<p>Chocolateisgood, I know what you mean about the italics -- I mostly meant for them to set off phrases ("friends forever", "never, ever get attached", etc) that reflected someone else's opinion or a common misconception, as opposed to my own thoughts. I experimented with different ways of doing that, but in the end I couldn't come up with anything more effective. Ah, well... it's submitted now, so there's really nothing to be done about it.</p>
<p>I was more annoyed with the fact that I accidentally used the wrong word in another one of my essays ("grave intrusions on other people's intellectual property" when I meant to say "intellectual territory"), but I doubt anyone else would take much notice. :p</p>
<p>Thanks again to everyone who commented. :)</p>