Often, detectives in detective fiction seek some kind of compensation for their work restoring the world to its natural order. Detectives working purely out of the goodness of their hearts. Nancy Drew, however, breaks many stereotypes—including that she never asks for monetary; in her first adventure of the series, The Secret of the Old Clock, the only physical reward Nancy receives is the symbolic old clock. The story paints Nancy as a wholesome, selfless figure, acting only in the interest of others. Although Nancy initially appears to be the perfect, altruistic heroine, she operates with selfish motivations, such as convenience, a sense of social class superiority, and the exhilaration of the mystery. At first glance, Nancy embodies …show more content…
From the start of the novel, it is clear that she comes from a wealthy, well-to-do background. Through Nancy’s appearance in the world reflects a shift in literature, the evidence of social classes cannot be denied. Amy Boesky discusses Nancy’s position and how she preserves the social status quo in the article “Solving the Crime of Modernity: Nancy Drew in 1930.” Boesky considers how her status affects Nancy’s drives and how she completes “the work of restoring middle-class order to a world threatened from two apparently different directions—above and below” (Boesky 193). In the first edition of the novel, Jeff Tucker symbolizes the lower threat; in the recent edition, the thieves occupy the lower class concern. In each, Nancy upbraids the offending parties, giving them justice as she sees fit. The aspiring upper-class danger comes from the Tophams, for whom Nancy expresses her clear disdain. In her analysis of this story, Boesky acknowledges how much of Nancy’s actions serve to uphold the purity of her middle class. Boesky does not, however, further the discussion by fully explaining how Nancy’s “service” to the middle class reflects back on her character and ambitions, such as self-preservation. Pursuing the will not only help “justice” be delivered, but it also …show more content…
As the mystery comes to a conclusion, satisfying all parties Nancy had previously deemed worthy, she still regrets that it has ended. She desires another case to investigate next—even if another thrilling mystery means misfortune for the person affected by it. Caught in her own world, Nancy does not contemplate the implications for anyone but herself. When Nancy receives the Crowley clock as a souvenir, a potent reminder of her first solo outing as a detective, she draws a connection between the clock and what stood out to her most about the mystery: the thrill. Earlier she states that she has made friends through the investigation, and while that is true, it is not the most valuable thing that she gains from it for herself. In the conclusion of her story, all Nancy can think of how solving the mystery of the missing will had exhilarated her in a new way. She cannot bring herself to think of something other than herself. Both the first and the last pages heavily emphasize Nancy’s attitude toward the case and how it affects her personally. The beginning and the end of the story are important for characterization, and they display Nancy’s carefree focus on herself and her own
Class politics are introduced to the story when the Phonies arrive in Stella Street. The Phonies are disliked as soon as they arrive in Stella Street because of the renovations they make on Old Aunt Lillie’s house and the children of Stella Street make fun of the fact that the Phonies refurnish the house (p.13). Henni encourages the reader to make fun of the high class Phonies about the way they speak, because the Phonies use words such as ‘dinnah’ and ‘daaaarling’ (p.18). This shows the Phonies in a negative way enticing the audience to take Henni’s side or a middle class approach to the story. When the Phonies send a note from their lawyer to Frank’s family for a proposal of a new fence (p.22) they are once again looked at poorly.
In the memoir The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion narrates her personal struggle of coping the realization of John being dead and will never resurrect to reunite with Joan. Joan exerts many sorrowful expressions as medical information and the vortex effects instill a sense of anticipation that John will soon come back. Consequently, Didion’s hopefulness opaques her true identity as she still associates herself as a married woman, when in reality, she needs to move on from John to reestablish her extroverted personality to the world once again. On the contrary, Didion comes to a consensus that John’s death was inevitable, Joan starts to ponder about her future with the exclusion of John. With Joan grieving
... was no middle ground only the very poor and the very rich and having no experience with one another's the classes perceptions on each other seem warped in both of these stories. Both of these characters would have averted tragedy had they only stayed within their own social circles but is this the message we want to walk away from these stories with?
But I think this book is more for those people who aren’t that aware of social class, or for the ones who feel that we live in a society that is classless, rather than the actual people who have realized the consequences that class really has on someone’s life. Many people can relate to what stories are told in the book; if not, they know of a person that can relate to these stories. As a person that grew up in the lower class, I can definitely relate to most of the stories told in this book. From experience, there is a big difference in this country between the rich, middle class, and the poorest that we see daily. Even those in the so-called working class have to make continuous sacrifices and live very differently from those positioned firmly in the middle class.
“Well, Alice, my father said, if it had to happen to one of you, I’m glad it was you and not your sister” (57). Even though Alice was the victim of the horrid crime, she had to stabilize her own emotions, so that she could help her sister cope with this tragedy. Throughout Alice’s childhood, Jane struggled with alcoholism and panic attacks. “I wished my mother were normal, like other moms, smiling and caring, seemingly, only for her family” (37).
Even though Laura and Elizabeth were uncompassionate towards the families, failed to call the deceased by their names, felt shame and had a life and death epiphany, both women had different stances and reasons concerning their actions. The relationship and the personal or social difference that Laura and Elizabeth shared with the dead men were all factors in how they acted, reacted and lastly how these affected the epiphany that the two women experienced throughout and at the end of these stories.
Egalitarianism can be absurd and detrimental to American society. In the story, heavy weights are put on strong people, and grotesque masks are put on attractive women. Also, many other people who have an above average intelligence often listen to loud noises which render them from completing a thought (5-7). Harrison’s father, George, compares the noises to, “somebody hitting a milk bottle with a ball peen hammer.” Darryl Hattenhauer of Arizona State proposes that “The story satirizes the American definition of freedom as the greatest good to the smallest number.” Unfortunately, the sacrifice of the individual to the good of society doesn’t improve conditions for the above average, average, or below (Alvarez). Joseph Alvarez suggests that, “the result [of the] power vacuum [is] a ruthless central government created by legislative controls people’s lives, which have become as meaningless as if they were machines.” In addition, the American dream that is described as moving up social and economic class through hard work and education; turn into a nightmare (Hattenhauer). For example, Kurt Vonnegut infers that the ballerina who reads ann...
In contrast, syntax provides a new perspective to the narrator s behavior as sentence structure draws attention to her erratic behavior. By her last entry, the narrator s sentences have become short and simple. Paragraphs 227 through 238 contain few adjectives resulting in limited descriptions yet her short sentences emphasize her actions providing plenty of imagery. The syntax quickly pulls the reader through the end as the narrator reaches an end to her madness.
...the upper class. Through the protagonist, and Tyler, Palahniuk is able to show the struggles between the upper class and the working class and how the working class strives to revenge against the maltreatment from the upper class. Tyler’s project was necessary for change in the society. Overall, Chuck Palahniuk’s book is one of the best books to illustrate the struggles between social classes and how destruction is used to bring change.
A breathtaking saga of a young girl’s tragic memories of her childhood. As with Ellen, Gibbons’ parents both died before she was twelve-years-old, forming the family. basis of the plot and themes of this novel. The fond memories she possessed of her mother and the harsh ones of her father are reflected in the thoughts and actions of Ellen. The simplistic and humble attitude that both Gibbons and Ellen epitomizes in the novel is portrayed through diction and dialogue.
She continues in this sequel to talk about the abuse she faced and the dysfunction that surrounded her life as a child and as a teen, and the ‘empty space’ in which she lived in as a result. She talks about the multiple personalities she was exhibiting, the rebellious “Willie” and the kind “Carol”; as well as hearing noises and her sensory problems. In this book, the author puts more emphasis on the “consciousness” and “awareness” and how important that was for her therapeutic process. She could not just be on “auto-pilot” and act normal; the road to recovery was filled with self-awareness and the need to process all the pieces of the puzzle—often with the guidance and assistance of her therapist. She had a need to analyze the abstract concept of emotions as well as feelings and thoughts. Connecting with others who go through what she did was also integral to her
One character, Jenny Humphrey, is seen as an outsider due to her family's economic status. In turn, the “in-group” of teenage girls in her high school struggle to accept her as their leader. As with sexuality, these girls have been sheltered and have only known their wealth and comfortable lifestyles. They do not understand that one may not always have the same resources that are available to them. They see those who do not have as much money as them as being weak because they believe that money is power.
Allowing readers to glimpse her own story as she painfully evaluates her role as mother side by side with historical accounts of other women's experiences provides an avenue for understanding that leads to compassion. By the final chapter, instead of falling into the expected trap of revulsion toward Joanne Michulski's heinous crime, Rich's empathy provides the reader with the insight to realize both the complexity of Michulski's situation and to feel comp...
Although through different methods, I share Nancy’s passion to make people's lives better. Additionally, family plays a huge role in both of our lives. Nancy has a very close
Born into an abusive household, with absentee parents, in the tenement buildings of New York City, Maggie naïvely believed that Pete could solve her problems. But she was sadly mistaken, unfortunately resulting in her estrangement from her family and ultimate death in the streets. From this story and larger analogy, it is clear that the individual through his or her effort cannot work out of oppressive circumstances. This instead requires a collective effort. In addition, the working class as a whole submits to Social Darwinism, which impedes class conscience.