Tiffany James- English 145

Simply Human  How could there be any justification of the ownership of a human being? I never understood how anyone could justify the inhumane treatment of another human being.   Growing up I would hear and read about such justification: It was God’s divine plan, Africans were naturally inferior to whites because they did not, rather than could not, possess European ingenuity. Somehow, a group of Europeans had convinced themselves and their race that Africans were unhuman, perceived as poor benighted creatures in need of saving.  Yet they were beaten, hung, raped, and enslaved. The autobiography of Olaudah Equiano demolishes, as if it was ever fact, their erroneous claims in a brilliant fashion.  Africans were ignorant to the European language, religion, manners, and customs but they were far from being an uncivilized race of people. They were not educated in the western culture, nor did they need to be for their way of life. In the same matter, Europeans had ...

Bartleby, the Scrivener Like the author seem to describe his office like his mundane life. Like Bartleby he would not relent to writing anything outside of his own convictions. The narrator within the story seems to be a man of very little of authority. He is passive in his writing and character. He introduces Bartleby, the main character of his story, yet he goes directly into introducing John Jacob Astor (indicting his status through this prestigious business man). He goes on to introduce not Bartleby, but three unlikely characters: Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Nut. He indirectly speaks to each of their flaws. Turkey is an older man, who is making several errors and the lawyer (narrator) is to be incapable of firing him because of his passive demeanor. He knows that Turkey’s performance is poor after noon. Nippers – younger man, driven by ambition and indigestion (drinking). He is a drunk and a perfectionist. Ginger Nut- is only twelve years but out of a favor to the young b...