*Please ignore all the hyperlinks that have been added. My computer randomly added them and I don't know how to fix it.
2008. In a literary work, a minor character, often known as a foil, possesses traits that
emphasize, by contrast or comparison, the distinctive characteristics and qualities of the main
character. For example, the ideas or behavior of a minor character might be used to highlight
the weaknesses or strengths of the main character. Choose a novel or play in which a minor
character serves as a foil for the main character. Then write an essay in which you analyze how
the relation between the minor character and the major character illuminates the meaning of
the work.
In Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, Miss Havisham is used as a foil for Pip to illustrate that money does not mean happiness. Miss Havisham is an old rich lady who has had money in her family her entire life and yet is one of the most bitter and mean characters Dickens ever wrote. Pip is poor and young and so naturally he wishes for a better life, one where he has a gentleman's status and fund. What Pip fails to acknowledge is that all her money has made Miss Havisham's life miserable and has caused her to be unable to trust people and their motives. By letting Pip into her house and her life, Miss Havisham inadvertently shows Pip that money can't buy you happiness in life.
Pip's greatest dream is to be a gentleman and have all the perks that come with it: the title, the respect, and the money. With the help of Miss Havisham and his mysterious benefactor, Pip begins to attain that dream. He goes to school, he studies, he gives himself a lavish lifestyle that he begins to become accustomed to. Some time after leaving for school he returns to visit Miss Havisham and is confronted with one other of his desires: Miss Havisham's former maid Estella. When he was younger Pip had fallen for the unattainable Estella, unattainable in the fact that he was not a gentleman and so not good enough for her. It's not a coincidence that Pip fell for Estella under Miss Havisham's roof; the bitter aged woman took great joy in watching Estella crush Pip and his love for her. She would constantly through Pip at the young girl only to have the young girl reject him per her orders. By constantly keeping Estella just out of his reach and telling him he was not worthy of her, Miss Havisham made Pip want her even more, further increasing his drive to become a gentleman. When he returned, Pip found that even his gentleman's status and money could not buy him the one thing he wanted more than anything: Estella's love. Having to watch Estella go off and marry another man who also had status and money crushed Pip, his efforts had been in vain as he could not have the one thing he wanted most. By introducing Pip to Estella and keeping her just out of reach, Miss Havisham unintentionally showed Pip that even money could not buy him the one thing that would have made him happy.
Miss Havisham's bitterness and disregard for the state of her property always confused Pip. How could she be unhappy when she had so much money? How could she leave her estate to rot and ruin? Years after meeting her, Pip finally heard Miss Havisham's story. He learned that she had been in love with a man whom she believed loved her as well but who was really just conning her for her money. Devastated she locked herself away from the world and let her bitterness and anger fester along with the condition of her house. Finally the dirty, musty rooms made sense. Money had destroyed her life and her belief in the good of humanity. She detested fortune seekers and men, both of which contributed to making Pip's life extremely difficult while under her roof. The story of Miss Havisham had quite an impact: Pip had been believing that money could only make his life better, that everyone would love him if he was wealthy. Now he can see the other side, that money can also ruin your life and that those people who you thought loved you might just love your money. This personal story of Miss Havisham, though not told to Pip by the woman herself, gave Pip insight into the corruption money can cause and how it also has the ability to strip your life of happiness.
Miss Havisham is the exact opposite of Pip. She has wealthy where he does not. He sees the beauty and potential in the world, she sees the cruelty and greed in it. Pip believes money is his ticket to happiness, Miss Havisham knows the opposite to be true. Through her constant belittling of Pip and taunting him because of his affection for Estella, Miss Havisham added to Pip's desire to be a gentleman. But her dangling of Estella in his face and her own personal story served to show Pip that money is not the key to happiness. Money cannot buy the love of another and it can cause people to use you for your money. By having her story told and Estella taken from Pip, Miss Havisham unknowingly showed Pip that money cannot buy happiness.
2008. In a literary work, a minor character, often known as a foil, possesses traits that
emphasize, by contrast or comparison, the distinctive characteristics and qualities of the main
character. For example, the ideas or behavior of a minor character might be used to highlight
the weaknesses or strengths of the main character. Choose a novel or play in which a minor
character serves as a foil for the main character. Then write an essay in which you analyze how
the relation between the minor character and the major character illuminates the meaning of
the work.
In Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, Miss Havisham is used as a foil for Pip to illustrate that money does not mean happiness. Miss Havisham is an old rich lady who has had money in her family her entire life and yet is one of the most bitter and mean characters Dickens ever wrote. Pip is poor and young and so naturally he wishes for a better life, one where he has a gentleman's status and fund. What Pip fails to acknowledge is that all her money has made Miss Havisham's life miserable and has caused her to be unable to trust people and their motives. By letting Pip into her house and her life, Miss Havisham inadvertently shows Pip that money can't buy you happiness in life.
Pip's greatest dream is to be a gentleman and have all the perks that come with it: the title, the respect, and the money. With the help of Miss Havisham and his mysterious benefactor, Pip begins to attain that dream. He goes to school, he studies, he gives himself a lavish lifestyle that he begins to become accustomed to. Some time after leaving for school he returns to visit Miss Havisham and is confronted with one other of his desires: Miss Havisham's former maid Estella. When he was younger Pip had fallen for the unattainable Estella, unattainable in the fact that he was not a gentleman and so not good enough for her. It's not a coincidence that Pip fell for Estella under Miss Havisham's roof; the bitter aged woman took great joy in watching Estella crush Pip and his love for her. She would constantly through Pip at the young girl only to have the young girl reject him per her orders. By constantly keeping Estella just out of his reach and telling him he was not worthy of her, Miss Havisham made Pip want her even more, further increasing his drive to become a gentleman. When he returned, Pip found that even his gentleman's status and money could not buy him the one thing he wanted more than anything: Estella's love. Having to watch Estella go off and marry another man who also had status and money crushed Pip, his efforts had been in vain as he could not have the one thing he wanted most. By introducing Pip to Estella and keeping her just out of reach, Miss Havisham unintentionally showed Pip that even money could not buy him the one thing that would have made him happy.
Miss Havisham's bitterness and disregard for the state of her property always confused Pip. How could she be unhappy when she had so much money? How could she leave her estate to rot and ruin? Years after meeting her, Pip finally heard Miss Havisham's story. He learned that she had been in love with a man whom she believed loved her as well but who was really just conning her for her money. Devastated she locked herself away from the world and let her bitterness and anger fester along with the condition of her house. Finally the dirty, musty rooms made sense. Money had destroyed her life and her belief in the good of humanity. She detested fortune seekers and men, both of which contributed to making Pip's life extremely difficult while under her roof. The story of Miss Havisham had quite an impact: Pip had been believing that money could only make his life better, that everyone would love him if he was wealthy. Now he can see the other side, that money can also ruin your life and that those people who you thought loved you might just love your money. This personal story of Miss Havisham, though not told to Pip by the woman herself, gave Pip insight into the corruption money can cause and how it also has the ability to strip your life of happiness.
Miss Havisham is the exact opposite of Pip. She has wealthy where he does not. He sees the beauty and potential in the world, she sees the cruelty and greed in it. Pip believes money is his ticket to happiness, Miss Havisham knows the opposite to be true. Through her constant belittling of Pip and taunting him because of his affection for Estella, Miss Havisham added to Pip's desire to be a gentleman. But her dangling of Estella in his face and her own personal story served to show Pip that money is not the key to happiness. Money cannot buy the love of another and it can cause people to use you for your money. By having her story told and Estella taken from Pip, Miss Havisham unknowingly showed Pip that money cannot buy happiness.
Caitlin,
ReplyDeleteGreat job on this essay! I have not read Great Expectations but even so I was convinced of your argument. You had a great example of a foil but you went further than that. I liked how you had one clear argument then built of that instead of having lots of arguments as to how they are foils. It made your argument much clearer thus stronger. In the middle paragraphs I thought there could have been a little less plot summary however by your conclusion paragraph you stated the argument so clearly the plot summary was alright. You also used the plot to further the argument not just add length to the essay. Overall I think this would get a great score on the AP exam. Nice job!
Avery
Caitlin,
ReplyDeleteYou've chosen a good piece of literature for this prompt I think. Also, you chose a fitting character and a fitting foil. Pip and Miss Havisham differ slightly in their status's making them good foils. Also, your argument for them as foils well clearand well thought out. Your analysis of how these foils contribute to the meaning was great, I especially liked how your last paragraph was more dedicated to analyzing meaning than adding evidence. However I do agree with Avery in that your middle paragraph could do with less plot summary because after all we are supposed to assume the AP readers have read the piece of literature we are writing about. All together this was a great essay about a book we haven't even discussed in class; much better than anything I could have written without class discussion!