Great Gatsby Analysis

Fitzgerald's hopeless and reminiscent tones reflect his character's realization that time has slipped from the beautiful and magical past to a future in which all hope is lost. As time wears on, the magnificence of the land is destroyed and the country falls into a grim future which offers no chance of achieving dreams. The land itself no longer possesses its past wonder, Gatsby's dreams managed to escape him, and the people must beat on to a grim future even when they long to return to the more admirable past.

On the last page of the novel, Fitzgerald's diction shows a marvelous land full of life and beauty. The old island once "flowered" for sailors as they stumbled upon a "fresh, green breast of the new world." The trees that once occupied the land had whisper[ed] and the entire scene filled man's "capacity for wonder." The words display an almost surreal land full of opportunity and hope, but it is made clear that the country has fallen from the peak of glory and lost its aesthetically pleasing structure. "For the last time in history" man saw in a "transitory moment" the wonder of a new world. The passing of the awesomeness of the land is compared by Fitzgerald to the passing of dreams. Gatsby was so close to his dream that he could "hardly fail to grasp it," but he did not know that it was "already behind him." Like the freshness of the land, Gatsby's dreams had diminished and past before he could realize what had happened and stop them from escaping him. His dreams melted into obscurity, leaving him with no hope of coming close to achieving them.

In the next to last paragraph, Gatsby's dreams are compared to a future that is constantly moving beyond reach. The future is almost touchable, just beyond the distance of an outstretched hand, yet no matter how he stretches he can never grasp it. His dreams present the same dilemma: they are unattainable. All hope has been almost destroyed at this point, but is slightly rekindled by the wording and syntax finishing the paragraph. Fitzgerald says that "to-morrow we will run faster," and continues the metaphor by saying that we will "stretch out our arms farther" so that maybe one day we will be able to cling onto that seemingly untouchable goal. When Fitzgerald talks about chasing the future and dreams, his writing becomes more broken and fast paced. His statements are hyphenated and he uses ellipses. The brokenness of the writing coupled with his words convey a mildly excited mindset, a slight hopefulness that one day people will be able to achieve their dreams.

Fitzgerald's diction, syntax, and comparisons blend beautifully to enforce his character's hopelessness, to show the grimness of the present and the future of aspirations and dreams. The ethereal past has progressed to mere memory, leaving a far from splendid present to haunt the world.

Advertisment Techniques

In this commercial for Olive Garden, a family gathers in one place to share a meal and quality time together. Instead of advertising only the decadent foods that could be eaten, the restaurant tells potential customers that eating together can bind the family together and really give them an experience to remember. The restaurant is using an advertising technique that the article in the New York Times talked about: displaying the joy of an experience rather than just a purchase. In a time when pocketbooks are pinched, people are much less willing to go out and spend their money on a meal when they could cook one for less at home. But by presenting amazing potential experiences, restaurants draw in customers anyway.

Consumerism According to G.K. Chesterson

There are two ways to get enough: one is to continue to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.

G.K. Chesterson (1874-1936)

In almost every text I've read about consumerism, the idea that having less brings happiness has been mentioned. Most people, these articles said, are actually happier when they own less material things. Tammy Strobel, for example, limited her possessions to a mere 100 items, and she's happier than ever.

In the opinion of Chesterson, Strobel was happy not because she owned less, but because she desired less. With the constant burning of desire gone, we can be happy with what we already have, because we know that we are truly blessed to have so much wealth in the first place.

Chesterson also says that to get enough we can accumulate more and more. The joy brought by owning more is temporary, but by constantly building an arsenal of possessions we can renew the happiness periodically. The cycle never ends, but it does keep us content.

Chesterson was trying to tell everyone that by wanting less we could happier than if we owned the world. Maybe we should listen and start to live a life void of lust.

3rd Quarter Reading List

I read 4 books, the equivalent of 10 books.

• Before I Fall (470) 2 books
• Nineteen Minutes (464) 2 books
• Wuthering Heights (320) 3 books
• Tess of the d'Urbervilles (384) 3 books

Nineteen Minutes
The tiny town of Sterling seems tranquil enough, until a brutal school shooting, killing ten, occurs at the local high school. Josie goes to school on an apparently normal day, but ends up living a nightmare as she witnesses death and destruction around her. Not only is the day horrible, but the shooter is the least likely person she could have thought of: nerdy, former best friend Peter. Peter is quickly taken to trial to Josie's mother Judge Cormier, who is later removed from the case, and Josie should be the perfect witness; except for the fact that she can't remember anything about the shooting. Peter's parents Lewis and Lacey constantly antagonize over the past, trying to remember what they could have done to send Peter to such violence. They wonder endlessly about what they could have done differently. Jodi Picoult's novel is a truly touching story that explores the world of bullying, and the concept of truly knowing a person.
I enjoyed this book so much because it was written from so many different perspectives and allowed me to really get to know all of the characters well. Every person thought so differently and had their own opinions, and it was cool to be able to think from the shooter's point of view as well as the victims. Most books about a touchy subject like this shy away from the bad guy's thoughts, but this book delved right into the heart of the shooter. I also liked the book because so much research was put into it. Picoult always researches endlessly for her novels and the research always makes the book so much more accurate and heart-warming.

Where Do Your Loyatlies Lie?

After reading this article about a California woman who killed her sister-in-law, I began to think a lot about family ties and what being a family truly means. The article reminded me of a book I recently read, True Colors, about a family that becomes pitted against each other in the face of trial.

In this novel, the Grey sisters are a tightly bound unit that has always stood opposite of one person: their distant and hard-hearted father. They always loved each other more than they could express, took care of each other, and let nothing come in the way of their friendship. Then a stranger comes to town and threatens to ruin everything that the Grey sisters have with one another. When feelings are kept secret, secrets are revealed, and revelations of terrible consequence are unveiled, the three become hostile, and it seems possible that they may never be a united force again.

These two texts made me think about my family, and I began to ask myself many questions: what could lead me to separate from my family? What would they have to do for me to turn my back on them? Would I stand beside them, whatever the circumstance? Would they ever abandon me? Would we ever let any person get in the way of our relationships? And if we did become enemies, would we ever be able to forget and be a family again?

I am very glad that I came across these writings, because they got me to think about my loyalty to those I love and how far I would go to protect them. I am very grateful for my family and friends, and know that I would do almost anything in my power to keep them from danger or to help them, but at the same time I know that there are certain things that I would not be able to overlook. But until I have to face one of these events, I will just enjoy my relationships with those around me and stay fiercely loyal to them, and hope that they do the same for me.

Socks: The 12 Sentence Story of Two Girls and Their Laundry

Brea and I were sitting on the floor, our laps covered in clean laundry, our hands folding countless shirts and socks, and our voices ringing with laughter as we worked. I was being responsible and collecting all my clothes; Breanna was not. My sister, the slacker, naturally neglected some of her work load and would not fold and put away her socks. I chased her across the house, through the halls, behind the furniture, around all the rooms, trying to force her socks upon her. She finally ran into her room and locked the door in my face. Big mistake. I warned her that I would find a key or that I would kick the door down or that I would go tell Mom. My threats were numerous, but my simple action stood alone. With a quick thrust of my foot, a harsh blow to the door I dealt. Who could have known I would leave behind a hole? I gasped and panicked and thought and schemed. The story I invented, the speed with which I said I had tripped, the immediate belief that my mother had in my story got me off the hook and got Brea to take her socks.

An Abundance of Idiots

I love a good laugh, whether it be a giggle or a breath-taking, tear-conjuring, belly-aching outburst of hilarity. So, naturally, it is no surprise I fell head-over-heels in love with the video series on YouTube entitled "Autotune the News." My favorite episode, number six, is filled with a myriad of wonderful things: singing, dancing, jokes, clever editing. This video though, and many other in the series, have been debated as possibly offensive to those who are featured. It is true that many people in these videos, especially politicians, look like--well, idiots. But did the makers of these videos really make politicians look any more idiotic than they manage to do themselves?

Ranging from west coast to east coast, from north to south, from federal to community, America's government systems have been inflated with politicians who probably should not have been elected. And sadly, in these cases, they were the lesser of two evils. Comments I cannot believe have been said, actions that should never have been taken, choices that do nothing but hurt the politician--and these people are still getting mad at those who taunt them?

There is Sarah Palin, who I could go on about for years, who makes up words and then posts Tweets defending her mistake. Hey, if Shakespeare could do it, why can't she? Then we have people like Rod Blagojevich. Oh dear. Trying to sell a Senate seat? Really? And if that doesn't make him look idiotic enough already, his hair certainly does. Then, of course, John McCain...Is it really necessary to break into a Beach Boys song during a meeting? Also, I would hate to be the one to break it to John Boehner, but using profanities in the middle of a Congressional meeting is not professional. Especially when that meeting is being broadcasted on C-SPAN.

I have also noticed that politicians sometimes seem to have a hard time staying on topic. It is not that difficult: Just answer the question. This video even states, while Congress members have gone off on a tangent about something irrelevant to the topic, that they "thought the bill was about the climate."

I know that everyone does something a little stupid every once in a while, but I am thinking that some of these politicians need to pack their bags and whatever little pride they have left and get out of the career of politics. Either that, or they need to learn to not be surprised when their speeches end up on Saturday Night Live.