I love looking at the names of the characters in The Scarlet Letter. They are almost laughably over-the-top romantic. The poor reverend is not a character you would expect to be gloomy and dim if you judged him solely on his profession; that however, is exactly what he is. Dimsdale is a brooding, cheerless man who nearly buckles daily under the weight of his own inability to deal with the guilt of his sin. When paired alongside Hester, the reader can so who the real "man" is. Hester owns up to her guilt, Dimsdale doesn't.
Dimsdale is portrayed as a gentleman and a scholar, one that the entire town seems to be ready to bow down and worship. Yet he is exactly the kind of man that the townspeople love to hate. His fear of their judgement mark him as a significantly weaker character then Hester, for example.
Depicted as frail and and tiny, the reverend is a walking contradiction. One would imagine the reverend being more like Chillingsworth, tall and proud rather then meek and mild and scared. It is these sort of ironies that makes The Scarlet Letter such an interesting read.
Friday, May 18, 2012
The Scarlet Letter Character Analysis: Hester Prynne
I believe that one of the most important points to consider when reading The Scarlet Letter is the characters. The characters are blocky, one-diminsional representations of a character trait or a thematic element in the novel, and the drama comes from watching them all interact with each other. With this in mind, I will be devoting a number of blogs to examination of characters in The Scarlet Letter, in order to hopefully allow the reader of this blog in engage with the text and the characters in exciting new ways.
Hester Prynne represents feminism. She is a strong female character, made stronger by that fact that she takes her due punishment rather then rebel against it. Some may disagree on this point, saying that a real strong woman character would have rebelled against her oppressive punishment, but I believe that Hester is made stronger by her self sacrifice.
Hester also represents a Christ like figure in my mind. She takes the burden of all the punishment upon herself, even though some is certainly due to Rev. Dimsdale, and even Chillingsworth for that matter. Her insistence on wearing the A even when out in the wilderness where nobody would see her anyway further cements the idea of her bearing her sins and others'.
Physically, Hester represents untamed beauty and freedom. Ironically, she shackles this beauty with her letter A, which speaks volumes about her dedication and her acceptance of her burden. Hester is a strong example for women and men alike, and a stronger example of a great protagonist. Her arch throughout the novel is truly unique to follow.
Hester Prynne represents feminism. She is a strong female character, made stronger by that fact that she takes her due punishment rather then rebel against it. Some may disagree on this point, saying that a real strong woman character would have rebelled against her oppressive punishment, but I believe that Hester is made stronger by her self sacrifice.
Hester also represents a Christ like figure in my mind. She takes the burden of all the punishment upon herself, even though some is certainly due to Rev. Dimsdale, and even Chillingsworth for that matter. Her insistence on wearing the A even when out in the wilderness where nobody would see her anyway further cements the idea of her bearing her sins and others'.
Physically, Hester represents untamed beauty and freedom. Ironically, she shackles this beauty with her letter A, which speaks volumes about her dedication and her acceptance of her burden. Hester is a strong example for women and men alike, and a stronger example of a great protagonist. Her arch throughout the novel is truly unique to follow.
Thoreau and Necessity
America is a country of progress. We are a country of luxury. With the combined efforts of our forefathers, we can now afford to do things like focus on art, literature, and philosophy, rather then where our next meal is going to come from. We can buy a cheeseburger for a dollar, for Christ's sake. In fact, we as a country are so used to the idea of plenty, that we have actually become a country of surplus and waste.
These are themes that Thoreau would argue against. In his selection from Walden, the chapter entitled "Economy," we can see Thoreau's ideas of waste and just how foolish the American concept of "necessity" really is.
Thoreau takes the ideas of Franklin and expands upon them Franklin also argued against the waste that many American were even in the colonial days prone to (in fact, one gets the idea that Franklin just views humans in general as wasteful). Let's look at something current in American society and think about how Thoreau may feel about it: cell phones. The concept, application, and market surrounding cell phones is so sickening to me that it makes me want to never own a cell phone again (a ridiculous concept of course. How could I constantly stay in touch with my besties without my cell phone?). Thoreau would agree with me, I feel. We waste so much of our resource and time on something like cell phones, which is ultimately harder at all a worthy thing to be spending so much time on. Thoreau would encourage us to spend more time on traditional romantic pursuits, such as nature and reflecting on the individual. Do you agree with Thoreau? With me? Send your feedback below.
These are themes that Thoreau would argue against. In his selection from Walden, the chapter entitled "Economy," we can see Thoreau's ideas of waste and just how foolish the American concept of "necessity" really is.
Thoreau takes the ideas of Franklin and expands upon them Franklin also argued against the waste that many American were even in the colonial days prone to (in fact, one gets the idea that Franklin just views humans in general as wasteful). Let's look at something current in American society and think about how Thoreau may feel about it: cell phones. The concept, application, and market surrounding cell phones is so sickening to me that it makes me want to never own a cell phone again (a ridiculous concept of course. How could I constantly stay in touch with my besties without my cell phone?). Thoreau would agree with me, I feel. We waste so much of our resource and time on something like cell phones, which is ultimately harder at all a worthy thing to be spending so much time on. Thoreau would encourage us to spend more time on traditional romantic pursuits, such as nature and reflecting on the individual. Do you agree with Thoreau? With me? Send your feedback below.
Emerson: The Importance of a Title
Ralph Waldo Emerson is a very literal man. At least, in terms of his titles he is. But what exactly is said by a title? As a leading transcendentalist, romantic, and writer of his time, Emerson spearheaded the movement with his bold, brilliant, and simple titles. It's hard to get much simpler then "Nature." But it is in this simplicity that we find the core of the transcendental movement. Emerson strove to introduce the American public to a brand new concept, and he chose to do so through careful marketing.
For example, when one goes to buy a perfume, they generally pick a brand like "Devastation" or "Rush," and not "The Modern Theories on the New American Movement." Emerson was thinking like a true American already, displaying just the kind of ingenuity and creative thinking that would become a hallmark of American ideas.
For example, when one goes to buy a perfume, they generally pick a brand like "Devastation" or "Rush," and not "The Modern Theories on the New American Movement." Emerson was thinking like a true American already, displaying just the kind of ingenuity and creative thinking that would become a hallmark of American ideas.
The Price of Progress
Irving and Cooper are two men with one common idea: the cost of progress. Is the price that we pay worth what we sacrifice? Both men explore this topic in their own way, while simultaneously coming to the same conclusion, or at very least, the same state of open-ended though. Let's explore the two works separately, and then bring them back together for the the final analysis.
Irving's story of a man who falls asleep in the wilderness only to wake up years later to an entirely different world may seem nothing more then a simple tall-tale told for the purpose of entertainment, however there is the theme of the price of progress underlying the entire story. Winkle wakes up years later to an entirely different world, one that he did not necessarily want to see. One gets the idea that he was happy with his town the way it was before, and that while the colonies have indeed made great progress towards equality and the like, they lost something too, a sense of cultural identity that Winkle enjoyed.
Cooper too has such themes. The entire tale presents the suffering of the native people and the costs that the European's sense of progress has exacted upon the natives. A unique sense of culture and identity was lost with the assimilation of the Europeans, and it only gets worse as the years go on.
What does this mean for American literature? Throughout the Romantic period that Irving and Cooper were an early part of, writers questioned pre-established norms, among these the destruction of nature at in the name of progress. Romantic writers valued tradition and nature, and both were lost as America continued to grow exponentially. Was the cost worth it? Irving and Cooper leave that up to the reader, and therefore so shall I.
Irving's story of a man who falls asleep in the wilderness only to wake up years later to an entirely different world may seem nothing more then a simple tall-tale told for the purpose of entertainment, however there is the theme of the price of progress underlying the entire story. Winkle wakes up years later to an entirely different world, one that he did not necessarily want to see. One gets the idea that he was happy with his town the way it was before, and that while the colonies have indeed made great progress towards equality and the like, they lost something too, a sense of cultural identity that Winkle enjoyed.
Cooper too has such themes. The entire tale presents the suffering of the native people and the costs that the European's sense of progress has exacted upon the natives. A unique sense of culture and identity was lost with the assimilation of the Europeans, and it only gets worse as the years go on.
What does this mean for American literature? Throughout the Romantic period that Irving and Cooper were an early part of, writers questioned pre-established norms, among these the destruction of nature at in the name of progress. Romantic writers valued tradition and nature, and both were lost as America continued to grow exponentially. Was the cost worth it? Irving and Cooper leave that up to the reader, and therefore so shall I.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The Role of Humility in the "Letters" from and American Farmer
De Crevecoeur's "Letters from an American Farmer" are a rich, engrossing read into the hopes and dreams of a young America. We get to see how people viewed the young nation and what they deemed her unique traits and promises to be. Further aiding De Crevecoeur's masterful use of language is his masterful use of tone and genre in the writing of "Letters from an American Farmer." De Crevecoeur purposefully chooses to use the letter as a genre; why? Hopefully, this blog post will be able to uncover a few answers.
As I have previously discussed in my post regarding the letters between John and Abigail Adams, the letter is a uniquely powerful medium. It allows the author to directly address the audience; if the so chose, they may even address a particular member of a particular audience. Letters are also something that people are used to receiving on a day to day basis. De Crevecoeur is apparently aware of this. The letter has a naturally humble tone in it. It's one person getting down on another person's level to directly address them. His writing's humility is also greatly aided by his adopting the persona of an American farmer. The farmer is often seen as the average joe. He works hard and receives little but the feeling of a job well done in reward. By writing his "letter" from the perspective of a farmer, De Crevecoeur is again humbling himself. He could have titled his work "Essays from a Lofty American Noble." He chose, however, to speak directly to the people, using language that the common man may be able to more easily relate to. Hopefully, this post has allowed some new angles and ideas of De Crevecoeur to surface in the minds of the reader.
Thanks for reading.
As I have previously discussed in my post regarding the letters between John and Abigail Adams, the letter is a uniquely powerful medium. It allows the author to directly address the audience; if the so chose, they may even address a particular member of a particular audience. Letters are also something that people are used to receiving on a day to day basis. De Crevecoeur is apparently aware of this. The letter has a naturally humble tone in it. It's one person getting down on another person's level to directly address them. His writing's humility is also greatly aided by his adopting the persona of an American farmer. The farmer is often seen as the average joe. He works hard and receives little but the feeling of a job well done in reward. By writing his "letter" from the perspective of a farmer, De Crevecoeur is again humbling himself. He could have titled his work "Essays from a Lofty American Noble." He chose, however, to speak directly to the people, using language that the common man may be able to more easily relate to. Hopefully, this post has allowed some new angles and ideas of De Crevecoeur to surface in the minds of the reader.
Thanks for reading.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Tongue in Cheek Poetry: Bradstreet and Wheatley's Use of Sarcasm
When trying to make a point, a little bit of dry wit can go a long way. This is a concept certainly well understood by two poets that we looked at this unit: Anne Bradstreet and Phillis Wheatley. These two women poets had to go through many struggles as women writers in their time periods, and their feelings on the subject of women’s rights, women in religion, etc. often shine through in their poetry. To further analyze this topic, I have selected two passages: one from a Bradstreet poem, and one from a Wheatley poem. I will compare the two side-by-side in order to demonstrate the similarities in the writing styles and use of “tongue in cheek” writing that both employ. First, a selection from Anne Bradstreet’s poem, “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.
Although one must read the rest of the poem to truly grasp Bradstreet’s tone, one can here see her tearing down her own work, saying that even should it become famous, men won’t believe it was her who wrote it, but rather it was stolen, or written by chance. Bradstreet demonstrates in the rest of her poem, and the rest of her body of poetic works, that she disagrees with the traditional male sentiment often seen in her deeply religious Puritan colony. She believes women to be strong and capable, and that her written works are just as good as those of men, calling to mind imagery of the Greek goddesses of poetry, song, art, etc, the Muses.
Next, we turn our analysis to Phillis Wheatley, a poet who also uses sarcasm to drive her points in. In her poem “On Being Brought from Africa to America,” we see Wheatley “adopting” the stance of the white, Christian slave owner to show just how ridiculous their rationale is.
‘Twas mercy brought me from my pagan land,
Taught my benighted soul to understand
That there’s a God, that there’s a Savior too:
Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.
While some may argue that this style of writing comes off as bitter or scorned, and in some cases it can, it also gives these two writers the punch that their poetry needed in a time when they weren’t accepted.
The Wisdom of Franklin
What is it about the euphemism, cliché, and quirky saying that makes a person sound so wise? Franklin’s “The Way to Wealth” is chockfull of quippy thoughts and kernels of wisdom that leave a mind in shock and awe. How can a single human being be so wise? Although these saying are by no means irrelevant, I propose that the reason that sayings like these appear to be so wise is because of rhetorical strategies: their phrasing, word usage, source material and audience, etc. Let’s look at one specific example:
Great estates may venture more, but little boats should keep near shore.
The gist of this saying is that financial risks should only be attempted by those who can afford it. A reasonable enough piece of wisdom. But why is it more memorable when stated Poor Richard’s way? Through poetic devices such as rhyme and metaphors, the saying and its enshrined wisdom is easier (and more fun) to recall. We see similar wisdom in popular characters like Mr. Miyagi and Yoda. Want to sound wise? Just speak it riddles and rhymes!
The Letter as a Genre
We have looked at some literary genres so far this semester that may not first come to mind when thinking of American literature. The historical account, the public speech, and now the letter. Often overlooked as a literary genre, the letter offers unique angles to the audience, tone, and voice that the poem, novel do not. To begin with, let’s examine John/Abigail Adams’ letters to each other. Here, the reader gets insight into two prominent historical figures are only possible through the letter genre. We see how the Adams’ relationship works; rather then faceless political figures we all know from 5th grade social studies, we see two living, breathing human beings, loving, lamenting, and living together. The letter can also be a powerful medium when purposefully chosen for its unique properties. DeCrevocoeur’s “letters” are able to speak directly to its reader through its disguising itself as a letter. Likewise, CS Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters can function more powerfully and uniquely as a work of fiction through its use of letters.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Anticipating American Lit 1700-1820
When I first thought of early American literature, I thought of this time period. Revolutionary war, Enlightenment, global political upheaval, all of this would combine to form potentially one of the most interesting periods in American literature. Thankfully, we spent little time with early colonial American literature and now we can dive straight into Ben Franklin, Thomas Paine, John Locke, and a host of other authors I don't know but am excited to get to know.
What intrigues me most about this time period is the politics of the day. Based on our readings from the introduction the text gives to 1700-1820 American literature, the politics did indeed shape the literature (or vice versa, perhaps). Documents like Common Sense, and the Declaration of Independence are still relevant today; they continue to shape politics both in American and abroad. It was interesting to me how the call for revolutionary war helped to spark American literature as a genre. People needed propaganda against the British, so writers and orators stepped up to fill the need. I also thought it was interesting how many of these people made a living entirely off of their writing and speeches, something that is difficult to do even today.
In addition to the interesting politics of this era, it also contains some of my favorite thinkers. People like Ben Franklin, Thomas Pain, Thomas Jefferson, etc. are all heroes of sorts to me. It's not like I'm super patriotic or anything, but men like these really seem to embody what I would call well-rounded individuals. They did it all, and they excelled at it, and for better or worse they changed the face of the world. The chance to read and study some of their works in this lit class is especially exciting.
As boring as it might sound, I hope we stay away from traditional ideas of literature like poetry, short stories, novels, etc. and focus more on these philosophical and political figureheads. Regardless of what road we take, I am excited to get to study this unit, and look forward to interesting thoughts.
What intrigues me most about this time period is the politics of the day. Based on our readings from the introduction the text gives to 1700-1820 American literature, the politics did indeed shape the literature (or vice versa, perhaps). Documents like Common Sense, and the Declaration of Independence are still relevant today; they continue to shape politics both in American and abroad. It was interesting to me how the call for revolutionary war helped to spark American literature as a genre. People needed propaganda against the British, so writers and orators stepped up to fill the need. I also thought it was interesting how many of these people made a living entirely off of their writing and speeches, something that is difficult to do even today.
In addition to the interesting politics of this era, it also contains some of my favorite thinkers. People like Ben Franklin, Thomas Pain, Thomas Jefferson, etc. are all heroes of sorts to me. It's not like I'm super patriotic or anything, but men like these really seem to embody what I would call well-rounded individuals. They did it all, and they excelled at it, and for better or worse they changed the face of the world. The chance to read and study some of their works in this lit class is especially exciting.
As boring as it might sound, I hope we stay away from traditional ideas of literature like poetry, short stories, novels, etc. and focus more on these philosophical and political figureheads. Regardless of what road we take, I am excited to get to study this unit, and look forward to interesting thoughts.
Friday, February 17, 2012
The Mystery of Cotton Mather
Although Cotton Mather may have one of the oddest names that I have ever heard, it can't even hold a candle to that of his father, Increase Mather (seriously, who names their son Increase? If Cotton Mather had went to my elementary school, he would have been beaten up daily).
Now that the obvious elephant-in-the-room that is Cotton Mather's name has been addressed, we can discuss his writings. Let's on one hand look at how biased and uninformed The Wonders of the Invisible World is. Mather's, in his documentation of the trial of Martha Carrier, relies on evidence that would never hold up in a modern court: hearsay, attacks on the character of the accused, and "scientific evidence" all add up to a very unreliable case for prosecution. After reading all of this, it's a wonder that Mather managed to graduate from Harvard at all (or any school of higher learning, for that matter).
It is Mather's education level that is the real kicker when discussing our selection from The Wonders of the Invisible World. How could a man of higher learning commit such errors in his assessment of the trials of Martha Carrier? Did his religious views cloud his judgment? Was it the social norms of his Puritan colony that misled him? The whole thing smells of conspiracy to me. . .
Perhaps he genuinely believed that Carrier was a witch, and he bought into the whole devil in the wilderness thing. Intelligent people have been known before to support questionable causes. I just find it really tough to wrap my head around the idea of somebody with the educational background of Mather supporting something as superstitious as the Salem witch trials.
Carnival Post: Am. Lit. to 1700s
Our class' time with the early years of American literature may have been brief, but it had no short supply of interesting conversation. Partially due to the nature of many of the writings that we read, Christianity and faith were commonly blogged about. The writings of Anne Bradstreet, Edward Taylor, and John Winthrop were inspirational to the faith of many bloggers:
Although faith was probably the most common theme in blogging/class discussion, the inner strength and character of Anne Bradstreet was a close second. Many of us identified with how approachable Anne Bradstreet is, and how her poetry gets down to the common person's level (at least in terms of themes). Feminism, inner strength, and Anne's Bradstreet's own personal suffering were all popular topics as well.
Anne Bradstreet was lucky to receive a higher education than most women of her time. I feel like she made such bounds through being able to be a women writer. Even with the Puritan beliefs that she believed, she kept with her writing as well as with the household duties of the Puritan age and I find that very admirable. (Nicole's Blog)
Bradstreet endured a lot in her life. She had ups and downs just as any person does. Hearing about her faith and the challenges that arose within it gave me a better idea of what type of person she truly was. I think all people can connect with what she went through in some way. (Tanisha's Blog)
One final theme that was present in a few blogs was about the social/political norms of the time we were reading from. The Americas at this point were a unique time in history, and understanding the context from which many of these writings came from was important to a few of our bloggers.
I really appreciate that a lot of Edward Taylor's writings/meditations were not written for the public, or to make himself look better, but they were written during his personal time with the Lord. (Crista's Blog)
The more I read, the more I connected with Anne and her upbringing. I was able to empathize with much of her life and thoughts about God. (Julia's Blog)
Although faith was probably the most common theme in blogging/class discussion, the inner strength and character of Anne Bradstreet was a close second. Many of us identified with how approachable Anne Bradstreet is, and how her poetry gets down to the common person's level (at least in terms of themes). Feminism, inner strength, and Anne's Bradstreet's own personal suffering were all popular topics as well.
Anne Bradstreet was lucky to receive a higher education than most women of her time. I feel like she made such bounds through being able to be a women writer. Even with the Puritan beliefs that she believed, she kept with her writing as well as with the household duties of the Puritan age and I find that very admirable. (Nicole's Blog)
One final theme that was present in a few blogs was about the social/political norms of the time we were reading from. The Americas at this point were a unique time in history, and understanding the context from which many of these writings came from was important to a few of our bloggers.
Before this class, if I thought of Anne Bradstreet at all, I thought of her as a stereotypical Puritan woman. To my mind, this meant she was a model of submission, obeying her husband to the point of reverence, and quietly bowing to all his desires and wishes.(Esther's Blog)
Darn colonists. You can't get captured by natives and let them out of your sight even for a minute.One would think Captain Smith single-handedly saved New England. (Nikki's Blog)
What does this all say about our class? I believe that the variety of topics, conversations, and interests present in our blogs and classroom discussions (hopefully) exemplifies the type of discussion that will we have throughout the rest of the semester. Here's to three more months of exciting American lit discussion!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
In With the Old: The Old-School Theology of Bradstreet and Taylor
I should preface this blog with the following: I am not a theologian. I have never taken any seminars, participated in any reading circles, viewed any spiritually themed videos, nor taken any theology classes (except those required by the University of Sioux Falls), and finally, never read any theologically based books (again, except those required of me through the university). Therefore, take my ideas for what they are: a wondering aloud by just an average Christian.
With that out of the way, I can move onto my main point: the theological musings of Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor, and why I enjoy them. It seems to me that (at least, growing up and studying in the church and part of the world ((Iowa)) that I did) modern Christianity presents itself as having all the answers. People seem to seek out theological sanctuary not to begin a spiritual quest, but to receive a spiritual "how-to" guide to living a happy life. Instead of leading people along a spiritual pathway, modern Christianity seems to grab them forcefully and yank them down the road to righteousness.
In the poetry of Bradstreet and Taylor, servitude to the Christian God seems to take on a new face. Instead of seeking answers, Bradstreet and Taylor ask questions, and wonder aloud about the nature of a being who is apparently powerful enough to create the vivid reality that surrounds them. They seem content with not knowing, which is a stark contrast to how many Christians approach their faith today. For example, in Bradstreet's poem "Contemplations," she begins right off the bat with an acknowledgement of her own inability to understand,
I wist not what to wish, yet sure thought I,
If so much excellence abide below,
How excellent is He that dwells on high,
Whose power and beauty by His works we know?
I struggle to think of many modern Christians who would feel comfortable expressing a feeling of inadequacy or not-knowing. Taylor is similar in his thought, in his poem "Meditation 8 (First Series)" he questions both God's motivations in the salvation of humanity and the exact extent of God's powers. Again, in a modern world that is used to always having an answer for everything, it is refreshing to see these poets say "The hell if I know" (I am, of course, paraphrasing).
One final comment: there might be those of you who call it in response to my observations, "Well, what about Christian pop artists/musicians like Michale W. Smith, etc? Lyrics to their songs often profess similar expressions of awe and unknowing. Their music inspires many Christians worldwide." To that, my response is two-fold. One, many Christians who sing along to these songs may sing the lyrics without actually thinking about them/believing in what they say. My mother, for example, used to sing along with these songs all the time, yet expressed her belief in a known God rather then in an unknown. Second, I avoid listening to these such songs because, well, I hate them, so I am factoring them out of my ideas completely.
Thanks for reading.
With that out of the way, I can move onto my main point: the theological musings of Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor, and why I enjoy them. It seems to me that (at least, growing up and studying in the church and part of the world ((Iowa)) that I did) modern Christianity presents itself as having all the answers. People seem to seek out theological sanctuary not to begin a spiritual quest, but to receive a spiritual "how-to" guide to living a happy life. Instead of leading people along a spiritual pathway, modern Christianity seems to grab them forcefully and yank them down the road to righteousness.
In the poetry of Bradstreet and Taylor, servitude to the Christian God seems to take on a new face. Instead of seeking answers, Bradstreet and Taylor ask questions, and wonder aloud about the nature of a being who is apparently powerful enough to create the vivid reality that surrounds them. They seem content with not knowing, which is a stark contrast to how many Christians approach their faith today. For example, in Bradstreet's poem "Contemplations," she begins right off the bat with an acknowledgement of her own inability to understand,
I wist not what to wish, yet sure thought I,
If so much excellence abide below,
How excellent is He that dwells on high,
Whose power and beauty by His works we know?
I struggle to think of many modern Christians who would feel comfortable expressing a feeling of inadequacy or not-knowing. Taylor is similar in his thought, in his poem "Meditation 8 (First Series)" he questions both God's motivations in the salvation of humanity and the exact extent of God's powers. Again, in a modern world that is used to always having an answer for everything, it is refreshing to see these poets say "The hell if I know" (I am, of course, paraphrasing).
One final comment: there might be those of you who call it in response to my observations, "Well, what about Christian pop artists/musicians like Michale W. Smith, etc? Lyrics to their songs often profess similar expressions of awe and unknowing. Their music inspires many Christians worldwide." To that, my response is two-fold. One, many Christians who sing along to these songs may sing the lyrics without actually thinking about them/believing in what they say. My mother, for example, used to sing along with these songs all the time, yet expressed her belief in a known God rather then in an unknown. Second, I avoid listening to these such songs because, well, I hate them, so I am factoring them out of my ideas completely.
Thanks for reading.
Friday, February 10, 2012
John Winthrop, The Puritans, and How They Relate to America's Penal System
While reading through and discussing John Winthrop's A Model of Christian Charity, I was reminded of a lot the origins of the American penal system and the importance that Puritan influence played in the development of the prison. Prior to the prison as we think of it today, a criminal was usually at the mercy of the king. Punishments were more likely to be death or imprisonment in what more closely resembled a dungeon then an American prison or jail. Rehabilitation was never the goal; instead, punishment of criminals was more focused on exacting revenge. It really wasn't until the Puritans in Massachusetts that the modern day prison began to take shape, a method of punishing offenders that was heavily influenced by the Puritan's idea of Christianity and community.
Winthrop's writings on justice and mercy are a great insight into what I have studied in my corrections classes. They provide a framework of logic that lead into the early history of the American justice system, in the words of an ordinary man of that age. Early on, Winthrop's writings show the Puritan mindset about punishing criminals. On page 77, Winthrop discusses the two rules by which mankind is to approach one another: through justice, and through mercy. This idea is a stark contrast in a society where the death penalty and other forms for cruel punishment were common. Continuing on, Winthrop reveals the origins of these thoughts in his Christian faith, by re accounting the stories of Lot and Abraham when they took in two strangers who eventually revealed themselves to be angles.
As a criminal justice major, it was interesting for me to see some of these thoughts from the mouth of a man rather then a textbook. The American prison was a radical change in the way that criminals were dealt with, and it was fun for me to read first hand some of the thoughts that helped to formulate the creation of the prison.
Winthrop's writings on justice and mercy are a great insight into what I have studied in my corrections classes. They provide a framework of logic that lead into the early history of the American justice system, in the words of an ordinary man of that age. Early on, Winthrop's writings show the Puritan mindset about punishing criminals. On page 77, Winthrop discusses the two rules by which mankind is to approach one another: through justice, and through mercy. This idea is a stark contrast in a society where the death penalty and other forms for cruel punishment were common. Continuing on, Winthrop reveals the origins of these thoughts in his Christian faith, by re accounting the stories of Lot and Abraham when they took in two strangers who eventually revealed themselves to be angles.
As a criminal justice major, it was interesting for me to see some of these thoughts from the mouth of a man rather then a textbook. The American prison was a radical change in the way that criminals were dealt with, and it was fun for me to read first hand some of the thoughts that helped to formulate the creation of the prison.
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