The Habitation of the House of 7 Gables

The House of 7 gables is surrounded by a plethora of history from the family who used to inhabit it, the people who lived in the town, and the town itself. While the author of the"House of Seven Gables" gives the house a mysterious, scary twist, the house is actually thought to be one of romance also, as the author also hints at. The house is now a museum site where tourist can take a tour inside the house. This house is located in what used to be Salem, Massachusetts, known most for the Salem Witch Trials. Salem was established in 1626 by Roger Conant and a group of immigrants from Cape Ann. Later, in 1628, they were joined by another group of immigrants led by John Endecott.

The people who immigrated to Salem were known as "Puritans", who are people who followed the teachings and ideas of John Calvin, a leader in the Protestant Revolution. The Puritans believed that the Church of England was beyond "repair" so to say, thus causing them to be persecuted. To escape such persecution, the group came to America.

They followed the Bible harshly and believed in conversion, not repression, though their actions showed repression. The Puritans banned dancing, religious music and erotic poetry. Dancing and erotic poetry, in their beliefs, led to immorality and religious music caused one to be put into a "dreamy" state which was not helpful when listening to God. As seen in the "Crucible", most anyone who went against these rules was a witch.

Nathaniel Hawthorne, author, and coincidentally, previous inhabitor of the House of Seven Gables, was also born in Salem On July 4th, 1804 (Nice birthday huh?) to Puritans John and Elizabeth Hawthorne. His birth home was located on 27 Hardy Street, where the house remains a museum. His father, John, was one of the judges in the Salem Witch Trials, and when he died in 1808, his mother took on a life of seclusion.
Of course, as we know, Nathaniel Hawthorne is the author of the "House of Seven Gables" and the "Scarlet Letter." Since we are now reading "House of Seven Gables", it's best to go into detail on the inspiration of this writing opposed to the others. Hawthorne based his story on a curse that supposedly was put on the family from a WOMAN who was put to death during the Salem Witch Trials. This curse is then the cause of the decline of the Pyncheon's home. The curse is ended when a descendant from the killed woman marries a niece of the family. Of course this is a story that could or couldn't be true, but it certainly makes a good plot.
Nathaniel Hawthorne dies May 19th, 1864 while in the middle (not literally) of writing a journal of his travels. His work, like many famous authors, lives on and gives snippets into the life of him, his family and many of the people of Salem. Nathaniel Hawthorne is certainly an author that is deserving of credit for his writing and the eye it gives us back into the early days of the country in which we inhabit.

Works Cited

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h2229.html

http://www.oldhouseweb.com/architecture-and-design/the-house-of-the-seven-gables.shtml

http://kirjasto.sci.fi/hawthorn.htm

http://www.online-literature.com/hawthorne/

Welcome to the American Society!

How could one describe an American? Of course, general definitions go to say that it is one who has pilgrimmed out of their land, "put old predjudices aside", to find the freedom they are looking for. An American is integrated with other cultures to produce a society of different people, cultures, foods, etc. My personal definition is quite simple. An American is someone who has accepted the new freedoms (which is something everyone desires), yet has also realized the responsibilities that come with those freedoms. For example, an American has the right to bear arms, but with this freedom comes the responsibility of knowing that one cannot use such arms where they would inhibit another's freedoms. An American isn't necessarily someone with ALL the freedoms, but someone who was given such freedoms (and whether they have caused themselves to lose it or not doesn't matter).
To say that I had an epiphany and realized that I was an American would be quite a fallacy as I have known all my life of my American heritage, though my parents always have made known that I was also part of the African American heritage. After reading "What is an American?" and being able to construct my definition of an American allowed me better view of such a culture/heritage. I have always known I was an American and feel that my sense of joy, pride and responsibility for such a heritage which will alter as I learn more about America, what it means to be an American, etc.

Us Vs. Them = Us AND Them??

Contrary to what the title states, I find it highly unlikely that a person battling another person could really become close and merge with their enemy. I feel there is too much tension between them to be resolved most times, especially in extreme cases like that of the Crucible. Those who knew the people hanged were innocent will probably never forgive Reverend Parris for his aiding in the execution of those individuals and no matter how much they try to forgive him, they will always have a deep down resentment for what he did, especially being the spiritual leader of Salem.
The reverse certainly could apply also as it does in real life. Two people who were best friends have a falling out of some sort, and get a new group of friends or whatever and now it turns into a battle to get them back for the feelings they caused by breaking off the friendship, which causes a "Us and Them (Or a Me and her/him) to become a Us vs. Them (Me vs. him/her)." I feel most people are too shallow to surpass the strife in their life to form a bond, though it does happen. I don't feel the people in Salem will ever forget this episode in which they lost family, friends and such because children were claiming they were with the "Devil" without substantial evidence except for children's word, in which they found lied at the end when it was too late.
While many can stitch up the situation where they were against a specific person, for the most part, I feel truly becoming one with those in which you opposed will always be rocky as somewhere deep down, there will be this feeling of potential betrayal, which will keep a true relation from forming. Humans tend to be mistrusting like that. :)