“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” (339).
How ironic that after everyone lost respect for the Bennets, they rapidly regained it after Jane was engaged to Mr. Bingley. The Bennet family was deprived of respect because of Lydia and her ill-natured characteristics. She is very selfish and self-centered, because she didn’t worry about how her actions were going to affect her family. Because of Lydia’s aggressive and inconsiderate way of being, her family began to be ashamed of her: “ If you were aware […] of the very great disadvantage to us all, which must arise from the public notice of Lydia’s unguarded and imprudent manner, nay, which has already risen from it, I am sure you would judge differently in the affair” (225-226). After Jane and Mr. Bingley became engaged, it was as if the situation with Lydia had never occurred. This demonstrates how important stature, class, and wealth is in their society
What are Elizabeth’s feelings about Jane and Mr. Bingley’s engagement:
a. Jealous because she has yet to be married
b. Happy because she knows how much Jane likes Mr. Bingley
c. Disappointed in Jane for falling for Mr. Bingley again
d. Upset because now she’s going to be all alone with Mary and Catherine.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
P&P #13 Chpts 10-12
“He had done all this for a girl whom he could neither regard nor esteem. Her heart did whisper that he had done it for her. But it was a hope shortly checked by other considerations; and she soon felt that even her vanity was insufficient, when required to depend on his affection for her, for a woman who had already refused him, as able to overcome a sentiment so natural as abhorrence against relationship with Wickham” (316).
What a gentleman Mr. Darcy is, and all for the love of Elizabeth. He was not obligated to do all that he did for Lydia and Mr. Wickham, but out of love and respect for Elizabeth he did. Mr. Darcy convinced Wickham to marry Lydia for the sake of the reputation of the Bennet family and also paid Mr. Wickham to do so. Though personally I don’t believe what Mr. Darcy did to be very gentlemen like, at least in modern times, but during this time period Mr. Darcy’s acts were very much generous. And then it hit Elizabeth that maybe there is no hope for a marriage between them, for who in their right mind would propose to someone again after being rejected in such a harsh and foul manner. This reminder of how rare it would be for her to be proposed to again puts a damper on Elizabeth’s heart, especially since Mr. Darcy is not paying any attention to her. And the one instance where Mr. Darcy did converse with Elizabeth, he walked away after a brief moment of silence. Elizabeth messed up.
What can be the root of Mrs. Bennet’s hatred towards Mr. Darcy:
a. He won’t marry Jane
b. He convinced Wickham to marry Lydia
c. He wouldn’t pay attention to any of the girls at the ball in which they met
d. He looks down upon the Bennet family
e. He is inconsiderate of others
What a gentleman Mr. Darcy is, and all for the love of Elizabeth. He was not obligated to do all that he did for Lydia and Mr. Wickham, but out of love and respect for Elizabeth he did. Mr. Darcy convinced Wickham to marry Lydia for the sake of the reputation of the Bennet family and also paid Mr. Wickham to do so. Though personally I don’t believe what Mr. Darcy did to be very gentlemen like, at least in modern times, but during this time period Mr. Darcy’s acts were very much generous. And then it hit Elizabeth that maybe there is no hope for a marriage between them, for who in their right mind would propose to someone again after being rejected in such a harsh and foul manner. This reminder of how rare it would be for her to be proposed to again puts a damper on Elizabeth’s heart, especially since Mr. Darcy is not paying any attention to her. And the one instance where Mr. Darcy did converse with Elizabeth, he walked away after a brief moment of silence. Elizabeth messed up.
What can be the root of Mrs. Bennet’s hatred towards Mr. Darcy:
a. He won’t marry Jane
b. He convinced Wickham to marry Lydia
c. He wouldn’t pay attention to any of the girls at the ball in which they met
d. He looks down upon the Bennet family
e. He is inconsiderate of others
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Huck Finn Essay
Dora Ocampo
AP English 11 – Mr. George
March 25, 2009
Huck Finn Essay
Ever heard of the idea that opposites attract? When using magnets, in order to attract them “you have to place opposite ends of two magnets near each other” (Madison). In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, protagonist Huckleberry Finn and friend Tom Sawyer are, in this case, the opposite ends of two magnets. What’s so different about them? Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer differ from each other in their upbringings, their outlook on life, and in the manner that they treat others.
Huckleberry Finn is not your typical white male; he was born and raised at the bottom of the white society. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he was also born to a father who spent most of his time getting drunk and to a father who abandons his child for months at a time. Luckily for Huck, he was blessed with the influences of Widow Douglas and Miss Watson. Widow Douglas was more of a mother figure to Huck: “she took me for her son, and allowed she would sivilize [sic] me” (Twain 9), while Miss Watson enforced the importance of school. As hard as Widow Douglas and Miss Watson both tried to in a sense reform Huck, their efforts were ignored, for Huck enjoyed the life of having on dirty clothes and swearing: “my clothes got to be all rags and dirt, and I didn’t see how I’d ever got to like it so well at the widow’s” (34). Huck Finn was clearly not ready for a change, at least lifestyle wise.
As for Tom Sawyer, we don’t receive much background information on his life and how he was brought up. Considering how Tom and Huck contrast each other in every aspect in the book, it is safe to infer that Tom Sawyer did not have to go through the struggles that Huck has undergone. Also, as far as values go, Tom Sawyer was taught to always follow the rules. His decisions are based on what books have taught him: “Everybody said it was a real beautiful oath, and asked Tom if he got it out of his own head. He said, some of it, but the rest was out of pirate books, and robber books, and every gang that was high-toned had it” (16). Tom accepts the world as it has been explained to him, and is incapable of realizing the unjust and unethical beliefs. Huck, unlike Tom, does realize these immoral beliefs.
Huck Finn’s upbringing led to his independent state of mind. Both pap and Miss Watson were influential figures to Huck, since they are so different from each other and obviously have different opinions, instead of Huck letting this confuse him, it forced him to think on his own. Huck was left to reason out everything, and because of this Huck is very skeptical about the world around him or things that people teach him. For example, Widow Douglas taught Huck that he can get whatever he wants through prayer. As naïve as Huck Finn is, he decided to pray for materialistic and unreasonable things. His failure in receiving those things led to his conclusion about prayer: “there’s something in it when a body like the widow or the parson prays, but it don’t work for me, and I reckon it don’t work for only just the right kind” (48). Superstitions, prayers, and many other things are some examples of occasions where Huck chooses to learn things on his own, giving himself his own interpretation of life.
Unlike Huck, Tom Sawyer is very fastidious to society. He recognizes what is going on around him, and instead of voicing his opinions he simply conforms. There is not much emotional depth to Tom, because instead of being amiable towards his friends, he is very self-centered and haughty. This is nothing like Huck, and Huck shows us that the way we perceive things and people affect how we treat others.
Jim, as a black enslaved male, was usually treated with maliciousness and insolent behavior. Huck, though hesitant about it, digressed from society’s usual treatment of slaves. A friendship developed between Jim and Huck, and Jim seems to be taking their relationship very seriously. During their friendship, Jim is embarking on his journey to seek freedom, and during this journey Huck has an ultimatum put in front of him. Huck can either turn Jim in or cover up for him. At first, in Huck’s eyes, turning Jim in was doing the correct thing, but instead of advocating the practice of slavery, Huck decided to purport that Jim had a case of small pox. Rather than treating Jim as an object, Huck treated Jim as a human being.
Tom’s self-centered attitude is his hugest downfall. He is very fastidious to society, not so much because it is right, but more for the sense of adventure. Adventures are something that Tom really values, yet he finds the lives of others and himself paltry. For example, Tom Sawyer knew very well that Miss Watson had died, and that in her will it stated that Jim would be a free black, instead he decides to not tell Huck about this and make this whole situation into an adventure: “But there’s one thing – he can have a rope-ladder; we can tear up our sheets and make him a rope-ladder easy enough” (254). A rope-ladder was not at all necessary, nor was chopping off Jim’s leg and many other things. Tom didn’t care about how his actions affected others.
Huck is more independent while Tom depends on what society teaches him. Huck worries more about his own opinions rather than the opinions of everyone else. Huck venerates those who are deserving of it while Tom’s main focus is on himself. Between Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, comparisons fail to subsist. Overall, Huck is a better individual, and what makes it most interesting is that he taught himself to be the way that he is.
You have to want to change in order to change. Tom didn’t want to change that badly. Huck refused to be like everyone else.
Work Cited
WiseGeek. http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-magnets-work.htm. 03/24/09.
Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York, New York. Penguin Group. 1985.
AP English 11 – Mr. George
March 25, 2009
Huck Finn Essay
Ever heard of the idea that opposites attract? When using magnets, in order to attract them “you have to place opposite ends of two magnets near each other” (Madison). In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, protagonist Huckleberry Finn and friend Tom Sawyer are, in this case, the opposite ends of two magnets. What’s so different about them? Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer differ from each other in their upbringings, their outlook on life, and in the manner that they treat others.
Huckleberry Finn is not your typical white male; he was born and raised at the bottom of the white society. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he was also born to a father who spent most of his time getting drunk and to a father who abandons his child for months at a time. Luckily for Huck, he was blessed with the influences of Widow Douglas and Miss Watson. Widow Douglas was more of a mother figure to Huck: “she took me for her son, and allowed she would sivilize [sic] me” (Twain 9), while Miss Watson enforced the importance of school. As hard as Widow Douglas and Miss Watson both tried to in a sense reform Huck, their efforts were ignored, for Huck enjoyed the life of having on dirty clothes and swearing: “my clothes got to be all rags and dirt, and I didn’t see how I’d ever got to like it so well at the widow’s” (34). Huck Finn was clearly not ready for a change, at least lifestyle wise.
As for Tom Sawyer, we don’t receive much background information on his life and how he was brought up. Considering how Tom and Huck contrast each other in every aspect in the book, it is safe to infer that Tom Sawyer did not have to go through the struggles that Huck has undergone. Also, as far as values go, Tom Sawyer was taught to always follow the rules. His decisions are based on what books have taught him: “Everybody said it was a real beautiful oath, and asked Tom if he got it out of his own head. He said, some of it, but the rest was out of pirate books, and robber books, and every gang that was high-toned had it” (16). Tom accepts the world as it has been explained to him, and is incapable of realizing the unjust and unethical beliefs. Huck, unlike Tom, does realize these immoral beliefs.
Huck Finn’s upbringing led to his independent state of mind. Both pap and Miss Watson were influential figures to Huck, since they are so different from each other and obviously have different opinions, instead of Huck letting this confuse him, it forced him to think on his own. Huck was left to reason out everything, and because of this Huck is very skeptical about the world around him or things that people teach him. For example, Widow Douglas taught Huck that he can get whatever he wants through prayer. As naïve as Huck Finn is, he decided to pray for materialistic and unreasonable things. His failure in receiving those things led to his conclusion about prayer: “there’s something in it when a body like the widow or the parson prays, but it don’t work for me, and I reckon it don’t work for only just the right kind” (48). Superstitions, prayers, and many other things are some examples of occasions where Huck chooses to learn things on his own, giving himself his own interpretation of life.
Unlike Huck, Tom Sawyer is very fastidious to society. He recognizes what is going on around him, and instead of voicing his opinions he simply conforms. There is not much emotional depth to Tom, because instead of being amiable towards his friends, he is very self-centered and haughty. This is nothing like Huck, and Huck shows us that the way we perceive things and people affect how we treat others.
Jim, as a black enslaved male, was usually treated with maliciousness and insolent behavior. Huck, though hesitant about it, digressed from society’s usual treatment of slaves. A friendship developed between Jim and Huck, and Jim seems to be taking their relationship very seriously. During their friendship, Jim is embarking on his journey to seek freedom, and during this journey Huck has an ultimatum put in front of him. Huck can either turn Jim in or cover up for him. At first, in Huck’s eyes, turning Jim in was doing the correct thing, but instead of advocating the practice of slavery, Huck decided to purport that Jim had a case of small pox. Rather than treating Jim as an object, Huck treated Jim as a human being.
Tom’s self-centered attitude is his hugest downfall. He is very fastidious to society, not so much because it is right, but more for the sense of adventure. Adventures are something that Tom really values, yet he finds the lives of others and himself paltry. For example, Tom Sawyer knew very well that Miss Watson had died, and that in her will it stated that Jim would be a free black, instead he decides to not tell Huck about this and make this whole situation into an adventure: “But there’s one thing – he can have a rope-ladder; we can tear up our sheets and make him a rope-ladder easy enough” (254). A rope-ladder was not at all necessary, nor was chopping off Jim’s leg and many other things. Tom didn’t care about how his actions affected others.
Huck is more independent while Tom depends on what society teaches him. Huck worries more about his own opinions rather than the opinions of everyone else. Huck venerates those who are deserving of it while Tom’s main focus is on himself. Between Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, comparisons fail to subsist. Overall, Huck is a better individual, and what makes it most interesting is that he taught himself to be the way that he is.
You have to want to change in order to change. Tom didn’t want to change that badly. Huck refused to be like everyone else.
Work Cited
WiseGeek. http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-magnets-work.htm. 03/24/09.
Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York, New York. Penguin Group. 1985.
P&P #11 Chpts 3-6
“Imprudent as a marriage between Mr. Wickham and our poor Lydia would be, we are now anxious to be assured it has taken place, for there is but too much reason to fear they are not gone to Scotland” (26
5).
In a letter Jane explains to Elizabeth what has happened with Lydia. To the audience this is no surprise because we are used to Lydia humiliating her family: “Our importance, our respectability in the world must be affected by the wild volatility, the assurance and disdain of all restraint which mark Lydia’s character” (226), but to Elizabeth this was an enormous surprise. As Elizabeth was hurriedly going out the door, she saw Mr. Darcy, and explained to him what happened. “I am grieved, indeed” (269), was Mr. Darcy’s reaction. This says a lot about his character, especially since Mr. Wickham previously eloped with his sister, which is one of the many reasons as to why they don’t get along. This is another counter example as to how Elizabeth was wrong about her first impressions with Mr. Darcy.
Miss Bingley’s cold demeanor toward Elizabeth is rooted from:
a. That is how Miss Bingley is towards everyone
b. Jealousy; Miss Bingley wants Mr. Darcy while Elizabeth has him
c. She is trying to distance herself from Elizabeth
d. She found out something about Elizabeth that made her lose respect for Lizzy
5).In a letter Jane explains to Elizabeth what has happened with Lydia. To the audience this is no surprise because we are used to Lydia humiliating her family: “Our importance, our respectability in the world must be affected by the wild volatility, the assurance and disdain of all restraint which mark Lydia’s character” (226), but to Elizabeth this was an enormous surprise. As Elizabeth was hurriedly going out the door, she saw Mr. Darcy, and explained to him what happened. “I am grieved, indeed” (269), was Mr. Darcy’s reaction. This says a lot about his character, especially since Mr. Wickham previously eloped with his sister, which is one of the many reasons as to why they don’t get along. This is another counter example as to how Elizabeth was wrong about her first impressions with Mr. Darcy.
Miss Bingley’s cold demeanor toward Elizabeth is rooted from:
a. That is how Miss Bingley is towards everyone
b. Jealousy; Miss Bingley wants Mr. Darcy while Elizabeth has him
c. She is trying to distance herself from Elizabeth
d. She found out something about Elizabeth that made her lose respect for Lizzy
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
P&P #9 Chpts 14-18
“Oh, your father, of course, may spare you, if your mother can. Daughters are never of so much consequence to a father” (208).
From the way that society appears then, and most of the time appears now, most females have a better relationship with their mothers. In my situation, my relationship between my mom and I is infinitely more strong than my father and I’s. For Elizabeth, it is vice versa. As we see there are many differences between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. For one, Mr. Bennet is interested in Elizabeth rather than the property that she may one day have the pleasure to own. Also, Elizabeth is very intelligent and has a strong character, something that both Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bennet admire. Ultimately, we see Mr. Bennet’s love for Elizabeth when he expressed how happy he is to have Elizabeth back at home: “I am glad you are come back, Lizzy” (217).
According to Chapter 16, the chapter in which we finally see Lydia playing a role in this novel, what can we infer about what type of person she is:
a. Jokester
b. Immature
c. Serious
d. Angry
e. Provides comic relief
Monday, March 30, 2009
P&P #8 Chpts 11-13
“In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you” (188).
Mr. Darcy has randomly appeared at the Parsonage and his visit is being very much questioned by others. His sudden appearance leads us to infer that he is fond of Lizzy. There is also a different type of attitude coming from Elizabeth towards Mr. Darcy, because for once she is in a way complementing him instead of butchering his name: “I do not know any body who seems more to enjoy the power of doing what he likes than Mr. Darcy” (182). And just when Elizabeth started to be nice to Mr. Darcy, she rejects Mr. Darcy’s proposal in a manner that was uncalled for, especially after his meaningful proposal to Elizabeth. Darcy also shows to Elizabeth just how much he cares and how she is wrong about him through the very long letter written to Elizabeth. At the beginning of the novel, author Jane Austen persuaded her audience to develop a dislike towards Mr. Darcy. In the Second Volume, we see that Jane Austen is persuading us to be more sympathetic for Mr. Darcy. Personally, it is working.
What was the main purpose of Mr. Darcy’s letter to Elizabeth:
a. To gain sympathy from her
b. So that she would reconsider his proposal
c. His final goodbye
d. So that Elizabeth can understand Mr. Darcy
e. A,b, and d.
Mr. Darcy has randomly appeared at the Parsonage and his visit is being very much questioned by others. His sudden appearance leads us to infer that he is fond of Lizzy. There is also a different type of attitude coming from Elizabeth towards Mr. Darcy, because for once she is in a way complementing him instead of butchering his name: “I do not know any body who seems more to enjoy the power of doing what he likes than Mr. Darcy” (182). And just when Elizabeth started to be nice to Mr. Darcy, she rejects Mr. Darcy’s proposal in a manner that was uncalled for, especially after his meaningful proposal to Elizabeth. Darcy also shows to Elizabeth just how much he cares and how she is wrong about him through the very long letter written to Elizabeth. At the beginning of the novel, author Jane Austen persuaded her audience to develop a dislike towards Mr. Darcy. In the Second Volume, we see that Jane Austen is persuading us to be more sympathetic for Mr. Darcy. Personally, it is working.
What was the main purpose of Mr. Darcy’s letter to Elizabeth:
a. To gain sympathy from her
b. So that she would reconsider his proposal
c. His final goodbye
d. So that Elizabeth can understand Mr. Darcy
e. A,b, and d.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
P&P #6 Chpts 2-5
“and as a punishment for him, as well as a possible advantage to Jane, she seriously hoped he might really soon marry Mr. Darcy’s sister, as, by Wickham’s account, she would make him abundantly regret what he had thrown away” (149).
In the past couple of pages we see that Jane and Elizabeth are actually interacting with each other as normal sisters would. Lydia and Catherina are always together, but we never heard of such a sort with Jane and Elizabeth. This may have been because of the competition that both their parents caused. Mr. Bennet was constantly saying that Elizabeth was better and Mrs. Bennet did the same with Jane. With the quote above we see Elizabeth being sympathetic to Jane, her situation, and her feelings. Considering Elizabeth’s personality, the quote above is said with all of the sincerity in Elizabeth’s heart, for she seems to be one of the only true person in the novel thus far. She speaks her mind and does not hold back.
“Last Christmas you were afraid of his marrying me, because it would be imprudent; and now, because he is trying to get a girl with only ten thousand pounds, you want me to find out that he is mercenary” (153).
With the quote given above, what can be inferred about Mrs. Gardiner’s intentions?:
a. She is trying to be useful
b. She is trying to get information out of Elizabeth
c. She is trying to take advantage of Elizabeth’s trust in her
d. She is trying to appear as the cool aunt
In the past couple of pages we see that Jane and Elizabeth are actually interacting with each other as normal sisters would. Lydia and Catherina are always together, but we never heard of such a sort with Jane and Elizabeth. This may have been because of the competition that both their parents caused. Mr. Bennet was constantly saying that Elizabeth was better and Mrs. Bennet did the same with Jane. With the quote above we see Elizabeth being sympathetic to Jane, her situation, and her feelings. Considering Elizabeth’s personality, the quote above is said with all of the sincerity in Elizabeth’s heart, for she seems to be one of the only true person in the novel thus far. She speaks her mind and does not hold back.
“Last Christmas you were afraid of his marrying me, because it would be imprudent; and now, because he is trying to get a girl with only ten thousand pounds, you want me to find out that he is mercenary” (153).
With the quote given above, what can be inferred about Mrs. Gardiner’s intentions?:
a. She is trying to be useful
b. She is trying to get information out of Elizabeth
c. She is trying to take advantage of Elizabeth’s trust in her
d. She is trying to appear as the cool aunt
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
