Inspiration from Emerson

"Each and All" RWE
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While constructing this "motivational poster" based on Emerson text, there were many options for quotes, but there are specific reasons this one was chosen.
This quote came from Emerson's poem, "Each and All." This poem, as well as nearly all of Emerson's writing, attempts to find the roles of an individual and society in the world. Part of what Emerson says in this poem is that we cannot become blind to the beauty and resources that nature has to offer us, and even if one is not near other humans, one is not necessarily alone. Emerson does not promote a life of isolation ever in his texts, so this quote does support his ideas. This image depicts how nature itself is built on the premise of community. There are many pieces that make up what we know as "nature," and they are dependent on the others.
Pulling this quote out from its context means that some of the depth and continuity in meaning is lost. He claims that when we look at individuals, we are not able to see the entirety of it until we see it with others. I find this interesting, considering that often in his work, we find that Emerson pushes us to separate from the society. Most of his texts simplify everything down to being independent and self-reliant. This quote, however, challenges this idea; there is a necessary part of nature that needs community. Community is built upon the fact that each individual is fulfilling their purpose and calling in the community, which may be how Emerson is able to tie this quote in with his text.

Sex and Revolution

Alejo Carpentier captures many ideas and images within revolution, and one of those is sex and power dynamics between whites and slaves. As the book transitions between different stages of the revolution, we see how portions of this idea change throughout the revolution, while others stay the same.
Both before and after the revolution, sex was a way to be sure there would be enough slaves. Ti Noel sleeps with many women, who bear many children. These youth will be raised to serve their masters, not knowing any greater purpose. This only fuels the perception that the slaves are goods, to be bought, used, and sold. Later on, after the revolution, when Ti Noel returns to a "free" Haiti, he encounters this same process. Christophe could care less about his slaves, killing them for mere missteps, because he knows that the women are reproducing for him. The role of these women has been reduced to that of animalistic levels, showing that the power dynamics based on sex are not bound to either the colonists or slaves, but exist within both cultures.
Another aspect of the power dynamics shown through sex within the revolution is the raping of white women by slaves. When the slaves attempt to overthrow their masters and earn their freedom, they take advantage of that which was kept above them before. After scaring Mezy into hiding, Ti Noel specifically finds Mezy's latest mistress and rapes her, attempting to show his power in not only scaring his master, but that he can take what is not his to take. The reader is then brought to the scene where Mezy comes upon his mistress, raped and dead, and the hurt that this causes him. This scene was replicated throughout the island as the slaves worked to gain their freedom. The colonists are unable to protect their women from the slaves, which the slaves used to show their power over the colonists at that moment.
So while there are many other issues raised by the revolution, one cannot skip over the power dynamics illustrated by sex throughout the text. The French colonists and slaves both use sex to show their power over the other, among other means.

Ghosts

provided a reason
we explore.
walking,
wandering,
wondering,
why we got so lucky to live here,
surrounded by
bluffs,
trees,
stalks,
stems,
veins,
of the ghosts we once knew.

full of life,
waiting,
watching,
wishing,
that their days would be noticed.
but now
it appears too late.
a walker,
wandering and wondering,
why they have not come sooner.
shriveled and shrunken,
shared with the world,
what does it take
for us
to see
that around us
which is fleeting
and
free.

Benjamin Franklin

The character of Benjamin Franklin is one that is familiar to nearly everyone in the U.S. He invented many things and was a founding father of the country. Beyond this basic story, not much is told unless one researches him or reads his own writing. Franklin focuses on the sense of self and its interactions with text in many of his texts that we read.
The first example of Benjamin Franklin speaking about his sense of self through text is in "The Way to Wealth." Franklin wrote this letter under a pseudonym, Richard Saunders, and this plays into his sense of self, which he explains in the letter. He writes, "I concluded at length, that the people were the best judges of my merit; for they buy my works; and besides, in my rambles, where I am not personally known, I have frequently heard one or other of my adages repeated with 'as Poor Richard says' at the end on 't; this gave me some of the satisfaction, as it showed not only that my instructions were regarded, but discovered likewise some respect for my authority." No one knows that Poor Richard Saunders is actually Franklin, so he cannot receive credit that way, but receives praise each time he hears someone quote his work.
The other example of Ben Franklin finding sense of self interacting with text is found in "The Autobiography (part one)." Here he writes, "And being then, from reading Shaftesbury and Collins, became a real Doubter in many Points of our Religious Doctrine, I found this Method safest for myself and very embarrassing to those against whom I used it, there I took a Delight in it, practic'd it continually and grew very artful and expert in drawing People even of superior Knowledge into Concessions the Consequences of which they did not foresee, entagling them in Difficulties out of which they could not extricate themselves..." After reading texts about the Socratic method and the characteristics of an enquirer and doubter, Franklin found himself captivated with the possibilities that could arise, quickly learning the method and using it to trip up those around him.