Guilt

Frankenstein
Mary Shelley

In the second half of the novel, Frankenstein continued to feel guilty. "I felt as if I had mangled the living flesh of a human being" (Shelley, 124). Victor said this when he returned to his workroom after tearing apart the female creature. This quote can express Victor's guilt in a couple different ways. First, Victor felt guilt about the deaths of his loved ones. His creation killed his family members and later on Clerval. Victor felt responsible for the creature's actions. In the quote above, the dismembered creature could have represented Victor's family in his eyes. "Two I have already destroyed; other victims await their destiny..." (Shelley, 129). He felt that he had personally caused the deaths in his family. Secondly, Victor could have felt guilty towards the way he treated his first creature. His creature was miserable because he was without companionship. By tearing apart the female companion, Victor took away his creation's chance of happiness. Perhaps Victor feels some sense of guilt for the creature's unhappiness because he created the monster. Victor felt responsible for the creature's actions, so what is to say that Victor would not feel responsible for the creature's well being? Also, by tearing apart the female creature, Victor may feel uneasy because he knows that the monster would be enraged and cause more deaths in his family. Overall, Victor seems to regret that he brought life to the creature in the first place.

Side question: Why didn't the creature just make a companion on his own? He seems smart enough to do so, and he said that he had Victor's journal of instructions.

Master or Slave?

Frankenstein
Mary Shelley

A motif expressed in this novel is the comparison of a slave and a master. As Victor studied at Ingolstadt, his education consumed him. He became the slave to his work but the master of his field of science. While creating the monster, he held full control over his creation; however, when the monster came to life, Victor lost his authority over the monster. This being was more powerful and seemed to have more intellectual capabilities than Victor.The monster ruled over Victor like a dictator. The monster instilled fear in Victor by threatening to kill his family. "You are my creator, but I am your master; -obey" (Shelley, 122). The creature felt superior to Victor even though Victor gave the creature life. Despite this feeling of superiority, Victor maintained some aspect of control over the creature. Victor was the only person capable of creating a female companion for the creature. Victor could have used this as leverage against the creature to comply with Victor's requests. Instead, the creature overpowered Victor by threatening Victor's family.

Interestingly at the end of the novel, the creature seemed to be upset by Victor's death. The creature, who held the role as the master for most of the novel, claimed that he was the slave. "...but I was the slave, not the master, of an impulse, which I detested, yet could not disobey" (Shelley, 164). The creature was not the slave to Victor, but he was the slave to his desire to be accepted. Just as Victor's education enslaved him, the creature's lust for relationships enslaved him.

Elizabeth

Frankenstein
Mary Shelley

Throughout the novel, Victor Frankenstein held Elizabeth in high esteem. Perhaps more than anyone else, Victor loved Elizabeth. Although the creature caused the death of many of Victor's loved ones, Elizabeth's murder may have been more important than the other murders. Her murder could also be considered the climax  of the story. Prior to this event, the line "I will be with you on your wedding night" created suspense through its repetition prior to Elizabeth's murder. This suspense made her murder different from the other murders, which seemed to happen out of nowhere. In addition, her murder caused Victor to lose all ability to live a social life. "A fiend had snatched from me every hope of future happiness..." (Shelley, 146). Her murder fulfilled the creature's plan to isolate Victor from the world. Elizabeth had been the one to bring Victor out of his crazed fits. She also was the only one able to provide Victor with happiness after Henry Clerval's death. Without Elizabeth, Victor was mentally alone in the world, and because he pursued the monster, Victor became physically isolated as well. Victor died far from normal civilization because he pursued the creature in order to avenge the deaths of Elizabeth and his other family members. The creature fulfilled his threat to isolate Victor just by killing Elizabeth.

Adam

Frankenstein
Mary Shelley

As the novel progressed, the reader discovered that the creature could speak, and quite eloquently at that. Through the creature's dialogue, the reader learns about the creature's life. Many times, the creature references novels or even Biblical figures. These allusions not only reveal the creature's intelligence, but also reveal the creature's state of mind. By referencing the story of Adam and Eve, the creature expresses his desire for a loving creator. "I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed" (Shelley, 69). In this first plea from the creature, he expresses that his creator should care more for him like God did for Adam. This statement shows that the creature felt justified in his actions because he felt unwanted by all, even his creator.
Later in the novel, the creature again expresses his loneliness by again referencing the Bible. "No Eve soothed my sorrows nor shared my thoughts; I was alone (Shelley, 93). In this excerpt, the creature expresses his knowledge that Victor will not accept him, and instead the creature desires a companion of the same form who can sympathize with him. Adam may have differed from God, but Adam had Eve as a companion and a loving creator. The creature had no companion, and Victor rejected him. Knowledge of his similarity to Adam gave hope to the creature at first, but with more understanding, this knowledge cause great grief and misery because the creature felt as though he was missing out on something he felt he should have.

Miserable Wretch

Frankenstein
Mary Shelley

In the novel, Victor Frankenstein shares similarities with the monster he created. One significant similarity between the two is their loneliness. Victor created a monster unlike any other being. Society rejected the monster, and Victor abandoned his creation in terror. The monster began his life alone. The closest the monster had to companionship was the DeLacey family. He learned to speak from this family, and he also learned about cultures and society. "Increase of knowledge only discovered to me more clearly what a wretched outcast I was" (Shelley, 93). The more that the creature learned, the more he realized that society, although able to love other humans, would never accept a monster. Rejection made the monster miserable. His only request of his creator was that he accept him like God accepted Adam, or that he would make a female companion for the creature. Neither occurred. This misery caused the creature to inflict suffering upon Victor. Perhaps the creature's actions were a way to feel included because then he would not be the only miserable being on the planet. After losing significant relationships, Victor stated that, "No creature had ever been so miserable as I was" (Shelley, 146). Victor felt the same way that the monster felt from the beginning, alone and miserable. Even before this, Victor's loneliness at college may have caused him to create the monster in the first place. Victor and the monster both fought against each other, but they both ultimately wanted the same thing: a relationship.

Frankenstein - Is the creature guilty?

Frankenstein
Mary Shelley

When the creature told Victor the story of his development, I felt pity and sympathy for him. The creature seemed to be kindhearted in regards to his actions. Before I heard his account of the story, I believed that he had killed William. Now, I am not so sure.  When the creature told his story, he told anecdotes about how he learned from a family. In his first encounters with the family, he stole food from them. After learning that the family was poor, the creature stopped stealing food from them. This action shows that the creature does have a conscience, and he is not just some wild monster. In addition to this, the creature helped the family by secretly chopping firewood for them. This act saved the family time, and it allowed the family to focus their attention on other tasks like home repair, gardening, and quality family time. "...brought home firing sufficient for the consumption of several days...I observed with pleasure, that he did not go to the forest that day, but spent it in repairing the cottage and cultivating the garden" (Shelley, 78). This selfless act that helped the poor family caused me to feel pity for the creature who was alone and unloved.

Despite these good actions, I still hold reservations about the creature's innocence in William's murder. When trying to persuade Victor into listening to his story, the creature threatened Victor's friends and family. "If you will comply with my conditions, I will leave them and you at peace; but if you refuse, I will glut the maw of death, until it be satiated with the blood of your remaining friends" (Shelley, 68). Besides the fact that this is a death threat, the word remaining suggests that the creature previously killed a friend or family member of Victor. Also, how would the creature have known that William was Victor's brother if he had not been the murderer? Questions still remain about William's murderer, but I hope that further explanation later in the book will reveal the true murderer.

Frankenstein - How to learn

Frankenstein
Mary Shelley

For most people in society, learning occurs when others teach and demonstrate. However, the creature did not learn this way. After the creature's "birth", Frankenstein abandoned his creation. Because the creature essentially developed as an orphan, he did not benefit from the guidance of a mentor and teacher. The creature began his learning process with the basics such as differentiating his senses. This stage of his development resembled that of an infant; however, the creature learned at an accelerated pace.

After learning about his senses, the creature learned the basics of survival: food, and shelter. As in his other learning experiences, the creature learned through experience. "In my joy I thrust my hand into the live embers, but quickly drew it out again with a cry of pain" (Shelley, 72). In this action, the creature resembles a young child. Children learn through hands on experiences. Parents tell children that fires, or stoves will be hot and will burn, but the children may not fully understand until feeling the pain from the heat. In this instance in the novel, the creature felt the warmth radiating from the fire, but he did not fully understand the intense heat of the fire until he burnt his hand.

The creature also learned through observation. Perhaps the only mentors that the creature had were the family that he observed. He began to see the importance of words and communication. He also saw different emotions. He learned that other pains could exist besides physical pains. "I saw no cause for their unhappiness; but I was deeply affected by it" (Shelley, 77). After learning some of the basics of life and survival, the creature began to learn emotions and communication which enabled the creature to rise above animal status and into a level of humanity. Although the creature still frightened people, and he could not live in a civilization, the creature was more than just an animal in the wild.

Frankenstein - Irony

Frankenstein
Mary Shelley

Frankenstein and his family felt extreme grief over the murder of William. Irony surrounds his murder. Frankenstein believed that his creation killed his brother. Something to which he gave life caused the death of his brother. In a sense, Frankenstein inadvertently caused his brother's death. "A flash of lightening illuminated the object, and discovered its shape plainly to me; its gigantic stature and the deformity aspect, more hideous than belongs to humanity, instantly informed me that it was the wretch, the filthy daemon to whom I had given life...Could he be the murderer of my brother?...He was the murderer"(Shelley, 50). This ironic situation caused Victor to feel much grief. He felt that he caused his brother's death. In addition, Justine's conviction caused more grief for Victor. She died because people found her guilty of William's death. Not only did Victor feel guilty for William's death, but he felt guilty for Justine's wrongful conviction and execution. Victor worked so hard to create life, but the result appeared to cause the deaths of two beloved people.

Frankenstein - Foreshadowing

Frankenstein
Mary Shelley

In the novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley uses foreshadowing. "I have now doubt of your success" (Shelley, 28). Here M.Waldman praised Frankenstein for his great abilities in the science field. Frankenstein had such great abilities that he could create life. This quote shows that Frankenstein would be successful when he attempted to bring life to the creature. Another moment of foreshadowing occurred when Victor talked with Robert. "How dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow"(Shelley, 31). This phrase not only hints at ominous events that Victor faced and would soon tell, but it also hints at some type of ill fate that Robert might face. Robert and Victor share similarities like their drive to succeed in an area previously untouched by others. This phrase warns Robert that an ill fate may occur from his endeavors. In addition, this use of foreshadowing creates suspense by instilling curiosity in the reader about suggested events to come.

Frankenstein - Frame Story

Frankenstein
Mary Shelley

The novel Frankenstein begins with Robert Walton writing letters to his sister Margaret Saville. Robert reassures his sister that he is going to be safe on his expedition, and he tells his sister of events during his expedition. The fourth letter begins his explanation of meeting Victor Frankenstein. This letter does not end with his signature, but continues to record the account of Victor Frankenstein. Chapter one begins Victor's account of how he came to be on a sea of ice. The story continues with Victor telling Robert how he created a creature. He also continues to tell how horrific the creature was.

By using a frame story, Shelly creates suspense. The reader sees snippets of events before hearing the explanation of circumstances leading to the event. "We perceived a low carriage, fixed on a sledge and drawn by dogs pass on towards the north, at the distance of half a mile a being which had the shape of a man, but apparently of gigantic stature, sat in the sledge, and guided the dogs"( Shelley, 8). This excerpt shows a snippet of the creature Frankenstein created before the reader even knows that a creature existed. By seeing this strange occurrence, the reader awaits an explanation. Anticipation in this story can install fear in the reader. By using a frame story, Shelley developed a more frightening story.

APO 96225

APO 96225
Larry Rottman

In this poem, a young soldier wrote to his family multiple times expressing the amount of rain, encounters with monkeys, and views of sunsets. His mother returned each of his letters demanding he tell them everything. The soldier returned the letter telling his mother and family that he "killed a man...helped drop napalm on women and children"(Rottman). The father returned this letter asking him not to write letters like that because it upset the mother. The events of this poem could represent largely the American people during the war in Vietnam. People in America wanted to know what was happening, but upon discovering the events were appalled the actions. People enjoy living in an ignorant bliss. Yes people knew of the war, but they did not know the toll it took on the individual soldiers. People much rather preferred to assume that war was filled with rainbows and smiles rather than actual fighting. This poem presents the irony present in the families of soldiers. The families desperately want to know the details about the war, but upon learning the details, the families quickly want to shut the thoughts out of their minds. Some things cannot be UN-seen or UN-thought. The families discover that what they really want is not to know about the war, but to know that their loved one is safe from harm.

Much Madness is divinest Sense

Much Madness is divinest Sense
Emily Dickinson

In this poem, Dickinson questions society on its views of what is considered sane. She begins the poem by stating that madness makes sense and making sense is madness. She continues by stating that a majority of people look to make sense. "much Sense- the starkest Madness- 'Tis the Majority" (Dickinson). She challenges the view that those who present madness are insane. Indeed throughout history, many great figures presented mad claims for their time that now the world holds as facts and common knowledge. For example, most people no longer think that the world is flat. Of course this seems elementary, but at the time, this proposal was outlandish. People who question authority, whether it be  government,  religion, or science, tend to be cast out as madmen. And if being labeled insane were not enough, people even go as far to label the dissenters as dangerous. Questioning authority provides essential changes to society. Without questioning tradition, the world would be like the town portrayed in "The Lottery". Dissent makes far greater sense than blindly following the sane path.

I felt a Funeral, in my Brain

I felt a Funeral, in my Brain
Emily Dickinson

The first stanza of this poem seems to suggest that the speaker is losing his mind. The funeral "in my Brain" implies that the speaker feels as though his ability to think has died. However, the speaker has not completely lost his mind yet because of the last phrase "That Sense was breaking through-" (Dickinson). In order for one to make sense of something, he must maintain some ability to think. The speaker continues his impression that he is losing his mind by stating that his "Mind was going numb" at the end of the second stanza (Dickinson). When a body part is numb, one struggles to use it properly. Numbness of the mind would suggest the speaker's inability to think properly. The speaker continues his path towards insanity by comparing his mind to space and isolation. The speaker felt isolated within his own mind, and felt lost by the empty space within his thoughts. The poem ends with the phrase "And Finished knowing-then-" (Dickinson). This implies that the speaker feels that he has completely lost his mind.

Bartleby the Scrivener

Bartleby the Scrivener
Herman Melville

In this story, characterization played a key role. By acquainting the reader with the characters in the story, Melville allows the reader to look further into the actions of the story. Melville begins the story by having the speaker briefly describe himself as a someone who doesn't let his work "invade his peace" (Melville). The reader keeps this piece of information in mind while reading the characterizations of the other characters. In describing Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Nut, the speaker briefly describes each character and provides anecdotes for each to explain further their characteristics. For example, the speaker described Turkey as an overly energetic man. The speaker explains his statement by providing an anecdote about Turkey's ink blots and an instance that he attempted to send Turkey home after lunch. The speaker goes on in the story to describe Bartleby.  Bartleby refused to do anything, which upset Turkey, Nippers, and even the "peaceful" speaker. Melville revealed that Bartleby was actually more stubborn than he was passive. Although Bartleby refused to argue, he was stubborn because he refused to comply with others requests. Instead of doing as he was told, he replied "I would prefer not to" (Melville). In a sense, the entire story could be considered a characterization of Bartleby. The speaker described the other characters through anecdotes, and the speaker described Bartleby's character through a prolonged anecdote.

Miss Brill

Miss Brill
Katherine Mansfield

As this short story begins, Miss Brill enjoys her walk to the garden and her time listening to the band. She observes the other people out that Sunday and makes judgements on them. She finds others peculiar and even describes old people as "odd...as though they'd just come from dark little rooms or even -- even cupboards" (Mansfield). As the story progresses and nears an end, the mood of the story changes. Miss Brill tried to listen to a conversation between a young boy and girl; however, the girl refused to speak to the boy until Miss Brill left. This young couple passed judgements on Miss Brill saying that she was a "stupid old thing" and asked "why does she come her at all-- who wants her" (Mansfield). Upon hearing these judgements, Miss Brill realizes that she is not as young as she thought. She has more similarities with the older people, upon whom she previously deemed odd, than she has with younger people. The story ends with Miss Brill returning to her home "the little dark room- her room like a cupboard"(Mansfield). The mood at the end of the story is sad,and Miss Brill appears to be crying. The story started out with a cheery feel, but it ends in with a sad feeling. A couple interesting points in the story that suggest the sad outcome. At one point, Miss brill felt "something light and sad- no, not sad, exactly-something gentle seemed to move in her bosom" and later described the music as having  "just a faint chill- a something, what was it? - not sadness- no, not sadness"(Mansfield).  These quotes seem curious because the story ends in sadness, but in two different places in the story Miss Brill denies feelings of sadness.  Perhaps Miss Brill was denying sadness which she felt more than other emotions.

Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night

"Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night"
Dylan Thomas

In this poem, the speaker urges his father to stay alive. The phrase "Do not go gentle into that good night"(Thomas) reminds me of the phrase 'don't go towards the light'. The speaker is urging his father to fight to stay alive by telling him to rage against the light and to not go gentle into that good night. The speaker tells his father of other men who have stayed alive for various reasons. Wise men refused death because they had yet made a discovery. Good men though that their good deeds could have come undone. Wild men thought death came too soon, and Grave men realize that their lives could have been more. The speaker hopes that his father will fight death so that they could spend more time together. Often, people believe that before death they will see a light which will lead them to death. The speaker must have believed this because he urged his father to rage against the light. The speaker seemed to truly love his father because of the passion with which he urged his father to fight death.

The phrase "Don't go towards the light" reminds me of a scene from A Bug's Life where two mosquitoes were flying around a bug zapper! Enjoy

Death Be Not Proud

"Death Be Not Proud"
John Donne

This poem relies on the use of anthropomorphism. Death normally is an inanimate and abstract object. In this poem, Death is given different characteristics. Donne uses adjectives like proud, mighty, and  dreadful to describe death. In addition, Donne states that "Thou (death) art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men"(Donne). This image vividly describes death in a manner such as one would describe a human. Normally people view death as an intimidating, wild, and very powerful force. By describing death as a type of human slave, the author makes death less frightening by describing it as an inferior person. This seems like Death does not decide when one's life is over, but fate, chance, kings and desperate men do. Donne further lessens the fear of death by showing that death could die too. This would occur when people reach eternal life. "One short sleep passed, we wake eternally, And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die" (Donne).

Crossing the Bar

"Crossing the Bar"
Alfred, Lord Tennyson

This poem seems to explore death through a metaphor comparing death to sailing. In this poem, the act of crossing the bar is the act of dying. The speaker wants people not to mourn his death. This desire is suggested in two places. "And may there be no moaning of the bar When I put out to sea," and "And may there be no sadness of farewell When I embark" ( Tennyson). The moaning of the bar could represent mourning over the speaker who died by going out to sea.
Another aspect of death represented in this poem is the afterlife. Although not described, the speaker mentions the idea of an afterlife by expressing his desire to meet his Pilot face to face. The Pilot symbolizes God or the Creator. For this divine reason, the word Pilot is capitalized. By expressing his desire to see his Pilot, the speaker alters the mood of the poem from the sadness of death to hope for an afterlife.

A Rose for Emily

A Rose for Emily
William Faulkner

This short story explores the connection between life and death and their effects on the living. Emily was burdened by death. Her fathers death caused a great amount of grief for Emily. Emily even refused to give up his body for a few days saying that he was not dead. "She did that for three days, with the ministers calling on her, and the doctors, trying to persuade her to let them dispose of the body" (Faulkner).  Later, Emily faced the death of Homer. This suspicious death suggests that Emily killed Homer, but if so, why would she do this? Perhaps Emily felt like her father was taken away from her, so in order to stay forever close to Homer, she killed him and secretly kept his body in her house. Emily again denied his death by keeping his body in her house. An even more disturbing denial of death was that Emily layed next to Homer's body. "Then we noticed that in the second pillow was the indentation of a head. One of us lifted something from it, and leaning forward, that faint and invisible dust dry and acrid in the nostrils, we saw a long strand of iron-gray hair" (Faulkner). Emily wanted to keep Homer close, but she killed him to do so. Emily refused to accept death. In a way, this is slightly ironic because ultimately death accepted her even when she would not accept the death of others.

The Lottery

The Lottery
Shirley Jackson

This short story contained multiple pieces of foreshadowing. One example of this is the little boys collecting stones. This example could be easily overlooked because the reader could simply see the collection of stones as child's play, but as the end of the story approaches, the reader realizes the significance of gathering the stones. The little boys protected the pile of stones until after the lottery when the townspeople then took the stones to use against Mrs. Hutchinson. Another use of foreshadowing  was in Mrs. Hutchinson's late arrival at the lottery.  One quote that suggests her demise is "Thought we were going to have to get on without you, Tessie''(Jackson). This may seem insignificant, but this suggests that her family will have to live without her in the future. After being stoned, presumably to death, Mrs. Hutchinson's family will have to carry on with their lives without her.

The Glass Menagerie: Post 5

The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams

Tom's last monologue of the play confuses me. I understand that he left his family in search of adventure. However, I do not understand why he is so upset about leaving Laura specifically. He almost has a creepy love for his sister.  "I am more faithful than I intended to be" (Williams, 1289).  The word faithful makes me think more of a spouse than a sibling.Tom is evidently more upset about leaving Laura than he is about leaving his mom.

Another part of the end of the play that confuses me is the importance of the candles. Laura blowing out the candles ends the play, so it must have some significance. I am confused why Tom specifically tells Laura to blow out the candles. "Blow out your candles, Laura- and so goodbye..."(Williams, 1289). Perhaps blowing out the candles signifies the end to Tom's relationship with his family. However, I am still confused.

The Glass Menagerie: Post 4

The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams

Throughout the play, Tom desperately desired adventure. After returning from the movies one night, Tom described a magician's ability to escape from a coffin that was nailed shut. This description could reflect how Tom felt trapped. Tom held a responsibility to his mother and to his sister. He provided financial support for his family. This responsibility restrained him from the adventure he desired. In search of adventure, Tom often went to the movies. "I go to the movies because - I like adventure. Adventure is something I don't have much of at work, so I go to the movies" (Williams, 1252). At the end of the play, Tom stated that he left his family and "followed,from then on, in my father's footsteps" (Williams, 1288). Despite his mother's wishes to prevent him from following the actions of his father, Tom abandoned his family in pursuit of adventure just like his father. Perhaps Tom wished to escape his life so badly because his mother tried too hard to restrain him.

The Glass Menagerie: Post 3

The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams

Laura's glass menagerie is symbolic of her character. Laura is portrayed as a type of delicate wall flower. Unlike her mother, she is not popular, and she does not have callers visiting her. She appears to be unwanted. Her glass menagerie is similar to her in this way. The glass pieces only hold value in Laura's eyes and are not of popular demand by others. In addition,the glass unicorn represents special part of Laura. The unicorn is unique just like Laura. It is different from the other figurines just as Laura is different from other women. "Poor little fellow (the unicorn) must feel sort of lonesome" (Williams 1281). When the unicorn's horn broke, this could have symbolized Laura's heart breaking from the disappointment of her missed opportunity with Jim.

The Glass Menagerie: Post 2

The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams

This play is nonrealistic due to multiple reasons. One reason that this is nonrealistic is that the play has a narrator. In real life, narrators do not exist, so the presence of a narrator in this play contributes to its nonrealistic presentation. Another reason why the play is nonrealistic is that the narrator directly addresses the audience and states that he is a character in the play. In a realistic play, the characters do not know that they are characters. (They think they are real.) In this nonrealistic play, Tom knows that he is a character and he acknowledges the presence of the audience. In addition, Tom adds to the nonrealistic qualities  by pointing out the fiddlers in the wings. Tom often cues the music and spotlights contributing to the nonrealistic qualities of the play. Another contributing factor is the set. As seen in the stage directions Tom "deliberately lays his imaginary fork down and pushes his chair back from the table" (Williams 1237). In nonrealistic plays, props are minimal or imaginary, whereas in realistic plays, the props are real and abundant.

The Glass Menagerie: Post 1

The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams

This play is a memory play, but of whose memory? "This play is memory...I am the narrator of the play, and also a character in it" (Williams, 1236). As the play begins, Tom directly addresses the audience and states that he is both the narrator and a character in the play. Because he narrates the play, this eludes to the idea that the play is filled with his memories. Many scenes contain some form of a direct address from Tom to the audience. In these speeches, Tom seems to explain his view of the happenings in the play in a more removed/objective fashion than watching his direct interactions with other characters. In addition, the actions of the play seem to develop from Tom's character in the play. For example, the main event of the play was introducing a caller to Laura. Tom's reluctant/coerced invitation made this event possible. Because the actions stem from Tom, this also contributes to the idea that the memories are Tom's. In addition, Tom's character in the play gives the audience a look at his thoughts in a more personal way than his speeches directly addressing the audience.

The Joy of Cooking

The Joy of Cooking
Elaine Magarrell

Upon first reading this poem, I thought that the speaker was actually planning to cook her family's body parts. But then a thought occurred to me that the body parts could symbolize character traits of the speaker's siblings. The first stanza of the poem deals with cooking the sister's tongue. Because females are often accused of talking a lot and because the body part was a tongue, I would surmise that the speaker would like for his sister to stop talking as much as she does. "It(the tongue) probably will grow back"(Magarrell). In this quote, the speaker suggests that the sister talks a lot because her tongue would grow back out of necessity.
The second stanza talks about the brother's heart. Certain phrases suggest that the brother is unloving. The heart, symbolic of love, "is firm and rather dry" and it would "barely feed two" (Magarrell). This withered and small heart seems incapable of holding much love.
By picking specific body parts to cook from each sibling, the speaker suggests changes that she would like to see in their characters.

Edward

Edward
Anonymous

In this poem, structure plays a key role in building suspense towards the climax of the poem. In each stanza, the poet repeated the question (1st and 3rd lines) and also repeated the answer (5th and 7th lines).  Repeating the question built the anticipation for the answer to each question posed. By repeating the answer to each question, the poet reiterated the response to each question posed.  These repetitions made the poem longer, but they also emphasized important points in each stanza. By removing the repeated lines, the poem flows smoother but lacks emphasis previously placed on certain phrases. "The curse of hell from me shall ye bear, Mother, Mother, The curse of hell from me shall ye bear" (Anonymous). In this quote, the reader can comprehend that Edward is cursing his mother, but repeating the phrase adds emphasis to this bitter phrase. This repetition also provokes pathos from the reader for the mother. She lost her husband, her son is leaving, and her son cursed her. Pathos for each of these saddening events is doubled by repeating each phrase expressing the event.

The Drunkard

The Drunkard
Frank O'Connor

In this short story, the boy's drunkenness is seen from different points of view. The first point of view is the boy's. His innocent curiosity and thirst led him to drink his father's alcohol at the bar. The boy felt sick and eventually seemed confused and upset, all typical reactions to alcohol. Another point of view is that of the dad. He took the boy with him to the bar because he wanted a drink and had no where else to take the boy. Upon discovering the boy's actions, he felt embarrassed that the boy drank alcohol, frustrated that he now had nothing to drink, and worried about what the boy's mother would think. Another point of view is that of the mother. At first she seemed enraged. She yelled at her husband for going to the bar and giving the boy a drink. "The road knows the way you filled you unfortunate innocent child with drink to make sport for you and that other rotten, filthy brute"(O'Connor). After the mother was alone with her son, she thanked him from drinking the alcohol because it kept his father from his alcoholic tendencies.

Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time
Nadine Gordimer

Once Upon a Time is an example of a frame story. The speaker starts by telling of a creaking sound that she heard.She feared that it was either a robber or a collapse in an underground gold mine that would cause her house to fall. To calm herself down so that she could sleep, she decided to tell the weirdest children's story that I have ever read. This story reflected her fears. In the story, the family took extreme measures to ensure the security of their home. Just as the speaker feared a potential burglar, the family feared the riots and burglars. This contributed to why the people in the story have security systems. In addition, the speakers fears were not an actual immediate threat to her. In a sense, she overreacted to a small sound by creating elaborate suppositions of the cause of the sound. In her story, the people also overreacted to the threat of the robbers by turning their homes into fortresses. Just as the speaker's suppositions stole from her time to sleep, the family's fear of robbers stole from them their greatest possession: their son. "...while the bleeding mass of the little boy was hacked out of the security coil with saws, wire-cutters, choppers, and they carried it-the man, the wife, the hysterical trusted housemaid and the weeping gardener- into the house"(Gordimer).

A Worn Path

A Worn Path
Eudora Welty

In this short story, Welty used indirect characterization to describe Phoenix. Near the beginning of the story, Welty reveals part of Phoenix's character by describing her appearance."She was very old and small and she walked slowly in the dark pine shadows, moving a little from side to side in her steps with the balanced heaviness and lightness of a pendulum in a grandfather clock" (Welty). Welty further revealed Phoenix's character through her interaction with other minor characters. During the story, Phoenix meets a hunter. During their conversation, the hunter points his gun at Phoenix, but she did not move. She was unafraid which shows that she was a courageous woman. Another character who helped reveal Phoenix's character was the nurse. In their conversation, Phoenix momentarily forgot why she traveled to their office. She may be old and slightly senile, but this event revealed something deeper. This showed the care she took for her grandson. Whether or not the boy is alive, the fact that Phoenix traveled so far to get him help shows her unconditional love for him.

Point of no return

A Raisin in the Sun
Lorraine Hansberry

In this play, characters faced decisions that would lead them to the "point of no return". One example of this type of decision occurred when Ruth discovered her pregnancy. As first implied by Mama, Ruth visited an abortionist. Ruth feared that she could not support another child, so she considered having an abortion. She even went as far a putting a down payment on the abortion. "Yes I would too, Walter. I gave her a five-dollar down payment" (Hansberry, 75). A decision of having an abortion is one that cannot be undone. Ruth could have carried on with the abortion, but after the procedure, she could not undo the death of the child. Death is the most permanent decision on earth. These unchangeable decisions alter the life of the character. Deciding to have the abortion would have changed all of Ruth's relationships. In addition, by keeping the baby, Ruth kept herself from the grief associated with abortion. Keeping the baby prevented Ruth from going beyond the "point of no return".

Loneliness

A Raisin in the Sun
Lorraine Hansberry

In this play, Walter experienced loneliness even though he was surrounded by his family. Near the beginning of the play, Walter attempted to explain to his wife his desire to enter the liquor business with Willy Harris. Because she did not want Walter to associate himself with Willy Harris and the liquor business, she ignored Walter and told him to eat his breakfast and go to work. Walter received similar disapproval from Beneatha and Mama. Both discouraged him from pursuing the liquor business. Beneatha wanted more money for school and Mama wanted to uphold family standards. Frustrated about being alone in his desire, Walter felt that none of his family listened to or understood him. "WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE LISTEN TO ME TODAY!"(Hansberry, 70). This constant feeling of being misunderstood and without voice contributed to Walter's sense of loneliness. Talking and not being heard can make a person feel invisible. In addition, being ignored isolated Walter from his family. Even though his family filled the small apartment, Walter felt loneliness because he felt isolated from them due to a lack of true communication.

Flowers

A Raisin in the Sun
Lorraine Hansberry

"Lord , if this little old plant don't get more sun than it's been getting it ain't never going to see spring again (Hansberry, 40).  This small, seemingly insignificant, plant represents a much greater aspect of this play. The plant can be symbolic of the Younger family's dreams. Without sunlight and other nourishment, the plant would wither and die. Similarly, postponed dreams shrink out of one's thoughts, and eventually the dream can vanish altogether. This plant physically represented Mama's dream to own a garden of her own. Near the end of the play, Mama looked to secure her plant while the family packed to move. She planned to bring the plant with her to her new garden, and she did at the end when the family left the apartment. Mama's action of carrying the plant with her to the new house shows that one should always carry with him his dreams. Other events may occur in life, but they should not dissuade one from his dreams. Even though achieving one's dream may take many years, he should continue to nourish and work toward his dream. Keeping the dream allows one to add to the dream upon each successful measure to attain happiness.

Generation Gap

A Raisin in the Sun
Lorraine Hansberry

This play displays problems of the generation gap between Mama's generation and Walter's generation. A main difference between the two generations is debate over the importance of money and its role in one's dreams. Near the beginning of the play, Walter, Beneatha, and even Travis anxiously await the arrival of the insurance check. The sole focus of these characters was on receiving the money, so they could then pursue their dreams. "Can't you give people a Christian greeting before you start asking about money?"(Hansberry, 70). Mama said this to Walter after he entered and first asked if the money had arrived. This quote shows the difference between Mama and her children's generation. Mama placed more importance on her family and their happiness than she placed on money. Her dreams were to make her children happy. Walter differs from Mama in that he placed more importance on money.  He still had dreams, but his dreams were to gain wealth. In order to gain wealth, Walter pursued foolish business transactions which required money to spark growth. Whereas Walter's generation looked for quick easy ways to gain money, Mama's generation worked long hard hours to make a living.

Setting

A Raisin in the Sun
Lorraine Hansberry

The play A Raisin in the Sun took place in Chicago sometime after World War II. During this time, white people strongly discriminated against African Americans. The discrimination that the Younger family faced drove their actions. Because the family was subject to working low paying jobs, they resided in a small, poor apartment. This apartment served as a limitation to the Younger family, especially Walter. In a physical sense, the apartment was too small for the family, and so each member did not have space of their own. In a less literal sense, the apartment served as a symbolic limitation to Walter. The apartment represented the low class in which Walter was raised. He worked as a chauffeur, but he dreamed of becoming something more. However, every night when he returned home, the apartment reminded him of the reality in which he lived. He was not wealthy, and he was limited by the color of his skin. He did not escape the limitation of discrimination until he escaped the confines of the small apartment. "We come from people who had a lot of pride...and we have decided to move into our house because my father-my father- he earned it for us brick by brick" (Hansberry, 148). By leaving the apartment and moving to a new house, Walter left behind his past problems to gain a fresh start with his family.

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.