The Late George Apley
Read John P. Marquand’s novel The Late George Apley. In the novel, Apley is quoted as saying of himself: “I am the sort of man I am, because environment prevented my being anything else.” In the context of this novel, what is the meaning of this quote?
Read John P. Marquand’s novel The Late George Apley. In the novel, Apley is quoted as saying of himself: “I am the sort of man I am, because environment prevented my being anything else.” In the context of this novel, what is the meaning of this quote? Who is George Apley? What is Marquand’s attitude toward his subject? Among the issues that you may want to discuss (but you are not limited to these) are: the Apley family history; George’s relationship with his father; his relationship with Mary Monahan; his marriage to Catharine; George’s career and his attitude towards money; George’s volunteer activities and hobbies; his relationship with his children; his experience with the Save Boston Society; and his crisis with O’Reilly. Pay close attention to the use of satire and irony, as well as the role of the narrator and the overall structure of the novel. Take notice of both Apley’s admirable and less-than-admirable personal qualities. Your paper should be between 5-6 pages, doubled-spaced. It must have a clearly stated thesis and use specific examples from the novel to support your argument.