The Bean Trees Essay

The Bean Trees


Hopeless, it seems like everything has gone wrong, and there is no way you can start over. Numerous regrets and thing you could have done better creep into your mind, and you realize you just want to start over. In the novel The Bean Trees Taylor and Lou Ann both have troubled paths, and feel they just need to start over. You can choose how you want to live your life, and you can make sufficient changes to be able to become almost a new person, to be reborn. This is an important part of modern society, because there are so many new ideas and philosophies out there, that you could have a radically different belief than your parents, or community.
Taylor feels like she just doesn’t fit in Kentucky. Everyone seems to not have much hope for their future, and just wants to glide by without much hope for success. An example of what she could have been in Newt Hardbine, he dropped out of school to help support his family. He represents someone who doesn’t have determination, as he is willing to help out, but not ready to work hard to achieve something great. Taylor on the other hand is determined and intelligent enough to set a goal and reach for it. The way out is a new beginning, a new town, and a new life. Taylor demonstrates that sometimes the difference between success and failure is the willingness to try new things.
Another reason for Taylor’s success is her ability to adapt to new things. She is thrown out into the middle of nowhere with no one to turn to. It is in these tough situations that your true beings manifests itself, and you genuinely find out what kind of a person you are, and what is really important to you. In a stroke of luck Taylor is able to find friends who are willing to support and defend her every move. She proves that women can be strong, but she also explains the many challenges that she faces "There seemed to be no end of to the things that could be hiding, waiting it out, right where you thought you could see it all." In the end she proves to everyone, mainly herself that she can be independent and take responsibility.
Besides Taylor, Turtle also goes through the experience of being reborn into a new life. Her past is so troubled and bleak that Taylor decides it would just be best to try to forget about it. When Turtle gets to Taylor it is not obvious whether she is dead or alive, but soon she shows signs of life. The bean trees are almost a good representation of Turtle’s life, she started as a wrinkled-up seed, and when planted she sprouted into a lovely plant. In the end of the novel she finally is ready to give up her past by trying to bury the doll that represents her mom; she is essentially burying her past and moving ahead. She was reborn readily and willingly to begin a new life as Taylor’s daughter.
Lou Ann has an experience similar to Turtle as she loses part of her family, and is unsure whether to trust them. She does not have much confidence or trust before Taylor meets her, and she is depressed. Another problem that ails her is that she is too self-critical she analyzes herself in this quote "I feel like the only reason I have any friends at all is because I'm always careful not to say something totally dumb, and if I blow it just one time, then that's it." After Angel leaves her she is down one family member, but Taylor fills this spot well. They almost start to function like a normal family, and Lou Ann realizes that she isn’t a failure and that there is still hope for her. Taylor aids her in this rebirthing process and soon she knows that giving up is out of the question, and takes a job to gain her confidence back, and to prove that she can take care of her son.
Overall throughout the book there are examples of the continuous cycle of life and death. This embodies the title of the book The Bean Trees, because the characters much like trees, start out as a shriveled up mess, and grow to sprout into healthy beautiful trees. The help and support they receive is the water that makes them grow, and it gives them to hope to grow into a stronger person. All of the characters in the book take life into their own hands, and aren’t willing to settle for second best. They realize that they are their own person, who can make their own decisions. Only you know what is best for you, and only you have the determination and the guts to make it happen.

The Power and the Glory Essay

Stumbling, and confused. What do I stand for? What is my destiny, and what do others think about me? In the novel The Power and the Glory the whisky priest has all of these problems. He tries to reason, but in the end he has to turn to his faith to guide him through the dark and hopeless times. His beliefs are strong enough to carry him through sickness, disgust, and hopelessness. There is a very important theme to the book being there is no good or evil, only shades of gray. The power to inspire is very great, and even if you don’t see it you could be making a world of a difference to someone else. Sometimes the best things are free, and cannot be seen or touched.
Although many think the whisky priest to be so sinful he is almost to the point of inhuman, he is just as much or more human than everyone else. Nobody is perfect, but everyone has good traits, and bad traits about them. Everyone is critical of themselves and others, and it just ends up being a mess. No person is one-dimensional, no person has one side to them, and no person is the same. You can never really judge or know what is going on in anyone’s head except for your own. This means you are the biggest critic of yourself. Greene shows that the priest is self-critical even when others aren’t “The lieutenant said in a tone of fury: "Well, you're going to be a martyr—you've got that satisfaction." "Oh, no. Martyrs are not like me. They don't think all the time—if I had drunk more brandy I shouldn't be so afraid." Even though it seems to the priest as if he has failed everyone, in fact he has done the exact opposite.
Failure is all depending on how you view the situation. The priest failed to escape with his life, and live on to maybe change his ways. However, he succeeded in an even bigger way; he inspired people to have faith, and he gave them hope. He explains how he is able to accept death “He knew now that at the end there was only one thing that counted—to be a saint.” Being remembered in the post-mortem form the priest’s story is a lot more powerful, and inspiring. Suddenly opinions of him change, and he is known as the noble and faithful symbol of hope. Although the government feels they have won, they cannot stop the power of mind, or the desire inside everyone to make a difference.

Power and the Glory Response

Starving, about to die, and finally you find some food. Another animal is eyeing the very same food, but you decide you must have it, you must go on living. In chapter four the priest learns that sometimes to survive, you must turn into an animal. For him it is survival of the fittest, and he has hope and is willing to go on. He tries to reason, and promise himself that he will give some back to the dog, but he never does. Sometimes reasoning can’t overcome your animal instincts. The priest is halfway between heaven and hell; he is so close to escape, but doesn’t know if he is willing to go on.

The whole scene is very ironic, and everything is barely living. Everything seems hopeless, the dog is almost dead, and the child is in the same critical state. He can barely speak to the woman and understand what she wants, and he barely has the strength and the will to keep on living. When finally he understands the women he blesses and prays for the child, but it is already too late. Hope and life is slowing fading away, and it seems there is nothing he can do to stop it. Despite all of his attempts to try to keep his human side, his animal instinct takes over in both cases. He takes the bone from the dog, and the sugar cube from the child knowing that he needs them more than them.

When close to death you start to think about all the things you have done, and all the things you should have. The priest doesn’t know if he should give up or keep on trying, he is a state of limbo. A quote from an earlier part of the novel explains why “The lieutenant said in a tone of fury: "Well, you're going to be a martyr—you've got that satisfaction." "Oh, no. Martyrs are not like me. They don't think all the time—if I had drunk more brandy I shouldn't be so afraid.” His immense hopelessness and guilt weighs down on him, and truly tests his faith. The scene tries to make you see how much suffering and sorrow are going on around him, even when he is so close to freedom. By the end of the chapter he feels as though he is barely human, and doubts if he is even worthy enough to live.

Da Vinci Code Write-up

Da Vinci Code
Author:
Dan Brown
Dan Brown is no stranger to the best seller list, because all of his novels have made it to the list. Other achievements include top 100 influential people, and appearances on popular channels such as CNN. He grew up with a wealthy family, and his dad was a math teacher while his mom was a musician. As a kid he was torn between science and religion as his viewpoint. Brown is a big history buff, and so this is why the inspiration for all of his novels are related to unknown things in history. His wife is also a history buff, and they often do research together. His books often take a long time to write, as much of it is research and he trying to get his facts straight. The books also often include codes, and picture puzzles that he has some friends help create. Dan is just in the beginning of his career he will continue to make more intriguing thriller novels.
Analysis:
Your whole life is a lie people are telling you one thing, and doing the exact opposite. A hidden agenda trying to use anything they can to accomplish their goals, without you finding out what that goal is. Conspiracy is an idea that Dan Brown plays with in the novel Da Vinci Code. Most of conspiracy theories we know are fake, because such a big business or government can’t really have that many lies, however some were proven true. You can’t lie to everyone and expect to get away with it, and accomplish your hidden agenda. Free will is a powerful thing and anyone can think anything they want, and practice ways of life that they think are right. Certain things are only controversial if they contradict your morals. Different places, and different people have different morals, and beliefs. What may sound sacred to you, could be disgusting or unintelligent to another. A quote from the book explains that you can’t take things too literally, or the meaning is lost,” Every faith in the world is based on fabrication... Every religion describes God through metaphor, allegory, and exaggeration, from the early Egyptians through modern Sunday school... Should we wave a flag and tell the Buddhists that we have proof the Buddha did not come from a lotus blossom? Or that Jesus was not born of a literal virgin birth? Those who truly understand their faiths understand the stories are metaphorical.” Faith trust, and honesty play a big part in everyday life. A life of lies is no life at all, and if you think about it will money and power really matter when the day is done?

Historical Movement:
Contemporary Conspiracy
People think that large organizations such as the government are keeping certain secrets from the public. Most of these theories are definitely not true, but it raises questions that make you look deeper into things. Old cults and ideas are revived and given new life. Authors and people try to research to find things that fit their theories. These theories could be caused by paranoia, or just strong dislike for the group. In the Da Vinci Code he does not hate the group, but is just interested in exploring the possibilities of their existence. Brown writes to invoke interest in the reader, and to make you want to keep reading on to figure out what the story is really about. Using proven facts and evidence you cannot deny create a semi-realistic setting that can at the end of the story almost convince you that it is real.
Theme:
Comedy
As the book starts out Robert Langdon is just presenting his symbology class, when he gets a phone call. He is told about a murder that has taken place. The man was Jacques Sanuiere, and he was the curator of the Louvre museum in France. Originally they were sending him there to be framed for the murder, but Sophie the man’s granddaughter tells him of the plan. Langdon had planned to go there to meet the man, and discuss the symbology hidden in some of the artwork. A cryptic code awaits him on the floor, and it is his job to decrypt it with the help of Sophie who is also a cryptologist. They escape from the Louvre just as the police are about to get them, and they follow the clues. The chase leads them across Paris and to many different monuments, and tributes to science. Riddles, and puzzle await them, and all the time they are being watched by the very people that killed the curator. They think they solved the code, and the Teacher, who is the leader of the Opus Dei cult, strikes. Langdon threatens to break the cryptex forever washing away the secret of the Holy Grail, and he does it. The teacher didn’t know that he had already solved it, and the police come and arrest him. All of the clues contained in the cryptex send them to the obvious location. There they meet the then alone Sophie’s grandmother. Langdon then realizes he had the wrong location, and finally figures out it is at the Louvre, but decides the secret should still be kept.

Quotes:
“The Bible did not arrive by fax from heaven…The Bible is the product of man, my dear. Not of God. The Bible did not fall magically from the clouds. Man created it as a historical record of tumultuous times, and it has evolved through countless translations, additions, and revisions. History has never had a definitive version of the book.”

“Jesus Christ was a historical figure of staggering influence, perhaps the most enigmatic and inspirational leader the world has ever seen . . . Understandably, His life was recorded by thousands of followers across the land . . . More than eighty gospels were considered for the New Testament, and yet only a relative few were chosen for inclusion - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John among them . . . The Bible, as we know it today, was collated by the pagan Roman emperor Constantine the Great.”

“Legend tells us the Holy Grail is a chalice - a cup. But the Grail's description as a chalice is actually an allegory to protect the true nature of the Holy Grail…The Grail is literally the ancient symbol for womanhood and the Holy Grail represents the sacred feminine and the goddess, which of course has now been lost, virtually eliminated by the Church.”

“The marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene is part of the historical record.”

“Every faith in the world is based on fabrication... Every religion describes God through metaphor, allegory, and exaggeration, from the early Egyptians through modern Sunday school... Should we wave a flag and tell the Buddhists that we have proof the Buddha did not come from a lotus blossom? Or that Jesus was not born of a literal virgin birth? Those who truly understand their faiths understand the stories are metaphorical.”

“History is always written by the winners. When two cultures clash, the loser is obliterated, and the winner writes the history books-books which glorify their own cause and disparage the conquered foe. As Napoleon once said, 'What is history, but a fable agreed upon?'”

To Kill A Mockingbird Essay

Nick Sieb
English

To Kill A Mockingbird

Forcibly thrust out into the world not knowing, or liking what society is trying to force upon you. Anything less than what is considered right and holy, is a sin, and in the old South there are severe consequences. The South is greatly known for its ethics and standards; if you do not follow these standards you are considered odd, and could be disenfranchised from the whole town. In small towns they did not have much of a fair justice system, so justice was taken into the hands of the townspeople. This can lead to some very horrific consequences, such as hanging and unfair juries. In order to survive in a biased world, sometimes you must change your ways to fit in, however you must be careful that you don’t forget who you are, or where you came from. Strong beliefs are important and you must stick to your ethics, because you are your own person.
Scout just wants to have fun, and has trouble trying to live up to the social standards that she is expected to follow. She is not very emotional, and sometimes considers herself more of a boy than Jem. Everyone makes her feel uncomfortable, and queer. It is not her fault she does not like all the fancy clothes, and other burdens that woman-hood brings; she wants to be free to do whatever she wants, to become whoever she wants to be. Your place in the world can not be pre-determined, because you must choose. Your actions will be what determines what kind of person you will be, you will never be truly successful, unless you are satisfied with yourself. The opinion of everyone else does not matter, only you know the truth.
Like Scout, Atticus is very different, and only some of the people in the town understand him. He seems distant not many people in the town can relate to him. He is intelligent and always knows what he is doing, instead of talking he lets his actions speak for him. Kindness, instead anger, peace instead of violence, open-minded, instead of closed, in almost every way he is different, but he is proud of this fact, for he knows how to be true to himself. As he says in the book, “So it took an eight-year old child to bring them to their senses…That proves something, that a gang of wild animals can be stopped, simply because they’re still human.” He knows that no matter how crazy, or prejudiced someone is, they always have a real person inside of them. No one is one-dimensional, everyone is complicated, with emotions, and ethics, and deep down everyone is just as human as you.
Even though he is peaceful, he is the first one I would call in an emergency. He keeps his calm, and always knows what to do. He acts his age and knows his limits, doing what he knows to be the right thing to do. When confronted with the rabid dog, he knows his place as a man and takes care of the problem. Scout and Jem are amazed, because they did not know their dad was so brave. Scout even goes so far as saying, “It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been in a war, was the bravest man that had ever lived”. Atticus is the perfect example of an ideal man, and a great father. He is patient, understanding, brave, intelligent, humble, generous, and most of all loving. You have to be strong if you want to stand up in front of everyone, and try to tell them your opinion. If everyone in the world was like Atticus, the world would be a much more peaceful, and overall better place.
Dill is another example of not fitting in; he tries to keep the fact that he has no parents a secret. He is very solitary and would rather sit and read, instead of go outside. As an idealist, he constantly questions life, and other complex things that many try not to worry about. No one understands why he is so involved in his books or thinking, and they tell him to just go outside and have some fun. Dill is the perfect example of an idealist champion, he is stubborn, but very easy to befriend. Dill always is searching for new ways to express himself, and better himself overall. Expressing what you think is right is a great way to show who you are, and that you are not afraid to be different. When he does this he is mistaken for being a jerk, for bloating, but really all he is doing is saying what he thinks is right. To be the same is to be a failure, and you will accomplish nothing important, nothing new.
All of these characters share one common thing, they definitely do not go with the flow, they make their own waves. To break down these old barriers, and break people of their old, and outdated ways is not an easy thing. Everyone has their own opinion, and they have the need to voice it, to allow yourself to be taken over by peer pressure, is to surrender everything that makes you human. The ability to think, the ability to sympathize , the ability to love, and the ability to wake up everyday knowing you can strive to do better, to make yourself better, all of these things make us human. There is almost naught you cannot do if you really try, and dedicate yourself to it. As William Ward said, “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you dream it, you can become it”. If you do not do all you can, you will be overrun by peer pressure; your dreams will be lost, and you will be forced to be exactly what you wanted to avoid. Your dreams are yours, your view are yours, your opinion is yours, do not let anyone tell you otherwise.

New Playlist

Used the site Brian used to make a playlist. It's really easy to use and mine has about 45 songs on it right now :). Just click on the button that says create your own free playlist and make an account. It is really quick and easy and it will even work at school. MERRY CHRISTMAS

Fahrenheit 451 Essay

Nick Sieb
English
December 10, 2008

Fahrenheit 451


Your life is blank and devoid of meaning; no one cares no one notices. Everything is controlled precisely, no one is thinking freely, no one is thinking for that matter. Censorship destroys everything that makes us human, and takes away all of our rights. You cannot suppress the combined power of the mind, for curiosity will always exist, and people must think for themselves. In the novel Fahrenheit 451 they try to censor everything, and people are not given the information that they need. This makes sure people do not know the severity of the issues that are affecting the country, this means they have no reason to worry, but they cannot help.

Mankind will always be curious and we have the right to know about issues that are affecting our lives. Clarisse awakens the curiosity that is laying dormant inside Montag’s mind. She wants to know the reasons why things are how they are. Curiosity is what drives mankind to make advances in technology and other fields. When Mildred overdoses on the pills, she does not even know what the pills do. She has no curiosity to find out what the pills do, or how much she has to take. Mildred is the perfect example of what will happen when we have no curiosity. She does not care, and she does not know; in short her life is just about doing the robot motions of daily life, without any passion or fulfillment. It is so obviously an irony, because mankind would never be able to live their life doing things so mechanically; life has no purpose without fun or curiosity.

Unlike Mildred, Montag realizes his ignorance and tries to change it. He becomes frustrated with other people, he knows he is right, but people are unwilling to accept the truth, because they are afraid of change. Just like the Myth of the Cave they are unwilling to accept change, for they only know how things are now and they don’t want to change them. Montag begins to see the world in a whole different dimension, and for once he actually begins thinking how things could have been better. This sort of knowledge comes as a shock to the women at Montag’s house and they call him a monster for having these intellectual thoughts. People need to voice their opinions, because everyone has a different opinion, and everyone can contribute something to society. If only one person were to think for you, and tell you everything, and you had no power to think differently everyone would be the same and passion would be gone.

Although thoughts being expressed orally is good, written books are a great way to gain intellect and stimulate thoughts in your brain. When Montag learns of the power of books he is amazed. When the woman is being burned she says “You can’t ever have my books”. He realizes that if people are willing to die rather than give up their books, then books must be pretty important, and powerful. Books teach us what we should fear, and shows the mistakes we have made. While we cannot exclude ourselves from society, you must be able to criticize things intellectually. Montag realizes that not being able to criticize society, the society will become corrupt, and you have no say in it.

Even though Montag knows that everything is turning bad, and he needs to do something; he can’t help them now. The people are mindless, and they cannot be changed. If everyone allows the government to censor what they read, people will cease to have to think about things. If everyone allows their minds to be turned to mush then the government will take over. The government wins and they control everything and everyone. Every thought is closely monitored and you cannot disagree with the governments opinions or decisions. This is the ultimate dystopia.

Great Expectations

Nick Sieb
English
November 18, 2008

Great Expectations


You are all alone, a young man in the big cruel world, yet suddenly you come upon a huge fortune and everything changes. The money and power go straight to your head, and you find yourself doing things you would never have done; you would find yourself becoming what you once hated so much. For Pip ignorance is his tragic flaw, his downfall, and the cause of all of his misery. Ignorance is within every single human being, so overwhelming, so powerful. It as silent as the night; before you know it, it swoops down and takes you over. Pip in the novel Great Expectations suffers from this flaw, yet when he realizes what is happening the damage is already done.

After he gets rich, Pip completely forgets where he comes from, and starts treating his friends and family like dirt. Bribing his friends to like him, wasting money even though he has no idea how long it took to make the money; he becomes exactly what he hated when he was lower class. He believes that money is all powerful and those who have it are entitled to just about anything they want; he even believes that these things can come at the expense of others. His whole life turns into one big mess, and he does not have the tools to clean it up; in fact he does not even desire to. Pip even realizes it and reflecting on it he says “In a word, I was too cowardly to do what I knew to be right, as I had been too cowardly to avoid doing what I knew to be wrong.” After realizing he has sealed his fate with his ignorant choices he tries to make amends, but he has lost so much.

Besides being ignorant to where you came from, you can be ignorant to other people, because you believe you are the one that is suffering the worst. Ms. Havisham’s ignorance stems from the fact that she refuses to get over what people have done to her. Her senses of passion, love, and remorse are completely gone. What is left is a life without fulfillment, with no joy, and with no reason to live. As she is suffering from major burns she realizes “…suffering has been stronger than all other teachers, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but – I hope – into a better shape.” It proves that ignorance can take a once sweet, caring young woman, and melt away all the goodness, and leave you with a blackened heart. She realizes her mistakes, and tries to make up and get some closure, but it is too late for her; she is doomed to a lonely life.

The only thing worse thing, is seeing how others act and not making any effort to become better than that person; to stand up for what you know is right, and what you believe in. Estella realizes that Ms. Havisham has no love, or passion for her, yet she does not make any attempt to not let all these terrible things rub off on her. Her guardians treated her like dirt, and so she thinks that is how it should be. “So, throughout life, our worst weaknesses, and meannesses are usually committed for the sake of the people whom we most despise.” phrased Dickens. What she doesn’t understand is everyone can change, and with enough effort anyone can be a kind loving person. All traces of caring are gone and she leads people on, even when she recognizes she should not be. Seeing what you have become, and not wanting to change it, is like throwing your life away, and not caring. Estella was like a beautiful flower; wilting, and wilting, and finally turning into the dirt it had once sprouted from.

Although Mr. Jaggers comes off as ignorant and weird, he is better than the more ignorant characters. Mr. Jaggers makes sure he tells it how it is, and does what he thinks is right. He doesn’t keep many secrets from anyone, and makes sure he does everything is a business-like fashion. Wemmick is also a very business-like person, yet he tries to hide the fun, caring side of him. He is too feeble to stand up, and refuse to do the things he thinks is wrong; instead he justifies it as saying “Home is one thing, and work is another”. It is not respectable to hide the real you, and what you stand for. If you have an opinion you need to let it be heard, and do what you know to be right, not what others tell you is right. You should not just go with the flow, you can be the flow. You should never give up hope, because you will fail everything you don’t try.

Unlike all these ignorant people Joe is the ideal, for what you should be like. He knows that he is a lower class person, but he does not try to hide it, or fight it, he owns it. Pip sometimes tries to force him to be something he is not, but he only agrees out of love for Pip. The real way to find fulfillment in life, is to like where you are, and what you do. Joe has a pure heart, and he follows it, doing what he thinks is right. It proves that even a humble blacksmith can still enjoy life; no matter how rich or how poor you are; it’s your attitude that determines what kind of a person you are; and what kind of life you will have. You only have one life, and If you do not enjoy it, you will have wasted everything you have. And you will never get it back.

In the end, Pip and Estella both learn that what they did was wrong. Both of them made mistakes, and let themselves become monsters. They are undoubtedly ashamed of what they have become, but they cannot undo what has already been done, they cannot fix all the people’s hearts they have broken, however they know they cannot be together, and must go their separate ways. Pip was too blind to realize that the girl he wanted was right in front of him the whole time, but she was too good for him; an ignorant person like that does not deserve a sweet loving girl. Joe ends up with Biddy, and they will live a blissful life, and I am sure they will be happy with what they have; but Pip is probably so blind and ignorant he does not even care. Dickens phrases “Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts. Ignorance can take over your life and destroy it before you know it, and when you look back it will be too late.

Leaf

Time