Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Food: Anything sweet or spicy
Favorite Class: Chemistry forever
Best Friends: Pretty much everyone can be considered a best friend, as long as I don't carry coals against them
Mortal Foes: Not applicable to me
Sports Played: Soccer (I'm #27) and track
Anything Else: Yes, and it's a wise quote about life in general
"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." -Abraham Lincoln
George Wickham, from the novel Pride and Prejudice, is branded by the negative characteristics of lying and gold digging.
In many instances, George Wickham tells falsehoods, especially about Fitzwilliam Darcy.Among the reasons why Elizabeth would not marry Mr. Darcy was because he had supposedly, “deprived the best years of his life of that independence which was no less his due than his desert” (Austen 190).However, Mr. Darcy wrote a letter to Elizabeth to reveal Wickham’s true character.Mr. Wickham was to inherit one thousand pounds from Mr. Darcy’s father and become a clergyman at Pemberly.Instead, he took three thousand pounds to study law.After not hearing from Wickham for three years, Mr. Darcy was confronted by him again, and he wished to become a clergyman at Pemberly only if he received more money.
George Wickham may be described as the wind.Throughout the novel, he is always coming and going.The situation Mr. Darcy explained in his letter is a perfect example of this comparison.George Wickham is all about the money, and this can be seen in his brief relationship with Ms. King.Ms. King was to inherit a fair amount of money from her deceased grandfather, and that is when Mr. Wickham turned his attention towards her.Elizabeth was slow to see the mercenary in Mr. Wickham, and was shocked when she realized, “How differently did every thing now appear in which he was concerned! His attentions to Miss King were now the consequence of views solely and hatefully mercenary; and the mediocrity of her fortune proved no longer the moderation of his wishes, but his eagerness to grasp at any thing” (204).Later on, Mr. Wickham gets married to Lydia rather unwillingly, and comes after the newly married Mr. Darcy for more money after he had paid off all of Mr. Wickham’s debts.
In short, George Wickham’s stealing and lying make him similar in many respects to former president Bill Clinton, who lied under oath while claiming to tell the truth.
"I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected to me" (Austen 346).
In this quote, Elizabeth fights with Lady Catherine after she calls her too low class for Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth was questioning her chances of getting married to Mr. Darcy. She felt that her initial rejection of him would discourage him from proposing at all. Elizabeth was swayed by Mr. Darcy's letter that explained the truth in the false claims that she made when rejecting him. Elizabeth was surprised that he would have the courtesy to clear his name in the manner that he did. She is even more surprised when Lady Catherine informs her that Mr. Darcy plans to propose again. However, Lady Catherine attempts to talk Elizabeth into denying Mr. Darcy once again. She refuses to see her nephew married to such a simpleton as Elizabeth. The above quote is Elizabeth's reaction to Lady Catherine's proposal. Elizabeth knows what she wants and does not want. Considering the tough times she endured, Elizabeth needed some happiness. Having to take orders from Lady Catherine was hardly her idea of happiness. In this example, Lady Catherine can be seen as representing Elizabeth at the time when she rejected Mr. Darcy. Lady Catherine acts upon impulse, accusing everyone and referencing every prejudice she can attribute to any particular situation, which in this case would be class differences. when Elizabeth rejected Mr. Darcy, she did so by accusing him for causing Mr. Wickham trouble and implying her family's prejudices towards him that he is uncaring and proud. This quote represents a shift in Elizabeth's character, because now she sees how ungrateful and reckless she was before. In witnessing the marriage of Charlotte to Mr. Collins for financial reasons and the relationship between Lydia and Mr. Wickham, Elizabeth feels that she has seen enough lousy relationships and decides that it is the job of Jane and herself to marry well and set an example for Kitty, the last unmarried daughter left in the Bennet family.
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Which of the following terms best expresses the tone of the conversation between Lady Catherine and Elizabeth? A.) transgressive B.) panegyrical C.) apathetic D.) solemn
"'No,' said her father. 'Wickham's a fool if he takes her with a farthing less than ten thousand pounds: I should be sorry to think so ill of him, in the very beginning of our relationship'" (Austen 294).
This quote asserts Mr. Bennet as nonchalant towards the relationships his daughters are involved in. After Mr. Collins proposed to Elizabeth in the beginning, Mr. Bennet merely reacted in saying, "Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do" (111). From the looks of it, Mr. Bennet does not care so much about the relationships that his daughters get involved with, as opposed to Mrs. Bennet. Mr. Bennet cares more about his reputation than his daughter's hapiness. He does not want his daughters to marry unhappily and blame him in any way for it. That is evident in the case of Mr. Collins's proposal. In the case of Lydia, Mr. Bennet is offering ten thousand pounds to help Wickham get back onto his feet. Mr. Bennet generally regards Mr. Wickham as a scoundrel, but wishes not to sacrifice his reputation for the sake of his daughters. Chances are that Mr. Bennet is making an egregious error, simply because of the leech that Mr. Wickham is, as exemplified in the case of his relationship with Miss. King. If Mr. Bennet gives Mr. Wickham ten thousand pounds, chances are that he will return to reap another ten thousand pounds. Also, Mr. Bennet may be making a mistake on his part and Lydia's part by encouraging the marriage. Mr. Wickham is infamous as it is, and Mr. Bennet may attract attention to himself for being so low-down as to let his own daughter marry Mr. WIckham. Also, with such an abrupt wedding, Lydia and Mr. Wickham are likely to discover unhappiness early on. This is because mostly everyone will despise their union, and because their hurried marriage was conducted for the wrong reasons.
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Why is Mrs. Bennet eager to see Lydia and Wickham married? A.) She wants a share of Wickham's money. B.) She wants to throw a wedding party just to eat food. C.) She wants to see Lydia happy. D.) She wants a daughter married at age sixteen.
"Had Miss Bingley known what pain she was then giving her beloved friend, she undoubtedly would have refrained from the hint; but she had merely intended to decompose Elizabeth, by bringing forward the idea of a man to whom she believed her partial, to make her betray a sensibility which might injure her in Darcy's opinion, and, perhaps, to remind the latter of all te follies and absurdities by which some part of her family were connected with that corps" (Austen 262).
The above quote is a direct statement of Miss Bingley's goal. Her goal is to degrade Elizabeth, especially around Mr. Darcy. The very first sentence of this chapter explains why this is so; "Convinced as Elizabeth now was that Miss Bingley's dislike of her had originated in jealousy" (260). Miss Bingley is purely jealous of Elizbeth because Mr. Darcy prefers Elizabeth over Miss Bingley. Miss Bingley feels that the best way to combat this and divert Mr. Darcy's attention from Elizabeth to herself is by bringing Elizabeth down. She makes all sorts of references to her family, such as, "Pray, Miss Eliza, are not the -----shire militia removed from Meryton? They must be a great loss to your family" (262). She is refering to Lydia and Catherine's acts of flirting with soldiers stationed in Meryton in this example. Lydia and Catherine also come across as the least favorable of the Bennets because of Ms. Bennet's descriptions of them. With Miss Bingley obviously attempting to tear down Elizabeth, some kind of conflict seems inevitable. Mr. Darcy fancies Elizabeth, but not Miss Bingley, who favors Mr. Darcy. Both Miss Bingley and Elizabeth are after Mr. Darcy, however, he can only choose between one of them, and his choice would probably be Elizabeth. Chances are that Miss Bingley may choose to get Mr. Wickham involved, because she probably knows of Elizabeth's initial feelings towards him. Yet, this plan would backfire on Miss Bingley, because Elizabeth has learned of his ways and thinks lowly of him. If Mr. Darcy saw Elizabeth turn Mr. Wickham down, chances are that such an action would only deepen Mr. Darcy's affection.
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"Pray, Miss Eliza, are not the -----shire militia removed from Meryton? They must be a great loss to your family" (262). "How very ill Eliza Bennet looks this morning, Mr. Darcy [...] I never in my life saw any one so much altered as she is since the winter. She is grown so brown and coarse!" (263). What is the relationship between these two quotes? A.) Both encapsulate Miss Bingley's jealousy towards Elizabeth because Mr. Darcy prefers Elizabeth over Miss Bingley. B.) They convey Miss Bennet's jealousy towards Elizabeth because she appears to have a better chance of getting married than Jane does. C.) Both quotes show Mr. Wickham's jealousy towards Mr. Darcy because Elizabeth seems to hold Mr. Darcy in her favor. D.) No relationship.
What is it to be in disagreement?Does it entail a feud or subtle differences?In the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Tom and Huck are best friends.Although they both valued similar things like excitement and thrills, Tom and Huck were quite different from each other.According to filmmaker Judith Henderson, “Our greatest strength as a human race is our ability to acknowledge our differences; our greatest weakness is our failure to embrace them” (Henderson).If the human race was unable to reconcile the differences amongst itself, the world would be plunged into eternal war.However, such differences are accepted through friendship.Through friendship, two or more people recognize what they have in common, and discover what stands between them.In the case of Huck and Tom, their differences lie mostly in the ways that each of them were raised.Tom was raised in a rather nurturing environment.Huck, on the other hand, was raised both in a nurturing and abusive environment.These differences are clearly displayed in the differing ways that Huck and Tom view their society, and how their society treats them back.
Both Huck and Tom were raised in the deep South in the pre-Civil War era.The South of those days contained mostly farming families, most of whom owned slaves.Both of these components affect Huck and Tom, especially the issue of slavery.Considering their upbringings, Huck and Tom would hold conflicting opinions over the issue of respect for their fellow neighbors.
Tom was raised by his own family.Often times, to be raised by one’s own family is the safest environment in which one could be raised.This is evidenced when Huck arrives at the Phelps’ home.Expecting Tom to arrive and mistaking Huck for him, Mrs. Phelps exclaims “I’m so glad to see you!Dear, dear, it does seem like I could eat you up!” (Twain 234).Though it was not Tom who arrived at the Phelps’ home, they mistake him for Tom, and give him the same treatment as they would give to Tom.From the looks of it, Tom has a close-knit family that cares for everyone in it.
Huck was raised in varying households throughout the novel.Most of the families he lived with cared for him as if he war their own.When Huck spent time with the Grangerfords, he remarked that “It was a mighty nice family, and a mighty nice house, too” (112).However, when Huck was with his father, the only member of his actual family he was acquainted with, he felt rather imprisoned.At one time, Huck remarks “Pap he hadn’t been seen for more than a year, and that was comfortable for me; I didn’t want to see him no more” (20).Perhaps the reason for Huck’s discontent with his father was due to the fact that his father was after the money he made by capturing Injun Joe in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.A reason for Huck’s displeasure was that, “I borrowed three dollars from Judge Thatcher, and pap took it and got drunk” (31).Huck is aware that his father is a negative influence, and eventually leaves him.However, Huck is at an advantage, since he is well informed on the ways of a civilized society and how it compares to an uncivilized society.
Tom was clearly raised in a nurturing environment.This is reflected in how he expresses his views about his society; they are in line with what his society tells him.An example of this can be found any time Tom speaks about a book he read.At one time, Huck remarks, “He said if I warn’t so ignorant, but had read a book called ‘Don Quixote,’ I would know without asking” (21).Tom accepts what his society tells him, and without questioning it.Much of the time, the ideas that Tom gets from his book appear to be absurd when they are presented, because they make a simple task seem more complex than it should be.One instance in which Tom uses his knowledge to make a situation more complicated would be when he said, “No; the way all the best authorities does, is to saw the bed-leg in two, and leave it just so, and swallow the saw dust” (253).Tom prefers to mimic the style of the literature he reads, which exaggerates different situations for the sake of the reader’s pleasure.Tom does not realize this, but insists that what the books hold is the truth.
Huck was not raised as carefully as Tom.Huck denounces his own father for his drunken ways, and feels trapped in the care of Ms. Watson.Huck felt trapped by his father and Ms. Watson, and according to the Bible, “Even if my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will take me in” (Psalm 27:10). Thus, Huck decided to strike out on his own, but he does not forget about what he learned from his father and Ms. Watson.Huck, having been brought up by both positive and negative influences, got to witness the best and worst of both sides.Throughout the novel, there are various instances where Huck is influenced by his disparate upbringings.An example of this can be found when Huck and Jim are gathering supplies for their escape, “Pap always said it warn’t no harm to borrow, things if you was meaning to pay them back, sometime; but the widow said it warn’t anything but a soft name for stealing, and no decent body would do it” (76).Huck eventually gets tired of wrapping his head around such contradictory views, and resolved to “do whichever come handiest at the time.” (104). Huck prefers to take the easy way out, which proved to be more effective than Tom’s ways of overcomplicating simple tasks.These differences were also reflected in how Huck and Tom treated others as well.
Throughout the novel, Tom and Huck meet many different characters.In their society, their white elders would have to be treated with respect, while they could do whatever they wanted to blacks.Both Tom and Huck respect their white elders for the most part, but where the main differences lay is in their treatment of Jim, Ms. Watson’s runaway slave.
Huck was raised by Ms. Watson for quite a bit, and met Jim during that time.After Huck decided to leave his father and Ms. Watson, he comes across Jim by chance at Jackson’s Island.Jim bluntly tells Huck “I-I run off” (53).Huck promises not to tell anyone of Jim’s whereabouts, for fear of “People calling me a low down Abolitionist” (53).To help a slave escape North would have been a highly intolerable act at the time, and Huck goes through an internal conflict about whether or not he should leave or report Jim.Any well-informed individual during Huck’s time would report Jim for the possibility of a reward.Huck resolves the issue in the end by doing what is best at the time, because he would feel guilty, considering that Jim said, “Jim won’t ever forgit you, Huck; you’s de bes’ fren’ Jim’s ever had; en you’s de only fren’ ole Jim’s got now” (101).During their travels, Huck and Jim become good friends, and occasionally get separated.With each separation, Huck and Jim looked for each other.Huck’s willingness to risk his own safety to rescue Jim symbolizes an equilibrium between the positive and negative influences of his upbringing.Huck was attempting to liberate a slave, which would have been condoned by his society, and symbolizes the negative influence of his father.On the other hand, Huck was doing a noble deed by saving Jim, because he was human after all.Huck’s quest to free Jim can be seen as the influence of Ms. Watson at work.Huck would eventually cross paths with Tom Sawyer during his journey.Although Tom’s upbringing was similar to that of Huck’s upbringing with Ms. Watson, Tom’s inner vice would reveal itself as reminiscent to the teachings of Huck’s father.
Tom treated Jim with as much respect as Huck when face to face.Huck was surprised that Tom was even willing to aid him in getting Jim’s freedom.His only thoughts were “Tom Sawyer a nigger stealer!” (240).However, Huck should have known that Tom would be up to his tricks again.When Huck proposed a plan for an easy escape, Tom retorted, saying “You can get up the most infant-schooliest ways of going at a thing.Why, hain’t you ever read any books at all ? - Baron Trenck, nor Casanova, nor Benvenuto Chelleeny, nor Henri IV” (253).Tom refers to what his books tell him, and creates a most absurd plan for Jim’s escape.Tom makes Jim live with spiders, rats, and snakes, all of which he dislikes.Jim was also told to write messages on anything he could find with his blood.Nonetheless, this is not the worst of what Tom contrived.Tom wrote a note to the Phelpses, who were of his own family, which said that a group was coming to free Jim.Out of fear, the Phelpses have a group of farmers stand guard, thus reducing their chances of success.During the escape, Tom’s plan backfired when he got shot in the leg, and had to see a doctor.Jim went off alone, and was caught.Eventually, Tom decided to tell his Aunt Polly that “Old Miss Watson died two months ago, and she was ashamed she ever was going to sell him down the river, and said so; and she set him free in her will.” (301).Jim was free the entire time, and Tom admitted that his reason for carrying out this plan was that “I wanted the adventure of it” (301).Tom wanted adventure, and he got it.In the mean time, he also scared his own relatives to death, as well as Huck and Jim.
Huck and Tom were best friends, and very different.They were both raised in encouraging environments, although Huck was raised in a damaging environment as well.Although Tom appears to be more intelligent than Huck, he ultimately lacks in common sense.Huck is respectful of everyone, yet, Tom will disrespect and use anyone if there is some kind of adventure to go with it.Huck appears to be more mature and independent, while Tom is more innocent and heeds all the advice he can get from society.Although both Huck and Tom are so different, they were able to reconcile their differences.According to the Chinese philosopher Confucius, everyone should “Have no friends not equal to yourself” (Confucius).In friendship, those involved are given the chance to learn about the way society bears down on different people.With as many different friends of varying personalities, a person will learn far more of the world than another with friends that all share the same values.The fact that people of opposing views can be in harmony with each other through friendship is truly a wonder, and is marvelously conveyed in the relationship between Huck and Tom in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Works Cited
Twain, Mark.The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.New York: Penguin Classics, 1985.
Ceroke, Christian P.; Gutgsell, Michael F.; Hartdegen, Stephen J.; Hickey, James A.; O’Boyle, Patrick; Peter, Valentine J.; Pilarczyk, Daniel E.; Sheehan, Daniel E.Holy Bible.Wichita: Catholic Bible Publishers, 2004.
ThinkExist.com.1999-2009.ThinkExist.23 March 2009.
"As they walked across the lawn towards the river, Elizabeth turned back to look again; her uncle and aunt stopped also: and while the former was conjecturing as to the date of the building, the owner of it himself suddenly came forward from the road, which led behind it to the stables" (Austen 244-245).
In this quote, Elizabeth is at Mr. Darcy's house, hoping that he does not come. Elizabeth's first thought upon entering the house was "I might have been mistress! With these rooms I might not have been familiarly acquainted!" (240). Elizabeth begins to rethink her rejection of Mr. Darcy's proposal simply by seeing the house she would be living in. She often times alludes to how great a life at the Pemberley estate would be like. During the visit, Elizabeth was also surrounded by all sorts of comments coming from her aunt, uncle, and Ms. Reynolds. Elizabeth can hardly think "In what an amiable light does this place him!" (243). Elizabeth is overwhelmed by what she learns of Mr. Darcy during her visit to his estate. She recognizes that she was incorrect in her views, and might have passed up a comfortable lifestyle in passing up Mr. Darcy. She has finally learned to drop her prejudices of old. This may also be a sign of foreshadowing. perhaps Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth were destined to be together. From the looks of it, Elizabeth seems to be taking this possibility into consideration, and seems quite pleased by the thought of it. Yet, Elizabeth witnesses an awkward moment when Mr. Darcy arrives home, because she was only visiting his estate because he would be away. She appears almost as a mercenary, going after his lifestyle and riches, and then awkward when confronted by him. It may be her previous thoughts about him returning to her. Yet, this is not the case, because Mr. Darcy appears to be rather humble this time around. He even offers Elizabeth to stop by the next day to meet his sister. Elizabeth obliges, which is a starting point towards her overcoming of her prejudice.
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"He is now gone into the army," she added; "but I am afraid he has turned out a very wild boy" (241). Who is this quote referring to? A.) Mr. Darcy B.) Mr. Collins C.) Mr. Bennet D.) Mr. Wickham
