All posts by a.chan1

Free post

Education for money and living

James Truslow Adam once said, “There are obviously two educations. One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live.” These two types of education are evident in the novels we read in this class.

For example, the self education Bach had taught him how to make a living. Bach studied whatever his heart desired, from software engineering, systems thinking, philosophy, and to history. He also taught himself computer programming. He studied day and night on the fields he enjoyed. Due to this self education and hard work, Bach got a job as a manager in research and development at Apple. He made a living with his self education.

The education the creature in Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, received is an example of an education that teaches one how to live. The monster taught himself how to obtain food such as berries and nuts. The creature also learned how to make a fire, how to keep warm, and how to adjust to light. The monster taught himself how to read, write, and understand the human language by observing his neighbors.  He learned how to relate certain words to certain feels and by doing this he learned about emotions. Whenever his neighbors felt happy or sad, he felt the same way.

As for me, I want both educations. I hope the education I’m getting in school will help me make a living. I really hope all my life of schooling won’t go to a waste. As for the education that helps one live, I believe I already am receiving this through my experiences in life.

Free post

Injustice

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J.K. Rowling’s novel, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, shows several attempts on how the justice system is flawed much like Ernest Gaines’s A Lesson Before Dying. 

In Gaines’s novel, Jefferson was accused of killing the shopkeeper and was sent to jail. Jefferson and many people knew he was innocent, but they couldn’t do anything about it because the man who had died was white. Jefferson was blamed for the crime simply for “being at the wrong place at the wrong time” and not because he actually killed the person (Gaines 1). From this, we can see the justice system is controlled by the superior.

Similarly in Rowling’s novel, Buckbeat was executed for scratching Draco Malfoy. Draco disrespected Buckbeat by calling him a “ugly brute” (Rowling 148). Buckbeat slashed Draco on the arm for the disrespect. Draco exaggerates his injury and boasts to his friends that he could get his father to fire Hagrid. Buckbeat was put onto trial and failed to win the case, leading to his execution. Buckbeat’s case is another example of how the legal system is controlled by the superior. Another case in the novel was Sirius Black being blamed for killing 12 innocent citizens, Peter Pettigrew, and betraying James and Lily Potter. Dumbledore, the headmaster of the school, believes thats Black is innocent, “but i have no power to make other men see the truth, or to overrule the Minister of Magic” (Rowling 393). No one is willing to listen or believe the words of Harry and Hermione proving Black’s innocence. The Minister of Magic just wants to kill Black to prove that their department is capable of capturing a loose criminal and punishing them. Black’s escape had put a very bad image on the Minister of Magic and to restore his status Black must be convicted whether he is innocent or not. In both cases, it shows how the legal system just makes the easiest choices whether it’s fair or not.

Introduction Exercise #2

A Better Man Introduction

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The process of maturing begins with emerging from the bubble of ignorance, thus seeing life through a wider scope, as well as taking into consideration people besides oneself. Such a mindset can be achieved by understanding Benjamin Franklin’s 13 virtues covered in his book, Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Although Franklin did not attain the moral perfection he wrote of himself, his ideas are legitimized by the fact that he did become a greater man. Similarly, the titular protagonist Tom Sawyer of Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer becomes a better, less self-indulgent person, because he matures with said virtues. To convey this transition into adulthood, the paper will state what the 13 virtues comprise of and how they contribute to an improved character. The paper will discuss how Tom Sawyer was an obnoxious boy and by subconsciously practicing the virtues, such as temperance and cleanliness, he transitions from a child into a man.

Thesis Exercise #2

A Better Man

In Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography, Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, he devises a plan to achieve moral perfection with 13 virtues through self examination. Although Franklin did not achieve moral perfection, he did become a happier and greater man. The idea of improving morally is evident in Tom Sawyer from Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Tom Sawyer becomes a better person and transitions from a child to a man because he had matured morally with Franklin’s virtues.

Close Reading Post, Weekly Post Check-In #4

Writing, Man, Freedom

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It is evident in Malcolm X’s The Autobiography of Malcolm X and Ernest J. Gaines’s A Lesson Before Dying that there is a relationship between writing, man, and freedom. By learning how to read and write, one’s mind reaches freedom, and eventually they become a man.

At first, Malcolm X was unable to understand books, “but every book I picked up had few sentences which didn’t contain anywhere from one to nearly all of the words that might as well have been in Chinese” (Malcolm 1). With a strong desire to understand books, he started to  familiarize himself with a dictionary. He copied each word in the dictionary and this led to the expansion of vocabulary, which opened the doors to reading for Malcolm. For the first time, he picked up a book and could fully understand the context of it. He felt really proud and confident with himself. Malcolm X began reading more book, “months passed without my even thinking about being imprisoned. In fact, up to then, I never had been so truly free in my life” (Malcolm 2). All the reading Malcolm X did had freed his mind where he learned about every general subject and the sufferings of black men and woman. He was more confident with himself after learning how to read. Malcolm X stated,” I knew right there in prison that reading had changed forever the course of my life. As I see it today, the ability to read awoke inside me some long dormant craving to be mentally alive” (Malcolm 3). Malcolm X entered prison as street hustler, but the seven years in prison had changed him forever. In prison, Malcolm X had learned how to read and write and gained freedom of the mind. Malcolm X walked out of prison as a man who became a powerful leader striving to help the black man.

In Gaines’s text, Jefferson had spent most of his life working on plantations. One day Jefferson was in the wrong place at the wrong time leading him to be convicted of murder. When his lawyer tried to defend him, he called Jefferson a “hog.” The lawyer said, “Gentlemen of the jury, look at this—this—this boy. I almost said man, but I can’t say man” (Gaines 9). The degrading of Jefferson as not a man, but a hog really affected him and made him contemplate on whether he is really a mindless hog. Grant is given the responsibility to change Jefferson and make him believe is much more than a man, he is a hero. The first few times Grant is unsuccessful at reaching Jefferson. During one visit, Grant tries to connect with Jefferson by buying him a radio and giving him a notebook–hoping that these items will ease him, feel less trapped in the jail cell, and free his mind. Jefferson writes his thoughts or questions down for Grant so they can talk about it next time they meet. To truly reach Jefferson, Grant tells him “He tells Jefferson, “The white people out there are saying that you don’t have it—that you’re a hog, not a man. But I know they are wrong. You have the potentials” (Gaines 157). In Jefferson’s diary, we can see that Jefferson has not received much formal education because he can’t spell correctly. Jefferson writes about his moments in his days, his godmother, food, poor people, white people and more. Through Jefferson’s writing, it is noticeable that his mind has become free.  With the help of Grant, Jefferson really thinks more about his position in society. Jefferson is so much more confident with himself. He sees himself more as a man rather than a hog. Although the death of Jefferson can’t be changed, Jefferson died as a true man.

Through the lens post

History within History

Although Frederick Douglass and Malcolm X were born a hundred years apart, both of them object to the position of African Americans in society. In the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, he explains the cruelty of slavery with his experiences. Douglass talks how black children are separated from their families, resulting in loose relations with siblings. Douglass also describes how a white man treats his slave. Douglass writes, “he would at times seem to take great pleasure in whipping a slave. I have often been awakened at the dawn of day by the most heart-rending shrieks of an own aunt of mine, whom he used to tie up to a joist, and whip upon her naked back till she was literally covered with blood” (Douglass 1). For Douglass, education forever unfit him to be a slave and it ultimately led to his freedom.

Aspects from Frederick Douglass’s narrative was present in Malcolm X’s autobiography. Malcolm X wasn’t in a period of slavery, but a period of great discrimination against blacks. Much like Douglass, Malcolm X could not read. Malcolm X self educated himself while he was in prison. In prison, he taught himself how to read. He comes across books on slavery and through these books he learns how inhumane slavery was.  Malcolm X read, “descriptions of atrocities, saw those illustrations of black slave women tied up and flogged with whips; of black mothers watching their babies being dragged off, never to be seen by their mothers again” (Haley). The illustrations of black slave woman being flogs with whips resonates Douglass experience where he watched his aunt get whipped. The idea of “never to be seen by their mothers again” also relates back to Douglass’s time period where most children would not see their family ever again because they had to go serve their master. For  Malcolm X, “right there in prison that reading had changed forever the course of my life. As I see it today, the ability to read awoke inside me some long dormant craving to be mentally alive” (Haley). Reading had also changed Malcolm X, he was “awaken”. Both Douglass and Little were disgusted with slavery and decided to speak up about it. Frederick Douglass and Malcolm X were powerful figures in the quest for racial equality.

Peer Response Post

Unhappy Childhoods

This is my peer response to Jenny’s post.

I agree with Jenny on how Joseph Zobel’s novel, Black Shack Alley, challenges Rousseau’s idea of education for children age five to twelve. Rousseau says should not be subjected to a cruel education at such a young age. They should be able to live their childhood happily and freely. Rousseau says a child’s education is tormented if, “the age of harmless mirth is spent in tears, punishments, threats, and slavery” (Rousseau 4).

In the novel, Black Shack Alley, Jose Hassam’s childhood was tormented. According to Rousseau, a child should not be living in threats while still young. However Jose felt terrified and threatened each time he was in Mme Leonce’s house, “Mme Leonce and her always invisible husband seemed to me capable of doing me any possible evil… I was constantly afraid of Mme Leonce whom, without wishing it, I detested because of the unending humiliation I underwent at her house” (Zobel 69). The time Jose spent at Mme Leonce’s house also “preventing me from meeting Raphael, was the most mortifying of all” (Zobel 69). Jose felt that this torture was never going to end.

Jose and his friends childhood was full of punishments. Mam’zelle Fanny would whip them whenever they could not recite or answer her questions. Jose was punished by Mam’zelle Fanny:  “tapping it out on my shoulders with her whip” (Zobel 94). No one could escape these punishments of Mam’zelle Fanny. Jose’s friend JoJo especially lived a childhood that was full of unhappy moments. JoJo lived his childhood in fear and tears. JoJo was punished for crying at home and whipped as a punishment in school. JoJo was often threatened by his stepmother. Overall, Jose’s and his friends childhood was filled with bitterness which contradicts Rousseau’s idea of how a child should be raised at a young age.

Through the lens post

I’m not perfect, but I’m happy.

In the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Franklin creates a project for himself to achieve moral perfection. He wants to become a better person and live without fault. Franklin creates a list with thirteen virtues, starting with temperance and ending with humility. He creates a weekly planner, where he tries to perfect one virtue each week. During Franklin’s attempt to perfect each virtue, he realizes that it is more difficult than it appears. In the end, Benjamin Franklin doesn’t master all virtues, but he was “content myself with a faulty character” (Franklin 9). If Benjamin Franklin were to meet all his virtues it would make him ridiculous, and “that a perfect character might be attended with the inconvenience of being envied and hated” (Franklin 9). What Benjamin Franklin is trying to say is a man might be happier with faults and friends, rather than perfection and enemies.

In Mark Twain’s Adventures of Tom Sawyer, we see that Tom Sawyer and other characters supports and challenges some of the thirteen virtues Franklin had listed. The characters aren’t perfect beings, but are content with how they are and their life.

Tom Sawyer never wanted moral perfection, but he is still happy with his life. Number ten of Franklin’s virtues is cleanliness. Cleanliness is to “tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation” (Franklin 9). Through the lens of this virtue, we see that Sawyer challenges cleanliness. Tom Sawyer tried to fool his cousin, Mary, to think that he bathe already. In reality, Tom just dipped the soap into the water and poured the foamy water seconds after. Mary was undeceived of Tom’s act and gives him a second chance to wash up. Even after the second bath, Mary was unsatisfied. Mary cleans Tom up until he was “without distinction of color, and his saturated hair was neatly brushed, and its short curls wrought into a dainty and symmetrical general effect” (Twain 4). Tom “was fully as uncomfortable as he looked; for there was a restraint about whole clothes and cleanliness that galled him” (Twain 4). Tom Sawyer is more happy without the virtue of cleanliness. He much rather be dirty than clean. Rather for Mary, perfecting cleanliness makes her happy.

Tom Sawyer supports the virtue of temperance, but it was difficult task for him. Temperance is “eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation” (Franklin 9). In chapter 22, Tom Sawyer joins the Cadet of Temperance. Sawyer is to refrain from drinking, smoking, chewing, and profanity as long as he remained a member. However, Tom Sawyer found “himself tormented with a desire to drink and swear” (Twain 22). Trying to perfect temperance made Tom Sawyer feel terrible til the point he was about to give up. Tom Sawyer handled in a resignation letter and free to drink, smoke, and chewy. However, Tom was surprised that he no longer wanted to, meaning he had perfected the virtue of temperance. Unlike Benjamin Franklin, Sawyer did not actually study himself and decide to change himself, but it was through this program that he perfected temperance.

The virtue of moderation is challenged in chapter 21 of Twain’s novel. Moderation is to “avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve” (Franklin 9). Mr. Dobbins, the headmaster of the school, has been very harsh on his students throughout the school year. He would whip student’s for their wrongdoings. At the end of the school year, Mr. Dobbin becomes even stricter on the boys and girls. The boys who are fed up with Mr. Dobbin and decides that he deserves to be pranked on. On examination day while Mr. Dobbins turns around to draw a map on the board, the boys lower a blindfolded cat from the garret. The cat snatches the wig from Mr. Dobbin’s head, revealing his bald head. Mr. Dobbins is humiliated and  examination day ends. The boys lacked moderation and revenged on Mr. Dobbins, but they were happy!

Free post, Weekly Post-Check-In #3

Knowledge is the Path to Freedom

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After reading Frederick Douglass’ autobiographies, I admire him for all the hardwork he went through to obtain knowledge which eventually led to his freedom. Douglass had no knowledge, and obtained it through education and his experiences.

Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in 1817 or 1818. Just like any other slave, he lacked education and knowledge. However his status as a slave did not stop him from asking his mistress, Sophia Auld, to teach him how to read. Mrs. Auld taught Douglass the ABC’s and to spell a few words. His learning process is interrupted by his master, Mr. Auld. His master said, “If you give a nigger an inch, he will take an ell. A nigger should know nothing but to obey his master—to do as he is told to do. Learning would spoil the best nigger in the world. (Douglass 6).” Mr. Auld also said, “if you teach that nigger (speaking of myself) how to read, there would be no keeping him. It would forever unfit him to be a slave” (Douglass 6). It is through the words of Mr. Auld that Douglass realized that he must seek knowledge to pursue freedom, “From that moment, I understood the pathway from slavery to freedom” (Douglass 6). Douglass was enlightened. Mr Auld was right about what he said because Frederick Douglass wanted the “ell” since his mistress gave him the “inch.” Douglass made friends with little white boys on the street so they could teach him how to read in exchange for bread–“bread of knowledge” (Douglass 7). Douglass had also learned how to write at the Durgin and Bailey’s ship-yard. Douglass took any opportunity he could to learn how to read and write despite the method. Douglass being able to educate himself was the start to his freedom. This is his way of achieving enlightenment.

Knowledge doesn’t automatically lead to freedom, rather it awakens and sparks. The more knowledge Douglass obtained, “the thought of being a slave for life began to bear heavily upon my heart” (Douglass 7). Knowledge made him realize how injustice slavery was and that he should be viewed as a man rather than a slave. Hatred for his master also emerged in Douglass, “the more I read, the more I was led to abhor and detest my enslavers” (Douglass 7). As Douglass and his knowledge grew, so did his discontentment of Douglass slave status. This ultimately led to his decision to escape slavery and become free. Douglass successfully escaped and used his knowledge and experience to obtain freedom for all slaves.