The Scarlet Letter

     My favorite moment from The Scarlet Letter would most definitely have to be on Election Day, where the audience is still staring at Hester, Chilingworth looks at her with a sinister look, and Dimmsdale finally reveals the mark on his chest after seven years. The reason why I chose this moment is because each character in this scene is keeping a secret that builds up the climax and leads us to the end of the story. I also enjoy this moment because it ties all three characters together, for example Hester is ready to leave and get rid of the letter 'A'and Dimmsdale plans to confess his sins to the people. We also find out that Chillingworth has managed to get on the trip as well and that he originally planned something for Dimmsdale. Because Dimmsdale knows that he is going to leave with Hester and Pearl, he no longer cares about what the town will think and decides to confess to everyone the sins he has committed. This moment really grabbed my attention and I especially loved how all the main characters' secrets were finally exposed. I find this moment to be my favorite because it shows that in the end the truth will always come out.

The Many Benefits of Exercise

     The article "How Exercise Benefits the Brain" written by Gretchen Reynolds and founded in NewYorkTimes.com is about new research that states how simply working out can be beneficial for the brain. Recently new research has been found in Ireland that exercising can help improve a person's memory by increasing the brain- derived neurotrophic factor, also known as BDNF levels in the brain. The experiment took place in Ireland where a group of male college students were asked to participate in a series of memory tests after exercise. In the beginning of the experiment, they had all the students look at a row of photos and names rapidly move across a computer screen and then were asked to recall what they had just seen. The first half of the students then rode on a stationary bicycle until they had become exhausted and the other half sat while watching them exercise for thirty minutes. The students who had exercised ending up doing much better on the tests rather than the ones who had just watched. Blood samples taken from each and every one of the students proved that those who had exercised had an increased levels of BDNF, which led to a significant amount of improvement in the students' memory. I believe this article to be important because it shows how simple exercise and being healthy can benefit us in many ways possible.

Dimmsdale or Chillingworth?

     Reading through the chapters in the Scarlet Letter, I have to say that the character I sympathize the most with is Dimmsdale. Even though Dimmsdale is the one who had an affair with Hester and is the father of the child, I still feel remorse for him because it is obvious that he loves Hester and Pearl with all his heart. Dimmsdale regrets not confessing the truth and standing with Hester and Pearl in front of the whole town, but later on it is made pretty clear that he truly feels guilty for what he has done to them. Throughout the story, we find out that Dimmsdale feels enormously guilty that it has even begun to effect him mentally, emotionally, and psychically. He starts punishing himself by whipping and starving himself. He even went as far as carving the letter 'A' onto his chest and constantly puts his hand over it. One reason I also sympathize with Dimmsdale is because through everything he still loves Hester and Prynne. This is shown when he holds hands with the both of them on the stand where Hester received her punishment, even though it is at night, but he still wishes that he had stood with them. Chillingworth is torturing Dimmsdale and completely disregards his wife's feelings, while Dimmsdale actually met up with Hester in the forest and decided that they are going to run away to England, where him, Hester, and Pearl would be a real family.

The Scarlet Letter

     The Scarlet Letter is written by Nathaniel Hawthorne who is the speaker and it is about a young woman who committed adultery and is doomed to where a scarlet letter 'A' on her chest for the rest of her life. At first, the audience was meant for Puritans to read because Hawthorne felt guilty since his great great grandfather was the head judge in the Salem Witch trials. The occasion took place in the 1600s even though he wrote the story in the 1800s. In Chapter 1, we find out about the prison door in which Hester Prynne walks out of. The prison door is described as being ugly and old and everyone was shocked to see that Hester Prynne was the complete opposite. It is also a paradox since the entire town is written as being happy and the last sentence of the chapter gives out the purpose of the story. Throughout Chapters 2 and 3, Prynne is forced to stand on a pedestal as public punishment while hold a baby and as she is standing she recognizes her husband who pretends that he does not what is happening.
     We also learn that despite the embarrassment, Prynne gained more experience and self-confidence. While she as on the pedestal we also find out that Reverend Dimmsdale is the true father of the baby, but because he is a priest he is not allowed to say anything. Still, while he gives his speech he is giving out hints that since he is the father, he then has to step down with her in front of everyone and he also asks her who the father is. This is ironic because he is a priest and he is the one who had an affair with Hester Prynne. In Chapter 3, when she walks back to the prison, there is a glow light from the letter and this personification because it is giving the scarlet letter life. Later, the husband pretends to be a doctor in order to see his wife and we find out that his revenge is not on Hester or the child, but it is on the father. The husband mentions as well that there were already problems within their marriage and he was old while she was still young. Afterwards, he asks her to keep their marriage a secret.

"Soldier is Convicted of Killing Afghan Civilians for Sport"

     The article titled "Soldier is Convicted  of Killing Afghan Civilians for Sport" is written by William Yardley. The article is mainly about the unfortunate event that took place in Afghanistan just last year. An American soldier, Calvin Gibbs who is also a staff sergeant and twenty six years old as well, was found guilty of murdering three innocent civilians in Afghanistan basically for sport. He is also accused of trying to get the rest of the soldiers to commit the same type of murders against Afghan citizens. Gibbs was also recently found guilty for assaulting another soldier and even managing to steal a tooth and fingers from a dead person. Five soldier was were also accused of the same crime, all explained that Sgt. Gibbs was to the one had planned scenarios and  purposely planted grenades and bombs near the victims to make it seem as if it were a combat situation.
     During his trial, Gibbs lawyer proclaimed that those fiver soldier were doing what their sergeant order them to do, and in return they get lenient sentences and that their accounts could not be trusted. Despite this, Calvin Gibbs is still being charged with the murders and is even accused of stealing dead body parts and using them as tactics to intimidate the soldiers. The reason I find this article important and relevant because it is truly disturbing how anyone could purposely murder innocent civilians and  try to cover it up by saying they were armed with weapons, when they had planted it there themselves. I find disgusting that he would even consider taking body parts from a dead man and using for his own selfish purposes. This article also shows how people can be cruel and racist towards others mainly because of what race they are from. This is also shows how an Army could do something such as this.

The Seven Deadly Sins

     It is said that there are seven deadly sins in this world. These are lust, sloth, wrath, greed, gluttony, pride, and envy. Out of all these sins. the one I probably commit the most is sloth. The reason I chose sloth is because I have a tendency of procrastinating and leaving work to the last minute. I most especially procrastinate towards major homework such as projects and tests. For example, if a teacher assigns a project that is due three weeks later I usually do not get started on it until only a couple of days before or until the night before the due date. If I lived during the Puritan times and was branded with a scarlet letter S for being a sloth than I would most definitely feel embarrassment. I would also feel shame if I had to walk around town with people staring at the letter and knowing exactly why I am wearing it. It would also be the most difficult to do everyday chores and feel people staring at me wherever I may go and thinking the same exact thing. Overall, being branded with a letter for a sin I have committed for the rest of my life would really be a horrible feeling to have.

"Huswifery"

     The poem Huswifery is written by speaker Edward Taylor and is mainly about his wife and how she passionately shows her love and affection to his husband. In the beginning stanzas, Taylor mentions that his wife specifically shows her love by spinning the wheel in order to make him clothes. The reason he mentions spinning the wheel is because she spends her time weaving a bunch of cotton into a beautiful piece of cloth. The audience of the poem is not written to his wife, but to God about his wife and he is showing his gratefulness. The occassion takes place in Puritan times and the purpose is to inform and explain about his wife and the time she spends for him. The subject is also his love towards God and his wife. The tone is appreciative and especially grateful for the type of wife he has.

     Edward Taylor is directly speaking to God in his poem and he mentions how as a wife she is doing what she is supposed to do. There is also personification in his poem because he resembles a robe she made for him, as a "Holy robes of glory" since she put so much work and religion into it. Parts of this poem violates the rules of Puritans because Puritans normally wear simple clothing and she made a cloth that was a heavenly color. Also, he himself feels holy every time he wears the clothes she made for him because of all the time and effort she put into making them. He is feeling holy through her chores. This poem also follows the Puritan values because he talking to God and is constantly mentioning religion throughout the poem.