1987 AP Exam Essay #1

                 Freedom from the demands of work or duty is known as leisure. During this time of relaxation, one can choose to do a numerous amount of things such as read a book, spend time with family and friends, or sleep. All this independence is the reason why leisure time is desired by so many. Unfortunately, George Eliot believes that unlike "old Leisure", leisure in her society has vanished. Eliot presents this argument through a handful of strategies including personification, tone, and repetition. 

         "He was a contemplative, rather stout gentleman, of excellent digestion, - of quiet perceptions, undiseased by hypothesis: happy in his inability to know the causes of things, preferring the things themselves." This is one example of Eliot using personification in her presentation. By referring to "old Leisure" as "he" and turning it into a person, the audience is able to get a better understanding of that time’s leisure. The audience can conclude that it was a time where there were scantily any worries or complex situations.

         "Ingenious philosophers tell you, perhaps, that the great work of the steam-engine is to create leisure for mankind. Do not believe them; it only creates a vacuum or eager thought to run in." This quote aids in Eliot's statement by expressing her accusatory tone as she describes her society’s leisure. As years go by, technology constantly improves as a result of ideas and hypotheses. Because of this, a person cannot truly relax as they are too occupied with thoughts racing in and out of their minds. “Even idleness is eager now- eager for amusement; prone to excursiontrains, art-museums, periodical literature, and exciting novels.” Through the use of repetition, Eliot is once again able to reinstate the idea of “old Leisure” being lost. She emphasizes the fact that people are so eager to be entertained that they are continuously thinking and, again, not relaxing.  

        In conclusion, the state of tranquility in leisure has become lost in George Eliot’s society. This is mostly a result from people wanting to learn more, create more, and even become more.  People are never satisfied with one helpful invention as they need to create an even more helpful invention. In “old Leisure” people were never surrounded by these technical inventions but instead the calm sceneries of nature. Perhaps this is why they were able to fully be free from the world and reach a true state of relaxation.