Punctuation.?!

“Evaluate the significance of punctuation.”

I’m sure that a great percentage of people asked that question would respond that punctuation is very important and adds emotion, meaning, and clear expression of thought in a piece of writing. I would too. We’ve been using it since kindergarten and we can’t really find anything wrong with it because it is ingrained in our formal writing style. I mean what is punctuation? It’s a variety of symbols that indicate a pause, separation of ideas, and even a continuation of an idea. It was made to help deliver a writer’s thought clearly without misunderstandings, like “lets eat grandma” instead of “let’s eat, grandma!” However, it is obvious that no one wants the complete eradication of punctuation; the opposition only gives a lower value to punctuation. Lewis Thomas describes the usefulness of each main symbol of punctuation and states that “there are no precise rules about punctuation.” Why then, do I get marked down on an essay for not having correct punctuation? The simple answer is that incorrect usage of punctuation can negatively impact your writing and its meaning. You aren’t controlled by punctuation, but you can use punctuation however you want to express your ideas and emotions. I hate to see “fights” regarding this “very sensitive” topic. If I didn’t use quotation marks in the previous sentence, you might not have sensed my sarcasm. (That example was a joke, please don’t hurt me) Unfortunately, we can’t come to a compromise in this debate and the answer isn’t “Why not both?” But in all seriousness, I believe that punctuation isn’t something to be toyed with because using it correctly effectively conveys a common message to be understood by both the readers and the writer.

Intolerance and Inequality

Intolerance and Inequality

            Puritans are infamous for their intolerance in religious and societal matters. They came to the New World in order to set up their “City Upon a Hill.” They came to the New World in order to practice their own religion freely, yet it’s ironic that they persecuted others that didn’t follow Puritan beliefs—the kind of behavior that they ran away from England. Although the Puritans aren’t completely bad, Nathaniel Hawthorne highlights the bad qualities and shows the absurdity of some Puritan beliefs in The Scarlet Letter. He wants the readers to sympathize for Hester Prynne and Pearl, and look upon the Puritan society, even Dimmesdale, with disappointment.

            Hawthorne negatively portrays Puritan intolerance and hypocrisy in The Scarlet Letter. The townspeople ostracize Hester for the adultery she committed, yet refuse to accept that Reverend Dimmesdale took part in the same sin due to his high status and religious knowledge. This shows the inequality of the townspeople regarding this sin. The Puritans punish Hester, but cannot even think of giving a punishment to Dimmesdale; mainly because she is a woman and that her identity is shaped solely by her virginity and actions. Hester is publicly shamed, but she endures the scarlet letter on her chest with fortitude, yet Dimmesdale bears his scarlet letter beneath his ministerial robes as a secret from the Puritan society to avoid judgement and punishment.   

            Hawthorne illustrates the inequality faced by Puritan women in the 1600s, which is still in a way applicable to what women face today. Women were treated as an inferior kind in all places, even in the United States, until the major advancements in women’s rights in the 20^th century. Women were given the right to vote, right to work a “man’s job” and even run in elections for positions like governors and even presidents; however, it confuses me as to why women do not have equal rights and are forced to grow in the shadow of a man. Many mistakenly argue that women have not taken equal responsibility, so they don’t have equal rights; this is wrong because women, in reality, actually have more responsibility than men in some cases, like raising children and keeping a job. So do they need more rights? I think, at least in the United States, that women have been given the same rights as men. The main problem lies in the ingrained preconceptions of society that men are superior to men. If we somehow peacefully put away these notions, forget what the Puritans followed, and listen to Hawthorne’s morals in The Scarlet Letter, it is possible for women to be truly equal to men.

Status, Status, Status

Your status in the social hierarchy determines a lot about you: your wealth, character, and credibility. Most of us try everyday to keep our reputation and status high among society. Why do we give so much importance to this concept of status when it actually may be a disadvantage to you? A higher status means higher expectations from society. This means that if you are to do something wrong while having a reputable status, you will have a harsher aftermath compared to the same sin done by one who has a lower status.

In The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester has committed adultery with Dimmesdale, dooming her to wear a scarlet “A”—an indelible mark for her unforgivable sin in the intolerant Puritan society. She is forced upon the scaffold to bear the shame of her mistake and is ostracized from the Puritan people; however, she has confessed her sin. On the other hand, Dimmesdale has kept his identity as the adulterer of Hester a secret. As a priest, Dimmesdale has a very high social status among the Puritan people, and he is thought of as one who wouldn’t make mistakes. As a result, he has a lot of pressure to make the choice of whether or not to confess his sin. Later on, Dimmesdale suffers from an illness most likely caused by the severe inner turmoil he is going through. He knows that if he confesses, the Puritan people would leave no mercy for him. Dimmesdale’s reputable status gives him a disadvantage compared to Hester’s case.

This concept also applies in current events as well. When Bill Clinton was found guilty of having an affair with Monica Lewinsky, he was given all the spotlight of infamy, while Monica Lewinsky wasn’t as heavily accused. Clinton was removed from office and had an imaginary letter “A” to wear on his chest.

Status does play a huge role in our lives, but this doesn’t mean we should place huge significance on it. After all, it is a weakness.

Transcendentalism: Crazy but Insightful

“More servants wait on man than he’ll take notice of” –George Herbert

I think most of us can agree that we don’t really acknowledge the people and environment around us that have allowed us to achieve what we have in our life. Ralph Waldo Emerson discusses his thoughts of how mankind is ungrateful to his surroundings in “Nature.” Although a key tenet of transcendentalism is that the nature of human beings is good, transcendentalist writers mean that society corrupts us and our inherently good nature. After reading such transcendentalist writings such as “Nature” and “This is Water,” I’ve come to think that I haven’t really considered what others feel as much as I should have when I interact with them, but I guess it’s just a human thing. David Foster Wallace urges us in “This is Water” to stray from our default settings and become more aware of our surroundings; but that is really hard. Wallace expands and says that we think of ourselves as “the absolute center of the universe; the realest, most vivid and important person in existence. We rarely think about this sort of natural, basic self-centeredness because it’s so socially repulsive.” Also, in “Nature,” Emerson suggests that we must be grateful for all of the factors in our environment that help us. In my case, I believe that is my supportive family and friends, presence of basic life needs, and rights. Yeah, rights. That gets me thinking of “Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau. This piece is considered a legendary writing piece and served as the basis for civil rights movements by Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., but during my first time reading it, I honestly thought he was crazy and radical for going on about anarchy, revolution, and his one-day stay in jail for avoiding poll taxes; however, he just wants to say that we should listen to our conscience instead of listening to an inhibiting force. These main concepts of transcendentalism should be accepted for the most part. Not just because a group of smart people approve of it but for the liberation of your soul.

The Rights Worth Fighting For

“We will never have true civilization until we have learned to recognize the rights of others” ~Will Rogers

            Equality is the quality or state of having the same rights, social status, etc. Americans have fought for equality and independence in each century since 1776. The white men sought freedom from Great Britain in the 18^th century with the Declaration of Independence; African Americans sought freedom from the shackles of slavery in the 19^th century with the Emancipation Proclamation and equal rights in the mid-20^th century with the Civil Rights Movement; lastly, American women sought freedom from the oppression they felt from men with the Declaration of Sentiments. Each of these groups fought for the same rights, but just at different times. Unless all citizens are given equal rights and opportunities, America “will never have true civilization.”

            In class, we discussed the similarities and differences between the Declaration of Independence and the Declaration of Sentiments. Both of these documents fought for the same equal rights, but the Declaration of Independence fought solely for the rights of men. The Declaration of Sentiments wanted men and women to have equal rights and opportunities; it gave grievances against men and reasons why women should be viewed as individual human beings instead of being defined by their husbands. It is important to understand that each individual of society should be given the opportunity to contribute to society.

The fight for equality and freedom exists in almost every city of the world. Freedom cannot be seen as a privilege; it is everyone’s right to have freedom, regardless of their identity, but it is worthy to note that freedom has its bounds.  

Is Reputation All You Have?

People’s goal in life is to build a good reputation so that their legacy upholds even after they die. What you do to build your character—everything that you do from when you wake up to when you go to bed— is for the purpose of one day achieving something great and earning yourself respect from others and reputation in society. In The Crucible, each character places a huge significance upon his or her name and status; reputation was the most important thing in a society like 17^th century theocratic Salem, Massachusetts.  

When John Proctor is asked why he won’t sign a paper verifying his confession, he responds that “because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life...I have given you my soul; leave me my name!”(Act IV, Line 725) This shows that Proctor values his name over his life and doesn’t want to taint his reputation, which would result in a tarnished legacy and a shame to be held by his descendants. Even if he must sacrifice his life, Proctor won’t ruin his name because it is his most valuable possession.

The motif and significance of name in The Crucible is not as strongly represented in today’s society.  Now, one’s reputation changes so easily that a single taint doesn’t affect your overall name. The individualization of reputation reduces the significance of name; what your grandfather’s grandfather did to ruin his reputation doesn’t affect your status in society. Reputation doesn’t fully determine who you are and it isn’t the only thing people have nowadays.

Use Your Rationality!

“Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is.”—Albert Camus

            Humans are rational, yet illogical. They know what the right thing is, but usually choose to follow the wrong choices. This human flaw can be attributed to the fear that exists in them of becoming the next victim of society. Choosing the right thing to do sometimes may force you to go against society and its values. When others do wrong things, people feel the urge to follow the majority to avoid being excluded from the mainstream.

This hysteria is prevalent in The Crucible by Arthur Miller. The play is based on the Salem Witch Trials held in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692; these trials were false accusations of witchcraft placed on a few “witches.” The mass hysteria caused by these accusations helped bring the trials forward, resulting in 19 deaths. In the play, Abigail accuses many townspeople, most of them women, and other townsfolk join her; if they don’t join her, it is an indication that they are witches. Although the people of Salem know what is right, their rationality is clouded by the hysteria that Abigail starts.

The effects of hysteria still exist in modern society. For example, the fear of terrorism has molded people’s view of Muslims in a negative way; many of them are discriminated against around the world for things that they aren’t responsible for. It is the loss of rationality which is caused by hysteria that Muslims are all possible terrorists. Many races and cultures have been discriminated against in the past due to mass hysteria and fear in society.  

It is very difficult to leave the beliefs of society to do what is right because of the fear of being an outlier in society or becoming the next to be accused/persecuted. People have an innate ability to be rational, but the effects of mass hysteria clouds it, resulting in serious consequences.