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Example research essay topic: Reverend Samuel African Jungle - 1,950 words

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Nobody knows whats in him until he tries to pull it out. If theres nothing, or very little, the shock can kill a man. (Hemingway 266) Throughout life change is inevitable. People are pawns to unforeseen events and itis in their handling of the situation that they truly flower into complete being. In the classic tale, The African Queen, C. S. Forester aptly demonstrates how characters must evolve in the face of changing circumstances.

In his three-fold portrayal of Samuel Sayer, Rose Sayer, and Charles Alnutt ranging from an initial character to an intermediate to an advanced human being Forester proves that situations truly dictate how people develop. It is only in trying conditions that characters are able to shed their past shells to discover all-together new individual. Foresters first sojourn into discovering what really makes a man grow is in his character of Samuel Sayer. Samuel starts his life in England as the son of a small tradesman. Compelled to be a man of the cloth, this new position allows him to instantly move up the ranks of the social ladder. His sister Rose explains his original character best her vivid recollections of the past: From childhood she had been taught to love and admire her brother.

When she was only a girl he had attained the wonderful, almost mystic direction of the ministry, and was invested in her eyes with all the superiority which that implied. Her very father and mother, hard devout Christians that they were... deferred to him then and heard his words with respect. (Forester 8) Forester paints the picture of a sage, devout man; a man who lives his life inservice and changes only when the need arises. Later on there is a need for Samuel to alter his life course. He realizes that his work should not be limited to teaching those in England but can also extend to those inter countries, especially South Africa, where those heathen souls have never seen twilight of Christianity. To this end, the diligent Reverend Samuel and his spinster sister journey to the African homeland in order to convert the masses.

He creates a mission, dedicating years of continual service in the noisome African jungle (Hutchison 5). Former than a decade, there is no need for him to further himself as a person; he is happy todo Gods work. In essence, this is the point where Forester places Samuel in a midway role into blossoming into a full person. Of course his life cannot remain frozen while there of the world sails by. For Samuel to complete his evolution as a human being, another situation must oblige him to.

The first world war breaks out and, yet again, Samuel is faced with an inciting event to further his development. As he watches his ten years of mission work virtually evaporate in the German effort to exercise control over their settlement, Samuel must confront the fact that it is necessary for him to move on to another part of his existence. Alas, he is not up to the challenge. Ravaged by fever and without hope to continue, Samuel succumbs to his illness. With resignation in his soul, he dies calmly at their jungle mission. It was the war, just beginning in Europe, having its reverberations already therein German Central Africa (Allen 4).

Filled with despair over his failed missionary efforts, the war drives Samuel to mature just enough to believe he will better serve the Creator india passing. Despite a bitter end, he still demonstrates a heightened awareness of himself -thanks to the war which reveals his true fulfillment as an individual. In short, it is plain that Forester uses Samuel to illustrate how there is a natural progression of change in life when unknown situations are dealt with. While there is even growth in Samuels acceptance of his final defeat, others may not choose the same fate. Foresters next journey into the depths of the human experience comes through his examination of Samuels sister, Rose.

Ingrained in her psyche is a total devotion for her brother and his ministry. She remains a spinster and does Samuels bidding as it is still anime when females are regarded as second to males. As a result, Rose, who is after alloy in her thirties, has always been under the repressions of her brother, and their calling missionaries (Hutchison 5). She knows no other life and has not had the chance to flower in the face of any real decisions. The many facets of her personality are dormant inthe closed world she inhabits. In this respect, Forester sets a baseline in Rose that leaves her open to flourish once given the chance.

She is a diamond in the rough and it will taken extreme situation to polish her and allow her to shine. Very soon this event occurs and in the death of her brother comes life for Rose. Still unsure of her path, it takes time for this dependent spinster to take her first steps intothe role of an independent woman. She is confused by Samuels death. She is left with a plethora of previously inexperienced emotion, not the least of which is a desire to seek revenge upon the Germans for their heinous crime against her. For this purpose she enlists the help of Alnutt, the captain of the launch, the African Queen, as he has themes to further her cause.

It is quite apparent in her relations with this man that Rose is taking strides forward in her personal development but still has a long way to go. An example of this occurs when Rose and Alnutt are bathing on opposite sides of the ship -and Rose experiences trouble getting back onto the deck. Eventually she manages but, only then did she realize that she had been quietly contemplating calling to Alnutt for assistance, and she felt that she ought to be disgusted with herself, but could not manager (Forester 37). At this point, Forester balances her inherent prudery with thoughts befitting a newly enlightened individual who begins to cast off her repressions of old. Ironically, it is only in the death of one she holds so dear, that Rose is able to begin tenet stage of her emotional development. In due time, it becomes apparent that Rose has it in her to become a well-rounded individual.

This, again, takes the push of a new circumstance which this time happens tobe living in close quarters with a man a concept once foreign and extremely scandalous to her. Rose takes command of her life for once and her courage and her single-mindedness and her manner of dealing with every adverse situation (Christian 11), lends itself nicely to Foresters idea that people are compelled to further their development once their situation is modified. Furthermore, with her newly acquired skill and self confidence, the once pious, inhibited woman becomes a credit to the female race. She evolves to the point that she breaks the bonds of female oppression and truly rises above the ranks of her corseted counterparts. Rose is an exceptional example of how a person, with a change intense, must advance or be crushed. To summarize, it is only when faced with difficult situations that Rose is able, in amatuer of speaking, to take the boat by the tiller and really develop into the woman she always was.

However, this is not limited to Rose as Forester has a way of weaving that concept into other characters as well. Foresters last excursion into the human condition is the study of Charles Alnutt. He is of dubious English background. Banished for reasons unknown to the steamy jungle, he mans the African Queen for a mining company. He is their workhorse and is content, cockney accent and all, in his position. From a few telling lines, placed throughout the tale, Forester is able to convey Alnutt's loveless childhood and, from that, his belief that he should only be concerned with looking out for himself.

To boot, he is filled with an underlying cowardice. Astutely, critic Percy Hutchison notices these traits and writes: Charlie at the outset has no desire to be patriotic, or to risk his rather weasel-like self in any way (5). Initially, Forester depicts Alnutt as a character full of room for improvement, if only circumstance prompts him to. On the whole, Alnutt provides an excellent source to study how simple situations can propel people to go beyond their normal limitations.

Early in the story, the impetus for Alnutt's personal growth comes in the form of Rose. With a pure mind and body, she is unlike any woman Alnutt has ever come in contact with. At first he is incredulous to her vengeful plan. He decides to humour the weaker sex and follow her strategy against the Germans until there is an opportunity forum to stop, what he deems, insanity. His close contact with Roses dogged determination leads him to realize there is a life beyond his boat and they may in fact be able to accomplish her their goal.

He is in a midway stage between being a lowly pawn and a complete individual. Critics liken to a mean-spirited little man who, forced out of cowardliness by her determination, grows... (Loveman 473). Forester uses Alnutt to demonstrate how it is impossible for a character not to advance himself once his situation changes. Rose is the defining factor in starting Alnutt on the route to becoming a complete person.

In the end it is Alnutt himself who reaches into the depths of his spirit to become aman. His bravery shines through as he realizes that it is in his nature to give rather than receive. With this, Roses presence continues to influence him. Their treacherous journey down the river further enables Alnutt to blossom and grow.

This foreign situation enables him to recognize that he has it in him to cast out his timidity and flourish in his new role as patriot and protector. Forester expresses these new sentiments best as he states: And somehow the sight of the Konigon Luise cruising about the lake as bold as brass had irritated Alnutt. He was aflame with partisanship. He was ready for any mad sacrifice which would upset those beggars apple-cart... There was a fierce recklessness about him, in odd contrast with his earlier cowardice. (155) Alnutt is clearly portrayed as a being who adapts as circumstances change. He pulls himself up from a passive example of an irrelevant entity to a courageous, contributing member of society something Forester handily proves.

All in all, Forester must be credited with a job well-done as he ably shows how characters are pushed to evolve when faced with new situations. Using the examples of Reverend Samuel Sayer, Rose Sayer, and Charles Alnutt, Forester easily makes this point his establishing of an initial character, showing signs of evolution in a midpoint of development, and finally expressing a transformed being. Without a doubt, Forester truly shows how each character is forced to go within himself and change. Even if that means personal sacrifice, at least progress is made. Allen, Paul.

In the African Jungle: A Cockney Romance New York Herald Tribune Books (February 10, 1935), p. 4. Christian Science Monitor (May 22, 1935), p. 11. Forester, Cecil Scott. The African Queen, Penguin Books: England. 1956. Hemingway, Ernest. The Fitzhenry and Whiteside Book of Quotations.

Edited by Robert I. Fitzhenry. Fitzhenry and Whiteside Ltd: Toronto. 1981. p. 266. Hutchison, Percy.

A Strange Wartime Adventure in German East Africa The New Times Book Review (February 10, 1935), p. 5. Loveman, Amy. Mad Adventure The Saturday Review of Literature. Vol. XI No. 30 (February 9, 1935), p. 473.


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Research essay sample on Reverend Samuel African Jungle

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