Con/Pro Essay: Is A Transcendentalist Society Attainable?

          Forever Land consists of people that practice their own beliefs and take part in what they please. A transcendentalist society like Forever Land is very hard to find in the modern world. Citizens that abide in transcendentalist societies would never be able to act the same, judge one another, or exclude someone. The imaginary society, Forever Land, preaches laws such as no judging, excluding others, stealing ideas, abusing animals, and pressuring into a belief. It is very rare to find a modern-day society that believes in all of the above. While some people may believe that a transcendentalist society would be possible in modern day society, the fact that there could be no strict laws, no severe punishments, and equality issues make it impossible for a transcendentalist society to exist today.

          Forever Land is located on an isolated island. This location could make it possible to achieve the goals of a transcendentalist society. With isolation comes independence and self-determination. Transcendentalists cannot be mixed in with the rest of the world or their beliefs would be judged and they would feel excluded. The setting of Forever Land provides a space where transcendentalists can live together and relate to one another’s individualism. In this modern day, politics would get in the way of this ideal detachment from the world. Separation cannot dispose of the fact that laws are necessary in any society. Not just rules such as pressuring, copying, or excluding, but real distinct laws that govern any society.

          Laws make a town organized and successful. Without them, terrible things are destined to occur. If a society was created that did not enforce rules including no stealing, murdering, corruption, etc, there quite possibly could be numerous disturbances. The living conditions of Forever Land may work out for a while, but the citizens would not be able to continue normal life without basic principles. Forever Land does not believe in larger figures, such as presidents or dictators. Any society lacking a leadership position will fail. The enforcement of laws is almost as important as the laws themselves.

          When a rule is broken in Forever Land, the consequences are not extreme. At the first offense, the wrongdoer would be let off with a warning. At the second offense, the offender would be required to take part in a certain amount of community service. The next offense is where the lawbreaker would be executed from the island. If Forever Land were a real society, punishments would have to be much more intense. Community service may not teach a lesson to many people. A proper punishment for committing a crime in the real world is going to jail. Jail is responsible for causing one pain for what they have done. It is penalties like prison that truly teach people a lesson and cause them to improve their actions in the future.

          In any society, one will find inequalities. It is nearly impossible to thrive in a civilization where there is no judgment or hatred between human beings. Forever Land ideally does not consist of any unfairness or inequality whatsoever. This may include gender, age, race, or position. But in a real thriving society, there must be some form of inequality. To claim a society to be without any form of discrimination is an impossible statement and cannot be achieved. Everyone is different and all people are guilty of having judged someone. A civilization lacking any injustice at all is not possible.

          Transcendentalist societies would certainly be ideal for today’s world. However, the modern population could not possibly thrive in a society like this. Factors such as a strong government are necessary in any successful living environment. It is unattainable for a civilization to not have a strong form of government, harsh consequences for wrongdoings, and inequalities of some form.

The Dead Poets Society

                “The Dead Poets Society” is a story that takes place in an all-boys boarding school called Welton Academy. Welton Academy represents pure conformity because everything is always the same. The teachers look alike, the classes are similar, and the traditions are always kept. But this all changes when a new teacher, Mr. Keating, begins to work at the school. Mr. Keating brings nonconformist ways to his classroom by teaching the boys unique ways of learning. He inspires his students to be who they want to be. Although all of the students love Mr. Keating’s class, the staff at the school does not. They strictly believe that keeping tradition is vital at Welton, and since Mr. Keating is not doing this, they eventually fire him. It was dangerous for Mr. Keating to express nonconformity at this school because he knew there would be severe consequences, but yet he still practiced nonconformity because he truly believes in it.

                A group of students at the school decides to form a Dead Poets Society, something that Mr. Keating had once taken part in when he was a student. Forming something like the Dead Poets Society is completely against the rules, but the students are willing to break the rules to be unlike all other students. They act as nonconformists by taking part in the Dead Poets Society, even though it is against the rules. At the end of the movie, one member commits suicide because his father was too demanding. It opens the eyes of the teachers at Welton and they question all of his friends. They reveal that they are in the Dead Poets Society and are punished for their actions. The boys were only in trouble because of their nonconformist ways. Showing nonconformity was very dangerous, but they realized how important it is to not always be like everyone else, but to be oneself.  

Transcendentalism Shirt

This past weekend, I created a t-shirt that revealed many things about my personality. I included weird facts about myself that I rarely tell people. It definitely took courage to walk around school with so many embarrassing facts written across my shirt.

I expected to receive funny looks and maybe some confused comments. To my surprise, people liked my shirt! The neon yellow attracted many viewers. I received compliments and most people asked if they could read it. I do admit that some things were hard to share. Some of the things I wrote on my shirt were a little bit silly. People laughed at quotes such as, "I am an awkward dancer" and "I have a blanket named nosey," and some were surprised when they read things like, "I am at church five days a week" and "I skipped first grade." The shirt exposed many secrets about myself.

Being a transcendentalist for a day was more fun than i expected. I enjoyed being able to reveal my true self through my clothing. Expressing who you truly are is very daring. To have that kind of courage for one day was bearable, but I do not know if I would be brave enough to do something like that every day. I respect transcendentalists and I now realize how hard it must be for them to truly express themselves daily.

Modern Transcendentalist

A transcendentalist must be completely comfortable with who they truly are. They are not afraid to show the world their individuality, and they embrace it. A perfect example of a modern day transcendentalist is Ellen Degeneres. Ellen is a young woman with a well-known reputation. Everyone knows Ellen as a lesbian; and depending on someone's view, her ways may be considered gross or intolerable. There truly are people in this world who do not agree with Ellen's life choice and they believe that Ellen’s decision to be a lesbian is unacceptable.

Ellen and Portia- People Magazine

Despite these heartbreaking opinions, Ellen embraces her unique quality. She opened up to millions of television viewers in a 1997 Oprah show. Some were shocked, and automatically stopped watching Ellen’s show. In an interview with Stone Phillips from MSNBC, Ellen shared her feelings when she came out:

DeGeneres: "When I made the decision to come out, everything was great. And I really naively thought nobody's going to care, you know. It's like, I'm going to just now say, by the way, I'm gay. I mean, all of my business people, all my people, were saying, don’t do it, you know."

Phillips: "Is that right?"

DeGeneres: "Oh, yeah."

Phillips: "They were telling you, bad move?"

DeGeneres: "Oh, yeah. Don't do it. Don't do it."

Phillips: "But you just weren't going to listen to them?"

DeGeneres: "I couldn't listen to them. I had to listen to me. You know? It's my life. It's my heart. It's my soul. It's my journey. And it's who I am."

The above statement is a definite act of transcendentalism. It takes so much courage to admit something so fragile about oneself, especially with the fear that some people might not accept what is revealed. Ellen took that risk because she realized that it is her life and she is going to live it the way she wants to. She took this leap with the fear that people may stop watching her show; and many people did just that. Ellen stayed true to herself, and to her wife, Portia De Rossi. Ellen has openly expressed her feelings towards Portia through photos, interviews, and television. It is actions like this that prove her to be a true transcendentalist. She is who she is and is not afraid of others judging her. 

Ellen Degeneres

Reference:

Phillips, Stone. "Catching up with Ellen DeGeneres - Dateline NBC - Newsmakers - Msnbc.com."          Msnbc.com - Breaking News, Science and Tech News, World News, US News, Local News- Msnbc.com. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6430100/ns/dateline_nbc-newsmakers/t/catching-ellen-degeneres/>.

Walden Essay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tSlIVWpqyc&feature=relmfu

In this century, it is difficult to maintain a simple lifestyle. There is so much to do and so many tasks to perform that it is easy to lose sight of the simple and wonderful things that life has to offer. People question if simplicity is even attainable anymore. The answer is yes; a simple way of living can be experienced if one sets their mind to it. Henry David Thoreau was a man who believed in this simplicity and strived to attain it in his life. He left his complicated life in the city and created a much less complicated life for himself. Although this modern age is complex, people can simplify their lives by becoming peaceful,not becoming too involved, and learning to enjoy what has been given to them.

One factor that can lead to a complex life is continuous arrogance. If one is constantly at war or expressing hatred towards others, a tranquil lifestyle cannot be achieved. People must strive towards expressing a peaceful attitude. It will keep them away from trouble and conflict. “Why should we knock under and go with the stream? Let us not be upset and overwhelmed in that terrible rapid and whirlpool called a dinner, situated in the meridian shadows” (Thoreau, 493). Here, Henry David Thoreau supports the theory that when life is acting as a whirlpool, humans must avoid becoming tense. Doing so will result in a flustered outlook on life. Thoreau's words preach that one cannot spend their life depressed or busy. It is not possible to become serene with such manners and feelings.

With so many activities and events going on daily, it is not difficult for one to become caught up in the activities they take part in. New ideas and pressures are constantly being introduced to our rapidly progressing Earth. All of this may become overwhelming and some people can find themselves lost in a sea of countless chores. By limiting strenuous tasks and decreasing undesirable stress, a person can live more of a laid back life. “I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on a thumbnail” (Thoreau, 491). By this,Thoreau is saying that people should decrease the number of tasks they need to perform. Doing this will result in a carefree and much simpler life because there is not as much pressure present in their life.

http://george.loper.org/interests/housing/thero/thoreau.html

Life has so many things to offer in the forms of everyday actions and objects. For example, nature itself is seldom recognized for it's beauty. If one took the time to realize what they have and learn to enjoy it, life would be much simpler. This would eliminate the constant striving for new things that will act as a provider of happiness. “Why should we live with such hurry and waste or life? We are determined to be starved before we are hungry” (Thoreau, 491). Thoreau proves here that humans constantly want more in life. They need to learn to be satisfied with their belongings in order to feel simple and complete. People must stop and take a look around them in order to realize that the world is beautiful. Thoreau came upon the realization that the Earth alone is beautiful and has not been recognized as such. It is this discovery that gave him a sense of simplicity when he visited Walden Pond.

http://amcboston.org/walks/areas2.html

By keeping a small list of things to do, enjoying what they have, and being peaceful, one can experience an uncomplicated lifestyle. These steps may not be easy, but the results are surely worth the effort. Surrounded by constant changes and new inventions, people living in the twenty-first century are not in the midst of a serene world at all. People still have the ability to simplify their lives, though. Life is too short to be wasted; humans need to learn to live by the guidelines of a simple lifestyle. 

Cruible Epilogue

Evelyn Wheeler

Mr. Provenzano 1st Hour

October 14, 2011

The Crucible Epilogue

            Reverend Hale once had a great reputation. He was a middle-aged man from Beverly who had a specialty in confronting witchcraft. Everyone was enthralled by his belief in the devil and wanted him to find who was a devil in their town. But Abigail Williams ruined everything for him. She had everyone in the town under her spell. All she had to do was convince them that she was possessed by a witch and they went against anything Hale said. With this loss of power, Hale could no longer pursue this career in Salem.

            Hale decided to leave the town of Salem. He went back to his hometown, Beverly. He was greeted by his wife and three young children. He did not want to tell them of his failure in fear that they might be disappointed. But once he told them about it, they encouraged him to pursue his career in finding witchcraft by returning to Salem and proving Abigail wrong. After thinking about this opportunity, he decided that he would go. Hale left for Salem by himself and found that Abigail had run away with Mary Warren and never returned. Hale ran into his former friend Reverend Parris. Parris explained that he was about to leave for an expedition and asked if Hale would assist him in his expedition around the colonies. On this expedition, they would speak about witches to every house they came across. Hale agreed to this plan, hoping this opportunity would allow him to redeem himself and make up for his failure.

They packed all the items they owned and began their journey on foot. They hiked North of Massachusetts and stopped in New Hampshire. There was no success in New Hampshire; everyone rejected them and believed that their theories were foolish. They went to the other states around the area: Vermont, Maine, New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. But they received the same reaction as they did from those in New Hampshire. It seemed as if no one wanted to learn about witches.

            When they went to the southern states, it was different. People began to listen to their words. After a while, colonists were calling for them rather than them calling for colonists. They became two of the most influential speakers in America. People from all around the colonies would gather regularly to listen to Hale and Parris speak about witches and how to tell if one possesses a family member or friend. They were respected and paid large amounts of money for their actions. Hale and Parris decided to use this money to extend their expedition across the ocean. They first purchased a ship and crew to take them across the Atlantic Ocean. When they left America on a sunny summer day, everything seemed like it was going to go perfectly. People could not wait for them to come back and share all of their experiences. The voyage was to take several months and set to land in London, England. Unfortunately, the men encountered something along the journey that they did not expect.

            It was the twentieth day of the journey, a rainy and windy day. So far, the trip had been very successful. The weather had been nice and there had been no disturbances. Hale and Parris had just woken up from a nap during midday when they heard men yelling frantically up above their quarters. They arose to find that the wind speed had picked up and the rain was now coming down much harder than before. The sky seemed a gray color that they hadn’t seen before. The crew was frantically running around the deck trying to protect each other. Hale and Parris were not very experienced when it came to navigating in a boat, so they thought it would be alright to just wait on the deck until the storm passed. They viewed the storm as a minor obstacle in their journey. But after many minutes passed, the storm had not stopped. In fact, the storm was beginning to worsen. Without warning, one of the men was thrown into the sea by the powerful wind. The other men anxiously tried to pull him back into the ship, but they had no luck. The man was carried away by the massive waves like a hopeless buoy. Hale and Parris then realized that the storm was capable of much destruction. At that moment, they began to summon the other men to their quarters, hoping to save lives.

            During all the commotion, Parris lost sight of Hale. He was so busy helping the others escape from the storm that he didn’t notice Hale as he slipped over the side of the deck and into the ocean. Parris looked around for him and finally noticed Hale flailing around in the deep blue water. He sprinted to him and spread his arm out as far as possible. Hale struggled to reach his arm but eventually did. Just as Parris was using all his strength to pull him in, a large wind came. It was so overpowering that Parris lost his grip of Hale, and he lost his life to the sea.  

Crucible Essay

                During the Salem Witch trials, there were a few people who played very important roles. There was Abigail Williams, the girl who accused the witches. She had the power to make the whole town believe her, even though she lied. There was Reverend Hale, the one who tried to help those accused. He came to the town to find the witches but discovered that the people Abigail was accusing were completely innocent. Lastly, there was Judge Danforth, the man that had the power to sentence or not to sentence any accused person. He had the final say in who was going to be sent to jail. The three people that had the most impact on the Salem Witch trials were Abigail Williams, Reverend Hale, and Judge Danforth.

                Pretending that she is being controlled by the devil gives Abigail power. She has the power to accuse anyone she wants and be able to cause their death. She forces some of the other girls in the town to join her untruthful game. One of the girls that joins her is Mary Warren, one of Abigail's main followers. Eventually, Mary decides to come clean about the lies they have been telling. When Mary begins to tell people that the girls are lying, Abigail pretends that Mary is trying to hurt her. “Oh, Mary, this is a black art to change your shape. No, I cannot, I cannot stop my mouth; it’s God’s work to do” (Miller, 115). This makes Mary realize that she does not have the power to go against what Abigail is doing because Abigail can make her life miserable.

                Reverend Hale acts as the peacekeeper in this novel. He tries to make the townspeople settle down in Salem because they are all caught up in the talk about witchcraft. He wants them to realize that Abigail and the other girls are telling false tales. No one will believe him because they are all so struck by Abigail’s stories. Hale is shocked by the town’s ability to believe such an obvious lie. “I came to this village like a bridegroom to his beloved, bearing gifts of high religion; the very crowns of holy law I brought, and what I touched with my bright confidence, it died; and where I turned the eye of my great faith, blood flowed up” (Miller, 132). Reverend Hale is saying that the town has gone so mad that they are no longer being true to their religion. He came to relieve people from the sin of witchcraft but instead sees that these people have other problems.

                There are many examples of followers in this story. Judge Danforth is one of those followers. He follows whatever Abigail and the other girls say about people and their witch-like abilities. This is a terrible thing because Judge Danforth is the one responsible for sentencing witches to death. If he believes the lies that Abigail tells, he will end up sending innocent people to jail. He admits that he does not know for sure if the people he is sending to jail are guilty of witchcraft. “…witchcraft is ‘ipso facto,’ on its face and by its nature, on invisible crime, is it not? Therefore, who may possibly be witness to it? The witch and the victim. None other” (Miller 132). Danforth is saying that since there is no real proof, he must believe Abigail.

                So many people in the town are being accused even though they are completely innocent. During the time that this story takes place, the town of Salem has gone mad. The people believe silly stories of witchcraft just because a few girls claim it is true. The girls, led by Abigail Williams, have the most power in the town because they have this ability. They have the power to ultimately murder anyone in the town. Reverend Hale has affected the trials by saving some of the lives of innocent people that have been accused. Judge Danforth has also contributed to the Salem Witch Trials because he has the final decision on whether or not someone is a witch. These three people are responsible for the tragic acts that occurred in Salem. 

Crucible Post 2

     In act two of "The Crucible" Reverend Hale is going around to all of the houses in Salem to find witches. When he visits the Proctor home, he asks John Proctor if he believes in witches. John knows that there are witches in the bible, so therefore if he says that he does not believe in them, Hale will think that he does not believe in the bible. Instead of telling the truth, John tells Hale that he believes in witches. It saves him from further punishment, but does not prove that he has an honest personality. John’s Wife, Elizabeth, did the opposite. Because she is a truthful woman, she shared her belief with Hale that witches are not real. Sadly, this shocked Hale and eventually led her to being imprisoned. The fact that she stood up for herself shows that Elizabeth has integrity.

     If I was in this situation, I would follow Elizabeth’s example. Unlike John Proctor, I would tell the truth. It is important to stand up for what you believe in. Even if it is a risky situation, telling the truth shows that you are a truthful person. Our world needs truthful people as leaders. For example: If our founding fathers had never shared their opinions and stood up for their beliefs, what would our country be like today? It certainly would lack some of the genius ideas that it has. Honesty is a key element to making the world a better place. If a person were to act like John Proctor, they could avoid punishment, but their feelings would never be presented to people. Although Elizabeth was punished for sharing her belief, her opinion was expressed to the world. 

The Crucible Post 1

             In “The Crucible”, power is very significant because it determines one’s social status. Reverend Parris has the most power in Salem. He has this much power because he is a preacher at the church and respected by everyone. Parris worries about losing his power when his daughter becomes sick. This worries him because he is afraid that the townspeople with think that the family is involved in witchcraft.”…I have fought here three long years to bend these stiff-necked people to me, and now, just now when some good respect is rising for me in the parish, you compromise my very character.” (Page 11) If word gets out that his daughter has been touched by the devil, Parris’ reputation will be affected and his level of power will decrease. There are some other people in the town who have a great amount of power; the Putnam family. They have power because they are a wealthy family. The amount of power they possess allows them to control everyone in the town.

            Near the end of the first act and throughout the second act, more girls seem to fall ill. It is because Abigail and some of the other young girls in the town pretend to be possessed by the devil. When they lie and confess that they are witches, they will be asked to reveal the names of other possessed women in the town. With this power, they can have anyone they want accused of witchcraft. Now that the girls have full power, they begin to reveal names of people who were never involved, and those innocent women will now be tried in court. The power in the town is important and now that the girls have it, no other woman is safe.  

Sinners Follow up Post

"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" is a sermon preached by Jonothan Edwards. Edwards wanted people to become aware of his opinions of God. While sharing his thoughts, he tells listeners that God is waiting to kill everyone because it is his pure enjoyment, ""The bow of God's wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the string." (Page 98) Edwards wants people to know that God could easily kill anyone at any second. The audience that heard this sermon was very shocked. They were scarred by the words that they listened to. In fear, many of these people became more religious so that they could avoid God's wrath. If the sermon had been given in modern days, I believe that the listeners would feel the same way. In church, priests share their thoughts about God's love and compassion. If someone was to come share an opinion like Edwards' opinion, people would be frightened and would try do do everything they can to keep their lives, just like the people did in history.

"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" Post

     The video, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Introduction,” enlightens viewers of a famous sermon that was preached by Jonathan Edwards. On July 8, 1741, Edwards delivered a sermon to a crowd of people. This sermon supposedly revealed Edwards’ harsh opinion about God’s anger towards sinners. The Americans that originally heard this sermon were awestruck by the words. They were forever hateful towards Edwards for putting terrible thoughts into their heads. The things that Edwards revealed to those people forever changed their opinion of God and sparked much controversy.

     What Jonathan Edwards said that day must have been appalling. If the words he preached scared the population so much, he most likely included awful images in his lecture about God. Whatever he told the crowd of people went against all positive thoughts they had ever had of God. Perhaps Edwards told the listeners that God was unforgiving; this is something that people had never heard of. He must have denied the fact that God is merciful and compassionate. What he said that day shocked listeners, so he probably revealed a belief that they would never have imagined.

Descriptive Post

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=beach+wallpaper&num

The above image captures a moment on a luxurious beach. Fluffy white sand is scattered across the ground of this entire scene. In the bottom right hand corner, a wooden beach chair rests among this plentiful sand, shaded by a few very green palm trees. Only one tree is visible; it has the greenest leaves. The shadow from a sand-colored umbrella paints a black shadow on the sand. Further left, the end of the sand gives way to the beginning of a never-ending sea of blue waters. Small waves are dispersed in the ocean, giving the water motion. The water grows into a deeper blue color as it extends further away from the center of the image. The sea meets the sky and reveals a clear light blue color. There are crisp white clouds scattered throughout the sky, making their way across the blue abyss. The image creates a warm feeling, as if the person viewing the picture is on the beach. A calm and cool breeze floats throughout the scene.

Class Expectations

Thesis: The students in an Honors American Literature class are expected to finish their homework, pay attention during class, and work to the best of their ability.

                One way for students to excel in this class is to always complete their homework. Doing so will show the teacher that the student is very responsible. Doing homework is important in Honors American Literature because it gives the students more learning opportunities. Homework allows the students to teach themselves at home and sharpen their skills. It is a way for the teacher to make sure the students are not forgetting what they have learned. The pupils in Honors American Literature are expected to understand the importance of homework. Students in this class are given homework because the teacher knows that they will complete it. The students in Honors American Literature are expected to do their homework.

                To prove their worthiness of being in this class, students need to listen during class. By this age, students know that paying attention during class is important. That is why teachers expect their students to possess this ability. Honors American Literature students are high school students that have been attending school for many years. Their previous teachers have given then plenty of lectures on behavior. This is enough for them to realize that paying attention during class is essential to succeed. It is important to listen in class because if the students do not listen, they will not learn. All honors students should be able to do that.

                Another essential for doing their best in Honors American Literature is for students to work hard. If the students focus fully on succeeding, it will be much easier to do well. Effort is key for those who want to improve. The Honors American Literature concepts may be hard for some to comprehend. It will require extra work for one to improve in this class. Only students willing to work very hard are worthy of being in this class. Many people cannot meet this expectation, therefore are not worth of being in the class. Honors students are expected to work hard to excel in Honors American Literature.

About Me

Hi! My name is Evelyn Wheeler and I am 14 years old. I will be 15 on September 25th. I was born in Grosse Pointe Park but moved to Florida when I was only a few months old. My dad was transferred back here for work when I was 7 and I have lived here ever since! I went to Maire Elementary School and Pierce Middle School before attending South. I have an 11-year-old brother named John who is in 6th grade. I also have a 17-year-old sister named Hannah who is a senior this year. I have a 5-year-old labradoodle named Bob who is so sweet and I am so lucky to have him as my dog!

Something I enjoy doing is running. I have recently discovered that it is a lot of fun! Last spring, I was on the South track and field team because my sister really wanted me to be a part of it. It was really enjoyable so I decided to run cross country. Now that I am on the team, I have to become used to the soreness and fatigue because I know it will be rewarding in the end. I am already seeing myself improving because I have not given up and I keep working hard to do better! Many of my friends are on the team but I am making new ones already. Everyone is so friendly there and having my sister as a captain makes me feel welcomed. I am looking forward to the remainder of the season.

My friends and family know me as a hardworking student. I always try my best and am willing to improve. I try to be responsible when it comes to remembering and completing homework. I am looking forward to this school year because I have really nice teachers! I am taking my first AP class which I am a little bit nervous about. Hopefully I can stay on track and stay focused. One of my favorite subjects is English but sometimes I struggle with writing. My teacher last year was Mr. Pascoe and he helped me a lot! I will focus extra hard this year so I will improve!