The Cask of Amontilado

The Cask of Amontillado: Revenge.

Q: Is revenge ever justified?

A: I personally think that revenge is morally wrong and I do not support it. If you seek revenge you are no better than person who has committed the offense. There is no reason to get to their same level. Revenge guides more revenge in a vicious circle and it is not worth it. I believe taking revenge is a very unsuccessful means by which humans attempt to heal the pain that they feel. However, revenge can never heal our pains. Ironically, this mistaken effort to heal always results in more pain. Seeking revenge just shows that you’re immature. Getting “even” is a path to nowhere, but getting ahead is a path to good things. There’s a moral that says ‘‘Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t want done to you’’. I say that 2 wrongs never make a right. Forgiveness is a great virtue and should be practiced. It practically turns out to be a huge waste of time and energy. Just get over it and get on with life.

- María del Mar Meléndez :)

The Necklace

After all the work Madame Loisel had passed in the last few years she finally confronted Madame Forestier and told her what really happened to her necklace. After she explained her everything Madame Foriester got a little mad with Madame Loisel but after all it was just necklace and their friendship was more valuable than material things. They decide to go together to a coffee shop and drink some coffee. While they were at the line waiting for their coffee they noticed a famous young Paris designer at the place. Everyone gathered around her to take pictures and autographs. Suddenly Madame Loisel noticed that the designer had the los necklace on. Madame Loisel tells Madame Foriester. They couldn’t believe what they were seeing. So they decided to ask the designer in a polite way where she got that necklace. She said (stuttering) it was custom made just for her. Madame Foriester and Loisel wouldn’t believe her because it was just exactly like the lost one, so they kept on asking and asking her. After everyone around her was gone, she decided to tell the truth to them. The designer told Madame Foriester and Loisel that she was a very poor teenager. Her Father was the one who took Madame Loisel and her husband back to their house and found the necklace on the seat. So then he decided to sell the necklace as if it was made from real diamond. The father gave all the money to his girl (the designer) so she could buy all the fabric she needed to start a business (what she always dreamed for). That’s how she got to be really famous and wealthy. Madame Foriester was so kind and saw that the designer was so honest that she decided to keep it a secret and let the designer love her dream happily.
-Maria del Mar Melendez

The gift of the Magi

In this story, the author focuses on three themes: sacrifice, generosity, and most important of all, love. Love is the element which motivates them to sell their most valuable belongings to find Christmas gifts. The gifts that the loving couple buy become symbols of the passionate love that they feel for each other and that will never be destroyed by their poverty. The story suggests two things: that their love for each other makes them very rich and money can’t buy love. Generosity is not only based on one's economic status, but instead, includes that persons intentions of bringing happiness and giving from the heart. Sacrificing your happiness for the happiness of the one you love, demonstrates what love is about. (María del Mar Meléndez)