FRQ3

FRQ PROMPT

 It has often been said that what we value can be determined only by what we sacrifice. Consider how this statement applies to a character from a novel or play.     

Select a character that has deliberately sacrificed, surrendered, or forfeited something in a way that highlights that character’s values. Then write a well-organized essay in which you analyze how the particular sacrifice illuminates the character’s values and provides a deeper understanding of the meaning of the work as a whole.

FRQ

O. G. Quarles

Fritz

AP Literature

10 February 2025

In the novel The Maltese Falcon, Hammett employs a deep love followed by a crushing betrayal in order to convey Sam Spade’s turmoil between his interests and his high moral fiber, ultimately illustrating that moral responsibility can not be upheld without meaningful sacrifices.

To begin, Hammett builds a romantic relationship between Sam Spade and Brigid O’Shaugnessy. Brigid and Sam meet through Sam’s position as a detective. Brigid hides under a false name and sets up a fake investigation which leads to her becoming Sam’s client. The fake investigation transforms into a real investigation into a web of crime. During this time, Sam stays close to Brigid in order to learn more. One example of Sam and Brigid’s building relationship is when Sam allows Brigid to stay with him in his home after noting suspicious behavior outside. Because Spade provides protection for Brigid, his care for her is shown. Consequently Spade also creates an area of privacy around them, which allows for the two to further close feelings of uneasiness, forming greater trust. Therefore Sam and Brigid’s relationship begins to build due to the intricacies of their unique predicament. Moreover, their relationship is further solidified during a moment of high tension within the investigation. As Brigid and Sam tackle the investigation of the maltese falcon, they are confronted by the crime leader, Gutman, as well as his associates. This situation prompted Sam to search Brigid to prove that she did not possess the prized relic. Brigid is left exposed, but under the comfort of Sam’s presence. Brigid’s conformity between her and Sam that she has formed allows for the otherwise unnerving search to be one more of endearment because Sam and Spade have already formed trust amongst each other. Since they are in the same spot of heat from Gutman,  the awkward confrontation is able to form a pact between the two romantically as well as crime partners. Thus their relationship is one built with trust and love as they were dragged through various times of bother together.

This love eventually meets a roadblock that isolates Sam and Brigid. Hammet utilizes a sudden betrayal that ends Sam and Brigid’s relationship. Sam resolves the investigation and meets back with Brigid to have a heavy conversation. Brigid is guilty of killing Sam’s partner and because of this discrepancy Sam lets Brigid know that he cannot let it go. Because Sam confesses this point of conflict between the two of them, it starts to separate Sam’s love for her and his obligation to his occupation. Consequently, Spade’s confession highlights his high moral code while simultaneously diminishing his perception of love as a guide. Therefore Sam’s interests are second to his need to support his position of justice due to his sudden commitment to shut down his own feelings. His betrayal to Brigid evolves further as he takes deeper action. Sam Spade gives Brigid to the police after saying his final goodbye. Sam’s forward action and confidence mirrors his moral code because Sam does not concede to Brigid’s love nor does he form a compromise with her. Since Sam lets the police deal with Brigid, it shows that in his mind, Brigid is a criminal more than she is his love interest as he takes action as if she were any other criminal. Thus Sam’s motives are led by his obligation rather than his feelings as he decides to sacrifice his sentiments to uphold his morals. 

Feelings are often sacrificed to uphold one’s moral responsibility. Sam Spade’s built up emotions of love are neglected in return for his obligation and moral code to be an honest man and detective. Without this sacrifice that Sam takes, his morals would have not been able to stay consistent, forming a hypocritical view. Moral responsibility inside of an individual can not be upheld to its fullest without sacrifice.

SECOND FRQ PROMPT

Select a novel, play, or epic poem in which a character holds an “ideal view of the world.” Then write an essay in which you analyze the character’s idealism and its positive or negative consequences. Explain how the author’s portrayal of this idealism illuminates the meaning of the work as a whole.

FRQ

O. G. Quarles

Fritz

AP Literature

10 February 2025

In the novel, The Red Harvest, Dashiell Hammett employs an obsession over power and an unstoppable vendetta in order to convey Noonan’s fall from control, ultimately illustrating that a fixed ideal world view will eventually lead to an individual’s undertaking.

To begin, obsessing over power is enacted throughout the novel, Noonan, an important opponent to the protagonist known as the Continental Op, is portrayed as a police officer corrupted with gang affiliation. Because police officials are often categorized as abusers of power and the fact that Noonan goes behind his duty as a cop into the life of a criminal, greed and power are likely to be central to his moral compass with his life as a wrongdoer. Consequently, it can be inferred that Noonan is not satisfied when not in control from his want to not only be in a legal position of power but in an illegal position of power as well. Therefore Noonan has an obsession for power due to his double life. Other than his identifying characteristic, Noonan’s obsession for power is shown through his actions towards the Continental Op. Throughout the novel, Noonan attempts to assassinate the Continental Op with his loyal men. Noonan shows his lack of self-control with his uncivil solution to the Continental Op’s work which explains his obsession for power because Noonan wants to control his surroundings with the quickest way possible, violence. Since Noonan does not resort to other means of dealing with the Continental Op, he takes a more power-hungry reputation. Thus Noonan is a man focused on gaining as much control and power as he can as his actions follow little thinking.

Noonan’s control of others is further shown with his hatred towards his nemesis. Moreover, an unstoppable vendetta is utilized in the novel. Noonan lost his brother and was loosely informed that Max Thaler, a gang leader, was the culprit. This led Noonan to do everything in his power to kill Thaler. Because Noonan does not find concrete evidence to prove this assumption, his vendetta does not have solid ground to stand upon. Consequently, much of his want for justice will lead to nothing except the death of an immoral, but innocent man. Therefore Noonan has a fixed view that blinds his judgement rather than boosting his purposes. Eventually this vendetta is stopped but only with the halting of Noonan himself. In a gang shootout Noonan and many other gang leaders are shot by Reno Starkey, one of the many gang leaders. Noonan’s vendetta took control of his life because he would stop at nothing to end Max Thaler. Since this escapade led to his death, his original viewpoint was never resolved, leaving him a broken man his entire life. Thus Noonan’s fixed views led to his demise, yielding nothing in return.

Dashiell Hammett’s use of Noonan’s power obsession and strong vendetta illustrate the novel as a warning to a fixed world view and how it may result in a tragic life. Noonan used his time to take control as he was not satisfied and he focused on eliminating his brother’s killer only to chase the wrong culprit. His want for control was clouded by his vendetta, leaving him powerless and his vendetta only lead to his death. Death is often the only consequence when idealizing one world view.