A Pathetic Proposal
A decent, kind hearted man would ask for a woman’s hand with the promise of love, security, and an everlasting friendship. Mr. Collins did otherwise. He was rude, insulting, and arrogant. Although Mr. Collins’ syntax showed him to be a respectable man with an appropriate use of words, his diction was outrageous. The choice of words used to express his “violent love” for Elizabeth would have made any woman want to slap him. Mr. Collins started his conversation by complimenting Elizabeth with great politeness, until he slid into logos.
After listing his reasons for marriage, one can infer that Mr. Collins clearly wanted to look admirable in front of his fellow companions by marrying Elizabeth: “I think it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances (like myself) to set the example of matrimony in his parish” (Austen). Matrimony is meant for two people that are deeply in love with one another, not a store where you pick the nicest looking handbag to flaunt amongst a group of friends. He did not need to express the fact that his popularity might increase after marrying Elizabeth. Mr. Collins was the least bit charming, his reasons expressed that he was using marriage to get ahead instead of expressing any kind of love towards Elizabeth. In other words, he wanted to marry Elizabeth for his own selfish reasons.
Mr. Collins believed by marrying Elizabeth, he would achieve even more satisfaction: “I am convinced that it will add greatly to my happiness.” What about Elizabeth’s happiness? Mr. Collins never mentioned how he planned on treating Elizabeth. If Mr. Collins was actually considerate towards Elizabeth’s feelings and expressed how her presence increased his happiness or something similar, then he would not have sounded so narcissistic. He only saw marriage as a duty that needed to be fulfilled.
After accomplishing logos, Mr. Collins tried to develop pathos in all the wrong ways. He bounces from the death of Elizabeth’s living parents to the economic struggles her family is facing: “[I] shall make no demand of that nature on your father, since I am well aware that it could not be compiled with, and the one thousand pounds in the 4 per cents, which will not be yours til after your mother’s decease, is all that you may ever be entitled to.” Mr. Collins is basically telling Elizabeth how poor she is. Rather than insulting her family, Mr. Collins could have expressed how his love overpowers any amount of wealth. It should not matter how wealthy a person is when one in love with another, and wants to marry. It should be one of the last things to worry about. Mr. Collins should have kept his insults to himself.
Mr. Collins refused to believe Elizabeth’s rejection and explained how unqualified she was to marry anybody else: “It is by no means certain that another off of marriage may ever be made you. Your portion is unhappily so small that it will in all likelihood undo the effects of your loveliness and amiable qualifications.” He blatantly told Elizabeth that nobody would ever want her as their wife. He had no right to act so rudely to Elizabeth. This arrogant man even refused to believe that Elizabeth was rejecting him: “It is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the man whom they secretly mean to accept.” Mr. Collins did his best to seek Elizabeth’s dependency. He attempted to persuade her into realizing he was the only person right for her. If Mr. Collins truly felt this way, then he should have waited for Elizabeth to realize this on her own. Mr. Collins was very selfish in his proposal and is not at all worthy for a wife.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Societal Critique of the South- Huck Finn Notes
1. Racism
a. Black people were not considered human beings in the South. They were known better as the cotton picking, cow feeding illiterates of the white society. If a black man was wearing a nice pair of shoes or a clean-cut shirt, then all hell broke loose.
b. A black person was to never reach the standards of a white person: "When they told me there was a State in this country where they'd let that nigger vote, I drawed out. I says I'll never vote agin. […] I says to the people, why ain’t this nigger put up at auction and sold?" (Twain 37).
2. Violence
a. As Huck continued his journey down the river, he came across two families with a strangely aggressive desire to end each other’s lives.
b. The Grangerford and the Shepardson family shared an unyielding hatred for one another without a valid reason: "They don't know, now, what the row was about in the first place" (120). All the families wanted were for the other to be killed and gone for good.
c. In Southern society, this warfare and death was accepted.
3. Working Together
a. “The pitifulest thing out is a mob; that’s what an army is- a mob; they don’t fight with courage that’s born in them, but with courage that’s borrowed from their mass” (159).
b. Throughout the South, families fought side by side to put an end to a dispute. They rallied themselves together with pride and courage, but forgot the logic behind the decision they made to fight.
c. Instead of settling issues with reasoning and fair judgment, the families of the South always resorted to violence.
a. Black people were not considered human beings in the South. They were known better as the cotton picking, cow feeding illiterates of the white society. If a black man was wearing a nice pair of shoes or a clean-cut shirt, then all hell broke loose.
b. A black person was to never reach the standards of a white person: "When they told me there was a State in this country where they'd let that nigger vote, I drawed out. I says I'll never vote agin. […] I says to the people, why ain’t this nigger put up at auction and sold?" (Twain 37).
2. Violence
a. As Huck continued his journey down the river, he came across two families with a strangely aggressive desire to end each other’s lives.
b. The Grangerford and the Shepardson family shared an unyielding hatred for one another without a valid reason: "They don't know, now, what the row was about in the first place" (120). All the families wanted were for the other to be killed and gone for good.
c. In Southern society, this warfare and death was accepted.
3. Working Together
a. “The pitifulest thing out is a mob; that’s what an army is- a mob; they don’t fight with courage that’s born in them, but with courage that’s borrowed from their mass” (159).
b. Throughout the South, families fought side by side to put an end to a dispute. They rallied themselves together with pride and courage, but forgot the logic behind the decision they made to fight.
c. Instead of settling issues with reasoning and fair judgment, the families of the South always resorted to violence.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Noirtier's Role of Honor- The Count of Monte Cristo
1. “‘You have insulted a man, monsieur,’ said the President, ‘and that man refuses to go a step farther without honourable reparation’” (Dumas 394).
a. Noirtier was not going to let the General disrespect him. The only “correct” way of solving this situation was to kill the General for his disgraceful words towards Noirtier.
2. “Valentine clasped her hands as though in prayer; Noirtier looked at Villefort with an almost sublime expression of contempt and pride” (395).
a. Noirtier felt contempt for the General’s dishonor towards him, yet a sense of pride for killing the General.
3. “‘You?’ cried Franz, his hair standing on end. ‘You, Monsieur Noirtier? It was you who killed my father?’ […] ‘Yes,’ replied Noirtier, with a majestic look at the young man” (398).
a. Noirtier answered Franz with pride and dignity. He felt no shame admitting that he was the man who killed General de Quesnel.
4. Noirtier wants to maintain his honor by not agreeing to Valentine’s wedding with Franz.
a. By telling Franz the real events of the night his father was murdered, Noirtier continues holding up his honor, but Villefort’s is shot down. It would be impossible for Franz to marry into a family who caused him suffering by killing his father.
b. Why should Franz continue to be respectful towards the son of his father’s murderer, who is also the father of his bride to be? It would only be instinct to run away from such a tangle.
c. “Franz declined the honour yesterday morning” (401).
a. Noirtier was not going to let the General disrespect him. The only “correct” way of solving this situation was to kill the General for his disgraceful words towards Noirtier.
2. “Valentine clasped her hands as though in prayer; Noirtier looked at Villefort with an almost sublime expression of contempt and pride” (395).
a. Noirtier felt contempt for the General’s dishonor towards him, yet a sense of pride for killing the General.
3. “‘You?’ cried Franz, his hair standing on end. ‘You, Monsieur Noirtier? It was you who killed my father?’ […] ‘Yes,’ replied Noirtier, with a majestic look at the young man” (398).
a. Noirtier answered Franz with pride and dignity. He felt no shame admitting that he was the man who killed General de Quesnel.
4. Noirtier wants to maintain his honor by not agreeing to Valentine’s wedding with Franz.
a. By telling Franz the real events of the night his father was murdered, Noirtier continues holding up his honor, but Villefort’s is shot down. It would be impossible for Franz to marry into a family who caused him suffering by killing his father.
b. Why should Franz continue to be respectful towards the son of his father’s murderer, who is also the father of his bride to be? It would only be instinct to run away from such a tangle.
c. “Franz declined the honour yesterday morning” (401).
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Dantès' Role as God -The Count of Monte Cristo
1. “He told himself it was the hatred of men and not the vengeance of God that had thrust him into this dark abyss” (Dumas 79).
a. Dantès is not blaming God for his suffering. He believes it is the hatred, more like envy, of man that has caused Dantès such pain.
2. “It is thus that God rewards virtue, monsieur” (157).
a. This takes place when the Abbé unexpectedly visits Caderousse who admits his wrongdoings and the malicious scheme that was planned to destroy Dantès.
b. For Monsieur Morrel, Sindbad the Sailor brings the captain out of debt with a great amount of money.
3. “I have played the part of Providence in recompensing the good, may the god of vengeance now permit me to punish the wicked” (187).
a. After the kind deeds of the Abbé and Sindbad the Sailor are completed, the Count of Monte Cristo becomes a nasty man with a taste for unyielding revenge.
b. Now that he finished helping those who were in need, Dantès punishes Villefort, Morcerf, and Danglars on behalf of God’s will.
4. In the process of carrying out his vengeance, the Count takes his revenge to the next level.
a. For example, he slowly begins killing off the Villefort family, people that had done no harm to Edmond Dantès.
b. The Count had the power to choose when and where a person was to die. He knew what deadly deed was happening in the Villefort household, yet did not bother to care if other people besides Villefort were being hurt as well.
c. He also allowed Albert Morcerf to live by Mercédès’ request. If the Count had not been passionately in love with Mercédès, he most likely would not have let Albert live.
i. “The lion was tamed, the avenger was overcome! ‘What do you ask of me?’ he said, “Your son’s life? Well, then, he shall live!’” (472).
5. Dantès saved Valentine the night she was to die. He gave her a liquid to fight the poison. Dantès acted as God saving an innocent soul.
a. “He disappeared after casting one more look on Valentine, who was sleeping with the confidence and innocence of an angel at the feet of the Lord” (510).
a. Dantès is not blaming God for his suffering. He believes it is the hatred, more like envy, of man that has caused Dantès such pain.
2. “It is thus that God rewards virtue, monsieur” (157).
a. This takes place when the Abbé unexpectedly visits Caderousse who admits his wrongdoings and the malicious scheme that was planned to destroy Dantès.
b. For Monsieur Morrel, Sindbad the Sailor brings the captain out of debt with a great amount of money.
3. “I have played the part of Providence in recompensing the good, may the god of vengeance now permit me to punish the wicked” (187).
a. After the kind deeds of the Abbé and Sindbad the Sailor are completed, the Count of Monte Cristo becomes a nasty man with a taste for unyielding revenge.
b. Now that he finished helping those who were in need, Dantès punishes Villefort, Morcerf, and Danglars on behalf of God’s will.
4. In the process of carrying out his vengeance, the Count takes his revenge to the next level.
a. For example, he slowly begins killing off the Villefort family, people that had done no harm to Edmond Dantès.
b. The Count had the power to choose when and where a person was to die. He knew what deadly deed was happening in the Villefort household, yet did not bother to care if other people besides Villefort were being hurt as well.
c. He also allowed Albert Morcerf to live by Mercédès’ request. If the Count had not been passionately in love with Mercédès, he most likely would not have let Albert live.
i. “The lion was tamed, the avenger was overcome! ‘What do you ask of me?’ he said, “Your son’s life? Well, then, he shall live!’” (472).
5. Dantès saved Valentine the night she was to die. He gave her a liquid to fight the poison. Dantès acted as God saving an innocent soul.
a. “He disappeared after casting one more look on Valentine, who was sleeping with the confidence and innocence of an angel at the feet of the Lord” (510).
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