The Minister's Black Veil

Nathaniel Hawthorne criticized the Puritans for their disgust with Father Hooper's veil while they failed to recognize their own sins. Hooper wore the veil to show how the life that God gave him is burdened by the fact that he is born with original sin. Hooper simply draped the veil over his face in order to place a visual representation of how his life was inevitably corrupted by the natural state of man. The Puritans in the town were appalled by his veil and demanded that he take it off. However, the Puritans had no right to demean Hooper considering the Puritans also committed sins but simply lacked the whit and humility to display a visual representation of them. Also, Hawthorne criticizes how the Puritans choose to ignore their own sins but do not hold back on Hooper who simply chooses to display them out of shame.

Leading into the dark will bring about a new light

"And we are now men, and must accept in the highest mind the same transcendent destiny; and not pinched in a corner, not cowards fleeing before a revolution, but redeemers and benefactors, pious aspirants to be noble clay under the Almighty effort let us advance on Chaos and the dark."

This quote stood out to me because of Emerson's word choice. At the end of this quote, Emerson states that we should be self reliant in order to progress humanity into "chaos" and " the dark". I find it interesting that Emerson stated that individuals who break away from society are creating disorder and are advocating for an uncertain future. However, Emerson argues that an uncertain future is much better than a future being dictated by society. Emerson states that people who challenge society's ideology are at a risk. However, it is a risk that people need to take because if they are ultimately correct, they will benefit mankind. With regard to chaos, I believe Emerson is stating that self reliance is needed because it brings about chaos which challenges the unchanging and mandating state of society. This quote also stood out to me because the last phrase of this text is quoting Paradise Lost which is an epic poem about the Fall of Man. Emerson is trying to convince the reader that the fall of man will occur without self reliance.

Richard Cory lived the American Dream

Obviously reaching a successful status in society is a goal most people try to obtain because of the promise of making money and bringing pride to your name. However, after reading the poem Richard Cory, I realized that someone who reaches a position of power or high status can become socially isolated as a result. In the poem, Edwin Arlington Robinson describes how everyone envied Corry's traits, looks and success. For this reason, the last two lines of the poem stunned me. "Richard Cory, one calm summer night, Went home and put a bullet through his head." In the poem, Robinson subtly explains how Richard Cory was isolated from society which was the reason why he committed suicide. This poem has led me to question the validity American Dream. As Americans in a capitalist society, we are taught to try to achieve the highest level of success in order to make the most money and gain the most power. However, Robinson explains how it is possible that one can become miserable as a result of success. The scary thing is that Richard Cory was a humble, approachable human being and still became isolated because he could not make meaningful relationships with people because of his position. Obviously, most people who hold prominent positions are not miserable and have meaningful relationships. However, it also is obvious that financial success does not guarantee one will obtain fulfilling relationships and happiness. Shouldn't the American dream be to achieve guaranteed happiness and not end up like Richard Cory?

Heres the Poem: http://www.bartleby.com/104/45.html
Also Simon and Garfunkel wrote a song about the poem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euuCiSY0qYs