Dear John,


I send this letter in hopes of renewing my love for you in your absence. I have had many sleepless nights, tossing and turning, longing for you by my side. Sadly, I know that will never be again physically, but your spirit still dwells deep inside me, now and forever. I grow weary nowadays pondering why you had to leave me so.


Through past transgressions, I had thought it nearly impossible to forgive you for what you had done and how you had treated me as your wife and soul mate. However, I have realized the error of my ways also, and I recognize I was wrong in rejecting your repentance. Now that you have fatefully departed from my life, I am deeply sorrowful as I witnessed a change in your character that warrants strong acclaim. It brings me great pleasure to know that you died a noble death for a cause greater than yourself. I am proud to be the wife of a man who is so forthright and steadfast in his convictions. I will forever stand by you in just the same way you stood for your beliefs.

Now that you have been taken from me, I long for your warmth and comfort more than ever. I love you, John, and the feelings I have towards you today will carry on until the end of time. Writing this letter brings up such wonderful memories of our life together, and it seems as though you are in this room with me now. I will never forget your brave actions and neither will those that you saved. Though we had our differences at times, my life never would have been the same without you. I give you my soul, John, as you have given yours.


Your forever loving wife,

Elizabeth Proctor

Kevin McAadam
AP English/ Mr. George
12/16/09
Character Analysis
Abigail Williams
Abigail Williams is a misleading and convincing character who relies solely on her word to maintain her power in society.

Abigail’s commanding seat atop society in Salem was constructed by her lies and deception. Abigail provoked the witch hunt by making wild accusations, false or true. The town had fallen into deep paranoia and relied strongly on Abigail’s guidance to influence their decision making. Abigail put on a show for the townspeople to preserve their belief in her power. She was very convincing in her work which gave her a safety net to fall back on if she ever got into trouble: “I want to open myself!... I danced for the Devil; I saw him; I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand” (Miller 48). Abigail’s accusations and acting as a witch are the basis for the plot of the novel and she keeps it so the attention and authority are always placed in her hands.

Abigail is like a politician. Like Abigail, politicians tell voters what they want to hear how they want to hear it. They get their popularity by putting on a good show for the crowd. They do all they can to convince people that they are truthful in what they say and plan to do, but rarely do what they were elected for. This is similar to Abigail because she pretends to be something she is not just to gain power and success when she does not deserve it.

Abigail reminds me of professional wrestler John Cena because of the way both of them put on a convincing show for the crowd, and while it is obvious to many that their acts are fake, many are still fully immersed in the action and believe it is real.

The Crucible #9

Danforth: "Twelve are already executed; the names of these seven are given out, and the village expects to see them die this morning. Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now" (129)

Danforth knows that no matter what he does, he cannot go back on his word and make it seem to the people as though he made the wrong decision in condeming those that died. If he did so, he would be the one that would be condemned because the society needs strong leadership. Danforth is just trying to keep his good name which is what everyone else in the book was trying to do the whole time. Everyone was trying to sound credible in their accusations and keep themselves out of the spotlight because almost everyone besides Proctor was a coward in their actions.

Elizabeth: "So he [Giles] stand mute, and died a Christian under the law" (135)

This does not surprise me about Giles. His consistently outspoken attitude proves how he is one of the only characters that does not act cowardly. He stood up for what was right and what was supposedly believed in Salem, but he was rejected because everyone else was looking to save themselves.

Mary Warren, utterly, confounded, and becoming overwhelmed by Abigail's-and the girls'-utter conviction, starts to whimper, hands half raised, powerless" (Miller 116). "and Mary, as though infected, opens her mouth and screams with them" (118)

I feel bad for Mary because she tries so hard to tell the truth and to do the right thing. But she just becomes so overwhelmed by the pressure Abigail put on her that she had to give in. Abigail's power over the court allows her to do this, and the situation is even more sad for Mary because of how she was so honest and she is being ruled by Abigail who got her power by lying.

Parris: "Excellency, I would postpone these hangin's for a time."

Danforth: "There will be no postponement." (127)

I cannot blame Danforth for making this statement. After all, if Danforth had postponed the hangins, it would have created mass speculation about whether the decisions he made were right or not. To Danforth, it did not matter whether his decisions were right or wrong, all that mattered was what was going on presently. The whole witch hunt is a very touchy issue, and it is most important for him to keep things flowing as smoothly as possible to avoid any problem.

The Crucible #7

Hale: "Excellency, I have singed seventy-two death warrants; I am a minister of the Lord, and I dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it" (99)

Hale has the right mind in this statement, but it is unfortunate that this court is not run similarly. Although Hale is thought of as the somewhat crazy witch expert, he still goes about his business with a sense of logic and is not so quick to condemn a patient. It is a shame that Hale's thought process is not shared with some of the other people invoved in this case. Hale's logical methods would be believed in a present day courtroom, but everyone is so caught up in listening to Abigail because of her super powers that no one bothers to hear the truth.

Proctor: "A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything" (110)

Unfortunately, God never steps in and says who is telling the truth in this case because then everything would be resolved quickly. However, people like Abigail, recognize God's absence as their chance to lie. In this case, someone like Abigail has taken a position as a god herself because she has the power to say who did what and everyone believes her. Even though Proctor is recognized as the least holy person in Salem, it seems to me that he is one of the only people living God's message. He speaks the truth even though it is sometimes controversial. This is contrasted with Abigail who does whatever is necessary to get herself out of trouble.

The Crucible #6

Giles: "My proof is there! Pointing to the paper. If Jacobs hangs for a witch he forfeit up his property- that's law! And there is none but Putnam with the coin to buy so great a piece. This man is killing his neighbors for their land!" (96).

This argument has factual evidence to the motives behind the witch hunt. We finally get an argument that can stand up against people like Abigail who just throw out names. The community is so obsessed with catching witches that they do not realize that people may be lying.

Danforth: "I have seen marvels in this court. I have seen people choked before my eyes by spirits; I have seen them stuck by pins and slashed by daggers. I have until this moment not the slightest reason to suspect that the children may be deceiving me. Do you understand my meaning? (91).

This is yet another example of how every character in this story is bllind to the truth and only listen to what they want to hear. They believe that they have their perfect society with no problems at all, and they are unwilling to admit when there are serious problems. It just goes to show how how unsuspecting the people are in this society until one big problem occurs and then everyone becomes suspicious.

The Crucible #5

Proctor: "And why not, if they must hang before denyin' it? There are them that will swear to anything before they'll hang; have you never thought of that?" (69).

John Proctor is the only sane person in the entire town. First, he refuses to attend church because he does not want to follow a minister who does not present a good example to the community. Now, he states the obvious that no one else seems to realize. Everyone in the town is blind to the truth because societal rules have prevented them from making these problems known. John Proctor is used to going against societal norms so making this statement is not surprising. In fact, I would be surprised if anyone else besides Proctor proposed this question because of how blind these people are to the true facts.

Hale, in great pain: "Man, remember, until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven" (71).

This is a great point made by Hale as it relates to the events taking place in the story. There are certain characters that may seem genuine, but we will only see who they truly are until they are accused and put under the spotlight. With seemingly everyone being accused of witchcraft, all the women may eventually feel the pressure and be forced into showing their true colors.

The Crucible #4

"Ilike it not that Mr. Parris should lay his hand upon my baby. I see no light of God in that man. I'll not conceal it" (65)

John Proctor definitely has a reason as to why he does not like Mr. Parris and why he does not go to church. He better have a good reason not to go to church during this time period because og how serious church was back then. I support Proctor's defiance because he should not have to follow a man like Mr. Parris who has no desire to lead and help others, all he cares about is himself.

"Theology, sir, is a fortress; no crack in a fortress may be accounted small" (67)

I think this may be cause for concern for Proctor. He already has put himself in a tight spot by not going to church and having his wife being called a witch. He should definitly be worried that people might start to get mad that he does not go to church and bring down some more unwanted problems.

Kevin McAdam
AP English 11/ Mr. George
12/7/09
Pride and Prejudice Essay

First Impressions
When meeting someone new for the first time, your first impression of them can often make or break the potential relationship between the two parties. In Pride and Prejudice, the theme of overcoming first impressions is the foundation for how the plot of the story unfolds. Many of these first impressions throughout the novel are proven false. These inaccurate assumptions set the stage for the use of pride and prejudice amongst the characters. The influence of first impressions during the story is exemplified in Lizzy’s initial feelings towards Darcy, Darcy’s keen observations regarding the relationship between Jane and Bingley, and the contrast in character of Darcy and Wickham in relation to how they were originally perceived by society.

Before any facts are to be given as to why the novel should be titled First Impressions, what is learned from a first impression must be established. First impressions always take place upon interaction with a new acquaintance, but what is learned from those meetings is rarely insightful material into a person’s true being. The manner in which one presents themselves is vital in a first impression. Coming off as arrogant or impolite can hinder one’s appearance towards others even if they are incorrectly judged. First impressions are determined based on what is seen on the surface of a person, but prevents any sort of deep interaction. So much stress is placed upon first impressions is because you only get one, and it can determine someone’s positive or negative feelings towards you. For one, you can never tell someone’s finest traits unless blatantly obvious, such as good looks. Equally, one’s flaws are seldom instituted because that person is trying to hide anything that would dissuade people from liking them. Regardless of whether or not a first impression reveals a person’s true character, there is certainly an importance put on a first impression that carries on throughout one’s relationship with that person. Once that opinion is made about an individual, it becomes extremely difficult to change because the other person has made up their mind about the matter and unwilling to change their beliefs.
Lizzy’s first impression of Darcy set up the justification for her prejudice towards him that continued throughout the novel until her opinion eventually changed. The seemingly unbearable arrogance with which Mr. Darcy carried himself planted the seed of hatred in Lizzy’s mind that would remain there against all evidence that would later refute it. In the early stages of the story, Elizabeth’s assumptions seemed to be correct. However, Lizzy was only correct because she had only her first impression of Mr. Darcy to rely on. Mr. Darcy’s comments about Lizzy at their first meeting strongly supported her original judgment about him which gave her even more confidence that she was right about her opinion. However, as we see later in the story, Darcy’s true character is demonstrated to Elizabeth, but her first impression of Darcy still lingered with her, giving her the sense that he was not as good as he seemed. Even though Mr. Darcy profoundly professed his love for Elizabeth, “there seemed a gulf impassable between them” (236), because of Lizzy’s negative outlook on Mr. Darcy. However, Lizzy’s wisdom eventually helped her to overcome her first impression of Darcy and realize that she was wrong to act the way she did towards him: “but when she considered how unjustly she had condemned and upbraided him, her anger was turned against herself; and his disappointed feelings became the object of compassion” (163). Mr. Darcy’s persistence had paid off as Lizzy finally recognized his many amiable qualities. Although Elizabeth is perceived in Pride and Prejudice as a very composed and clear-thinking character, even she is susceptible to the enticing powers contained in first impressions. It just goes to show how the fallacies exhibited in first impressions throughout the story continually lead to erroneous suppositions about the quality of certain characters. However, there were instances as well in which accurate first impressions were used in beneficial ways.

It is not surprising that the only accurate first impression in Pride and Prejudice was made by the only truly level-headed person in the novel, Mr. Darcy. When Mr. Darcy broke up the relationship between Bingley and Jane, he did it based on factual reasons that he could support. Darcy saw that Jane showed no unique affection to Bingley compared to how she treats others, and Mr. Darcy, looking out for his friends best interests, felt obligated to disrupt the relationship. He could not allow the two to be married if there was not intense passion equally present between them. Following the separation, Darcy of course was, yet again, labeled by Elizabeth as a terrible person for his actions even though she did not know the reasoning behind his methods. Lizzy’s assumption in this case is another false first impression of Mr. Darcy that he is a heartless fiend when, in actuality, he did what he did in the pursuit of true love for his good friend. Only until after she learns of Mr. Darcy’s good deeds does she realize the error of her ways and how foolish she was in her first impression of him: “‘I, who have prided myself on my discernment!- I, who have valued myself on my abilities!... I have courted prepossession and ignorance, and driven away reason, where either were concerned. Till this moment, I never knew myself’” (159). Mr. Darcy’s is the only person in the novel who has enough wisdom and fairness to be trusted when it comes to making judgments about people.

The issue of first impressions in Pride and Prejudice is no more apparent than in the contrasting first impressions of Darcy and Wickham. There was such a unanimous belief in the Bennet household that Mr. Darcy was a dreadful person while Mr. Wickham was exceptional in every way. Both of these judgments were made solely based on the first impressions of the two men. Darcy’s, as previously stated, did not present himself as a noble man and was not respected because of his attitude. Wickham, on the other hand, was adored by the Bennets for his charm and good looks. Also, especially in Elizabeth’s case, Wickham was also valued because he was enemies with Mr. Darcy, whom she had a great distaste for. However, as the story played out, Darcy’s stock rose and Wickham’s stock fell in Lizzy’s eyes. Wickham fell out of Lizzy’s good graces because of the revelations discovered about his character. Wickham’s constant method of racking up a large debt and then leaving town proved to Lizzy that she had made another bad judgment in trusting him. When she thought about it, Lizzy could not think of one good act by Wickham. She did not notice this before because she had been so blinded by his charm which came from her first impression of him: “She tried to recollect some instances of goodness, some distinguished trait of integrity or benevolence, that might rescue him from the attacks of Mr. Darcy… but no such recollection befriended her” (157-158). It is obvious that Mr. Darcy is a more honorable man than Mr. Wickham, but it was the first impression each man on Lizzy that influenced whom she believed throughout the story.

It is obvious that although first impressions do not tell much about a person, they play a major role in Pride and Prejudice. It has been shown in this novel that anyone can make a good first impression just as anyone can be fooled by a good first impression. The title of Pride and Prejudice should have been changed to First Impressions because it is the basis of the story and none of the events would have occurred had there not been so many inaccurate first impressions.
















Works Cited

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. New York: Oxford UP, 1998. Print.

The Crucible #3 31-49

"'It discomfits me! Last night- mark this- I tried and tried and could not say my prayers. And then she [Martha] close her book and walks out of the house, and suddenly- mark this- I could pray again!'" (40)

Martha must definitely be a witch because she has the same qualities as other characters that have been accused of using witchcraft. One predominant trait of these witches is their repulsion of God and they use their powers to keep others from worshipping God as well. The fact that witches despise God is very significant in the story since religion plays such a vital role in society. I think that this theme will continue to present itslef and possibly lead to false accusations.

"'I want to open myself! I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the Devil; I saw him... I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!'" (48)

Abigail continues to prove herself to be an overall bad person. First in this quote, she admits to dancing for the Devil and pleading for forgiveness, which would have been the right thing to do had Tituba not just dine the same thing. Abigail wanted someone else to take the fall for Devil-worshiping first just so she could see how it played out. Now that she notices that Tituba is safe, she throws it all out there in hopes of getting off the hook. Secondly, Abigail starts to list off a bunch of names which might not even be true. By throwing out this new information, you must wonder if Abigail is just trying to frame some other people to keep the attention off of herself.

Betty: "You drank blood, Abby! You didn't tell him that!"
Abigail: "Betty, you never say that again! You will never--"
Betty: "You did, you did! You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!" (19).

I chose this quote because it shows how Abigail is definitely a witch. If you drink blood, you got some problems, and it witchcraft is easy to pin on her. Also, she wants to kill Goody Proctor since they had an affair. It is pretty obvious that Abigail will have more problems down the road. Even if she was not a witch, she was still involved in suspicious stuff and this is not the place to be involved in anything suspicious.

Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you (20)

I chose this quote because it is just more evidence that Abigail is a witch. No person would say something like this if they were not guilty and in big trouble, especially in a town full of churchies. The rules are too strict for any normal citizen to be willing to stick their neck out without risking suspicion by others.

Kevin McAdam
AP English/ Mr. George
12/2/09
Pride and Prejudice Essay #2

Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice, although a magnificent love story, can equally be read as a societal critique of the classist structure. Jane Austen displays many of her characters in an extreme light in order to emphasize the differences in societal beliefs. One of the extreme characters of the story is Lady Catherine. Her unjustifiable feelings of superiority over lower class families, such as the Bennets, and her arrogant beliefs that she deserves her high place in society provoke her desire to maintain societal structure at all costs. Lady Catherine’s snobbish opinion of lower class families like the Bennets is greatly unwarranted. Her disgust towards people inferior to her is hypocritical because she had once been in a similar situation as Lizzy. Lady Catherine, herself, had married a man of considerable wealth. In light of these circumstances, one would think Lady Catherine would act more kindly to those aspiring to the same great lengths as Lady Catherine. However, Lady Catherine became enveloped in the theory of social structure that she forgot her roots. Lady Catherine held her position atop society, but she did nothing to deserve the privilege or to stay there. Lady Catherine’s methods for using the power bestowed upon her were shameful for someone who is supposed to set an example for all of society. An example of Lady Catherine’s poor manners is when she asks Lizzy several rude questions about their upbringing: “‘No governess! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at home without a governess! – I never heard of such a thing. Your mother must have been quite a slave to your education’” (Austen 127). Lady Catherine uses this opportunity to incorrectly establish her superiority over Lizzy and to intimidate her. Lady Catherine’s ill-mannered temperament greatly affects prideful people like Lizzy, but in this classist system, it is shown that those in the higher class levels are treated with utmost respect regardless of character. It is outrageous how Lady Catherine sustains a position in society so similar to Mr. Darcy when the two are juxtaposed to one another. A man like Mr. Darcy, truthful and sincere, who is courteous to every one of his workers, is exactly the kind of person who deserves a position of such power. Conversely, Lady Catherine’s haughty nature confirms that societal structure at the time was based solely on wealth instead of character. Lady Catherine’s desire to preserve her supremacy in society drove her to act so maliciously when confronting Lizzy. Lady Catherine became threatened by the rumors of a marriage between Darcy and Lizzy. If this happened, Lacy Catherine would have less power over the lower classes and her position in society would become irrelevant. In order to maintain her dominance, she needed to ensure that higher class citizens married people of similar societal background: “‘Have you not heard me say, that from his earliest hours he was destined for his cousin?’” (271). Here, Lady Catherine not only promotes marriage between wealthy and wealthy, she also attempts to put Lizzy in her place and end any affections she had with Darcy. She effectively states that the connection between Darcy and his cousin is set in stone and there was nothing she could do to change it. Lady Catherine prided herself in devastating the moral of anyone from aspiring to join her atop society. Lady Catherine did not feel bad about using such harmful terms because, after all, her goal when dealing with Lizzy, or with any person of a lower class, was to uphold societal structure by using any means necessary.

Works Cited

Austen, Jane. Pride And Prejudice. New York: Oxford UP, 1998. Print.

Kevin McAdam
AP English 11/ Mr. George
11/29/09
P&P Character Analysis #1

Mr. Wickham was a selfish man whose hostility and bitterness towards Mr. Darcy altered society’s opinion of him from graceful and humble to stubborn and inconsiderate.
At first glance, Mr. Wickham seemed to be a respectable and sincere gentleman. His noble conduct with the Bennet family established his credibility, especially with Lizzy. Wickham used his version of the story detailing the conflict between him and Darcy to further present himself as a righteous man. However, Wickham gives the impression that he is a good man just so he could extract as much as possible from the Bennets, and then disappear. Wickham’s true qualities are revealed to the Bennets when he runs off with Lydia. Wickham’s character is also shown in his previous history in which he would take everything he could from a certain town, departing quickly, and leaving behind a massive debt which he obviously could not pay. These actions quickly change Lizzy’s view of him and destroy all positive feelings she had towards him. In reality, Wickham does not care about Lizzy’s feelings towards himself or anyone else’s opinion because he only cared about his own benefit in life.
Mr. Wickham is a bee. A bee floats around from flower to flower, sucking up all the nectar it can until there is nothing left. Its continuous scavenging for a means to survive is very similar to the way Mr. Wickham lives his life. Secondly, a bee uses its stinger to keep off those that oppose it. Mr. Wickham acts similarly in dealing with Darcy. Wickham’s explanation of the feuding between him and Darcy isolates Darcy and takes a shot at his character.
A modern day example of Mr. Wickham would be Sawyer from Lost because of their constantly selfish attitudes and self-centered actions which eventually detach them from society’s good graces and them to fend for themselves.


Kevin McAdam
AP English 11/ Mr. George
11/29/09
P&P Character Analysis #2


Mr. Darcy is a proud gentleman who, despite people’s derogatory opinions, is a kind and compassionate man that does not believe himself to be superior to others.
Mr. Darcy’s awkward attitude when associating with new acquaintances is the basis for his misunderstood character. Darcy often gave off a sense of arrogance whenever he met someone for the first time. These negative first impressions allowed people who hardly knew him to create inaccurate opinions of him which gave him a poor reputation in society. However, those closest to Darcy would stand by him until the very end because of his remarkable character and manners. As Mrs. Reynolds stated, “He [Darcy] is the best landlord, and the best master that ever lived… There is not one of his tenants or servants but what will give him a good name,” (Austen 188). Darcy’s pride and honesty towards others is what gives the impression of arrogance, but his kindness and generosity, especially coming from someone with such wealth, are Darcy’s truly admirable qualities.
Mr. Darcy is very similar to a shark. A shark gets a bad reputation because of what other people report about it. Also, its reputation comes from people who have never had a true experience with a shark. Instead, the people who believe sharks are terrible beasts have only seen a shark in movies like Jaws. In reality, professionals who work with sharks in their natural habitat know how peaceful sharks are. Sharks only attack when they are out of their comfort zone and are frightened. There are many parallels between the characteristics of Mr. Darcy and sharks. Mr. Darcy may seem arrogant and insensitive when out in public because he is out of his comfort zone. Like a shark, accurate opinions of Mr. Darcy can only be calculated while witnessing him with those he is comfortable with.
A modern day example of Mr. Darcy would be Simon Cowell. He has been given an arrogant reputation on American Idol even though he is being truthful and often telling people what they do not want to here.

P&P #14

"Lady Catherine had been rendered so exceedingly angry by the contents of her nephew's letter, that Charlotte, really rejoicing in the match, was anxious to get away till the storm was blown over" (294)

I chose this quote because it shows how Lady Catherine is the only person who is truly outraged by the marriage between Darcy and Elizabeth. She feels the need to uphold the societal boundaries, and by one of her relatives getting married to someone of a lower class, her own reputation is lowered. People like Mr. Collins and Caroline would often criticize the Bennet family, but they were quick to reconcile with them once Darcy and Elizabeth were married.

"How earnestly did she then wish that her former opinions had been more reasonable, her expressions more moderate! It would have spared her from explanations and professions which it was exceddingly awkward to give" (288)

I chose this quote because it plays into the theme of first impressions. By making such a harsh judgement towards Mr. Darcy, Lizzy was forced to back up her words. After learning the truth about Darcy's character, she regrets everything she said about him. She backed herself up against a wall and continually made it harder to justify her actions to those closest to her.

P&P #13

"Elizabeth had now but little time for conversation with her sister; for while he was present, Jane had no attention to bestow on anyone else" (266)

I chose this quote because it shows the change in Jane's affections towards Mr. Bingley. Previously, Jane had not shown any special attention to Mr. Bingley which almost caused their relationship to separate. Now, she recognizes her faults and is making up for her mistakes. With Jane's problem solved they are now able to live happily together.

"Elizabeth really believed all his expectations of felicity, to be rationally founded, because they had for basis the excellent understanding, and super-excellent disposition of Jane, and a general similarity of feeling and taste between her and himself" (265)

I chose this quote because it shows how Lizzy is truly happy for Jane and Bingley. Lizzy approved of Jane and Bingley's marriage because there is an obvious love between the two and the marriage is occurring for the right reasons. Lizzy is happy for Jane because she is marrying a good man. This contrasts with the marriage between Charlotte and Mr. Collins because neither of them were in love and the marriage happened for the wrong reasons.

P&P #12

"'I mention it, because it is the living which I ought to have had... It would have suited me in every respect'" (250)

I chose this quote because it shows how Mr. Wickham regrets refusing the position as a preacher offered to him by Darcy's father. He recognizes that his irresponsible lifestyle has caught up with him, and he would like nothing more than to have a steady life. Since he missed his opportunity for success, he is forced to carry his problems to whomever will accept him. This unfortunately means that it is highly unlikely that Lydia and Wickham will be happy because the marriage was not based on love in the first place.

"Darcy had walked away to another part of the room. She followed him with her eyes, envied every one to whom he spoke, had scarcely patience enough to help anybody to coffee; and then was enraged against herself for being so silly!" (Austen 260)

I chose this quote because it is another great example of the regret Lizzy holds for rejecting Darcy's proposal so unjustly. Every time Lizzy sees Darcy she cannot help but wonder what could have been. Lizzy now knows what Darcy felt like before his proposal when he could not tell Lizzy he loved her. Now, they are both in opposite situations. Lizzy's dreams of drawing another proposal from Darcy have not been realized and Lizzy cannot stand to conceal her emotions any longer.

P&P #11

"We must endeavor to forget all that has passed on either side, I hope and trust they will yet be happy. His consenting to marry her is a proof, I will believe, that he is come to a right way of thinking" (231)

I chose this quote because it shows how, after everything that had happened in her family, Jane is still able to be optimistic about everything. Even though everyone else can see how the marriage between Lydia and Wickham is a sham, Jane still believes that it is a marriage full of love on some respect since Wickham was willing to marry her. Her kind spirit is somewhat comforting and brings some sense into the situation. Jane's belief that they will be happy together is drastically different from everyone else's view point, but Jane's personality looks at anything as possible.

"Had Lydia's marriage been concluded on the most honourable terms, it was not to be supposed that Mr. Darcy would connect himself with a family, where to every other objection would now be added, an alliance and relationship of the nearest kind with the man whome he so justly scorned" (236)

I chose this quote because it shows how Darcy's love for Lizzy has been blocked by so many obstacles throughout the book. Mr. Darcy had fought throught so much anguish with insults and social classes, but he pushed through with his determination until he met his biggest obstacle in Mr. Wickham. The hatred between the two seems so small, but it touches the lives of so many people in the story. Mr. Darcy's true test will be to see if his love for Lizzy is strong enough to get over his feud with Wickham.

P&P #10

"Miss Bingley was venting her feelings in criticisms on Elizabeth's person, behaviour, and dress. But Georgiana would not join her" (205)

I chose this quote because it shows the class that runs in the Darcy family and is not present in Miss Bingley's character. Georgiana is very similar to Mr. Darcy in how they both shrug off Miss Bingley and disregard her actions because they are both well mannered and would not stoop to Miss Bingley's level. Miss Bingley's character had been diminished by her prejudice and painted her family and herself in a negative light. Georgiana, being an elegant and classy woman, was smart enough not to hurt her family by committing such a foul action.

"No officer is ever to enter my house again, nor even pass through the village. Balls will absolutely be prohibited, unless you stand up with one of your sisters. And you are never to stir out of doors, till you can prove, that you have spent ten minutes of every day in a rational manner'" (228)

I chose this quote because it shows Mr. Bennet's serious side that has yet to be displayed in the book. He is fed up with his daughters' foolish attitudes and finally puts his foot down. Previously, we had seen Mr. Bennet just use sarcasm to cover his emotions and to keep himself out of serious situations. Here, he has finally had enough and I am relieved that someone finally stopped the girls' immaturity. Mr. Bennet is tired of his family being disgraced, and Lydia's actions have pushed him over the edge.

P&P #9

"The possiblity of meeting Mr. Darcy, while viewing the place, instantly occurred" (184)

I chose this quote because it is another example of Elizabeth's true feelings that are starting to come out. Now that Elizabeth has realized Mr. Darcy is not as terrible as she thought he was, her feelings towards him have changed and are being displayed constantly. Her infatuation with Mr. Darcy continues to grow as he is always on her mind.

"It was gratitude.- Gratitude, not merely for having once loved her, but for loving her still well enough, to forgive all the petulance and acrimony of her manner in rejecting him, and all the unjust accusations accompanying her rejection" (201)

I chose this quote because it shows Mr. Darcy's immense love for Elizabeth as well as his terrific character which helped him fight through the criticism given to him by Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy, through his own noble actions and honest descriptions by people who truly know him, has morphed Elizabeth's opinion from bad to good. Elizabeth was blinded by her first impression of Mr. Darcy at first, but Mr. Darcy's love aided him in fighting through Elizabeth's criticism until she saw the truth.

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" (159)

I chose this quote because it shows how Elizabeth had been wrong in her judgments about Mr. Dacry and Mr. Wickham. Her prejudice towards Mr. Darcy inabled Elizabeth to see the truth in the two men, instead, she listened to what she wanted to hear and this the first time that Elizabeth realizes the truth about them. This is difficult for Lizzy to accept because she had always been such a level-headed person, and now that she sees the variation in her character, her credibilty in the story takes a hit.

"'There certainly was some great mismanagement in the education of those two young men. One has got all the goodness, and the other all the appearance of it'" (172)

I chose this quote because, even though it is comparing Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham, I feel it can be placed on many other characters in the story. First, I think that the quote is very true because Mr. Darcy is the quiet man who tells the truth even if it hurts himself, while Mr. Wickham tells noble stories about the feud between him and Mr. Darcy when, in fact, they are not true. Also, I think there are many other characters who have the appearance of goodness such as Jane. Jane is definitely a nice person who thinks well of everyone, but there is no substance behind her feelings which make it hard for her to be a respectable character. Mr. Collins also has the appearance of goodness because he tries to act like he belongs with the Bennets and Mr. Darcy when, in actuality, his is far out of his league.

P&P #7

" 'But perhaps...these offenses might have been over looked, had not your pride been hurt by honest confession of the scruples that had long prevented my forming any serious design' " (147).

I chose this quote because it shows how Mr. Darcy is finally somewhat apologizing for his comments to Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy's has such immense pride that it is difficult for him to admit his wrongdoing because he stands by what he said. Elizabeth's pride also takes place takes a hit in the story as well. She had sworn to detest Mr. Darcy at the beginning of the book, and now she recognizes her subtle feelings for him and cannot admit that her first impression of Mr. Darcy was incorrect.

"The tumult of her mind was now painfully great" (148).

I chose this quote because I think the term used to describe Elizabeth at that moment is perfect. On one hand, Elizabeth was shocked to receive a proposal from a man that she thought hated her, and she had sworn to hate also. However on the other hand, Elizabeth deep down had feelings of affection towards Mr. Darcy and she was thrilled to be asked such a question. We see these feelings at times when the two of them are together. They both try to hide their feelings, but it is impossible in the end.

P&P #6

"He paid her not the smallest attention, till her grandfather's death made her mistress of this fortune" (118)

I chose this quote because it shows Mr. Wickham's true motives. Mr. Wickham is not looking to get married because of love as we see when he is suddenly attracted to Miss King once she claims her inheritence. However, I believe Mr. Wickham is acting under prudent motives because before he was attracted to Miss King, he was attracted to Elizabeth. This shows that Mr. Wickham is more interested in just getting married to someone than gaining immense wealth.

"I pity, though I cannot help blaming her... But I pity her, because she must feel that she has been acting wrong, and because I am very sure that anxiety for her brother is the cause of it" (115)

I chose this quote because it is another example of Jane's optimistic views. Her optimism is a good things at times. However, a lot of the times it is a bad thing because it blinds her from the truth about the people around her. She believes that all people are good and cannot see their motives which, in Caroline's case, are sometimes selfish and wreckless.

P&P #5
"To Elizabeth, however, he voluntarily acknowledged that the necessity of his absence had been self-imposed" (88)

I chose this quote because it shows Mr. Wickham's true qualities and Lizzy's inablity to recognize those flaws. Elizabeth likes Mr. Wickham and so she believes he is a perfect man, but we see how Mr. Wickham has some serious character flaws. However, Lizzy is blind to these things because of her infatuation with Mr. Wickham. Also, Lizzy blocks out all the bad things about Mr. Wickham because of her prejudice against Darcy.

“‘I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins’s character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair, as most people can boast on entering the marriage state’”(96).

I chose this quote because it is an example of a mercenary marriage. Charlotte is not in love with Mr. Collins at all and is not looking to fall in love with someone. All Charlotte wants is financial security so that she knows she never has to worry about anything. Although I believe that this motive for getting married is outrageous, I can understand the reasoning behind it in those days. However, I am always surprised that they care about it so much to even think about marrying Mr. Collins.

P&P #4
"I have done with you from this very day- I told you in the library, you know, I should never speak to you again, and you will find me as good as my word. I have no pleasure in talking to undutiful daughters" (87)

I chose this quote because it shows how Mrs. Bennet values wealth and success for her daughters much more than their happiness. Mrs. Bennet's reaction to Elizabeth's denial of Mr. Collins' proposal was very selfish and proved her motives. This situation also displayed more of Mr. Bennet's sarcasm making fun of his wife's insane behavior. While Mrs. Bennet is deconstructive with her actions, Mr. Bennet's sarcasm is a subtle way to show that he is on Elizabeth's side.

"'And you may be that when I have the honour of seeing her again I shall speak in the highest terms of your modesty, economy, and amiable qulifications'" (82)

I chose this quote because it shows how socially awkward Mr. Collins is and how he lacks any element of love in his proposal. Mr. Collins attempted to propose to his cousin, Elizabeth, even though he had spent very little time with her and he failed to establish a relationship which hurt his character.

P&P 3
"Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth- and it was soon done" (53)

I chose this quote because it shows the role love has in the novel as an obligation to the characters instead of true passionate feelings. Characters like Mr. Collins and Mrs. Bennet do not treat marriage like the sacred ceremony as it should be, but they view it as a job that must be commpleted in order to firmly establish their place in society.

"He was a tall, heavy looking man of five and twenty. His air was grave and stately, and his manners were very formal" (49)

Our first impression of Mr. Collins is very positive and he seems like a respectable man. Mr. Collins is able to present himself as a dignified character. However, all his positive actions will, as we know, end in disaster for him with his ridiculous proposal which vanquishes all of his credibility.

P&P #2
"I have an excessive regard for Jane Bennet, she is really a very sweet girl, and I wish she were well settled. But with such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it" (26)

I chose this quote because it shows Miss Bingley's plot to claim Mr. Darcy for herself. Miss Bingley notices that Mr. Darcy likes Elizabeth. In response, Miss Bingley must do all she can to drag Mr. Darcy's attentions away from Elizabeth by either doing something to make herself look pleasing, or saying negative things about the Bennets. By making the comments about Jane, Miss Bingley is indirectly stating the same things about Elizabeth, and lowering Elizabeth in order to help herself.

"If your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness, if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in the pursuit of Mr. Bingley, and under your orders" (23)

I chose this quote because it is yet another example of Mrs. Bennet's blindness to Mr. Bennet's sarcasm because of her desire for her daughters to marry wealthy men. Mrs. Bennet is so blinded by her goal for her children that she takes Mr. Bennet's sarcasm seriously in order to find a logical solution to ultimately help reach her goal.

1. "'If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield,' said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, 'and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for,'" (Austen 5)

I chose this quote because it clearly sets up Mrs. Bennet's character and displays her true goals. Mrs. Bennet has the same dreams for her children as any mother does, but she just expresses her feelings about them way too much. She obsesses over her daughters being married to rich men because that is all that will make her happy. She needs her daughters to marry men of a higher class so that she may keep her pride and not feel ashamed that her children are not at a respectable level in society. Having men like Mr. Bingley introduced in the novel just increases Mrs. Bennet's happiness because he is the kind of man Mrs. Bennet desires for her daughters.

2. "I know you do; and it is that which make the wonder. With your good sense, to be so honestly blind to the follies and nonsense of others!" (10)

I chose this quote because it directly relates to the differences between Jane and Elizabeth. In this quote, Elizabeth brings up Jane's pleasant attitude that she has towards everyone which is not always the best quality to have. Jane's attitude, even though it may not be the smartest way to deal with people, it is definitely a perfect way to attract a wealthy husband.

Important Concept:

The most important concept of the Tao is the Law of General Beneficence because it is the basis for everything the Tao speaks about. It explains the fundamentals for human existence and for common aspects of our lives. The Law of General Beneficence cleary displays Natural Law and ideal ways to live our lives.

Added Concept:

If I were to choose on concept to put in the Tao it would be the Law of Discipline. It is important for one to have a certain degree of discipline in their lives so they may establish a foundation for success. By proving to be above temptation and following a continuous routine, one can become dedicated in something that has true meaning and purpose in their life.

"Man’s conquest of himself means simply the rule of the Conditioners over the conditioned human material, the world of post-humanity which, some knowingly and some unknowingly, nearly all men in all nations are at present laboring to produce" (Lewis 75)

"But once our souls, that is, our selves, have been given up, the power thus conferred will not belong to us. We shall in fact be the slaves and puppets of that to which we have given our souls" (72)


The final section of The Abolition of Man talks about how the fallacies in human nature will eventually lead to their end. Man will always try to change Nature so they will be satisfied, but we find there are some things in nature that cannot be changed. It is up to our generation to learn from the mistakes of our ancestors in order to be truly satisfied.

"The Innovator attacks traditional values (the Tao) in defense of what he first supposes to be (in some special way) 'rational' or 'biological' values. But as we have seen, all the values he uses in attacking the Tao, and even claims to be substituting for it, are themselves derived from the Tao" (Lewis 41)

"If it [the Tao] is rejected, all value is rejected. If value is retained, it is retained" (43)

At the start of his argument, Lewis states how being a selfless person does not come instinctivly to a person. A person will always think of how they could benefit as a reaction to a situation. People will never think of an opportunity to help others and not themselves because that is just human nature. Lewis also states in his argument that traditional values and moral judgements come from the Tao. He says that if you reject the Tao, you are rejecting all values. Lewis' critics reject the Tao which means that they have no basis for their arguments.

Kevin McAdam
AP English
10/12/09
King Essay- Due Wednesday October 14th, is a 3 page paper describing what makes King's argument so persuasive. Include the appeals we have discussed, in their English form (logic, not logos; emotion, not pathos, character, not ethos). Also, include his use of syntax and diction, and describe how it enhances his argument.
King’s Persuasion
Dr. King’s use of appeals in his letter from Birmingham Jail was of utmost importance to create such a profound impact during a time of hatred and prejudice. In his letter, King’s wealth of knowledge and his vibrant emotion allow him to stand up against, but not attack, the clergymen who will not take part in his struggle. King alters his readers’ opinions of himself and the cause he fought so strongly for by presenting his individual character while diverting away from the stereotypical beliefs black men, displaying his emotional state through his writing by his aggressive word choice, and the way the logical elements of his writing appeal to his audience while collaborating with his diction and emotion.

The first thing that Dr. King needed to do when writing this letter was to establish himself as a credible scholar. In order to do this, he simply could not list certain traits and accomplishments of his because he needed to be humble in the process. Instead, he logically displayed instances showing his true characteristics so that his readers could know what kind of person he is deep down. By presenting his character as credible to start, King had a means of support for later reference when attempting to persuade the clergymen in his favor. The extreme prejudice towards blacks at the time King wrote this letter handicapped his credibility from the start, and his battle to win his readers’ trust was more difficult for him than for a white man given the burden forced upon him by society. Another way that King displayed his character throughout his letter is how he wrote it. His formal and creative writing style exhibited his own intelligence, and presented the importance of his cause. King’s patient and nonviolent attitude gave him the ability to let his emotions flow in his letter while still remaining respectful to those he wrote to.
King’s appeal to his readers would have been nonexistent had there not been such emotion expressed through his writing. Writing with strong emotion was a very easy task for Dr. King to accomplish when writing about a cause that he was so invested in. There was no way King could not let his emotions come out in his letter while witnessing injustices occur day after day. King is able to display these injustices by talking about small issues in on a large scale: “We have waited for more than three hundred and forty years for our constitutional and God-given rights… and we still creep at horse and buggy pace toward the gaining of a cup of coffee at a lunch counter” (King 742). Also, it is obvious that King would not be afraid to express his emotions freely seeing that he was in prison for that such reason. It was easy for King to express the emotions he had bottled up inside him for so long. The challenge for him was to keep from sounding too emotional in his writing.

Another appealing element to King’s argument is the word choice he uses throughout his letter to coincide with emotion in the text. King’s ability to harness his emotion and use it to create a bold, aggressive, and insightful tone adds the life to the letter that makes the reader feel as though the injustices were happening to them. There is nothing conservative about King’s letter because he cannot afford to go easy on the clergymen. King took an aggressive stance in his writing because he wanted an aggressive response from the clergymen that benefitted his cause. If he did not put a sense of urgency into the minds of the clergymen, he would not receive the desired response. King’s emotional appeals would have meant nothing if had not been able to connect the reasons for his emotional state to a logical explanation for his cause.
All of King’s emotion and efforts would have been wasted in writing this letter had he not added logical examples and reasons as to why the clergymen should have backed his cause. Throughout the entire argument, all of King’s emotional rants have been completely supported by logical examples to keep himself from sounding boring. This strategy also constantly reminds the reader of the problems at hand and why he is so invested in the situation. King’s logic in his letter truly pulls together the whole text to persuade the readers in his favor. King’s logic and emotion both perfectly support one another because of King’s intellect and character. The reasoning King had when writing this letter was very smart and comprehensive of his environment, but it would have sounded boring if he was just some unbiased third party. However, King put himself into the center of the struggle and experienced the problems taking place. His own desire for freedom and equality fueled the emotion that he put into his letter. Every assertion King made that seemed wild and outlandish was sustained by facts of his own personal observations. King’s perfect combination of logic and emotion was displayed in the vivid cases of injustice he had experienced: “when you have seen hate-filled policemen curse, kick, brutalize, and even kill your black brothers and sisters with impunity” (742). King’s combination of logic and emotion play off one another so well, creating an argument that cannot be ignored.

There is no one element of King’s letter that stands out to be the solitary reason why it is so appealing. The perfect association between King’s presentation of character, his emotion towards the subject, and the logical elements supporting his argument all share an equal part in the letter’s appeal to the clergymen. Dr. King’s engaging letter wonderfully incorporates the supreme appeals found in any great speech: character, emotion, and logic.

Kevin McAdam
AP English 11/ Mr. George
10/7/09
Martin Luther King Jr. Notes

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

I. Diction
A. One of the most important components of MLK Jr.’s letter came from his aggressive word choice
B. His outstanding word choice is very impressive especially since he wrote the letter from a prison cell
C. An example of his incredible diction is displayed several times throughout the letter: “As in so many experiences of the past we were confronted with blasted hopes, and the dark shadow of a deep disappointment settled upon us. So we had no alternative except that of preparing for direct action, whereby we would present our very bodies as a means of laying our case before the conscience of the local and national community” (740).
D. King does a great job of displaying how horrible the past was, and then telling how he has a plan to push forward through the tough times.

II. Syntax
A. King’s syntax is also a vital factor in his speech using antithesis, juxtaposition, and parallelisms.
B. An example of his syntax is the large paragraph on page 742 in which King used periodic sentences to create a sense of exhaustion with the reader
C. Another way King uses syntax is by answering his own rhetorical questions such as on page 740

III. Appeals
A. King forces readers to accept his letter because of the emotion and logical reasons and examples he gives.
B. At first, his character is not respected because he is black, but his writing speaks for itself
C. King smartly kept himself from showing too much emotion by adding in logic to his argument as shown on page 741

Kevin McAdam
AP English 11/ Mr. George
10/5/09
Fallacy Examples
Hasty Generalization:
The soccer team is 0-1. The soccer team is horrible.
Stereotype:
Christine Lai is smart. All Asians are smart.
Cause and Effect:
Mr. George did a rain dance after school. It rained the next day.
Only Cause:
Students’ grades will be 100% if school is extended by four hours each day.
False Analogy:
The school year is a sprint and a marathon because you have to center all your energy on the present while focusing on the future.
Attacking the Person:
The student said we should play basketball, but we said we should not listen to him because he is a terrible athlete.
Either- Or Fallacy:
We have to win our first five games or there is no way we will make the state tournament.
Non-sequitur:
He got a 95% on his paper. Since he did not get a 100%, he should drop out of school.
Circular Reasoning:
I know Dave is on the soccer team. He is a cool guy, and I know who he is. He should be captain.
Begging the Question:
Everybody knows Michael Vick is the greatest quarterback of all time, and he may as well be the best runner of all time.

Kevin McAdam
AP English 11/ Mr. George
10/4/09
Syllogisms
True:
1. All soccer players have soccer cleats.
Kevin has soccer cleats.
Kevin is a soccer player.
2. MLA format is the correct way to write a paper.
Kevin used MLA format for his paper.
Kevin did his paper in the correct format.

3. Fish live in water.
Goldfish are fish.
Goldfish live in water.

4. Hockey players know how to skate.
Kevin is a hockey player.
Kevin knows how to skate.

False:
1. TC has a soccer team.
There is a soccer team at TC.
There is a team for soccer at TC.

This syllogism is false because the major and minor premises state the same point.

2. All mammals live on land.
A dolphin is a mammal.
Dolphins live on land.

This syllogism is false because the major premise was incorrect.

3. TC is a school.
All kids go to school.
All kids go to TC.

This syllogism is false because the minor premise was not specific enough.

4. A penguin is a bird.
All birds can fly.
Penguins can fly.

This syllogism is false because the minor premise was an incorrect statement.

Kevin McAdam
AP English 11/ Mr. George
10/1/09
Rewritten proposal
Mr. Collins’ Proposal
My dear Miss Elizabeth, pardon my intrusion in my calling you today, but nonetheless I assure you that I would not disturb you if it was not of the utmost importance. I had once believed that I would never find a lovely wife that I truly loved until I met you. I realize that I am not the most irresistible man, but any moment I spend with you I feel like the luckiest man in the world. My flaws are probably more than the next man’s, but I know that I have the determination to make it work between us. You have known me for some time now, and you know that I am a very passionate yet modest man with a heart as big as a lion.
Your exceptionally astounding features, both physically and intellectually, make any man believe that he is not worthy to be in your presence, but I know there is no way I could ever be without you. No one can ever take away your unique personality which makes being around you every second of every day so special. Whenever I feel blue, I think of you and everything feels magnificent. Having you in my life all the time will make me happier than anything else in the world.
I know now that you may be nervous and thinking that we are not right for each other, and to be quite honest, I am nervous too. However, I must swear to you that no one could love more than I will. Your stunning looks your superior elegance your inspiring class your unmistakable charm your unique sense of humor your firm beliefs your unbending loyalty your uplifting spirit have all touched me and have given me the strength to approach you in this situation and ask you the supreme question being… Will you marry me?

Kevin McAdam
AP English 11/ Mr. George
9/ 28/09
Pride and Prejudice Analysis
Mr. Collins’ inability to control his emotions towards Elizabeth kept him from conveying accurate logic which, in turn, halted him from displaying himself as a respectable character.
Mr. Collins’ speech to Elizabeth was doomed from the start because he allowed his emotions to consume him, which stopped him from expressing proper logic. Mr. Collins had already known that he was going to ask Elizabeth to marry him, so his emotions were racing inside the moment he started speaking to her. His thoughts were racing so quickly that he had no time to stop and think if the reasons for his proposal were logical. Mr. Collins’ strategy of saying whatever came to mind first put him in a hole he could not dig himself out of. These illogical statements did not show Elizabeth that he had a strong enough character to be her husband. Also, the fact that Elizabeth strongly disliked Mr. Collins prior to his proposal played an important role in the outcome.
Mr. Collins did not establish himself as a humble and respectable from the beginning, and, in fact, worsened his character as his speech trailed on: “As I must therefore conclude that you are not serious in your rejection of me, I shall choose to attribute it to your wish of increasing my love by suspense, according to the usual practice of elegant females,” (Austen). Mr. Collins’ overbearing emotion and his total lack of common sense in several of his illogical statements to Elizabeth diminished the undesirable character that he had already established before his speech.

Kevin McAdam
AP English 11/ Mr. George
9/15/09
Huck Finn Societal Notes

·A very important aspect of society in the United States at the time of this story was slavery and the racist treatment of blacks. Black slaves were given such harsh treatment at the time that it is hard to imagine in the relative racial peace in the world today. On top of the harsh treatment for slaves, runaway slaves, if caught, faced even more unbearable punishment from their owners. That was why escaping was such a risk for Jim. He was putting his own life at stake and was basically forced to work with Huck in order to reach his ultimate goal of escaping to the north.
·We see in the story how public views are forced upon other citizens. In Huck’s case, he feels resentment towards blacks because that is what he had been taught his entire life. However, when Huck is on his journey with Jim, his views of blacks are changed and he eventually built a close bond with Jim: “I got to thinking over our trip down the river; and I see Jim before me, all the time, in the day, and in the night-time, sometimes moonlight, sometimes storms, and we a floating along, talking, and singing, and laughing,” (227).
·Another societal critique of the south was that most people had to do anything possible just to survive. One example of this is the duke and the dauphin when they scammed people all over and took their money.

Kevin McAdam
AP English 11/ Mr. George
9/10/09
Honor in Monte Cristo Notes
How does Noirtier display honor as a theme in The Count of Monte Cristo?
·One epic moment displaying Noirtier’s deep sense of honor exhibited itself when the duel between General d’Epinay and the President. During their battle, the two men truly showed the proper etiquette required for an event of such magnitude. For example, when the General fell from exhaustion, the President “offered him his arm to assist him to rise” (Dumas 396). It would have been extremely dishonorable for Noirtier to stab his adversary while unable to defend himself. Certain small details like that display Noirtier’s remarkable level of honor and discipline.
·Political views were at the forefront of many peoples’ minds at the time and Noirtier was no exception. Having once been a follower of Napoleon, Noirtier’s pride encompassed him as he could not let his granddaughter marry a royalist with such conflicting political views as he. To prove how serious he was, Noirtier did not leave his money to Valentine, the person that loved him the most, just so her royalist fiancé, Franz, could not get his fortune. Noirtier took pleasure in any pain caused to Franz or any royalist: “‘You, Monsieur Noirtier? It was you who killed my father?’ ‘Yes,’ replied Noirtier, with a majestic look at the young man” (398).
·Being such a powerful and well-respected man earlier in his life, Noirtier would not let his many disabilities affect the way people treated him. He demanded the respect of anyone he came into contact with. His honor and pride fueled his desire to live as he would feel like less of a man if he gave up on life or let others walk all over him.

Kevin McAdam
AP English 11/ Mr. George
9/9/09
Count of Monte Cristo Notes
How does Edmond act as if he were God?
·Edmond believed that he was framed and thrown into prison, not because of God’s doing, but because of the free will of man. This realization first established Edmond’s thirst for revenge against those who had ruined his perfect life: “During these hours of meditation… he had formed a terrible resolution and taken a fearful oath” (Dumas 97).

·We learn that in our faith, God has the power to appear to us in several forms, and throughout the story, we see Edmond take on many different names such as the Count of Monte Cristo, Sinbad the Sailor, ect. Also, Edmond takes on many different appearances like going from a strong and handsome ship captain to a skinny and withered prisoner.

·We believe God is all-powerful and all-knowing and both of those terms are correct in describing the Count of Monte Cristo. First, the Count knows who Villefort, Danglars, and Fernand without them knowing who the Count truly is. Second, as the Count, Edmond was able to manipulate the lives of his sworn enemies in a similar control as with God’s control over humans.

·Another belief we have is that God is all-good and always does what is best for us. In the story, when Edmond first hears about the treasure, he first asks to see if there is a rightful owner: “But is there not a more legitimate owner to this treasure than ourselves?” (113)

Kevin McAdam
AP English 11/ Mr. George
8/24/09
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay- Describe how Huck Finn can be understood as a societal critique of the antebellum south. How does Twain use many characters along the journey to critique society itself?
Huckleberry Finn’s curious and exploratory characteristics in “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” strongly exemplified society in the 1860s. However, these revolutionary characteristics held by many were overruled by traditionalists who still decided upon the same conventional lifestyle choices that their ancestors did, and discouraged the thought of strange new ideas. Throughout the course of this story, Huck dealt with all kinds of people who held different opinions on change in society, including himself. Some of these societal views included: Americans’ desire for change and exploration of the rest of the United States to satisfy their cravings for discovery, the belief that blacks are inferior to whites, and the lack of trust and honesty in others that is apparent in society, not just between whites and blacks, but between everyone.
The United States went through a drastic series of changes in the 1860s, both political and societal. Abolitionist theories were being recognized by the government, and slavery was starting to dissolve across the land. Tensions rose between the northern states which were free from slavery and the southern states which were thriving economically from the benefits of slavery. Also, many adventurous people on the hunt to explore the United States for gold set off away from home towards the west coast. All of these changes affected Huck’s journey in one way or another. Like much of the United States, Huck was stuck at a crossroads in his life. He had to make the difficult decision of whether to stick with his father’s traditional methods of living, or follow the new trend of bold and daring lifestyle that was starting up. In several ways, Huck chose to follow the untraditional lifestyle. He began to change his racial views towards blacks, especially when he met up with Jim after they both ran away. If Huck had followed his father’s traditional ways, he would have turned Jim in on the spot. However, if Huck had followed his father’s orders, he never would have run away. Huck was also much like those revolutionaries that decided to set off into the world as, although Huck did not go to California in search of gold, he did set off from his home to start a new life that was better than the one he had with his father. Huck devised a scheme to escape his father and set off on his own journey: “I judged I’d hide her good, and then, stead of taking to the woods when I run off, I’d go down the river about fifty mile and camp in one place for good, and not have such a rough time tramping on foot,” (Twain 41). Nothing could stop Huck from becoming his own free person and living his life the way he wanted. The revolutionary ideas that swept the nation had almost completely enveloped Huck, but there were just some traditional aspects of life passed down to him by his father and society that he could not change about himself.
There is one facet of society that separated much of the country in the 1860s, and was a pinnacle aspect that distinguished whether someone was a traditionalist or one of the revolutionaries. That facet of society was slavery. As stated earlier, Huck was much like the rest of the country in that he was confused about which was the correct way to think about black people and slavery. In fact, there were many instances throughout the story in which Huck displayed his confusion. In his mind, Huck thought slavery was acceptable because that is what he had always been told growing up. Huck thought God was mad at him and he was committing a sin for helping Jim. Huck believed he would feel better if he wrote a letter to Miss Watson turning Jim in to her, and so he did: “I felt good and all washed clean of sin for the first time I had ever felt so in my life, and I knowed I could pray now,” (227). His societal teachings that white people were better than black people had set in his mind so deep that they could never be erased. On the other hand, Huck’s actions presented to the readers another side of him that knew slavery was immoral. For example, after Huck wrote the letter to Miss Watson, he tore it up. Huck’s reasoning behind tearing up the letter was also important. Huck remembered all of the good times he and Jim had had together on their journey and he would feel very guilty betraying him at this point. This illustrate that Huck had not only shared a raft with Jim going down the river, but had developed a strong bond and friendship with him that broke the barrier between black and white, at least between the two of them: “And I got to thinking over our trip down the river; and I see Jim before me, all the time, in the day, and in the night-time, sometimes moonlight, sometimes storms, and we a floating along, talking, and singing, and laughing,” (227). Huck’s view towards black people definitely lightened up a bit towards the end of the story, but nonetheless, the distrust between whites and blacks would never fully go away as it still exists today.
For all our lives, people will never forget the fact that black people were once enslaved and put through severe physical and mental anguish by white people. There will always be distrust between the white race and the black race in this world. This distrust is very apparent in the story. Being held as a slave by white people for such a long time, Jim taught himself to believe that all white people are bad and to never trust one of them. The same is true in Huck’s case. When the two of them met up with one another on Jackson’s Island, they tried to put away that distrust, or at least conceal it to make it look to the other that they meant no harm. However, when the duke, dauphin, and Huck went into the town and left Jim alone in the canoe, Jim ran off trying to get free of the other white men because he believed that they were not looking out for his best interests and thought they would turn him in: “Jim was gone! I set up a shout- and then another- and then another one; and run this way and that in the woods, whooping and screeching; but it warn’t no use- old Jim was gone,” (225). Jim ran away because he did not have trust in the men he was with. He may have been correct in his assumption because, after all, two of the men he was with, the duke and the dauphin, were trying to make a living by lying to people and scamming them out of their money. Jim had every right to not trust the men he was with because of the color of their skin compared to his, their backgrounds, and the fact that society at that time was full of liars and cheaters all after money, just as it is today.
Huck Finn played such an important role in “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” as he displayed the many views of society at the time and the confusion surrounding them. These intricate views included: Americans’ desire for change and exploration of the rest of the United States to satisfy their cravings for discovery, the belief that blacks are inferior to whites, and the lack of trust and honesty in others that is apparent in society, not just between whites and blacks, but between everyone. At the time of this story, America was just arriving at a new era of change that affected everyone in one way or another. Huck Finn’s character simply displayed how this big change in the world affected societal views on the world from then on.

Kevin McAdam
AP English 11/ Mr. George
7/30/09
The Great Gatsby Essay: Shelia Graham writes: “I think Scott (Fitzgerald) wanted me, through my reading, to understand and perhaps share some of his basic tenets about existence: that as he so often told me, there was no such thing as happiness. …As he explains, “…the sense that life is essentially a cheat and its conditions are those of defeat and redeeming things are not ‘happiness and pleasure’ but the deeper satisfactions of the struggle.” Write an essay in which you analyze the way in which Fitzgerald develops this idea in The Great Gatsby.
Jay Gatsby’s dynamic lifestyle in “The Great Gatsby” was proclaimed by many to be very illustrious, but in reality, as was a theme throughout the novel, life was not always as great as it seemed. Every joyful and successful moment throughout the story was simply a small deterrent from an overall displeasing and defeating life for the book’s characters such as Gatsby and Wilson. Certain instances in which a negative shadow was cast upon optimistic periods were people using Gatsby exclusively for his entertainment capabilities instead of being his true friends, Daisy not being united with Gatsby even though Gatsby has proclaimed his love for her, and Wilson extracted revenge upon Gatsby in response to the death of his wife.
Before he met Gatsby, Nick considered Jay to seemingly be atop the social world because of the many parties held at his house next door. His belief in Gatsby’s social status was also encouraged by all of the marvelous stories he had heard about Gatsby’s interesting past. A picture was painted in Nick’s mind that Gatsby was someone that had a million friends and was idolized by everyone. This provided Nick with nervous feelings upon meeting him for the first time. Gatsby’s powerful reputation was incorrect as many, if not all, of the guests at his parties had never met him or were not even friends of his. Suddenly, the entire belief that Gatsby had such an amazing life with so many friends was rejected. In fact, Nick’s observations provided evidence to prove the opposite. Gatsby was a wealthy man with many fine possessions, but very few friends. Even after Gatsby’s sudden death, there was practically no one to show up at his funeral: “I found myself on Gatsby’s side, and alone. …I was responsible, because no one else was interested…” (Fitzgerald 172). Nick’s fervent attempts to gain interest in Gatsby’s death were futile as those whom Nick believed cared about Gatsby most were reluctant to agonize upon hearing the news. During Gatsby’s life, honest and true opinions of him were impossible to obtain from the guests at his immense parties. In the cemetery during his funeral, the scarcity of mourners accurately displayed how Gatsby’s life may have seemed wonderful, but in the end, the camaraderie shown by his guests was eventually proved to be a sham. Gatsby’s social life was certainly not as awe-inspiring as it had seemed to Nick, but his attempt to be with the one he loved turned out just as poorly. Gatsby’s attempt to achieve true happiness came during the time he was with his love, Daisy, but it appeared as if fortune was not in their favor as Tom Buchanan would never give up his wife to the ill-fated Oxford man. All his life, Gatsby only had one true love, and that person was Daisy. Gatsby had spent so many nights alone with a feeling of emptiness inside that no one but Daisy could fill. His longing for companionship with Daisy still remained even with all of the festive parties thrown at his house. It had seemed that the two of them were destined to be with each other once again. However, destiny was overmatched by law as Daisy already had a husband. Nevertheless, Gatsby and Daisy still found time to sneak away and be together up until the defining moment when the two of them had to profess their love of one another before Tom: “‘Your wife doesn’t love you,’ said Gatsby quietly. ‘She’s never loved you. She loves me.’” (137). Daisy’s confession was much more hesitant than Gatsby’s: “‘Why, - how could I love him- possibly?’... ‘I never loved him,’” (139). The clash between Tom and Gatsby actually pushed Daisy more to Tom’s side. Unfortunately, for Gatsby and Daisy, after the argument with Tom, any chance of the two of them being together was thrashed because of Tom’s reluctance to lose his wife to anyone, especially, to someone he detested as much as Gatsby. It was exhibited in “The Great Gatsby” that any faint moment of true happiness for Gatsby was thwarted away by the brutal and unforgiving world.
George Wilson’s exhausting struggle to find his wife’s killer appeared to have ended as a success in the eyes of Wilson, but, in fact, it did not bring him any happiness as his wife was still dead. Any act of vengeance is committed in the belief that getting revenge on those responsible for causing the incident will bring feelings of justice and bliss that will help that person cope with their loss. George was hurt so badly by the loss of his wife that no form of happiness could ever substitute for his sadness, so he turned to vengeance. That logic may have motivated George’s rampage, but that was not the result. After George murdered Gatsby, George’s craving for righteousness seemed complete, but he realized that nothing could ever replace the feelings of adoration that he had for his wife. These terrible feelings inside of George persuaded him to decide that he could not live without his wife and committed suicide: “…the gardener saw Wilson’s body a little way off in the grass,” (170). Even if killing Gatsby did not replace the pain from the loss of his wife, George could wish that at least he served justice to Gatsby for killing Myrtle. However, another bad break came to both George and Gatsby as George murdered the wrong person as it was actually Daisy driving the car, and Gatsby was wrongly murdered. Ill-fortune shocked both men repeatedly throughout the story as once a small quantity of happiness appeared before them, disaster struck and promptly took that happiness away forever.
The belief people have that says life is good is not always true in “The Great Gatsby.” In the story, there are some bright spots that, however, are essentially part of an overall negative environment such as: people using Gatsby exclusively for his entertainment capabilities instead of being his true friends, Daisy not being united with Gatsby even though Gatsby has proclaimed his love for her, and Wilson extracted revenge upon Gatsby in response to the death of his wife. As we see in the novel, and in the case of Jay Gatsby, life is not always fair.

Kevin McAdam
AP English 11/ Mr. George
7/13/09
Count of Monte Cristo Essay: Is Edmond’s vengeance justified? Consider this question within the contexts of just retribution. Based on what he had taken from him, is what he does just?
Edmond Dantes: Hero or Villain
Edmond Dantes’ honest and noble character in “The Count of Monte Cristo” was diametrically opposed to his acts of vengeance. Edmond’s imprisonment warranted him every right to attain his vengeance. Edmond justified his deception and other uncharacteristic traits he had shown based on what was taken from him, what he did to his enemies, and how he ended up helping the lives of others throughout the novel.
Edmond had a terrific life as if he was on top of the world with blessings such as: being named captain of the Pharaon, having a beautiful fiancé, Mercedes, and being such a renowned and respected sailor, all at the age of nineteen. Edmond was correct in seeking vengeance after: losing his freedom from being thrown into prison at the infamous Chateau d’If, being unable to captain the Pharaon because of his prison sentence, losing his beloved Mercedes, and not being present at the moment of his father’s death. Vengeance came along naturally as the prison did not offer another alternative: “During these hours of meditation, which had passed like so many seconds, he had formed a terrible resolution and taken a fearful oath… His face had lost that drawn look it had worn, and instead there was a determined, almost radiant expression which clearly denoted that he had taken a resolution,” (Dumas 97). Based on Edmond’s prior experiences, he had every right in the world to do anything and everything to the three men, Danglars, Villefort, and Morcerf, who were responsible for all of his suffering. Danglars, Villefort, and Morcerf not only harmed Edmond physically, but they harmed him psychologically as well. They planted a seed of doubt in Edmond’s mind that there was no one left for him outside of his prison cell. Being in the Chateau d’If lowered the brave and proud sailor’s self-esteem to such an extent that he even dared to attempt suicide. The unfathomable physical and mental anguish that occurred inside Edmond’s prison cell during his fourteen years in captivity would be enough for anyone to crave retribution. When he finally determined those responsible for his pain, with the assistance of the Abbe Faria, payback was what gave him the strength and desire to withstand his punishment, and eventually broke out of the dark dungeon that was meant to someday become his tomb.
The manner in which Edmond achieved his vengeance truly allowed himself to prolong his enemies suffering. By merely killing Danglars, Villefort, and Morcerf, Edmond would not receive the full satisfaction that he desired from their suffering. Edmond desired to hurt Danglars, Villefort, and Morcerf in similar ways pertaining to how Edmond suffered in their hands. Edmond’s clever strategy quickly took shape as he unsuspectingly wreaked havoc on Danglars, Villefort, and Morcerf. Edmond’s most important values were defeated because he lost his faith in God while serving his prison sentence which was unjustly issued. Edmond could not believe that God would let him suffer in such a dreadful place after being such an ideal young man. Danglars lost his most significant values which were his money and his family. Edmond’s prison sentence and Danglars’ unexpected economic collapse both contributed to the two men losing more than just what they cared about most. Edmond and Danglars both lost their sanity because of what happened to each of them. Unfortunately, because of their absent-mindedness, it led them to both make an attempt at suicide. After Edmond’s daring escape from the Chateau d’If, he was abruptly struck with the news of how his fiancé had abandoned him and of his elderly father’s death. Villefort was similarly shocked with the sudden loss of his very own family members. Granted that it was not Edmond who killed Villefort’s family, it did not matter as Edmond’s dirty work was done for him and the outcome was just what Edmond desired. To make things even sweeter for Edmond, once Villefort concluded that Madame Villefort was the murderer, she killed herself along with her young son. After the many months of death in Villefort’s home, Villefort had nothing left except his father whom could only speak with his eyes. Edmond’s thirst for vengeance was nearly quenched as he continued to attack his sworn enemies. While Edmond was locked up in prison, doubt was created in the minds of more people than just him. Every day that Edmond was imprisoned, Mercedes was forced to wonder whether her fiancé was even alive or not. With a growing desire to end her solitude, Mercedes abandoned all hope of reuniting with her true love. She finally accepted her new soul mate to be the man whom she had always said she could only love as a brother, Fernand Morcerf. Edmond extracted his revenge on Morcerf in the same way that he had hurt him; by making the woman he loved abandon him. Edmond displayed to society all of the situations throughout Morcerf’s life in which he had acted cowardly and dishonorably. When Mercedes had heard of these new revelations, she knew that her son, Albert, and she could not stand to live under the same roof or carry the same name as her husband any longer. Edmond had struck revenge towards those who deserved to be reprimanded for their actions, but nevertheless, he did some good in helping those who needed it during his trek for justice.
Following Edmond’s escape from the Chateau d’If, he took on a less forgiving persona which contributes to his demand for reparations from Danglars, Villefort, and Morcerf. However, at certain moments during Edmond’s rage, we are able to see through his vengeful mind-set and witness aspects of his truly compassionate and kindhearted being. Overall, Edmond was a naturally good human being, and we see those superior characteristics in how he helps many of the people that he came in contact with, aside from those whom he strived to destroy. In the Chateau d’If, Edmond gave the Abbe Faria a newfound motive to survive, escape his cell, and go on to live a free and healthy life. Edmond was like a son to the Abbe Faria: “‘you are my son, Dantes. You are the child of my captivity. My profession condemned me to my celibacy, but God has sent you to console the man who could not be a father, and the prisoner who could not be a free man,’ ” (114). Edmond’s companionship relieved the Abbe Faria of the loneliness. Edmond’s generosity also stretched out to some of the people in the families he had sought out to destroy. When Madame Morcerf came to Edmond and revealed to him that she was actually Mercedes, he agreed to let her son, Albert, go free and said he would not harm her son in the duel that was to take place. Instead, his honorable and dignified character was what almost determined his death, “You cannot suppose I have the least desire to live after I have been publicly humiliated… challenged by a mere child who will glory in my pardon as in a victory?” (473). Edmond’s true characteristics were shown when he gave his assistance to people like the Abbe Faria and Mercedes because it proves that Edmond was not as ruthless as he was depicted in the novel. Edmond simply wanted to serve justice to those responsible for his pain by making them suffer the same way he did.
Edmond Dantes was such a bright and distinguished young man with an excellent future. When he was arrested, everything had been taken away from him, including his promising future. Edmond ruined the lives of his sworn enemies in the same way that they had ruined his own life. Edmond decided that the best means for justice to be served would be an eye for an eye. The drastic change in Edmond’s character makes his actions seem as though they were too extreme and unjust. However, deep down, Edmond’s noble spirit was always still there as he did many good deeds for others throughout the novel. With someone as noble and honorable as Edmond, he never would have acted on his vengeful feelings if he was not going to ultimately serve justice.

Kevin McAdam
English 10 Honors/ Mr. George
4/29/09
Native Son Essay

NATIVE SON
In any judicial case, the decision of whether the accused is either guilty or innocent of committing a crime is obviously paramount. However, another element that is essential is the thought that has gone into committing that crime. As we have seen throughout Native Son, Bigger Thomas is a very troubled individual. It is very difficult to tell if Bigger acts the way he does because of the environment he lives in or because he actually has psychological problems. Whichever the case, Bigger committed several heinous crimes throughout the story. Each of those crimes took place because of reasons that seemed logical to Bigger at the time. These reoccurring lapses in judgment led to Bigger murdering Mary Dalton, writing a ransom note to Mr. Dalton relating to the false kidnapping of his daughter, and the murder of Bigger’s girlfriend, Bessie. Bigger’s first great lapse in judgment came on the night he murdered Mary Dalton. The major reason why Bigger performed this act was because of his isolation from the white community his entire life. This was Bigger’s first time interacting with white people and he had no clue how to act. Bigger’s insecurity around white people was displayed in this quote: “Jan smiled broadly, then extended an open palm toward him. Bigger’s entire body tightened with suspense and dread… Bigger’s right hand gripped the steering wheel and he wondered if he ought to shake hands with this white man” (Wright 66). Bigger did not understand how white people acted in certain situations. All he knew was that all white people hated all black people and oppressed them severely. Based on only knowing this information about white people, Bigger was petrified when forced with the situation of carrying Mary to her room late at night after both of them had been drinking. Bigger’s mind started swirling so rapidly with ideas of what would happen to him if he was caught that he believed saving himself was the most important thing. From then on, the feeling of saving himself first only heightened itself once he killed Mary and placed the body in the furnace. Unfortunately, once Bigger was in the clear of his accidental murder, he makes another costly mental lapse by sending a phony ransom note to Mr. Dalton for the release of his kidnapped daughter. Bigger’s poor decision making abilities were put on display when he decided to try and make money off of killing Mary. Bigger was so shocked when he had not been caught for the murder that it instilled in him a sense of power over the white people and that he could not be stopped. Bigger’s feelings at this time can be justified because he had been knocked down by white people his entire life, and Bigger felt he had finally reached the summit of the white mountain he had been climbing his entire life. Bigger’s newfound sense of equality with the white people is shown in this quote: “The knowledge that he had killed a white girl they loved and regarded as their symbol of beauty made him feel the equal of them, like a man who had been somehow cheated, but had now evened the score" (164). Bigger felt that if he could overcome an obstacle of this magnitude, he should continue his streak and try to benefit from the sudden good fortune at hand. This greedy attitude exploited Bigger’s immature and savage-like nature, and made it so he had shown no sense of remorse towards Mary and her family. As Bigger follows through on his plan, we finally see him as keen and observant. When Bigger decides to plan the murder on Jan Erlone, we were shown a glimpse of intelligence that, unfortunately for Bigger, was short-lived. Bigger realized that Jan was the best target to frame the murder on because Mary’s parents, and the government as well, hated Jan for his Communist beliefs. Bigger did not feel bad about framing Jan because to Bigger, all white people were part of one racist force against black people and that Jan was really out to get him. Bigger’s dominance over the whites did not last long. All of the evidence from the murder soon pointed at Bigger, and the police were out to get him. Bigger became conscious of the fact that he was not going to get his ransom money, and that his only reward would be getting away with his life. Once Bigger’s plan had been ruined, he decided it was time to run, but he first had to get rid of Bessie before it was too late. Bigger’s girlfriend, Bessie, had no affect on Bigger except in a physical manner. There was never any love connection between the two of them, and they never thought they would live happily ever after. Bigger thought of Bessie as an object and she meant nothing to him. This made the decision to kill her rather easy. Bigger had still been relying on the belief of saving himself first. In order to do that, he had to lose Bessie. He would not let someone else’s mistakes be the reason he got captured. Bigger knew carrying Bessie with him while he was on the run would definitely hinder his progress. Also, Bigger felt annoyed by Bessie’s emotional problems and worried about how it would affect the rest of his journey. Bigger was a lonely person and his continuing desire to be alone in the world is demonstrated in this quote: "He had lived and acted on the assumption that he was alone, and now he saw that he had not been. What he had done made others suffer" (298). Bigger killed Bessie because he needed to be alone, and all of his actions reflected upon his selfish personality. It was very easy to figure out that Native Son would end with Bigger’s death. However, there was a deeper meaning that went into the crimes committed in this book. There was a distinct thought process as to why Bigger killed Mary Dalton, writing a ransom note to Mr. Dalton relating to the false kidnapping of his daughter, and the murder of Bessie. Bigger’s intellect and judgment must be called into question when we think of the thought process for these crimes. Bigger Thomas was a troubled young man who had been pushed down by white society for so long that one day, Bigger committed several crimes that really have only one explanation as to why they were carried out. Fear.