English Paper 2 HSC Quotes Flashcards
R3 characterisation quotes
- “Since I cannot prove a lover…I am determined to prove a villain” – Said in reference to his appearance. The juxtaposition of villain and lover and high modality language shows how Richard acknowledges his physiognomy as being an extension of his villainy and chooses to embrace what the reader would perceive as his true nature. We therefore see how Richard abandons his morality in order to fulfill his ambitions. By following humanist notions, he exists as an anomaly that threatens to ruin the natural order overlooked by god. As a result of his growing ambition, his deceitful nature soon becomes apparent as seen through his cunning and duplicitous nature which allow for his unjust ascension to the throne. Thus, Richard is portrayed as the negative consequence of opposing the natural order.
- “Never came poison from so sweet a place …Never hung poison on a fouler toad…Thine eyes have infected mine.” – Metaphorical language of poison and infected portrays Lady Anne in a menacing light allowing for Richard’s character in contrast to seem gentle and kind. As readers however, this line instead reaffirms Richards dangerously deceitful nature. Lady Anne’s metaphorical description of Richard as a toad once again emphasises the role Richards physiognomy plays in his villainy. Shakespeare thus further affirms the importance of providentialism.
LFR characterisation quotes
- Pacino reimagines the scene with lady Anne in which we see far less of a focus on Richard’s physiognomy. Instead, we see a focus on Richards corrupted psychology through the use of chiaroscuro lighting and a contrast of light and dark elements. These features emphasise the ambiguity of Richards motives as they appear to other characters. The light and dark elements are also reflective of Richards deceit and how he hides is undesirable traits to characters such as Anne. As such Pacino recontextualises Richard’s character for a contemporary audience by showing how his ambition, villainy and willingness to act deceitful stem from his corrupted psychology.
- We further witness Richard’s psychological corruption through Pacino’s recontextualization of the opening soliloquy in which we hear the word “deformed” repeated through echoes. The use of staccato voice lines has the viewer question the psychological integrity of Richard. Thus, this opening soliloquy rather than framing Richard as the deformed and therefore inherently evil character he was in Shakespeare’s text instead has the viewer empathise with Richard and see a more humane side of him to which a contemporary audience can much better comprehend. This flawed but complex representation of Richard invites a more modern understanding of the nature of deceit.
R3 purpose quotes
- “God and good angels fight on the Richmond’s side, whereas Richard falls in the height of all his pride!” - Used to juxtapose Richard and Richmond’s character. Richmond works in god’s name as was expected of Kings in the great chain of being.
- “My kingdom stands on brittle glass… I am so far in blood that sin will pluck on sin” – The metaphor of brittle is used to show the fragile nature of Richards authority as well as suggest the same of any authority attained through deceit and ambition. The symbolism of “so far in blood” further suggests a mentality shift in Richard as he begins to understand the consequences of his deceitful actions. Shakespeare thus vilifies notions of humanism by depicting the inevitable repercussions of ambition and deceit when used to oppose natural order.
LFR purpose quotes
- “everytime there’s an election in this country…it’s always the fact people are tired of the way it’s been and just want a change…they canvas like politicians, complete with lies and innuendo.” – Spacey discusses how contemporary political leaders continue to use deceit to exploit society’s need for change. He thus outlines a resonance between the two contexts in terms of deceit.
- Numerous intercuts throughout the docudrama are used to switch between actors, academics as well as regular people who were simply passing by. Numerous shifts between backstage and on set scenes are also used. – Used by Pacino to show how readers build a text’s meaning not the author. Richard’s characterisation is therefore influenced by the range of different opinions which is what resulted in his more complex character. His character thus represents the democratic leadership through which it was born.
Great Expectations social class quotes
1.“I had made the monster… and had clothed him with a blue coat, canary waistcoat, white cravat” - Pip describes his newly hired servant as a monster who he has disguised as a gentleman. This is, however, an ironic statement since Pip himself is trying to make up for his self-perceived downfalls by also making himself appear as a gentleman. Dickens, thus, shows how, by attaining higher social status, Pip has ultimately changed little about himself other than his outward appearance. His conceit in believing that such a facade will bring his goals to fruition reveals to the reader the unfulfilling nature of attaining higher social status and wealth and furthermore outlines how it can instead serve as a distraction from that which is truly valuable.
2.“He says no varnish can hide the grain of the wood and that the more varnish you put on, the more the grain will express itself” - Herbert describes how his father knew that Compeyson was not a virtuous person or a true gentleman. Varnish is a metaphor for social class and wealth. By being showy with his money, Compeyson’s true character was all the more obvious. Emphasises how social class is not an accurate indicator of moral integrity and that it can instead bring out the worst in people as it had done to Pip.
3.“Pip is that hearty welcome” - Joe states this as Pip and himself are told by Jaggers of Pip’s opportunity to become a gentleman. Understanding how it will result in the loss of Joe’s apprentice, Jaggers offers monetary compensation to which Joe retaliates. He states that Pip’s friendship is far more important to him than any monetary gain he provides. Thus Joe’s value for friendship is emphasised through his hesitation to send Pip off due to his uncertainty of the value of social class.
Great Expectations justice system quotes
1.“A man who had been soaked in water, and smothered in mud, and lamed by stones…” - Dicken’s characterisation of Magwitch during his first meeting with Pip, alludes to the injustices of the law system. The use of cumulative listing and polysyndeton emphasises the extent to which convicts, who were vulnerable individuals, were manipulated and persecuted. Thus, immediately emphasises the unforgiving nature of the justice system.
2.Pip referring to a prisoner ship near his village - “the black Hulk…like a wicked Noah’s ark.” - The personification of “black hulk” as cruel and ominous. Biblical allusion to “Noah’s Ark” suggests that prisoners were treated as animals.
3.“The sun was striking in the great windows of the court, through the glittering drops of rain… and made a broad shafted light between the 2 and 30 and the judge linking both together.” - Symbolism positions convicts and the judge together suggesting that they are as morally corrupt as each other. Natural imagery suggests that the treatment of criminals went against natural order.
Great Expectations gender inequality quotes
1.“The bride within the bridal dress had withered like the dress” - The wedding dress is symbolic of Havisham’s perversion from the ideal woman in the Victorian era and the simile of “withered like the dress” displays her inability to perform her role as a woman due to her being unable to marry or bear a child.
2.“her watch had stopped at twenty minutes to nine” - Mrs Havisham stopped all clocks in her house after the disaster of her wedding. This is symbolic of her lack of purpose in life after losing the only active man in her life and failing at her womanly responsibilities. In society’s eyes, her life was over and Havisham viewed it similarly. Therefore, by preventing Estella from opening her heart towards men, Havisham truly believed that she was protecting her from a similar fate.
3.“I am what you designed me to be. I am your blade.” - Estella responds with annoyance when Miss Havisham states that she shows her no love. Estella says that it is Miss Havisham who caused her to be the way she is, a tool for revenge. The metaphor of Estella as a blade further emphasises her role as a tool and thus further brings attention to the limited roles of women in a patriarchal Victorian society. Had Estella grown into the ideal image of a woman in the Victorian era she would have lived a life dedicating herself to the men in her lives but in contrast, the life she lives now is one where she dedicates herself to the destruction of men’s hearts. We see how either way, the lives of women were solely dependent on men and that nothing existed for them past this. It is due to gender inequalities that Estella and Havisham ended up the way they did.
Great Expectations critic quotes
Social class - Hagan Jr. states “Joe and Biddy who have no “great expectations” at all and whose acceptance of a humble lot in life furnishes the sharpest possible contrast to Pip’s selfishness.”
Justice system - Jerome Mackier states that “A dangerous travesty of the rags to riches story” (Talk about contrast between cinderella and magwitchs story)
Gender roles - Codrin Liviu Cuțitaru states “Miss Havisham used Pip to educate Estella to hate men, to avoid becoming their victim in life.”
