Arielle Macpherson
Dr. Jessica Murphy
English 603-HSE-VA 17
11 April, 2016
A moral compass
Morals teach us right from wrong as well as give us hope. They are found in all forms of entertainment: from articles, to magazines, to movies, to television shows and books. The novel Black Beauty by Anna Sewell, although originally meant as a training manual for horses, has a main message that comes directly from the main character’s attitude throughout the book. Even though, the children’s book The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum was meant to be purely for entertainment, it has a strong principle throughout the story. Both novels have important morals, the importance of always doing your best with what you are given in Black Beauty and needing to discover …show more content…
Black Beauty first develops this positive attitude after he receives advice from his mother where she tells him: “do your work with a good will, lift your feet up well when you trot, and never bite or kick even in play” (Sewell 4). Black Beauty takes this to heart especially when he has to leave his first home for Birtwick Park and his master tells him to always do his best (Sewell 15). At Birtwick Park, Black Beauty meets Ginger and Merrylegs. He is well treated by his groom John Manly and master Squire Gordon. One night, John wakes Black Beauty because they must ride for the doctor’s house for the mistress. On the way back Beauty carries the doctor, who isn’t as good a rider and also heavier than John, none the less he does his very best (Sewell 71). Black Beauty galloped as fast as he possibly could and in return saved his mistress’ life. Later in his life, Black Beauty ends up with a cab driver named Jerry Barker who is also kind to him although the work is rough. After losing his best customer, Jerry’s wife sings him a jingle to cheer him up, which perfectly represents the meaning of the moral: “Do your best, And leave the rest, ‘Twill all come right, Some day or night’” (Sewell 154). Jerry does not stray from his principles for money, he values hard work but also rest for him and his horses. In the end that customer came back because he was the best at his job. Afterwards, Black Beauty goes through a string of bad owners who don’t take care of him and overwork him. While he is working as a cart horse, his carter Jakes, overloads the cart and uses a bearing rein which prevents Black Beauty to easily pull the cart uphill. Jakes often whipped and lashed Black Beauty for stopping frequently and Black Beauty says “[t]o be punished and abused when I was doing my very best was so hard, it took the heart out of me” (Sewell 198). But then a woman seeing the
Dr. Jessica Murphy
English 603-HSE-VA 17
11 April, 2016
A moral compass
Morals teach us right from wrong as well as give us hope. They are found in all forms of entertainment: from articles, to magazines, to movies, to television shows and books. The novel Black Beauty by Anna Sewell, although originally meant as a training manual for horses, has a main message that comes directly from the main character’s attitude throughout the book. Even though, the children’s book The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum was meant to be purely for entertainment, it has a strong principle throughout the story. Both novels have important morals, the importance of always doing your best with what you are given in Black Beauty and needing to discover …show more content…
Black Beauty first develops this positive attitude after he receives advice from his mother where she tells him: “do your work with a good will, lift your feet up well when you trot, and never bite or kick even in play” (Sewell 4). Black Beauty takes this to heart especially when he has to leave his first home for Birtwick Park and his master tells him to always do his best (Sewell 15). At Birtwick Park, Black Beauty meets Ginger and Merrylegs. He is well treated by his groom John Manly and master Squire Gordon. One night, John wakes Black Beauty because they must ride for the doctor’s house for the mistress. On the way back Beauty carries the doctor, who isn’t as good a rider and also heavier than John, none the less he does his very best (Sewell 71). Black Beauty galloped as fast as he possibly could and in return saved his mistress’ life. Later in his life, Black Beauty ends up with a cab driver named Jerry Barker who is also kind to him although the work is rough. After losing his best customer, Jerry’s wife sings him a jingle to cheer him up, which perfectly represents the meaning of the moral: “Do your best, And leave the rest, ‘Twill all come right, Some day or night’” (Sewell 154). Jerry does not stray from his principles for money, he values hard work but also rest for him and his horses. In the end that customer came back because he was the best at his job. Afterwards, Black Beauty goes through a string of bad owners who don’t take care of him and overwork him. While he is working as a cart horse, his carter Jakes, overloads the cart and uses a bearing rein which prevents Black Beauty to easily pull the cart uphill. Jakes often whipped and lashed Black Beauty for stopping frequently and Black Beauty says “[t]o be punished and abused when I was doing my very best was so hard, it took the heart out of me” (Sewell 198). But then a woman seeing the