genesis and darwin paragrpahs

Note: I did not know whether or not I needed to cite the books, so I assumed not because the handout had no citation. Also, this is fairly rough so be warned.

The bible's declarative and assuring language is designed to make people believe the story, while Darwin's use of grandiosity coupled with defensiveness amazes his supporters and placates religious conservatives.

The bible uses dramatic, definitive phrases to make people believe the creation story. The first line of Genesis demonstrates this quite effectively: "When God began to create heaven and earth—the earth being unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep and a wind from God sweeping over the water—God said, “Let there be light"; and there was light. God saw that the light was good” (B’reishit 1:1-4). The writers of the bible never say this is what could have happened or what they think happened, they say this happened and god is omnipotent. Also, the idea of god bringing light and life to infinite darkness makes him seem all-powerful and makes people believe in and fear him—the main reasons for writing the bible. The part about the creation of man carries the same weight, "and God said, “let us make man in our image, after our likeness. They shall rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the cattle, the whole earth, and all the creeping things that creep on earth” (B’reishit 1:26). The confidence the writer shows by declaring exactly what happened combines with the portion about the dominance of man to make readers of the bible believe what they're reading because people who say things so definitively predominantly speak the truth, and love god because he made them (the humans reading the bible) the dominant species. In these ways (among others), the writers of the bible used declarative and dramatic language to make people believe that the bible is accurate and respect (through fear and love) god.

Darwin uses grand predictions of the impact of his findings to draw in and amaze those who were convinced by the rest of the book and defensive retreats to avoid conflict with people who would be angered by his implied challenge to religion. Of the impact of his findings on the future of humanity he says, “a grand and almost untrodden field of inquiry will be opened, on the causes and laws of variation, on correlation of growth, on the effects of use and disuse, on the direct action of external conditions, and so forth.” Darwin, as he demonstrates in this quote, thought that the very essence of human thought, scholastics, and inquiry would be dramatically altered by his findings. However, only someone who trusts the accuracy of his research and theory (I would like to note here that evolution is just a theory, like gravity or the combustibility of wood) would be enticed by this notion, someone who remains unconvinced would simply shrug it off because he does not say that this will replace religion. In this way, Darwin uses specific language to astonish his supporters and placate strongly religious people. In the last paragraph of his book, Darwin says “To my mind it accords better with what we know of the laws impressed on matter by the Creator, that the production and extinction of the past and present inhabitants of the world should have been due to secondary causes, like those determining the birth and death of the individual.” This statement appeases many religious believers by stating that evolution does not eliminate god, rather it gives him more legitimacy. And, it gives people who would have trouble reconciling religious views and Darwin’s text a way to believe in both. Again, Darwin uses careful wording to attract followers and avoid conflict with religious conservative—a skill necessary to make his views less abhorrent to his contemporaries.

Small paragraph about metamorphosis

The title, "metamorphosis," suits the book because Gregor and Grete both to through transformations that are necessary and beneficial. Gregor transforms into a bug, has a hard life, and dies; however, this transformation is natural and beneficial (metaphorically natural). Gregor is so steeped in the colony-like work structure that he actually becomes a worker bug. Even when he is in a new body, terrified, and confused he still seeks forgiveness from up his boss. He tries to say "a person can be incapable of work momentarily, but that's precisely the best time to remember earlier achievements and to consider that later, after the obstacles have been shoved aside, the person will work all thee more eagerly and intensely"(Kafka 16). Even though he has just turned into a bug and is incapable of work, Gregor still feels the need to apologize to and resume working for his boss, like a worker bug. In this way, Gregor shows that he was really a bug all along, and so his transformation made him closer to his true self. Grete's transformation is summarized in the last sentence of the book, "and it was something of a confirmation of their new dreams and good intentions when at the end of their journey their daughter got up first and stretched her young body" (Kafka 53). The dreams and intentions mentioned in the quote refer (partially) to their desire to find Grete a new job, a husband, and put her new body and skills to better use. So basically, Grete transforms into a post-pubescent body and now she is going to use it to find a husband, work for more money, and take advantage of life. If Gregor hadn't transformed, she would have stayed in the home doing nothing and maybe gone to music school. Gregor's and Grete's metamorphoses allowed them to become who they really are and live a better and truer life.

Finished metamorphosis

I finished metamorphosis, it was meh. The sister wanted him gone and the parents were catatonic. Then Gregor just sort of dies at three in the morning from not eating, the apple, and a bunch of other crap. Oh, and wanting to die. Them th family does everything they want to. The dad kicks out the lodgers, they clean, they getclose, the write apologies to their employers, leave and make plans and decide to move and appreciate the great new prospects they have. Then the book ends with the parents appreciating the daughters hot body and nice prospects. This book made me sad. He gave everything for them and they hated him. And the family members suck-they're terrible people. I have to digest this terible, unsatisfying ending

Metamorphosis up to page 45

I read up to page 45 of metamorphosis and it was good. This section was all about Gregors relations with the family. The section ending was seriously awesome (I stopped on page 47). It ended with Gregor being enticed by Gretes violin playing, the lodgers seeing him, them saying they've wouldn't pay and the father closing and locking the door to do I don't know what with them. Gregors reaction to the music was extremely emotional even for a human-he really felt strong love and admiration for his sister.  this whole section was about how Gregor was still wanting to interact like a human, and that's very significant. Also, Gregor is dying from various wounds, specifically the apple lodged in his back. Quite ironic. I'm really enjoying this book. It's a quick read, it's deep, and its subtle. I would like to read it in German, tha would be fun.

Essay writing

I have overcome my challenges in writing, but I have come upon a new one. I used to have great ideas but was never able to express or argue them. Then, last year and this year, I figured out how to argue my point and say what I wanted to say. In the hamlet essay I really honed in my arguing, but wasn't bold enough. In the Austen essay I pulled a lot of different things together and managed to express them well, but wasn't bold enough (and was too informal). And the most recent essay was not bold enough and you didn't like how I expressed one or two of my points. I think what I need to work on is boldness. I can express myself and write good sentences and not be too informal, and tackle the small things that come up, but apparently my problem now is boldness. My means of expression has become less bold, and I need to work on that. My writing has gotten much better, but I still don't know how to fully express what I want to say. When I know exactly what I want to say, I say it well and am bold, but when I don't I get caught up in intricacies and don't outright state a claim. The only thing that can help me is practicing and keeping boldness in mind when writing. Personally, I'm happy with my writing now and don't really feel the need to improve it, but prudence dictates that I should. Yeah, so English is fun.

Metamorphosis up to page 35

This week, I read up to page 37 of the metamorphosis and it was great. This book is weird just like I. On page 26 (I think) we hear of the father's saved money, and that's good. Then Gregor starts to climb on the walls and ceiling and leaves the "white stuff" everywhere. We hear about the escapades of Grete going into Gregory's room and immediately needing to breathe at the window. Gregor puts a sheet over the couch to conceal his frighteing figure from Grete. His sister decides to make Gregors life easier by moving out all of the furniture. At first, Gregor is really excited about this and is very thankful. His sister enlists the help of the mother (who is elated to see her son agin). The mother thinks that it would be better to keep the furniture there so Gregor can have some semblance of humanity. Gregor likes this more and decides to side with his mother.but, the plan to remove the furniture proceeds. Once all of the furniture is gone and his mom and sister are in a different room, Gregor decides to climb on top of the picture of the woman in fur to save it. Once the mom sees this, she gets scared, faints, and Grete helps her. Gregor flees into a different room. He waits and then the dad comes home. They have a cute little walk around circle of centension and then th dad starts throwing fruit at Gregor. I think that's enough for me blog.

Metamorphosis up to page 25

These ten pages made me feel bad then good. First Gregor comes out of his room and tries to make peace but ends up terrifying everybody. Then his father shoos him away with a cane, his feet, and a rolled up newspaper. The he waits around in his room, sleeps, wakes up to find milk and white bread, hates it, loiters for hours, notices the fear and caution and silence of his family members, and then waits around some more (but this tome, under the couch). Then his sister brings him a shmorgus board of garbage and fresher foods, he loves the garbage and treats the fresher food like you would trash mixed in with your food. I'm not ready to interpret this story yet, and here's why. The plot and writing are too good, I'm too invested in the story, if I did analyze it it would be obvious and not fun, and I've never been able to ever through a book without predicting the ending based on my analysis (so why not try it now). I'm enjoying this book. It's weird, but its fun.