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TOPIC 3 «Compare the Families of the McBrides and the Pendletons»

Life in the McBrides household is very absorbing. They live in a big old-fashioned brick house with white trimmings set back from the street. Everything is so comfortable, restful and homelike. It is the perfect house for children to be brought up in. Just the sight of such a house makes you want to be a child all over again. And as for families, they are so nice. Sallie has a father, mother and grandmother and the sweetest three-year-old baby sister all over curls, and a medium-sized brother and a big, good-looking brother named Jimmie, who is a junior at Princeton. They have the jolliest times at the table- everybody laughs and jokes and they do not have to say grace beforehand. Mr. McBride owns a factory. Sallie’s mother is the most interesting, entertaining, companionable, charming woman in the world; she knows everything. As we can see, their family radiates kindness and naturalness. They are always ready to help others, and are always happy to see everyone. As for the Pendleton family, Julia comes from one of the first families in New York. She is the least entertaining person; she is always bored at everything. She never makes the slightest effort to be amiable. She believes that if you are a Pendleton, that fact alone admits you to heaven without any further examination. Her family represents the high-class society, who probably never wants to mingle with people other than those who belong in their class. The Pendletons are naturally conservative inimical to change. They could afford to behave tactlessly and rudely. However, an uncle stood out from the whole family - Mr. Jervis Pendleton. He is a real human being – not a Pendleton at all. He was brought up in a well-known New-York family but unlike his family (and Julia); he appeared to be a very companionable person. Master Jervie typifies those wealthy individuals who still have the kind and genuine hearts. He is also presented as someone who is perceived differently in their (Pendleton) family because of his eccentric personality. Knowing a member of the Pendleton family is the best introduction one can have. In general, these families are so different, they can be compared as good and evil. The McBrides are the personification of kindness and friendliness, while the Pendletons are rich, domineering and callous people (not all).