Nick Naylor's perpetual fight against the "gaspers" means a consistent argument that they stand in the way of American values, more so than big tobacco does. Write an essay about Nick's constant debate with the neo-Puritanical elements of America in three parts:

Part 1) Discuss Nick's appearance on Oprah with the kid dying of cancer and Ron Goode. How is the deck stacked against Nick at the beginning of the program, and how does Nick turn the tables? What accusations does he lob at Goode and OSAP, and how does Goode respond? What makes the show a victory for the Academy?

Part 2) Discuss the ongoing argument between Senator Finisterre and Nick. What changes does the Senator want to enact regarding cigarettes? What arguments does Nick make over the course of the novel to rebut these changes? Why does Nick come off so much better than the Senator in this argument?

Part 3) Sum up the essay by discussing what Nick Naylor's central argument about freedom is. What does he consider men like Senator Finisterre and Ron Goode threats to American freedom? What do they want that is incompatible with democracy, according to Nick?

Essay Topic 2

The world of tobacco in Buckley's novel is divided into two groups: the old-school manufacturers and the slick image men who try to sell the industry to the country. Write a essay about this conflict, focusing on each side individually:

Part 1) The old style of tobacco men is represented most clearly by the character of the Captain. What does the old man value in business? Why does he take to Nick Naylor so fervently? How are his views considered antiquated by the new guard, and how does his death mark the passing of an era?

Part 2) The new style of image and branding is perhaps best represented by the slick, deceptive BR. What does he want to do to change the Academy, and how do these changes jive with the old style of men like the Captain? What kind of support does BR have at the Academy, and how is his power derived almost exclusively from lies and treachery?

Essay Topic 3

The Washington, DC, of Thank You for Smoking is one in which trusted - or at least reliable - institutions are crumbling and corrupt. They live by lies and the drive of individual ambition of those within them. Write an essay in three parts about the lapsed institutions of the novel:

Part 1) The dominant culture of Washington, DC, is politics. What is known about the politicians in the novel? Are they intelligent, trustworthy, or ethical? Do they want much of anything beyond publicity? Cite individual examples of politicians in the text.

Part 2) The press in Washington, DC, is primarily represented by the character of Heather Holloway. What is her primary objective in the novel, and how does she go about attaining it? Are her tactics in keeping with what one would generally call journalistic ethics?

Part 3) Nick Naylor bends over backwards trying to justify his work in the lobbying industry in Washington D.C. How is his lobby ethically compromised beyond even the lax standards of lobbying firms in general? Who in the Academy is most indicative of this internal rot?

(see the answer keys)

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