Prompt #2 - Character in Conflict

Prompt #2: Choose a character in a novel or play of your choice (from the AP List!) and write about the conflict(s) that arise since they are in conflict with the society they are from. This may be socially, religiously, and/or morally. Dig deep! You should also address whether your character comes to a good/bad fate due to this conflict(s).

The novel Brideshead Revisited explores the high-class, refined, strict world that is the Catholic aristocracy of early 20th century England. It is a society decorated with wealth and elegance and upheld by firm religious values, one that Sebastian Flyte finds himself suffocating in the grip of. Sebastian, the son of one of these Catholic aristocratic families, is a youthful, eccentric, lively young man, fond of doing what he wants, whenever he wants. This type of personality and behavior unavoidably sets him up for conflict with his religion and society, particularly his own family, his rebellion eventually turning into a losing battle against a fate he cannot avoid.

Lord Sebastian Flyte is the son of Lord and Lady Marchmain, and he and his family live at Brideshead, a beautiful, opulent mansion most can only dream of. All his life, Sebastian has known nothing but a life of wealth and luxury; he has always had someone, whether it is a maid, a nanny, or his own mother, by his side to take care of him and meet his every need without even having to lift a finger. For others, they would love to have this kind of life, but for Sebastian, it is one he loathes. He feels as if he is smothered, unable to breathe the air of life and freedom, to be independent, which explains his rebellious nature. It is because of this repression that Sebastian constantly defies his family’s rules and eventually ends up running away to live on his own in Morocco.

The other half of Sebastian’s life is his religion. Catholicism has always been one of the key foundations of the Flyte family. The matriarch of the household, Lady Marchmain, is strongly religious, and constantly tries to imbue the same principals in her children. The others follow her footsteps, but Sebastian does not. For most of the earlier part of the novel, Sebastian tries to escape his religion, something that can be attributed to his mother’s strict rules and conduct that seem to be on the verge of authoritarianism. But unfortunately, he finds himself fighting a losing battle, choosing to escape through alcohol. As his depression and anxiety, brought on by the stress and pressure put on him by his mother, worsens, so does his drinking, eventually leading him to become a serious alcoholic.

When others, mostly Lady Marchmain, try to intervene, Sebastian, along with his longing to be free and independent, becomes angry, packs his things, and leaves Brideshead behind. He eventually ends up in Morocco, living with an injured German soldier whom he takes care of. He feels he has finally escaped his old life, but ironically, he ends up in the care of Franciscan monks in a monastery for health reasons. When he gets better, he even tries to join them, wanting to move to a leper colony. This shows that even though he tried, even though he fought, he can’t avoid his religion; it will always be a part of him, no matter what. The biggest conflict Sebastian faces is the inner conflict between his happiness and deepest longings versus his duty to his faith. In the end, his duty as a Catholic wins; he finds that despite all the struggle and rebellion, that even though he’s left behind Brideshead and his family, he can’t escape his religion and God.

Time: 48 min (I’m sorry I went over the time limit!)