Prompt 1970 revision

1970. Choose a character from a novel or play of recognized literary merit and write an essay in which you (a) briefly describe the standards of the fictional society in which the character exists and (b) show how the character is affected by and responds to those standards. In your essay do not merely summarize the plot.

In Death of a Salesman, Willy lives an a Post-World War II New York City, where he is a salesman who has to drive all over New England in order to sell anything. The economy is starting to pick up again, and the city is growing, so people are expected to start becoming successful businessmen again, but traces of the depression still linger. Willy believes that if a person is well liked, they won't  ever fail at the American Dream. However, the growth of capitalism in the city is not as kind as Willy believes and prevents him from succeeding. Willy has too much pride to accept this new reality and continues to live in the past as an escape. 

The growth of capitalism and it's affect on Willy's career is shown best through the characters Charley and his son Bernard, who are foils for Willy and his son Biff. On the outside, Willy and Biff appear to be much better looking and and full of "the old confidence." On the other hand, Charley is fat and not the most pleasant person to talk too. Bernard is the class geek who is small and scrawny. Since Willy and Biff appear to be more naturally gifted, Willy teaches Biff that people will naturally like him and give him opportunities. This is the way the economy used to work, when friends stayed your friends, in order to benefit both friend's careers. However, despite Charley and Bernard not having good looks and natural charisma, they are the ones who succeed. Charley teaches Bernard to work hard in order to obtain skills, which is the exact opposite of Willy. They realize that people can't be trusted, and depending on one's own skills is the only way to achieve anything. Not surprisingly, Willy and Biff fail to achieve The American Dream because Willy couldn't see that capitalism promoted a different strategy for success.

Biff and Willy both got the same fate because of misconceptions of society, but Willy's refusal to accept reality leads him to delusions and eventually his own demise. Since Willy invested everything he had into one goal, that Biff would become a great salesman, Willy couldn't mentally handle his whole life crashing down at once. Since Willy was so confident Biff would have a career, he can't accept this reality and doesn't take blame for his mistakes. By fleeing from the truth, Willy drives himself mad and shifts in between different realities. He drifts back to the times when life was going well for his boys, but these visions always end badly, just like in real life. His delusions become stronger when Willy is in a stressful situation, such as when his is fired for being too old and bothersome by Howard. Willy keeps thinking that he is back when Biff is about to win an important football game and Charley keeps warning Willy not to put so much stake in one thing. Even when Willy tries to escape his responsibilities, the people in his memories are trying to tell him he can't keep running away from his situation. These memories show the audience Willy's hopes and fears, even when he is too blind to admit them to himself. Finally, when Willy realizes these memories aren't an escape, he desperately chooses the ultimate escape instead of admitting his own mistakes. His pride prevents Willy from adjusting to the changing world he lives in.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

Author: Tom Stoppard

Characters:

Rosencrantz: He is a character who never questions anything, and just accepts what he sees. However, he has a deep fear of death and wants to find out what is wrong with Hamlet. He gets confused a lot of the time, but never tries very hard to sort anything out.

Guildenstern: He also wants to find out what is wrong with Hamlet, but he also seeks to discover his purpose in the world. He is sure he can figure it out, even though the audience sees he never will because he forgets everything almost instantly and is attempting logic in an illogical world.

Player King: He is the leader of the players, and is the only one of them who speaks. It becomes clear later that he is the person in charge of the play and knows everything that is going on during the time Ros and Guil are within the play of Hamlet. This is because the players are putting on the play with Ros and Guil participating in it unwillingly.

Summary:

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern wander through a place with no apparent setting, flipping coins that come up heads every time. Rosencrantz keeps winning the coins and seems untroubled by this strange occourance, while Guildenstern tries helplessly to explain how this could happen. He, however cannot use logic very well and he thinks of the most improbable explanations first. They both wonder why they are here and suddenly remember a messenger. They encounter a group of Tragedians. The Player King suggests a sexually intimate performance, which takes a long time for Rosencrantz to realize. Guildenstern, knowing the coin will always be heads, uses this against the Player King, who looses the bet and cannot pay. Guildenstern asks them to pay with a play, and Rosencrantz soon after announces the last coin he flipped was heads.

The scenery suddenly changes, and Rosencrantz find themmselves in the middle of some action in Hamlet. Hamlet and Ophelia are rushing about suspiciously before Claudius runs into the pair, mixes up their names, and tells them to find out what's up with Hamlet. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern talk about what they should ask Hamlet, but Rosencrantz doesn't understand when Guildenstern wants to pretend to be Hamlet in order to practice questioning. However, they realize that Hamlet is upset over his father. When they question Hamlet, he confuses them, so they unsure over his sanity. The players arrive for the play Hamlet wants to put on, and after Ros and Guil talk about death, they tell Claudius Gertrude Polonius and Ophelia about the play. They overhear Hamlet and Ophelia scene.

The Tragedians perform a play that paralells the recent events that happened before the opening of Hamlet. The Player King explains the tragedy, and Ros and Guil wonder if death can be represented in a play. Hamlet kills Polonius that night, so Claudius is wondering where Hamlet is the next day. Ros and Guil think of a stupid plan with their belts to catch Hamlet, but it fails miserably. Hamlet escapes and accuses them of being pawns for Claudius. Hamlet is caught by guards later and Ros and Guil are told they must take Hamlet to England. They reluctantly agree.

On the boat to England, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern wonder where they are and whether they might be dead. They notice Hamlet sleeping and remember why they are here. They read the letter to the king of England and find out that Hamlet will be executed. While they are sleeping, Hamlet switches the letter with a fake. The tragedians emerge out of some large barrels, and pirates come shortly after. They all jump into the barrels, but Hamlet is gone when they come out again. Ros and Guil tell the Player King about the letter and what they will say to the King. However, they discover the new letter tells the king to execute them. Guil is sorrowful about death, and angry at the Player King for attempting to fake it. He stabs the Player King, who appears to be dead, but he pops up alive to Ros and Guil's surprise. The knife was only a stage knife. The Tragedians then perform many deaths and the focus shifts to only Ros and Guil. Ros breaks down, realizing he will die, while Guil is upset that they couldn't avoid their fate. They both just exit, instead of having dramatic deaths. The scene changes to Hamlet, and the final lines of the play are delivered.

Imagery: Little figurative language or imagery. Not a play with lots of detail either. Only small tidbits for the audience to figure out the meaning below the surface of the play. Motifs: Coin flipping shows how world is illogical and how fate is already set.

Forgetfulness: absurdist quality, shows how helpless the characters are in their world.

Wind Direction: knowing about it means control. 

Death: shows how some fates are unavoidable.

Hamlet: represents Shakespeare's ideas and influence
Theme: Writers will never be able to escape Shakespeare's influence.
Quotes:

Response to Course Material

This past month, we finished up Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, and we also did some practice with writing a good closed prompt essay.
I found Ros and Guil easier to annotate than Hamlet because even though it was confusing to read the first time, once i figured out an overall idea of the work, every line of the play seemed to have some sort of significance. Hamlet had more difficult language than this play, which is why it was harder to annotate (reading Hamlet when only half awake isn't easy.) I'm not sure how much I really enjoyed the play though. I like how creative Stoppard was to think of this idea, but it was a bit depressing in the end.
I am glad we are doing practice with writing this essay. It is helping me out just to keep practicing on how to organize everything and explain evidence properly. Even though it is a pain, it will hopefully pay off on the AP Exam, since I will probably do poorly on the multiple choice section. Writing practice questions doesn't really help me at all.