<p>I took practice test #4 on from the blue book. My friend graded my essay, but Im not sure I trust her scoring. Be harsh. Be blunt. Any suggestions/ criticism is really appreciated.</p>
<p>*Im typing up my essay, any grammatical mistakes that seem to pop up at you were on my original essay. </p>
<p>Prompt: Can sucess be disastrous? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reasing, studies, experience, or observations. </p>
<p>Essay:</p>
<pre><code>In a world where success dictates power, affluence and esteem, it is necessary to truculently pursue success. Yet, in the quest to procure success, one is often so focused in obtaining or overcoming something that the very thing that success so heavily depends on, ambition and focus, become an impediment to everyday functioning. This drawback of attempting to be successful is seen in both classic and contemporary literature and in the lessons that history teaches.
In Socrates play, Oedipus Rex, the prtagonist Oedipus is adamnat about overcoing what the oracle has dictated. Yet, in his pursuit of success, he becomes rash and a man of action, thoughtlessly killing a man that he later finds to be his father. Had his pursuit of success been less narrowminded and focused, he may have taken the precaution not to kill anyone since the oracle stated that he would kill his father.
This theme of hindrance to success in being too narrow in perspecive is also reflected in nobel prizse winning contemporary literature. In Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, Macon Dead, a powerful and wealthy Black man is oblivious to the sufferings of his own race. He is imperious in his pursuits, even eschewing his son to visit Dead's sister, who by his standards is not of class high enough. Macon delves incredibly in a world where only money, and thus success matters. Although he has overcome numerous barriers in his life, he has also lost empathy for the sufferings of others.
The notion that success can evoke a dangerously narrow perspective is not only reflected in fiction protraying the human condition but also throughout history. An excellent example of this can be seen in Spain's pursuit to acquire land in the new world. ONce unprecedented for their sea control and the Spanish Armada, Spain's power began to deteriorate when they procured a vast amount of land and lost control of the seas.
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<p>From history's insightful lessons and vivid portrayals of the human condition in literature, it is evident that success can also be an impediment.</p>