The American Dream"The American Dream is grounded in democratic ideals that the individual has the power and opportunity to achieve great success." This is something I feel compelled to believe in. Especially after this year. This has been proven in "The Bean Trees" through Taylor's efforts to keep Turtle for as long as she possibly can. The interconnection between this phrase and the characters of this story are apparent in several important plot points. True, Turtle's adoption was less than 'legal' but Taylor became a mother because that mysterious Native American woman presented that option to her. In this sense, the Native American woman is America, Turtle is the opportunity, and Taylor is the individual. The only power that was needed was for Taylor to put her foot on that peddle and drive away. Another time Turtle is considered an opportunity is when Esperanza sees her as nearly identical to the daughter she was forced to leave behind in Mexico. When Taylor asks the ultimate favor of Esperanza and Estevan, it gives her a chance to give their daughter a better ending. Here, Turtle is once again an opportunity, Esperanza and Estevan are the individuals, their voices were the power and Taylor's need for Turtle was America. This and many more examples exist within those pages. I believe America was founded to give those who thought their was no possible option, an option. I believe that every American citizen can do what they dream of. I believe that all that is required to do something great in America is to put forth the effort into the proper investment of such. America can be a great place. I believe that, "The American Dream is grounded in democratic ideals that the individual has the power and opportunity to achieve great success." |
"Justice and Injustice" vs "Upon the Burning of Our House" Amy Bradstreet admits to questioning God, who was seen as judge, juror, and especially executioner to the Puritans, and his reason for taking her house and other earthly possessions. This is parallel to a concept in the Justice and Injustice unit, to question justice and injustice in one's society through various forms of written expression. Amy Bradstreet originally had this and many other poems hidden because of their seemingly sacrilegious ideas. Her written expression was used to work through her struggles staying faithful. Others use a more public form of expression such as newspapers for the same reason to bring attention to the issue or struggle that many may or may not face. At another piece of the poem Bradstreet defends her home being taken in the lines:
And when I could no longer look, I blest his grace that gave and took, That laid my goods now in the dust. This can be seen as either a logical or ethical response. The Puritans believed without a shadow of a doubt that God was real and the rules he set out for us were law. They believed that he provided them with all that they had. As a result, Amy believed that because God gave these earthly possessions to her, then God had the right to take it all away. She considered herself blessed to have those gifts for the time that she did. To the Puritans God's wil was a proven fact of life making it a logical appeal. To others, the idea of someone being able to take what they give back was seen as reasonable. Sometimes it can even be seen as the right idea ethically. This makes it more of an ethical response. Either way Bradstreet's defense is seen as extremely effective. |