Comparitive Essay

     Where would you prefer to be, on a raft floating down the Mississippi River with your friend and two strangers, or in the midst of war, uncertain of the fate of your companion? These examples are from “The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn”, by Mark Twain and “The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation Kingdom on the Waves”, by M.T. Anderson.  Both books are not even close to being the same but have the characters Jim, from Mark Twain’s book and Dr. Trefusis, from M.T. Anderson’s book, have roles in the book that are similar.

            One of the first similarities between these two characters is that they both help the main character along in their journey by giving them advice. Dr. Trefusis uses philosophy and fables to answer Octavian’s questions. One example of that is when Dr. Trefusis talks about self-love to Octavian. He relates a fable to that answer. Jim always provides Huckleberry Finn with wisdom and guidance from past experiences.   
     Another reason why these characters are similar is that they both are separated for a while. When Octavian is registering for the British Army, he does not know where Dr. Trefusis is. Also Jim loses track of Huckleberry Finn when their raft is crushed by steamboat. In both books after they were separated, the characters each other again, but each character still has their differences.

            One of the big reasons why they’re different is because the time periods are decades apart. Jim is a Pre-Civil War slave and Dr. Trefusis is a free-man in the Revolutionary War colonies. The Revolutionary War was a fight for independence while the Civil War was just pure bickering about whether slavery should be abolished. Jim’s point of view would be different from the view Dr. Trefusis because of their social status and their values. Jim is very religious when it comes to giving wisdom and rejoicing. Dr. Trefusis just chooses not to mention God at all and denounces that He exists. If these two characters met, they would be fighting like an old couple.

            These two characters may have identical roles in each book, but their values and personalities are like hot and cold.

The List

     It's election day in Johnson County. People from all over the county are lining up at the town hall to vote for the new Mayor of Pagawaukonomowoc.Just a few blocks away in the city square, the candidates are giving speeches of what their plans are for the city if they're elected. John Faccini, the current mayor who's about to be replaced, has just finished giving his "farewell" speech. He shakes the hand of Ron Omalley, who's a candidate,  as he walks up to give a speech. People are cheering and applauding when he steps up to the podium. He begins his speech and when he's about halfway done with his speech, he collapses as shots ring out throughout the air. The crowd screams and ducks at the sound. All the while, a person chuckles on top of a building surveying the scene as an empty 7.62 mm shell hits the ground.
To be continued.................