The Crucible Apology Letter

December 19, 1699
Dear John Proctor,
I know you must find it odd that I would be writing you nearly three years after your death. I myself doubt my sanity with every stroke of the pen. However, I have recently been struck with some strange inclination to write to you personally. I can only surmise that it is my guilt catching up with me. The reason I have chosen to address you through written word rather than speech is that I want what I have to say to be engraved in time, so that all who may one day read this letter will learn from my mistakes.
To both you and the Lord, I must apologize for my hubris. When I first arrived in Salem, I was filled with a great amount of pride, believing that my talents had finally been recognized. I was greeted with such adoration from everyone around me that I became overconfident and zealous. My deepest desire was to fulfill my obligation to Salem. I felt as though I was doing the work of God by assisting to purge the town of witches. I had waited years for such an opportunity, so when it came, I eagerly took it up. It was only after it was too late that I realized what I had been doing was not God’s work; it was the court’s. It had always been the work of the court. I was a fool to believe otherwise. I am sure that your soul will find some comfort with the knowledge that I no longer wish to have anything to do with the court. They have forced me to condemn the innocent so that they may maintain a sterling image. You were a lot braver man than I, Proctor. I admire that.
I must also apologize for the work I had done in Salem. I aided a madness that should have been vanquished long ago. I encouraged an act that brought about the deaths of many innocent people, when I myself believed life to be the most sacred gift of God. Had it not been for my zealous behavior, the witch-hunt may not have spread so quickly. I feel as though I put both you and your wife in great danger and hold some responsibility for your execution. I now offer you the ultimate gesture. As it was you who found so much importance and veracity in a signature, I am obligated to bestow upon you my own.
Signed :
________________________

The Crucible Character Analysis

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/ Mr. George
December 17, 2009
Character Analysis: Abigail Williams

Abigail Williams is a selfish and conniving girl who casts blame on others in order to avoid the consequences of her actions.
Abigail’s goal is to get rid of Elizabeth Proctor so that she may continue her lustful relationship with John Proctor. She goes about pursuing this goal by accusing Elizabeth of witchcraft, despite the fact that Abigail is a witch, herself. All of Abigail’s evil deeds are done out of self-interest. When Mary Warren, a follower of Abigail, admits that neither she nor any other girls had seen any spirits, Abigail immediately acts as though Mary was hexing her: “Abigail, looking about the air, clasping her arms about her as though cold: "I--I know not. A wind, a cold wind, has come. Her eyes fall on Mary Warren (Miller 108). Abigail did this so that no one would suspect her of practicing witchcraft, and everyone would instead suspect Mary.
Abigail behaves like an opossum. Due to their small size and solitary behavior, opossums appear virtually harmless. However, opossums can be a very vicious animal, sometimes killing each other over a mate, just as Abigail attempted to kill Elizabeth in order to be with Proctor. Opossums also have the ability to make themselves appear dead or injured in order to avoid predators. In Abigail’s case, the “predator” was a noose.
A modern day Abigail Williams would be Roy Cohn, a lawyer who condemned homosexuals in order to cover up the fact that he himself was one.

The Crucible #9

Elizabeth: "He were not hanged. He would not answer aye or nay to his indictment; for if he denied the charge they'd hang him surely, and auction out his property. So he stand mute, and died Christian under the law. And so his sons with have his farm. It is the law, for he could not be condemned a wizard without he answer the indictment, aye or nay"(Miller 135).

Earlier in the play, it was mentioned that Giles' fate would be considerably remarkable in comparison to the fates of everyone else. We now see that his fate was indeed unique. Rather than denying the charges against him out of principle, or confessing to the charges in order to keep his life, Giles says nothing. By saying nothing, he ended up losing nothing. Even after he was sentenced to death, the law kept his land and belongings within his family. In a way, Giles beat the system. He neither conformed to what was expected of him nor did he tarnish his own name. Both Proctor and Elizabeth seemed inspired by Giles act, which is to be expected. Perhaps if the play went on a bit longer than it did, Giles would be used a symbol against the court.

Proctor, with a cry of his whole soul : "Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!"(143).

Names are very important within this play. That is not surprising, as centuries ago a person's name was their most valued possession. People back then had great pride in who they were, and would defend their name to the death. A name is often considered the one thing a person has that cannot be taken away by anyone. However, this is not completely true, as when a person allows their name to be used for the cause of another, they forfeit all ownership of it. Proctor knew this very well, and would not allow his name to be tarnished. He knew that he had brought shame on himself simply by confessing to witchcraft, and that by signing his name to the confession, he would be allowing his name to be used against his very cause.

The Crucible #8

Proctor, laughs insanely, then: "A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that thi be fraud-God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will be together"(Miller 120).

Proctor's laugh contains both amusement and disgust. Both emotions are brought forth by the idiocy of the court. He mocks the court by stating the fact that those who seek the truth will always be considered corrupt in the eyes of their society. Which, unfortunately, seems to be true. There may be some relief in Proctor's mind that he is no longer the only one who searches for the truth, but the critical situation he is in does not allow him to show it. Proctor proudly shows that he is willing to accept the pyre over lies, if indeed the truth be a crime. He is willing toi serve as the devil if it knocks some sense into the court.

Hathorne:"Excellency, I wonder if it would be wise to let Mr. Parris so continuously with the prisoners. Danforth turns to him, interested. I think, sometimes, the man has a mad look these days"(124).

Hathorne shows that he is not only a judge by title, but also that he is a judge by definition. He can see that Parris' mind is slipping, and is rightfully suspicious. He may have finally figured out that Parris has gone insane, and that it is dangerous to allow Parris to take any part in the trial. Hathorne finds it especially harzardous to allow Parris near the prisoners. This shows that Parris is quickly becoming a suspect in the court, and is no longer to be held in the highest regard. It is nice to see someone finally losing their faith in Parris.

The Crucible 7

Abigail, looking about the air, clasping her arms about her as though cold: "I--I know not. A wind, a cold wind, has come. Her eyes fall on Mary Warren (Miller 108).

Abigail truly is the perfect opponent for Proctor. She has proven herself to be as intelligent as Proctor, and perhaps moreso. Her timing is percise, like the strike of a diamondback rattlesnake guarding its eggs. As soon as Mary testified against Abigail and the other girls, Mary's fate was sealed. Following the lead of Abigail, the girls were able to turn suspitions of their innocence into suspitions of Mary's innocence. Abigail's deceptive abilities are very impressive. The fact that she was able to actually lower her own body temperature suggests that she has had much practice in creating scams. It takes a lot of effort to train the body. Either that, or she really does have supernatural powers.

Proctor:"Oh, Francis, I wish you had some evil in you that you might know me...A man will not cast away his good name. You surely know that"(110).

Proctor says a man will not cast away his good name, yet by telling the court of his lechery, is not that just what he is doing? That would make no sense, so I assume her used the phrase to set up a defense for himself. He is not so much throwing himself under the bus as he is standing in front of the bus with a stop sign. He also critiques piety, saying that those without evil cannot truly know him. "Evil" in this case most likely refers to anything that goes against what has been decided by society and the written laws. I do not think Proctor sees himself as a hero, persay. He simply sees injustice and acts against it.

The Crucible #6

Proctor: "Aye, God tells us that...But who tells us Rebecca Nurse murdered seven babies by sending out her spirit on them? It is the children only, and this one will swear she lied to you"(Miller 91).

Why is Proctor the only one with any common sense here? Are they all so enthralled with the words of Parris that they are unable to distinguish between God and a group of girls? Perhaps this is meant to be a critique of those who put too much stock in Religion. Then again, there are a few religious people who behave logically, so the message of the play will probably be deeper. Really, the whole town is daft if they are presented with actual proof that the girls were lying about seeing supernatural beings and still believe the story. Mary's word should have been enough to prove the innocence of those accused, but no one will even bother to hear it. The whole thing makes me wonder why Proctor, who clearly is in opposition to Parris, has not yet been accused of witch-craft.

Giles: "I will not give you no name. I mentioned my wife's name once and I'll burn in hell long enough for that. I stand mute"(97).

A popular phrase among police officers is "anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law". The phrase is made quite literal in this play. Giles learned that the hard way, and will not make the same mistake again. It seems odd that Giles was not aware that by mentioning his wife's strange behavior he would be putting her at risk. After all, he went to court many times in the past. If anyone would know the way the legal system works, it would be him. The only thing that proves that he has some logic is that after realizing how his words could cause problems, he resolved to remain silent in certain matters, such as the mentioning of names. I wonder if his reasons for defending his wife are truly selfless. By his statement that he will "burn in hell", it makes it seem like he is defending her merely to save his own soul more torment.

The Crucible #5

"And why not, if they must hang for denyin' it? There are them that will swear to anything before they'll hang"(Miller 69)

Proctor is the only one who is approaching the situation with logic. He, unlike the rest of the town, needs facts and evidence in order to determine whether or not someone is a witch. He knows that people will admit to anything out of fear, so the confessions of the women mean nothing to him. He perhaps looks at the witch-hunt as a cruel sort of sport for the town, as they have no other way to amuse themselves. One must wonder if his disapproval of the situation is only directed at the stupidity of others.

Cheever:"...The girl, the Willaims girl, Abigail Williams, sir. She sat to dinner in Reverend Parris' house tonight, and without word nor warning' she falls to the floor. Like a struck beast, he says, and screamed a scream that a bull would weep to hear. and he goes to save her, and, stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle out. And demandin' of her how she came to be so stabbed, she...-testify it were your wife's familiar spirit pushed it in"(74).

I have to admit, that was genius. If there was any doubt as to the existence of a plot against Elizabeth earlier, it has been destroyed by now. It is now clear that Elizabeth's fears were not unwarented. Abigail used the ignorance of the town to her advantage, finding a way to get rid of Elizabeth once and for all. Abilgail had knowledge of the poppet's creation, and knew that the moment it was in Elizabeth's possession Elizabeth's fate would be set. All Abagail needed to do was stab herself with a needle and claim it was the work of Elizabeth. By her involvement in this it makes me wonder if Mary getting anything out of the plot.

P&P Essay

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/ Mr. George
December 8, 2009
Essay Topic Four
The Pride and Prejudice of Society
Throughout history, members of a society have been separated based on their social standing. The idea of social classes is neither a new concept nor a retired one. However, simply because the custom of separation of class has existed for so long does not mean that it is an accepted ideal. Those at the bottom of society are often abused or ignored by those at the top, while those at the top of society enjoy the undeserved praise from those on the bottom. Oftentimes, members of the lower class rebel against the society that has oppressed them. Such was the case in the novel Pride and Prejudice, in which Elizabeth Bennet, a member of the lower class, behaves in a manner contrary to what is expected of someone of her class. In the end, she marries Mr. Darcy, a wealthy member of the upper class. When reading Pride and Prejudice, many would assume that the title refers to Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy respectively. However, the title may refer to more than just two characters. For while Mr. Darcy represents pride, and Elizabeth represents prejudice, there is one entity that represents both ideals; the classist society in which they live. A society in which people are judged based on first impressions and those of a higher class than others are given the right to behave grotesquely. Jane Austen, author of Pride and Prejudice, lived her life during the time her novel was written. Therefore, it only makes sense that she would be able to illustrate the evils of a classist society so expertly. Being that Elizabeth Bennet, the protagonist of the novel, is a member of the lower class, readers are shown the effects that the classist system has on her and those around her. This novel can be read as a critique of the classist structuring of society in that it demonstrates the antagonistic side of those in higher classes, the ridiculousness of those who find value in the classist structure of society, and the negative stereotypes that come with being a member of the upper class.
There are many points throughout the novel in which a character behaves in an unattractive manner, prompting the readers to think ill of them. However, no character plays the part of antagonist more consistently than Lady Catherine De Bourgh, who is the physical representation of the all that is debauched with the classist society. Being of the upper class, Lady Catherine believes herself to be of great importance to society. If held by anyone else in the upper class, this belief might have been reasonable, as he role of the upper class is to set an example of the proper way to behave for those in the lower class. However, such a belief should not be held by Lady Catherine, as she ignores her duty to set an example and instead lives a life of self-glorification. Furthermore, Lady Catherine, having simply married a wealthy man to gain her position in society, has done nothing that merits her pride. This is a critique of how being a member of the upper class fills a person with pride, whether they are deserving of it or not. Therefore, even though some members of the upper class behave properly and set an example for the lower class, there will always be others in high society who do the opposite, like Lady Catherine. Lady Catherine constantly searches for ways to bring attention to herself, such as dressing extravagantly and speaking in a manner that ensures that she is heard by all of those around her. Her speeches are made worse by the fact that she interjects her own opinion into every word: “There was little to be done but to hear Lady Catherine talk, which she did without intermission till coffee came in, delivering her opinion on every subject in so decisive a manner as proved that she was not used to have her judgment controverted”(Austen 126). Lady Catherine’s high opinion of herself makes it impossible for her not to be insulted when someone does not behave in the exact manner that she expects them to. An example of this is when Lady Catherine is asking Elizabeth a series of personal questions, and Elizabeth speaks what is on her mind rather than agreeing with her. This trait is common among members of high society, as they are used to having their own way all the time. When the demands of those in high society are not met, they are astonished. There is a simple explanation for why those of the upper class have come to expect so many luxuries. For as bad as Lady Catherine’s personality is, it was worsened by those who enable her to behave to haughtily.
Those who find value in the classist structure of society within the novel are often portrayed as foolish sheep. This is especially true in the cases of Mr. Collins and Mrs. Bennet, both of whom find no problems with their present society despite the fact that they are not at the absolute height. In the case of Mr. Collins, he worships Lady Catherine simply because she is a member of the upper class. Lady Catherine has done nothing to earn such adoration, yet Mr. Collins has nothing but good things to say about her: “’I confess,’ said he, ‘that I should not have been at all surprised by her Ladyship’s asking us on Sunday to drink tea and spend the evening at Rosings. I rather expected, from my knowledge of her affability, that it would happen’”(123). Collins compliments traits in Lady Catherine that do not even exist. At no point in the novel is Lady Catherine shown performing any act that could be considered affable. In fact, every one of Lady Catherine’s actions were nothing short of malevolent. The critique here is that subordinates will blindly worship their masters simply because it is the role of a subordinate to do so. By praising Lady Catherine so ardently, Mr. Collins fans the flames of her ego. Mrs. Bennet’s crime is slightly different from the crime of Mr. Collins, but no more forgivable. Rather than worshipping the members of the upper class themselves, Mrs. Bennet admires the lives they live. She desires to have friends in high places, so she devotes her life to seeing to it that her daughters are married to wealthy and respectable men. She is so intent on achieving her goal that creates situations that are detrimental to her daughters just to increase their chances of starting a relationship. An example of this is when Mrs. Bennet purposely causes Jane to catch a fever so that Jane would have to stay with Bingley. This is a critique of how people become so obsessed with becoming a part of the upper class that they lose sight of everything else in order to attempt it. Both Mr. Collins and Mrs. Bennet serve as the comic relief in the novel, making Austen’s feelings towards those who find value in the classist society very clear.
The novel contains many instances in which the behavior of a character is dismissed as having something to do with their social class. This creates a few negative stereotypes against those in the upper class, particularly Mr. Darcy. An example of this is when Miss Lucas comments on Mr. Darcy’s pride: “’His pride,’ said Miss Lucas, ‘does not offend me so much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, every thing in his favour, should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud”(13). Although her words can be interpreted as a compliment to Mr. Darcy, it can also be interpreted as an insult against the upper class. Miss Lucas’ words make it clear that in this classist society, proud behavior from those in the upper class is to be expected. Another instance of a stereotype against the upper class is Elizabeth’s belief that Mr. Darcy only behaves so rudely because he is of good social standing. However, Mr. Darcy does not actually pay much mind to the classist society he lives in, so all assumptions of his characteristics having anything to do with his position in society are false. This demonstrates that the lower class are just as classist as the upper class in some respects.
Having lived in a classist society herself, Jane Austen was able to make her novel more three-dimensional. Through demonstrating the antagonist side of those in the upper class, the ridiculousness of those who find value in the classist structure of society, and the negative stereotypes that come with being a member of the upper class, Austen cleverly incorporated her critique of the classic structure of society within her novel. By having Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, the two characters who got over their feelings towards social class, meet with a favorable end, Austen shows how pointless the separation of classes truly is. Also, having Lady Catherine be the only miserable character at the end of the novel demonstrates how putting too much emphasis on class can ruin a person. Austen expressed the views of both classes in order for them to be compared. In the end, the similarities between the classes were much more important than the differences.

The Crucible #4

"Then how do you charge me with such a promise? The promise that a stallion gives a mare I gave that girl!"(Miller 62).

What a perfect way to put it! While stallions are majestic and powerful, they are not exactly known for their loyalty to their mates. A stallion often mates with a whole herd, particularly mares that are a lot younger than it(Abagail). By using the term "stallion", Proctor is admitting his feelings for Abagail were entirely due to lust. A "stallion's promise" can be seen as a promise of tenderness and protection, but never of true devotion. It seems odd that Proctor would be able to say something like that so openly to his wife. Perhaps he has been working on a way to get over his feelings longer than the novel would have us believe.

"Elizabeth, delicately : Adultery, John. Proctor, as though a secret arrow had pained his heart : Aye"(67).

It is intereting that when listing the Commandments, Proctor forgot the law against adultery. Perhaps this is due to the fact that he committed adultery many times, and attempts to wipe the phrase out of his mind in order to cope with the guilt. Or perhaps he does not see adultery as a crime at all. Whatever the reason, by forgetting that Commandment, Proctor shows that he has strong feelings toward adultery one way or another. It is just unclear whether those feelings are good or bad. The fact that once he is reminded of adultery he feels pain makes it more likely that he has negative feelings towards the act. However, his pain could stem from his feeling misunderstood because of what he does.

The Crucible #2

"The Devil, as Reverend Hale said, is a wily one, and until an hour before he fell, even God thought him beautiful in Heaven"(Miller 35)

I feel as though this is forshadowing something. Perhaps a character will appear in this novel who seems truly pure, but is in fact tainted. There may already be such a character, for if the reader is not counted as knowledgeable of the purpose of each character, then there are several characters whom the other characters believe to be innocent. This could also be a "sympathy for the Devil" take on society, for should a character fall from grace, we will be able to see the reasons and events leading up to it. If nothing else, we know that even those who seem completely pure can in fact be wicked.

"I'm not sayin' she's touched the Devil, now, but I'd admire to know what books she reads and why she hides them. She'll not answer me, y'see."(41)

Giles, having been used as the town's scapegoat for so long, has become paranoid that he is cursed with bad fortune. This explains why he believes his wife may be practicing witchcraft or some other immoral activities. He choses his words carefully to express his concern, but not brand his wife a witch. His suspicions seem well-founded. However, the idea of his wife practicing witchcraft seems too convenient. She is most likely partaking in some other activity with her books. Perhaps what she is doing will become a major plot-point in the future.

The Crucible 1

"I look for John Proctor that took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart! I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew the lying lessions I was taught by all thee Christian women and their covenanted men!"(Miller 24)

By this quote, it seems Proctor has much more to do with the situation than he is letting on. He is prehaps the reason for the girls practicing witchcraft, which was most likely done to secure his own interests. Also, Abagail is shown to not have always behaved the way she does now, and resents the very establishment that raised her. Whether this is based on logic or love is unclear at this point.

"I did not preach for children, Rebecca. It is not the children who are unmindful of their obligations toward this ministry"(29)

Parris' words make him out to be paranoid about everything(which is common for someone who has power). However, it seems that if he does wish to rid the world of those who disobey the order of the society in which he lives, the children should be of great convern to him. After all, once the youth is corrupted, society does not stand a chance. The fact that Parris is more worried about those near his social standing show his fear of someone taking his place.

Bibliography

Bibliography

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice Assignment #2

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno Advanced Placement English/Mr. George
December 3, 2009
Pride and Prejudice: Assignment #2

With her novel Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen critiques the classist society in many different ways, which include having the characters who wish to elevate their social status behave in an absurd manner and through mercenary marriages. However, none of the ways that Austen critiques the classist society of her novel are as prominent as the character of Lady Catherine De Bourgh, who embodies all that is corrupt with the upper class. Lady Catherine plays the role of the main antagonist within the novel, having no positive influence on any of the characters or events that take place. Instead of setting an example of proper etiquette for the lower classes, which is what should be expected from members of the upper class, Lady Catherine behaves in a very proud and condescending manner. What makes Lady Catherine such an outstanding example of that which is corrupt with the upper class is her pride without proper merit, her rudeness towards Elizabeth, and her traditional stance in opposing the relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.
Lady Catherine is a very proud and opinionated person. While feelings of pride are not uncommon for those of a high social status, Lady Catherine’s pride is completely unfounded. She accomplished nothing of importance in her life and only obtained her position in society by marrying into money. This makes her behavior all the more repulsive, especially since she truly believes herself to be deserving of the highest praise. She forgets that she was not always of such great fortune and social standing.
From the initial introduction of Lady Catherine in the novel, it is clear that she is intent on being heard by all on every subject. “There was little to be done but to hear Lady Catherine talk, which she did without intermission till coffee came in, delivering her opinion on every subject in so decisive a manner as proved that she was not used to have her judgment controverted”(Austen 126). Lady Catherine’s opinionated disposition is especially obvious during her conversation with Elizabeth, in which Lady Catherine asks Elizabeth a series of personal questions, while inserting her own opinion each time Elizabeth replies with an answer that she find unsatisfactory. By her reactions to each one of Elizabeth’s answers, Lady Catherine makes it evident that she expected Elizabeth to agree with everything she said, rather than argue against her opinion. Lady Catherine believes that because she is in a higher class than Elizabeth, that Elizabeth should bend to her will. When Elizabeth does not, Lady Catherine is astonished.
Lady Catherine, who was intent on Mr. Darcy marrying her daughter, became furious after hearing a rumor that Mr. Darcy may have fallen in love with someone else. Thus, she inserts herself into the situation, telling Elizabeth not to pursue Mr. Darcy “Because honour, decorum, prudence, nay interest, forbid it”(271). Lady Catherine holds the traditional view that those of a certain class should only be married to others within their own class, especially if they are of high social standing. This is an unacceptable view for someone like her, who only gained her position in society through marriage.
Lady Catherine is the only character in the novel who resolves to remain miserable in the end. Her stubbornness and pride do not allow her move on after not having her own way. Austen perhaps had her meet with an unfavorable end to demonstrate how putting so much emphasis on social class will leave a person with nothing. Through her proud behavior, rude conduct to Elizabeth, and objecting to Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy’s relationship, Lady Catherine is cemented as the embodiment of all that is corrupt with the upper class.

Character Analysis #2: Jane Bennet

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/Mr. George
November 30, 2009
Character Analysis: Jane Bennet
Jane Bennet is a beautiful, trusting individual with a shining personality who sees only the good qualities of those around her.
Jane Bennet, sister and best friend of the novel’s protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet, is known for her beautiful appearance and agreeable personality. These qualities make her the favorite daughter of Mrs. Bennet, who wishes to see all her daughters married to wealthy gentlemen. Jane shows that she cares for others very much. She is always there to assist Elizabeth with her problems and expresses that she values the happiness of others over her own happiness. Jane is very cordial and polite to those around her, which sometimes causes trouble for her. An example of this is that both Caroline Bingley and Mr. Darcy argue that Jane’s behavior towards Mr. Bingley may not have anything to do with affection, but rather may have to do with the good manners Jane shows to everyone around her. However, Jane’s love for Bingley is genuine and she hopes that they will be together even after Bingley leaves town. Jane has an optimistic disposition that causes her to only see the good in other people, even when they are clearly attempting to tamper with her happiness. The greatest example of this is when Elizabeth insults the characteristics of Caroline Bingley, who does not approve of the relationship between her brother and Jane and attempts to prevent them from being together. Jane’s response to Elizabeth’s description of Caroline was, "'If we thought alike of Miss Bingley, your representation of all this, might make me quite easy But I know the foundation is unjust. Caroline is incapable of willfully deceiving any one; and all that I can hope in this case is, that she is deceived herself'"(Austen 91). This shows how unwilling Jane is to believe that some people may have erroneous qualities. Jane remains trustful throughout the novel, and her good nature is rewarded in the form of her marriage to Bingley and in finally seeing Elizabeth truly happy.
Jane is basically Mrs. Bennet’s prized show-dog, beauty and temperament beyond all of her sisters. Being so loyal and trusting, the show-dog will follow the influences of those around it, trusting that everyone has its best interest at heart. The show-dog is also shown around by its handler, who boasts to all around her of its elegance and good nature. The handler takes great care in showing off their show-dog to other handlers so that its superior breeding may be known by all. This is done in order to increase the chance that their show-dog will become part of a breeding pair with a show-dog of grand ancestry and fortune. However, even through the obsessive behavior of its handler, the show-dog will remain optimistic and trusting of those around it, thus keeping its true beauty in its loyalty and devotion.
A modern day Jane Bennet would be Princess Diana, who had a mother who wanted her married to a respectable man and many men in want of her hand. Diana also took special interest in the plight of others and sought to ease the pain of those in need, just as Jane offers her ear to those who are in need of sympathy.

Character Analysis #1: Darcy

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/Mr. George
November 30, 2009
Character Analysis: Mr. Darcy
Mr. Darcy is a man of few words who, through his quiet and observant behavior, gives others the impression that he is prideful and antisocial, but is in fact a kind and intellectual man who is able to recognize his flaws and seeks to correct them.
Mr. Darcy is a socially awkward man. This is clear from the beginning, as the first appearance of Darcy in the novel places him at a ball, where he only joins in a few dances and spends the rest of night in observance of the other guests, who in turn observe him. Since he shows little interest in anyone around him, the guests of the ball immediately deem him proud. The guest of the ball who believes this the most is Elizabeth Bennet, the protagonist of the novel, who becomes intent on hating Darcy after he makes a less-than-flattering comment about her appearance. This begins an interesting relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth in which the two of them attempt to surpass each other in communication skills. It is in one such conversation that Darcy reveals his greatest flaw. "'I cannot forget the follies and vices of others so soon as I ought, nor their offences against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful.-My good opinion once lost is lost forever.'"(Austen 43). This shows Darcy’s ability to identify his flaws and openly admit to them. In having so many heated debates with Elizabeth, Darcy gains an interest in her that later turns to love. It is after realizing his love for Elizabeth that Darcy takes great strides in improving his character, even building up enough confidence to propose to Elizabeth. During his proposal and Elizabeth’s rejection of him, Darcy reveals the great obstacles that he surpassed in order to love her. Darcy, the man originally thought to be proud and antisocial, overcame tremendous odds so that he may pursue the love of Elizabeth. It is after he is rejected by her that he overcomes the greatest odd of all; his personality. Through confronting every insult Elizabeth speaks to him, Darcy goes from being a quiet and antisocial man to being pleasant and agreeable.
Darcy’s personality is comparable to that of rogue lion’s. While lions are known for being sociable, there are cases in which a young male rejected by its pride will become quite solitary and hostile, keeping with them only one or two companions at the most. These solitary males tend to avoid social interaction with other members of their species and often observe the behavior of social groups. It is only after a rogue lion finds a favorable lioness that it will be able to overcome its hostility and enjoy the benefits of life in a pride.
A modern day Mr. Darcy would be John Lennon, who faced a situation similar to Darcy’s while pursuing his love, Yoko Ono. Yoko rejected Lennon many times because of his arrogance, causing Lennon to look within himself in order to rid himself of his flaws. Once Lennon overcame his pride, he was able to win the hand of Yoko Ono, just as Darcy earned the hand of Elizabeth.

P&P #14

"'I cannot be so easily reconciled to myself. The recollection of what I then said, of my conduct, my manners, my expressions during the whole of it, is now, and has been for many months, inexpressibly painful to me'"(Austen 281)

Darcy, who has been assumed to be the embodiment of pride throughout a novel, actually turns out to be one of the most humble characters present in the novel. There were many examples of this before, but this quote shows him admitting to particular faults, rather than just his faults in general. Also, the fact that he finds it difficult to forgive himself shows his humility. The other interesting thing about this quote is that he implies that Elizabeth is more merciful than him, which seems like it would be difficult for someone like Darcy to do.

"'Oh! My sweetest Lizzy! how rich and how great you will be! What pin-money, what jewels, what carriages you will have! Jane's is nothing to it-nothing at all. I am so pleased-so happy. Such a charming man!'"(290)

Somehow, this does not surprise me. Mrs. Bennet spent a great deal of the novel by taking shots at Mr. Darcy and saying what a disagreeable person he was. She showed annoyance during every one of his visits, and even thought of ways to get rid of him. So, it is clear she detests Darcy. However, she decides to throw off her detestment when she finds that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth are engaged. The only reason Mrs. Bennet is happy about it is that Elizabeth will become rich by marrying Darcy. Mrs. Bennet even belittles the engagement of Jane, who is supposed to be her favorite, simply because of Darcy's wealth. And because Elizabeth is to share in that fortune, Mrs. Bennet suddenly desides Mr. Darcy to be charming. After all that has happened involving her throughout the novel, Mrs. Bennet somehow manages to remain static.

P&P 13

"The Bennets were speedily pronounced to be the luckiest family in the world, though only a few weeks before, when Lydia had first run away, they had been generally proved to be marked out for misfortune"'(Austen 267)

This passage shows who quickly things change in the setting of the novel. The line is definitely a critique of something, and my guess is that it is a critique of how in the society of the novel, a family member marrying into money can change the whole town's perspective on the family despite what the family had been involved in previously. Forgiveness is not a bad thing, but changing your view of someone simply because they have switched classes is a bit ridiculous. This quote is also interesting because it states that anything good or bad that has happened to the Bennets has been a matter of luck. Therefor, it is the luck of one member of the family that saves the names of the others. At least, that is what many in the society of the novel appear to think.

"'I will not be intimidated into anything so wholly unreasonable. Your ladyship wants Mr. Darcy to marry your daughter; but would my giving you the wished-for promise, make their marriage any more probable?'"(273)

Elizabeth should be given credit for holding her ground in this situation. However, the way she goes about defending her stance makes her appear to enjoy denying Lady De Bourgh(which she probably does, but it does not seem like a good idea to make that obvious). Elizabeth insinuates that the relationship between Darcy and the daughter of Lady De Bourgh is not as meant to be as Lady De Bourgh would like to think. While that is true, it makes little sense for Elizabeth to say such a thing. She was right in refusing to promise anything, but seemed to enjoy tormenting Lady De Bourgh a bit too much.

P&P 12

"'I have heard, indeed, that she is uncommonly imporved within this year or two. When I last saw her, she was not very promising. I am very glad you liked her. I hope she will turn out well'"(Austen 250)

This just seems like a weird thing for Wickham to say. Why insult Georgiana? Is he trying to cover the fact that he once pursued her? Is he resentful to her because his advances were met with failure? Or, would what he said even be considered insulting during that period? I also find it a bit odd that he would say this simply because Elizabeth told him that she likes Georgiana. It makes me wonder if he was trying to lure her into a deeper conversation so that he could create more lies to tell her.

"'He could be still amiable, still pleasing, to my uncle and aunt, when he was in town; and why not to me? If he fears me, why come hither? If he no longer cares for me, why silent? Teazing, teazing, man! I will think no more about him'"(258).

Elizabeth continues to show her confusion over Darcy. It seems she was very hopeful that he would once again confess his love for her. So much so, that the fact that he did not do it moments after entering the room has her bewildered. She also seems to have the impression that Darcy may be leading her on by remaining silent. Has she forgotten that this is the way that Darcy tends to behave? Or is it because he went through a period of behaving contrary to his original style that his reverting has her confused? Despite the fact that she shows frustratation over Darcy's behavior, I get the feeling that it is just making her love for him greater.

P&P #11

"How Wickham and Lydia were to be supported in tolerable independence, she could not imagine. But how little of permanent happiness could belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions were stronger than their virtue, she could easily conjecture"(Austen 237).

Elizabeth is still disgusted at the idea of Lydia and Mr. Wickham being together. While it is easy to see why she would be against such a thing, it seems to me that she is hoping for the worst. It is like her contempt for Mr. Wickham and her knowledge of Lydia's idiocy makes her want to see them crash and burn. I would not be surprised, as Elizabeth has shown in the past that she has desired certain people to remain intolerable(i.e. Darcy)

"but she, who never heard nor saw any thing of which she chose to be insensible, gaily continued, 'Oh! mamma, do the people here abouts know I am married to-day? I was afraid they might not'"(240)

This quote is interesting because its shows the characteristics of Lydia. While her behavior has been mentioned various times throughtout the novel, the reader does not see enough of her intereactions with other characters, and thus cannot determine whether or not the stories about her are exaggerated. It is this quote that confirms that Lydia is air-headed and longs for the spotlight. It makes me wonder if she knows what she is doing, and does it only to get attention.

P&P #10

"While thus engaged, Elizabeth had a fair opportunity of deciding whether she most feared or wished for the appearance of Mr. Darcy, by the feeling which prevailed on his entering the room; and then, though a moment before she believed her wishes to predominate, she began to regret that he came"(Austen 203)

Here, Elizabeth is excited to see Darcy, but she cannot decide what kind of excitement she is feeling. It is only when Darcy entered that she relized her excitement was based off fear of his arrival. Her feelings are comparable to those of a person ascending the lift of a rollercoaster. She is filled with suspense, but does not know whether it is of expectancy of a thrilling ride or fear of the drop. The only way to know is to experience it. Clearly, Elizabeth was not as ready as she thought she was.

"'Yes,' replied Darcy, who could contain himself no longer, 'but that was only when I first knew her, for it is many months since I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance"(205)

Earlier in the novel, Darcy descibed his greatest flaw as being that his good opinion, once lost, would be lost forever. Here Darcy shows behavior contradictary to that flaw, once again demonstrating how he has evolved throughout the novel. Also, the fact that he could not just sit there and listen as Caroline belittled Elizabeth shows that he has become more passionate, both in his feelings for Elizabeth and his skills of communication. It seems that at this point, Darcy is flawless.

P&P #9

"The possibility of meeting Mr. Darcy, while viewing the place, instantly occurred. It would be dreadful! She blushed at the very idea; and thought it would be better to speak openly to her aunt, than to run such a risk"(Austen 184)

I originally had two theories of how Elizabeth would want to deal with the Darcy situation. First, I thought she might be eager to meet with him so that she may repent for the way she treated him. My second theory was that she would want to avoid Darcy at all costs out of humiliation. This quote has confirmed the latter. It seems that while Elizabeth can admit her faults to herself, she has difficulty doing so in the presence of others. Darcy is above her in that respect.

"He absolutely started, and for a moment seemed immoveable from surprise; but shortly recovering himself, advanced towards the party, and spoke to Elizabeth, if not in terms of perfect composure, at least of perfect civility"(190)

This quote shows that Darcy has kept his characteristic of being initially awkward. However, the fact that he was able to recover himself so quickly shows that he has evolved since his introduction in the novel. He remains proper and civil, but also acts more sociable. He seems to be making strides in overcoming his faults.

P&P #8

"She grew absolutely ashamed of herself.-Of neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think, without feeling that she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd"(Austen 159)

It is interesting how Elizabeth's views changed after reading Darcy's letter. Here she accuses herself of having the very qualities she had once seen in Mr. Darcy. She feels geniune shame after realizing where her prejudice had gotten her, and cannot think of anything else. Perhaps she will later appologize to Darcy for her accusations. I would not expect such behavior from Elizabeth at the beginning of the novel, but she has clearly eveolved into a different character.

"Mr. Darcy's letter, she was in a fair way of soon knowing by heart. She studied every sentence: and her feelings towards the writer were at times widely different. When she remembered the style of his address, she was full of indignation; but when she considered how unjustly she had condemned and upbraided him, her anger was turned against herself"(163)

Elizabeth seems to have become obsessed with Darcy's letter and has receded into a state of self-loathing. Since reading the letter, she's become very introspective, which is one of Darcy's most prominent characteristics. It appears that Darcy rubs off on her more and more with every action he does. With a mere letter, he was able to turn her from spiteful to remorseful. One can only wonder what would have happened had he verbally relayed his message

P&P #7

"Darcy smiled and said, 'You are perfectly right. You have employed your time much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you, can think anything wanting. We neither of us perform to strangers'"(Austen 135).

This is the first time that Mr. Darcy outwardly admits to having anything in common with Elizabeth. What makes it even more unique is that it was said to Elizabeth, herself. Throughout the novel, both Darcy and Elizabeth seemed intent on arguing with each other, sticking to their individual arguments stubbornly. However, here Darcy not only agrees with Elizabeth, but also admits to her that she is right. It makes me wonder where the conversation would have gone had they not been interrupted.

"'What he told me was merely this; that he congratulated himself on having lately saved a friend from the inconveniences of a most imprudent marriage, but without mentioning names of any other particulars, and I only suspected it to be Bingley from believing him the kind of young man to get into a scrape of that sort, and from knowing them to have been together the whole of last summer"(142).

This quote is significant as it reveals the true reason behind Mr. Bingley's departure. What is interesting is that Elizabeth gained this information from Fitzwilliam, the cousin of Mr. Darcy. While I am almost positive that Fitzwilliam had no idea of why this revelation would be so disturbing to Elizabeth, it still makes little sense that he would bring it up without knowing the full story. It will be interesting to see if Darcy and Fitzwilliam will have an altercation over this later.

P&P #6

"'But that expression of 'violently in love' is so hackneyed, so doubtful, so indefinite, that it gives me very little idea. It is often applied to feelings which arise from an half-hour's acquaintance, as to a real, strong attachment'"(Austen 109).

This is an interesting quote, as the 'violence of love' has been mentioned in this novel before, and in the exact circumstance Miss Gardiner describes. It is strange that Elizabeth would use a phrase that was so lacklusterly used by Mr. Collins in his proposal to her, in the first place. Elizabeth's insistence that Bingley's love for Jane was 'violent' shows that perhaps she sees beyond the phrase and can identify the instances in which it is used properly.

'"I like her appearance," said Elizabeth, struck with other ideas. "She looks sickly and cross.-Yes, she will do for him very well. She will make him a very proper wife"'(122).

Here Elizabeth comes across as spiteful, although she may simply be expressing her disapproval of the relationship between Charlotte and Mr. Collins. Still, to take a shot at a close friend just to insult another is a bit low. I would like to think that her resentment is directed at the situation, and not the people involved. However, with Elizabeth, this is unlikely.

P&P 21-1

"'If we thought alike of Miss Bingley,' replied Jane, 'your representation of all this, might make me quite easy But I know the foundation is unjust. Caroline is incapable of willfully deceiving any one; and all that I can hope in this case is, that she is deceived herself'"(Austen 91)

Up until this point, Jane has come across as a hopeful optimist, seeing good in all people. However, he judgment of Caroline's character shows that she is truly blind. It is one thing to see good traits in people, but quite another to create good traits that do not exist in a person. I am confused as to what caused Jane to consider Caroline to be an honorable person. Since Jane is so close to Elizabeth, who has had many unpleasant conversations with Caroline, it makes no sense that Jane would not be aware of Caroline's true personality. Jane also contradicts herself. By believing that Caroline has been deceived by someone else, does not that mean Jane is admitting that some people are corrupt? It makes me wonder if Jane's personality is as genuine as she lets on.

"The stupidity with which he was favoured by nature, must guard his courtship from any charm that could make a woman wish for its continuance; And Miss Lucas, who accepted him solely from the pure and disinterested desire of an establishment, cared not how soon that establishment were gained".(93)

This is an example of mercenary love. Miss Lucas is only interested in marry Mr. Collins because in doing so, she would gain an establishment. Thus far, she has not come across as coniving or deceitful, and has a good relationship with Elizabeth. However, one must wonder what will happen when Mr. Bennet dies and his land goes to her and Mr. Collins. I doubt that she will force out Mrs. Bennet and her daughters, but it is still a possibility. It is unclear if her opinion of Elizabeth has any influence on her opinion of the Bennets.

P&P 17-20

"'He has been so unlucky as to lose your friendship,' replied Elizabeth with emphasis, 'and in a manner which he is likely to suffer from all his life.' Darcy made no answer, and seemed desirous of changing the subject."(70)

The fact that Darcy keeps silent after Elizabeth's comment shows that he was caught off guard by it. It seems he always has a reply prepared for everything, except in this instance. Perhaps the comment cut him deep. He may have some regrets of how he ended his relationship with Mr. Wickham. It could also be that he has no way of justifying what he did. I hope to soon know the reason behind his actions.

"I do assure you, Sir, that I have no pretension whatever to that kind of elegance which consists in tormenting a respectable man. I would rather be paid the compliment of being believed sincere. I thank you again and again for the honour you have done me in your proposals, but to accept them is absolutely impossible. My feelings in every respect forbid it. Can I speak plainer? Do not consider me now as an elegant female, intending to plague you, but as a rational creature, speaking the truth from her heart."(83)

Here Elizabeth shows that she is greatly annoyed with the advances of Mr. Collins, and shows her character to be contrary to the general stereotypes of a woman. While expressing her discomfort, she speaks bluntly, while still remaining as polite as possible. This shows her genuine courtesy and good manners. Her words stuck me as a bit odd, as I thought her the type of person to say what she wants when she wants. But now I suppose she saves such comments for those who she does not find respectable.

P&P 11-16

"'Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride-where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will always be under good regulation.'"(Austen 43)

Despite the obvious egotistical tone of this statement, there is some wisdom in it. If one's definition of pride relies on their intelligence and thoughtfulness, than it can be concidered pride well earned. Darcy may be critquing the behavior of those around him by pointing out his manner of behavior, considering himself rightly proud and all others foolishly vain. Pride does not seem the least bit dangerous to him so long as it is founded on his definition of "earned".

"'No,'"-said Darcy, "'I have made no such pretension. I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding. My temper I dare not vouch for.-It is I believe too little yielding-certainly too little for the convenience of the world. I cannot forget the follies and vices of others so soon as I ought, nor their offences against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful.-My good opinion once lost is lost forever.'"(43)

This quotation clearly shows that Mr. Darcy does not think himself to be flawless, and is well aware of his defect. He explains himself to have a personality matching a critic, which may mean that he has lead a boring life and must look to the world around him for little ways to amuse himself. While he admits this fault, it does not seem to shame him. It may be that he sees his personality as a rarity that should become a commodity among society.

P&P 7-10

"'Your picture may be very exact, Louisa,' said Bingley; "but this was all lost upon me. I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked remarkably well, when she came into the room this morning. Her dirty petticoat quite escaped my notice.'"(Austen 26)

This quote shows a lot of Mr. Bingley's character. While he may have very well noticed Elizabeth's less-than-flattering condition, he does not speak ill of her. I find this remarkable because his sisters were quick to attack her, and despite being male(which in this novel is often said to be rightly proud for what they will gain), he remains polite, even when Elizabeth is not there to hear his words. It seems Bingley and Jane have much in common already.

"'Nothing is more deceitful,' said Darcy, 'than the appearance of humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect boast'"(34)

Darcy's insight is shown here, as he is able to recognize those who fein humility in a town of the proud. He explains that those who seem humble are often only acting in that manner to make themselves appear above everyone else. It seem Darcy prefers those who admit to their pride over those who pretend to be humble. It makes me wonder if Darcy's feelings on the subject come stem from something within himself.

P&P 1-6

"The manner in which they spoke of the Meryton assembly was sufficiently characteristic. Bingley had never met with pleasanter people or prettier girls in his life; every body had been most kind and attentive to him, there had been no formality, no stiffness, he had soon felt acquainted with all the room; and as to Miss Bennet, he could not conceive an angel more beautiful. Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for none received either attention or pleasure. Miss Bennet he acknowledged to be pretty, but she smiled too much(Austen 11)

This passage is interesting as it relays the personalities of two characters who are close to each other, and yet do not seem to have much in common. Mr. Bingley acted cordial and friendly and saw nothing but praiseworthy people. Mr. Darcy, despite being the closest friend to Mr. Bingly, does not share his view. Instead, Darcy keeps a pessimistic attitude throughout the night and is met with no one appealing to his interests. These two characters serve as foils for each other, which makes it all the more interesting that they are such good friends.

"'His pride,' said Miss Lucas, 'does not offend me so much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, everything in his favour, should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has the right to be proud.'"(13)

This passage shows the basic opinion of the society in which the novel takes place that pride can be overlooked so long as the one guilty of it has something to be proud of. What is odd about that is that pride cannot exist without something to be proud of. Therefore, I believe what Miss Lucas was trying to say(or avoided saying) was that 'someone can be proud as long as they are wealthy'. Also, it seems that those deemed worthy of pride in this novel are those born into their reason for being proud, rather than those who worked for it.

The Tao

I believe the most important part of the Tao to be the Law of General Beneficence, as all the other laws seem to have been created from it. The Law of General Beneficence is the most simplistic of the laws, and thus can be understood by all reasonable beings. It calls us to not only refrain from harming another person, but also to keep that person in our hearts and be good to them. The Law also calls us to be understanding towards each other, which is of great importance when studying morality. This is because in order to judge and act as completely right or wrong, we must first look at the person who committed the act and their intentions for doing so.

One concept that could be added to the Tao is the Law of Mutual Respect, which would call for tolerance among mankind. This Law would state that you cannot expect others to think like you do, or hold it against them when the do not. I believe it should be a part of the Tao because many a civilization has been torn apart by those who seek to purge the world of those who see things differently than they do. With a law in place that keeps people tolerant of each other, that would be less likely to happen.

TAoM: The Abolition of Man

"What we call Man's power is, in reality, a power possessed by some men which they may, or may not, allow other men to profit by"(Lewis 54).

"It is no use trying to 'see through' first prinicples. If you see through everything, then everything is transparent. But a wholly transparent world is an invisible world. To 'see through' all things is the same as not to see"(81).

Lewis' argument in The Abolition of Man is that the whole human race is subjected to some individual men, who are in turn subjected to their own irrational impulses. Lewis comes to this conclusion by examing man's conquest of nature. Through his analysis, Lewis reveals that it is not man who holds power of nature, but rather nature which holds power over man. With this knowledge, it can be assumed that the ideas of one person or group of people holds power, their views will take the place of the Law. Therefore, subjectivism could eventually conquer the Tao. This makes it vital that humanity is freed from its irrational impulses.

TAoM The Way

"Since I can see no answer to these questions, I draw the following conclusions. This thing whichi have called for convenience the Tao, and which others may cal Natural Law or Traditional Morality or the First Principles of Practical Reason or the First Platitudes, is not among a series of possible systems of value. It is the sole source of all value judgements"(Lewis 43)

"There is a difference between a real moral advance and a mere innovaton."(46)

Lewis' argument in The Way is one of morality. He speaks of different ideas and different names for the basic moral code of humanity while explaining some of the misconceptions about it. Lewis also shows how the confusion of man can lead to warped mentality. For example, when Lewis is explaining the difference between a real moral advance and a mere innovation, he states them as being "the difference between a man who says to us: 'You like your vegetables moderately fresh; why not grow your own and have them perfectly fresh?' and a man who says 'Throw away that loaf and try eating bricks and centipedes instead.'(46) Here Lewis shows how different interpretations of morality can come out as either logic or complete nonsense.

tAoM Men Without Chests

"The authors themselves, I suspect, hardly know what they are doing to the boy, and he cannot know what is being done to him."(Lewis 5)

"In a sort of ghastly simplicity we remove the organ and demand the function. We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honour and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful."(26)

Lewis' main argument in "Men Without Chests" is that many writers fail to realize how their writing can affect the readers. Lewis makes his view of the potential affects of an author's writing clear through the use of his example of a schoolboy who, having no ideas of his own, will blindly follow the example of the author and thus cause detriment to himself in the future. Lewis analyzes how writers address their audience. Usually the writer will only use approaches that satisfy one group of people, rather than attempting to make their point appealing to all who read it. In doing so, the writer cannot hold the attention of readers who are not part of the group he/she is addressing. This brings about the creation of "Men without Chests", or men who cannot differentiate between intellect and instinct.

LfBJ Essay

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/ Mr. George
October 14, 2009
Letter from Birmingham Jail Analysis
Martin Luther King; A Persuasive Prophet
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holds an important place in history as one of the United States’ most prominent civil rights activists. His title is rightly deserved, as he contributed greatly to the struggle for equality in America. As a man of great influence, he gained many followers and staged peaceful protests in order to relay his message to the racially segregated society he lived in. King is probably best known for his demonstrations, which he used to address the public in the hopes of opening their eyes. Many of these demonstrations landed King in jail. However, it was during his incarceration in Birmingham, Alabama that King wrote a letter to eight clergymen who had earlier chastised his acts of civil disobedience. This letter, titled Letter from Birmingham Jail, showed that King was not only a man of great influence, but also a man of great intellect. Seamlessly incorporating proper syntax and diction into his appeals, King creates an outstanding an outstanding logical argument while still inserting his own ideas and emotions. The kind of flawless contention King provides is rarely expected from the mouths of anyone in our modern society, much less from a black man living in the 1960s. With an exceptional eye for detail, King is able to refute the arguments of those who disapprove of his actions, appeal to the readers’ senses of logic and emotion, and most impressively, use vibrant extended analogies and juxtapositions in order to strengthen his argument.
Despite his position as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and great influence, King was bound to end up being viewed by many as a social pariah due to the color of his skin and the fact that he had been arrested on several occasions. Those two factors could have very well caused him to be looked at as an uneducated source, and made it unlikely that anyone would take the time to read his letter, much less take the time to consider his points. Therefore, King was presented with not only the task of creating powerful points and writing with proper syntax and diction, but also the task of exhibiting himself as a credible source. He does this in a few different ways, such as briefly mentioning his characteristics throughout the letter and expressing his views poignantly. However, it is through his ability to create and answer his own rhetorical questions in order to refute the arguments of those who disapprove of his actions that he truly builds himself up to be a credible source. As a black man in the 1960s, his logical approach in arguing with the Church would of course gain the attention of those reading his letter. King also uses his ability to explain his reasoning while refuting a point made against him:
You may well ask, ‘Why direct action? Why sit-ins, marches, etc.? Isn’t negotiation a better path?’ You are exactly right in your call for negotiation. Indeed, this is the purpose of direct action. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and establish such creative tension that a community that has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue(King 741).
By justifying his actions while refuting the arguments of others, King creates a solid argument of his own and prevents himself from being accused of hypocrisy. This is crucial in gaining the attention of the reader. With the full attention of the reader, King is able to awaken their long-dormant senses of logic and emotion.
King, like most great speakers, appeals to both logic and emotion in his arguments. What makes King’s arguments truly unique is the he uses his expert ability to blend both logic and emotion together without getting carried away by either of the two. This ability is most apparent in the second paragraph of page seven-hundred forty-two, in which King uses extensive imagery to explain his reasons for not simply waiting for segregation to end; “Perhaps it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts to say, ‘Wait.’ But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim;…--then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait’(742). The gruesome and heart-wrenching situations King explains in this paragraph strike hard upon the emotions of the reader, who, in considering them, would be filled with sympathy for King’s cause. The paragraph also speaks to the readers’ logic, but in a different way. Any person who imagines their loved ones in a situation of despicable injustice will understand why King feels something needs to be done. No decent person would let those whom they love suffer for the foolish reasoning of those filled with hatred. This paragraph is also greatly complimented by its closing, in which King states, “I hope, sirs, you can understand our legitimate and unavoidable impatience”(742). King, realizing how emotion-filled the paragraph was, decides to follow the emotion with a formal and logical statement for them to consider. This demonstrates King’s ability to keep his emotion in check, and incorporate logic even in areas in which it would not be expected. With such a mastery of logic and emotion, it is no wonder that King is able to form such solid analogies and juxtapositions in his writing.
King, while obviously well-versed in strait-talk, is able to create many extended analogies and juxtapositions and flawlessly insert them into his writing. By doing this, King paints a clear and vibrant picture for the readers, and thus makes his arguments easier to understand. A great example of King’s use of extended analogies is when King compares the eradication of tension through bringing it to the surface to the eradication of a boil through bringing it to the light:
Like a boil that can never be cured so long as it is covered up but must be opened with all its ugliness to the natural medicines of air and light, injustice must be exposed, with all the tension its exposure creates, to the light of human conscience and the air of national opinion before it can be cured(745).
Rather than giving a long explanation of the purpose of bringing tension to the surface, King expertly sums it up in a simple comparison. His word choice in this comparison is exquisite, as he decides to compare tension, an ugly but natural part of life, to a boil, which is also an ugly but natural part of life. The comparison makes it clear to the readers just how gruesome tension can be and why it needs to be publicly executed. King also does and exceptional job with his use of juxtapositions; “The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jetlike speed toward gaining political independence, but we still creep at horse and buggy pace toward gaining a cup of coffee at a lunch counter”(742). Here, King compares Asia and Africa, two nations usually considered to be behind other countries, to America, a nation usually considered ahead of other countries. However, rather than keeping to the accepted beliefs of the countries, King uses a reversed perspective and states how even Asia and Africa are ahead of America in some aspects. King also points out how Africa and Asia are quickly moving toward a large accomplishment while America is slowly moving toward a small accomplishment. Thanks to the imagery provided by his extended analogies and juxtapositions, King’s already poignant arguments are made truly remarkable.
Through his ability to refute the arguments of those who disapprove of his actions, appeals to logic and emotion, and use of extended analogies and juxtapositions, King creates an awe-inspiring argument that has stood the test of time and will no doubt continue to impress future readers for centuries to come. It is no wonder why his words have gained him a place in American History and still echo through society today. Any who analyze this letter will come to understand why Martin Luther King Jr. was so beloved and respected so many, and will no doubt gain a strong sense of love and respect for him, themselves.

Outline

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/Mr. George
October 8, 2009
Letter from Birmingham Jail Outline
King begins his letter with the phrase “My dear fellow clergymen”, showing that despite their disapproval of his actions and words against him, he still has a great amount of compassion and respect for them.
King notes early on that he seldom takes the time to address those who criticize him. He clearly explains that the only reason that this letter is an exception is because he believes the clergy to be men of genuine good will and their criticisms to be sincerely set forth. By doing this, he appeals to the reader’s sense of logic.
King states his reasons for himself and his staff being in Birmingham to be that they were invited there, have basic organizational ties there, and most of all, because injustice is there. One of these reasons alone would justify his presence in Birmingham, but all three of them together justify why he makes his presence known.
In that same paragraph, King compares his mission to the missions of the eight century prophets and Saint Paul, as they were compelled to carry their messages beyond their particular home town and must constantly respond to the call for aid.
In the third paragraph of page 739, King expresses his displeasure that the clergy looks down upon the protests, but does not look down upon the reason that the protests began in the first place.
In the fourth paragraph of page 739, King states that Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States. His use of the word “probably” prevents him from being called out for lack of factual support should there be an even more segregated city in the United States, while still keeping the severity of the situation.
At the end of the second paragraph on page 740, King states that he and his followers knew how difficult their mission would be, so they practiced methods of nonviolence to prepare themselves. This gives the reader an idea of King’s character, as even when he knows the odds are against him, he still chooses to stand up for what he believes in. What’s more, he chooses to do it through nonviolent means.
Throughout his letter, King creates his own rhetorical questions and answers them in order to refute any possible argument against him in great detail. The first example of this is at the beginning of the fifth paragraph on page 740.
At the beginning of page 742, King juxtaposes America to Africa and Asia, stating that while Africa and Asia are quickly(jet-like) moving towards a large goal(political independence), America is moving slowly(horse and buggy) toward a small goal(gaining a cup of coffee at a lunch counter).
The second paragraph on page 742 is a periodic sentence that is chiefly composed of extensive imagery that appeals to the reader’s emotions. Examples of this include King bringing up the situation from the perspective of children and referring to the people of his races as his “brothers and sisters”.
In the third paragraph of page 742, King explains why he follows some laws and not others, stating that there are two types of laws; just and unjust. In the second paragraph of page 743, King explains the difference between the two.
In the fourth paragraph of page 744, King compares what he and his followers are doing to the acts of the Hungarian freedom fighters. The parallel is that everything Hitler did in Germany was “legal”, while everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did was “illegal”. This juxtaposition appeals to both logic and emotion. The logic in it is that the very society that looks down on what he is doing considered the freedom fighters to be heroes. Mentioning an event like the Holocaust is bound to bring out the reader’s emotions.
At the beginning of page 745, King declares shallow understanding from people of good will to be more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill-will. This is an example of inversion, and is used to show commonly held beliefs from a different perspective.
King uses continuous analogies throughout his letter, and example being in the second paragraph on page 745 when he compares what he and his followers had been doing to bringing a boil that is incurable while covered up to the surface so that is may be dealt with.
Throughout his letter, King does not attack the person. Instead, he attacks the argument. An example of this is in the third paragraph on page 745, in which King compares the statement that his actions must be condemned because they precipitate violence to saying that a robbed man must be condemned because his ownership of money precipitated the act of robbery.
In the second paragraph of page 747, King addresses that the clergy has given him the title of extremist, a term that usually contains a negative denotation, and logically examines it in order to show it has a positive denotation. He does this by mentioning numerous “extremists” who were renowned for the greatness of their actions.
In the second paragraph of page 751, King uses a great amount of parallelism.
King ends his letter with a continuous analogy.

Fallacies

Hasty Gereralization:

I entered the crowded train station and asked four random people if they liked cheese. They said they did. This means most people in that train station liked cheese.

Stereotype:

That person was very rude and opinionated, so he must have been French.

Cause and Effect:

After Jack finished his homework, a tree fell on his house. Therefore, Jack completing his homework caused the tree to fall.

Only Cause Fallacy:

We can keep people from littering by banning the sale of anything that comes packaged.

False Analogy:

I carry a great amount of responsibility, like the warden of a prison.

Attacking the Person:

This person cannot be trusted with the position of chairman because he once had an affair.

Either or Fallacy:

Either we have sixty pieces of pizza or we starve.

Non-sequitur:

The fire I built was put out by the rain, so I must not have made it properly.

Circular Reasoning:

I want a raise. I should get it because I have not set the store on fire or stolen anything.

Begging the Question:

It is well-known that snakes are the coolest reptiles in the world.

Syllogisms

Correct:

All fishes can breath underwater
A goldfish is a type of fish
A goldfish can breath underwater

All wood is flammable
The fence is made of wood
The fence is flammable

No man is an island
Pedro is a man
Pedro is not an island

All fruit has seeds
A tomato has seeds
A tomato is a fruit

Incorrect:

All monkeys have tails
Pigs have tails
Pigs are monkeys
(Monkeys and pigs are two separate species.)


Every lightbulb is transparent
Lightbulbs use electricity
Every transparent object uses electricy.
(Not every transparent object uses electricity. i.e. windows)

Human beings eat food
Snakes eat food
Snakes are human beings
(Snakes and human beings are not even closely related)

All birds lay eggs
Echidnas lay eggs
Echidnas are birds
(Echidnas are mammals.)

Proposal

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/ Mr. George
October 2, 2009
Marriage Proposal
I suppose you are wondering why I have requested your company tonight. As you well know by now, it is a rare occurrence, that I would be the one to arrange any sort of private meeting. You always were the more direct of the two of us, while I played the part of the observer. Looking back, I regret the role. Were it not for you, I would have been trapped in a never-ending reprisal. I remember the day that I first laid eyes on you. Before that day, I had never seen someone so beautiful, so humble, so gentle. In my eyes, you were a turtle-dove. I, on the other hand, was just a turtle. I cannot imagine what would cause a Venus like you to even spare me a second glance. Yet, I thank God every day that you did. I owe everything that I am today to the kindness that you showed me. It was only after meeting you that I could turn observation into experience. It was only after meeting you that I knew desire.
We have known each other for what have been the greatest years of my life. You opened my eyes to a beautiful world and taught me how to live without fear. I have treasured every experience we’ve shared, no matter how small. For the first time in my life, I was actually happy. With you by my side, I could discover who I truly was. But with new discoveries came great pain. For I knew that the moment I was forced to be away from you, I would return to being nothing. It tore me up inside. I couldn’t explain why, but the thought of losing you filled me with even more desires. I’d been avoiding you to search for ways of coping. I searched everywhere for happiness, but found it nowhere. And it didn’t make any sense to me. Alone, I relived all that I had done with you, and received no enjoyment out of it. My searching made me realize something; it wasn’t because of my newfound confidence that I was happy. That is why I have asked you out tonight. I believe I finally may have found what I was looking for all along. I now know what I had desired all that time; you.
Through the years, I have felt an irresistible force drawing me to you, ensnaring me in a glorious feeling of ecstasy. Your unwavering loyalty in the face of my rudeness and desire for my companionship tells me that you must feel it as well. And even if the feeling does not exist in your heart, I must speak these words; I love you. I want to be with you for the rest of my life, for as long as sun turns to moon, for eternity. And even though I know I am unworthy of your hand, I pray that you will accept me, just as you did many years ago.
I know how you must resent my previous reluctance, but I assure you that your contempt for it was not nearly as violent as mine. I am ready to redeem myself for my ignorance, and start life anew. A life I cannot have without you beside me. I once desired the world, but no longer. Now I see. It’s enough for this restless wanderer just to be with you.

Proposal Analysis

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/Mr. George
September 29, 2009
Mr. Collins’ Proposal Analysis

Mr. Collins’ proposal is ineffective because he fails to use pathos, he focuses on logos when the situation calls for him to focus on pathos, and he belittles the one his speech is addressed to.

Mr. Collins starts his proposal by complimenting Elizabeth and explaining to her the reason why he has asked her hand in marriage. What he forgets to include in his proposal is an explanation of the qualities he has(if any) that make him worthy enough to fill the position of her husband. In failing to do so, he loses a lot of credibility and it becomes difficult to take him seriously. The next mistake Mr. Collins makes is appealing to logos when he should have been appealing to pathos. Rather than making his proposal romantic and exciting, he simply tells Elizabeth:

“My reasons for marrying are, first, that I think it is 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).

While it would technically be acceptable to appeal to logos in this situation, Mr. Collins appeals to the wrong kind of logos. If he was going to use logic, he should have used the logic of why he wants to be with her, rather than the logic of why marrying him would be convenient. The third mistake Mr. Collins makes is belittling Elizabeth. If you want someone to see your point of view, it makes little sense to talk down to them(particularly when the subject is marriage). Each time Elizabeth refused Mr. Collins, he outwardly dismisses her refusals as natural behavior for her gender. This greatly weakens his argument, as no one would be inclined to accept a proposal from someone who was insulting them. What Mr. Collins should have done was keep his thoughts about her refusal to himself and back down. That way, he would appear more respectable and Elizabeth would be more likely to consider his future proposals.
Throughout his proposal, Mr. Collins’ lack of attention to diction and syntax make him appear unprofessional. He chooses words that do not compliment the situation, such as when he promises Elizabeth that he will speak highly of her “economy”. What makes his error in diction even more blaring is that he places the word “economy” between the terms “modesty” and “amiable qualifications”, which were both proper diction on his part. The sentence structure of his list of reasons that he want to marry Elizabeth(see above) seems to be all over the place, causing one to question the preparedness of his proposal. Rather than sounding organized in his speech, he sounds as if he had rehearsed it to a mirror without bothering to listen for errors. Thus, his proposal was doomed to fail from the start.

HuckFinn Society

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/Mr.George
September 15, 2009
Social Critique in Huckleberry Finn

“Well,” says Buck, “a feud is this way. A man has a quarrel with another man, and kills him; then that other man’s brother kills him; then the other brothers, on both sides, goes for one another; then the cousins chip in---and by-and-by everybody’s killed off, and there ain’t no more feud. But it’s kind of slow, and takes a long time.”(Twain 126)

“Oh, yes, pa knows, I reckon, and some of the other old folks; but they don’t know, now, what the row was about in the first place.”(126)

Twain illustrates in the novel that the society in which Huck lives is not only separated by color, but also by feuding families. The critique here is that the feud is described so nonchalantly, as if Buck sees no problem with killing another human being. It is also shown that the feud between the Grangerfords and Shepardsons has been going on for so long that none of them even remember what started it in the first place. Even without this knowledge, the two families still feel hatred towards each other. This appears to be a critique of how tradition holds society back, and society allows itself to be held back by tradition.

“Hold on! Just a word, gentlemen.” They stopped to listen. “We are sold—mighty badly sold. But we don’t want to be the laughing stock of this whole town, I reckon, and never hear the last of this thing as long as we live. No. What we want is to go out of here quiet, and talk this show up, and sell the rest of the town! Then we’ll all be in the same boat. Ain’t that sensible?...All right, then—not a word about any sell. Go along home, and advise everybody to come and see the tragedy.”(177)

Twain’s critique in this quote is over a person’s willingness to go against their fellow man in order to feel better about themselves. In this case, it involves making sure others are cheated out of their money to cover up their own shame of being conned. This appears to be a critique of how no on in a “society” looks out for one another, which causes the society as a whole to be petty and spiteful.

“It warn’t the grounding—that didn’t keep us back but a little. We blowed out a cylinder-head.”
“Good gracious! Anybody hurt?”
“No’m. Killed a nigger.”
“Well, it’s lucky; because sometimes people do get hurt.”

Racism comes up many times in the novel, and never quietly. However, this quote clearly shows how much the life of a black person is worth to a white person within the text. This appears to be a critique of how those at the top of a society have no regard for those at the bottom.

Count of Monte Cristo notes: Honor

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English 11/Mr.George
September 11, 2009
The Count of Monte Cristo Notes
Honor in Suicide and Albert’s
“’Hear me, Maximilian,’ said his father. ‘Suppose I was a soldier like you, and ordered to carry a certain redoubt, and you knew I must be killed in the assault, would you not say to me as you said just now, ‘Go, father, for you are dishonored by delay, and death is preferable to shame!’” (The Fifth of September)
This quote is spoken by Morrel while he is still planning suicide, for he believes it is better to be dead than to live in dishonor. The interesting thing about Morrel’s situation is that his “honor” is partly to blame for the position that he is in. Since his honor prevented him from not paying his workers as they had requested, it forced him into an even deeper debt. Also, his honor is the very reason that he contemplates suicide. His honorable behavior can be admired, but it is clear that it can also be harmful in certain situations.
“He darted to his bedroom to see once more all he had loved in the world; but the hackney-coach drove on without the head of either Mercedes or her son appearing at the window to take a last look at the house or the deserted father or husband. And at that very moment when the wheels of the coach crossed the gateway a report was heard, and a thick smoke escaped through one of the panes of the window, which was broken by the explosion.”(Dumas The Suicide)
This passage implies that upon seeing his wife and son leave never to return, Fernand committed suicide. It was the last straw for Fernand after he had received so much misfortune in a short amount of time. Recent revealing of Fernand’s actions(such as his deserting on the eve of the battle of Waterloo, his serving as a spy to the French army in Spain, and his betrayal of Ali Pacha) had turned him into a public disgrace. So much so that his own wife and child depart in order to sever any ties that they had with him. Fernand had suffered so many dishonors that his suicide could be seen as in act of ending his life in order to hang on to what little honor he had remaining.
“’Sir,’ said Albert, at first with tremulous voice, but which gradually became firmer, ‘I reproach you with exposing the conduct of M. de Morcerf in Epirus; for, guilty as I knew he was, I thought you had no right to punish him; but I have since learned that you have that right. It is not Fernand Mondego’s treachery towards Ali Pacha which induces me so readily to excuse you, but the treachery of the fisherman Fernand towards you, and the almost unheard-of miseries which were its consequences; and I say, and proclaim it publicly, that you were justified in revenging yourself on my father, and I, his son, thank you for not using greater severity.’”(The Meeting)
This passage is significant because it shows the transition of Albert focusing on the honor of his father to focusing on his own honor. Before Albert spoke these words, he seemed intent on gaining his revenge on Dantes for dishonoring his father. However, after realizing that Fernand deserved his fate(if not a worse one), Albert does the honorable thing and apologizes to Dantes for having considered him the one at fault. Albert did not actually have to apologize. He could have much more easily dropped his anger towards Dantes and gone on with his life without a single glance back. However, he found honor to be so important that he felt it necessary to clear his name and repent for his actions. This is one of the few instances in the Count of Monte Cristo in which having a large feeling of honor lead to something favorable.

Dantes' Role as God

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/Mr. George
September 9, 2009
The Count of Monte Cristo Notes
Dantes’ Role as God
“’You are my son, Dantes,’ exclaimed the old man. You are the child of my captivity. My profession condemns me to celibacy. God has sent you to me to console, at one and the same time, the man who could not be a father and the prisoner who could not get free’”. (Dumas 201)
“’And now, my dear friend,’ said Faria, “sole consolation of my wretched existence-you whom heaven gave me somewhat late, but still gave me, a priceless gift, and for which I am most grateful…”.(206)
This quote, spoken by Faria, is the first time in the novel that Dantes is compared to a servant of God. This perhaps lead to Dantes making his own assumptions about his relationship with God. If that is true, Faria would be to blame for putting such an idea into Dantes head. Also, since Faria was responsible for Dantes obtaining his wealth, it could be assumed that Faria in a sense created the Count of Monte Cristo.
“’And now,’ said the unknown, “farewell kindness, humanity, and gratitude! Farewell to all the feelings that expand the heart! I have been Heaven’s substitute to recompense the good; now the God of vengeance yields to me his power to punish the wicked!”(329)
This is the defining quote in Dantes’ taking on the role of God. He has found his mission and purpose and intends to see it through to the end. He now seeks to punish those who do wrong in the world, possibly so that no one else will have to share the fate he was given. His humility seems to have disappeared, but he still retains his attitude toward justice, going so far as to cast off his own innocence so that he may defend the innocence of others.
It should be noted that Dantes takes on the persona of a vengeful God, rather than a loving one. He does not so much care for the meek as he does vanquish the proud. While there may be some form of love for the meek expressed his actions, it never sees any light through the cloud of vengeance he creates.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/ Mr. George
August 25, 2009
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay Topic 1
Clemen’s Critique of Commonality’s Classes
“I feel for Adam and Eve now, for I know how it was with them…The Garden of Eden I know now was an unendurable solitude. I know that the advent of the serpent was a welcome change—anything for society.” These very words were spoken by author Samuel Clemens( better known by his pseudonym, Mark Twain), and recorded for his biography. With this one quote, anyone can acquire an idea of Twain’s feelings towards society. To acquire a much larger idea of Twain’s stance, they need only examine his literary works, which all seem to have some critique of darker sides of what was then modern society. In fact, Twain makes his disapproval of his society so clear that one could find a quote chastising society by simply opening to a random page of any one of his novels. Indeed, Twain makes a strong case against society, usually disguised within the seemingly simple storyline of one of his books. There is no greater example of this than “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, which despite being a sequel to one of Twain’s earlier works, has stood out on its own in the world of American Literature. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn tells the story of the titled character, a boy living in the antebellum south who travels down a river with an escaped slave, Jim. Throughout the novel, Huck enters many towns and interacts with various characters, most of whom serving as the representation of the different classes within society. Through these characters, Twain makes it clear that society is far from perfect, and is in fact, a dark, racist, hate-filled plot of land inhabited by characters who are not worthy enough to be considered humans. To be fair, there are also many kind, good-natured characters within the novel, but just like in real life society, they seem either stay in the background or simply go unnoticed. The only compassionate characters who are the exception to this seem to be the two protagonists, Huck and Jim. However, even they participate in some activities that can be seen as less than moral by today’s standards. Granted, most of the bad things they had done were due to circumstances beyond their control, and even then none of their actions could hold a candle to the cruelty of most of the characters within the novel, who as I have mentioned before, serves as the embodiment of society. Twain shows society in many different lights, showing both its good and bad points. However, the bad points seem to far outnumber the good, which is to be expected from a work of Twain. Society is mostly shown as racist and conniving. Of the two, racism seems to be the most prominent.
The dominant critique of society(or at least what seems to be the dominant one to me) is the amount of racism that is put into its foundation. In the antebellum south, there was not even the slightest hint of equality. The color of one’s skin determined there place in society, and the laws surrounding all aspects of slavery were very(pardon the pun) black and white. If a black person was living in the south at that time, one could safely bet that they were a slave. In fact, any other bets would have been foolish. Not only were all black people in the south doomed to live a life of servitude under white people, but they were also treated as if they were not even human. The prime example of this is the use of the term “nigger” within the novel. This term is the most well-known derogatory term for a black person in society, and to speak it today would be considered a large taboo. However, Twain’s portrayal of the antebellum south in this novel show the word to be a widely accepted term. What I found most interesting about this is that white people were not the only ones to use it. Jim himself used the term various times in the novel, and never in contempt or bitterness. This shows that perhaps the word “nigger” had become so widely accepted that even the black people who were called by it found it to be a proper term. It could even go as far as a black person thinking themselves to be a separate species, not included in humankind. That would not surprise me, as it is made clear in this novel that the white people do not consider black people to be humans at all, denying them every right that they should have as human beings. What is worse is that some white people in this novel do not even value the life a black person. An example of this is when Sally Phelps, the aunt of Huck’s best friend, Tom Sawyer, asked Huck if anyone was hurt when the cylinder-head was blown out. When Huck tells her that it killed a nigger, she replies, “Well, it’s lucky; because sometimes people do get hurt”(Twain 258). This shows that the life of a black person is worth nothing in this novel. They are treated like mules and sold for a profit on a whim. However, even though the black people get the brunt of the abuse within the novel, they are not the only ones treated with cruelty. Indeed, this novel shows that even those of the same skin color would use each other for a profit.
While on their travels, Huck and Jim encounter two con-artists(better known as the duke and the dauphin, whom they are posing as). These two men are arguably the most despicable characters in the novel, and serve to show how cruelty travels in a cycle. From the very start of joining Huck and Jim, who had just saved them from being captured, these men took advantage of Huck and Jim’s respective situations(Huck being a young boy who had feigned death and Jim being an escaped slave). All they seemed interested in was money and profit, and they did not care who they had to go through or how many people they had harmed in order to gain it. Despite being so unlikeable, these two men do help to portray Twain’s message about cruelty traveling in a cycle. The duke and dauphin advertise a performance in order to scam people out of their money. When they people arrived and found that the short performance was not worth what they had paid, they had a very interesting reaction. Rather than spreading the word that the performance was a scam, and helping their fellow man to not be cheated out of his money, the townspeople decided to tell everyone that the show was great so that those they told would go see it and be cheated out of their money, as well. This was perhaps done so that those who had already been cheated could feel better about themselves, as if they were in need of schadenfreude. While that is an understandable part of human nature, it is rare that anyone would feel the need to create it themselves. The duke and the dauphin also end up selling Jim for reward money, which shows that they are more interested in a quick buck than a long term investment. After all, they already had enough power over Jim to have him take part in their scams. These men being so despicable, I cannot imagine why they never thought of that.
Even though “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” was written long ago, it still has a lot to teach us. This novel was written in a different time, when all men were far from equal. When juxtaposed with today’s society, it is clear how far we have come. An America where people were treated like slaves based on their race is now and America lead by a half-black president. Even so, I would not be surprised if in the future, people look back on our modern society and criticize how primitive we were. However, that is easily preventable if we keep striving for a better America. In the words of Mark Twain, “Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today”.