#625Lab. Corrected by experienced examiner, graded as H2 with feedback on how to improve below. You may also like: Leaving Cert English Complete Guide (€).
The study of a theme or issue can offer a reader valuable lessons or insights (2011).
Identify and discuss at least one valuable lesson or insight that you gained through the study of a theme or issue in one text on your comparative course.
Compare at least one valuable lesson or insight that you gained, from studying the same theme or issue, in two other texts on your comparative course.
(A) The theme of the power of love in “The Playboy of the Western World” by J.M. Synge offers me an insight into the fact that love can be superficial and often only temporary (Good opening line). Having been built on a foundation of lies, the love between Pegeen Mike and Christy Mahon falls apart instantly when Christy’s true colours are exposed. However, I will admit that images of love and occasional poetic speeches relieve my negative insight on the power of love (Consider an alternative to negative). In truth though, this relief acts as a temporary fix to the bigger problem at hand. Synge almost satirises the idea of love through both Pegeen and Christy’s relationship to emphasise its superficiality. They must be true to each other before experiencing the powerful force that is love.
As a young woman who feels constrained by the limitations of her world living in rural Mayo of the early 1900s, Pegeen Mike seeks excitement and adventure. Naturally, she seizes the opportunity when Christy offers her this. She’s fascinated by his “gallous story”. The way Christy describes his “dirty deed” plants the seed of ambition and love (nicely phrased – well done) within Pegeen. She craves his bravery in this “lonesome place”. Pegeen’s self-obsession with love blurs the line between reality and her fantastical thoughts. It’s as if she moulds Christy into the man she wants him to be. She disregards his true personality and falls in love with his false story. In turn, Christy takes advantage of this new persona and allows himself to continue with the lie. Neither of the two are innocent from the outset and a superficial relationship is created. Already, I get the feeling that this relationship will not be permanent. At this early stage, the power of love is weak and unstable confirming my insight.
Certain moments in “The Playboy of the Western World” contradict love’s superficiality. The poetic love speeches Christy embraces Pegeen with ignites the spark their relationship lacks. He expresses his love by saying, “Isn’t there the light of seven heavens in your heart alone, the way you’ll be an angel’s lamp to me from this out”. This poetic nature that Christy shows gives him more confidence to be someone he’s (he is) not. Bringing it back to the fact that their relationship is based on a lie, I feel that these expressions of love emphasise the falseness in the relationship rather than enforce love’s power (This personal response is well crafted as it offers an evaluative commentary on the impact of the theme in this text). Both Pegeen and Christy desire something that neither are capable of achieving. The ability to find true love has been lost by both of them due to Christy’s compulsive lying and Pegeen’s unrealistic standards.The poetic speeches only satirise the power of love. They merely act as a catalyst to the ending of the relationship, proving that love is only temporary.
The outcome of the play confirms my insight on the power of love. Christy’s lies have caught up with him. No longer can he use his lies to charm Pegeen. As soon as the truth comes out their relationship collapses. This demonstrates how unstable the relationship was. Pegeen’s hunger for adventure surpassed any feeling of true love while Christy’s false persona did the same. In my opinion. The relationship between Pegeen and Christy was lust-filled rather than love-filled. This highlights that love is superficial and ultimately temporary. Pegeen’s final words emphasise this insight, “I’ve lost him surely. I’ve lost the only playboy of the Western World”. Unfortunately, the power of love proves tragic for both Pegeen and Christy.
| Grading | |
| P | 8/9 |
| C | 7/9 |
| L | 7/9 |
| M | 3/3 |
| Total | 25/30 |
(B) Unlike “The Playboy of the Western World”, both “Brooklyn” by John Crowley and “Silas Marner” by George Eliot display the power of love in a more positive light (Strong opening sentence). From my study of these two texts I gained the insight that love can withstand all obstacles and is notable for its transforming ability. Both protagonists, Eilis and Silas, deal with various hurdles in the way of their relationships but, in contrast to the relationship of Pegeen and Christy, they overcome them. When love enters their lives they become better, happier people. (This is a strong opening paragraph. It is targeted towards the question and contains two comparative statements which are found in the highlighted sections. You also offer a personal response which acknowledges “Brooklyn” and “Silas Marner” as different to “The Playboy of the Western World”. Well done!)
When love first enters Eilis and Silas’s lives they are unhappy and isolated from the worlds they live in. Eilis has just moved to America and can’t cope with the feeling of homesickness. She struggles to adapt to this new environment and wishes “everything were different”. However, when Tony enters her life a new sense of hope is formed within her. Tony helps her to overcome her feelings of loneliness and in turn helps her become a more confident person. She begins to embrace American life. We see this when Tony brings her to Cony Island ; she’s truly happy. Tony has successfully changed Eilis’s outlook on life. Silas’s situation is much the same as Eilis’s. Silas feels completely isolated from the community of Raveloe and lacks any form of love in his life. In addition to this, Silas is suffering from previous hurt that he experienced in Lantern Yard. He has no hope within himself for any future relationships. He is now a miser only interested in his gold. But like Eilis, when eppie (Eppie – watch capitals) enters Silas’s life a change occurs within him. When Silas first lays his eyes upon Eppie he is struck by her “golden head”. She reminds him of his precious gold which shows us how valuable Eppie will be to him (This is a good insight into the character of Silas). Eppie brings Silas back into the community of Raveloe. He now feels as though he has a home and not an outcast. Eppie is “reawakening his senses with her fresh life”. Love makes Silas a better person. It’s clear from both Eilis and Silas’s new outlooks on life that the power of love transforms. Both went from lonely, miserable people to happy, content people.
Both Eilis and Silas experience various obstacles in the way of their relationships. However, the power of love helps them to conquer these obstacles. For Eilis, the death of her sister Rose revokes her transformation. She is now in the depths of her despair and has lost all hope again. She is back to the girl she was before she met Tony. she struggles to cope with the news and goes into a depression-like state. Tony helps her to deal with the tragedy and fortunately he is successful. Their love for eachother is strong and gradually Eilis feels better by Tony’s comforting. Another, more significant, obstacle to Eilis and Tony’s relationship is Eilis’s return to Ireland. Eilis returns for Rose’s funeral and unlike her previous view of Ireland, Eilis begins to imagine a life here, “I wish it had been like this before I left”. She’s offered a job and meets another man, Jim Farrell. Neither were there for her before. This is clearly a huge obstacle to her relationship with Tony. Their love is tested by Jim Farrell’s presence. Eilis has an obvious connection with Jim and she struggles to decide what to do. Luckily, the power of love guides her in the right direction. Eilis realises Ireland is not the place the place she wants to spend the rest of her life, “ I’d forgotten what this town was like”. Rightfully, she chooses to be with Tony and goes back to America. This proves to me that love can conquer all obstacles.
Like Eilis, Silas’s relationship with Eppie is tested greatly. After having built a solid familial relationship over the course of eighteen years, Silas and Eppie are very much happy together. Godfrey Cass, Eppie’s true father, decides now to reveal to both Silas and Eppie of his actual role. Silas is broken-hearted by his revelation while Eppie is given an ultimatum. She has to decide between Silas and Godfrey. Silas feels hopeless and struggles to cope with the thought of losing something so valuable to him, “If I lost you Eppie. I might come to think I was forsaken again”. However, once again, the power of love proves significant. Eppie chooses Silas over Godfrey proving my insight that no obstacle can overpower love.
Without any doubt, I can conclude that the power of love is exceptionally strong in both “Brooklyn” and “Silas Marner”. The love is so strong it can overcome all obstacles and in this way it creates even deeper bonds between characters. Love also transforms people into happier versions of themselves. Both Eilis and Silas are tested vigorously in each of their relationships but their resilience overshadows this and love wins. Silas’s words demonstrate love’s power, “It’s wonderful – our life is wonderful” (A nice closing statement).
The comparative question invites students to comment on three different texts: a novel, a play and a film. Each of these three texts have aspects that are specific to them. Consider how the story is told with the medium in mind – particularly for film: what creative choices did John Cowley decide upon in order to emphasis the theme of love? When discussing a key scene in a film, remember to analyse the role that camera angles, lighting and sound play in the formation of the key scene and how much it impacts on the viewer. This would show that you have an understanding and appreciation of the different texts.
| Grading | |
| P | 10/12 |
| C | 9/12 |
| L | 9/12 |
| M | 4/4 |
| Total | 32/40 |
| Overall Total | 57 / 70 |
| Grade | H2 |
