A reader can feel greatly heartened or be left despondent by the general vision and viewpoint of a text.

Compare how the general vision and viewpoint of three texts studied on your course left you feeling heartened and/or despondent. Support your answer with reference to your chosen texts.

#625Lab. Corrected by an experienced examiner, graded as 55/70 with feedback on how to improve below. You may also like: Leaving Cert English Complete Guide (€). 

‘Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it.’ In my opinion, this infamous line from ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare, which I have studied on my comparative course, outlines the General Vision and Viewpoint (GVV) of all my texts to a certain extent. (Nice opening) The GVV in my texts is undoubtedly dark from the very outset but surprisingly, at the end of each text, the reader is left with a more positive GVV than one would have thought possible, given the precluding events. (Good point but expression could be clearer) The is certainly the case in Emily Bronte’s passionate love story, ‘Wuthering Heights.’ It also proves true in Clint Eastwood’s dramatic film, ‘Unforgiven.’ All of these texts have a largely similar GVV that is impacted by a number of factors and key moments. In my opinion, the world of the texts, the relationships within the texts, the use of violence in a male dominated world and the conclusions of each text each shape and mould the GVV, which cause the reader to feel despondent throughout but astonishingly, the reader is left heartened by the future of each respective society in each text. (Good argument set up here, just ensure that your sentences are very clear)

All texts show changes occurring or about to occur during the openings and in the worlds of the text.(Again, this sentence could be more clear – omit ‘in the worlds’) This change impacts on the texts and the outlooks of the characters. Each world is a dark world of pessimism and premonition.(Awkward phrasing – each world is presented pessimistically…) In ‘Macbeth,’ society is moving out of the dark ages (?), ‘Wuthering Heights’ takes place as the industrial revolution is occurring at the turn of the eighteenth to nineteenth century. ‘Unforgiven’ is set as the era of the ‘Wild West’ is coming to an end. It is a revisionist view of the mythologised world of the American heroic gunfighter, enacting some sort of moral code. (this information needs to flow a little better. There are too many separated points). The changes in each of these worlds cause a huge amount of violence and brutality that impact on the GVV and cause the reader to feel despondent. In ‘Macbeth,’ the most significant change occurs when Macbeth kills the honourable, innocent and chosen ruler, King Duncan, in a brutal act of regicide. This is a major turning point in the play and highlights the dark GVV, which leaves the reader feeling despondent for the future of the world of the text. Similarly in ‘Unforgiven,’ it is a brutal act of violence that causes the first change in the world of the text. When Delilah, a prostitute is ‘cut up’ by Big Mike, it is quickly apparent that the GVV is dark, stark and brutal. In my opinion, the authors of each text included these shocking and overwhelmingly dark moments in the early stages of the texts in order to leave no doubt but that the worlds of each text contribute to and cause these dramatic events, which leave the reader despondent. (Good point but final sentence too long winded). ‘Unforgiven’ is quite similar to ‘Wuthering Heights’ in (through?) the isolated and rough world in which both texts are set. The change that occurs in the insular society in ‘Wuthering Heights’ is a stranger, Mr. Lockwood, coming to live in the unwelcoming and hostile Yorkshire Moors. This seemingly harmless fact, causes a passionate, dramatic and complex love story to develop, as told through the story of Nellie Deane. Mr. Lockwood’s first introduction to the isolated world of Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, is when he visits the hostile Wuthering Heights and is attacked by the dogs. This dramatic event highlights the austere world in which the novel is set. Once again, this shows the dark GVV that is carried throughout the majority of the text and the manner in which it leaves the reader feeling despondent. (Some good points here and evidence of comparison. Just ensure that the points link into each other smoothly).

There are several key relationships in the novel which impact greatly on the GVV of all three texts. The impact of gender has a significant effect on the dynamics of the relationships, the actions of key characters and the despondent way in which the reader feels as a result of these relationships. In ‘Macbeth,’ Lady Macbeth is a key protagonist that has a colossal effect on the outcome of the play. It is Lady Macbeth who convinces Macbeth to murder King Duncan in order to become King of Scotland. ‘When you durst do it, then you were a man; and to be more than what you were, you would be so much more than a man.’ In this quote, Lady Macbeth is manipulating her husband by challenging his masculinity. She gains more and more control over Macbeth as the play goes on. This shows how Lady Macbeth usurps Macbeth’s position as the head of the household, as he becomes King. The dynamics within this complex relationship mould the outcome and events in the play. In my opinion, the impact of Lady Macbeth in the play leaves the reader quite despondent as it shows that Macbeth did not have a positive influence to attempt to curb his overriding ambition. (Good) (New paragraph for new text perhaps.)This contrasts greatly with Claudia in ‘Unforgiven.’ Claudia attempted to ‘cure’ Will of his ‘wicked ways.’ “I ain’t like that no more. I ain’t the same Ned. Claudia, she straightened me up, cleared me of drinking whiskey and all.” (Needs a little more context). Unfortunately for Will, Claudia died of smallpox before the events of the movie unfolded, so her positive moral influence is ebbing away as Will returns to drinking and killing. This certainly leaves the reader feeling despondent, due to the fact that the GVV is dark and pessimistic from the outset as Claudia’s influence is diminished. Comparing these powerful and influential women to ‘Wuthering Heights,’ Catherine Earnshaw certainly comes to mind (good comparison but slightly informal). Even after Catherine’s death, she still left a lasting impression and even influenced decisions by those who were around her. Catherine’s influence is dark and controlling, it contributes to the dark GVV that is portrayed throughout the novel and this is a key factor in the despondency felt by the reader of this dramatic text. While Catherine was alive, she had a huge controlling influence on both Heathcliff and Edgar. Catherine’s influence was certainly less positive than Claudia’s. There are many examples of Catherine’s dominance in the novel but most relate back to her grasp over Heathcliff by telling him he is not civilised enough for her. Catherine believes she can enjoy the lavish lifestyle that comes from being married to Edgar Linton, while still maintaining her relationship with Heathcliff. This is what sparks the brutal reign of violence from Heathcliff and leads to some of the darkest scenes in the novel. “Catherine Earnshaw, you may not rest as long as I am living. You said I killed you – haunt me then. The murdered do haunt their murderers.” The GVV of all three texts is controlled and influenced by key relationships in each text. (good point) The women associated with the key male protagonists all hold a major role in each individual text, that have a bearing on the diminishing morals, beliefs and actions of their male counterparts. (Some movement between past and present tense – stick to one tense. Separate ideas into paragraphs as it will appear too long when handwritten. Use other adjectives with/for the word ‘despondent’ but good sense of purpose.)

As I have outlined, the GVV is largely dark, pessimistic and ominous due to a wide range of factors including the worlds of the texts, key relationships within the play and the influence of violence. The GVV causes the reader to feel little hope or positivity, which in fact makes the reader to feel hopeless and despondent. The societies and characters in all three texts seem beyond reproach as the texts draw to a close. However, the ultimate line in the opening scene of ‘Macbeth’ tells a great deal about all three texts – ‘fair is foul and foul is fair.’ Though the texts have been overshadowed by violence, negative actions and have been largely dark, as proved by the GVV, the endings of all three texts, to a certain extent, contradict the overwhelming dark outlook and GVV. Though ‘Macbeth’ and ‘Unforgiven’ both end with brutal violence, these texts end with an unusual hope for the future, which seemed unlikely, given the precluding events. In ‘Unforgiven,’ I believe that the final act of violence that he commits in Big Whiskey, is Will seeking justice and vengeance for the death of Ned, who did not deserve to die so violently at the hands of Bill. It is as if this final act, done for Ned and not to simply survive draws a line under his violent ways. This is also supported by the fact that we learn he took the money from the prostitutes to make a better and more ‘prosperous’ life for his children. A feeling of optimism is created, that softens the edges of death and darkness that prevailed over the final scenes in the movie. In ‘Macbeth,’ the culture and society of Scotland seems brighter now that the tyrannical reign of Macbeth has ended, by Macbeth being killed in battle. Peace and justice have been restored. The ‘natural order’ is now being followed given that the correct and chosen King, Malcolm, is in power. Both ‘Macbeth’ and ‘Unforgiven’ ended in violence that brought peace, ‘Wuthering Heights’ on the other hand did not have the same level of brutal and barbaric violence in the final chapters of the novel but similarly, ‘Wuthering Heights’ ended in positive manner that adverse to the previously established GVV. ‘Wuthering Heights’ draws to a close with the union of Catherine and Hareton. For such a passionate and intense story of love and revenge, Wuthering Heights has a happy and peaceful ending. Each of these endings, were not expected, given the violence, brutality and emotional anguish throughout the plot of the novel. This in turn has an effect on the GVV because the despondency felt by the reader during the course of the novel is almost remedied by the largely positive conclusions. This hope-filled future in all three texts allows the GVV to be lighter and less threatening than that which was originally presented. As the reader and viewer of all three texts, I felt heartened by the respective conclusions. (Good sense of purpose and assessment of how the conclusion contributes to GVVP.)

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed studying these three texts for my comparative study. I found studying these texts challenging at times, given the dark, violent and ominous GVV that was presented, which left me, as the reader, feeling despondent. The endings of each text surprised me as it contrasted hugely with the previously established GVV. As the reader of the three texts, I was left feeling hopeful and heartened that a peaceful and positive future was in store for the respective societies and characters as established by the GVV. (Good conclusion.)

P 18/21

C 16/21

L 14/21

M 7/7

55/70

H3 – This really has the potential to be a strong H2 just watch phrasing. Good sense of purpose and understanding of GVVP.