I think what is missing within your thesis statement is an acknowledgement that Balram lacks a sense of accountability for his actions and ignores the consequences of them—or, at the very least, he disregards those consequences. This should ideally be your final point for your five paragraph essay. I would also make an adjustment to your thesis so that it ends with a "so what?" point. You say Balram is showing "immorality," so a reader will then ask, "so what?" You must be able to answer this question. Why is it significant that Balram behaves immorally? How does that weigh or not weigh on his conscience? How does it weigh on his identity as a man?
In your introductory paragraph, you've suggested that being "a man" means that one must use their own freedom of choice to uphold a moral code and to be honest with oneself and others. You've also made the distinction that Balram misappropriates the freedom he has attained in order to violate the general accepted code of morality and to advance his own agenda.
We can clearly conclude from what you're arguing that you don't see Balram as "living like a man." You've clearly stated that in your introduction. I would drive that point home once more in your thesis while still addressing one of the primary questions: "Is personal freedom necessary for a fully human life?"
From what you've written, it would seem that you think that it is necessary; thus, you must account for how Balram abuses that freedom which would otherwise make him human.
So, in my opinion, your new thesis should read something like this:
Although Balram believes that he is living like a man, his actions throughout the story show immorality and demonstrate that he consistently neglects the consequences of his own actions; his selfishness and lack of accountability for his behaviors may be byproducts of his new ability to exercise his freedom, but they also mark him as "less than a man" and, perhaps, even a bit inhuman.
I would then reference in the paragraph how Balram neglects the consequences of his behaviors. You could talk about how he does this on the behalf of others. For example, think of all the times Balram exercised free will to help his boss do something less than appropriate: he assists with the cover up of the murder of the beggar child, the boss's visits to the prostitute, and so on. Balram may have been under pressure in these situations, but he still had the opportunity to say no; he simply would have had to face the consequences of doing so. Instead, he was a participant.
You may also talk about how Balram neglects the consequences of behavior he is not pressured into—such as the murder of his boss, his own involvement in clandestine sexual situations, and so on.
Ultimately, you can consider how Balram is not the victim here but rather an agent of his own choices who consistently chooses wrong. This renders him unlike a man by your guidelines because it emphasizes his lack or morality and his negligence when it comes to understanding his own impact on the world.
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
I need one more point for my thesis statement for my 5 paragraph essay. Can you help me with another point I can make for another paragraph and, once you do, give me some ideas of what I can talk about in the paragraph. I bolded the thesis statement. Here is the question: Essay question: In The White Tiger, Balram’s father states that “my whole life I have been treated like a donkey. All I want is that one son of mine—at least one—should live like a man.” (26) By the end of the novel, does Balram’s father’s wish come true? Please formulate a clear, specific thesis on this topic and discuss it. To do so, consider what it means to live “like a man.” Is personal freedom necessary for a fully human life? Is Balram free at the end of the novel or is he entrapped by his prior choices? If being a man constitutes an individual who is able to utilize his own freedom of choice to be moral and honest with others and themselves, then Balram is a character that does not live like a man in the novel The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. Balram decides that his own personal freedom and his chance to escape his humble origins to eventually live the life of a wealthy entrepreneur seem to justify murdering his master, Mr. Ashok, which causes the death of his family. He lives with the knowledge that he has committed murder and that he has likely caused the murder of his own family. Although Balram believes that he is living like a man, his actions throughout the story shows immorality and (I can’t think of anything) (can you help me think of something) ( I need one more point here because it is a 5 paragraph essay)
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