Journal #8

Two texts that I found conversing with each other was Henry Garnet's speech made before Congress and Mary Chesnut's diary entry. Although the two are provided in a different context, their meaning's walk along the same path. They both argue their ideal way of wife and their speculations on the matter, but their beliefs drive opposite ways. In Garnet's memorial, he preaches an equal opportunity for African-Americans, he states "... and all men holding allegiance to the government shall enjoy every right of American citizenship." Readers in that time can relate to the ideals of the American dream of which this nation was founded upon, the pursuit of liberty and happiness. That black men have every right to make a life of their own as does a white man. In times of such political turmoil and where a part of the American identity emerges, the meanings of the government are on everyone's mind. On the other hand in this situation, Chesnut's diary explores the deep roots of the Southern mind set. She talks about how she has nothing and the "Yankee's" will have nothing to take, but at the end of the diary she learns about Abe Lincolns assassination. She writes "The death of Lincoln I call a warning to tyrants. He will not be the last President put to death in the capital, though he is the first." They see him as a tyrant, that is their mindset. Their belief is their pursuit of liberty and happiness and they are entitled to that as much as any other American. She doesn't talk about her regret or a bad conscious, she just continues life with her mindset. And it all comes down to perspective, The North discontinued slavery and adapted to that way of life, which is the complete opposite of those in the South. It's all about one's way of life and perspective. But the lack of insight and appeal in the diary doesn't compare to Grant's memorial in terms of persuasive power.

Journal #7

Frances E.W. Harper's poem, "The Slave Mother", vividly projects the images of a mother's child being stripped away from her. The use of imagery in the poem and the vision it projects ignites a call of action in the reader. A mother losing a child is easily the toughest thing a mother can go through. This poem describes the disparity of a slave mother as she can't protect her child from the slave masters or the law. Saying in lines 11 and 12 "As if a storm of agony/ were sweeping through the brain." Harper's imagery gives the audience witness of the emotional struggles of slavery. One of the most crushing obstacles for slaves was that the law was not on their side, and the law said that a mother's status determines the child's status. She has no control over the fact she birthed a child into hell. Harper portrays this in the fifth stanza, saying "He is not hers, although she bore/ For him a mother's pains; He is not hers, although her blood/ Is coursing through his veins!". The image brought forth from this stanza depicts the crushing defeat of bringing this child into such a cruel world and having no power over it. Nothing you can do to stop it. The imagery described brings forth the cruelty of slavery and appealing to the audience to help. Harper's word play such an emotional effect on the heart of the reader.

Journal 6

One's social class controls their actions and beliefs. A slave will have the heart of a slave and know no freedom but their masters wish. And on the other hand the free white male feel as if they can do as they please, as they are above control because they have control. Linda was a slave but didn't believe she was a slave. Her heart was free and didn't want to be constricted to the bindings of the classes. When she became finally free she rejoiced proclaiming "'The bill of sale!' Those words struck me like a blow". It made me think that a simple document simply can't make you free. It is what the heart tells you. I learned from previous studies that many slaves after they were freed stayed on their old masters plantation to continue to work. Many did because there wasn't any other work, but was that truly the case? Or was it they didn't know what to do? There lives have been based on their masters wishes. On the other hand, the free white slave owners had no control and free to do as they please. In the beginning of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, the masters wife was loaned jewelry by Linda. Which is such a caring thing to do under the circumstances, but the wife never returned them. By no means she didn't have to, but it is a matter of principle and character. Showing how her status and class gives her that power and mindset. It's amazing how far we have come in society, moving on from such ignorant ideals.

Journal #5

 An obvious and common theme across the two readings is the exploitation of Native Americans. Both condemn Americans as the blood of the Indians is on their hands. William Apess points out how America stands for a nation of principle and honor, a nation of good Christians who follow the teachings of the lord. But the teachings of the lord say to love your neighbor as you love yourself, so how can you justify the actions taken against Native Americans. Apess makes the point that their principle is only skin deep but how can principle be applied on the basis of one's own skin, furthering the idea of hypocrisy in America. Lydia Sigourney, another American poet, condemns the actions taken against the Indians. In her poem "Indian Names" she says "But their name is on your waters, Ye may not wash it out".  She is saying that this evil brought upon the Indians is a scar that America's past will forever have to embrace. The readings casted a light on a dark subject and brought forth a new perspective I have not seen. We are a nation of all talk, but we don’t lead by example. Our country is built on immigrants escaping tyranny and unethical rule of the people, and now we escape to create our just society by crumbling the one before. It’s a vicious cycle like a parent who neglected and abused their child, that child doesn’t know another way to raise their own child. So they act in the way they only know how. All they wanted was to live in peace and all we did was bring hell to their doorstep.

Journal Blog 3

After reading Irving's story "The Wife" and how the wife in the story is completely financially dependent on the man, i began comparing relations from then and now. In today's society, woman are more financially independent, and if came to be, they are more willing to leave their husband because of that security. The value of marriage back then came with a duty. The man's duty was to provide for the family while the wife offered her support. When a man hit rock bottom the wife was there next to him, but now a days divorce is common and the wife could leave with half of what you have. The value of marriage has tremendously depreciated since then.

Journal Blog 2

What is the value of literature? It promotes intellect and creativity. It fuels wisdom and morals. Literature in early America was a critical driving force behind the blossoming nation. Our readings provided us insight in the minds of early Americans like Webster, who proclaimed his pride in his nation explaining how they valued morals and literature. Now fast forward 200 years and ask a typical 16 year what was the last classical novel he read, or any book what so ever. The fabric of our nation is changing and new generations are emerging, but what does our future hold? We once valued literacy and intellect but that seems to have vanished in this new generation. I’m not one to preach reading and I when I was raised my parents didn’t shove books down my throat, but rather I grew up in an environment that emphasized technology, as that was what becoming dominate in a household. In the past, books and newspapers were a dominate part of everyone’s life and it was like their internet. We learn history so we aren’t doomed to repeat it. But history comes from books of literature, to give us insight to the society at that particular point in time. All that we can do is hope that our generation isn’t doomed to repeat history and disprove the statement that all nations rise and fall. 

Journal Blog 1

America’s identity, as I always believed, portrayed liberty and the truth, as well as personal responsibility and hard work. As a nation we have always proved the world wrong, beaten impossible odds. America is resilient, or so it seemed. The world now mocks us as we are no longer the invincible powerhouse that we once were. Our population is stereotyped as ignorant, and unfortunately I believe that as well. I see our nation dumbed down by entertainment and pointless gossip; a complete loss of values and priorities. When the President of the United States appeared on television to address the nation about a current budget crisis, Facebook exploded with comments explaining how annoyed and pissed they were about him interrupting “The Bachelor”. Our nation is on thin ice and that is what they care about? Disregard party affiliation, I still have enough respect for the office to listen to what he has to say. Our nation was built upon immigrants, but ones who were looking for hope not handouts. We lost our work ethic, we are losing our patriotism, and we simply don’t care. I feel as if America is losing its identity as the land of the free and the home of the brave.