Entry 9: Motivation

In the poems we have read for this class, as well as in The Scarlet Letter, there is a strong religious theme. In these works, the characters behave in ways that might seem strange to you. What do you think it is that causes, or motivates the characters to act the way they do? Is it one thing, or many? What generalizations can you make about how the beliefs of the different characters are related to their actions? Can you see differences between how the characters interpret and apply these beliefs? Consider your own behavior and whether it is guided by a set of principles or beliefs. If so, what are they? If not, why do you think that is so?

• The characters act the way they do in the stories because of their beliefs that what they are doing is right and correct according to their religion, and they believe that by doing the right and correct thing, they may be rewarded. In these stories, most of the rewards would be to be allowed to go to heaven and be saved by God's grace. There are also other causes. For example, moral may be a cause or motivation (though it is not as strong compared to religious beliefs in what is right or correct. The generalization about these characters in relations with their actions can be said that they follow a set of guided principles or beliefs, which motivates and causes them to do a certain act. Most of the time we can see differences between how characters interpret and apply beliefs - it is quite clear especially when they are extremely religious/devote/pious/etc. My own behavior is not really set according to principles or beliefs. One of the main reasons for this is because I am too lazy and I don't have the motivation to continuously follow the set principles or beliefs. For example, when I set a schedule for finishing homework, I am never able to follow it.