April 1
Ms. Fitzgerald/ D5
Pre-AP Paper
The Moonstone
In the text the narrator’s style of writing reveals his attitude toward the people he describes. He feels as if the gentlefolks are inconsiderate, unnecessarily curious, people with nothing but idle time on their hands. This attitude is shown in the text by how the narrator first describes how life is with idle time. Then, he later explains some of the behaviors of them. Lastly, he uses pitiful words as he compares life of people with idle time to the ones without idle time. Overall the narrator feels as if gentlefolks have nothing to do so they resort to behaviors in which they harm more than help. In the text, the narrator opens by saying, “Gentlefolks in general have a very awkward rock ahead in life--the rock ahead of their own idleness.” This opening quote tells that people with high class have a life with nothing to do because they have already have reached high standards and living. The text then said, “Their lives being…passed in looking… for something to do, it is curious…Nine times out of ten they take to torturing something, or to spoiling something…” This statement shows that having idle time is not always benefiting. In most cases when people have idle time they become curious which leads to them destroying or as the text says, “spoil[ing]” something. These statements show that the narrator feels that they are unnecessarily curious people. I say unnecessarily curious because although gentlefolk have high standards and living, they still should have things to do and work to be done. The narrator also describes the some of the behaviors of people with idle time. He said, “Sometimes, again, you see them occupied for hours together in spoiling a pretty flower with pointed instruments, out of a stupid curiosity to know what the flower is made of.” These actions are done because they have nothing better to do. When gentlefolk are bored and they have nothing but time on their hands,