<p>I'm aiming at least at a double digit score. Can I do it?</p>
<p>"Do people need to compare themselves with others in order to appreciate what they have?"</p>
<p>Would a man living in a cave on his own be fully satisfied with what he has? Most probably the answer is no, since men have always felt the inner and deep rooted need to show off and to flaunt their possessions. When we own something, we can appreciate it just partly, because the greatest satisfaction comes from displaying it, from making comparisons between what we have and what other people have. </p>
<p>On the whole, making comparisons is the pivot around which all our actions turn, as shown by the novel "Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde. Dorian wishes that the portrait will grow old and bear the burden of his sins and debauchery, but the drawback is that his portrait will turn into his own soul. He is pushed to strike this sort of compromise by his tendence to compare his own beauty with the other men's ugliness and old age. So Dorian can appreciate his beauty thoroughly and consider it the only worthwhile aspect of life mostly becuse he refers to other people and to their flaws or qualities. </p>
<p>This theme is also explored by the movie "The Graduate" by Mike Nichols, where the main character, Benjamin Braddock, needs to draw an analogy between his own life and that of the people who sorround him. Benjamin is totally dissatisfied with the outcome of his "late youth" and is uncertain about his future, but, taking into account the stillness and dullness of his parents' existence, he starts appreciating the precariousness and instability that characterize his way of thinking and acting.
Therefore, as often as not, we need to draw a parallel between ourselves and the others to be able to be happy with our character. This is proved in the movie itself by Benjamin's choice of getting away from it all, taking a bus by chance, and running towards a future which is still unknown. </p>
<p>This thesis is also supported through the actions of Brutus in "Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare. In the tragedy, Brutus, cajoled into the regicide by a group of conspiring senators headed by Cassius, is mostly driven to the crime by his constant making comparisons with his friend Caesar.
Brutus is unable to understand his qualities and abilities and often feels overmatched by Caesar but, persuaded by the senators, he starts seeing his potential. On the whole he always has to refer to Caesar either to see his own inferiority or to try to appreciate his own qualities.
Hence, Brutus feels the actual need to draw a parallel between himself and Caesar and eventually kills him mostly to quench his longing for honors and to finally get to appreciate himself. </p>
<p>After a careful analysis of these characters' behavior, making comparisons is indeed the insatiable desire of men to feel better, to consider their reality good only because someone else's one is worse.
Men will never be happy and satisfied "regardless". On the contrary, they will always need someone else to make up for the satisfaction and happiness they can't find themsleves. </p>
<p>I did that in 20 minutes without checking, so I hope there aren't any grammar mistakes.
If you tell me the grade can you also tell me briefly why or how can I improve?
Thanks in advance</p>