Shift #49 - Research & Writing
Monday, July 15, 2024 | 8-11:30 pm CST/9 pm-12:30 am EST (3.5 hrs)
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Michelle Hurt, student/intern
Jennifer Gonzalez, practicum supervisor
This is a screenshot of the book where I got Massey's story from. Reading from this book, although digital, made it seems as if I was in the 18th century with how vivid the descriptions were!
Tonight, I focused on continuing my writing on Captain John Massey. In my research of his life (basically, from his story in this book), I had a lot of material to work with. I spent some time crafting setting up who he was as a person, before he turned to piracy. I think the reader should know something about his past, because it can provide clues into what may have led to his journey. What I found interesting was that the author of the book mentioned that Massey may have had a mental illness. He never had an official diagnosis but there were enough eye-witness accounts as to how Massey conducted himself on and off the battlefield. It seemed that he had a temper and was fiery, so perhaps people saw this aggression as an affliction. For Massey, it worked in his favor because he became a decorated soldier.
I also wrote about his living a devout life. Despite his reputation for aggression and wildness, he was known to be a man of faith, at least by appearances. Back then, going to daily prayers and mass every week was a sign of devotion. By all accounts, Massey had a serious life after he was done serving in the military. I then wrote about a woman he met. For all his supposed piety, he fell in love what what the author called a "lewd" woman. He disregarded his sober life for some time and it is assumed he threw caution to the wind. However, because of his regiment, he ended up leaving her. Even so, before he sailed again, Massey continued to live a wild life. I wish more had been written about the woman he met because it seemed that his leaving her heavily affected his morals, perhaps weakening him and making him different from the soldier he once was.
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