English 9ap Critical Lens

Sylvester Balboa once said, “Literature often teaches the individual that what one sees is often mistaken for the truth.” In other words things are not always as they seem. From the outside things can be perceived differently than they actually are. In order to show this is true one must examine two points. First, in The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci shows that things are not always as they seem. Second, in the short story “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell shows that this idea also pertains to the short story. After seeing these examples it will be clear how this idea is true.

First, in the novel The Body of Christopher Creed shows how things are not always as they seem. There are two examples from the novel that show this is true. Bo Richardson for example, is perceived as an disrespectful, mean, “boon”. This can be shown through characterization. From the time Bo is introduced in the novel he is portrayed as a delinquent with no responsibility. Bo takes care of his younger siblings and takes the role as their guardian. Bo also showed his responsibility when he stomped up the stairs and told off Ali’s mom, who is not considerate of her children. Torrey Adams is another example of characterization. Torrey is a teenager who at first seems to fit into the Steepelton lifestyle. Torrey soon realizes he does not enjoy gossiping like his friends. It bothers him that a kid id missing, possibly dead and people are joking about it. Torrey takes Chris’s disappearance seriously. The fact that Bo and Torrey are perceived differently than they actually are connects to the idea things are not always as they seem. Because Bo takes care of children at home and Torrey does not enjoy gossiping. They are good people and others do not see them as so.

Second, the short story “The Most Dangerous Game” shows how things are not always how they seem. There are two examples from the work that show this is true. First, sailors look at Shiptrap Island a