In both “The Game” by Rick Book, and “The Gift” by Monty Hall, the protagonists illustrate the importance of surprise in one’s life; however, by closely juxtaposing the two texts, it is evident that the surprise has altered Hall’s life significantly, while it has not for Book. In “The Gift,” the major surprise is identified when Max Freed, a successful business owner finds a 20-year-old young man scrubbing the steps of Churchill’s. Feeling pitiful, and a bit upset to realize that an “intelligent [man’s]” intellect is being wasted due to poverty, the gentleman Freed offers to finance the youth’s education- which transforms his life. Knowing that he is getting great help from a good man, the young man yearns to keep the promise he made to Freed: he pays back all the money “Freed lent to [him]”, and always remained “near the top of his class.” The plot twists when it’s revealed that the hard-working young man was actually Monty Hall, the narrator of the story. Similarly to “The Gift,” a surprise takes place in the short story “The Game.” Not as life-altering as in the other text, surprise is depicted when the protagonist’s expectation of a famous hockey player was not as favourable.
(Of course all follows from his discovery that the polluters, who he thought were small, shabby local firms, are actually owned by rich corporations.) The movie, written and directed by Steven Zaillian, doesn't simplify the issues and make Schlichtmann into a romantic hero. He's more the kind of guy you refer to affectionately as "that poor sap." We hear what he hears: the emotion in the voice of one of the mothers (Kathleen Quinlan) who asks him to take the case because "all we want is somebody to apologize to us." And the heartrending story of how one of the boys died, told by his father (David Thornton) in details so sad that Schlichtmann is very deeply moved--which is, perhaps, not the best thing for his
I believe that Larry’s father did actually give up his liquor temporarily because he was very diligent in calculating the money he saved from not drinking. He got caught up in his success and started assuming himself above others who squandered his money, so it was his pride that allowed him to continue his abstinence from alcohol. Larry’s father was a prideful man, like when he talked to the people at the funeral, so in one sense, his pride was good for him. However, Larry’s father did gave in when he had a celebratory
Mr. Birling is a microcosm of higher class business men in the period the play was set. He also portrays the naive attitudes of the elderly. From the start Mr. Birling is suggested as a bombastic and dogmatic character. His view about war- “Germans don’t want war. Nobody wants war” makes the audience doubt his judgement as they know there will be a war, showing irony.
Birling tries to intimidate Inspector Goole by boasting about his status and the type of people he knows, for example when Birling mentions the engagement between Sheila and Gerald Croft - a name made famous by 'Croft's limited', Birling brings this up to intimate the Inspector as Birling expects his status to buy him away from trouble and put him above the law. Birling becomes impatient easily and loses his temper quickly as he realises Goole doesn't want to play along with his tactics of trying to avoid confrontation about his responsibility with Eva Smith's death. He doesn't want to accept the fact he might have given a reason for her to kill herself and reckons she is the one at fault, he's pompous and sexist and abdicating his responsibility when being interviewed. Birling is also presented to expect him to gain respect and wishes for everyone to agree with his capitalist attitude. He believes himself to be superior and tries to take hold and control the interview with the Inspector when he abruptly comments on how he doesn't like his 'tone', which is ironic as Birling's 'tone' has been unacceptable and spiteful towards the inspector throughout their interview, proving his confidence and his big headed
Mrs. Birling to display the greed and ignorance of aristocracy before the war. He shows them as selfish and ignorant and unwilling to admit their mistakes. Mr Birling is stereotyped by Priestly as a pride filled, over confidant,”rather portentous man in his middle fifties but rather provincial in his speech." Some examples of ths are “I say you can ignore all this silly pessimistic talk” and “we're in for a time of steadily increasing prosperity.” Similarly Mrs. Birling is displayed as stuck up and someone who enjoys looking down on other people also Priestley gives us the impression that she thinks wealth and status only are important. Priestly portrays her as a woman obsessed with how she and her family are perceived with in 'high society'.
Etienne De Leon Professor Prietas R. English III 2/27/2014 The Great Ambition Dream, love, and unreachable- pretty depressing concepts. You see them in life, witness them in action, and notice how many people suffer. They long for love, and their dreams, but to some, such ideas are unreachable. Although, to others it may be more mental thoughts of pessimism, but the rest, they literally can’t reach for their goals. In the novel “The Great Gatsby”, we meet a wealthy mysterious man named Gatsby.
Writing from hindsight, Priestly implies that if the old fashioned views are carried on, events similar to World War 2 will repeat themselves. The characters used in this play clearly show the opinions on socialism at that time. As Mr Birling is a successful and wealthy business man, he is reluctant to
At the beginning Pumblechook was cruel to pip but as soon as Pips status rose, he called him 'dear friend' and repeatedly asked 'may I?' to shake Pips hand. Not only does he try to befriend Pip because of his new found money but he also tells everyone that he was the benefactor because he wants the attention and popularity, he says 'I have been the humble instrument leading up to this', making him an imposter. After Pips downfall, Pumblechooks behaviour changes again towards him and accuses Pip of not having 'common human gratitoode'. So Dickens portrays Pumblechook as a man who changes his behaviour towards someone according to their status just for his own benefit.
From one side we can see Anthony and his wealth (his views about real feelings, about love) and from another side we see Richard and his feelings. Anthony thinks that money can do everything in our life, even buy love (“Money is successful every time. I don’t know anything you can’t buy with it. Tell me something that money can’t buy”). But Richard has opposite opinion (“There are some things that money can’t do,” said the young man rather sadly.