Book Report: The Scarlet Letter

Book Report / Novel Summary

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. Boston. Ticknor: 1850.

Reason, Type and Setting: After consulting with the librarian and he recommended The Scarlet Letter I decided to explore one of Hawthorne’s famous pieces of literature. This book takes place in the 17^th century Boston, and is a dramatic mystery.

Plot: Hester, a young and beautiful woman is married to an older, yet brilliant, scholar. Unhappy, Hester seeks love in another man and commits adultery to her husband. After Hester has her baby the reader has no idea who the father is. The entire town comes to the meeting where the inform Hester that she will have to wear a scarlet letter A on her chest for the rest of her life. She is humiliated and no one respects her or her daughter Pearl. What the people of the town would like to know is who her husband is and who is the other adulterer? Hester’s husband arrives in the town as Mr. Chillignworth and makes Hester keep his identity a secret and Hester complies as well as remains steadfast in leaving her lover anonymous as well. In the end we find that Dimmesdale, the minister, was Hester’s lover and before they get to runaway to Europe, Dimmesdale confesses his sin and dies before the entire town. Pearl is very young and hardly understands the situation her mother is in and doesn’t know who her real father is.

Character: Hester, like I said earlier was a flawless and beautiful young woman. After her husband had sent her to America with the promise to soon follow, Hester met a new man. Dimmesdale and Hester fell in love and soon she became pregnant. This independent and strong woman began to be shot down by all of the people of the town. After the scarlet letter is permanently on her chest Hester becomes a sad and lonely and pathetic outcast. Her daughter often questioned why the sun never came up around Hester and every where she went the shadows would follow. Hester is the main character of this story and selected her because of her responsibility. She took full responsibility for her mistake despite the fact that she was unhappy with her husband but so happy with her lover. She lived with the scarlet letter and all the sneers that came along with it and still never revealed the name of her daughter’s father. By the end of the novel Hester had been volunteering and working where she could, doing everything she could to repent herself. She also met with Dimmesdale and made arrangements to run away with him because she wanted to finally be with the one person who makes her happy.

Evaluation: I didn’t enjoy this novel as much as I have enjoyed some of the other novels I have read for my outside reading books. Although, it was interesting to see how people handled that situation back in the 17^th century. Now in the 21^st century a situation like this would hardly be recognized and certainly not be the entire town but only by the people involved. In modern society it is hard to say whether or not we lost our morals that we had in the times the book was written or if we simply rearranged and reapplied our ideals to more or less important things that affect us now. I learned not only about the culture of that time but it gave me the insight to reflect on the culture I live in and thought I understood so well. I disagree with how harsh Hester’s punishment was, but maybe we are to lax on how we “punish” people who do the same thing now. I don’t think I would recommend this book, simply because it didn’t make a strong enough impact on my life to really feel the need to share this book with others.

If I were in Hester’s situation I may have acted the same way she had. I don’t believe, first of all, that I would cheat on my husband, but I also don’t plan on marrying someone I am not in love with. Hester didn’t commit adultery because she was “horny” but because she was in love with the minister. I couldn’t even try to compare myself to how Hester felt since I have never been in that type of situation at all. Hopefully I never will be.

Author, Context and Trivia: Hawthorne has also written the novels: Fanshawe, The House of the Seven Gables, The Blithedale Romance , The Marble Faun. I have never really read a book like this. If I happen to find another book by this author or like this one I may read it but I don’t believe I would look for another book like this one particularly.

John Locke: As an Influential Philosopher

Imagine a life where critical thinking was frowned upon. Theoretical and logical ideas

wouldn’t be challenged because they were hardly presented to the public. Some of the most

famous and influential philosophers flourished in times like these.

John Locke is one of the most known philosophers in the world. Born in 1632, Locke hadn’t published most of his work until 1689. even when he had began to publish his essays and writings they were in either a special code and some were even in invisible ink. For fear of losing his life because of his “radical” new ideas, Locke thought that remaining anonymous in his publications was the best idea. Locke was an educated man and attended Westminster School and Oxford University, he graduated with a B.A. in 1656. Locke graduated and eventually became a consultant for the King and Lord Ashley in 1666. Lord Ashley was one of Locke’s good friends, and Locke Lived in Ashley’s home for a while after he graduated school.

Locke had no family after 1663 when his only brother passed away, in 1661 his father had passed away, and in 1654 Locke’s mother passed away as well. Locke was all alone but left with land and a few cottages that provided him with a small, but sufficient income that could support him for the rest of his life. Locke remained unmarried all his life but was known to be around women often and even came close to marriage. Another issue Locke suffered with was his poor health. In 1671, Locke left England and moved to France to get away form the London smog. In France he expanded his theories and ideas on many people he met. After returning to England, Locke began writing An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Through this paper Locke addressed three main points: gaining knowledge, trusting knowledge, and limits to knowledge.

Locke’s Two Treatises on Government written in 1690 is what our United States Government and laws are largely based on. This writing presents Locke’s main ideas that every person has the right to: life, liberty, and property. Locke’s anti-tyrannical ideas were reflected strongly in the United States Declaration of independence. Locke was unhappy with the way most governments were obtained by force and allowed the people know opinions into there future Kings and Parliament. Although his original theories don’t apply to our lives today in the same way they did when they were written; Locke’s passion for human rights are still the overlying theme of his writings and our democracy.

Locke was a religious Christian, but there are only theories as to what type of Christian he was. His religious beliefs had influenced his writings and some people believe that Locke may have either been a Puritan or an Anglican. Locke’s family were puritans but throughout Locke’s life he claimed to be Anglican, although he avoided becoming an Anglican priest. The main ideas in Locke's Letter on Toleration may sound very familiar. In these letters Locke talks about how he believes there should be a separation between church and state and that the government should not determine what their people should or should not believe. It also states that the church does not have any power over the government. These ideas are also the found in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Which states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Locke’s other ideas are reflected through the constitution as well and

Locke lived a comfortable lifestyle but went through many troubles through out his life. whether these personal obsticles effected his emotions toward his personal beliefes is almost certain.

Locke influences our communities every day with his timeless and important ideals. If Locke’s ideas weren’t pushed into the public eye and discovered by all the small people who eventually made a big difference; there is no way to tell how the world would be now. Without John Locke, everything about our government would be different, not only that but our government may have never been formed. Out of all the influential philosophers that offer their works to our world, Locke was one of the most remarkable.

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http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke/

Book Report: Prince and the Pauper

Twain, Mark. The Prince and the Pauper. Place of Publication. Company: Date.

Reason, Type and Setting: I selected this book because I not only like Twain’s style, but I also have heard about this book before and it was recommended to me. This is a historical fiction novel about two young boys from the extremes of two social statures. This book takes place in England during the second quarter of the sixteenth century.

Plot: Prince Edward Tudor and Thomas Canty are the main characters of the story. One day the prince sees Tom looking in at the castle and invites him in and they both talk about their different lifestyles. The prince has the idea to trade clothing with the pauper. They both see that they look practically the same in the mirror and the prince decides to change places with Tom. The rest of the book is about how the two boys try to adjust to their new life and find a way to get switched back to their normal homes. It is hard for Tom to adjust to the life of a Prince, and Edward can hardly survive living the life of Tom Canty found it interesting to see how exclusive we can be to our own social status and many people don’t take the opportunities to expand their cultural knowledge in a sophisticated and appropriate way.

Character: Prince Edward was a small and very young boy and the prince of Whales. It was the princes idea to change lives with Tom. Unable to recognize the repercussions of his decision when he made it, he soon suffered the consequences in seeing how cruel the world was outside of his own home. Though the prince was very young and still naive and ignorant, he believed he was being very kind and open hearted by letting the pauper into his home. In reality the prince was just as selfish as he thought he was generous. I selected this character because I thought the lesson that he learned was a very valuable one. He was able to really see and understand how his citizens lived and when he would become king he knew that he would have to rule accordingly. Instead of holding his own lifestyle as his top priority, the young king sees that he will now need to be more respectful of the lower class not just the wealthy community. I was interested in the character because I found his personality and stubborn attitude was unique and likeable. The by the end of the story Edward had become a more sensitive and cultured boy, helping him rule the country he loved the best way he could.

Evaluation: I enjoyed the novel and I found the story line intriguing. While I was reading the story it was hard for me to not want to learn more about the two boys’ personality and coping methods. It was definitely amusing to see how ignorant the small prince was and how he knew nothing about the real world before the switch. One of my favorite lines was when Edward and Tom were talking about the people who took care of the prince. When Edward found out that Tom didn’t have a servant to care for him he asked simply, “And prithee, why not? Who helpeth them undress at night? Who attireth them when they rise?” The way Twain portrayed the different boys really brought forward the point of understanding and brought a whole new meaning to the saying “to walk a day in someone else’s shoes.” This book was fun to read and as a reader I go t very emotionally connected to the two boys. I’m sure any one else who would read this novel, will love the plot line and the author’s style, and if not for those reasons at least they would enjoy the message the book gives.

It is hard to relate the story to my own life because I am and will always be so different than the two boys. I have never had an uncomfortable living condition or an over exorbitant one. If I were in Tom’s position of having to take the role of the prince, I understand how it were hard for him to deal with but I think I would have been more proactive and less naive. Same with Edward as a pauper, I’m sure it was hard for him to deal with such a different lifestyle in a negative way, but I he had been less obnoxious and more willing to comply to other’s needs rather than just his own, I’m sure more people would have been interested in helping him. It was important for the end of the book to come to the two boys switching back to their normal lives and be able to apply what they had learned during their experiences to their normal life.

Author, Context and Trivia: Mark Twain is a very famous and well renowned author. His written the books; The adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. I have read Huck Finn as well as The Prince and The Pauper, both of which were interesting and well thought out plot lines. I personally enjoyed The Prince and The Pauper more than the Huckleberry Finn, because of the style and simply the story line. I have not read another book like this one but I would be interested in looking into other books like this. I find Twain’s style in its self to be refreshing and unique. I hope to be given more opportunities to read more from this author.

Time Progression of John Locke: FBI Profile

John Locke photo taken in 1672

John Locke estimated age progression in 10 years (1982)

Aliases:
Alexander Popham, politician Anthony "Ashley" Cooper aka Lord Ashley.

DESCRIPTION

Date of Birth:

August 29, 1632

Date of Death:

October 28, 1704

Hair:
Shoulder Length; Light grey

Place of Birth:
Wrington, England

Place of Death:

Oates, England

Eyes:
Brown

Height:
6'1"

Complexion:
Fair

Weight:
160 pounds

Sex:
Male

Build:
Slender

Race:
White

Occupations:
Philosopher, Writer.

Nationality:
English

Scars and Marks:
None known

Favorite foods:

fish, caviar, bread.

Favorite drink:

red wine

Taste in Women:

Locke liked intellegent women and was very picky when it came to chosing one. He also believed that women were not property but that they must remain behind the scenes and support their husbands.

Remarks:
Has poor health and suffers in harsh weather conditions. Locke has attended colleges such as; Westminister School, Oxford and the Christ Church School in Oxford. After graduating out of college he began his career with Lord Ashley. In the late 1690’s and early 1700’s Locke was making about £1000 a year.

OUTLINE for RESEARCH PAPER:

Intro: Give reader insight into some important philosophies John Locke has brought to the world and are important to our society. Introduce Locke and the topics to be covered throughout the paper.

Body: short biography of Locke’s life time. Explain where he came from and where he went in his life. In the body I will also explain and give examples of some of his philosophical theories.

Conclusion: I will give the reader a short recap of the essay and then I will also add how Locke specifically has changed our current world and how his theories have changed many people’s lives. How? Who? And when?

ESSAY PROMT:

Three to four page mini research paper. What has your individual contributed to our world? What do you imagine we would be like without their existence? (SIGNIFICANCE) Is there someone similar from society today or modern history you can compare this individual to? You must utilize the following source:

http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/sand07018

oppression

As this photo shows, the bicycle is oppressed through neglect by its former owner. When this bicycle no longer is given the potential to become or maintain a functional structure, their is nothing the bike can do to protest. In many ways when people are oppressed they don't have much power or ability to rise above the oppressor and to regain their former position in society.

Lord of the Flies- Book Review

Lord of the Flies

Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York. Berkley Publishing Group: 1954.

Reason, Type and Setting: I chose Lord of the Flies because I have heard a lot about it and I have been told that it has a good message and a timeless lesson that everyone can benefit from hearing. The book certainly did not let me down, I found the message to be no only moving and interesting but it was far too familiar. Independence and insecurity lead people to irrational decisions and I think Golding did a great job displaying some of the fallacy of human nature. How society molds our younger generations and even taken out of civilization even kids are brain washed enough to still follow the normality of their society. After many boys are stranded on an uninhabited island with no adult figures they struggle to survive until they are rescued. I believe this book took place towards the end of World War II.

Plot: The boys on the island trouble accepting others view and respecting each other. They had issues creating a fair and simple governing system that consisted of nothing more than a chief and a conch. They had troubles following the “laws” set in place by their chief, Ralph. The struggle of determining whether brains or muscles are the key to survival the boys end up destroying major recourses and lead themselves to their own destruction. Getting carried away with hunting and games the boys were distracted from the things that were the most important. Even though they had an abundance of food, water, space, fire, and supplies for building shelters; all from the island they temporarily lived on, they still couldn’t find a way to live in harmony. Man fights between the power hungry Jack and the judicial chief Ralph ended up tearing the rest of the group apart and led to the unnecessary death and torture of many boys.

Character: Ralph was the initial chief of the island. The other boys voted in the 12 year old boy to create fair rules and mediate all the things that happened on the island. Ralph is a fit boy with fair blonde hair and blue eyes. He is well built and it is easy for him to adjust to the different terrain of the island. He is not only strong and able bodied, but he also is good about thinking situations through before acting on an impulse. He holds a very important role in the maintenance of keeping order through the island. He is understanding, intelligent and level minded.

I chose Ralph because despite the fact that he was the main character and as the reader I learned the most about his personality; but I liked how he was able to stay rue to his morals and he had no problem enforcing what he truly believed to be right. He was not easily swayed by others in the group and the peer pressures they placed on him. Not only did Ralph do all that he should have for the people he was with on the island, but he was able to maintain a down to earth personality and never get control crazy. The other boys respected him but they were all still young and naive so it was hard for them to understand the importance of what Ralph did for them.

Evaluation: I enjoyed this novel, although I did find the message and morals to be different from my own ideas. The way that the situation was described was accurate and interesting. Unfortunately I think that by having such a large time gap between when the novel was written to now the behaviors in the book aren’t as preposterous now as they may have been then. It was entertaining and unique in the story line and plot but I did not feel as though I really connected with any of the characters or found myself really emotionally attached to the characters. It was especially interesting to see the authors take on how the boys should have been more civil and had such high expectations for the boys in the story. What I did like about this book was that I felt it was the closest situation to see human instincts in a state of nature; rather than so equally molded and conformed by society. I don’t think I would particularly recommend this book to others, but I don’t regret reading it and I still felt that I got a valuable and different perspective from the novel.

The way this book triggered my interest in the greatest way was it made me think about how I personally would feel in the situation the boys were put in. If I could endure what they had and if I would be able to remain calm and hopeful. It is mind boggling to see how self destructive a person can get all in the hopes of making themselves better. But I think the worst way that some of the boys acted was indifference. In any situation it is important for people to voice their opinions with out forcing them on others and being respectful to the situation. I think if I were in Ralph’s position I would hope I could respond to the situation the way that Ralph had. His level headed decisions made him far wiser than the other boys in the group. I think that the fact that so many of the boys died and only because of the other boys was a sad ending, but I don’t think the book would have been as powerful with out those plot twists. I enjoyed the ending, but I felt that it was a bit cliché. I would have liked the boys to be rescued at a less opportune moment.

Author, Context and Trivia: Golding's other novels include Lord of the Flies, The Inheritors, The Spire, Rites of Passage (Booker Prize), and The Double Tongue. Lord of the Flies was the most famous of his novels. William Golding was born in England and attended Oxford University, and published his first book while in college. I have not read any other Golding stories or poems, I am not sure if it is in my intention to read others.

The Hands of the Earth- M.O.P.A

The sky was as clear as the ground was cluttered. The wildflowers came popping out of every nook and cranny through out the entire field. Rich soil supported the lush unkempt grass that grew wildly and patchily in the endless field. The willows swayed lightly in the mellow breeze and a few of their loose leave would venture off to take the journey toward the ground where they would then provide their new flowery companion with some nutrients. One lady bug twitched her red wings and then spread them consciously before she took off; in flight she wavered in the winds and tried to keep a straight path. One large gust came and swept the little bug into a frenzy and changed the course of her path. As the winds died down, the lady bug drifted gently and unconcerned toward the flat grass. The grass here was mowed in a perfectly symmetrical circle around one towering tree with roots that came stretching above and over the soil and further than the other tree's roots the lady bug had encountered. The majestic tree had a trunk thicker and stronger than any tree the lady bug had seen. The bay fig tree reached her hands from the warmth of her soil out into the cool air where many people have come to nap, read, talk, kiss, think and observe nature. One girl the tree knew very well was Madeline. Madi would come every day and rest down into the seat the tree had crafted with her roots. She would snuggle up against the smoothed trunk, and she would either begin by singing or talking. Occasionally she would drift into a summer slumber and the tree would relax with Madi and they would both let all their worries dissipate. Madi would run around the bay fig and play games, but the thing the tree loved the most was when Madi would sit down and hold her hands up against the long thick roots and gently smile and say,
"You’re hands have so many more stories to tell then mine do."