*NOTE: This review was written as part of my AP Literature & Composition practice, and as such, might appear rushed (I timed myself 40 minutes).

PROMPT: One of the strongest human drives seems to be a desire for power. Write an essay in which you discuss how a character in a novel or a drama struggles to free himself or herself from the power of others or seeks to gain power over others. Be sure to demonstrate in your essay how the author uses this power struggle to enhance the meaning of the work.

Loss is an insurmountable burden. It is especially difficult to lose people who were once close to you; people who have been there to quell your deepest, most doleful thoughts. Hunter x Hunter, a 2011 animated film by Japanese creator Yoshihiro Togashi, depicts a story in which Gon Freecss, a twelve-year-old "Hunter"—humans possessing supernatural strength—is plighted by the realities of losing someone special to him, stemming from his own lack of physical strength. As Gon resumes his treacherous journey with his equally-gifted companion, Killua Zoldyck, the author accurately notions that in hopes of irreversible change, one must initially possess power—even if pursuing that strength ends up being the catalyst to their demise.

As Gon and Killua traverse the perilous NGL region—Neo-Green Life, for short—Gon experiences a stark change. Having reunited with his childhood mentor, Kite, Gon becomes ecstatic; he is jovial at the thought of having met someone conscious of both his past struggles and his present-day aspirations as someone possessing real, tangible strength. Kite almost instantly becomes a father figure to him; he becomes someone irreplaceable, capable of enriching Gon's young, talented mind with the idea of being loved. However, when the trio of Hunters find themselves within the presence of an immensely powerful monster, Neferpitou, this sense of fatherhood truly kicks in. As Kite sacrifices himself to allow for both Gon and Killua's escape, many ill thoughts besiege Gon's mind. He becomes scornful, hateful, and most importantly, sorrowful. As thoughts of separation turn to reality, Gon feels utterly alone, save for his unparalleled friendship with Killua. Left to fend off on his own, Gon is overcome by an unbroken desire for strength because, in his eyes, he has just lost his father—his reason for living—which demonstrates that in times of tumultuous grief, seeking strength is the only acceptable outcome.

As Gon and Killua undergo gut-wrenching bouts of physical training, Gon's unwavering determination towards saving Kite causes him to lose his own self. In the story's exposition, Gon was portrayed as a happy-go-lucky child who, despite possessing boundless strength, remained fixed in his amorous attitude towards others. However, having lost part of himself that day, he becomes almost entirely engulfed by greed and selfish desires, perhaps because he feels as if everyone wants to take away the little things he truly has. Gon's relationship with Kite, though brief, was enough to instill a fixed sense of connection—something he knows he cannot have with his own father, Ging Freecss. Gon's own thoughts become wholeheartedly driven towards change, a notion heartened by his lachrymose (tearful) statement, "I never knew how frustrating it was to be weak." As he begins expecting things from others, demanding for things to go his own way, he ultimately changes—showcasing that although grief may lead one to pursue strength, such power may only contribute to that person's demise.

It is difficult to lose things. It is hard to lose people. Hunter x Hunter is a tale about parting; one in which Gon, a plighted child since birth, seems to lose the things which he most ardently cares for. In pursuit of strength, there are many uncertainties. But when one seeks change—and truly wishes for it—it is irremediably important for one to stay resolute, even when countless ill-expected omens stand within one's path to success.

*NOTE: This review was written as part of my AP Literature & Composition practice, and as such, might appear rushed (I timed myself 40 minutes).

PROMPT: One definition of madness is “mental delusion or the eccentric behavior arising from it.” But Emily Dickinson wrote

Much madness is divinest Sense— To a discerning Eye—

Novelists and playwrights have often seen madness with a “discerning Eye.” Select a novel or play in which a character’s apparent madness or irrational behavior plays an important role. Then write a well-organized essay in which you explain what this delusion or eccentric behavior consists of and how it might be judged reasonable. Explain the significance of the “madness” to the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

"Insanity" is something often misinterpreted, not always being what it seems. In some cases, madness can even be an act of kindness; it can be a form of protection. In Hiroshi Hamasaki's critically-acclaimed animated series, Steins;Gate, the story starts with an eccentric, self-proclaimed mad scientist "Hyouin Kyouma"—Okabe Rintarou. Although the audience makes gestures towards his unseemly demeanor, his abnormal characteristics, and his funny, albeit quirky state of mind, it is later revealed that Okabe can be more benevolent than he seems. As we follow Okabe in his thrilling ventures to shield those around him from fate through time travel, the author accurately notions that madness, though characteristically associated with bad deeds, is not always a form of evil.

In the story's exposition, Okabe is labeled weird by those around him. He makes constant remarks towards an unknown "Organization" that chases after him; he treats his immediate friends as numbered "lab members"; and, most relevant to the plot, he portrays himself as someone who is strong, capable of protecting others. Though these acts are not customary in normal humans, Okabe is more normal than anyone else. He does not lack affection—in fact, most of his "evil" remarks towards his comrades are meant to be forms of friendly banter, not malicious statements insulting them. He entertains others, he tries to make people laugh—just like anybody else. In his mind, acting the part of a delusional scientist is the perfect way to convey his caring, amiable nature, a notion likely influenced by his childhood spent playing with his discordant childhood friend Mayuri Shiina. Although Okabe portrays himself as an evil person plighted by bad deeds, he is gentler than anyone else, underscoring the idea that first-glance assumptions are weak in the face of one's true rationale.

Moreover, Okabe's benevolent characteristics shine in his harrowing, yet influential experience as he endlessly attempts to save Mayuri from an untimely death. Although Okabe is an "insane," unseemly person, he can shed tangible tears—yes, real cries—like anyone else. As he witnesses the countless deaths of the girl he grew up with, there is a strange, almost enigmatic shift in his character. No longer does he convey his emotions as that of the quirky, self-important "Hyouin Kyouma"—he instead becomes human, someone who can feel emotion just as tenderly as anyone else, which makes one ponder Okabe's true feelings as an adult. If, by definition, Okabe is "insane," how can he be so caring? How can he be so strong, in spite of tragedy coursing through his veins? By initially describing Okabe as someone who is both weird and unnatural, Hamasaki accurately instills these questions upon the audience—he forcibly establishes the idea that insanity, at times, can be used as a device that protects others from calamity, ultimately showing that much madness is, quite literally, divinest sense.

*NOTE: This review was written as part of my AP Literature & Composition practice, and as such, might appear rushed (I timed myself 40 minutes).

PROMPT: It has often been said that what we value can be determined only by what we sacrifice. Consider how this statement applies to a character from a novel or play. Select a character that has deliberately sacrificed, surrendered, or forfeited something in a way that highlights that character’s values. Then write a well-organized essay in which you analyze how the particular sacrifice illuminates the character’s values and provides a deeper understanding of the meaning of the work as a whole.

Sacrifices define people; in ways, giving up things in search for truth instills a sense of self-growth within humans. One person might "give up" a treasured avocation in pursuit of more instructional, pedagogical activities; another might "exchange" their hard-earned money to purchase something of equivalent importance—a car, perhaps. Revue Starlight, an animated series directed by Tomohiro Furukawa, is a show that fantastically links sacrifices as tragic representations of selves. As we follow Hikari Kagura, a character plighted by departure yet linked by promise, in her unending quest to discover her relationship with Aijo Karen, she ultimately imprisons herself in hopes of preserving the other stage girl's glimmer, showcasing that sometimes, the only way to protect what one wishes for most is to relinquish all they have.

"Things may not always be as they seem" is a wide-spread phrase that, frankly, could not appear more true in Revue Starlight's exposition. Although the withdrawn, taciturn Hikari Kagura initially avoids Karen when she first transfers to Seisho Music Academy, it is later revealed that she cares intimately for her, as she is bound by a powerful promise—a promise to "Starlight together"—made when they were mere children. Knowing that the Revue Auditions pilfer away stage girls' glimmer upon losing once, Hikari tries to thwart Karen's performances, establishing glints of protection from a very early point in the show. As the story progresses and the breadth between the two stage girls begins to close, Hikari becomes increasingly impressed by Karen's "shine," perhaps because of the strong bonds they created as children. In her transition from shy to affectionate regarding the two stage girls' heavily-contextualized relationship, the director accurately portrays Hikari's relationship with Karen as something uniquely special, making Hikari's prospective self-sacrifice tragic all while supporting the idea that things are not always as they seem.

When Hikari and Karen's promise draws closer to its denouement, Hikari becomes agitated. Though Kirin, the enigmatic spokesperson behind the Revue Auditions, states that the final performances will be held in the form a duet, she cannot help but be wary—after all, Starlight is meant to be a path of solitude, not a place where two stage girls can shine together. When it is revealed that Hikari must battle Karen in one last, final Revue Audition, many things course through the two girls' minds—but Hikari, reminiscent of their journeys, hardships, and pent-up aspirations in playwright, only entertains one thought: self-sacrifice. By surrendering, and thus, imprisoning herself in an eternal, bleak desert, bereft of both shimmer and stage, the audience becomes wholeheartedly engrossed in Tomohiro Furukawa's tragic, yet influential message: that, in pursuit of eternal smiles, one must be prepared to give up the things they wish for most—in this case, Hikari Kagura's dreams of shining on the most glistening, resplendent stage of all.