Position Paper Ideas...

One Page Essay Prompts...

1.) Is it possible for one to completely conform to society's expectations, both internally and externally? The pressure to be the perfect example, to be a role model, is intense in OLAS, and for others it is merely a survival tactic. (For example, Suicide event, and Mario being gay, etc...) Support your answer with evidence from the novel.

2.) In the annotated text, can the traditional "All men are brothers" attitude, with personality traits like pride, honor, and loyalty, be beaten down in the name of national security/justice? Do you think this is just?

3.) "It is the first duty of a soldier to protect the nation's security; that's why they'd seized power, to make the nation strong again, and, in passing, to do away with their internal enemies." (Allende 132)

"Kill or be killed, this is war, these things have to be done, pull up your pants and don't tremble, don't think, don't feel, and above all don't look at the man's face, because if you do, you're fucked good and proper." (Allende 133)

Do you think either of these two quotes are true? Is the "greater good" an adequate justification for the death or "disappearance" of so many? Are such actions truly necessary?

~Rama A.~