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Choose a hero or heroine or villain from one of the three texts you have studied on your comparative course - Leaving Cert English - Question 1. - 2012
Question 1.
Choose a hero or heroine or villain from one of the three texts you have studied on your comparative course. Based on the character's personality and behaviour, give... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Choose a hero or heroine or villain from one of the three texts you have studied on your comparative course - Leaving Cert English - Question 1. - 2012
Step 1
Choose a hero or heroine or villain from one of the three texts you have studied on your comparative course.
Answer
In my comparative course, I chose the character of Elizabeth Bennet from Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice'. Elizabeth is an intelligent and witty character, embodying traits such as independence and strong moral principles. I would like to meet her because she challenges societal norms with her unique perspective on life and relationships.
One reason I admire Elizabeth is her resilience and ability to remain true to herself, even when faced with societal pressure. Her refusal to marry without love demonstrates her integrity, making her a character I respect. Furthermore, her intelligence and humor would make for an engaging conversation, as she often navigates through misunderstandings with grace and insight.
Step 2
Choose a hero or heroine or villain from another text you have studied as part of your comparative course.
Answer
In contrast, I selected Jay Gatsby from F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby'. Gatsby is a complicated character driven by his love for Daisy Buchanan and the desire to achieve the American Dream. While he possesses charm and ambition, his actions often border on obsession and deceit, primarily due to the illegal activities he engages in to attain wealth.
Unlike Elizabeth, Gatsby's personality is shrouded in mystery and ambition, yet his tragic pursuit of an idealized love paints him as both admirable and pitiable. While I find his determination compelling, his moral ambiguity and the lengths he goes to for love would make me hesitant to meet him, as his choices reflect a darker side of aspiration.
Step 3
Compare the personality and behaviour of this character with the personality and behaviour of the character you referred to in 1.(a) above.
Answer
Comparing Elizabeth Bennet and Jay Gatsby reveals significant contrasts in their personalities and motivations. Elizabeth is grounded, values integrity, and seeks genuine connections, while Gatsby is driven by ambition and a desire to reclaim a lost past, often leading him to make unethical choices.
In terms of behavior, Elizabeth engages in meaningful conversations and challenges societal norms, exhibiting confidence and self-assurance. Conversely, Gatsby often resorts to lavish parties and material displays to garner attention, lacking the genuine connection that Elizabeth thrives on. Ultimately, while both characters evoke a sense of admiration, Elizabeth's choices reflect her commitment to personal values, whereas Gatsby's actions emphasize the dangers of unchecked ambition.