeth looks very caringly at the gravestone, “They are all doing fine. They are more active then ever and are growing like weeds.”

She loses her smile and pauses to regain it and then struggles along. “I hate watching them grow-up. I feel like if I keep letting them grow-up, then I will miss something, but then something inside me tells me to let go and let them all grow. So I have and they are beautiful children John. They are talented and amazing. You would be so proud.”

Tears start stringing down her face one at a time very slowly. “James is doing well with the kids. He is so kind and caring. It is like he is their father. They even started calling him ‘Papa’.”

Then the tears started flowing rapidly. She starts crying as if it was the end of the world and it was all her fault. She cries so hard and full of pain, I feel a tear stream down my own cheeks as well.

“I miss you John! I needed you for those four years I didn’t have James! You were gone though! I didn’t know how to feel for a long time. I even started blaming myself for your death. I blame myself for not making you live. I know it was your choice, but I still blamed myself some days.  Francis had to help me a lot with the kids because I was so depressed at some points.

“And I am so sorry I betrayed you John. I am so sorry I went ahead and married James! It’s just… I needed help with the farm and the kids. And he made me smile again! He started showing me how your death wasn’t my fault. He cares about me and I care about him. Not to mention he cares for the kids as well. It’s like he has taken them under his wing and became their replacement dad.

“All I can think though is, ‘he isn’t their dad’. You’re their dad. You’re my husband. Not James. All I feel is guilt for remarrying and finding someone to help me raise our kids. I am so sorry John. Please forgive me! Let me have happiness for the rest of my life! I want your approval! I love you with all my heart! But I love James as well! Is that so wrong of me?! I love two men. You were my first husband and the love of my life. But James was the one who stepped in and showed me it is okay to love again and I love everything about him. So please, just give me a sign with your approval, and I can live a happy life, knowing that God has given me another chance at happiness!”

She burst into tears and bent over the gravestone. She clutched the gravestone as if it was a life raft and nothing else could save her, but that stone. She was crying so violently, my heart ached for her.

She really loved John. Even someone like me could see that.

She is crying and feeling guilty over something that wasn’t her fault. She is asking for his permission to live a happy life once again because she doesn’t want to betray him.

Who wouldn’t love someone like that?

John would.

John was telling the truth. He probably did love her when he said he did.

What I can’t understand though, is why does she feel so guilty for what happened? Why does she love him after all the pain and suffering he has put her through? She still loves him after the affair. She loves him enough to defend him in court. She still asks for his permission to live a happy life with a new man, even after he is dead. Why does she do that?

Maybe it’s because she was John’s real love and she really loved him. Maybe love isn’t sex, but an actual feeling.

I went to Boston to feel love again, but I haven’t found it. I became a prostitute and had sex with many of guys. All of them have told me that I was beautiful and that they loved me.

But I haven’t felt the love I had for John again.

I came back to Salem to visit John and feel love again but, I feel nothing.

It is probably because it wasn’t my love to have.

I see Elizabeth and she feels love and knows what love is. She knows John loved her after everything he has done and she still loves him and wants his approval to live a happy life once again. Love will always be with her.

I, on the other hand, am guilty on all charges. Love was never really there between me and John. It was sex. A single moment of weakness were he gave into my constant flirting. A moment when he accidently gave into me as I constantly threw myself at him. It was nothing more than sex.

I made it into more than it really was and ended up ruining a great marriage for a long time. A marriage that was perfect before I walked into their lives.

John is dead and Elizabeth feels guilty for everything. She feels guilty for allowing him to die and for the affair we had. When, in all honesty, it was my fault entirely. Just like everything else that went wrong in this town four years ago. I caused nothing but destruction to this town.

I can’t blame anyone for wanting me dead.

I have caused more harm than good in my life time here. I am guilty for a lot of things. I need to fix a lot of things as well.

I know I can’t resurrect all those people that were hanged for being accused of being a witch, back from the dead. I know that I can make one thing right though.

I step out from behind the tree and ever so softly said, “Elizabeth?”

She is startled by my appearance. You see the look in her eyes change quickly from sorrow to fear. She jumps back slightly. Then her eyes turn slowly from fear to curiosity and confusion.

She takes in my rumpled appearance. She looks at my battered old cloak with plenty of holes and patches. Then she takes in my short skirt and extremely tight brazier that I use as a shirt. Then she notices my bare legs. I do not look normal for Salem. My tangle, brown, curly hair is blowing in the wind and I probably have a crazed look in my eyes from lack of sleep or just bad sleep in general. Coming here from Boston was no easy task. The travel contributed to my lack of sleep and a rumpled appearance. I look older than ever. My looks are gone and quite frankly, I look nowhere near as beautiful as I did when she last saw me. Goody Osbourn would have looked like a princess compared to me.

Elizabeth Proctor was the last person on earth that I would have wanted to see me now.  I am at one of my weakest hours. However, I know she needs to hear this now. She needs to know the truth and she needs to hear it from me.

“It’s not your fault Elizabeth. It never was. If you were to blame his death on anyone, blame it on me. I am the culprit here. Not you. You shouldn’t feel guilty, I am the one who caused this mess, ruined your marriage and killed him.”

The entire time I spoke, she stared straight into my eyes. She looked me over once when I first came out and then never looked anywhere but into my eyes. As I spoke, I slowly saw the recognition come into her eyes. Her face goes into complete shock as she says oh so softly, “Abigail.”

“I am so sorry,” as I burst into tears, “I have caused nothing but trouble in your life. Everything bad that has happened to you is all my fault. I am so sorry and feel so guilty. My desire to have John caused him to cheat on you. I never confessed my sins. So instead of stopping everything at any point during the trials, I just kept the trials going with my lies and deceptions. I just wanted to save myself. So I killed John. Don’t feel bad. It is all my fault. I am so sorry…. I am so sorry… I am so sorry…”

Now I am crying so hard, my speech is inaudible. All I can say is “I am so sorry” over and over again. My crying has made my words so soft though, that it pretty much sounds like me mumbling.

Elizabeth just looked at me. Then she got up and walked over and she does the most shocking thing ever. She hugs me.

It was the best hug I ever received. It said everything to me. She knows now it wasn’t her fault and she knows that I feel guilty. I am more positive than ever that she is forgiving me.

I just keep hugging her until my sobs slowly die to sniffles and small jerks.

Then she says ever so softly as if she was speaking to baby, “When did you get into town?”

“A few hours ago,” I respond.

“Well since your Uncle is gone, you are going to need a place to stay. I am not sure though if many will welcome you into their homes right now. You diffidently need a nice home and warm food. So… you can stay with us.”

I just stare at her in shock. The hug was a shocker, but this was just astounding.

“We will make a bed for you and I will make you a nice warm dinner. Tomorrow we will get you some new clothes from town. You can stay as long as you want.”

“Why are you doing this? Don’t you want me dead?” I asked.

She looks at me as if I am the craziest person in the world, “Why would I want that?”

I bow my head and solemnly say, “Because I ruined your life.”

She sighs and says, “While you did cause a lot of my pain, it wasn’t all you fault,” she breaks away and looks off into the distance, “Some of it was truly my fault. It is in more ways than you can understand, even though you have certainly grown over the past four years. Not to mention, you apologized. If that is all God needs to forgive a person, then I believe I can live by the same philosophy. We all make mistakes. While some may be bigger than others, it is our responsibility to ask for forgiveness and give forgiveness to those who ask for it.”

All I could to is smile. She makes it sound so simple and perfect. It makes me feel inferior and guilty because I know I wouldn’t have ever been this forgiving.

She really is a perfect lady.

I know why John loved her and can’t understand why he would ever cheat on her.

“Come on. Let’s go inside,” she says as she gestures towards the house.

“One moment please,” I ask, “I have something I need to do first.”

“Take as much time you need.” She turns to walk back towards her house.

I watched her walk away as two teenage boys come running outside and as one four year old girl comes waddling out after them. By the time Elizabeth reaches her kids, a middle-aged man has come out of the house. She goes up to him and kisses him dearly.

I turn around and look at the gravestone.

I kneel down and say my parting words, “I am sorry John, for everything,” I bow my head and continue, “I know I have no right to be forgiven by you. I know I am lucky that Elizabeth forgave me. You don’t have to forgive me, but I just want you to know that I am sorry and I am grateful that you showed me true love. Even if you don’t think you did, you did.”

As I turned to walk away, the wind blows harder behind me. The leaves rustle even harder and whistling wind became a happier tune. I know I am forgiven.

I turn around and say, “Good bye John.”

I turned back and start walking away from the small cross with “John Proctor: A loving husband and father” on it.  I walked towards my new home for a while. I have a new life ahead of me and a new outlook on love and forgiveness.

So I just hum along with the wind and the leaves to the happy new tune.

Crucible Essay

Rachel Montgomery

Honors American Literature

October 9, 2011

Provenzano, 1^st

Responsible

                To be responsible for something is one thing. It is another thing completely to be responsible enough to take the blame for a fault. In The Crucible, multiple people were responsible for the deaths of the acclaimed “witches” in Salem, Massachusetts. These people were responsible whether they were willing to admit it or not. They had some part in the procedures before or during the trails of these acclaimed “witches”, that led the “witches” to their untimely deaths. Some people caused the start of the whole affair through the accusations against the “witches” and or were just too cowardly to admit their faults. Betty, John Proctor and Abigail were major contributors through their accusations. Some of their decisions caused a major event or series of events that led to deaths of the accused “witches”. This makes Betty, John Proctor and Abigail the most responsible for the deaths of the acclaimed “witches” in the Salem Witch Trials.

                Betty, the daughter of Paris (the minister of Salem), was one of the girls that started the whole idea of witchcraft being in Salem. Betty appeared to be in some sort of trance that she could not be awakened from in the beginning of the story. One night, Betty’s father discovered her and her friends dancing in the woods. Dancing was to be known as devil’s work back then, which made Paris furious at the girls for doing it. The next morning though, she was discovered asleep in her bed, but unable to wake-up. “She ails as she must-she never waked this morning… and hears naught, sees naught and cannot eat,” (Miller 13). This type of behavior was unheard of and extremely unusual in that time period. Religious as they were back then, the people of Salem believed that the only explanation for this behavior had to be witchcraft. These people fully convinced themselves that someone had made a compact with the devil and placed a spell on her that sent Betty into this weird “coma”. “The rumor of witchcraft is all about…,” (Miller 9). Aware of this whole affair happening around her or not, Betty was responsible for the thought of witchcraft and witches being placed in the minds of the people of Salem. If it weren’t for the trance she was placed under, the people of Salem wouldn’t even have the slightest thought of witches ever being in their community. Then to make matters worse, when she did finally awake, instead of dismissing the idea of witches and witchcraft, she plays along with the idea. “I saw George Jacobs with the devil! I saw Goody Howe with the devil,” (Miller 48)! Betty could have easily put the minds of the people of Salem, Massachusetts to rest after awakening from her coma. But instead, she only enhances the idea to save herself from the wrath of her father for dancing in the woods the night before. Betty clearly was a major contributor in creating the idea of witches and witchcraft in Salem Massachusetts. This makes Betty partly responsible for the deaths of the acclaimed “witches” during the Salem Witch Trials.

                Those who were most responsible for the deaths of the “witches”, made decisions that lead to the outcome of the Salem Witch Trials. John Proctors’ decisions affected the outcome of the trials. One decision, when his wife was sick and bed ridden, he had an affair with Abigail Williams. When Elizabeth found out, she fired Abigail and started distrusting and ignoring John. After the affair happened, it was kept a secret so John can keep his good name in the community and so Abigail wouldn’t be called a whore. When John came to town to see what everyone was fussing over with Betty, he ran into Abigail. She confessed that the reason Betty was in a trance state was not because of witchcraft, but because Paris caught them dancing in the woods. “We were dancin’ in the woods last night, and my uncle leaped in on us. She took fright, is all,” (Miller 22). John Proctor had a confession that could have prevented Salem from thinking that witchcraft was what sent Betty into a coma-like state. Still, he didn’t say a single word about it until Mr. Hale came to visit and Elizabeth forced him to tell. By that point, there were already thirty-nine people accused of being “witches”. If Proctor said something when Abigail first told him, he could have saved the thirty-nine people from being accused. So when he did finally go up against the judges, it was difficult for them to believe Proctor since they were so far into the trials already and people already confessed to being witches. In a final act of defense, John stated that he had an affair with Abigail, but Abigail denied it. “It is a whore,” (Miller 110)! When Elizabeth came in to state whether or not the affair was true, she says “no” in order to save her husband’s life and name. If the affair became public sooner, John would have lost his name, but they wouldn’t have believed Abigail when she started accusing of people of being witches. Her name would have tainted and she would have been an outcast that no one would have believed. John’s decisions were crucial to the deaths of the accused witches and made him partly responsible for the outcome of the witch trials.

                Betty and John played a major part in the Salem Witch Trials, but Abigail played a much larger role in the whole affair. The girls who danced in the woods may have had all the power over the town, but Abigail was their fearless leader who called all the shots. Abigail threatened to hurt anyone who said anything about what happened the night they danced in the woods. Later she told the lies about Tituba summoning the devil and making them drink blood. “She made me do it! She made Betty do it! …She makes me drink blood,” (Miller 43)! Abigail was also the one who listed off names of people who she “saw with the devil”. The foundation of lies that where built to lead to the witch trials were all Abigail’s doing. She created the story and followed it through all the trials in court. She was considered a “saint” in the town and was known to everyone as the one who brought salvation to Salem, Massachusetts. In court, she manipulated the girls and people of the court by fainting and getting “sick” or worse whenever someone was on trial for being a witch. “She only pretended to faint, Your Excellency. They’re all marvelous pretenders,” (Miller 106). Then she would claim the accused sent their spirits to take over. Then when she was finally challenged in court, by Mary Warren and John Proctor, she claimed Mary Warren of being a witch who was sending a bird upon her. Mary Warren became so frightened at the prospect of being hated in town and considered an outcast, she confessed to being a witch. “No, I love God; I go your way no more. I love God, I bless God. Abby, Abby, I’ll never hurt you more,”(Miller 119). Abigail was the ultimate ruler throughout the Salem Witch Trials. She had the power to control the outcome of the trials. Abigail could have ended the trials at any point in time, but she just made it worse with more lies. With all the lies she created, she became the ruler of Salem during the witch trials. By being the ruler during the trials, Abigail ended up playing a huge role in the trials and had a great deal of responsibility for the Salem Witch Trials.

                Betty, John Proctor and Abigail were most responsible for the Salem Witch Trials. Through the decisions they made before and during the witch trials, they affected the outcome of the trials. They had opportunities, information or power to change the outcome of the trials, but didn’t take them. This made them very responsible for the Salem Witch trials, but not responsible enough to take the blame for their own actions.

Bibliography

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, New York:  Penguin Group, 1953. Print.

Crucible Post 2

John Proctor clearly lies in "The Crucible" when he says that he believes in witches. He lied in order to save himself from being accused a "devil worshipper" by Mr. Hale and the people of Salem. Witches are a part of the Bible and during that time, if you didn't believe in what the Bible said, you might as well said you and the devil are best friends. John Proctor was just trying to protect himself from the consequences that come with saying witches were real such as: going to jail, hanging and worse. But was it the right thing to do? Should have John just stood up for his beliefs and taken the punishment? Or lie to save his pride and possibly, his life?

When I look at myself in the mirror, I always want to see someone who is strong, dependable and stubborn. Someone who has a belief and will stand-up for that belief to the end of the world. I wish I could always see that person starring back at me. Unfortunantly, that isn't always the case. There are days when I cave and lie to protect myself from the dangers that could happen because of my beliefs. I have lied to people about what I liked so I could become their friend. I have lied about facts about me because I don't want people to make fun of me for it. I lied because I was afraid someone would judge me about who I really am or not like me because of something I liked or was.

I am ashamed that I didn't see sooner in my life that if someone doesn't like me for me, they aren't worth my time or effort. That those are the people that are going to be sorry that they never saw the small things that made me, well, me. I have made an effort to stand away from the pressure of society and let people see me for what I really am. And even though sometimes I still cave in, I always like to say that if death comes knocking on my door because of something I believe in, I will let death come in. So then I can see the person in the mirror, I really want to be.

Crucible Blog Post 1

Power. Power was big to the people in The Crucible by Arthur Miller. To have power was the ability to control the town of Salem, Massachusetts and everyone one in it. But the power didn’t always stay with the same person. There were some shifts in power during Act One of the story.

When entering Act One of The Crucible, Paris radiates with power. He has a desire, need and craving for power. Not even his own daughter’s well-being would stop him from protecting his power as the minister of Salem. “But if trafficked with spirits in the forests in the forest I must know it how, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it” (Miller, 10). As the minister of Salem, Massachusetts, Paris was already given the power over the town and people in it. The people of this time were extremely religious, which gave the clergy extreme power over the people. Anything said by a minister, like Paris, was to be obeyed as if a direct order from God. “…but let you say nothing of witchcraft. I will not discuss it” (Miller, 17). Having this power as a minister, Paris was given an extreme power during this time. This gave him all the power in the beginning of Act One.

By the end of Act One of The Crucible, there was a shift in power. The power to control the town and people of Salem was shifted to the girls who “danced in the woods” and were “worshipping the devil”. No one knew of what happened that night in the woods except for those eight (or so) girls. All the people outside of the group only knew that now two of the girls are in a state of unconsciousness and act as if their souls have been taken away. This leaves the people of Salem with some serious questions and need for answers. It made them afraid and come to the conclusion it was the result of devil worship and witchcraft. So when the girls confirm their beliefs, everyone believes what they have to say. When Abigail says, “She (Tituba) made me do it! She made Betty do it! … She makes me drink blood” (Miller, 43), everyone hangs on every word as it were spoken from God himself. They even believed the random accusations of witchcraft and devil worship the girls made on the women in town. The girls have found a way to get out of trouble with this and received the power over Salem at the same time.

Power is never a constant anywhere, even in The Crucible. People will gain power and some will lose it. The power will always be shifting between characters until the very end. But for now, it lies with the eight girls who danced in the woods.

Sinners Follow Up Post

Jonathan Edwards wrote a very powerful piece that frightened all those who heard it when he read it. The reaction today wouldn't be any different from the reactions of those from back then. People of today would be scared of the different ways God could kill his people for commiting a sin or how just one sin that has been commited (even a minor one) could send someone to hell at any moment. Edwards speaks of "arrows of fire" raining down from the sky at noon and the way they devil tortures you perfucely when you reach hell. Edwards also speaks of how that God hates us more than the people that are in hell at this very moment. These are just parts of his speech. Imagine reading the entire sermon in such detail, that people actually felt like they were burning up in hell. The reaction people would recieve from this context would be either be scared, afraid or just think it is really weird. This would make the people of today be just afraid of it now as the people were way back then. So the people of today are probably freaked-out by the sermon written, by Jonathan Edwards, as the people in the past.

"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" post

"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" was a sermon that was delivered by Jonathan Edwards on July 8, 1741. It is one of the most famous sermons in all of history and is the only sermon used in Anthology books today. This sermon was delivered to the new colonies and sparked the "Great Awakening". The “Great Awakening” took people away from Christianity and encouraged them to find "salvation". Edwards’ speech was so breath taking and powerful, it brought fear to all those who read or heard his words. He was known to be a kind person, but he truly believed in hell. It gave him need to write a powerful sermon to "save his people".

I believe in the actual sermon, that the reason people were so scared after hearing it was because he used such powerful words to show the wrath of God. Edwards probably spoke of how God could truly cause pain and suffering to all those who don’t believe in him. Showing his people how horrifying and torturous hell really could be. By using word so powerful and captivating, he grab the attentions of those around him and brought true fear of what could really happen if they didn’t believe.

Descriptive Post

A yellow lab sleeps soundly in a white, wicker basket filled with yellow daisies. Yellow decorated eggs are inside the basket as well between the adorable puppy and the goregous daisies. The daisies are at their prime and look freshly picked from a garden. The puppy's front paws hang over the yellow rim on the basket. The head of the puppy is tilted gently to the side as it sleeps on it's cheek. The puppy looks so small, young and innocent as it sleeps away. Your heart just melts as you see the peacefullness in it's face and the cute way his ear bends over the yellow rim of the basket. Crying seems inevitable as it baby skin bunches up beneath the cheek he is resting on. You just have to love this puppy.

Expectations Run High

The expectations for the Honors American Literature class are very high in every aspect.
As an honors student, they are the brightest and the best. Naturally, the standards have been raised. Those students are expected to work twice as hard as they would in a regular class. Not only that though, but they are also expected to push themsleves to their limits and even a little bit further. Honors students need to be pushed this hard. That's why they are in an honors class. Taking Honors American Literature is suppose to challenge them so they can become a better writer, analyzer and more. If these students push themselves, they will be able to reach their full potential in every aspect of English. So when taking Honors American Literature, the students should expect to be pushed past their limits. For their expections have been pushed highier.
To be an honors student, it's a title and an honor and should be treated as such. This title can only be as honorable as it is if the students aren't mean or arragant. Honors students should automattically understand that they are expected to be polite and respectful. If the students aren't, it will bring a bad name to the class. Students may need to be smart to get in the class, but that is only half of what is requiered. They are also expected to know how to act towards other students, teachers, guests and anyone they encounter. They are the ones that represent how great the students at Grosse Pointe South Highschool can truely be. They need to be able to keep the good name that has been bestowed upon them. Being rude and disrespectful will just ruin everything the honors students stand for. So when a student enters Honors Ameican Literature, they need to know of the high expecations that come along with the class.
To be smart and well-mannered is one thing when entering Honors American Literature. It is another to be well organized. When entering the classroom, honors students should have everything needed for the class that day. If an assignment is given, it needs to be turned in on time. If a specific item is required for that class, the student should have it. Honors students should be constantly checking to make sure they are well prepared for the class. Students who are unprepared for the class could end up getting a bad grade on an assignment, needing to go to their locker and end up missing class. An honors student's presence is always needed in the class and grades should always be the best they can be. The students in this class should be organized and prepared for class so there are no mess-ups the entire year. For all the students entering Honors American Literature, they need to know what expecations will caome along with taking the class this year.
Expectations will run high for anyone taking Honors American Literature.