Love in the Time of Swagger

When a woman is being flattered by someone, the last thing she does not want to listen are words like “Girl, you fine!” or “fo shizzle ma nizzle.” In order to be romantic, it seems to be that men are giving up, and boys are taking the lead with their swagger. However, ladies keep having faith, trusting that someone would bring Romanticism era back. Perhaps, ladies think that men should follow Lord Byron’s exquisite diction, lovely symbol, and romantic expressions when it comes to flattering them. 

Romanticism was the era where poets had a divine connection with the profound meaning of the natural environment, and the beauty of the nature and human bodies. According to the Encyclopædia Britannica website, “Romanticism can be seen as a rejection of the precepts of order, calm, harmony, balance, idealization, and (…) emphasized the individual, the subjective, the irrational, the imaginative, the personal, the spontaneous, the emotional, the visionary, and the transcendental.” Romanticism happened from the late 18th until the mid-19th century. Some great exponents of Romanticism were Scott, Sir Walter, 1st Baronet; Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft; Pushkin, Aleksandr Sergeyevich; and Lord Byron.

The prominent British writer, Lord Byron is known as a great romantic poet of the 18th century; his simply delightful diction is understandable and clean. In his poem, “She Walks in Beauty,” we could appreciate how Byron’s words are dancing together, like making love to each other. This poem is divided into three parts: First, Byron was inspired by his muse’s personality and her movement. Next, Byron is making us see how the environment beauty was conspiring with her. Finally, he is wrapping up his poem by going back and giving us specific details of this lady, and on what was driving him crazy about her. He wrote the poem with a balance; there is a rhyme at the end of each sentence (ab, ab, ab) which we know as close form. In addition, Byron uses just a few formal words, like “Mellowed” and “Gaudy.” At the same time, he made good comparisons in order to appreciating his muse even more, and making her very interesting. 

Byron’s wise comparison could make any lady be astonished and hypnotized; by the way he managed to be passionate, cautious, and charming without crossing the line, which represents Romanticism at its best. Nowadays, however, the swagger is expanding like a poisonous disease. For instance, according to Merriam-Webster online dictionary, swagger is, “To conduct oneself in an arrogant or superciliously pompous manner; especially: to walk with an air of overbearing self-confidence.” However, if we read, “She walks in beauty, like the night, of cloudless climes, and starry skies,” there is no way anyone could think Byron was using a swagger to make his muse feel empathized with his comparisons. The way Byron was seeing his muse’s walking seemed to intrigue him. When we hear the word night, others words like mystery, intensity, and danger could cross our mind. This woman could be dangerously wise; she might have known she had the power to make Byron feel lost in her own game of love. Yet, Byron is has been a great example of how men should be romantic with ladies, no matter how neatly dangerous a lady could be.

Byron knew how to make a lady feel like hovering over the sky, and then, falling right into his arms. “The smiles that win, the tints that glow, but tell of days, in goodness spent.” His muse’s confidence was remarkable; with only one smile of her, Byron admitted how she had won his admiration. Byron was taking his time to travel his muse’s body – little by little, and step by step. “A mind at peace with all below, a heart whose love is innocent;” Byron’s muse could be wise in order to make him feel overwhelmed; however, her little experience on being loved made Byron bring her back to Earth and see her for who she really is: An innocent lady, with a hunger for love and being loved. Furthermore, any lady would love the way Byron dedicate his time to make them feel special, loved, and even sexy and comfortable with their skin. There was no room for boys and their swagger in Byron’s diction, nor putting a lady behind his ego, while making her feel minimized. How romantic Byron is!

If a swagger met the great exponent of Romanticism, Lord Byron, the Romanticism could be back to our era and be more powerful than before. Most women want to be treated like ladies; they want to be discovered like Byron’s took his time to discover his muse from inside out: Every inch of their skin, curves, expressions, and the way they walk with elegance and a glamorous self-esteem. For, how could a lady find love in the time of swagger? The answer would be: Teaching men how to follow Lord Byron’s skills and style in order to be polite romantic gentlemen.

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Works Cited

"Romanticism." Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2013. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/508675/Romanticism.

"Swagger." Merriam-Webster. N.p., n.d. Web. Dec. 2013. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swagger.

Rose Maxson: How to Live With a Broken Heart

What would be your reaction if you have been married for over 18 years, and your spouse unexpectedly tells you he is fathering a baby from an illicit relationship? In August Wilson’s play, ‘Fences,’ when Rose started to doubt the mysterious disappearances of her husband, Troy Maxson, she asked him to build a fence around their house. Although Troy did not figure out from the beginning why Rose would ask for such a thing, he kept on with his duty, while she was afraid of what she saw coming… When the fence (which symbolizes the protection of Rose and her family) was finally built, it was too late. Nevertheless, Rose was a loyal woman; she kept caring for Troy’s family like her own, and strongly dealt with having to live with a broken heart while inside a house that used to be her home.

When Rose married Troy she gave herself to him in body and mind; she was the most loyal wife any man could ask for. In the play, August Wilson introduces Rose as a faithful woman, “She [Rose] is ten years younger than Troy, her devotion to him stems from her recognition of the possibilities of her life without him […] She recognizes Troy’s spirit as a fine and illuminating one and she either ignores or forgives his faults” (1056). Rose use her wisdom to maintain her husband’s happiness; she fed him with a variety of meals, kept his clothes clean and ironed, and pleased him in bed from Friday at sunset until Monday at sunrise –every man’s dream come true.

According to Courant Theater Critic Deborah Hornblow’s article, ‘`Fences' Is a Pleasure to Scale,’ [Rose is] “a loyal wife who has held tight to her husband of 18 years despite her own disappointments.” However, Rose did not only stay loyal to Troy for 18 years, she was loyal for seven more years –when Death took away Troy. For instance, since the moment Rose told Troy, “Move out the way so the marrying kind could find me” (1057), Troy realized he found the woman of his dreams. Troy knew Rose would be loyal to him even when everybody knew how Troy used to say he “Eye all the women” (1055). In addition, Rose was treating Troy like a god on a pedestal.

Comparable to Anne Bradstreet’s poem, ‘To My Dear and Loving Husband,’ Rose’s love and devotion to Troy was beyond surreal. For instance, when we read: “I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold, Or all the riches that the East doth hold. My love is such that rivers cannot quench, nor ought but love from thee give recompense” (463). We might say those lines perfectly suit Rose’s commitment towards Troy. Her love was more valuable than pure gold, and it would not extinguish –for now… Rose could not see herself without Troy. She knew she was more valuable than richness; although Troy had his particular way of telling Rose that he loved her –especially when he was drunk.

Rose was clever; she knew the best way to enjoy a good and long night of sex with Troy was letting him drink alcohol with his best friend, Bono, and inviting Bono to stay over for supper. Nevertheless, Bono was not only useful to Rose for her sex plans; her tenderness –with a double intention twist made Bono felt guilty when he realized Troy was being unfaithful to her. For instance, one Saturday, when Troy returned to the house –after being gone for hours with the excuse of going to watch baseball, Rose asked him about the score of the game. She knew how much he loved baseball. Thus, when he changed the topic and quickly started to get affectionate (with no success) by touching her waist, she obviously figured out what was going on.

Rose was not naïve; she knew Troy was playing her in the bad way, and yet, she started praying to God to protect her for what she saw coming. Troy started to build a fence over their house, and Bono helped Troy understand why she asked to build it. Bono told Troy, “Some people build fences to keep people out…and other people build fences to keep people in. Rose wants to hold on to you all. She loves you” (1089). Troy did not pay attention; he was too busy feeding his sexual needs with a woman (Alberta) who was aware of his family. Alberta did not care at all –because for her it was easier to be the lover: the one who only had to open her legs, instead of cooking him meals, ironing his clothes, and doing the rest of the chores like Rose used to do for Troy and their family.

According to the reference guide written by Sandra G. Shannon for The African-American Experience website, “Bono […] moves quickly to dissuade him [Troy] from seeing more of Alberta and causing unbearable anguish for Rose. But Troy ignores the wise advice of his friend and plunges even further into the relationship.” Troy was blind; nevertheless, Rose continued to be a loyal wife to him, an excellent mother to their son and a good woman to his family and friends –even after Troy broke her heart with heartbreaking news.

Rose’s biggest nightmare had come; Troy not only confessed to her he cheated on her with Alberta, but added he and Alberta were expecting a baby. Now, some wives who had been cheated on might say Rose could forgive Troy’s affair. However, when there is a baby involved in this unpleasant situation, the wife could get a divorce, or spend the rest of her marriage under a cold war full of resentments. Rose was not the exception; she told Troy, “I done tried to be everything a wife should be. Everything a wife could be. Being married eighteen years and I got to live to see the day you tell me you been seeing another woman and done fathered a child by her” (1092). Rose decided to be just a woman, and decided to no longer be a wife to him.

Rose’s reaction of opening her eyes and taking a step forward in an unpleasant circumstance, was similar to Sammy’s reaction; the main character of John Updike’s ‘A&P.’ For instance, Sammy was a cashier at the A&P grocery store. He was a 19-year-old boy who always was making fun of the customers. Sammy was amazed by the beauty and personality of one particular girl who used to walk wearing a bathing suit while buying at the store –his ‘Queenie.’ One day, Sammy’s boss, Lengel, noticed Sammy’s Queenie along with two of her friends were walking around the store in their bathing suits. Thus, Lengel decided to let Sammy’s Queenie know the grocery store was not a beach, and their customers were decent. Sammy did not like how his boss spoke to his lovely imaginary girlfriend. In response, Sammy told Lengel that he should not have spoken to her in that tone, and quit his job. Just like Sammy, Rose had to take the lead and follows her instincts, even when both (Sammy and she) knew the following experience would be intense.

Troy had destroyed everything Rose had built. He also had the goal to play the victim when he clearly was the guilty one. Troy claimed he had many responsibilities, and he just needed a time for himself –a time with Alberta. Rose was very upset –who could not possibly feel the same way? She responded to him with some other questions:

“Don’t you think I ever wanted other things? Don’t you think I had dreams and hopes? What about my life? What about me. Don’t you think it ever crossed my mind to want to know other man? That I wanted to lay up somewhere and forget about my responsibilities? That I wanted someone to make me laugh so I could feel good? […] But I held on to you, Troy. I held you tighter” (1094).

Rose was devastated; her heart was broken into a thousand pieces. On the other hand, Alberta died after having Troy’s baby girl, Raynell. Yet, Troy was no fool; he knew how prodigious Rose’s heart was. Thus, three days after Raynell was born; he asked Rose if she could be the mother of his daughter. Rose responded, “From right now…this child got a mother. But you a womanless man” (1099). Rose had to learn how to lick her wounds and continue moving forward. She was always saying how the time was changing; she followed her own advice.

According to the article ‘Essay on Feminist Perspective’ in DirectEssays.com (website), “Rose Maxson proves that a woman in the 1950's can have the upper hand. Rose is the heart of the Maxson family and the peacemaker […] She feels that family is the richest resource anywhere.” Although the play focuses on Troy, Rose was the rock of the house. She stayed away from Troy, and came closer to God –by assisting at the church on Sunday mornings.

Unfortunately for Troy, his time had come to the end. Although he died seven years after Raynell was born, he was living like a dead person since Rose chose to be just the mother of their son, Cory. Troy not only lost Rose’s respect and love, he also lost Bono’s friendship, and gained the contempt of Cory. Even his new job as a truck driver made him feel alone and dead inside. On the other hand, Rose was raising Raynell as the girl she always wanted to have. In addition, she found peace with herself, and when Troy died, she let him rest in peace by honoring him as the man she married 25 years ago.

Rose Maxson, how could she live with a broken heart? For, any man who has a wife like Rose should build a fence made of rose petals around her, and do not let any fantasy –like Alberta ruin their reality. Rose represents the power of a loyal wife: all her wisdom, struggles, tenderness and passion, her faith in God and devotion to her family. The woman who reassembled her heart after it had been broken and still…still had the power to stand on her feet.

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Works Cited

"Essay on Feminist Perspective." Direct Essays. N.p., 31 Dec. 1969. Web. Dec. 2013. .

Gardner, Janet E., and Berverly Lawn, eds. Literature: A Portable Anthology. Third ed. Boston: Bedford St. Martin's, 2013. Print.

Hornblow, Deborah. "`Fences' Is a Pleasure to Scale." The Courant. Hartford Courant, 19 Jan. 2007. Web. Dec. 2013. .

Shannon, Sandra G. "August Wilson’s Fences : a Reference Guide." The African American Experience. Greenwood Publishing Group, n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2013. .

Juguetito de Nadie

No quiero nada a medias.
No quiero nada tibio.
Caliente o Frio;
Pero nada... Nada!
A mitad del camino.

Pero, y quien se habrá creído?
Y hasta dicen que ha enfurecido.
Todo o Nada;
Y sin esas agallas
De creer que aun suspiro.

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Children’s Literature

One of the prerequisites to continue following the rhythm of Communication Concentration catalog is Children’s Literature which is a three-credit course. Even though I had three different classes to choose from, I felt the desire to opt for this class. Children’s Literature was a challenge for me, because I am the mother and the father of my two children. Thus, I wanted to learn more about children and their literature from other’s perspectives. Therefore, I accepted my own challenge of enrolling in this outstanding online-class which taught me the three most significant lessons: How to recognize a good book, how to recognize a well-illustrated book and how to evaluate it, and how to read-aloud to children.

The first lesson I learned was how to recognize a good book. I agreed with Michael Tunnell’s book, Children’s Literature, Briefly, when he stated that “All adults choose children’s books according to some kind of standard” (9). Tunnell states that we can call a book “good,” if the book teaches lessons that we want them to be taught. In addition, Tunnell gives us his advices as a wise guide to follow. For instance, he opines that a good book should have absence of harshness, scariness, and swearing; in addition, he says that a book should have a familiar content, a simple vocabulary, and a personal and/or social preference. Throughout the whole book, Tunnell’s lessons impacted me. After reading Tunnell’s book, I remembered the times when I had to choose a book for my son. I did not pay as much attention as I should. When I read Children’s Literature, Briefly chapter 2, I stated to paying more attention to the written and illustrated details of any book.

The second lesson I learned was how to recognize a well-illustrated book, and how to make a good evaluation. It was because Tunnell’s Children’s Literature, Briefly also. In his book, Tunnell explains that, “Picture books are a perfect vehicle for opening a child’s eyes to the beauty and power of art, because they do not function like other books, where words alone tell a story or convey information” (29). Tunnell also states that young readers may develop a sense for judging quality. For instance, in this class, I had to make five book’s evaluations. One of my favorite illustrated books to evaluate was The Patchwork Quilt, a heart-touching story written by Valerie Flournoy, were its illustrations was made by Jerry Pinkney who made this book story comes to life. I was not only able to understand Tunnell’s lessons, but to apply them in my evaluation. In addition, I learned how to choose a well-illustrated book to bring it to my children at their read-aloud times. 

The third valuable lesson I have learned in Children’s Literature was how to correctly read-aloud to my children. In her book, Reading Magic, Mem Fox explains why reading out loud to our children will change their lives forever. According to Fox, “Reading aloud and talking about what we’re reading sharpens children’s brains. It helps develop their ability to concentrate at length, to solve problems logically, and to express themselves more easily and clearly” (15-16). I was always conscious of speaking to my children from the second trimester of each pregnancy. When my children were born, I felt a special connection to them; which made me feel it was because of my constant chat with them. Fox’ book is very helpful for mothers-to-be and for those like me who want to give their best to their children. Reading Magic really brings the magic to its readers; Fox shows the best ways to have entertaining and educational read-aloud sections with children.

To sum on, Children’s Literature definitively was the greatest options I chose. The lessons I had learned in this class were extremely valuable for all of my roles; especially, for being the first educator to my children. Now, I can define what a good book is, and how to recognize it. In addition, I can wisely choose a well-illustrated book, and pay attention to its details. As well as, bringing those good books to my children’s reading aloud sections. However, the greatest lesson I had learned is the capability to teach each lesson to my children or relatives. 

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Quiero Verla Feliz

Quiero verla feliz;
Quiero verla reir.
Que la llenen de besos,
Que le cumplan deseos.
Quiero verla feliz.

Quiero verla feliz;
Quiero verla sentir.
Que vivan por ella,
Que le bajen estrellas.
Quiero verla feliz.

Quiero verla feliz;
Quiero verla subir.
Que logre sus metas,
Que construya nuevas.
Quiero verla feliz.

Quiero verla feliz;
Quiero verla hasta el fin.
Que confíe en el Señor,
Que se acerca lo mejor.
La veré; ya la veré... Feliz.


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The Beautiful Art of Poetry

Pic by: http://www.stendhalfestival.com/poetry.html

A popular yet anonymous quote states that there is not a worse blind than someone who does not want to see. If we could interpret this quote by going deeper than its simple denotation, we might empathize with the whole meaning of seeing further than an eye could see –in other words: even a blind person could see without using his physical vision. Similar to this quote, poetry is all about digging deeper into the meanings of its words, and observing beyond a simple sight. In order to recognize the beautiful art of poetry we should accept and appreciate that even if a poem is no longer than a few words, it could have contrasting significations between individuals. Using George Gordon, Lord Byron’s ‘She Walks in Beauty’ as an example; basing on its speaker’s tone, diction, and symbol, we will see a clear idea of how poetry art works.

The definition of poetry given by the Merriam-Webster online dictionary also provide us the meaning of the poem’s speaker: “writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience in language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through meaning, sound, and rhythm.” This definition makes us believe that anyone could write poetry, as long as it creates any kind of emotion in another person. The speaker of the poem does the work to create those emotions. For instance, the speaker of ‘She Walk in Beauty’ makes anyone fall in love with his statements of the exquisite elegance of the lady he is describing, and the way he compares her with the beauty of the night: calm, sweet, and pure. Although we cannot describe at best George Gordon’s speaker, we could have the impression of a gentlemen in love; moreover, a wise man who knows how to win a lady’s heart by just using his diction. 

The diction (word choices and order) expresses the appropriate combination of meaning and emotion; poets choose their words for clarity of meaning (denotation), sometimes for its effect (connotations), and other times just for the way they sound (rhythm). According to Barbara F. McManus, in her article, Tools for Analyzing Poetry, we need to “Pay attention to their specific effects in the poem (speaking about diction), how they contribute to the poem's meaning. In many cases the poet will use diction and syntax in unexpected or deviant ways (poetic license).” McManus states that poets don't bend the “rules” of language just because they can; in a good poem, there is always a reason for unusual uses of language. Likewise, Gordon follows the traditional way –what we know as closed form: he follows standard rules of grammar and syntax (sequence, order, and arrangement; the word order and sentence structure) with a regular rhythm and rhyme scheme. For example, his sentences finish having an order or arrangement –like some artists use in their song (ab, ab, ab). In addition, Gordon uses many symbols to illustrate us his ideas embodied in the image without having to state them. 

Poetry is an art, and it comes with many elements, one of which is: Symbolism. The Symbol is an image transferred by something that stands for or represents something else. Bedford St. Martin website states that a symbol works in two ways: “It is something itself, and it also suggests something deeper.” In addition, the article makes a good point by stating there are no symbols with absolute meanings, because of their nature. Then, they conclude with “It is better to begin by asking what they could mean, or what they have meant.” In brief, a symbol could be a person, object, image, word, or event that evokes a range of additional meaning beyond –and usually more abstract than its literal significance. For instance, we might state that Gordon is clearly describing one specific woman’s beauty through his symbols. However, if someone sees beyond Gordon’s diction, this person could say the author is speaking about death –perhaps, for some people –like Emily Dickinson (in ‘Because I could not stop for Death’), death could be kind, serene, and elegant. On the other hand, another person could say that Gordon is talking about love and the way “She walks in beauty” –how it comes into our life and smiles at us, and makes us see its beauty like the intensity of a crystal-clear night. 

As John Ciardi states in his book, How Does a Poem Mean, “Learning to experience poetry is not a radically different process from that of learning any other kind of play…One of the real joys of the play-impulse is in the sudden discovery that one is getting better at it than he had thought he would be.” Ciardi’s definition has been providing a genuine knowledge of the art of poetry since its publication in 1959. The beautiful art of poetry could transform any false rumor of what it does mean, into true appreciation of what it does evoke in its audience. 

Poetry could be charming and in the same way intense. It could make us believe in anything; it could set us free. Poetry could be fun, and enjoyable. Anyone could understand and learn poetry; furthermore, anyone could make poetry. For, even a blind person could see, without using his physical vision –there is not a worse blind than someone who does not want to see. There is not a worse ignorant than someone who does not want to learn –especially, when it comes to learning poetry.

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Ciardi, John. "How Does a Poem Mean." CSU. California State University, Northridge, n.d. Web. 1959. .

"Elements of Poetry." Virtual Lit. Bedford St. Martins, n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2013. .

McManus, Barbara F. "Tools for Analyzing Poetry." College of New Rochelle. N.p., n.d. Web. Nov. 2007. 

"Poetry." Merriam-Webster. Encyclopedia Britannica Company, n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2013. .

Conquistando a América

Porque así lo quería y deseaba,
Siete meses habría sido aislada.
Su camino recto escondía pasto:
Mojado de rocío, añorando tacto.

Un conquistador se aproximaba;
Una intensa noche era esperada.
Tres decadas tomó en descubrirla,
Y tres años para poder conducirla.

Del oeste al este la contemplaba,
Y del sur al norte fue incendiada.
Introdujo su barca a firme tierra.
Conquistando así la nativa fiera.

Su Voz

Su voz es adictiva;
Juega con mi anatomía.
Acaricia mis oidos,
Descontrola mis sentidos.

Su voz es seducción;
Mas él no es mi perdición.
Hoy me siento sin salida,
Yo que fui tan precavida.
Su voz... Su voz es ilusión;
Taquicardia al corazón.
Besos nunca jamás dados,
Ni mi cuerpo lo ha observado.
Su voz es tentación;
Yo, mezcla de contradicción.
Si me lanzo en paracaídas,
O regreso a mi normal vida.

Su voz es adictiva;
Juega con mi anatomía.
Acaricia mis oidos,
Descontrola mis sentidos.

Happily Ever After

Pic by: http://happiness-one-quote-time.blogspot.com/2013/03/carry-on-luggage.html

With over 76,600,000 web definition results on Google, this website generalizes the concept of happiness as “the state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.” Happiness is to be at peace with ourselves, and to show respect for every person, no matter the age, ethnicity, or color. Happiness is enjoying every single blessed day like it is the last one on earth. Why does bringing happiness into our lives seem so hard to define? For instance, while some people parallel happiness with money, others say it may come with the age, and others associate happiness with the love for their families or affairs. 

Money is like the breeze that embraces us for a while; then in a blink of an eye will leave us without a trace. In the Times Magazine article, “Do We Need $75,000 a Year to Be Happy?” written by Belinda Luscome, the economist Angus Deaton and psychologist Daniel Kahneman found that 85% of Americans felt happy each day. However, the society keeps buying themselves happy moments, by spending and wasting their money on fancy and materialistic articles, or traveling the world just trying to fulfill emptiness in their mind and heart. On the other hand, Deaton states that “High incomes don’t bring you happiness, but they do bring you a life you think is better” (Luscome 2). The reality is, money could buy only those happy moments, but it might leave us as empty as we were before our purchases. Therefore, we should not keep ignoring that we could find happiness even in the smallest detail life would bring us, at any stage of our age.

As Nicholas Bakalar states in his article “Happiness May Come with Age, Study Says,” a large Gallup poll found that people get happier as they get older. The article reveals a strange and realistic way that elders perceive happiness when they reach their 80s. Therefore, could our age define our happiness? Most young people tend to confuse happiness with the pleasure of having what they desire. However, when they become older, they laugh about that immature way of thinking. According to Andrew J. Oswald, a professor of psychology at Warwick Business School in England, who was interview by Bakalar, “It’s a very encouraging fact that we can expect to be happier in our early 80s than we were in our 20s…And it’s not being driven predominantly by things that happen in life. It’s something very deep and quite human that seems to be driving this” (Bakalar 2). Although, some elders could lament of not doing much in their early life; perhaps, they might not have major studies, save enough money, or fail in parenting. On the other hand, others had found happiness in themselves or through someone they loved.

Happiness is similar to love; they walk hand in hand like best friends walk through the park on a sunny day. Christians believes that a partner might bring his wife happiness, by demonstrating his appreciation and love to his woman. As the Holy Bible states, “If a man has recently married, he must…stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married” (Deuteronomy 24:5). On the other hand, love could not lead us to happiness because when a couple is divorcing, their love and passion could be transformed into anger and unhappiness; this transformation could live for a while, or decades. Although, Christians says that when we believe in God, contentment seems easy to find. However, it does not matter if person loves to follow a religion in order find happiness; when a person loves what they do or fell in love with someone, he would be as happy as a recently fed baby.

To sum on, happiness is not define by being rich, getting older, or loving someone. For, money would not buy our happiness; it just confuses us with happy moments we may buy at some clothing store, travel agency, and etcetera. We might be happier by the time we get older, but why do we need to wait for so long? A person could give us the affection, love and pleasures that we might need; but those might not guarantee our happiness after all. The real definition of happiness is our personal view of life. In addition, happiness is in us; it is in how we love ourselves for who we are and what we might have under any circumstance. And that is the true meaning of living happily ever after. 

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Luscome, Belinda. Do We Need $75,000 a Year to Be Happy? TIME Magazine. TIME INC, 2013. Web.

< http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2019628,00.html>

Bakalar, Nicholas. Happiness May Come With Age, Study Says. The New York Times, June 1, 2010. Web.

< http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/health/research/01happy.html?_r=0>

Holy Bible, New International Version. Deuteronomy 24:5. NIV. Biblica, Inc. Bible Gateaway, 2011. Web.

< http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+24%3A5&version=NIV>

Holy Bible, New International Version. 1 John 4:8. NIV. Biblica, Inc. Bible Gateaway, 2011. Web.

Holy Bible, New International Version. Ecclesiastes 2:26. NIV. Biblica, Inc. Bible Gateaway,  2011. Web.

< http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%202:26&version=NIV>

Dancing in the Rain

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In the memoir, Hole in My Life, by Jack Gantos, when Gantos was at the Federal Prison in Ashland, Kentucky, he had to learn the importance of meting good friends who listen, support him, and guide him to make wiser decisions in his life. Gantos had the opportunity to meet Mr. Bow, the food service worker, and Mr. Casey; three worthy influencing people. Like Gantos, we could find good friends even if we are under the badness circumstance.

The first day Gantos entered the Federal Prison in Ashland, Kentucky, Mr. Bow spotted lice in his hair; as consequence, he had to put him on a private yellow cell (Gantos 154). Gantos described Mr. Bow, who was the physician’s assistant, “a big man, with a head as wide as his shoulders” (Gantos 161 – 162). Mr. Bow’s good-man appearance made Gantos caring about him. When Gantos was lice-free, he did not want to live around the others convicts, thus, he asked Mr. Bow for a job. Mr. Bow offered him a job as the X-ray tech; also told Gantos that he could live in the same private area and become part of the hospital staff if he accepted (Gantos 162 – 163). As many months went by in prison, Mr. Bow and Gantos had stick to each other, and had a good relationship.

After spending a few days in prison, Gantos was feeling like “a cricket trapped in a box” (Gantos 158); when the food service worker saw him walking around his cell and felt sorry for him. For this reason, the worker brought Gantos a pad of papers, envelopes, a pencil, and some books, including The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky. Thanks to the food service worker, Gantos began to use the Karamazov as his journal (Gantos 158). And thanks to the food service worker, Gantos could send his first letter to the judge and told him to reduce his sentence to time served, also explained he had lice, “fully realized his mistakes”, and had been “scared straight” (Gantos 158 – 159). Gantos did not mention the food service worker again neither his name, however, this person sneakily had one of the major roles in Hole in My Life.

The last helpful person that supported Gantos in the penitentiary was Mr. Casey: “A young and yet beaten down by the brutal atmosphere and the frustration of trying to help people in pretty hopeless situations” (Gantos 190 – 191). When Gantos was desperate for getting out of prison, he planned every escape possible but no one good enough to make it come true. Until one day, his former caseworker, Mr. Wilcox, retired, and he met the new one: Mr. Casey (Gantos 190). Mr. Casey was the one who typed up Gantos’ school application, wrote a check for the application fee, and sent it back to the school (Gantos 192). Perhaps, Gantos could not have got out of prison by time, without Mr. Casey’s priceless help.

Sometimes life put us in a very difficult situation and made us feel like we are under a heavy storm. Then, by God Mercy, we could find good friends who support us, even if the storm did not seem to stop. When those friends guide us and we learn how to manage the situation, feels like we are dancing in the rain. Does not matter if we are in jail, like Gantos was, it is how to learn to dance with those friends during the rain that made the situation easy to handle.



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Gantos, Jack. Hole in My Life. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2002. Print.

Building Credibility



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What would happened if an English-student wrote a skilled article but no matter how many pages he had written, his professor told him it was still missing credibility? As defined by Google, “Credibility is the quality of being trusted, convincing or believable.” In the next comparison of the articles “Why Don’t We Complain?” By William F. Buckley Jr., and “The Bystander Effect,” by Dorothy Barkin, both authors have the same central idea of trying to persuade the readers to speak up when circumstances occurs. However, we will see how well they build credibility in their argument, by using personal experiences or newspaper articles as evidence, quotations, and their rhetorical strategies.

In William F. Buckley Jr.’s article, “Why Don’t We Complain?” Buckley Jr. uses several personal-experiences as evidence. People say that anything in large amounts is harmful and/or has a negative effect; Buckley went off the limits. For instance, Buckley introduces his article by telling us his experience about one below-freezing day that he was inside of a steamy-hot train. He states that no one complained about it. Buckley explains, “The conductor had nonchalantly walked down the gauntlet of eighty sweating American freemen… not one of them had asked him to explain why the passengers in that car had been consigned to suffer” (Buckley Jr. 1). Buckley Jr. continues arguing about his experiences inside of a movie theater, a café, an airplane, and on a line at some ski repair store in Pico Peak, Vermont. On each one of the example given by Buckley, he states that people, especially Americans, instead of complaining about a situation, they are “expecting someone else to take the initiative in going back to speak” (Buckley Jr. 2). Buckley might get his readers tired of his complaining of why we do not complain. In addition, to encourage his audience to do not be afraid to speak up, Buckley uses too many personal experiences, and just a few researches to enforce his argument.

In contrast with Dorothy Barkin’s article, “The Bystander Effect,” the lack of researched sources as evidence in Buckley Jr.’s article, made his argument lose credibility. In Barkin’s article, she hooks the audience by putting us in four different situations, and makes us think about how we would react if they happened. Barkin explains that “Bystanders are often reluctant to intervene in criminal or medical emergencies for reasons they are well aware of” (Barkin 2). Then, on each situation given by Barkin, she states the percentage of people who react like good Samaritans, while the majority tends to abandon the person in danger and/or stay away from an injustice. Later, Barkin tell us about the brutal murder of Catherine “Kitty” Genovese. According to Barkin, Genovese’s tragedy was a shocking crime that outraged the nation. She uses lots of researches details while she continues explaining when, how, and who was involved in Genovese’s tragedy. Barkin makes her audience believe in her, and take actions when an injustice occurs. Barkin number-pointed her sources and she added quotations and interviews through her article.

Like a fish in water, quotations have to stick to its owner (even if the expression was said by Jane or John Doe). When William F. Buckley Jr. quotes an editor of a national weekly news magazine, he left us with big questions. For example, who was this editor? When his article was written? And, in what news magazine did he work for? Buckley explains that this unknown editor mentioned how only twelve protest-letters (against an editorial stance) were sent to the news magazine, and that he explained, “So few people complain, or make their voice heard…we assume a dozen letters represent the unarticulated view of thousands of readers” (Buckley Jr. 4). The information given by Buckley might be true; however, how do we know? Once again, Dorothy Barkin scored more credibility points than William Beckley Jr., when she writes citations and quotations made by bystanders in her research.

Dorothy Barkin writes about how Kitty Genovese shouted “Oh my God, he stabbed me! Please help me! Please help me!” while she was being stabbed by an unidentified man. Barkin makes reference about how the bystander in Genovese’s murder said they were “afraid”, “tired”, “did not want to get involved”, and even “thought it was a lovers’ quarrel” (Barkin, 4). Barkin writes about the cruel rape of a woman, another incident that happened nine years later in Trenton, New Jersey. According to Barkin, a witness of the incident said, “We thought, well, it might turn out to be her boyfriend or something like that” (Barkin 4). Barkin article posted on the Townsend Press website, clearly shows how she makes reference on every statement or information she had made (by numbers placed at the right-side). Unfortunately, the website seems to have something wrong in order to link Barkin’s sources. Barkin uses more than thirty references on her article. However, she does not stop there; she also built credibility by delivering rhetorical strategies to her readers.

Although both authors use Aristotle’s rhetorical triangle: Logos, Ethos, and Pathos, William Buckley Jr. appeals more to reasons: Logos. Buckley makes his point clear from the first paragraphs of his article, “Why Don’t We Complain?” In which Buckley Jr. states that “From one end to the car to the other, as we rattled though Westchester Country, we sweated; but we did not moan” (Buckley Jr. 1). In almost every paragraph of Buckley Jr.’s article, we could read about how he argues about Americans. For instance, he says, “we are reluctant to make our voices heard, hesitant about claiming our right…we are afraid that our cause is unjust, or that if it is not unjust, that it is ambiguous; or even that, that it is too trivial to justify the horrors of a confrontation with Authority; we will sit in an over or endure a racking headache before undertaking a head-on, I’m-here-to-tell-you complaint” (Buckley Jr. 2). Like most Disney-Pixar movies; Buckley wants us to speak up, to fight for our rights, and not be complacent under any circumstances. On the other hand, Dorothy Barkin appeals to the emotions, beliefs and values of her audience.

In the fourth page of Barkin’s article, when she was talking about Genovese’s murder, she mentions that “The same question was on everybody’s mind –how could thirty-eight people have done so little?” By sharing this information, Barkin persuades her audience to think as victims and take action as heroes. She states, “If you find yourself witnessing an emergency with a group, remember that everybody is waiting for someone else to do something first. Is you take action, others may also help” (Barkin 5). Then, Barkin make us think about the unfortunate, tragic moment of Kitty Genovese, by concluding with, “Imagine what it feels like to need help and have a crowd watching you suffer and do nothing” (Barkin 5). Barkin made her voice heard; the way she uses Pathos, make her readers feel touched by her persuasion.

When we are writing an essay or discussing an article, if we do not know how to make our audiences believe in what we have to say, our paper would not satisfy them at all. Even if our essay is ten-page long of well-written, extremely-professional vocabulary, we need to give evidences to our readers. For example, give our readers some modest amount of our personal experiences, and enforce our argument with articles and researches. In addition, we might need to add quotations, citations, and/or interviews; and of course, give credit to each person mentioned in our paper. We must include Aristotle’s rhetorical triangle: Logos, Ethos, and Pathos, as strategies to persuade our audience. Even tough, we might need to apply the phrase introduced into modern language in the late twentieth century, “Fake it till you make it.” We must build credibility in our writing, if we want to make our readers believe in our words.




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Barkin, Dorothy. “The Bystander Effect.” Understanding Ourselves. Townsend Press. Web
http://www.townsendpress.com/uploaded_files/tinymce/writing%20and%20motvn/vv_ch14.pdp

Fuller, William F. Buckley, Jr. “Why Don’t We Complain?” 50 Essays. Ed. Samuel Cohen. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004. 64-70. Print