Girl Interrupted Character Analysis Essay Example for Free

Girl Interrupted Character Analysis Essay Borderline personality disorder is characterized by intense shifts in mood. This is often accompanied by periods of intense aggression, substance abuse, and self damaging behaviors. People with borderline personality disorder will sometimes attempt suicide impulsively in periods of extreme depression or anger. Often times people with borderline personality disorder feel extremely bored, empty, mistreated and alone. Intense feelings of loneliness usually are followed by frantic efforts to avoid being alone. Suzanne is initially institutionalized for taking a bottle of aspirin with a bottle of vodka. She claims that she was not trying to kill herself, but only get rid of a headache. At the beginning Suzanne claimed that she had no bones in her hand. This fits more with a delusional disorder. Suzanne often exhibits spontaneous damaging behavior that is mainly sexual. Other spontaneous behaviors include breaking out of the hospital, stealing her medical files, and not taking medication. She also aids in drugging a nurse and steals a guitar from the art room to help cheer up another patient. Spontaneous dangerous behavior is one of the major signs of borderline personality disorder. Suzanne has strange ideas about her symptoms and diagnosis, the major example being the bones in her hand disappearing and then reappearing. She often seeks to be alone; shows many social anxieties around people and had a lack of close friends on outside of the hospital. These symptoms go along with schizotypal personality disorder. Contradictions to the possible schizotypal personality disorder would include that she is sometimes the life of the party which falls in line more with borderlines. She also desperately seeks male attention leading to her promiscuous sexual behavior that goes against the seeking of complete isolation often exhibited by others with scizotypal personality disorder. Her social anxieties are not clear in the movie and it is unknown whether they are because of negative feelings about her or whether she has paranoid fears. Despite the schizotypal possibility it is more likely that she has borderline personality disorder. This is because she clearly exhibits the majority of the signs of someone with borderline personality disorder including self destructive behavior, feelings of emptiness, intense shifts in mood lasting only a short period of time, consistent suicide ideation, feelings of rejection and not fitting in. Even the schizotypal symptoms can be explained by borderline personality disorder. People with borderline personality disorder often have odd thinking, quasipsychosis, and unusual perceptions. Although Suzanne showed symptoms of many types of disorders, the Borderline that she was diagnosed with was the most fitting and prevelant in her actions in the movie.

Student Motivation Essay -- essays research papers fc

Motivation in Schools   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The topic I originally planned to look into for my Action Research Paper was the affect of reward systems on a student’s academic performance. My idea was that a student’s performance could be influenced by the presence of a reward system. I was interested in seeing if certain subject areas were more likely to use such systems than other subject areas. I strived to see if a student’s academic performance could mean more than just their exam scores and ability to complete assignments. I wished to see if a reward system could change the way a student was motivated in the classroom; to see if their overall attitude could be changed. I also thought to look into their attendance in classes where motivation was present. I wanted to see if they were less frequently absent and if they participated more. And lastly, I thought it would be interesting to see if students felt they could in turn change their â€Å"destiny† in education, or if they s imply believed they are predestined for something else.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As I was looking further into my topic at hand, I decided to go a different way with my paper. I got away from the â€Å"reward system† and decided to look into student motivation as my topic, focusing on the teacher-student relationship. In high school, I can remember one teacher that changed the way I saw science and it affected me greatly. Before this teacher, although I was always in advanced science classes, I never achieved high grades. I always struggled to keep up with other students, and when I performed poorly on exams, my previous teachers never thought to why I had done so. She approached science in a way I had never seen before, and she offered recognition and praise. She set up the classroom in such a way that I never felt I was being left behind, and she encouraged us always to work up to our potential, and then some. I was motivated to do well and in a way I had never cared for before.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I chose to look from the student’s point of view, instead of talking only to teachers. I thought it would be more useful to see what the students thought, as I am pursuing my graduate education in Secondary Education. My ultimate goal, to be a teacher, could only benefit from the research I was setting out to collect. I wanted to know what circumstances student’s felt most... ...ving them the option to say what they feel a teacher should be could be a positive growing experience for both them and myself. Each class could want different things, and I feel it is my job to realize their needs and try to address them as best I can.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I know it sounds corny, but I truly feel that education in the classroom is a two way street. Teachers and students can only flourish when able to both get to where they are going by removing obstacles that would limit their driving experience. I look forward to my teaching career, and although I know I’m bound to have a few fender benders along the way, I hope the journey as a whole is a productive one. Works Cited Daniels, H. & Bizar, M. (1998). Methods that Matter. Portland, ME: Stenhouse Publishers. Ryan, K. & Cooper, J. (2004). Kaleidoscope: Readings in Education (10th Ed.). Boston: Houghton-Mifflin. Michie, G. (1999). Holler if you hear me. New York: Teachers College Press. McDevitt, T. & Ormrod, J. (2002) Child Development (2nd Ed.). Columbus, OH: Pearson Prentice Hall. http://216.239.57.104/u/nydoe?q=cache:OaYbZiCK2GkJ:www.emsc.nysed.gov/repcrd20 http://www.alfiekohn.org

Pros and Cons of being Malleable

Clay might be more related to the word malleable instead of metal. The word malleability is defined mostly as the property of metal to be shaped into the craftsman’s design.The same word can be attributed to humans but has different meanings. Malleable (in human terms) can either mean being able to adapt to changes or the trait of being influenced easily. This paper discusses about the implications of being malleable as it relates to personality.Pros of being MalleableCharles Darwin should change his theory on evolution. Survival is not about who the strongest specie is, rather, survival is about who can adapt easily to changes in the environment. The positive side of being malleable means that a person can get through with any obstacle that he or she faces.A malleable person can simply ‘contort’ his or her personality to suit the changes that happen in his or her life. Whatever these obstacles are, being malleable allows us to come up with different strategies on how we can cope with the changes. A malleable personality means that we are capable of dealing with difficult people or circumstances.We may need to adjust to avoid conflict with other people. It does not necessarily mean that we have to change, remember, the definition of malleability is not to change entirely but to bend. Sometimes, people with culture alien from us become part of our lives, in work, school, or even in the family, anywhere in the society that has some sort of connection with us.As a sign of respect, we may have to restrain ourselves from speaking out loud about certain practices that we might find weird or even wrong. This does not mean that we are changing for them. It just means that we are willing to tolerate (at a certain extent) unfamiliar customs. Being malleable would come in handy on travels abroad.Another instance when being malleable might come in handy is during tough times, it may be financially or emotionally. During times of ‘financial drought ’ learning how to adjust is vital. Cutting unnecessary expenses is one way of adjusting.Old habits that use money need to be cut. In an emotional sense, adjusting to a new environment is also vital. An outsider has to learn the norms of the new environment if he or she is to move to that new environment. The outsider may have to overcome language barriers, and other aspects of culture.Cons of MalleabilityVirtually everything has cons, in this case, a negative definition. One definition of malleability is the trait of being controlled or influenced easily. This definition of malleability means that we let others control our decisions, and therefore our lives.Some people are too malleable that they hardly make decisions on their own. They allow themselves to be the puppet of others, doing whatever the strings of the puppeteer tells them too. This negative definition of malleability makes a person loose his or her identity because what defines us are the decisions we make in our livesConclusionLike most things, being malleable has its pros and cons. Being malleable can either mean we can adjust easily to life’s challenges or we let others decide for us. Adaptability is key in survival, those who can adapt the easiest survive. While being malleable means we can adjust to changes, it could also mean that we can easily be manipulated.Referenceâ€Å"malleable.† Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian. 10 Nov. 2008..

Trojan War Fact or Fiction - 1298 Words

The war began with a grand wedding between Peleus, the son of Aeacus, and Thetis, the sea-goddess. Eris, the goddess of discord, was not invited to the wedding. Enraged at this, she stormed into the wedding and threw a golden apple of discord on a table. The apple had the inscription â€Å"For the fairest† a quarrel soon arose between three powerful goddesses. The three goddesses; Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena all wanted the title of fairest. They wanted to Zeus to be the judge of this contest. Not wanting to be involved in the quarrel, Zeus sent Hermes to get Paris, the Trojan prince, so that he could judge the three (History of the Trojan War). Each of the goddesses promised to give Paris something in return for giving her the apple. Hera offered Paris power and the richest kingdom on earth. Athena promised to make him a great hero and to give him wealth. Finally, Aphrodite promised a marriage to the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Sparta (Joe Trojan War) . Paris immediately chose Aphrodite to be the fairest, causing much discord for the others. He quickly set off to Sparta to fetch Helen; however, she was the wife of the Spartan king, Menelaus. When Paris reached Sparta, he saw that Menelaus was not there and he proceeded to abduct Helen. Menelaus was infuriated by this deviousness. He called upon all of Helen’s old suitors who had promised to keep her honor. These suitors did not truly want to go to war, in fact, Odysseus feigned insanity andShow MoreRelatedThe Trojan War - Fact or Fiction?1674 Words   |  7 PagesThe Trojan War Ââ€" Fact or Fiction? The Trojan War. Confined totally to the pages of Homers The Illiad, the indulgent fantasy of a Greek poet who lived over two and a half thousand years ago- or a historic fact at the centre of the most famous quarrel ever? The Illiad is the ancient tale of a mighty city called Troy that lay at the edge of Asia Minor whose prince abducted Helen, the most beautiful woman of all time, from the king of Greek Sparta, causing the Greeks to send an army in a thousandRead MoreAnalysis Of The Iliad And The Odyssey785 Words   |  4 Pagesthought of as works of fiction, but there has been data proving otherwise. What if these epics could be scientifically proven to have actually happened? The epics take place near Greece during 12th century BC, following the hero named Odysseus as he fights in the Trojan War, and journeys home. Although the piece of literature features mythical creatures, magic, and unrealistic circumstances, we shouldn’t immediately disregard the idea of the literat ure being completely non-fiction. Archaeological evidenceRead MoreBarry Strausss The Trojan War1664 Words   |  7 Pagesis fiction, whereas some believe that it is nonfiction. As seen in Barry Strauss’s The Trojan War: A New History, the author argues that the Trojan War was significant and then shows evidence from as of late that supports the concept of the Trojan War actually occurring. Throughout his book he explains and gives insight into what happened during the Trojan War and how it developed based off of Homer’s writing. Strauss’s sole purpose is to inspect what was previously said about the Trojan War andRead MoreThe war between the Trojans and the Achaeans, which resulted in the Fall of Troy1084 Words   |  5 PagesA war is a behavior patterned of organized violent conflict, which the causes are extreme aggression, societal disruption and high mortality. It involves two or more groups which has found a conflict which may not be resolved, only throug h war. In all cases, there is always one participant or group which remains successful at the end. Leaders always enter a war with their nation even though they say their actions were defensive; however when viewed objectively, their actions may more closely be dueRead MoreAnalysis Of Homer s The Iliad 1348 Words   |  6 PagesFor thousands of years the Trojan War, spoken of in Homer s epic poem the Iliad, has been believed to have been a legend made up by Homer rather than a poem based on historical fact. It was only in 1865 that archeologists began digging up Hissarlik, the supposed site of Troy based on the Iliad, situated in Troad in the North-West of the Asian Minor. The first archeologist at this site, Frank Calvert, was convinced that Hissarlik was the site of the ancient city of Troy. After numerous archeologicalRead MoreAchilles, Aeneas, and Roland979 Words   |  4 Pagesget through their very insecure days, people would tell oral stories of great heroes, like those o f Achilles, Aeneas, and Roland. Achilles was a Greek war hero who fights in the Trojan War, a ten year long war between Greece and Troy (present day Turkey). Aeneas was an epic hero in ancient Roman folklore. He was a soldier who fought in the Trojan War and after surviving the destruction of Troy, he later founded the city of Rome. Roland was an epic hero of the Franks, a Germanic tribe in present dayRead MoreThe Trojan War Essay1479 Words   |  6 Pageshas gone into the excavations there by many archaeologists, and many interesting artefacts have been found. The story of the Ancient City of Troy is a great one, however many people believed it didn’t exist and that Homers Iliad, the story of the Trojan War was just some story. This has since been proved untrue as the city of Troy was discovered, and the pieces of this amazing puzzle have fallen together. Homer described Troy as an exceptionally large city with large high powerful walls, wide streetsRead MoreThe Odyssey by Homer1210 Words   |  5 Pagesoverhears reciting two poems, one is an account of the Trojan War, the other a love story between two of the gods. Odysseus then asks Demodocus to return to the theme of the Trojan wars, specifically about the Trojan horse, which he played a large role in executing. Odysseus accidently reveals his identity to Demodocus since he cannot hide his passion for the event. Prompted by Demodocus, Odysseus recounts the events since the end of the Trojan War. Odysseus then goes on to tell the stories of theRead MoreHomer’S Two Tales, The Iliad And The Odyssey, Are Both1749 Words   |  7 Pageswith our culture today. Homer is a name that needs little introduction, but to understand ones works you must first possess the right knowledge of the creator of said works. For the longest time the Iliad and Odyssey were considered historical fact by most all the way up until approximately the 17th century CE (Burgess, 21). The term â€Å"creator† may not even be correct since many scholars now believe that â€Å"Homer† is likely a number of different poets and authors who either came together to createRead MoreThe Odyssey vs the Lord of the Rings1526 Words   |  7 Pagescertainly is present in the Greek myths, for example, or in Homer’s epic poems that draw on these myths—both of which describe a world in which men and gods mix freely, a world that is no more. Tolkien’s own work is something between mythology and fiction, locating itself in a middle ground between a past that is remembered only in song and the everyday present of the reader. This sense of ancientness is constantly present, brought to life in chants, poems, and graven inscriptions. As Tolkien shows

Obesity in the United States and The Importance of Exercis

In the United States, obesity is currently one of the largest issues in our society. Sugary sodas, fatty foods, and lack of exercise are the main causes of this issue. Not only does obesity affect adults, but it affects young children as well. In 2012, it was reported that two-thirds of adults in the United States are considered overweight or obese. It was also reported that 31.8% of children and teenagers in the United States are considered overweight or obese as well. Young children are naturally attracted to foods high in sugar, calories, and sodium, but many parents fail to moderate their child’s intake of these potentially harmful items. Generally, a person’s eating habits begin to develop at a young age. If children are taught to eat healthy foods, it will most likely be a lifestyle they will maintain for the rest of their lives. Sometimes this can be a very difficult task, but teaching children to exercise can make it much easier. Many people in the United State s do not take the time to partake in physical activity because they simply do not have the time or do not feel it is necessary. Although this is a common belief, exercise is extremely beneficial to the human body in a variety of ways and this essay will further explain how. Exercise falls into four different categories. The first category is endurance/aerobic exercises. Endurance exercises such as running and swimming involve the repetitive movement of large muscles in the body in order to increase the

Michael Vick As A Professional Football Player - 2046 Words

Most people know of Michael Vick as a professional football player. But in 2007, he created national attention for something other than his athletic ability. He was accused and convicted of running a professional dog fighting ring, and he d torture the dogs that proved themselves weak and bad fighters. It was bad enough he was committing these crimes, but to be representing the country as a highly paid athletem, led national controversy, and with that, discussions of the ethical issues surrounding the matter. People (fans) think he got off lucky, givin his predicament of being wealthy and one of the greatest football players of all time. People believe that Michael Vick should ve received a worse punishment for his operation, which included the killing of dogs who proved themselves weak. It s very possible that Michael Vick got off because he s rich, famous, and most likely well-liked, despite his personal history. Most people feel compelled to believe that if he was an ordinary ci tizen, his short prison sentence would ve been a lengthier one. Michael Vick lost a lot of fans from his horrendous acts and people didn t want to see him in a place other than jail for his heinous crimes. In August 2007, Vick pleaded to federal felony charges and served 21 months in prison, followed by two months in home confinement. Vick filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after being hurt financially by the loss of his NFL salary, product endorsement deals, and financial mismanagement.Show MoreRelatedEssay on Athletes can be decent role models1025 Words   |  5 PagesSince professional sports were first introduced, players have been viewed as role models. Recently the question has been raised as to whether or not this is a proper thing for them to be. Michael Vick tortured and murdered dogs, Barry Bonds cheated his way to stardom, and countless others are just no-good, pampered divas. There are some that shine out through the mess of egotism and are devoted athletes who give back to the community. This suggests that there can be no blanket statement as to whetherRead MoreAthletes: Above the Law1825 Words   |  8 PagesIt was called â€Å"Acceptance,† a story about a father whose alcoholism kills his son, an All-American football star. A second chance is then offered in the form of two new sons, one homosexual and the other intellectually disabled. As far as the outcome, you would have to â€Å"†¦wait for the movie†. The outlandish story Rae Carruth imagined would never reach the big screen, instead his own life would far eclipse the scenario he created when he chose to have his eight-month pregnant girlfriend and unbornRead MoreAre Athletes Overpaid?1122 Words   |  5 PagesAlec Morris Miss Murfee English 112 D-11 October 26, 2012 Are Players Overpaid? When sports exploded in the 1900’s athletes were paid like regular working citizens. Most athletes had to work over the summer to keep their mortgages paid. In present day, professional athletes are dished out astronomical salaries in exchange for their play. Many of these athletes have the opportunity to be set for life within the first years of their contracts. Eighteen and nineteen year olds are given multi-millionRead MoreInjuries in NFL Players Essay797 Words   |  4 PagesNick Toon, was forced to leave professional football after sustaining nine concussions in eight years of professional football. Football is one of the most dangerous games. As the years go on, more and more rules are being written to prevent the danger, but danger is the nature of the game. Most of these rules are for the protection of the players, but there are times when injuries can be a good thing. The Philadelphia Eagles were 3-5 to start the year, but Michael Vick was injured and the backup qua rterbackRead MoreShould Athletes Be Overpaid?1642 Words   |  7 PagesIn today s mainstream media the spotlight is constantly on celebrities and glorifying the life of professional athletes. The question of athletes being overpaid and not really working arises more and more. What makes their nontraditional occupation wurth a multi million dollar contract? Some say nothing-- they are grossly overpaid, but the simple truth is that the road to get to the pros entails dedication, overcoming adversity, diet, training, image and consistency. The idea that athletes are overpaidRead MoreFootball Is Dangerous And Something That Should Not Be Played Or Watched By People1486 Words   |  6 PagesFootball is considered to be dangerous and something that should not be played or watched by people. The game should be played and watched because a lot of players work hard to fight towards the ultimate goal of making it in the National Football League despite the possibilities of injury. It is t he player’s responsibility to know when it is time for them to walk away and take the proper safety procedures to keep them from injuring themselves. The players work hard and do plenty of conditioningRead MoreDefinition Paper (Fantasy Football)1319 Words   |  6 Pagesthe living rooms of millions and millions of onlookers. This moment is why casual and die-hard football fans watch and enjoy the game. All football fans would be ecstatic upon seeing the incredible 67-yard touchdown run with the possible exception of Saints fans. However, this is not the case anymore as the question of â€Å"why† fans watch the game of football has changed. Fans nowadays not only watch football for the big hits, back-and-forth scoring, athletic plays, rivalry between divisional teams,Read MoreDomestic Violence And Its Effects On Society1859 Words   |  8 PagesEach year, another stack of players are arrested, or â€Å"caught† with a history of domestic violence, abuse and/or animal cruelty charges. The NFL’s reaction is typically reactive and falls short of transmitting a message of concern for the victims. Moreover, the NFL and Americans have opted to sensationalize Peterson, Rice and Hardy as isolated poster-boys for domestic violence, rather than reflect and appreciate that this is a larger socio-cultural problem. NFL players have a staggering crime rateRead MoreOrganizational Behavior in the Nfl2865 Words   |  12 PagesOrganizational Behavior in the National Football League Katie Johnston MT3250 Organizational Behavior Dr. Carl Proehl February 4, 2013 Abstract This paper will explore how people within the National Football League (NFL) interact with each other to reach their goals as a team, and an organization as a whole. Sports teams are defined as two or more individuals who possess a common identity, have common goals and objectives, share a common fate, exhibit structured patterns of interaction andRead MoreCollege Athletes Have A Dream Of Becoming A Professional Athlete1486 Words   |  6 Pagesathletes have a dream of becoming a professional athlete. In most countries, especially in Europe, athletes are club players who move from amateur to professional status at a young age. Some drop out of school as young as 14 years of age to play sports professionally, while others finish school in Europe and attend college in the United States to play at a university. The United States is one of the few countries worldwide to emphasize education before professional sports. In fact, in our country

The Return Nightfall Chapter 6 Free Essays

â€Å"Isaid,get out ,† Meredith repeated to Caroline, still quietly. â€Å"You’ve said things that never should have been said in any civilized place. This happens to be Stefan’s place – and, yes, it’s hisplace to order you out, too. We will write a custom essay sample on The Return: Nightfall Chapter 6 or any similar topic only for you Order Now I’m doing it for him, though, because he never would ask a girl – and a former girlfriend, I might add – to get the hell out of his room.† Matt cleared his throat. He’d stepped back into a corner and everyone had forgotten about him. Now he said, â€Å"Caroline, I’ve known you way too long to be formal, and Meredith’s right. You want to say the kind of things you’ve been saying about Elena, you do it somewhere faraway from Elena. But, look, there’s one thing I know. No matter what Elena did when she was – was downhere before† – his voice dropped a little in wonder, and Bonnie knew that he meant, when Elena was here on Earth before – â€Å"she’s as close to an angelnow as you can get. Right now she’s†¦she’s†¦completely†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He hesitated, stumbling for the right words. â€Å"Pure,† Meredith said easily, filling in the blank for him. â€Å"Yeah,† Matt agreed. â€Å"Yeah, pure. Everything she does is pure. And it’s not like any of your nasty words could stain her, anyway, but the rest of us just don’t like hearing you try.† There was a low â€Å"Thank you† from Stefan. â€Å"I was already going,† Caroline said, now through her teeth. â€Å"And don’t youdare preach atme about purity ! Here, with all this going on! You probably just want to watch it going on yourself, two girls kissing. You probably – â€Å" â€Å"Enough.† Stefan said it almost expressionlessly, but Caroline was swept off her feet, up and out of the door, and deposited there by invisible hands. Her purse trailed after her. Then the door quietly shut. Fine hairs rose on the back of Bonnie’s neck. This was Power, in such amounts that her psychic senses were stunned and temporarily paralyzed. Moving Caroline – and she wasn’t a small girl – now that took Power . Maybe Stefan had changed just as much as Elena had. Bonnie glanced at Elena, whose pool of serenity was rippling because of Caroline. Might as well take her mind off it, and maybe make herself worthy of athank you from Stefan, Bonnie thought. She tapped Elena’s knee, and when Elena turned, Bonnie kissed her. Elena broke the kiss very quickly, as if afraid to set off some holocaust again. But Bonnie saw at once what Meredith had said about it not being sexual. It was†¦more like being examined by someone who used all her senses to the fullest. When Elena moved away from Bonnie she beamed at her just as she had at Meredith, all the distress washed away by – yes, thepurity of the kiss. And Bonnie felt as if some of Elena’s tranquility had soaked into her. â€Å"†¦should have known better than to bring Caroline,† Matt was saying to Stefan. â€Å"Sorry about butting in. But Iknow Caroline, and she could have gone on ranting for another half hour, never actually leaving.† â€Å"Stefan took care of that,† Meredith said, â€Å"or was that Elena, too?† â€Å"It was me,† Stefan said. â€Å"Matt had it right: she could keep on talking forever without actually leaving. And I’d just as lief nobody run Elena down like that in my hearing.† Why are they talking about those things? Bonnie wondered. Of all people, Meredith and Stefan were least inclined to chatter, but here they were, saying things that didn’t really need to be said. Then she realized it was for Matt, who was moving slowly but with determination toward Elena. Bonnie got up as quickly and as lithely as if she could fly, and managed to pass Matt without looking at him. And then she was joining Meredith and Stefan in small talk – well, medium-small talk – about what had just happened. Caroline made a bad enemy, everyone agreed, and nothing seemed to teach her that her schemes against Elena always backfired. Bonnie would bet that she was hatching a new scheme right now against all of them. â€Å"She feels lonely all the time,† Stefan said, as if trying to make excuses for her. â€Å"She wants to be accepted, by anyone, on any terms – but she feels – apart. As if nobody who really got to know her would trust her.† â€Å"She’s defensive,† Meredith agreed. â€Å"But you’d think she’d showsome gratitude. After all, we did rescue her and save her life just over a week ago.† There was more to it than that, Bonnie thought. Her intuition was trying to tell her something – something about what might have happenedbefore they had been able to rescue Caroline – but she was so angry on Elena’s behalf that she ignored it. â€Å"Why should anybody trust her?† she said to Stefan. She sneaked a peek behind her. Elena was definitely going to know Matt anywhere, and Matt looked as if he were fainting. â€Å"Caroline’s beautiful, sure, but that’s it. She never has a good word to say about anybody. She plays games all the time – and – and Iknow we used to do some of that, too†¦but hers are always meant to make other people look bad. Sure, she can take mostguys in† – a sudden anxiety swept over her, and she spoke more loudly to try to push it away – â€Å"but if you’re a girl she’s just a pair of long legs and big – â€Å" Bonnie stopped because Meredith and Stefan had frozen, with identicalOh-God-not-again expressions on their faces. â€Å"And she also has very decent hearing,† said a shaking, threatening voice from somewhere behind Bonnie. Bonnie’s heart leaped into her throat. That was what you got for ignoring premonitions. â€Å"Caroline – † Meredith and Stefan were both trying for damage control, but it was too late. Caroline stalked in on her long legs as if she didn’t want her feet to touch Stefan’s floorboards. Oddly, though, she was carrying her high heels. â€Å"I came back in to get my sunglasses,† she said, still in that trembling voice. â€Å"And I heard enough to know now what my so-called ;;friends’ think of me.† â€Å"No, you didn’t,† Meredith said, as rapidly eloquent as Bonnie was stunned mute. â€Å"You heard some very angry people letting off steam after you’d just insulted them.† â€Å"Besides,† Bonnie said, suddenly able to speak again, â€Å"admit it, Caroline – youhoped you’d hear something. That’s why you took off your shoes. You were right behind the door, listening, weren’t you?† Stefan shut his eyes. â€Å"This is my fault. I should have – â€Å" â€Å"No, you shouldn’t,† Meredith said to him, and to Caroline she added, â€Å"And if you can tell me one word we said that isn’t true, or was exaggerated – except maybe for what Bonnie said, and Bonnie is†¦just being Bonnie. Anyway, if you can point to one word of what the rest of us said that isn’t true,I’ll beg your pardon.† Caroline wasn’t listening. Caroline was twitching. She had a facial tic, and her lovely face was convulsed, dark red, with fury. â€Å"Oh, you’regoing to beg my pardon all right,† she said, wheeling to point her long-nailed forefinger at each of them. â€Å"You’reall going to be sorry. And if you try that – that witchcraft-vampire type thing on me again,† she said to Stefan, â€Å"I have friends – real friends – who’d like to know about it.† â€Å"Caroline, just this afternoon you signed a contract – â€Å" â€Å"Oh, who gives a damn?† Stefan stood up. It was dark now inside the small room with its dusty window, and Stefan’s shadow was thrown before him by the bedside lamp. Bonnie looked at it and then poked Meredith, as the hairs tingled on her arms and neck. The shadow was surprisingly dark and surprisingly tall. Caroline’s shadow was weak, transparent, and short – an imitation shadow beside Stefan’s very real one. The thunderstorm feeling was back. Bonnie was shaking now; trying not to, but unable to stop the shivering that had come on as if she had been thrown into icy water. It was a cold that had gotten directly into her bones and was ripping layer after layer of heat off them like some greedy giant, and now she was beginning to shakehard†¦. Something was happening to Caroline in the darkness – something was coming from her – or comingfor her – or maybe both. In any case, it was all around her now, and all around Bonnie, too, and the tension was so thick that Bonnie felt choked, her heart pounding. Beside her, Meredith – practical, level-headed Meredith – stirred uneasily. â€Å"What – ?† Meredith began in a whisper. Suddenly, as if it had all been exquisitely choreographed by the things in the dark – the door to Stefan’s room slammed shut†¦the lamp, an ordinary electric one, went off†¦the ancient rolled-up shutter over the window came rattling down, dropping the room into sudden and complete darkness. And Caroline screamed. It was an awful sound – raw, as if it had been stripped like meat from Caroline’s backbone and yanked out of her throat. Bonnie screamed, too. She couldn’t help it, although her scream sounded too faint and too breathless, like an echo, not the coloratura job that Caroline had done. Thank God that at least Caroline wasn’t screaming any longer. Bonnie was able to stop the new scream building in her own throat, even though her shaking was worse than ever. Meredith had an arm around her tightly, but then, as the darkness and the silence went on and Bonnie’s shaking only continued, Meredith got up and heartlessly passed her to Matt, who seemed astonished and embarrassed, but tried awkwardly to hold her. â€Å"It’s not as dark once your eyes get used to it,† he said. His voice was creaky, as if he needed a drink of water. But it was the best thing that he could have said, because of all things in the world to fear, Bonnie was most afraid of the dark. There werethings in it, things that only she saw. She managed, despite the terrible shaking, to stand with his support – and then she gasped, and heard Matt gasp, too. Elena was glowing. Not only that, but the glow extended out behind her and far to either side of her in a pair of what were beautifully defined, and undeniablythere†¦wings. â€Å"She h-has wings,† Bonnie whispered, the stutter caused by her shaking rather than by awe or fear. Matt was clinging toher now, like a child; he obviously couldn’t answer. The wings moved with Elena’s breathing. She was sitting on thin air, steady now, one hand held out with her fingers all spread in a gesture of denial. Elena spoke. It wasn’t any language that Bonnie had heard before; she doubted it was any language people on Earth used. The words were sharp, thin-edged, like the splintering of myriad shards of crystal that had fallen from somewhere very high and very far away. The shape of the wordsalmost made sense in Bonnie’s head as her own psychic abilities were sparked by Elena’s tremendous Power. It was a Power that stood tall against the darkness and now was sweeping it aside†¦making the things in the dark scamper away before it, their claws scritching in all directions. Ice-sharp words followed them all the way, dismissive now†¦. And Elena†¦Elena was as heartbreakingly beautiful as when she’d been a vampire, and seemed almost as pale as one. But Caroline was shouting, too. She was using powerful words of Black Magic, and to Bonnie it was as if the shadows of all sorts of dark and horrible things were coming from her mouth: lizards and snakes and many-legged spiders. It was a duel, a face-off of magic. Only how had Caroline learned so much dark magic? She wasn’t even a witch by lineage, like Bonnie. Outside Stefan’s room, surrounding it, was a strange sound, almost like a helicopter. Whipwhipwhipwhipwhip†¦ It terrified Bonnie. But she had to do something. She was Celtic by heritage and psychic because she couldn’t avoid it, and she had to help Elena. Slowly, as if making her way against gale-force winds, Bonnie stumbled to put her hand on Elena’s hand, to offer Elena her power. When Elena clasped hands with her, Bonnie realized that Meredith was on her other side. The light grew. The scrabbling lizard things ran from it, screaming and tearing at each other to get away. The next thing Bonnie knew, Elena had slumped over. The wings were gone. The dark scrabbling things were gone, too. Elena had sent them away, using tremendous amounts of energy to overwhelm them with White Power. â€Å"She’ll fall,† Bonnie whispered, looking at Stefan. â€Å"She’s been using magic so strong – â€Å" Just then, as Stefan started to turn to Elena, several things happened very fast, as if the room was caught in the flashes of a strobe light. Flash. The window shade rolled back up, rattling furiously. Flash. The lamp went back on, revealing it was in Stefan’s hands. He must have been trying to fix it. Flash. The door to Stefan’s room opened slowly, creaking, as if to make up for slamming shut before. Flash. Caroline was now on the floor, on all fours, groveling, breathing hard. Elena had won†¦. Elena fell. Only inhumanly fast reflexes could have caught her, especially from across the room. But Stefan had tossed the lamp to Meredith and was across the distance faster than Bonnie’s eyes could follow. Then he was holding Elena, encircling her protectively. â€Å"Oh,hell ,† said Caroline. Black trails of mascara ran down her face, making her look like something not quite human. She looked at Stefan with unconcealed hatred. He looked back soberly – no,sternly . â€Å"Don’t call on Hell,† he said in a very low voice. â€Å"Not here. Not now. Because Hell might hear and call back.† â€Å"As if it already hadn’t,† Caroline said, and in that moment, she was pitiful – broken and pathetic. As if she had started something she didn’t know how to stop. â€Å"Caroline, what are you saying?† Stefan knelt. â€Å"Are you saying that you’ve already – made some bargain – ?† â€Å"Ouch,† Bonnie said, suddenly and involuntarily, shattering the ominous mood in Stefan’s room. One of Caroline’s broken nails had left a trail of blood on the floor. Caroline had knelt in it, too, making things pretty messy. Bonnie felt a sympathetic throb of pain in her own fingers until Caroline waved her bloody hand at Stefan. Then Bonnie’s sympathy turned to nausea. â€Å"Want a lick?† she said. Her voice and face had changed entirely, and she wasn’t even trying to hide it. â€Å"Oh, come on, Stefan,† she went on mockingly, â€Å"youdo drink human blood these days, don’t you? Human or – whatever she is, whatever she’s become. You two fly like bats together now, do you?† â€Å"Caroline,† Bonnie whispered, â€Å"didn’t yousee them? Her wings – â€Å" â€Å"Just like a bat – or another vampire already. Stefan’s made her – â€Å" â€Å"I saw them too,† Matt said flatly, behind Bonnie. â€Å"They weren’t bat wings.† â€Å"Doesn’t anybody have eyes?† Meredith said from where she stood by the lamp. â€Å"Look here.† She bent. When she stood again she was holding a long white feather. It shone in the light. â€Å"Maybe she’s a white crow, then,† Caroline said. â€Å"That would be appropriate. And I can’t believe how you’re all – all – fawning on her as if she were some sort of princess. Always everybody’s little darling, aren’t you, Elena?† â€Å"Stop it,† Stefan said. â€Å"Everybody’s, that’s the key word,† Caroline spat. â€Å"Stop it.† â€Å"The way you were kissing people one after another.† She gave a theatrical shudder. â€Å"Everyone seems to have forgotten, but that was more like – â€Å" â€Å"Stop, Caroline.† â€Å"Thereal Elena.† Caroline’s voice had become pretend-prissy, but she couldn’t keep the venom out, Bonnie thought. â€Å"Because anyone who knows you knows what youreally were before Stefanblessed us with hisirresistible presence. You were – â€Å" â€Å"Caroline, stop right there – â€Å" â€Å"A slut! That’s all! Just a cheap, anybody’sslut !† How to cite The Return: Nightfall Chapter 6, Essay examples