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.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
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)
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)
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