Stephen Simmons
AP English/Mr. George
9/28/09
Proposal Analysis
Mr. Collins’ proposal or argument is ineffective because he fails to use pathos, he uses logos and fails to appeal to Elizabeth through his foolish reasoning and ideals.
Mr. Collins initiates his proposal by talking about Elizabeth and praising qualities that he is attributing to her “unwillingness…natural delicacy” and explaining why it was that he had chosen her to marry. However, he falls short, and does not enlighten Elizabeth about any of his qualities, or any emotions or feeling he may have for her. This is one of the many mistakes Mr. Collins makes throughout his proposal. Proceeding his opening explanation, Mr. Collins lacks pathos because he deliberately states three reasons as to why he must marry Elizabeth, that have more to do with logic and convenience than any kind of emotion. It is as if is reading them from a proposal for dummies book, he says:
“My reasons for marrying are, first, that I think it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances (like myself) to set the example of matrimony in his parish. Secondly, that I am convinced it will add very greatly to my happiness; and thirdly – which perhaps I ought to have mentioned earlier, that it is the particular advice and recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honor of calling patroness”(Austen)
Mr. Collins lacks pathos because his proposal relies on reason and logic, and no emotion. Although Mr. Collins uses logic and reason to make a case for Elizabeth to accept his offer, he uses his knowledge and logic in the wrong way. His reasons circle around him and only him. His desire to have a wife, to please Lady de Bourgh and help the Bennet Family out. He does not cause his words to naturally flow from his heart, but from his head and selfishness. After unconvincingly stating the reasoning for his proposal Mr. Collins produces many arguments as to why Elizabeth must be with him. He states that if Elizabeth were to marry him, that she could keep their families home in the family because Collins would inherit the estate after Elisabeth’s father’s death. Mr. Collins keeps digging himself into more and more trouble, and as he does so, no real emotion or human feeling is expressed.
Although there is no real emotion or feelings in his initial proposal and other arguments, one could also argue that although his intentions and approach seem a little unorthodox or wrong, but considering the time period, Collins does make a good offer in the sense that he would allow her family to still live in their home and not be left with nothing and marrying Collins would be in the best interest for not only Elizabeth, but for her family as well.
Mr. Collins, after enduring one of many waves of rejection simply responds by saying:
“that it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the man whom they secretly mean to accept, when he first applies for their favor; and that sometimes the refusal is repeated a second or even a third time. I am therefore by no means discouraged by what you have just said, and shall hope to lead you to the alter ere long”
Mr. Collins has no emotion and lacks pathos; he is blind to anything that may be seen as not logical. Elizabeth rejects him more than one time and he continues to bring up foolish points about women and her economic standpoint. Throughout the whole proposal it is obvious that his speech is exquisite. However, the means in which he speaks is not. Throughout the proposal Mr. Collins uses his own logic to make things worse by assuming he knows the ways of women’s rejection and does not take Elizabeth seriously. Mr. Collins lacks the only thing that many women would agree completes a proposal, pathos.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Huck Finn Essay
Stephen Simmons
AP English 11/Mr. George
9/16/09
Huck Finn Notes
“Jim was most ruined, for a servant, because he got so stuck up on account of having seen the devil and been rode by witches”(Twain 15)
“He dressed Jim up in King Lear’s outfit-it was a long curtain-calico gown, and a white horse-hair wig and whiskers; and then he took his theatre-paint and painted Jim’s face and hands and ears…Then the duke took and wrote out a sign on a shingle so-‘Sick Arab-but harmless when not out of his head.’”(169)
o Racism is a pressing issue in the novel and is used to bring awareness to the, what we would see as, as corrupt society. Twain uses the character of Jim to specifically let the reader and white people living in this society, that racism was not a good thing or something that should be considered acceptable. All people should be able to do the same things and be able to coexist and have emotions. In Jims case, he basically cant do any of those things, he isn’t allowed to be stuck up, or do whatever he wants.
o Although during that time period, blacks were the main focus of racism, they weren’t the only ones. In order to hide the fact that Jim was black, due to Jim not wanting to “play” the role of a slave any longer, the duke disguised him as a sick Arab. In today’s and in the mind of someone who is sane, that action is considered very disrespectful and offensive to Arabs. This just comes to show that people were racist, not just against blacks, but against other ethnicities. Twains main point here is that racism is a bad thing, and as he uses Hucks emotional and mental evolution throughout his journey to explain, that life without racial conflict can be good, and that home or society, can be a home or society without this conflict and other negative ideals (the raft as home).
“When I got down out of the tree, I crept along down the river bank a piece, and found the two bodies laying in the edge of the water…I cried a little when I was covering up Buck’s face, for he was mighty good to me”(127)
o Twain uses the example of the Gangerfords and Shepardsons to explain that there is a lot more to be changed than racial issues. As important as family is, and proper behavior is to some people in this society (Toms relatives)others seem to let is role off their back. In both the Gangerfords and Shepardsons family human life or death, or even morals seem to be out of the picture. They fight, some people die, and for a cause in which they cant even remember because it has been so long. When the violent fight between families has ended, Huck finds himself crying to the deceased body of a friend whom he had only known for a short while. Sure, Huck got over it, but what Twain is trying to say is that society and its inhabitants should not be so hateful, so corrupt, that they kill for a lost cause, and that Families should be more like the ideal family, happy, loving, caring, and most importantly, protective.
Other points:
Twain critiques society by basically stating that what society has done in the novel is the wrong path to take, and that in order to enjoy life like Huck, we have to let go of all the struggles and criticism, racism, and absurd behavior. He does this through Hucks journey and emotional, and mental transformation.
Society can also be critiqued by the society of the antebellum south. Society back then would critique others who do not believe in their ideals by saying that you should be racist and powerful. And that you should live life according to societies expectations, etc.
Even further, society can be critiqued through Huck. Although very similar to Twains critiquing, Huck critiques society by saying that life without all of the troubles of the one he grew up in and racism, sexism, and all of that good stuff, can be just as good, if not even better that life with all of those negative ideals.
Twain also critiques morals. When the “duke” and “king” make their big con, pretending to be the gentlemen who inherit their families gold, Huck hides the money from the duke and king in so they don’t get it and it is given to its rightful owner/the family of the deceased. In a way Huck is sort of Twain as a character in the novel in the sense he uses Huck, and small instances in the novel, to state what the right thing to do would be.
AP English 11/Mr. George
9/16/09
Huck Finn Notes
“Jim was most ruined, for a servant, because he got so stuck up on account of having seen the devil and been rode by witches”(Twain 15)
“He dressed Jim up in King Lear’s outfit-it was a long curtain-calico gown, and a white horse-hair wig and whiskers; and then he took his theatre-paint and painted Jim’s face and hands and ears…Then the duke took and wrote out a sign on a shingle so-‘Sick Arab-but harmless when not out of his head.’”(169)
o Racism is a pressing issue in the novel and is used to bring awareness to the, what we would see as, as corrupt society. Twain uses the character of Jim to specifically let the reader and white people living in this society, that racism was not a good thing or something that should be considered acceptable. All people should be able to do the same things and be able to coexist and have emotions. In Jims case, he basically cant do any of those things, he isn’t allowed to be stuck up, or do whatever he wants.
o Although during that time period, blacks were the main focus of racism, they weren’t the only ones. In order to hide the fact that Jim was black, due to Jim not wanting to “play” the role of a slave any longer, the duke disguised him as a sick Arab. In today’s and in the mind of someone who is sane, that action is considered very disrespectful and offensive to Arabs. This just comes to show that people were racist, not just against blacks, but against other ethnicities. Twains main point here is that racism is a bad thing, and as he uses Hucks emotional and mental evolution throughout his journey to explain, that life without racial conflict can be good, and that home or society, can be a home or society without this conflict and other negative ideals (the raft as home).
“When I got down out of the tree, I crept along down the river bank a piece, and found the two bodies laying in the edge of the water…I cried a little when I was covering up Buck’s face, for he was mighty good to me”(127)
o Twain uses the example of the Gangerfords and Shepardsons to explain that there is a lot more to be changed than racial issues. As important as family is, and proper behavior is to some people in this society (Toms relatives)others seem to let is role off their back. In both the Gangerfords and Shepardsons family human life or death, or even morals seem to be out of the picture. They fight, some people die, and for a cause in which they cant even remember because it has been so long. When the violent fight between families has ended, Huck finds himself crying to the deceased body of a friend whom he had only known for a short while. Sure, Huck got over it, but what Twain is trying to say is that society and its inhabitants should not be so hateful, so corrupt, that they kill for a lost cause, and that Families should be more like the ideal family, happy, loving, caring, and most importantly, protective.
Other points:
Twain critiques society by basically stating that what society has done in the novel is the wrong path to take, and that in order to enjoy life like Huck, we have to let go of all the struggles and criticism, racism, and absurd behavior. He does this through Hucks journey and emotional, and mental transformation.
Society can also be critiqued by the society of the antebellum south. Society back then would critique others who do not believe in their ideals by saying that you should be racist and powerful. And that you should live life according to societies expectations, etc.
Even further, society can be critiqued through Huck. Although very similar to Twains critiquing, Huck critiques society by saying that life without all of the troubles of the one he grew up in and racism, sexism, and all of that good stuff, can be just as good, if not even better that life with all of those negative ideals.
Twain also critiques morals. When the “duke” and “king” make their big con, pretending to be the gentlemen who inherit their families gold, Huck hides the money from the duke and king in so they don’t get it and it is given to its rightful owner/the family of the deceased. In a way Huck is sort of Twain as a character in the novel in the sense he uses Huck, and small instances in the novel, to state what the right thing to do would be.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
COMC notes-Honor
Stephen Simmons
AP English/Mr. George
9/10/09
COMC notes
“I should be looked upon as a man who has broken his word and failed in his engagements. If I lived you would be ashamed of my name. When I am dead, you will raise your head and say ‘I am the son of him who killed himself because, for the first time in his life, he was unable to keep his word.’ Now…leave me alone and keep your mother away. Once more farewell…”(Dumas 185)
-Honor plays a very significant role in the life of Morrel because it decided his fate. Based on tradition, he felt it necessary to commit suicide because he was unable to honor his promises and word.
-Honor, is simply a concept that was strongly believed in at that particular time during the novel, not life or death!!!
-Morrel was simply following the standards of society and based on his hesitation, had no desire to die anytime soon.
“Then he turned to the clock again; he no longer counted by minutes, but by seconds. Taking the weapon once more, he opened his mouth with his eyes on the clock…a cold perspiration broke out on his forehead and he was seized by a mortal anguish”(185)
-someone who is honorable is respectful and does things in the best interest for others. By Morrel taking his life, the only thing that was truly being solved was that there would be one less mouth to feed. There is no respect in leaving your family with your problems and telling your son to do better.
- the concept of honor and honoring your family is not honorable at all. In Morrel’s case, he would be dishonorable by following tradition and the standards of society and leaving his mess for someone else to clean up.
“He put the pistol to his mouth…Suddenly he heard a cry…It was his daughter’s voice. He turned round and saw Julie. The pistol dropped from his hands.”
“Father! ‘cried the girl out of breath and overcome with joy.’ You are saved! You are saved”
-Honor plays a huge role in Morrels case in term of Karma. Morrel was a good guy. He fought for Dantes’ freedom from prison, promoted Dantes to Captain, etc.
-Because he was so honorable to Dantes, Dantes, was honorable towards him in saving his life and by restoring Morrel emotionally and financially
AP English/Mr. George
9/10/09
COMC notes
“I should be looked upon as a man who has broken his word and failed in his engagements. If I lived you would be ashamed of my name. When I am dead, you will raise your head and say ‘I am the son of him who killed himself because, for the first time in his life, he was unable to keep his word.’ Now…leave me alone and keep your mother away. Once more farewell…”(Dumas 185)
-Honor plays a very significant role in the life of Morrel because it decided his fate. Based on tradition, he felt it necessary to commit suicide because he was unable to honor his promises and word.
-Honor, is simply a concept that was strongly believed in at that particular time during the novel, not life or death!!!
-Morrel was simply following the standards of society and based on his hesitation, had no desire to die anytime soon.
“Then he turned to the clock again; he no longer counted by minutes, but by seconds. Taking the weapon once more, he opened his mouth with his eyes on the clock…a cold perspiration broke out on his forehead and he was seized by a mortal anguish”(185)
-someone who is honorable is respectful and does things in the best interest for others. By Morrel taking his life, the only thing that was truly being solved was that there would be one less mouth to feed. There is no respect in leaving your family with your problems and telling your son to do better.
- the concept of honor and honoring your family is not honorable at all. In Morrel’s case, he would be dishonorable by following tradition and the standards of society and leaving his mess for someone else to clean up.
“He put the pistol to his mouth…Suddenly he heard a cry…It was his daughter’s voice. He turned round and saw Julie. The pistol dropped from his hands.”
“Father! ‘cried the girl out of breath and overcome with joy.’ You are saved! You are saved”
-Honor plays a huge role in Morrels case in term of Karma. Morrel was a good guy. He fought for Dantes’ freedom from prison, promoted Dantes to Captain, etc.
-Because he was so honorable to Dantes, Dantes, was honorable towards him in saving his life and by restoring Morrel emotionally and financially
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Monte Cristo Notes
Stephen Simmons
Mr. George/AP English 11
9/9/09
Notes
Dantes’ Playing God:
• Dantes attempted to carry out divine or heavenly justice where he believed justice was not being done. This was a result of...
o His life being taken away from him. (He had a great life before prison)
o He was betrayed and put in prison under false pretenses
o He was attempting to right a wrong that was done to him
o He felt that society was not punishing those that wronged him
“During these hours of meditation, which had passed like so many seconds, he had formed a terrible resolution and taken a fearful oath.”(Dumas 97).
o He tries to control everything around him and develops an all controlling, un-depictable personality during his return and hunt for vengeance.
• He tried to do things beyond his reach and human capabilities, as he learns later in the novel, his god-like actions weren’t pursued for the best.
o Took other peoples lives into his own hands
o Determined the fate of others
It wasn’t until later, that he realized the ripples of his actions were ripples of sin and regret:
“And as though fearing that the walls of the accursed house would fall and crush him, he rushed into the street, doubting for the first time whether he had the right to do what he had done.” (568 )
(Dantes aspires to be like God, to do things greater than himself).
• Like heaven for God, Dantes also has a heaven like domain, the Isle of Monte Cristo.
Mr. George/AP English 11
9/9/09
Notes
Dantes’ Playing God:
• Dantes attempted to carry out divine or heavenly justice where he believed justice was not being done. This was a result of...
o His life being taken away from him. (He had a great life before prison)
o He was betrayed and put in prison under false pretenses
o He was attempting to right a wrong that was done to him
o He felt that society was not punishing those that wronged him
“During these hours of meditation, which had passed like so many seconds, he had formed a terrible resolution and taken a fearful oath.”(Dumas 97).
o He tries to control everything around him and develops an all controlling, un-depictable personality during his return and hunt for vengeance.
• He tried to do things beyond his reach and human capabilities, as he learns later in the novel, his god-like actions weren’t pursued for the best.
o Took other peoples lives into his own hands
o Determined the fate of others
It wasn’t until later, that he realized the ripples of his actions were ripples of sin and regret:
“And as though fearing that the walls of the accursed house would fall and crush him, he rushed into the street, doubting for the first time whether he had the right to do what he had done.” (568 )
(Dantes aspires to be like God, to do things greater than himself).
• Like heaven for God, Dantes also has a heaven like domain, the Isle of Monte Cristo.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Huckleberry Finn Essay
Stephen Simmons AP English/Mr. George 9/25/09
The Correction of Races
People express their likes and dislikes, their hopes and fears and support and prejudice about people. Some use the media like television to advocate for their positions or their views about certain groups with a fancy suit and an American flag standing in the shadows. Others use other means to reach their audience through writing, through stories or through song and dance. However, it is not the medium you use to speak your mind it is the message that you are transmitting through this medium that is the most important. Mark Twain in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, uses his gift for storytelling to speak out about the people of the antebellum south. He uses the characters as well as inanimate objects in the novel to critique antebellum society and paint a new picture of what life should have been like in the old south.
One of the most important characters, when discussing Twain's method of critiquing the society, at that time through different characters in the novel, is Jim, and more importantly the relationship between Huck and Jim. The character of Jim in the novel represents a dividing line between Huck and the other ideal antebellum people of the south at that time. When Jim is first introduced into the novel, he is introduced as a slave, a man that works for a white family and waits on them hand and foot. After claiming to have "magical powers" and escaping from his masters, the character Jim, becomes something more than a slave or an un-free black American, he becomes a friend and a human in the eyes of few. During his adventure with Huck Finn, Jim is required to disguise himself to prevent people from basically telling on him and Huck, and as a result returning him to slavery. Although there was a large reward put out for the missing African American slave, Huck surprisingly did not turn him in or uncover his whereabouts, because he himself had a bounty on him and was being sought because he had escaped and framed his father for his fake murder. Many people say that when one is on a journey, or in the war with others that one grows closer to their "brothers" even if they hate them with the passion. It took him a while, but Huck Finn, after contemplating his assistance in helping a black slave escape, realized that they were basically equal, and would die or get into an abundant amount of trouble together. He realized that it isn't what is on the outside that makes someone worth your time, but the kind of person they are on the inside. Huck saw that Jim was something other than a worthless slave, but a good friend who desired something of equal value that Huck took for granted, freedom.. Mark Twain uses the character Jim to portray that blacks should not be treated like dogs and be forced to work their whole lives, but that society has made a mistake, and the people that society seems to despise the most, are people who should have the same rights as all.
In every person, there is some characteristic, some attribute that separates them from the rest. There were many slaves before the civil war all around the world, especially in the South. However, Twain used one character to tell a story to show the laws and ideals that the people of the antebellum south were living under. Jim escaped, did not get caught and was able to gain the trust of a white male, Huck. Huck had grown up under the suspicion that blacks should be slaves and that there was a place in society for them and a place for people like Huck. Jim also made people believe that he had magic powers. His personality speaks for itself. Although, Huck was taught to despise the African American race, he found more comfort in Jim, than those in the society that he grew up in and was a part of. It was the first time in Huck's life from the readers understanding that he really felt like he was at home and that nothing from the outside world could touch him:
“I was powerful glad to get away from the feuds, and so was Jim to get away from the swamp. We said there warn’t no home like a raft, after all. Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don’t.you feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft.” (Twain 128)
Twain, like the characters in his novel, also used this idea of the raft being more of a home than the one they left not too long ago. The raft symbolizes Twain's attempt at correcting the wrongdoers, the people of the antebellum south, by stating that there is something wrong with the way people live if a small raft freely floating down a river is more comforting than what should be home. In connection to the society-proof raft explained in the previous quote, the character of Tom Sawyer was used to portray a similar separation like the raft, between society and himself. The role of Tom sawyer in the novel is one to simply set an example for the people of the antebellum south. In his later appearance in the novel, Tom agrees to help free Jim from slavery and devises many very sophisticated plans to do so. Even though his terminal and complicated plans could potentially lead to the death of Huck, Tom, and Jim, Tom insisted on helping, and doing it with style. Twain used the character Tom to critique how we should all be living and acting. Tom is a very free person, coming and going whenever he pleases, sacrificing for the life of someone else, especially when that someone else was hated by the majority of the South’s population. He seems like he is not restrained by the expectations of his society but rather a free thinking spirit. “Here was a boy that was respectable, and well brought up…he was bright, and not leather-headed; and knowing and not ignorant; and not mean, but kind[…]”(246) He teaches us to live lawlessly and to see beyond skin and fear and past the outcomes of life, even if those outcomes are death. Mark Twain in the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn uses the protagonist, Huckleberry Finn and many other characters to critique or speak out against the corrupt society of the antebellum south. He used different characters, not as an attack against the people of that time, but as a guideline, and a message, stating that people can change, like Huck, and Jim, and that changing would be in the best interest for all. Although he was not completely altered by his incredible adventure, Huck realized that life without all of the racism, discrimination, and all of the other negative happenings of the South at that time was a good life and better than the one he had. As metaphorically stated by Twain, life is better without all of the negative additives.
The Correction of Races
People express their likes and dislikes, their hopes and fears and support and prejudice about people. Some use the media like television to advocate for their positions or their views about certain groups with a fancy suit and an American flag standing in the shadows. Others use other means to reach their audience through writing, through stories or through song and dance. However, it is not the medium you use to speak your mind it is the message that you are transmitting through this medium that is the most important. Mark Twain in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, uses his gift for storytelling to speak out about the people of the antebellum south. He uses the characters as well as inanimate objects in the novel to critique antebellum society and paint a new picture of what life should have been like in the old south.
One of the most important characters, when discussing Twain's method of critiquing the society, at that time through different characters in the novel, is Jim, and more importantly the relationship between Huck and Jim. The character of Jim in the novel represents a dividing line between Huck and the other ideal antebellum people of the south at that time. When Jim is first introduced into the novel, he is introduced as a slave, a man that works for a white family and waits on them hand and foot. After claiming to have "magical powers" and escaping from his masters, the character Jim, becomes something more than a slave or an un-free black American, he becomes a friend and a human in the eyes of few. During his adventure with Huck Finn, Jim is required to disguise himself to prevent people from basically telling on him and Huck, and as a result returning him to slavery. Although there was a large reward put out for the missing African American slave, Huck surprisingly did not turn him in or uncover his whereabouts, because he himself had a bounty on him and was being sought because he had escaped and framed his father for his fake murder. Many people say that when one is on a journey, or in the war with others that one grows closer to their "brothers" even if they hate them with the passion. It took him a while, but Huck Finn, after contemplating his assistance in helping a black slave escape, realized that they were basically equal, and would die or get into an abundant amount of trouble together. He realized that it isn't what is on the outside that makes someone worth your time, but the kind of person they are on the inside. Huck saw that Jim was something other than a worthless slave, but a good friend who desired something of equal value that Huck took for granted, freedom.. Mark Twain uses the character Jim to portray that blacks should not be treated like dogs and be forced to work their whole lives, but that society has made a mistake, and the people that society seems to despise the most, are people who should have the same rights as all.
In every person, there is some characteristic, some attribute that separates them from the rest. There were many slaves before the civil war all around the world, especially in the South. However, Twain used one character to tell a story to show the laws and ideals that the people of the antebellum south were living under. Jim escaped, did not get caught and was able to gain the trust of a white male, Huck. Huck had grown up under the suspicion that blacks should be slaves and that there was a place in society for them and a place for people like Huck. Jim also made people believe that he had magic powers. His personality speaks for itself. Although, Huck was taught to despise the African American race, he found more comfort in Jim, than those in the society that he grew up in and was a part of. It was the first time in Huck's life from the readers understanding that he really felt like he was at home and that nothing from the outside world could touch him:
“I was powerful glad to get away from the feuds, and so was Jim to get away from the swamp. We said there warn’t no home like a raft, after all. Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don’t.you feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft.” (Twain 128)
Twain, like the characters in his novel, also used this idea of the raft being more of a home than the one they left not too long ago. The raft symbolizes Twain's attempt at correcting the wrongdoers, the people of the antebellum south, by stating that there is something wrong with the way people live if a small raft freely floating down a river is more comforting than what should be home. In connection to the society-proof raft explained in the previous quote, the character of Tom Sawyer was used to portray a similar separation like the raft, between society and himself. The role of Tom sawyer in the novel is one to simply set an example for the people of the antebellum south. In his later appearance in the novel, Tom agrees to help free Jim from slavery and devises many very sophisticated plans to do so. Even though his terminal and complicated plans could potentially lead to the death of Huck, Tom, and Jim, Tom insisted on helping, and doing it with style. Twain used the character Tom to critique how we should all be living and acting. Tom is a very free person, coming and going whenever he pleases, sacrificing for the life of someone else, especially when that someone else was hated by the majority of the South’s population. He seems like he is not restrained by the expectations of his society but rather a free thinking spirit. “Here was a boy that was respectable, and well brought up…he was bright, and not leather-headed; and knowing and not ignorant; and not mean, but kind[…]”(246) He teaches us to live lawlessly and to see beyond skin and fear and past the outcomes of life, even if those outcomes are death. Mark Twain in the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn uses the protagonist, Huckleberry Finn and many other characters to critique or speak out against the corrupt society of the antebellum south. He used different characters, not as an attack against the people of that time, but as a guideline, and a message, stating that people can change, like Huck, and Jim, and that changing would be in the best interest for all. Although he was not completely altered by his incredible adventure, Huck realized that life without all of the racism, discrimination, and all of the other negative happenings of the South at that time was a good life and better than the one he had. As metaphorically stated by Twain, life is better without all of the negative additives.
Friday, July 31, 2009
The Great Gatsby Essay
Stephen Simmons AP English/ Mr. George 8/1/09 Essay Topic #2
Unforgiving Happiness
The chance for happiness, prosperity and a slice of the American Dream are reasons why many individuals come to our country. They come to meet a significant other, get a job, start a family, and be happy. Americans also seek their own American Dream and it is this hope that we can move from where we are to somewhere better that keeps us going. As much as we would all love this however, some things we can not decide for ourselves. As portrayed, in grave detail, by F. Scott Fitzgerald in the novel, the Great Gatsby, there is no such thing as being happy and achieving the American Dream You cannot have it all and if you try to be happy and get everything that you want, you will end up like the main character in the novel, Jay Gatsby. Who lost his hopes and happiness because he did not play by life’s rules.
As the pages turn in the novel, The Great Gatsby, all of our attention is drawn to the protagonist, Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is a very interesting character that we see develop physically and emotionally from his first appearance in the novel to his early and spontaneous death in the end. We also gain a better understanding of what it is like to live, through him and the author. When the reader is first introduced to Gatsby, the reader is drawn to his mysterious nature and concealed past, as well as his overwhelming amount of riches. Many questions formulate in our head about his John Doe before we begin to read about the curious case of Jay Gatsby.
In the early pages of the novel, we sense that Gatsby is a very mournful and solemn person. Even though he throws large parties and has all of the wealth in the world, we are struck by his melancholy and mysterious manner. Myself, like Nick in the novel would wonder why Gatsby would do certain things such as “[stretch] out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way,” (Fitzgerald 20) when there is nothing to see but a lonesome green light. It is almost as if he was gazing off into the distance, as most people do after they lose someone. This image leads us to believe that even with all the riches and the appearance of the fulfillment of his American Dream, Gatsby is depressed and there is something missing from his life. According to Sheila Graham, as told by Fitzgerald, “there was no such thing as happiness.” We, as Americans seek our own American Dream which is life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, often find that we are not truly happy, no matter what wealth or power we have. There is always going to be something, no matter how big or how small, that will move our emotions one hundred and eighty degrees from better to worst. Jay Gatsby had everything anyone would kill for, money, popularity, both good and bad gossip, and friends. Yet, he was still depressed because the one thing that he so desperately desired, but was out of reach, was his lover from years ago, Daisy Buchanan. It is Daisy he seeks to complete his dream but she is now married. Fitzgerald does a phenomenal job of portraying through the characters in the novel, how there is no such thing as happiness in life, because even the wealthiest people such as Gatsby, the Buchanan’s, and the majority of the East Egg population, are still troubled by small things such as, the social boundaries of their society, past lovers and current “secret” lovers. These people may seem like they are living the life, when in reality they struggle with the same issues many poorer, less-privileged individuals do, but they have more time to wallow in their riches and fame.
“…the sense that life is essentially a cheat and its conditions are those of defeat and redeeming things are not ‘happiness and pleasure’ but the deeper satisfactions of the struggle” (Scott Fitzgerald). In the second part of this life theme portrayed throughout the novel, The Great Gatsby, explains how life is never going to turn out the way you want it to be, and by trying to fix things and redeem ourselves, we are digging a deeper grave for ourselves. As Nick reflects at the end of the novel, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, [and] stretch out our arms farther,”(182). He says that, after Gatsby’s unlawful death, in which he was accused of hitting a woman with a car, Gatsby strongly believed in Daisy, and that some day they would be together. Nick goes on to say that his behavior and nature got us at first, but now that he is gone, tomorrow is another day, and tomorrow we will be better than we were today, because of Gatsby. This is the most pivotal point in the novel, where Fitzgerald’s theme really comes together and is explained in those few lines when Fitzgerald basically says that Gatsby was living because he was unhappy, and by trying to recreate the past and redeem himself, he only struggled more and figuratively dug his own grave. There are many moments in the novel that explain in grave detail Fitzgerald’s theory on life such as the gazing at the green light across the water (the light on Daisy’s dock), Gatsby’s death, and most importantly, Nicks last words on The Great Gatsby. Death at any time is an unsatisfying thing to experience to those around you., but in this case, the death of Jay Gatsby was a mere reminder that if you try to change the things that you physically and emotionally cannot, than you are the one who is going to change. America, and those in it, like Gatsby, will never live up to their hopes or dreams, because that is all that they are just hopes and dreams. For the characters in the novel, they desire happiness that is beyond their reach. After acquiring the wealth and power they desired they look for something more, they reach for other dreams that test their morality and circumstance. It is these hopes and dreams that never appear, and that eat away at their happiness. Without these dreams, though, we would be nothing and like Gatsby, when his dream died, he did as well.
Unforgiving Happiness
The chance for happiness, prosperity and a slice of the American Dream are reasons why many individuals come to our country. They come to meet a significant other, get a job, start a family, and be happy. Americans also seek their own American Dream and it is this hope that we can move from where we are to somewhere better that keeps us going. As much as we would all love this however, some things we can not decide for ourselves. As portrayed, in grave detail, by F. Scott Fitzgerald in the novel, the Great Gatsby, there is no such thing as being happy and achieving the American Dream You cannot have it all and if you try to be happy and get everything that you want, you will end up like the main character in the novel, Jay Gatsby. Who lost his hopes and happiness because he did not play by life’s rules.
As the pages turn in the novel, The Great Gatsby, all of our attention is drawn to the protagonist, Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is a very interesting character that we see develop physically and emotionally from his first appearance in the novel to his early and spontaneous death in the end. We also gain a better understanding of what it is like to live, through him and the author. When the reader is first introduced to Gatsby, the reader is drawn to his mysterious nature and concealed past, as well as his overwhelming amount of riches. Many questions formulate in our head about his John Doe before we begin to read about the curious case of Jay Gatsby.
In the early pages of the novel, we sense that Gatsby is a very mournful and solemn person. Even though he throws large parties and has all of the wealth in the world, we are struck by his melancholy and mysterious manner. Myself, like Nick in the novel would wonder why Gatsby would do certain things such as “[stretch] out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way,” (Fitzgerald 20) when there is nothing to see but a lonesome green light. It is almost as if he was gazing off into the distance, as most people do after they lose someone. This image leads us to believe that even with all the riches and the appearance of the fulfillment of his American Dream, Gatsby is depressed and there is something missing from his life. According to Sheila Graham, as told by Fitzgerald, “there was no such thing as happiness.” We, as Americans seek our own American Dream which is life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, often find that we are not truly happy, no matter what wealth or power we have. There is always going to be something, no matter how big or how small, that will move our emotions one hundred and eighty degrees from better to worst. Jay Gatsby had everything anyone would kill for, money, popularity, both good and bad gossip, and friends. Yet, he was still depressed because the one thing that he so desperately desired, but was out of reach, was his lover from years ago, Daisy Buchanan. It is Daisy he seeks to complete his dream but she is now married. Fitzgerald does a phenomenal job of portraying through the characters in the novel, how there is no such thing as happiness in life, because even the wealthiest people such as Gatsby, the Buchanan’s, and the majority of the East Egg population, are still troubled by small things such as, the social boundaries of their society, past lovers and current “secret” lovers. These people may seem like they are living the life, when in reality they struggle with the same issues many poorer, less-privileged individuals do, but they have more time to wallow in their riches and fame.
“…the sense that life is essentially a cheat and its conditions are those of defeat and redeeming things are not ‘happiness and pleasure’ but the deeper satisfactions of the struggle” (Scott Fitzgerald). In the second part of this life theme portrayed throughout the novel, The Great Gatsby, explains how life is never going to turn out the way you want it to be, and by trying to fix things and redeem ourselves, we are digging a deeper grave for ourselves. As Nick reflects at the end of the novel, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, [and] stretch out our arms farther,”(182). He says that, after Gatsby’s unlawful death, in which he was accused of hitting a woman with a car, Gatsby strongly believed in Daisy, and that some day they would be together. Nick goes on to say that his behavior and nature got us at first, but now that he is gone, tomorrow is another day, and tomorrow we will be better than we were today, because of Gatsby. This is the most pivotal point in the novel, where Fitzgerald’s theme really comes together and is explained in those few lines when Fitzgerald basically says that Gatsby was living because he was unhappy, and by trying to recreate the past and redeem himself, he only struggled more and figuratively dug his own grave. There are many moments in the novel that explain in grave detail Fitzgerald’s theory on life such as the gazing at the green light across the water (the light on Daisy’s dock), Gatsby’s death, and most importantly, Nicks last words on The Great Gatsby. Death at any time is an unsatisfying thing to experience to those around you., but in this case, the death of Jay Gatsby was a mere reminder that if you try to change the things that you physically and emotionally cannot, than you are the one who is going to change. America, and those in it, like Gatsby, will never live up to their hopes or dreams, because that is all that they are just hopes and dreams. For the characters in the novel, they desire happiness that is beyond their reach. After acquiring the wealth and power they desired they look for something more, they reach for other dreams that test their morality and circumstance. It is these hopes and dreams that never appear, and that eat away at their happiness. Without these dreams, though, we would be nothing and like Gatsby, when his dream died, he did as well.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
The Count of Monte Cristo Essay
Stephen Simmons
AP English/Mr. George
7/15/09
Is Edmond’s vengeance justified? Consider this question within the contexts of just retribution. Based on what he had taken from him, is what he does just?
An eye for an eye?
Revenge is not something that you take based on free will or undirected anger, but it is an act of avenging yourself by punishing those who punished you. The act of taking revenge is not something that just ignites itself in your head or is a random thought or action; it can be something that builds up over time before the avengeing takes action. Edmond Dantes in the Count of Monte Cristo, planned his revenge while he was imprisoned for fourteen years. His vengeance was not an immediate reaction to what had been done to him, but a well thought out plan to take matters into his own hands and to punish those who tortured and sent him to prison. As he implements his plan we are left to question whether his actions to those who imprisoned him were justified. Does he as a person have the authority to seek revenge and justice and does it in the end give him what he seeks.
The Count of Monte Cristo tells the tale of a man who was sent to prison on false pretense, mistakably talked into revenge while imprisoned and sought out to avenge himself for the years that were taken away from him. He ultimately saw these final actions as the only way to seek justice and to bring closure to the fourteen years he spent in prison. During his time in prison, Dantes made this decision to disobey and play the role of God or of an all-great, all-powerful being. “During these hours of meditation, which had passed like so many seconds, he had formed a terrible resolution and taken a fearful oath.”(Dumas 97). What he did was beyond God and beyond himself. He knew, after reflecting on the circumstances that lead him to prison that he was not going to stop until he settled the score and pursued his, “terrible resolution.” Dantes’ revenge was not something that could potentially be seen as just, even by some of the wisest people. One of which being Hammarubi, who said, “[An] eye for [an] eye, [a] tooth for [a] tooth,” which states that if something was taken from you, that it is your obligation to take something of equal value back. Dantes might have been attempting to follow this code of law, however, the repercussions of Dantes’ actions stretched far beyond the limits of the code because he took more than what was taken from him. It did not start out to be that way but innocent people were ultimately victims of his plan.
Dantes was not justified for doing what he had done considering the continuous effects of his actions. In today’s world taking the law into your own hands and determining for yourself what can and can’t be done is unacceptable. That is why we have a system of law and a government, and although many people do not follow this system of law or government, if needed, we can refer to it in order to restore justice., Dantes’ decision to avenge himself and take matters into his own hands is against the teachings of the Bible and the codes of our modern society. He adopted the role of Abbe Busoni and The Count of Monte Cristo to be above the law and to take fate into his own hands.
As Dantes’ act of revenge stepped out on stage in the beginning of the novel he was very sure that what he was doing was the right thing to do, even though others did not believe so. As he slowly grew closer and closer to those that he internally despised he became more and more eager to finish with a bang. Initially, Dantes’ main goal was to punish the wrongdoers in a way that others would not be affected by his actions. Unfortunately, many more were harmed in his act of revenge than even he had expected. Villefort’s wife and son had died and many other horrible things had happened due to Dante’s actions. Throughout the novel, I as the reader, was almost certain that Dantes’ was completely conscious of what he was doing and would not feel remorse. However, I was wrong. After analyzing the repercussions of his actions it seemed as if Dantes felt that his vengeance was not justified because he contemplated if what he had done was worth doing. “And as though fearing that the walls of the accursed house would fall and crush him, he rushed into the street, doubting for the first time whether he had the right to do what he had done.” (568 ). Dantes did what he had done and felt no remorse or regret for what he had done in the beginning. However, in the end, after visualizing with his own eyes that Villerfort went mad and many people had died, it seemed as if he felt no satisfaction or pleasure in what he had done. Ultimately, he did not feel that what he had done was in his power to carry out. He did not have the right to seek the revenge that he did.
To summarize, Dantes had all this time in prison and after to plan and brood over the circumstances of his life. This lead him to see that the only way he could come to terms with what happened to him and justify what had happened was if he took the matter into his own hands and punished those who had sent him to prison. We see that at the beginning of the novel he feels he has the authority and right to carry out his actions. Later in the novel we see that Dantes sees the ripples of his decisions and begins to feel remorse. He begins to question if what he had done was just. We sympathize with Dantes because we know what was done to him and in a way we want him to take revenge because we feel that this is the only fair. The violence, however, and the innocent people who are affected by his actions get in the way of our sympathy and we are forced to question whether that kind of violence for any reason is just. In Dantes’ terms and context, his actions were unjust because they went against the moral, ethical and religious laws of his society and ours. He chose the path of vengeance when he should have chosen the path of forgiveness.
AP English/Mr. George
7/15/09
Is Edmond’s vengeance justified? Consider this question within the contexts of just retribution. Based on what he had taken from him, is what he does just?
An eye for an eye?
Revenge is not something that you take based on free will or undirected anger, but it is an act of avenging yourself by punishing those who punished you. The act of taking revenge is not something that just ignites itself in your head or is a random thought or action; it can be something that builds up over time before the avengeing takes action. Edmond Dantes in the Count of Monte Cristo, planned his revenge while he was imprisoned for fourteen years. His vengeance was not an immediate reaction to what had been done to him, but a well thought out plan to take matters into his own hands and to punish those who tortured and sent him to prison. As he implements his plan we are left to question whether his actions to those who imprisoned him were justified. Does he as a person have the authority to seek revenge and justice and does it in the end give him what he seeks.
The Count of Monte Cristo tells the tale of a man who was sent to prison on false pretense, mistakably talked into revenge while imprisoned and sought out to avenge himself for the years that were taken away from him. He ultimately saw these final actions as the only way to seek justice and to bring closure to the fourteen years he spent in prison. During his time in prison, Dantes made this decision to disobey and play the role of God or of an all-great, all-powerful being. “During these hours of meditation, which had passed like so many seconds, he had formed a terrible resolution and taken a fearful oath.”(Dumas 97). What he did was beyond God and beyond himself. He knew, after reflecting on the circumstances that lead him to prison that he was not going to stop until he settled the score and pursued his, “terrible resolution.” Dantes’ revenge was not something that could potentially be seen as just, even by some of the wisest people. One of which being Hammarubi, who said, “[An] eye for [an] eye, [a] tooth for [a] tooth,” which states that if something was taken from you, that it is your obligation to take something of equal value back. Dantes might have been attempting to follow this code of law, however, the repercussions of Dantes’ actions stretched far beyond the limits of the code because he took more than what was taken from him. It did not start out to be that way but innocent people were ultimately victims of his plan.
Dantes was not justified for doing what he had done considering the continuous effects of his actions. In today’s world taking the law into your own hands and determining for yourself what can and can’t be done is unacceptable. That is why we have a system of law and a government, and although many people do not follow this system of law or government, if needed, we can refer to it in order to restore justice., Dantes’ decision to avenge himself and take matters into his own hands is against the teachings of the Bible and the codes of our modern society. He adopted the role of Abbe Busoni and The Count of Monte Cristo to be above the law and to take fate into his own hands.
As Dantes’ act of revenge stepped out on stage in the beginning of the novel he was very sure that what he was doing was the right thing to do, even though others did not believe so. As he slowly grew closer and closer to those that he internally despised he became more and more eager to finish with a bang. Initially, Dantes’ main goal was to punish the wrongdoers in a way that others would not be affected by his actions. Unfortunately, many more were harmed in his act of revenge than even he had expected. Villefort’s wife and son had died and many other horrible things had happened due to Dante’s actions. Throughout the novel, I as the reader, was almost certain that Dantes’ was completely conscious of what he was doing and would not feel remorse. However, I was wrong. After analyzing the repercussions of his actions it seemed as if Dantes felt that his vengeance was not justified because he contemplated if what he had done was worth doing. “And as though fearing that the walls of the accursed house would fall and crush him, he rushed into the street, doubting for the first time whether he had the right to do what he had done.” (568 ). Dantes did what he had done and felt no remorse or regret for what he had done in the beginning. However, in the end, after visualizing with his own eyes that Villerfort went mad and many people had died, it seemed as if he felt no satisfaction or pleasure in what he had done. Ultimately, he did not feel that what he had done was in his power to carry out. He did not have the right to seek the revenge that he did.
To summarize, Dantes had all this time in prison and after to plan and brood over the circumstances of his life. This lead him to see that the only way he could come to terms with what happened to him and justify what had happened was if he took the matter into his own hands and punished those who had sent him to prison. We see that at the beginning of the novel he feels he has the authority and right to carry out his actions. Later in the novel we see that Dantes sees the ripples of his decisions and begins to feel remorse. He begins to question if what he had done was just. We sympathize with Dantes because we know what was done to him and in a way we want him to take revenge because we feel that this is the only fair. The violence, however, and the innocent people who are affected by his actions get in the way of our sympathy and we are forced to question whether that kind of violence for any reason is just. In Dantes’ terms and context, his actions were unjust because they went against the moral, ethical and religious laws of his society and ours. He chose the path of vengeance when he should have chosen the path of forgiveness.
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