ipl-logo

Examples Of Cruelty In Caleb's Crossing

511 Words3 Pages

Cruelty, finding the pain and suffering of another to be pleasurable, an aspect of human of nature few admit to having yet despite the negative effects, it is also what comes to define a person in crucial moments for its a source of motivation as well as a way to reveal a person’s true intent. As unfortunate as it is, cruelty is a crucial function of society itself and allows the characters of Caleb's Crossing to develop on a much deeper level. Throughout Caleb's crossing, Geraldine Brooks uses cruelty as a key motivator in Bethia's decisions on where she stands regarding both the settler and native conflict as well as her personal view on the various beliefs being presented. In the beginning -as most foreign people taking over another's land would- she viewed the natives as subhuman and in need of saving, believing that she and her people (mainly her father) could do it. During the settlers' betrayal of the pact with the Wamponag regarding beached whales, their butchering of the whale is described in gruesome detail showing how animalistic man in general really is. This both frightens and enlightens Bethia, it …show more content…

Due to his practices he was shunned by the settlers and although his strict methods may have brought order and stability he didn't understand that such acts do not affect only a single party, he would be facing consequences as well. The entire reason that Caleb’s Crossing took place on Martha’s Vineyard was due to the fact that Bethia’s father choose to separate from Winthrop whom was a man that would exercise his mass influence to punish those who’s ideals were not synonymous with his own. Although little is revealed about his character, he is the stereotypical autocrat whom places himself before that of the people and steps over them for his own gain, a human political disturbance that Bethia’s father strives to further himself

Show More
Related

  • What Were The Charges Brought Against Anne Hutchinson?

    254 Words  | 2 Pages

    Why did Winthrop think that the Puritans were a special people? And why did he believe they had to be especially careful in their new endeavor? Puritan wanted to reform their church and opposed to the corruption of the Church of England so they moved to the New World. John Winthrop wanted to show England that their way was wrong; therefore he wanted to prove it to them by presenting that the Puritans have a successful colony.

    Read More

  • How Did John Winthrop Establish His Government

    135 Words  | 1 Pages

    When he was in college he studied law, so did much of the men in his class of society. Winthrop maintained the office in the government from 1627 to 1629. In the beginning he had no interests in overseas journeying and exploring the colonies. He lost the government job when his income on his land was reduced by Charles the first’s threatening anti-Puritan policy.

    Read More

  • Geraldine Brooks 'Caleb's Crossing'

    751 Words  | 4 Pages

    She uses her quietness to listen and absorb her father and Makepeace’s conversations. While growing up, Bethia has to face many conflicts throughout her journey. She has to figure out what she wants instead

    Read More

  • How Did The Puritans Influence Their Colonies

    154 Words  | 1 Pages

    John Winthrop knew that their colony would “be a service to the church” by “[carrying] the gospel” into this new part of the world (Winthrop). This colony would demonstrate

    Read More

  • What Was Bacon's Rebellion

    259 Words  | 2 Pages

    Bacon’s Rebellion is well known to students of colonial America, although no-one has succeeded in writing a convincing account of it. The first question historians asked was who was responsible for the widespread anarchy that followed the breakdown of government authority in the colony between 1676 and 1677. One historian attributes the rebellion to Nathaniel Bacon, and describes Governor Berkeley as a man doing his best to implement sensible policies. Another sees the Rebellion as prefiguring the American Revolution, with Bacon as an early George Washington, already defying British authority.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Revenge In The Crucible

    563 Words  | 3 Pages

    Revenge isn’t always the answer but some seek it when wrong is done to them. Revenge is getting back at someone, some call it “payback” or “karma”. The Crucible uses many different forms of revenge from characters that have a connection to each other or even none at all. In this play revenge plays a big part and since revenge isn’t good idea, There’s a lot of consequences that will come along with it. In Arthur Miller’s play “The Crucible” he had many characters trying to get revenge on someone else in the play, such as Abby, Proctor, and Putnum.

    Read More

  • What Is The Difference Between New England And The Chesapeake Colonies

    1099 Words  | 5 Pages

    The New Englanders took religion seriously, making unitary laws according to Puritan standards. John Winthrop, later chosen as the first Massachusetts Bay Colony governor, was seeking religious freedom. Wishing to inspire the colonists to dwell in brotherly unity, he summoned them together to remind them “that if we [colonists] shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world.” On the other hand, those in the Chesapeake region came for the wealth that America promised. They were there to become prosperous or die trying.

    Read More

  • John Winthrop Beliefs

    644 Words  | 3 Pages

    John Winthrop was a religious Puritan elder who led a substantial group of people from England to America in 1629. He was also the first governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony for twelve years after settling into New England. Winthrop and his group of followers, the Puritans, who accompanied him aboard the Arabella all believed that they would establish a pure church in the new world that would exhibit a model for other churches. In England, the Puritan population had been increasing over time up until this time.

    Read More

  • Lack Of Communication In Judith Guest's Ordinary People

    686 Words  | 3 Pages

    She creates stories and makes assumptions. She also prefers to talk, not listen. For example, when Beth and Calvin go to play golf, Calvin tells Beth that Conrad “needs to know that you don’t hate him”. She gets defensive immediately and starts to accuse Conrad of telling lies to his father, convinced that Conrad is against her. She shows signs of violence, including labeling Instead, she should control her stories and presume that people are basically good.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Chesapeake Colonies And New England Colonies

    746 Words  | 3 Pages

    The British colonies in the Chesapeake region and those of the New England region were both similar yet different in certain ways. One because both the colonist that settled there were looking for new opportunities. However, it was mostly second son aristocrats, which means the first born usually inherits the better half of the father’s riches. Their lives in England had either been mistreated or they were unable to flourish economically. Regardless of whether they were searching the land for expansive homesteads, religious freedom, or exchanging and merchant opportunities, the colonist in both regions were searching for another land in the New World.

    Read More

  • Sacrifice In The Devil's Arithmetic By Jane Yolen

    495 Words  | 2 Pages

    She willingly endures the unimaginable hardships of the concentration camp to protect her younger brother; her sacrifices exemplify the heights one can reach when putting the needs of others before their own safety. Rivka's acts of selflessness leave an indelible mark on Hannah's consciousness; as Hannah experiences the horrors of the Holocaust firsthand through a time-traveling experience, Rivka's example lingers in her mind, transforming her perspective and awakening her to the preciousness of life and the freedoms she often takes for

    Read More

  • Ruth May's Reconciliations In Kilanga

    805 Words  | 4 Pages

    She grows old with the self-condemnation of staying with Nathan for as long as she did, for if she mustered up the courage to leave the Congo earlier, Ruth May would not have died. Ruth May’s plea for Orleanna to forgive herself, just as Ruth May has forgiven her, presents the possibility of repentance for anyone, no matter how great of consequence their mistakes are. Though she never passed the age of 6, Ruth May seems to have learned better than most the importance of finding strength from and learning from wrong-doings. Urging her mother to “Move on. Walk forward into the light”, Ruth may passes along her own moral reassessment to anyone whom will listen, telling the error in letting so-called sins weigh down ones self forever

    Read More

  • The Invisible Hero Character Analysis

    898 Words  | 4 Pages

    A deceiving student, Macca, dominates both Ruth and fellow victim, Philip. No one attempts to control this, not even Mrs Canmore who only warns the bullies. One student, Ruth, comes from a tough background; she is a soldier against the Macca War. Despite the consequences, Ruth becomes a quiet hero; this inspires the audience. Throughout the story, the author portrays Ruth as a shred of hope for the other characters.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Devices In John Winthrop Speech

    393 Words  | 2 Pages

    Purpose: Winthrop’s purpose for creating this sermon was to coax the colonist into creating a “utopia” in the New World; essentially a moral boost. The author used nationalism, imagery, and God to express his sermon towards the Puritans. By evoking God, he’s trying to create fear among the Puritans.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Cruelty In Huckleberry Finn

    1167 Words  | 5 Pages

    “It was a dreadful thing to see. Human beings can be awful cruel to one another” (Twain). In the satire, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, cruelty is used in many different forms to affect an individual and his/her morals. It is true that human beings are cruel, whether in a purposeful way or not. Mark Twain utilizes cruelty to suggest that an individual’s morality is influenced by society; a person’s morals will adapt to match sociocultural norms rather than remaining unique to each individual regardless of their surroundings.

    Read More

More about Examples Of Cruelty In Caleb's Crossing

Open Document