1980. A recurring theme in literature is the classic war between a passion and responsibility. For instance, a personal cause, a love, a desire for revenge, a determination to redress a wrong, or some other emotion or drive may conflict with moral duty. Choose a literary work in which a character confronts the demands of a private passion that conflicts with his or her responsibilities. In a well-written essay show clearly the nature of the conflict, its effects upon the character, and its significance to the work.
Love is a strong emotion most people face and struggle with in their life times. It is so strong, it can often cause one to lose their path, and move away from making moral decisions. In the book Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, the main character, Pip, must struggle and decide between attempting to please the one he loves, and making a moral decision.
Pip lives in a small, poor community with his older sister and her sisters husband Joe, whom he works with and loves dearly. Once he meets a wealthy girl named Estella in a mansion he is asked to work in, all Pip wants to do is become a gentlemen and win her heart. He receives money from a secret benefactor and moves to London to try to learn to be a gentlemen. Even though she is rude and cold towards him, he still feels he loves her and wants to please her. Joe tries to keep in touch with Pip while he is in London, but Pip is disrespectful and feels he is superior to Joe because of his recently increased status. Pip must face the conflict of trying to please a girl who doesn't love him, or doing the moral thing and keeping in touch with his old friend Joe.
This conflict has a large effect on Pip throughout the novel. He feels how cold and rude Estella is towards him, and this constantly upsets him. But when she has one split second of kindness towards him, he notices it and becomes hopeful again. Pip also notices his new behavior towards Joe. Deep inside, he does feel bad for being so disrespectful to Joe, but it is difficult for him to face the idea of being good friends with someone of that low social status. Pip is constantly worrying and thinking about what to do: please Estella, or move back home and work and have a close relationship with his old friend Joe.
This moral conflict Pip faces makes up a majority of the novel. It adds to the reoccurring theme of social class. Would he rather be unhappy with Estella and a have a high social status, or be happy with Joe and have a lower status? This conflict greatly adds to the theme of social status.
In the novel, Dickens makes it very clear that Pip must struggle between attempting to please the one he loves, or making a moral decision to stay close with Joe.
Again, I think your essay would be stronger if you used techniques to lead to effect to get to your meaning. You do it so well in your close readings. I know the prompts make it difficult to include them sometimes but I do think that's one of the things the AP graders are looking for. Just something to think about. Be careful, too, about short conclusions. The second to last paragraph seems like it could maybe just include the last sentence? That would make it a better conclusion. Great essay!
ReplyDeleteGood work you wrote lots and lots of words. I think that you have really good points however, this introduction is slightly weaker than your other ones. Other than that you have good points and good evidence. Maybe try to add some specific evidence like quotes if you can remember any?
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great work.
Good job on this essay, you could use some more specific evidence to support your meanings, but you did well with that meaning. Try to mention something and specifically say "the imagery Dickens uses..." or something along those lines, if you can remember quotes, awesome, use them, if not just focus on specific little parts you remember and discuss those so if an AP reader reads it they don't just think you are summarizing.
ReplyDeleteGreat work with the essay.