A Good Man Is Hard To Find Writing Assignment

It was a hot summer, and the blinding sun shone down on the quiet grey pavement in the front of the house. Tommy May sat on the curb of the road across the street, engaged in a staring contest with a watermelon. Sadly, the watermelon was winning. For you see, though he knew the people living in the house, and that the watermelon was meant for the ill tempered woman who would sometimes come out and yell obscenely at him, he also knew it was really hot and had been a little while since he last had food. Like a mirage in a desert of concrete, the watermelon seemed to good to be true, yet he knew that there it was, staring unblinkingly at him like a forbidden fruit he could not have. And so he sat. And so the watermelon sat. The sun sat as well, on his chest, taking the breath from his lungs and the wind from the sky. Why was it that he did not take the watermelon? It was not from any regard for the woman intended to have it that he hesitated. Rather, it was because of the cars that passed through the street and the people he was sure also stared at the step, watching to see what he would do next. A minivan drove by, stirring the dust on the street, and as it cleared, he caught a glimpse of the melon’s final play. Three gleaming letters sparkled up at him, clear as day. E.A.T. With a gracious sigh, and a tip of his hat, he accepted defeat. The watermelon had won. Yet, his defeat was only bittersweet, for you see, that watermelon was the best he ever had. 

The Hurricane Film Analysis

1. An important motif in Norman Jewison’s film, “The Hurricane” is communication. Represented in many different ways, communication is essential to everyday life and to the story of Rubin Carter. Connections between people are both what make the story of Hurricane Carter so inspiring and at the same time so heartbreaking. There are many different symbols of communication over the course of the film. Interestingly enough, many of the important instances of communication take place through the written word. The initial connection between Carter and Lesra is established when Lesra finds Rubin Carter’s book, “The Sixteenth Round.” Over the course of the film, both are connected through letters, photos, and ideas, even though they exist in very different places and times. Communication both links Lesra and Hurricane Carter and destroys Rubin Carter’s connection with the outside world. It is also miscommunication and communication of evidence and facts that send Carter to prison in the first place. Communication both helps connect and disconnect Hurricane Carter with people, places, and ideas important to him.

2. The first symbol in “The Hurricane” is jail. Trapped in the barred walls of the jail cell, Rubin Carter’s prison takes on not only a literal but metaphorical meaning as a symbol of oppression, discontent, and also to an extent racism and the abuse of justice responsible for his entrapment in the first place. A second, important symbol in “The Hurricane” is the written word. Words carry a lot of power, both connecting Rubin Carter and Lesra and trapping Carter in jail for a crime he did not commit. In “The Hurricane” words represent the interconnectedness and connection between people.

3. The court system in “The Hurricane” is chaotic and dominating. Representing an unfair abuse of power, the court is shown as abusive and unbiased. Many of the detectives on Carter’s case attempt to influence the proceedings in the court, manipulating witnesses and evidence to reach a desired conclusion. Though the film only is a representation of an actual story, and it is unclear how much of the story of Rubin Carter is factual, the court is shown to be very unfair. This contrasts sharply with Atticus Finch’s representation of the trial of Tom Robinson, and you are able to see how calm, professional, and unbiased Atticus is. The two trials are very different, but interestingly enough, Hurricane Carter is released and Tom Robinson is still sentenced.

4. A significant theme in both “To Kill A Mockingbird” and “The Hurricane” is the role personal prejudice and racism plays on the justice system. An essential part of law is that justice be unbiased and fair, no matter who is sentenced. This is so significant because of the profound impact a court hearing can have on the life of both the accused and victim. It is shown both in “To Kill A Mockingbird” and “The Hurricane” that justice can and is swayed and influenced by personal opinion and prejudice, often with tragic consequence. Much of the knowledge of a crime depends on who is represented and the ability of the lawyer to fairly explain the facts, though much of the sentencing relies upon the fair and honest opinion of the jury and judge trying the case. In the story of Tom Robinson and the story Hurricane Carter, the role racism takes on the sentencing of the accused (even though both are said to be innocent) takes much more sway than would be fair in an equal court of law.

Globalization Blog Post

Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is beautifully and eloquently written, and touches upon the classic themes of light and dark, good and evil, and the difference between inner nature and surface reality. Heart of Darkness also offers a critique and look at European colonialism. Symbolically stunning, many of the ideas and motifs of HofD take on different meanings depending on the context and circumstances they are in and the interpretation of the reader. In this way, Conrad represents the dualistic, or often even multifaceted nature of reality and the futility of looking at the world through a single lens.

I've decided to explain Heart of Darkness and the connection it holds to globalization in the same way that Conrad lets the readers interpret the story of Marlow. The meaning of Heart of Darkness is open to the reader's interpretation, and since you may possibly not have read the entirety of Marlow's account,   I’m just going to ask questions that relate to the book. Some of these may be interesting to think about, but all, I hope will lead to greater insight and clarity for you in everyday life. What is the nature of the world? Is brutality ever justified? Is who you are ever definite, or does how you see the world and what you think and represent fundamentally as a person change depending on the circumstances that you are in? Is it possible to stay sane in madness? What is most important? Are people more likely to act from self-gain or from love? Can darkness and light ever be fully defined? Is it possible for light and dark to exist independently or are they connected? Is Marlow racist? Is colonialism ever justified? What is the inner nature of people? What role does nature play on everyday life? Is how we see the world ever finite? And finally, What is the meaning of Heart of Darkness? 

Marlow Character Sketch

Charlie Marlow is a seaman, wanderer, and philosopher. Unlike many of his colleagues, who love the sea as an only way of life and are uninterested in exploring the shore, Marlow is inspired by his wanderlust and want to see the world’s unknown places. As a boy, he was forever intrigued by the blank spaces on the map, and “Heart of Darkness” is built around him telling the story of a journey he made to a then unknown country. Marlow is quite average looking and very amicable. Though it is clear he disagrees with the European colonialism and treatment of the native African people, it is also unsure if he himself is racist and possibly even sexist. He can be intuitive and picks up on the first impressions of people. He also is well read and well informed about what is going on. Yet you also get the impression from reading that the Company may not be what it seems, that there may be more than what Marlow knows.

In Obasan, Naomi is just beginning to discover her history and heritage. Learning from the letters and papers her passionate aunt gave to her, and from her own memories, blocked for so long, she begins to discover more about her family and own identity. A young schoolteacher, Naomi feels torn between the silence of her aunt, Obasan, and the outspokenness of her aunt, Emily. Learning about what has happened brings back a whole host of terrible memories she has tried to suppress for so long, including those of her mother leaving and her neighbor, a sick and twisted creepy old man. 

The Taming of the Shrew Lit Web

The Taming of the Shrew Blog Post

“The Taming of the Shrew” is a play within a play, told to Christopher Sly (or rather the actor who plays Christopher Sly, whose character believes) he is a lord because of a trick a real lord decided to play. Performed by actors playing actors playing characters (who often play other characters) the play within the play tells the story of Katherine and Bianca, two young women -played by young men- who are daughters of a wealthy family. Many of the characters act in disguise (either as each other, or different characters entirely) adding a layer of mystery to an already complicated plot.

It is likely that Shakespeare wrote “The Taming of the Shrew” this way (that is as a play within a play) to create distance between the story and audience. Many of the characters, themes, and stigmas present in the play would also likely be a part of everyday life in Elizabethan England. Without an idea of distance, and the ability to be able to laugh at the exchanges between Kate and Petruchio

  “Why, what’s a movable?” “A joint stool.” 

              or Vincentio and the Merchant,

  “Art thou his father?” “Ay”

the play would too closely resemble everyday life to be comfortable. Creating a sense of distance would also make it easier for the people coming to see the play to brush off, or even laugh off, the more concerning scenes. There are many scenes of violence and abuse, and many representations of sexism or stigmatism that an audience would rather not see.  

“The Taming of the Shrew” is very sexist and detrimental to women. Throughout the play, the definition of a good woman as someone who is docile, obedient, and silent is startlingly apparent. Shakespeare writes with the belief that ‘taming’ a disobedient woman is an achievement to be celebrated. Independent mindedness, spirit, and respect are condemned and criticized. Many women are seen only as possessions, equal to ox or to things. Many men are seen as jerks, which can only be summed up by Petruchio’s speech.

  “I will be master of what is mine own.

   She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house,

   My household-stuff, my field, my barn,

   My horse, my ox my ass, my anything,”

In the hopes of holding out for an ending, reading “Taming of the Shrew” only more clearly illustrated the negative and harmful perceptions in many societies. For sure, though, the ending must be that Petruchio comes to respect Kate and realize that he loves her more for her independence than he would if she was docile. Lucentio and Bianca would get married, and Gremio and Grumio would reveal that they were one person all along. Yet, the ending was not that. “The Taming of the Shrew” ended with a very long speech by Katherine about the importance of obedience in woman.

It is difficult to know what Shakespeare intended when he wrote “The Taming of the Shrew”. His play can be viewed in many different ways. It could be that that was how he thought. It could also be a commentary of society at the time. What is the most difficult to read and accept about his play is the knowledge that is a representation of a real worldview. Many of the attitudes the characters express are reflective of the attitude of general society. Perhaps that is why Shakespeare wrote the “Taming of the Shrew”- to allow the audience to realize the attitudes they themselves had.    

To Kill A Mockingbird Conclusion

To Kill A Mockingbird is ultimately about growing up. Over the course of the novel, several important lessons are introduced to Scout, and in the last ten chapters you see her finally fully realize their true meaning.

At the beginning of the book, when she is talking to Atticus about her first day at school, he tells her about putting herself in another person’s shoes, considering things from his or her point of view. It is only at the end of the novel, standing of the Radley porch, do you see that she fully understands what he was trying to say. It is in that moment that you can see how much she has truly grown up.

She also learns about racism and courage. Understanding that many of the people in Maycomb are racist is hard for her and for Jem, especially after watching the trial. Learning that Tom Robinson will be convicted, even though he is innocent is difficult for the children to comprehend and hard for them to come to terms with. Both Scout and Jem learn about courage and also become more aware that racism exists in the wider world.

Finally, she learns about the mockingbird. Throughout the novel, a mockingbird has been a symbol of innocence, of someone who has done no harm. When Scout and Jem receive guns for Christmas one year, Atticus tells Jem that he can, ‘shoot at all the bluejays he wants, if he can hit them, but remember that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird.’ You see that Scout understands not only this, but it’s deeper meaning, when she talks to Atticus about Boo Radley. In a way, she says, convicting Boo Radley would be like shooting a mockingbird.   

To Kill A Mockingbird Vocab/Lit Webs (12-20)

-- To Kill A Mockingbird Paragraphs -- (12-20)

In what is perhaps the most critical section of the entire book, Scout has the opportunity to see a variety of different perspectives, opinions, and outlooks. She begins to learn a little bit more about the worldviews of the different people of Maycomb, and begins to understand what Atticus was trying to say when he talks about considering things from another point of view.

At church with Calpurnia, both Scout and Jem see a different community and way of looking at the world. They are surprised to learn that Calpurnia, a part of both communities, presents herself differently depending on the circumstances she is in. When Aunt Alexandra comes to stay, she also brings completely different ideas. She wants Scout to become a lady, to wear skirts and attend society teas. She also wants Jem and Scout to learn about their family name. Though you can see that Aunt Alexandra has good intentions, you can also see that Scout doesn’t take very well to them.

The most important event in these chapters, the trial of Tom Robinson, shows the completely different perspectives of the town. At first, you can clearly see where the farmers and workers are coming from. Learning that Tom Robinson raped a young girl would cause anyone to be furious, and rightly so. However, once the trial begins, it becomes very clear that this was not what happened. All the evidence points to a different story; Mayella fell in love, or at least felt curious about being with a black man, who already had a wife and family. He felt sorry for her because of the terrible circumstances and home life she faced, and one day as he came in to help her do something, she came onto him. Her father, seeing this, attacked her. He and Mayella both told the sheriff that it was Tom who caused her harm. Even after this, Tom Robinson is convicted, and Scout and Jem both learn about the prejudice in Maycomb. You can also put yourself in the perspective of both Mayella Ewell and Tom Robinson, and as Atticus reads his final testimony it is clear he has already.  The trial is hard for all involved, and in the end, Tom Robinson’s story is a tragedy.  

To Kill A Mockingbird Representation (12-20)

To Kill A Mockingbird Representation Write Up (12-20)

The most important event in these eight chapters, and perhaps the entire book, is the trial of Tom Robinson. Raising important questions about equality, racism, and the role that prejudice plays in the justice system, the trial is important for many key characters in the book and readers today. I chose an image that represents an important saying in court, ‘justice is blind’, because that though it is important for justice to be blind it often is not. This was the case both in Tom Robinson’s trial and in many real historical and modern day court cases.

To Kill A Mockingbird Vocab/Lit Webs (9-11)

To Kill A Mockingbird Paragraphs (9-11)

Did you know that in his day and age, Atticus Finch was the best shot in Maycomb? Until a mad dog named Tim Johnson comes charging down the street, Jem and Scout had no idea. To Scout this is an instant redeeming quality, she does not hesitate in wanting to tell the whole town (and Cecil Jacobs) about this new discovery. It is especially amazing to her because she believes Atticus does very little that is dynamic and interesting, like drive a garbage truck or play tackle football. He just reads. So when a mad dog comes down the street, and the town calls Heck Tate -the Sheriff- and Atticus Finch, Scout and Jem are surprised to see their father take the rifle forced upon him, take aim, and shoot. Atticus pushing back the glasses he needs to see with and then hitting Tim Johnson perfectly is amazing to both his children, who have never even seen their father hold a gun before. Both Jem and Scout are surprised to learn this, but Jem also understands why his father never mentioned it to them before. His answer to Scout shows that he truly is growing up.

Why did Atticus never mention it to Jem and Scout? Miss Maudie somewhat explains this to Scout when she says “I think maybe he put his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things. I guess he decided he wouldn’t shoot till he had to, and he had to today.” Atticus is the best shot in Maycomb, but the fact that he never carries a gun is testament to his character. He wouldn’t take pride in something that causes unfair harm, or even death to other life. Jem sees this, I think, as well, which is why he tells Scout not to brag about Atticus around town; he never mentioned it to them for a reason. He wouldn’t care if Atticus couldn’t do anything at all.   

“I wanted you to see something about her- I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand.” – Atticus

In ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’, courage appears in many different forms. Perhaps one of its most curious manifestations is Ms. Dubose, a cantankerous, elderly, and very rude morphine addict.  When Jem destroys her flower garden, he is forced to spend time each day reading to her and he brings Scout with him. Neither of the two children really know what is going on, they are confused and rather disgusted by her fits of withdrawal and do not understand the purpose of the alarm clock she sets later each day. It is only one day, when she passes away, that Atticus explains it to them. Though she was dying, and in a great deal of pain, she refused to take morphine to combat her suffering. She was facing an addiction and wanted to die beholden to nothing and no one. And she succeeded in beating her addiction; in her mind, she died free. Courage, as Atticus says, is not a man holding a gun. It is “when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.” Courage takes many forms, both in To Kill A Mockingbird, and in real life.

To Kill A Mockingbird Representation- (9-11)

To Kill A Mockingbird Representation Write Up (9-11)

“Shoot at all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” –Atticus Finch, page 119.

To Kill A Mockingbird is about innocence, which is represented by this picture of a mockingbird perfectly. Mockingbirds, like Miss Maudie Atkinson says “don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us.” This is also a representation of many characters in the book; Scout who is innocent in the way that she sees the world growing up, Boo Radley, who is innocent of the stories told about him, and Tom Robinson who is innocent of the crime he was accused of. 

To Kill A Mockingbird Vocab/Lit Webs (1-8)

To Kill A Mockingbird Paragraphs (1-8)

The Radley house has always held a sense of mystery for Jem and Scout, but it is only really when they meet Dill that it becomes a more important part of their everyday lives. Perhaps this is why, for Jem, the story of Tom Robinson began with Dill daring Boo Radley to come out.

But who is Boo Radley? Though in reality not very much is known about him, the children and the neighborhood gossip, Ms. Stephanie Crawford, do not hesitate to fill in the blanks. Much in the way of telling scary stories and adding mystery to the unknown, they say that “Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall…he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch…There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time.” Adding further mystery to the story of Boo, the people of the town say he only comes out at night, that unexplained crimes are his doing, and that he once drove a pair of scissors into his father’s leg. Ms. Stephanie Crawford swears she saw him looking in her window at night. But this is only speculation, Boo’s true character is not known, primarily because he has never been seen. Boo is a recluse, and it is very unlikely that he is the cause of the rumors about him.

To the children he is fascinating. They dare each other to touch the Radley house, try to slip notes saying “hey” in his windows, and re-enact his life story (as told by the town and Ms. Stephanie) on their front lawn. One summer, Jem even goes to the back porch, to look in the window and flees the scene, leaving his pants caught in the barbed wire fence surrounding the Radley property. Reading, you also get the feeling that Boo Radley knows what the children are up to, and that finds it amusing. He likes the children, even though he is still Boo Radley to them, and you can tell this by him leaving them gifts in the hollowed out tree, giving Scout a blanket the night of the fire, folding and mending Jem’s pants when the get caught in the fence, or even laughing when Scout rolls into his yard on the tire and everyone freaks out because she has landed in front of the Radley house. Undoubtedly, the Radley house will continue to play an important part in the book as the story progresses. 

To Kill A Mockingbird Representation- (1-8)

To Kill A Mockingbird Representation Write Up (1-8)

This picture is reflective of the different points of view in To Kill A Mockingbird. The idea of looking at something from a different perspective is first introduced by Atticus, who tells Scout “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” (39).

The Loons Vocab/Lit Webs

The Loons Representation 

The Loons Representation Write Up

I chose an image of a loon for my representation of the Loons. Aside from the evident literal meaning and connection to the story (the title is "The Loons") the loon is also a metaphor for the Metis people. 

The Loons Paragraphs

Margaret Laurence’s short story, “The Loons” is set in the small Canadian town of Manawaka and the nearby Diamond Lake. Both the town and its inhabitants are fictional, however the stories told and prejudices present are not. In a way, Margaret Laurence’s tale is a reflection on aspects of both historical and modern Canadian society.

This story is narrated by the somewhat naïve Vanessa MacLeod, who is reflecting on the experiences and memories she had as a child. In particular, she remembers the relationship she had with a young Métis woman, Piquette Tonnerre. Piquette’s story is not uncommon; perhaps it is because of this that it is so striking. Diagnosed with bone tuberculosis at a young age and feeling responsible for taking care of her family, she was never a child. She stays with Vanessa and her family one summer and Vanessa is overjoyed to learn that there is an actual Métis girl living with them. She can’t wait for Piquette to start exploring the forest paths with her, talking with animals, and reciting poetry. In actuality, Piquette’s character is different both from the stereotypes people in the town have expressed about her family, and the idea of who she is Vanessa has expressed. Many of the circumstances she faces are tragic and when Vanessa next sees her, she has found a new hope of being free. Yet Piquette’s story is both tragic and impactful because in the end, this hope is never achieved and she returns to the life she has lived in for so long, eventually dying in the circumstances she faced as a child. As she sits by the lake, Vanessa realizes that Piquette is like the loons she has seen.  

First Entry/Course Intro

It is difficult to describe who I am, and it is even more difficult to know how to start writing on a blog. I like new beginnings. Life is full of fresh starts, and new ideas, opinions, and outlooks, and it is inspiring to think that there can be fresh chances and opportunities to make things better, even in bad situations. Knowing how to start something, especially something I’m writing, is important to me.

So how do you describe who a person is? I could sketch a basic description of who I am; my age, name, birthday, and gender. I could talk about how I appear, my hair color, eye color, height. But I don’t think that that is who a person is, and even if I thought so, I could not write it on a blog which any person could read. That would really be quite unsafe.

Not only that, describing who a person is completely is impossible. Who you are is constantly changing, evolving and growing, as you learn more about yourself and the world around you. It is composed of thousands of factors and life experiences, as diverse as the world we live in. Not only that, who you are shifts slightly in new circumstances, as different people, expectations, and responsibilities bring out different sides of you.

If I was asked to tell you about myself, I would say that I love life. I want to become a cultural anthropologist, and I love learning about ideas, philosophies, worldviews, and people. After highschool, I would like to go to university in Montreal, and take a variety of courses, including course in anthropology, philosophy, psychology, sociology, religious studies, film, and international development. I can be quite left leaning, and very humanitarianistic (is that a word?). I would love to be part of an international development program like Canada World Youth and live and volunteer in another country. I also love to travel, and would like to visit Tibet, Brazil, India, Africa, Europe, and New York City. It would also be pretty great to visit Australia, if only because they have kangaroos. And quite cool accents! I love to read, write, and debate. I also like watching classic movies (Dr. Zhivago, Casablanca, etc) and musicals (I love Rent and Moulin Rouge).  

I have two younger brothers, Jack and Will, and though they get on my nerves sometimes, I love them very much. I can be pretty protective of them too. My father’s a professor at Mt. Royal, and my mother works at FFCA, which is a little bit silly because she doesn’t really agree with their philosophy or teaching style. Most of my family lives in Toronto, so I don’t get to see them very often, though my Mom is in Toronto now, visiting relatives for a week.

After school, I am a part of very few extracurricular activities, teams, and groups. I play the flute in the Senior band and am an actor in the Westmount production of the Hobbit. I’m also a part of Summerstock, a theatre group based out of Westmount, that rehearses every Friday night from six until eleven thirty. At the end of July we perform our finalized show (usually a Broadway musical) downtown at Olympic Plaza.

My goals for English 10 definitely include learning how to write an essay, and passing word within the word tests. I can improve my essay writing skills by managing my time better (either by writing a schedule or planning to start my essay at least a week before it is due), learning how to express what I think through information, facts, and research, not just opinions, and reviewing criticism on the essays I have already completed. Word within the word expertise can be achieved by reviewing each new list of words as they come up, using tools like flashcards or websites to study, and working on my memorization skills. Linking the words to ideas or concepts is also a useful way for me to study. I am happy to be taking English this term, and I hope that the course will go well for me.