Dear Boy Analysis

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Ap English Sept. 21 Literary Analysis: Dear boy It’s crazy to think; nearly 300 years ago parents would still act like they do today. Drowning their child in sorrow and displeasure by acting disappointed, not angry, but disappointed. Because they know it is oh so much more emotionally hurtful. Sure, pressure makes diamonds, but pressure also leads to emotionless strict adults. In the eyes of Lord Chesterfield, he doesn’t need another diamond, he has enough diamonds. He wants his son to let the Chesterfield crest shine! To make his family name known and respected, and he wants his son to carry on the ancestral morals that is carried through the Chesterfield name. By using words such as disgrace, ridicule, shame and regret we see that his disappointment tone is carried through the letter, although the Lord is stating that he is acting as a guide using past experience, and in no way wants to dictate. But a short sentence later, he is listing off flaws of the boy, such as how dependent he is, how he must act upon more generous morals, and essentially, get his act together. But like a tea kettle that has been boiling for a short while, the boiling point is yet to come, and when the harsh words fly, the Lord reveals his true intentions. In his final paragraph, which happens to be a full on roast of the boy, we learn that the boy has not fulfilled duties to the Lord’s standards. Later saying: “your shame and regret must be greater than anybody’s”. Implying that the boy’s life decisions are what brought the Lord to his boiling point. He’s saying that he hasn’t been social with others his age, and that everyone knows how lightly he takes education. That was an interesting thing of Lord Chesterfield to say. EVERYONE knows the uncommon care of the boy’s education. Saying that everyone knows what a failure the Lord’s son is,
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