Question 4

 Q4) Focus this part of your answer on the second part of the source, from line 19 to the end.

A student said, ‘This part of the story, set in the hat shop, shows that the

red-haired girl has many advantages in life, and I think Rosabel is right to be angry.’

To what extent do you agree?

In your response, you could:

- consider your own impressions of the red-haired girl

- evaluate how the writer conveys Rosabel’s reactions to the red-haired girl

- support your response with references to the text.

Student answer:

In the second part of the source, the writer describes the red-haired girl to be very privileged, which upsets Rosabel. This is somewhat justified, but there are many reasons why it is not fair for Rosabel to be angry.

From the beginning, the girl is described very carefully and in much detail. Her “beautiful” hair and “white” skin have connotations of purity and angelic features, which are inevitably enviable qualities. The writer describes the girl’s eyes as green like “that green ribbon shot with gold they had got from Paris last week”. By including “gold” and “Paris”, the reader associates the girl with opulence and grandeur. This shows her wealth and status immediately, suggesting that she has been given many opportunities in life, a notion which is emphasised by the appearance of her “carriage”.

The writer also describes the girl’s company in order to show that the “young man” is also “well dressed” and therefore of the same social status. The contrast between Rosabel and the girl is emphasised by the girl’s companion, as it outnumbers Rosabel.

The writer describes simultaneous actions to emphasis the contrast further – as the girl speaks to the man, Rosabel “took the pins out of her hat, untied her veil and gave her a hand-mirror”. This portrays Rosabel as a servant, and shows her social inferiority clearly, as does the phrase “the girl glanced at Rosabel laughingly”. The verb glances makes Rosabel seem insignificant in the eyes of the girl, and the adverb “laughingly” has a mocking tone. The phrase “they had been very hard to please” also shows the high standards of the customers and the desperate and eager tone of “she had run up, breathlessly” emphasises how much Rosabel wants and needs to make the sale, further emphasising her social standing.

The “untouched box” creates an idea that this hat was special, reinforcing the idea that this girl is deserving or worthy of such an object. The “velvet rose” and “great, curled feather” add to the idea of oppulence that surrounds the girl.

The command of “let me see” shows how the girl can easily use her position to make orders to Rosabel, as does the fact that she “swept out to her carriage and left Harry to pay and bring the box”. This suggests that the girl is accustomed to being catered for and waited on.

Rosabel is heavily contrasted to the girl throughout the passage, even in their appearances, with the girl’s “beautiful red hair” and Rosabel’s “brown hair”. In contrast, Rosabel seems plain and dull.

It is clear that Rosabel feels threatened and inferior to the girl, as the “sudden, ridiculous feeling of anger had seized” her. The adjectives used indicate that Rosabel is aware of the foolishness of her emotions, but the “sudden” feeling that “seized” her is passive, and powerful, suggesting that Rosabel can neither stop nor comprehend her feelings. The emotive and violent imagery used of “she longed to throw the lovely, perishable thing”, “bent over” and “flushing”, shows a physical power over Rosabel that is caused by these emotions.

Although Rosabel’s reaction was provoked by the girl “smil[ing]” and calling Rosabel beautiful, Rosabel is mostly justified in feeling angry, for the feelings are taking control of her senses, and are out of her control. Throughout the passage the girl is shown to be entitled, wealthy and “hard to please”, as well as taking Rosabel’s assistance for granted. She also perhaps unknowingly taunts Rosabel by making her try on the hat, and exclaiming that she “must have that!”.

Whilst the girl can't be blamed for being born into her privilege, and she doesn’t actively say anything malicious or rude to Rosabel, it is still unjust for Rosabel that their class division is so wide. It is very likely that Rosabel’s anger is not directly towards the girl, but towards society in general, which is completely justified.

Mark: 20/20

Examiner Comments:

 This is a full mark response that shows what a candidate can achieve in response to an unseen text within the time constraints of an examination. It begins with a clear overview - the candidate knows precisely where they are heading with their line of argument. What is produced is a perceptive and detailed evaluation, and a convincing and critical response to the focus of the statement, supported with a range of judicious textual details throughout. The perceptive understanding of writer's methods, eg the use of simultaneous actions by Rosabel and the red-haired girl, one symbolising servant and the other master, is exceptionally clever.