Dickinson Idea of Wilderness

Had I not seen the Sun

I could have borne the shade

But Light a newer Wilderness

My Wilderness has made.

 

 

 

 

This is saying that now that She has seen the wilderness she has a whole new thought about it. The way she sees wilderness has changed. the sun has given her a whole new persepective.

 

 

 

Womens Rights!

The fact that some people even compare the way people are treated now compared to when the were slaves sickens me. Women are free and live there lives the way they want to. Although men in the workforce may have more power and are paid more that doesn't mean that we have it how slaves do. We are not forced to do things that we do not want to do. No matter what happens to women I believe that it will never get to the point of slavery. Yes we allhave gender roles and we are expected to cook, clean, and care for the children,but men are also expected to go out and provide for the family and do all the heavy lifting. It sadens me that people actually think that the way women are treated today is like the way the were treated in slave days. We have come a long way and we will continue on that path.

Contradictions in Literature

Throughout literature there are many different opinions which create contradictions. One contradiction we read about was in the captivity tales. Mary Rowlandson despised being in captivitiy and being away from where family. While de Vaca didn't enjoy being held in captivity he did embrace it. Another exampleIs the contradictions in the thoughts of slavery. you have one lady who didn't mind it because she was educated by her slave owner and another who would fight and do anything to end it.

Benjamin Franklin

Would you agree or disagree with this statement: 

Ben Franklin’s ideas about virtue are the antithesis of the ideas about wilderness

that we have discussed in regards to the other readings. 

Use at least three quotes or specific examples from the text to back up your ideas. 

 

 

I have to say that I do agree that Benjamin Franklin's ideas about virtue are the antithesis of the ideas about wilderness that we discuss. Benjamin Franklin has a mind set of wanting everything to be perfect and in order. Everyone should have a set of guidelines to follow. He states, "It was about this time that I conceiv'd the bold and ardous Project of arriving at moral Perfection. I wish'd to live without committing any fault at anytime; I would conquer all that either Natural Inclination, Custom, or company might lead me into." To have such perfection would mean that you have someone who set it, and that is not being free. To be wild and have the wilderness we speak on would be to have no guidelines. To live how you wish, and to experience things that may not be perfect. The whole idea of the 13 virtues goes against the wilderness we speak on. We speak of living a life free and full of adventure. If you have to go through a list of things to perfect youself to a society's standard that is being a slave to society. Franklin says, "My intention being to acquire the Habitude of all these virtues, I judg'd it would be well not to distract my Attention by attempting the whole at once, but to fix it on one of them at a time, and when I should be master of that, then to proceed to another, and so on till I should have thro' the thirteen." These virtues have you following strict guidelines which completely go against our idea of wilderness.  I also believe that when living in wilderness you are suppose to make mistakes and not regret them, but learn from those mistakes. Franklin seems to be ashamed if he makes mistakes, "I mark'd my Faults with a black Lead Pencil, which Marks I could easily wipe out with a wet sponge." To regret your mistakes would be to have done something wrong and in the wilderness anything goes. You have the freedom to make mistakes and lean from them not to be ashamed and regret them.