COURSE 11


Critical analysis of the main characters of the tale “Gold Bug” written by Edgar Allan Poe

MIND MAP AND BRAINSTORMING

ESSAY

William Legrand is a misanthrope man who is excited for the entomology, whose root came from a protestant ancient family with a big fortune who became poor, when their treasures were lost after a series of misfortunes. He was blessed with an exceptional intelligence, whose talent was useful to discover the hidden message, which led them to the treasure, how he said in the book “I have considered all these details, I never doubted for a moment that heat was the agent which had done to emerge on the surface of the scroll, the skull which was drawn in this scroll”. William is a flat character in the story, because of he did not suffer any mishap, but the reader could consider him as a character more dynamic, who seemed to be mad, this is the first impression in the beginning of this story, however, when the tale unfolds the reader realizes that he is completely sane.

Jupiter is the black servant who cause grace for his form how he talks and his childish attitude, whose humorous situations broke the tension of the story at the right moment, phrases like “-¡Hum...! ¡fancy that...! ¡That is too funny! ¡He doesn´t have the left eye!”. He had been enfranchised for the Legrand family, he had won his freedom, but he refused to leave his duties and he continued to serve his young master William. He is the flattest character, because of he didn´t have evolution over the story.

The narrator, whose name and his physical features, we have no idea. This is undoubtedly the most important character, who told us in first person what happened and, when he integrated into the story as a character, his presence authenticated the truth of the facts. He was objective with his descriptions, which were very careful, for example he showed us exactly how the island was in the first paragraphs or the precision with which stopped at the climax of the adventure, to refer to weight, size and condition of the chest which contained the treasure. Also contributed his character and the attitude which he took towards the events. To ensure the fidelity of his testimony, Edgar Allan Poe shows us this character as a balanced man, wise, hardly ready to be driven by fantasies and daydreams; therefore, He participated against his wish in this expedition, because he distrust at all times of protagonist´s sanity, and only at the end, when had sufficient evidence, he decided to believe in the tale. For those reasons could consider this character as the most dynamic, who had a drastic change during the dénouement, He started thinking his friend, William Legrand, was completely crazy, but then how he demonstrated later that all he said was true, the mind of the narrator changed, he realized he was wrong with supposed madness of his friend, for example, He said once “How strange was it! I became convinced he had gone mad”.

“DYING FOR THEIR BELIEFS”

1.       BRAINSTROMING

•          How a radical position could put in danger our life.
•          Right to life should be the most important right ahead of religious principles.
•          Respect for the religions and its beliefs, cultures and its customs; is the best way to preserve the diversity.
•          The constitution should protect life of any child, ahead of any custom or belief.
•          An adult person can choose how he/she would want to live or to die.

2.       OUTLINING

I Amy Hermanson and her family          

A.      Important information about Amy Hermanson

B.      Her Parents and their beliefs

1.       Christian scientists

II Advices from some close people like friends and family about the Amy´s illness

A.      Advice of Mary Christman

B.      Call from Amy´s Aunt to the social worker

C.      Advice of Eric McHugh

D.      Position of Christian scientist

1.       Position of Hermanson´s

2.     Prayer vs. Medical attention

III Legal process

A.      Charge imposed by Sarasota County Courthouse

1.       Three degree murder and felony child abuse

B.      Position from American Law

1.       Can´t deny the medical care for religious reasons

C.      Conclusions from Autopsy

1.       Inappropriate medical attention

IV My personal position

A.      Constitutional rights

1.       Freedom of religion and children´s right to grow up healthy

B.      Right to life

1.       Protection of child´s life

C.      Culture and customs, religions and beliefs

1.       Respect them but without put in danger life.

ESSAY “DYING FOR THEIR BELIEFS”

Amy Hermanson died of diabetes on Sunday September 30, 1986, when she was seven years old; she was a child full of energy, before she got sick.  She died because her parents (William and Christine Hermanson) decided to put their religious principles ahead of protecting their daughter, they are Christian Scientists and they are members of Sarasota´s first church.

Mary Christman, a close friend´s family realized Amy wasn´t well, because she noticed the child had a strange look, her temperament had changed and she had lost weight, then Mary decided to tell them the little girl needed medical attention or she could die soon, two days after that, Amy died. Also, Amy´s Aunt realized the child over the last week had lost 10 pounds, however she ate and drank a lot, her eyes were strange and she seemed to have few energy. Mary decided to say Amy´s parents, those symptoms could be a strong sign Amy had diabetes, how the Amy´s parents didn´t want to give a medical attention, she called the social worker, but it was late, because this day she died.  June R. McHugh, director of the private Julie Rohr Academy, where Amy attended; said that when the year began, the child had some changes in her temperament; she used to cry a lot. So, McHugh called her parents and advised them Amy might be suffering from a physical ailment, the Hermanson´s didn´t pay attention, and Amy died a week after of this advice. Despite Amy wasn´t well and despite all those advices done by their friends and family, they preferred to continue with their Christian beliefs and they tried to heal her with prayer.

Because of that situation the Hermanson´s were scheduled to go on trial in Sarasota County Courthouse, they were accused for three degree murder and felony child abuse, since 1967 they couldn´t deny the medical care for religious reasons. The autopsy done by the examiner James C. Wilson from Associate Medical; concluded Amy could have saved, if she had had an appropriate medical attention before she died. 

According to the opinion of the Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, in this trail are confronted two important constitutional rights, freedom of religion and children´s right to grow up healthy, however, above any right, the right to life is the most important thing we should fight it, and more when is a little child who requires our care.  Firstly, Is pretty important we could respect the different cultures and its customs, religions and its beliefs, because is the only way how we can preserve the diversity of customs and beliefs, and it is the best way how we could live in peace, each person should have the possibility to choose the conditions in which we would want to live or to die, but when life of a child is in danger, the constitution and its laws should provide clear tools to protect it,   and thus, we could avoid that more cases like this continue appearing.

MY HAPPIEST MEMORIES

I remember when I was a child, I enjoy intensely my life, I have pretty good memories about my childhood, because I was the happiest guy and I didn´t worry for nothing, also I had a lot of friends in the neighborhood, every day we used to play soccer with others teams in different neighborhoods, by the way, we always won every match, also we used to play some different street games like “escondidijo”, “ponchado”, “bote tarro”, “chucha” and others funny games. Every weekend I used to travel with my aunt, we were in a lot of towns and farms, there I used to play with my cousin.

I remember my schoolmates because we used to do many jokes in the break, I remember some teachers, they used to scold me because some days I talked a lot with my friends, others days I used to sleep in the class. Also we used to play soccer in the break and in the physical education class. I remember when I was boring in the class, I used to go to the coordinator and I said him that I felt a little sick and I allowed me to go to my house.

When I was a teenager, I used to be a rebel boy, because I used to escape and I went with my friend to some parties, with them I used to drink cheap wine and smoke, in that time I liked rock music and its culture, I used to be a grunge guy, and we used to go to concerts, underground parties and some bars. When I went to those places, I used to lie to my parents. However, I have always been a good student and I always had good grades, I never lost a year, because my father used to be a very strict person with me, one year he wanted me to study in a military school.          

COURSE 10:

COMPLAIN LETTER ABOUT SOMETHING YOU´VE BOUGHT

On April 13, 2012 I bought an Iphone 4 with 32 GB and I have paid $199.000 COP as down payment. I checked the phone in the store and this was working well, but when I arrived to my house, I realized the phone had some pixels in its display were burnt, then 2 hours after that I went to the store and you said me I should send it to the technical service, because they should evaluate and fix it. As I returned the phone the same day and as I did the complain among the 10 days after I bought it, I want to change by other new phone, but the salesclerk of that store said me, any fault after you leave the store need an evaluation by an technician and after that the phone should fix it.  As didn´t have an answer of the manager, I will send my complain directly to the Apple’s factory, I said him.

I think that store is using the new phones to fix other damage phones, because they never showed the box adequately close when I bought it, and for that, they is buying equipment in bad state, 2 days after I bought the phone I was talking with the supervisor, he said me, if I would want to change my phone by other new, they would give me a basic equipment, without Internet and it don´t let me use all multimedia functions than the Iphone have incorporated

Because of this negative answer, I sent a request to cancel the contracted plan, and I requested my number phone could be use with other operator. Then, some days after this request, you called me and said me “You have ten days to do any change, if the phone you bought to present any fault”, after I have received this call, I went to the store, they said me this change couldn´t do, because I had canceled my plan and in that moment had passed 10 days, they couldn´t do nothing.

In this moment I am completely upset with your service, because how is possible this situation is happening, I am going to send a complain to the factory and the SIC (superintendent´s office of industry and commerce), I hope my situation will be resolved and I hope too that won’t happen to nobody.

FINAL PROJECT: THE CULT OF SAINT DEATH

Since its beginning, Mexican culture has maintained a close relationship and even reverent toward death, that relationship eventually became a cult and it lasted in many places and civilizations in the ancient Mexico, between them Mexicas’s civilization, they represented life and death in stark human figures divided in half. These images have symbolized the duality between good and bad, inside and outside, the moon and the sun, etc. Mexicas or Aztecs was the town where the cult of death became more significant than in others cultures. This brave people took the extreme devotion to death. The Spanish colonization was able to diminish the cult, but didn´t eradicate it, so it remained hidden until the nineteenth century, when occurred the greatest revival in their devotion, as great as the Sacred Virgin from Guadalupe´s devotion.


The skeletal image is wearing a robe of different colors symbolizing something in particular, around of her are the four main symbols like the scythe, the world, the balance and the clock, these represent death is fair, universal, equitable and transforming. His official day is Aug. 15, declared the “Saint Death´s Day” for his faithful; Rituals are organized as similar as Christian´s rituals, including processions and prayers in order to win their favor. Altars  surrounded by different offerings like floral arrangements, fruits, incense, wine, coins, candies, candles, whose color varies according to the petition; as essential elements are required cigars, which must be constantly lit; and a piece of bread . People come to her for miracles o favors related to love, health or work. Also, people ask for malicious purposes, such as revenge and death.


The cult has been growing because people aren´t ready to die and are looking for something to take care of them until the last moment.  Criminals don´t go to the church for its legalized status, although this cult has tried to obtain government licenses. In this time the Catholic´s faithful are fewer than in the 90´s, increasing the number of believers in those cults. Traditional Catholic Church Mexico-USA´s Archbishop Primate David Romo has been the most popular person in this cult, especially among young people. In his masses is common to see hopeful and young faces, in contrast, loading mortuary figures to be blessed. He has promoted the female and male condoms, has accepted abortion in cases of rape and has spoken out against the virginity´s myth. He has also opened the doors of his church to homosexuals and transvestites.

This cult has become evidence that a person may be connected with the organized crime in North Mexico. A lot of drug traffickers get in Saint Death a magic solution to their problems; also they expect to avoid complete punishment after they lost their life.  Have been captured several drug traffickers, who had Saint Death´s altars. She has many faithful among the prisoners, who have chosen her as “protective godmother” by being in a place “full of sins”, despair and risks. Since some years ago there was an awful boom, most of them have tattooed her and their devotion is similar or greater than the Virgin from Guadalupe´s devotion.  

BRAINSTORMING

Introduction:

The cult of Saint Death born in the Pre-Historic era, people adored her in special days and gave her some gifts like sacrificing animals or people, they believed, with that, they would be able to rest in peace. But in these days, death is regarged as a saint, she is wearing with diferent colors, and depend on what is asked; she has a scythe in one hand, to cut the silver thread wich unites the soul and the body. In the last 5 years ago this cult has been increasing.

Hyphotheses:

The cult of Saint Death growns in a country where the social and economical conditions aren´t the best, and where the organized crime has predominated.

Main topics:

• Historical background
• Deities of Death
• Saint Death and Mexico
• Symbolic meanings
• The faithful
• Saint Death and organized crime
• The spiritual Leader

OUTLINING

Main Idea:

How the cult of Saint Death has grew in a country where the social and economical conditions aren´t the best and where the organized crime has predominated

I. Historical background and deities of  Death

   A. How was the birth of this cult

   B. Which have been deities of Death

       1. Natives

       2. Colonization

       3. Contemporary era

II. Saint Death in Mexico and her symbolic meanings

   A. How is the cult in Mexico

       1. Rituals

       2. Dates

       3. Customs

   B. Symbolic Meanings

       1. Clothes

       2. Accesories

 III. The faithful and the spiritual leader

   A. How the faithful have increased

        1. How the cult have increased in the Mexican  society

   B. The spiritual leader

       1. David Romo

   

   IV. Saint Death and the organized crime

   A. Relations between Saint Death and the organized crime

       1. Drug trafficking, violence and a salvation cult

   

SUBWAY STORIES

A writer was interesting about what happen in a Subway from New York City, he was sat watching and in that moment a guy in wheelchair began to ask for money and nobody gave nothing, suddenly, he passed over the red shoes of a girl, she was angry because he had got dirty her new shoes, they began to discuss and he pass again two times over her shoes,  she snatched him violently his cup, where  he was collecting the money, she took improperly his money and threw the cup and left the train.

After that discussion, people wanted to give him money, and in that moment a black girl stood up surprisingly and said them that was a scam and nobody gave anything, so he left sadly the carriage. 


The writer stood up too, and he asked black girl if she had saw those people before, and she said not and she said the government provides good services in hospitals, churches and other places, but the writer continued asking, she began to scare and said she wanted to be completely alone, he was really a nuisance, and a fat man grabbed and threw him outside the train.


PERSONALITY DESCRIPTIONS

• The writer is an observant person, concentrated in his notes, meticulous in his investigation, but he doesn´t respect the privacy of the people, he is a gossipy person.

• The guy in the wheelchair is very sloppy about the way he dresses, he is so vulgar or rude person, he uses an inappropriate language.

• The woman with the red shoes is a materialist person, rude, disrespectful, and aggressive, she is able to equal with a handicapped man in a situation of begging.

• The black girl is a decisive person, with a strong personality, she is a brave girl

FELL RUNNING


Fell running, also known as mountain running and hill running, is the sport of running and racing, off road, over upland country where the gradient climbed is a significant component of the difficulty. Fell races are more organized since XIX century, because many contenders participate for money, and also a lot of people gamble with those races, the professional contenders should pay to race, those people are the fastest and they win some money, and the amateur contenders don´t pay, because those people race to fun.

The name arises from the origins of the English sport on the northern Britain, but in this moment is practicing in all country, especially those in the Lake District, this is a fantastic campsite, it´s a beautiful place because is open, you can feel the nature, and you can feel really free, this place is always cold and in winter is frozen and dirty, you should bring a big bag pack, with many things to keep in a good state.

Sightseeing: visiting famous places in a city like in London the Big Pen or Buckingham Palace.

Pag: You do that before the holiday, and you put some clothes there and put this inside of the suitcase.

Sunglasses:  You wear it when you are in the beach;  you wear it after your eyes.

THE LICENCE


The video describes some traditions have been in some cultures and have been affecting the women´s dignity, those traditions have wanted to represent “love, honor and obey”. This video shows the following traditions:

• The chastity best
• How some cultures buy a woman or change her for animals like goats, to get married
• The local lord deflowers the bride in her marriage night
• Any woman what isn´t a virgin on her marriage night shall be stored to death

Those traditions have stayed for a long time in a lot of countries with a sexist culture and haven´t respected the woman´s rights. I think those traditions should be to change by others more egalitarians; women have been to affect by those cultures as radical as inadequate by our societies.

Women have stayed in silent a long time, but now is time to change and transform our customs.