Rebecca By Du Maurier Essays - English-language Films,

Rebecca By Du Maurier As Daphne du Maurier finished her novel, she said to herself, "So it was. A finished novel. Title, Rebecca. I wondered if my publisher would think it stupid, overdone. Luckily (for me) he did not. Nor did the readers when it was published." Little did du Maurier know, her novel ended up becoming a great success. Soon after, Alfred Hitchcock made a film version of Rebecca that soon became an even greater success than the novel itself. There are many opinions as to which version is more effective. I believe that the novel was far more effective that the movie version for a number of reasons. One of the reasons that I feel that the original novel Rebecca was more effective than the movie version was that I think the novel held suspense in a better way. While reading the novel, my suspense was able to build up more and more as I read further on. The plot seemed to move slowly, without revealing too much information very quickly. It gave me a chance to think for myself what I thought would happen next, which got my imagination working. When watching the movie, I found that each event happened too quickly, which didn't give me much of a chance to think about what was going on. One example of this is when Rebecca's boat was discovered. In the novel, each event that happened during that time was explained slowly. Much detail was given and as I read on, my suspense was able to build up while I was waiting to find out what had really happened. In the movie, the events during that time went very quickly, and the information was just thrown at you and then it was over. Also, during the movie, the events kept on happening without any pause which didn't give you time to think, let alone gather up the information given. In the novel, one important event would happen, giving more information, and then the plot would slow down a bit, allowing me to gather my thoughts and form and idea of what I thought would happen next. Another reason why I thought the novel was more effective than the movie was that the movie didn't go into as much detail as the novel did. In the novel, every part of the plot was explained into such detail that I could imagine everything almost to the point that I felt I was right there in the story. Each and every character was explained so well that I could actually see them in my mind. One example of this is when du Maurier explained what Mrs. Davners was like. She was described with such an evil sense of passion that it actually sent a chill up my spine and I was able to feel a dark presence about the story every time her name was mentioned. In the movie, the plot moved very quickly and nothing went into much detail. The characters didn't have much significance because nothing was really told about them except from what you learned from the initial plot of the story. The last reason why I believe the novel to be more effective than the movie version of Rebecca is that the novel is able to get my imagination working more effectively. During the novel, things move slowly giving you time to form your own thoughts as to what is happening. The novel also takes more time and hints at things before giving the actual information about the truth to the whole story. This allowed me to use my imagination and add on to what I already knew about the story and then come up with my own idea of what I thought was going to happen. The best example of this is when Maxim was throwing the costume ball. While the protagonist, Mrs. de Winter, was trying to think of a costume, and then Mrs. Davners gave her the idea to use the white gown from the picture of Caroline de Winter, there were little hints that made me realize that there was something that wasn't being told. I thought it to be very unlikely that Mrs. Davners would help Mrs. de Winter, so I came to the conclusion that something bad was going to come of the whole situation. I was able to use my imagination and form my own ending to the situation. While watching the movie, I wasn't given the time or the pauses to allow me

Like Water for Chocolate Movie Review Sample

Like Water for Chocolate Movie Review Sample Like Water for Chocolate Movie Analysis Essay Like Water for Chocolate Movie Analysis Essay Like Water for Chocolate is a movie based on a novel written by a Mexican novelist Laura Esquivel. The novel is also titled Like Water for Chocolate. The movie was produced and directed by Alphonso Arau. It is based on the serious political, social and moral issues in its time. They are still very much relevant to date. Its production is at the time when the traditions of the Mexican culture required the youngest daughter to cater for her mother until her demise. Because of the traditions, a young girl, Tita, is not allowed to get married. This is a source of the battle between the protagonist Tita looking for her true love and freedom away from her mother, Mama Elena, who is a main antagonist. The movie uses Tata’s love for cooking and her kitchen recipes to develop its structure. Traditions forbid Tita from marrying since she is Elena’s youngest daughter (Esquivel, 1992). This is because the youngest daughter is assigned the role of taking care of her aged mother. It is assumed that marriage may impair her ability to look after her mother. Pedro, Tita’s love, approaches Elena for her daughter’s hand for marriage. However, Elena rebuffs the request and instead offers him, Rosaura, Tita’s elder sister. Pedro agrees to marry Rosaura but later admits his true intention of doing so in order to be closer to Tita. He thinks that is the only way to maintain her proximity to Tita. Pedro agrees to live with Rosaura on the ranch, therefore, bringing him closer to Tita. Tita’s magical recipe is witnessed as she prepares a meal with rose petals she has received from Pedro. This sends Tita’s sister, Gertrude, into a lustful state; and she ends up eloping with a revolution soldier. Such intense images of fire in the novel are used to portray strong emotions. The novel’s title suggests that water should be heated to the boiling point before hot chocolate can be made from it. However, in the movie, this heat is used to symbolize strong emotions that cannot be contained. This is evident when Gertrude elopes. It is also manifested in Pedro’s gaze at Tita when being in the shower and on his death. The movie also centers the viewers’ attention on some issues affecting the roles and lifestyles of women in this society but from a feminine point of view. Women are confined to their traditional household chores, while men are hardly present. This can perhaps be explained by the men’s engagement in the ongoing war. Women are depicted as prisoners of cultural shackles. These cultural limits are ironically inflicted upon them by their fellow women. This is well illustrated when Tita is denied her marriage to Pedro. Pedro and Rosaura wed; and Nacha, the maid and Tita had to bear the burden of all the preparations. Elena has warned Tita not to ruin the wedding. She and Nacha finally have lost it in the kitchen and ended up weeping. Tita makes a cake soggy with her tears. Later Tita has a run in with Pedro in the garden. He tries to explain himself to her, but he is unsuccessful. Despite Tita’s relationship with Pedro being a painfully kept secret, Elena insists she must attend her sister’s wedding. Pedro takes an advantage of this and confesses to her his true intentions of marrying Rosaura. Immediately after eating the cake, everybody becomes melancholic and soon starts having heartaches and vomiting, thus, ruining the wedding. Elena accuses Tita of intentionally poisoning guests; and when she is almost beating her up, she is informed of Nacha’s death from the heartbreak. She suffers as a result of tasting the cake. Tita’s hallucinations before the wedding are outward manifestations of her heartache (Esquivel, 1993). She focuses on the whiteness of the wedding cake and the wedding dress, which is meant to show the purity of her emotions in contrast to the impure union between Pedro and Rosaura. Here, we see how a mere expression of Tita’s sadness is amplified as shown by the effects of the cake. The wedding proceeds but the wedding dress ends up ruined due to vomiting. This scene casts the union of Pedro and Rosaura as impure. That it was not meant to be. Nacha’s death leaves Tita as a head cook with no confidant. Pedro presents her with a bunch of roses, which she is ordered to throw out but decides to prepare a sauce with them. This meal serves to communicate their illicit love that culminates into Gertrude being filled with the intense lust. This portrays the female sexuality within the movie. Tita contains her passion, but Gertrude expresses her sexuality openly as shown in the shower. Rosaura is pregnant with Pedro’s child. She is helped to deliver the baby by Tita. Rosaura is unable to produce milk. Therefore, the responsibility of taking care for young Roberto is left to Tita. Her compassion for Roberto enables her to lactate and breastfeed the kid. The meeting between Tita and Pedro in the kitchen transforms her to an experienced woman without having to touch her. Pedro’s staring transforms her into the woman as she passively lets her clothes fall so that he can clearly view her breasts. In the movie, she exposes her sexuality more passively, and this is an only bold action she takes so far. She breastfeeds the child she has never given birth to. This is a symbol of the mother’s love while the act of exposing her breasts to Pedro gives the perception similar to her offering herself as though she has never served food. The erotic bonding between them in the kitchen enables Tita to come to the age sexually and, thus, to produce milk like a truly pregnant woman. Breastfeeding Roberto creates an even stronger bond between Tita and Pedro. Their desire is channeled through the young kid. Elena senses something going on between these two ones and with an excuse of seeking a better medication for Rosaura, she has Pedro, Rosaura and Roberto move to San Antonio. This crushes Tita. Roberto dies in San Antonio. Elena does not want anyone to mourn, but Tita accuses her of killing the child as she could feed him with her breast milk. Elena strikes her with a wooden spoon and Tita goes into a catatonic state in her dove-coat. Elena orders that Tita be taken to an asylum. She is covered in a bedspread she has been crocheting in her time of sorrow which is now almost a kilometer long. The length of the crocheted bedspread signifies how much grief Tita is experiencing due to her love for Pedro. Tita, for the first time, confronts Elena and asserts her beliefs, though Elena fights back by hitting her with the spoon. By lying naked in the dove coat covered in bird droppings, she shows that her body is merely a source of pain and no longer of pleasure (Russel, 2012). Tita grows closer to Dr.John while recovering in his house, though she remains silent. He teaches her how to make matches and explains that there is the fire within everyone; and how this fire must be protected. This is the first time Tita is moved away from the ranch. She realizes she also has matches inside her but cannot light that inner fire because whenever she tried her match was put off by someone. A visit by Chencha from De La Garza ranch with an ox-tail soup restores Tita’s stability. This is the first recipe she can remember since becoming sick. Tita also learns that Gertrude now works in a brothel. She sends Chencha back with the news to Elena that she will not return to the ranch. She opts to start a new life with Dr.John, who has proposed the marriage to her. Before delivering the news to Elena, the ranch is attacked by bandits; and Chencha is raped. Elena becomes paraplegic. Tita is forced to go back to the ranch to take care of the duo. Elena refuses of Tita’s food believing it to be poisoned. She only takes food prepared by Chencha. While Chencha is away, Tita prepares food for Elena. Unfortunately, Elena fires Chencha for not being around to cook her food. With Chencha gone, Tita resumes her normal duty of cooking for Elena. Within a month, Elena finally dies. Tita discovers a small key that belongs to Elena in the course of the funeral. The key opens a small box that contains secrets to Elena’s love life. Tita learns that Elena was once in a forbidden relationship with a mulatto who Elena had apparently planned to elope with. The man ended up getting murdered. She was, thus, forced into a loveless marriage with Tita’s father. The injury inflicted on Elena and the rape of Chencha reduces the two women to mere objects of a male abuse. Elena’s vulnerability is exposed with the absence of Tita, who is the customary target of her frustrations. Upon Tita’s return, Elena tries to assert her authority on her once more. This is an attempt to counter Tita’s new found freedom with Dr. John. Refusing Tita’s healing food is the last known way she employs as she desperately seeks to keep hold of her daughter. Poisoning herself in the attempt to counteract Tita’s healing food can be symbolic to her many years of living bitterly. Tita’s maturity is exhibited when she is willing to overlook Elena’s cruelty towards her. This is after learning Elena’s uneventful love life. In addition, she realizes that there is also someone else who had loved against the will of others. Consequently, Tita resolves to continue pursuing her love. Pedro and Rosaura have a second child; this time, this is a girl. They name her Esperanza after Tita refuses the child to be named after her. Rosaura cannot have any more children; and, thus, Esperanza is her youngest daughter by default. Tita is closely involved in raising the young girl. This makes Rosaura very jealous. Rosaura admits to Tita’s worst fears by announcing that she will not allow Esperanza to marry. She is filled with rage that can be referred to as â€Å"like water for chocolate†, the term used when water is brought to almost the boiling point before being used to prepare chocolate (Giannotti, 1999). Chencha returns to the ranch happily married. This frees Tita from the kitchen duties. She uses this relief to get prepared for John’s arrival. John asks for Tita’s hand in marriage since she is the head of the household; and she agrees albeit begrudgingly. John later leaves to bring his only living aunt from America for the wedding ceremony. Tita cleans the kitchen after dinner; and she is confronted by Pedro. He takes her to a small room used by Elena as a bathroom. There they make love, hence, breaking Titas virginity. This scene makes use of heat to bring out the strong violent emotions that are in conflict within Tita leading to her loss of virginity. The strong anger she feels towards Rosaura, coupled with confusions over John. He makes her aware of the fire inside her; and Pedro, who deflowers her, makes the situation unbearable for Tita. The phosphorous light that emanates from the room when they make love depicts the lack of Tita’s control over her emotions. Therefore, her sexuality can be described as an object of her lover’s desire. This shows that though she seeks to find the true love chances of this for the women of her time are very minimal. Tita fears she may be pregnant with Pedro’s child and may have to cancel her wedding. Rosaura seeks help from Tita concerning her weight; and this shows the power Tita wields over her due to Pedro’s lust for her. The food to Rosaura, unlike to Tita, is a source of reduced self-esteem. Tita sees Elena’s ghost cursing her child. This shows the power Elena wields over her even in death. The cursing shows Tita’s fear of getting pregnant with Pedro’s child and the backlash from the society. Gertrude returns to the ranch accompanied by her husband’s army. Pedro gets the news of Titas pregnancy. He is very happy about it. He even contemplates running away with Tita but the thought of leaving his young family holds him back. He decides to continue staying with his family. Tita’s sense of individuality finally banishes Elena’s ghost from her life. This gets rid of the pregnancy guilt; and her body is back to normal. However, Elena’s ghost unleashes its wrath on Pedro; and a fireball sets his entire body on fire. Pedro cries out, and when Rosaura comes out to comfort him, he chooses to be comforted by Tita instead. Tita’s ability to banish her mother shows she has broken away from the traditions imposed on her by her mother and the society, as a whole. She embraces the American concept of independence taught to her by John. By being able to make her pregnancy disappear, Tita has mastered her individuality. This contrasts with her earlier depictions as a nurturer. From this picture, it is shown that Tita thinks about the society’s perception. Therefore, this acts as a hindrance to her power over her own individuality. The termination of the pregnancy shows her new found control over her own body. Tita confronts Rosaura for ‘stealing her boyfriend’. This distinguishes their personalities; Tita is portrayed as a successful nurturer and Rosaura as a failed mother (Giannotti, 1999). Rosaura deflects the blame for her marriage to Pedro by referring to Tita as a loose woman. She vows never again to touch Pedro and lets him pursue Tita to fulfill his sexual desires. To her, sexuality is about shame and not desire or love. Later, John listens with understanding to Tita’s confession; and this portrays him as a wiser man than any other characters depicted in the novel. Many years have passed, and there is a wedding preparation for Esperanza and Alex, who happens to be John Brown’s son. Rosaura refuses to let her daughter marry, but she finally dies. Her wedding is not properly attended due to an unbearable stench. Her death enables her daughter to get married. Pedro and Tita are finally left alone in the ranch. They make love without any interference for the first time. She feels Pedro’s rapid heartbeat which finally ceases as he dies. She tries to spark the fire by consuming matches. When coming from their honeymoon, Esperanza and Alex find the ranch burnt down. The only thing left is Tita’s cookbook. The final act of passion ends up in the tragedy for Tita and Pedro. Pedro passes through the act of fire uninitiated, while Tita is taking an initiative to follow him there. Unlike before in their past erotic encounters, when Pedro was always active while Tita passive, this time she takes the initiative and lights up her inner fire in order to get to him. Alex’s and Esperanza’s wedding signals a new lease of life for the De La Garza’s family. Burning down the ranch signals doing away with the past traditions and shows the beginning of something new. Tita, though death, achieves what she had always fought for when she was still alive. The cookbook left behind contains the wisdom scattered throughout the movie. Esperanza and Alex can finally build their own legacy from their cross-cultural marriage that is free from sorrow.

9 Funny Santa Claus Quotes Add Laughter to the Holidays

9 Funny Santa Claus Quotes Add Laughter to the Holidays Why does Santa Claus enter a house through a sooty fireplace? Why can he not simply knock at the door? The magic of Christmas, perhaps, lies in the mystery of Santa Claus. If you love Santa Claus, you will love these funny Santa quotes. But be warned, some of these quotes have wicked humor. Funny Quotes About Santa Claus Lee Lauer One of the problems we have in this country is that too many adults believe in Santa Claus, and too many children dont. Jack Handy If you ever have to steal money from your kid, and later on he discovers its gone, I think a good thing to do is to blame it on Santa Claus. Samuel Butler Nobody shoots at Santa Claus. James Gould A cynic is just a man who found out when he was about ten that there wasnt any Santa Claus, and hes still upset. Robert Paul You know youre getting old when Santa starts looking younger. Arlo Guthrie Santa Claus wears a Red Suit, he must be a communist. And a beard and long hair - must be a pacifist. Whats in that pipe that hes smoking? Bernard Manning I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying toys not included. Tom Armstrong Let me see if Ive got this Santa business straight. You say he wears a beard, has no discernible source of income and flies to cities all over the world under cover of darkness? You sure this guy isnt laundering illegal drug money? George Carlin Santa is very jolly because he knows where all the bad girls live.

The Gattaca and Brave New World Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Gattaca and Brave New World - Essay Example According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that both the movie Gattaca and book â€Å"The Brave New World† have a character who share similarity and at some points expressing different opinions. The main characters in these artworks are similar in the sense that they are portrayed as strong characters that readily rebel against their own societies. After the encounter with DNA in a black market, Vincent decides to change his identity to a famous astronaut making everyone view him as an â€Å"invalid†. This character accomplished this transformation only after realizing that he has more strength than his brother is, particularly after defeating him in their swimming game. John and Bernand also rebel against their society form reading and thinking people. The writing by John Stuart Mill that â€Å"it is better being a human being who is dissatisfied than a pig who is satisfied† may be qualitatively analyzed to satisfy the status of humanity to t hat of a pig or better describe the dissatisfying nature of humans. The book The Brave New World and movie Gattaca artistically create fictional places that satisfy the needs and the desire of humanity; nonetheless, with prices to pay. These stories reveal the achievement in the field of science, especially in biology and genetics. However, the social progress within their storylines presents the sense of individualism, discrimination, and the loss of personal freedom, particularly among those who are not biological elites. Both stories are dealing with the potential imperfections of utopia; therefore, they are entirely referred to dystopias. Moreover, they as well real the optimistic visions by which societies are striving to achieve, but they never tend to achieve the same desires or goals.

What are fusion centers and how are these a part of homeland security Research Paper

What are fusion centers and how are these a part of homeland security Are they effective - Research Paper Example This goal can only be achieved successfully when the local law enforcement agencies work together with the federal intelligent agencies by sharing any threat information. This was clearly stressed in the 9/11 commission report. Former US president George, W. Bush on August 3, 2007 signed the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. With reference to the 9/11 Commission Act, the department of homeland security should have formal discussions with program directors of information sharing context and the attorney general so as to create a state, local, and regional fusion centers initiates (Abbott and Hetzel,2010). The centers are made up of representatives from local law enforcement, state and federal agencies. Federal intelligence officers also form part of the centers. When the centers get any threat information from the federal government, it is their task to analyze the information, ensure the information is disseminated to the local agencies then gather inside information they have received, l eads given and the suspicious activity reporting by the public and also local agencies. The idea of fusion has sprung up as the most important process to enhance the ability of sharing information that assists in providing homeland security and also sharing of any information that helps in knowing of any criminal activities taking place and also sharing of intelligence (Abbott and Hetzel, 2010). The fusion process involves a comprehensive process of controlling the flow of any threat information and intelligence through different levels and sectors of the private agencies and the government. After receiving information from various sources, that is; the public, law enforcement agencies, and the private sector agencies; the information is then analyzed and afterwards turned into applicable knowledge. Fusion centers do not merge all federal databases that reveal personally recognizable information with

Fragile Families Essay -- Article Review, Family Policy

Fragile Families: Articles and How They Contribute to Family Policy This paper will review two articles pertaining to â€Å"fragile families† and assess how they help contribute to family policy. â€Å"Fragile families† are very pertinent to the core of family policy. In the 1990’s the term â€Å"fragile families† originated out of a need to describe families not fitting into the traditional married – unmarried couples with children (McLanahan, Garfinkel, Mincy, & Donahue, 2010). Over a 60 year period non-marital births of children increased significantly. In 1940, 4% of children born were to non-married parents. However, by 2007 this number reached a high of 40%. These families can be compromised of cohabitating couples, non-cohabitating couples, or single mothers (Kalil & Ryan, 2010). They are deemed â€Å"fragile† because they are more likely to experience difficulties economically and relationship wise. They tend to be more impoverished, experience material hardship, and have absent fathers. More importa ntly fragile families are of great concern because they often lack stability as a family unit. Yet, fragile families have become one of the new family types and seem to be a permanent structure steadily on the rise. Bogenschneider (2006) stated that one of the main underlying issues of the family policy debate is the conflicting ideas of families (types). These conflicts are evident when you look at the 3 perspectives with regard to family policy: Concerned, Sanguine, and Impatient. This is why there has been increased focus on this new type of family. One of the issues that need be assessed with regard to fragile families is mothers’ economic conditions and their support systems. (McLanahan et al., 2010). Kalil and Ryan (2010), discuss mot... ... Craigie, and Gunn, 2010). Second, address factors that place the child at risk such as a lack of parent involvement. Third, directly address children’s risk through early child hood education amongst other things. There are also policy changes that can be implemented with regard to mothers’ economic plights and the resources available to them. There should be a strengthening of community based programs that aid mothers and a focus on them working efficiently (Kalil & Ryan, 2010). Safety nets provided in the form of things such as food stamps need to be strengthened as well. Policies should support these resources and have an ultimate goal of economic self sufficiency for mothers in fragile families. The issues presented allow policy makers to be well informed of the possible risks associate with fragile families and the issues they face, especially economically.

The Unhealthy Chesapeake

The Unhealthy Chesapeake Life in the American wilderness was harsh. Diseases like malaria, dysentery, and typhoid killed many. Few people lived to 40 or 50 years. In the early days of colonies, women were so scarce that men fought over all of them. The Chesapeake region had fewer women and a 6:1 male to female ratio is a good guide. Few people knew any grandparents. A third of all brides in one Maryland county were already pregnant before the wedding (scandalous). Virginia, with 59,000 people, became the most populous colony. II. The Tobacco Economy The Chesapeake was very good for tobacco cultivation. Chesapeake Bay exported 1. 5 million pounds of tobacco yearly in the 1630s, and by 1700, that number had risen to 40 million pounds a year. More availability led to falling prices, and farmers still grew more. The headright system encouraged growth of the Chesapeake. Under this system, if an aristocrat sponsored an indentured servant’s passage to America, the aristocrat earned the right to purchase 50 acres land, undoubtedly at a cheap price. This meant land was being gobbled by the rich, and running out for the poor. Early on, most of the laborers were indentured servants. Life for them was hard, but there was hope at the end of seven years for freedom. Conditions were brutal, and in the later years, owners unwilling to free their servants extended their contracts by years for small mistakes. III. Frustrated Freemen and Bacon’s Rebellion By the late 1600s, there were lots of free, poor, landless, single men frustrated by the lack of money, land, work, and women. In 1676, Nathaniel Bacon led a few thousand of these men in a rebellion against the hostile conditions. These people wanted land and were resentful of Virginia governor William Berkeley’s friendly policies toward the Indians. Bacon’s men murderously attacked Indian settlements after Berkeley refused to retaliate for a series of savage Indian attacks on the frontier. Then, in the middle of his rebellion, Bacon suddenly died of disease, and Berkeley went on to crush the uprising. Still, Bacon’s legacy lived on, giving frustrated poor folks ideas to rebel, and so a bit of paranoia went on for some time afterwards. IV. Colonial Slavery In the 300 years following Columbus’ discovery of America, only about 400,000 of a total of 10 million African slaves were brought over to the United States. By 1680, though, many landowners were afraid of possibly mutinous white servants, by the mid 1680s, for the first time, black slaves outnumbered white servants among the plantation colonies’ new arrivals. After 1700, more and more slaves were imported, and in 1750, blacks accounted for nearly half of the Virginian population. Most of the slaves were from West Africa, from places like Senegal and Angola. Some of the earliest black slaves gained their freedom and some became slaveholders themselves. Eventually, to clear up issues on slave ownership, the slave codes made it so that slaves and their children would remain slaves to their masters for life (chattels), unless they were voluntarily freed. Some laws made teaching slaves to read a crime, and not even conversion to Christianity might qualify a slave for freedom. V. Africans in America Slave life in the Deep South was very tough, as rice growing was much harder than tobacco growing. Many blacks in America evolved their own languages, blending their native tongues with English. Blacks also contributed to music with instruments like the banjo and bongo drum. A few of the slaves became skilled artisans (i. e. carpenters, bricklayers and tanners), but most were relegated to sweaty work like clearing swamps and grubbing out trees. Revolts did occur. In 1712, a slave revolt in New York City cost the lives of a dozen whites and 21 Blacks were executed. In 1739, South Carolina blacks along the Stono River revolted and tried to march to Spanish Florida, but failed. VI. Southern Society A social gap appeared and began to widen. In Virginia, a clutch of extended clans (i. e. the Fitzhughs, the Lees, and the Washingtons) owned tracts and tracts of real estate and just about dominated the House of Burgesses. They came to be known as the First Families of Virginia (FFV). In Virginia, there was often a problem with drunkenness. The largest social group was the farmers. Few cities sprouted in the South, so schools and churches were slow to develop. VII. The New England Family In New England, there was clean water and cool temperatures, so disease was not as predominant as in the South. The first New England Puritans had an average life expectancy of 70 years. In contrast to the Chesapeake, the New Englanders tended to migrate as a family, instead of individually. Women usually married in their early twenties and gave birth every two years until menopause. A typical woman could expect to have ten babies and raise about eight of them. Death in childbirth was not uncommon. In the South, women usually had more power, since the Southern men typically died young and women could inherit the money, but in New England, the opposite was true. In New England, men didn’t have absolute power over their wives (as evidenced by the punishments of unruly husbands), but they did have much power over women. New England law was very severe and strict. For example, adulterous women had to wear the letter â€Å"A† on their bosoms if they were caught (as with The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne). VIII. Life in the New England Towns Life in New England was organized. New towns were legally chartered by colonial authorities. A town usually had a meetinghouse surrounded by houses and a village green. Towns of more than 50 families had to provide primary education. Towns of more than 100 had to provide secondary education. In 1636, Massachusetts Puritans established Harvard College to train men to become ministers. (Note: in 1693, Virginia established their first college, William and Mary. ) Puritans ran their own churches, and democracy in Congregational church government led logically to democracy in political government. IX. The Half-Way Covenant and the Salem Witch Trials As Puritans began to worry about their children and whether or not they would be as loyal and faithful, and new type of sermon came about called â€Å"jeremiads. In jeremiads, earnest preachers scolded parishioners for their waning piety in hope to improve faith. Paradoxically, troubled ministers announced a new formula for church membership in 1662, calling it the â€Å"Half-Way Covenant. † In the Half-Way Covenant, all people could come and participate in the church, even if they fell short of the â€Å"visible-saint† status and were somehow only half conv erted (with the exception of a few extremely hated groups). In the early 1690s, a group of Salem girls claimed to have been bewitched by certain older women. What followed was a hysterical witch-hunt that led to the executions of 20 people (19 of which were hanged, 1 pressed to death) and two dogs. Back in Europe, larger scale witch-hunts were already occurring. Witchcraft hysteria eventually ended in 1693. X. The New England Way of Life Due to the hard New England soil (or lack thereof), New Englanders became great traders. New England was also less ethnically mixed than its neighbors. The climate of New England encouraged diversified agriculture and industry. Black slavery was attempted, but didn’t work. It was unnecessary since New England was made of small farms rather than plantations as down South. Rivers were short and rapid. The Europeans in New England chastised the Indians for â€Å"wasting† the land, and felt a need to clear as much land for use as possible. Fishing became a very popular industry. It is said New England was built on â€Å"God and cod. † XI. The Early Settlers’ Days and Ways Early farmers usually rose at dawn and went to bed at dusk. Few events were done during the night unless they were â€Å"worth the candle. † Life was humble but comfortable, at least in accordance to the surroundings. The people who emigrated from Europe to America were most usually lower middle class citizens looking to have a better future in the New World. Because of the general sameness of class in America, laws against extravagances were sometimes passed, but as time passed, America grew. XII. Makers of America: From African to African-American Africans’ arrival into the New World brought new languages, music, and cuisines to America. Africans worked in the rice fields of South Carolina due to (a) their knowledge of the crop and (b) their resistance to disease (as compared to Indians). The first slaves were men; some eventually gained freedom. By 1740, large groups of African slaves lived together on plantations, where female slaves were expected to perform backbreaking labor and spin, weave, and sew. Most slaves became Christians, though many adopted elements from their native religions. Many African dances led to modern dances (i. e. the Charleston). Christian songs could also be code for the announcement of the arrival of a guide to freedom. Jazz is the most famous example of slave music entering mainstream culture