1979. Choose a complex and important character in a novel or a play of recognized literary merit who might on the basis of the character's actions alone be considered evil or immoral. In a well-organized essay, explain both how and why the full presentation of the character in the work makes us react more sympathetically than we otherwise might. Avoid plot summary.
Antwone Fisher's novel, Finding Fish, is the true story of Fisher's life, showing how he went from the foster care system to being homeless, working in the army, and trying to reconnect with his birth mother. When Antwone is taken in by the Pickett family, Mizz Pickett becomes a prime example of a character that can definitely be considered evil and/or immoral through her actions of abuse toward Antwone.
Mizz Pickett's "affectionate" words to Antwone as well as the other foster kids, Dwight and Flo, were such as calling them by derogatory terms like "nigga" and "chocolate'. Antwone noted in the novel that he always noticed while growing up the special treatment of Keith, a foster child who was considerably lighter-skinned than the rest of the children. Mizz Pickett would call neighbors, fellow church-goers, basically anyone who would listen, to tell them what awful and evil children she had to take care of. Because of these such incidents, Antwone grew up questioning whether or not he should have shame for being dark skinned, and thinking that he wasn't a well-behaved or kind child.
Regularly, the children would be physically abused by Mizz Pickett, along with the verbal abuse discussed previously. She would take the children to the basement and tie them up for hours, and either beat the kids herself with a whip, or send down her husband to do it. Antwone wrote how Mr. Pickett never really showed any sort of emotion while beating them, as if he either felt guilty or just didn't really think anything of the children's "misbehaving" of whatever Mizz Pickett wanted, so even if it was he who was giving the beatings, it was Mizz Pickett who was the mind behind the whip.
Because of the mental and physical abuse Antwone and the other foster children suffered while staying in the Pickett household beginning at the time when they were just small, and then through to their pre-teen/teenage years, Mizz Pickett can be considered by the readers to be an evil and/or immoral character in the book.
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ReplyDeleteI don't think your essay answers the prompt, because it's asking you to analyze an evil character that readers have sympathy towards due to the events in the book. You said Mizz Pickett was the evil character but then you talked about how readers sympathize for Antwonne (the good character). Instead you should talk about why readers feel sympathy to Mizz Pickett (if it's possible). Aside from that I like how you took words straight out of the book, because it makes your arguement stronger, and I also like how you set the reader up in the first paragraph becasue now they know what to expect in the rest of the essay, and I like how you gave background info on the book.
ReplyDeleteI like the book that you chose because Mizz Picket is evil and that fits in perfectly with the prompt. I like your break down of the verbal abuse with examples and physical abuse with examples. However, your paragraphs lack warrants. In the first body paragraph you said that Antoine questioned his worth as a dark-skinned person: that is the first step towards your warrant. Go a little further and explain how Antoine's feelings make us as the reader more sympathetic. In your second body paragraph about physical abuse, how does sympathy play into that? I think you have great structure and examples just dig a little deeper for those warrants that answer the prompt.
ReplyDeleteI love this book, but Mizz Pickett does not fit with the requirements of the prompt at all. She's pure evil and has no redeeming qualities, and the reader feels absolutely no sympathy towards her. I think you probably missed that part of the prompt. I can't even think of a character that would fit the mold it's asking for, so I'm hoping we don't get a question like that on the AP exam. Anyway, your essay was strong in that you supported your claims with evidence and warrants. Good job analyzing Mizz Pickett!
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