Identity Unit 1 (Mr. Z)

"Mr. Z"
M. Carl Holman

A major theme in this poem is overcoming racial adversity.  Mr. Z was "Taught early that his mother's skin was the sign of error" (Holman). This quote expresses two important points. First, this quote allows for interpretation of Mr. Z's race. Because the quote only mentions his mother's skin color, the reader could guess that Mr. Z is biracial. Second, the quote above sets the tone for the rest of Mr. Z's life to be narrated in this brief poem. Mr. Z worked his entire life to escape from and overcome the racial tension and discrimination that he faced. He was well educated and well known. "And so he climbed, unclogged by ethnic weights, an airborne plant, flourishing without roots"(Holman). This quote seems to be paradoxical. Plants cannot flourish without roots, yet Holman uses words like climb and flourish, which make this quote sound positive. Even though Mr. Z could soar above members of his race, he still could not truly soar due to discrimination. He was considered "One of the most distinguished members of his race" (Holman). This quote serves to display his inability to truly flourish. By placing him in a class with just his race, people inhibited Mr. Z from gaining the recognition he deserved.  Had discrimination not been a factor, Mr. Z would have been considered 'one of the most distinguished humans'. Mr. Z worked throughout his life to overcome adversity, but even after his death, people still discounted his abilities.

Identity Unit 1 (Interpreter of Maladies)

"Interpreter of Maladies"
Jhumpa Lahiri

As this short story continued to unfold,  the reader learned more about Mr. Kapasi. This weekend tour guide also worked in a doctor's office as a translator. Mr. Kapasi interpreted the ill symptoms expressed by the patients who could not communicate directly with the doctor. This interpretation of their illnesses served to provide the title of the short story "Interpreter of Maladies".  Later on in the story, Mrs. Das sought the help of Mr. Kapasi to interpret a problem of her own. After waiting through the regular tour, Mrs. Das confided in Mr. Kapasi that her son Bobby was not her husband's child. This scandal weighed down on Mrs. Das as an illness would on a sick patient. Mrs. Das sought help, but she only found the suggestion to tell the truth. What Mrs. Das failed to understand about Mr. Kapasi was that he only translated the messages to the doctor. "He found nothing noble in interpreting people's maladies, assiduously translating the symptoms of so many swollen bones, countless cramps of bellies and bowels, spots on people's palms that changed color, shape , or size" (Lahiri). Kapasi did not diagnose and treat the problem himself. Mrs. Das sought out a solution, but she only found a meager piece of advice, which she probably already considered herself.

Identity Unit 1 (Everyday Use)

"Everyday Use"
Alice Walker

Through first person narration from the mother's point of view, Walker characterized the two daughters in the short story. Dee, the older daughter, is the type of person who always gets what she wants. "...that 'no' is a word the world never learned to say to her" (Walker).  This statement shows that people agreed to Dee's demands. Never learning the meaning of no led Dee to become a selfish person. She looked down upon her mother's house because it did not satisfy her wants. Dee's selfish behavior was also displayed when she argued with her mom about the quilts. Dee rejected the quilts in the past and eventually learned during the argument that the quilts were meant for Maggie; however, Dee continued to argue her point that she wanted the quilts. Another way that Dee displayed her disgust for her family was when she explained her name change. Dee chose to change her name to Wangero to escape from being named after those who "oppress me" (Walker). This African name was meant to take her back to her heritage, but what she did not realize is that she was just as much of an American as she was African. Changing her name only served as another way display her disapproval of her family and to reinforce her self-centered character traits.

Identity Unit 1 (Hazel Tells LaVerne)

"Hazel Tells Laverne"
Hatharyn Howd Machan

An obvious observation of this poem is its lack of punctuation. This greatly reflects the character Hazel. She seems uneducated and rather gruff. She uses words such as "sida", "flushm", "hitsm", and "talkin" among others. This diction displays poor grammar, and along with the lack of punctuation, Hazel's diction leads the reader to surmise that she is uneducated. In addition, Hazel's poor display of grammar lends humor to the poem.

This poem is a parody of "The Frog Prince". Hazel refused to kiss the frog even when offered royalty. Hazel seemed to be in need of money because she worked cleaning toilets. The situation was ironic because where most women would seize an offer of royalty, Hazel did not. By not kissing the frog, Hazel missed out on an opportunity for an easier life. Perhaps a message that Machan wished to convey was that hard work will open opportunities in life , but we must be wise enough to recognize them.

Identity Unit 1 (Dream Deferred)

"Dream Deferred"
Langston Hughes

Hughes begins this poem with a rhetorical question asking "What happens to a dream deferred?" (Hughes). This question stimulates the thought process in the reader, who examines his or her own conscience for dreams that have been postponed. Hughes continues this thought process in answering his initial question by posing more rhetorical questions. In his questions, Hughes uses similes to convey a negative feeling towards postponing one's dream. He compares a deferred dream to a raisin in the sun, a festered sore, rotten meat, a crusted over sweet, and a heavy load. These comparisons provide a negative feeling toward deferring from one's dreams. Hughes continues this negative feeling by using adjectives like fester, stink, crust, and rotten. These adjectives maintain a negative meaning, and by using these words, Hughes steers the reader away from delaying one's dreams and towards acting upon his or her dreams. Hughes ends the poem stating the possibility that a dream may explode. This explosion could refer to an individual frustrated with himself for not pursuing his dream, or it could refer to a group in society that erupts after a long period of suppression. Instead of holding onto a dream that may explode or become like a rotten meat, Hughes calls for his readers to act upon their ambitions in a timely manner.

Perrine's "The Nature of Proof in the Interpretation of Poetry."

After reading Perrine's article, I neither agree nor disagree fully with Perrine. As is any student's wish, I would love if any interpretation of a poem would be correct; however, this is not the case. Some interpretations follow closely to the implied meaning, while others stray in the wrong direction. My problem with deeming an interpretation incorrect is that sometimes poets do not have an intended meaning. As Perrine quoted Yeats, "I shall not trouble to make the meaning clear... The meaning maybe different with everyone". This exemplifies that some meanings are determined by people other than the poet. How can someone other than the poet decide what the writer meant in a poem? In everyday life, this would be like putting words in someone else's mouth. Others can only speculate what the poet meant by his/her writing. Despite this, people still feel as though their interpretation is correct and indisputable. Sadly, many poets do not dispute the interpreted meanings because this would be "admitting failure" that their poem has less meaning that what others found. I agree with Perrine in his statement that "Any interpretation is acceptable which lies within that area [of meaning]".  Certainly some interpretations can be outlandish and without foundation, but sometimes the "correct" interpretations do seem outlandish and without foundation to students. As students, our job is to learn to look deeper into the poems without losing the details directly in front of us.

After reading this article, I will definitely take a different approach to studying poetry. Even though I did not completely agree with Perrine, I think that he offered good insight into interpreting poems. Previously, my interpretations were based on whatever came to my mind first, and I would try to make sense of my scattered thoughts. This led to a complex and unfounded meaning, which was probably incorrect. Before, I had not thought that poems contained facts, so I accepted my random views of interpretation. I like patterns and structure, so Perrine's comparison of interpreting poems to judging a new hypothesis really helped me to accept his view on interpretation. Not all interpretations will be spot-on correct, but by keeping Perrine's article in mind, I should be able to more correctly interpret poems. After reading this article, I will interpret based on the facts within the poem and will remember to keep my interpretation as simple as I can while still accounting for all the facts in the poem.

Pictures!!!

Here are some pictures that I took while reading The Great Gatsby at Ball State's Campus. Some are in front of the iconic statue Beneficence also known as Benny. This statue was completed by 1930. I also took some pictures in front of Lucina Hall, which was built in the 1920s.

Till Death Do Us Part

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

Overall, I enjoyed reading this novel. At times, characters frustrated me, and some events didn't turn out the way I had hoped. However, this book was well written and a very easy read. 

 

I think that the end of the novel had a symbolic meaning. By putting Gatsby to death, Fitzgerald expresses his tragic view of the wealthy upper class. Growing up, Gatsby was an innocent young man, and when he started to pursue wealth, he became involved in illegal activities, which corrupted his morals. Fitzgerald suggests that money corrupts. In addition, I think that Wilson's actions reflect the frustration that the lower class felt towards the upper class. People with money can often overpower those without, and Wilson's act of revenge shows the frustration that the lower class felt about being overpowered. 

 

On a more romantic note, putting Gatsby to death also put to death an unshaken and devoted love. Gatsby waited five years to approach Daisy, all the while he loved her. Even after it seemed like Daisy would remain with her husband, Gatsby still loved her. "He was clutching at some last hope and I couldn't bear to shake him free"(Fitzgerald, 148). This novel was the story of Gatsby's unshaken love for Daisy. This reminds me of a song by Jason Mraz "I Wont Give Up". No matter what happened between Daisy and Gatsby, he still loved her up until his death. 

Haste and Misunderstandings

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

As the novel rapidly approaches its end, some huge events took place. For a time, the focus of the novel changed to examine Wilson. This man clearly was in agony over his wife's death. He was angry and vindictive. Whenever Michaelis asked a question, Wilson answered in a short abrupt manner. In a way, Wilson's responses reflect the way that his wife died: quickly and in anger. Due to his crazed and heartbroken state of mind, Wilson sought out the owner of the yellow car in search of revenge. "He murdered her" (Fitzgerald, 158). This misunderstanding that Gatsby was the driver cost Gatsby his life. Had Daisy told Tom that she drove the car, Tom might not have directed Wilson to Gatsby. Tom was just as mad at Gatsby as Wilson was because Tom loved Myrtle too. Tom felt that Gatsby deserved to die, even though Gatsby was innocent of killing Myrtle. In this section, people acted in haste. Decisions were not thought through, and tragedy resulted from hasty decisions. I think that Fitzgerald is trying to express to his readers to give time and think before acting. Nick, the most cautious character,  left the novel fairly unscathed. He lost Gatsby and his chance with Jordan; but Gatsby wasn't the best of friends, and other chances at relationships will come along. Other characters who generally made more abrupt decisions lost much more. After almost losing his wife to Gatsby, Tom lost mistress. In comparison, Wilson lost his wife to her affair and ultimately to death. After this, Wilson decided to take his own life, but not after avenging his wife's death. Gatsby, after five years of patient planning, made hasty decisions after reuniting with Daisy. These decisions ultimately led to his death. Had Gatsby not been so obvious about his love for Daisy, then he might not have been in the car with Daisy when it hit Myrtle. Making decisions without thinking them through came at great expense to these characters.

Family

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

"'They're a rotten crowd,' I shouted across the lawn. 'You're worth the whole damn bunch put together'...It was the only compliment I ever gave him, because I disapproved of him form beginning to end" (Fitzgerald, 154). Nick's disapproval of Gatsby shows Fitzgerald's distaste of how people used money in the 1920s. Gatsby represents the wealthy class in America. He displays his wealth through his parties, his house, his car, and his clothes. Fitzgerald is not criticizing having wealth, but rather the corrupt means of attaining money and the immoral use of the money. Gatsby is thought to have been a bootlegger and possibly something worse than that. He became involved with shady businesses because they were lucrative, and he wanted the money to impress Daisy. Gatsby strayed from his normal morals so that he could pursue the "American Dream". Fitzgerald viewed Gatsby's dream as misguided. The quote above is a call for Americans to reevaluate priorities in their lives. I think that Fitzgerald wants Americans to put their families first. I say this because Nick compliments Gatsby for his devotion to Daisy, who is the closest thing to family Gatsby knows.  Today, I think that we should still keep family as our top priority. Money can be taken away, but family remains forever.

The End of Problems?

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

As chapter seven comes to a close, I am left knowing that Daisy killed Myrtle in a hit and run outside Wilson's garage.  Although she was a minor character, Myrtle has caused many problems throughout this novel. She was the reason for Tom's infidelity, and rumors of their affair may have led Daisy to feel that a relationship with Gatsby was acceptable.

Now that Myrtle is dead, problems still exist. Daisy could go to jail if people find out that she was driving the car. In addition, Tom feels more hatred toward Gatsby because he thinks that Gatsby was driving the car that killed Myrtle. Even though Myrtle is dead, I think that problems involving her will still persist in the future. 

Myrtle's death is significant for other reason's as well. Now that Myrtle is dead, Tom no longer has a mistress to divert his attention from his wife. I think that now, in light of the events of this chapter, Tom will be prepared and completely willing to fight for Daisy's love. I think that even if Tom discovers that Daisy was driving the car, his relationship with Daisy will improve. Tom already lost one woman that he loved; I doubt that he will lose Daisy too.

Finally, I think that Myrtle's death foreshadows the end of Daisy's relationship with Gatsby. Even though Gatsby loves Daisy enough to take the blame for the accident, I think that Daisy will choose to stay with her husband. Myrtle's death could represent the end of infidelity in Tom and Daisy's marriage. Daisy might not love Tom as much as she loved Gatsby, but this could have been the result of Tom's rumored affair. Perhaps now Tom will be more devoted to Daisy, and this devotion could reignite Daisy's love for Tom. I wonder who she will choose. 

One final question. Did Daisy know that Myrtle was Tom's mistress? "Well first Daisy turned away from the woman toward the other car, and then she lost her nerve and turned back"(Fitzgerald, 143). This sounds like Daisy hit Myrtle on purpose. Did she?

Another Disney Comparison

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

In the middle of chapter 7, the Buchanans, Nick, Jordan, and Gatsby all traveled to the city in an attempt to escape the heat. The group rented a room in the Plaza Hotel, and here Tom decided to confront Gatsby about his relationship with Daisy. Gatsby claimed that Daisy never loved Tom."She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved any one except me" (Fitzgerald, 130).  As I read this quote, I thought of Beauty and the Beast. In this beloved Disney movie, the Beast began as a handsome young man who was turned into a beast because of his own selfish actions. I would compare the Beast to Daisy and Gatsby. 

Daisy is not a mean or vicious person, and she certainly was not as rude as the Beast. However, by leaving Gatsby because he was not wealthy enough, she created this sort of lovesick, money-hungry monster. In the confrontation at the Plaza, Tom attacked Gatsby's morals and methods of making money. By being vague, Tom allowed fear to grow in Daisy. Through Tom and Gatsby's argument, Daisy saw that Gatsby had changed and that she feared his changes. Daisy did not choose Gatsby five years ago because he was poor, now she might not choose him because he is a different person. I think that in order for Gatsby to win Daisy's heart he must find a different/legal source of income, and, like the Beast, Gatsby must be honest in his relationship with his princess.

Time Difference

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

" 'I read somewhere that the sun's getting hotter every year,' said Tom genially. 'It seems that pretty soon the earth's going to fall into the sun- or wait a minute- it's just the opposite- the sun's getting colder every year' " (Fitzgerald, 118).

As I read this quote, I smiled at the thought that people who lived almost ninety years ago were concerned with the same environmental issue that exists today. The quote above refers to what we know as global warming. Tom may have made this statement simply to complain about the heat, or perhaps this statement was made so he could assert his knowledge of science topics. Either way, this quote shows that people share similarities even when separated decades. Reading this quote today, people might smile hearing Tom's theory that the sun is getting colder, or that the earth is going to fall into the sun. This just shows that as time continues, people learn more and more. Hypotheses from previous years may seem primitive because of the new-found knowledge that we possess. With this in mind, ideas that seem new and innovative now will seem foolish and obsolete in the future. Not all problems can be solved in a short period of time, and some problems will be left for future generations. Our job is to fix what we can and help prevent future problems.

Rivalry

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

In chapter six, Nick Carraway stops by Gatsby's house to visit and he finds Tom Buchanan and Mr. and Mrs. Sloane there. Just as Nick was surprised to see Tom, so was I. When I read this, the saying 'Keep your friends close and enemies closer' came to my mind. To me, Gatsby and Tom seem to be Foil characters to one another. Tom is very rude, arrogant, and just simply a bully. Gatsby on the other hand is very kind, accepting, and polite. Gatsby does things to please others, and even when he asked for Nicks help with arranging a meeting with Daisy, Gatsby told Nick to invite Daisy when it was convenient.

Because Tom and Gatsby's personalities clash, I think that conflict will arise between the two. Because Gatsby loves Tom's wife, I think that the conflict will escalate to a monumental proportion.  Tom suspicions that Gatsby's wealth is the result of bootlegging, and I think that Tom will look into Gatsby's life in an attempt to prove his theory. I am afraid that if Tom investigates Gatsby, he will find that Gatsby and Daisy love each other. " 'I'd like to know who he is and what he does,' insisted Tom 'And I think I'll make a point of finding out'"(Fitzgerald, 108). I can only hope that the results of Tom's search will benefit Gatsby.

Dreams

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

In chapter 5, Gatsby finally reunited with Daisy. As I was reading this chapter, I kept thinking of how excited Gatsby must have felt that his dream of speaking with Daisy again was finally coming true. For the past five years in his life, Gatsby dreamt and hoped that he could visit with Daisy again. When the time came for tea, he was frightened and wanted to leave. I can't imagine that he was afraid of seeing Daisy, but I think that he was frightened that his visit with her would not live up to his hopes for that moment. I think that he feared being rejected and losing Daisy again. This certainly was not the outcome. "I think that voice held him most, with its fluctuation, feverish warmth, because it couldn't be over-dreamed" (Fitzgerald, 96). His visit with Daisy was everything for which he had hoped. He had regained a lost friend. 

I think that Gatsby's hope to meet with Daisy can teach a lesson. Dreams are necessary to accomplish that which is important in life. Each person's dreams are different, but all are necessary. As the Olympics continue, they display the hopes and desires of so many athletes culminated into one moment of glorious competition. Commercials tell stories of struggles that athletes overcame and how athletes started for the Olympics at the age of seven because they watched their idol compete for gold. Not all hopes and dreams will lead to the Olympics. Some will lead to college graduation, and others to earning an A on a test. No matter what a person's dream is, it should be pursued and held close to one's heart. In time and with work, one's dream will be met.

Plotting and Scheming

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

Jordan and Gatsby were plotting and scheming.

As chapter 4 comes to a close, Nick Carraway finally learns from Jordan what Gatsby meant by "this matter". At their afternoon tea, Jordan told Nick a story about Daisy dating young soldiers, one of which being Gatsby, and how Daisy eventually married Tom Buchanan. When Daisy heard the name Gatsby, she asked Jordan if he was the same man she had known long ago. Indeed, Nick's next door neighbor is the one and only Gatsby. Gatsby purposely bought the house directly across the bay from Daisy and hoped that he could meet her again. With the help of Jordan, Gatsby planned for Nick to invite Daisy to his home for tea, where Gatsby would then come over and visit. This entire plan was set into motion because of Jordan. 

When Jordan was first introduced, she seemed like she would be a minor character. Yet, she has taken an important role in this story. Had Jordan and Gatsby not met, Gatsby would not have known that Nick was friends with Daisy and Tom Buchanan. Without this friendship, Gatsby's plan to meet with Daisy would be much more difficult to facilitate. Although Jordan could have arranged a meeting between Daisy and Gatsby, she needed Nick's help to bring Daisy near Gatsby's home, which Gatsby wanted Daisy to see. Gatsby waited five years to arrange a causal meeting with Daisy, and he could have waited even longer if he had not met Jordan. " 'I think he half expected her to wander into one of his parties, some night, ' went on Jordan, 'but she never did' "(Fitzgerald, 79). Jordan set Gatsby's plans into motion, and whether or not she plays any important roles later on in the story, she started what I think is going to be an interesting reunion.

Trapped in a Car

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

In chapter 4, Gatsby met with Carraway to drive him to lunch. During the car ride, Gatsby began to tell Nick a little about himself. As the conversation developed, Nick appeared to feel uncomfortable. Gatsby could have told Nick about himself any time prior to that, but he chose to wait until Nick was confined in a moving vehicle. I can relate to how Nick felt because sometimes my mom has waited until I was trapped in a car ride to talk to me about important things. When in a car, there is no place to escape from an uncomfortable situation. The only relief is arriving at one's destination. 

Also in this section, I felt that some of Gatsby's experiences related to Lily's from The House of Mirth. When Gatsby was young, his family died, and he inherited money. Because of his sadness, he traveled to Europe. "I usually find myself among strangers because I drift here and there trying to forget the sad thing that happened to me" (Fitzgerald, 67).  I think that his time in Europe resembles Lily's vacation with the Dorsets. Lily left New York to escape from her troubles with her debt to Trenor. Gatsby went to Europe to escape the sadness of the loss of his family. Both characters tried to physically distance themselves from their problems, but I do not feel like this worked for either.

Meeting Gatsby

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

"He's just a man named Gatsby" (Fitzgerald, 48). 

The quote above seems to describe simply who Gatsby is. However, this overly simplistic description maintains Gatsby's mysterious persona and therefore allows much room for a complicated personality. Gatsby stands apart from the people with whom he surrounds himself.  Most of his companions are rich people who thoroughly enjoy drinking and partaking in wild events. Unlike his party guests, Gatsby does not drink alcohol. This sets him apart from them, because when his guests became intoxicated and somewhat wild, Gatsby remained refined and polite. Gatsby avoided the consumption of alcohol, so I do not understand why he hosted parties where alcohol was available. Gatsby doesn't quite seem at home during his parties and perhaps that is because he might not have been raised in wealthy surroundings where grand parties were normal events. Jordan Baker told Carraway that Gatsby claimed to be an Oxford man, but that she did not believe he was. Carraway's thoughts in response to this were, "But young men didn't - at least in my provincial inexperience I believed they didn't- drift coolly out of nowhere and buy a palace on Long Island Sound" (Fitzgerald, 49). Herein lies the mystery of Gatsby's past. Where is Gatsby from? How did he gain his wealth? And why does he live in Long Island Sound? I am curious to see if Fitzgerald will answer my questions in the coming chapters.