Frat Rats vs. Daisy

I felt compelled to talk about the article Sarah wrote as I happened to have read the last couple articles she has written and this latest one, fits so well with what James’s story portrays. I will first speak of their similarities, which are many. Mrs. Walker most closely relates to Sarah’s position, I say this because she seems more to want to help Daisy then Mr. Winterbourne’s Aunt, who seems to want to cut her down more than anything else. Sarah is reaching out to these girls that are putting themselves in situations that are socially unacceptable (even in today’s day in age.) Mrs. Walker just wants Daisy to abide to the rules of the culture she is presently surrounded by. Sarah is speaking to these young girls who are in a new situation that gives them a lot of freedom. Both Daisy and her two accompanying men, and the girl walking down Greek row with her smudged mascara and ruffled party dress are leaving social implications that are worth speaking of to those that witness them. I do believe that Daisy is in a situation where she could be just as innocent as she actually is, though she will not be viewed that way. It is hard for me to see the girl on College Hill and imagine her getting back from a play with her girl friends and being so moved that she had to stay over and talk about it until she fell asleep. When I see those girls I am more likely to believe that they were up late partying, and found intimacy in some way with someone they did not know well enough. The last difference may be the biggest because it may be one of the underlying messages of James’ novel. I believe that James wrote this trying to prove that these implications that people are making are not always correct. Too many times gossip will get out of hand, and an innocent, healthy, relationship like Miss Daisy’s with Mr. Giovonelli turns into some scandalous gossip that ruins Daisy’s reputation without real facts. Maybe this shows us that more of these “frat rats” are just girls heading home from their girlfriends house after a nice play.

Jean has proven her arrogant attitude from the start.

Dane Dezellem

Jean is not a character that always makes decisions that we can agree with but I believe that we should have seen that coming very early in the book. Though we know that “I wish I was thirty, but, as I am not, I do my best to look and seem old.” Jean responds to Mrs. Coventry after Mrs. Coventry exclaims how young she is. Jean is a very strong character, and enjoys the power she has over people. This is our first glimpse at her personality, when we find out that she is not 19 but 30, this passage comes directly to mind. She is almost playing a game at these peoples expense, and she is the only one that gets the joke. It is obviously not necessary for her to hint at her real age, when it is so important to her that she be seen as young and accomplished. I understand why she would like to be seen as younger, but flaunting how well she can lie (when she is the only person that can see her flaunting) really shows the kind of attitude she has. Confidence is the first word that comes to mind, but I would venture to say that her confidence expands into arrogance. Taking unnecessary risks, which gain her nothing, prove the arrogance. We get another glimmer of this haughty attitude shortly after when she speaks to Gerald. Gerald is a “cool, indolent man” yet with a sharp look and some sly words she penetrates his walls leaving him defenseless and Lucia with a burning hatred for her. Though these are our first interactions with Jean, we already get the sense of haughty attitude that she is capable of. Late in the book we see the kind of character Jean has, and she is not the most agreeably character, but I argue that we could see this coming from the first time we met her.

3 Words Dane Dezellem

Curious, Selfish, Judgmental: Three words very important to the main character of our story, Coverdale. Coverdale gives us our insight into the depths of each character so his burning curiosity is very useful to us. There is no gain for him in any of the knowledge that he learns of each character, which is different than Westervelt’s reason for knowledge. Coverdale’s curiosity shows is the scene with Westervelt, Zenobia and Priscilla. This is quite comical because he is so offended that she will not allow him to continue his spying once found out. But still necessary because a more private and less curious person would not allow us to see some of the interactions that Coverdale seeks. Selfish plays another large role in our story, Coverdale shows proof of his selfishness when he seeks only to help Moodie if it is convenient to him, and when he finds himself tired of Blithedale so he takes a break from the hard work. I would go as far to say it is selfishness that causes Zenobia’s death! Coverdale admits a love for Priscilla and I believe that selfishness caused him not to act on it. He wanted her to come to him, because he is such a prize, and when she did not his own selfish pride would not allow him to go to her. This leaves room for Hollingsworth to fall for Priscilla and leave Zenobia alone and in enough pain to kill herself. Judgment plays its role through each character but I will focus on Coverdale because he believes that his judgment is the ultimate right and he knows more than everyone else. When speaking with Zenobia about her judgment of Hollingsworth, Coverdale jumps right one her side in agreement that he is a little speculative about Hollingsworth’s character. Yet when he can get out of lending assistance to Moodie, he puts his trust in Hollingsworth. And the whole time holds his true beliefs to himself, though they are no doubt true (in his perspective).

IS this right?

TEST