Prose Practice #1

Thesis: Through the use of literary techniques such as tone, point of view, and language, Edgeworth displays Clarence Hervey as an outwardly arrogant and self centered individual.

In the first sentence of the passage, Edgeworth reveals Hervey's self centered nature. Edgeworth writes, "Clarence Hervey might have been more than a pleasant young man, if he had not been smitten with the desire of being thought superior in every thing, and of being the most admired person in all companies." Edgeworth's description of Hervey is contradictory. A person seeking to prove their superiority over everyone else is typically not likable, but Hervey hopes to be "the most admired person in all companies." Hervey's aspirations are impossible to achieve together, but his arrogance won't allow him to strive for just one goal. In correlation with his desire to be superior to all, Hervey's partnered goals displays that he want to do the seemingly impossible because no one else can.