Cusick's "The Iroquois Creation Story"

Journal # 23
Posted By: Melissa Veum
12-08-09
Engl 48A

"..., at last the good mind gained the victory by using the horns, as mentioned the instrument of death, which he succeeded in deceiving his brother and he crushed him in the earth; and the last words uttered from the bad mind were, that he would have equal power over the souls of mankind after death; and he sinks down to eternal doom, and became the Evil Spirit. After this tumult the good mind repaired to the battle ground, and then visited the people and retires from the earth (Cusick, 21)."

"We have drunk too much of your rum already, which has occasioned our destruction, we will, in the future, beware of it... (Cayuga Tribe, www.politicalandhistoricalquotations.org)."

This passage reminds me, in some ways, of the creation of the world through the Catholic church minds as well. If their minds were more nature oriented and not so cut and dry. The Good spirit reminds me of Jesus, God, and the priests and fathers of Catholicism who "won" in terms of fighting the devil. The Bad Spirit reminds me of the fallen angel, Lucifer who now resides in Hell and always was such a cocky character who thought he could overtake the Good Spirit. This passage struck me as interesting because the Bad Spirit said that he would only die from the horns and that's what his brother used to kill him. At the end of this passage it says that the Good Spirit now helps and teaches people to grow corn and how to pray to avoid the bad spirits, kinda like Catholic and christian priests. The devil on the other hand "dies" and goes to Hell to rule the underworld and wait for his followers. The devil has always been known as the Evil Spirit who got overthrown by the Good Spirit, in this case his brother.

I like the Iroquois way of thinking the world was created because it refers to a lot of animalistic ways of people and uses nature as the forefront to how things got going on this earth. I love the turtle and how it just took it's place for the woman to fall and life started right after. Having one woman start the beginning of both bad and good brothers stuck me as interesting because she is sort the creator all by herself. With the help of the turtle and mother nature of course.

Pontiac's "Speech At Detroit"

Journal # 22
Posted By: Melissa Veum
12-08-09
Engl 48A

"My children, you have forgotten the customs and traditions of your forefathers. Why do you not clothe yourselves in skins, as they did, and use the bow and arrows, and the stone-pointed lances, which they used? You have bought guns, knives, kettles, and blankets, from the white men, until you can no longer do without them; and, what is worse, you have drunk the poison fire-water, which turns you into fools (Pontiac, 440)."

"It is important for us, my brothers, that we exterminate from our lands this nation which seeks only to destroy us. You see as well as I that we can no longer supply our needs, as we have done from our brothers, the French.... Therefore, my brothers, we must all swear their destruction and wait no longer. Nothing prevents us; they are few in numbers, and we can accomplish it (Pontiac, wikipedia.com)."

In this passage, a Delaware Indian, goes on a search for The Great Spirit and finds him. He is traveling with all of the supplies he needs; a gun, kettle, clothing, etc. and after going down a very-well cut out path, finds a woman who tells him to disarm himself and take off all his clothes and treacherously climb a mountain, by means of his body only, in which after doing so he finds what he thinks is The Great Spirit. This Great Spirit says this passage to him and appears to be very disappointed in this Indian for referring to the "white-man's" ways. He wants to know how he can live with this and asks him why he came with all of this stuff not native to his ancestors. This Great Spirit knows the Indians way very well and is acting ashamed of this Indian, in order to meet with him The Great Spirit makes this Indian disrobe everything he came with in order to find The Great Spirit and talk with him.

Indian tribal ways and the ways of their ancestors were very important to the Ottawa tribes and still are to this day. For this Delawarean Indian to forget where came from and not pass on any of these virtues probably feels like a slap in the face to The Great Spirit. I liked this passage because it outlines some of the many differences between the white-man and the Indians. I feel that the white-man believes in overtaking and not giving back at all. The Great Spirit felt as though this Indian had betrayed his ancestors and thought that he was more like the white-man now with all his "ammo" and man-made things. It is good that The Great Spirit also talked about the "poison fire-water", probably meaning alcohol, that the Indian's were drinking because this still today tends to be a problem for many Indians and white-men alike. It should be called the "poison fire-water" and then maybe it wouldn't ruin so many lives or for that matter cover up the ruined lives of many.

"The Relation" by Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca

Journal #21
Posted By: Melissa Veum
12-03-09
Engl 48A

"Conferring amongst themselves, they replied that the Christians lied: We had come from the sunrise, they from the sunset; we healed the sick, they killed the sound; we came naked and barefoot, they clothed, horsed, and lanced; we coveted nothing but gave whatever we were given, while they robbed whomever they found and bestowed nothing on anyone (De Vaca, 47)."

"To the last I could not convince the Indians that we were of the same people as the Christian slavers (De Vaca, wikipedia.com)."

I love this passage form The Relation because it shows the greatest contrast between the slaveholders and the Native Americans. The Native Americans were such giving people just by nature and because they were told that they could trust De Vaca. This passage contrast everything from where they each came from to the way that they cared for other people. In the Indians minds, the Christians had lied. The Indians seemed peaceful in their demeanor and in the way that they trusted others, they wanted to help others and did not have an army or a sole leader before De Vaca came about.

Even the simple truth about how the Indians and the Christians were clothed. The Indians were naked, they came bearing food and had no weapons, the Christians quite the opposite. The Christians wanted to use and enslave the Indians and wanted to change them for their own personal use. It makes me think about slavery in Douglass and Stowe's days, that no matter how you yourself feel about something, there is always someone above you thinking just the opposite and wanting to use you for their personal gain. It was horrible what happened to these Indians and in the same respect, what happened as a whole in terms of slavery. De Vaca seems like a very much needed abolitionist for this time and I believe that the Indians saw this.

Christopher Columbus' "From Letter To Ferdinand And Isabella Regarding The Fourth Voyage"

Journal #20
Posted By: Melissa Veum
12-01-09
Engl 48A

"Alone in my trouble, sick, in daily expectation of death, and encompassed about by a million savages, full of cruelty and our foes, and so separated from the holy Sacraments of Holy Church, my soul will be forgotten if it here leaves my body. Weep for me, whoever has charity, truth, and justice (Columbus, 35)."

"Tomorrow morning before we depart, I intend to land and see what can be found in the neighborhood (Columbus, wikipedia.com)."

In this passage it seems that Columbus is crying out about the hardships he is internally facing and he is asking others to have pity on him. He talks about how his soul is so separated from the Sacraments of the Holy Church that if he was to die right here and now, his soul would be forgotten and not blessed in the Holy Sacrament. He is flat out asking others who have "charity, truth, and justice" to weep for him and probably his "abandoned" soul. Columbus feels this way and it is discerning to hear anyone crying out for help in the way that he is in this letter. He sounds very afraid and sick. When your body and your soul seem separated from everything and you feel like you may not be able to go on, you should be able to look to your faith to guide you through the rough parts. In this case, Columbus feels as though he is so far from his Holy place that even his soul would be "forgotten" if he should die.

Columbus also states that he is alone and sick and thinks about death often, as if it's coming for him and he can feel it. The feeling of being sick may very well come from feeling alone and feeling like you have a faith that you believe in, but it's not anywhere around you, your soul seems lost and not guided. He talks about the hatred and cruelty surrounding him as well. Columbus' words and the way in which he uses them makes him seem very angry and small-minded. He states that he is "encompassed about by a million savages" and makes it very clear that this is not the "Holy Church" faith in which he belongs. I think he is blaming this new land and the Native Americans on the fact that he is so sick and alone. This is all new for Columbus and instead of embracing change and differences, he is acting like a scared school-boy and blaming everyone and everything else for his "misfortune".

"Chapter IX. Of Their Voyage, And How They Passed the Sea; And Of Their Safe Arrival At Cape Cod" by William Bradford

Journal #19
Posted By: Melissa Veum
11-23-09
Engl 48A

" But it pleased God before they came half seas over, to smite this young man with a grievous disease, of which he died in a desperate manner, and so was himself the first that was thrown overboard (Bradford, 114)."

"And for the season it was winter, and they that know the winters of that country know them to be sharp and violent, and subject to cruel and fierce storms (Bradford, quotationspage.com)."

This passage was very interesting to me because it shows the wrath of God that the people of this time felt. This young man had put his ugly face forward and talked about being mean to the poor and wanting to throw them into the ocean. This is a very good example of karma. He wanted to exercise his strength and try to be the boss of everyone and wanted everyone to obey him or else be thrown overboard. These poor, sick people could do nothing but hear him bad mouthing them the whole time. Bradford says this young man was proud and probably arrogant in his ways, thinking that no harm would ever come to him, even if he treated others this way.

In this passage I see that Bradford opened up about how relentless this young man was and then describes him having the very diseased death he wished upon others on the boat. Karma at it's finest... He had threatened to throw others overboard and that is exactly what God made happen to him. He made fun of and yelled at the sick people incessantly and then God took avengance towards him and made him sicker than any and as a result, he died a very painful death and then was the first to be thrown overboard. God's wrath is very powerful and should not be "messed with" by anyone thinking that they are above the hands of God.

Anne Bradstreet's "To My Dear And Loving Husband"

Journal #18
Posted By: Melissa Veum
Engl 48A
11-19-09

"/Then while we live, in love let's so persevere/ That when we live no more, we may live ever./ (Bradstreet, 206)."

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome (Bradstreet, quotationspage.com)."

Bradstreet has a very sure and confident way in which she writes her poetry. Even though she may not be confident about what she's writing, she comes across as confident and it is refreshing to see a woman writer of this time period be so smart and poetic with flow to her words. I love her word choice of perseverance in this poem about her husband and love. She wants to persevere in love while she is alive and despite anything that might get in their way, they are going to be in love and continue loving so that they can love even after they are gone from this earth. It is very nice to hear that she wants to focus on love and live through love.

Bradstreet refers to her husband as a gift and someone who she herself cannot pay back for all the love she has received except by her own love. She sees her love life as being quite content and overwhelmingly loving. She even wants their love to travel with them when they die, I think she believes the two of them will be together someday in heaven still loving each other more than they ever did on earth. She wants to live in the ever, forever.

"Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards

Journal #17
Posted By: Melissa Veum
11-16-09
Engl 48A

"We find it easy to tread on and crush a worm that we see crawling on the earth; so it is easy for us to cut or singe a slender thread that any thing hangs by: thus easy is it for God, when he pleases, to cast His enemies down to hell (Edwards, 426)."

"The best, most beautiful, and most perfect way that we have of expressing a sweet concord of mind to each other is by music (Edwards, quotationspage.com)."

Sometimes people think that just because they are bigger or more powerful than something else, that gives them the right to do what they please with it, like killing poor defenseless worms. When it seems that something is hanging onto life by a small thread or last bit of power, sometimes it feels like your doing the thing a favor by ending it's life or helping it go faster, but maybe if this thing that's hanging on had some encouragement to hang in there or help not to let go, it would survive and hang on longer. For Edwards to say that it is easy for us to cut or singe that thread is discouraging to hear. You don't want to think that people want to be mean and vicious, you want things to be encouraged and helped so as not to have to end their lives or be stepped on.

In this statement God has the most control because it seems that when he is angry, he can just cast people or things away into hell and never worry about them again. Edwards compares a lowly worm being stepped on to an enemy of God being cast into hell by God himself, whenever he pleases. He states that this is an easy task for God to do when he comes in contact with an enemy and all should be very afraid not to cross God on a bad day. When God sends his enemies into hell it is the lowest form of punishment I can think of, you are no longer welcome in Heaven and on this earth and you will burn forever in the fiery pit we call hell. This, according to Edwards, is easy for God to do to someone.

"The Autobiography" by Thomas Jefferson

Journal # 16
Posted by: Melissa Veum
Engl 48A
11-12-09

"Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed (Jefferson, 653)."

"Do not bite at the bait of pleasure, til you know there is no hook beneath it (Jefferson, brainyquote.com)."

Jefferson states that governments that have been around for long periods of time, with discretion, should not be changed over small and petty causes. A government that has thrived for long periods of time has hopefully had time to construct itself and should not be changed for frivolous causes because this could diminish all the work and effort that your ancestors created some time ago. If the matter is though an important need for change, as in many years have passed and those who created the government are no longer alive or if the need for change is persistent for the well-being of civilization, one could see a much needed change. He is also trying to express that mankind would rather suffer in bad times than right themselves from the evils and what they are accustomed to.

I think this means that people want and look for the easy way out sometimes. When a government is not working and people are suffering from "evils", that would be the time for a change. Some people would rather dwell in the now and not worry about the future, they don't want to rock to the boat. Jefferson states that you don't have change things for frivolous reasons, but you don't want to suffer either. With a lot of man-power and persistence the rules and customs of a government can be changed and things could be better, people just have to be open and willing.

From Thomas Paine's "Common Sense"

Journal # 15
Posted By: Melissa Veum
11-10-09
Engl 48A

"If you have not, then are you not a judge of those who have. But if you have, and can still shake hands with the murderers, then are you unworthy the name of husband, father, friend, or lover, and whatever may be your rank or title in life, you have the heart of a coward, and the spirit of a sycophant (Paine, 635)."

"To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead (Paine, quotationspage.com)."

I really like the first line of this quote, but it's wording is a bit puzzling to me. I feel like when reading it correctly my mind automatically wants to flip it into "...then you are not a judge of those who have". When Paine uses "... then are you not..." I feel like this statement should be concluded with a question mark and not a period. Paine is saying that if you have not lost someone or burdened your family in anyway, then can you really judge those who have done this? Although with his lack of question mark he is making the reader think that maybe you can judge them. It would be Common Sense to not judge anyone if you have not been in there shoes. It also makes you think about the fact that everyone has had bad times and that everyone at one time or another have been sorrowful of something they have done unto their families, friends, or themselves. So, we can be judgemental of someone if we've experienced the same thing in our own lives?

Paine goes on to say that if you have been through these hardships or lost someone dear to you and can "...still shake hands with the murderers..." then you are unworthy and your title or rank in your life should be taken away and you will be seen as low to those of you around you who are "judging" you. He says that your spirit and your heart will be no longer yours to feel and be with, but that of a "coward" and a "sycophant". If you are okay with losing a loved one or if you can just forgive and forget then you should be judged by society as a "coward" and a "sycophant" for you have no soul and people should be weary of you. You should get your "titles" stripped from you and you do not deserve the privilege of not being judged by society.

"On Being Brought From Africa To America" by Phillis Wheatley

Journal #14
Posted By: Melissa Veum
11-04-09
Engl 48A

"Some view our sable race with scornful eye./ "Their color is diabolic dye."/ Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,/ May be refined, and join the angelic train/ (Wheatley, 753)."

"Now here, now there, the roving fancy flies,/ Till some lov'd object strikes her wand'ring eyes,/ whose silken fetters all the senses bind,/ And so captivity involves the mind/ (Wheatley, On Imagination)."

I believe Phillis Wheatley's poems to be very powerful yet witty at the same time. I like the way she rhymes every other line and does so throughout every poem I have read. In this quote from her poem On Being Brought From Africa To America, she states the not so obvious from both sides of the spectrum. She sees things from the slaveholders eyes and then comes back at them from the very slaves eyes. She states that some may look at the black race negatively and even quotes that they are labeled as having "diabloic dye" on their skin, but that even though many feel this way, it does not matter in the eyes of God because one day we will all be on that "angelic train" riding towards Heaven, no matter the color of your skin.

It's like she's saying a little prayer to her fellow mistreated Christians, "Remember..." as in don't forget that we too are going to some day rise above this insanity which be our lives and be allowed to ride that "angelic train" to our much needed and God-given fates. She has a wonderful way of making even the gloomiest of thoughts have a light at the end of the tunnel. She says that it doesn't matter if you are a black Christian, you are a Christian, regardless of skin color and that blacks are "refined" and it no matter the turmoil you feel that you are in right now in your life, look to the future for Heaven and that saving grace await us all.

From The Interesting Narrative Of The Life Of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavas Vassa, The African, Written By Himself

Journal # 13
Posted By: Melissa Veum
Engl 48A
11-02-09

"I had before entertained hopes of getting home, and had determined when it should be dark to make the attempt; but I was now convinced it was fruitless, and began to consider that, if possibly I could escape all other animals, I could not those of the human kind; and that, not knowing the way, I must perish in the woods (Equiano, 679)."

"I now wished for the last friend, death, to relieve me (Equiano, Wikipedia)."

Reading the Narrative of Olaudah Equiano lets you see and hear how smart Olaudah was even as a young child. He wanted to get home, no matter how far, and was going to venture it in the darkness of night. As it was getting darker, he was getting a little anxious and scared. Things are different in the dark and you cannot see your way and it would have been very scary for a young boy to venture this alone. Once nightfall came he realized that this excursion was "fruitless" and was not going to end well. Even if Olaudah could get by the scary animals he might encounter, he would still have to be weary of the human "animals" he might encounter. He assumed he might as well have to die in these woods.

Olaudah is very smart because he recognizes his chances, considers the obvious and does not act like the average child would. He and his friends had methods of warding off bad guys and on this day, did not go as planned. Olaudah wanted to return home and when he saw his chance to get away, I feel that he tried to take it. His smart mind knew he may not make it all the way home and that venturing alone in the darkness was not the best idea in the world. I liked how Olaudah referred to humans as animals as well, being that most humans who indeed own slaves were animals and sure acted that way. I would think that for Olaudah encountering the human animals would be much more frightening than encountering the real animals that may be in the woods with him.

"An Indian's Looking-Glass For The White Man" by William Apess

Journal # 12
Posted by Melissa Veum
10-29-09
Engl 48A

"If black or red skins or any other skin of color is disgraceful to God, it appears that he has disgraced himself a great deal- for he has made fifteen colored people to one white and placed them here upon this earth (Apess, 1054)."

"I felt convinced that Christ died for all mankind- that age, sect, color, country, or situation make no difference. I felt an assurance that I was included in the plan of redemption with all my brethren (A Son Of The Forest; Apess : wikipedia.com)."

I love this quote and completely agree with the statement Apess is making about the way of God and how it is perceived in the world at this time. Apess talks about how if every skin color other than white is a disgrace to God himself then God has very much so disgraced himself. It is very Christian like to believe that God created all of us and if God himself is disgraced by color, then why did he make so many colored spectrum's of people? I like that Apess talks about all the skin colors not only referencing his own. He talks about the fact that if God does love all individuals, no matter what, then why are people so discriminatory towards something that appears different?

It is a very true statement that "... he has made fifteen colored people to one white..." in which we are all on this planet together, supposed to living as one. Just because some people have "white" faces does not make them superior to other nationalities and does not make it fair for one skin color to "own" and oppress another. I think Apess is saying that God did not make a mistake in this process of "creating" people and individuals, he has put everyone on this planet together for a reason. Why are there so many colored faces and not as many white faces? According to Apess, God did this not to disgrace himself, but on purpose.

Washington Irving's "Rip Van Winkle"

Journal # 11
Posted By Melissa Veum
10-27-09
Engl 48A


"During the whole time, Rip and his companion had laboured on in silence; for though the former marvelled greatly what could be the object of carrying a keg of liquor up this wild mountain, yet there was something strange and incomprehensible about the unknown, that inspired awe, and checked familiarity (Irving, 958)."

"Great minds have purposes, others have wishes. Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune; but great minds rise above them (Irving, quotationspage.com)."

I did think that it was strange for Rip to be following this gentlemen without speaking one word the whole time. Rip is a generous man and the story does talk about how he does everything and anything to help others, but not even asking where he's taking him is a little strange. Rip follows this man with a gigantic keg on his back through the wild mountains and over rough terrain to find no one hurt or needing help, but other unknown gentlemen playing nine-pins. Rip did not even ask what he was doing there, which leads me to think that he wanted to get away, that maybe he internally wanted to "ignore" his life and his responsibilities and get drunk with these men who appeared to be having a good time.

Irving states that Rip did have a yearning for the unknown and that this circumstance of following this unknown person "... inspired awe, and checked familiarity." Rip wanted to get away, that's what he was doing in the mountain woods in the first place. He was curious and did not at the time think there would be any consequences for following someone deeper into the woods than he usually goes. Rip was intrigued by this fellow and felt his familiarity, his life, being checked. Checked by himself, his wife, his dog, these unknown gentlemen. Rip was okay even when he woke up. He was more upset about his dog and being given this old, dingy gun than he was with having stayed out all night. Rip was obviously worried about his wife too but felt an enormous sense of relief finding out that she was no more. He had been gone for 20 years and seemed kinda relieved and okay with the situation upon his return.

"Resistance To Civil Government " by Henry David Thoreau

Journal #10
Posted By Melissa Veum
10-22-09
Engl 48A

"It is a sort of wooden gun to the people themselves; and, if ever they should use it in earnest as a real one against each other, it will surely split (Thoreau, 1857)."

"Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Journal #9
Posted by Melissa Veum
10-20-09
Engl 48A

"There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till (Emerson, 1164)."

"The louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons (Emerson, quotationspage.com)."

Throughout Emerson's essay, Self-Reliance, he talks a lot about relying on yourself and never second-guessing yourself over any matter. This passage struck me as very witty in terms of how you should be yourself and realize that the grass is not always greener. I like how Emerson says "...in every man's education..." because it shows that everyone does gain education in their lives and that that will be the time when you actually come to some self- realization that things are not as they seem. When you have envy for someone or something, which we all have had, there comes this time when you realize that it is stupid and that you only end up hurting yourself and not feeling good about yourself. Imitation again as Emerson says, "... is suicide..." and when you realize this, you'll be better off. It can ruin you to take someone else's ideas and claim them as your own. Emerson clearly states that you must trust yourself and take everything you have for face value, don't try to turn yourself into something your not.

Emerson also states that although the world is full of good, and sometimes we may want to take advantage of this, nothing is better than we bestow upon ourselves. If we all trust in ourselves and in our hearts, the good and the bad, we too will be able to have all the good inside of ourselves. We are all given a "plot of ground" in which is inside each of us to make good and have forever, it's when you start looking on to what others have that you don't, that we sometimes get insecure. I think that Emerson is just trying to tell us to look deeper inside ourselves and we will see what we've always wanted, we've had.

Harriet Jacobs, "Incidents In The Life of a Slave Girl"

Journal #8
Posted By Melissa Veum
10-15-09
Engl 48A

"She clasped a gold chain around my baby's neck. I thanked her for this kindness; but I did not like the emblem. I wanted no chain to be fastened on my daughter, not even if it's links were of gold. How earnestly I prayed that she might never feel the weight of slavery's chain, who's iron entereth into the soul (Jacobs, 1821)."

"Cruelty is contagious in uncivilized communities (Jacobs, memorablequotations.com)."

This passage comes at the time that Linda is having her children baptized behind her master's back in a church. Her father's old mistress placed a beautiful gold chain around Ellen's neck as a gift and even though Linda appreciated the gift, she did not want something chained and fastened around her daughter's neck, ever, even something made out of gold.

I love the way Jacobs uses the analogy of a gold chain necklace to interpret the ever-binding chains of slavery. She really makes you realize the harshness and unforgotten way that she was treated by making every reference to the fact that her children shall never feel that chain of restraint. Linda states that "slavery's chain, whose iron enereth into the soul." slavery is something that when it enters your soul, you never get rid of that feeling of utter isolation and self-unworthiness. The fact that she says it weighs down on the soul like an iron is very reminiscent to the way she feels at the end of the story, even with all of her good memories about her grandmother, she still carries on the bad memories too that will never rid her body. Linda never wants her children's souls to be "tainted" like hers will be forever more into eternity.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Journal #7
Posted By Melissa Veum
10-13-09
Engl 48A

"I know of such cases; and it is worthy of remark that such slaves invariably suffer greater hardships, and have more to contend with, than others. They are, in the first place, a constant offense to their mistress (Douglass, 2073)."

"People might not get all they work for in this world, but they must certainly work for all they get (Douglass, quotationspage.com)."

In this passage Douglass is referring to the many slaves that had a father who was also their master. In these slave days the "right of passage" for all slaves was to follow in the footsteps of their mother, not their father. So many children born to slave mothers grew up to be slaves even though they were part white. These slaves in turn had the worst hardships of all in many cases. Nothing they ever did would be good enough for the master and his wife because this child was born into a forbidden world according to the mistress involved.

These slaves were considered a "constant offense to their mistress'" because every time the masters' wife would look upon these children it reminded her of the fact that her husband was a sleazy, unfaithful husband. I don't think that it would be a woman's place to reprimand her husband in this time for doing these deeds of adultery, but maybe instead she could get out some of her anger on these poor, defenseless children stuck in the middle of scandal.

Edgar Allen Poe and "The Fall of the House of Usher"

Journal #6
Posted By Melissa Veum
Engl 48A
10-08-09

"The general furniture was profuse, comfortless, antique, and tattered. Many books and musical instruments lay scattered about, but failed to give any vitality to the scene. I felt that I breathed an atmosphere of sorrow. An air of stern, deep, and irredeemable gloom hung over and pervaded all (Poe, 1555)."

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before (Poe, brainyquote.com)."

In this passage Poe demonstrates his ideal intelligence and perception to give the reader a visual look into the world of "The House Of Usher" as it glooms onward. The perception Poe demonstrates is extraordinary. It is interesting that everything in this room which he describes gives off a vitality except for the musical instruments and books, which i think do give a room it's vitality. I think maybe in the way they were scattered and maybe not taken care of was the reason for them being this insignificant. I liked how The furniture was described as "profuse, comfortless, antique, and tattered", it shows that you probably wouldn't want to sit in any of this furniture and that in this huge mansion, there is not the comfiest of chairs in this main room of Usher's. It also gives depth to the voice of the stories' feeling of imagery upon entering by using the word antique and tattered all in the same sentence. This shows the furniture has not been cared for and probably not sat in in awhile.

The speaker says that "he breathed an air of sorrow" which meant that there was gloom throughout the mansion. It could be felt in the air. When gloom hits your lungs, so to speak, it is very chilling and not ultimately the kind of air one wants to inhale. He speaks of the gloom taking over everything almost instantly and that it hung over the room. This gives us the image of a very dark, lonely home that seems almost inhabitable. Who wants to live in a place surrounded by doom? Even the outside is gloomy with the cracks and haze and tarn all around. Not a place I would like to visit anytime soon.

Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Minister's Black Veil"

Journal #5
Posted By Melissa Veum
10-06-09
Engl 48A

"All through life that piece of crape had hung between him and the world:it had separated him from cheerful brotherhood and woman's love, and kept him in that saddest of all prisons, his own heart; and still it lay upon his face, as if to deepen the gloom of his darksome chamber, and shade him from the sunshine of eternity (Hawthorne, 1319)."

"Words -- so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them (Hawthorne,quotationspage.com)."

In this passage I feel that Hawthorne is trying to "show" us the meaning behind the veil Mr. Hooper wears throughout his life. It says that the crape of fabric was between himself and the entire world all of his life. It was definitely a type of shield. Shielding his soul, so that no one could look in or maybe shielding the look on his face of his own repence. The passage talks about how the crape kept him in his own sad prison; inside his heart and soul. The only things about a person that no one else can see, only by way of facial expressions and types of movement and personalities people have. I think that Mr. Hooper did not anyone to see his original sins and even though everybody has them, no one broadcasts it all over their face like Mr. Hooper did with his veil.

I do believe that Hawthorne is trying to "deepen the gloom of his darksome chamber" by wearing the veil covering practically his entire face and not really talking about his sins all together but by showing everyone that we all have sins, he just chooses to show his by means of covering his face. The one thing everyone sees first when they meet you, the emotion and spirit of yourself is always painted on your face no matter what, it's hard to hide, but Mr. Hooper does the job by advertising that he does have sins just like everybody else. I think he goes to these extremes to show others that you have to not hide behind your original sin, we all have them.

Rebecca Harding Davis "Life in the Iron Mills"

Journal #4
Posted by Melissa Veum
Engl 48A
10-01-09

"Deborah was stupid with sleep; her back pained her sharply; and her teeth chattered with cold, with the rain that soaked her clothes and dripped from her at every step. She stood, however, patiently holding the pail, and waiting (Davis, 2604)."

“Reform is born of need, not pity. No vital movement of the people has worked down, for good or evil; fermented, instead, carried up the heaving, cloggy mass (thinkexist.com)."

This passage from Davis talks about how patient, loving, and giving Deborah was of Hugh. She was extremely tired and cold and still walked the mile to Hugh's workplace in the freezing weather, drenched beyond belief. Throughout the story Deborah seems to always be in pain, dirty, and freezing from being soaking wet constantly. She came to deliver Hugh's dinner to him, even though he wasn't expecting it. He was working and did not really acknowledge her at first, so she patiently waited. Even after he had begun eating she still waited for Hugh and did what he wanted her to do; wait for him by taking a nap on the warm ashes.

Deborah shows immense respect and loyalty towards Hugh throughout this passage.The quote is just one example of this. She did not need to walk to Hugh's workplace, through the dirty, gloomy streets, but she did, showing that she cares and has love for him. She shows that he comes first and that she is loyal and despite her many pains, she still thinks of him first. That he needs to eat, that his workday is very long, and that he needs to be respected. I like how this quote says that Deborah was "stupid with sleep" because that shows just how tired she was and in the passages following you see that she really is stupid by stealing something from Mitchell. Maybe if she wasn't in so much pain and so tired, she would have thought more about what she was doing and not made the worst mistake of her life.

Herman Melville's "Bartleby, The Scrivener"

Journal #3
Posted by Melissa Veum
English 48A
09/28/09

"But no. I verily believe that buttoning himself up in so downy and blanket-like a coat had a pernicious effect upon him; upon the same principle that too much oats are bad for horses. In fact, precisely as a rash, restive horse is said to feel his oats, so Turkey felt his coat. It made him insolent. He was a man whom prosperity harmed (Melville, 2367)."

"It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation (Melville, quotationspage.com)."

In this quote Melville is stating that Turkey, who has a dreary type of wardrobe, does not feel or look like himself in this borrowed coat. Turkey turns angry and putting the coat on himself and buttoning it up makes him look like he's had too much of a good thing. The speaker thinks that Turkey will appreciate this favor of being able to wear a coat absolutely out of his own style and characteristics, but instead things turn for the worse. It seems that turkey is a man whom the finner things in life are not meant for.

I do believe that you cannot change a person just by putting something shiny and new on the outside of them and calling them something different. For starters if the person does not want to change, in Turkey's case, there is no amount of shine that is going to withstand those boundaries. In terms of this passage the speaker may accomplish what he wants by putting a nice, clean jacket on Turkey, but on the inside he is still going to be the same insolent Turkey.

Harriet Beecher Stowe- "Uncle Tom's Cabin"

Journal #2
Posted by Melissa Veum
English 48A
09/28/09

"Sublime is the dominion of the mind over the body, that, for a time, can make flesh and nerve impregnable, and string the sinews like steel, so that the weak become so mighty (Stowe, 1712)."

"The truth is the kindest thing we can give folks in the end (Stowe, quotationspage.com)."

Harriet Beecher Stowe is explaining to the reader in the quote that mind over matter is what really matters in the end. Even the weakest of people can be strong if the cause is worth fighting for. In this case Eliza needs to get away from this trader who is trying to take her son away from her. She has not eaten much and has been traveling all night, but in order to save her son from a life with no mother, she takes all her strength and crosses a treacherous river by jumping on broken pieces of ice. She musters up all the strength she had in her little body and clasping onto her son, makes it across the river, where a Christian gentlemen helps her up the bank.

I think that Eliza is a very brave, independent woman who in not wanting her son taken away from her, she uproots herself and flees for a better life. In this passage she is not only doing this for herself, but she has her little baby with her. When doing something for someone you love, you gain immense strength and power to do whatever you see fit. In this case, Eliza is doing everything she can to ensure a better life for her son, even if it means possibly getting into more trouble than she has ever imagined. Having strength in your mind and within yourself, if nowhere else, is all that Eliza has right now and she can overcome anything just by thinking that she has the power to do so.

Abraham Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address

Journal #1
Posted by Melissa Veum
English 48A
09/27/09

"Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it parish. And the war came (Lincoln, 1636)."

"Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally (Lincoln, quotationspage.com).

Basically I think Abraham Lincoln is describing some of the reasons for the Civil wars start. Both sides were against the war but both were fighting for different things. One party was not against letting there become a war as opposed to letting the nation survive as is and the other party would accept a war rather than letting the nation perish as is. And so Lincoln states in few words with both parties' feeling this way; the war came. Wanted or not. In so many words both parties seemed against war, but both parties wanted to be right and would do anything to be right.

I do think that one party was working toward a greater good and the other just wanted to be right and have everyone follow in their footsteps, even if it was slavery; a horrific and terrible thing that happened in this country. Lincoln knew that this would not be an easy task to abolish but he stood by his country and eventually got the best of America on the winning side and therefore abolishing slavery in the United States. Both sides of the war believed in God and both read the same Bible, yet having such differently drastic views of what was right is what brought our nation to slaughter and horrify so many Americans those hundred + years ago.