The Scarlet Letter- Hansen

Nathaniel Hawthorne gave a much needed light to women’s rights in the Scarlet Letter, with Hester Prynne's story of one woman’s struggle to find her place, in a time when gender controlled the perceived ability of a woman.  It was unheard of for a woman to speak her mind in the slightest. Hester challenged this way of thinking and way of life within the story, making a vast impression on society. Women were to spend their days taking care of the home and family. To serve as simply an accessory to a man, without much value alone. Times have definitely changed since then, however The Scarlet Letter still has a large relation to the modern day feminist movement. At the beginning of the book, Hester goes along with what everyone tells her what to do. She embroidered a shame filled scarlet “A” onto her clothing, to be reminded of her sinful measures. Then, stood in front of the whole town to be recognized by all as an adulterer and publicly shamed. Women were taught to hide their personalities and to abide by what men taught them. Yet Hester still managed to make a lasting influence.

"Women derive pleasure, incomprehensible to the other sex, from the delicate toil of the needle" (Hawthorne, 76). Hawthorne implies that women cannot let their personal wants show. Because women are to fill their time with housekeeping and embroidery. Ultimately, leading to the idea that women are seen as delicate on the outside, but on the inside have a strong voice that they are struggling to release. “Some attribute had departed from her, the permanence of which had been essential to keep her a woman. Such is frequently the fate, and such the stern development, of the feminine character and person, when the woman has encountered, and lived through, an experience of peculiar severity. If she be all tenderness, she will die. If she survive, the tenderness will either be crushed out of her, or—and the outward semblance is the same—crushed so deeply into her heart that it can never show itself more. The latter is perhaps the truest theory. She who has once been woman, and ceased to be so, might at any moment become a woman again, if there were only the magic touch to effect the transformation.” (Hawthorne, 158). This is a prime example of the stereotypical view of a woman during this time period. A woman will either be too soft to go through something difficult or will lose all tenderness and therefore become less of a woman. As if being tender is the defining feature of a woman and without it you have nothing, because strong women do not exist. Men and women cannot be equal in comparison. As a result, women must have a lesser tenderness, in order to create a more powerful man.

There are clear gender roles throughout the novel. But as it progresses, we see even more evidence of feminist themes. Hester proves that she will not let what society has made her out to be, be who she actually is. The “A” was used originally to label her as an adulterer, however Hester, being the self empowered person she is, would not allow anything to define her, she redefined the letter as a symbol of a strong woman. That is solely what the modern feminist movement is about, becoming distinguished for your own accomplishments instead of what people expect from you based on your gender.

People tend to look up to others that have a stronger will to fight for something they believe in than themselves. Which is why Hester Prynne served as a feminist icon, before it was a movement. Although many women did not act on their beliefs, to please society, it would not be unlikely that Hester was not the only one that felt she was worth more than how everyone treated her. Her and women like her shaped what is widely known today as the fight for gender equality. Through all of her obstacles, Hester served as an early figure of the feminist movement due, to her ability to break her culture's ideal model of a woman and reveal the true capabilities of a woman.

Death of a Salesman--Beck

First performed in 1949, Arthur Miller’s screenplay, The Death of a Salesman, is still relevant with modern political and societal issues. Miller presents his themes not by explicitly stating them, but rather, subtly tying them into the actions and consequences of the characters. Moreover, the morals extrapolated from the Loman family’s demise apply directly to the modern era as the same issues are being faced by Americans nearly 70 years later.

First, one of the largest political issues of the play involved Willy Loman’s income. A mediocre salesman, Willy lost his salary and was forced to work on commision until he was eventually fired. In addition to having restricted income, the Lowan family was in substantial debt, working to pay off their home along with smaller items such as their car and refrigerator. Miller used this situation to demonstrate the cycle of debt many real families of the late 1940’s experienced. Willy expresses his frustration saying, “I just finished paying for the car and it's on its last legs. The refrigerator consumes belts like a goddamn maniac. They time those things. They time them so when you paid for them, they're used up” (Miller 56). This cycle is a symbol of how despite his work ethic, Willy feels unable to improve his family’s economic status.

While not the focus of his play, this cycle of economic hopelessness relates very well to the current cycle of poverty faced by many groups of Americans. The effect of the issue can be seen in American academic, Michael Porter, expressing, “The lack of businesses and jobs in disadvantaged urban areas fuels not only a crushing cycle of poverty but also crippling social problems such as drug abuse and crime” (Porter). This problem, addressed by Miller, has become a divisive political issue debated by people in government. While some people believe it is the government’s responsibility to help these individuals escape the cycle with government programs, others believe the individuals should be able to escape through perseverance and education, without government support. With the 2016 election approaching, this problem will certainly be brought to the forefront of people’s attention. While Miller doesn’t explicitly state his opinion, it is likely that he would have supported government assistance as the story shows Willy nearly working himself to death with no success.

In addition to economics, the play’s events relate directly to current societal issues involving depression. In the play, Willy is depressed. Even though we see in flashbacks that he was once happy about his career and family, he becomes unhappy as his professional and family life deteriorate. The depression Willy suffers through becomes a major idea in the play. Depression takes over his entire life as he struggles to live in the present, constantly reflecting upon happier times. The depression is bad enough that Willy attempts suicide by driving off a bridge and inhaling gas. Miller uses this character not only to show the extent of the misery faced by depressed people, but also to show the lack of support they often have. The Loman family knew about Willy’s attempts on his life with a rubber gas tube but did nothing to help him. Miller shows that the family’s response of anger only led to his eventual suicide.

The idea of lack of support depressed people have, brought up by Miller, is a serious problem today. Approximately 43,000 Americans kill themselves every year accounting for about 0.013% of the United States population. According to psychologist Donna White, “Cultivating supportive relationships can play a big role in making depression more manageable” (White). Perhaps if the Loman family was more supportive towards Willy, and had not pretended his condition didn’t exist, he would not have died and they would be happier because of it. Furthermore, nearly 7% of the American population experiences depression while a majority of these individuals try to hide it from at least some of their family members (Facts). Again, this serious road block was addressed by Miller. In the play, Willy would lie to his peers, talking up his children’s accomplishments, even though they were mostly untrue, so that his life would not appear as sad and pathetic as it actually was. Miller has Willy behave this way to show that it is impossible for individuals to receive support if they are not truthful about their lives with themselves or others. Like the cycle of poverty, depression is extremely relevant today with the upcoming election. Currently, the U.S. spends over 42 billion dollars on anxiety disorders annually with apparently limited success. Altogether, the way the government decides to combat this issue is of importance to politicians and voters alike.

In conclusion, The Death of a Salesman is very relevant today, despite being 67 years, as its ideas relate to modern political and societal issues. While the play brought up several other issues that are still important today, such as balancing sports and schoolwork in high school, two of the largest topics brought up by Miller were the difficulty to escape poverty and the lower middle class, along with the seriousness of depression. The relevance of these items today is a testament to quality of Miller’s universal message as he addressed problems that transcend a specific moment in time, making the play meaningful to each of its viewers.

"Facts & Statistics." Anxiety and Depression Associates of America. ADAA, n.d. Web. 30 July  2016.

Porter, Michael. "Michael Porter Quote." A-Z Quotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 July 2016.Porter, Michael. "Michael Porter Quote." A-Z Quotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 July 2016.

White, Donna. "Supporting Individuals with Depression: The Importance of Self-Care | Psych Central." Psych Central, 03 Nov. 2010. Web. 30 July 2016.

Death of a Salesman Kransberger

Realistic fiction is an excellent genre to pull  many societal concepts from because relatability is a key factor in a story set in an everyday environment centered around  the feelings and emotions of people. Although “Death of a Salesman”  by Arthur Miller is written as  a play and not a  typical story this still remains to be the case. After reading “Death of a Salesman”, the societal concept of financial success really stuck out as important, raising many questions. What does it mean to be successful? Does it come with many price tags or pictures you take with the people you love? Willy has a material definition of success that prevents him from happiness. When you are moderately successful yet unhappy are you really successful at all?

In the opening of the book Willy is returning to his house after a long day of work literally falling asleep behind the wheel of his car during the commute. Even in his old age he has to travel to New England very often for his job in order to maintain payments on his house which he complains about being empty all the time. “Work a lifetime to pay off a house you finally own it and there is no one to live in it.” (15) Although financially owning a house is a success, while his children were young Willy was at work making the goal of owning that fine piece of real estate a reality. When asking for a new job that requires less traveling from the boss to which Willy has done so many services throughout numerous years, he is fired.  As he worked a job that cared nothing about him as an individual,  he was away from his family. He was missing parts of the childhood of his two sons. Is money success? Is Willy successful in the act of owning the house or did he fail to enjoy the success of his family while his children were young?

Willy also struggles with depression eventually leading to a suicide. He has heroic intentions for his son, Biff, in that his trust fund would be enough to start their business. In order to make another more successful, Willy threw away all of his accomplishments putting himself second in what he thought was a gesture of love.”Loves me. Always loved me. Isn’t that a remarkable thing? Ben, he’ll worship me for this.” (135)  By doing what he thought would prevent his son from living the same mildly successful life, Willy decided to be a martyr and by doing so, he took the easy way out. In terms of success with a disease, it is celebrated when a person is no longer plagued not when the disease beats them. Depression and other mental illnesses are no different. Willy ued his son as an excuse to take the easy way out making nothing that he had worked for matter at all. All of the measures of success and material things are forgotten and now all that is left is a widowed women and two lost young men without a father. Is it wrong to do as willy did and measure success in finances as opposed to relationships? Yes, Biff now has the means to become a successful businessman but his children will never know their grandfather. Biff felt that the measures Willy used to mark success were entirely twisted. “He had the wrong dreams. All, all, wrong… He never knew who he was.” (138) On the other side of things, his brother saw his incredibly excessive gesture as one of love. ‘Willy Loman did not die in vain. He had a good dream. It’s the only dream you can have- to come out number-one man.”

In conclusion after further thought, success is measured entirely in the eye of the beholder. Everyone’s idea of what it means to be successful is specific to them. A societal concept of trying to get the most out of life and be a success in a material fashion  is very prominent in today’s world but it is important to think more deeply about whether a price tag is worth more than a person in the scheme of things.

The Power of One - Smith

You always hear people say history will repeat itself. The statement is simple and only four words long, however they have massive and complex consequences some good, others bad. This is exactly what Bryce Courtenay portrays in The Power of One, which follows a young boy around South Africa as he grows up as a white boy in a black dominated area. Although, The Power of One is fiction, it still addresses many social issues of the time, and like the saying says, many social issues of today. First, it is important to note that this book follows Peekay from ages 5 - 17, which is from 1939 - 1952. He lives in South Africa and is English. For the beginning of his life he is the only or one of the only white kids. Keep this in mind as you think about how Courtenay connects to two time periods with one novel.

One of the most recurring social issues throughout history is racism, especially when it is the white suppressing the black population. Today racism has really been brought to center stage due to one presidential nominee, black lives matter/ rallies, and worst of all a movement towards a war against police. We are in the beginning of a possible downward spiral that could spark even worse conditions for all involved. This is very similar to South Africa during this time. Apartheid in South Africa was worst between 1948 - 1994, the period directly after the novel concludes. Peekay is an exception to apartheid, he was seen as Zulu chief in the body of a white man, “I was a child of Africa, a white child to be sure, but nevertheless Africa’s child... the dark hands that had bathed me and rocked me left me with a burden of obligations to resist the white power” (343). Throughout the whole book Peekay inspires the blacks, while stunning the whites with his victories. This could be what the nation needs right now as it began the descent into increased tensions between races. Additionally, during this time you had the Holocaust where millions of jews were killed because of their religious beliefs. Nowadays nobody is getting killed, but parallels can be drawn with Muslims in America. Today there is intense hatred from many against Muslims and people of Middle Eastern descent all because of how they look and their religion. Today the United States finds themselves in the beginning stages of intense racism and hatred, Courtenay used Peekay to battle these evils, and if no middle ground can be found the US may have multiple situations that are out of control.

One of Courtenay’s main themes was the use of camouflage for survival. Peekay had to try to blend in with the other students at boarding school to try to avoid more beatings from The Tudge. As he got older he learned to camouflage his insecurities with great success, and even learned to camouflage sub-legal activities with beneficial programs while visiting the prison. “I had become an expert at camouflage. My precocity allowed me, chameleon like, to be to each what they required me to be” (478) this quote shows how Peeka learned to adapt and hide in different situations. Today two groups of people stand out as the people who try to camouflage themselves from society. First off, the LGBT community has often had to hide themselves from society. For many people in the community they fear showing who they really are out of fear of what those close to them think as well as what society thinks. In doing so they will hide their true feelings telling themselves it’s only a phase, or taking steps to hide their emotions. Many in the LGBT community are proud about their feelings, but still countless of people hide, leading some as far as ending their own life so they never have to confront other people about it. Another group of people that has become masters of camouflage, although not to the same degree, is teenagers around the world. Teenagers today have learned to camouflage themselves by conforming to what their peers think. This leads to kids changing the way they dress, the activities they do, or just really small things nobody knows about them in order to avoid attention. It is this camouflage that has gotten teenagers a bad rap over the years because it doesn’t let the good side of everyone shine only the fact that everyone is currently playing Pokemon Go. Camouflage can be useful as Peekay used it to his advantage getting stronger every time, while now people use camouflage to only hide and never face the problem that people are hiding from.

Lastly, on a more optimistic note, Courtenay allows Peekay to find purpose in the pursuit of knowledge and in boxing. From a very young age Peekay decided that he was going to be the welterweight champion of the world, and was driven to learn as much as he could to help him succeed. Today, more than ever before, can people learn what they are passionate about and pursue it better with the use of technology. Technology has been beneficial overall with the pursuit of knowledge because it gives you the ability to access information that could not otherwise be reached. Or for those who just want to comprehend something, there are multiple interpretations of the same thing that makes it easier to understand. Now there is also a better understanding of the human body as well as technologies that help athletes reach their greatest potential (even in boxing).

Humans can not see the future, nor can we change the past. But sometimes similar situations will occur. That is exactly what happened in The Power of One as both then and now there is racism and discrimination against races and religions. Peekay hid his insecurities to grow while now people will only hide. But not all hope is lost as technology helps people find and explore their passion.

Death of a Salesman- Boynton

Despite the fact that it only follows a single family over the course of a few days, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman addresses several situations that modern day families deal with, including depression, financial struggles, and suicide. The 60 year old play has appealed to audiences throughout the years as these problems always seem to be present. However, in the 21st century, they seem to be more of an issue than before.

In his daydreams and present day, the main motivator for Willy was his constant need for money in order to pay for the extensive bills and repairs. While he dreamed of being an important man, he struggled to make the payments and was living from paycheck to paycheck- sometimes having to borrow money from his wealthy neighbor. Many Americans- particularly those in the lower and middle class- find themselves in this situation, especially in areas with high rent or lower pay. In fact, according to a survey conducted in 2014, 40% of Americans felt that they just getting by, or struggling to do so. As seen in Miller’s play, the constant stress of needing to pay the bills, repair, or upgrade materials and not having the money to do so can not only lead to individual stress, but tension among family members. While our protagonist only tended to verbally fight with family, this kind of stress can often lead to divorce and domestic violence. Right below adultery, financial issues is the second top factor for divorce, and couples facing high levels of economic stress were three times more likely to experience domestic violence than those not.

Financial stress can also lead to many individual issues, such as heart and gastrointestinal problems, weight issues, eating disorders, insomnia, and high blood pressure. While Willy did not suffer with any of these, as far as the audience is concerned, he did struggle with one of the biggest issues facing the nation: depression. In our modern day, depression affects approximately 20% to 25% of the United States population. While it may seem like small percentage, this does not include all the other common mental disorders, and still contains millions of people. The feeling of hopelessness and emptiness can lead those to attempt suicide, with one suicide for every 25 attempts. Being the 10th leading cause of death, The suicide rates for the United States has stayed relatively constantly throughout the past 50 years as well, staying around 12.1%.

Interestingly enough, assuming that Willy Loman was white, he would fit the second most at risk group for suicide. Based on data from 2014, White males between the age of 45 and 64 are the second most likely group of people to commit suicide. Compared to other ethnicities, white people have a 14.7% suicide rate, compared to a 10.9% rate for American indians and 5.5% for African Americans. Compared to women, men are three and a half times more likely to commit suicide, and compared to other age groups, those between the ages of 45 and 64 have a 19.2% suicide rate, just below the 19.3% rate for those between the ages of 85 and older. The least at risk group is those 20 through 34 years old, with a rate of 14.8. Unlike what statistics might suggest, the protagonist did not use a firearm to end his life, which is what about half of the population would have used. Instead, he crashed his car, which could make up anywhere from 1.6% to 5% of suicides. Despite the method, however, his death was still tragic, and his family is left without his support in their time of need. While our society has made attempts to help those who are depressed, the struggle still exists and the rates continue to stay high. In fact, the rates continue to rise throughout the years, slowly but steadily. Willy was but one of many victims of depression.

Throughout the years, these tragic yet common issues have been shown in Miller’s play. The audience has and will always be able to relate to the story and the characters, from financial struggles, depression, the consequences of both, and others that many will encounter in their lifetime.

Week 4: The Scarlet Letter in Today's Society

Many people believe that because we no longer live in a puritanical society that the world has moved past the use of the scarlet letter, or any symbol that carries the same social stigma.  It is true that we are better educated, but that doesn’t mean that things that happened in a person’s past or are happening to them at the moment don’t affect how they are treated.  There are many present day examples of people who are treated as social outcasts because of things like this.  Homeless people or people on welfare are viewed as outcasts from society because of their living situations, obese people or those who are considered ugly in this society’s views of beauty are treated differently, many with mental illnesses are seen as different, Muslims are treated poorly simply because of their religion and the work of extremist groups that don’t represent the whole, and things that happened in a politician’s past affect their campaign years later.  We may think that we have moved past hurting people because of who they are or what we’ve done, but the truth is that the practice remains though the methods of public shaming have changed.  

First, homeless people and those on welfare are viewed as people who don’t try to get work and are therefore seen as leeches on society.  The homeless are seen as dirty and unkempt and are removed from park benches or street corners because they make the city appear seedy and discourage people from doing business in those areas.  Many think that those on welfare are just using the public’s tax money and sitting around all day doing nothing because they are getting paid to do just that.  While this may be true of a small group, it is not true of the whole as many are pushed into these circumstances by the loss of their family’s only source of income, or injuries and illnesses with high medical bills.  

Another example of those seen as social outcasts are those who are obese or who do not meet today’s view of beauty.  They are treated differently or even meanly, leading some people into eating disorders and others into other forms of body issues.  They tend to be publicly shamed through bullying either in school or online, which has become a major issue in today’s society that many have been working to combat, since it has led to many cases of self harm, bulimia, anorexia, or even suicide.   

An additional example of those who are viewed differently are those with mental illnesses.  These people are often viewed very differently and treated poorly by their peers.  There are many different types of mental illness they can range from something like ADHD to Down Syndrome.  People who have either of these are sometimes bullied by their classmates or shunned simply because of how they were born, a thing which they have no control over.  

In today’s society, another group that is often treated poorly or with distrust are Muslims.  They belong to a religion in which there are extremist groups that have done many horrible things.  While these bombings and terrorist attacks are truly awful they are not representative of the religion as a whole.  People treat most Muslims with distrust, wariness, and in some cases, hostility.  This is a group that is being persecuted by society today.  

And finally, events that took place in politicians’ past impact their entire career.  Whenever a campaign takes place everything from a politician’s past comes to light.  The opposing side of any election always digs up dirt on the other which is normally released in the media through an article, a commercial, or a book.  Something that may have happened when they were a youth like an arrest for a petty theft can change the outcome of an election.  Just think of all the political ads that one sees before an election dissing the opponent of whichever candidate.

In conclusion, today’s society is still somewhat similar to that of The Scarlet Letter.  We continue to persecute, bully, or just publicly shame those who are seen as different. There are still those who carry the stigma of being an outcast.  Just because we are better educated and are more modern doesn’t mean that issues that took place back then don’t happen now.  We have our own versions of the scarlet letter.    

Death of a Salesman, Seeger

The nickname for the state of Alaska is the “last frontier,” and for good reason. It is by far the least densely populated state in the country, and is home to countless national parks and wildlife reserves. This wild place is often viewed as mythical; the primitive state of this still largely unknown and unexplored region is full of opportunity for many idealistic adventurers. In the play Death of a Salesman, author Arthur Miller frequently includes Alaska in the dialogue, which serves to represent possibility and success, two things that Willy Loman is desperately seeking in his life. The utilization of Alaska in the play Death of a Salesman is crucial to the character development of Willy Loman. It also establishes in the play the idea that Alaska is pristine and pure and full of possibility.

“Opportunity is tremendous in Alaska”(Miller 45). Spoken by Willy’s idolized brother Ben, this was true when the play was written. It also applies to current Alaska. From fishing to forestry to the oil industry, the state of Alaska is abundant in natural resources that drive its economy. However, according to labor.alaska.gov, Alaska is just as susceptible to economic hardships as any other state, perhaps even more so, due to Alaska’s dependence of federal spending and vulnerability regarding global oil prices. The utopia that Willy envisioned Alaska to be would only be feasible under unlikely circumstances. Even if he had been successful in his ventures in Alaska, his economic stability would likely have been unstable due to Alaska’s characteristically “boom-bust” economy. As stated in labor.alaska.gov, during the twentieth century, Alaska experienced fluctuation in its economic prosperity. The state was prosperous during times of immense military spending, such as during the Cold War. The state was economically struggling during periods of recessions or global oil crises. However, when the play was written in 1949 and several years prior to it, the economy of Alaska was flourishing because of military spending, and the population of the state was greatly increasing. Willy Loman believed that if he had “gone with him [Ben] to Alaska that time, everything would’ve been totally different”(Miller 45), referring to Willy’s belief that Alaska would have made him more successful than his job in New England and his regret at his missed opportunity.

The issue of Alaska’s economy with regards to preserving the Alaskan environment and the reality of its sustainability has long been debated. The economy of Alaska is largely driven by the energy sector. The state contains nearly half of the nation's coal reserves, and almost 85% of the state budget is generated by oil revenues(labor.alaska.gov). Both of these energy sources are nonrenewable; once the oil and coal reserves have been depleted, Alaska will lose a valuable and necessary source of revenue and jobs. There is evidence to suggest that this is already happening. According to the New York Times article “Alaska Oil Prices Fall” written by Kirk Johnson, oil fields that were producing two million barrels of oil a day thirty years ago now pump only 500,000 barrels a day, and the Prudhoe Bay Oil field,

once the largest in North America, is rapidly becoming depleted. Because of this, the state is receiving less income from oil companies and thus is financially struggling. Some Alaskan politicians are considering taking drastic measures in reducing the resulting budget deficit.

As stated in the article “Alaska budget deficit could end oil cheques paid to residents” published by CTV news written by Mark Thiessen, for the past thirty years, all Alaskan residents have been granted a check from the state, paid for from the Alaska Permanent Fund. This fund was established to allow the citizens in the state to benefit from the large taxes that oil corporations are obligated to pay to the state. However, due to a multi billion dollar budget deficit, Alaskan Governor Bill Walker has proposed to implement a $1,000 cap on all checks, and has even suggested that the annual checks should be phased out in the coming years. Additionally, Walker has suggested that the state implement an income tax for the first time in decades in order to relieve some financial burden(www.ctvnews). Many of these proposals have been met with criticism from the Alaskan legislature and public. These upcoming economic challenges facing Alaska expose an uncertain future for the state, and is a sharp departure from Miller’s idealistic opinion of possibilities and opportunity in the state sixty years ago.

The Stranger - Stacey

It comes as no surprise that this work of philosophical fiction would touch on issues of political morality. After all, where does morality come from, without meaning? And where does meaning emerge from, if not philosophy? Known by the titles L'Etranger in its native French, Albert Camus's The Stranger is often seen as delving into themes of the philosophy of the absurd and existentialism. Interesting to note, Camus rejected that perception of his work. There are many messages one could interpret from the text, as it never explicitly states its meaning. Living in today's society, one could most certainly juxtapose the ostracization of  Meursault by the courts to alienation of students perceived as "outsiders" by their peers; in other words, bullying. That, of course, is a bit of a stretch for meaning, but with The Stranger, most things are. Another prominent focus for someone of today's world might be something much more stark and much less of a stretch: the death penalty.

Over the course of the book, Meursault is often under attack for divulging from the social norm of 1940's France. "The director looked down at the tips of his shoes and said that I hadn't wanted to see Maman, that I hadn't cried once, and that I had left right after the funeral without paying my last respects at her grave," (89) Meursault recites to the reader his the witnesses at his trial, who demonize him for not mourning his mother's death in the way that they see as socially acceptable. Meursault, a characteristically emotionless man, recounts that "for the first time in years I had this stupid urge to cry, because I could feel how much all of these people hated me." (89-90) Bullying has a severe effect on students in the same way, because even if they aren't the most sensitive, having people hate you for things that you can't help, like your appearance or personality, leaves one feeling helpless and worthless. However, whereas Meursault was attacked for actions which did not fit into the social norm, modern day alienation by bullying is mostly centered around appearance which does not fit the social bill of attractiveness. According to PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center, "The reasons for being bullied reported most often by students were looks (55%), body shape (37%), and race (16%)."

Of course, while Meursault was literally sentenced to death, one cannot deny that there is an unofficial death sentence for victims of bullying. "Students victimized by their peers were 2.4 times more likely to report suicidal ideation and 3.3 times more likely to report a suicide attempt than youth who reported not being bullied," PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center reports. Though Meursault does not kill himself, nor implicitly desire to kill himself, he does force himself to become okay with dying, as he was so sentenced by the society he did not mirror. "Since we're all going to die, it's obvious that when and how don't matter," (114) Meursault tells himself while imagining the outcome of his appeal. "I had to accept the rejection of my appeal." (114)

While it might seem inappropriate to compare the death penalty with something as silly as a matter of schoolyard bullying, or the other way around, depending on your personal belief systems, both are inhumane and immoral. The death penalty is based off emotional judgments rather than rational ones, and law is supposed to follow rational judgement. But with the death penalty, one cannot deny that the law fails at being rational. The idea that "murder is bad, so we should murder murderers" doesn't follow sound logic. It is immoral, something that law is never supposed to be. Killing in itself is inhumane, that part is self explanatory. Bullying is similar, it is wrong to hurt other people. Dehumanizing your peers is inhumane. Hurting them is immoral. And, as Meursault was judged mostly based off his actions as a person, rather than the actions which relate to his crime, the two are inherently related.

The Stranger certainly has many lessons woven throughout its text, and it is clear that they deal with what is immoral and inhumane. Meursault is a victim of a system which allows both the immoral and inhumane to slip through the cracks, as are many today. Though it was written in 1942, the teachings that can be found in The Stranger are still most certainly relevant.

The Scarlet Letter -Ozbun

The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne more than one hundred and fifty years ago has several connections to current political and societal events and issues. Drawing plenty of these connections to Americans today. Including topics such as women and their role in society and  sexual fidelity. Plenty of these themes and social conflict are around today, some more prevalent than others. Even with being written so long ago, Hawthorne brings up several topics that are major issues in the world. Not only here in America, but in a number of other countries as well.
    One of the more major issues that relate directly with the book that is common today is women and their role in society. In the book, the main character Hester Prynne is looked down upon immensely. When Hester is given the scarlet letter “a” to wear she is immediately considered an outcast. The “A” was given to her for the crime of adultery, in which Hester did not actually indeed commit. Women in The Scarlet Letter are discriminated against often and considered second class. This is a great connection to today’s society because women everyday are having breakthrough after breakthrough with their progress and how they are viewed in society. One of the most notable recent events is the first woman to win a nomination for presidency. Hillary Clinton is making large footsteps for women and proving that they can not only do a man’s job, but possibly even exceed them. There are thousands of movements in America, and other countries to greaten the role of women in society. Also to make people aware of their capabilities. Just like women and their movements today, despite any adversity Hester strives to be passionate about life and how she lives it. Even though society may view her as an outcast or insane. For example, “...made a halo of the misfortune and ignominy in which she was enveloped” (Hawthorne 40). In this quote Hawthorne portrays Hester as a beautiful victim of her passion and as a woman who as a consequence of her actions bravely embraces her much shameful punishment.
    Another large issue in the book related to today’s events is the problem of sexual fidelity. Faithfulness in The Scarlet Letter plays a huge role in the plot. Not only in the literature, but it is a big deal in reality too. Today, there are plenty of occurrences in which people have affairs or go against rules of marriage and start to see another person of the opposite gender. Which is not their spouse. Yet in the book, Hester has an apparent affair with an unknown man. She will not reveal whether or not it is her husband from back home, or another man from the states. She is publicly ridiculed for her actions and is made an example of someone that no one would like to be. TImes have changed quite greatly since then however. The public ridicule that Hester had to endure would be nothing like it is now. Nowadays if something like this were to occur, it would be kept quiet and at a low level unlike the story. During this time period of the book being written, there were movements being created to further the role of women in society and to strengthen it as well. This being the most likely reason Hawthorne decided to make the main character in the image of a very strong female who supports her own ideals and opinions.
The next relatable issue is on how women were treated when the book was written, and how it is now currently in the world. Women back at this time were treated quite awfully. Hawthorne attempted to make this one of the bigger points in this book. In the 1800s, women were expected to restrict their sphere of interest mainly to their home and family. Treated as second-class individuals, women were not expected to or encouraged to pursue a career or obtain an education. After marriage, a woman did not have the right to own property either. Whereas women today are living completely different lives. Every single right a man has today, a woman has too. No longer second-class individuals like when the book was created. The role of women will vary greatly however from country to country, but in the U.S. their role greatens by the day.
In conclusion, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne does an excellent job of examining the role of women in society, as well as their sexual fidelity. The plot in the book is so brilliant and versatile towards the idea of empowerment of women; this being the reason why the book continues to be relevant today. The themes which Hawthorne discusses so brilliantly are still applicable today, just as they were when the book was written.

The Kite Runner - Dickens

Written by Khaled Hosseini, the book The Kite Runner, #1 New York Times Bestseller, encompasses a variety of themes, many of which relate to current political and societal events from across the world. The book is set in Afghanistan and the United States, and portrays the issues of ethnic discrimination, the war, and differences in culture between the United States and Afghanistan in a whole new light. The book tackles many hard and difficult current topics and dilemmas from a perspective not commonly thought of and considered.

            To begin, the media often portrays Afghanistan as a war-torn, terrorist country that is politically unstable and the capitol of drug-trafficking. Not to say that these synonyms for Afghanistan are incorrect, however they are highly exaggerated in the media and paint the country in a dominantly negative light. The Kite Runner offers a perspective from the view of families suffering from illness and famine and torn apart by war, terrorism and cults. The majority of families residing in Afghanistan were simply sucked into the drama brought upon the few families that chose the path of hatred and terrorism to unleash their anger and give the country the terrorist image. The book highlights the effects of these current societal and political events on the country itself and the people of the country. The first event in Afghanistan, the invasion of the Soviet Union, really got the ball rolling in the country, and then it was the tribal wars between the war lords and tribes during the rule of the Taliban and then war involving the United States.

            Next, the Kite Runner truly tackles the current societal issue of ethnic discrimination within the country among the Afghans. In the book, conflict between the Pashtuns and Hazaras is highlighted. Amir’s father sets an example for him of being kind to Hazara people, because he is Pashtun, even though they are historically demeaned and persecuted. The Pashtun people of Afghanistan feel societal inferiority in comparison to the Hazara people, similar to how whites felt toward African-Americans in US History, but on a scaled down level. The Hazara people serve as servants or workers for Pashtun people, and tend to be in a lower class then the Pashtun people on the social pyramid. In the book, Hassan and Amir are best friends and love flying kites together, however Hassan is Hazara and Amir is Pashtun. Additionally, Hassan and his father work for Amir and his family at their house. Together, Amir and Hassan have to battle discrimination and aggression from other Pashtun bullies. A constant societal event/issue throughout the world, and The Kite Runner does an excellent job showing how this shouldn’t be an issue for people and doesn’t have to be an issue.

            Another theme highlighted in The Kite Runner is the idea throughout the world that the United States is a refuge of sorts for people seeking safety and an escape from trouble within their own country. In the book, when the Soviets first invade, Amir and his father quickly pack their bags and find transportation to leave Afghanistan for America, where they will begin rebuilding their lives. This idea is one that has transformed the United States into the melting pot as it’s known for across the world. At the time of this chaos, many other people had the same idea as Amir’s father to escape to the United States and leave Afghanistan to avoid getting caught up in the terrorism and conflict in the country.

            In conclusion, The Kite Runner is a book that not only has many emotional themes, but also more serious themes that represent current societal and political themes and issues, not just in the Unites States but around the world. Ethnic discrimination, terrorism, refuge in America, and the generally negative image that is associated with Afghanistan. This book is an important literary read for anyone wishing to have a greater insight into the Middle East and the conflict that lies within the country. The themes highlighted in the book are shown from a perspective that these issues are rarely viewed from. It is important to have a vast and strong knowledge of current political and societal events in our history, and this book is a great source to that knowledge.

Tale of Two Cities- Fisher

No matter the context or time period in which it was written, a novel that is meant to draw attention to major issues in society is almost always applicable to present day. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is no exception. Just as in 1859, when the book was written, it’s plot and themes are very similar, and thus applicable, to events happening around the world. For example, the violent struggle between one powerful and one common group, which is a central issue in the novel, is still replicated even in modern day America. In addition, the topic of justice or lack thereof is frequently brought up in A Tale of Two Cities and it continues to be a hotly debated subject today.

First, Charles Dickens does an excellent job of detailing the violence that defined this time period, as seen from both sides of the conflict. While reading this book, I was frequently shocked by the similarities between the French Revolution as described by Dickens and the present day conflict throughout America dealing with law enforcement and race relations. The French Revolutionaries exhibited characteristics shockingly similar to those displayed by Black Lives Matter protesters today, such as those who led violent protests in Ferguson and Baltimore. For example, Dickens describes the status of the peasants in France by saying “For, the footsteps had become to their minds as the footsteps of a people, tumultuous under a red flag and with their country declared in danger, changed into wild beasts, by terrible enchantment long persisted in” (Dickens 225). This quote is also applicable to today’s racial protesters, because they also feel their country and people are in danger. They have also become wild beasts of sorts, as exemplified in their tendency to violently loot and steal in protest. On the other hand, the French aristocrats display many similarities to today’s police officers, as both groups represent people of power whom the common people wish to destroy, or at least hold accountable. For example, when the powerful aristocrat Monsieur the Marquis runs over and kills an innocent boy, he complains “It is extraordinary to me that you people cannot take care of yourselves and your children. One or the other of you is always in the way” (Dickens 107). This is a stance that many people feel police officers take today, that it is always the victim’s fault for being in the way and never the law enforcement’s fault for handling a situation improperly. This sentiment is partly what motivated the riots and protests after recent fatal shootings by police officers across the country.

Also, the issue of justice and law and order is central in A Tale of Two Cities. In every society, the question of what is just is hotly debated, and a desire to either maintain or destory law and order motivates it. Charles Dickens comments on justice in the most powerful quote in the book, which says “Crush humanity out of shape once more, under similar hammers, and it will twist itself into the same tortured forms. Sow the same seed of rapacious license and oppression over again, and it will surely yield the same fruit according to it’s kind” (Dickens 359). This is a powerful quote which, when extremely simplified, essentially says “history will repeat itself” and “two wrongs don’t make a right.” This stance is in favor of law and order, and considers the actions of the revolutionaries in France and Black Lives Matter protesters today to be false justice, because both groups are merely reciprocating the violence against the original perpetrators. This does not solve the issue, but merely repeats the same pattern from a different view point. Therefore, this is a view which would likely be shared by both the aristocrats of France and today’s law enforcement, because it condemns to actions of the common people as not true justice. True justice involves change, not merely a changing of the guard. That statement is as true today as it was in 1859, when Charles Dickens first published his masterpiece.

In conclusion, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens relates very well to present day political and social issues, specifically the issue of law enforcement violence and race relations. The book details the violence of the powerful French aristocrats against the peasants, as well as the other way around, and this conflict is remarkably similar to the conflict in American today between police officers and Black Lives Matter protesters. When this is combined with the issue of how to define justice and the importance of law and order, what is left is a brilliant novel which brings up many controversial social and political topics today as it did in 1859.   

Death of a Salesman- Koski

Award winning playwright, Arthur Miller, addresses both familial crises and issues regarding American national values, in his piece the Death of a Salesman. Miller incorporates infidelity, financial troubles, suicide and depression, and complicated relationships, in addition to many other topics in the short production. Many of the themes and conflicts included in Death of a Salesman are apparent today. Thus making Miller’s work applicable to current audiences. 

In the beginning of the play, we are introduced to an elderly, and apparently frustrated, salesman, Willy Loman. Throughout the play, the audience learns Willy is chasing his American Dream, in his sixties, despite the changing world around him. For example, Willy bought his house during a simpler time. He mentioned growing vegetables in the back yard and tying a hammock between two trees in his front yard for his boys. Yet when he gets home from his failed business trip, he reminisces about earlier days and expresses his annoyance with the changing world around him: “The street is lined with cars. There’s not a breath of fresh air in the neighborhood. The grass don’t grow anymore, you can’t raise a carrot in the back yard… There’s more people! That’s what’s ruining this country! Population is getting out of control…” (Miller 17). This increasing population and possession of material items actually defines Willy’s idea of the American dream. He is in constant competition with his neighbors, and along with the rest of middle class America, to define success as the things they own. Willy proclaims, “…The competition is maddening…” (Miller 17). Today, this theme is even more present with the revolution of technology, especially in America. “How Greed Outstripped Need”, a piece published on the American Psychological Association website, states “…American corporate capitalism—the highly competitive economic system embraced by the United States…—encourages materialism more than other forms of capitalism, according to a study by Hebrew University of Jerusalem psychologist Shalom Schwartz, PhD.” (Azar 30). This increasing demand for material items left many families in a state of financial trouble, both then and now. 

Another relatable issue is that Willy works very hard and is earning virtually no pay. Before he is fired, he is working solely for commission, and at his age, traveling to sell is nearly impossible. Willy becomes reliant on his wealthy neighbor, Charlie, to loan him enough money to pay his bills from week to week. Comparatively, throughout the last decade, the economy in America has taken a hit. Many affluent families suddenly found themselves struggling, middle class families could barely put meals on the table, the housing market had taken a massive blow, and inflation had reached an unbearable high. The New York Times evaluated the effect of the recession on families in relation to the recent census. The analysis revealed that “During the recession, economic well-being worsened for families with children,” said Jamie Lewis, a demographer in the bureau’s Fertility and Family Statistics Branch who helped write the analysis. “Even after the recession officially ended in 2009, these measures remained worse than before it began.” (Roberts). Willy feared leaving his children with nothing, just like his father had done to him. He wanted to leave behind an estate for his boys and a legacy for himself. In the midst of his constant scrambling to do so, he engulfed himself in a flame of lies, allusion, and self-deceit. Consequently, to put an end to these things, Willy believed the only out was suicide; furthermore, in doing so, he believed he’d be helping his boys by entitling them to money from his life insurance policy. 

Miller seamlessly incorporates many serious familial issues apparent both then and now. He addresses infidelity, depression and suicide, and complicated family relationships. Throughout the piece, Willy recalls his affair with “The Woman”. There’s a particularly emotional scene when Biff catches his dad with the woman in Boston. “Biff: Dad… Willy: She’s nothing to me, Biff. I was lonely, I was terribly lonely.” (Miller 120). According to the Truth About Deception, “…roughly 30%-60% of all married individuals (in the United States) will engage in infidelity at some point during their marriage” (Facts and Statistics About Infidelity). Furthermore, Linda, Willy’s wife, is conscious of Willy’s suicide attempts. She mentions to Biff “He’s been trying to kill himself… the insurance inspector came. He said that they have evidence. That all these accidents in the last year—weren’t—weren’t—accidents” (Miller 58). According to the Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. for all ages. Additionally, according to save.org there is one suicide for every four attempts in the elderly. Lastly, Miller incorporates the strained relationship between Willy and Biff. After Biff catches his dad cheating, their relationship dynamic changes completely. Biff stops feeding into the lies Willy tells about his success. Biff stops wanting to live out the future his dad has expected from him from the time he was young. “Biff: You fake! You phony little fake! You fake! Overcome, he turns quickly and weeping fully goes out with his suitcase. Willy is left on the floor on his knees.” (Miller). Stephanie Coontz writes for the U.S. Society and Values, Coontz claims “…when parents minimize conflict, family bonds can be maintained.” Today due to technology and changing values, families are facing new issues minute by minute. 

In summary, many of the issues Miller confronts in his piece are relevant even in modern America. The themes of infidelity, depression and suicide, and complicated relationships are still evident in many modern families. Many Americans struggle to overcome similar issues to that of the Loman family during the 1940’s. Furthermore, Miller’s focus on national American values, such as the stereotypical idea of the American dream, gives his piece admirable depth. Death of a Salesman will remain applicable into the near future, audiences will continue to understand and relate to many of the problems incorporated within the plot. For this reason, Miller remains a famous and respectable playwright, with many awards and critically acclaimed pieces under his belt.

Tale of Two Cities - Hostetler

Throughout all of history, more now then ever before, people seek past mentions of future events, whether it be through recurrence or probable conjecture. This Nostradamus Effect is sought out in books, paintings, newspapers, and even television shows (namely The Simpsons) by conspiracy theorists and teenagers with too much time on their hands. After reading A Tale of Two Cities, it should be obvious to every reader that Charles Dickens, during 17th century Britain, prophesied the 2015-2016 United States election campaign through his fictionalized rendition of the French Revolution.

While Dickens made no attempt to hint to his audience that A Tale of Two Cities was the preface to a series of "campaigns" that would occur 157 years later across the Atlantic, there is no doubt behind the striking similarities. Initially, the novel sets scenes in both England and France, remarkably aligning with the two prevalent political parties of the United States, the Democratic and Republican Party respectively. Like the novel, and history itself, the Republican Party has begun to experience a disturbance of the status quo. From the novel, the Monseigneur is evocative of the current Congress majority, far too oppressive, irrational, and authoritarian to properly govern a liberty-seeking nation. In addition, this Monseigneur is lead by none other than the Marquis St. Evremonde himself, Speaker Paul Ryan. Within France [the GOP] itself, the presence of the revolutionary aura was being spread throughout the land via word of mouth. This presence was none other than the Republican Party's debate process. As the debating went on, candidates were picked off one by one, as were the nobles on the knitted registry of Madame Dafarge. These candidates were members of the oppressive Republican Establishment, and eliminating them paved the way for an empathetic, rogue, and TRiUMPhant savior.

In the 'second city', we have a stable monarchy with fairly content citizens. They watch in awe, on edge watching the revolution in France unfold. Here is where the Democratic Party takes the place of the United Kingdom. As old and experienced as an English monarch, we have First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Thus far, she has many loyal followers, but as any rich and powerful politician will, also an anti-establishment riot looking to prosecute her crookedness. Like Britain watching France at the time, Hillary has been afraid of possible uprising within her party plotted against her. Securing the nomination was the key to herself and 17th century counterpart avoiding the unfortunate actions that fell upon the opposing party and nation.

The French Revolution ended after ten straight years of death and bloodshed (maybe predicting two years of campaigning, plus two four-year terms in office). The outcome of the insurgency included the abolition of the French tyranny, establishment of a more authoritarian and militaristic government, social change principled in radical liberalism, and the rise of Napoleon I. By the looks of the anti-establishment Bernie Sanders supporters decision making, the United States' election season of 2016 will play out in accordance with the French Revolution. Donald Trump will be elected to the office of Chief Executive, becoming the modern day Bonaparte. Ridding the White House of political establishment, Trump will instate a regime of liberalism and authoritarianism like the United States has never seen before. Increasing militarism both at home and abroad, New Age Napoleon will keep Americans safe and prosperous at the expenditure of nature's intended humanitarianism of neighbors close and far.

While most humans on earth advocate peace over conflict, history is truly is bound to repeat itself. Unfortunately, it is time for the United States to step up to the plate and live out The Tale of Two Cities as history (and Charles Dickens) intended it. The uncanny resemblance of both the characters and events of A Tale of Two Cities to the politicians and events of this election season bare severe apprehension in the minds of those who have seen the light. The world has been reading Dickens' novel for over a century and a half, but will we come to the realization that it is taking place as we speak before it's too late? We have been warned, but now only time will tell of the aftermath.

The Road- Hegerfeld

    The road, by Cormac McCarthy, has many relatable themes to today's society. From creating special bonds with special people to a rough presidential election putting the country on edge, The Road provides many opportunities to link to the current real world.

This book takes place in a post apocalyptic time period in the future where much of the population has died out leaving two characters struggling for survival. After a long time of being isolated, living, and traveling all alone, a special trust is made between them that is similar to some now. According to www.lifesitenews.com , the number of parents raising a kid alone is up to about 30%. Although the situations are very different, children with these lives must create strong bonds with the parent that they have because for a long period of their life, it’s all they have. In The Road, the boys father literally is all he has left in the world, so he also must have a good, lasting bond with him to survive.

Pollution is another important topic of  The Road. As the boy and his father press on to their destination, the presence of ash is evident everywhere, and smog still lingers around cities even after civilization has since been gone for years. “Ash moving over the road and the sagging hands of blind wires strung from the blackened light poles whining thinly in the wind” (McCarthy, 7). As the book goes on, even more ash and other pollutants are explained and identified, but the characters reactions and views towards these things remain the same; unalarmed. Pollution in today's world is a huge and still ongoing problem that is creating harsh environments for plants, animals, and whether we know it or not, humans! One very similar phenomenon between the book and this day in age, is the presence of smog in our big, very populated cities. For example, the people of Beijing, China must wear masks just to stay healthy.

In more recent news, another important topic in The Road is what actually happened to cause the apocalypse, whether it was all natural causes, or some man made reason. No more the 24 hours ago (July 28), the country of North Korea declared war on the U.S.A. As the boy and his father move across the country, they see many things that sadly, could be in our (maybe more near) future. In today’s day in age, it wouldn’t be crazy to believe that an atomic war between the nations really could effectively end civilization in a vast area. Take the chernobyl incident for example. Just a single reactor exploded back on that day in 1986, and the radiation was enough to offset an entire, bustling city. Just the tests of nuclear weapons by the United States put off up to a thousand times the amount of chemicals that the accident did (wikipedia.org). If North Korea actually does any of these outrageous things they say the will, there's more than not a chance our nation and possibly the world could turn into a post apocalyptic setting, similar to The Road.

Maybe on a slightly humorous/sarcastic side that can also be related is this year's presidential election. Between people hating Hillary Clinton, And the way Donald Trump talks and runs his mouth, something bad is bound to happen regardless who wins. For example, if Donald Trump really does follow up on his word and bans the Muslim religion, that could make 2.75 million people very angry, and even whole nations mad at the United States. And even though this may be worst case scenario, these angry nations could get so fed up with us, they could eventually join North Korea and declare war on us and end much of the civilization on our continent.

Even though the book, The Road, takes place sometime in the future, many of the events and topics of the book are similar to today's day in age. Whether it be pollution or getting through a crappy election, we as the United states have gotten through it and taken many steps to avoid catastrophes. But, in the event that we don't solve an important problem with another nation or make a big mistake, McCarthy shows us by writing The Road that nothing is impossible and bad things really can happen to this pictured perfect nation.