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Cover letter
To Whom It May Concern: First I would like to thank you for taking time to read my selected works for my portfolio. And I have chosen five essays in my portfolio. The whole semester of English composition will be finished in two weeks. I would like to look back into my course and share my experience of writing over the last several months. While starting the course, as I made it a rule to thinking in the past, writing in English is an impossible and unfinished affair for me. I always make a lot of phrasing mistakes because it is unfamiliar to me. However, as study continues, I came to know a lot about writing, such as how to make a thesis statement, how to organize an essay, how to select and integrate a quotation, etc. The knowledge that I have learned from the class makes my writing more flowing and formal. Although I have not absolutely controlled profound mystery of writing, I am more confident of it. The first paper in my portfolio deals with the story “The Grass-Eaters” written by Krishna Varma. In the reading log, I give expression to my feeling of the pathetic couple’s unimaginable life. The reason why I chose it is that the story especially the couple’s miserable destiny is strongly impressed on my memory. The reading log is something including my understanding of the story and the world. On the other hand, writing a reading log seems to be much easier than writing an essay. I do not need to consider a lot about the structure or integrality of the paper. My second paper is final timed-writing. Timed-writing is much more difficult for me than reading log. It is because that my writing speed is slow and I would make many phrasing mistakes. Organizing the sentences and expressing my meanings exactly in limitative time are not easy to me. As a result, my paper would be short and appear some low class mistakes. But it is also a challenge and training, which improves my ability. The last papers are three drafts about the story “The Necklace”. In draft one, my paper seems to be disorderly and most of the paragraphs are not related to my thesis. Another problem is that there are too many quotations. Through teacher’s instruction, I reworked the paper in order to make the readers understand my analysis and thesis through related evidence and explanation. And I tried to express the quotations with own words. After finishing draft three, my improvement could be seen. There is no doubt that this kind of continuous of modification helps me a lot and I enjoy taking this course. Lastly, thank you for taking time to read my papers. I hope that you can enjoy reading the papers and comment on them. Sincerely, Student FangYi
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Essay draft three
Fang Yi
June20, 2007
Draft Three
The Social Reality in the 19TH France
In late nineteenth-century Paris, the society was organized on a class basis which established on people's wealth. As one’s social position and rank depends on which stratum he comes from and how much money he owns, it was extremely difficult for people to change or move from the class into which they were born. The relationship between friends and relatives was only held together by their benefits and money. So a man of humble birth almost has no access to make friends with a rich and wellborn man. Obviously, money and personal status were the values of the society.
In the “The Necklace”, Guy De Maupassant tells a story about Mathilde Loisel, who was born in a family of clerks and married a little clerk. She is a pretty and charming girl who always dreams of moving in the social circles of high life. But her dream did not come true in the end. Mathilde lost the precious necklace which was brought from her friend. As a result, she had to spend all her family’s property and ten years' hard work in paying for the debts. Consequentially, the cruel reality and heavy rough work make her lost beauty and elegance and she becomes an old looked woman of “impoverished households” (43). In my opinion, Maupassant has described a capitalist society with naked money relationship.
At the beginning of the story, we see that Mathilde was born in a family of clerks which is neither rich nor honorable. No matter how beautiful and charming she is, she has no expectation to be loved by any rich and distinguished man since her humble parentage. As if it is a mistake of destiny, she married to a little clerk at the Ministry of Public Instruction. Her marriage incarnated that a man often chose a wife on the basis of how large her fortune was during the time in which the story was set. It seems that true love without consideration of caste is impossible so as to the key of the foundation and maintain between the couples is money rather than love. Marriage seems to be a trading of money。
It is the social reality in France that how much money you own is an essential guide line in ordinary life. Every aspect of life, including love and marriage, is related to money and status. A fairy tale that the prince falls in love with Cinderella only consists in stories. And only those who live in a world of fantasy would dream of being loved by a rich and distinguished man as the story tells. So Mathilde’s unromantic marriage seems to be reasonable since she can not change the common customs. As an ordinary woman with neither caste nor rank, she is regarded as being “fallen from her proper station” (38). Everything should accord with your social status, which is the principle of living in the 19th France.
Along with the development of the story, Mathilde received an invitation to an important ball. As her husband says, everyone wants to go and the invitation is very select. Owing to the fact that “they are not giving many invitations to clerks” (39), it is so fortunate that the couple can get the good opportunity to take part in the ball. Why the clerks have tried their best to scramble for the invitations? It is because that “the whole official world” (39) will be present. For the common people, it is really a good opportunity to be close to the high society. They can meet some public personages and provisionally deviate from daily life. The personages win worship from ordinary people because of their fortune and luxurious living, which is the reason why the whole underclass are pursuing to be higher from one aspect. Getting rid of poverty and living as the aristocrats is the plebeians’ dreams. So there is no wonder that the whole society regard money as the golden rule.
Mathilde achieved great success during the ball as she had expected. But it came to a transition as follow. In order to be appealing and memorable, Mathilde borrowed a necklace from her best friend. Unfortunately, she found it lost after the ball, which should be retuned as soon as possible. As a family of clerks, apparently, the couple can not disburse a large amount of money for a new necklace. Four thousand francs means a catastrophe to them. Mathilde’s husband had no choice in addition to borrow and ask “a thousand francs of one, five hundred of another, five Louis here, three Louis there”. (43) Buying a similar necklace make the couple penniless.
As a result, the couple has to live a hard life for paying the dreadful debt. Then Mathilde begins to know what heavy housework means and her husband can do nothing but works day after night. They did not get any help and a drop of pity from their family or friends. Owing to be poor, they were abandoned by the primary estate. Without friends, solicitude and doings, there is only everlasting hard work in their life. The social reality is always cruel. The relationship is so weak that nobody would care about their former friends’ recent situation as long as they have been poor. And Mathilde should bear the responsibility. The couple have to be away from their former life and fall into the under class.
And ten years later, when Mathilde met her friend who was still young and beautiful, her friend could hardly recognize her at all. Mathilde’s friend is careless of her past ten years’ life and the distress she had suffered. It is obviously that the relationship between the best friends was really false and weak. When they have no equal status in society, the alleged friendship is apt to be forgotten. Nobody will concern over a friend’s misfortune. What can make them nervous is whether their benefits will be damaged. In this society, everything is established with money, including friendship and any affection. On the contrary, owning money is equal to owning everything.
At the end of the story, Mathilde knew that the necklace was paste. It is so ironical and we can say that Mathiled deserves to be punished because of her vanity. However, it is the social environment which held the value of money supremacy that is the essential reason that leads to her sufferings. All in all, the social reality in 19th France is the root of the tragedy.
Work cited
Guy De Maupassant. “The Necklace” 1903. Rpt. in The International Story: An Anthology with Guidelines for Reading and Writing about Fiction.
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Essay draft two
Fang Yi
June6, 2007
Draft Two
The Social Reality in the 19TH France
In late nineteenth-century Paris, the society was organized on a class basis which established on people's wealth. As one’s social position and rank depends on which stratum he comes from and how much money he owns, it was extremely difficult for people to change or move from the class into which they were born. The relationship between friends and relatives was only held together by their benefits and money. So a man of humble birth almost has no access to make friends with a rich and wellborn man. Obviously, money and personal status were the values of the society.
In the “The Necklace”, Guy De Maupassant tells a story about Mathilde Loisel, who was born in a family of clerks and married a little clerk. She is a pretty and charming girl who always dreams of moving in the social circles of high life. But her dream did not come true in the end. Mathilde lost the precious necklace which was brought from her friend. As a result, she had to spend all her family’s property and ten years' hard work in paying for the debts. Consequentially, the cruel reality and heavy rough work make her lost beauty and elegance; indeed, she becomes an old looked woman of “impoverished households” (43). In my opinion, Maupassant has described a capitalist society with naked money relationship.
At the beginning of the story, we see that Mathilde was born in a family of clerks which is neither rich nor honorable. No matter how beautiful and charming she is, she has no expectation to be loved by any rich and distinguished man since her humble parentage. As if it is a mistake of destiny, she married to a little clerk at the Ministry of Public Instruction. Her marriage incarnated that a man often chose a wife on the basis of how large her fortune was during the time in which the story was set. It seems that true love without consideration of caste is impossible so as to the key of the foundation and maintain between the couples is money rather than love.
It is the social reality in France that how much money you own is an essential guide line in ordinary life. Every aspect of life, including love and marriage, is related to money and status. A fairy tale that the prince falls in love with Cinderella only consists in stories. And only those who live in a world of fantasy would dream of being loved by a rich and distinguished man as the story tells. So Mathilde’s unromantic marriage seems to be reasonable since she can not change the common customs. As an ordinary woman with neither caste nor rank, she is regarded as being “fallen from her proper station” (38). Everything should accord with your social status, which is the principle of living in the 19th France.
Mathilde received an invitation to an important ball. As her husband says, everyone wants to go and the invitation is very select. Owing to the fact that “they are not giving many invitations to clerks” (39), it is so fortunate that the couple can get the good opportunity to take part in the ball. Why the clerks have tried their best to scramble for the invitations? It is because that “the whole official world” (39) will be present. For the common people, it is really a good opportunity to be close to the high society. They can meet some public personages and provisionally deviate from daily life. The personages win worship from ordinary people because of their fortune and luxurious living, which is the reason why the whole underclass are pursuing to be higher from one aspect. Getting rid of poverty and living as the aristocrats is the plebeians’ dreams. So there is no wonder that the whole society regard money as the golden rule.
Mathilde achieved great success during the ball as she had expected. But it came to a transition as follow. In order to be appealing and memorable, Mathilde borrowed a necklace from her best friend. Unfortunately, she found it lost after the ball, which should be retuned as soon as possible. As a family of clerks, apparently, the couple can not disburse a large amount of money for a new necklace. Four thousand francs means a catastrophe to the couple. Mathilde’s husband “did borrow”, “asking a thousand francs of one”, “five hundred of another”, “five Louis here”, “three Louis there”. (43) Buying a similar necklace make the couple penniless.
As a result, the couple has to live a hard life for paying the dreadful debt. Then Mathilde begins to know what heavy housework meant and her husband can do nothing but works day after night. They did not get any help and a drop of pity from their family or friends. Owing to be poor, they were abandoned by the primary estate. No friends, no solicitude and no doings, there is only everlasting hard work in their life. The social reality is always cruel. The relationship is so weak that nobody will care about their former friends’ recent situation. And Mathilde should bear the responsibility. The couple have to be away from their former life and fall into the under class.
And ten years later, when Mathilde met her friend who was still young and beautiful, her friend could hardly recognize her at all. It was obviously that the relationship between the best friends was really false and weak. When they have no equal status in society, the alleged friendship is apt to be forgotten.
At the end of the story, Mathilde knew that the necklace was paste. It is so ironical and we can say that Mathiled served her right to be vain and airy. And the social environment which held the value of money supremacy is the essential reason that leads to her sufferings.
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Final timed-writing
FangYi June 21, 2007 Timed-writing three Directions: If you were to create a filmed advertisement (a "trailer" for a movie based on The Grass-Eaters, which scene would you select? Why? Discuss ways in which you might film the scene. In the Grass-Eaters, I would select the scene that describes the situation when the couple moved into a roof. The reasons why I chose it are as follows: First, the scene can adequately show the couple’s poor life. They do not have a house or a small room to stay in. What they are used to doing is changing their place ceaselessly. At last, they have a place only belonging to them through someone’s help. In spit of the fact that they should live on the roof which seems to be tragic, the couple is satisfied with it. As we can see from the scene how poor they are. Secondly, I chose this scene because it reflects the life attitude of the character. Although the roof is simple and dirty, he did not complain about it. On the contrary, he chose to find a lot of advantages of living on the roof. He is poor, but he dose not loose his faith of life. He is so optimistic that he would never give up of living. Obviously, the scene shows the character’s personality and charm. His belief and happiness is the most important facts that deeply touched us. Lastly, the scene reflects the social reality from another side. As a teacher, the character seems to be a scholar. However, he can hardly raise up his children or supply well living condition for his wife. He is really a failure. But the essential reason that leads the tragedy is the social reality. In my opinion, if I want to film the scene, I would seize the description of the terrible environment at first. The whole building is gray and old. Then there should be a roof with lots of sundries which makes the environment seems dirty and disorderly. As a film, the characters’ garb should be attentive. The couple can dress rubbishy cloth in a cold day and they seem to be as dirty as the environment. Gloom pervades the roof. All the things look like blue and sad. On the other hand, the character should be happy and satisfied that we can see from his face. Now he is talking to his wife about the roof. He is so excited that he continued to tell the good advantages of their new house. And this is the way that I would film the scene.
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Essay draft one
Fang Yi
May 7
Draft One
The social reality in 19TH France
In late nineteenth-century Paris, the society was organized on a class basis which established on people's wealth. As one’s social position and rank depends on which stratum he comes from and how much money he owns, it was extremely difficult for people to change or move from the class into which they were born. The relationship between friends and relatives was only held together by their benefits and money. So a man of humble birth almost has no access to make friends with a rich and wellborn man. Obviously, money and personal status were the values of the society.
In the The Necklace, Guy De Maupassant tells a story about Mathilde Loisel, who was born in a family of clerks and married a little clerk. She is a pretty and charming girl who always dreams of moving in the social circles of high life. But her dream did not come true in the end because she had to spend all her family’s property and ten years' hard work in paying for the lost necklace which was brought from her friend in order to make a good appearance at the ball. I think that Maupassant has described a capitalist society with naked money relationship.
At the beginning of the story, we see that “Mathilde is a pretty and charming girl who was born in a family of clerks, as if by a mistake of destiny.” Her parentage makes her have no expectation to be loved by any rich and distinguished man though she owns beauty and charm. "She let hershelf be married to a little clerck at the Ministry of Public Instruction."(p38,1) Her marriage incarnated that a man often chose a wife on the basis of how large her fortune was during the time in which the story was set. It seems that true love without consideration of caste is impossible so as to the key of the foundation and maintain between the couples is money rather than love.
And it’s obvious that Mathilde was not satisfied with her marriage and her husband. In spit of the fact that “she had really fallen from her proper station, since with women there is neither caste nor rank,” she was still unhappy. She is not content with the present. Her marriage could not make her dreams disappear."She would so have liked to be please, to be envied, to be charming, to be sought after."(p39,3)It could not be denied that she was vain and loved nothing but beautiful dresses and jewels. Mathilde was eager to be an attractive woman who lived in a honorbale and distinguished life. She is a vain woman, but on the other hand, it is the social reality as the worship of money that leads to her act to a certain extent.
With the story continues, Mathilde received the invitation to a ball without delight as her husband hoped in spite of the fact that the everyone wanted to get this fine opportunity. Because the whole official world would be there.(p39,10)It was really a good opportunity for Mathilde to be close to the high society as “the whole official world will be there”. We can see that everyone wants to go to the ball from her husband’s words. So it reflects the fact that the whole underclass are pursuing to be higher from one aspect.
In order to be appealing and memorable, it cost Mathild four hunderd francs to make a suitable dress.(p40,9)She borrowed the necklace from her best friend and had a great night. "All the men looked at her, asked her name, endeavored to be introduced. All the attaches of the Cabinet wanted to waltz with her."(p41,10)She really felt happy and satisfied, and she forgot all the things while dancing. And it came to a transition as follow, she lost the necklace.
The couple lived a hard life for paying the debt.(p43) They did not get any help and mercy from their family or friends. Owing to be poor, they were abandoned by the primary estate. No friends, no solicitude and no doings, there is only everlasting hard work in their life.
And ten years later, when Mathilde met her friend who was still young and beautiful, her friend could hardly recongize her at all.(p44,4-12)It was obviously that the relationship between the best friends was really false and weak. When they have no equal status in society, the alleged friendship is apt to be forgotten.
At the end of the story, Mathilde knew that the necklace was paste. It is so ironical and we can say that Mathiled served her right to be vain and airy. And the social environment which held tha value of money supermacy is the essential reason that lead to her sufferings.
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Reading Log
"The Grass-Eaters" by Krishna Varma The sad story deeply touched my heart. I can not imagine how Babu and his wife could live in a pipe, a footpath or an abandoned-looking freight wagon. It is hard to believe that they were satisfied with their new home, which is a roof occupied by some old empty coal tar drums. I have never gone through the sufferings such as eating grasses, which reminds me of the three years of natural disasters in China. They really led a hard life, not only in the aspect of material but also in spirit. The couple was always anxious for a lot of things, including domicile, food, cloth, the child even their funeral after death all the time. In my opinion, they were suffering endless distress.
But it was surprising that Babu faced all the difficulties calmly and optimistically. Furthermore, he could enumerate several benefits to live in the roof and felicitate his survive. How could he think all the hardness and disasters as a part of his life without complaint and despair? Maybe he was a fatalist or it can be owe to his religion and belief. I do not know the reason, but I am deeply moved by his attitude when facing the terrible world, which is making every effort to survive.
The story recalls me a report in the newspaper about the back slums in India, where people live without electricity, clean water, protect of the government and medical treatment. They work hard but earn little money. And at the same time, they are always threatened by the local gangster Dom. In order to share property management fees, several families are crowed into one flat. But they are still alive. Maybe when a person has to face the crisis of existence, he would take nothing into account but how to survive.
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