All of my life, the only thing I've ever wanted to be or to have was to be myself, complete and open. When I was in kindergaten the class made a "Wish Book." Each person made a picture of the thing they wanted. Most of the girls said " I want to be a princess," and drew a picture of a princess. The boys wanted wagons and drew pictures of wagons. I sat there perplexed and my teacher told me to put down the thing I wanted most in the world. I told her, "I just want to be myself." And so that's what I drew.
All I've ever done was be honest with myself and the masses. Most people don't like me or just don't know how to take me. But I could care less. I show the world my face. I am the same with all people, because if someone knows me for something I'm not, then I'm just a liar. And in my opinion, that's the worst thing of all to be.
For the first time since this class began, I have found myself so inspired that I actually felt the need to expell the thoughts that are plaguing me from reading the end of The Scarlet Letter.
Hawthorne wrote, "No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself, and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true." How true is this statement, especially in the world we live today. People are so caught up with how they are perceived by the public that most wear more than two faces, one for each aspect of their lives, but they never wonder which is true. All they care about is how liked they are by the masses.
As I kept reading, I found myself bored with descriptions, until finally the Election Sermon started. I sat on the edge of a bench outside in the dim light of dusk, chain smoking, aching to know what would happen. Then when all was revealed, the Reverend Mr. Dimmsdale died, and I threw my book into a tree.
Hawthorne did his job well!
Edgar Allen Poe was a drug addict. He loved his heroine and met his demise from a puddle of water in the middle of a street. Heroine makes you lathargic and he tripped and fell and drowned. Remember that every time you read his works (especially the Raven where there's his own drug reference). And remember to smile today!