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In this online discussion, you should comment on the blog at least three times. Here are a few questions to get you started. You can also post the questions you have, now that we're done with the text.
1. Look at the image to the right. Notice the teaser, and then think about the title. What symbolic significance does the title Witness have? Think about the synonyms for this word: observer, spectator, bystander, onlooker, eyewitness, watcher. How do these words apply to various characters? What about the outcome of this text?
2. How does the title connect to the theme of the text?
3. Think about Merlin. What does this text teach about bullying, and its relationship to a lack of role models and economic strife?
4. How do emotions like jealousy and fear and problems like ignorance influence one’s prejudice?
5. Are we responsible for protecting our friends, neighbors, and even acquaintances?
I would have to say that people should be responsible for their own safety but if they do want to help others that they should feel welcome to, even if they are not friends/family.
ReplyDeleteI disagree alex because i think if there is someone being mugged don't you feel obligated to help them?
ReplyDeletehi
ReplyDeleteThe theme of the book is the town watching itself change or the town witnessing what is happening at the moment and the change they go through. Therefore "Witness" is a fitting title.
ReplyDeletei think we are responsible for protecting our friends and neighbors acquaintances because we can be witnesses for them and watch things happen that they could never see.
ReplyDeleteYes but they should be able to defend themselves if there is no one around. i am merely saying that each person should be as responsible for their own safety as much as possible.
ReplyDeletethe title connects to the them because throughout the book the author is trying to say that everyone is a witness to something and they shouldn't keep quite. but in the story esther is also a witness to her fathers shooting
ReplyDeletemerlin didn't have someone to show him the right way so he put that on others which turned into becomeing a probelm where he almost got himself killed.
ReplyDeleteNick, I like the idea that this is a story about a town watching itself change. Cool thinking; that, in one way, makes the town the main character, and the others are simply voices that are a part of the collective whole.
ReplyDeleteI think we are responsible for protecting our family, friends and neighbors because we are a part of their lives and they are a part of our and i am pretty sure that when i am in trouble my family and friends will come through for me.
ReplyDeletei agree with caleb. if we see someone is in trouble we should help them out. even if we dont know them very well
ReplyDeleteIs the man Merlin van tornhout really Johnny or was it just a random man and now merlin is concluding that it is Johnny from what Leanora? why?
ReplyDeleteQuestion #2- I think that the title relates to the text because girls/ mostly Leonora sees things that they aren't supposed to so they are a "witness" and they get to choose what they want to do with the information they just saw for example Leonora saw that it wasn't merlin who murdered Mr. Hirsh so she is a witness but she doesn't chose to tell the police about what she knows and keeps her information to herslef.
ReplyDeletethe title connects to the theme of the text in that people in this book were witness to occurrences that happened around them. They watched things change around them and from that they changed themselves.
ReplyDeleteyes it was really johnny sean. and why was he back in the church?
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1: The picture shows how Esther witnessed the crime of her father being shot. Leonora also was a witness to Merlin Van Tornhout being at her house the night of the shooting. This book demonstrates many ways people can witness things and it shows the choices that people make after witnessing something. It also shows the things that the rest of the town does after witnessing what the KKK does. This is how the title Witness ties into the story.
ReplyDeletethe picture looks like a beaten door like someone was trying to hurt whoever was inside. maybe it symbolizes johnny shooting johnny reeves. the keyhole is important because i think its symbolizing someone spying on someone else. In the book the KKK members are a secret and most of them blend into society so they could be watching you and you wouldn't know it as if they were watching you through a keyhole.
ReplyDeleteand was it really a ghost
ReplyDeleteBy being a witness you are unlocking the truth, and unlocking difference stories and finding out many points of view in one event you are a witness too. i noticed how all of the letters of the title are white except on which is red. I believe this symbolizes Leonora or any African Americans because there viewed as very different in that society.
ReplyDeleteYes, Sam. Which relates to the question about how one becomes a bully (last question). Merlin, we could argue, became hateful because there was no one to teach him the right way.
ReplyDeletei say yes we are responsible for protectin tha peaple we love n care for because we wouldnt want anything to happen to em
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2. The title connects to the theme of the text because everyone in the town are being "witnesses" of the racism and hate directed towards Leanora and Esther and their families, but they aren't doing anything to stop it because they are scared of the KKK.
ReplyDeleteCaleb, even if you just witness something its not going to change you, you have to be affected somehow by it.
ReplyDeleteWhy did the KKK target Esther a Jewish girl, more than Leonora that African American girl?
ReplyDeletemerlin just wanted a way to prove he was a man and the klan seemed like the easiest and best way to do that at the time
ReplyDeleteI feel like we are responsible for protecting family, friends, and even acquaintances. If I saw someone in trouble I would help them. I would do because if I was in a bad situation I would want someone to help me out and protect me.
ReplyDeleteyes but then he saw that he didn't need to be like that to have respect. Leonora testified that he didn't shoot Ira when she knew that he hated her but she knew that it was right.
ReplyDeleteI think that the book "Witness" is about several people in the small town who are witnesses to the events thats happen like Ira Hirsh getting shot and Johnny Reeves being a pedophile, so "Witness" is a very fitting title.
ReplyDeleteMorgan, Helena, and Cali--great thinking about being a witness. It goes back to the thinking Nick had about the town. All of these people only have one part of the story, so their eye witness account is flawed, from lack of knowledge or bias or ignorance. Thus, the story is about a progession in people's learning, how their perceptions change as they learn and witness more of the town's story.
ReplyDeletehelena, they also hated jews. they even made a spawn group that hated jews just as much as blacks
ReplyDeleteobserver, spectator, bystander, onlooker, eyewitness,and watcher apply to all the characters in this book because whether they liked it or not they were there when the kkk was in the town. all the charters participate in one way or another. they either help the problem or they worsen it. even the innocent bystander participates by not doing anything to help or not help the problem with the kkk
ReplyDeleteI think we are responsible for protecting our friends and family because we have that duty to help them no matter what. We wouldn't want anything to happen to our friends or family, so it is in our best interest to protect the lives of the people we care about or even people we barley know.
ReplyDeletei think the title of the book connects to the art because the key hole is almost like a hole in their society and community and it can also be the key hole to the church
ReplyDeleteQuestion #3- I think that Merlin looks at his actions and thoughts more carefully now that he knows what can happen to him when he thinks of something he wants to do in the moment, but now he will look at the big picture and realize how his actions can affect his life, and now I think he wants to be looked at a hero/ remodel instead of someone would could of possibly killed Mr. Hirsh. He now looks at life in a different perspective.
ReplyDeleteon the earlier one i ment Johnny reeves shooting ira hirsh btdubs
ReplyDeletebobby says he needs a haircut cause he feels like a mop...fyi
ReplyDeleteJohnny was back in the church nick because that where he feels most comfortable and he prearranged Esther to be there as we know he is perverted
ReplyDeleteCool, Evan. Yes, and think about the fact that through a keyhole we only see a part of the story. Thus, they need more witnesses who saw a part to get the truth.
ReplyDeletefear influences peoples prejudice because someone might be scarred if they are judged for being different if they hang out with someone different. However, people like mr. feild in this book did not give into this fear and happily hung out with leanora
ReplyDeleteThe title Witness symbolizes the different characters' prospectives and experiences throughout the story. The theme of the text is describing events as briefly or as detailed as possible, depending on the character.
ReplyDeleteSam: But did they hate Jews more than African Americans??
ReplyDeleteI think we are responsible for looking out for our friends, neighbors, acquaintances, because you know them very well, and you need to be able to take care of them, knowing that they would do the same to you.
ReplyDeleteThe picture above looks like a door to a creepy house that someone would be looking through to see who was there. The hole is important because it shows someone is lurking on someone else. This represents the Klan memebers because they watch them and then they go after them like they went for johnny, So the keyhole is so that you can watch someone and either go after them or not.
ReplyDeleteno im pretty sure they hated african americanss more so i get what your question is
ReplyDeleteAn emotion like fear would keep you alive in the circumstances. The KKK was allowed into the communities that had no fear of them and were then able to raid and be tyrants in the community without any problem because of the lack of fear from the community.
ReplyDeletehelena the kkk might of targeted eshter because she also hung out with leanora and sara chickering had helped leanora when it was colod
ReplyDeleteI think the author named her navel "Witness" because as everyone said someone is a witness about something in this novel so witness would be a great name and also Leanora and Esther are witness of racism.
ReplyDeleteWhat will happen to Esther now? Did her dad end up dying?
ReplyDeleteon the subject of Merlin, it could be argued he is the biggest witness of all, having been on both sides of the Klans hoods. He hated jews and blacks, so it was only natural that he join up.
ReplyDeleteBut what do you think jarred his confidence in the Klan?
#3- with Merlin, i don't think that it was a lack of role models, but it was just who the role models happened to be. Johnny, for example, is a preacher and is respected in many ways just for that, with no one really questioning him. When Merlin starts emulating him, he doesn't realize what johnny is really like until it is too late.
ReplyDeletehow did they think up the name ku klux klan
ReplyDelete1) This book shows the different opinions of what people believe about racism. The title really shows how all of these characters are witnesses to a dramatic change in peoples lives. This book really shows how racism affected people and pointed out the people that could take the pain of racism and being abused, from the people that couldn't.
ReplyDeleteI think the theme of this book is being somewhere when you don't want to be and the title witness connects to that because the witness doesn't usually plan to be at the place where the crime or accident took place and the kkk came to the town without the town planning on it to come and by coming unexpectedly doing that, it messed everyone up
ReplyDeleteThe title connects to the text because, in a lot of the situations the characters are witnesses, to what is happening, like Johnny jumping off the off, or Leanora seeing Merlin at her well, which helped save Merlin later on.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 5. Yeah, I think we are responsible for protecting our friends, family, and acquaintances, because I think everyone in this world should always help and protects others even if we don't even know them, because it is our responsibility as a human being. We can't just walk past someone getting attacked by a dog or beaten up by a group of people, we would do something like call the police or step in to help them. And especially our friends and family because if we really love them, we would do anything in our power to make sure they don't get hurt in any way.
ReplyDeleteThe title connects to the theme of the book because it shows that everyone is a witness. The characters are witnesses to racism, hatred, and crime.
ReplyDeleteI think Mr. Hircsh survived, Flitt never mentions his demise.
ReplyDeleteThe title is very significant to the theme of the text because everyone in the town is a witness in some way or another. there is lots of crimes, racism, and many events that stand out to the people of Vermont. each character that is speaking in the book has seen, or heard something; which makes them a witness.
ReplyDeleteDrew--like the connection between the creepy house and the klan.
ReplyDeleteKevin--great idea about Merlin being the biggest or most thorough witness. He knows both sides, and interestingly, chooses the side of truth.
Morgan--I'm not sure if Mr. Hirsh died. I find it interesting that he is not mentioned again, but we could infer that he's simply in the hospital.
A town changing inside of itself the key hole being everyone is locked in by the KKK. Merlin running away from them because of something he did.
ReplyDeletewhat does demise mean?
ReplyDeleteEven after the Klan left is there still going to be hard amount of racism continued in this town?
ReplyDeleteI think that the image of the key hole is related to the title cause when Johnny shoots Ira towards the end of the book and Esther sees him through the key hole.
ReplyDeleteThe title is appropriate because while everyone can see what is happening, no one really takes action against the klan. They may not agree with the klan, but the only one who does anything about it is Merlin by refusing to poison the Sutters' well.
ReplyDeletejohn, to this day nobody quite knows where the name comes from, there is a lot of speculation.
ReplyDeleteI don't think someone's fear or jealousy influence their prejudice. The KKK definitely couldn't be jealous of African Americans or Jewish people because they were hated in the 1920's. People only felt prejudice towards them because that's the way they grew up. Now people hate Middle Eastern people because we have been taught to look at them as bad people. That is what Leonora and Esther faced in the Vermont town. They were hated just because people were taught to hate them.
ReplyDeletei think esthers dad did die because merlin was being charged with murder in the book not attempted murder or assualt
ReplyDeleteI wonder the same thing Kanchan. Was it just the KKK who had the strongest feelings toward other races and everyone just followed?
ReplyDelete[for #5] i think we are responsible for protecting our neighbors and freinds because thats what you are supposed to do as a community hence the suffix unity cause thats what doing that promotes
ReplyDeleteDon't you find it interesting that no one witnessed Johnny jump from the bridge? What does that tell us?
ReplyDeleteEvan--like your point that it's not necessarily a lack of role models, but a lack of good models. Well put.
I think bullying comes when people don't have a positive influence in their lives and for merlin the only people who trusted him in the town before Reynard were the kkk and thats why he became a part of the klan and after a possitive influence (Alexander) trusted him and gave him the keys he realized that his influnce was the not a good one
ReplyDeleteWill the town begin to treat leanora with more respect because they see people like esther and mr. field treating her as equall?
ReplyDeleteso mrs ackermann was flitt the only person who witnesed it?
ReplyDeletePerhaps, Nick, but is it possible that we are fearful of Middle Eastern people because of the terrorist attacks? And, we are fairly ignorant of their daily lives?
ReplyDeleteWho do you think is the biggest Witness?
ReplyDelete. Think about Merlin. What does this text teach about bullying, and its relationship to a lack of role models and economic strife?
ReplyDeleteThis book shows how bullying can come back and bite you in the butt. Merlin experienced this personally because do to his racial comments and association with the KKK, when Leonora knew he was innocent, she didn't tell anyone he was innocent to get revenge. Merlin was looking at the KKK as a role model in a sense and so this also shows that it is important to choose your role models wisely because later one they can influence your decisions and get you into bad circumstances. Merlin looked to the KKK and in the end it got him accused for murdering Mr. Hirsh.
Question #5- I don't think we are responsible for protecting our friends, neighbors, and acquaintance but if it's someone we love, enjoy, and know it could be our responsibility but it all depends on the situation and even if they don't want to to help them, sometimes you still should because in the long run that person will be grateful for what you did for them. We should be responsible for our loved ones but, we need to be responsible for ourselves first.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if he witnessed it or assumed that it happened. He simply tells us that there was no body.
ReplyDelete1.) This title Witness with the cross for a T symbolizes the KKK thinking that they are god.
ReplyDeleteThe synonyms for witness like observer, watcher,
and helper can be related to the text like the
helper can be Leanora because she helps esther,
the watcher could be esther because she sees
that johnny does, and the observer could be
Percelle, because he is the constable.
The outcome of this text was surprising to me because it did not end how i thought it would, I thought that a person of color would die, but it ended up being a member of the KKK.
2.) I think that this title connects to the text because esther sees things that others could not like when she saw Johnny with a younger child.
3.) In this text, Merlin changes from a bully to a victim. Merlin was probably raised into a family that grew up hating minorities so when he started being forced to work for the KKK he did not feel comfortable doing so.
4.) Jealousy can influence someone's prejudice because if a certain person was jealous of another, then they might try to get rid of them. Fear can influence a prejudice because if you act off of fear then you are avoiding your own problems.
5.) We cannot be held responsible for protecting our friends and family, but if you want to be a good person then protecting someone would make you feel better about yourself.
the are on the title connects to the story because during the climax a person was shot through a key hole
ReplyDeleteSam, it was leanora who witnessed him jumping
ReplyDeleteMerlin is a big bully/racist in the beginning because his entire life he has grown up to racism towards people who practice another religion or the color of their skin, because he doesn't know any better. From what he as learned growing up this is what is fine to say, that they are different than him, and don't deserve any rights.
ReplyDelete4) I don't think that fear is an emotion. Fear is something that just comes naturally and is uncontrollable. Maybe you have fear because of things that have happened in your past that you are scared of that happening again. Jealousy is also uncontrollable. Once a feeling is embedded in your head you can't change that feeling because it's your own nature.
ReplyDeleteDo we ever find out if Johnny is really a ghost? How can esther see him if others can't? Can she really see him?
ReplyDeleteActually, Constable Johnson also witnessed him jump. Thanks, Alex, for the clarification.
ReplyDeleteSo, we know that Leanora withholds some information and shares other information. How does she choose what to share?
The title connects to the theme and the text because in the book there is many witnesses, for instence someone witnesses when johnny rapes that girl, and someone whitnessed the killing of Mr Hirsch.
ReplyDeleteKevin, I think that most people would think that Esther was the biggest witness because she saw the crime, but I think that Viola was a very important witness. Harvey would tell her about all of the things he did with the KKK so she knew and 'witnessed' all of the things that the KKK were doing.... Good question.
ReplyDeleteIf esthers dad did not make it how will it effect esther? will she try again to visit him and her mom?
ReplyDeleteOn the cover of witness we see a picture of a ghostly man walking down train tracks into a light. when esther said "God will know what to do" i think she was talking about what to do with johnny reeves now that he is dead. And God choose to send johnny reeves to heaven despite what he did. the train tracks represent the train to heaven and thats why johhny is walking on them. merlin said he saw the ghost of johnny following him everywhere. i think the ghost was trying to get him to get back home to do the right thing and clear his name and return to his family.
ReplyDeleteKevin- I think that either Esther or Leonora are the biggest "witnesses" in this book because they both saw something really big happen but they chose not to share any of the information with others and therefor they are still a "witness."
ReplyDeleteSammi if it is not an emotion then why do we fear things that have no rational explanation? If fear is an instinct reaction as you say we would only fear things that we have been through.
ReplyDeleteThe picture of the key hole relates to the title of the book because when someone looks through a key hole you can see something that wasn't suppose to be seen, or something not very clearly. This shows the complexity of being a witness to an event, and the choices you have to make when viewing something important. For example, when Iris Weaver saw Merlin, she made the decision to not tell his family because she felt that it was not in her place to expose him.
ReplyDeleteWow, Courtney. That is really interesting thinking. Hadn't considered that Johnny would still go to heaven. Though I do wonder since he's not on the train, but the train track. Makes me wonder if he's trying to catch the train but it's passed him by?
ReplyDeleteWe should be responsible for protecting our friends and neighbors if we can, but we also can't have the mindset that anything that happens to them had something to do with your actions (or lack of actions).
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sammi that we can't control our emotions, but I do think that people can influence our emotions.
ReplyDeletewhy were the hirshes targeted more than the sutters?
ReplyDeleteWill Esther and Leonora become closer throughout time because they both have been through hard times and they are both targeted in a way?
ReplyDeletemorgan: they aren't targeted as much anymore because of the KK leaving Vermont. but they will get closer because of their hardhsips
ReplyDelete4.How do emotions like jealousy and fear and problems like ignorance influence one’s prejudice? The brain is the strongest and mentally most important thing in your body and can affect in many ways depending on how you think, and feel. your feelings effect everyone around you including yourself. if one is happy and reflects a happy profile, others around them will be generally happy also. your feelings are permanently
ReplyDeletein your mind once they are showed or felt a lot, which effects the actions you take and how you act. humans are creatures who take actions upon the attitude they are currently in, that is why it is never good to make a decision when angry.
Like this idea that being a witness requires choice, Emily. It's really important to think about that in the text because that relates back to the question about our obligation to protect others. Most of the characters who are dynamic are those who ultimately make the choice to confess what they witnessed and help others. Or, they choose to help those who don't deserve it, like Leanora and Merlin.
ReplyDeleteHow will Merlin continue to change? will he keep contributing to his comunitee or will he get wrapped up in the next thing that passes threw town like he did with the klan?
ReplyDeleteFear influences prejudice because if they are insecure of their ethnicity, race, etc. they might be afraid of being judged or made fun of. However, not everyone is racist, such as Mr. Field, Sara, Esther, and Leanora. They all accept people for who they are.
ReplyDeletewow courtney i never thought of it that way.
ReplyDeletewhat would have happened if esther would have told people that she saw johny shoot Mr. Hirsh
ReplyDeletei guess the jealousy could lead you to be prejudice towards someone getting more attention or treatment
ReplyDeleteCourtney, and I think Caleb asked something similar--I wonder if the KKK sees skin color as something less "evil" because one can't choose the color, but one's religion is a choice, and the KKK sees that as much more problematic.
ReplyDeleteCaleb- I don't think Esther will attempt to try to see her mother again because Sara Chickering has become a very significant part of her life by taking the role of her mother. Especially after Mr. Hirsh was shot and undergoing recovery, Sara became very protective and showed even more compassion towards Esther.
ReplyDeleteKevin: i think is merlin because when he saw leonora save esther it changed his mind about racism and thoughts based on color of the skin
ReplyDeleteOn the front of the cover of Witness, it shows a white fence with pictures of all different people. Could all of the people on this cover be a Witness in their own way? Maybe it is showing all of these people together to show that they are all alike in a way that they can be a witness.
ReplyDeleteCaleb- I don't think that Esther will try to "visit" her mom again because she now sees Sara Chickering as her mom. And she has probably learned that the train to heaven isn't a literal train, so she knows better.
ReplyDeletei don't get why the hirshes who were white and jewish where attacked more than the sutters
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1. The words observer, spectator, bystander, onlooker, eyewitness, and watcher all relate to various characters in this text. They relate to Merlin the most because of the time when he just stood and watched as Esther almost got hit by the train, and said he could have saved her, but he didn't want to save a Jew girl. They also relate to Sara because she sort of sat by and watched as people were racist to Leanora and Esther, but there really wasn't much that she could do about it.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why they decided that they should choose African Americans and not some other ethnicity?
ReplyDeleteCaleb, I think that if Mr. Hirsh dies, then Esther will go with Sara Chickering. It is a possibility that she would try to join them on the "Heaven Train" but i think that her and Sara are getting closer and closer so she might want to stay with her. Also, Sara is very protective over Esther now so Esther might not even get the chance to try to board the Heaven Train.
ReplyDeletethe title of the book goes along with the theme of the book because everyone is a witness to somthing
ReplyDeleteMerlin, with Alexander's help, could become a great leader in his community. He has learned about "unity," like John said, and he's seen forgiveness from the one person who should hate him most, Leanora. That can only change someone for good.
ReplyDeletemrs. ackerman, what were your views on mr. sutter?
ReplyDeleteWhat influenced Mr. Field to attack the KKK at the Courthouse? Is there something in Mr. Field's past we don't know about?
ReplyDeleteHow does the title connect to the theme of the text? i think that the title does connect to the theme of the text because in a way all characters are tied in with each other. Also most care for one another and respect themselves. Also the title, "witness" ties in with the characters because they are all a witness to bad situation that they should speak about.
ReplyDeleteJohn, see my earlier comment for an answer.
ReplyDelete5) Of course we are responsible for all those people. Everyone in our lives has importance. Obviously if someone is in your life, things happened that way for a reason. Being protective is a general instinct that humans fallow. Because someone is important to you, they become part of your life and you worry about them. Everyone has a true meaning in life and an importance and being protective shows that you care. No one is responsible for the decisions that all those people make because that's their own decision. But you do have an influence on them and their feelings as they do on yours. Being protective just shows how caring and intrigued in their lives you really are.
ReplyDeletewell john if you read a little higher mrs ackermann talks about how the KKK might have not cared so mucah about color of skin but rather their religion
ReplyDeletenick esther would be a hero to some of the people in the town but to the kkk a person they would want to kill because i believe the kkk set it all up so he would get killed and i believe she got raped or molested in the church with johnny
ReplyDeleteEvan, what exactly are you wondering about Mr. Sutter? I do think he expected his daughter to have a tough skin, but it troubles me that he's so superficially involved in his daughter's life, so it would seem.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think Harvey ultimately ceases his affiliation with the klan?
ReplyDeleteDo you think Reeves is actually dead?
I agree with John. I don't understand why people directed more of their racism to the Hirsh's because they are Jewish, rather than the Sutter's who are black.
ReplyDeleteYou would think it would be th other way around because at least the Hirsh's have the same skin color as the KKK because it was usually the black people who were targeted more often, I thought?
thats really good sammi.
ReplyDeletefear probably played a big role in racism back then, because even those who realized it was wrong didn't want to speak out and disagree with powerful people and groups like the KKK.
ReplyDeleteKevin, I think that Harvey dropped out due to the influence Viola has over him.
ReplyDeleteKevin, I think Viola talks sense into Harvey. Harvey, it seems, was only in the klan for business purposes. When he realized they were out for blood, he found he had a cowardly side. But then he realizes that what he thought was cowardly is actually moral sense.
ReplyDeleteHey alex what do you think of Merlin
ReplyDeleteI'm curious if Johnny Reeves actually died or if he survived and maybe he went off somewhere else to hide from the KKK, like Merlin did when he ran away for a couple of weeks. If he did, I wonder what will happen to him, like if the KKK will find him?
ReplyDeleteI think that Merlin's role models were an influence on how racist he was. Although when he finally realized that what he was doing was wrong, he started being more accepting to everyone's ethnicity and race.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the KKK directed their racism against the Hirshes more than the Sutters, because they were plotting to murder both families. It just happened that Johnny shot at the Hirshes, and Merlin couldn't poison the Sutters' well.
ReplyDeleteKevin: I think that harvey is being pressured to join the klan and doesn't have enough confidence in himself to maybe separate himself from others and i think by joining the klan he feels like he is important in the society.
ReplyDeleteAnd i think he dropped out because he got his senses together and figured out that his marriage is more important then the klan.
I assert that Johnny is dead; Merlin is haunted by evil guilt and that is represented by the most evil person in the story, Johnny. Though he does smell like river slime, that could be a metaphor for Johnny being the SLIME of the earth...maybe that's too much of a stretch?
ReplyDeleteElle- I very much agree with you. Many of the characters were witnesses to events that they should have spoken up about, but made the decision to keep it to themselves. For example, Esther saw Johnny Reeves shot her father, but she chose not to tell anyone. If Leanora didn't provide Merlin with an alibi, he would have been blamed for the shooting. Being a witness to a serious event such as this, makes you choose whether to share your knowledge or not.
ReplyDeleteEric, i think that he was a character who didnt exactly know what he is supposed to be, and that that throughhout the story he comes to find himself a very moral person.
ReplyDeleteThinking ahead do you think Leanora will always be chill with Merlin.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Nick. Is there something in Mr. Field's past that made him angry or upset with the KKK for him to attack them at the courthouse like that?
ReplyDeleteOr was he mad about something else and took his angry out on them all of sudden?
Johnny is a moral person? Whoa, how is that?
ReplyDelete5. Are we responsible for protecting our friends, neighbors, and even acquaintances?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely yes, we ARE very responsible for the lives of others around us. this is our moral duty to protect others and care. not only is it our moral duty, but it is a necessary action we need to take. if you want people to help you or save you, then do to them as you would want done to you. in view point of karma if you do good, good will come to you. if you are responsible for a moral action then a good consequence will come. this should already be the nature of human beings, to protect and keep safe.
I agree with Jenny. The end of the book leaves you with a cliffhanger. You kind of have to make your own inference as to what happened to Johnny because now we'll never know what actually happened to him.
ReplyDeleteemotions like jealousy and fear and problems like ignorance influence one’s prejudice? Because they are maybe afraid of thing that are different then there selfs
ReplyDeleteIm thinking that most likely they will be friends for a long time.
ReplyDeleteI wonder that if Johnny is alive, what exactly is going to happen to him in the future.
ReplyDeletei wonder why johnny didnt say anything before he jumped of the bridge. i think the two pieces of land represent the kkk and the town and johhny reeves is connecting them and by him jumping he is leaving the fight of the town and the kkk.
ReplyDeleteYes, Jenny. The text talks about him being in the Civil War. That experience, fighting for the North, would be enough to make him angry at anyone who would want to bring back such a destructive time in American history.
ReplyDeletei agree with bobby
ReplyDeleteEric- I believe that Merlin has gained maturity from the being to the end of the book, and has lost all racist hatred against Leanora. Especially after him watching Leanora save Esther's life, he looks at Leanora in a new light, and more as a hero.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you bobby that you should be jelous.
ReplyDeleteHELENA: i agree with you! Harvey seemed very close too viola and her influence made a large impact.
ReplyDeleteEric- i do not think that johnny is alive. There is no way some one could have lived after jumping that high off a bridge. maybe he is living in spirtit or as a ghost? that is a rumor that people were hearing at the end of the book because he was never found in the water.
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