Unit Seven

1. Unit Seven The Virtues of Ambition

2. Contents • 1. About the Author • 2. Warming-up questions • 3. The structure of the text • 4. Detailed explanation of each part • 5. Key to exercises

3. About Joseph Epstein 1937- epstein@northwestern.edu(847)491-3496

4. Information of the author • Joseph Epstein, a noted essayist, short story author and novelist, • born in Chicago and grew up in Rogers Park. • He then attended the University of Chicago and is now a prominent member of the literature faculty at Northwestern University. • He contributed essays in each issue under the moniker Aristides.. • He is a teacher in the acclaimed Creating Writing Program at Northwestern University. • He won the 1998 Harold Washington Literary Award for the most prominent man or women of letters in Chicago.

5. Warming-up Exercises: • 1. What do you think about ambition and ambitious people? • 2. What is the author’s attitude towards ambition according to the title of the essay the Virtues of Ambition? • 3. What does virtue mean? Good quality.

6. The Structure of the text • Part One ( para.1 to para3): • Part Two (para. 4 to para.5): • Part Three (para.6 to para.7): • Part Four (para.8 to para.11): • Part Five ( para.12 to para.13):

7. Paragraph 1Paraphrase and Language Points: • Rorschach words: Rorschach inkblot test (罗夏墨迹测验) created by Hermann Rorschach (1844-1922, 瑞士精神病学家); a method of testing a person’s brains and character by making him say what various irregular spots of ink remind him of

8. Paragraph 1 Discussion • What are the two different interpretations about ambition and ambitious people? 1) (Webster’s) ambition is an ardent desire for rank, fame and power What does it mean? It means that Ambition is incommensurate (inconsistent) with good sense and stability 2)One can be ambitious for the public good, for the alleviation of suffering and for the enlightenment of mankind

9. Explain: …define it and you instantly reveal a great deal about yourself. …the way you personally define ambition will tell a lot about yourself, your dreams, your desire, your values, your philosophy, etc. …if you define ambition, you will subconsciously betray/reveal your dreams, your desire, your values, your philosophy, etc.

10. Word study • give oneself / someone away: to betray oneself /someone; to tell people sth. secret e.g. The swindler(欺诈者) gave himself away when he was asked to establish his identity. She really likes him and thinks no one knows, but the look on her face when mentioned his name gave her away.

11. Please explain: • Ardent immediately assumes a heatincommensurate with good sense and stability, … • Ardent is immediately regarded as a desiredisproportionate to/inconsistent with good sense and stability, … • (Ardent is immediately thought of as having something to do with bad sense.)

12. please explain: • be ambitious for the public good, for the alleviation of suffering, for the enlightenment of mankind,… • strive to be successful, rich, powerful, etc., in order to help the public, to ease human suffering, to enlighten mankind...

13. Paraphrase and Language Points: • One can, after all, be ambitious for the public good, for the alleviation of suffering, for the enlightenment of mankind. • Despite distrust and doubt of ambition and ambitious people,the fact is that one can strive to be successful, rich powerful, etc. in order to help the public, to ease human suffering, to enlighten mankind. • after all: despite problem and doubt, (the fact is …) / in spite of any indications or expectations to the contrary e.g. Of course I admire her –after all, she is a great politician.

14. Paragraph 2 Discussion • What do dreams of glory, wealth, love, distinction, accomplishment, pleasure, goodness come from? • Ambition. No ambition, no dreams and no accomplishment.

15. paraphrase • Surely ambition is behind dreams of glory,… • Ambition makes possible dreams of glory, … • Ambition underlies dreams of glory, … • Ambition is the true reason for dreams of glory, …

16. meaning of behind in the following sentences: • I knew what behind her smile was sadness. • (hidden by) • Marie Curie was the woman behind enormous changes in the science of chemistry. • (responsible for ) • He wondered what was behind his neighbor’s sudden friendliness. • (the true reason for) • We’re all behind you in this decision • (in support of )

17. Word study • distinction • 1)quality of excellence; honor, mark of respect • 2) classification of two or more; a clear difference between two similar things • e.g. He is a man of distinction in his own country. • (quality of excellence) • I had the great distinction of being invited to speak at the conference. • (honor) • Do other countries have the same distinction between amateur and professional? • (difference)

18. paraphrase • What life does with our dreams and expectations cannot be predicted. • What will actually happen to our dreams and expectations during our lives cannot be predicted. • do with: get on with; have a connection with

19. Paraphrase • The unpredictability of outcome of dreams is no reason to cease dreaming. • Although the outcome of dreams cannot be predicted, one shouldn’t stop dreaming.

20. Paragraph 3 What gives ambition bad name? People who are selfish and seek to get what they themselves want give ambition a bad name. Ambition, the sheerthing • Sheerhere is used for emphasis, and the sheer thing means the simple, pure thing.

21. Paragraph 3 Please explain: • As drunks have done to alcohol, the single-minded have done to ambition---given it a bad name. • Jus as people who have had too much alcohol have given alcohol a bad name, so people who have had only one aim, to get what they themselves want, have given ambition a bad name.

22. please explain • Like a taste for alcohol, too, ambition does not always allow for easy satiation. • As with people who enjoy the taste of alcohol, it is very difficult for ambitious people to become satisfied, they usually take more and more into consideration. • taste : (here means) preference • allow for: take sth.intoconsideration

23. Some expressions • under the counter: secretly; illegally - handle business under the counter - The banned book was sold under the counter. - At least one of my own novels has to be sold under the counter as though it were whisky. Paraphrase: -Still, none of this seems a sufficient cause for driving ambition under the counter - Again, none of what mentioned above has enough reason to force ambition to become secret ,illegal and hidden.

24. Discussion: The four main aspects ambition and ambitious people are attacked on: (para. 1-3 ) • 1. Ambition is inconsistent with good sense and stability. • 2. Most ambitious people are to be distrusted. • 3. The outcome of ambitious dreams is usually unpredictable. • 4. Ambition does not always allow for easy satisfaction; single-minded ambitious people give ambition a bad name.

25. Main idea of the first part (para. 1 - 3): • Although for a long time ambition has come under heavy attack and has been given a bad name, it is by no means illegal and will exist forever.

26. paragraph 4-5 • What is mainly discussed in this part? • The worst that can be said about ambition.

27. antisocial outmoded (out of date) ignore the collectivity socially detached on his own out for his own far from identifying himself and his fortunes with the group (not making himself associated with the group) wish to rise about the group see the world as a battle, rivalrousness Jesuitical (cunning) a dog-eat-dog world, be the dogs that do the eating Words and phrases related to the worst attributes related to ambition :

28. details • The ambitious individual, far fromidentifying himself and his fortunes with the group, wishes to rise above it.(lines 7-8, para. 4) • An ambitious person does not want to be part of a group, but he wishes to progress and outdistance it. • far from: not at all • identify with: equate with ; associate oneself with

29. argue those possessed by it into believing... (line 12, para. 4) • persuade those who are obsessed by ambition to believe… • argue sb into : persuade sb to do sth • They argued him into adoption of the plan. • You want to argue me into agreeing your proposal?

30. possess vt. control, obsess • I’m absolutely dreading making the after-dinner speech---I don’t know what possessed me to agree to it. • possessed (by) a. obsessed (with) • She is possessed by her drive to get into the best college.

31. …they are distinguished by wanting to be the dogs that do the eating. (lines 15-16, para. 4) • …what makes them different is that they want to come out on top in the competition.

32. Paraphrase (paragraph 5) • From here it is but a short hop to believe that…(line 1, para. 5) • From this point (being the dogs that do the eating), it is very easy to think that… • Discussion: • What implied meaning we can easily infer from paragraph 4? • The common goals of ambition such as money, fame, and power are often achieved by dishonest means.

33. Why does the author mention politicians in high positions in paragraph 5? • According to the worst that can be said about ambitious people in para. 4, one might think that any high-ranking politician must have gone against moral principles in order to climb so high. • This example shows ambition that’s gotten out of control and left moral scruples behind.

34. paragraph 6-7 • From what angle is ambition discussed in this part? • The author thinks if ambition is to have vitality, it must be widely shared and esteemed by people who are themselves admired. But strangely, those who enjoy the rewards of ambition have claimed to have given up on ambition as ideals.

35. Examples supporting the author’s analysis: • The revolutionary lawyer • the critic of American materialism • the publisher of radical books, • the journalist

36. …must be considered worthy of the sacrifices made on ambition’s behalf.(lines 2-3, para. 6) • … must be considered worthy of sacrifices made because of ambition • on someone’s behalf (on behalf of someone): because of; representing; for the sake of • Please don’t leave on my behalf. • On behalf of the company as a whole, I would like to thank you for all your work.

37. There is a heavy note of hypocrisy in this. (line 13, para. 6) • The situation is filled with hypocrisy. • a note of: showing someone’s thinking and feeling by the way their voice sounds • a note of anger • a not of jealousy • a note of anxiety

38. paraphrase • Certainly people do not seem less interested in success and its accoutrements now than formerly.(lines 1-2, para. 7) • Certainly people now seem as much interested in success and the comforts that come with it as before.

39. paraphrase • Instead we are treated to fine pharisaical spectacles, which now more than ever seem in ample supply…(lines 7-9, para. 7) • We see more hypocritical examples now than ever…

40. treat sb to: supply someone with sth special as a friendly act • I shall treat myself to a good weekend holiday. • John treated Linda to the theater when they met first time. • treat n.: a special event; sth pleasant • Granny took us for tea at Lyons Corner House as a special treat.

41. Conclusion of paragraph 6-7 given by the author: • “Succeed at all costs but refrain from appearing ambitious.” • surface meaning: • Try every means to succeed but do not appear ambitious. • deep meaning: • Nowadays the educated are more hypocritical than before.

42. Paragraphs 8-11 • Discussion: • What is this part mainly about?

43. paragraph 8 • …its public defenders are few and unimpressive, where they are not extremely unattractive (lines 1-3, para. 8) • Public defenders of ambition are few and not impressive, but it doesn’t mean they do not attract people’s attention at all.

44. where conj. : whereas; but • Where most people saw nothing but a hardened criminal, john saw a lonely and desperate man. • They want a house, where we would rather live in a flat.

45. paraphrase • As a result, the support for ambition as a healthy impulse, a quality to be admired and inculcated in the young, is probably lower than it has ever been in the United States.(lines 3-5, para. 8) • As a result, support for ambition as a respected value to be taught to youth is lower than ever in the US.

46. …as witness the blatant pratings of its contemporary promoters. (lines10-11, para.8) • … as shown in the offensive ongoing idle talk of its current sponsors.

47. paragraph 9 • Ambition… is morally a two-sided street.(lines4-5,para.9) • a two-sided street: a street that one can get to in two directions • the meaning of the metaphor used here: • The goals of ambition can be achieved in two ways.

48. The two ways implied in the metaphor: • sacrificing some moral principles to achieve the goals of ambition • achieving the goals of ambition without sacrificing moral principles

49. John Dean (Watergate Affairs): ignoble action Andrew Carnegie (the library of Lord Acton): kind and helpful action Examples of ignoble actions VS kind and helpful actions in the paragraph:

50. Why does the writer give the example of Watergate affair? • To illustrate the idea that many people believe ambition is not easily controlled and why many people are naturally distrustful of ambition.