Transcendentalism: Giving Life a Purpose

     We started reading transcendental pieces of literature this week, and these pieces have really created an impact on me. Although I already knew that everyone should be themselves, transcendental literature stresses it even more, and it actually made me feel more determined to follow my own beliefs and not anyone else's. Sticking to your own ideas and feelings gives life a purpose. Without this, you are not being your true self and you end up living a life without value.

     Some pieces we read that really enhanced my views on individualism were "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Anna Quindlen's Commencement Address. Both were filled with many aphorisms that got me thinking. One of my favorite statements in "Self-Reliance" was, "the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude." I really like this quote because Emerson is saying that it is easy to give in to others' opinions, but what makes a person truly great and purposeful is when he has the ability to stick to his own values when surrounded by the strong influence of the world. In today's society, it is so easy to wear certain clothes, do certain activities, or say certain things just to fit in with everyone else. If you're doing these things just to make everyone else happy, then you probably aren't truly happy with yourself, and what is the good in that? In Anna Quindlen's speech, she says, "if your success is not on your own terms, if it looks good to the world but does not feel good in your heart, it is not success at all." She is stressing the importance of achieving your own personal goals, instead of just trying to achieve the goals that seem right in society. What really gives life a purpose is doing things that are important to you, because when you do what feels right in your heart, then you will do it with so much more passion and confidence.

Individual Power

     This week in class, we began reading historical writings that all related to the freedom and independence of our country. Before reading these, I thought that an individual could only hold power when a large group of people came together for one cause. For instance, if a person donates one dollar to feed hungry children around the world, it won't be able to feed every single child, but if everyone in the world donates a dollar, then all the children will have enough food. I have now realized that one person does hold power, which can, in many cases, be enough to greatly impact the people around him/her.
     This realization came through the writings we read, such as "The Crisis" by Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry's "Speech in the Virginia Convention", and the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson. These pieces of literature and many more writings each display how one person can make a difference. For example, Thomas Paine created an impact on the soldiers in the Continental Army. Washington made his troops read Paine's essay aloud in order to boost their morale and help them move forward in the war. Imagine if Paine never even wrote "The Crisis" and the soldiers all decided to give up on the war for independence. We would've lost the war and we'd probably still be under the control of Great Britain. What it comes down to is even if one person can't impact something to a huge extent, he/she can have an effect on something smaller, which can end up making a difference that is larger than life.

One's Responsibility in a Community

     After finishing reading The Crucible by Arthur Miller this past week, we discussed the roles that the characters play in the community of Salem. John Proctor is a good, honest man who contributes to society by pointing out its flaws. In my opinion, one's responsibility in a community is to make an effort to improve it, and John Proctor does just that.
     Proctor pointing out Salem's mistakes is an effort to improve his community because he is trying to make everyone understand the terrible flaws of the witch trials and learn from them. He is continually trying to make things better in Salem, for example by exposing that the girls were just pretending to be possessed by the devil. Also, even though he knows it will ruin his good reputation, he admits to having an affair with Abigail in attempt to stop her rampage and to calm the hysteria. Proctor speaks up when he sees injustice, and he openly disagrees with Parris throughout the play. When in court, he refuses to blacken others names because he knows that it wouldn't be of any help to the community. Proctor has fulfilled his responsibility through all these attempts to improve the crazed community of Salem. Even though these efforts led to his death, he left an impact on the people of Salem by keeping his integrity with him as he died.
     John Proctor shares many similarities with Martin Luther King Jr. Both seeked to improve their community and made efforts to achieve their goals by speaking up against injustices. Although Martin Luther King Jr.'s cause was a bit different than Proctor's, as he was standing up against racial discrimination, they both were searching for the same outcome: a better world around them that doesn't punish the innocent or victimize without the right to do so. They both ended up improving their communities through all their hard work and left positive impacts that will be remembered forever.

Mass Hysteria

     In class this week, we started reading The Crucible by Arthur Miller. I am really enjoying reading this play, not only because it is fun to read in class and the plot is intriguing, but also because Miller was inspired to write it through his own experiences during the Red Scare in the 1950's. Because he experienced mass hysteria during the Red Scare, which was similar to the Salem Witch Trials, this gives his piece a whole new dimension.
     During the Red Scare, which was when the United States had a strong fear of Communism, hysteria broke out and accusations were everywhere. Arthur Miller was one of the suspected Communists, so he got to experience first-hand the hysteria that was around him; he related it to what happened during the Salem Witch Trials. In 1692, many women were accused, with no solid proof, of performing witchcraft. Most of the accusations were just thrown out there because people were afraid that the devil was dwelling in their town. During both the Red Scare and the witch trials, many innocent people were punished just because fear infested these communities. This inspired Miller to write The Crucible and warn against mass hysteria.
     In my opinion, even though mass hysteria can be warned against, there is no way of preventing it. The basis of mass hysteria in a community is fear, and there is no way of changing what people are afraid of. If people are afraid of Communists taking over their country, then they'll panic because it's all they can think to do. If people are afraid that the devil is performing acts in their town through witches, then they are going to freak out because they don't know how to react. It is like a domino effect; once the fear starts, it continues to grow and people are knocked down one by one. The fear aspect of mass hysteria cannot be changed; fear will always be a part of humans. What can be improved are the reactions that people have to their fear, and this is what could lessen the negative effects of mass hysteria.