Journal #5

#5 Personal Philosophy

You will demonstrate your understanding of the importance of one's world view by scrutinizing your thoughts on how the world works and indentifying guiding principles for your own philosophy.

A. Give it a name

B. Identify seven to ten guiding principles: These should be clear and thoughtful – no clichés

C. Explain from where each principle developed and why it is important

A. Verdadasca

B.

1. Exploration of consciousness through meditation, isolation, altering substances, deprivation

My mom has mediated every day for 2 hours for the past 2 years and I have seen a distinct change in her nature. From stress to a more peaceful state of mind. Personally I find that when I have quality time with myself to ponder or not think at all I feel really refreshed. People need to focus on their self well being more.

2. Connecting with nature

Nature is very calming and can help the individual's well being. It is important to not forget our roots and also to leave our busy lives. When I take go hiking, camping, backpacking I feel human again.

3. Emphasis on self-learning, reading

Teenagers should be able to take their own classes that will directly help their career along with interests. School should be emphasized at a young age to be for one's self not for teachers, parents, or grades. It's important that what we do is for ourselves.

4. Limits on technology for recreational use

Even I am guilty of all these new 'toys' coming out. It is so much easier to play a game or go on Facebook than to do some meditation or read a thought provoking book.

5. Exercising and healthy dieting

America eats too much bad food. My mom always emphasized healthy eating, and I appreciate it now. Exercising I don't do so much, I wish I did though. I think it's important because in the future what I want to do will be determined by my health.

6. Accepting the meaningless of life, being honest with ourselves. Being rational.

Even if people make their own purpose of meaning to life, which is fine, I think people need to realize what they are creating and not just blindly follow it. Not denying what death is being open to talk about biological aspects of life.

7. Confidence in oneself and being alone

Inspired by Mr. Hunter S. Thompson "We are all alone, born alone, die alone, and -- in spite of True Romance magazines -- we shall all someday look back on our lives and see that, in spite of our company, we were alone the whole way. I do not say lonely -- at least, not all the time -- but essentially, and finally, alone. This is what makes your self-respect so important, and I don't see how you can respect yourself if you must look in the hearts and minds of others for your happiness.”

Journal #4

#4 What conclusions does Mersault come to at the end of the novel. Does Camus want the reader to come to the same conclusions?

Meursault comes to the conclusion of having no hope and accepting his fate. Before he explained how the executed should be given a morsel of hope, just a little. But now he says "that blind rage had washed me clean, ride me of hope; for the first time, in that night alive with signs and stars, I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world" (122). He is having an epiphany, for the first time he is letting go of his wall and opening himself to the world. He says its like his brother because it is neither against or for him, just is. He feels happy. I believe Camus wants us to open up to the world and accept it for what it is, no matter how cruel or indifferent it seems to be truly happy. Probably not the day before your execution though. As soon as possible.

Journal #3

Camus splits the novel into two parts for the narrator's purpose. In part one, he is explaining the events leading up to his imprisonment that resulted in his new ideas about life. In the first half, although in past tense, there is less of a sense of story telling: "I even had the impression that the dead woman lying in front of them didn't mean anything to them. But I think now that was a false impression" (11). In part two, we learn a lot about Meaursalt's thoughts. Even though he is living in a prison now he still holds his content personality. "I was almost surprised that I had ever enjoyed anything other than those rare moments when the judge would mead me to the door at his office" (71). However, the longer in prison he is the more realizations he has of life. He begins to reflect on life and meaning because "life was coming to a standstill" (72). In part one the sunlight was a given, to the point where it was unbearable. In prison he strains "toward the light" (73). The split shows the actions of a free man and the thoughts of a restrained man.

Journal #2

Albert Camus uses first person point of view because it is a lot more personal. The reader knows all of Meursault's thoughts, which seem at first insignificant, but as we read on we realize how important they were. If this book was written from a third person point of view there would only be his action's to judge. Also, the reader has to trust the narrator. As first person, the reader can understand it is Meursault's story and he wants to tell every part because at the end of his life he realizes the significance to everything he has done or not done. Before, "To stay or to go, it amounted to the same thing" (57). He found soon after that he was quite wrong.

Journal #1: The Stranger

3 Characters:Marie, Salamano, Raymond

Marie: As Meursault's girlfriend, her character serves to see how he reacts to her emotionally. He desires her physically and seems to enjoy his company, but when she asks if he loves her he "told her it didn't mean anything but that [he] probably doesn't" (35). This reveals that Meursault does not believe love is meaningful. Later on he denies that marriage is serious too.

Salamano: When Salamano is first introduced he is with his dog. Meursault's describes their love hate relationship and everyday routines. When the dog gets lost, Salamano is flustered. Meursault hears him crying and thinks of Maman, but doesn't know why. Salamano shows a common emotion to losing someone close that Meursault did not. However, Salamano did not love the dog. He only says he had gotten used to the dog. He had not been happy with his wife either, but had gotten used to her company and got lonely when she died. "His life changed and now he wasn't too sure what he was going to do" (46). This contrasts how unemotional Meursault was towards his mother's death. They both were not too happy with them before, but unlike Salamano, Meursault had not created meaning to his Maman.

Raymond: This character is looked down upon by society so he sought companionship. Meursault's agreeable nature is demonstrated by Raymond's assertiveness. He agrees to help Raymond because he doesn't see a reason not to please him. He also says that Raymond interests him. The point of this character is to show how Meursault's actions to help him which seemed harmless later on has strong consequences.

Journal #8

1. The effect Hurston created with the title Their Eyes Were Watching God is that the reader knows that a group of people are watching God for his moves and how it will effect their life. It affects my reading knowing that the people in the book are religious and before starting I had an idea this book would be more tragic than happy, because the people's lives are controlled by what God decides. During the hurricane when Hurston uses her title in the narration, I got a better sense of what the title mean. God could also mean nature.

2. An alternate title she could have used was Janie. This would alter the reader's interpretation because they would go in knowing who the is wrapped around and expect it to be all about Janie. Which it is, but I think Hurston uses Janie to demonstrate themes.

3. The title of my pastiche is The Gaze Remained. I think this is the strongest title, because similar to Their Eyes Were Watching God the reader will get a sense of helplessly waiting, watching for something to happen.

Journal #7

“He kin take most any lil thing and make summertime out of it when times is dull. Then we lives offa dat happiness he made till some mo’ happiness comes along” (Hurston, 141) This technique of metaphor was used to show the power Joe had on Janie to make her happy. It relates back to the beginning when Janie is sitting under the trees, feeling the wonders of marriage through nature. Now Joe can make any day into summertime.

“Ah wuz fumblin’ round and God opened de door” (Hurston, 158) The allusion to religion sets the characters and what their society was like. From this sentence the reader can tell God is an important figure in their lives when things go wrong or go really well, he is called upon. It also shows the power they give God to give them new opportunities in life.

“It woke up old Okechobee and the monster began to roll in his bed. Began to roll and complain like a peevish world on a grumble. […] Chink up your cracks, shiver in your wet beds and wait on the mercy of the Lord. The bossman might have the thing stopped before morning anyway. It is so easy to be hopeful in the day time when you can see the things you wish on. But it was night, it stayed night. Night was striding across nothingness with the whole round world in his hands” (158) The use of personification of nature demonstrates the power over everything else it has. Okechobee is a real lake. And is referred to as a monster, who is usually asleep. It brings a strong common feeling of fear to the reader of being chased down by something fast and dangerous.