Life after Death By Ronald

Emily Dickinson’s poem “Because I Could not Stop for Death” is a prime example of a life and death situations that is easily comparable to the movie “Ghost” starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. In today’s society people have seen movies, and speculated whether or not the information placed in that particular film is true, especially movies involving death and the life after death. This poem isn’t the actual life after death scenario, but it is the effects leading up to death. One could easily argue that the information placed in the movie is true, and also the same with Emily’s poem.
Emily’s poem explains that death is inevitable, and that no one is above and beyond death. Emily gives step by step scenarios of how death came and slowly took her life away:
He kindly stopped for me-
The Carriage held but just Ourselves-
And Immortality.
We slowly drove – He knew no haste (2578)
With the slow process of her death, Emily explains her life beginning and ending. She illustrates her seeing children at school, which could represent her earlier days as a child. Emily goes on to say that:
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain -
We passed the Setting Sun -
Or rather – He passed Us – (2578)
Emily gave the reader a look back at her life before her death. She established a relationship that showed in her poems with death, which placed him in the driver seat of her life leading up to her demise.
The movie “Ghost” which starred Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore was a love epic love story that continued even after death. The movie established a love between two people that death couldn’t take away. In the movie Patrick Swayze gets killed, and Demi Moore mourns for her lost. Throughout his death, Patrick is giving life after the fact that he is dead. He witnesses people that aren’t living right, be abducted by demon shadows, which could easily be representing people being taken to hell. He establishes a life and death communication with his widow through a third party. Nevertheless, he is dead, but still has lively emotions as well as feelings that he continues to feel even after death.
The movie “Ghost” and Emily Dickinson’s poem “Because I Could not Stop for Death,” are two stories that establish a common bond between life and death. Emily gives you the joy ride to death, and “Ghost” gives the audience a slight step beyond death. The movie also displays the effects leading up to death, but not as vividly explained as Emily’s poem explains it. At the end of the movie, one could argue that Patrick is giving the passage into heaven. Although Emily never establishes a destination after her death, but she gives a colorful ride towards her death. With both of the stories, the audience cannot deny that life before death is not an easy ride, but life after death is the rollercoaster of emotions.


Work Cited
Dickinson, Emily. Because I Could not Stop for Death. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. 7th ed. Vol. A. New York: Norton, 2007. 2578. 2008 .

Nature and Emily Dickinson by Michelle

In reading The Wind begun to rock the Grass” written by Emily Dickinson, the theme of nature takes the place of humanity. Quite many of Dickinson’s poems uses nature as metaphors for qualities of humanity ,as well as animal qualities have been attributed to the theme of nature such as leaves having the strength humanity or wind having gender such a being a male. Emily views nature as an imminent danger as well. In the beginning lines of poem “The Wind begun to rock the Grass”, Dickinson writes “The Wind began to rock the Grass/ With threatening Tunes and low/He threw a Menace at the Earth”, Dickinson gives human qualities to the wind such as having a male gender (1-3). Emily expresses nature in many aspects in the poems that she has written, which is similar to the other writers from the nineteenth century such as Emerson, Thoreau, and Hawthorne.

Dickinson inspirations developed through the period of Romanticism, which is that of other writers such as Emerson, Thoreau, and Hawthorne. According to Nina Baym, author of The Norton Anthology American Literature, notes, “Through the national magazines the family subscribed to and books ordered from Boston, she encountered the full range of English and American literature of her time, including among Americans Longfellow, Holmes, Lowell, Hawthorne, and Emerson” (2555). Dickinson’s “The Wind begun to rock the Grass” points out how nature has the qualities to demolish such as humanity, but through the actions of “The Waters wrecked the sky” (1). Dickinson used the personification of the waters as if it were a man causing destruction to some sort of property.

Emily gave characteristic of personification to nature because of the events that took place in her life. She stayed secluded from people and did not have many friends except for her family. Dickinson usually contributed human qualities to her environment. According to Nina, she stated, “Openly expressive of sexual and romantic longings, her personae reject conventional gender roles” (2556). It seems as if Emily was making a connection between humanity and nature and utilizing her surroundings as the characters. Emily’s poems sometimes raise questions about whether she is referring to nature in its own or if she is talking about people in general. In the words of Nina, she points out, “Her [Emily] ‘nature’ poems offer sharp precise observations but, infused with mingled ecstasy and pain, are often as much as about psychological and spiritual matters as about the specifics of nature” (2556).

In conclusion, Emily uses her surroundings which are established as characters in her poems as humanity. Emily represents Nature in its way of humanity and the many ways it was used in the body of the poems. According to Nina, it was stated the “The result was a poetry that, as is typical of the lyric tradition, focused on the speaker’s response to a situation rather than the details of the situation itself” (2556).



Works cited
Baym, Nina. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. 7th edition. Volume. A. New York: Norton, 2007. (2555-2556).
Dickinson, Emily. “The wind Begun to rock the Grass.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. 7th edition. Volume. A. New York: Norton, 2007.

How to be a nonconformist by Marianne

Being a nonconformist and an original thinker has always presented its challenges. These challenges were greater in Victorian society where everyone was expected to know their station in life and abide there. Few moved out of the mainstream. Emily Dickinson’s poems “The Soul Selects her own Society” and “Much Madness is divinest Sense” portray the isolation caused by thinking outside the box.

By separating herself from society, Dickinson was able to contemplate society objectively. Dickinson analyzed the expectations of society and its practices and decided she preferred to opt out of mainstream society and those around her. In her poem, “The Soul Selects her own Society”, Dickinson prefers not to conform and regards her thoughts and her individuality most important and no one can sway her otherwise. Once the inner decision is made, all other voices are shut out: “Then close the valves of her attention / Like stone” (11-12). Even an Emperor arriving at her gate by chariot and kneeling on her mat does not move her.

In American society today it is much easier to be a non conformist than it was in the time of Emily Dickinson. Today, to be openly gay or a single mother or member of a fringe religion is accepted in society. It is true that the majority has never valued individuality and often regards the original thinker as a threat: “Assent- and you are sane/ Demur- and you are straight way dangerous” (6-7). Even if a person’s soul selected its own society, it was much harder to live that life back then and most people did not dare to stand out. Today the rules of society are broadened so that you are able to follow a different drummer and still be in the parade.

Today, in American society at least, there are a vast number of nonconformist groups. Paradoxically, these put pressure on their members to conform to their nonconformist ways. Nondenominational churches are now a virtual denomination. Greenpeace members are expected to share core ideals, beliefs and lifestyle. Counter culture members are expected to shop at Weaver Street Market and buy organic fair trade coffee. In many countries today the pressure to conform is as great as or more so than it was in Victorian society. However, modern America society has fragmented into many subcultures each with their own set of rules. The mainstream has become a narrower stream. Yet being a nonconformist in one’s own subculture may be as difficult today as it was for Ms. Dickinson.




Works cited

Dickinson, Emily. “The Soul selects her own Society”, “Much Madness is diviest Sense”. The Norton Analogy of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. 7th ed. Vol. B. New York: Norton, 2007. 2574-75, 2581.

Dickinson and Social Pressures by Katty

A Way Out

The role of women in society has drastically changed for the past few decades. Even though women have achieved a better position in numerous fields in our culture, women’s traditional roles in society still prevail. Despite the effort to be recognized in a society that undermined them, women still are seen as wives and caregivers in today’s society. In the poem “I'm ‘wife’ -- I've finished that --,” written by Emily Dickinson, the poet presents the concept of marriage in a very complex way.

Dickinson’s poem reveals in a very ironic manner the loss of independence of women upon marriage. The first stanza of the poem reads, “I'm ‘wife’ -- I've finished that -- / I'm Czar -- I'm ‘Woman’ now --” (1-3). These lines are significant because they suggest the apparent acceptance of women to marriage. Even though this event was the most common social pressure during the 19th century, it still is considered a relevant issue for women in today’s society as well. For example, a great number of women still are in the category of housewife, taking care of their kids, and financially supported by their husbands. For them, marriage has a major implication which is their loss of independence.

On the other hand, there is another category of women that rebel against rules of society, thus fighting for independence. This group is represented by women entering the labor force. Although many working women have reached professional success and a higher sense of independence, they live a very stressful life trying to manage their busy careers and family affairs at the same time. In a way, that is why marriage is described in Dickinson’s poem as an eclipse: “How odd the Girl's life looks / Behind this soft Eclipse --” (5-6). The “eclipse” suggests the debate that women have between the two worlds: the one in which they will lose independence, and the other one that could set them free.

In conclusion, marriage represents a very complicated subject in any society, especially for women. Their traditional role they play (as wife or caregivers, for instance) is very difficult for them to avoid, for women have been forced to absorb such traditional expectations through decades. There always will be norms in our present society that limit our behavior and keep us away from setting ourselves free from these conventionalisms. The most important thing is to recognize that women are as active as any members of today’s society, and that it is imperative to continue empowering them to succeed, so they can be recognized as any man. At the end of the day, the eclipse will come to an end.
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Works Cited

Dickinson, Emily. "I'm ‘wife’ -- I've finished that --." Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. 7th ed. Vol. A. New York: Norton, 2007. 2562.

Social Pressures, by Jimmy

During the time Emily Dickinson was writing her poems, women were expected to be house wives and take care of the children and the home. Now that role has changed. More and more women are going out and getting an education followed by high paying jobs. Things have definitely changed since Dickinson's time and most of it is for the better.
During the time Dickinson was writing her poems women were expected to fall into predetermined roles. They were expected to get married and take care of the children and the household. She says in her poem numbered 194,



Born - Bridalled - Shrouded -

In a Day -

Tri Victory -

"My Husband" - Women say (10-13)



Women were born and raised thinking that they need to grow up and be the best mother and wife they could be. Any thoughts of doing something else were usually frowned upon. It was uncommon for women to have any higher education, let alone a high status job. In today's world that has definitely changed.
In today's world, things look completely different. Women are right in step with men in regards to education and jobs . Many times now you will find that women hold higher positions than men do. Women are CEO's, doctors, senators, just to name a few. Dickinson says, "I'm 'wife' - Ive finished that"(1). She is saying that she is done falling into a predetermined role as a woman and is going to branch out. The stereotypical housewife does still exist, but in a much smaller role. Instead of the majority of women staying home, the majority are working and earning a good living. The social pressure for a woman to be put into the housewife role does not really exist anymore, usually it is by choice now.
It is fair to say that times have definitely changed since Emily Dickinson's time. Women are way more involved and have a major say in what goes on. There really isn't any more pressure to just settle for being a housewife anymore. there is more pressure now for women to get higher education and become successful in the field that they choose.





Works Cited


Dickinson, Emily. "194" ,"225". The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed.Nina Baym. 7th ed. Vol. B. New York: Norton 2007. 2561-2562

Patriarchial Times, it still exist by Wanda

“My Life had stood - a Loaded Gun -”(2584) This poem is about Emily Dickinson suppression of life long rage. She called herself the gun because she is upset that she can not be recognized as a poet. She might be suggesting that, at times, she is so mad, she could explode. Today, the work place is an example of a place where women might experience this type of double standard. They perform the same work that their male coworkers, yet they get paid less. Dickinson lived a life of solitude and isolation by choice. currently you are find more and more women opting to be alone. She often retreated to familiar territory, staying in her room. During the time when the family was very patriarchal, she sought to guard her family by keeping quiet. Being out spoken with her writings and demanding notoriety, she would have offended father and the male dominate society. Her father took more interest in her brothers work while ignoring Dickinson’s "needle point." Dickinson's work was diminished, and to some extent, womens work continues to be reduced today. In her poem she declares,

“My Life stood - a Loaded Gun -
In corners - till a Day
The Owner passes - identified -
And carried Me away -”(1-4).

“I’m “wife” - I’ve finished that -”(2562). Here, Dickinson again takes a back seat in the powerful male society as a married woman. She would be free of pain residing in the safe, secure, comfortable place of marriage. She stated that she was done with her childhood. In the Bible, it is written, " When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man,I put away childish things"(1 Corinthians 13:11). Dickinson stated that she had left the confusion and lack of experience behind her. She is a woman now. Accepting that she still has some power when she consummates her union with her husband; she insisted, “I’m Czar - I’m “Woman” now -”(3). There is no need to question who I am when she writes,

“This being comfort - then
That other kind - was pain -
But Why compare?
I’m “Wife”! Stop there!”(9-12)

Like the other two poems that robs women of their power; Dickinson’s poem “Title divine--is mine!” marches women toward the bottom of the hierarchy. It suggest a connection with marriage and religion. Here, she shows her spiritual union with God, she is “The Wife without the Sign-”(1). She recognize women’s subservient position to their husbands. “My Husband” - Women say”(13), meant that wives attempt to enhance their esteem by glorifying their husbands. Dickinson feels that if she marries the Lord and resides with him she will have to sacrifice her artistry and become “Born - Bridalled - Shrouded -”(10). The Bible orders us to, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). She also stated that her life could change in a blink of the eye when she stated, “In a Day”(11). This could be why she wore white and stayed single with the idea that she had to be unblemished. She could not bring herself to God, no other way then pure. Living a simple life she was sure to be accepted into the kingdom of Heaven.

Although, Elizabeth Emily Dickinson was sadden by the denial of publication for many of her poems and her father did not acknowledge her as a poet, it is clear that she was a very gifted poet. Living in a time when patriarchy was a way of life. She continued to write in spite of rejection and disappointment. She must have known that her work would be published or she would not have taken the time to organize them in bundles.

King James Version Bible

Dickinson, Emily. "191,225,764." The Norton Anthology of American Literature.Ed.

Nina Baym, New York. Norton. 2007. (2561, 2562, 2584).

Women’s Freedom by Stephanie

Women’s Freedom
Emily Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, in 1830. Her poems were published in 1890. The way in which Dickinson writes is brief, concise in expression, and highly emotional. Dickinson gave her whole soul and intimate ideas in her writing, especially those ideas that were related to women’s role in society. Women like Dickinson fought for their own ideas and rights in a male dominated society. Even though the time has passed, in today’s society some women are still struggling with social pressure.
First of all, women were educated to be raised to only study up until a certain level, and then they had to focus on becoming a “perfect wife” since women were seen as a machine whose only purpose was to take care of their husband, their children, and their home. Dickinson expresses this situation in her poem 194 when she states,
Title Divine, is mine.
The Wife without the Sign –
Acute Degree conferred on me –
Empress of Calvary - (1-4)
Also, the church plays an important role in the life of a woman. When Dickinson wrote her poem, she tries to criticize how the church submits a woman by making her believe that marriage is the only way to obtain God’s grace; that is why she expresses,
In a Day –
Tri Victory –
“My Husband” – Women say
Stroking the Melody-
Is this the way – (11-15)
In the nineteen-century, social expectations of what a woman’s role should be is very important for a society, and society makes many demands on a woman. Therefore, if a woman wants to find her individuality, she will have to fight for the right to choose for herself. But, women have not power at all in the nineteen-century.
Today, for many women, getting an education has been a choice that they have had to make for themselves. Some women have decided to give priority to their families over their education, and there is yet another group of women who have decided to manage both education and family. The work field is a very interesting place to see how women were struggling and, in some cases, still are struggling to obtain a good job position. Not all companies are the same, but many women have struggled to have a job in a male dominant environment. Different women see religion in different ways depending in their unique life experiences. For some women, religion is not an impediment to their success in the field they have chosen, but they still feel that religion has been an obstacle that devalues many women’s ability, and see religion as a tool that will not let women succeed. However, there are many women who believe that religion has given them the respect, the position, and the advantages they need and deserve to succeed as women in everything that they need or decide to do.
If women are or are not still struggling for social pressure, continues to be debatable in many points of view. But the true is that a woman like Dickinson opens the eyes of many women throughout her poems. And the decisions and choices that a women have made in the past, regardless of their backgrounds, are the things that make the women of today more virtuous and powerful.

Work Cited
Dickinson, Emily. “Title Divine.” The Norton Anthology American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. 7th ed. Vol. B. New York: Norton, 2007. 2561

Dickinson and Hollywood, by Cara

Emily Dickinson, with the use of rhythm, repetition, character development, and point of view, in her poem “340,” creates ideas of death believed and used in Hollywood today. Dickinson believed death was the end of all life, and the dead went into the ground to rest without consciousness of the living world.

The poem “340” uses both rhythm and the repetition to reveal fearfulness and mysticism of death. Dickinson writes, “And when they all were seated,/A Service, like a Drum-/Kept beating-beating-beating-till I thought/ My mind was going numb-” (2568). The drum-like rhythm is a metaphor for the beating of a heart associated with the fear and the hopeless uncertainty Dickinson feels about death. The repetition of the word “and” throughout the poem and particularly in the last stanza reveals the main character's holding on to life for as long as possible during his or her burial. “And then the Reason, broke,/And I dropped down, and down-/And hit a World, at every plunge,/And Finished knowing-then-”(2568). The word “and” is often used as a conjunction, connecting one idea to another. Similarly, Dickinson in poem “340” uses “and” to connect the two realities of the dead and the living, which temporarily gives the dead a connection to the living until the end of the poem. Similar to Dickinson, Hollywood attatches fear and hopelessness to death, and gives the dead a connection to the living through ghost stories, and the idea of ghosts having unfinished business.

Dickinson's character development and point of view reveal her beliefs about death. She writes, “And then I heard them lift a Box/And creak across my Soul/With those same Boots of Lead, again,/Then space began to toll,/(Dickinson 2568). Dickinson's poem "340" is written in the first person perspective of the main character, a dead person, in a casket during his or her funeral. About the fate of the dead, Dickinson writes, "And then a Plank in Reason, broke,/And i dropped down, and down-/And hit a World, at every plunge, / And Finished knowing-then-"(2568) Dickinson believes the souls of the dead are conscious after their death until they are buried and then go into the ground to rest for all eternity. A popular belief in movies about death parallel Dickinson's belief of the dead resting in the ground without the experience of an afterlife.

Dickinson in her poem, "340" uses rhythm and repetition to express her fear of death and the dead's desire to hold onto life. Hollywood similarly connects death with fear and uses ghosts to express the dead's last bits of connection to life. Dickinson uses character development and point of view to show her personal beliefs about death, which are shadowed in modern day movies as the dead resting in the ground and ceasing to exist.

Works Cited:

Dickinson, Emily. "340." The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym, New York:Norton. 2007. 2568.

The Scarlet Letter: Society isn't like it used to be....., by Torrey

People in our society today are very "funny" acting when it comes to differences. What I mean by this, is that if someone does not have what they have, they treat them different. Like for instance, some people when they see poor or homeless people on the streets they turn their noses up at them. Or even if people see someone who is rich, or seems wealthy they treat them bad just because they are jealous.

Then again there are those who treat everyone the same. There are people who help those who need it, and accept help if they need it. It really all depends on the person, their values, how they were raised and their attitudes. More than most, if a person saw their parents turning their noses up, they will also. This happens more in our society rather than loving and helping each other.

Society has different opinions about views as far as living and contributing to others. I feel the whole world can check themselves and say we can do better. We are all different in some form or fashion. Get over it.

If you are different you are considered an Outkast by Steven

Going against the grain and trying to be different from everyone else causes society to look at someone as an outkast. In a novel called "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne is a character who is shunned away from society because of her sin of adulterywith another character Arthur Dimmesdale. A person who is different from everyone else suffers many consequences for their decision they made to be different. In "The Scarlet Letter", Hester Prynne is humiliated and embarresed for the decision she made to commit adultery with Arthur Dimmesdale. First, Hester Prynne is publicly condemned and commanded to stand on a scaffold in a market place so that everyone can see her as she is released from prison. As she stands on the scaffold, she is scolded from women in the crowd, as they make comments and criticize Hester about her actions and the badge on her chest. Hester became the talk of the town. Even someone who was socially inept and did not gage in society would know that Hester was different from everyone else. It is important to recognize that no other characters had to deal with people staring at them, criticizing them and humiliating them in the book. Everyone else was accepted because they were like everyone else. It's ironic that Hester Prynne is looked as a sinner and different from everyone else because under Puritan belief, all people are born sinners because of the initial transgressions of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Nevertheles, people do not realize that Hester is no different than they are and she is subject to public scrutiny. Today, our society tends not to accept people who are different and dont respect them for who they are. People who are different face public scrutiny just like they faced in the old days. For example, people in the gay and lesbian community face harsh public scrutiny for their decision to be who they are. They are often calle derogitory names ans are a laughingstock of the dominant society. People who are not gay do not have to worry about people not accepting them because they are considered normal by the dominant society. They are not criticized for their decision to be straight by the gay and lesbian community. All in all, it is important to recognize that some things have not changed in American society. People who are different are looked at as an outkast by society. Many people who are different have to deal with more stress and have to be stronger than others who are not differentjust because they do not conform to the pressure of society to be like everyone else. I am one who believes that people should not be looked at as an outkast because of the decisions they make in life. Everyone has one life and they should be able to live it the way they want to. No one is better than anyone else and do not deserve the right to criticize people for their decisions. Hawthorne, Nathaniel. "The Scarlet Letter". The Norton Anthology of American Literature.Ed. Nina Baym. 7th ed. vol. A. New York: Norton, 2007

An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth, by Adwoa

In the Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne employs several themes in his writings, but the major one that runs throughout this novel is mainly sin. One form of sin portrayed in this novel is vengeance. Hawthorne describes Chillingworth as a man filled with vengeance. His vengeful nature is depicted in the search of the father of his wife’s daughter, Pearl.
Chillingworth, had several options after finding out his wife’s betrayal, but instead he decided to revenge by converting himself into a devil. Hawthorne says, “Ever and anon, too, there came a glare of red light out of his eyes, as if the old man's soul were on fire and kept on smouldering duskily within his breast, until by some casual puff of passion it was blown into a momentary flame” (1443). Chillingworth’s vengeance is seen in our society today. Many couples filing for divorce may demand more from their spouses as a form of revenge. Some partners do that just to render the other one bankrupt to satisfy their revengeful desire.
The next action that Chillingworth does is to seek for more information about the reason why Hester had become a ridicule of shame. In his attempt to revenge Chillingworth makes a statement that, “it irks me, nevertheless, that the partner of her iniquity should not at least, stand on the scaffold by her side. But he will be known — he will be known! — he will be known!"(1386). In today’s society, this trait can be seen in gang members. In an attempt to revenge, they do all it takes to find information on their adversaries, and this may finally result in death or serious injuries.
Finally, Chillingworth’s revenge is noticed by Hester; therefore, she panics when Chillingworth offers her medicine when in prison. Chillingworth tells her that the better revenge will be to keep her alive wearing the scarlet letter (1391).
In conclusion, Chillingworth’s assumes a new identity as a way to seek revenge, therefore in order to torture Dimmendale gets closer to him as a physician to cure him of his ailment. In our society today, we hear of several instances of people committing adultery leading to the anguish of the other party. One may easily side with Chillingworth, but the Puritans saw him as a bad nut; because they believe in the good words of the bible that says, “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:18).

Works Cited
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. “The Scarlet Letter.” Norton Anthology of American Literature. Vol. B. Ed. Nina Baym. 7th ed. New York: Norton, 2007. 1352-1493.

The Pursuit of Revenge By Travis

In ones pursuit to quench the thirst of revenge, irrational thoughts and behaviors become common. As is the case of Chillingworth In the story The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. As Chillingworth attempts to find the truth about his adulterous wife, he likewise many of us in today’s society struggle with question of where to draw the line in our quest to make to offender pay. However we can get so consumed by revenge that we pay for our sins of revenge in the form of mental and physical stresses on our bodies.
In seeking revenge upon the person Hester committed adultery with, the very soul and being of a good man is slowly changed from good to a sinister evil, leaving Chillingworth a shadow, of the man he once was. Hence the false name “Chillingworth”, which may be a subtle precursor of his meticulous plan, to dissect and publicly embarrass Hester’s partner in sin. Chillingworth, upon uttering the words “he will be known!--he will be known!--he will be known!"(1393), signifies the turning point in his life where there is a new purpose for his existence. Physiological problems become a part of his personality, a part of his being. Chillingworth became dependent on Dimmesdale as a source of energy as he continues to torment and extract any knowledge from him. This thirst for revenge has resulted in Chillingworth unwillingly being a prisoner to another person, essentially being dependent on Dimmesdale to survive, just as a louse is dependent on its host to receive nutrients. This is no different from what we see in today’s society in the cause of stalker’s and petty files, where they are so consumed with evil thoughts, that the ability to think rationally is no longer possible.
The problems that relate to emotional stresses and physiological strains are not limited to ones brain, as the weight of these mental stresses takes a toll on the physical appearance of one’s body. We see this everyday in the world around us, the mental stresses to be thin causes some people to become anorexic, which in turn results in a malnourished appearance of the body. However Chillinworth’s obsession with revenge causes his appearance to deteriorate from the elderly scholar appearance to an almost demonic child of the devil. Hawthorne says “Ever and anon, too, there came a glare of red light out of his eyes, as if the old man's soul were on fire and kept on smoldering duskily within his breast”. This among other statements such as “So Roger Chillingworth a deformed old figure, with a face that haunted men’s memories longer than they liked” (1446), shows the physical effects of his sinful revenge.
Fuelled by emotions, revenge takes both Chillingworth and our contemporaries down a path of sin and hatred. This quest for revenge leaves us at the mercy of the perused, as Chillinworth was the mercy of Dimmesdale, in the sense that he is a parasite living off Dimmesdale, the host. Consequently when the host dies, so does the parasite, as is the case of Chillinworth, as he sucks the life from Dimmesdale, which leads him to physically deteriorate as the Dimmesdale mentally deteriorates, until the both die. The ultimate consequence of sinful revenge, death.

Works Cited
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. 7th ed. Vol. B. New York: Norton, 2007. 1352-1493.

Hypocrisy among Religion by Jamie

Nathaniel Hawthorne in “The Scarlet Letter” presents the point of hypocrisy that is portrayed by religious figures. In society today, not only religious figures try to portray a sense of purity, but politicians, actors, teachers, and any figure that is looked up to. The public is dependent upon the behaviors of these important figures as a symbolism of hope, change and goodness in oneself. However, things have changed since the Puritan age as far as forgiveness and second chances. These so called “private behaviors” are held in the public’s eye as a way of punishment. It is then up to the public to renounce the pressures of anguish if the individual acknowledge the wrongful deed that has been done, and in return lead by example. Hawthorne demonstrates the actions of a highly religious community that provides rejection rather than support and healing. Like Dimmesdale, religious figures are held in a position of trust among communities of faith. Hawthorne’s goal is to inform individuals that religious figures are human too, and that everyone makes mistakes no matter what rank they hold.
In the puritan community there is no such thing as forgiveness. In society today, sin is a necessary part of life. Mistakes are expected to be made in order to learn from them. Hawthorne illustrates the unforgiving nature of the community toward Hester in her sinful act. He proves hypocrisy when the townspeople violently scorn Hester when they state, “This woman has brought shame upon us all, and ought to die. Truly there is a law for it in Scripture and the statue book” (1380). It’s ironic how they call themselves a community of faith, but instead they promote and encourage cruelty and malicious segregation toward a once faithful member of their covenant. The townspeople did not even spare the taunting toward the innocent baby pearl. Even though it took an act of sin to create pearl, she is still the blessing of God. It seems as though this once religious community is more focused on themselves and the embarrassment this sinful act may have caused. Could it be their priorities of faith is confused? Or maybe they discover their own internal truths as a result of this sin.
Hawthorne reveals Dimmesdale as a cowardly man who lacks the courage to reveal his sinful act to the townspeople. The townspeople see him as an angel sent from God by stating, “When occasion was, with a freshness, and fragrance, and dewy purity of thought, which, as many people said, affected them like the speech of an angel” (1388). Hawthorne eludes the many truths of this closed-knit society that are blinded by their own faith. Hawthorne deeply expresses the realities of the corruption and hypocrisy faced throughout this story. This is conveyed when the burning of the scarlet letter pierces Hester’s heart whenever she came in contact with a villager who seemed to shy away from looking at the embroidered symbol. Hawthorne is trying to convey the untold truths of other people’s transgressions. Hester is not the only sinner in this religious community, but she is the scapegoat for many other sinners. The only difference is that she was strong enough to reveal her sins and suffer the consequences. Therefore; she is a true Christian woman who seeks repentance. Hawthorne reveals the many characteristics of jealousy, betrayal, revenge, and malicious gossip that are depicted in the puritan community.
Most people might interpret this story as an attack on society; However Hawthorne’s goal is to reveal the ugly truths about religious societies and there extreme code of ethics. The hypocrisy and corruption that underlies the ideals of religion stifles the individuality and can eat away at the soul, as expressed in the scarlet letter. Stay true to oneself and god, but don’t portray false devotion.



Works Cited
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. “The Scarlet Letter.” Norton Anthology of American Literature. Vol. B. Ed. Nina Baym. 7th ed. New York: Norton, 2007. 1352-1493.

Closed-Mindedness and the Unfamiliar: A look at unconventional relationships in modern society, and the relation to Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne is shunned by her fellow colonists as a sinner and a social outcast. Having a child out of wedlock is heavily frowned upon by the Puritan society in which she lives, and the child which she chooses to raise alone is seen as an evil thing instead of a beautiful miracle of life. In its basic sense, the closed-mindedness of the colonists and the lack of mercy shown towards Hester also prevail in modern society with its views on gay marriage.

Gay marriage is a controversial topic in today’s society. Even though America is the land of freedom and equality, it is also a land founded on certain religious beliefs, and like many other societies, Americans are still learning tolerance. The unfamiliar is often greeted wearily and with reluctance. Society may be closed-minded at first, like a child weary of jumping into the water without testing it first with their toes, similar to the reaction when Hester comes forth from the jail: “The scene was not without a mixture of awe, such as must always invest the spectacle of guilt and shame in a fellow-creature, before society shall have grown corrupt enough to smile, instead of shuddering, at it. The witnesses of Hester Prynne’s disgrace had not yet passed beyond their simplicity” (1382). What a strict religious sect might view as corruption, a more worldly and tolerant society may view as progress.

When unknown forces bring two people together in love, whether of the same or opposite sex, the passion and emotion of that love is the same. Marriage is a way to show one’s partner as well as the world that one’s love is unconditional and true, no matter if the relationship is traditional or not. In The Scarlet Letter, Hester and Dimmesdale are described as being cut off from the rest of society since their unconventional relationship outcasts them, similar to how gay individuals might feel in today’s society, like “the links that united [them] to the rest of human kind—links of flowers, or silk, or gold, or whatever the material—had all been broken. Here was the iron link of mutual crime, which neither he nor she could break. Like all other ties, it brought along with it its obligations” (1438). Just as Hester feels she is obligated to stand up for herself in her passion, an unconventional couple who feels shunned by society must stand together, strengthened by the bond of their love, and the obligations to that love.

Finally, at the end of The Scarlet Letter, after the sudden and tragic death of Dimmesdale, many of the townsfolk that had witnessed the scene refused to admit that Dimmesdale “acknowledged, nor even remotely implied, any, the slightest connection, on his part, with the guilt for which Hester Prynne had so long worn the scarlet letter” (1490). Sadly, this same denial is present in today’s society, as closed-minded relatives refuse to admit that a loved one is, or was, gay. That which is unfamiliar is uncomfortable, and often times not included in the memory of highly-esteemed loved ones, in order to save face and leave no unanswerable questions. Just as the sins of Dimmesdale, a righteous man in the eyes of the community, were hushed, so is the sexual orientation of many in today’s society, even though at the most basic comparison, we are all only human.

Works Cited

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. 7^th ed. Vol. B. New York: Norton, 2007. 1352-1493.

Revenge Hurts the Avenger, by Bertina

In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter (Custom House),” Roger Chilling worth is obsessed with gaining revenge against Reverend Arthur Dimondale. Merriam-Webster defines revenge as “to avenge (as oneself) usually by retaliating in kind or degree.” As a result of Chillingworth’s determination in making Arthur pay for committing adultery with his wife, his need for revenge ultimately is responsible for his defeat. Revenge is a sin that causes mental, physical, and spiritual pain especially to the person responsible for afflicting it on others. This is the case in the story as well as in today’s society.

In the story as well as today’s society revenge has become an acceptable behavior for dealing with out of control emotions. This behavior can be seen in high profile divorces, child custody battles, and civil lawsuits. Chillingworth’s desire for revenge drove him to a state of obsessive behavior. Hawthorne writes, “they fear to take up the shame that rightfully belongs to them” (1423) as Chillingworth continue to make comments that are directed specifically toward Dimmesdale’s secret. He is unable to control his desire for revenge because the desire for revenge is the strongest emotion he is feeling. Having knowledge of Dimmesdale’s secret gives Chillingworth the illusion of power, when in reality he is causing more harm to himself mentally. Therefore, his revenge is working in reverse of the intent.

However, the results of physical problems vary from mental, in that physical issues can be seen with the naked eye. Chillingworth’s revenge starts to take a toll on an already ailing Dimmesdale. Hawthorne states, “So Roger Chillingworth a deformed old figure, with a face that haunted men’s memories longer than they liked” (1446) as an example of Chillingworth’s physical change. Since Chillingworth is driven by getting revenge on Dimmesdale, as a physician he is aware of the affects of his behavior on his health. Likewise, in today’s society when two individuals are going through a nasty divorce, one party will eventually attack the other in a manner that will lead to physical ailments.

The Puritans desired to be close to God and would not have approved of Chillingworth’s behavior. Particularly, Dimmesdale is the minister of the community and loved by his congregation. Chillingworth has become a representative for the devil and spiritually is bankrupt. Hawthorne states, “In a word, old Roger Chillingworth was a striking evidence of a man’s faculty of transforming himself into a devil” (1443). This is what happens then and now when a soul is sold to the devil. It appears that Chillingworth has sold his soul and has no desire to win it back. As he continues with his obsessive behavior to gain revenge, he continues to lose more of himself. This can be seen more clearly after Dimmesdale reveals himself on the scaffold and Chillingworth’s response is “Thou hast escaped me! Thou hast escaped me!

To conclude, from the Puritan times to present day, revenge has no place in society. Revenge has proven time and time again to cause more harm than good to all persons involved. The bible states “revenge is mine saith the Lord”, which tells us to leave revenge to the Lord. There is no harm we can cause to an individual that will not bring harm to us as well. If individuals in today’s society live by this rule, there would be less domestic and gang violence.

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. “The Scarlett Letter.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. 7^th ed. Vol B. New York:Norton, 2007. 1352-1489.

Conformity in Today's Age, by Jed

Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay, "Self-Reliance," tells people to listen to their own intuitions regardless of how society perceives those actions or words, good or bad. Emerson, early in his essay, illustrates this point when he says, " Good and bad are but names very readily transferable to that or this; the only right is what is after my constitution, the only wrong what is against it" (1165). Emerson believed people do away with their own thoughts and intuitions to conform to the beliefs of societies, for it is far easier to do so. In America today, individuals have the opportunity to isolate themselves from society with relative ease with the invention of the personal automobile, but most cling to television, internet, and cell phones for a constant barrage of information on how society looks, acts, and thinks. Though America is far more diverse and reaches from the Atlantic to the Pacific, individuals are more than ever influenced by society's rules by way of instantaneous mass media an communication.

The oldest form of visual electronic media, the television, has become a member of the household in America; it has taught people what behaviors are appropriate and which are not for the last sixty plus years, and many emulate what they see believing it is the proper way to fit into society. Twenty-four hours a day three hundred and sixty-five days a year it has shoveled information of proper society into children, old people, and everybody in between. In "Self-Reliance," Emerson writes, "Our housekeeping is mendicant, our arts, our occupations, our marriages, our religions we have not chosen, but society has chosen for us" (1175). Americans can see the influence television has had over the years by the fads of fashion, the diction of language, and their ambitious, if not delusional, ideas of success and progression. The television, in the year 2009, is only a small percentage of the visual electrical media people see and use everyday, for it has been overtaken by something more powerful.

The internet, regardless of where it is accessed, whether it be by computer or cell phone, is the instant tool to help conform people with access to not just their society, but to the world's. In today's world there is no place to hide deeds; individuals can be recorded by any person with camera, cell phone, or computer and uploaded to the internet for the whole world to see and be shunned by. Emerson writes about people in the community, for example, when he says, "The bystanders look askance on him in the public street or in the friend's parlor"(1167). Emerson knows no scale that people are accustomed to now that everything in the world is only as big as a computer screen and Blackberry. This phenomenon has ushered in a new age where distance is irrelevant to being forsaken by society. A man in Iceland with internet can cast down his judgement upon an individual regardless if he is in Baja, California. Thus, the internet has become the most powerful issuance to conformity than any predecessor.

Easy and immediate access to the world community and society will continue to conform people with the mere pressing of a button and eyes on the screen of a television, computer, and cell phone. Distance has continually become more irrelevant to conformity. Ethnicity and sexual orientation are immaterial; the media and communication of today have conformed them to that particular society and perception of others of those individuals. Emerson, I believe, would be disappointed to see that nothing of what he wrote has had any effect on society, and in fact, it is worse today I imagine then in his time.

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "Self-Reliance." The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. 7th ed. Vol. B. New York: Norton, 2007. 1163-1180

Who makes the choice? by Alex

Everyday in life people have to make choices between doing what is right and doing what is wrong. It would be nice if those choices were easy, but they often are not. People are stuck battling with themselves, and stuck battling with what others will think. According to Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Self-Reliance," people intuitively understand the difference between right and wrong and society only prevents them from listening to their inner voice. Although Emerson feels this way, the true statement would be that people learn right and wrong because of society, and then they are left to make choices for themselves.
All over the world there are many kids that reside in crime infested neighborhoods. There are kids who hear their parents, and the other individuals in the community use profanity in everyday conversations. These kids do not intuitively know that it is wrong to use profanity. In fact, these kids go out into the broader areas of society, such as school, and use profanity themselves. Emerson's "Self Reliance" suggests that people intuitively know the difference between right and wrong, but these children actually support the contrary. Emerson says "No law can be sacred to me than that of my nature" (p. 1165), and the law of these kids nature teaches them that profane language is acceptable. People do not intuitively know right and wrong, but they are taught by what they see and hear indirectly through society, and what they are told directly from society.
Emerson's idea that society only prevents people from listening to their inner voice is incorrect. If anything, society begins at the earliest ages of kids lives telling them that it is fine to listen to that inner voice. After society teaches the child that there are actions that are right and that there are actions that are wrong, then society encourages them to use their better judgement between the two. When kids today make choices because it is what they saw the majority doing our society has sayings such as "if they jumped off of a bridge would you do it?" This very saying is to prevent the youth from making decisions on the sole basis of conformity, although Emerson says that " for non-conformity the world whips you with its displeasure" (p. 1167). The society that the kids live in actually encourages them to maintain high levels of individuality.
In conclusion people do not intuitively know the difference between right and wrong, but they are taught the difference. Society does not force upon the individual its ideals and tell he or she that conformity is a must. Society leaves the individual to make the choices he or she makes on their own, but society only hopes that the choice is made by the inner voice suggesting to do what is right. Emerson says that "no man can violate his nature" (p. 1168), but through the kids that have grown up in the midst of poverty and crime to be successful, law abiding citizens that belief is proven incorrect. Society takes one's natural inclination to do wrong and informs he or she what is right until the inclination becomes to do right.

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "Self-Reliance." The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. 7th ed. Vol. B. New York: Norton, 2007. 1163-80.

Self-Reliance, an Aversion to Conformity by Susana

Life is about choices. We choose our friends, our clothes, our cars, our houses, our careers, and our religion. But do we really make our choices or does society chooses for us? According to Ralph Waldo Emerson in one of his works, “Self Reliance” We let society influence our lives and choose for us, burying ourselves and our identity in a deep hole of conformism. Emerson criticized traditions, organized religions, mediocrity, and people who lacked originality because these behaviors mirror a conformist society. As Emerson thinks, “Our house keeping is mendicant, our arts, our occupations, our marriages, our religions we have not chosen, but society has chosen for us” (1175). In other words, one of the things we conform to is religion which is not a choice, but an imposition.
Religions are passed from generations to generations as children who are born without religion are obligated to follow their parent’s religion. Although Emerson was not an atheist, he had a problem with organized religion. The preaching of ideas and interpretations from the Bible that were introduced into people’s minds, did not appeal to him. “I like the silent church before the service begins, better than any preaching” (1173). The peacefulness a person can feel in a silent church allows him or her to be with their own thoughts as opposed to acquiring or accepting somebody else’s religious beliefs or ideals.
The rejection of doctrines; ideals that forced people to follow and believe, might have cost him some infamy and criticism from individuals who did not shared his point of view. Among the beliefs he discarded is the doctrine of original sin, a Puritan belief in which all humankind is born guilty of a sin they did not commit. Emerson believed that we are responsible for our own faults, not somebody else’s. “Why should we assume the faults of our friend, or wife, or father, or child, because they sit around our heart, or are said to have the same blood?” (1173). This thought reflects the idea that people do not have to conform to what one person’s interpretation of truth is.
Believing somebody else’s truths or adopting other’s perspectives and ideas is like being nobody. Emerson states that by following others, we make ourselves invisible comparing us to a shadow that has no soul, “He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall” (1168). In today’s society, we still see many ways and things to which people conform to. A good example is fashion among men or women. The media bombards us with pictures and images of super models who are beautiful and many of them seem abnormally thin. Fashion parades across the world, depict slim women. Usually, the female protagonist of a movie is thin and beautiful. The media instills that slim is beauty. Many young females have accepted this idea. Therefore, they sacrifice themselves through bulimia or anorexia in order to be like the women portrayed in the media, denying their own selves, rejecting originality and conforming to what fashion dictates as having a perfect body. Emerson calls us to rely on our own ideas. He calls us to find our own truths and to be ourselves.





BIBLIOGRAPHY
Emerson, Ralph Waldo. “Self-Reliance.” The Norton Anthology American Literature.
Ed. Nina Baym. 7th ed. Vol. B. New York: Norton, 2007. 1168-1175.

You Are Not Alone by Natasha

Has anyone ever said to themselves, "Something told me to..." do this or that or what ever the case may be, and a decision was made to either listen or not to listen to that little voice? Most people will admit that they have heard their own inner voice a time or two because this is quite common. So what's the deal? Is God Himself trying to contact man through a special kind of human intercom system or something? In the story, Self Reliance, by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Emerson implies that self reliance is the ability to trust in ourselves by trusting in God who created us.

First, Emerson encourages man to develop a strong belief in self and avoid imitating others. Man is a unique creature, each with different talents and abilities. Emerson wants man to "stun and astonish the intruding rabble of men and books and institutions by a simple declaration of the divine fact...God is here within" (1173). God can teach man to do his best without mimicking others but man has to put forth an effort to find out what that is in which he can do because man will not know until he has tried.

Next, Emerson implies that man could use prayer more effectively and to his own advantage. Emerson suggests that prayer that acknowledges unity and the conscious presence of God with man brings about better results for man than the idea of dualism. As soon as man realizes he can become one with God through Jesus, that man can contemplate the conditions in which he wants to produce. Dormant forces come alive, ones soliloquy expresses a joyful soul, and then man will "see prayer in all action" (1175). A new and wonderful world will be co-created and God's will is manifested when prayer is used effectively.

In conclusion, one can assume Emerson implies that the prerequisite for self reliance is some biblical knowledge and faith in God. Emerson believes that God will help man if he trusts in himself and aims for originality in the journey and cultivation of life. So the next time an inner voice is heard, take that opportunity to practice divine self reliance because you are not alone.


Work Cited
Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "Self-Reliance." The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. &th ed. Vol. A. New York: Norton,2007. 1163-80.

With or Without Technology, by Brian

In Henry David Thoreau’s, “Walden,” the experience one gains from living in solidarity or by natural means, helped Thoreau understand what it was to live without technology. Thoreau believes that technology corrupts work ethic and that to prove it he puts himself in the forefront of his own experiment living alone in a cabin he built alongside the Walden Lake in Concord, Massachusetts. Through his writing of “Walden” we see Thoreau’s views of technology as unnecessary. He felt as if we as humans can live without it, but those who want to escape reality will use it to make their life a whole lot easier. He simply would not agree with technology today simply because it takes away from the pride one would feel by being self sufficient. This type of idea is shared along with his friend Emerson in his essay “Self-Reliance.”

Thoreau’s vision of humans is that we were first put here to live and strive the best way we can, through honest means. Technology takes away from that in that it makes labor easier and does not make the do-er feel as if they accomplished something. If they had labored hours through it they would feel a greater sense of accomplishment which is taken away by technology. We can see this with the quote idea for this blog topics, “We do not ride on the railroads, it rides upon us” (1921), this is perfect to describe Thoreau’s views about technology from his own words. This quote suggests that after the railroad was built, we rely more on the railroads then they rely on us. Obviously a railroad cannot depend on us but without using it and keeping it up it would not matter, so, we use it and rely on it to get our economy going. A reality, that through Thoreau’s views, people do not have to worry about if they did thing for themselves.

Thoreau does not say he does not use new technology, but suggest only that it does not make people realize what they have accomplished to make a living. He does not live the rest of his life in a cabin by the lake, of course, but it was simply an experiment of how one would feel by making a living on his own with the new technologies that make things easier. He reflects in, “Walden,” an account on the lake in which his landlord is selling ice during water from the lake. He mentions that a group of men came carrying the tools needed exactly for extracting the ice from the lake (2025). He was simply mentioning that there were other means by which it could be accomplished, but that the tools make it easier and take away from the labor it would take by doing by hands. So he simply ignores it and goes back to his experiment on the lake.

Thoreau, through “Walden,” showed us that things do not have to be accomplished by new technologies that make it easier, but by simply taking the time to see how you can labor through it. This way one can feel a sense of self worth and had some kind of accomplishment for the day. Even though for a civilization to move forward, it needs new technologies as it become more complex, one can accomplish the same means by simply doing your own thing, but doing it to feel proud and accomplished. “Walden” really helps us to understand ourselves and self-worth. He feels that we can do on our own, or live in a reality that does not have to exist we simply make it exist. This is a strong point which touches a lot of people. We would make it as a society without technological help to make things easier, but we simply enjoy the easy life and this is when we enter a reality in which Thoreau suggest, we do not have to encounter, we simply cannot see it.

Works Cited
Thoreau, Henry David. “Walden, or Life in the Woods.” Ed. Nina Baym 7th ed. Vol. B. New York: Norton, 1872-2046.

A Century of Change, by Brittny

A Century of Change
In Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle, the title character is shown a world that he does not know – one that has seemingly changed completely overnight. As any society does, the small village that was Rip’s home has made progressions and changes with the times. Everything from houses he sees to the type of government in place has become something else. A person, having fallen asleep at the dawn of the twentieth century and waking up in today’s America would be in complete cultural and political shock upon observing his newfound surroundings.
The first staggering sight for a Rip Van Winkle of this time would be a lack of familiarity. Cities, buildings, and people have all both disappeared as well as risen up. Upon walking into his village, Rip immediately noticed that “as he approached the village, he met a number of people, but none whom he knew, which somewhat surprised him, for he had thought himself acquainted with every one in the country round” (962). One major cultural difference between the America of today and that of the early 1900s is how society is structured in general. One would be surprised to discover children of every race going to school together and receiving the same education or to see interracial couples walk hand-in-hand down the street. Another cultural change in the last century is what is considered “American culture” itself. Like Rip Van Winkle, a newly awakened “old-timer” would probably be confused (and quite possibly concerned) about the condition in which he found people as he observed this new America: “Their dress, too, was of a different fashion from that to which he was accustomed” (962). The styles of twenty-first century youth – hip-hop, grunge, Emo, and prep – are surely polar opposites of the more classic looks of a century ago.
The political change in America would indeed stop someone from 1909 in their tracks. Like Rip Van Winkle announcing his British loyalty (“’Alas! gentlemen,’ cried Rip, somewhat dismayed, ‘I am a poor quiet man, a native of the place, and a loyal subject of the king, God bless him!’” (963)), a native of the twentieth century might proudly boast being a Republican. Whereas being in the party of Lincoln may have been popular one hundred years ago, it is probably safer to boast being a Democrat in today’s political society. More so than he would witnessing racial equality in America, an old stranger would be blown away to find a respected black man holding the office of President. Certainly, if this old stranger were himself an African American, he would be relieved to no longer be under the tyranny of racism and its politics. Irving writes that Rip Van Winkle learned that “instead of being a subject of his Majesty, George III, he was now a free citizen of the United States” (964). Likewise, an African American native stranger would find that is now a free citizen, no longer a subject to hatred, discrimination and Jim Crow laws.
If a person living in America in 1909 were to have fallen asleep and woken again today, he would probably think he had woken up in a different country altogether or maybe even a different world. With advances in technology, healthcare, and social equality, this person would definitely feel like a stranger in twenty-first century America. Change is something that has become a necessary goal in the United States; something that Americans look forward to and view as inevitable. In thinking about the changes that have occurred in the past century, one can’t help but to wonder what it would be like to fall asleep today and wake up one hundred years from now.

Work Cited
Irving, Washington. Rip Van Winkle. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Bayum. 7th ed. Vol. A New York: Norton, 2007. 951-965.

100 Years Later By Travis

Though the values and dreams of the American people as a whole, has not changed, America 100 years ago is a far cry from the America today. If someone were to sleep for 100 years and wake up today they would have a hard time absorbing all the changes ranging from technological changes to political and even environmental changes. One of the most significant changes in today’s America is equality among people, disregarding issues such as race, sex, religion, sexual orientation and disabilities. A hundred years ago, just the thought of America having a black president would have brought laughter and scorn upon anyone who mentioned such an absurd thought. However, the laws of the land today allows for equality among people and these laws being enforced has either willingly or unwillingly forced people to be more acceptable of others. This in turn allows everyone equal opportunity to contribute towards the development of the American society. The technological advances made since a century ago would astonish anyone who lived in the eighteen hundreds. The weapons and defense mechanisms that was available a century ago where seen as the best, and most likely hard to acquire. However, in today’s America high tech guns and other weapons are just as available as car parts. This ability to easily acquire sufficient weapons is a far cry from the older days. As Pontiac elaborates in Speech at Detroit "…use the bows and arrows, and the stone pointed-laces which they used? You bought guns, knives, kettles and blankets”. (440) America is an every progressing society that will continue to grow and achieve new feats as time progresses. Though these changes don’t happen in leaps and bounds at a time, when examined over time periods such as decades and centuries, the changes are noticeable and often prove that the seemingly impossible is possible. Work Cited Pontiac." Speech at Detroit." Norton Anthology of American Literature.Ed. Nina Baym. Vol. A. New York: Norton, 2007. 439-40.

A Hundred Years Difference By: Sarah

In Washington Irving’s short story, “Rip Van Winkle”, the title character falls asleep under a tree in the woods for twenty years. As humorous a tale it is, however, it makes one wonder what changes a person of one hundred years ago from today would find surprising. Of all the many changes our country has seen in the last hundred years, by far the most unexpected for someone of the past would be the social and technological changes we have made.

The social changes in America in the last hundred years would surely astound someone waking up from a hundred year slumber. Listing these changes would not only be monotonous but also frivolous. Anyone familiar with American history would be able to do so and most likely would be able to do it in the blink of an eye. But many of these changes, while surprising might have been pretty predictable to one of a hundred years past. One thing that has changed socially that would have been unpredictable is America’s new found fascination with all things “celebrity”. Go to any grocery store and the magazine racks are filled with personal information on all the big names in Hollywood. Turn on the television at any given time of day and you will find a channel solely dedicated to celebrity gossip. Even the local news channel will have at least one story pertaining to celebrity news. This particular social change would most definitely be surprising but also disturbing to one from the past. Irving briefly describes this type of social change when he illustrates Winkle’s conformation to his new society, “It was some time before he could get into the regular track of gossip, or could comprehend the strange events that had taken place during his torpor (964).” This quotation leads the reader to believe after a while Winkle was able to understand and take part in his new society and the gossip that went with it. This type of evolution in a person would be likely for someone who was only asleep for twenty years but nearly impossible if one had been asleep for a hundred years waking up to modern society. It is hard to imagine a person from a hundred years past would awaken and suddenly care what Bradgelina are doing or feel the need to model the latest fashion based on what Victoria Beckham is wearing. “Celebrity” would not have been defined in the same way a hundred years ago. However, a person like this would be waking up to their own brand of celebrity so caring about things like this would be the last thing on their mind.

The technological changes we have made in the last hundred years would also be mind boggling to a person of the past. However, like the social changes it would be the obsession we have with technology that would be most surprising. Since the invention of the computer our society has grown dependent upon it. Computers are all around us and are incorporated in most of our daily routines. For a person from a hundred years ago computers would not be a conceivable idea. While the computer would be an intriguing gadget it would be the internet and our addiction to it that would be in comprehendible to a person of the past. They would wonder what happened to our family values. They would not understand how spending hours at a time in front of the computer could compute to spending time with family. Winkle’s twenty year slumber cannot compare to the devastation that would go with waking up from a hundred year siesta as Irving illustrates, “Having nothing to do at home, and being arrived at that happy age when a man can do nothing with impunity, he took his place once more on the bench at the inn door (964).” It does not seem that Winkle had to deal with anything as detrimental as one would now; he was able to take up right where he left off. The computer alone would be intriguing but to someone of the past it would not be near as endearing as it is to us nowadays. The internet is vast with knowledge and shared data; but this would somehow not be as impressive as one might think to someone from a hundred years ago. They would be depressed at the deterioration of relationships due to this distraction.

In conclusion, it would be devastating for someone from a hundred years ago to wake up in our society. While there would be many changes, it would be the social and technological changes and the way we have handled them that would be most devastating. While it would seem these changes have made life easier and therefore better otherwise known as modern conveniences it would be viewed by one from a hundred years past as laziness. The advancements alone would have a wow factor for someone of the past but what these advancements have done to our humanity would not be appreciated.

Works Cited

Irving, Washington. "Rip Van Winkle." Norton Anthology of American Literature.Ed. Nina Baym. Vol. B. New York: Norton, 2007. 954-965