journal 40

Nika Bogoslovsky
12/4/07
Melville

"Call me Ishmael. Some years ago0-never mind how long precisely..."

Summary:

These are the very first words of Herman Melville's Moby Dick. This book is about a sailor, Ishmael, who becomes a member of a crew that goes out to hunt a white whale down.

Response:

I like that Ishmael is ambiguous right out, opening himself to many interpretations. He infers a few things but otherwise leaves us with our imaginations. We don't know time or age, or even his real name, we know what he tells us. With what he does tell us, we can learn that such things like time and age are not significant to him and we shouldn't be bothered with them if he's not. That the messages he has to offer are much more important than things like time because, perhaps, the messages and learning them are timeless. I think it's biblically significant that he calls himself Ishmael because in the bible, Ishmael was banished by his father, wandered and ended up becoming the father of an entire nation. I think similarly to the Ishmael in the bible, Ishmael in Moby Dick is a wanderer, his state of mind certainly seems like it's been through some degrees of banishment and in the end of the book he is the only one to live. I don't think Melville tries to keep the biblical theme going, but just as Ishmael is ambiguous in the very beginning about himself, there's the slight hint that we should call him Ishmael to give some sort of hint about himself. In addition, Ishmael tells us to call him Ishmael as if he prefers it, giving us a hint to how he likes to see and identify himself. I don't think Ishmael is a common name, so anyone reading the book, then and now, would make that connection.

journal 39

Nika Bogoslovsky
12/4/07
Melville

"What's all this fuss I have been making about, thought I to myself-the man's a human being just as I am: he has just as much reason to fear me, as I have to be afraid of him."

Summary:

After Ishmael has had all night to wonder about his harpooner that he has to sleep with, he finally meets him. His imagination has nearly driven him out of his wits and the real appearance of the harpooner has only confirmed his fear. This quote come after Ishmael and Queequeg encounter each other in bed and after the landlord resolves any problems. Ishmael realizes that Queequeg isn't that bad.

Response:

Moby Dick was written at a tine just on the brinks of the Civil War, it's a wonder that Melville creates a character like Queequeg. with the general knowledge of slavery, I think it's accurate to say that most white people considered themselves better than black people. Queequeg looks like a crazy, dark skined, scary savage. He's tattooed, huge bald and eats people. However, despite all this, he turns out to be the most stable, solid character throughout the whole book. By creating a character like Queequeg and the situations around him, Melville is telling his readers not to judge, that beauty lies within. it's interesting that he has a character like this, and a message like this, because the quality of recognizing true beauty without poor judgment is something we constantly strive for today (at least I hope). People hadn't grasped the ideas of this book, or else it would have been an instant success, but we've not progressed much in our thoughts of different people today or else we wouldn't have as much hate. I'm glad that Melville held those values in a time of such racial turmoil. What I like about this quote is that Melville makes the point that however you look, humans are humans with the same feelings.

journal 38

Nika Bogoslovsky
11/30/07
Stowe

"'Things have got to a pretty pass, if a woman can't give a warm supper and a bed to poor, starving creatures, just because they are slaves, and have been abused and oppressed all their lives, poor things!'"


Summary:

After Mr. Bird tells his wife that he has voted for the law that says they can no longer house fugitive slaves, Mrs. Bird becomes appalled with him. She tells him that she can't believe he did such a thing and that she won't stand it; it's just not Christian. She tells him there's no way that she can refuse shelter and that she knows that neither would he.

Response:

As good and nice Mrs. Bird sounds, I couldn't stand how she repeatedly called slaves creatures. Throughout their whole conversation, Mrs. Bird argues how good John is and how unchristian it would be to deny shelter to the run away slaves. She insists that they are better, kinder people but then why does she demean them down to creatures? Are they not people too? I suppose white people who were willing to feed, clothe and shelter slaves were already a dime a dozen, so it was a stretch for them to already be so kind, but She is still acting above them. She also acts like they are helpless people who without good, white people like themselves, would never get anywhere in life. And while their generosity is appreciated, it's not like African Americans are nothing without them. I wanted to really like Mrs. Bird because was a good person but I didn't like how she acted like their savior, put herself above them or belittled them. it's like the painting in our Norton where the little white girl is showing Tom the "way".

journal 37

Nika Bogoslovsky
11/30/07
Stowe

"...he was after her like a hound after a deer."

Summary:

This is the moment when Haley, Sam and Andy find Eliza. Haley had been trying to track her down for the whole day and he finally spotted her. Exhausted, she runs for her and her child's life and attempts to cross the icy river. She makes it across safely away from Haley.

Response:

I can see why this book was so popular back then, it has all the elements of a good story needs. This was such an intense part of the story, It's really like the modern day car chase. I don't know if one exists, but it would be interesting to see a modern day movie of Uncle Tom's Cabin to see if they portray it better. The above quote caught my attention because Stowe compares the people to animals. Usually, people hunt deers or have their dogs chase after them, but in this scene people are hunting people. The quote gives the scene a barbaric feel. It also shows the savageness of Haley who is hunting her down like an animal. This image gives me the chills because people shouldn't be hunting people. It almost reminds me the story about the man who had hunted every animal in the world he decides to hunt humans. Last week when we read Jacobs, it almost sounded like her story was a novel and Stowe's novel sounds like it could be non fiction. I think this shows the accuracy of Uncle Tom's Cabin, and that fiction or not, terrible things like the events in the book happened all the time.

Journal 37

Nika Bogoslovsky
11/24/07
Jacobs

“The dream of my life is not yet realized. I do not sit with my children in a home of my own. I still long for a hearthstone of my own, however humble. I wish it for my children’s sake far more than my own. But God so orders circumstances as to keep me with my friend Mrs. Bruce. Love, duty, gratitude, also bind me to her side. It is a privilege to serve her who pities my oppressed people…”

Summary:

This is at the end of Harriet Jacobs’s book when she talks about her freedom. She finally gets the papers but doesn’t want to have to be reminded of the fact that for a long while she didn’t own her own body. She tells of how she and her children live with a friend in New York.

Response:

This is a more bitter than sweet ending. It’s great that she gained her freedom but it really doesn’t sound like she’s completely free and I think she knew this. She lets us know that her dreams have yet to come true, it’s unlikely that they will but she hopes them for her children. She doesn’t have a home or too many things of her own but she does have something to be grateful for, and she knew this as well. There’s something in her voice when she says, “But God so orders circumstances…”, as if she is stuck where she is and she is prevented from getting ahead, which sounds heartbreaking. Then she goes on to talk about her friend and uses words like “serve her” and “bind me to her side”, and though she says she’s grateful, these words bring up images of slavery. I think it’s her way of reminding us that even the so called “freedom” she gained wasn’t much like actual freedom, especially in comparison to a white person, and that it was still extremely difficult to be an African American woman in the north.

Journal 36

Nika Bogoslovsky
11/23/07
Jacobs

“Why does a slave ever love? Why allow the tendrils of the heart to twine around objects which may at any moment be wrenched away by the hand of violence?”

Summary:

This is a chapter in Harriet Jacobs’s Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl about her first love with a carpenter whom had already gained his freedom. She discusses how hard it was for them to be together since she was still a slave.

Response:

As we know, Jacobs and this boy do not end up together because he cannot afford her freedom and her masters don’t permit it. What I think she is trying to relay to her audience is that she not only has to suffer from a broken heart, like any average woman might, but she has to suffer from one and the fact that she is not free. It’s because she is a slave that she can’t be with her carpenter and the reason for her broken heart. In class, we were discussing what Jacobs’s was trying to get across to her audience and I think, at least with this chapter, she’s trying to make her audience realize the depth of this awful situation. Being a female audience, most could relate with a broken heart, even become wrapped up in the romance, but few could understand the additional pain of slavery and that her freedom prevents her from what every human does naturally: love. As a slave, she already has nothing but she lets us know that with this broken heart she is stripped from her basic human instincts.

Journal 35

Nika Bogoslovsky
11/23/07
Douglass

“Slavery soon proved its ability to divest her of these heavenly qualities. Under its influence, the tender heart became stone, and the lamblike disposition gave way to one of tiger-like fierceness.”

Summary:

Here, Douglass talks about his mistress, Mrs. Hughes and what a kind lady she was. Mrs. Hughes was new to slave owning so she treated her slaves considerably well, although that soon change. As time progressed, slave owning would turn her kindness into cruelty.

Response:

I like that Douglass gives both sides of the story. Not only do we hear about what slavery did to him and how it affected his life but also we get to hear about what it did to the slave owners. I learned that slavery didn’t only destroy the slaves but it greatly harmed the owners. For some reason I thought, and still think, that these owners were cruel enough to put people through such pain, and obviously, they were but it’s as if they justified it. I never stopped to consider the psychological damage they might go through as well. Probably because how could anyone have pity on someone who treated others so terribly. The effects slavery has on Mrs. Hughes seem so vigorous and consuming like an aggressive cancer that takes over her whole body in a matter of hours. One minute she’s a sweet heart and the next she is a cruel, cold-hearted woman, it’s frightening how quickly Douglass describes her transformation. What’s even more frightening is that’s what slavery did to the owners in such a short time, it’s unimaginable to think what it did to the slaves who some lived that way for generations.

Journal 34

Nika Bogoslovsky
11/23/07
Douglass

“…the argument which he so warmly urged against my learning to read, only served to inspire me with a desire and determination to learn.”

Summary:

In this part of Douglass’s narrative, he talks about how his master wife, Mrs. Auld tried to teach him how to read. She taught him his ABC’s and how to spell simple words, however just as he began to pick it up, her husband forbade her to teach him any more.

Response:

I think this is my favorite part of Douglass’s book because instead of giving up and losing hope he fought. Here is this guy who’s been through the worst things imaginable, shouldn’t have any hope for anything and the minute he gets some sort of light, it’s taken away. He could have stopped caring, disregarded his little amount of education and continued to live terribly but instead he fought his way into literacy. It’s amazing that he had and stamina at all to learn how to read and write on his own; it can’t be an easy thing to do. It really puts in perspective what each of us has, what we’re capable of and what we all take for granted. Mr. Auld was so right in saying that it was a danger for slave owners if people like Douglass learned how to read, what’s even better is that’s what gave Douglass the motivation to do it. In all goodness, Douglass proved Mr. Auld right and became one of the most influential people of his time.

Journal 33

Nika Bogoslovsky
11/23/07
Douglass

“I have no accurate knowledge of my age, never having seen any authentic record containing it. By far the larger part of the slaves know as little of their ages as horses know of theirs…”

Summary:

This is in the beginning of Fredrick Douglass’s narrative when he discusses his immediate family and where he’s from. Here he talks about his unknown birth date and how that made him feel as a child.

Response:

In popular culture, we watched a short clip on African American girls who have struggled with their unknown ancestry. It’s unknown because many of their ancestors were brought to America as slaves and didn’t have a name for their homeland at the time. I have been aware that there have been hardships with not knowing where you came from, your family or even your birth date, but I was never aware that such information, or lack of it, was used as a demoralizing too. Douglas does a great job of showing the psychology behind not knowing his and other slaves’ birthdates, especially when he compares them to horses because that’s what their masters viewed them as; just animals. Like someone said in class, slaves who were without the knowledge of their birthdays were empty, didn’t have a sense of self, without control and felt less human. Thinking about how awful it sounds to control someone that way, how did these slave owners come up with it all? What gave them that knowledge?

Journal 32

Nika Bogoslovsky
11/16/07
Poe

“And now the champion, having escaped from the terrible fury of the dragon, bethinking himself of the brazen shield, and of the breaking up of the enchantment which was upon it, removed the carcass from out of the way before him, and approached valorously over the silver pavement of the castle to where the shield was upon the wall; which in sooth tarried not for his full coming, but fell down at his feet upon the silver floor, with a mighty great and terrible ringing sound.”

Summary:

The narrator decides to tell Roderick Usher the story of the Mad Trist to calm him down which is about a knight who fights a dragon to win a golden shield.

Response:

Why the narrator decides to tell Usher this story is beyond me, it doesn't even have a happy ending, how it that suppose to calm him down? the Mad Trist is a romance and in a romance you usually have a courageous hero who fights for a girl and come out victorious. Quite the opposite, in The House of Usher we have an anxiety stricken hypochondriac male who locks up the girl. They both meet an unhappy ending with death and destruction. The Mad Trist symbolizes everything Usher is not, he's not a courageous hero and instead of helping his sick sister out he buries her. The story also symbolizes the doom of the Usher house because we know the instant the knight drops his shield is the instant something bad in their reality happens. The story was meant to cheer Usher up but instead it does the exact opposite.

Journal 31

Nika Bogoslovsky
11/16/07
Poe

"I looked upon the scene before me—upon the mere house, and the simple landscape features of the domain—upon the bleak walls—upon the vacant eye-like windows—upon a few rank sedges—and upon a few white trunks of decayed trees"

Summary:

This is a short story by Edgar Allen Poe about a person, the narrator, who goes to stay at a friend's house, Roderick Usher. Usher's sister had just passed away so he's uneasy throughout the story and narrator's stay. However, we learn that she never died but that Usher buried her alive. Both Usher and his sister end up dead and the narrator runs away (with every right).

Response:

The title of this story can represent a few different things. At the end, Roderick's sister finally dies and Roderick scares himself to death. This can be seen as the fall of their family, no more Usher's to carry the name. Also, at the end, lightning, or something like it, strucks the Usher house and it literally falls into pieces. What's more interesting is that Poe gives the house human qualities describing it having eye-like windows. He also describes it in such depth that it's hard to ignore, it's obviously the foundation of the Usher's lives. By giving it human qualities it's like it also dies in the end, symbolizing the complete fall of everything Usher; not only do the people die but everything they owned and lived for dies with them. I enjoy Poe's descriptions because they aren't boring or excessive. Usually descriptions put me to sleep but with his edginess they only add to the darkness of his writing. They are quick and to the point but with mystery to them when compared to other author's descriptions seem lengthy and unnecessary.

journal 30

Nika Bogoslovsky
11/16/07
Hawthorne

"If it be a sign of mourning," replied Mr. Hooper, "I, perhaps, like most other mortals, have sorrows dark enough to be typified by a black veil."

Summary:

Nathaniel Hawthorne's story The Minister's Black Veil is about a minister, Mr. Hooper a gentleman, who suddenly decides to wear a black veil over his face to represent being in mourning. The town's people don't like this new development and alienate him. This quote is from Mr. Hooper and Elizabeth's conversation.

Response:

The veil can symbolize a number of things, Mr. Hooper says it symbolizes mourning and secret sin. It could also mean hiding. I was curious to see the definitions of veil and after looking it up, some definitions I found were disguise, nun’s life, protection, to enhance the appearance from etc. On my own, I thought of a bride’s veil, which I found out symbolizes protection by the husband. I think all these definitions apply to Mr. Hooper’s veil except for maybe disguise. The nun’s life reminds me of how religious the town is. All the town’s people claimed to be so religious yet they ostracized Mr. Hooper once he was different and wrapped themselves in gossip which are not Christian things do. Protection is more obvious. He uses the veil to protect himself from harm and more sin; I think he uses the veil to remind himself not to sin. Similarly to protection, the veil is used to enhance the appearance of mourning, sin and darkness. Mr. Hooper wants to be closer to a sorrowful side and the veil seems to help him. The bride’s veil doesn’t exactly relate to Mr. Hooper’s but I think it’s ironic that with his wearing of the veil, he loses his bride. The veil can symbolize so many different things

Journal 29

Nika Bogoslovsky
11/16/07
Hawthorne

"There is an hour to come," said he, "when all of us shall cast aside our veils. Take it not amiss, beloved friend, if I wear this piece of crape till then."

Summary:

This conversation is between when Elizabeth and Mr. Hooper. She tells him that she doesn’t mind the veil but that it’s a shame she can no longer see the face that made her happy and to please take it off. He tells her that he will never take it off and that no one will ever see him without it again.

Response:

Mr. Hooper is wearing this veil as a sign of mourning and to be rid of secret sin. When he says that one day people will shed their veils he sounds hopeful that one day there will be peace. Everyone will meet their grace and be free from their mourning and heavy sins. It also sounds as if he’s saying that people won’t have to hide and be afraid anymore, that they will have a second chance to right their mistakes and to prove themselves worthy of whatever it is that needs proving. However, he says he’ll wear his veil until that day and we know he dies with it on, therefore his hope seems lost and he never sees the day that people come to their peace, which is sad and dark in itself. I like this quote because, as Elizabeth says, there’s mystery to it. He never fully unleashes what he means when he says this so we’re left guessing. It's creepy and eerie but beautiful written and the mystery makes it that much more thrilling

Journal 28

Nika Bogoslovsky
11/16/07
Hawthorne

"Have patience with me, Elizabeth!" cried he, passionately. "Do not desert me, though this veil must be between us here on earth. Be mine, and hereafter there shall be no veil over my face, no darkness between our souls! It is but a mortal veil--it is not for eternity! O! you know not how lonely I am, and how frightened, to be alone behind my black veil. Do not leave me in this miserable obscurity forever!"

Summary:

This takes place after the conversation Mr. Hooper and Elizabeth have. After he refuses to take the veil off, Elizabeth sees the veil in a new light and seems to get scared. He continues to refuse to take it off so then she leaves him.

Response:

This part of their conversation is so frustrating, she’s asking him to take off the veil, telling him that his face makes her happy and he refuses because it’s part of his mourning and secret sin. He says to her that he’ll wear it to his grave and she freaks out a bit, which is completely understandable. Then he goes on to tell her to be patient and that he’s lonely and frightened? Talk about being offensive! She’s his fiancé for crying out loud, what does he have to be lonely for. She’s there for him and he’s ignoring her company and comfort. Then he acts like it’s not his fault that he’s wearing this veil, like it’s out of his control when he put it on and refused to take it off. It sounds like he almost blames Elizabeth for the veil when he asks her not to leave him that way, which is the frustrating part, because he put himself in that state. I suppose if she really loved him, she would wait for eternity, but where is the compromise?

journal 27

Nika Bogoslovsky
11/8/07
Thoreau

"But when the friction becomes to have it's machine, and oppression and robbery are organized, I say, let us not have such a machine any longer."

Summary:

Resistance to Civil Disobedience was written by Henry David Thoreau. It's a radical essay about how the government isn't needed and how people would be better without it. Thoreau wrote this during the Mexican American war, which he was against, and was responding to it. Given as a speech, Civil Disobedience gave Thoreau much publicity.

Response:

I think it's so great to be able to trace back where something came from, for instance Thoreau's use of the word machine. Again, I've always heard of the government being compared to a machine and I wonder if Thoreau coined that. It also reminds me of the band Rage Against the Machine who often sing out against the government, did they read Thoreau? What I think Thoreau is saying in this quote is that if the government is allowing or causing harm, like oppression and robbery, instead of eliminating it, then there should be no government any longer. It's hard to agree and disagree with him, yes if the government isn't doing any good then we should push for it to start doing good instead of eliminating it. I know he says that later on, but so often his solution is to eliminate the government and for him to think that everything and everyone would be ok in that state is ideal, however unattainable. This notion of his is a bit naive but it was extremely important for him to say because look at the people who he influenced who did so much good, Martin Luther King Jr. and Ghandi.

journal 26

Nika Bogoslovsky
11/8/07
Thoreau

"Ralph Waldo Emerson, how are you not in jail?"

Summary:

Perhaps a fictitious story, when Henry David Thoreau refused to pay his taxes he was put in jail. A close friends, Ralph Waldo Emerson went to visit Thoreau in jail and asked why he was there. Thoreau replied asking why he wasn't in jail. Having actually occurred or not doesn't take away from the importance of this interaction because now we know Thoreau's opinions of Emerson's lack of passion for change.

Response:

Not only does this show the close relationship between the two and their different opinions from each other, it also shows a generation gap. I don't think it's any coincidence that Thoreau, being the younger one, was more rebellious and passionate about his beliefs. It's like Emerson laid down the foundation of self reliance and Thoreau took it to the next level with action. Thoreau was asking Emerson why he wasn't in jail to show that he was against the war too. Or why he wasn't opposing the war at all. Thoreau being in jail for not paying taxes his taxes because he wasn't supporting the war really shows his passion and action upon it, unlike Emerson who lacked that sort of drive. I think it also shows the teacher and the student in each of them. Obviously Emerson teachings got through to Thoreau, but did Thoreau teach Emerson anything? I'd like to think that Thoreau's passion helped light Emerson's own passion because eventually he did stand up against slavery, something he had always struggled with.

journal 25

Nika Bogoslovsky
11/8/07
Thoreau

"That government is best which governs not at all"

Summary:

Resistance to Civil Disobedience was written by Henry David Thoreau. It's a radical essay about how the government isn't needed and how people would be better without it. Thoreau wrote this during the Mexican American war, which he was against, and was responding to it. Given as a speech, Civil Disobedience gave Thoreau much publicity.

Response:

In class we discussed that Thoreau wasn't very popular in his day and the Civil Disobedience gave him some publicity. How is it that people weren't up in arms about it and either greatly in tune or deeply offended, especially in that time? And how did he not get in trouble for it? He openly talks out against the government repeatedly and even says we're better off without it. Can you imagine what would happen if someone did that now, or in the 60's during black listing? Probably straight to jail, ruthlessly interrogated and 24 hour surveillance from that point on. Now that I point that out, I can't help but notice how backwards that seems. I'd think things would loosen up with the progression of time but it seems like it's only gotten tighter. His writings inspired so many influential people, how is it that no one in his day were as greatly moved?

journal 24

Nika Bogoslovsky
11/8/07
Emerson

"For non-conformity the world whips you with its displeasure. And therefore a man must know how to estimate a sour face. The bystanders look askance on him in the public street or in a friend's parlor."

Summary:

Self Reliance is an essay written by Ralph Waldo Emerson. In it, he talks of how important actual self reliance is. He not only emphasizes that self reliance can be spiritual but also economical too. He continually argues that non conformity is key in becoming your own person.

Response:

What I think Emerson is saying is that the general population doesn't like non-conformity and so you must be able to recognize when someone looks down on you for it and non get offended by it. He also says that non-conformist are everywhere but still people look down on them. I think any lost or semi lost soul could find comfort in Emerson with this quote. It gives strength to anyone who might feel out of place or just different from everyone else and lets people know that they are not alone. I like what he says here because he really emphasizes being an individual and being proud of it; it's so positive. It's hard to do your own thing and not be affected by what other people think, especially with the media telling so many people what's hot and what's not. What's even better is that he's encouraging non-conformity and telling you that it's ok, saying not to let someone's grimace discourage you just because you're different.

journal 23

Nika Bogoslovsky
11/8/07
Emerson

"Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of our own mind"

Summary:

Self Reliance is an essay written by Ralph Waldo Emerson. In it, he talks of how important actual self reliance is. He not only emphasizes that self reliance can be spiritual but also economical too. He continually argues that non conformity is key in becoming your own person.

Response:

I've heard this phrase countless times and finally I can put it to a name. I'll begin with what I dislike about this quote: it seems worrisome and isolating. Saying that nothing is sacred but your own ideas and thoughts makes me feel that everyone is out to get you, nothing is safe unless you keep it locked up in your brain, and don't trust anyone! At the same time, especially in this day, it's important to trust in your ideas as your own and hopefully pursue them. It's good to trust in yourself, but if we shared our thoughts and ideas, not only would it help us feel better, but it would most likely benefit ourselves and others around us. Having the ability to have faith in others, and believe what they have to say is worth hearing, as well as knowing the integrity of our own minds and trusting them wins overall. It's too explicit using the word nothing.

Journal 22

Nika Bogoslovsky
10/26/07
Tenney

"The recent love adventure of the first lady in it now became the topic of conversation, in every circle. Few had the right of the story; and a thousand circumstances were added, as a destitute of truth as of probability"

Summary:

This is a satirical novel written by Tabitha Tenney about a girl, Dorcasina, who secretly tries to pursue relationships. Dorcasina falls in love with O'Connor, whom everyone disapproves of. In secret they meet and plan to get married. While he's gone, she becomes interested in a mystery man. Throughout the novel, Tenney uses her characters and their situations to mock society.

Response:

This quote is so funny, it reminds me of a group of old ladies dishing out the latest gossip and all disagreeing on what really happened. This tells me that Tenney's society's values weren't always on the right track. She mocks that the hottest news is about some lady's relationships which shouldn't be that important. It also tells me that they frequently got their information if information was added constantly and few had the right story; everything was probably really exaggerated. What I don't quite understand is the part when Dorcasina becomes a bit obsessed with this new man who's leaving her letters in the tree. How is it that she is so in love with O'Connor one minute and the next she has this new crush? And it's not just Dorcasina but the women in Pride and Prejudice and I find, most women of this genre of writing in this time are like this. They are so quick to fall in and out of love, each is usually about to get married and then drop the guy like a hot potato for the next spud. I don't get it, I don't know women who are like that today, were they really like that back then? Or is it suppose to be a representation for how fickle women are in general?

Journal 21

Nika Bogoslovsky
10/26/07
Tenney

"'It seems as if some evil genius took delight in crossing the designs of two faithful lovers'"

Summary:

This is a satirical novel written by Tabitha Tenney about a girl, Dorcasina, who secretly tries to pursue relationships. Dorcasina falls in love with O'Connor, whom everyone disapproves of. In secret they meet and plan to get married. While he's gone, she becomes interested in a mystery man. Throughout the novel,Tenney uses her characters and their situations to mock society.

This quote reminded me of Romeo and Juliet and the bit about two star crossed lovers. In class we had a quiz question asking what makes this work American. And while there are the obvious parts when Tenney actually says that it takes place in Pennsylvania and that she herself was born in the U.S., it was actually hard for me to answer this question. I would say the language of this novel is American but the actual context seems to be influenced by British works. This reminded me of something Jane Austen or Charlotte Bronte would have written. In both Female Quixotism and Pride and Prejudice, the bases of character depth and their communication come in the form of letters that they write back and forth. In addition, they both works are witty, with societal puns and about women and their crazy relationships. Female Quixotism is not from a character's point of view which is similar to how female British authors wrote their novels in that time. I feel like Tenney read Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, enjoyed them and wanted write along those lines but with an American twist.

Journal 20

Nika Bogoslovsky
10/26/07
Tenney

"Mr. Sheldon frequently gave them fruit; but, not satisfied with this, they would often go in the night and help themselves; trampling down every thing in their way..."

Summary:

This is a satirical novel written by Tabitha Tenney about a girl, Dorcasina, who secretly tries to pursue relationships. Dorcasina falls in love with O'Connor, whom everyone disapproves of. In secret they meet and plan to get married. While he's gone, she becomes interested in a mystery man. Throughout the novel, Tenney uses her characters and their situations to mock society.

Response:

I loved Tabitha Tenney and her novel, I definitely want to read the whole thing. It was fun, entertaining, witty and easy to read. It was so great reading something like in comparison to our other readings. It will take a few reads and a little history to fully understand her satirical connections to society but I think I know a few. So there's this plot set up of Mr. Sheldon's garden and how he has all this fruit that he hands out to the local boys, but they take advantage of him and steal from him in the night and trample the garden. It's a stretch but usually growth and fruit represent life and sexual things, how I read this was that Mr. Sheldon was supplying these neighborhood boys with sexual pleasures. Not that he himself was doing it, but that he providing it somehow. But boys being boys took advantage which seemed to represent rape to me. The was she uses the words "satisfied" and "trampling" just make it sound more evident that sex is involved. It was ironic to me because he's so strict with Dorcasina and her relationships, how could he be so lenient with these boys. I say this is a stretch because it was such a little piece in the story and I don't think brought up again.

Journal 19

Nika Bogoslovsky
10/26/07
Equiano

"...the white people looked and acted, as I thought, in so savage a manner; for I had never seen among any people such instances of brutal cruelty..."

Summary:

This is a small bit of an autobiography written by Olaudah Equino. He starts out with the brief history of his direct family, where he came from, what happened to his family and how he came to America. He writes about his experiences during the middle passage, his slave days and how he earned his freedom.

Response:

Unlike Wheatley, I think Equiano had less to worry about when it came down to writing about white people. Wheatley was very careful and sly with her remarks towards white people and what she stood up for, whereas Equiano more openly talks directly against them. One obvious reason why this is probably true is because Equiano is a male and Wheatley a female. Being black then didn't hold too much authority but being black and a woman was just impossible, Whatley would have gotten in more trouble than Equiano had she written like he did. Another reason why Wheatley's writing is less aggressive than Equiano's might be because of the experiences they each went through. While neither situation was desirable, I think Wheatley was better off and she was probably very great full for it; she was in a providing house with people who encouraged and funded her education. I don't think she would have wanted to write anything too troublesome, being a devout Christian, she was probably thankful for what she was handed. Granted, what she had would never be enough to compensate so that's why she had to write what she did. Equiano, on the other hand, sounds like he had a harder time with the middle passage and his slave owners; he was probably filled with more anger, having to write more openly.

Journal 18

Nika Bogoslovsky
10/26/07
Equiano

"Equiano writes that he was born in about 1745 in what is now Nigeria... Recent scholarship has questioned these claims, suggesting that Equiano may have been born in the Carolinas."

Summary:

This is a small bit of an autobiography written by Olaudah Equino. He starts out with the brief history of his direct family, where he came from, what happened to his family and how he came to America. He writes about his experiences during the middle passage, his slave days and how he earned his freedom.

Response:

I find it really interesting that Olaudah Equiano's birth is unknown. I know there are many people in history, Christopher Columbus being one of them, who's birthdays are unknown but Equiano's seems like a bigger deal. It's especially interesting because if he was born in the Carolina's, then his writings of the middle passage would be fiction, I don't think that that would decrease the power of his work but it would change history behind him a bit. I believe his work to be true to it's word because it sounds just like what I learned in history class. If his work is fiction, then he didn't know exactly how the middle passage was like but then we would get a sense of how much it was talked about by his peers and how each voyage, assuming they came on different trips, was similar. In addition, being fiction work gives me a sense that he was his peer's voice, which makes his work that much more essential. He was lucky to be educated, so if he was actually born in the Carolina's, then what we're reading is the voice of many, not just one, and that give it more power. If he did actually go through it, then it's a first hand account of what really happened to him and to everyone else on his ship, which would give it that same power; there's just something fascinating if his work is a compilation of other people's experiences. I can't pin point it.

Nika Bogoslovsky
10/19/07
Wheatley

"High to the blissful wonders of the skies Elate thy soul, and raise thy wishful eyes."

Summary:

This poem was hard to figure out but in the first few lines I think she's admiring his art. Then, it sounds like she relates to him and and how important it is that they create art, her being a poet and he a painter. Then she goes on to talk about heavenly things and muses. I think she points out that it's important that their muses have to be worthy in order to make their art and poetry significant.

Response:

I have no idea if I'm getting the explanation right, and while I'm sure it's important, it really doesn't compare to how beautifully this poem is written and how nice it sounds out loud. Out of the poems in the anthology this one is my favorite. I noticed this poem, unlike the others, is so much more positively passionate. I can tell she probably enjoyed writing this because it's light, it has no punches, cautions or warnings against sins. She is speaking to a fellow African American who is an artist like she is and she can relate to him and appreciate his work and be happy that he is also recognized. In this poem she rejoices in art and heaven and herself while in others it seems like she has the burden of constantly having to be aware that she's African American writing to a white audience while also slyly standing up for a cause. I wish we could have gone over this one in class.

Journal 16

Nika Bogoslovsky
10/19/07
Paine

"The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. Many circumstances have, and will, arise which are not local, but universal, and through which the principles of all lovers of mankind are affected..."

Summary:

Common Sense was written by Thomas Paine, in it he argues for American Independence from the British. He integrates religion and government into his arguments and focuses on the colonial situations.

Response:

I thought this quote was kind of amusing because in class we were discussing how universal Thomas Paine is and how everyone and their mother quotes him. This quote basically lets us know that he's talking about stuff that refers to everyone. If he's pertaining to everyone, then everyone can feel that they have the right to quote. It's interesting how completely different political groups, activist groups etc. claim Paine as "their" guy when back then Paine was just trying to fight for American Independence. I guess why it's so easy to claim him because he wasn't being specific to one group but fighting for a cause that anyone could relate to. I wonder what he would think today about how influential he's become and which group of people he'd actually identify himself with. I enjoyed his writing because it was so passionate and easier to understand. I like when he says, " Hither have they fled, not from the tender embraces of the mother, but from the cruelty of the monster..." The comparison of a sweet mother just makes the monster sound so much worse and more powerful.

Journal 15

Nika Bogoslovsky
10/19/07
Wheatley

"Wheatley was a black slave, born in Africa and brought to Boston in 1761. She had been purchased by a wealthy tailor, John Wheatley, for his wife, Susannah, as a companion, and named for the vessel that carried her to America."

Summary:

This is a short biography on Phillis Wheatley. It talks of her coming to America, her life here and her accomplishments as a writer. If also talks of her later life, some in London, her marriage and then how she dies. She is buried in an unmarked grave.

Response:

I think Wheatley was very fortunate to have been able to get an education, it makes me wonder of how many other great creations we've missed out on because so many were uneducated. I know she's hard to read but trying to figure out what she's saying is kind of fun, it's like detective work! I couldn't find the quote from Benjamin Franklin addressing Wheatley and her poems that couldn't have been written by her but it's crazy to think he wrote that. I know denial and everything but to flat out say that no, it's impossible that she wrote these poems sounds absurd, especially when his peers, like Washington, were acknowledging and appreciative. It's surprising that he even acknowledged that she was Christian, I'm not even sure how that makes sense, they can commonly be Christian but she could never have brains. It's sad that he actually believed that she and all African American people and even women to some degree were incapable of being intelligent, what's worse is that people still believe those things today. It must have drove him crazy to be in such denial but I guess easier to be so than to have to admit all his beliefs in slavery and African American people were wrong. What a shame.

Journal 14

Nika Bogoslovsky
10/19/07
Wheatley

"Students, to you 'tis given to scan the heights Above, to traverse the ethereal space, And mark the systems of revolving worlds."

Summary:

Wheatley wrote this poem to the students of Cambridge University urging them to take advantage of what they have. She She also warns them against sins and being sinful.

Response:

I see this poem as an "appreciate what you have while you have it and take in all the opportunities you can" poem, but rather than seeing the consequences as just regretful Wheatley makes them sound much more extreme. What's great about this poem is the part where she urges students to take advantage of what they have while it last because she says it in kind of eerie way, like you better watch out. It's not spooky or anything but it's as if she knows that it won't always be so easy for them. In this poem, I think she's a bit envious that they are privileged and get to go to school but I think she knows that those things will change. It's interesting how much she warns them and uses such negative connotations if they don't take her advice. She says things like "endless pain" and "sinks the soul" and those seem a bit extreme, that or she's just very passionate about appreciating what you have.

Journal 13

Nika Bogoslovsky
10/19/07
Wheatley

"Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain, may be refined, and join the angelic train."

Summary:

On Being Brought from Africa to America is a poem by Phillis Wheatley about coming to America from Africa. In this poem, Wheatley expresses her thanks for being taught Christianity, She is also thankful for what Christianity has in turn taught her.

Response:

When I first read this poem, the word pagan land caught my eye. I thought, why would Wheatley think so poorly of her country, but if Christianity really enlightened her, then I guess it makes sense to call her home land that, just seems a bit harsh. As discussed in class, Wheatley does an excellent job of lightly adding in the punch at the end saying thank you for teaching me about Christianity and thank you for teaching me that anyone can be saved and letting me know that what you're doing is wrong. What I especially noticed and liked about this quote was that I think she strategically wrote it for a double meaning. There's her saying remember Christians... saying hey you Christians don't for get about this... Or there's the way I read it: she says Remember, Christians, Negroes.... it's as if she's saying that Christians, Negroes and people who are black as Cain can be refined and that even Christians make mistakes. I hope that makes sense... Anyway, I think she's a great writer and very smart for putting in those punches.

Journal #12

Nika Bogoslovsky
10/12/07
Edwards

"And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has thrown the door of mercy wide open, and stands in calling and crying with a loud voice to poor sinners"

Summary:

Again, this is a sermon Jonathan Edwards wrote and delivered to his congregation. In this sermon he basically dooms his people to hell and calls them sinners. Yet, in the end, he manages to add that God still cares about them and they'll be saved if they change their sinful ways instantly, but this is said hopelessly and not in a reassuring way.

Response:

It's fascinating the metaphor Edwards used about the Israelites and Christ, symbolising destruction and salvation and pertaining it to his church goers. Using the Old Testament and the New Testament, to me, was also a metaphor in itself. It was like he was saying put aside your old habits and ways of life and start anew; come into a new light and be saved. He didn't have to use those examples, even though Christ is the perfect example of salvation but he could have easily chose the example of the rainbow after the 40 day flood. Instead, he chose to use something out of the New Testament. That made it seem like he was trying to accept a new change because he hadn't mentioned Christ and the New Testament in the whole sermon until the end. Maybe he himself had hope for a new, brighter future. It was really sly of him putting in that bit about how God still holds them in his hand, just seemed so impossible to hear any kind of hope in such unkind words.

Journal #11

Nika Bogoslovsky
10/12/07
Edwards

"But when once the day of mercy is past, your most lamentable and dolorous cries and shrieks will be in vain; you will be wholly lost and thrown away of God as to any regard to your welfare. God will have no other use to put you to, but to suffer misery."

Summary:

This is a sermon Jonathan Edwards wrote and delivered to his congregation. In this sermon he basically dooms his people to hell and calls them sinners. Yet, in the end, he manages to add that God still cares about them and they'll be saved if they change their sinful ways instantly, but this is said hopelessly and not in a reassuring way.

Response:

As mean as this sermon is, it's really well written. I couldn't get over that the whole time reading it. He says such awful things but in such a beautiful way. His metaphors and descriptions are so incredible that through all the hate, it makes this reading somewhat fun. I'm surprised that some of the things he said were even allowed to be said, but it's really great how blunt and honest he was like when he tells them that they will suffer and burn in hell. I wonder if he got the message across or permanently scared them away. It was tough having to read constant threats of the burning fires of hell but if it's true that what was said in class about the sermon being a vent for his personal guilt then I can't even begin to imagine his suffering. Clearly this is not light hearted work and if any of the power of this sermon was part of his daily struggles then it's surprising he lived as long as he did. Had it not been pointed out, I wouldn't have caught that towards the end he was saying that God still loves them and that they have the chance to be saved. I just hope that he believed this in himself and that he didn't completely feel that he was doomed too, that God still cared about him.

Journal #10

Nika Bogoslovsky
10/12/07
Bradstreet

"Many times hath Satan troubled me concerning the verity of the Scriptures, many times by atheism how I could know whether there was a God; I never saw any miracles to confirm me, and those which I read of, how did I know but they were feigned?"

Summary:

This is a letter by Anne Bradstreet written to her children as a sort of remembrance of herself. I'd like to think of it as a kind of guide and answers book for them in a time when they will need her but she will no longer be with them. In this letter she discusses how she always had doubts in her beliefs of God and she lets her children know that such things and other mistakes are ok.

Response:

I think Anne Bradstreet is very brave for writing about her faulty beliefs in faith. I'm not exactly sure how much power women had in that time but I'd take the guess in that they didn't have much for her to be speaking like that against God, it was pretty gutsy. What makes it more gutsy is that not only were women "lesser" but she was speaking of her lack in faith as a puritan in such religious times then. The gossip that must have gone on about her! My favourite art, what made this letter so truthful and meaningful was right after she said the quote above, she says that what makes her faith solid are the wonders of everyday life. So she hasn't seen any miracles but she's lived through sunrise and sunset, summer and winter and has a comfortable home, the things that she can really appreciate and that's enough for her to believe in some sort of God. I say some sort of God because she questions him right after that wondering if he's really as wondrous as the trinity claims. The date at the end of the letter says 1867, if that is a publishing date, I wonder if it was published so late because she was a woman speaking about her uncertainties of God in such a "God" prominent society?

Journal #9

Nika Bogoslovsky
10/12/07
Bradstreet

"By nature trees do rot when they are grown, And plums and apples thoroughly ripe do fall, and corn and grass are in their season mown, And time brings down what is both strong and tall."

Summary:

These are three poems which she wrote as a response to her grandchildren's deaths. They are a sort of last kind word.

Response:

Again, I think her poetry is really beautiful and how she paints pictures with her words is quite impressive. I forget that really long ago doesn't mean bad and elementary. It must have been difficult for her and her family but there was something creepy and weird about her poems to her deceased grandchildren. I'm not sure if it was a customary thing to do or if it was a type of obituary, but they seemed a bit morbid to me even though she only said kind things. They were too short to have any feeling to them, granted some of these babies were only just a year old, but to me they lacked warmth. It seemed like she felt she had to something about it so she just wrote. I felt like when she wrote more things about one it meant that she liked them better because she had more nice things to say. I don't know, maybe it's because I can't understand what if would like to be in her shoes at the time and having to comfort your children who are losing their children.

Journal #8

Nika Bogoslovsky
10/12/07
Bradstreet

"If ever two were one, than surely we. If ever man were loved by wife, than thee"

Summary:

This is a poem by Anne Bradstreet about her husband. In this poem she writes about how much she loves him.

Response:

It's awful that I thought this, but my first impression of this poem and A Letter to Her Husband was: wow she's really in love, how can she be so in love. I guess it's just refreshing to read someones actual deep and positive emotions. In media, these days, it's not often I see raw love, I usually see the type of love that comes with expensive gifts but not sincerity. I find her poems to be really beautiful, personal yet something that should be shared. My favourite line is, "My love is such that rivers cannot quench". Rivers are always running and seemingly never ending and her saying that rivers could never quench her love becomes so powerful. It was fun to read a little romance poetry amongst the letters of real experiences.

Journal #7

Nika Bogoslovsky
10/5/07
Lowen

"I initially believed-certainly I had hoped- that students would suggest 30,000 B.C., or something other pre-Columbian date."

Summary:

Lowen enlightens us about the true history of Thanksgiving and how it isn't as peachy as our high school history textbooks claim it to be. He also reminds us that learning about a more risky history not only helps us remember it better, it's way more entertaining!

Response:

Just like Lowen's college students, I wouldn't have said that settlement on this continent had started sometime around 30,000 B.C. I'm not too sure of what I would have said but probably something like "whenever the pilgrims got here". It's interesting all the arguments he brings up and I believe him, but my notion of Thanksgiving wasn't really ever about giving thanks to the natives that helped the pilgrims out. Like Lowen described, I too dressed up in kindergarten as a pilgrim or Indian and had a giant Thanksgiving feast with the whole class but as kindergarten turned into a memory, so did the thought of pilgrims and Indians. Now, I'm not sure if it's because teachers knew that the once believed history of Thanksgiving was bogus so they taught me other things about it or it was just the natural way my thinking, but I always believed Thanksgiving as a time to be thankful for everything and really appreciate family. I never really made the connection with the history or to associated the two. Obviously somewhere back in my head I knew of the legendary story but I didn't think that that was the meaning of thanksgiving. Now that I know the true history of it, I think it more interesting and honest but I still wont associate the two. I think that Thanksgiving has evolved to be a family holiday, one of the only holidays left that isn't delegated by hallmark, and that in itself makes it special. Yet, it is important to know the true history of it. On a side note, I know that Canadian Thanksgiving is on our Columbus day, it would be interesting to know the true Canadian history of their Thanksgiving and what their kids are taught in school.

Journal #6

Nika Bogoslovsky
10/5/07
2nd William Bradford

"Being thus arrived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven, who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean, and delivered them from all perils and miseries thereof, again to set their feet on the firm and stable earth, their proper element."

Summary:

This is William Bradford's collection of writings about sailing on the Mayflower and settling in Massachusetts. He discusses the journey to the Americas, landing and trying to settle. He describes the harsh conditions he and his people are in and the miracles god bestows on them.

Response:

Prior to arrival of the pilgrims, the plague had wiped out a good 95-99% of the native population. Somehow, the plague wiped most people out when they were harvesting all their crops; thanks to God, that is, according to Bradford and his Pilgrims. Obviously everything Bradford found, being food, shelter, supplies etc. was because of the native people who had lived there. There is no doubt that millions of people had populated the place before Bradford or anyone got there and that they had lived healthy and comfortable but plague got to them, and unfortunately Bradford saw this as a sign and blessing from God. While it's terrible that so many suffered and died, I can understand why Bradford would think it a sign from God. Here is this group in the cold New England winter after a bitter voyage with no comforts or food around. All would seem lost and hopeless until food and supplies are found; they shouldn't have survived, but they did. Why is the food there ready to eat? How come there aren't any people protecting it? Well it must be from God. Bradford, being that religious and believing so strongly that his mission was of God would no doubt think that any means of survival was the hand of God. Clearly it was really because of the natives, and either he was ignorant in thinking that there had once been people there or he thought that God had introduced the plague to these people in order for he and his people to settle and live there. When they should have died, I can understand why he would think God helped them out.

Journal #5

Nika Bogoslovsky
10/5/07
William Bradford

"Besides, what could they see but a hideous and desolate wilderness, full of wild beasts and wild men?"

Summary:

This is William Bradford's collection of writings about sailing on the Mayflower and settling in Massachusetts. He discusses the journey to the Americas, landing and trying to settle. He describes the harsh conditions he and his people are in and the miracles god bestows on them.

Response:

I know that the natives were much more agriculturally advanced over the British. I also know that they ate better, were in better health and stature and that they had better hygiene. That being said, I don't think that is what Bradford, his pilgrims and shipmates really thought was advanced at the time. First arriving in Massachusetts and not seeing tons of buildings and people everywhere, especially when that's what they were used to, I would think anyone would think that the place is less advanced and wild in comparison to their home. Obviously it was problematic that they weren't in tune with farming but back home they didn't need to be, they had evolved into what they needed to know back in England. Just like the natives needed to know how to farm in order to survive, they didn't necessarily have to build buildings and bridges. So it's hard to say who's in the wrong. While it's bad that Bradford automatically labeled the natives savage barbarians and their home wild, he was ignorant in thinking they weren't civilized or advance in anyway, he was just not used to it. As we later find out the native's agricultural skills came of great and dependent use to them. But if we were to reverse the situation and have the natives go to England, they would probably wonder while everyone was so fat or scrawny, smelly and why there were no great crops.

Journal #4

Nika Bogoslovsky
10/5/07
Pima Creation Story

"But when he made the stars he took the water in his mouth and spurted it up into the sky. But the first night his stars did not give light enough. So he took the Doctor-stone (diamond), the tone-dum-haw-teh, and smashed it up, and took the pieces and threw them into the sky to mix with the water in the stars, and then there was light enough."

Summary:

This is the Pima tribe's creation story. Like the Iroquois creation story, it was translated by a Pima man who had been assimilated into "white" culture and had been Christianized. However, this story was written down 400 years after the Iroquois one was.

Response:

The Pima creation story is much more like the Christian story. Now I wonder if that is because of coincidence or because 400 extra years of living in a Christian society played a big role in influencing the translated version. What I really like about this creation story is that it reminds me of Greek mythology. It has a bit of magic to it that the Christian creation story lacks. The way The Doctor of Earth makes the makes the earth and the stars is so creative and almost wondrous. Like the Christian creation story there's this God like figure who makes earth out of nothing. He is also responsible for creating people, plants, animals, light, and stars; just like God was responsible for creating everything. I know native tribes were extremely different from each other, but for the Iroquois to believe in a creation story so out there and then for the Pima to have a creation story so similar to the Christian story makes me think twice. This story was written 400 years later, so this man was living in a more advance time and had probably been exposed to more American culture than the man who wrote the Iroquois story. It's very possible that, and unfortunate, that that's the case. He did, however, manage to keep the sort of mysticism that I think native cultures have over Christians'.

Journal #3

Nika Bogoslovsky
10/5/07
Iroquois Creation Story

"Among the ancients there were two worlds in existence. The lower world was in great darkness;-the possession of the great monster; but the upper world was inhabited by mankind..."

Summary:

This is the Iroquois creation story about a woman having two twins and one being good and the other bad. The text was translated by and Iroquois man who had already assimilated to society, was Christian and who could already speak English.

Response:

It's interesting to think that since the Iroquois people had an oral way of telling their history, how many different versions of each story there could have been. Just as with literature people copy down their influences, thoughts and what they remember best; it's probably similar with oral traditions as well. I would think that it would be harder to remember something told to you then to be able to read it and reference back to that paper. That brings into question this creation story. It was written down by an Iroquois man, however he had already been influenced by society and the Christian religion, so I wonder how much he wrote down because of his influence. This quote makes me think that he didn't let too much of his Christian influence interfere with his own Iroquois history. Yes, there is a virgin woman, just like the Virgin Mary but the Virgin Mary wasn't part of the creation story. Also, there is a "lower world with great darkness" which could be related to hell, but there is no heaven; just a world where people live. Later, he mentions how the good twin continues to create things such as rivers and trees, while the bad one does evil. While all creation stories explain how everything came to earth, I don't think this one is similar to the Christian one. The idea of a virgin woman having good and evil twin boys is very different to the Christian story, in fact, it almost sounds more like Greek mythology.

Journal #2

Nika Bogoslovsky
9/28/07
#2 De Vaca

"When a daughter marries, she must take everything her husband kills in hunting or catches in fishing to the house of her father, without daring to eat or to withhold any part of it, and the husband gets provided by female carrier from his father-in-law's house."

Summary:

This is a detailed letter from Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca to Emperor Charles V describing his journeys with the native Americans. In this letter he holds nothing back, and tells his experiences how they are in truth.

Response:

If I could, I would have quoted the entire letter. I can't believe how detailed De Vaca is about his life with tribe after tribe. The strongest feeling that comes to me when I read his letter is that these people were not nearly as savage as I have been taught to think. For crying out loud, Disney's Pocahontas has an entire song called "Savages" for the natives John Smith meets. De Vaca lets us know how structured their lives were. They were not savage or heathen at all. They had plans for their children, structured families, medicine, rich agriculture etc. and they were living, even thriving off it. I was so surprised when I read this because I really had no idea how detailed natives lived, I was used to the Columbus story heard back in middle school. It's interesting how closely in time De Vaca and Columbus lived, yet De Vaca was worlds away in action and passion and thinking from Columbus.

Journal #1

Nika Bogoslovsky

9/27/07
#1 C. Columbus

"I sent two men inland to learn if there were a king or great cities."

Summary:

This is a letter written from Christopher Columbus to a merchant, Luis de Santangel, who helped him acquire funds for his voyage. In this letter, Columbus describes what he observed and learned (or lack there of) from the place he went to.

Response:

After reading this letter, I couldn't help but notice how light and easy everything seemed to Columbus. It's clear that he was writing with a bit of a bias to his merchant in order to hopefully receive more money. One thing that did stick out, and we mentioned this in class, was that Columbus was surprised he hadn't found any cities or a king yet. Unlike some of the ideas in class, I don't blame him for being surprised, even a bit let down, that he did not find these things. He was sailing in the intent to find China where there were great cities and kings, so naturally he would be expecting to find them. Also, having great cities was what he knew. That sort of life was what he was used to, so why not believe that that was how everyone lived. I agree that it would be ignorant of him to think that way but it wouldn't be outrageous. I don't agree that what he did find at the "new" land was invaluable, indeed that's where Columbus was mistaken. However, assuming there would be great cities would only be normal. It would be as if we went to Australia and expected a cold winter; normal to us but not happening.