Sonnets 2009
Anguish of the Mind Anguish, heartbreak, and sorrow, seem I think, Hardship, burden, my efforts are in vain. Cannot the past be permanent pink ink? Save me from this political campaign! Hatred, loathing, push him away from me. Engage in destruction, my fearful fiend, Away with life-long chast’ning enemy, O thou anguish, depart and now be cleaned. As one you’re rich, so much money to spend, Behead, I say of you, my sinful foe. Vile, you are, please do not overextend. Love of Nature, Henry David Thoreau, Thou wert born through an alternative birth, Thou shalt decay and replenish the earth. Brian Hahn
Sonnets 2009
Consider the novel you read for the theme SELF-DISCOVERY.
What exactly was it that the novel's main character discovered about himself/herself? + Explain how this discovery was an integral part of the novel's substance or core. +
How was this discovery applicable to you as the reader? + In what sense could it be applicable to ALL readers? + What did you learn about YOURSELF as you watched the character change within the novel?+
Answer this on your personal page by 5pm on Friday, Aug.21st.
First off, thanks for the comments you posted.
For the theme of Self-Discovery, Nathaniel Hawthrone's The Scarlet Letter was my story of choice. The main character of the story is Hester. Hester is forced to wear a scarlet letter A which stands for adultery. This A that Hester displays on her chest is to bring her shame, scorn, and humiliation. Hester's humiliation brings her into deep thought and she changes for the better. A quote from the book points out the self-discovery Hester finds as she goes from a scorned adulterer to an able helper. Hawthrone writes, "Her breast, with its badge of shame, was but the softer pillow for the head that needed one. She was self-ordained a Sister of Mercy; or, we may rather say, the world's heavy hand had so ordained her, when neither the world nor she looked forward to this result. The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness was found in her - so much power to do and power to sympathize - that many people refused to interpret the scarlet "A" by its original signification. They said that it meant "Able"; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength" (Hawthrone 156). This passage points out the transformation and self-discovery. Hester goes from a shameful adulterer to a Sister of Mercy. In Puritan society, this transformation is especially unbelievable. This is a reminder of Jesus forgiving the prostitutes or the like. Hester goes from a sinner to a saint. Hester becomes a mother to the society. In the end of the novel, women come to Hester to escape the Puritan society dominated by males. Hester did not give into the humiliation, but rather she overcame it and used its experience for the society's good. Hester's extraordinary life, with its excitement and scorn, makes her a success story of self-discovery.
The self-discovery of Hester is driven from her affair with Dimmesdale. This sets Hester up from her low point and allows to rise to the climax of her success through her discovery. This discovery is clearly the main focus of the novel as shown in the paragraph above. However, a side plot also raises Hester higher. Hester real husband, Chillingworth, is the evil force that combats Hester's loving. Chillingworth is evil. The only thing he seeks is revenge on the adulterer of his wife. A reference that reinforces this point is when Chillingworth (the "doctor") is taking care of Dimmesdale, who is ill. Chillingworth finds out that Dimmesdale is the man. Hawthorne writes, "But, with what a wild look of wonder, joy and horror. . . Had a man seen old Roger Chillingworth, at that moment of his ecstasy, he would have had no need to ask how Satan comports himself when a precious human should is lost to heaven and won into his kingdom. But what distinguished the physician's ecstasy from Satan's was the trait of wonder in it" (Hawthorne 135-36). Chillingworth's malevolent attitude and Hester's love are the "yin and yang" of the text that drive the "excitement of the novel!" Chillingworth's name also has a "chilling effect" that does not suggest Hester's warmth. The novel has a very dramatic (a little too dramatic) ending with both Dimmesdale and Chillingworth dying, with Dimmesdale finally acknowledging that he is Hester's lover and Chillingworth dying after Dimmesdale dies, probably because he has no one to hate.
Another quote that point blank shows Hester's power and determination is Hawthorne's quote, "The scarlet letter had not done its office" (Hawthorne 160).
The discovery was applicable to anyone who has ever been shamed, scorned, or humiliated. I know I am not suppose to use I in formal writing, but I will. I have been insulted, shamed, and humiliated by stupid pranks and tricks in my life. I have never undergone the shame Hester underwent, but her reaction of strength, love, and helpfulness shows that from the evil of this world, good can proceed. Those who are sick and scorned can do the most good for a society. For one to become a servant, they must humble themselves or be humbled. Jesus had to humble himself to come to Earth and to die and rise so that his love and compassion could be felt throughout all of mankind. I know that Hawthorne probably did not make a connection like this and I might been completely wrong in my conjecture, but the system of one being humbled in order to show compassion and love seems to be a recurring theme throughout the history of the world. This story is applicable to all readers. It takes humble people like Mother Teresa, missionaries, and teachers like yourself to display God's wonderful love and mercy. Hester showed his warmth and love through her actions in the end of the story.
I probably have gone to far off onto another tangent, but now that I am reviewing the story, the story has had a significant impact on me by watching Hester's change. From Hester's shy, humiliated state to her strength and leadership qualities in the end, I can also go from a passive role in life to an active yet humble mission and calling in life.
I hope that I answered the questions to your satisfaction and that I did not get to far off topic. If there is anything you would like to discuss with me about these Wiki responses, I am open most days after school.
** Wow! There is SO much packed into your response to The Scarlet Letter!!! It's making me wish I had the chance to use the novel with the whole group (something I've considered from year to year).
The link between scorn and service is an interesting one. Sadly, I fear you may be right... but I wish the world worked differently, as I am sure you do to. I love the way you took this into your own personal journey of thought! Thanks for the great post! I reposted your earlier work... I find it's nice to be able to see a flow of "development" as we talk about things through the semester. So if you don't mind, let's leave the conversation on here. Have you talked to anyone else who read the book? That could be interesting as well...
You read 3 (or more) books this past summer. Which book from the summer reading list did you find to be the most "interesting"? In a paragraph or two, tell me what it takes to make a book interesting (in your opinion) and how the summer book you chose met the standard of "most" interesting. If NONE of the books qualified for that title (again, in your opinion) tell me where and why they fell short of your standard.
Finally, tell me what things you read OTHER than assigned books? Did you read magazines, other novels, travel guides for a vacation, instructions for how to work something, whatever? Think it over, this could be a longer list than you first imagine! Which of these other things was the most interesting.... did you use the same standard as you did for paragraph one? If not, why not?
The three books I read over the past summer were Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, and Alice Walker's The Color Purple. The Picture of Dorian Gray was the most interesting book, however, it was also a very awkward story with an interesting story line. I believe that Wilde takes Dorian Gray a little to far with respect to his beauty and "self-love" for himself. Lord Henry was an interesting mentor to Dorian and it becomes very clear why Basil did not want Dorian to meet Lord Henry. Basil also seems very impressed with Dorian and seems obsessed with Dorian almost as if he worships him. The Sibyl Vane chapters were interesting because I thought Dorian had found the love of his life and the next thing that happens was the terrible performance and her suicide. Lord Henry then tells Dorian that her death was a good thing, but the picture of Dorian shows the toll it took on him while he (physically) stays forever young. Another interesting portion of the book was when Dorian killed Basil. Dorian killed Basil because of the ugly portrait (after Dorian's "sinful" lifestyle), but the plot took another turn with a doctor that Dorian blackmails. The body is then disposed of with acid. The story seemed too excessive (?) and too unreasonable. Lastly, Dorian's death confused me. When Dorian destroys the painting he also destroys his physical body, killing himself. The book just seemed too unreasonable. I do prefer non-fiction over fiction, and this is shown in the examples along with my criticism of the novel. The Scarlet Letter reminded me of Arthur Miller's The Crucible with its setting in strict Puritan society. The story was decent, however, I was not drawn into the plot. I did not connect to Hester very well. The introduction to the story was interesting with the custom house man going through the old records. I thought it was a creative introduction. I did not care for The Color Purple. The book was interesting in that the notes to God were a creative writing technique. However, the sexual content with the rapes, female circumcision, and the thing Cellie and Shug had going were somewhat awkward. I was not expecting the book to be filled with such deep content in such a personal manner. The plot seemed to jump around too much and it was hard to keep track of the characters. Another creative piece of the story was having a character named Mr. ______.
I prefer reading non-fiction. The Picture of Dorian Gray appealed to me mainly because some of it seemed so silly (such as Dorian living his outrageous lifestyle) that it almost made me wish, to a certain extent, that I was Dorian. However, the ending shows why there are consequences for partying every night, being ruthless to individuals, or staying up late when one should get sleep. Personally, I enjoy books on battles in World War II or Vietnam that are accurate and show the real story of ordinary men and women. Another quirk of mine is that I love reading about aviation. I have always enjoyed flight and that topic interests me. Along with the history, I enjoy geography and reading current events in the newspaper, or reading Mr. Staude's assigned reading (The Post American World).
Over the summer I took a Princeton Review class in which I worked on timed reading sections on the ACT. The analysis of my reading skills showed what I enjoy reading. Prose always had the lowest scores and the history/world events section always had the highest score. During the middle of the Summer I went to Missouri Boys State. There was not a great deal of reading, but I was appointed Weyer City clerk (which involved a large portion of writing.) Next, I went to an engineering camp at MST were there was some VERY technical reading, which was boring, but there is what I expected. Lastly, I read The Post American World, which I found interesting and an easier read than I expected. Overall, I read the newspaper (usally St. Louis Post-Dispatch) everyday. I always enjoy reading the paper probably because it usually makes sense, it is short, and it has an easy reading level (there is not much intellectual knowledge that goes into reading the paper). Also, my uncle started giving me editions of his subscription to The Economist, because he heard I was taking AP Gov.
In conclusion, I will admit that I am more of the math/engineering type of reader - I do not usually become excited in reading prose fiction. However, part of the reason for taking AP Lit is to improve my prose reading skills. I plan on investing the extra effort it will take me to read some of the crazy, outrageous, and sometimes serious literature we will read.
** Brian, I really appreciated your candor in your post! I also find myself to be much more interested in nonfiction these days than in past years... I am wondering if that is because there seems to be SO much going on in the world that I really want to know about and I find I can't get enough! Your assessment of the novels you read was delightful... and I found myself laughing at your comment about the hazards of not getting sleep since it is after 10pm as I am writing this! I was impressed you stuck with The Color Purple... it is definitely graphic and not to everyone's taste, but Alice Walker says a great deal about the subjugation of African American women with her novel and it is considered a "ground breaker". (so kudos to you for sticking with a book that made you more than a bit uncomfortable! You didn't have to, but you sound a bit like me in that once I start a novel I almost always try to finish it...even if I don't always like it... I hate feeling "defeated" by a book. I know that's weird but that's the way I am!)
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