TOPIC OUTLINE romance novelist, who experimented with a broad range of

styles and genres. He is best known for his short stories and
MODULE 8: The Scarlet Letter By: Nathaniel Hawthorne two widely read novel: The Scarlet letter (mid-March
1850) and The House of Seven Gables (1851). Along with
Herman Melville and Edgar Allan Poe, much of
OVERVIEW Hawthorne’s work belongs to genre of Dark Romanticism,
As you go through your journey in Masterpieces of World distinguished by an emphasis on human fallibility that
Literature, you will appreciate more what life experience gives rise to lapses in judgment that allow even good men
brings. Hi! Welcome to module 8! and women to drift toward sin and self-destruction. Dark
Romantics tend to draw attention to the unintended
This module reveals a story of a woman who had a love consequences and complications that arise from well-
affair to a minister of church and had given birth to a child intended efforts at social reform.
who served as concrete evidence of her infidelity. Her
adulterous act led to public shaming that affected not only Melville dedicated his epic novel, Moby-Dick to
Hawthorne: “In token of my admiration for his genius.”
her but also the entire community.
Hawthorne’s lesser- known poems exemplify Dark
Romanticism; some his darkest works, including his ghost
Further, this module will serve as an eye opener
stories and tales involving the supernatural, fall within the
particularly for those who can relate the same experience. genre of Gothic Literature.
Find out what this wonderful life experience entails.
Young Hawthorne was a contemporary of fellow
Transcendalists: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David
Thoreau, and Louisa May Alcott, Hawthorne was part of
this prominent circle of Massachusetts writers and
philosophers. The Transcendentalists believed in the
“inherent goodness of both people and nature.” I would
encourage you to think of them as intellectual hippies of
the early 19th century (the movement sprang forth in the
1820’s and 1830’s). Hawthorne was a founding member of
Brook Farm, a utopian experiment in communal living.
Though he is not portrayed as a deep believer in its ideals.
As Hawthorne matured, he drifted further and further from
"The Scarlet Letter 23" by Byrds & Mirrors some of the transcendental principles. In fact, his later
is marked with CC PDM 1.0 retrieved
September 8, 2020 from http://bit.ly/2EfcX7m writing, produced after greater experience in the world,
demonstrated an increasing disdain for the Transcendental
“Nathaniel Hawthorne” by Matthew Brady is retrieved September 8, Movement. He notably fictionalized experiences of Brook
2020 from http://bit.ly/32DUcnu Farm in his satirical novel, The Blithedale Romance (1852)
https://bit.ly/325MSAC

THE SCARLET LETTER By Nathaniel Reading Comprehension

Hawthorne
The Scarlet Letter begins in the 17th century in a Puritan
settlement, now called Boston. There lived a young
beautiful woman, Hester Prynne, who was led from the
town prison with her infant daughter named Pearl and on
her breast was a scarlet letter “A”. Someone from the
crowd told an elderly onlooker the reason Hester being
punished was because of adultery. Hester’s husband was a
scholar who was much older than her. Hester was sent by
her husband to Boston ahead and he will come after once
his business is done, but he never arrived in Boston.

About the Author

Nathaniel Hawthorne, born on July 4, 1804 in Salem,

Massachusetts was an American short story writer and

Module 5 – Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story | Page 1 of 3

 reveal his true identity to Dimmesdale decided to flee to
Europe where they can live as a family with Pearl. They
The Scarlet Letter (1917) by Anonymous (Fox Film Corporation is
would take a ship sailing to Boston in four days. The two
licensed under public domain retrieved September 9, 2020 from
https://bit.ly/35RTjtl felt a sense of relief and Hester took off her scarlet letter.
Pearl did not recognize her mother without the letter. The
Everyone believed that Hester’s husband may have been townspeople gathered at the church for a holiday, a day
lost at the sea, that he could have already been dead. before Hester, Dimmesdale and Pearl would leave.
Apparently, Hester had had an affair and had given birth to Dimmesdale preached his most eloquent sermon ever.
a child while waiting for her husband. Hester promised that
she would never reveal who the father of her daughter is;
Meanwhile, Chillingworth had learned that Hester and
however, the scarlet letter on her breast and the public
Dimmesdale planned to flee to Europe. This made him
shaming stood as her punishment for her sin and secrecy.
book the passage on the ship. While leaving the church
On that day, she was led to the town scaffold. She was
after his sermon. Dimmesdale saw Hester and Pearl
sermonized by the town fathers, but she still refuses to
standing at the town scaffold.
reveal his lover’s identity who was believed to be her
Dimmesdale impulsively mounted the scaffold with Hester
daughter’s father.
and their daughter and confessed their sin publicly. He
Unknown to everyone, the elderly onlooker who has been
exposed a scarlet letter seared into a flesh of his chest, he
told about Hester’s adultery was her missing husband. He
immediately as Pearl kissed him. Chillingworth became
was already practicing medicine and disguised and called
very frustrated in this revenge because it did not turn out
himself Roger Chillingworth. He stayed in Boston with an
the way he wanted it to end. He died a year after
intent on revenge. He revealed his true identity to no one
Dimmesdale died. Hester and Pearl left Boston and no
but to his wife, Hester, whom he had sworn to secrecy.
single one knew where they have gone nor what happened
Several years passed, Hester supported herself and her
to them, but many years have passed, Hester came back to
daughter by working as a seamstress and Pearl grew up a
Boston alone and still with the scarlet letter. There, she
willful and impish child. Being avoided and rejected by the
lived in her old cottage and continued her charitable
community, Hester and Pearl lived in in a small cottage on
endeavors. She still received occasional letters from her
the outskirts of Boston. Community officials tried to take
daughter, Pearl, who married a European aristocrat and
Pearl away from her mother but it never happened because
established her own family. When Hester died, she was
of Arthur Dimmesdale, a young and eloquent minister. He
buried next to her lover Dimmesdale sharing a single
helped the mother and daughter to stay and live together.
tombstone which bears a scarlet “A”.
However, the minister seemed to be wasting away. He
appeared to be suffering from a mysterious heart trouble, "The Scarlet Letter 23" by Byrds & Mirrors
seemingly caused by psychological distress. Chillingworth is marked with CC PDM 1.0 retrieved
attached himself to Dimmesdale and moved in with him so September 8, 2020 from http://bit.ly/3hJfOTH
she could give the round-the-clock care to the ailing
minister. Because of his observations, Chillingworth had
some suspicions that what was happening to the minister. SUMMARY
May have a connection to Hester’s secrecy. His suspicions
Let us see if you can remember the main points raised in
led him to test what he can find out from the minister. One
afternoon, while Dimmesdale was sleeping, Chillingworth this lesson. Below is a summary of these points:
discovered a mark on the minister’s chest. This convinced
Chillingworth that what he suspected between the minister The story revolves around Hester Prynne and her alleged
and Hester was correct. adulterous acts. She was sent to Boston ahead by her
husband but her husband never arrived. In consensus, he
Dimmesdale’s condition had worsened and he invented was believed to have lost at the sea. Hester has had an affair
new torments for himself. On the other hand, Hester’s
charitable deeds gave her a reprieve from the community’s and had given birth to a daughter whom she named Pearl.
scorn. One night, when Pearl was about seven years old, Hester never revealed her daughter’s father because she
she and her mother were returning home from their visit to wanted to protect his identity and reputation. Hester’s
a deathbed when they encountered Dimmesdale on the missing husband, disguised and called himself Roger
town scaffold, punishing himself for the sins he has Chillingworth, returned practicing medicine and with an
committed. The mother and daughter joined the minister intent on revenge. He associated himself to Dimmesdale,
and the three linked hands. Pearl requested Dimmesdale to
the ailing church minister, whom he suspected of having a
acknowledge her as his daughter publicly the next day but
the minister’s self-torments but Chillingworth denied connection with Hester’s secrecy. He found out that his
Hester’s request. Hester’s arranged a meeting with suspicions were correct when he discovered a mark on the
Dimmesdale at the forest because she knew that minister’s chest.
Chillingworth had probably predicted and she planned to

Module 5 – Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story | Page 2 of 3

Dimmesdale’s condition worsened due to his
psychological distress and new invested self-torments.
Hester decided to intervene. She and Dimmesdale decided
to flee to Europe with Pearl and start as a family. However,
on his very sermon, Dimmesdale died after exposing the
scarlet letter engraved into the flesh of his chest. Due to
frustration on his revenge, Chillingworth died a year after
Dimmesdale died. Hester and Pearl left Boston and no one
knew what happened to them until one day after several
years, Hester came back alone and continued her charity
works but still with the scarlet letter on. When she died, she
was buried next to Dimmesdale sharing a single tombstone
which bares scarlet letter A.

Module 5 – Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story | Page 3 of 3

 religious leader Lyman Beecher and his wife, Roxanna
TOPIC OUTLINE Foote Beecher. She enroled in the school run by one of her
sisters. When she was 21, she moved to Cincinnati, Ohio,
MODULE 7: Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher where her father became the head of the Lane Theological
Stowe Seminary.
"Uncle Tom's Cabin, So. Pines, N.C." by unclibraries_commons is
marked with CC PDM 1.0 retrieved September 5, 2020
Her father, Lyman Beecher took a strong abolitionist stance
https://bit.ly/3iSiYWs following the pro-slavery Cincinnati Riots in 1836. This
attitude of her father influenced her beliefs so as her
OVERVIEW siblings’ children’s beliefs. During this year, Stowe met
friends with the same perspectives in a local literary
Another door of opportunity for meaningful learning has association called “Semi-Colon Club” where she became
just opened. Keep track on your journey to the wonderful friends with Calvin Ellis Stowe, her fellow member and
Masterpieces of World of Literature. Hi! Welcome to seminary teacher. They were married on January 6, 1836
module 7! and eventually moved to a cottage near Brunswick, Maine,
close to Bowdoin College.
In this module, you will be investing your emotions as you
delve deeper with the story of an old man on how he Harriet and Calvin Stowe shared their interest and strong
became a slave from one person to another and how this belief in the abolition of slavery. This is why Stowe
novel affected the world. Also, this module will serve as decided her express her feelings through a literary
your guide to a deeper understanding on your purposes in representation of slavery. Her novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin
this world as you will relate your ideas, prior knowledge, was based on the life of Josiah Henson and on her own
and/or experiences and how you as an individual could help observations.
in advocating the anti-slavery and anti-human trafficking
In 1852, Uncle Tom’s Cabin was first published in the form
campaigns. For you to find out what your amazing journey
of a book and nobody, not even Harriet Beecher Stowe, had
entails.
expected the novel to become a sensation; however, this
second best-selling book (second only to the Bible during
UNCLE TOM’S CABIN BY HARRIET the 19th century) about anti-slavery brought the hurricane
BEECHER STOWE in the world which caused the Civil War in America.

Stowe left a legacy in the world even up to this date because

of how she supplicated the abolition of slavery from human
society. She died at the age of 85 on July 1, 1896, in
Hartford, Connecticut. She was buried at Phillips Academy
in Andover Massachusetts under the epitaph, “Her
Children Rise Up and Call Her Blessed.”
http://bit.ly/2QQ15eG

Vocabulary Build Up

1. He sold the two slaves to the gruff slave trader.

a. bad-tempered c. affectionate
b. indifferent d. impulsive

About the Author 2. His wife was appalled because she made a promise to
her maid that they would never sell her son.
Harriet Beecher Stowe was an author and a social activist a. scared c. horrified
best known for her popular anti-slavery novel, Uncle b. serious d. angry
Tom’s Cabin, also known as Life among the Lowly.
3. She miraculously evades the capture by crossing the
Stowe, born as Harriet Elizabeth Beecher on June 14, 1811, half-frozen Ohio River.
in Litchfield, Connecticut, was one of the 13 children of the a. manages c. escapes

Module 7–Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe | Page 1 of 4

 b. disguises d. hides Eliza Harris- The intelligent, beautiful and brave young
maid of Mrs. Shelby, wife of George and mother of Harry.
4. He became very close to Eva with whom he shared a
devout Christianity. Harry Harris- Eliza and George’s son, a young boy who
a. significant c. eternal was sold along with Uncle Tom.
b. sincere d. dedicated

5. St. Clare doesn’t have any hostility against black but

tolerates slavery.
a. opposition c. judgment
b. kindness d. appreciation
Augustine St. Clare- Tom’s master in New Orleans and
6. St. Clare wanted to help his cousin to overcome her
bigotry so he bought a young black girl named Topsy. Eva’s father who does not believe in God.
a. fear c. prejudice
b. struggle d. anxiety Evangeline (better known as Eva)- The angelic daughter
of St. Clare and Marie.
7-8. These visions renewed his spiritual strength and
courage to withstand all the torments Legree would cause Marie St. Clare- wife of Augustine St. Clare and mother of
him. Eva who is an egocentric, petty, whining and foolish
a. manage, sacrifices c. endure, challenges b. woman, the very opposite of an idealized woman figure.
endure, miseries d. manage, struggles
Miss Ophelia- St. Clare’s cousin from Vermont who
9. Legree orders his overseers to punish Tom by beating. opposes slavery in abstract.
a. workers c. slaves
b. companions d. administrators The Quakers- a Christian group dedicated to achieving an
inner understanding of God without the use of creeds,
10. He still managed to bestow forgiveness to Legree and
to the overseers. clergy or outward rites.
a. ask c. tell
b. show d. grant Tom Loker- A slave hunter hired by Mr. Haley who
appeared to be gruff and violent at first but eventually
"Uncle Tom and Aunt Sophie Campbell" by National Park Service is marked transformed and joined the Quakers than going back his old
with CC PDM 1.0 retrieved September 21, 2020 from https://bit.ly/32No68G
life.

Mr. Haley- The gruff and cruel slave trader whom Mr.
Characters: Shelby sold Uncle Tom and Harry.
Uncle Tom- A good and virtuous man, the main character
Topsy- The uncivilized slave girl who was helped by Miss
in the novel.
Ophelia to reform through the image of Eva.
Aunt Chloe: Uncle Tom’s wife and the Shelby’s cook.
Simon Legree- The ruthlessly evil master of Unlce Tom in
Arthur Shelby- The owner of Uncle Tom in Kentucky who Louisiana plantation who fosters violence and hatred
sold two of his slaves, Uncle Tom and Harry to Mr. Haley among his slaves.
to pay off his debts.
Cassy- Legree’s (slave) mistress, Eliza’s mother. She is a
Emily Shelby- The loving and virtuous wife of Mr. Shelby proud and intelligent woman and uses her cleverness to
who does not believe in slavery. escape from Legree.

George Shelby- The good-hearted son of the Shelbys and Emmeline- A young beautiful slave girl Legree buys for
the one who promised Uncle Tom to rescue him from Mr. himself as a replacement for Cassy as his mistress. She was
Haley’s cruelty. raised as a pious Christian.

George Harris- The loving husband and father to Eliza and

Harry, who fights for his freedom.

Module 7–Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe | Page 2 of 4

Reading Comprehension Up North, George and Eliza remained in flight from Loker
and his men who attempted to capture them. George
A Kentucky farmer named Arthur Shelby and his wife managed to shoot Loker in the side and the other slave
Emily are very kind and affectionate to all their slaves; hunters drew back. Despite the possible danger the injured
however, having faced with some economic struggles, gruff slave hunter might bring, Eliza was able to convince
Arthur Shelby had to think of many ways on how to her husband and the Quakers to take Loker and bring him
generate money to pay off his debts. He couldn’t think of to the next settlement so he can be healed.
any other ways to raise money, so he made a decision on
his very last resort which is to sell two of his slaves, Uncle Meanwhile in New Orleans, St. Clare had a discussion with
Tom, who had a wife and children, and the young boy his cousin, Ophelia, who opposes slavery as an institution
Harry, the son of Eliza and George Harris. He sold the two but harbors deep prejudices against blacks. In contrast, St.
to the gruff slave trader named Mr. Haley. Eventually, Clare doesn’t have any hostility against black but tolerates
Shelby told his wife about his agreement with Mr. Haley. slavery, not because he advocates it but because he feels
His wife was appalled because she made a promise to her powerless to change it. St. Clare wanted to help his cousin
maid that the Shelbys would never sell her son. to overcome her bigotry so he bought a young black girl
named Topsy, who was abused by his previous master. He
Accidentally, Eliza overheard the conversation between arranged his cousin to begin educating the young slave.
Shelby and his wife that made her alarmed. She warned
Uncle Tom and his wife Aunt Chloe about what the Tom served the St. Clares for two years. Eva’s illness
Shelbys talked about and she immediately took his son with worsened and slowly weakened. She died with a vision of
her to flee to the North with the hope of finding freedom in heaven before her. The angelic young girl’s death left a
Canada wither husband George as a complete family. Mr. profound impact on everyone who knew her. Ophelia
Haley learned about the escape of Eliza and her son and learned to become affectionate to the slaves, Topsy learned
wanted to pursue the two but the other slaves of the Shelbys to trust and feel attached with others and St. Clare decided
alerted Eliza to the danger and she miraculously evades the to set Tom free for his daughter; however, before he could
capture by crossing the half-frozen Ohio River, the act his decision, he was stabbed to death while trying to
boundary that separates Kentucky from the North. Mr. settle a brawl. On his death, he finally found God and went
Haley hired a slave hunter named Tom Loker, and his gang to be reunited with his mother in heaven.
to search for Eliza and he son and bring them back to
Kentucky. Fortunately, Eliza and Harry made their way to Thinking of Tom being useless, St. Clare’s cruel wife,
the Quaker settlement in which the Quakers agreed to help Marie, sold the old man to the vicious plantation owner
in transporting to safety. named Simon Legree. Tom was taken to rural Louisiana
along with the group of new slaves including Emmeline,
Eventually, Eliza and Harry were joined by George Harris. whom the very cruel Legree purchased as his sex slave a
The family joyously reunited from one another to their trip replacement to his previous sex slave, Cassy. Legree
for Canada. expressed a strong dislike towards Uncle Tom when he was
ordered to whip another slave and he refused to do so. It
On the other hand, Uncle Tom did not resist from being resulted Tom to receive severe beating and Legree resolved
sold to the slave trader and sadly left his family and his to crush his faith in God. Tom met Cassy and learned her
Mas’r George, Shelbys’ son and Tom’s friend. Haley took story. She had a daughter who got separated from her
him to a boat on Mississippi to be transported to the slave because of slavery. When she became pregnant again, she
market. On that boat, she met Eva, a very angelic little killed the child because she couldn’t stand losing another
white girl. Uncle Tom and Eva quickly became friends. child because of slavery.
Unexpectedly, an unfortunate circumstance occurred. Eva
fell into the river and without any hesitations, Tom dived Around this time, Tom Loker, now a transformed man after
into the river to save the young girl. Gratefully, Augustine being healed by the Quakers, helped Eliza, George and
St. Clare, Eva’s father agreed to buy Uncle Tom to be their Harry. The family finally reached crossed over into Canada
slave. The St. Clares brought Tom to their home in New from Lake Erie and obtained their freedom.
Orleans, where he grew increasingly invaluable to the St.
Clare households and became very close to Eva with whom In Louisiana, Unlce Tom’s faith was put into a test through
he shared a devout Christianity. hardships and that he nearly questioned his beliefs. He had

Module 7–Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe | Page 3 of 4

two visions, one of Christ and one of Eva. These visions overseers. It was too late when Arthur Shelby arrived with
renewed her spiritual strength and gave him courage to money in hand to buy Tom’s freedom. He could only watch
withstand all the torments Legree would cause him. He his faithful slave dies martyr death.
encouraged Cassy to escape from Legree. She did it so but
she took Emmeline with her. They managed to escape after In honor of Tom’s memory, Shelby set all his slaves free
deceiving everyone and disguised to be ghosts. Legree and encouraged them to think of Tom’s sacrifice everytime
found out that the two sex slaves went missing. He asked they look at his cabin to lead a pious Christian life, just as
Tom where the two have gone but Tom refused to tell him Tom did.
so. Uncle Tom pushed Legree’s buttons that resulted him
to order his overseers to punish Tom by beating. When
Congratulations! You have just finished this module! I
Tom was near death, he still managed to bestow
hope the message of this novel inspired you to keep your
forgiveness to Legree and to the overseers. It was too late
kindness in your heart motivated you to extend your help
when Arthur Shelby arrived with money in hand to buy his
and lift others who are in need. Believe that you can always
Uncle Tom’s freedom. He could just watch his faithful
make a difference even in little ways.
slave die a martyr’s death.

Taking a boat toward freedom, Cassy and Emmeline met

the sister of George Harris. They traveled with her to
Canada where she realized that her long-lost daughter was
Eliza. The unexpectedly newly reunited family travelled to
France and moved to Liberia, the African nation that was
created for American slaves.

On the other hand, Shelby returned to Kentucky farm after

his father’s death, he sets all his slaves free in honor of
Tom’s memory and urged them to reminisce Tom’s
sacrifice everytime they would look at his cabin and to lead
a virtuous Christian life just like what Tom did.

SUMMARY
Let us recall the main points raised in this lesson. Below
is a summary of these points:

Slavery has become of the major issues concerning many

countries. Uncle Tom’s Cabin’s plot started when the Selby
family faced economic struggles and was pushed to sell
two of their slaves, Uncle Tom and Harry Harris. Neither
Arthur Shelby nor his wife want to sell their slaves for
different reasons. After being sold, he encountered
numerous hardships as he was transported from different
owners. He met a lot of cruel people and some good-
hearted ones including Eva, whom he shared a devout
Christianity.

Uncle Tom encouraged Cassy and Emmeline to escape

Simon Legree, his last owner. When the incident was found
out by Legree, he ordered Tom to tell him where they have
gone but Tom refused to do so. Because of Legree takes
strong dislike on Tom, he ordered his overseers to beat him.
When he was near death, he forgave both Legree and the

Module 7–Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe | Page 4 of 4

TOPICOUT LINE her father to abandon them for longer periods of time. Her
mother suspected that Pablo was having affairs with other
MODULE 6: When I was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda women. However, whenever Esmeralda’s father returned
Santiago home, her parents make up. Her mother gave birth to
another child and the endless fights resumed so did her
OVERVIEW father leaving the house and their family.

Follow your track towards your wonderful journey of Pablo left all the parental responsibility to his wife.
Masterpieces of World of Literature. Greetings! Welcome Ramona always felt exhausted and stressed out doing
to this module! something for a living and taking care of her children.
Esmeralda and her younger sibling were sometimes
In this module, you will be dealing with the moved in with various family members so their mother
extraordinary true-to-life story of a little Puerto Rican girl could ease the burden.
who opened up her eyes towards responsibility, different
perspectives in life as she witnessed disturbing events in When they moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico, Esmeralda
her family and encountered cultural difficulties when her was mocked for her country accent and mannerisms.
family migrated to New York. Esmeralda’s mother gave birth to another child. Her father
tried to visit and see them more often than before. The
Also, this module will serve as your foundation to couple eventually reconciled and moved back to Macun in
acquiring a deeper understanding of transnationalism, the countryside. During the elections, Esmeralda’s family
cultural barriers, and the like as you will relate your ideas, received some food from American politicians but every
knowledge, and/or personal experiences. For you to start after the election period, their support also ended.
with this amazing experience, please see what the journey
entails. Just like what happened repeatedly, the family ended up
without Pablo. Ramona was pregnant with a boy whom
she named Raymond.

When Esmeralda was around 10, her mother worked at a

local brassiere factory. She asked her neighbor Gloria to
look after her kids while she’s working outside. Their
neighbor criticized Ramona for asking and letting a
neighbor raise her kids and some even accused her of
being a prostitute. Nonetheless, Ramona took pride in her
work that despite the fact that she didn’t receive any
financial support from Pablo for their children, she still
“Esmeralda Santiago” by Larry D. Moore is
managed to do it on her own. Being the eldest child in the
licensed with CC BY-SA 3.0 retrieved September 5, 2020 from
http://bit.ly2H51iJe family, Esmeralda took the major parental responsibility
for her younger siblings.
WHEN I WAS PUERTO RICAN BY
Her younger brother Raymond injured his foot in a
ESMERALDA SANTIAGO
bicycling accident. His wound never healed properly and
The autobiography, “When I was Puerto Rican” that was had worsened making the local doctor recommend to
written by Esmeralda Santiago, started when she was four amputate his foot. Ramona was appalled and refused to
and it tells how she and her family moved from her native accept the doctor’s diagnosis and agree with his
country Puerto Rico to New York. She lived with both of recommendation. Ramona made up her mind to bring
her parents, Ramona and Pablo, and two younger siblings Raymond to New York to seek for the specialists’ advice.
in extremely poor conditions in Macun, Puerto Rico. They During that time, Esmeralda and her other younger
tore up the floorboards that revealed scorpions and snakes siblings stayed with their grandmother where she learned
underneath. Even at a very young age, Esmeralda, called how to crochet. She also spent some time with her uncle
by her parents, Negi, often noticed her parents having to help peel some potatoes for his potato ball café.
serious marriage problems and had regular fights resulting Esmeralda explored her curiosity and sometimes sneaked

Module 6 – When I was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago | Page 1 of 2

out to find some boys to play around with, this was the parents regularly fight which resulted her father leaving
time when she became interested in sex; however, due to the house and abandoning the family for many times.
a series of alarming events, she eventually learned that Ramona, Esmeralda’s mother, worked at a brassiere
sex is just something men take from women rather than factory to support her family leaving her children to the
something women freely give. neighbor’s care. Despite the fact that she did not receive
any financial support from her husband Pablo, she was
When Ramona came back from Puerto Rico, she had been still criticized by their neighbors for letting others take
inspired by the vibrant hustle of New York City, and she care of her kids and some accused her of being prostitute.
had new clothes and new hair. When Esmeralda was As Esmeralda grows older, she became interested in sex
around 12, her mother finally gave up trying to save her but she realized that it is the only thing men want from
difficult and tiring relationship with Pablo. Ramona women not what women freely give.
brought all of her children and decided to move to New
York. There was no indication of Pablo attempting to stop When her brother Raymond injured his foot, the family
his family from leaving. It was Esmeralda’s first time decided to travel to New York and start anew. Esmeralda
flying in an airplane traveling to their new home. enrolled at a public school and retained in her 8th grade
Esmeralda enrolled in an American public school and avoiding social interactions and exceled in her classes.
fought for her rights to stay in her 8th grade. There, she She auditioned in a Performing Arts High School.
avoided social interactions and exceled academically. She Although it didn’t go well because she didn’t understand
persevered and learned the English language in just four the references to white culture, she still made it because of
months. During that time, she spent time recalling the her self-confidence. She went on college and graduated
details of her life back then in Puerto Rico compared to her degree at Harvard University.
her life at present in New York.

On the other hand, Ramona fell in love with their

neighbor named Francisco. Unfortunately, Francisco died
just a year after their first child was born.

Esmeralda had a hard time when she noticed that her

mother’s inability to speak English means she had to
spend much of her time translating for her.

Esmeralda explored her artistic side when a mentor

encouraged her to try her future at acting. When she was
14, she auditioned for a Performing Arts High School, an
institution that offers specialized instruction in dance,
theater and cinema. Her audition did not go well because
she wasn’t able to understand the reference to white
culture; however, she still made it. She was still accepted
by the school because of her self-confidence. In the
epilogue, Esmeralda revealed that she attended college
and finished her degree at Harvard University.

You may also watch the movie version of her adolescence stage
entitled, “Almost a Woman” on the internet for further learning.

SUMMARY
Let us see if you can remember the main points raised in
this lesson. Below is a summary of these points:

Being the eldest in the family, Esmeralda took the major

responsibility in taking care of her younger siblings. Her

Module 6 – When I was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago | Page 2 of 2

TOPIC OUTLINE Her parents were both drug addicts and they both always
depended on drugs too much to the point that they would
MODULE 5: Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story do anything just to have a little extra amount of money to
by Ronni Kern buy for their bad habits they cannot avoid, taking cocaine
to be specific.
OVERVIEW
At a very young age, she became the only member of the
The portal of learning meaningfully opens upon the start of family who had a job. She would work as a bagger in a
your journey to the wonderful Masterpieces of World of grocery store and pump gas to support their basic needs.
Literature. Hi! Welcome to this module! She and her sister witnessed these struggles her family had.
They witnessed how their mother went wild and crazy over
In this module, you will be dealing with the
drugs so did their father. It came to the very point that every
extraordinary true-to-life story of a little girl from being a
single item in the house was sold by their mother to support
homeless who strived and succeeded in life. Also, this
her recreational use of drugs. Until they reached the turning
module will serve as your springboard to acquiring a
point that they became homeless.
deeper understanding on your purposes in this world as you
will relate your ideas, knowledge and/or personal Her mother died because of AIDS and tuberculosis. And
experiences. For you to start with this amazing experience, her father was always on the streets neglecting his
please see what the journey entails. responsibilities because of his worsening drug addiction.
Her mother’s death left a devastating impact in her life. Not
seeing her mother around is such a horror for her yet what
happened made her decide not to ever follow her parents’
footsteps that no matter what happens, she will work hard
and succeed. Liz went back to school and nobody in their
school knew that she was already homeless. She studied
very hard even in the darkest hour of her life in a staircase,
with no room nor roof. Her school days weren’t very much
fun but she still enjoyed learning because that was what she
hoped.

"Homeless in New York" by Gerard Flynn is licensed under CC BY

2.0 retrieved September 21, 2020 from https://bit.ly/3hPkR5d
“little girl again” by Irina Gheorghita is licensed under CC BY 2.0
retrieved September 21, 2020 from https://bit.ly/3mAmPtP She applied for a scholarship which she read from The New
York Times. This newspaper was the one that she had
HOMELESS TO HARVARD: THE never read. It is the newspaper company that grants
LIZ MURRAY STORY scholarship for needy local students who struggle
financially which she thought to be a great opportunity for
Reading Comprehension: her. Her inspiring life story on how she overcomes
struggles and how she went to the great lengths made The
Every child's dream is to have a nice home. This is the New York Times paved her way to earn the scholarship.
simplest yet the most satisfying shelter a child can build Her story, along with the other winners touched a chord in
countless dreams and aspirations. other New Yorkers. Many readers of the newspaper were
moved and donated money that is enough to support more
Find out how Liz Murray survived being homeless. scholarships. And the money she received would be used
to support her study in college.
Liz, or Lizzie, formally called Elizabeth Murray, is a child
who hoped for a nice home with a nice family. But fate has Elizabeth Murray at New York
become playful to her life. At a very young age, Liz Barnes & Noble by Wes
Washington is licensed under
experienced a lot not many children of her age do not Creative Commons Attribution-
encounter. It be considered one of the most infamous Share Alike 3.0
nightmares any person could have.

Module 5 – Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story | Page 1 of 2

Back when she had a visit at Harvard University, she made
up her mind that she would study there in college, and that
was her dream, a goal that was within her reach. She
thought that it can always be possible to people if they
would want to do it. Everyone is all equal in the university,
no one is above others. Harvard University accepted her as
a member of the class 2004 and that was one of the very
momentous news she has ever known. "I felt like I had
wings. I felt like I could do anything,” said Murray.

Several years have passed and everything was still

unforgettable to her – her parents being drug addicts, them
being homeless, her mother who died from AIDS, her
almost giving up school and many others. Reminiscing
these things, she found out that she didn’t feel anger nor
bitterness at all. She is now very close to her dad who
developed AIDS. Despite all the burdens her parents
brought to their family, her parents made her feel that she
is loved. She has forgiven her parents for whatever
happened in the past became her greatest lesson to reach
the zenith of success.

You may also watch the movie version of this story on the internet for
further learning.

SUMMARY
Let us see if you can remember the main points raised in
this lesson. Below is a summary of these points:

The unfortunate life of Liz Murray started when her parents

became drug addicts. She and her sister were neglected
during those days and she became homeless at the very
young age of 15. Her mother died because of AIDS in 1996
and her father was always on the streets. She did not want
to follow the footsteps of her parents which is why she
made up her mind to go back to school and strived hard to
succeed. Having granted a scholarship paved her way to
success when she entered the exclusive Harvard
University. She realized that whatever misfortunes that
happened in the past, her mother loved her dearly and that
she has given forgiveness to her parents. All the other
successes became part of the history.

Congratulations! You have just finished this module! It’s

great to have known that you are halfway through! I hope
this inspires you to keep that burning passion and
determination to succeed. Believe that you can always
make a difference!

Module 5 – Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story | Page 2 of 2