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Morally ambiguous characters—characters
whose behavior discourages readers from
identifying them as purely evil or purely good—
are at the heart of many works of literature.
Choose a novel or play in which a morally
ambiguous character plays a pivotal role. Then
write an essay in which you explain how the
character can be viewed as morally ambiguous
and why his or her moral ambiguity is
significant to the work as a whole. Avoid plot
summary. (2002)
WHAT:
1.
◦
◦
Morally ambiguous character
in a novel or play of recognized literary merit
HOW:
2.
◦
who can’t be identified—on the basis of the
character’s actions—as purely evil or purely good
WHY:
3.
◦
Why is his or her moral ambiguity significant to
the work as a whole?
Morally ambiguous characters are at the core of many
novels. Their personas are not necessarily purely good,
nor are they purely evil. A character who is morally
ambiguous gives depth to a novel, giving the reader a
chance to connect with a side of a character’s double
personality. In the novel Cold Mountain, the character
Inman is a Civil War victim trying to escape from his
horrid war-inflicted life to find his lost love, Ada. Inman is
identified as a morally ambiguous character because his
pure intention to rekindle his love with Ada is masked by
the violent actions he commits on his journey. Inman’s
moral ambiguity is vital to the book Cold Mountain.
WHAT:
1.
◦
◦
Morally ambiguous character (Inman)
in a novel or play of recognized literary merit (Cold
Mountain)
HOW:
2.
◦ who can’t be identified—on the basis of the character’s
actions—as purely evil or purely good (Inman wants to
rekindle his love with Ada but commits violent actions.
Is “rekindling his love” enough proof of his “good”?)
WHY:
3.
◦
Why is his moral ambiguity significant to the work as a
whole? (NOTHING IS THERE)



The why answers the question “So what?”
It explains how the argument deepens our
understanding of the novel/play
It relates the part to the whole: in the context
of the work as a whole, why is this important?




Inman commits violent acts with noble
intentions.
Inman’s aggression protects innocent people.
So while Inman hurts and kills others, his
violence may be justified.
This reflects the novel’s assertion that evil
may be necessary and perhaps even moral.
Morally ambiguous characters are at the core of many novels. Their
personas are not necessarily purely good, nor are they purely evil. A
character who is morally ambiguous gives depth to a novel, giving the
reader a chance to connect with a side of a character’s double
personality. In the novel Cold Mountain, the character Inman, a Civil
War veteran trying to find his lost love, Ada, is morally ambiguous
because his pure intention to rekindle his love with Ada is masked by
the violent actions he commits on his journey. Inman’s moral
ambiguity is vital to the book Cold Mountain. Inman commits violent
acts with pure intentions. His aggression is used to protect innocent
people. Even though Inman hurts and kills others, his violence may be
justified. This reflects the novel’s assertion that evil may be necessary
and perhaps even moral.
142 words
In Cold Mountain, Inman commits
violent acts with noble intentions. His
aggression protects the innocent and
therefore justifies his violence. Inman’s
moral ambiguity reflects the novel’s
assertion that evil may be necessary
and perhaps even moral.
36 words