Q. 3 Essay for The Nickel Boys Directions: Select and address one of the following prompts in a multi-paragraph essay. Before you begin typing your essay, delete the prompts you did not choose. 2019. In his 2004 novel Magic Seeds, V. S. Naipaul writes: “It is wrong to have an excellent view of the world. That is where the mischief starts. That is where everything starts unraveling.” Select a novel, play, or epic poem in which a character holds an “ideal view of the world.” Then write an essay in which you analyze the character’s idealism and its positive or negative consequences. Explain how the author’s portrayal of this idealism illuminates the meaning of the work as a whole. I. Introduction "The Nickel Boys" by Colson Whitehead explores …show more content…
Despite the evidence of abuse he has seen, Elwood maintains an unshakeable faith in the system's power to correct itself. He believes that if the state inspection team sees the conditions at Nickel for themselves, they will be compelled to take action and end the abuse. This belief in the inherent goodness of the system leads Elwood to make a risky decision, turning in evidence of abuse at Nickel to the state inspectors. While his intentions are good, this decision has negative consequences, as the evidence falls on deaf ears and only leads to further abuse by the staff. Elwood's idealism is, in some ways, naive and optimistic, as he fails to consider the systemic factors that allow abuse to continue unchecked. Despite this naivety, Elwood's idealism also has a positive side, as it allows him to maintain hope and a sense of purpose in the face of injustice and abuse. It motivates him to work hard, pursue a better life, and help others, such as when he mentors the younger boys at Nickel Academy. In this way, Elwood's idealism is both a strength and a weakness, and the novel as a whole can be seen as an exploration of the complexities and contradictions of idealism in the face of systemic oppression. Elwood's idealism, while often inspiring and motivating, can also lead him to take risks that put himself and others in danger. For example, his decision to turn in evidence of abuse at Nickel Academy was a brave and selfless act, but it also put him at risk of retaliation from the