The American poet Sara Teasdale was plagued by ill-health as a child. Because of this, she was home-schooled until the age of nine. It wasn't until she was ten years old that she was finally able to attend school. Initially, she went to the Mary Institute, but transferred to Hosmer Hall a year later. Hosmer Hall was a school for girls in St. Louis. In the late 19th century, when Sara Teasdale was at school, college education for women was very much in its infancy. Hosmer Hall's main purpose was to prepare young ladies for the intellectual rigors of a college education, with an emphasis on subjects such as Latin and mathematics, which were not thought suitable for women at that time. However, the dominant ethos at the school was that studying such subjects would provide excellent mental training for girls that would stand them in good stead for further academic study.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Who is Sally Hayes: how does Holden describe her and what does he think of her?
Chapter 15 is a good place to look for Holden's perceptions of Sally Hayes. Sally is a fellow New Yorker whom Holden has known "for years." Like Holden, she attends a private boarding school. Holden has come to realize that he thinks that Sally is actually "stupid" because she doesn't share his values. His perception of her has been distorted because they "necked so damn much."
When he is hiding out in New York, Holden likely calls Sally because he is lonely. He admits that "she gave me a pain the ass, but she was very good-looking." He makes a date with her to attend a theater matinee, despite his annoyance about the way she speaks and acts. On their date, he tries, and fails, to connect with her. Sally is a conventional girl of her social class and does not understand or recognize Holden's struggles to come to terms with Allie's death, his fear of growing up, and his attempts to forge his own identity.
Sally Hayes is a girl that Holden has been dating on and off for some time. She's a very attractive and well-read young lady, but Holden is as critical of her as he is of just about everyone else. For instance, he calls her "stupid" even though there's no evidence to suggest that she's anything of the kind. Holden's insulting words towards Sally tell us a lot more about him than they do about her. She represents everything he's come to despise. She's bubbly, popular, and entirely at ease with the society in which she moves so effortlessly. This makes her a "phony" in Holden's eyes. He's so alienated from everyone and everything around him that the very idea of someone actually wanting to be part of a social world he hates so much is just something he can't begin to comprehend. So he responds in the only way he knows how: with insults, resentment, and immaturity.
In Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls, what overall theme is presented through the changing relationship between the monster and Conor, the protagonist? Please provide quote examples.
In Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls, the evolution of the relationship between Conor and the monster reflects the theme of self-awareness. From the outset, the monster serves as a guide and tough-love mentor to Conor, teaching him through experiences that sometimes result in bad behavior (wrecking grandmother's apartment and beating up Harry), but simultaneously imparting wisdom about the 'whats' and 'whys' behind these actions. For example, the monster poses questions during his stories that help Conor understand his own conflicted emotions and desire to hurt others:
Humans are complicated beasts, the monster said. How can a queen be both a good witch and a bad witch? How can a prince be a murderer and a saviour. . . How can invisible men make themselves more lonely by being seen?
By encouraging Conor to be self-reflective, the monster empowers him with tools to come to terms with the hard truths of his life.
Initially, the relationship seems quite adversarial in certain ways because Conor doesn't understand the message in the monster's stories and continues to act out and be sarcastic. As Conor's self-awareness grows, however, the monster's language softens. For example, the monster helps Conor forgive himself for some of his previous destructive attitudes and behaviors, saying, “You were merely wishing for the end of pain. . . Your own pain. An end to how it isolated you. It is the most human wish of all.” The monster wants Conor to be free from denial and to learn to discriminate between lies, constructed reality, and truth.
By the end of the novel, the relationship has echoes of a parental connection: "He [Conor] faintly felt the huge hands of the monster pick him up, forming a little nest to hold him. He was only vaguely aware of the leaves and branches twisting around him, softening and widening to let him lie back." By releasing his fear of the truth, Conor feels more secure in who he is and recognizes that he is, in fact, loved, symbolized through this final, tender image of protection.
What is an important fact about fredrick douglass
Frederick Douglass was an escaped slave in the nineteenth century who became famous for his writing, speaking, abolitionist activism, and political standing. It was his writing and oration that brought him the most renown and continue to be his most well-known legacy. It was both unusual and illegal for a slave to be literate, but Douglass was able to learn at the age of twelve. After successfully escaping slavery and establishing himself as a free man up North, this skill would be his most valuable. He started by speaking about abolitionism and civil rights (later the topics would expand to include women’s rights as well) for a small group, which brought enough interest to him that he was soon hired for speeches both in America and internationally. By 1845 he had written and published his first autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. He would write and publish two more autobiographies over the course of his life. In addition to the books, Douglass also wrote for and produced several newspapers about human rights and ending slavery. Beyond his writing and speaking, which he continued throughout his life, Douglass was also appointed to political office. This included a bank president position and two different ambassador positions in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Though he did not ultimately win, Frederick Douglass was also the first African American to be on a ballot as a vice presidential candidate. Frederick Douglass was a hugely influential figure in abolitionism whose works remain relevant today.
https://www.biography.com/activist/frederick-douglass
How did Mr. Darcy justify his behavior toward Jane and Mr. Wickham?
Unraveling Mr. Darcy’s character in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is a delightful party game that has intrigued readers for centuries. To answer the first part of your question, Mr. Darcy justifies his prejudice towards Jane Bennet by telling Elizabeth that he did not believe she showed any partiality for Mr. Bingley and that he did not believe she liked him better than any other gentleman she danced with at the Netherfield ball. Unaware that many young ladies were advised to be careful in their demeanor towards young men, Mr. Darcy is concerned that his friend may be wasting his affection on a woman who does not appear to care for him and advises Bingley to leave the neighborhood and return to London. Many readers believe that Mr. Darcy did this heartbreaking deed hoping that Bingley would develop affections for his sister, Miss Georgiana, but Austen’s plot does not twist that way. That said, to answer the second part of your question regarding Mr. Darcy’s behavior towards Mr. Wickham, his justifications are on more solid ground. In Mr. Darcy’s view, Mr. Wickham is a ne’er do well in lamb’s clothing. Lazy and irresponsible, Wickham has abused the trust of the Darcy family in many ways: he squandered the inheritance that he extorted from Mr. Darcy and eloped with Miss Georgiana when she was just 15. Luckily, Mr. Darcy was able to save his sister from such a loathsome alliance. Mr. Darcy’s pride keeps him from confronting Wickham’s lies about the past until he realizes it has cost him the favor of Elizabeth, the woman he loves. It is only in a letter from Mr. Darcy to Elizabeth following her rejection of his proposal of marriage that the reader learns the true extent of Wickham’s deceit and depravity.
Mr. Darcy's justifications are two-fold, as his actions toward Mr. Wickham and toward Jane spring from separate motivations. Still, they share a similar thread, as each reflects Mr. Darcy's judgement of character.
As Mr. Darcy explains, he warns Mr. Bingley away from Jane because he believes that she does not return Bingley's affections. (Ironically, Darcy later fights his own admiration of Elizabeth, who truly does not reciprocate, though he is mistaken concerning Jane's feelings.) In fact, undemonstrative Jane is very much in love with Mr. Darcy's good friend but is far too meek to declare her love. To be certain, Mr. Darcy also prevents Mr. Bingley from pursuing Jane because of her social position and family, but this is paired with his concern that Jane is only flirting with Mr. Bingley.
While Mr. Darcy misjudges Jane's character when he separates her from Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy is astute in his understanding of Mr. Wickham. As Mr. Wickham's past behavior reveals, the man is an untrustworthy scoundrel. Mr. Darcy treated him very kindly, all things considered, and respected his own father's wishes regarding Wickham. Lizzie misjudges Mr. Darcy, at first, by believing Mr. Wickham instead.
How do the people in The Crucible value power more than justice? Discuss.
None of the authority figures in The Crucible, with the notable exception of Reverend Hale, is in the slightest bit interested in securing justice. All of them are personally invested in some way, shape, or form, with keeping the witch-craze going, even if it means innocent people being sent to the gallows.
Judge Danforth is on something of a power trip. He enjoys the authority, both legal and spiritual, that the trials have given him, and he's not about to give any of that up for a little thing like justice. The Putnams crave power too. They've lost so much power over their lives due to the deaths of almost all their children that the witch-trials present them with an opportunity to experience some measure of control.
Much the same could be said of Abigail Williams. As a young woman with a bad reputation in a small Puritan town she's about as powerless as it's possible to get. That is until she starts spreading malicious gossip and making false accusations of witchcraft. For then she's placed in a position of power for the very first time. Like Judge Danforth, Abby enjoys her new-found power, enjoys using it to settle scores against those who've wronged her. One word from those lying lips of hers is enough to get someone into serious trouble. But Abby doesn't care. Justice means nothing to her. As far as she's concerned, she was the victim of an injustice after being dumped by John Proctor and subsequently expelled from his household by his wife Elizabeth, and so she thinks that the Proctors deserve some serious payback. Justice be damned.
The citizens of Salem value and respect authority more than they cherish justice, which is one reason why the witch trials continue and eventually destabilize the entire community. Salem's government is considered a theocracy, where the religious leaders virtually have unchecked authority because they represent and enact God's orders. Therefore, the devout Christian citizens do not question Salem's authority figures despite the numerous arrests and unfounded convictions of innocent people. As fervent, zealous followers, the citizens of Salem passively accept the Court's rulings without challenging Deputy Governor Danforth or Judge Hathorne. When citizens like Giles Corey or John Proctor challenge Salem's authority figures, they are immediately arrested. The citizens not only respect the Court's decisions but they do not come to Proctor or Giles Corey's aid before they are unjustly executed. One could argue that the religious makeup of the community and their reverence for authority figures prevent them recognizing and challenging the prevalent injustice taking place. They passively watch as Abigail Williams and her followers make false accusations without protest and numerous citizens are wrongly convicted of crimes they did not commit.
Where was Aristotle born?
Aristotle was born in the ancient city of Stagira, Greece. Stagira was located along the country’s northern coast and also served as a seaport. The town was founded by people from Andros, and, at one time, Xerxes I of Persia occupied the town. The city was later under the administration of Athens after joining the Delian League. However, Stagira withdrew her membership from the Delian League in pursuit of self-determination. Athens attacked Stagira as a result, and, during the Peloponnesian War, the city joined and supported Sparta against Athens.
The city was later destroyed in the Olynthian War by Philip II of Macedon after he occupied the territory. As a favor, Philip decided to rebuild the city after Aristotle provided tutoring services to Philip’s son, Alexander. Philip resettled displaced natives of Stagira and made efforts to build new structures within the city. Philip’s son and Aristotle’s student went on to become Alexander the Great after he ascended to power.
http://www.dimosaristoteli.gr/en/sights/ancient-stagira
http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/AncientMacedonia/AlexandertheGreat.html
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Philip-II-king-of-Macedonia