An Old Fashioned Girl Essay

1185 Words3 Pages

Trying Excellence
Throughout the story An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott, Polly Milton learns the highs and lows of society life in visits to a rich friend. At the time of her first visit, Polly is 14, but has never been exposed to the fads and fashions of society life. At first she wonders at her friend’s riches and elegant pleasures, but eventually finds out that the things she does possess, good health and a loving family, are more precious than the finest jewel. Because Polly does not allow herself to be spoiled by the censure of the world, she makes her friend Fanny Shaw’s house a more cheerful place both when she is 14 and when she returns at 20. Though it is sometimes difficult, Polly is always kind and usually lively, with a reflective nature.
Polly is invariably kind, even when she could gain by being selfish. The very first day of her visit, …show more content…

society. Polly is visiting a rich friend whose life is determined by fads and fashions. The society she is introduced to cares more about being popular than being good. The basis of the conflict is that Polly’s conscience rebels against the immoral entertainment offered to her, but she finds it hard to resist temptation. Throughout the story her friends, her enemies, and her acquaintances do not understand that fashion and fads do not determine morality. The conflict is developing before Polly even understands this fact herself. The day she arrives, Polly is informed of several things that she should not do by Fanny, so the girls at the stylish school Fanny attends do not think Polly is countrified. The next day, she visits the theater and finds immorality in the spectators and immodesty in the actors. This starts Polly thinking about morality, immorality, and how conforming to society in everything can generate worse results than

Show More
Related

  • John Wilson's The Secret Lives Of Sgt

    1125 Words  | 3 Pages

    Even at a young age, she was considered an original, her sister Elizabeth is quoted as saying: “Even in this close family, Polly was special. We all loved one another but somehow every one of us has a special work with Polly. She was so bright and cheery and brave.” (Simmie pg 7) At the age of 18 Polly met Jack, two years into their courtship, they got engaged and another two years after Polly and Jack were married. Then Polly believed she had everything she ever wanted, a husband and two children George and Ella. Polly’s “…idyllic life, it would seem, but not for long.” (Simmie pg 8) When Polly was six months pregnant with Ella, John left for Canada. Mainly to run away from his problems and shame he had brought upon himself, and ultimately to run away from Polly and his children. Polly never saw this coming, because she idolized him and could never see him doing any wrong. But soon everything would change for the worst. People would say “…her sunny disposition complements his moody, intense nature.” (Simmie pg 7) Jack was never well liked by others, they did not trust him and for good

    Read More

  • Catharine Maria Sedgewick's Hope Leslie

    863 Words  | 2 Pages

    Catharine Maria Sedgewick’s heroine and title character of Hope Leslie does not convey the expected behaviors of a woman living in 17th century Puritan society. Hope Leslie is not a passive young woman that relies on the Bible for all advice and guidance. She does not stay quiet if something is on her mind. She refuses to allow the innocent to receive persecution for the wrong reasons. Hope is assertive, aggressive, courageous, bold, and quite outspoken. The characteristics that she portrays are atypical to those portrayed by 17th century women. Instead, Hope’s attitude and behavior more closely resemble that of a female from the 21st century living in an era not meant for her.

    Read More

  • Social Class in A & P by John Updike

    372 Words  | 1 Pages

    As the student develops his essay, Sammy begins to compare the girls to other customers in the store. From “houseslaves in pin curlers” to “an old party in baggy gray pants” (2192 ), Sammy negatively characterizes customers in contrast to the leader of the girls, Queenie. To Sammy, the girl is someone that is not from their town. She is everything that every girl envies and wants to be. In contrast to Sammy, she will spend her summer vacationing while he spends it working. It is clear to Sammy that their worlds are different, however it is also obvious that he would like to explore hers.

    Read More

  • The Revolution of The Young People: John Updike

    1191 Words  | 3 Pages

    In John Updike’s “A&P”, the revolution of the young people of the current age against authority is explored and explained. “A&P” reveals the shift from conservative and deferential to avant-garde and disrespectful. Through the observation of the behavior of the characters in the story, one can receive a clear picture of the evolution of the sexual revolution that has come in this age. Sammy is the first character that is introduced, he is the protagonist and narrator of the story. Stoksie and Lengel are next, Stoksie is a fellow store clerk with Sammy as well as a good friend and Lengel is the manager of the store. Finally, Queenie is introduced. “A&P” begins with Sammy noticing these three girls that come into the store in nothing but their bathing suits. Sammy then proceeds to analyze each of the girls bodies, finally coming to rest on the leader of the group, his favorite, who he affectionately names to himself, “Queenie”. Although Sammy and Stoksie joke back and forth about the girls sexiness, he is privately revolted by the butchers bluntly ogling the girls as they search for whatever they wish to purchase. Throughout this recounting of the experience, one begins to wonder, when did girls become pieces of meat to be observed and handled by men? They used to be cherished and protected as they should be. The sexual revolution of the past and current decades have changed all of that.

    Read More

  • Film Analysis On The Social Class In The Bridesmaid

    893 Words  | 2 Pages

    The film reflects the class difference from beginning through the end, especially between Annie and Helen. Annie is a single woman in her late 30s without saving or boyfriend. She had a terrible failure in her bakery shop, which leads her to work as a sale clerk in a jewelry store. When Annie arrived Lillian’s engagement party,

    Read More

  • Gender And Gender Roles In A & P, By John Updike

    1307 Words  | 3 Pages

    Going against the norm almost always brings trouble. Much more so when the norms relate to gender in our society. From our formative years straight up to adulthood, society upholds certain distinct expectations of behaviors both male and females. Young men and woman are thus expected to follow and fit into these gender roles that are meant to guide and govern their behavior. The theme of gender and gender roles can be examined in the short story, “A & P”, written by John Updike. Through examination it can be seen that various characters go against the expected gender roles of that time period. Specifically the main character and narrator of Sammy. It is through the analysis of Sammy’s behavior that we discover what happens when you go against

    Read More

  • Marge Piercy’s Barbie Doll

    604 Words  | 2 Pages

    The poem starts with the line, “This girlchild was born as usual,” which suggests that as soon as a girl is born, society already expects her to learn the role she will soon play in when she hits puberty (1). Thus, showing why we are given dolls as little girls to illustrate how we should act and appear according to society. After we learn all the roles we will soon take part in, “the magic of puberty,” hits and girls immediately begin applying the ideals to their own lives (5). As if this attempt to conform is not enough we have other people telling us we are not to perfect. “You have a great big nose and fat legs,” says a classmate to the girl (6). This type of pressure can slowly but surely destroy even the little confidence women do have in themselves.

    Read More

  • Inequality In The Gilded Age

    1300 Words  | 3 Pages

    The decade following the Reconstruction Era in American history is brilliantly and descriptively named; the Gilded Age was coated with superficial prosperity which buried its hardships that laid within its core. The rise of big business grabbed American’s attention---whether it was in a positive or negative notion--- and the United State’s focus on minorities declined. Women in the Gilded Age were continuous victims to inequality in contrast to their male counterparts, and the opportunity to pursue their own economic quickly turned into another element of inequality between the genders. On the other hand, the general working class quickly were slaves to big business and the new factory system. Working conditions and wages were unbearable,

    Read More

  • A&P by John Updike and Araby by James Joyce

    847 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the short story A&P by John Updike, the story is told in a first person narrative of a teenage boy working as a cashier in an A&P grocery store on a hot summer day. The story begins with the teenage boy named Sammy becoming preoccupied by a group of three teenage girls that walk into the grocery store wearing bathing suits. Sammy admires the girl's beauty as most nineteen year old adolescent boys would, in a slightly lewd and immature nature. His grammar is flawed and he is clearly not of an upper-class family, his job appears to be a necessity for a son of a family that is not well off. The name he gives the girl who seems to be the object of his desire, Queenie, portrays a social difference from himself. Sammy further imagines the differences in class and living style when he describes Queenie's voice as "kind of tony, the way it ticked over 'picked up' and 'snacks'." He imagines her with aristocratic home life in describing “her father and the other men were standing around in ice-cream coats and bow ties and the women were in sandals picking up herring snacks on toothpicks off a big glass plate and they were holding drinks the color of water with olives and sprigs of mint in them."Sammy compares his own parents occasions, where they serve their guests "lemonade and if it's a real racy affair Schlitz in tall glasses with 'They'll Do It Every Time' cartoons stenciled on."

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Learned Ladies

    1054 Words  | 3 Pages

    Les Femmes Savantes The Learned Ladies is an astounding play. As each new character enters time transforms characters are bedazzled, enchanted and wigged we know we are sharing the stage with royalty. The women’s gowns are extremely detailed with hoop shirts to make them puffy the men are wearing exceptionally detailed waistcoats. This comical drama is set in the living room or “salon” of the family. This plays plot is focused on one major couples chaotic and forbidden love. The characters are joined by blood and lead by the controlling wife, Philamonte (Maya Jackson) and her weak spouse Chrysale (Edward Brown III). Jackson’s voice is directing with a profound tone that would have the capacity to stop anybody dead in their tracks. It is not

    Read More

  • The Lesson

    1138 Words  | 3 Pages

    The plot of “The Lesson” contributes to its theme of freeing one's self from a social class. A group of New York City kids, but particularly the narrator, Sylvia, believe that they are better than the other people in their neighborhood, such as the junk man who does his work like he was a big-time president, or their volunteer teacher, Miss Moore. This feeling of superiority is unintentionally encouraged by the parents when they speak of Miss Moore like she is a dog (60). Consequently, Sylvia does not understand the importance of a college degree or that she and all the other children are poor (61). Miss Moore takes the children to F.A.O. Schwarz where they see very expensive toys and even a woman wearing a fur coat during summer; the children develop the general opinion that the “white folks crazy” (61-63). One toy in particular that catches their attention while window sh...

    Read More

  • Hedda Gabbler, by Henrik Ibsen and Madame Bovary, by Gustave Flaubert

    837 Words  | 2 Pages

    Due to their social class, Hedda Gabler and Madame Bovary both become alienated individuals. The latter is a part of the bourgeois however; she believes that her rightful place is in the upper class. She married her husband in hopes of traveling, and acquiring great wealth along the way. She dreamed of romance, wealth, and notoriety, but she could not obtain any of these concepts if she stayed with Charles. Emma wanted to attend balls, host extravagant parties, and have a large network of important citizens in France, however being a part of the bourgeois limits what one could do. After attending a ball with her husband, she concluded that her surroundings were mundane, and that “she had been in it all by an accident: out beyond, there stretched as far as the eye could see the immense territory or rapture and passions. In her longing, she made no difference in the pleasures of luxury and the joys of the heart, between elegant living and sensitive feeling.”(66) While Hedda Gabler once belonged to the upper class knows the joys of such parties, and extravagance. ...

    Read More

  • Essay On Women In Elizabethan England

    1101 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the late 16th century England experienced poverty, starvation, increase in population, inequality amongst women and men, and lack of opportunity in the work force. During this time England was torn between two religions, Catholicism and Protestantism. England’s economy was primarily agricultural, workers were tied to their land. Due to the social inequality of the 16th century, women were limited to their rights and men were superior. Women worked in the clothing industry and men worked primarily on the farm. Due to the economic hardships in England, men and women migrated to London for a better life. The nation was under the rule of Queen Elizabeth, who surpassed the restrictions placed on women. This paper explores the shortcomings and hardships experienced in Elizabethan England.

    Read More

  • Alice's Adventures In Wonderland Analysis

    1843 Words  | 4 Pages

    One such approach is that of Lydia Murdoch, who argues that Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is a story about children becoming adults and the hardships they face when exploring the real world. In her article entitled “Alice and the Question of Victorian Childhood,” Murdoch uses the shifting role of children during the Victorian Era to suggest that Alice’s attitudes and behaviors, especially during the events towards the beginning of the book, are meant

    Read More

  • Social Construction Of Gender Essay

    1599 Words  | 4 Pages

    Social Construction of Gender is a process, stratification system and structure. The day to day interactions emphasize gender as opposites. Take for instance, conversations, formalities of daily life, sayings, and so on. The social construction of gender is created through social interaction – through the things we do and say with other people. This means that gender it is not a fixed or inherent fact, but instead it varies across time and place.

    Read More

More about An Old Fashioned Girl Essay

Open Document