P&P 7-8

The turning point in both the novel and the mindset of Elizabeth Bennet comes after she reads the letter given to her by Mr. Darcy. The contents of the letter precipitated her thoughts about Wickham  to change. She realized that he was not the cordial and proper gentleman the he portrays himself to be. Her thoughts state, "She tried to recollectsome instance of goodness, some distinguished trait of integrity or benevolence, that might rescue him from the attacks of Mr. Darcy [...] But no such recollection befriended her" (175). Elizabeth only realizes Wickham's impertinence after she reads through the entire letter multiple times and re-evaluates her thoughts. Elizabeth's view completely change in this scene, as she begins to favor Darcy, a man of favorable and honest character, over Wickham, who lacks acceptable behaviors.

Pride and Prejudice

The title of the novel, Pride and Prejudice, highlights the cynicism of the characters and society in the setting of the story. Both pride and prejudice are key elements of this cynical society. The cynical attitude of society is first introduced when Mrs. Bennet describes her new neighbor, Mr. Bingley.  Mrs. Bennett focuses primarily on the wealth of Charles Bingely and the social status in which he will provide to her daughters if they are to wed. Mrs. Bennet is intent on the daughters meeting Mr. Bingley, and is far more focused on the status they will get from being married to him, than on the daughter's happiness. Prejudice is a theme that plagues the upper class in the novel. Darcy, a friend of Mr. Bingely, represents the pompous attitude of the high society. When asked to dance with one of the Bennet daughters, he exclaims, "she is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me” (12). Darcy care a lot about the vanity of the girls in which he attends to. He is prejudice in his selection of women and would not dare court a girl of lower society (as the Bennet sisters are). The main theme of the novel is the contrast between high society and the lower class. The lower class desires pride offered by the upper class, however the upper class maintains a deep prejudice against the lower peoples.

1994 AP Prompt

In the novel Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, the character of Mr. Kurtz is spoken about frequently by Marlow and his shipmates. However, the true character of Mr. Kurtz is revealed only very briefly when Marlow finally makes his way down the river to Kurtz's domain. The brief meeting of Kurtz and the introduction of his eccentric personality drastically change Marlow's views of the ivory business and forebode the corruption that awaits Marlow if he continues down this path. The short amount of time Marlow spends with Kurtz lead's to Marlow's final realization that he must leave the Congo at once.

Before meeting with Kurtz, Marlow's view of the world, and specifically the ivory business, is one of adventure and romance. One of Marlow's reasons for accepting a job as a river boat captain is to follow the romantic appeal of the unknown. Marlow is constantly compared to Mr. Kurtz. Mr. Kurtz is an example of a man who has traveled into the unknown and has conquered the wild. His station is renowned as the highest producing station and he is revered by the other agents of the company. As he is compared to Kurtz, Marlow's view of this man develops. In his Marlow's mind, Kurtz is an ambitious worker, a brilliant example of Western superiority and it's ability to tame the barbaric unknown. However when Marlow finally encounters Kurtz, when he finally reaches the end of his journey, he is shocked at what he finds.

Unlike any previous descriptions Marlow has heard, Mr. Kurtz is just as wild as the natives that surround him. This the climactic moment when Marlow realizes that power has the ability to corrupt. Immediately before Marlow reaches Kurtz, he finds a journal written by Mr Kurtz. The journal details the ambitions of a once benevolent Kurtz. However, all actions preformed by Kurtz are in direct contrast to his journal writings. Kurtz has changed and this change has stemmed from the corrupting ability of the power bestowed to him. The Western superiority mindset has plagued Kurtz and has turned him into something that is no less than barbaric. Marlow describes Kurtz as unable to be appealed to. His power has bestowed upon him a selfish and ruthless demeanor.

This pivotal point in the novel contradicts all that has been said previously in the text. The power of the west is revealed to not be benevolent; and truly, the wild has not been conquered, it has merely absorbed Kurtz and the ivory business with it. In the short time Marlow spends with Kurtz, Marlow realizes the imminent fate he faces if he continues on the path into the wild. The corrupting force of power is all mighty, and it will condemn all those who flirt with it. This message is delivered in the very short time that Kurtz appears. Kurtz is the vessel in which Marlow is taught his lesson: the power of the West is not a benevolent force that will open the unknown, it is a corrupting evil power which merely adopts the practices of the wild.