Many people have different views and oppions as to what "being human" means, but being human consists of a deeper love for one another, and bearing a soul.
One of the many reasons why humans are a unique species is because of our ability to choose our own eternity. Animals, which we are sometimes refered to as, do not go to heaven or hell. Therefore, they do not have control over their destiny. As humans we are able to have a personal relationship with God, which definitely gives our race a unique factor. In the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, A human attempts to make another living being. He succeeds, but does not properly care for his creation in the way that any other human needs. This goes to prove that humans attempting to create something that can only be designed by God will only lead to a mistake.
Humans also are able to have a deeper love for one another. You might ask, "How can you tell animals don't love each other?", but animals only reproduce to keep their species alive. They don't reproduce because they "love each other," but because it is in their DNA to reproduce to keep their own species going. Humans, on the other hand, usually only reproduce if they honestly and truely care for one another. And I'm going to leave that there for the imagination before I get to into detail...In addition, humans are able to read feelings. We can tell how someone feels or what they are going through by simply looking at the expression written on their face.
Counter:
Animals are able to read feelings as well humans. For example, a dog can tell how their owner feels, and is able to respond to them by cuddling or sort of "sympathizing" with them. Also, how can you know for sure that animals don't go to heaven or hell? There is no way of knowing for sure until that time comes, and no one has ever come back to life to tell about it.
Friday, March 16, 2012
The Monster More Human than Man?
At some point, ironically enough, the monster seems to show more human qualities than Victor Frankenstein, his creator.
Humans tend to be there for one another. For example, when a mother has a child, no matter how pretty or ugly, the mother will care and nurture for her baby as long as the child is dependent on someone else. And even after the child is grown and gone, the mother continues to care for them. On the other hand, as soon as Frankenstein saw the monster, he ran away afraid at what he had done, and left the monster alone to figure out how to live by his self.
After the monster murdered many of Frankensteins family members and close friends, he admitted to his crimes and told the reasoning behind them. In complete contrast, Victor Frankenstein wasn't "man enough" to admit that he had even created the beast that was committing all of those horrible crimes. Frankenstein was so worried about what people thought and how they would treat him if they were to ever figure out what he had done, that he was willing to keep letting the monster run wild killing more innocent people.
Even though the monster looked nothing like a human from the outside, he acted more humanly than even his own creator.
Humans tend to be there for one another. For example, when a mother has a child, no matter how pretty or ugly, the mother will care and nurture for her baby as long as the child is dependent on someone else. And even after the child is grown and gone, the mother continues to care for them. On the other hand, as soon as Frankenstein saw the monster, he ran away afraid at what he had done, and left the monster alone to figure out how to live by his self.
After the monster murdered many of Frankensteins family members and close friends, he admitted to his crimes and told the reasoning behind them. In complete contrast, Victor Frankenstein wasn't "man enough" to admit that he had even created the beast that was committing all of those horrible crimes. Frankenstein was so worried about what people thought and how they would treat him if they were to ever figure out what he had done, that he was willing to keep letting the monster run wild killing more innocent people.
Even though the monster looked nothing like a human from the outside, he acted more humanly than even his own creator.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Creating Life?
Given the power to create life in an unnatural way, such as Frankenstein, would be incredible, but I do not believe I would be able to create something so complex.
First, I would not have the "know-hows," in other words, the correct education. Nevertheless, the willingness to attempt any of those prestigious science classes. Even if I did go through those classes, I would not have the interest to create life. That is just not what I would like to accomplish in my life.
Secondly, I do not particularly have the type of personality that does things out of the ordinary. Not that I am trying to be just like everyone else in this world, but I also believe that God created the universe and exactly how He wanted it to be. He doesn't need me to try to rise above myself by proving that just anyone can create life. Doing this would only belittle Him and make Him seem nothing better than a human, which is the opposite of my goal in life.
Given my reasoning, it is clear that even if I was given the opprotunity to create life, I wouldn't take it. Creating life is not my belief, personality, or within my educational goals. Therefore, I will most likely continue life as I have, and enjoy the people and opportunity I have been blessed with.
First, I would not have the "know-hows," in other words, the correct education. Nevertheless, the willingness to attempt any of those prestigious science classes. Even if I did go through those classes, I would not have the interest to create life. That is just not what I would like to accomplish in my life.
Secondly, I do not particularly have the type of personality that does things out of the ordinary. Not that I am trying to be just like everyone else in this world, but I also believe that God created the universe and exactly how He wanted it to be. He doesn't need me to try to rise above myself by proving that just anyone can create life. Doing this would only belittle Him and make Him seem nothing better than a human, which is the opposite of my goal in life.
Given my reasoning, it is clear that even if I was given the opprotunity to create life, I wouldn't take it. Creating life is not my belief, personality, or within my educational goals. Therefore, I will most likely continue life as I have, and enjoy the people and opportunity I have been blessed with.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Commentary on Frankenstein
It is unbelievable that a woman so young wrote this classic novel. Mary Shelly, at only 19 years of age wrote Frankenstein, the fantastic tale of a monster who comes to life. Incredibly, at her age and time frame Frankenstein was published and widely read.
She created a new individual, someone different that stood out among a crowd. It is possible for man to create life, and this classic just proves a man’s ability to do just so. Whether or not man has the right to create life is beyond my control, but I do believe that it is possible to create a being in an unnatural way. Only God can make an actual true human being with a heart, soul, and mind to reason with, and people who try to recreate life only seem as if they are trying to give themselves a "godly" status. To me, cloning and recreating people in the real world is risky and not the way the world was intended to be, but creating a different species in a fantasy world encourages imagination. Authors, like Mary Shelly, who use their imagination to create such a being are appreciated for their creativeness, but shouldn't be taken seriously in that trying to create this inhumane being come to life.
I do not believe in a Sorcerer’s stone, because only God controls your destiny and no one or no thing can change that. People have their superstitions, but usually they believe them only for insecure reasons. Several books and novels have characters that represent an immortal life, but in actuality, that is not possible. Authors usually give the characters the trait of immortality to stand out as a heroic, inhuman, and "above-all" status.
I do believe that monsters reside in us, not in the way that scary movies make us perceive monsters as, but in our everyday life. These "monsters" can be little or big, and each one is different depending on the person. Some people struggle with eating disorders, drug addictions, or alcohol abuse and others struggle with cheating on tests, lying to their authorities, or being disrespectful. Some of the examples are of what would be called "big" monsters and some are considered "little." Either way, they are an internal struggle that everyone faces at some point in their lives, but learning to overcome them is what matters most.
She created a new individual, someone different that stood out among a crowd. It is possible for man to create life, and this classic just proves a man’s ability to do just so. Whether or not man has the right to create life is beyond my control, but I do believe that it is possible to create a being in an unnatural way. Only God can make an actual true human being with a heart, soul, and mind to reason with, and people who try to recreate life only seem as if they are trying to give themselves a "godly" status. To me, cloning and recreating people in the real world is risky and not the way the world was intended to be, but creating a different species in a fantasy world encourages imagination. Authors, like Mary Shelly, who use their imagination to create such a being are appreciated for their creativeness, but shouldn't be taken seriously in that trying to create this inhumane being come to life.
I do not believe in a Sorcerer’s stone, because only God controls your destiny and no one or no thing can change that. People have their superstitions, but usually they believe them only for insecure reasons. Several books and novels have characters that represent an immortal life, but in actuality, that is not possible. Authors usually give the characters the trait of immortality to stand out as a heroic, inhuman, and "above-all" status.
I do believe that monsters reside in us, not in the way that scary movies make us perceive monsters as, but in our everyday life. These "monsters" can be little or big, and each one is different depending on the person. Some people struggle with eating disorders, drug addictions, or alcohol abuse and others struggle with cheating on tests, lying to their authorities, or being disrespectful. Some of the examples are of what would be called "big" monsters and some are considered "little." Either way, they are an internal struggle that everyone faces at some point in their lives, but learning to overcome them is what matters most.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
2012 Theme Word
I have chosen "awareness" as the word I would like to immolate throughout the year of 2012. The defintion of the word "awareness," from a dictonary's perspective means, "having knowledge or realization; conscious." In other terms, knowing and taking in everything that happens around us.
Sometimes life an get so full and busy that our only thoughts and worries are self-centered. It is very easy to get caught up in ourselves and everyone does to a certain extent throughout their lives. My goal is to put aside my selfishness and beome totally aware of my surroundings. I want to encounter people that have gone to the same school as me for that past 8 years, and know more about them than simply their first name.
Some people struggle in life more than I can even imagine. I would love to stop focusing on myself and for once acknowledge the people that I pass in the halls daily. Ever since I can remember I have had the same group of friends, which is great don't get me wrong, but I have had a call to go beyond and invite people "in." Not that I would just ditch my friends and find new ones, but that I would beome more willing to see someone in need of a friend, open up, and invite them in.
Considering that my years of high school are coming to a closing, I want to leave without regret. I want to leave with the repetation of being loving and caring. I want to make the most of my high school years and always look back on them with a smile.
Sometimes life an get so full and busy that our only thoughts and worries are self-centered. It is very easy to get caught up in ourselves and everyone does to a certain extent throughout their lives. My goal is to put aside my selfishness and beome totally aware of my surroundings. I want to encounter people that have gone to the same school as me for that past 8 years, and know more about them than simply their first name.
Some people struggle in life more than I can even imagine. I would love to stop focusing on myself and for once acknowledge the people that I pass in the halls daily. Ever since I can remember I have had the same group of friends, which is great don't get me wrong, but I have had a call to go beyond and invite people "in." Not that I would just ditch my friends and find new ones, but that I would beome more willing to see someone in need of a friend, open up, and invite them in.
Considering that my years of high school are coming to a closing, I want to leave without regret. I want to leave with the repetation of being loving and caring. I want to make the most of my high school years and always look back on them with a smile.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Evaluating The Writings of Willa Cather.
Willa Cather, in her novel My Antonia, offers her view of life during the pioneer time.
If her novel was written from Antonia's perspective instead of Jim's, the reader would have comprehended a completely different concept. The reader would have only known how Antonia felt, and would not have been given a chance to see her from another persons perspective. The reader would most likely be more empathetic for Antonia if it was written from her point of view; by feeling sorrow for her when she lost her father and when she had to work like a man in the fields to provide for her family. Jim's view only touched on the subject of Antonia's fathers death, because he did not feel that tragedy first hand. Antonia was Bohemian, therefore, if it was written from her view the dialogue would have been completely different. The conversations would have been held with a hint of Bohemian accent, which would have had a major effect on how much the reader comprehended.
Willa Cather, being a woman writing from a man's point of view, did a fairly decent job. If I had not known that the author was a woman, I would have assumed that the novel was written by a man. On the contrary though, sometimes I did not feel I was connected to Jim as the narrator. He sometimes seemed sporadic and discorded as a character. If the novel had been written by a man, Jim's character would have been more "manly." For example, at times Jim handled certain situations as a woman would. That is not particularly bad, because maybe that is how Jim really was. Over all, Cather completed her task very well, and made Jim's character believable to any reader.
Jim and Antonia always seemed to have a deeper love for each other than merely a friendship. Throughout the entire novel, dramatic irony was proven. The reader could infer that both characters cared for each other, even though their feelings were never openly revealed to each other. Jim always wanted to be with Antonia and spend time with her. He considered her to be someone more than a forever, childhood friend, but a very special person that he kept close to his heart, even though she later married a Bohemian man.
The dramatic, unpredictable story of My Antonia is a classic tale of hardships and striving to overcome them. The novel demonstrates the importance of having dependable people around to help in a time of need, to comfort and care throughout any situation.
If her novel was written from Antonia's perspective instead of Jim's, the reader would have comprehended a completely different concept. The reader would have only known how Antonia felt, and would not have been given a chance to see her from another persons perspective. The reader would most likely be more empathetic for Antonia if it was written from her point of view; by feeling sorrow for her when she lost her father and when she had to work like a man in the fields to provide for her family. Jim's view only touched on the subject of Antonia's fathers death, because he did not feel that tragedy first hand. Antonia was Bohemian, therefore, if it was written from her view the dialogue would have been completely different. The conversations would have been held with a hint of Bohemian accent, which would have had a major effect on how much the reader comprehended.
Willa Cather, being a woman writing from a man's point of view, did a fairly decent job. If I had not known that the author was a woman, I would have assumed that the novel was written by a man. On the contrary though, sometimes I did not feel I was connected to Jim as the narrator. He sometimes seemed sporadic and discorded as a character. If the novel had been written by a man, Jim's character would have been more "manly." For example, at times Jim handled certain situations as a woman would. That is not particularly bad, because maybe that is how Jim really was. Over all, Cather completed her task very well, and made Jim's character believable to any reader.
Jim and Antonia always seemed to have a deeper love for each other than merely a friendship. Throughout the entire novel, dramatic irony was proven. The reader could infer that both characters cared for each other, even though their feelings were never openly revealed to each other. Jim always wanted to be with Antonia and spend time with her. He considered her to be someone more than a forever, childhood friend, but a very special person that he kept close to his heart, even though she later married a Bohemian man.
The dramatic, unpredictable story of My Antonia is a classic tale of hardships and striving to overcome them. The novel demonstrates the importance of having dependable people around to help in a time of need, to comfort and care throughout any situation.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The Effects of Setting
Chunk #1:
The setting had a crucial effect on all the characters, but specifically Antonia. She moved from the country, where she worked hard on the farm providing for her family like a father, to the city where she had more opportunity to do things as she pleased than follow the rules and social regulations like other city girls. "The country girls were considered a menace to the social order. Their beauty shone out too boldly against a conventional background." With Antonia working now in the city it effected the amount of time she spent with Jim. Now she was able to be with him more often than when she lived in the country.
Chunk #2:
I live on a vast, living farm around 140 acres with hills and valleys good for hunting, fishing, and living as most country girls do. The advantage I have over most families is I somewhat live a double life. I have to farm to get muddy in, to act like an old cowgirl would, herding and raising cattle. On the contrary, I live minutes from the city of Batesville, or the lack there of, but furthermore get to experience the life of the city. Whether its going shopping, participating in "social" events, or riding around with my friends, I love living a somewhat double life. If I simply "get tired" of living one life, I automatically have the other to lean on.
The setting had a crucial effect on all the characters, but specifically Antonia. She moved from the country, where she worked hard on the farm providing for her family like a father, to the city where she had more opportunity to do things as she pleased than follow the rules and social regulations like other city girls. "The country girls were considered a menace to the social order. Their beauty shone out too boldly against a conventional background." With Antonia working now in the city it effected the amount of time she spent with Jim. Now she was able to be with him more often than when she lived in the country.
Chunk #2:
I live on a vast, living farm around 140 acres with hills and valleys good for hunting, fishing, and living as most country girls do. The advantage I have over most families is I somewhat live a double life. I have to farm to get muddy in, to act like an old cowgirl would, herding and raising cattle. On the contrary, I live minutes from the city of Batesville, or the lack there of, but furthermore get to experience the life of the city. Whether its going shopping, participating in "social" events, or riding around with my friends, I love living a somewhat double life. If I simply "get tired" of living one life, I automatically have the other to lean on.
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