Slavery and its Impact: A Virtual Field Trip

As we begin to venture to another point in history and study the literature produced from those who experienced both pain and joy during major historical events, take a moment to consider the philosophical and physical paths that our ancestors and forefathers blazed before us.

Soon, we will be opening the chapter of life that was a confusing moment in our country's history and discussing the ideas and background of slavery and the impact it made and the imprint it created on this nation.

Please take this virtual field trip to learn more about Henry "Box" Brown's exciting escape from slavery!

http://housedivided.dickinson.edu/fieldtrips/brown.html

Note to Mrs. Hardin's CP III: Your extra credit assignment for the week of Nov. 2nd -6th is the Frankenstein discussion below. . . please follow directions. . .

The Timeless Themes of Frankenstein

Because I have been unable to add a new post the last couple of weeks, you will be awarded 30 points for this week's response. However, you must provide a minimum of three paragraphs (each paragraph is worth 10 points). Now, on to the this week's discussion. . . as we are about to embark on a study of Frankenstein (for some of you this will be your second journey). . . keep in mind how some of the issues Mary Shelley presented years and years ago still remain timeless and relevant in today's world. Putting aside the fact that an overly ambitious doctor creates a "monster", let's consider the relationship between Victor and Elizabeth. Their relationship was not unlike relationships today. . Victor, driven by his goals and need to achieve, worked endless hours forgetting what was most important in his life. . . and then Elizabeth, fun-loving, creative, and family-oriented sometimes found it challenging to connect with Victor. You may want to focus one paragraph on how their relationship's characteristics might resemble martial relationships in existence today and how that can sometimes be disastrous and what can be done to prevent failure in the relationship. . . what could Victor and Elizabeth have done to prevent disaster. . .anything?

And then we have the issue of the creator (Victor) abandoning his creation (the "monster"). . . how could that be related to, let's say, a parent and his or her child . . . it's unfortunate, but true that sometimes parents abandon their children. . . not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, etc.

Finally, the most obvious timeless issue is Ethics vs. Medical Advancements. How far is TOO far? Many, many years ago . . . during the time Mary Shelley composed this novel, the idea of creating a person from several people's body parts seemed completely absurd! However, today organ transplants occur daily and this includes eyes as well as skin. Cloning has also become an ethical issue of this day and age. . . creating new life. . . altering and selecting how something should live. . . how do you feel about this? Shelley's ideas were not so absurd after all. And it should also be noted that Shelley suffered tragic losses of children . . . perhaps she grieved so deeply that she dreamed she could bring her children back to life. . . and how miraculous it could be to perform surgery and use "spare" body parts to save a life. Discuss your thoughts on the "then and now" theme of the medical themes and ethical concerns.

To receive full credit, give me your best, detailed answers! Return to the top and reread the paragraphs to be sure you understand the themes and then provide thorough responses. Enjoy!

The Witch Hunts Continue. . . .

Unfortunately, there are times in our lives when situations or results just cannot be sufficiently explained to our satisfaction. When this happens, we or others might have to settle for a reason or explanation. . . or go in search for an explanation. In the Crucible, the villagers are without a medical explanation for the girls' behavior, so they point to witchcraft as the explanation. . . this historical event coined a term still used today when we cannot reach a definitive conclusion. . . that term is "witch hunt". Think of a time your life when something couldn't be explained and you felt that you were given just any ole' explanation to keep you quiet. How did that feel? And how do you think the accused witches in Salem felt when they were arrested for something that they did not do. Can you think of other times in history when people were blamed or arrested for something of which they had no involvement?

Explain your personal experience and then compare and explain another time in history when a situation turned into what we today allude to as a "witch hunt". . . which is an allusion to the tragic trials of Salem, Massachusetts.