Guilt vs. Innocence, Allegories, Puritanism in Nathaniel...

Sabrina Bullock Professor Erin Whitford American Literature I (409) 18 August 2013 (SumII) Grade: 88 Guilt vs. Innocence, Allegories, Puritanism in Nathaniel Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne was a nineteenth century American writer that was born in Massachusetts with a Puritan Heritage. â€Å"Born in Massachusetts on the Fourth of July, 1804, he was the descendant of Puritan worthies and the son of a ship’s captain who died at sea in 1808† (Gollin). Allegories are portrayed in his writings to depict a vivid outlook of his moral themes. Many of his works describe the human conscience and how it deals with guilt. Hawthorne’s works describe his contemplation on sin and guilt. He believed it had an effect on one’s social behavior, as well†¦show more content†¦As Georgiana drinks the potion it puts her into a deep sleep, but later on when her husband is shouting at the heavens for his created perfection, it awakens her from her slumber. As she rises up, to look in the mirror to notice the flaw has been demolished, she turns to Aylmer, â€Å"You have aimed loftily!-you have done nobly! Do not repent, that, with so high and pure a feeling, you have rejected the best that earth could offer. Aylmer-dearest Aylmer-I am dying†(Bayum,etc.Pg.429)! Georgiana’s death is an allegory of guilt and innocence because her husband was ugly on the inside and he picked at her because her flaw was on the outside only to be more noticed. Aylmer failed to see his wife’s purity and innocence because he could not look past her birthmark. She died because the beauty in earth and humans is our imperfections. Georgiana could not survived on earth because perfection could not exist here. It portrays how human nature is to point out others flaws so that they are not looked upon for theirs. Georgiana was the closest thing to perfect and Aylmer was incapable of accepting it, as he was bitter about not being able to create a perfect world or woman and his obsession killed her. In Rappaccini’s Daughter Hawthorne wrote a story much like The Birthmark. It is based around a beautiful young woman named Be atrice who was as pure at heart, but in the end was destroyed by someone trying to â€Å"enhance† her by a potion. Giovanni Guasconti is a youngShow MoreRelatedElements of Fiction in Young Goodman Brown Essays1761 Words   |  8 PagesOutline Introduction Thesis: Hawthorne uses the Elements of fiction in Young Goodman Brown to depict a story of his family’s history and religious background. I Hawthorne uses time periods, location and physical structure settings that all relate to the Purity society and his historical family story. A. The first setting in young Goodman brown was set in Salem village. This is significant to the story because the witch trials were held in Salem, Massachusetts. B. Hawthorne tells us this in the first

Human Oppressiveness in Two Kinds and AP Essay - 2357 Words

It was Emerson who said it best, â€Å"For nonconformity, the world whips you with its displeasure† (Porter 1155). With a detailed look of Amy Tan’s â€Å"Two Kinds† and John Updike’s â€Å"AP,† you will find that this quote is entirely applicable in the context of oppressiveness and in the likeness of â€Å"coming of age.† These two stories document the different perspectives of two characters’ growing up and how the role of the invisible hand of oppression guides developing adolescents into mature adults; without prejudice or even forethought. The characters in question are: Sammy, an AP store clerk whose time spent at work reveals how oppressed by society he is, and Jing-Mei, whose life and every move is dictated by the iron fist of her high-expectations†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"oppressive force†) as a whole. In the biographical essay â€Å"Amy Tan† by Karen Stein, she mentions how Tan’s parents pressured her to be both medical physician and pianist. She grew up around California, moving frequently. At fifteen, Amy’s father passed away. This was when her mother, Daisy, took her children to Switzerland and enrolled them in school there, only to return again to California in the late 1960’s. Despite her parent’s wishes, and her mother’s pressure; Tan eventually switched her life course when she changed her majors in college to English and Linguistics (2). As a now successful American novelist, Tan has wrote such stores as the popular Joy Luck Club, a collection of stories involving many Asian-American characters involved in a Mahjong club and the trials and tribulations they face as Old-world American immigrants. Tan, today, is considered and important voice among the groups of â€Å"hyphenated Americans.† (Stein 3) â€Å"Two Kinds,† i n fact, was one of the stories in the short series. As a reflection of her own past, â€Å"Two Kinds† itself was largely a piece of Tan’s history written in fictional form. John Updike, on the other hand, is a prolific American writer whose career began by writing about such political issues like the Cold War and the Iron Curtain. As a child of the Great Depression and enduring WWII, in similarity to Tan, Updike was no stranger to uncertainty and hardship (Greiner 195). While Tan and Updike’s style differ greatly,Show MoreRelatedCompare and Contrast the Marxist and Weberian Theories of Social Class. Why Do You Think Marx Emphasises Relations of Production in the Formation of Classes Whilst Weber Suggests the Market and Consumption Are the Important Factors?1750 Words   |  7 Pagesemphasises relations of production in the formation of classes whilst Weber suggests the market and consumption are the important factors? All human societies have been class based in some way, shape or form and, interpreting this in the most basic way, it can be said that in every known human society there has been a fundamental division between two broad social groups, the buorgeoisie that own and control the means of production, and the proletariat who own nothing but their ability to sell theirRead More The Modern Grotesque Hero in John Kennedy Tooles, A Confederacy of Dunces3939 Words   |  16 PagesDunces: ...the grotesque cannot be absolute in order to produce humor. While it can be strange, it must also contrast with some attempted unity to which we compare its divergence (284). Toole understands this rule of effective conflict, and he presents two disparate levels of grotesque in his A Confederacy of Dunces. A reader detects the incongruity that exists within Ignatius himself, while also identifying the more observable conflict between Ignatius and modern society. Although it is readily apparentRead MoreRastafarian79520 Words   |  319 PagesCataloging-in-Publication Data Edmonds, Ennis Barrington. Rastafari : from outcasts to culture bearers / Ennis Barrington Edmonds. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-19-513376-5 1. Rastafari movement. 2. Jamaica—Religious life and customs. I. Title. BL2532.R37 E36 2002 299†².676—dc21 2002074897 v To Donnaree, my wife, and Donnisa, my daughter, the two persons around whom my life revolves; and to the ancestors whose struggles have enabled us to survive and thrive This

Religious and Ethnic Diversity Free Essays

string(90) " ancestral line so well, and that is because of my grandmother on my father’s side\." | Religious and Ethnic Diversity| ETH125| | Lavetta Hayes| 3/24/2013| | The Mormons believe that there were Jews in America and that Jesus came to America and not the Middle Eastern holy land. They also believe that the founder of their religion learned this information and other founding values of the Mormon religion based off of some golden tablets that came down to him from heaven. Personally, I think that those particular beliefs are kind of crazy. We will write a custom essay sample on Religious and Ethnic Diversity or any similar topic only for you Order Now However, one of the more interesting beliefs that the Mormons hold is that when they die and go to heaven. They will be reunited with all of their family, including past family members. Because of this particular belief, the Mormons keep very meticulous genealogical records of their families, so that when they do enter heaven they will know who their family members are. There is a genealogical library in every Mormon Church and followers of these churches will often spend hours at a time in these libraries researching their families. To my knowledge, no other mainstream Christian religion keeps such good track of all possible family ties. * The LDS (Latter-Day Saints) church has seen a lot of prejudice against their beliefs. Even from the beginnings of the religion, many societies have disagreed with their views. Because of this disagreement and over all fear and misunderstanding of the religion, the followers of the religion have been asked to leave many states. In one particular case, there was actually a war between the state of Missouri and the followers of the church. * Throughout history, only until the 20th century, most of what the Mormons experienced with other religions was ostracization and fear. Even after the war that had occurred in Missouri, they still found persecution to the places they emigrated to until they finally settled in Utah. Because of all of the mistreatment, this has caused Mormons to be a very tightly knit community that is very secretive to outsiders. Many Mormons keep their religion to themselves and their church congregation. * One of the most recognizable things that the Mormons have brought us is their incredibly famous, and very talented Mormon Tabernacle Choir. This choir has won multiple awards including a Grammy and Emmy for their performances. They have performed for multiple presidents and even at the Olympics. They have released multiple albums of famous hymns and toured all over the world. This choir has played an important role in helping the overall image of the church. * The Latter Day Saints also boast one of the best genealogical libraries in the country, due to their beliefs about family, and are major supporters of The Boy Scouts of America. Many BSA troupes across America are funded by a local Mormon church and the National Church awards BSA money every year so that they may continue their efforts. The major genealogical libraries of the LDS churches are constantly growing. The Mormons are also known for building and maintaining extremely gorgeous churches in major LDS communities, many of which are in Utah, but there are also large, glorious churches in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and various areas in Southern California. The Mormons have seen a lot of persecution in American history. When the religion was originally founded, most communities thought that they were strange and like other religions before them (Judaism in Germany, Paganism in the Dark Ages, and what some places in America are trying to do to Sharia Law), the religion was ostracized. This led to a great migration of the Mormon people to Utah, their Zion. They found peace there for many years, but as the times changed and society changed, people once again questioned the Mormons for their oddness. People today still think the Mormons are odd but on the grander scheme of things, they have not come in to light since the 70’s. The world has bigger things to be prejudice against today so there is no point in currently questioning a religion that, in the end, does believe in Jesus. In the 60’s and 70’s the Mormon Church got a lot of attention because many people were not at ease with the Mormon Church’s view on marriage and polygamy. This caused a rift in the Mormon culture and created two sects of the church: The Fundamentalist LDS and the we know now as just Jesus Christ Church of Latter-Day Saints. The Fundamentalists were pressured to leave the traditional Mormon cities, and have since moved and founded their own communities across the Northern and Southern Sierra Nevada. No sources are entirely clear on why the Mormons have seen as much discrimination as they have. Though I believe that a basic understanding of human nature would show that the reason this religious group has seen so much persecution is because many people fear what they do not understand, and do not seek to understand what it is they fear. The Mormons have a some, even myself, would consider to be strange beliefs. Their original stance on polygamy, their strict health code, and their continual belief to dress and behave modestly. In today’s day in age the latter seems nearly impossible but they still manage to dress differently, which I am sure is a source of discrimination for those that venture outside of their communities. The Mormons have long been thought to be polygamists, in where one man has many wives known as â€Å"sister wives†. While this was true at one point, and in some cases still is, the majority of the churches no longer practice this. Still, this has permanently marred their public image. Devout Mormons, even today, still follow strict health practices. Many of them do not consume or drink sugar, caffeine, tobacco, or alcohol, and keep their food natural and free of modern chemicals. Learning about this religion was interesting, to say the least. I am one of the few people I know that knows my ancestral line so well, and that is because of my grandmother on my father’s side. You read "Religious and Ethnic Diversity" in category "Papers" When I asked her why I know this, and why she knows this, she told me about the Mormon’s belief of their families in heaven. And while I am a fan of natural foods, and live a relatively substance free life in terms of alcohol, caffeine and sugar, to think that I could not have them as a Mormon would make me sad, because I love chocolate. I cannot say that I fully understand the Mormon religion, or that I ever will, or that I ever want to. They are a peaceful people, and when they come to my door and I tell them that I am happy with the religion I am, they smile and tell me to have a nice day and move on. All that I am concerned about is that they are peaceful and do not hate me for being a different religion from them. Knowing that they are means that I can continue to think them a bit odd, but not hate or prosecute them for it. I will forever understand that they are different, and because of that I will not ever hold their religion against them because I am different, and in that way, we are the same. I might not ever understand more than that, but what is important is that there is peace for them and me. * The people we know as the â€Å"Asians† are many and varied, in looks, culture, and religion. The term of â€Å"Asian† refers to anyone that looks Japanese, Chinese, or, to put it more bluntly, has a rounder face and slanted eyes. Many people forget that India is a part of the Asian continent, as well as what we know as the â€Å"middle east,† the country made famous in the movie Borat, Kazakhstan, and my personal favorite, Russia! There are over 40 different recognized major languages in Asia, and this is not including smaller dialects and over 15 different recognized religions and spiritual beliefs, some of which we are familiar with, and some of which we are not. A few of these recognized languages are Russian, Vietnamese, Korean, and Arabic, among many others. We are familiar with the religions of Christianity, the views of Atheism, and Judaism. Another major religion in Asia, specifically Japan is Shinto. Confucianism is popular in Korea and Islam is the largest religion of Asia. * Many races from Asia have been greeted here in America with fear and disdain. Even though we are the â€Å"great melting pot,† each group of people that has immigrated here has seen their fair share, and sometimes more than their share, of hate, no matter what color their skin is or where they are from. In modern days it is easy for us to recognize the tenuous relationship that Americans have had with Muslim Americans. While the discrimination of the Muslim Americans is in the decline, there is still a lot of fear amongst the American people of this particular group at this time in history. * The country of Asia has been very war torn within their own borders as well. Many Jews within Russia are still prejudice against, the wars in the Middle East, the war and continued disdain between China and Japan, the North Korean and South Korean conflict, the list goes on. America may be wary of immigrants throughout the years, but there has been and always will be conflict amongst countries within their own borders that will encourage them to come here or elsewhere for a better life. * One of the first things I thought of after reading this question in regards to the Asian people is Chinese New Year. It might sound racist, but I love the Chinese New Year so much. It is a fun and unique celebration that brings back great memories from my childhood, and I believe that many Americans enjoy that celebration as well. While it is something that is distinctly Chinese/Japanese, it has become part of American culture as well. I think that is only one example of the other holidays that have been brought over from Asia, and only one of the things that the Asian people have contributed to our culture. * I think more than just Holidays and fun languages, any group of people that has come to America has brought an overall understanding of their culture. While all immigrant groups in America have seen discrimination and prejudice, their persistence brings an understanding and eventual peace to their settling here. One of the most prevalent and frightening displaces of prejudice and discrimination against Asian people occurred during World War II, after the attack on Pearl Harbor from the Japanese. After that attack, due to fear of Asian spies within the country’s borders, many Asian-Americans of Japanese or Chinese decent were required to move into internment camps located across the country. While these camps were not like the labor camps into Germany, they were not any less bad. While interred in these camps, the prisoners were forced to read and learn American propaganda, they were not fed well, their sleeping conditions were poor, and the living conditions were filthy, and just sad. Many of the inmates at the camps had their homes foreclosed on and all of their property repossessed by federal and local governments. After the prisoners were released from these camps, they did not have homes to go to, and had been separated from their families. They were also not welcome at many places to eat, live and work. If we travel further back in history, any Chinese immigrant that came to America in the 1880s was not treated very well. They were often beaten in the streets. Lynching and murder of a local Chinese immigrant was often looked over. They were hired as cheap, fast, and replaceable workers, so if one died, no one really cared and the work continued because it was understood that there would be a replacement very soon. In the case of the internment camps during World War II, that was something that was done out of fear. The American people were afraid and as a result, a terrible thing happened that we all try to politely ignore, but that can never be erased. In the case of the great Chinese immigration in the 1880s, well that was a different time. We were a much younger country then, and fear, discrimination, and prejudice were much more common place. It was very easy for any white American to distrust any person that wasn’t the same color as them, and there was a belief then that white people were better than the other races. But with all prejudice and discrimination, along with that thought of superiority, it comes down to fear, ignorance and misunderstanding. As the country has matured, as has our understanding of the world. Different ethnic groups still see prejudice and discrimination, but there is a lot less killing than there was in days past, and we see things in a different way than what we did in centuries past. From what I know about the many peoples of Asia, I understand that like us, they are a country (many countries). Like us, they have their religions, their cultural views, their languages, and their lives. They hold different views on personal responsibility, familial responsibility, school, family values, and religion. Asia is an incredibly vast continent, and there are many different cultures on that continent. I know that each country is different in its own way and I respect that. I do not greet people from that continent with any kind of disdain or prejudice. The Mormons, the Chinese, and the Japanese as well as other Asians have seen similar discrimination in that at some point in American history, on American soil, they have been beaten, killed, pressured, and taken out of their homes. They have also seen religious persecution. There was a time where any religion that was thought to be Asian was celebrated in a major way here in America. Though now these cultures are well assimilated into American culture, they were once feared and ostracized. Even other cultures from the continent of Asia have seen prejudice and hatred at the hands of the Americans, but I am of the opinion that everyone that has come to America has, even the pilgrims, it has all just come at a different time in history and been enacted out in different ways. Times may change, but hate never really does. The major difference between the two groups is that one is recognized as a religious group, and the other, while having varied religions, is recognized mainly as looking different from white people. The Mormons were Americans that were hated and feared by other Americans. Many Asians are recognizably different from a traditional American, even if they are not what we typically think of when we think of â€Å"Asians. † The other difference is that the Mormons saw their persecution not because of the way they looked, while Asians, because they looked different, were looked down upon. Both have seen physical pain, but I would venture to say that the Asians have seen more physical pain than the Mormons have. After the Mormons came to Utah, most of the violence was over, but there are crimes committed against non-whites even to this day. And since Mormons have fallen off of the great radar of hatred for America, there are still many very racist areas of the country that are acutely aware of the difference between whites and non-whites, and tend to make a big deal about it. America, while being known as the land of opportunity and the great melting pot, is a very scared, hateful country. Yes, there are many places within America that are very tolerant and peaceful, such as where I live. But there are also other places that are still very prejudice towards certain ethnic groups. As our country has matured, the hate towards different ethnic groups has been expressed in a different ways, but hate is still hate. Perhaps someday in a perfect world, America will just stop caring and realize that in the end it doesn’t matter what language we speak, what religion we are, or what color we are, but instead realize that the most important thing is that we are all people. We are all human beings on the same planet and that is, and should be recognized as the most important unifying factor in us all. How to cite Religious and Ethnic Diversity, Papers

Nike vs Puma free essay sample

Nike vs Puma Easily the biggest grudge match in Germany this month will not be between two of the countries competing, but between homegrown Adidas and, of course, American arch-rivals Nike. The business media is already hot on the Stripes versus the Swoosh, with the German brand reportedly splashing out double Nikes estimated ? 60m World Cup marketing spend. But what about the shirts themselves? Which ones would you want to play in, and which should be left on the backs of the die-hards down the pub? Out of the six countries theyre dressing, including hosts Germany, and also France, the best Adidas shirt has to be Argentinas (above left). Perhaps not as recognizable as Brazils famous bright yellow, the subtle sky-blue and white stripes belied how fearsome Argentina were from the late 1970s through the 1980s. Kept simple, although a bit too shiny for my liking, the current shirt remains true to the great players who have previously worn one. We will write a custom essay sample on Nike vs Puma or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page As does Hollands shirt (above right), one of eight nations wearing Nike. While every other colour is sported by several teams, no-one but the Dutch really wear orange, and during the mid-1970s they played some of the sexiest football ever. Though theyve never managed to lift the trophy, this jersey echoes the heyday of the Dutch game when their brand of Total Football, as its known, narrowly lost the 1974 final to Germany. It has none of the unnecessary graphics that have plagued the brilliant orange kit of previous years, but again its kept simple and low-key, complete with a nod to the 1970s in the form of the collar. Thats the big boys, but its another German brand thats kitting out the most countries. Puma has deals with no less than 12 federations, including Italy, all of the African teams who qualified, as well as Saudi Arabia and Iran from the Middle East. The brand has taken the opposite approach to its larger competitors, embellishing most of its shirts with designs that reflect that countrys heritage. The Hawks of Togo are depicted, as is the Ivory Coasts nickname, Les Elephants. For me, Tunisias shirt (above left) works best, showing the Eagles of Carthage merged with a sort of camouflage design. Elsewhere, there are a handful of smaller brands providing some of the teams with their kit. Umbros heritage as makers of England shirts is well-known. They also make Swedens, but their best World Cup-related gear is designed by Kim Jones, which is featured elsewhere on Cool Hunting today. Italys Lotto and Spanish new-boys Joma are also after a piece of the action, supplying the likes of Ukraine (above right) and Costa Rica respectively. If you want to be really obscure next time you take to the pitch though, an Ecuador shirt (right), made by little-known company Marathon, wins hands down.