Great Expectations: The First Stage

"Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day."

In this quote from Great Expectations, Pip is referring to the day he first became acquainted with Miss Havisham and Estella. Before this day, he had no idea what it was like outside of his life in his average home. When he saw the way of life in the Manor House his view of the world changed completely. He realized that he could have a better life than the path he was headed for as a blacksmith. He made the decision to make the most of his life and get educated so he could become more than what was expected of him.

A day in my own life that began my "chain" was the day I realized I couldn't go without ballet. I was in sixth grade, and I had just taken a year off of dancing to focus on basketball. When the decision came to choose a priority for the coming year, I recognized that I enjoyed dancing more than playing basketball. After that day, I was more focused than ever on improving my technique in ballet. Although I kept playing basketball, I knew dancing was the higher priority and that decision put me on the path that I am now on.

Earnest: Group Essay.

My group has the topic of satire on social institutions. My five part paragraph is on marriage, and how it was seen as a business deal to heighten a person's social standing. My first CD is when Algernon says that he considers proposing business, not pleasure.(30) I talked about how Wilde is making fun of the upper class for being shallow and marrying for reasons other than love. My second CD is when Algernon says three is company and two is none.(37) I elaborated on that by saying that in married life people are never satisfied with just their spouse and they need to find pleasure elsewhere. My third CD is when Lady Bracknell says she would never undeceive her husband. (94) She thinks it would be wrong to be truthful because it would cause conflicts. Wilde is pointing out the lack of respect spouses showed towards each other and how much they depended on lies and deceit.

In my opening sentence I incorporated ideas from the other paragraphs as well as my own. I don't have a conclusion sentence yet that ties everything together, any ideas?