"Interpreter of Maladies"
by Jhumpa Lahiri
The Das family is going on a tour together and right away we see the family is not perfect. The mother yells at her daughter to, "Leave me alone" while she's painting her nails, and the tour guide even observed that, "Mr. and Mrs. Das behaved like an older brother and sister, not parents" (Lahiri, 151).
Question one asks about the conflict in the story. The main conflict is that Mr. Kapasi has feelings for a married American woman who does not seem to have feelings for her husband or children, as shown by the above quotes and other examples in the story. Mr. Kapasi imagines writing Mrs. Das and becoming closer to her. He even considers making a move on her when her husband isn't looking. But at the end of the story, Mrs. Das loses Mr. Kapasi's address. Mr. Kapasi notices this, Mrs. Das does not. Mrs. Kapasi chooses not to say anything; therefore, he will receive no pictures or letters from Mrs. Das, and they will not continue their connection across countries.
I think Mr,. Kapasi doesn't mention the paper because he sees that the monkey attack brings the family closer, and actually elicits some parental compassion from Mrs. Das. Mr. Kapasi observes the seeds of a new connection among the family and accepts that when Mrs. Das leaves, she will have left forever, hopefully to have a happy life with her family.
In reference to question six, I hope Mr. Kapasi takes this event and uses it to inspire and encourage himself to get closer to his wife. When families grow closer, the end is happy.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
"Everyday Use"
"Everyday Use"
by Alice Walker
In this story, Maggie seemed like a static character- shy, thin, and nervous. Dee serves as a stark contrast to her- loud, outspoken, and stubborn. "Maggie will be nervous until after her sister goes: she will stand hopelessly in corners, homely and ashamed of the burn scars..." while "Dee though. She would always look anyone in the eye. Hesitation was no part of her nature" (Walker, 173-174).
Dee's stubbornness is shown in her insistence at being called Wangero, as recognition of her African heritage. Then she suddenly demanded her mother's quilts, even though she had refused them earlier in her life and would only hang them up as decoration. Maggie was really supposed to get the quilts, and planned on actually using them for their intended use, on a bed. But Maggie consented like she was never used to winning anything, and said that Dee could have them. The narrator, Maggie and Dee's mother, had a sudden act of courage and snatched up both the quilts and Maggie and pulled them into another room. Maggie was happy- she smiled a real smile, then shared some snuff with her mom. I believed Maggie and the mother to be static characters, but they seemed to have gained some courage and become closer to each other by the end of the story. We cannot be sure if these changes are permanent, but the recent events seemed to have a large impact on their relationships and futures together.
by Alice Walker
In this story, Maggie seemed like a static character- shy, thin, and nervous. Dee serves as a stark contrast to her- loud, outspoken, and stubborn. "Maggie will be nervous until after her sister goes: she will stand hopelessly in corners, homely and ashamed of the burn scars..." while "Dee though. She would always look anyone in the eye. Hesitation was no part of her nature" (Walker, 173-174).
Dee's stubbornness is shown in her insistence at being called Wangero, as recognition of her African heritage. Then she suddenly demanded her mother's quilts, even though she had refused them earlier in her life and would only hang them up as decoration. Maggie was really supposed to get the quilts, and planned on actually using them for their intended use, on a bed. But Maggie consented like she was never used to winning anything, and said that Dee could have them. The narrator, Maggie and Dee's mother, had a sudden act of courage and snatched up both the quilts and Maggie and pulled them into another room. Maggie was happy- she smiled a real smile, then shared some snuff with her mom. I believed Maggie and the mother to be static characters, but they seemed to have gained some courage and become closer to each other by the end of the story. We cannot be sure if these changes are permanent, but the recent events seemed to have a large impact on their relationships and futures together.
"Toads"
"Toads"
by Philip Larkin
Once I understood this poem, I quite liked it. Question four asked for the name of the second toad, and I say its responsibility. Responsibility can be a burden. Responsibility does not allow a person to cheat or swindle, and therefore the speaker will never get "the fame and the girl and the money/ All at one sitting" (Larkin). It's hard to just quit working if a person is responsible, even if he hates work. Continuing to work is the responsible thing to do, so that a person can pay bills and provide for the family.
I also paid attention to question five, because the speaker's hatred for work is one of the first things I noticed upon reading the poem. He is comparing work to a large toad that he wants to expel with a pitchfork. Toads are unpleasant creatures anyway, but the author also includes phrases like, "brute" and "sickening poison" to add to the imagery. The speaker doesn't seem lazy per say, just frustrated. He wants to survive without work, live off his wit like some other folks do. But he's too responsible to quit his job. His desire of successful unemployment is out of reach.
by Philip Larkin
Once I understood this poem, I quite liked it. Question four asked for the name of the second toad, and I say its responsibility. Responsibility can be a burden. Responsibility does not allow a person to cheat or swindle, and therefore the speaker will never get "the fame and the girl and the money/ All at one sitting" (Larkin). It's hard to just quit working if a person is responsible, even if he hates work. Continuing to work is the responsible thing to do, so that a person can pay bills and provide for the family.
I also paid attention to question five, because the speaker's hatred for work is one of the first things I noticed upon reading the poem. He is comparing work to a large toad that he wants to expel with a pitchfork. Toads are unpleasant creatures anyway, but the author also includes phrases like, "brute" and "sickening poison" to add to the imagery. The speaker doesn't seem lazy per say, just frustrated. He wants to survive without work, live off his wit like some other folks do. But he's too responsible to quit his job. His desire of successful unemployment is out of reach.
"Hazel Tells Laverne"
"Hazel Tells Laverne"
by Katharyn Howd Machan
I really enjoyed the speaker's dialect in this poem; the author uses this dialect and certain diction to point out specific traits in the speaker. The first thing I noticed about this poem was the there is no punctuation or capitalization and many of the words are slang or shortened: "so i goes ta flushm down/ but sohelpmegod he starts talkin..." (Machan) This shows that the speaker is energetic and emotional, but also uneducated. Her job is to clean out bathrooms in a trashy hotel, and the thought of her becoming a princess is ridiculous. The line, "me/ a princess" (Machan) is read as a question and shows Hazel's disbelief in her own personal ability to be a princess. These elements contribute to indirect characterization as we learn more about the speaker through her phrasing and word choice.
In answering question number one, I said that my first response to this poem was that it was very funny. I could just see an energetic African American woman gossiping with her friend Laverne and enjoying telling her this unbelievable tale. Hazel cleans in a not-so-good hotel, so therefore we know she is not financially well off. She is not high up in society and neither she nor her friend would probably live in great locations. I guess the hotel she works at is gross enougjh to have frogs in the toilet. All in all, I liked the revision of the original fairy tail, and found it very humorous.
by Katharyn Howd Machan
I really enjoyed the speaker's dialect in this poem; the author uses this dialect and certain diction to point out specific traits in the speaker. The first thing I noticed about this poem was the there is no punctuation or capitalization and many of the words are slang or shortened: "so i goes ta flushm down/ but sohelpmegod he starts talkin..." (Machan) This shows that the speaker is energetic and emotional, but also uneducated. Her job is to clean out bathrooms in a trashy hotel, and the thought of her becoming a princess is ridiculous. The line, "me/ a princess" (Machan) is read as a question and shows Hazel's disbelief in her own personal ability to be a princess. These elements contribute to indirect characterization as we learn more about the speaker through her phrasing and word choice.
In answering question number one, I said that my first response to this poem was that it was very funny. I could just see an energetic African American woman gossiping with her friend Laverne and enjoying telling her this unbelievable tale. Hazel cleans in a not-so-good hotel, so therefore we know she is not financially well off. She is not high up in society and neither she nor her friend would probably live in great locations. I guess the hotel she works at is gross enougjh to have frogs in the toilet. All in all, I liked the revision of the original fairy tail, and found it very humorous.
"Mr. Z"
"Mr. Z"
by M. Carl Holman
My answer to question 3:
The author's attitude toward Mr. Z seems disapproving or disappointed to me. "Or when he could not cleanly skirt dissension,/ Faced up to the dilemma, firmly seized/ Whatever ground was Anglo-Saxonized" (Holman). The author is saying that when Mr. Z could not avoid confrontation or taking a side, he went with whatever a white person would do. He doesn't care if its right or wrong, or if he even believes in it, he just wants to act white. The author points out how much Mr. Z had to go through in his life, nothing every little detail Mr. Z controlled or changed about himself. The extreme detail seems overkill, and the effort on the part of Mr. Z was all for naught: "Not one false note was struck- until he died..." (Holman)
Also shown in these quotes is the author's satirizing of Mr. Z's society. Mr. Z was told early that having different skin was a sign of error, and when he tried to change, act more like a white person, he was more accepted and successful in his community. Society taught him that conformity, along with abandonment of his culture and background, was a good thing. But still, in his obituary, even after complimenting him with the word, "distinguished," the writers still added the phrase, "of his race," making it painfully obvious that nothing Mr. Z could have done would make people forget that he was African American.
by M. Carl Holman
My answer to question 3:
The author's attitude toward Mr. Z seems disapproving or disappointed to me. "Or when he could not cleanly skirt dissension,/ Faced up to the dilemma, firmly seized/ Whatever ground was Anglo-Saxonized" (Holman). The author is saying that when Mr. Z could not avoid confrontation or taking a side, he went with whatever a white person would do. He doesn't care if its right or wrong, or if he even believes in it, he just wants to act white. The author points out how much Mr. Z had to go through in his life, nothing every little detail Mr. Z controlled or changed about himself. The extreme detail seems overkill, and the effort on the part of Mr. Z was all for naught: "Not one false note was struck- until he died..." (Holman)
Also shown in these quotes is the author's satirizing of Mr. Z's society. Mr. Z was told early that having different skin was a sign of error, and when he tried to change, act more like a white person, he was more accepted and successful in his community. Society taught him that conformity, along with abandonment of his culture and background, was a good thing. But still, in his obituary, even after complimenting him with the word, "distinguished," the writers still added the phrase, "of his race," making it painfully obvious that nothing Mr. Z could have done would make people forget that he was African American.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Perrine Poetry- Is there a wrong answer?
The Nature of Proof in the Interpretation of Poetry
-Laurence Perrine
I agree with a large portion of this article- I have never believed that all interpretations of a poem are equally valid, simply because one interpretations matches and supports the details and symbolism in a poem more than any other. I understand that a poet cannot interpret his own poem, because by doing so, "he limits its suggestibility," but I also believe that a poet should not suggest that any interpretation that suits a reader is a right one. Context is a very important tool in the interpretation of a poem and must never be ignored. Like in the example of the word "horse," one word can have different interpretations of detail, such as the type of horse, but in no context could "horse" be interpreted as a cow. Most words in a poem are not as clear cut as that though. In the untitled Dickinson poem, I personally interpreted it as a field or meadow of flowers. Perrine quickly shows how this interpretation is incorrect. Many of the words and details in the poem lean more toward the interpretation of a sunset than my personal view of the poem. Once those details were pointed out and explained, I saw how a sunset was a better fit to the poem.
On the other hand, I do not believe the meadow interpretation is completely incorrect. Same with the army interpretation of the Melville poem. I recognize that there a better and more correct interpretations of both poems, but I still think my views of the poems are logical ways to see the poem and are supported by most of the details in the poem. The best interpretations of each poem support all the details (with some deep thought and explanation I might add) and contradict none of them. But the other interpretations, the common and popular ones, are not necessarily wrong, they just aren't the very best interpretations. The differing views are still within the area if meaning, and therefore, still plausible. The poem talking about symbols actually makes more sense to me, because I saw the rose and worm representing a rose and worm, but also as a lady and her lover. I agree that symbolic poems also have an area of meaning, and for me, that means there are multiple plausible interpretations, as long as, the author says, "the rose must always represent something beautiful or desirable or good. The worm must always be some kind of corrupting agent." In essence, my belief is that if an interpretation stays within the area of meaning, it is to some degree, reasonable or acceptable.
-Laurence Perrine
I agree with a large portion of this article- I have never believed that all interpretations of a poem are equally valid, simply because one interpretations matches and supports the details and symbolism in a poem more than any other. I understand that a poet cannot interpret his own poem, because by doing so, "he limits its suggestibility," but I also believe that a poet should not suggest that any interpretation that suits a reader is a right one. Context is a very important tool in the interpretation of a poem and must never be ignored. Like in the example of the word "horse," one word can have different interpretations of detail, such as the type of horse, but in no context could "horse" be interpreted as a cow. Most words in a poem are not as clear cut as that though. In the untitled Dickinson poem, I personally interpreted it as a field or meadow of flowers. Perrine quickly shows how this interpretation is incorrect. Many of the words and details in the poem lean more toward the interpretation of a sunset than my personal view of the poem. Once those details were pointed out and explained, I saw how a sunset was a better fit to the poem.
On the other hand, I do not believe the meadow interpretation is completely incorrect. Same with the army interpretation of the Melville poem. I recognize that there a better and more correct interpretations of both poems, but I still think my views of the poems are logical ways to see the poem and are supported by most of the details in the poem. The best interpretations of each poem support all the details (with some deep thought and explanation I might add) and contradict none of them. But the other interpretations, the common and popular ones, are not necessarily wrong, they just aren't the very best interpretations. The differing views are still within the area if meaning, and therefore, still plausible. The poem talking about symbols actually makes more sense to me, because I saw the rose and worm representing a rose and worm, but also as a lady and her lover. I agree that symbolic poems also have an area of meaning, and for me, that means there are multiple plausible interpretations, as long as, the author says, "the rose must always represent something beautiful or desirable or good. The worm must always be some kind of corrupting agent." In essence, my belief is that if an interpretation stays within the area of meaning, it is to some degree, reasonable or acceptable.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
The End
The Great Gatsby
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
chap IX, pgs 173-180
Before I give my personal opinion of this novel overall, I would like to tie up some loose ends with Daisy, Tom, and Jordan. Nick and Jordan finally meet up after quite a while and Nick talks with her about their past. Her response was to tell him "without comment that she was engaged to another man" (Fitzgerald, 177). They talk for a bit longer, but the conversation goes south. "Angry, and half in love with her, and tremendously sorry, I turned away" (Fitzgerald, 177). I was very upset, I really wish there could have been at least one happy ending in this novel. As for Tom and Daisy, "They were careless people- Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made..." (Fitzgerald, 179) I was almost as upset to hear this, because I kind of wanted Daisy to leave Tom, and the both did unfavorable things, but they just ran away and chose to forget them. I don't foresee them having a very happy life together, nor do I wish it upon them.
Though I wasn't a big fan of the tragic ending (I'm more of a hopeless romantic), the book itself was quite enjoyable. The continuous thread of intrigue kept me engaged, and I had strong feelings toward many of the characters, whether good or bad, that drew me into the book even more. The language and plot was easier to understand than in The House of Mirth, but both had a unique and interesting look into the time period and the lives of specific characters. All in all, I enjoyed reading The Great Gatsby.
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
chap IX, pgs 173-180
Before I give my personal opinion of this novel overall, I would like to tie up some loose ends with Daisy, Tom, and Jordan. Nick and Jordan finally meet up after quite a while and Nick talks with her about their past. Her response was to tell him "without comment that she was engaged to another man" (Fitzgerald, 177). They talk for a bit longer, but the conversation goes south. "Angry, and half in love with her, and tremendously sorry, I turned away" (Fitzgerald, 177). I was very upset, I really wish there could have been at least one happy ending in this novel. As for Tom and Daisy, "They were careless people- Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made..." (Fitzgerald, 179) I was almost as upset to hear this, because I kind of wanted Daisy to leave Tom, and the both did unfavorable things, but they just ran away and chose to forget them. I don't foresee them having a very happy life together, nor do I wish it upon them.
Though I wasn't a big fan of the tragic ending (I'm more of a hopeless romantic), the book itself was quite enjoyable. The continuous thread of intrigue kept me engaged, and I had strong feelings toward many of the characters, whether good or bad, that drew me into the book even more. The language and plot was easier to understand than in The House of Mirth, but both had a unique and interesting look into the time period and the lives of specific characters. All in all, I enjoyed reading The Great Gatsby.
Alone
The Great Gatsby
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
chap IX, pgs 163-172
Gatsby's sudden death and proceeding funeral, to me, highlight his personal relationships. When Gatsby was alive, hundreds of people would flock to his house for his fabulous parties. But now, only curious children and nosy reporters lingered around the house. Nick called Gatsby's acquaintances- Meyer Wolfsheim, Klipspringer the boarder, and Daisy, but none of them would come to the funeral. Daisy didn't even respond. "At first I was surprised and confused; then, as he lay in his house and didn't move or breathe or speak, hour upon hour, it grew upon me that I was responsible, because no one else was interested- interested, I mean, with that intense personal interest to which every one has some vague right at the end" (Fitzgerald, 164). So many people talked about or knew Gatsby, but none had the decency to come to his funeral. On the fateful day, three cars went to the cemetery- the hearse, the limo with Nick, Gatsby's father, and the owl-eyed man, and a car with a few servants. To see a man's rich life be reduced to such a pitiful spectacle was very upsetting. Nick has no one, Gatsby and both Wilsons are dead, and Daisy and Tom are probably off somewhere trying to restart their life and forget the past. It seems like such a tragic end. No one seems to come out happy. Just like in The House of Mirth, there is death right at the end; things are left unsaid; people are left alone.
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
chap IX, pgs 163-172
Gatsby's sudden death and proceeding funeral, to me, highlight his personal relationships. When Gatsby was alive, hundreds of people would flock to his house for his fabulous parties. But now, only curious children and nosy reporters lingered around the house. Nick called Gatsby's acquaintances- Meyer Wolfsheim, Klipspringer the boarder, and Daisy, but none of them would come to the funeral. Daisy didn't even respond. "At first I was surprised and confused; then, as he lay in his house and didn't move or breathe or speak, hour upon hour, it grew upon me that I was responsible, because no one else was interested- interested, I mean, with that intense personal interest to which every one has some vague right at the end" (Fitzgerald, 164). So many people talked about or knew Gatsby, but none had the decency to come to his funeral. On the fateful day, three cars went to the cemetery- the hearse, the limo with Nick, Gatsby's father, and the owl-eyed man, and a car with a few servants. To see a man's rich life be reduced to such a pitiful spectacle was very upsetting. Nick has no one, Gatsby and both Wilsons are dead, and Daisy and Tom are probably off somewhere trying to restart their life and forget the past. It seems like such a tragic end. No one seems to come out happy. Just like in The House of Mirth, there is death right at the end; things are left unsaid; people are left alone.
 |
| Gatsby seems very alone in death |
More Death
The Great Gatsby
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
chap VIII
A few pages of the start of chapter eight are a flashback of of Daisy and Gatsby's past. Its the typical poor boy/ rich girl scenario, but then the boy goes of to the army. As much as they love each other, Daisy can't wait forever for Gatsby to come back, so she marries a man who can take care of her. Daisy sends Gatsby a goodbye letter in the army, which is known as a "Dear John letter." The flashback reminded me of the movie, Dear John, where Savannah couldn't wait for her boyfriend John to come back from the army any longer, so she marries an old family friend, even though she loves John more. She sent John a letter to break up with
him in the army, and he was devastated, just like Gatsby.
When I got to the last paragraphs of the chapter, I read them faster and faster, hoping to get to the end to really figure out what had happened. When the narrator said there where shots, I didn't know what to think. I thought at first that maybe Gatsby had killed himself. But then Wilson was mentioned- "It was after we started with Gatsby toward the house that the gardener saw Wilson's body a little way off in the grass, and the holocaust was complete" (Fitzgerald, 162). I honestly re-read that sentence multiple times because I just could not believe that was the way Gatsby's story was ended. He was a rich man with massive parties and lived a life so full of energy. The situation seemed like a murder/suicide to me. Wilson obviously was completely off his rocker, and assumed that Gatsby had killed and possibly slept with his wife just because the yellow car was his. Oh the unfortunate effects of misunderstandings... This is turning out to be a depressing resolution. Moreover, I don't believe Nick and Jordan will end up together, for whatever terrible reason.
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
chap VIII
him in the army, and he was devastated, just like Gatsby.
When I got to the last paragraphs of the chapter, I read them faster and faster, hoping to get to the end to really figure out what had happened. When the narrator said there where shots, I didn't know what to think. I thought at first that maybe Gatsby had killed himself. But then Wilson was mentioned- "It was after we started with Gatsby toward the house that the gardener saw Wilson's body a little way off in the grass, and the holocaust was complete" (Fitzgerald, 162). I honestly re-read that sentence multiple times because I just could not believe that was the way Gatsby's story was ended. He was a rich man with massive parties and lived a life so full of energy. The situation seemed like a murder/suicide to me. Wilson obviously was completely off his rocker, and assumed that Gatsby had killed and possibly slept with his wife just because the yellow car was his. Oh the unfortunate effects of misunderstandings... This is turning out to be a depressing resolution. Moreover, I don't believe Nick and Jordan will end up together, for whatever terrible reason.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Myrtle Dies
The Great Gatsby
By F. Scott FitzgeraldChap VII, pgs 134-145
Myrtle Wilson was really a minor character, but I believe her violent death shows the desperateness of the situation and also the turmoil that Daisy feels. Myrtle walked away from her husband for the last time and Tom could no longer take her away. Not to be crass, but now that Myrtle is out of the way, the only conflict seems to be with Gatsby and Daisy. The novel had exposition where we learned about all the characters and the mystery of Gatsby, the narrative hook when we learned about his feelings and his past with Daisy, the rising action Gatsby vying desperately for her attention, the turning point of them spending more and more time together while Daisy's feelings for him grew, the climax where Daisy admits to her husband that she wants to leave him because she loves Gatsby, and now the falling action where we are not sure how Daisy and Gatsby will end up together or what exactly Tom is going to do about it. We have not yet come to a resolution in which most everyone is settled and satisfied, or even stuck. Tom's affair was ended with his lover's death, but now his wife might leave him for another man, which is just something that doesn't happen in those times.
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| Nick and Jordan <3 |
Climax
The Great Gatsby
By F. Scott Fitzgerald
Chap VII, pgs 113-133
Climax! Everyone
finally seems to figure out what is going on.
Tom heard Daisy tell Gatsby that she loved him and Mr. Wilson found out
some unfavorable things about his wife and was therefore taking her far
away. Mr. Wilson “had discovered that
Myrtle had some sort of life apart from him on another world, and the shock had
made him physically sick” (Fitzgerald, 124).
Though Wilson does not yet suspect Tom, he tells Tom that “my wife and I
want to go West” (Fitzgerald, 123).
Wilson actually ended up trying to lock Myrtle in her room until they
left, showing very uncharacteristic strength and determination.
 |
| Fighting, fighting, fighting |
If I Fall For You...
The Great Gatsby
By F. Scott Fitzgerald
chap V
The first part of this chapter didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Did Gatsby have a different birth name? Why did he change it? What was up with the reporter? Also, I don't think Cody served a lot of purpose as a minor character save the fact that he might have contributed more mystery to Gatsby's past. Because his past was obbvviously not confusing or mysterious enough. (*sarcasm*)
Because of this confusion, I chose to focus on the end of the chapter, which I found very relatable to music. I was reminded of a song when I thought of Gatsby's already revealed emotions and romantic situation and also when I read this line from a flashback Gatsby had about Daisy: "He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God" (Fitzgerald, 110). This line seems to relate perfectly to a line from a wonderful Maroon 5 song, Love Somebody. The lyrics go like this: "But if I fall for you, I'll never recover/ If I fall for you, I'll never be the same." The whole song seems to match almost exactly how I imagine Gatsby to be feeling, both in his flashback and in present time.
Another line that reminded me of a song was, "So he waited, listening for a moment longer to the tuning-fork that had been struck upon a star. Then he kissed her. At his lips' touch she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was complete. Thought the lyrics aren't exactly the same, I am reminded of a song by Gloriana called Kissed You Good Night. A verse goes, "Half scared to death, can't catch my breath, aren't these the moments we live for? And I kissed you, goodnight. And now that I've kissed you, its a good night, good night, baby goodnight."
The Love Nest
The Great Gatsby
By F. Scott Fitzgerald
chap V, pgs 90-96
"They had forgotten me, but Daisy glanced up and held our her hand; Gatsby didn't know me at all. I looked once more at them and they looked back at me, remotely, possessed by intense life. Then I went out of the room and down the marble steps into the rain, leaving them there together" (Fitzgerald, 96).
The end of chapter five involves rising action and possibly
the turning point of the novel. Gatsby
and Daisy are spending a lot of time together, and end up snuggling and holding
hands in a dark corner in Gatsby’s house listening to the piano. Gatsby had been wishing for this for five years, and even though she was there with him, she was not his. No amount of love and hoping could wish away the fact that Daisy was married. This chapter is the rising action because Gatsby keeps trying to impress Daisy and get her to stay with him. The quote shows that the two were in their own little world and had close to forgotten all outside of it. That is why I also believe that it might also be the beginning of the turning point, because Daisy seems very happy and wishes to stay with Gatsby, which might lead to her leaving Tom (which I hope it does).
When reading the last pages of the chapter, I felt like I was in the scene with the character. You know that inner voice you hear when you read to yourself? How it gets loud when things are in all caps or something? Well my inner voice was reading in a very hushed tone, as not to disturb the sound of the piano or the soundless connection between Gatsby and Daisy. I felt like Daisy might have, looking deeply into the eyes of someone who loves you and forgetting everything else in the world, wanting to stay there forever.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
The Symbol of the Storm
The Great Gatsby
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
chap V, pgs 81-89
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
chap V, pgs 81-89
I noticed the symbolism in this section involving
Gatsby. Gatsby had his house overly lit
for no apparent reason. It was so bright
and obnoxious that from a distance, Nick believed his house to be on fire. This seemingly pointless act of making his
house a beacon symbolized Gatsby’s desperate need to be noticed by Daisy. He is begging for her attention, but he doesn’t
know how to get it. Moreover, Nick’s
belief that the lights looked like a fire makes it seem that Gatsby is calling
out to Nick for help. Nick does his best
when he invites both Daisy and Gatsby over for tea, but when the two finally
meet up, its awkward and uncomfortable and embarrassing. Nick steps outside to give them some privacy
and realizes that it is pouring down rain.
The symbolism of the storm represents the uneasiness and storminess of
the meeting inside. Nick thought that
when the rain stopped, it reflected what was going on inside: “But in the new
silence I felt that silence had fallen within the house too” (Fitzgerald, 89). However, what had fallen in the house was not
an uneasy silence, but an atmosphere of calm.
Once the storm calmed down, so did the conversation. A brighter sky symbolizes a brighter
beginning and possibly future for Daisy and Gatsby.
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| Do Daisy and Gatsby have a future together? |
Monday, August 6, 2012
Thy Neighbor's Wife
The Great Gatsby
By F. Scott Fitzgerald
chap IV, pgs 72-80
There has been a lot of foreshadowing so far in this book, and especially in this section. I read the summary on the back cover, so I know that Gatsby loves Daisy at some point in the book. Therefore, any mention of a connection between them seems like foreshadowing to me. Meyer Wolfsheim (who is comically if not stereotypically described, being a short rambunctious Jew with a large nose) said that "Gatsby's very careful about women. He would never so much as look at a friend's wife" (Fitzgerald, 72). I think this foreshadows Gatsby making known his feelings for the married Daisy Buchanan. And when Gatsby meets Daisy's husband Tom, "a strained, unfamiliar look of embarrassment came over Gatsby's face" (Fitzgerald, 74). Because Gatsby is usually a friendly and courteous host, his embarrassment in meeting Tom Buchanan foreshadows a deep and upcoming reason for the embarrassment. When Jordan told Nick about Daisy and Gatsby's history, I realized that Gatsby did have very strong feelings for Daisy and obviously still does. Everything Gatsby has changed in his life recently- moving, throwing parties, making friends with Nick- is all to get closer to Daisy. Now that Gatsby's intentions are clear, I'm interested to see how far he'll go and how Daisy will respond.
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| Let's see how well Gatsby can follow this...if at all |
The Smolder
The Great Gatsby
By F. Scott Fitzgerald
chap IV, pgs 61-71
One thing I focused on this section was the continued, emotion
of Gatsby’s captivating smile. Earlier
the narrator described the smile as understanding as much as you wanted to be
understood, and now he states that “the smile comprehended Montenegro’s troubled
history and sympathized with the brave struggle of the Montenegrin people. It
appreciated fully the chain of national circumstances which had elicited this
tribute from Montenegro’s warm little heart” (Fitzgerald, 66). The lengthy description of this amazingly
enrapturing smile seems to disguise pain and mystery. It is as if his smile is a shield. Smooth-talking men have captivating smiles to
fool women and hide secrets. Gatsby’s
smile actually reminds me of another charming smile from the movie Tangled.
Flynn Ryder’s famous “smolder” is used to charm the ladies. Though it has always worked before, it fails when he uses it on Rapunzel. Gatsby’s smile eventually loses its charm on Nick as well: “There was the smile again, but this time I held out against it” (Fitzgerald, 71).
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Jordan Baker
The party s coming to a close and Nick is one of the last to leave: "and suddenly there seemed to be a pleasant significance in having been among the last to go, as if he had desired it all the time" (Fitzgerald, 53). As the plot and the characters continue to develop, Gatsby is still portrayed as being above everyone else, but not in an arrogant way. Gatsby continues to appear to me almost like a god, patiently observing and occasionally controlling the events around him. I wish to learn more about Gatsby, and I believe the author's style of writing and development of plot will slowly reveal more and more about the mysterious Gatsby.
At the end of the chapter the author uses some direct characterization to allow the reader to get to know Jordan Baker better: "She was incurably dishonest. She wasn't able to endure being at a disadvantage and, given this unwillingness, I suppose she had begun dealing in subterfuges when she was very young in order to keep that cool, insolent smile turned to the world and yet satisfy the demands of her hard, jaunty body" (Fitzgerald, 58). Nick seems not to care about her dishonesty, but I'm not sure how to feel about it as of yet. I am sort of a hopeless romantic though, and after the tragic relationship of Lily and Selden, I'm really hoping that Jordan and Nick get together. At first he says, "I wasn't actually in love, but I felt a sort of tender curiosity" (Fitzgerald, 57). That's a good start, but I was happier when he later said, "...for a moment I thought I loved her" (Fitzgerald, 58). As I learn more about Jordan, I continue to hope that Nick's feelings for her develop, and she shows some feelings for him as well.
At the end of the chapter the author uses some direct characterization to allow the reader to get to know Jordan Baker better: "She was incurably dishonest. She wasn't able to endure being at a disadvantage and, given this unwillingness, I suppose she had begun dealing in subterfuges when she was very young in order to keep that cool, insolent smile turned to the world and yet satisfy the demands of her hard, jaunty body" (Fitzgerald, 58). Nick seems not to care about her dishonesty, but I'm not sure how to feel about it as of yet. I am sort of a hopeless romantic though, and after the tragic relationship of Lily and Selden, I'm really hoping that Jordan and Nick get together. At first he says, "I wasn't actually in love, but I felt a sort of tender curiosity" (Fitzgerald, 57). That's a good start, but I was happier when he later said, "...for a moment I thought I loved her" (Fitzgerald, 58). As I learn more about Jordan, I continue to hope that Nick's feelings for her develop, and she shows some feelings for him as well.
| Jordan and Nick: one needs to break down the wall |
He's Just a Man Named Gatsby
The Great Gatsby
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
chap III, pgs 39-49
The chapter starts off with a butler formally inviting Nick to one of Gatsby's parties that he had so often observed with awe. The description of the party comes off to me as a intricate and confusing whirlwind of people, food, and music. Nick feels out of place and just when he needs a companion, he spots Jordan Baker. Jordan stays with him throughout the party and helps Nick to socialize. To me, Jordan seems to stand out among all the other guests. Conversations with others are kept short and fleeting and names are only mentioned once, if at all. Both the author and Nick himself write and act, respectively, in a way that puts Jordan apart from the other guests. Nick is comfortable with her and happy to be in her presence. She contributes to Nick's mood and the mood of the chapter. Miss Baker is calm and lovely, and seems to flow about the party, even among young girls dancing to the orchestra. I'm hoping that Jordan continues to contribute to the mood and that Nick comes to notice her grace and beauty.
Another character that stands out is of course the namesake of the book, Gatsby. But before we truly find out who Gatsby is, the author adds even more mystery. There are rumors that Gatsby killed a man, was a German spy, fought in the American army, and went to Oxford. It's hard to discern which is true and what is simply fabricated. Adding to the mystery is that Nick has a full conversation with a man before he realizes that the man is actually Gatsby. I figured that this would happen because Nick says, "It was on the tip of my tongue to ask him his name when Jordan looked around and smiled" (Fitzgerald, 47). This was a foreshadowing that this man's name would soon be important to the story. After the conversation, Gatsby is called away and both Nick and the reader are arrested with curiosity. " 'Who is he?' I demanded. 'Do you know?' 'He's just a man named Gatsby.' "
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
chap III, pgs 39-49
The chapter starts off with a butler formally inviting Nick to one of Gatsby's parties that he had so often observed with awe. The description of the party comes off to me as a intricate and confusing whirlwind of people, food, and music. Nick feels out of place and just when he needs a companion, he spots Jordan Baker. Jordan stays with him throughout the party and helps Nick to socialize. To me, Jordan seems to stand out among all the other guests. Conversations with others are kept short and fleeting and names are only mentioned once, if at all. Both the author and Nick himself write and act, respectively, in a way that puts Jordan apart from the other guests. Nick is comfortable with her and happy to be in her presence. She contributes to Nick's mood and the mood of the chapter. Miss Baker is calm and lovely, and seems to flow about the party, even among young girls dancing to the orchestra. I'm hoping that Jordan continues to contribute to the mood and that Nick comes to notice her grace and beauty.
Another character that stands out is of course the namesake of the book, Gatsby. But before we truly find out who Gatsby is, the author adds even more mystery. There are rumors that Gatsby killed a man, was a German spy, fought in the American army, and went to Oxford. It's hard to discern which is true and what is simply fabricated. Adding to the mystery is that Nick has a full conversation with a man before he realizes that the man is actually Gatsby. I figured that this would happen because Nick says, "It was on the tip of my tongue to ask him his name when Jordan looked around and smiled" (Fitzgerald, 47). This was a foreshadowing that this man's name would soon be important to the story. After the conversation, Gatsby is called away and both Nick and the reader are arrested with curiosity. " 'Who is he?' I demanded. 'Do you know?' 'He's just a man named Gatsby.' "
Friday, August 3, 2012
Myrtle Wilson
The Great Gatsby
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
chap II
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| This is what I came to find from the detailed description in the book |
The beginning of this chapter includes a lot of detailed description, but I also experienced some confusion. I honestly had no idea what was going on with the description of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg. At first I thought it was a hallucination or an odd formation of rock. After a considerable about of pondering, I came to the conclusion that it was an old billboard. (Granted, my pondering included typing the doctors name into Google images and seeing what came up, but nevertheless.)
| Besides that she's not black, this is kind of how I picture Mrs. Wilson. She's got swag! |
Once I got over the confusion of the eyeballs, I came to the equally detailed description of Mrs. Wilson. "...the thickish figure of a woman blocked out the light from the office door. She was in the middle thirties, and faintly stout, but she carried her surplus flesh sensuously as some women can. Her face, above a spotted dress of dark blue crepe-de-chine, contained no facet or gleam of beauty, but there was an immediately perceptible vitality about her as if the nerves of her body were continually smouldering" (Fitzgerald, 25).
Ok, so what confused me about this was that I soon learned that Mrs. Wilson was Tom's "other woman." Daisy was described as being much more attractive, and in addition, Mrs. Wilson herself is married. Mr. Wilson seems even more oblivious than Daisy, but then again, I feel like Daisy has at least an idea of what is going on.
So eventually, Nick, Tom, and Myrtle Wilson end up at a party with lots of different people which I feel won't contribute to the story that much.
I think they serve to show the contrast between Tom's two lives and Myrtle's two lives. This chapter ends with some confusion, displayed in the broken syntax in the second to last sentence. The ellipsis also contribute to that. Nick somehow ends up waiting for a train, which leaves the reader wondering what happened and how he got there. Hopefully my confusion in these areas will be cleared up in the upcoming chapters.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Questionable Relationships
The Great Gatsby
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
chap I, pgs 12-21
Ok, so I already strongly dislike Tom. Daisy seems like a sweet and caring wife, but Toms actions in this section are described with adverbs like, "crossly," "violently," "impatiently," and "miserably." The reader learns that Tom actually has "some woman in New York" (Fitzgerald, 15). He's blatantly cheating on his wife and no one seems to care! At this point, Tom seems like a flat character who thinks civilization is going to pieces, likes to travel, and doesn't seem to care about his wife. I really hope his personality changes, but at this point, he is in sharp contrast to Nick, who seems very educated and caring. Another contrast is that Nick lives in West Egg while the Buchanans live in the more affluent East Egg, and Nick even describes them as "remotely rich."
In this section I was mainly focused on Tom and how he was described. "As for Tom, the fact that he "had some woman in New York" was really less surprising than that he had been depressed by a book. Something was making him nibble at the edge of stale ideas as if his sturdy physical egotism no longer nourished his peremptory heart" (Fitzgerald, 20). I'm interested to see how Tom develops as a character and also how his relationships with other characters develops. Will Tom leave his wife for this other woman? How will Tom and Daisy continue to relate with Nick? How will Nick relate with Miss. Baker? And the most pressing question- How will they relate to Gatsby?
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
chap I, pgs 12-21
Ok, so I already strongly dislike Tom. Daisy seems like a sweet and caring wife, but Toms actions in this section are described with adverbs like, "crossly," "violently," "impatiently," and "miserably." The reader learns that Tom actually has "some woman in New York" (Fitzgerald, 15). He's blatantly cheating on his wife and no one seems to care! At this point, Tom seems like a flat character who thinks civilization is going to pieces, likes to travel, and doesn't seem to care about his wife. I really hope his personality changes, but at this point, he is in sharp contrast to Nick, who seems very educated and caring. Another contrast is that Nick lives in West Egg while the Buchanans live in the more affluent East Egg, and Nick even describes them as "remotely rich."
In this section I was mainly focused on Tom and how he was described. "As for Tom, the fact that he "had some woman in New York" was really less surprising than that he had been depressed by a book. Something was making him nibble at the edge of stale ideas as if his sturdy physical egotism no longer nourished his peremptory heart" (Fitzgerald, 20). I'm interested to see how Tom develops as a character and also how his relationships with other characters develops. Will Tom leave his wife for this other woman? How will Tom and Daisy continue to relate with Nick? How will Nick relate with Miss. Baker? And the most pressing question- How will they relate to Gatsby?
Intro to Gatsby
The Great Gatsby
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
chap I, pgs 1-11
At the very beginning of this novel, I quickly discovered that the narration and perspective, and the point of view of the main character would all be very different than in The House of Mirth. Even the diction and style of writing appeared more relaxed and easier to comprehend. I believe that Fitzgerald uses this simpler style of writing in addition to the first-person narrative to convey the down-to-earth nature of the protagonist and narrator, Mr. Carraway. This form of writing makes Mr. Carraway more approachable and draws the reader deeper into the story, instead of feeling like an uninvolved bystander. Something that caught my attention was the almost godliness with which Gatsby is referred to. Everyone seems to know of him, but no one seems to have met him personally. At the opening of the book, this vague but obviously important character lends some intrigue, and some anticipation for encounters to come.
"No- Gatsby turned out all right at the end; it is what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out my interest in the abortive sorrows and short-winded elations of men" (Fitzgerald, 2).
Nothing like a little ominous foreshadowing to get you diving headfirst into a book!
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
chap I, pgs 1-11
At the very beginning of this novel, I quickly discovered that the narration and perspective, and the point of view of the main character would all be very different than in The House of Mirth. Even the diction and style of writing appeared more relaxed and easier to comprehend. I believe that Fitzgerald uses this simpler style of writing in addition to the first-person narrative to convey the down-to-earth nature of the protagonist and narrator, Mr. Carraway. This form of writing makes Mr. Carraway more approachable and draws the reader deeper into the story, instead of feeling like an uninvolved bystander. Something that caught my attention was the almost godliness with which Gatsby is referred to. Everyone seems to know of him, but no one seems to have met him personally. At the opening of the book, this vague but obviously important character lends some intrigue, and some anticipation for encounters to come.
"No- Gatsby turned out all right at the end; it is what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out my interest in the abortive sorrows and short-winded elations of men" (Fitzgerald, 2).
Nothing like a little ominous foreshadowing to get you diving headfirst into a book!
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| oooo...very ominous sky...what's gonna happen? |
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