English 2024 Cumulative Essay

Aanya Ghia Daviess English 9 Honors 10 May 2024 Cumulative Essay From poetry to plays, literature extends its reach in all directions, emphasizing the intricacies of the condition of society. There are various genres of literature; they all reflect what it means to be a person in contemporary society. The literary pieces, “We Wear The Mask” by Paul Dunbar, Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” and “Zöe's Story: My Dell Hid My Privilege.” by Zoe Sottile, share different perspectives and ideas that shed light on the various aspects of the condition and society as a whole. All three of these literary works express compelling themes on what it means to be an individual, teaching lessons on the fear of societal rejection, the tendency to make decisions

Overwhelmed by these emotions, they feel afraid to express themselves. The speaker introduces the poem through these poignant words, "We wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes," setting the stage for the revelation of the complexities hidden behind the deception. Individuals feel compelled to hide behind this “mask”, indicating they are afraid of rejection if they show their true selves. Everyone is scared to express their true emotions in the face of society, often lying and faking smiles to cover up the bitter truth. The poem acts as a lesson, urging individuals to recognize how they have masked up their true feelings, not realizing their detrimental impact on personal connections and honest relationships. It advocates for honesty and embracing one's true self, instead of masking their identity. Concealing a part of one’s identity and emotions in fear of judgment and chaos results in teenagers making irrational decisions. Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet emphasizes the theme that teenagers tend to make impulsive decisions without considering the gravity of the

People tend to judge others regarding social class, easily jumping to conclusions based on their social norms, values, and way of thinking. Social class perceptions are often shaped by the environment in which a person is raised and people make assumptions without considering the cultural or regional context. As Zoe explained in her story, what one signifies as a privilege may not hold the same importance or value in another area. Zoe compares her experience at Andover to her friends back home, “For a long time, this was the crux of my Andover experience: always an outsider.I was disoriented by how different their lives were from mine.But I also felt like an outsider going to meetings for the full-scholarship affinity group.” (Sottile, 1). The contrast in Zoe's socio-economic status at home versus boarding school highlights the subjectivity of social class perceptions. The Dell serves as a symbol of financial need, while the Mac serves as a symbol of privilege. Material possessions can carry significant social connotations and influence perceptions of privilege within a community. What is considered normal in one place may be considered different in another. People's assumptions about others' social class are often influenced by their social norms, values, and perspectives. Various literary devices connect fear of rejection, emotional