Gustavo Quintero
English 48A
October 25, 2007
Journal #18 Equiano
Quote:
"I no longer looked upon them as spirits, but as men superior to us; and therefore I had stronger desire to resemble them, to imbibe their spirit, and imitate their manners"(Equiano 689).
Summary:
The above quote shows Equiano's feelings towards the English that he has come to know. He says how he wishes to be like them and to have the same customs as the English.
Response:
This is a very intersting quote for many reasons. During Equiano's lifetime he passed through many different owners. This prevented Equiano from developing his own identity. For a slave, at the time of the quote, Equiano wishes to take on the customs that the English have. Yet at the same time he also says how proud he is to be African. I hate to pick apart a man who cannot defend himslef buy he seems to be a bit of a hypocrite. I do not understand how he can speak out against slavery yet he wishes to adopt the customs of the very people that enslave him and his people. I guess one reason that Equiano feels this way is because he was very lucky with his owners. He was always sold to educated and rich men who treated him extremely well for a slave in his time. While Equiano saw the injustices that slavery creates he also saw the benefits in assimilating into the English community. Later Equiano even gets baptized something im sure most slaves were not able to do at those times. I also find it counterproducitve when he says that sees the English men as "superior to us". Equiano may have thought this before he really gave any thought into becoming the voice of the African American slaves.
Although I may sound like I am compltely ripping Equiano I actually enjoyed reading his writings. I found his life story to be truly fascinating. His life was full of travel and adventure. While I say this Equiano was in a very unique situation.He was always surrounded by people that let him develop intellectually and as a businessman. Something I am sure not many slaves got to experince. With this said I do not want to end this journal on a neghative note rather I want to say I really enjoyed reading about Equiano's life.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Olaudah Equiano
Gustavo Quintero
English 48A
October 25,2007
Journal #17 Equiano
Quote:
"I was trained up form ny earliest years in the art of war:my daily exercise was shooting and throwing javelins;and my mother adorned me with emblems"(Equiano 677).
Summary:
Equiano is describing to the reader about his early life. He describes the village that he came from along with the customs that his parents taught him.
Response:
The reason I chose this quote is because it adds an interesting dimension to Equiano's character. He says that he was born in Nigeria to a tribe called Essaka. Equiano constantly goes back to his roots in describing his customs and his people. He seems to be very proud of his heritage. Yet from scholarly research we have learned that he actually may have been born in the Carolinas. This begs the question, why does Equiano claim to be born in Africa when there is evidence that says he was not. The reason he uses this claim is to help him identify with the people that he is speaking for. He is a very outspoken against slavery. Equiano feels that if he uses his roots as a base than his words will have more strength behind them. If this assumption is true than just how valid are Equianos writings of his travels. I am not saying that he is a liar but I do believe that some consideration must be made to the claim that he may not be from Africa.
Equiano's travels are a very fascinating journey. He was sold into slavery as a very young child only to pass through the hands of many slave owners. This constant movement may have helped to fuel Equiano's inquisitive nature. Later in life after earning his freedom he began to travel all over the world. This may have been a rare thing for a African American to do during his time. Although I do have to give Equiano a lot of credit for what he did. He was an early protester to slavery. It takes a very strong person to be able to speak against slavery especially having been a prior slave. You can also say that Equiano was very fortunate because he the slave of owners who treated him well and later gave him huge responsibilities.
English 48A
October 25,2007
Journal #17 Equiano
Quote:
"I was trained up form ny earliest years in the art of war:my daily exercise was shooting and throwing javelins;and my mother adorned me with emblems"(Equiano 677).
Summary:
Equiano is describing to the reader about his early life. He describes the village that he came from along with the customs that his parents taught him.
Response:
The reason I chose this quote is because it adds an interesting dimension to Equiano's character. He says that he was born in Nigeria to a tribe called Essaka. Equiano constantly goes back to his roots in describing his customs and his people. He seems to be very proud of his heritage. Yet from scholarly research we have learned that he actually may have been born in the Carolinas. This begs the question, why does Equiano claim to be born in Africa when there is evidence that says he was not. The reason he uses this claim is to help him identify with the people that he is speaking for. He is a very outspoken against slavery. Equiano feels that if he uses his roots as a base than his words will have more strength behind them. If this assumption is true than just how valid are Equianos writings of his travels. I am not saying that he is a liar but I do believe that some consideration must be made to the claim that he may not be from Africa.
Equiano's travels are a very fascinating journey. He was sold into slavery as a very young child only to pass through the hands of many slave owners. This constant movement may have helped to fuel Equiano's inquisitive nature. Later in life after earning his freedom he began to travel all over the world. This may have been a rare thing for a African American to do during his time. Although I do have to give Equiano a lot of credit for what he did. He was an early protester to slavery. It takes a very strong person to be able to speak against slavery especially having been a prior slave. You can also say that Equiano was very fortunate because he the slave of owners who treated him well and later gave him huge responsibilities.
Friday, October 19, 2007
The Ethereal Plain
Gustavo Quintero
English 48A
October 19, 2007
Journal #16 Phillis Wheatley
Quote:
"Cease, gentle muse! the solemn gloom of night
Now seals the fair creation from my sight." (Wheatley 761)
Summary:
It seems that Wheatley is once again referring to Scipio Moorhead as a vessel used by God to communicate his word. Only this time it is not written word but rather painted images.
Response:
This poem is a very complex poem full of ideas and images. I do not know if i am on the right track with my interpretation but I will try to explain what I think this poem is about. One quick item I thought was interesting, Scipio Moorheads only surviving work is a portrait of Phillis Wheatley which she later used as a cover for her poetry book. This makes it seem like there was a special connection between Moorhead and Wheatley.
There is a feeling in the poem that someone is dying or is about to die. Wheatley conjures up the image of heaven quite a bit in this poem. Although she may have served as a inspiration for Moorhead she feels like his work may be from the hand of God. She also says how his work is so holy and beautiful that it will immortalize him as one of the greatest black artists. I do find this a bit ironic because not much information is known about Moorhead and aside form the fact that only on piece of his work survives.
The quote above is an sad realization from Whaetley that once Moorhead passes away and reaches Heavan that she will be deprived of his artwork. All the darkness that is embedded in the words of this poem give the poem a melancholy tone. Wheatley is dreading the day that either she passes away or he passes away. She wants to be able to view his artwork forever.
English 48A
October 19, 2007
Journal #16 Phillis Wheatley
Quote:
"Cease, gentle muse! the solemn gloom of night
Now seals the fair creation from my sight." (Wheatley 761)
Summary:
It seems that Wheatley is once again referring to Scipio Moorhead as a vessel used by God to communicate his word. Only this time it is not written word but rather painted images.
Response:
This poem is a very complex poem full of ideas and images. I do not know if i am on the right track with my interpretation but I will try to explain what I think this poem is about. One quick item I thought was interesting, Scipio Moorheads only surviving work is a portrait of Phillis Wheatley which she later used as a cover for her poetry book. This makes it seem like there was a special connection between Moorhead and Wheatley.
There is a feeling in the poem that someone is dying or is about to die. Wheatley conjures up the image of heaven quite a bit in this poem. Although she may have served as a inspiration for Moorhead she feels like his work may be from the hand of God. She also says how his work is so holy and beautiful that it will immortalize him as one of the greatest black artists. I do find this a bit ironic because not much information is known about Moorhead and aside form the fact that only on piece of his work survives.
The quote above is an sad realization from Whaetley that once Moorhead passes away and reaches Heavan that she will be deprived of his artwork. All the darkness that is embedded in the words of this poem give the poem a melancholy tone. Wheatley is dreading the day that either she passes away or he passes away. She wants to be able to view his artwork forever.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Gustavo Quintero
English 48A
October 18, 2007
Journal #15 Phillis Wheatley
Quote:
"While an intrinsic ardor prompts to write,
The muses promise to assist my pen;"(Wheatley 755)
Summary:
The above quote is a traditional way of starting of a poem in Wheatleys time. She is telling the audience at Harvard that God speaks through her. She has not thought of the words that are on the paper she has merely being used as a vessel by which God speaks through.
Response:
As with her previous poems Wheatley manages to say a very bold statement in her poem. At the time of this poem Harvard was a very religious based college. It had founded its doors on the principles of Christianity. For a young black female writer, speaking at Harvard is a highpoint in her life worthy of praise. Not only is Wheatley able to succeed in a white environment but she is able to speak out against the sin of slavery. She makes her statement even more important by saying that God is using her as a voice to spread the word of God. This has an enormous impact on the strength and meaning of her words. It elevates her words to a pedestal where they reach an importance that no other black writer could dream of.
Wheatley is on a crusade to stop slavery. Her mastery of the English language helps her spread the word as eloquently as any writer before. She speaks to the young minds
of the Harvard students and informs them of the perils of slavery. Slavery is a sin that will eat away at their morality and soul. Thomas Jefferson later confessed in private letters about the anguish that he was consumed with as a result of being a supporter of slavery. Wheatley is trying to warn these impressionable young minds so that they to are no consumed by this evil sin. Wheatley uses the Christian faith as a tool to make the slavery supporters feel guilty about their position on slavery. She points out the hypocrisy of Christian slave owners. Wheatley was once to a slave but was fortunate enough to be brought into a caring household. This caring and nurturer's environment help feed Wheatley's intellect and helps her find her voice. The voice she finally does find serves as a tool for God's message to be heard.
English 48A
October 18, 2007
Journal #15 Phillis Wheatley
Quote:
"While an intrinsic ardor prompts to write,
The muses promise to assist my pen;"(Wheatley 755)
Summary:
The above quote is a traditional way of starting of a poem in Wheatleys time. She is telling the audience at Harvard that God speaks through her. She has not thought of the words that are on the paper she has merely being used as a vessel by which God speaks through.
Response:
As with her previous poems Wheatley manages to say a very bold statement in her poem. At the time of this poem Harvard was a very religious based college. It had founded its doors on the principles of Christianity. For a young black female writer, speaking at Harvard is a highpoint in her life worthy of praise. Not only is Wheatley able to succeed in a white environment but she is able to speak out against the sin of slavery. She makes her statement even more important by saying that God is using her as a voice to spread the word of God. This has an enormous impact on the strength and meaning of her words. It elevates her words to a pedestal where they reach an importance that no other black writer could dream of.
Wheatley is on a crusade to stop slavery. Her mastery of the English language helps her spread the word as eloquently as any writer before. She speaks to the young minds
of the Harvard students and informs them of the perils of slavery. Slavery is a sin that will eat away at their morality and soul. Thomas Jefferson later confessed in private letters about the anguish that he was consumed with as a result of being a supporter of slavery. Wheatley is trying to warn these impressionable young minds so that they to are no consumed by this evil sin. Wheatley uses the Christian faith as a tool to make the slavery supporters feel guilty about their position on slavery. She points out the hypocrisy of Christian slave owners. Wheatley was once to a slave but was fortunate enough to be brought into a caring household. This caring and nurturer's environment help feed Wheatley's intellect and helps her find her voice. The voice she finally does find serves as a tool for God's message to be heard.
Phillis Wheatey
Gustavo Quintero
English 48A
October 18, 2007
Journal #14 Phillis Wheatley
Quote:
"Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,
May be refined, and join the angelic train."
Summary:
Phillis Wheatley is stating very bluntly just how hypocritical white's who own slaves are. The black are the complete equals to the whites because of the faith and religion that hey both believe in.
Response:
The power of this quote is very extraordinary. The most amazing thing about this quote is that it was written by Wheatley as a teenager. She dared to confront the very issue that was considered taboo in her times. She did not sugar coat anything she wrote, she made sure that all people that read her works knew what she felt about slavery.As Scott pointed out in our class discussion, Wheatley has a very similar demeanor as Anne Bradstreet did in her poem "The author to her book". They both appear to be very humble until the end of the poem when they hit the reader with their one two punch.
The power that she exhibits with this quote is immense. For a very young African American writer to be writing about slavery as she did is amazing. It seems at first glance that by reading,"On Being Brought form Africa to America", the poem has a very humble and merciful tone. She says how merciful it was that she was taken form her "pagan" native land and brought to Mighty America. She goes on to say how it was the hand of God that brought her over. Yet this is not the ultimate message of the poem. The ultimate message of the poem is that as Christan's all blacks and whites are equal.This seems to be almost ironic. Ironic in that the whites kept the blacks as slaves yet they let them practice and pray Christianity. This also makes all whites who practice Christianity hypocrites.
The poem message of slavery being wrong is made even more powerful because of the fact that Wheatley is able to tackle this subject in just eight lines. This gives the reader a more powerful impact of the message. Wheatley uses this sudden turn at the end of the poem as a powerful statement. She calls out all slave owning people as hypocrites to their faces.
English 48A
October 18, 2007
Journal #14 Phillis Wheatley
Quote:
"Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,
May be refined, and join the angelic train."
Summary:
Phillis Wheatley is stating very bluntly just how hypocritical white's who own slaves are. The black are the complete equals to the whites because of the faith and religion that hey both believe in.
Response:
The power of this quote is very extraordinary. The most amazing thing about this quote is that it was written by Wheatley as a teenager. She dared to confront the very issue that was considered taboo in her times. She did not sugar coat anything she wrote, she made sure that all people that read her works knew what she felt about slavery.As Scott pointed out in our class discussion, Wheatley has a very similar demeanor as Anne Bradstreet did in her poem "The author to her book". They both appear to be very humble until the end of the poem when they hit the reader with their one two punch.
The power that she exhibits with this quote is immense. For a very young African American writer to be writing about slavery as she did is amazing. It seems at first glance that by reading,"On Being Brought form Africa to America", the poem has a very humble and merciful tone. She says how merciful it was that she was taken form her "pagan" native land and brought to Mighty America. She goes on to say how it was the hand of God that brought her over. Yet this is not the ultimate message of the poem. The ultimate message of the poem is that as Christan's all blacks and whites are equal.This seems to be almost ironic. Ironic in that the whites kept the blacks as slaves yet they let them practice and pray Christianity. This also makes all whites who practice Christianity hypocrites.
The poem message of slavery being wrong is made even more powerful because of the fact that Wheatley is able to tackle this subject in just eight lines. This gives the reader a more powerful impact of the message. Wheatley uses this sudden turn at the end of the poem as a powerful statement. She calls out all slave owning people as hypocrites to their faces.
Friday, October 12, 2007
A Ray of Hope in a sea of Darkness
Gustavo Quintero
English 48A
October 12, 2007
Journal #13 Edwards Pg. 431
Quote:
"You have offended Him infinitely more than ever a stubborn rebel did his prince;and yet it is nothing but His hand that holds you form falling into the fire every moment... And there is no other reason to be given why you have not dropped into hell since you arose in the morning, but that God's hand has held you up."
Summary:
Edwards is preaching to the people in the church that they have offended God with all their sinning. Although they are all heavy with sin God is still being forgiving and keeping them from going to hell. His mercy is all powerful.Edwards says that their is only one reason that they have woken up form their sleep and that is because it is God's will.
Response:
When I first read Edwards sermon I felt as if it painted a very dismal and meager future. A future in which a angry and full of wrath God was out to cleanse the earth of all sinners. This is a very dark image that is not conventionally paired up with God. As I grew up going to church I was always preached to about the caring, loving and and all forgiving God. This is not the God that we see in this sermon at first glance. As we take a closer and more precise view we can see that their are some words of hope hidden in all the dark and meager language.
The ray of hope that we is hidden in the sermon is that God is not obligated to keep sinners from entering hell prematurely but he does. Despite the fact that they are constantly indulging themselves in sinful activities God holds each individual up preventing him or her form falling into hell. This sounds more like the God that most Christians and Catholics associate with. I do not enjoy picturing the wrath of God. I much prefer picturing the love of God. Edwards even goes further to say that the only reason the people in his audience even woke up is because God decided so. This is a very powerful statement that Edwards decides to preach on. The idea that God keeps us all alive is a way that Edwards uses to help strengthen the faith of the practitioners in the church.
God is merciful yet it still wants you to stray away from sin. Edwards uses the angry image of God as a way of scaring people into becoming more involved with the church and their faith. All this constant fire and brimstone speech is eventually what led Edwards to have him kicked out of his own church. Maybe he had tired to hard or maybe people did not want to feel responsible for their sins. I can understand why the people of the church kicked Edwards out. Practitioners do mot want to imagine themselves in hell. They do not want to constantly hear of what waits them if they continue to sin. Instead they want to hear of all the glory that awaits them when they turn their lives away from sin.
English 48A
October 12, 2007
Journal #13 Edwards Pg. 431
Quote:
"You have offended Him infinitely more than ever a stubborn rebel did his prince;and yet it is nothing but His hand that holds you form falling into the fire every moment... And there is no other reason to be given why you have not dropped into hell since you arose in the morning, but that God's hand has held you up."
Summary:
Edwards is preaching to the people in the church that they have offended God with all their sinning. Although they are all heavy with sin God is still being forgiving and keeping them from going to hell. His mercy is all powerful.Edwards says that their is only one reason that they have woken up form their sleep and that is because it is God's will.
Response:
When I first read Edwards sermon I felt as if it painted a very dismal and meager future. A future in which a angry and full of wrath God was out to cleanse the earth of all sinners. This is a very dark image that is not conventionally paired up with God. As I grew up going to church I was always preached to about the caring, loving and and all forgiving God. This is not the God that we see in this sermon at first glance. As we take a closer and more precise view we can see that their are some words of hope hidden in all the dark and meager language.
The ray of hope that we is hidden in the sermon is that God is not obligated to keep sinners from entering hell prematurely but he does. Despite the fact that they are constantly indulging themselves in sinful activities God holds each individual up preventing him or her form falling into hell. This sounds more like the God that most Christians and Catholics associate with. I do not enjoy picturing the wrath of God. I much prefer picturing the love of God. Edwards even goes further to say that the only reason the people in his audience even woke up is because God decided so. This is a very powerful statement that Edwards decides to preach on. The idea that God keeps us all alive is a way that Edwards uses to help strengthen the faith of the practitioners in the church.
God is merciful yet it still wants you to stray away from sin. Edwards uses the angry image of God as a way of scaring people into becoming more involved with the church and their faith. All this constant fire and brimstone speech is eventually what led Edwards to have him kicked out of his own church. Maybe he had tired to hard or maybe people did not want to feel responsible for their sins. I can understand why the people of the church kicked Edwards out. Practitioners do mot want to imagine themselves in hell. They do not want to constantly hear of what waits them if they continue to sin. Instead they want to hear of all the glory that awaits them when they turn their lives away from sin.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Fire and Brimstone
Gustavo Quintero
English 48A
October 11,2007
Journal #12 Edwards Pg. 432
Quote:
"For behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire...the words are exceeding terrible. If it had only been said, 'the wrath of God'".
Summary:
In Jonathan Edwards fiery sermon he warns all the practitioners attending that they had better repent or else. God is coming to cleanse all the sinners from the earth and he will be showing no mercy. This is not the caring and forgiving God that most people associate with but rather the angry one that shows no mercy.
Response:
Wow, is all I can say. I would by no stretch of the mind call myself the most religions person but I do believe in God and Jesus Christ. While reading Edwards sermon, I felt as if the apocalypse was about to come. The images and words that he uses are so vivid and lifelike that it makes his sermon seem that much more important and real. As Scott said in class, "Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God", is one of the most extreme pieces of work by Edwards. His other Pieces all mild in comparison. Although the sermon was read in a monotonous tone, the words themselves are enough to make the heaviest sinner fear for his life.
This fire and brimstone sermon was given at a time in the 1700's during a time known as the "Great Awakening". Churches prior to this period had suffered from a decline in practitioners. When this period hit people began to embrace their faith again and return to church. Edwards uses this sermon to prevent people from ever straying away from the church again. He makes sure to use the angry God and not the forgiving God. The image of God coming in a chariot of fire parallels that of Satan. I am by no means saying that God is similar to Satan, but the Bible associates all the wrath and fire with Satan. It is almost a disturbing image but Edwards does later point out in his sermon that even though God is angry at all the sinners he is still willing to forgive them if they commit themselves to the faith.
English 48A
October 11,2007
Journal #12 Edwards Pg. 432
Quote:
"For behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire...the words are exceeding terrible. If it had only been said, 'the wrath of God'".
Summary:
In Jonathan Edwards fiery sermon he warns all the practitioners attending that they had better repent or else. God is coming to cleanse all the sinners from the earth and he will be showing no mercy. This is not the caring and forgiving God that most people associate with but rather the angry one that shows no mercy.
Response:
Wow, is all I can say. I would by no stretch of the mind call myself the most religions person but I do believe in God and Jesus Christ. While reading Edwards sermon, I felt as if the apocalypse was about to come. The images and words that he uses are so vivid and lifelike that it makes his sermon seem that much more important and real. As Scott said in class, "Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God", is one of the most extreme pieces of work by Edwards. His other Pieces all mild in comparison. Although the sermon was read in a monotonous tone, the words themselves are enough to make the heaviest sinner fear for his life.
This fire and brimstone sermon was given at a time in the 1700's during a time known as the "Great Awakening". Churches prior to this period had suffered from a decline in practitioners. When this period hit people began to embrace their faith again and return to church. Edwards uses this sermon to prevent people from ever straying away from the church again. He makes sure to use the angry God and not the forgiving God. The image of God coming in a chariot of fire parallels that of Satan. I am by no means saying that God is similar to Satan, but the Bible associates all the wrath and fire with Satan. It is almost a disturbing image but Edwards does later point out in his sermon that even though God is angry at all the sinners he is still willing to forgive them if they commit themselves to the faith.
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