Journal Entry 33, Title: Human life: a cycle?

I think human life is similar to the cycles of nature. If we compare the sun with our lives, we can see some similarities. I think the sunrise can be like our birth, the sun in the middle of the day shines most brightly, and it is like us in our twenties or thirties, when we are in the best shape, both in our health and our career. There are many idioms in Chinese that compares the rise and fall of sun with our life. One of them described the sunset as the time of our old age. I think our lives are like these endlessly repeated cycles of the natural world. We get born, and before we die we give birth to another life, and the life takes on us after we die. These cycles all have a start and an end, it is the nature’s way to create and destroy. We come to this world, and we leave the world. Without these cycles, the world might become a very weird place. The sun will never go down, and we will never die. The world would be a very monotonous place, because nothing ever changes.

Journal Entry 32, Title: Natural Cycles

I think the life and death cycle of nature is kind of comforting, although it makes me feel sad and insignificant to think about it. I think birth, growth, death, and rebirth is vital to maintain the nature. I think this cycle is comforting instead of disturbing, I think it will be more disturbing if nature doesn’t have this cycle. When you take away even one part of the cycle, the whole balance of nature will collapse. If you take away birth, the world will stop living, and everything will eventually die. If you take away death, the world will be in total chaos, because the population will become too large. It is impossible to take away even one part of the cycle, but if you do, the world will turn into a place that nobody is normal. The life and death cycle of nature comforts me because it reminds me that the world and the living things on it will eventually change, and the scene outside my window will eventually change, too. If the things never change, the world will be very boring, and it will seem like we are stuck in time or a nightmare. More importantly, without the cycle, we won’t be here. 

Journal Entry 31, Title: A Realistic View of Life

Do young people adjust their dreams or expectations to fit reality as they get older? I think they do. One specific example is from my own experience. When I was little, just like every other kid, I believed in Santa Claus. I used to think that when I’m asleep, Santa will come down into our house from my chimney and put presents under the Christmas tree. I didn’t even know that the chimney in my house doesn’t link to the outside, so no living thing can get in or out my house by the chimney. I think I was less idealistic than I was before, I think I’m more realistic. I just assume that Santa Claus exists without thinking how it exists, but now, I use some reasons to prove that Santa Claus does not exist. The realization that I will eventually grow up and have control over our own life urged me to develop a more realistic view. Developing this view does not offer comfort, but having this view is important. One of the advantages of having a realistic view is that you will become more responsible, independent, and not have to depend on other people like a child.

Journal Entry 30, Title: Comparing Characters

I think of all the characters, major or minor, Wilson is one of the most interesting characters. Wilson, the loud soldier experienced a change in his attitude before and during the battle. Before the battle, he was pretty confidant and a little arrogant, he complained that they never got to fight an actual battle; instead, they only got to march around. He said he wants to really fight, instead of just marching around and wasting their strength. During the battle, Wilson became a different person; he was so scared of dying that he gave Henry the yellow envelope, fearing that he might not be able to see his parents again. When Henry went in the regiment with his wound, Wilson was eager to help him and took him to the doctor, Wilson took care of him and even lent him his sleeping bag.  Before the battle, Wilson was not a very likable person; he was loud, arrogant and not very nice to other people. During the battle, Wilson became humble and treated other people nicely. I think the war had an impact on Wilson, it made him realize that he should be grateful that he has battle partners. I think he realized the importance of his comrades when he handed Henry the yellow envelope, and that’s why Wilson eagerly cared for the wounded soldiers that came in the regiment. 

Journal 29, Title: Henry's Relationships

Henry Fleming, the main character in the Red Badge of Courage, experienced many different things with the people he met, his experiences with Jim Conklin, Wilson, and the tattered soldier in the Red Badge of Courage are all different. Henry’s experience with Jim Conklin is the most significant. Henry was a friend with Jim Conklin ever since he joined the army, and Henry was even there when Jim Conklin died. Jim Conklin played an important role in Henry’s experience in the war because he offered comfort when Henry was fearful, like when he said he would run in battle too, if everyone were running, and he also taught Henry what it feels like to lose a friend. Henry’s relationship with Wilson isn’t very significant, but their relationship changed when Henry came in the regiment with his wounds. The tattered soldier was a nice guy, but Henry apparently doesn’t like him. The tattered man kept on asking Henry about the location of his wounds, and Henry was fearful that the people would find out that he doesn’t have any wounds because he ran away. The tattered soldier reflected Henry’s feeling of guilt for running away.

Journal Entry 28, Title: Conscience

The meaning of conscience by the dictionary definition is: the inner sense of what is right or wrong in one’s conducted or motives, impelling one toward right action. The meaning of conscience in my own words is the inner feeling that keeps us from doing something that is wrong or immoral. How can having a guilty or troubled conscience interfere with a person’s daily life? People who have troubled conscience may not be able to do things right. They cannot tell the difference between right and wrong. When you have conscience and you do something you think is wrong, you become guilty. Feeling guilty is an uncomfortable experience because you will be constantly worried that someone might found out what you did wrong. For example, in the Red Badge of Courage, Henry Fleming was guilty that other soldiers might found out that he ran away when the battle started. He struggles on the decision of whether to return and fight like a brave hero, or just stay away from the battle like a coward. Henry’s conscience urged him to go back and fight, like the other soldiers, but he was too scared and tired to go. 

Journal Entry 27, Title: The Dark Side

The Dark Romanticism was reflected in many forms or productions, like movies. In the movie “Star Wars”, there were a good side and a dark side. The dark side was evil and is obsessed with killing, for example, Darth Vader. The Dark Romanticism was popular at the time it was established because people at that time are generally pessimistic; it explored the dark emotions, or negative feelings of people. One of the writers best known for Dark Romantics is Edgar Allen Poe; the works he produced are very dark and kind of disturbing. I don’t really like Edgar Allen Poe’s works because it is so dark and disturbing, it gives me a headache. After reading The Raven in Expository Writing class last year, I experienced Edgar Allen Poe’s strong grief and sorrow towards the lost of his beloved wife. In that poem, Edgar Allen Poe kept reminiscing over the fact that his wife is dead, and that she will never return. This poem explored the negative feelings of loss, grief, and sorrow of human life. These emotions make up a part of our lives; everyone experiences these feelings in some time of their lives. I personally dislike Dark Romanticism, because it only brings negative emotions into this world; I think being optimistic is important.

Journal 26, Title: The Transcendentalists

The transcendentalists are the people that think everything in the world is a reflection of the divine soul, and they think that spontaneous feelings and intuition are superior to deliberate intellectualism and rationality. Transcendentalists view the world as a doorway to the spiritual or ideal world, and people can use their intuition to behold God’s spirit. I think their beliefs are kind of weird and strange. One of the most famous Transcendentalists is called Ralph Waldo Emerson. The famous things that he said don’t mean A THING to me. I can’t figure out what he is trying to say even after I read the sentences a couple of times. One of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quotes that I do understand and agree with is: “I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.” I think that quote makes perfect sense, we shouldn’t keep quoting other people’s words, we should say our own. I only agree with some of the Transcendentalists’ beliefs, mostly because I only understand some of it. I don’t really agree with their views of the world, they think EVERYTHING has something to do with the spiritual world or god. I think it’s weird to keep believing that god is in every single place.

Journal 25, Title: Romantic Values

The values of the Romantics were feeling and intuition over reason and the placing of faith in inner experience and the power of imagination. Romantics also value natures that are unspoiled by civilization, and dislike the artificiality of civilization. These romantic values affect the American imagination by influencing the way they think, and changes the way they act. I don’t think much of the values that the Romantics favored are still alive in our modern society and culture. Most people in our modern society mostly values civilization, they usually dislike people who favors feelings more than reason. Deciding matter with you’re feelings is not as good as deciding with reasons. Deciding with reasons is more “rational”; it allows us to make a more appropriate decision. I personally think that some of the values that Romantics like are kind of weird. In our modern society and my own culture, we are brought up with the beliefs that we must be “realistic”. We have to value the things that play an important role in our life, instead of just some “feelings”.

Journal Entry 24, Title: The American Romantic Hero

The heroes mentioned in the textbook, page 168~169, are mostly people who have certain characteristics that people at that time value. Some people considered as heroes are people that live in the wilderness, and at the same time being civilized people. Heroes in our modern society are mostly people that treat the issues of the climate, or global warming with importance and are helping to solve the problem. Modern day heroes are also people that help fight some issues that are major problems in some country. For example, people that help in the process of relieving famine and transporting humanitarian aids into needy countries like Africa. These people are highly valued; they devote their time into helping others, and help make the world a better place for everybody. I think the values of American Romantic Hero are very different from the values of the people considered as heroes in our modern society. People considered as American Romantic Heroes are mostly people that are educated and civilized, and our modern society heroes are mostly people that are working to make the world a better place. 

Journal Entry 23, Title: Freedom and Equality

Are freedom and equality the two words that describe America? I think it is, because every time I think of America’s history, I think of their struggle towards independence against the British monarchy. When I was taking the US History class last year, we spent a LOT of time talking about how the Americans started to hate the British’s control, how the British treated them like workers, trying to get them to pay unreasonable taxes. The Americans wanted to have their own government and have the right to decide things for themselves, in other words, they wanted freedom. I think freedom and independence most accurately describes the values of America. The value of equality also accurately describes the values of America. In Great Britain, there are kings and aristocratic families, and in America there aren’t any families like that. In America, everyone is equal; nobody can have more rights than someone else. I think these values are something you’ll hold like a treasure, because the Americans fought very hard to get what they want, they fought a lot of wars for this cause, and many Americans died. Something that is achieved by such a way will not be treated without respect. 

Journal Entry 22, Title: The American Ideal

 I think the quote reflects the American Ideal, because it reflects how the Americans fought for their independence because they wanted freedom; they wanted to build their own society, instead of being a colony controlled by the British monarchy.  The United States is a free country, you can pretty much say anything you want to say, and this fact is reflected in the Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quote, “we will speak with our own minds”. The United States citizens have the right to say and do what they want, no one can force them do believe in what they don’t want to believe, like religions. This quote has a big meaning to Taiwanese people, because we are currently trying to get rid of China’s “control” over us, China thinks Taiwan belongs to them, but we think we are an independent country. Many people have strong feelings towards this issue, and I personally think China should think about the reason of why we don’t want to belong to them. The wrath of China has affected many of our global reputation. We weren’t allowed to go as “Taiwan” in the Olympics; we were only allowed to go as “Chinese Taipei”. We wanted to join the United Nations, but because of China, we were unable to join. I think the quote of Ralph Waldo Emerson speaks to many of the Taiwanese hearts, it reflected our struggle towards independence.