[Chris Jakala]

I feel that both Alcott and Stanton’s text contribute and critique the Transcendentalist ideas from the perspective of the 19th century women. I feel that Alcott’s text relates to Transcendentalism in that women were, under the conversation of Lamb and Lion, to be equally included in the community. Also this community was to work for the good of the community and not for money, as well as happiness, love, and the spirit. Even though this was stated, the women were still treated as what was normal for this time period, in that they cooked and took care of the children, such as Sister Hope and Miss Jane Gage. This was also contradicted in the end of the story, in that Mrs. Lamb takes charge in this bleak situation. Abel has broken down and doesn’t know what to do in order to get his family afloat. She gives him “Hope!” and sells all of their items to get them to the neighbors house and on their feet until spring.

This also ties in with Stanton’s text in that men and women are naturally equal. Mr. Lamb was emotionally and physically lacking, so Mrs. Lamb stepped in and took charge as the provider and decision maker. She also contributes the idea that, if given the chance, women can be in their own happy solitude and make their own individual choices in life. She says that women are not born ignorant to things around them, such as the example on page 7 where the females from the broken down prison made their own decision to save the men by linking arms. Also on page 5, Stanton says that they “find the house over their heads in flames, do women wait for men to point the way to safety?…” The answer is no, and that is because they are naturally equal and have the same general instincts.

Alcott’s text clearly resembles Thoreau’s text, such as the idea of living with just the bare minimum. Also the ideas of vegetarianism and animal brutality are both shown in these text, as well as the idea of laboring for personal and spiritual good. Alcott also reminded me of Candide, at the end, when they all make their own little community and are set up with each contributing with the task they are best at. Everyone is laboring and fulfilling their duties to the community and no one is idle.

[Chris Jakala]

The insight that Thoreau has given me, regarding college tuition, is that actual life experiences are more fulfilling and rewarding than just learning at a college. “I cannot but think that if we had more true wisdom in these respects, not only less education would be needed, because, forsooth, more would already have been acquired, but the pecuniary expense of getting an education would in a great measure vanish.” (25). This being said, real life experience, like an internship or field studies, would give students the necessary skills in order to succeed in today’s competitive job market. Furthermore, I feel that if one were to pay for a college education, they should have to complete an internship as part of the requirement to graduate. I have seen this done in some private schools, but not at a SUNY college. Yet, on the contrary I feel that in today’s society further study programs, such as Master’s or PhD’s, need to be done through college institutions. Many of the students who go through these programs might have the knowledge in front of them, but they lack the necessary resources and funding, such as a research center. Some colleges will give college credit for individuals that have had related real life experience, which in a way is a hybrid of Thoreau’s ideas and modern society practices.

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