Society
If you could change one aspect of your society, what would it be?
What would I change about my society? Society itself, I think. The weight and importance everyone puts on class and social status, specifically. Who is to say that one person is "better" than another, just because they may have the good fortune of being born into a certain family? How does one's last name or bloodline make them more worthy than someone else?
I came to Jamaica as a boy, and I had nothing. My parents were gone and to the people of Port Royal, my name meant nothing. I worked hard, obeyed the rules, and made a man of myself. A good man, I would like to think. But not a rich man, or a man of any partiular importance. I was a simple blacskmith's apprentice, and while I was good at my job, it's not the type of occupation that is looked upon with much respect or admiration by "society." But I understood that, and I was resigned to my station in life. I was determined to live as best I could, and not complain.
Except for one thing. I was in love with a girl. A girl who I had no business loving, because she was part of that society that would never accept me. I stood no chance with her, nor did I have any right to wish for one. Or so I told myself every time I glimpsed her in town, or spoke with her. A lady in her position belonged with a man of wealth and status. I had no place in her world, and no reason to think otherwise. And I cursed that world and all of its strict rules and customs every day.
Elizabeth accepted me despite society's expectations, and loved me. We were engaged to be married - the governor's daughter and the blacksmith - and while most did not approve, we cared only that we would finally be together. I had never been happier.
Then it all fell apart, and now I fear I've lost her to a pirate. What would our society think of that?
What would I change about my society? Society itself, I think. The weight and importance everyone puts on class and social status, specifically. Who is to say that one person is "better" than another, just because they may have the good fortune of being born into a certain family? How does one's last name or bloodline make them more worthy than someone else?
I came to Jamaica as a boy, and I had nothing. My parents were gone and to the people of Port Royal, my name meant nothing. I worked hard, obeyed the rules, and made a man of myself. A good man, I would like to think. But not a rich man, or a man of any partiular importance. I was a simple blacskmith's apprentice, and while I was good at my job, it's not the type of occupation that is looked upon with much respect or admiration by "society." But I understood that, and I was resigned to my station in life. I was determined to live as best I could, and not complain.
Except for one thing. I was in love with a girl. A girl who I had no business loving, because she was part of that society that would never accept me. I stood no chance with her, nor did I have any right to wish for one. Or so I told myself every time I glimpsed her in town, or spoke with her. A lady in her position belonged with a man of wealth and status. I had no place in her world, and no reason to think otherwise. And I cursed that world and all of its strict rules and customs every day.
Elizabeth accepted me despite society's expectations, and loved me. We were engaged to be married - the governor's daughter and the blacksmith - and while most did not approve, we cared only that we would finally be together. I had never been happier.
Then it all fell apart, and now I fear I've lost her to a pirate. What would our society think of that?