In Hazel Tells Laverne by Kathryn Howd Machan, the main idea of the poem is similar to the folk tale, The Princess and the Frog. It is almost like a twist of this renowned fairy tale. The woman is a maid in the hotel chain Howard Johnson, and completely disregards the frog prince. The personality and humor that comes out of this poem is what gives it its distinctiveness. When Machan uses words like "musta", "flushm", and "hitsm", we can see her language and regional accent show through. Also, with Machan's phrase, "ya little green pervert," a sense of humor enlightened the poem. She flushed the frog down the toilet instead of turning into a princess.
In a way, I feel like the character in this poem was down to earth. She wouldn't let herself become too worked up over the mere thought of becoming more than a maid. She realized that this was crazy. A talking frog? Yeah right, she thought. Maybe this poem meant to juxtapose the original fairy tale by saying that that princess does not see the realities of life.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Everyday Use- Alice Walker
The short story Everyday Use by Alice Walker was written in first person. The narrator is the mother of the other two main characters, Dee and Maggie. The fact that this story is written in first person gives alot to the concept of the story. At the end of the story, in the question whether or not the narrator refrains from making judgements, I came to the conclusion that she does in fact make sound critical of her daughter's new lifestyle. "Why don't you do a dance around the ashes? I'd wanted to ask her. She had hated the house that much." (Walker, 175). This quote clearly shows a little resentment in the emotions and personality of her daughter Dee.
Also, as I began reading this story, I thought of the "Prodigal Son" from the Bible. I thought that in the end the mother would just forgive Dee for leaving them for years and give her all she wanted. However, I was wrong. The ending was almost the exact opposite. It was not opposite in that she disowned Dee, but she did not give Dee all those articles and family heirlooms that she demanded to have. I felt very proud of the narrator for sticking up for Maggie, the forgotten daughter. The reader could also see a personality progression of Maggie by the end of the story, too. She was tired off not having a say and she finally stood up to Dee and said ,"She can have them, Mama," (Walker, 180).
Also, as I began reading this story, I thought of the "Prodigal Son" from the Bible. I thought that in the end the mother would just forgive Dee for leaving them for years and give her all she wanted. However, I was wrong. The ending was almost the exact opposite. It was not opposite in that she disowned Dee, but she did not give Dee all those articles and family heirlooms that she demanded to have. I felt very proud of the narrator for sticking up for Maggie, the forgotten daughter. The reader could also see a personality progression of Maggie by the end of the story, too. She was tired off not having a say and she finally stood up to Dee and said ,"She can have them, Mama," (Walker, 180).
Interpreter of Maladies- Jhumpa Lahiri
In Jhumpa Lahiri's Interpreter of Maladies, the central conflict of the story was the agonizing connection between Mrs. Das and Mr. Kappasi. It was also about the Indian society and culture at the time. The expectations of an authentic Indian family was arranged marriages. This posed a serious problem for both of these characters in the short story. Neither were happy with their lives and were not trully in love with their spouses. The majority of this story was about Mr. Kapasi's internal conflict of falling for Mrs. Das. However, in the end of the story, Mr. Kapasi realizes this love could never be and never existed. The conflict was resolved, just not in the way he had played it out in his mind.
To the last question at the end of the short story, "Has his (Mr. Kapasi) encounter with the Das family created any permanant change in his outlook on life or his view of himself?", I answered yes. This meeting with Mrs. Das made him completely rethink his marriage and love for his wife of many years. The fact that he had already grown so infatuated with her shows that his love for his wife was very fragile and delicate. An example of this is one page 158, "He had never admired the backs of his wife's legs the way he now admired those of Mrs. Das..." The legs of Mrs. Das here don't necessarily mean just her legs. I believe he was insinutating that he had never felt this way of his wife before.I feel that he will always have doubts the rest of his life and will never be the same.
Mr. Z- M. Carl Holman
In Mr.Z by M. Carl Holman, I believed that he used satire and irony to prove his message. Satirizing the character of Mr. Z, Holman says, "Not one false note was struck-until he died" (Holman, 848).This quote from the poem almost makes fun of the fact that this character lived his life avoiding mistakes; and then, died. This Mr. Z clearly resented his mother's heritage. He tried his best to avoid anything that led him toward that characteristic. Worried about his pride and honor in his society, he disclaimed all that connected him to his ancestry.
Holman also uses irony at the end of his poem. "One of the most distinguished members of his race" (Holman, 848). This quote prompted an ironic situation when I read it. Mr. Z lived his whole life doing his best to live up to the standards of the accepted race of his generation. However, he did not act like his actual race. In fact, he did his best to put that other half of him in the back of his mind. The fact that this writer refers to Mr. Z of a separate and different race, places him at a level below him. This character portrayed in the poem may have lived a common "white" lifestyle, but he will always be referred to as a separate race; never equal.
Dream Deferred- Langston Hughes
After reading the questions at the end of the poem, Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes, I realized that Hughes was actually an African American. Learning this information, I came to the conclusion that this story was probably about a lack of freedoms or civil rights. Because it says this story was written during the life of Hughes (1902-1967), I doubt it is about slavery. However, this "dream deferred" is obviously about an aspiration that was never achieved or attempted. Hughes uses his strong action words and diction such as "fester" and "sags" to accentuate the fact that the dream was destroyed to the point of no return. This poem seems to show that an African American is asking what happens when a dream is completely overlooked. In the early 1900's, this race was extremely looked down upon even though slavery was unconstitutional. This means that they weren't given the same or even any opportunities as the whites. These overlooked opportunities turn into "dreams deferred."
Hughes,also, uses similes and metaphors to emphasize the broken dreams and goals of African Americans in this society. An example of a simile is, "Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?" (The metaphor that I noticed from the poem was, "or does it explode." (Hughes, 805).
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Perrine's Essay
Perrine's approach to determining the "correct" interpretations of poetry was actually interesting to read. Although there were some aspects I didn't completely agree with, for the most part, he made some sense to me. When I began reading the essay, this quote perturbed me, "That all interpretations of a poem are equally valid is a critical heresy." I first disagreed completely with this. I believe that some poems have a wide variety of interpretations. But then, as I continued reading, I actually grew to understand where Perrine was coming from. His analogy of connecting the dots of a break in drew me in. It definitely was more believable to think a man broke in than a monkey. I came to the conclusion that although each reader may come up with a dependable analysis, there are always some that make a lot more sense than others.
As I read Pierren's view of the multiple poems, my interpretations were challenged. Emily Dickinson's untitled poem really threw me through a loop. I literally took this poem as being about a ship on the ocean. I never even thought it could possibly be about a sunset or a field of flowers. Another poem that I was completely wrong about was "The Night March." How could anyone figure out that this poem was a metaphor for a starry night sky? I guess I am just a very literal person. This essay has helped me to broaden my mind a tad of the vast scope of symbols. I don't believe that poems can be about whatever we want them to be, however, most poems have deeper meanings that I may never fully understand.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Picture Caption
I went to Kings Island and figured that would be the best place to take this picture. I was having Nick take my picture on the ride while I was "reading" my book to get the cool background in...but the ride camera caught us. I thought this picture was hilarious because my little cousin Vinny was still getting really into the shooting game part of the ride while we are trying to get a good picture! :)
The Great Gatsby: 163-180
How can Gatsby, the main character of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, be killed off? I must have been completely confused when I read chapter 8. Jay Gatsby was the one who was murdered and Mr. Wilson did it. That makes a whole lot more sense to me though. Wilson clearly murdered Gatsby since he saw Gatsby's car hit and kill his wife. I am just astounded as to how this book ended!
James Gatz randomly comes in again in this very last part of the novel. Apparently, there was a connection between Jay Gatsby and James Gatz. Gatz is his father! What else could be twisted and spun around to confuse the reader?
The end of this book made me sad for this generation of people. All of the community just used Gatsby for his parties and for his money. All he was ever trying to do was make others happy and win Daisy back. The only thing we could blame Jay Gatsby for was trying to hard to please everyone without looking out for himself. Even when he was brutally murdered, no one bothered to show up for his funeral. The nerve of all of those people who were treated so welcomingly and invited in so warmly!
"The minister glanced several times at his watch, so I took him aside and asked him ti wait for half an hour. But it wasn't any use. Nobody came, " (Fitzgerald, pg174).
James Gatz randomly comes in again in this very last part of the novel. Apparently, there was a connection between Jay Gatsby and James Gatz. Gatz is his father! What else could be twisted and spun around to confuse the reader?
The end of this book made me sad for this generation of people. All of the community just used Gatsby for his parties and for his money. All he was ever trying to do was make others happy and win Daisy back. The only thing we could blame Jay Gatsby for was trying to hard to please everyone without looking out for himself. Even when he was brutally murdered, no one bothered to show up for his funeral. The nerve of all of those people who were treated so welcomingly and invited in so warmly!
"The minister glanced several times at his watch, so I took him aside and asked him ti wait for half an hour. But it wasn't any use. Nobody came, " (Fitzgerald, pg174).
The Great Gatsby: 147-162
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald maintains its ability to unleash bits of information. Earlier in my blogs, I decided to believe that Gatsby was the one who left the relationship between himself and Daisy. However, my prediction was wrong.
"She wanted her life shaped now, immediately-and the decision must be made by some force-of love, of money, of unquestionable practicality-that was close at hand.
That force took shape in the middle of the spring with the arrival of Tom Buchanan." (Fitzgerald, pg151).
This means that it was Daisy who ended their relationship. Daisy was the one who wanted the wealth and the life. She was just using Tom to get it. Daisy may have really loved Gatsby, but her impatience killed Gatsby's dream and love. This makes me question Daisy's whole character trait.
AND THEN....there was ANOTHER murder. It seems as though it was Gatsby who killed Wilson! This doesn't make any sense to me. Why would he kill Wilson? He wasn't having an affair with Myrtle, Tom Buchanan was. With all of these loop holes and plot twists, I am forever confused.
The Great Gatsby: 124-145
In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays Tom Buchanan as a man who always is in control. His wife is his and he is allowed to also have a mistress. He seems to feel entitled to pretty much whatever he wants when he wants it. I found it extremely ironic this chapter, to see that he lost all control in his relationships. "His wife and his mistress, until an hour ago secure and inviolate, were slipping precipitately from his control," (Fitzgerald, pg125).
Tom just continues to surpise me as to what he says out loud to other people. He basically admits to having an affair! Why would he do that?
" 'And what's more I love Daisy too. Once in a while I go off on a spree and make a fool of myelf, but I always come back, and in my heart I love her all the time,' " (Fitzgerald, pg131).
This is just an idiotic response and argument. Tom is suggesting that he is allowed to make the mistake of cheating on his wife as long as he always goes back and admits to always loving her. This just proves my guess of his character.
AND THEN Myrtle Wilson is hit by a car and dies. What a twist! At first it seemed that Mr.Wilson was the one who did it; I guessed this because it seemed like the Wilsons were fighting. Then to find out that it was really Daisy who was driving Gatsby's car, was crazy to me. This novel has a ton of twists I have come to find out.
Tom just continues to surpise me as to what he says out loud to other people. He basically admits to having an affair! Why would he do that?
" 'And what's more I love Daisy too. Once in a while I go off on a spree and make a fool of myelf, but I always come back, and in my heart I love her all the time,' " (Fitzgerald, pg131).
This is just an idiotic response and argument. Tom is suggesting that he is allowed to make the mistake of cheating on his wife as long as he always goes back and admits to always loving her. This just proves my guess of his character.
AND THEN Myrtle Wilson is hit by a car and dies. What a twist! At first it seemed that Mr.Wilson was the one who did it; I guessed this because it seemed like the Wilsons were fighting. Then to find out that it was really Daisy who was driving Gatsby's car, was crazy to me. This novel has a ton of twists I have come to find out.
The Great Gatsby: 112-123
In my last post, I mentioned that I believed all of Gatsby's actions in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald were for Daisy. I continue to back my hypothesis by the stumbling upon more examples from the text. "So the whole caravansary had fallen like a card house at the disapproval in her eyes," (Fitzgerald, pg114). Gatsby had thrown these huge elaborate parties just for the purpose of Daisy happening upon them at some point in time. Now, he has appeared to stop throwing these parties for exactly the same reason.
Daisy is such a multidimensional character. As I have continued reading, I have noticed more and more of her doubt in love for her husband.
" 'She doesn't look like her father,' explained Daisy. 'She looks like me. She's got my hair and shape of the face.' " (Fitzgerald, pg117).
To me, it seems as though Daisy is glad that her baby doesn't look like her husband. If her little girl had looked like him, that might have been a reminder of their broken bond in a relationship on a daily basis. Here even more Daisy is questioning her life at the moment. " 'What'll we do with ourselves this afternoon?' cried Daisy, 'and the day after that, and the next thirty years?' " (Fitzgerald, pg118).
Daisy is such a multidimensional character. As I have continued reading, I have noticed more and more of her doubt in love for her husband.
" 'She doesn't look like her father,' explained Daisy. 'She looks like me. She's got my hair and shape of the face.' " (Fitzgerald, pg117).
To me, it seems as though Daisy is glad that her baby doesn't look like her husband. If her little girl had looked like him, that might have been a reminder of their broken bond in a relationship on a daily basis. Here even more Daisy is questioning her life at the moment. " 'What'll we do with ourselves this afternoon?' cried Daisy, 'and the day after that, and the next thirty years?' " (Fitzgerald, pg118).
The Great Gatsby: 110
As I continued to read about and come to understand the love story between Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I wondered what went wrong. I am still extremely confused at to why if they were so very much in love only 5 years ago, why they didn't get married.
One quote from this novel gave me an idea on this topic. It has given me a glimpse into the mindset of Gatsby.
"...a ladder and mounted to a secret place above the trees-he could climb to it, if he climbed alone, and once there he could suck on the pap of life, gulp down the incomparable milk of wonder" (Fitzgerald, pg110).
I wonder if Gatsby had to chose between his love of Daisy and living a life of wealth and luxury.
"if he climbed alone"- To me, this seems to suggest that he had to go on in life, without settling down with a loved one and starting a family, if he was to make a name for himself. In order for Gatsby to "suck on the pap of life" and "gulp down the incomparable milk of wonder" he had to go out alone. I also want to guess that maybe he wanted to form all this wealth for Daisy. So, maybe someday Daisy would come to him and feel all the joys of riches.
One quote from this novel gave me an idea on this topic. It has given me a glimpse into the mindset of Gatsby.
"...a ladder and mounted to a secret place above the trees-he could climb to it, if he climbed alone, and once there he could suck on the pap of life, gulp down the incomparable milk of wonder" (Fitzgerald, pg110).
I wonder if Gatsby had to chose between his love of Daisy and living a life of wealth and luxury.
"if he climbed alone"- To me, this seems to suggest that he had to go on in life, without settling down with a loved one and starting a family, if he was to make a name for himself. In order for Gatsby to "suck on the pap of life" and "gulp down the incomparable milk of wonder" he had to go out alone. I also want to guess that maybe he wanted to form all this wealth for Daisy. So, maybe someday Daisy would come to him and feel all the joys of riches.
The Great Gatsby: 98-108
F. Scott Fitzgerald has continued to change directions in The Great Gatsby. James Gatz is a minor character that was thrown into the novel. I was a tad confused here. It seemed to me that James Gatz was just a jounalist or a reporter who was trying to get Jay Gatsby in trouble some way. Also, this may just be me, but doesn't James Gatz and Jay Gatsby sound the same? I wonder if this is foreshadowing or will be relevant later on in the story.
Here again in this chapter of The Great Gatsby, I noticed that women remain subordinate to men. Being written at this time period and about the 1920s, this isn't so rare. On page 103, Fitzgerald writes," 'I wonder where the devil he met Daisy. By God, I may be old-fashioned in my ideas, but women run around too much these days to suit me. They meet all kinds of crazy fish." In this quote right here, I noticed that maybe by his words "old-fashioned ideas," Tom Buchanan meant that women were becoming more and more involved within society; however, the mindset that these women are to remain in the home and stay within supervision is still extremely prominant.
I also learned some new information of Jay Gatsby between these pages. Daisy knew Gatsby from years ago. She explains that he got a great deal of money from his drug-stores. She admits that he owned and operated alot of these stores. This was new information that may explain why maybe he was being so secretive.
Here again in this chapter of The Great Gatsby, I noticed that women remain subordinate to men. Being written at this time period and about the 1920s, this isn't so rare. On page 103, Fitzgerald writes," 'I wonder where the devil he met Daisy. By God, I may be old-fashioned in my ideas, but women run around too much these days to suit me. They meet all kinds of crazy fish." In this quote right here, I noticed that maybe by his words "old-fashioned ideas," Tom Buchanan meant that women were becoming more and more involved within society; however, the mindset that these women are to remain in the home and stay within supervision is still extremely prominant.
I also learned some new information of Jay Gatsby between these pages. Daisy knew Gatsby from years ago. She explains that he got a great deal of money from his drug-stores. She admits that he owned and operated alot of these stores. This was new information that may explain why maybe he was being so secretive.
The Great Gatsby: 92-97
In these pages of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I began to see the love connection of Daisy and Gatsby begin to transform. "It was the hour of a profound human change," (Fitzgerald, pg95). This quote grasped the emotion in the air of the change from embarassment and longing to recollection and reunion. I believe Daisy and Gatsby wanted Nick to remain in the house with them for multiple reasons. To be a mediator and a supporter of the two long lost lovers.
This book is just full of quotes that hold deep meanings. I found another one on page 96. "No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart." This quote holds so much truth though. If a man or a woman truly loves someone, nothing new or challenging can possibly change what they feel deep within their heart. An example of this would be in Dear John written by Nicholas Sparks. After John comes home from the war to find Savannah, the love of his life, married to another man, he can never come to find love as deep in any other person. We witness this emotional bond in almost every other romance movie or book.
This book is just full of quotes that hold deep meanings. I found another one on page 96. "No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart." This quote holds so much truth though. If a man or a woman truly loves someone, nothing new or challenging can possibly change what they feel deep within their heart. An example of this would be in Dear John written by Nicholas Sparks. After John comes home from the war to find Savannah, the love of his life, married to another man, he can never come to find love as deep in any other person. We witness this emotional bond in almost every other romance movie or book.
The Great Gatsby: 81-91
F. Scott Fitzgerald does an amazing job at portraying the American lifestyle of the 1920s in The Great Gatsby. His work is very serious and contains a fictional story that we all in ways can relate to. However, I found a moment of satire in the novel! On page 85, Fitzgerald gives dialogue between Nick Carraway and Daisy Buchanan.
" '...Tell your chauffeur to go far away and spend an hour.'
'Come back inan hour, Ferdie.' Then in a grave murmer: 'His name is Ferdie.'
'Does the gasoline affect his nose?'
'I don't think so,' she said innocently. 'Why?' "
This was just a little moment that almost made me laugh out loud.
On page 86, I found a great example of imagery where the description really painted a picture inside of my mind. "Gatsby, pale as death, with his hands plunged like weights in his coat pockets, was standing in a puddle of water glaring tragically into my eyes." In this one sentence, I can feel what Gatsby was feeling. I can see him standing there dripping wet and embarassed. Fitzgerald uses amazing action verbs such as "plunged" and "glaring". The way he uses similes in this sentence was extremely effective as well. The examples are "pale as death" and "his hands plunged like weights".
" '...Tell your chauffeur to go far away and spend an hour.'
'Come back inan hour, Ferdie.' Then in a grave murmer: 'His name is Ferdie.'
'Does the gasoline affect his nose?'
'I don't think so,' she said innocently. 'Why?' "
This was just a little moment that almost made me laugh out loud.
On page 86, I found a great example of imagery where the description really painted a picture inside of my mind. "Gatsby, pale as death, with his hands plunged like weights in his coat pockets, was standing in a puddle of water glaring tragically into my eyes." In this one sentence, I can feel what Gatsby was feeling. I can see him standing there dripping wet and embarassed. Fitzgerald uses amazing action verbs such as "plunged" and "glaring". The way he uses similes in this sentence was extremely effective as well. The examples are "pale as death" and "his hands plunged like weights".
The Great Gatsby 72-80
F. Scott Fitzgerald continues to confuse me in The Great Gatsby. Right as I was getting used to his unique style of writing, he throws a curve ball in there. Out of the blue Fitzgerald switched the narration from Nick Carraway to Jordan Baker. It took me a minute to even figure out the change and had to reread the passage.
There was one sentence in particular that I thought was very helpful to understanding this quick change. "(said Jordan Baker that afternoon, sitting up very straight on a straight chair in the tea-garden at the Plaza Hotel)" (Fitzgerald, pg74). This was a very good example of setting as well as imagery. This was an extremely prudent insert into Fitzgerald's novel; otherwise, the reader would have no idea what the shift was or have any chance of understanding.
This is also maybe even considered a flashback and a story within a story! This could be an example of so many vocab words!
Another quote that I found worth mentioning is, "There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy, and the tired" (Fitzgerald, pg79). I believe this quote to be connectable to so many different aspects. In today's society there are always those who are working their hardest to compete for a job, for someone they are in love with, or even for their life. Then there are those people who are being pursued, those who are wanted for a certain job, a college, a team, for someone else's needs. Next, there are those who are too busy with life to stop and see what's around them or too busy to add any other activities. And of course, the tired. Today, many just quit and give up when they are too tired or have worked so hard for so long. Some may not have even reached their initial goals in life.
There was one sentence in particular that I thought was very helpful to understanding this quick change. "(said Jordan Baker that afternoon, sitting up very straight on a straight chair in the tea-garden at the Plaza Hotel)" (Fitzgerald, pg74). This was a very good example of setting as well as imagery. This was an extremely prudent insert into Fitzgerald's novel; otherwise, the reader would have no idea what the shift was or have any chance of understanding.
This is also maybe even considered a flashback and a story within a story! This could be an example of so many vocab words!
Another quote that I found worth mentioning is, "There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy, and the tired" (Fitzgerald, pg79). I believe this quote to be connectable to so many different aspects. In today's society there are always those who are working their hardest to compete for a job, for someone they are in love with, or even for their life. Then there are those people who are being pursued, those who are wanted for a certain job, a college, a team, for someone else's needs. Next, there are those who are too busy with life to stop and see what's around them or too busy to add any other activities. And of course, the tired. Today, many just quit and give up when they are too tired or have worked so hard for so long. Some may not have even reached their initial goals in life.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
The Great Gatsby: 61-71
As the chapters progress in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I can see a bond building between Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway. This became very prominent to me when Gatsby began telling Nick the truth about his life. This was important because it seemed everyone in the city knew stories of Gatsby but at the end announced it was just a rumor they heard. No one really knew where he was from or how he came upon his money. To me, this seems as though that's the way Gatsby wants it; so it was out of his comfort to tell Nick his real story.
"He hurried through the phrase "educated at Oxford" or swallowed it, or choked on it, as though it had bothered him before. And with this doubt, his whole statement fell to pieces, and I wondered if there wasn't something a little sinister about him after all," (Fitzgerald, pg65). I wonder what bothered Gatsby about this? Why wouldn't he confide fully with Nick if he began to at all? Maybe Gatsby was hiding something terrible from the world. Although, I do have confidence that he is telling the truth. I believe Gatsby to be just a retired veteran and a young, educated man who found great wealth.
Another quote that I felt was extremely important at this point in the novel was on page 66, "Then the war came, old sport. It was a great relief, and I tried very hard to die, but I seemed to bear an enchanted life." This quote really tells the reader alot about Gatsby's character. He must have been bearing a burden in his life to where a war was a relief to him, something to get away to. He even says he was just hoping he would die in the war and went out of his way to TRY to die. He did find that when in the end he couldn't succeed in dying, he must have a deeper meaning for the world. I believe this to be the wake up call Jay Gatsby needed.
"He hurried through the phrase "educated at Oxford" or swallowed it, or choked on it, as though it had bothered him before. And with this doubt, his whole statement fell to pieces, and I wondered if there wasn't something a little sinister about him after all," (Fitzgerald, pg65). I wonder what bothered Gatsby about this? Why wouldn't he confide fully with Nick if he began to at all? Maybe Gatsby was hiding something terrible from the world. Although, I do have confidence that he is telling the truth. I believe Gatsby to be just a retired veteran and a young, educated man who found great wealth.
Another quote that I felt was extremely important at this point in the novel was on page 66, "Then the war came, old sport. It was a great relief, and I tried very hard to die, but I seemed to bear an enchanted life." This quote really tells the reader alot about Gatsby's character. He must have been bearing a burden in his life to where a war was a relief to him, something to get away to. He even says he was just hoping he would die in the war and went out of his way to TRY to die. He did find that when in the end he couldn't succeed in dying, he must have a deeper meaning for the world. I believe this to be the wake up call Jay Gatsby needed.
The Great Gatsby: 49-59
I am continually surprised as to how The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is written. On page 55, he writes, "Reading over what I have written so far, I see I have given the impression that the events of the three nights several weeks apart were all that absorbed me." This sentence seems the novel to be almost like a journal written by the character Nick Carraway. There are only random phrases and sentences like this; however, when I have come across reading them, it does seem random. More than the majority is just written from the viewpoint of Nick but then it seems less like a story and more like he is writing a journal.
"Dishonesty in woman is something you should never blame deeply," (Fitzgerald, pg58). Here again is another example of sexism in this novel. It appears as though women cannot be blamed for what they have become because they are vulnerable or naive.
Another quote that I believe may be potentially important or may even be foreshadowing something is on page 59. "I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known." This may even connect to something later on in the story.
"Dishonesty in woman is something you should never blame deeply," (Fitzgerald, pg58). Here again is another example of sexism in this novel. It appears as though women cannot be blamed for what they have become because they are vulnerable or naive.
Another quote that I believe may be potentially important or may even be foreshadowing something is on page 59. "I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known." This may even connect to something later on in the story.
The Great Gatsby: 39-48
As chapter 3 unfolded in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I began to learn alot more about the people of this generation or rather just those presented in this novel. The fact that all of these people just show up to Gatsby's home without an invitation and without even knowing him is incredibly rude to me. It seems to me as though Gatsby is okay with this. Not only this, but the community expects these lavish and extravagant parties every weekend.
"There's something funny about a man like that...He doesn't want any trouble with anybody, " (Fitzgerald, pg43). I found this quote to be extremely ironic as well. I took this explanation in a negative way. It sounded to me as though the woman Nick overheard saying this was criticising Gatsby. She was almost insinuating that he is only this nice so he doesn't get in trouble or that he has something to hide. Others in the book speculate different ways in which he obtained all his millions. All of the rumors aren't even righteous and all paint him in a bad light. It seems as though the people can't just accept the genuine generosity of Gatsby and are just looking for a way to put him down.
"It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in a life," (Fitzgerald, pg48). This quote made me view Gatsby as a man with a kind soul. At this point in the story, it seems that Nick actually likes Gatsby, so I am a bit confused as to why in the first chapter it seemed that he didn't want anything to do with him.
"There's something funny about a man like that...He doesn't want any trouble with anybody, " (Fitzgerald, pg43). I found this quote to be extremely ironic as well. I took this explanation in a negative way. It sounded to me as though the woman Nick overheard saying this was criticising Gatsby. She was almost insinuating that he is only this nice so he doesn't get in trouble or that he has something to hide. Others in the book speculate different ways in which he obtained all his millions. All of the rumors aren't even righteous and all paint him in a bad light. It seems as though the people can't just accept the genuine generosity of Gatsby and are just looking for a way to put him down.
"It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in a life," (Fitzgerald, pg48). This quote made me view Gatsby as a man with a kind soul. At this point in the story, it seems that Nick actually likes Gatsby, so I am a bit confused as to why in the first chapter it seemed that he didn't want anything to do with him.
The Great Gatsby: 23-38
As I continue reading The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I am continuously surprised at how comfortable all of these men and women are with the ideas of cheating on a spouse. It seems that through each marriage displayed in this novel, there is at least one spouse being unfaithful.
I was even more dumbfounded at the idea of Tom being comfortable with Nick meeting his mistress. Hello! Nick is cousins with his own wife! My only guess for this would be that either felt Nick wouldn't have the right to tell Daisy about this or that maybe even Nick wouldn't even care about it.
Characters in this story just keep making excuses for the affair between Tom and Myrtle Wilson.
"Neither of them can stand the person they are married to...If I was them I'd get a divorce and married to each other right away," (Fitzgerald, pg33). And then, on the same page further down it says, "It's the wife that is really keeping them apart. She's a Catholic, and they don't believe in divorce." It's extremely ironic to me that Myrtle is being shown as a saint by not divorcing her husband. As if being unfaithful to her husband isn't going against God's commandments anyway! It'd be less of a sin to just get the divorce in my eyes! This excuse must only be to make Myrtle and all of those who know about the situation a way to see it in a better light and not as a selfish sin.
The Great Gatsby : 12-21
I was extremely surprised to find that within the first chapter of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald there would be as much drama as there already is! Tom is having an affair! I have already come to not like this character. Not only does he seem to have few morals, but he is arrogant. He has made racist and sexist remarks to Nick Carraway. For example, on page 13, Tom insinuates that whites are better than all other people when he says, "It's up to us, who are the dominant race, to watch out or these other races will have control of things."
Another reaso. I have grown to dislike the character of Tom Buchanan is because of this quote from page 17, "I'm glad it's a girl. And I hope she'll be a fool- that's the best thing a girl can. E in this world, a beautiful little fool." This shows me that Tom, and maybe all men of this time period, believe that women should remain subservient to men. Tom believed that women should leave the work and smarts to me.n while their only job is to be beautiful.
There were a few bits from these pages that I was confused by. One was how did Jordan Baker know Nick already? And my other confusion was why after all of the time of being Gatsby's neighbor, had Nick never been over to talk to or at least meet Gatsby?
Another reaso. I have grown to dislike the character of Tom Buchanan is because of this quote from page 17, "I'm glad it's a girl. And I hope she'll be a fool- that's the best thing a girl can. E in this world, a beautiful little fool." This shows me that Tom, and maybe all men of this time period, believe that women should remain subservient to men. Tom believed that women should leave the work and smarts to me.n while their only job is to be beautiful.
There were a few bits from these pages that I was confused by. One was how did Jordan Baker know Nick already? And my other confusion was why after all of the time of being Gatsby's neighbor, had Nick never been over to talk to or at least meet Gatsby?
The Great Gatsby
As I began reading The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I noticed right away that it was written from the viewpoint of the narrator in first person. This person was Nick Carraway. I enjoy books written like this because even though the reader may only be given one side of the story for the majority of the book, the language and characters are consistent throughout. I feel like the stories can become a lot more personal when one character from the story itself is telling his part.
These first few pages already began to confuse me. I realized that Gatsby was in fact a person. This person, though, I could not decide if Nick liked. On page 2, nick explains, "Only Gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book, was exempt from my reaction-Gatsby, who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn." From this quote I already felt that Nick Carraway had a story to tell us to fill the reader on what he exactly meant by this statement. Nick later on in the same page admits that he ended up liking Gatsby; I just felt it was a different way of starting out the novel- leaving out information that would be explained later on.
Just within these first 10 pages, I began to meet and understand a few characters. I am still a bit confused on Nick. He seems to be a man of modest income who owns his own home but isn't at all wealthy. He is a man who doesn't judge people without knowing them and doesn't place importance on material wealth. Nick lived alone and just came to America.
The next character was was able to make up was Tom Buchanan. This is Nick's cousin Daisy's husband. I took away from these pages that Tom could not let go of his college football career and lived his life as a very proud man. It seems to me that Tom would do anything to remain popular and well respected amount his peers and community.
And Daisy. This young woman appears to be extremely naive and warm hearted. She comes off as lovely and cheerful but perhaps has this facade to cover up deep emotional issues.
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