Arthur's Journal Part 2

Watching from the highest window in my humble abode, I see the same two children who I see very often in these parts, tussling on the ground with some man. Who this man was, I have no idea but he seemed to be unsteady and unsure of what he was doing with his body.  But like I said I have no idea who he is, so how could I be put into this situation.  I keep watching these children struggle, and then I decide its time to venture out of my comfortable house to save someone who is familiar to me. Many things race through my mind as I dart down the stairs. What if these kids think I will hurt them too? Will they let me help them? Will they hate me? I disregarded these pessimistic thoughts for there are kids in need.  Scooping the children in my arms I feel a sense of relief spread through my body, and my apprehension subsides.

Once I saw the boy, who I would soon call Jem, safe inside his home, I felt I had accomplished something.  I had taken a stand against the prejudices that people have against me, which made me feel empowered. Leaving my house was easier than it seemed.  For such a long time, I had longed to have a reason to leave and feel part of something.  I set Jem down in his bed and stand in the corner, not wanting to take up any needed space in the room. Watching Jem’s motionless body made me feel similar to how society views me.  My presence in Maycomb was like Jem’s motionless body, something that causes commotion but doesn’t move nor hurt anything.

The minutes go by like an eternity, but in a good way, I have enjoyed this time. During my excursion I met the little girl that I often see with Jem.  Her name is Scout, when I first saw her up-close she pointed at me and said “hey Boo”.  I knew that Boo was a name that I had acquired in the neighborhood, and that the community started rumours about me with out ever speaking a word to me.  I realized that once I had found the courage to venture out into humanity that gossip would flourish, but now I knew that it didn’t matter.  It had given me the chance to meet and help these kids.  Scout calling me Boo didn’t hurt and during our conversation she adjusted to calling me Arthur.  As her level of maturity rose by calling me by my proper name, I asked her to escort me home. We linked arms and she walked me home.  I didn’t know that that would be the last time I saw these fascinating children up close. Walking back into my house I felt more welcome in the neighborhood and less judged by the outside world.  I had a great feeling that I may have persuaded, at least a few people, that although a recluse, deep I am an innocent human being who just likes the comfort of their home, which society should accept. 

Chapters 26 & 27 TKAM

Chapters 26 and 27 of “To Kill a Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee, describe what the town is like after the whole Tom Robinson case. Since Tom Robinson’s death it seems that there had been no change in the people of the town, which is confusing, because the entire town watched the court proceedings so closely. Why does the town not seem to care or have any philosophical changed as a result of Tom’s death?  The only person who does seem to care is Mr. Link.  In chapter 27, Mr. Link employs Mrs. Robinson as a cook, even though she wasn’t required, so she would have a job and be able to feed her family. Not only did Mr. Link employ her, he protected her too.  When he said “First thing you can do, Ewell, is get your stinkin’ carcass off my property. You’re leanin’ on it an’ I can’t afford fresh paint for it.  Second thing you can do is stay away from my cook or ill have you up for assault.” (249). This shows that since the town will no longer care for the Robinsons, Mr. Link will. Also this shows that Mr. Link can be connected to a Mockingbird, that he only does good.

This book is starting to come together for me and starting to making more sense.  Jem has started to feel much more empathy, while Scout has not. For example, at the end of chapter 26, Lee writes, “Jem understood school things better.”(247). This, and other events and quotes prove that Jem has begun to grow up and is starting to resemble Atticus.

Chapters 22 - 25 TKAM

In chapters 22 through 25 of  “To Kill a Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee, many crucial events happen that illustrate the book main theme and social importance. In these chapters the mood is set as the characters are emotionally distraught by the fact that Tom Robinson was found guilty.  Atticus had represented him to the best of his ability, which was indeed superior as indicated throughout the trial.  Regardless of Atticus’ hard work Tom was still found guilty because he was black.  The outcome did not surprise me because it was the norm to discriminate against black people during this time period. But what shocked me was when Tom Robinson was shot.

When Atticus called everyone into the family room for an announcement, which was, “He was running. It was during their exercise period. They said he just broke into a blind raving charge at the fence and started to climb over, right in front of them”(235). This statement tells us that Tom Robinson is dead and that he was going mentally insane from his confinement.  His attempt to run confuses me because if someone were trying to escape wouldn’t they try to run away and not towards the people who would prevent them from escaping? It also confuses me that he didn’t devise a plan to escape rather than randomly attempting to escape with many witnesses.  I understand that Lee may have been portraying Tom as mad with rage at how he was treated by society and his death represented what would happen if anyone speaks out against racism.   I was also curious why the guards didn’t prevent him from running and warn him not to rather than just shooting at him and killing him. The guards represent society and shows how non-empathetic and callous the world can be.  The death of Tom is very sad and Harper Lee shows us how revolting racism really is.  The use of the trial was a great way for the novel to show both sides of the race issue, but the end result, Tom’s death, illustrates how unethical social morals can ruin a society.  The town is torn between Tom’s innocence or guilt and people are arguing including Ms. Maudi and Ms Merriweather and the town paper backs Atticus’s defense and slams racism. Racism causes a lot of problems and death and unhappiness.

  

Heinz Moral Dilemna

I am here to represent Mr. Heinz as his defense attorney and provide you with the facts. As you can see this man has many feelings for his wife, he loves her immeasurably, as any husband may love their wife, but Mr. Heinz has shown his love in a very different way.  Mr. Heinz, stole medicine to help save his wife’s life, which, under the circumstances I believe was ethical and just and think that you will all agree.  Mr. Heinz tried everything he could think of prior to stealing the medicine.  His wife was on his deathbed, she needed the medication and he could not afford it.  It is an appalling healthcare system that has the medicine to save someone but refuses to let patients have it due to their inability to pay.  The druggist should have allowed Mr. Heinz to pay for the medication over time, as any ethical and empathetic person would have. Have you ever not had enough money for something you absolutely needed? Have you been denied assistance and left without an option?

Do you agree that the job of a druggist is to manufacture medicine to help people and save lives? What is the point at the end of the day, just to make a profit? If you were the druggist would you have given Mr. Heinz the drug or not? If you chose not to would feel guilt for letting someone die?  What if you were losing a lot of blood and you went to the hospital and they told you that they didn’t have any room for somebody who couldn’t pay and you died?  What lengths would you go for someone you loved?  Mr. Heinz was left without an option to obtain the expensive drug which he knew cost much less to manufacture that the $2000 price tag.  The druggist demanding such a profit on the drug at the expense of his wife’s life was unacceptable to Mr. Heinz , as it would be to any ethical and sympathetic person like yourselves.

Mr. Heinz’s  wife was on her deathbed, suffering from a rare kind of cancer.  They had tried everything and this medication was their last hope for a miracle that could save her life.  Mr. Heinz had offered the druggist $1000, half of the total cost of the drug, but the druggist refused to sell it. People of the jury, can’t you see that this innocent man’s intention was to save the life of someone he loves. When faced with such a circumstance, any of you would have made the same choice.  Have you ever made a decision in your life that although for a good reason, could have resulted in your incarceration?  Have you ever made a mistake that you learned from and that made you a better person? Don’t you agree that this should be a lesson that Mr. Heinz could learn from and find a way to raise the money to pay the druggist? You do you want to be the responsible for the death of his wife and Mr. Heinz going to prison too? Thank you very much members of the jury, please consider your decision and respond in favor of compassion.

Rhetorical Triangle: Oxy Clean

In the Billy Mays advertisement for OxiClean detergent ball, also known as “The Ball”, Billy uses the Rhetorical Triangle. The purpose of the rhetorical triangle in this commercial is to persuade the consumers that this product really works, and that they should own it. This commercial uses both pathos and logos, in various parts of the video. Pathos is a part of the rhetorical triangle that is used to persuade people into doing and buying stuff emotionally. For example, in the beginning of the video it has many different people saying, “I’m on the ball” and then having May say “Are you on the ball?” Having this in the video is suppose to show consumers that the people that have this product are doing well and that they need to own it in order to do well too. Also in the beginning of the video it says, “laundry just got easier” which also is trying to show that if you buy this product, laundry will be easy enough for your children to do and you won’t have to worry about it at all anymore. This video also uses logos, which is rhetorical truth and fact. For example, this video uses logos when Bill Mays is asked how should they use it and how to set it up, and he says “all you do is pop in a ball then close the latch then throw it in the washer!” This is fact and logic because that is really all the consumer would have to do in order for the product to work. 

Oxyclean!