“I Am an Honest Man” becomes very popular when it is set to the tune of Guantanamera. Whole poetry expresses strong emotions to readers. From this poem, I see how the author shows he is an honest man and how he expresses his feeling to us. How to be an honest man? “And before I die wish. To fling my verses form my soul” exactly show the way. The author wants to use verses to express true feelings and shows to all readers. In fact, to be a honest man is difficult because there are so many things in the life affect you and disrupt you, such as family, money, situations and others.

   The most difficult things are to be honest to ourselves, because we can lie to everyone, but we cannot lie to ourselves. The author through verse expresses his feeling. Sometimes, you will afraid of something that you cannot show the truth to everyone. For example “I saw my soul, twice. When the poor old man died. When she said good-bye to me” From these three lines, I feels that the author thought this situations to show his honesty. In that kind of situation, people will afraid to say it, but the author shows that he saw his soul, so he does not want to lie to himself. Author shows it to all readers and wants to express his feelings about it with everyone.

    For me, it is also difficult to become an honest person because of so many reasons. Sometimes, I will make mistakes, such as break up grass. I am afraid that my parents will feel angry and criticized at me, so I will hide the truth. I admire author that he can express his feeling through poems and share it to everyone. To be honest to yourself is the most important things.

1. “Girls are made of water and boys are made of mud.” How the relationship between Baoyu and other women are affect in the story of the stone？
2. How did  Bartleby, who always said “I prefer not to do,” live before he met his boss in the story.

      Caoxueqin’s “the story of stone” is one of the greatest long novel in China. It shows us exactly the best and worst of traditional China. I am interested in this novel because it begins with the mythology that shows me the magical stone was left by goodness Nv Wa when she repaired the damage of sky. The stone transported into mortal world as Jiabaoyu, in Jia household and began his flexural life.

       This novel consist different kinds of characters and represents their tragic love. For example, the relationship between the stone and Crimson Pearl Flower imply the love between main characters, Baoyu and his cousin Lindaiyu. Although Jiabayou and Lindaiyu loved each other very much, they were not accepted to get marriage in the cruel feudal society. Jiabaoyu was forced to marry Baochai because older members in the family thought baoyu’s jade matched baochai’s gold locket. Baoyu and Daiyu are tragic characters in the end of the story. This novel talk about other people‘s love such tangchun, yingchun and third sister you, who contributed her life for her love. I feel the different taste of love in the large family and feel their courage to love. They did not care about the level, money and power when they fell in love. For example Shiqi, Yinchun’s maid, and Panyou loved each other and tried their best to get together.

     People in Jia household always tried their best to love each other without caring the level and power. I feel that people right now care too much on power and money in their marriage. Some girls mention that they will not marry to their mate if they do not have own house and car. Although substances are very important in the marriage, they are not the key for two people to marry. I cannot imagine that couple only care about money and do not love each other. We should learn from these characters in “the story of stone” that we should know contribute to our love, not always get things from it.

        Voltaire was a famous French writer, historian and philosopher during the age of Enlishentment. His writing affected lots of people during that time. One of his novel, “Candide” represents his satire of Optimism through the “ special traveling” experience of Candide. This short novel is interesting because it separate the whole novel into pieces of story that make readers keep reading it without feeling boring. Candide has “honest mind with great simplicity of heart” and believes what Pangloss’s optimistic thought that “the best of all possible world.”In Chapter one, Voltaire exactly explains the meaning of the name of this novel “Candide or Optimism” Its opening answers me my question for this title and helps me understand it better. When I keep reading this novel, I realize the difficult live Candide had experience and how he changes his believe that not all things are best in the world. Candide was kicked out of castle where he lived in because he loves Cunegonede. His traveling let him know that the world is cruel, not always optimistic. He escapes from Bulgars and then faces Earthquake in Lisbon. He views the darkness and autocracy of church, and then he meets his love and knows her experience. Although he makes some kindness people, he still sees how the world is. He realizes that the all things in the world are not perfect and best. Factors outside and experience change Candide‘s believe.            

         When I read this novel, I realize that thoughts always change when people experience more. For a child, food and playing will make them very happy because they are not worried about other things. As a student, they believe that their most important things are study. When they grow up as adults, they experience a lot and know how to survive in the world. They are more mature and know how to deal with different problems. In the situation of adults, Study and playing are not their major things in their life. They believe that they should work study and earn money for their families.