Three Journal Entries, Essay Example

Journal 1: Option A

If I were to plan the ideal vacation, I would set aside seven days to explore the artistic and historic sites of Italy and six more to visit the homes and sites related to the great authors of England. For a companion, I would take my grandmother, who has a good knowledge of history and so could point out the interesting details of each site we visited. We would dine in historical restaurants in both Italy and England, such as the Antica Pesa, where we would eat real Roman cuisine like Pasta e Fagioli con Frutti di Mare di Terracina in the garden.

In Italy we would spend a day touring the sites affected by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. We would examine the ash-preserved figures of the ancient people, still engaged in every-day tasks. We would see the homes in which they lived and how they lived in them. In the nearby Oplontis, we would tour the baths and murals and in the nearby Herculaneum, we would examine the first remains of the Romans ever discovered. We would view the Royal Apartments of the Medicis, examine the historic clothing at the costume museum and observe the fine craftsmanship of the silver museum. We would also visit the grand historic sites of Rome, including the massive halls of the Coliseum, the eerie Catacombs of St. Callixtus – site where many of the Christian martyrs are buried. We would view the Circus Maximus, where many chariot races, games and festivals were held, and many Christians were killed.  We would also visit the Pantheon, and the Roman Forum, The Theater of Marcellus and the Baths of Caracalla.

In England, we would visit the houses related to Jane Austen, William Shakespeare and the great English authors. We would visit the baths of Bath, the sites of Regency Era balls and Buckingham Palace. If were able to, we would visit the House of Lords and the House of Commons,  preferably while they were in session so that we could observe the famed and fiery debates of the English parliament.

Journal 2 Option B

If I were to go back in time and live any day, I would go back to the first day of earth’s creation or evolution. I would like to observe how earth was really made, to replace theories with observed fact. Today, some theorize that earth was a product of “The Big Bang.” They say that it spontaneously came into being. Others believe God was behind earth’s creation, that he took care in creating the heavens and the earth. They say that he made man in his image and woman from man’s rib. They further say that man was given dominion over the animals and that he was tasked with caring for the land. Finally, they say that man lived in a beautiful garden, in which there were two trees, one which gave the knowledge of good and evil and one which gave to those who ate it eternal life. If the world came into being spontaneously, it would be nice to know that that was the case, so that one knew for sure that morality was manmade. But if the world was actually created and if the Garden of Eden truly existed, then I would spend my day chopping down the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and eating from the Tree of Life.

This would end war and suffering. It would eliminate the pain of childbirth. It would allow men and women to live together without sin in a beautiful garden, where they could eat without toiling the ground and walk side by side with God, talking to him, rather than wondering where he is, if he is, and what he thinks. Snakes would talk. They would not crawl around on their bellies and we would not have to fear them. Much of what we now know would never be. Death would be gone; we could live with our loved ones forever. Disease would not matter. We would not care about nakedness and would have no need for clothes.

The economic crises that now plague the world would not matter. Psychologists would not exist. Instead, we would all live happily ever after.

 Journal 3: Option A

If I could insert myself into any story, I would probably choose to be the Friar in Romeo and Juliet. In the original story, the friar attempts to help the two by helping Juliet fake her death so that she can escape and meet Romeo. Instead, Romeo, hearing the news of Juliet’s death before the Friar’s plan, believes it to be real and therefore poisons himself. When Juliet awakes to see Romeo dead, she stabs herself to death. This is all very tragic and it all could have been avoided if the Friar would have had the foresight to explain the plan to the two beforehand. He could have told Romeo right after he heard of the edict of banishment. Instead, he advises Romeo simply to spend the night with Juliet.

As the Friar, I would mention the potion at this point. If this was not possible, I would have waited at Juliet’s side until she awoke so she would no awake alone. If I did so, I would catch Romeo as he arrived and prevent him from poisoning himself. This would also have prevented Juliet from stabbing herself to death. The result of this would be that Romeo and Juliet could live together happily¸ although both would likely have to live in exile. Their families would probably continue to quarrel, and perhaps more Montagues would kill more Capulets or Capulets might kill Montagues. Paris might try to kill Romeo to win back his bride and to avenge Tybalt. Juliet’s mother might still send a henchman to kill Romeo as she promises to just before Juliet takes the potion.

Indeed, the result of saving the lives of Romeo and Juliet might end up being worse than the original result, which lead to the shame of both the Montagues and Capulets and helped them finally end their dispute. Yet Romeo and Juliet would live and would not die such tragic deaths.