The Scarlet Letter Chapter 5

I think the chapter 5 is a section connected to the life in the prison and the life in the actual society. And at the same time, it foreshadows the difficult life which is described later in the book.

Here are the two particular questions for today.

1. Why has Hester chosen to stay here?

Absolutely, it is really hard to understand why she has chosen to stay here. As a woman with such a sin and always having the big read “A” on the chest, the life will be definitely hard for her. In fact, she could restart everything, leaving the town and go to another country in Europe with a strange circumstance, eluding the specially sight to her from other local people. However, she chose to stay. In one hand, I think is because of the love of her hometown, and she would accept the punishment in this place. In the other hand, it is because of the love to his lover. Although they have a big problem which is could not see or talk to each other, I believe Hester still love him.

2. How does the community treat her?

Even although we all know that Hester is a kind and beautiful woman, the people still treat her badly because of what she did before. People in the town consider her as a symbol of humiliation. And the local people even keep a distance when they see her in the street. However, she got a needle job, and she did it really well. And she also makes clothes for the poor voluntarily sometimes. Despite she is trying to change the appearance in people mind, she is still indentified as a sinner. So, in short, the community treats her badly, and she could not get any respect from the whole society.

The Scarlet Letter

By the reading of the book, and the movie shown in the class, there are three main characters I want to talk about.

Hester Prynne was absolutely the most important character in this whole book. Although she acted as such a beautiful and kindhearted person, she was still punished for the adultery. I think she was also a brave woman as well. From the movie, as we saw, she was walking to the stage with a Red Scarlett Letter on her chest. Although she was watching, laughing and blaming by the others people, she still stayed calm and composed. Her every step was so resolute and firm that she did not think herself a guilty woman. I think it reflected her deep love to the “partner”, the other young man she was not willing to speak out. In the later section, she showed a great love to her child, and tried to protect her, when her real husband, Roger Prynne, was going to get the child from her hands.

Roger Prynne, an old English doctor. As we know, he was the husband of Hester. I believe he still loves Hester though the talk in the prison. He looked so disappointed, upset, even a little mad at his wife. He was talking so aggressively, and guaranteed would find out the “father” of the child.

The last one is Aruther Dimmesdale. He was sham in my view since he was keeping trying to make Hester speak out the name while he seemed not want to. I still cannot get this man totally, and I hope I could learn more about him later in the book.

Overall, in my opinion, Hester is decent and innocent. The reason why she suffered such a situation was because of the thoughts of the people at that time period. They were too conservative and could not accept the new ideas, or new ways of dealing with women, especially the marriage problems. Meanwhile, there are a lot of things we could not give a reasonable answers, and I hope we can find out the truth in the further reading. In short, the story is getting more and more interesting.

Essay Work

The documents I am going to use are A Model of Christian Charity by John Winthrop, The declaration of independence by Thomas Jefferson, and the American Scholar by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

In theModel of Christian Charity, John Winthrop tells a plan of what the America should be in the future. Just like what he says, he hopes people that holding firmly together, and makes the America will be a “city upon a hill”.

From the declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson shows a great determination of freedom from the Britain. I think this document will strongly help me define what America is and reflects the spirits of Americans.

The American Scholar represents the emancipation of the thoughts from the British literature. As the time goes, the freedom does not only refer to the freedom in the body, but also the freedom in the thoughts. So, just like the declaration of independence, the American Scholar is more likely to be a declaration of literature.

In short, from John Winthrop to Emerson, from original hope to actual action, from physical freedom to the emancipation of thoughts, the definition of America changes a lot.

Preface to 'Leaves of Grass'

It seemed really difficult for me to grasp the main idea of the preface to Leaves of Grass. It was still a little bit confusing, although we talked a lot about that in the class. However, I will still try to write down my personal understandings of this article.

In the first there paragraph, Walt Whitman indicates that the American are the best poets, and even the united states themselves are the greatest poem. They have different ethnic people, grand natural views, and wealthy lands. So in this circumstance, the literature of America is different from other countries. And at the same time, the spirit of America is so valuable that should be respected, and cannot be learnt easily from the books or the college; it is reflected by the common people.

Thoreau---Resistance to Civil Government

In Thoreau’s opinion, he believes that the government is best which governs not at all. And this kind of government is which the people would like to accept. Government should be an expedient, but usually it is not. It is always used by the people as a tool for politic benefits. Thoreau describes the government as a sort of wooden gun to the people themselves, because it will be broken if people use it to fight with each other. At the same time, Thoreau also discusses about the situation of American government which imposed on themselves for their own advantage, and did nothing for the freedom of the country, the settle in the West, or the education. Thoreau demands a better government, while but he does not advocate to take over of the government. And I think that is why “I cannot for an instant recognize that political organization as my government which is theslave's government also”.

An American Scholar 5

In the end of the speech, Emerson claimed that the American Literature already became a new literature, which totally different with the British. At the same time, Emerson wanted the schloars not to follow the previous book blindly, which was considered as the mind of the past .We need to walk with our own feet, write with our own hands, and speak out our own thought. Also, Emerson deprecate the bullionism, emphasize the value of humanity. In his opinion, the scholar in that time period should be confident and brave.

An American Scholar 4

I believe Emerson gave his speech to all the scholars in American. It showed the right behavior of what a scholar should be, and how to become a really eligible scholar.

First, Emerson talked about the nature, which was considered to be a boundless and connected thing in his opinion. And the endless research by human made great process of society.

In addition, Emerson mentioned that the book was the best thing to describe the mind of the past. However it has both good and bad use. People could learn a lot from the previous things. Just like what Newton said, I have been further because I am standing on the shoulder of a Giant. So the books that Emerson pointed out were filled with endless treasure. But a coin always has two sides. Although the books have a majority of advantages, it still need to be fixed as probably could not fit present. And the scholars should not be controlled by some views in the book excessively. Also, as we know the book will be studied in college for everyone, and grasp the knowledge of the book, definitely will lead a good result.

Finally in the speech, Emerson indicated that the scholars should be inspired by the really life experience, not just sit there, thinking or reading books. Action is absolutely one of the most important parts of being a successful scholar, without the true life experience, they will never comprehend the essence of scholars.

An American Scholar 3

We talked about the mind in the past in today’s class. According to the work by Emerson, the second major influence on the scholar is the mind of the past. As he mentioned, the nature gave human interest and made them think and find the relationship in different objects. The mind of the past refers to the historical wisdom recorded by the previous people. The whole society developed basically on the mind of people, and definitely the mind of the past, which is absolutely the valuable knowledge, will make people have a longer-rang sight in both science or literature. Thus, reading the book and absorbing the nutrient of the knowledge, just as digesting food in human body, will help us get new ideas and discoveries.

In the third section, Emerson considered that the action is needed by the scholars. Undoubtedly, thinking is one of the most important part of scholar, but without action, it will not be completed.

An American Scholar 2

In today’s class, we discussed about the major influences on the scholars.

In Emerson’s opinion “The first in time and the first in importance of the influences upon the mind is that of nature.” Originally, everything existed individually, without any relation with each other. However, gradually, people’s brains began to link them together, and found the same characters which the objects shared at the same time. While people tried to solve the complex in the nature, the science developed, and they were also getting closer to the essence. As time went, more and more things were connected and human thought were improved by these search of nature.

Another effect on scholars Emerson pointed out is the past mind. And the book’s job is to carry the historical things. And we will talk more about this part in the next day's class.

An American Scholar 1

The second section of the American Scholar talks about the mind of the past is another great influence into the spirit of the Scholar. And no matter what kind of form of the literature art or institutions, the mind is inscribed. And the way for us to get the truth or learn this influence easily is to read books.

As it mentioned in the article, the book is the best type of the influence of the past, and undoubtedly the theory of books is noble. However, actually no book is perfect, as people write their own books at their own generation, and the books of an older period may not fit present. As a result, some people convert the love of some the poems to the poets, just like the "love of the hero corrupts into worship of his statue." Hence, at the same time, we need thinking when we read the books. We cannot be controlled by the books. It is just like Emerson said "I would better never see a book, than to be warped by its attraction clean out of my own orbit, and made a satellite instead of a system." Thus we have to understand why we read, the final goal of reading, and using a right way.

I Believe It Is Because I Am a Poor Indian

Samsom Occom was a great Indian minister and missionary. And he was also a successful teacher for his people after the leaning in the Reverend Eleazer Wheelock’s school. He taught people in different part of American. And in this article, he described his experience to be an Indian minister, and bad treatment at the hands of the religious establishment.


Occom was converted to Christian when he was 16. And he received good education with the help of Mr. Wheelock in a 4-years school. As a cultured man, he left his teacher and went Europe, thinking becoming a school master. However he failed and went back, and got a job in an Indian school, married about 2 years he went there. He had a special method of teaching the children to read books or memorize the alphabets, but he was treated differently especially on the salary compared to other missionaries. Although other missionaries said it was because he could not influence Indians so well, the true reason he thought was “I believe it is because I am a poor Indian”.


For his writing, I noticed that the numerous difficulties of making a live, and the Indians were treated unequally in the society.

"An Indian's Looking Glass for the White Man"

In this article, Appes talked a lot about the problems between the white man and the native Indians. For his writing, the Indians were considered as uncivilized, dangerous, and mean people by the European colonists at that time. For separating the Indians and other people, the whites even made something called reservation, but actually a boundary for the Indians. In this region, the Indians could not be educated and they did not have any notion of property. As the result, they were left there without any protection and treated badly by the white people.


As we know, Appes was one of the first Indian American ministers and a great leader in fighting for Native Americans. It was his valour which made him dare to question the system between the Indians and whites, and become a such a successful and important person remembered by us eventually.

About the test.

I think I got a good grade on my test. I chose the Bradstreet and Rowlandson as my topics. For the Anne Bradstreet, I do not think I have any major problem on the argument as I prepared a lot on this great writer and poet. However, the second the topic, the Mary Rowlandson, my evidence does not fit the argument very well. I need more suitable and persuasive evidence for the change of Rowlandson’s opinion of Indians.

Anne Bradstreet

1. Bradstreet was born Anne Dudley in Northampton, England, 1612. She was the daughter of Thomas Dudley, a steward of the Earl of Lincoln, and Dorothy Yorke. Due to her family's position in the society she grew up in cultured circumstances and was a well-educated woman since she was at a very young age, and being tutored in history, several languages and literature.


2. Women tend to be mothers or to manage the houses. They were also not allowed to go to the theater and or act on the stage.


3. Wrote for women’s right, in “The Prologue”:

“I am obnoxious to each carping tongue Who says my hand a needle better fits, A poet's pen all scorn I should thus wrong, For such despite they cast on female wits; If what I do prove well, it won't advance, They'll say it's stol'n, or else it was by chance.”

(The men’s opinions of women: Women were not capable of higher thinking, women’s skulls are small, and ships were wilder, little dignity)

“Let Greeks be Greeks, and women what they are, Men have precedency and still excel, it is but vain unjustly to wage war; Men can do best, and women know it well. Preeminence in all and each is yours; yet grant some small, acknowledgement of ours.”

(Women can do almost everything as men can do and she satires on the reality that women were not supposed to write literature or participate in any politics, just live as properties.)


4. Bradstreet's education gave her advantages to write with authority about politics, history, medicine, and theology.

She is considered by many people as the first female poet to be published from either Puritan America or England.

Her indifference to material wealth, her humility and her spirituality, regardless of religion, made her into a positive, inspirational role model for any of us.

Even, nearly a century later, some 18th-century American poets and writers, was still influenced and pays homage to Bradstreet's verse.

My work on the guide of John Winthrop

My work on John Winthrop.


-famous New England politician in Colonial American

-the most important founder of Massachusetts Bay colony

-talented at practical affairs and government skills.

-He was the governor of Massachusetts Bay colony for twelve consecutive terms, vice governor for three terms, the assistant of the Court of Assistants for four terms, and the first president of United Colonies.

I think we need more information about his political contributions and positive influence on literature.

By doing this project, I noticed that the cooperation is really important in a group. I was looking for the information about John Winthrop's politic life, while another two were doing the family part, and the other one arrange the information we got, and put into on the website.

However, I still had some problems in the process of the project. We usually use the information on the Wikipedia, and we need to learn how to select information. And I believe it will be easier and better for us to make a good project.

John Winthrop

Political Life:

John Winthrop was a famous New England politician in Colonial American, the most important founder of Massachusetts Bay colony, and talented at practical affairs and government skills. He was the governor of Massachusetts Bay colony for twelve consecutive terms, vice governor for three terms, the assistant of the Court of Assistants for four terms, and the first president of United Colonies.

Family:

John Winthrop married his first Wife who born him six children. And the Oldest son was the future governor of Connecticut. He married his second wife, it was a short marriage, because his wife died only one year later at 1616. He married his third wife Margaret Tyndal at 1618. However, she died in Massachusetts after a 29-years marriage. After that, John winthrop married his fourth wife, unfortunatly, he died of natural casues on 26 March 1649.

That is what I got in the class today, at the same time, I am going to talk about his effort for the literature. And the story on his politics influence in Britain. I will collect more information on weekends.

Mary Rowlandson

Mary Rowlandson was born 1637 and died at 1711. She was brought to Lancaster, a part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. During the King Philip’s War, She was captured by Native Americans and endured there for about eleven weeks when the Indians came to the village and wanted to reclaim the land from the colonies. After she was released by some money, she wrote a book called A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson about her experience on the days of being captured.

I read the first part of the book. It describes the terrible situation after the native Indians robbed the Lancaster. The house were burnt, many people die, even children. The Indians killed the people in a cruel way.

I was shocked after I finished reading the first section, and pitiful with their unfortunately experience. And it was just the beginning of the writer’s life by the Indian capture.

Food, Inc

I was shocked after I saw this documentary. Do you know it just takes 48 days of a chicken from the birth to enter the supermarket for sell? Do you know the slaughter worker in the farm always get infection on their hands when they cut the dead pig? Do you know there are so many social problems caused because of the food-borne diseases?


Here is a really amazing part of the film.

When the owner of the chicken farm take the photographer inside, everyone was shocked by what they saw. There is not enough space for the chickens, and they cannot move around there. All they have to do is to lie on the ground and grow fatter and fatter. However, it is kind of medicine for faster growing, some of the chicken even nearly died before they were send to the supermarket. And then, they become the ‘delicious’ in our daily life.

Deaths, medicine, disease, these words, look difficult to relate to the healthy, green farm. Virtually, it does, even it appears every day.

Finally, in short, this documentary not only discloses the amazing truth in the farm, but also warns people to eat the natural food not the genetically modified foods. And we must think of ways to deal with this problem not later, but right now.

Bradstreet's

In the poem, the writer describes the life in 17 century. Whatever men did, they were always respected by others. However, women were different, because the women existed as a week class at that time. Usually, women did the easier job, did not have as much power as men, and the position was low. Thus, it is hard for women to be esteemed.


Absolutely, this poem exactly reflects the regular social life of that era. But in the poem, the writer did not show a negative mood, but positive. She thought the women should get respect just like men, and at the same time, women should also have the rights to do anything they want.

In my opinion, the thought in the poem is an advanced concept and a great progress of society. There were still women like the writer who wanted to change this situation. And it was the time the position for women class began to rise up in the society.

Winthrop's Model of Christian Charity

Although I am not a Christian actually, I think I still get the some of the spirits of the God by reading the article.


First of all, God gives his love to every creature. However, it is not always equal, because there is difference between people. Some people will have power and wealth. But it is this difference, people will have a goal to pursue, will enjoy the gifts by the upper governors.

In addition, as we know, the difference absolutely results in the poor and rich people. Even though there will be a gap between the two various class of people, we still need to respect and be friendly, kind to each other. With this relationship among people, just like the writer said, the rich will not eat up the poor while the poor will not rise up and shake off the yoke.

Last but not least, for avoiding the fight of power or wealth, people should be together like brothers. It is a connection beyond other things, and it will help people have a peaceful world filled with love.

Freedom, Sustainability, and the Global Community

In my opinion, it is really a hard essy to write. We need to connect the freedom with sustainability, the two totally different things, and then try to prove wether they can coexist or not.

However, after thinking over the meaning of freedom and the importance andd necessarity of sustainability, I found that these two things can not fit together for now. As people usually use their rights to do the things they want, such as drving cars to work, lumbering for the fireplace, or exploiting the coal mine or oil as more as they can, they need energy from the nature all the time. Definitely, it is impossible to have these nonrenewable resource again, unless waiting for another million years. Although poeple really enjoy the freedom of using the rights, they will not have these rights anymore in the nearly future if they do not develop sustainably.

So, for the our next generation, we must have a sustainable development, which exactly means we have to abandon some of our rights for this great decision. At the same time, the government did the same things. As we know, the high pollution leavel bussiness will be limited and manangered more strictly, and almost every country already realized the significance of environmental protection.

In short, absolutely, it is impossible that the freedom and the sustainabilty can fit to each other. However, with the great progress of science and technology, and the populariztion of new, clean, nexhaustible energy, the day which the freedom and sustainablity are compatible will come soon.

The New Blog for Andy!

Hello, here is Andy. This is my new blog.

Everyone is welcome to my blog, and I hope you guys can have a great time by visting my zone : )

Although many people have their blogs already, I believe mine will be the most unique one.

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Enjoy!