McNeil AP Lit

In the Tempest , I think that Shakespeare uses the character, Ariel, as a tool of vengeance.  Ariel has magic abilities and was enslaved in a tree by Sycorax, but after she died, Prospero released him and made him a servant.  He is a loyal subject to Prospero in return for his freedom.  Prospero's revenge on the ship of nobles who shipwrecked him was primarily fueled by Ariel's magic.  Ariel conjures up the storm and puts men to sleep in order to get into their heads and begin to turn them against each other.  Ariel became a tool for Prospero's revenge.  Prospero keeps him enslaved for as long as he needs his abilities and then promises to set him free.  As a tool of vengeance, Ariel is forced to answer to Prospero as his master and carry out any of his desires.  He is a slave to Prospero and will never be treated as an equal even after his freedom.

When Prospero first landed on the island, he befriended Sycorax who ruled the island.  He ended up imprisoning her until she died and made her child grow up enslaved under his control.  I found Prospero's actions to reflect the hierarchy and lifestyle he came from in Milan.  His expectations of becoming King of Milan rolled over in his castaway.  He assumed his role as king by enslaving Sycorax and Caliban. As Ferdinand becomes stranded on the island, his actions mimic Prospero's when he first landed.  He continued his role of being apart of a higher social class by asserting his dominance on Prospero.  Although Prospero planned his enslavement by Ferdinand, Ferdinand's actions still reflect a hierarchy that was established in Europe at the time. I found that the similarities between Prospero and Ferdinand's reactions to being stranded on an island with natives that appeared to be below them in the hierarchy.  It seemed that Prospero and Ferdinand...

Darl was one of the more grounded and level-headed characters in the novel in my opinion.  He respected Anse and worked for him constantly without protest.  While on her death bed, he treated his mother with respect and did as she wished.  His telepathic connection with Dewey Dell allowed him to know about her pregnancy and told her that he could go to Anse and tell him, but chose not to in respect for his sister.  When faced with the drama his brother Jewel created, he tried to work with him reasonable, especially when Tull had made them go run his errands for him before Addie died.  Darl always did what he was told even if he didn't agree with it. During the trip to Jefferson, I saw Darl's character change.  At the barn, his demeanor took a turn for the worst.  After he set the barn on fire, it was not clear to me why he did that, especially when he knew that his mother's coffin was inside.  To me, it seemed that he didn't agree with the deci...

Cora Tull was a big believer in religion and this was clearly represented in the novel.  She had scolded Addie and the Bundrens on their lack of spirituality.  Although she had no obligation to the Bundren family, she helped them after Addie's death merely because she believed it was her "Christian duty".  Cora saw Addie's death as a punishment towards Anse's poor parenting and lack of care for his children.  God's judgement on Anse had resulted in the chaos within the Bundren family in her eyes.  While Addie was alive, Cora had attempted to help instill faith back into Addie, but had little success. The morality surrounding the family were low.  Anse's self-centeredness had driven a wedge between his children and him.  After Addie's death the only thing Anse thought about was his desire for a set of false teeth.  He had no concern towards the well-being of his children during this tragedy.  While she was alive, Addie had little morals as ...

I enjoyed reading Atwood's tips.  I think that they are universal and can be applied to any writing.  I think numbers 1 - 4 were more biased to Atwood as I know plenty of people who prefer writing in pen or typing.  Number 5 said to exercise to avoid pain because it is distracting.  I relate to this statement as I have been distracted from writing before due to an uncomfortable position or pain in my muscles from sitting.  Number 6 is important to writing; holding the reader's attention is one of the most important and difficult things to do.  It is something I have struggled with especially now with college essays, but it is such a key skill to have moving forward.  Her point also is reassuring that it is nearly impossible to please every reader.  Not everyone will enjoy what you write or interest them, but someone will like it.  Number 7 shows how writing is hard work that is not something to complain about because you chose to write. ...

Death can reveal many secrets and hidden truths about a person.  I think that Faulkner uses Addie's death as a way to show the inter workings of each character in his novel.  The Bundren family appears to be complex and by having the mother die, the relationships between the father and the children can be analyzed. Anse is depicted as an old man who doesn't sweat or work.  The relationship he has with his children seem to be distant.  He blames the road for Addie's deteriorating health by claiming it brings bad luck.  I find Anse to lack responsibility by blaming other things for his wife's death.  I believe that Addie's death allowed Cash, the oldest son, to become the backbone of the family.  Although he doesn't say much, he builds his mother's coffin to perfection, which shows respect.  After he hurts his leg from the fall, he rarely complains and insists on transporting his mother's body to Jefferson.  Cash is able to put himself before ...