In “On the Pulse of Morning”, Maya Angelou talks about how in order to alleviate the inequalities of this world, society can no longer turn their “face[s] down in ignorance” (Angelou 18) and must stop their hatred and come together as equals. In “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Coates talks about racial prejudice and how this affects a large mass of the populace. This lack of understanding is what, in “Half-Hanged Mary”, allows Mary to be persecuted for witchcraft, even though Mary only tried to help the people of her village. “Between the World and Me” discusses the types of prejudice that people face on racial terms, but this is not at all different from the types of prejudice that people face on gender terms. If prejudice …show more content…
But all the men of the village couldn’t see through their fear and hate as the fact that she was a witch. They didn’t understand how a woman could be strong and independent as she was in their time period so they feared her. Lastly, as she is about to die she almost accepts death and calls it, “A temptation, to sink down / into these definitions. /To become a martyr in reverse,” (95-97). She doesn’t want to become the sacrifice of the village, and in the end doesn’t, but after talking to the ‘dark feathered angel’ she winds up abandoning the village and ‘becomes the witch that she wasn’t before.’ In “Between the World and Me”, Coates discusses this exact situation. Coates says “Hate gives identity. The nigger, the fag, the bitch illuminate the border, illuminate what we ostensibly are not, illuminate the Dream of being white, of being a Man. We name the hated strangers and are thus confirmed in the tribe” (Coates ). Mary rejects the village and accepts her identity as a witch. Since she was rejected by her village, she in turn rejects them and gives up on unifying the people even though that was once her reason for living. She has given up on her mission to bring people together because even this gender based prejudice was too much for her to
The next accusation shocked the townspeople. Ann accused the spirit of Martha Corey. She was a huge figure in the church and, even though there was not substantial evidence, was sent to prison and she was eventually hung. This accusation caused a scare throughout the village because it proved that anyone in the town could be a witch. The first set of trials ended but the girls’ “fits” did not.
The Reconstruction of Mary Rowlandson Sometimes the punches life throws are subtle enough to see what is wrong and to change it. But when those punches come unexpectedly, then it changes the whole idea of a lesson. To say that Mary Rowlandson went through a lot in 1682, when she was held captive by the Indians, is an understatement. Constant battles between the Englishmen and the Indians affected many civilians.
Getting caught by Reverend Parris was the start of the hysteria over witchcraft that overtook the entire town. Fear of being shunned by the church and society along with the need to maintain a reputable status are what drove the girls to accuse the innocent of witchcraft. The allegations from the afflicted girls of being associated with the devil distracted the village from the suspicious wrongdoings that the girls had done in the woods willingly the night before. This hysteria from the girls originated from their desperation of self-preservation. As young females in their community, their current reputation completely decides their future.
She tried turning it on Elizabeth. She states that Elizabeth is a witch and is out to get her. Now they have all rumors about who's a witch and that there is witchcraft going on. The courts get involved and suggest that all the people involved in witchcraft need to admit it and, those who do not admit what they have done will be killed. So everybody that are witches confesses some that aren't do as well to save there life.
She, while under accusations from Abigail and others, sees a viable solution to the problem, confession. She does this whilst encompassed with fear from the false accusation of witchcraft. This falsity invokes fear, since she does not posses any excuse testable by the court she resorts to indicting others as witches. The realization of the only opportunity given
She begins by throwing herself at a married man which is seen as shameful in many cultures. She then draws the whole town into a witch hunt accusing person after person of witchcraft all for her own personal gain. She was able to influence the society so much that they took her word above all others, ignoring any feelings of doubt or shame. This is a prime example of why shame is an important feeling to have at certain times.
Have you ever been affected by race in your life? Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior is an outcome of racism. Racism is a big conflict in today’s society and effect many lives. In the two stories “Champion of the Word” by Maya Angelou and “Black Men and Public Space” by Brent Staples , race was the big social view being discussed. Racist ideology can become manifest in many aspects of social life.
To the others in the room she is extremely resentful. She is racist, she thanked Jesus for not making her a “nigger or white-trash or ugly!” (O'Connor 436) Not because of what she has or who she is but because she's not them. When she noticed Mary Grace whom she referred to as the“ugly girl”, she doesn't understand why this girl is staring at her. She thought that the “girl might be confusing her with somebody else”.
At some point in an individual's lifetime, they will be faced with the judgement of race, class, and gender. These three classifications will cause people to be looked down upon, or become a praised individual. Also, you can receive unjust treatment in certain cases, such as someone thinking they are somehow better than another person. In “To Kill A Mockingbird”, there is a character by the name of Mayella Ewell, who is a poor, white woman that is abused. Mayella is a un-powerful character in the fact that she is a female, and she is very poor.
III. a. Maya Angelou was an avid writer, speaker, activist and teacher. As a result of the many hardships that she suffered while growing up as a poor black woman in the south she has used her own experiences as the subject matter of her written work. In doing this she effectively shows how she was able to overcome her personal obstacles. Her autobiography “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1970) tells the story of her life and how she overcame and moved forward triumphantly in spite of her circumstances.
Once again, Maya Angelou manages to touch our hearts again with her poetic skills in Chapter 19 titled The Champion of the World in her autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. She recalls a time in her life where the African American community gathered at her grandmother's and uncle's store to hear a boxing match via radio. The boxing match was between the former champion Joe Louis and a white boxer. Maya Angelou takes the meaning of a simple boxing match into something more complex; she demonstrates the suffrage of her people fighting against oppression during that time period.
Abigail, in fear of the likelihood of a deteriorating reputation for having casted charms in the forest, finds an outlet in Tituba’s confessions. As Abigail realizes Hale’s encouraging reactions to Tituba’s confession to service of the Devil, she proclaims, “I go back to Jesus... I saw Sarah Good, Good Osburn with the Devil!” (45). Abigail takes advantage of her fellow villagers’ naivety in believing in the existence of witchcraft, in doing so, acts as though she’s sending herself back to God, presenting an image of a truthful Christian.
She thinks that she is too good to admit her true heritage to anyone. Although she gives up one culture she still takes on a new culture. Her new culture is now what is affecting her perspectives. She is now part of the black power movement. Now that she is taking on her new culture she looks down on her family.
Angelou’s contribution to the Civil Rights Movement and her achievements as an activist were remarkable. While these achievements seem to be enough to last a lifetime, the Civil Rights Movement was only the beginning for Angelou. Angelou worked as an outspoken Civil Rights activist during the movement. But even after the Civil Rights Movement had ended, she continued to be a voice of humanity, speaking out against anything that harmed the human spirit. Angelou moved on to influence American society as a whole, from the 1970’s to the day she died, May 28, 2014.
Author Elizabeth Reis, her book ‘Damned Women’, deals with issues that women faced the New England’s witch trials back in the 17th century. Reis talks about views held by Puritan women regarding their souls greatly affected their encounters during the hysteria experienced in those times. According to Reis, more women than men in Salem were besieged with allegations of being witches. This was mainly as a result of the view upheld by the women regarding themselves. They defined their souls were inherently evil and that any sin committed was just an extension of their nature.