Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Polished Essay on the theme of "The Great Stone Face"

Amita Bose
English 8
Mr. Salsich
May 15, 2009

The Eternal Search:
An Essay about the theme of “The Great Stone Face”

Every day of our lives we search for something. May that thing be a lost sock, a misplaced treasure, or true love, we always scour every inch of our worlds to find the ever elusive object. But we never realize that what we seek is closer than we think (frag). In the short story “The Great Stone Face” by Nathaniel Hawthorne and in my life, this message holds true.
TS In the story “The Great Stone Face”, the reader discovers the message that you need not look far to find what you seek. SD For example, Ernest, the protagonist, spent years searching for the likeness of the Great Stone Face, but he never realized that it was actually
himself (compound). CM Ernest searched all around for the likeness but was rewarded with nothing but “failure [for his] hopes.” CM He never took the time to look at and in himself, so he did not realize that he was the likeness of the stone face, until a poet remarked that he was. SD Just as Ernest never realized that he was the likeness, the townspeople never realized this either. CM The townsfolk looked for and expected the likeness to be a young, healthy, wealthy man with a “majestic image.” CM They never looked at the men around them, so they never realized that Ernest embodied the characteristics of the Great Stone Face. CS This story tells you that you whatever you seek will always be closer than you expect.
TS Similarly to Ernest and the townspeople, I once searched high and low for something. That something was a best friend, whom I searched for when I started Pine Point in first
grade (complex). SD On the first day of school, I felt lonely and unsure of myself, so I began my search for a best friend. CM I tried to be best friends with every girl in the class, but I soon realized that that was not the way go. CM It seemed that everyone already had a best friend, and after realizing this I felt more alone than ever. SD One day after many weeks of hunting for a best friend, I had a revelation. I realized that I already had best friend. CM My best friend was the girl whom I always returned to after spending time with someone else. CM She was the one who I shared my secrets with, the one who had always been standing next to me, the one who I had never noticed was there. CS The person I had spent many arduous hours searching for had been next to me all along.
Every day of our lives we search for something. May that thing be the likeness of a stone face on a mountainside or a best friend to share our lives
with (frag). We search every corner of our worlds but earn no victories or rewards for our efforts. So before you squander hours away, look next to yourself, for you will surely find what you seek.

2 comments:

Asj.(: said...

Amita Bose, What a fantastic essay you wrote! I loved reading the first sentece of the introductory. It flowed and made me want to keep reading. I also liked your title. Its creative and it goes along with your essay. Another thing i liked is that in your second body paragraph you didnt put a name. It Leaves the reader with a vision of there best friends, making it closer to their heart. Ameid although this essay is amazing i have one sugestion "Just as Ernest never realized that he was the likeness, the townspeople never realized this either." is a bit confusing for me. Other than that Great essay! Good luck polishing.
Love Asia. =] <3

FitKit244 said...

Amita!
I love your intro paragraph! I really think it hits the soul of the reader. Plus the line "May that thing be a lost sock, a misplaced treasure, or true love, we always scour every inch of our worlds to find the ever elusive object" is amazing and somewhat humorous, I might add, that you put 'a lost sock' because personally, that's something I have to look for every day. The rest of the essay is phenomenal as well and you've done an excellent job. The only suggestion I have for you is to not use the word 'likeness' quite as much. But really, Amied, you don't even have to change that.
GREAT JOB!!!!
-Amy