1. monster– i remember Molly used this term when we read the excerpt from Monster Kody’s book. i found it interesting that this particular and exact term has been used twice to describe two criminals separated by a period of time of 200 years or more. most interesting is the idea of change and evolution. we talk about how the judicial and penal systems of america have changed over the past few hundred years, but the concept of the criminal has, perhaps, stayed the same. in both the 18th and 20th centuries, criminals like Monster Kody and Patience Boston were viewed as something horrific-monstrous.
2. eternal– this sense of forever was very apparent in this particular account. Patience Boston goes back and forth repeatedly between corruption and repentance. although not explicitly stated, it is obvious that this embedded concern for one’s eternity is what drives one to repentance and conversion. This is made even more clear through Boston’s acknowledgment that “eternal” is relative to one’s life’s actions: “infinite mercy of god” or “eternal misery.” this helps to explain her conviction to return to God each time she turned away.
3. prison– boston speaks of the prison in this account as the place of reform that we talked about in class in regards, once again, to Foucault. “i returned to my beloved prison, which seemed a most pleasant place to me, since i met with christ here, and have had communication with God in holy duties.” the emphasis in her account is taken away from the confining, stone, metal structure that is depicted to us in movies and tv programs and that Monster Kody repeatedly described.