Modeling Dumas

The sun rose red and resplendent, its first rays tinting the fleecy clouds with many delicate and brilliant hues. (Pg.19)
I really love the picture that Dumas nearly 'paints' in my mind here. He uses unique vocabulary that truly depicts a magnificent scene in my head.
1) The crystal surface of the azure lake stood motionless, its face only reflecting the graceful flight of geese overhead.
2) The insignificant forest stood grounded as it marveled in the opaque glimmer of the innumerable realms above it.  
3) The storm swelled and stirred ominously, its relentless roars causing even the greatest mountains to quiver.

Good fortune is like the palaces of the enchanted isles, the gates of which were guarded by dragons. (Pg.21)
I really liked the unique description Dumas uses to summarize Dantès' good fortune here. He has a beautiful way with words that I can only hope to come close to imitating.
1) Love is like beautiful fields of blooming hemlock, the poison of which will strangle all those who treat it flippantly.
2) Joy is like a captivating congregation of butterflies; so beautiful, yet never found for it is sought out in the wrong places.
3) Peace is like a rainbow. Albeit right in front of you, it's always being hopelessly chased after.

The Good Earth Storyboard

The Good Earth Book Review

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck is a historical fiction novel that portrays life in early twentieth-century China. Although this book contains many characters, only a handful of their names are revealed.The main character in The Good Earth is a poor and humble farmer named Wang Lung. He lives on his small farm with his elderly father who is only referred to as Wang Lung's father throughout the entire novel. One of the most captivating and likable characters in the book is the hardworking and former slave O-lan who is sold to Wang Lung from the extravagant House of Hwang to become his wife. Throughout the book, many other characters such as Wang Lung's devious uncle, Wang Lung's six children, the kind and reliable neighbor Ching, the occupants of the House of Hwang, the prostitute named Lotus, and the young slave Pear Blossom are introduced and entwined in this powerful story as the reader watches Wang Lung's character evolve as he gains more land, wealth, and makes a name for himself.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this book, considerably more than I was expecting to, and I would give this book a rating of four stars. I would give this book a four star rating for a couple various reasons. First, I thought that Buck's book was very emotionally provoking. I found myself getting angry at certain characters, and I also cried and sympathized with others. Buck does an amazing job of bringing the reader into the story and creating an emotional connection with the characters. Second, I thought that Buck did an excellent job in capturing the time period, people, and culture. As I read through the book, Buck's skillful writing and subtle details about the Chinese culture and social classes really captivated me. I felt that the characters were all very human, and that also allowed me to relate and even apply some of the lessons I have learned through following Wang Lung's story. Throughout the book, one can clearly see the extent of human depravity and true human nature. This being said, I also disliked certain parts and events that took place in the book, and I probably would have stopped reading part way had it not been required. However, I am glad that I finished reading the book, and I believe that it did have a positive impact on my life. This isn't a book that I would recommend to anyone, but I believe that it can be very influential to those who are willing to go into it with an open mindset of learning and acceptance. I have no plans on reading the sequels, but I am glad that this book has found its way into my life.

Screwtape Analysis (Revision)

The Inadequacy of Humans 

In his book, The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis uses a unique perspective in order to show readers just how weak and limited humans are. First, Lewis uses a unique demonic perspective in order to reveal how demons can use fleshly habits in an effort to tempt humans. In chapter one, Screwtape says that he desires for people to be, “attending to universal issues and withdrawing attention from the steam of immediate sense experiences” (Lewis 2). Here, Screwtape tells Wormwood how to use something as small and simple as an everyday distraction to keep his patient from more important things like God. In chapter three, Screwtape shares about “daily pinpricks” or daily annoyances and how they can be used to build an aggravating tension that demons can in turn use to cause man to fall to different temptations (11). Screwtape also explains how pleasures such as sex and alcohol can be used as a temptation in chapter nine. He tells of “being in love” and “pressing drinks as an anodyne when he is dull and weary” and how these can easily develop into something more and lead to easy temptations (44). Second, Lewis uses a unique demonic perspective in order to reveal how demons can use originally moral conduct and twist it into something unmoral. In chapter two, Screwtape shows Wormwood how he can twist the act of going to church. Screwtape teaches Wormwood that he can get his patient to be extra critical about the church and those who attend church with him. Through his patient being critical, Wormwood can easily cause him to be distracted from the true purpose and intent of church. In chapter four, Screwtape addresses prayer and tells Wormwood of how “…whatever their bodies do affects their souls” and how Wormword can apply this even to his patient’s prayer to keep him from wholesome prayers (16). In chapter six, Screwtape informs Wormwood on how he can cause his patient to sin through him using up any benevolence he may have in areas that are unseen by those around him; therefore leaving any malice within him to be more likely exerted upon those he knows. Finally, Lewis uses a unique demonic perspective in order to reveal how demons can use human emotion in an effort to tempt humans. In chapter five, Screwtape tells Wormwood how he can use fear as a means of tempting his patient. When a person is fearful of the effects of war or death, if properly used, demons can use this fear to cause various sins in their patients’ lives. In chapters eight and nine, Screwtape tells Wormwood of how he can use the various uses of the constant ups and downs of his patient’s life to his advantage. Through learning how to best tempt his patient during both the peaks and troughs, and causing his patient to either forget about God or deny Him, Wormwood learns he can effectively control his patient at any given time. In chapter eighteen, Screwtape shows Wormwood how to use the emotion of love to cause both lust and things such as polygamy or unfaithfulness. Throughout the book, Lewis effectively shows readers the different techniques and areas that Satan uses on a daily basis to tempt humans. By writing from a demonic perspective, Lewis allows his readers an especially unique view into the mind of Satan and the spiritual realm.

Works Cited

Lewis, C. S. The Screwtape Letters. New York: Harper Collins, 2001. Print.

Screwtape Analysis

In his book, The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis uses a unique perspective, through the use of epistolary form, to grant readers a distinct view into the minds of demons. First, Lewis uses a unique demonic perspective in order to reveal how demons can use fleshly habits in an effort to tempt humans. In chapter one, Screwtape says that he desires for people to be, “attending to universal issues and withdrawing attention from the steam of immediate sense experiences” (Lewis 2). Here, Screwtape tells Wormwood how to use something as small and simple as an everyday distraction to keep his patient from more important things like God. In chapter three, Screwtape shares about “daily pinpricks” or daily annoyances and how they can be used to build an aggravating tension that demons can in turn use to cause man to fall to different temptations (11). Screwtape also explains how pleasures such as sex and alcohol can be used as a temptation in chapter nine. He tells of “being in love” and “pressing drinks as an anodyne when he is dull and weary” and how these can easily develop into something more and lead to easy temptations (44). Second, Lewis uses a unique demonic perspective in order to reveal how demons can use originally moral conduct and twist it into something unmoral. In chapter two, Screwtape shows Wormwood how he can twist the act of going to church. Screwtape teaches Wormwood that he can get his patient to be extra critical about the church and those who attend church with him. Through his patient being critical, Wormwood can easily cause him to be distracted from the true purpose and intent of church. In chapter four, Screwtape addresses prayer and tells Wormwood of how “…whatever their bodies do affects their souls” and how Wormword can apply this even to his patient’s prayer to keep him from wholesome prayers (16). In chapter six, Screwtape informs Wormwood on how he can cause his patient to sin through him using up any benevolence he may have in areas that are unseen by those around him; therefore leaving any malice within him to be more likely exerted upon those he knows. Finally, Lewis uses a unique demonic perspective in order to reveal how demons can use human emotion in an effort to tempt humans. In chapter five, Screwtape tells Wormwood how he can use fear as a means of tempting his patient. When a person is fearful of the effects of war or death, if properly used, demons can use this fear to cause various sins in their patients’ lives. In chapters eight and nine, Screwtape tells Wormwood of how he can use the various uses of the constant ups and downs of his patient’s life to his advantage. Through learning how to best tempt his patient during both the peaks and troughs, and causing his patient to either forget about God or deny Him, Wormwood learns he can effectively control his patient at any given time. In chapter eighteen, Screwtape shows Wormwood how to use the emotion of love to cause both lust and things such as polygamy or unfaithfulness. Throughout the book, Lewis effectively shows readers the different techniques and areas that Satan uses on a daily basis to tempt us. By writing from a demonic perspective, Lewis allows his readers an especially unique view into the mind of Satan and the spiritual realm.

Works Cited
Lewis, C. S. The Screwtape Letters. New York: Harper Collins, 2001. Print.

Screwtape Conclusion

Screwtape 26-28

Chapter 26
If each side had been frankly contending for its own real wish, they would all have kept within the bounds of reason and courtesy; but just because the contention is reversed and each side is fighting the other side’s battle, all the bitterness which really flows from thwarted self-righteousness and obstinacy and the accumulated grudges of the last ten years is concealed from them by the nominal or official ‘Unselfishness’ of what they are doing or, at least, held to be excused by it.


Chapter 27
Don’t forget to use the ‘heads I win, tails you lose’ argument. If the thing he prays for doesn’t happen, then that is one more proof that petitionary prayers don’t work; if it does happen, he will, of course, be able to see some of the physical causes which led up to it, and ‘therefore it would have happened anyway’, and thus a granted prayer becomes just as good a proof as a denied one that prayers are ineffective.


Chapter 28
The truth is that the Enemy, having oddly destined these mere animals to life in His own eternal world, has guarded them pretty effectively from the danger of feeling at home anywhere else. That is why we must often wish long life to our patients; seventy years is not a day too much for the difficult task of unraveling their souls from Heaven and building up a firm attachment to the earth.