Week 3 American Points of View

It is very inspiring to see that Mary Rowlandson through all her hardships never lost her trust in God. Throughout her narrative she countless times leans on God through scripture and prayer. When she was first captured she just seemed so weak and did not speak at all with the Indians. The fact that she was injured very badly and her only child that was with her was sick would be hard to take in. I could not imagine not knowing whether the rest of my family was dead or alive. That would just tear away at me knowing where my loved ones were. He child that was with her dies and she had no family to turn to, to grieve. She finally gave in on her third week and decided to finally eat what they had been offering her. I felt so bad about the torture she received when she just wanted simple things. For example the one night she wanted to get warmer by laying a stick by her and someone caught her and punished her by chancing her sight and throwing ash into her eyes. Something that could have been so permanent for such as simple want. She also faught hard to make sure her Bible was with her at all times. Her Bible gave her stregnth to continue. After eleven weeks and five days she was able to return to her husband and begin to put her life back together. I like how she describes her experience by saying " I have been in health, and wealth wanting nothing: But the next hour in sickness and wounds, and death, having nothing but sorrow and afflicition". Just how quickly the Indians came into her life and robbed everything she had and loved and made her suffer for so long. She ends by saying that "we must rely on God himself, and our whole dependence must be upon him". That is what she lived by to survive the Indians, without that outlook on life she probably would have early on when her child died.



I had a hard time reading Thomas Jefferson's queries. I was able to gather that he saw many differences between Americans, African Americans and Indians. Showing that some slaves have been given the opportunity to be educated and that more slaves should have that right. I just felt that he was giving facts and it did not have a certain flow about it. It was just hard to read and follow.

Week 3 Slave Narratives

This piece of writing was very powerful in the vivid details he includes in his journey on the boat over to America. The torture that he endured for not doing what he was told, to the quarters they were given on the boat. Reading about the way they were subjected to live was awful. To know that you did not have any space to move would be so uncomfortable. As well as living in the same spaces with the stench of the dead and of bodily functions would be unbearable. He said that at times it was "unfit for respiration" Once they had finally arrived he did became a slave and had a master who had him pick up goods all along the coast. We read that he was able to earn a small amount of money that he was saving for his freedom. When he realized his freedom he felt like he was finally awake. He felt a need to tell his story once he went back to England. A sense of awareness needed to be known by so many about the slave trade. He writes about the torture and every cruelty that the African Americans endure as slaves. He lets people know that their population would double if they were able to be in their own land. As well that in Africa cotton and indigo grow spontaneously and that they can provide it to be manufactured it they were free. Overall Olaudah Equiano was very inspiring in trying get his message across of the harsh reality that African Americans had to endure during this time. He did not hold back and let his reader know how awful they were treated and that they had no rights as humans.

Week 3 Women's Voices

The writings of these women were very strong in speaking about what they think women deserve in the world. They take on the feminist role that exists today. Throughout my reading I was able to find several statements that made their claim so powerful. Mary Astell wanted to "amend the present, and improve the future age" in terms of religion and philosophy in this particular piece. She did not understand why "God had given women intelligent souls, and why should they be forbidden to use them". She just wanted to have the same rights as men. Out of all three readings this one grabbed me the least. I became confused at the end when she was talking about the french and their way of living. I like how she says at the end that women are just as capable as men are to learn and they should have the chance.

I really enjoyed the setup of Lady Mary Montague's letter to her daughter about her grandchild. The letter had a very simple flow on what Mary Montague wanted to see come from her grandaughter. She expresses how important she thinks for her to be "indulged in learning". In that learning find pleasure in reading and learn many languages that can help you to know "things not words". In saying all of that she still lets her know that she should be a lady and be skilled in knowing how to use the needle. She is cautious about marriage and to know what she wants before entering in. Overall she just focuses on wanting to share the importance of education and what it can do for her life. I just felt like this writing was giving little pointers on life and how she thought it would be more enjoyable.

Mary Wollstonecraft focuses on education as well. She says that "Nature had made a great difference between man and man, or that the civilization which has hithero taken place in the world has been very partial". Throughout time men have been the leaders in the education and women are looked upon as weak in their knowledge. She encourages women to find their stregnth in both of "body and mind" and find their their true happiness. To me it seems like she is wanting women to get rid of their feminine qualities and be who they truly want to be.

All three of these women had strong statements on how they feel women are treated in their time. They wrote thse works to show women that they should have the right to an education and other privledges that until now only men have really been able to have.

Week 2 Candide

I really enjoyed this selection. I tend to read slow so the selection did take a long time but it was still very interesting. Dr. Pangloss had a huge effect on Candide as we can see throughout the text as he constantly refers back to his old lectures. He likes to think that everything happens for a reason and there is no effect without a cause. Optimism stays with Candide through all of his journeys. The fact that he experiences many hardships along the way. He deals with several instances of death and disease and natural disasters and lying and stealing. Throughout the story I was very impressed that Candide was able to escape everything and for the most part his friends did too. He thought everyone he knew and loved died when in reality throughout the story they would show and help him to escape or dive into a new plan. I think that gave him stregnth to continue. I found satire in Voltaire's writings when he would make up many German words. He poked fun at the legnth and pronunciations of some words. The descriptions throughout the story helped me to gather a sense of what life was really like for Candide. I was just confused with the ending. It just seemed strange to me that Candide would just quit his journeys and settle to be a gardener. I understand that he had several friends along side him, but it seems sad. Throughout the story he was so optimistic and I would imagine that he would want to continue on adventures.

Week 2 Gulliver's Travels and A Modest Proposal

After reading these selections I have a much better idea of satire. Reading the history beforehand really helped gather an idea of where Swift received ideas for his writing. I enjoyed Gulliver's Travels but at times would get lost when the other language would come into play. The story caught my attention right away and I was intrigued with this unknown land. When Gulliver spoke of his country of England I felt that everything he spoke about was negative. I know that he was caught up in this perfect place but he made it seem like he had nothing positive to say about where he was from. I also did not understand why the Huoyhnhnms still accepted him even though they thought he was a yahoo. I know that he was intelligent and the yahoo's were not, but it still surprised how accepting they were of him. 

In A Modest Proposal I was reading the text with my mouth dropping most of the time. I did read the history from before and that did help set the scene, but I was still surprised at how descriptive he was. I know that Ireland was willing to do anything to gather independence from England. I guess Swift was just trying to give an extreme example of how serious they were. After reading though I wonder how the Irish reacted to the pamphlet. Even though he was just trying to get a point across, he was very extreme with his plan at singling out the poor and their children. The Irish were going through a famine at the time but I am sure they did not like reading of how poor their country really was. I know that several citizens left to find freedom elsewhere. I am very curious to keep reading the history during that time and how if all concluded. 

Introduction

My name is Lindsey Briody I am 21 years old and a junior in the nursing program. I attended UTC for three years and last fall was my first semester at Carson Newman. I am from Knoxville at I am currently living there and commuting to Jefferson City. I enjoy several different activities and hobbies in my spare time. Hiking is something I love to do, as well as pretty much anything outside. On the reverse side I have no problem laying inside all day and watching movies. I have not done that in a long time though. I have recently starting getting into cooking as well. I have a lot of fun in the process but I still have a long way to go. I was really excited about taking this class. Reading is something I enjoy but I have not been giving myself enough time recently. I hope this class will give me a renewed interest and look at different authors and their famous works. I also enjoy a class where I can expand my writing. I do not love to write but I know that through practice I will get better and hopefully enjoy it as well.