Tell Tale Heart Anaysis

The story has been interpreted in many different ways throughout the years and is still debated today. The main theme of the story is sanity vs. insanity. In the story the narrator insist that he loves the old man, has no personal animosity toward him, does not want his money, and has been injured by him. The narrator only hates the old mans evil eye. All this is quite normal, but then the narrator watches the man sleep for 8 nights then kills him. That is the insane part. He killed the man because of the way his eye looked. Then he heard the heart beats under the floor boards. The narrator must be crazy if he hears a dead mans heart beat. The narrator seeems sane at first but when the story goes on he becomes more insane. This story makes you wonder about the author. This could be reflecting the way Poe felt at the time. The terror and awe in the story is related to his obsession with time. He associates the central image of the beating of the heart with the beating of a clock; he says the old man listens, just as he has done, to the death watches in the wall. He emphasizes how time slows down and almost stops as he sticks his head into the old man’s room. I considered the significance of the title. I came to the conclusion that every heart tells a tale of passing time, with each beat bringing one closer to inevitable death.

Tragic

 

A normal morning for the Richard’s was in progress. Mrs. Richard a joyfull woman with a tan complexion, blue eyes, andbeautiful facial features, was in the kitchen making a sweet breakfast. She flipped the sausage over squeezing the juice out making it sizzle, scrambled the eggs, and the toast popped out the toaster with a loud ding. The sizzling sausages, crispy toast and sparkling yellow eggs were nice and hot.  While Mrs. Richard, a muscular and handsome young manflipped sausages, Mr. Richard was upstairs trying to decide which shirt looked best with which tie. He pulled out shirt after shirt and dumped all his ties onto the bed. The mixing of shirts and ties went on and on until he found the perfect match. He seemed to act like a little girl who cannot decide what she wants.

            On the way out of the door Mrs. Richard handed Mr. Richard his lunch and his breakfast in a sweet manner. They tenderly kissed each other goodbye. Outside the sun was rising with chirping birds. He walked to his car admiring the Chicago scenery. As he got closer to his car a squirrel stopped right in front of he and just stood there glaring as if it wanted him to stop and turn around and go back into the house. After a minute of just standing there Mr. Richard decided to walk around the squirrel and get into the car. He checked his mirrors and tried to put his seat belt on. It would not budge, so he just drove off. As he cruised down the street another squirrel ran in front of the car. Richard thought, “Was it just a coincidence or was it a sign?”

He turned onto Steger Road, the busiest street near his home. As he drove down the road, he saw squirrels everywhere. They were in the trees, grass, bushes, on top of houses, cars, trucks and garages. It seemed like they were trying to tell him something. He went into the intersection of Stegar Road and Route 394 to make a right turn. As he turned into the street he saw a big semi-tuck coming and he panicked. Within seconds he had to make many decisions. “Should I hit the brakes? Should I steer of the road? Should I keep going? What should I do?” That is what was going on in his head in those few seconds.  In the end the truck ran into the side of his car.

            As the truck hit the car he was blinded by its bright headlights, the metal rippled slowly like a beautiful wave and buckled under the pressure like a crushed can. The car skidded and spun continuously down the long road until it stopped with a huge bang. For a moment it was silent, all he could hear was bird chirping and could see the squirrels gust sitting there.

            As he laid there he thought about his beautiful wife and great friends. He wondered if he would live to see them again. That thought brought tears to his eyes. It seemed like he had been laying there for days. The world was just passing him by, until he heard sirens. He tried to move but he realized the he could not feel his legs. Footsteps were heard, bright lights were seen, and pain was felt deep in his heart. He knew at that it was time for him to go. A squirrel came and guided him into to the light and as he looked back he saw his wife and a baby inside of her. At that moment he became accepting of the outcome and at peace with the world because he knew that his legacy would continue, beginning with his unborn son.

On the Reservation

An Indian reservation was an area of land reserved for Indian use. The first political leader to suggest this policy was Andrew Jackson. There are only 310 reservations in the United States today even though there are more than 550 recognized tribes. Life in the reservations is currently the hard. Many of the reservations are very isolated from the rest of the world. They live in poverty and are not able to support themselves well in the reservation. Many Native Americans dislike life in the reservation and eventually leave, when leaving they don’t just leave their family behind but their culture also. Native American culture has been lost over the years and they continue to attempt to recover what has been lost. America has become a great country since it has been started, but it is easy to forget that we have taken other people's land for our benefit. That is why Native Americans deserve the most respect because we took their land and gave them land somewhere else and they were able to live through that.

“American Indians have been found to be the poorest people living in the US. The country's 2.1 million Indians, about 400,000 of whom live on reservations, have the highest rates of poverty, unemployment and disease of any ethnic group in America.” –Peter Carlson

Propaganda 2011

Propaganda 2011

1.      ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one's cause or to damage an opposing cause; also : a public action having such an effect

2.      the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person

In 2011 propaganda is on a whole new level. It is in commercials, newspapers, on the radio and billboards. I see propaganda on T.V everyday especially since the mayor elections started. In the commercials the candidates try to convince you to vote for them because they are the right choice while at the same time tearing down the competitors. They run others commercials just to bash on the others telling us at home they won’t be able to keep your children safe and money in your pockets but they can if you give them the chance. They run these commercials to convince you not to vote for the other candidates and change your view of them. This is all propaganda, the spreading of ideas and influencing you just for a vote is one of the many forms of propaganda that we see today. I really hate commercials I think they are a big waste of time. I always record my show then fast-forward through the commercials. I guess propaganda doesn’t really effect me because I don’t pay much attention to it.

Beat Street Response

Beat Street was really interesting. I usually don’t watch movies from the 1900-2003 because most are unrealistic compared to the present and they have really bad graphics. Now my favorite movie is beat Street because of the insane pop-locking and break dancing despite the graphics and relevance. It was cool to see what clothes they wore in the 80’s. It seems as though they would randomly pick a shirt and some pants. Their combinations of clothes and shoes was fly but today I consider it a little crazy and outlandish. I remember a girl had on a blue fur, pink shirt, green pants, and blue shoes in the movie. Who would wear that? Not I! She looked really good but I wondered what my reaction would be if I actually saw somebody to day wearing that. I think I would just laugh and take a picture just to remember the moment.

While looking back on the past part of it showed up in my life yesterday. I saw an 8 track tape and player. When I saw it I asked my grandmother what it was and when she told me my eyes grew with excitement. I had never seen one in my whole life. We set it up and got it to play. It was like a blast from the past. Ancient!

Hungry for Attention

So now in class we are reading the book Black Boy by Richard Wright. So far in the book the main character Richard shows his need for attention. He seems like he’s just there and not really acknowledged because he is a child. In the book he sets the curtain in his house on fire basically because he was bored. By setting the curtains on fire and basically burning the house down he defiantly got the attention he has been yearning for. Another example of his addiction to attention is when he killed a cat to get back at his father. Richard’s sole intention was to get the attention and anger his father without getting punished.

Is Richard alone in his craving for hunger?

All crave some attention but people pursue it in different ways. Some have made themselves into celebrities, who have the attention of millions. Others are criminals who are on the news who also have the attention of many. Some people pursue attention in negative ways and others in positive ways.

Why is attention craved?

This question I cannot answer on the behalf of others but I crave attention because it’s boring to live in the shadows of others. I like to be visible in the spotlight, because of the feeling I get. When I’m in front of people on a stage I feel happy and at home. That is why I crave attention.

King Still King?

Dr. Martin Luther King is defiantly still relevant. Dr. King fought for equal rights and an end to racism. Still to this day you can say that people still don’t have equal rights and there is defiantly racism still in today’s modern society. Though racism is not as bad as it was it is still living. Its today’s society blacks are often looked down upon. It is not unheard of a person of a different race getting a job over a black person just because of their skin. Racism now is not only limited to blacks. Mexicans are also looked at the same way. There are also a lot of racist stereo types. For example, Asians are smart and black people are always late. In some cases especially in the south rights are secretly based upon their race. For example, if a black person got caught stilling would get a harsher punishment than if he/she were of a different race. He is relevant because his goals were not completely accomplished and we are still fighting his war against racism. If he was still alive I could see him speaking to people around the world about rights and racism.

Children of the Sea

So far the best passage we have read is Children of the Sea by Edwidge Danticat. I like to read short stories, books, novels, etc. This short story is formed through journal entries which are out of the ordinary and interesting. The journal exchanges are between two lovers separated from one another. Both the man and woman deal with difficult case scenarios that create much struggle in order to live. Although the story was fictional, it seemed like a first-hand account. The best feature of the short story is that it has meaning and an actual plot unlike like some stories (house of the seven gables). As you read this story it doesn’t get boring and has just enough action to make you want to keep reading. I also like the way the author says what she means and get straight to the point because some authors spend 2 pages describing something that could have been said in 1 paragraph. Describing something for 2 pages in most cases would make the reader board and want to stop reading. Usually I hate the things I read in school but this is one of the best stories I have ever read. Oh I forgot, another good thing about Children of the Sea is that it is very short!!

Winter beginings
frost covers the crisp grass as the sun begins to rise
your breath floats in the air
like a sweet cloud
coats,boots,sweaters, and christmas trees come from the underground
revived from the long summer
holiday lights make the city bright
the kids get excited
gifts,gifts, gifts
Winter has began

Class Improvements

I am always asked do I like the class. That question doesn’t really give me much of a choice but to answer with “yes” because I have to go through the class for the rest of the school. I better like it!! On the other hand when I am asked if I like American Literature class I can honestly say that I love it. I’m not just saying it because I have to, I genuinely like the class.

So, I am what direction does the class need to be better.

Well I don’t have a problem with anything in the class. It’s the best class I have this year. I really like how we discus every topics we come across. Everyone can express their opinion without being judged and the discussions are really deep.
The assignments are never hard but we still learn what is necessary. That is just how I like it, in depth but simple at the same time. It seems like in this class as long as the work gets done and you show that you have learned the material then you won’t have any problems.

The class is really laid back and free, so ultimately I don’t think the class needs any other direction.

Modern Slavery

Slavery has been traced back all the way to 3000 B.C in Mesopotamia. Slavery back then was not that bad. They took people who had debts, criminals, and captives as slaves. Eventually those who owed debts and the criminals were set free. Also if the slave had kids, their kids would not automatically be slaves also like in America. I am not saying that slavery is a good thing or should have been allowed. I am simply saying that slavery was not as bad as it was in America. Slavery slowly began to change over the years. The Americans turned it into a permanent thing and they treated their slaves terribly.


Now today we have a new form of slaves. There are sex slaves in our society today. Girls are taken from their homes at a young age and usually are sold into brothels. They train the girls in how to dress, wear makeup and please their customers. The daughter of Nepalese peasant farmers, Geeta had been sold to a brothel in India by a member of her extended family at the age of nine. The family member had duped Geeta's visually impaired mother into believing her daughter would get a job at a clothing company in Nepal. At the brothel the owner of the slaves would verbally abuse and beat the girls with wires, rods and hot spoons if they did not comply. On average the young girl was force to have sex with about 60 men a day. It is a true shame. The world has greatly changed the idea of slavery over the centuries.

The moment I knew I was an American

What is an American? Well Thomas Jefferson was said to believe that an American was of European decent. I definitely do not believe an American is only of European decent. That is entirely not true because the slaves they brought from Africa did not have any type of European decent. Even some of the Africans that were born in amerce did not any type of European decent. So I think and American is a person that is born in America and has lived there for most of their life.

In America people have a sense of freedom but still have invisible bars around them. Americans get to choose their own religion, wear what they want, say anything, write anything, celebrate holidays, have different traditions, etc. America provides all these different opportunities. The invisible bars come into play when you put laws into the equation. The laws restrict you from doing certain things which means you are not exactly free. Many American don’t realize it but the government is not exactly giving them the freedom they deserve or believe they have.

Honestly I don’t know the difference between and American and another nationality. Why? Well it is because I have never been out side of the country or met someone who is not American. So the moment I knew I was an American has not occurred in my life yet, but when it does I will defiantly update you guys on the moment I knew I was an American.

Us VS Them

In the world you can encounter man “Us VS Them” situations. At some point people are bound to disagree. Actually everyday you can be in an “Us VS Them” situation. For example, many people have different religions and there are rivalries between each group. The Catholics believe that through going to church and doing rituals can get you salvation. While the Lutherans believe that through belief alone they can achieve salvation. The difference in belief causes an “Us VS Them” situation.

Even the slightest subject like food can cause conflict. For example, my brother and I hate tomatoes but everyone else in our family loves them. My other family members think that my brother and I are just crazy. In my house there is defiantly an “Us VS Them” situation when it comes to food. I believe that it is inevitable for someone not to encounter an “Us VS Them situation. In my short life so far I have encountered many conflicts, there were probably more than one a day. Sports also create huge conflicts. Some people believe that Kobe Bryant is the best while others believe that Labron James is the best. I have seen people argue for hours over that subject. “Us VS Them” situations occur everyday.

John Proctor: Hero or Stooge

Well, personally I don’t think John proctor is a hero. I think he is a stooge defiantly. A hero wouldn’t cheat on their wife. Most of the time heroes set a good example for people who look up to them. I don’t think in any case that someone would want to look up to a person who cheats on their wife like Tiger Woods. In Tiger Woods situation he thought that no one would find out but as the girls he messed with came out of the closet many of his fans began to turn on him. John is defiantly in the same situation. He thinks that no one will find out but I predict that it will come out sooner or later and when it does the whole town will turn on him. Once all that happens I know the town will turn against him and then defiantly no one would look at him as a hero.

Stooge is the best description of John Proctor. He is definitely an idiot for cheating on his wife. It doesn’t make sense for a man who has a wife that truly loves them to go out and cheat on her. Now I think that their relationship is jeopardized and probably won’t ever be the same. Also by cheating he is jeopardizing his life. If he gets caught there could be serious punishments. The court could charge him and have him killed. Or, the people could find out his reputation would be ruined. Either way he is defiantly screwed and a stooge.

Sinners in the Hands of Angry God

In this passage Edwards basically talks about how god can at any moment kill you and send you to hell if you are a sinner or sins. If they believe that god does that then they must live on edge all throughout their life. Everything they do they must think out carefully making sure they do not sin. Just walking to the store requires thought and carefulness. For example, back in the 16th and 17th centuries, on Sundays the Puritans could only go to church or to their house. It was considered a sin to do anything else on Sundays.

If I believed what Edwards was talking about I know for a fact that I would not last. They have so many rules, I probably couldn’t remember them all, and so I would commit what they considered sins all the time. The best way for me to succeed in being a Puritan would to carry around a rule book with me. Before I make a move or take a step I would pull that book out and make sure I don’t sin, so that I can go to heaven. That might seem a little crazy but my memory is not very great. Also, they used to have a rule that prohibited anyone from dancing. Wow, I would sure commit that sin. The hands of God probably wouldn’t hold me for long.

There Goes the Neighborhood!

In the U.S today I believe that we are still separated into race, religion, and ethnicity. If you examine closely you will see that majority of people live in an area with their same race or religion. For example, In China Town the majority are Chineese that live in that area. The main reason it ends up like that is because the other races just don’t want to live near them.
The town I grew up in has changed drastically. When I was in Kindergarten I moved to Crete, Illinois. For about the first 3-4 years we were the only African-American people in the neighborhood. Everybody was nice and welcoming. At that time no houses were for sell. Then my town had built new houses and many African-American people moved. Thats when it all started. After a while many of my Caucasian neighbors moved, and then more houses were put up for sell. Now majority of the town was African-American.
Some of the Caucasian neighbors may have been racist but that is not always the case. Honestly many of those who moved in were very ignorant, they did not keep their yard intact, and were very rude. They just did not take pride in what they had. I have seen people walk around the neighborhood littering, vandalizing and many other offensive actions done to the neighborhood. I believe people should take care of their town, have their lawns clean, and just be nice & decent human beings. Well there goes the neighborhood!!!

A Snippet About Me

            Many people would describe me as nice, intelligent, funny and optimistic. This is entirely true but also there is a bad side. I don’t have a lot of patience and I can be mean and a little rude at times. I’m the type of person who hates traffic, standing in line and people just taking their sweet time for no good reason. Honestly patience is not in my blood because both of my parents and my grandfather do not any type of patients. I can seem rude sometimes because I speak my mind and tell the truth. I am not going to sugar coat anything just because it might hurt someone’s feelings. I will be straight forward.
           My favorite thing to do is to play music. I can play the clarinet, piano, cello, trumpet and drums. When I first touched and instrument was in 3rd grade. My mother had signed me up for piano lessons. At first I was resistant to going, but when I sat down in front of that beautiful piano I felt at home. Ever since then I have been learning to play many instruments. I am currently in Whitney Young’s Advanced band, all city band and the Northshore Concert band.
           In the near future I would like to be either a surgeon. When I was little Discovery Health Channel was my favorite station. I guess you can say that I wasn’t the ordinary kid because when everyone was watching cartoons I was watching people have surgeries. The human body has always fascinated me but also I want help people. I love to see the glow in their eyes and bright smile on peoples face when someone literally saves their life. I think that is the best part of being a doctor.