Thesis for Their Eyes Were Watching God
Janie's desires blind her from the source of her suffering, which is not her surroundings but her choices that lead to those surroundings.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Friday, November 30, 2007
numberfifteen[15]
Zora Neale Hurston Scene Response
When Janie responds to Joe's choice pertaining to Matt's donkey, she gives a speech all of the townspeople find remarkable. Joe decided to buy Matt's donkey to put it down because it had been malnourished. As Janie said in her speech it was an act, "...Like George Washington and Lincoln..." She compared Joe to the two presidents in taht he had control of an area so he freed what needed to be freed in that area. The last speech that Janie made, she was denounced for since it hurt Joe's reputation, but this one since she helped Joe she was praised. It goes to explain their relationship further.
When Janie responds to Joe's choice pertaining to Matt's donkey, she gives a speech all of the townspeople find remarkable. Joe decided to buy Matt's donkey to put it down because it had been malnourished. As Janie said in her speech it was an act, "...Like George Washington and Lincoln..." She compared Joe to the two presidents in taht he had control of an area so he freed what needed to be freed in that area. The last speech that Janie made, she was denounced for since it hurt Joe's reputation, but this one since she helped Joe she was praised. It goes to explain their relationship further.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
[14]numberfourteen
Zora Neale Hurston quote response.
1. "Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time. That is the life of men. Now, women forget all those things they don’t want to remember, and remember everything they don’t want to forget. The dream is the truth. Then they act and do things accordingly."
Men react to what's around them. They see oppurtunities as they come and go. To take these oppurtunities is to take a risk. These are the ships that contain wishes. Each oppurtunity will bring you somewhere new but only some will take you to your goals. If the ships aren't boarded then they sail on. Their goals cannot be accomplished since they are not willing to take chances.
Women react on their thoughts and what has happened in the past. They have their judgements and react according to those but their judgements are affected by what they sense regardless of fact. Their instinct is their main source of reaction.
2."[Janie] was stretched on her back beneath the pear tree soaking in the alto chant of the visiting bees, the gold of the sun and the panting breath of the breeze when the inaudible voice of it all came to her. She saw a dust-bearing bee sink into the sanctum of a bloom; the thousand sister-calyxes arch to meet the love embrace and the ecstatic shiver of the tree from root to tiniest branch creaming in every blossom and frothing with delight. So this was a marriage! She had been summoned to behold a revelation. Then Janie felt a pain remorseless sweet that left her limp and languid."
Janie feels love and concentrates on it, so that is what she begins to see all around her. Her feelings are directly connected with what she thinks about and senses. These feelings are so strong that other things begin to get blocked out. All of her worries are gone because she is not at a place where she needs to focus on them.
1. "Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time. That is the life of men. Now, women forget all those things they don’t want to remember, and remember everything they don’t want to forget. The dream is the truth. Then they act and do things accordingly."
Men react to what's around them. They see oppurtunities as they come and go. To take these oppurtunities is to take a risk. These are the ships that contain wishes. Each oppurtunity will bring you somewhere new but only some will take you to your goals. If the ships aren't boarded then they sail on. Their goals cannot be accomplished since they are not willing to take chances.
Women react on their thoughts and what has happened in the past. They have their judgements and react according to those but their judgements are affected by what they sense regardless of fact. Their instinct is their main source of reaction.
2."[Janie] was stretched on her back beneath the pear tree soaking in the alto chant of the visiting bees, the gold of the sun and the panting breath of the breeze when the inaudible voice of it all came to her. She saw a dust-bearing bee sink into the sanctum of a bloom; the thousand sister-calyxes arch to meet the love embrace and the ecstatic shiver of the tree from root to tiniest branch creaming in every blossom and frothing with delight. So this was a marriage! She had been summoned to behold a revelation. Then Janie felt a pain remorseless sweet that left her limp and languid."
Janie feels love and concentrates on it, so that is what she begins to see all around her. Her feelings are directly connected with what she thinks about and senses. These feelings are so strong that other things begin to get blocked out. All of her worries are gone because she is not at a place where she needs to focus on them.
Friday, November 2, 2007
numberthirteen[13]
Huckleberry Finn Quotes.
"So I reckoned I wouldn't bother no more about it, but after this always do whichever comes handiest at the time."
This quote is Huckleberry Finn denouncing organized forms of religion. He decides not to put himself into a group that he might not wish to belong to later on. While Huck is presented between the two groups of the educated and the un-educated. I would argue that he is more on the educated side of things than he thinks because he understands that not every situation is the same, therefore the same reasoning would be obsolete.
"And did young Stephen sicken/ And did young Stephen die?/ And did the sad hearts thicken/ And did the mourners cry?"
I couldn't find another quote that really stood out to me so I am going to respond to the main topic of this one which is escape and death and the relation between the two. I have come to the conclusion that there is no way to escape anything apart from death. While one is still alive, if they try to escape from anything, it will continue to live on either physically in front of them or mentally in their head. It will not cease to bother them until they forget about it or embrace it. If they forget about it, it will continuosly be brought out from the depth of their mind and continue to bother them. Embracing is the only real solution. When they embraced the issue, they would resolve it and it would be put to rest. If they want to get away from it so bad that they cannot embrace it, then death is the only escape, but not only is it escape from the bad it is also escape from the good. As Emerson said, "good and bad are but names". They both exist so they should not be ignored.
"So I reckoned I wouldn't bother no more about it, but after this always do whichever comes handiest at the time."
This quote is Huckleberry Finn denouncing organized forms of religion. He decides not to put himself into a group that he might not wish to belong to later on. While Huck is presented between the two groups of the educated and the un-educated. I would argue that he is more on the educated side of things than he thinks because he understands that not every situation is the same, therefore the same reasoning would be obsolete.
"And did young Stephen sicken/ And did young Stephen die?/ And did the sad hearts thicken/ And did the mourners cry?"
I couldn't find another quote that really stood out to me so I am going to respond to the main topic of this one which is escape and death and the relation between the two. I have come to the conclusion that there is no way to escape anything apart from death. While one is still alive, if they try to escape from anything, it will continue to live on either physically in front of them or mentally in their head. It will not cease to bother them until they forget about it or embrace it. If they forget about it, it will continuosly be brought out from the depth of their mind and continue to bother them. Embracing is the only real solution. When they embraced the issue, they would resolve it and it would be put to rest. If they want to get away from it so bad that they cannot embrace it, then death is the only escape, but not only is it escape from the bad it is also escape from the good. As Emerson said, "good and bad are but names". They both exist so they should not be ignored.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
numbertwelve[12]
Huckleberry Finn quotes.
"Do you reckon Tom Sawyer would ever go by this thing. Not for pie, he wouldn't."
This quote is similar to the first two quotes that I responded to. It is proving the thought that Huckleberry Finn wants to be like Tom Sawyer. He gets the oppourtunity to board a wreck in the river where murderers are, and decides to go just because he thinks that Tom would go. He doesn't even talk about his safety. The first thing that comes across his mind is Tom. Further on in the book, I predict that Huck will realize his "dependence" and that will make self-reliance that much more meaningful to him once he finds out who he is.
"It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn't ever sorry for it afterward, neither."
In this quote, Huckleberry Finn finds out a little more about himself, although he may not realize it. He understood that he did something wrong to Jim but he didn't want to apologize to Jim because of Jim's race. After a little while though, this mistake began to eat at him and eventually drove him to apologize. This not only shows that Huck has a conscience, but it also shows that Huck has himself somewhere inside of him and that he isn't Tom Sawyer. This is shown when he actually apologizes to Jim. At this point in history, black people were still slaves. Jim would have been considered lower than a normal slave because he had run away from his master. Huck showed originality in apologizing to Jim because he would not have learned that from anyone around him. Him seeing Jim as somewhat equal to him was something that he created inside of himself because he thought it was the right thing to do.
"Do you reckon Tom Sawyer would ever go by this thing. Not for pie, he wouldn't."
This quote is similar to the first two quotes that I responded to. It is proving the thought that Huckleberry Finn wants to be like Tom Sawyer. He gets the oppourtunity to board a wreck in the river where murderers are, and decides to go just because he thinks that Tom would go. He doesn't even talk about his safety. The first thing that comes across his mind is Tom. Further on in the book, I predict that Huck will realize his "dependence" and that will make self-reliance that much more meaningful to him once he finds out who he is.
"It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn't ever sorry for it afterward, neither."
In this quote, Huckleberry Finn finds out a little more about himself, although he may not realize it. He understood that he did something wrong to Jim but he didn't want to apologize to Jim because of Jim's race. After a little while though, this mistake began to eat at him and eventually drove him to apologize. This not only shows that Huck has a conscience, but it also shows that Huck has himself somewhere inside of him and that he isn't Tom Sawyer. This is shown when he actually apologizes to Jim. At this point in history, black people were still slaves. Jim would have been considered lower than a normal slave because he had run away from his master. Huck showed originality in apologizing to Jim because he would not have learned that from anyone around him. Him seeing Jim as somewhat equal to him was something that he created inside of himself because he thought it was the right thing to do.
Monday, October 15, 2007
numbereleven[11]
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Quotes
"I heard that kind of a sound that a ghost makes when it wants to tell about something that's on its mind and can't make itself understood, and so can't rest easy in its grave, and has to go about that way every night grieving."
Before this section of the reading, Huck Finn speaks of his loneliness. This quote is about Huck Finn trying to find himself. He is comparing himself to the ghost who wanders alone trying to preach an unknown message that even he doesn't know. Huck Finn feels like he doesn't know what to do. He knows generally what he likes and dislikes, but doesn't know how to go about using that information. I have a feeling that this is setting up for the rest of the story in that he doesn't know what do with himself so he feels pressure to join the gang because it is different than what happens at home.
"Do you want to go to doing different from what's in the books, and get things all muddled up?"
Tom Sawyer subconsiously feels pressure to live up to what he reads in the books. Since Tom is the leader of the gang, I predict that Huck Finn will begin to look up to him and find a sense of adventure. While Huck looks up to Tom, they both are unsure of who they are as shown by Tom looking for guidance. This will create a bond between the two and in their adventures they will find not only new experiences but also themselves.
"I heard that kind of a sound that a ghost makes when it wants to tell about something that's on its mind and can't make itself understood, and so can't rest easy in its grave, and has to go about that way every night grieving."
Before this section of the reading, Huck Finn speaks of his loneliness. This quote is about Huck Finn trying to find himself. He is comparing himself to the ghost who wanders alone trying to preach an unknown message that even he doesn't know. Huck Finn feels like he doesn't know what to do. He knows generally what he likes and dislikes, but doesn't know how to go about using that information. I have a feeling that this is setting up for the rest of the story in that he doesn't know what do with himself so he feels pressure to join the gang because it is different than what happens at home.
"Do you want to go to doing different from what's in the books, and get things all muddled up?"
Tom Sawyer subconsiously feels pressure to live up to what he reads in the books. Since Tom is the leader of the gang, I predict that Huck Finn will begin to look up to him and find a sense of adventure. While Huck looks up to Tom, they both are unsure of who they are as shown by Tom looking for guidance. This will create a bond between the two and in their adventures they will find not only new experiences but also themselves.
Monday, October 8, 2007
numberten[10]
Would you label Dickinson as Transcendental? Why or why not?
Emily Dickenson is not transcendental. While she employs a majority of transcendental beliefs, her poetry is dark, dry and almost pessimistic. The main belief that she isn't in accord with is all people are inherently good. Through out the poems that we read tonight she spoke of human nature being greedy. In her poem "In Shadow," she says, "I could not bear the bees should come/ I wished they'd stay away/ In those dim countries where they go:/ What word had they for me?" She is pretending to be society in saying that she wishes the bad would simply go somewhere different than where she is at that time. This brings pain and suffering to others and "contentment" to her. She also says, "I dared not meet the daffodils/ For fear their yellow gown/ Would pierce me with a fashion/ So foreign to my own." This quote is also anti- society. She is saying that people arn't self reliant and that they are scared of new ideas. The yellow gown of the daffodils could be shockingly good or extremely bad in success, but society is not willing to take the risk and find out like nature does. I suppose whether it was successful or not doesn't have any signifigance to anything other than proving that society is not self reliant and that they are caught up in what is thought of them.
Emily Dickenson is not transcendental. While she employs a majority of transcendental beliefs, her poetry is dark, dry and almost pessimistic. The main belief that she isn't in accord with is all people are inherently good. Through out the poems that we read tonight she spoke of human nature being greedy. In her poem "In Shadow," she says, "I could not bear the bees should come/ I wished they'd stay away/ In those dim countries where they go:/ What word had they for me?" She is pretending to be society in saying that she wishes the bad would simply go somewhere different than where she is at that time. This brings pain and suffering to others and "contentment" to her. She also says, "I dared not meet the daffodils/ For fear their yellow gown/ Would pierce me with a fashion/ So foreign to my own." This quote is also anti- society. She is saying that people arn't self reliant and that they are scared of new ideas. The yellow gown of the daffodils could be shockingly good or extremely bad in success, but society is not willing to take the risk and find out like nature does. I suppose whether it was successful or not doesn't have any signifigance to anything other than proving that society is not self reliant and that they are caught up in what is thought of them.
numbernine[9]
Walt Whitman Quotes.
"Seasons pursuing each other the indescribable crowd is gather'd... Seasons pursuing each other the plougher ploughs, the mower mows, and the winter-grain falls in the ground."
This quote speaks of time and pressure. As Ben Franklin said, "Lost time is never found." As time goes on, present becomes past. This is the step that is most worrying. The crowd gathers in time and also diminishes in time. As the plougher and the mower put effort into their fields, they are rewarded when harvest comes. Success finds them at that time. This is all caused by space. Everything comes from space and everything goes to space. Today, maybe I will get a test back and it is space that has brought it to me. Future will become present, however, before I can find out whether it was successful or not.
"The living sleep for their time, the dead sleep for their time, The old husbandd sleeps by his wife and the young husband sleeps by his wife;And these tend inward to me, and i tend outward to them, And such as it is to be on of these more or less I am, And these one and all I weave the song of myself."
This quote is about inspiration. Whitman is able to look around and find inspiration from everything. Even from time, while others fear it. He finds satisfaction in the fact that he will become older. He accepts that someday he will permantently sleep. He does not fear time and space, he is intregued by them. Whitman realizes that things must die in order for others to proceed. When I woke up this morning, i did not want to wake up but in orcer for my day to go on, my sleep must not exist anymore. In a way though it still does exist because whether or not I slept enough will affect me positively or negatively throguhout the day.
"Seasons pursuing each other the indescribable crowd is gather'd... Seasons pursuing each other the plougher ploughs, the mower mows, and the winter-grain falls in the ground."
This quote speaks of time and pressure. As Ben Franklin said, "Lost time is never found." As time goes on, present becomes past. This is the step that is most worrying. The crowd gathers in time and also diminishes in time. As the plougher and the mower put effort into their fields, they are rewarded when harvest comes. Success finds them at that time. This is all caused by space. Everything comes from space and everything goes to space. Today, maybe I will get a test back and it is space that has brought it to me. Future will become present, however, before I can find out whether it was successful or not.
"The living sleep for their time, the dead sleep for their time, The old husbandd sleeps by his wife and the young husband sleeps by his wife;And these tend inward to me, and i tend outward to them, And such as it is to be on of these more or less I am, And these one and all I weave the song of myself."
This quote is about inspiration. Whitman is able to look around and find inspiration from everything. Even from time, while others fear it. He finds satisfaction in the fact that he will become older. He accepts that someday he will permantently sleep. He does not fear time and space, he is intregued by them. Whitman realizes that things must die in order for others to proceed. When I woke up this morning, i did not want to wake up but in orcer for my day to go on, my sleep must not exist anymore. In a way though it still does exist because whether or not I slept enough will affect me positively or negatively throguhout the day.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
numbereight[8]
Nathaniel Hawthorne Quotes.
"...That they longed for a breath of wind to blow aside the veil, almost believing that a stranger's visage would be discovered, though the forn, gesture, and voice were those of Mr. Hooper."
This quote is very ironic. The viewers of Mr. Hooper's veil saw him as a different person than he was. The church- goers wished to see what they did not know. They were thirsty for knowledge. Since they didn't know what was under the veil, they guessed and assumed that what they conjured up was correct. These judgements changed who Mr. Hooper was. Such a simple thing making such a big impact. The irony is that something that is not at all Mr. Hooper, became him.
"Strange and bewildered looks repaid him for his courtesy."
This ties into the quote above this. The viewers of Mr. Hooper didn't understand him, but they very much wanted reasons as to why he draped the black cloth over his face. This made him far more mysterious than he actually was. The mystery mixed with the dark nature of the veil and it made him appear far darker than he was. This is not who he was however. One could argue that his sadness actually was love since love is what caused his sadness. This quote shows how the townspeople were unfair to Mr. Hooper, because they did not bother to find out the real reason why he wore the veil. Their assumptions, they thought, were sufficient. The teachings of Mr. Hooper did not finally get out until he reached his deathbed, which is ironic in that he was teaching to treasure what you have even until he had nothing. At first I judged him hypocritical for preaching one thing and doing another, but then I realized that the purpose of the veil was not to hide his face but to teach others not to. This makes him a very strong teacher as opposed to the feeble one I assumed he was.
"...That they longed for a breath of wind to blow aside the veil, almost believing that a stranger's visage would be discovered, though the forn, gesture, and voice were those of Mr. Hooper."
This quote is very ironic. The viewers of Mr. Hooper's veil saw him as a different person than he was. The church- goers wished to see what they did not know. They were thirsty for knowledge. Since they didn't know what was under the veil, they guessed and assumed that what they conjured up was correct. These judgements changed who Mr. Hooper was. Such a simple thing making such a big impact. The irony is that something that is not at all Mr. Hooper, became him.
"Strange and bewildered looks repaid him for his courtesy."
This ties into the quote above this. The viewers of Mr. Hooper didn't understand him, but they very much wanted reasons as to why he draped the black cloth over his face. This made him far more mysterious than he actually was. The mystery mixed with the dark nature of the veil and it made him appear far darker than he was. This is not who he was however. One could argue that his sadness actually was love since love is what caused his sadness. This quote shows how the townspeople were unfair to Mr. Hooper, because they did not bother to find out the real reason why he wore the veil. Their assumptions, they thought, were sufficient. The teachings of Mr. Hooper did not finally get out until he reached his deathbed, which is ironic in that he was teaching to treasure what you have even until he had nothing. At first I judged him hypocritical for preaching one thing and doing another, but then I realized that the purpose of the veil was not to hide his face but to teach others not to. This makes him a very strong teacher as opposed to the feeble one I assumed he was.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
numberseven[7]
Nathaniel Hawthorne Quotes
"Nothing can be done, you know, until I get on the ground."
This quote is saying that the minister understands that life is a cycle. Everything that is born physically dies. This quote is showing his realization in that for the moment he is waiting for to come, the one he is living in presently must end. In this case the moment he is living in is a negative one but these moments can be positive as well. It is harder to accept this fact when the present moment is a positive one, because it seems to suck the experiencer in to dwell.
"What if a wretched old woman do choose to go to the devil when I thought she was going to heaven.; is that any reason why I should quit my dear Faith and go after her?"
Goodman Brown is very confused about himself. Here he wonders of the relationship between himself and the devil, and between himself and his wife. He is wondering if there is a connection between the two or if one will affect the other. The woman that he passed is a symbol of his past in the form of his old teacher. Since something from his past has turned to the devil, Goodman Brown wonders whether that is in his nature or not.
"Nothing can be done, you know, until I get on the ground."
This quote is saying that the minister understands that life is a cycle. Everything that is born physically dies. This quote is showing his realization in that for the moment he is waiting for to come, the one he is living in presently must end. In this case the moment he is living in is a negative one but these moments can be positive as well. It is harder to accept this fact when the present moment is a positive one, because it seems to suck the experiencer in to dwell.
"What if a wretched old woman do choose to go to the devil when I thought she was going to heaven.; is that any reason why I should quit my dear Faith and go after her?"
Goodman Brown is very confused about himself. Here he wonders of the relationship between himself and the devil, and between himself and his wife. He is wondering if there is a connection between the two or if one will affect the other. The woman that he passed is a symbol of his past in the form of his old teacher. Since something from his past has turned to the devil, Goodman Brown wonders whether that is in his nature or not.
Monday, September 24, 2007
numbersix[6]
Henry David Thoreau Quotes
"Each stick I deal with has a history, and I read it as I am handling it, and, last of all, I remember my adventures in getting it, while it is burning in the winter evening."
This quote is fairly self explanatory. What it means is that everything you look at has some past and has come from somewhere. While you cannot be what you are seeing, you can learn a lot about it through observation. Looking at a stick, Thoreau sees where the stick came from and visualises what it might have been a part of. He becomes one with it and it makes him content that he has made a new friend. The main reason for this quote is that it serves as a bell of mindfulness to wake up and take a look around to see what is there because there is always something new.
"The mind that perceives clearly any natural beauty is in that instant withdrawn from human society."
This is another self explanatory quote. What it is saying is that there is something to be said for being mindful. As Thoreau has said before, being one with one's surroundings is an experience that cannot be described but only felt. When one experiences this, they aren't thinking but taking in what is around them. This leaves no room for thinking about what has happened in the past or what is to come in the future. At this point society does not exist. It is living in the present and being mindful.
"Each stick I deal with has a history, and I read it as I am handling it, and, last of all, I remember my adventures in getting it, while it is burning in the winter evening."
This quote is fairly self explanatory. What it means is that everything you look at has some past and has come from somewhere. While you cannot be what you are seeing, you can learn a lot about it through observation. Looking at a stick, Thoreau sees where the stick came from and visualises what it might have been a part of. He becomes one with it and it makes him content that he has made a new friend. The main reason for this quote is that it serves as a bell of mindfulness to wake up and take a look around to see what is there because there is always something new.
"The mind that perceives clearly any natural beauty is in that instant withdrawn from human society."
This is another self explanatory quote. What it is saying is that there is something to be said for being mindful. As Thoreau has said before, being one with one's surroundings is an experience that cannot be described but only felt. When one experiences this, they aren't thinking but taking in what is around them. This leaves no room for thinking about what has happened in the past or what is to come in the future. At this point society does not exist. It is living in the present and being mindful.
Friday, September 21, 2007
numberfive[5]
Henry David Thoreau Quotes
"'Here,' I exclaimed, 'stood Tahatawan; and there, is Tahatawan's arrowhead."
This quote is about what is possible with goals. Tahatawan crafted his arrowhead with his own hands. He put a lot of time and effort into making that single arrowhead his own. When one looks at Tahatawan's arrowhead, they see it is different from the rest. It is itself, but it is also Tahatawan. Further effort went to fasten the arrowhead to a shaft and even further to actually shoot the arrow. The arrowhead went from any flat rock to a human and then to beyond that. It reached a goal. As Tahatawan shot that particular arrow he envisioned where it was to go. Whether it reached its target or not it went somewhere and the effort was hardly wasted.
"The sail bends gently to the breeze, as swells some generous impulse of the heart..."
This also ties into the connection between man and what he can accomplish, although this quote is more so about what he cannot. The sail is a man-made object. The sail welcomes the breeze and they work together towards their chosen goal of pushing the boat onward. These two forces work together in transperant agreement and they have no difficulty between one another. The irony is that the one who created the sail is man. What man creates can produce more than man himself. While the sail works together with the wind, man ignores it, and cannot harvest the potential power as the sail can yet still wonders why. Looking into oneself is a great method of learning but looking around at everything around you can be extremely useful as well. The sail is awake, but the man sleeps on.
"'Here,' I exclaimed, 'stood Tahatawan; and there, is Tahatawan's arrowhead."
This quote is about what is possible with goals. Tahatawan crafted his arrowhead with his own hands. He put a lot of time and effort into making that single arrowhead his own. When one looks at Tahatawan's arrowhead, they see it is different from the rest. It is itself, but it is also Tahatawan. Further effort went to fasten the arrowhead to a shaft and even further to actually shoot the arrow. The arrowhead went from any flat rock to a human and then to beyond that. It reached a goal. As Tahatawan shot that particular arrow he envisioned where it was to go. Whether it reached its target or not it went somewhere and the effort was hardly wasted.
"The sail bends gently to the breeze, as swells some generous impulse of the heart..."
This also ties into the connection between man and what he can accomplish, although this quote is more so about what he cannot. The sail is a man-made object. The sail welcomes the breeze and they work together towards their chosen goal of pushing the boat onward. These two forces work together in transperant agreement and they have no difficulty between one another. The irony is that the one who created the sail is man. What man creates can produce more than man himself. While the sail works together with the wind, man ignores it, and cannot harvest the potential power as the sail can yet still wonders why. Looking into oneself is a great method of learning but looking around at everything around you can be extremely useful as well. The sail is awake, but the man sleeps on.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
numberthree[3]
Henry David Thoreau Quotes
"Morning is when I am awake and there is a dawn in me."
This quote speaks about the optimism of a new day. Thoreau speaks a lot about being most awake in the morning in this selection. He feels most awake at this time because it is new and different. He has just woken from sleeping all night and the dawn is refreshing because he is able to conciously take in everything around him. It is also new in the sense that this day doesn't have to be anything like the preceeding day. This ties into the second part of the quote, "there is a dawn in me". This is the mystery of the future. Waking up, Thoreau has no clue what is to happen in the hours ahead but he has opened his mind to whatever it is in advance so not only will he be able to get through the day, but he will also learn from his experiences.
"...But it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look.."
Preceeding this quote, Thoreau talks about how creating is brilliant. The meaning of this quote is that even a step above creation is seeing what is already there and becoming one with what is seen. This way, nothing new is introduced but the same level of contentment is reached. Thoreau further backs this up with other quotes such as, "But if we stay at home and mind our business, who will want railroads?" Why is there always somewhere to be when somewhere is always where you are?
"Morning is when I am awake and there is a dawn in me."
This quote speaks about the optimism of a new day. Thoreau speaks a lot about being most awake in the morning in this selection. He feels most awake at this time because it is new and different. He has just woken from sleeping all night and the dawn is refreshing because he is able to conciously take in everything around him. It is also new in the sense that this day doesn't have to be anything like the preceeding day. This ties into the second part of the quote, "there is a dawn in me". This is the mystery of the future. Waking up, Thoreau has no clue what is to happen in the hours ahead but he has opened his mind to whatever it is in advance so not only will he be able to get through the day, but he will also learn from his experiences.
"...But it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look.."
Preceeding this quote, Thoreau talks about how creating is brilliant. The meaning of this quote is that even a step above creation is seeing what is already there and becoming one with what is seen. This way, nothing new is introduced but the same level of contentment is reached. Thoreau further backs this up with other quotes such as, "But if we stay at home and mind our business, who will want railroads?" Why is there always somewhere to be when somewhere is always where you are?
Monday, September 17, 2007
numbertwo[2]
Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotations
"These are the voices which we hear in solitude, but they grow faint and inaudible as we enter the world."
In this quote, Mr. Emerson is speaking of the voice of individuality that is inside of everybody. He also refers to this as "the likeness of god". He is saying that it is very much easier to be yourself when one is alone and the pressure is off of them, but if one possesses integrity, then they will be able to be themselves in any situation regardless of how much pressure is put on them. They can do simple and difficult tasks with the same calm and look for themselves inside rather than out.
"Your goodness must have some edge to it, else it is none."
The meaning of this quote is that if someone relies on only one characteristic to get by on, it will not have the same effect after it is used over and over. Unlike Ben Franklin saying, "The used key is always bright," this used key becomes dulled. If someone is always nice, it becomes a given. If someone acts naturally and uses all of their emotions, things stay balanced and words mean more than they would otherwise. Different emotions aren't bad, just different.
"...All natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence."
For the purpose of this quote, I believe that everything is natural, because it has progressed from nothing. Since we don't know what other humans have asides from on our earth, we do not know what is normal and what isn't. By nature, Ralph Waldo Emerson is referring to the environment, which includes things both good and bad. If one is optimistic, they can find enjoyment in anything. If one isn't optimistic, they will not see the same things. When the mind is opened, it takes in all aspects of what it sees. This means if you see a pile of trash you can find enjoyment in it with the different colors, textures or even lives of the objects in that trash. This leaves a feeling of contentment, which is the "kindred impression" Emerson speaks of.
"In good health, the air is cordial of incredible virtue."
What this quote is saying is that what you see is not always what you see. When one is healthy, the air seems very refreshing and crisp. In sickness, however it is the opposite and each breath causes suffering, however the air hasn't changed. What has changed is how the air is perceived.
"These are the voices which we hear in solitude, but they grow faint and inaudible as we enter the world."
In this quote, Mr. Emerson is speaking of the voice of individuality that is inside of everybody. He also refers to this as "the likeness of god". He is saying that it is very much easier to be yourself when one is alone and the pressure is off of them, but if one possesses integrity, then they will be able to be themselves in any situation regardless of how much pressure is put on them. They can do simple and difficult tasks with the same calm and look for themselves inside rather than out.
"Your goodness must have some edge to it, else it is none."
The meaning of this quote is that if someone relies on only one characteristic to get by on, it will not have the same effect after it is used over and over. Unlike Ben Franklin saying, "The used key is always bright," this used key becomes dulled. If someone is always nice, it becomes a given. If someone acts naturally and uses all of their emotions, things stay balanced and words mean more than they would otherwise. Different emotions aren't bad, just different.
"...All natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence."
For the purpose of this quote, I believe that everything is natural, because it has progressed from nothing. Since we don't know what other humans have asides from on our earth, we do not know what is normal and what isn't. By nature, Ralph Waldo Emerson is referring to the environment, which includes things both good and bad. If one is optimistic, they can find enjoyment in anything. If one isn't optimistic, they will not see the same things. When the mind is opened, it takes in all aspects of what it sees. This means if you see a pile of trash you can find enjoyment in it with the different colors, textures or even lives of the objects in that trash. This leaves a feeling of contentment, which is the "kindred impression" Emerson speaks of.
"In good health, the air is cordial of incredible virtue."
What this quote is saying is that what you see is not always what you see. When one is healthy, the air seems very refreshing and crisp. In sickness, however it is the opposite and each breath causes suffering, however the air hasn't changed. What has changed is how the air is perceived.
Monday, September 10, 2007
numberone[1]
This year, the main thing that I would like to accomplish in American Literature is to become more proficient with my writing and comprehending skills. The last few years I haven't been the strongest writer since sometimes I have trouble organizing my thoughts onto paper. I would also like to try and get more enjoyment out of all of my classes. If I learn to enjoy them more, I will get more out of them and what I learn will stick with me better.
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