Steffler's George Cartwright
A character analysis of John Steffler's George Cartwright from the novel "The Afterlife of George Cartwright."
Book Review # 5436 |
1,620 words (
approx. 6.5 pages ) |
2 sources |
MLA | 2002
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$ 31.95
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Abstract
This paper is a character analysis of Steffler's main character in "The Afterlife of George Cartwright". It focuses on the character's traits of unloving, wild, a corruptor and himself corrupted and how they change within the novel. Cartwright begins as a just young man in the army and becomes what he had always hated, a true corruptor of society.
From the Paper
When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters (Hemingway, 95). Steffler achieves the creation of a person in the character of George Cartwright by blending numerous personality traits. These traits can be both pleasant, and upsetting, and either creates distance or closeness between Cartwright and the other characters. In order to make the character more realistic Steffler creates a progression in some of these traits, to create the illusion of growth in Cartwright over the span of his lifetime. Paradoxically, everything Cartwright claims to hate he later embodies. This is not entirely of his accord; his early years in the army set up his adult characteristics. His development is from a man of pride and ambition, although rough and rugged, to an uncivilized corruptor of native society. His pride and ambition are spoiled when he realizes that it is wealth that buys you promotions in the army and not skill or hard work. He grows to become the man Steffler portrays as unloving, wild, and as both corrupted and as a corruptor. "
Tags:afterlife, analysis, canadian, cartwright, character, george, literature, novel, steffler, traits
Plato's "Crito"
An analysis of Socrates' arguments against the character Crito in this play by ancient Greek writer, Plato.
Essay # 55929 |
1,916 words (
approx. 7.7 pages ) |
1 source |
MLA | 2003
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$ 36.95
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Abstract
Plato's "Crito" is a dialogue between Socrates and his friend Crito occurring the day before Socrates is to be executed. In this dialogue, Crito approaches Socrates with an offer of a possible escape, but it is not immediately accepted. Socrates questions whether the motive behind or reasons for the escape are good, and this leads to a major concept surrounding the whole dialogue--the concept of the definition of 'good'. The paper shows that Socrates makes it clear that to be good is to be virtuous, honorable, fair, and just, while everything else is secondary. While keeping with his definition of good, Socrates also believes that the law of the state is good, as he himself states that he would not have resided in the city were it not so. This premise is the key to Socrates' argument that because the law is good, to break or disobey the law is bad or evil, and thus every citizen who chooses to live under the law should strive to be good thus leading a good life. It is this that obliges Socrates to stay in jail and suffer his punishment, as it is people who have wronged him and not the law. Thus, in his afterlife, this will be well looked-upon. This essay disagrees with some parts of this argument and sets out to show that Socrates is not completely correct in his opinions.
From the Paper
"In a sense the contract that Socrates describes does exist, and citizens of a country or state are obliged to follow and respect the laws for that state. But if the laws are unfair or unjust, every citizen should have a right to act on that, in the form of appeals to politicians, or at an extreme, rebellion or revolts against the state. It should not be wrong to stand up against a state that is treating people unfairly or unjustly. With respect to Socrates specifically, he has been wronged by the justice system, and when he asks Crito "ought a man to do what he admits to be right, or ought he betray the right?" that man should do definitely do what he thinks is right."
Tags:death, sentence, corruptor