Perception the True Meaning of Identity - 1716 Words

American Literature November 20th, 2012 Perception: The True Meaning of Identity The works published by Whitman, Edwards, and Melville continue to astonish literary critiques today. It amazes me how three writers with such unique qualities all seem to stitch together the same ideas about the â€Å"American Identity.† Whitman chooses to see sex as an empowerment on our human race. While Edwards argues that God’s love inspires a fruitful outlook on a trivial life, Melville has no spiritual views and instead ignites his own reasoning to form his perceptions. Whitman’s theory of an American identity rests on an interpretation of sexual reproduction within our humanity. Children of Adam gives our lives true purpose and sheds light on the†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"I had vehement longings of soul after God and Christ, and after holiness; wherewith my heart seemed to be full, and ready to break† (p.401). However, these words support a tone of voice that reflects a man writing a romantic letter for the woman he loves. He spends hours isolated in the woods praying to the Lord, exchanging concerns and ideas just as a couple would. â€Å"†¦used to spend abundance of my time, in walking alone in the woods, and solitary places, for meditation, soliloquy and prayer, and converse with God† (p.401). Living in this time period undoubtedly filled a majority of Puritans with fear because they faced constant attacks, starvation, and disease. It comes as no surprise that there were more than a few Puritans with wavering faith. Edwards saw the materialistic worries that people had and wanted to open up new possibilities for everyone facing these struggles. â€Å"I felt then a great satisfaction as to my good estate. But that did not content me† (p.401). For him, there seemed to be no greater love given to humanity than that of the Lord. His mission was to share this with his community so they too could achieve an intimate and unconditional love with God as he had. Although Edward’s lost sight of his faith at times, he repented his sin through constant reflection and realized the little worries in life can never amount to the peace he feels in his own heart. â€Å"PrayerShow MoreRelatedA Dialogue On Personal Identity And Immortality1310 Words   |  6 Pagescome to a consensus; what makes me, me? A dialogue on Personal Identity and Immortality offers examples of logical thought and argumentation. Perry’s text does more than theorize, it expresses ways of defending ideas and t hought in order to determine the likely hood of them being true or the most likely to be true over other ideas. In this dialogue there are four theories that are introduced as possible explanations for personal identity and immortality. These theories include the body theory, soulRead MoreThe Ship Of Theseus Paradox Essay872 Words   |  4 PagesTheseus’s Paradox is entirely built upon perception— someone’s view of the ship is different (no matter how minuscule) compared to the next person. Hence why philosophers differ so much on the subject. However, the idea of human perception can be taken into account when discussing this question. Because no answer to this question can be true, is precisely why one answer has to be more true; the ship is different. Take into consideration perception— to apply an identity to an object means that the objectRead MorePersonal Identity In Iris Murdochs Under The Net960 Words   |  4 Pagesget to the core of this ques tion of how personal identity develops in Under the Net. Through the lens of the protagonist Jake Donaghue, Murdoch establishes that identity is not a function of language but of relationships. 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Mona travels back to the past to reclaim her identity. She becomes a house slave named Shola living on a plantation. She lives her life being raped and abused by her slave owner. Through this journey, Mona looks to find out who she really is through the people she meets, the African perception of identity, the meaning and connection to Sankofa, and what it suggests to Africans and non-Africans. In the beginning of the movie, thisRead MoreMahek Mehta Ap Preparation Guide : The Scarlet Letter1175 Words   |  5 Pagessent her to New World; his whereabouts unknown, presumed to be lost at sea †¢ 3. Hester interrogated by town fathers while up on the scaffold; refuses to reveal identity of her partner in crime †¢ 4. Older audience member and physician is Hester’s husband; goes by â€Å"Roger Chillingworth.† Chillingworth hell bent (spawn of Satan) on revenge; identity only known to Hester who is sworn to secrecy. †¢ 6. Hester: talented seamstress shunned by society. Pearl is impish, likened to an elf, devil child due to herRead MoreSuffering, Solitude and the Struggle for Identity1481 Words   |  6 Pagessearch for identity, no cause greater than the search for oneself, neither hunger nor peace. The core desire for every human being is acceptance: love. Because of this desire, the search for true identity is often littered with a series of varied facades; a reshaping of one’s inward perception with the changing of social currents. Despite the true nature of identity lying well within the boundaries of the human body, many query these foreign sources in an attempt to create their identity, usually one