For some reason i can't shake the feeling that Antigone didn't play a very large role in this play that is so aptly titled 'Antigone'. Huh, maybe I'm just weird? I merely felt Oedipus played a bigger role in his play...that's all.
Anyways, onto my only point I want to make about these two plays. I feel that, in a nutshell, both 'Oedipus' and 'Antigone' can be summed up in the final lines of 'Antigone' made by Choragos, "There is no happiness where there is no wisdom; no wisdom but in submission to the gods." Basically, obey the gods, you can't change fate. Has anyone ever seen 'Jason and the Argonauts'? Well, anways, it's about Greek mythology and junk. It's awesome. But the one scene I love in it involves how the gods are toying with Jason and his men as they try to find the Golden Fleece for some reason...I haven't seen it in awhile. Regardless, my interest is in one scene only. In it, the gods are playing some sort of game with a map of the world and pieces that are represntative of people.
Here is the scene:
This is pretty much the basis of these plays. We are all pawns of the gods in this cosmic game called fate. Who are we, mere mortals, to stand before the might and power of the gods? According to these plays, we can't. Oedipus was fated by the gods to slay his father and sleep with his mother. Nothing could change that. Teiresias reveals to Creon that he should ahve burried the body of Polyneices. Disobeying led to his downfall. Basically, I feel that these plays stand to show the Greek ideals of obeying the gods and of always listening to reason (which just so happens to be what the gods say). So in the end, there is 'no wisdom but in submission to the gods.'
Monday, September 03, 2007
Personality Shift?
After reading this play I was shocked to see such a change in Creon's personality. I pretty much was like is this the same guy? What happened to his leval head and reasonable thinking? He seemed to react and respond alot with his emotion especially when he felt he was being diobeyed or people were being unloyal. Like when Antogone didn't deny the accusations and when his servant person did. Another example is when his son threatned him with his own life if he did not spare his fiance's life. I thought it was totally interesting how his mindset and emotion overpowered his leval head and reasonable thinking once he took the crown. He turns to be more like Oedipus than i thought.
Overkill with Eurydice & More
I’m with you Mary, I see the Chorus as nothing more than an unnecessary, annoying break in the action (after awhile, I just skipped over the Chorus parts). It’s my opinion that the Chorus doesn’t tell you anything you don’t already know, and as such, is entirely useless. And I agree with you Adam, all of that kingly power has definitely gone to Creon’s head. He’s acting as stubborn and as irrational as his incestuous predecessor. By the way, did anyone think that adding Eurydice to the play was (dare I say) “overkill”? I mean she enters in the last scene of the play only to hear what’s happened to Antigone and Haimon before immediately proceeding to kill herself. I think two suicides would have been plenty for one play, but apparently Sophocles found some value in adding a third (I certainly didn’t). Perhaps this third suicide was meant to hit a little closer to home for King Creon? One could make the argument, but surely the suicides of his daughter-in-law and son were heart-wrenching enough. Lastly, I was disappointed to again see Sophocles using third person narration for crucial, vital moments. Having a sentry tell us of the three suicides just didn’t do it for me. There’s no suspense or drama when I’m only told of three suicides instead of shown them. The way I see it, it’s already happened and I’ve missed all the action. Where’s the suspense in that?
Creon, what happened?
Ok, so after reading Oedipus I was a pretty big Creon fan. I mean, this guy took a tongue lashing from Oedipus and was publicly humiliated, so I felt pretty bad for him. Beyond all of this was the fact that he was calm throughout and did lash out at Oedipus. He was a subservient man that knew he was in the right and decided to just accept things and let fate handle the rest. After Oedipus' past comes to light, Creon is the first to attempt to hurry Oedipus inside to save him embarrassment, he also wishes to consult the gods and not be rash in exiling Creon. He was a very good guy, and ended up receiving the throne. Message: Good guys will be rewarded in the end.
Now we move on to Antigone. Creon has become the bad guy. Apparently he went against the gods in saying that Polyneices should not be buried. If Greeks should learn anything from these plays, it is that the gods always win. He is quick to anger, first threatening the life of the sentry, and then condemning Antigone. He even went so far as to proclaim a death sentence on Ismene. He was strong-headed and refused to consult others. Haimon tried to talk some sense into him, but he would not have it. Creon has become the "Oedipus", and Haimon is our new "Creon". Creon has all of the hubris of Oedipus, and is quick to anger, rash, and strong-headed just as his predecessor. What has happened to our Creon? Could it be that the responsibilities of the kingship ruins a person? Too much power in the hands of someone that is not fit for the job? Regardless, Creon's mistakes were costly. He lost many loved ones, and had no one to blame but himself. Granted, I don't understand why so much innocent blood had to be shed, but let the gods do their thing. All that I can think about is how drastically Creon has changed.
Now we move on to Antigone. Creon has become the bad guy. Apparently he went against the gods in saying that Polyneices should not be buried. If Greeks should learn anything from these plays, it is that the gods always win. He is quick to anger, first threatening the life of the sentry, and then condemning Antigone. He even went so far as to proclaim a death sentence on Ismene. He was strong-headed and refused to consult others. Haimon tried to talk some sense into him, but he would not have it. Creon has become the "Oedipus", and Haimon is our new "Creon". Creon has all of the hubris of Oedipus, and is quick to anger, rash, and strong-headed just as his predecessor. What has happened to our Creon? Could it be that the responsibilities of the kingship ruins a person? Too much power in the hands of someone that is not fit for the job? Regardless, Creon's mistakes were costly. He lost many loved ones, and had no one to blame but himself. Granted, I don't understand why so much innocent blood had to be shed, but let the gods do their thing. All that I can think about is how drastically Creon has changed.
The Chorus
(Nick your blog was great! I noticed that reference and I wondered about her story. Thanks for clearing it up and since you did so well I’m going to go ahead and talk about something else.) The chorus is something in these plays I do not understand. We talked about how they are the people’s reactions but sometimes they go off into rants. The chorus, after Antigone is taken away and her last lines, begins normal. It references the future tomb of Antigone. Then it turns into these mythical three paragraphs. There are three footnotes in these paragraphs. I do not understand what the meaning of the paragraphs. I could not even relate them to the story. It talks of multiple gods I believe ending with the tomb again. I just think it is very confusing, I could make nothing of it and if anyone else notices it an explanation would be greatly appreciated.
Antigone: self-righteous and pitiable
Like father, like daughter? or is it more like brother, like sister? See how complicated and chaotic things get when incest is involved? Anyway, similariies between Oedipus and Antigone. There are a lot. Mostly, hubris. They've both got a lot of hubris. However, they have different varieties of hubris. Oedipus is full of hubris in his skills: skills at leading, solving riddles etc. Antigone's hubris is wrapped up in self-righteousness. What really struck me is her self-comparison to Niobe. The text has a footnote that explains the Niobe myth, but it misses some things. The reason Niobe's children were killed was that she boasted that she was more of a woman than Leto, a goddess, because she had more children than Leto. The gods killed her kids and had Niobe cry until she turned to stone. Not only does the stone foreshadow Antigone's stone prison, but in some accounts of the myth Niobe hung herself. Either way, Antigone was extremely proud, just like Niobe, but she doesn't mention Niobe's pride. But was it wrong that she knew that she was right? I think the part where her righteousness crossed over from good to bad is when she rebuked Ismene. In that exchange, I got the impression that Antigone wanted to be a sacrifice. She wouldn't let Ismene join her. Antigone had to be the sole victim. She enjoys wallowing in self pity veiled in self-righteousness. You know what I'm talking about- she likes playing the poor victim. We all know people like that. I don't know if I consider Antigone a good character or a bad character. She seems more like a pitiable character. Wait, there's that magic word, pity. So I guess it works out as a tragedy in the end.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
Daisy
Many people may see Daisy Buchanan as an innocent young girl who is very kind, but I don’t. I believe Daisy was a very shallow character throughout the novel who did not have her priorities straight. She was once in love with Gatsby at an early age, yet when she found out that he wasn’t rich, she no longer wanted to marry him. She instead went off and married a rich man, Tom, while Gatsby was away at war. Daisy is so in love with money and rich materials that she cries when Gatsby is showing her all of his shirts. Honestly it is bad if you are crying just because a man has some nice shirts. She then toys with Gatsby when they meet and she makes him believe that she truly loves him and that they may one day get married. At this point she is lying to both her husband and Gatsby and is a very unfaithful woman, although said to be quite attractive. To me, Daisy seems to be the one character that had the biggest impact on the lives around her and could have made them better. Instead, she is dishonest throughout the novel and ruins Gatsby’s life and then when he dies, she does not even come to his funeral which portrays her as being even more shallow.
JT's thoughts on the Great Gatsby
The character of Gatsby is what interested me the most about this book. The first thing that jumped out to me about him was that he was the title character of the book, but the book was not in his point of view. Most books I can think of off the top of my head that have a title character are not like this. The book is in the point of view of the title character. Besides that once I got to reading the book Gatsby was by far the most interesting thing to me. At the beginning of the book he seemed very mysterious, but as the book progressed the reader learned more and more about him. It fascinated me that he spent his entire life trying to get Daisy, his American Dream. Daisy seems like a nice girl and all, but I don't think she is worth an entire life of sacrifices to get. There are plenty of other girls out there. I was shocked at the lengths that Gatsby went to in order to get Daisy. He changed his entire life, but it did not work. If I was Gatsby I know that would be a tough thing for me to overcome. I don't think I would ever be able to get over the fact that I could not get her, and this is exactly what Gatsby struggles with. He knows he can't have Daisy but he stills puts everything he has into it. Just about everything he does in life is geared toward this one goal. So basically, it amazes me that a person is willing to give up everything he knows, his family, friends etc..., just to get a girl, but that is just what Gatsby did.
The Successful Failure, "Not just an Apollo mission"
As i finished reading The Great Gatsby i couldn't help but ask myself, why is this Gatsby so great, he failed. I was looking at Gatsby in the sense that he didn't get the girl, and died how could he have succeeded. Page 6 Nick says " Gatsby turned out all right at the end; it is what preyed on Gatsby,what foul dust floating in the wake of his dreams", in this passage two words stand out to me immediatly, preyed, and dust. When i think of dust i think of something that has been neglected for a long time, for example Gatsby left his relationship with Daisy in order to become a successful well to do man like Tom. By doing this dust collected on what was once a love, and when Gatsby tries to cleanse the dust from the past he comes to a harsh reality that the dust, the past is unable to be altered. I saw this as Gatsby's one huge flaw through the entire book, this contributed to many of his other flaws, but he seemed to always be looking for that answer to fix the past and make Daisy fall in love with him again. Yes, Gatsby did live part of the American dream, he went from rags to riches, but he never lived his Dream. When he and Daisy first met it was love, Daisy's marriage to Tom is not out of love but rather of security, in order to counter this Gatsby attempts to offer Daisy the same thing love of money to fill the void of their love that had been lost.
this is kayla's blog... because she forgot her password too
I liked this book just as much as I was told I would. I didn’t really relate it to my life as a whole but certain parts did fit. I tend to do that with books i read to make them more interesting for me as an individual. The connections spice it up a bit. Although Gatsby did not attain what he was striving for his entire life I still see him as a hero. I suppose it would be fair to state that he is a hero that failed, but a hero none the less. He is a romantic hero in the way that he would give anything for Daisy just to be with her and please her. At the expense of his own downfall he aims to make her happy. Gatsby sees Daisy is unfulfilled in her marriage with Tom. There is a quality of love that Gatsby sees in Daisy. However she is unable to see any sign of this in Tom. When I think about Tom it makes me wonder what drew them together. He seems like a man difficult to love, someone who has set up walls almost impossible to be broken down by those who wish to get close to him. Daisy has attempted to bring them down and her constant failure has caused her to give up. In a way it is the same journey in which Gatsby is traveling. Daisy wants Tom to let her in and Gatsby longs to be with Daisy. These are two unattainable things which they noth want. Love. In some parts of my own life I see that there are unattainable things, yet i still long for them. Not only do I long for them but, like Gatsby I work toward them, knowing whole heartedly I may never posess what it is I am fighting for. Some part of me will not allow me to give up on things. I think this is the same quality Gatsy has and now that I think about it I can see why he never gave up. You can't really blame him. If you knew it was one of the only things that would make you happy, wouldn't you do it too?
-kayla
-kayla
The American Dream
During the time period in which The Great Gatsby was written in, a popular belief of the American Dream was in the minds of everyone. It was a belief that everyone, no matter what background you came from, could become wealthy and have a perfect life. The unfortunate thing about this American Dream was that very few people successfully achieved it in their lifetimes. In the case of The Great Gatsby, the American Dream was looked at from a different point of view. In the novel, Gatsby was shown to have come from rags to riches yet he still was not happy. This was because he had his eyes set not on money, but on a girl named Daisy. As we continued through the book, what seemed like anyones American Dream, was only a step for Gatsby into getting his dream, Daisy. In the end Gatsby never reached his dream and died because of it. This shows the reader just how hard it is to reach the "perfect" American Dream and that you should always have a backup plan to fall back on.
Andy's Gatsby Blog
I don't know how strange it might sound, but I can relate to Gatsby a lot more than most people would think. While I was reading the book I just kept saying over and over to myself that that it is exactly something that I would do for someone I truly loved. I've always been a romantic, and could never figure out how people treated someone they were with like Tom would. Gatsby reminded me of all the times I was a true gentleman, or just a boyish young man trying to win somebody's heart. I admire Gatsby for all the effort he put into one dream, and how he kept his green light of hope right by his side at all times. It takes guts to continually chase one cause, no matter how many times you get knocked down, it will always take an even bigger force to get back up. Gatsby stayed determined on his vision, and I hope that I can always stay focused on my dreams too.
Women - can't live with 'em.. that's all..
The Great Gatsby is filled with various female characters, and these women have a way of destroying the men. Two women that are a prime example of this in The Great Gatsby are Myrtle Wilson and Daisy Buchanan. Myrtle Wilson is/was married to a lower-class hardworking man by the name of George Wilson. Wilson loves Myrtle very much, but she does not return this love. Instead, she goes and finds herself a rich playmate, Tom Buchanan, to satisfy her. Eventually, George Wilson discovers that Myrtle has been cheating on him. This breaks George's heart, but, due to his financial problems, he must keep working, and he becomes physically sick. When Myrtle, the woman who had no love for George, dies, George's love for her is enough to drive him insane, killing not only who believes to be the murderer, but also himself. The second woman that destroys a man in the timeless piece of work is Daisy Buchanan. Daisy is married to Myrtles playmate, Tom Buchanan. However, in her younger years, she had a relationship with one Jay Gatsby. Daisy eventually left Jay because he wasn't wealthy enough. However, Jay's love and lust for Daisy's robust figure and inspiring personality lead Gatsby to commit his life solely to the goal of winning Daisy back. Everything he did in his life was in order to reach his ultimate prize of winning Daisy, however, this essentially stripped him of all the other joys of life. These two men, George Wilson and Jay Gatsby, were destroyed by the women that they loved. If the women in this story hadn't had such an impact on these men's lives, one would think that both men might have lead much more happy and prosperous lives.
JENNY'S BLOG (since she couldn't remember her password)
Every person has thier own "American Dream". In the Great Gatsby, Gatsby's American Dream is represented by a green light that shines on the other side of the lake. The light signifies Daisy, who Gatsby loves. He wants to be with Daisy more than anything and knows she is his soul mate. He wastes away his whole life trying to buy her back and win her from Tom. During this time Gatsby builds Daisy up to this perfect women who she will never live up to be. In the end Gatsby gets close to his Dream but it was unrealistic so it never fell through. When I read this theme it reminded my of my close friend Lauren Thomas. Lauren like many others has her own American Dream. Her Dream is the super cute R & B singer Chris Brown. She believes Chris Brown is her true love. Like Gatsby she wants nothing more then to find Chris Brown and marry him so she can be with him forever. Although she has not and will not waste her life away to find him, she has built him up to be the perfect man. "I don't have to strive for it and base my whole life around it. He will come to me. It will eventually happen. It's just fate!" (Lauren Thomas). Lauren and Gatsby share one common trait in thier American Dreams. Like Gatsby Lauren's Dream is unrealistic. She has a very very slight chance of ever meeting him and even a lesser chance of hooking up with him. In all reality i feel that Lauren's Dream will fall through just like Gastby's Dream. She will just have less to lose since she has not put her life into being with him.
Nick!
One crucial character that isn’t really discussed much in Nick Carraway. Nick moved from the Midwest to the East in order to take part in the thrilling adventures of New York and to make money. Nick wanted to make it selling bonds. He ends up moving into the house next to Jay Gatsby. Nick’s relationships with the other characters in the novel are very important to plot of the story and the point view through which the story is told. Nick is Daisy’s cousin so Gatsby uses this relationship to his advantage. I agree with Mary’s statement that Gatsby used people throughout the novel but I think it was more than that. I think a lot of people used Nick in the novel as well. The reason Gatsby wanted to become close to Nick was so that he could, by chance, come into contact with Daisy. Gatsby invited Nick to the party as a way to make his acquaintance. Later, he prompted Nick to have a tea party and invite Daisy so that they could meet again. Nick, of course, obliged, but for nearly the duration of the party he waited outside so that they could talk. After Daisy and Gatsby became reacquainted, she began using him as a way to see Gatsby. Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure she enjoyed seeing Nick but she really wanted to spend time with Gatsby without her husband suspecting anything.
Now this may be a stretch but I think that Tom used Nick as a way to make himself feel less guilty about cheating on Daisy. Tom trusted Nick and so he brought him to the apartment he shared with Myrtle. I think that Tom thought by exposing his relationship with Myrtle to someone other than a neutral party that it might rationalize it in some way and make it seem less appalling. Nick was sort of used by everyone in this way. To everyone, Nick was like the ice breaker. When Daisy, Tom, and Jay were all together Nick was what kept the peace and kept everything formal. None of the three imagined that Nick had a confidence with all three of them. This is why Nick is such a good narrator for this novel. He sees and finds out about everything because everyone trusts him.
Eventually, Nick gets fed up with living in the east. He knows he isn’t suited for the way of life there. He is honest and respectable. He doesn’t play any angles. Nick’s relationship with Jordan helps convince him that he doesn’t belong there. Nick likes her free spirit and her vivacity but he shocked by her dishonesty. She is not considerate of other people and this completely contrasts Nick because Nick has been caring for other people the entire novel. I am glad that Nick ended up moving back to the Midwest. Nick seemed to be the only character who understood the purpose of life. He realized that selling bonds in the East was not his dream. It was other men’s dreams and he knew that he needed to start over and actually do something that he wanted to do. I think that he was too good for the East and he was definitely my favorite character in the novel!
Now this may be a stretch but I think that Tom used Nick as a way to make himself feel less guilty about cheating on Daisy. Tom trusted Nick and so he brought him to the apartment he shared with Myrtle. I think that Tom thought by exposing his relationship with Myrtle to someone other than a neutral party that it might rationalize it in some way and make it seem less appalling. Nick was sort of used by everyone in this way. To everyone, Nick was like the ice breaker. When Daisy, Tom, and Jay were all together Nick was what kept the peace and kept everything formal. None of the three imagined that Nick had a confidence with all three of them. This is why Nick is such a good narrator for this novel. He sees and finds out about everything because everyone trusts him.
Eventually, Nick gets fed up with living in the east. He knows he isn’t suited for the way of life there. He is honest and respectable. He doesn’t play any angles. Nick’s relationship with Jordan helps convince him that he doesn’t belong there. Nick likes her free spirit and her vivacity but he shocked by her dishonesty. She is not considerate of other people and this completely contrasts Nick because Nick has been caring for other people the entire novel. I am glad that Nick ended up moving back to the Midwest. Nick seemed to be the only character who understood the purpose of life. He realized that selling bonds in the East was not his dream. It was other men’s dreams and he knew that he needed to start over and actually do something that he wanted to do. I think that he was too good for the East and he was definitely my favorite character in the novel!
Impact of Fake Images on Commitment Between Characters
The lack of attendance at Gatsby’s funeral drew my attention to a theme that was present throughout the book and between most characters. That idea was that the characters lacked commitment to each other. The first example of this was Tom and Daisy. They were married and professed love for each other, but each had affairs. Tom passionately fought Gatsby for Daisy, but he was still involved with Myrtle. When Myrtle showed apparent disrespect for Daisy, Tom punched her and broke her nose even though Tom was showing disrespect for his marriage with Daisy. After Gatsby died, Tom showed no grief for the loss and continued to show the casual nature of all his relationships. Even Jordan became engaged to another man while still seeing Nick. Similarly, everyone professed to being Gatsby’s friends when he held parties and invited everyone to his house, but when the parties ended and hard times came, they were all gone. Even Wolfshiem, the man who led Gatsby up the social ladder and was a close associate with Gatsby, did not show up when there was nothing to be gained. Most people in this story failed to show commitment to Gatsby or anyone else that was close to them because very few of them truly knew the people around them. The main people who showed up at the funeral (Nick, Gatsby’s father, Owl Eyes) knew the true Gatsby and were able to establish commitment as a result. Few commitments were able to form in this society of fake images and selfish behaviors because few were able to let down their masks and be themselves for fear of falling from social grace, thereby forming this problem as a main theme of the novel.
The American People
The Great Gatsby had many characters representing the different American people after World World One. Gatsby was representing the people with “new money” whom came up from their hard work. Tom represented the “old money” that were looking on people who were coming up to their level like Gatsby (new money). Daisy represented the light “go with the wind" gang who clings on to others to support themselves, maybe like the "flappers" during the 20ths who were crazy women going out parting every night. Mrs. Wilson represented the people who want more in life, to be higher in an upper class then stay in lower class that they dread so much. These people do not do hard work to get to the upper class but take anyway that is shorter then working to achieve upper class. Mr. Wilson is the poor class who has to work everyday to have enough money to survive. Even though he wants to be higher in society, this will never happen do to his position as a lonely gas station owner. Jordan represented the people who were in the middle who are torn apart from helping the lower class or not. Eventually, like when she “dumps” Nick, they turn their backs on the lower class do to reasons of not wanting them to get better lives or not caring for them anymore. Meyer Wolfshiem represented the business of America who only cared for helping out those people who in return can help them out. Once the people are no more use to the people like Wolfshiem then these people (Wolfshiem) do not care anymore for those people anymore. Now the finally one, the one that for some reason we always forget in the story but he is always there, just “floating around like a ghost”, Nick. Nick Carraway, I don’t know what to think of him. He might represent those who don’t know what they are looking for in life. They think they have an idea what they want to do in life, but for a certain reason they change their goals in life. This is especially shown with Gatsby. Nick came to the East to get money but after seeing what happen to Gatsby from money, he didn’t want the money anymore. Even when Gatsby offer him a job, Nick didn’t want. Nick knew what type of crappy lifestyle Gatsby was living. Nick just wanted an easy life.
(Now, this my interpretation of the “The Great Gatsby. I may be wrong, it may be right. I think it is right. I’m just thrown out ideas about the character. That is all.)
(Now, this my interpretation of the “The Great Gatsby. I may be wrong, it may be right. I think it is right. I’m just thrown out ideas about the character. That is all.)
"What a Grotesque Thing a Rose is"
I found the second full paragraph on page 169 to be very interesting. I really like the analogy of a rose to a single dream. A rose is a pretty flower to look at, but if you hold on to it too tightly you’re obviously going to get pricked by the thorns. I thought that the sunlight upon the grass was like to reality, so Gatsby was realizing that his dream was no longer possible. Similarly, dreams are good to have; they give you a goal and motivate you to get through difficult situations. But if you get so absorbed in a single “either/or” dream that you are completely unaware of reality, you have a problem. You’ll start to make rash decisions that you can’t undo, and when you finally understand that your dream is impossible, you’ll be greatly let down. Gatsby did just this. His only desire was to win back Daisy’s affection, which was a dream that had only two possible outcomes: either he’d succeed and get her, or fail and lose her; there was no middle ground. He lost, and only then did he realize “What a grotesque thing a rose is.” That’s why I feel that dreams are necessary, but to a certain extent need to be practical. In my opinion, you have to set goals that you can pursue knowing that in the end you can say to yourself, “Hey, I may not have gotten to exactly where I wanted to be, but I’m better off now than I was when I started.” I feel that if you cling to an “either/or” dream, you will only be setting yourself up for failure and disappointment.
An unread book might as well be made of cardboard, Diana.
Well Diana, although I missed your tangent during class, I am definitely going to have to go ahead and disagree with your blog, there. My main beef here is that I don't feel owl eyes viewed Gatsby as “Old Money”. Why would someone with a long heritage of wealth in their family masquerade as a well-read intellectual? “Old Money” would no doubt have a library full of real books. So, no, I think Owl Eyes saw Gatsby as yet another “New Money” impersonator. An impersonator would have had cardboard books because they are cheap and easy to own, especially if they are just for show. This is why Owl Eyes is delightfully surprised. He is caught off-guard by the fact that this “New Money” punk has a library full of real books. However, I agree with your statement that Gatsby outwardly portrays himself as something completely different than what he is inside. You see, he appears to others as a money-burning playboy, when in all actuality he is just putting on a show for one person, and one person only. That person is Daisy. Inside of that mysterious, nonchalant playboy is a heartbroken romantic. The books are included in this show of Gatsby's. Though they are real books (which catches Owl Eyes by surprise), they still are just a show piece. Gatsby's library, much like his life, is full and real, but it is meaningless all the same. It was all done for Daisy, and her interpretation of his extravagant lifestyle was the only one that mattered to him in the end. I feel Owl Eyes attended the funeral out of reverence for the man with real books, not for the man that was Gatsby.
"Did I tell you about the books? They're real."
So, in class I kind of went off on a tangent about some stuff and I want to clear it up. At the end of this book I finally think I figured out why the library scene is so significant and in a way that we didn't really discuss in class. Owl Eyes looked at those books and assumed that they were cardboard. His impression of Gatsby was “old money” because that was the way that Gatsby portrayed himself. “Old money” people would pretend to look smart by putting fake cardboard books in their libraries. Owl Eyes could have just assumed that the books were cardboard because every other rich person had cardboard books. However, he took the initiative to open up one of the books and see that it was real. Although this is cliché, he literally encompasses the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Owl Eyes found that the books were real; they weren’t what he expected. That’s exactly how Gatsby is; both the books and Gatsby appear to be one thing but truly, deep inside, they are something else. Owl Eyes also says that if you take one book out of its place for too long, the whole library will collapse. Gatsby’s life and his lie are like that library because his scheme is very nice and organized but fake. If one little detail of Gatsby’s plan were out of order for too long, he would be destroyed, just like the library would be if a book was messed with. Owl Eyes’ revelation in the library describes Gatsby’s life. By looking at the books, Owl Eyes is able to understand that there is much more to Gatsby than meets the eye, just like there is more to the books. This is why I think that Owl Eyes knows all about Gatsby; he came to the funeral when nobody else did and he was able to figure out that the books were real.
The Great American Hero
Gatsby is pretty much the American hero. There, I said it. Now bear with me please while I try to explain myself splatter paint style, i.e. throw out a bunch of crap and hope it sticks. Gatsby is a firm believer in the American Dream, and, from Nick's early perspective, appears to be the ultimate American success story. He was a rags to riches guy who pulled himself up by his own bootstraps. However, by the beginning of the story Gatsby already has his success, so there is no dramatic action in the story for him to gain his success. This means that he cannot be a hero of the American dream because he supposedly already accomplished all of the components of the dream. The beginning of The Great Gatsby could have easily been the end of a typical dimestore novel of the era. But it's not. It's just the beginning. Gatsby actually turns out to be a tragic hero. At the end of the novel he is lying dead in his swimming pool, a symbol of his success. It is a tragedy. Gatsby is a great man, whose unyielding drive has seemingly allowed him to conquer the world. However, Gatsby has one flaw. He cannot let go of the past, and, not only that, he never gives up his belief that he can get back to his past and make his world perfect. This inability to let go and accept that there are things in the world beyond human control is what eventually destroys him. My thesis, and yes I have a thesis, is that Gatsby is the Great American Hero not because he is the embodiment of the American Dream, but rather because he is destruction of it. America is, and always has been, a Christian nation. We were founded with a Puritan mentality, and even though religion has been overtaken by secularism in the recent years, we have never given up our cultural idea of a saviour who sacrifices himself. Gatsby's death is a "holocaust." Gatsby believes in the American Dream more than any character we have encountered all year including the founding father Ben Franklin. More than anything else, the American Dream is the belief that you can make your world exactly the way you like it as long as you try hard enough. Gatsby has tried really hard to get his American Dream, so hard that it destroys him. He had worked hard and created an amazing life, but he was so focused on Daisy that he could never be happy. The Dream, like the light, was always out of his grasp, but yet always appeared close enough that with a little more push he could grab it. Gatsby literally died in his pursuit of the American Dream. Part of the American Spirit is never giving up and always having faith that you will eventually triumph and that you can do anything, so a hero would be someone who never gives up that hope and keeps trying even though it destorys him. Don't you see the (apparent) nobility in that? I do. I have been too immersed in American culture since my birth not to root for the lone guy who never gives up hope against all odds. It is a sad thing, but sometimes you need to learn to accept that somethings really are hopeless. You need to give up on them and settle. Like I said, its sad, it seems a lot less heroic, but it seems much more mature. This immaturity and coming to maturity is another thing that Gatsby shares with his country. America was the known as the land of oppurtunity. America, against all odds, had made itself a world power, just as Gatsby had made himself a powerful man, and like Gatsby, America in the 1920s was coming to terms with the fact that it could not get everything that it wanted. It was aware of the emptiness of its existance. It too tried to fill the void with unreachable dreams. It is a sad fact, but wanting something is a lot of the times more exciting than actually having it. America lived in a dream and people were starting to wake up to it. You can see then, in this context, a man like Gatsby who won't stop trying even to his own death, is horribly tragic, but also, really heroic.
The Eyes of Eckleberg
Owl Eye was always been that character that seems suspicious and as a reader you are constantly questioning. I wasn’t really sure who he was at first and just saw him for whom he was, a man who was interested in Gatsby’s life. After finishing the novel and discussing it in class I begin to agree with the interpretations that we have made about him. I think that he could be the only person that understands who Gatsby was deep down, the only one who didn’t buy into all the rumors that were being spread about Gatsby. However the explanation that made more sense to me was that he was the actual TJ Eckleberg, the man who was there “god”. It makes sense to me that Fitzgerald would want to hide the actual Eckleberg yet allow the readers with a little thought to determine that he really was present in the novel. The name Owl Eyes is a very discrete way to spark attention to the fact that he might be TJ since Eckleberg was an eye doctor and was known to watch them at all times. It really allowed me to finish the novel off with closure and success in understanding the meaning of everything.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
As a walk through the Valley of Ashes...
I want to talk about the Valley of Ashes, because it is one of my favorite symbols in the entire book. For one thing, I see it as a symbol for the moral degradation that society is going through. All of the characters travel through the valley, which shows that they all feel its effect, and yet they also all helped to cause it. The description of faceless men shoveling the ashes is a testimony to how all of society has taken a turn for the worst. People are becoming more and more sinful and dark. Also, the Valley of Ashes is a sort of passage between New York and the “new rich” West Egg. I interpreted this as Fitzgerald’s criticism of what it takes to move up the social ladder. In other words, to get from the commonplace New York to the extravagant rich West Egg, you must pass through this sinful dark place. It is a symbol for how evil people can be when trying to move up a class. People are all too willing to ruin others for their own personal gain. Lastly, when talking of the Valley of Ashes, how can you not talk about Eckleburg? They are always there staring down at this morally decayed place. I immediately recognized the large eyes as a symbol for God. It is a reminder that God is always watching us, and he is even aware of all of our evils. Although the billboard and God have long-since been forgotten, the fact remains that they are still there standing guard and watching. I loved how the only mention of religion in the entire novel was related to Eckleburg. I could talk for ages on the topic of this simple advertisement and all of its possible meanings. Finally, I feel obligated to make a quick mention of Wilson. He is a poor victim of all of the world’s horrors, and he lives in the Valley of Ashes to symbolize this.
The Green Light
The symbolism of the green light interested me greatly. I looked at it for a simple symbol of Daisy but when Emily brought up jealousy, I began to agree. That green light shown from the dock Daisy had with another man, Tom. Gatsby would give anything to be Tom and with Daisy. The light could easily be an example of the jealousy Gatsby had for Tom because of Daisy. Also, money which is green could be embodied by the light. Daisy and Tom are very wealthy with alot of "old" money while Gatsby is "new" money. The light could be enforcing the contrast between the two. Also, in class the light was brouhgt up to symbolize a goal, something to strive for. This for Gatsby makes perfect since. For the last years of his life, he put every effort and movement in to obtaining Daisy. The green light shining from her dock every night reminded him of this goal in his life.
One Short Day in The Emerald City
Every book that we read seems to stress importance on certain colors. This book is no exception. The color that stood out to me and the rest of the class was the color green. We first experience this color with the green light at the end of Daisy's dock. I believe that this color represents the wants and desires of ordinary people. The light represented Daisy and that was Gatsby's main goal was to please Daisy. The green color was also used to express the "green breast" of the new country when the pilgrims came and first saw America layed out in front of them. This land was untouched and seemed to them percect. What intrested me the most was the fact that the author used green, the color of money. Money in this book is what Gatsby tries to use to make Daisy happy. He thinks that money is perfect and is the sure fire way to win Daisy's heart. We all know that money like all things is not perfect and the perfection in money quickly fades and we are forced to return to our realities. Spring also comes to us in the shade of green. We also know from Robert Frost that this color does not stay and that even the perfection of spring eventually fades. Green, for me, represents the illusion of perfection in the world and represents what we want. This perfection can never. Green is springs first gold and "Nothing Gold Can Stay."
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Austin's Reaction to Chapters 19-21
Chapter 19 of this section really intrigued me, and the thing that intrigued me the most from this chapter was Nathaniel Hawthorne’s use of mirrors once again. He constantly discusses Pearl’s reflection in the brook. He portrays each reflection as if it is actually her because it is so clear. Hawthorne is doing this to show us that Pearl is a part of nature and therefore, she reflects perfectly in it. “And beneath, in the mirror of the brook, there was the flower-girdled and sunny image of little Pearl, pointing her small forefinger too (page 205).” Every one of her movements can be seen not only through Pearl, but also through the brook very clearly. This is showing that Pearl is one with nature and that she is also wild like nature. It also once again reiterates the fact that Pearl is like the brook. Pearl and the brook both are very mysterious and they both are hidden by deep shadows. Pearl is covered by the shadows of sin caused by her parents through adultery, and the brook lies in the shadows of the forest, which is seen by society as an evil forest in which the Devil works. Hawthorne felt it was important to once again get his point across that Pearl resembles nature and the forest in that they are both outside society, and this chapter gave me a much better understanding of Hawthorne’s point in this.
Dimmesdale
I am really on the fence about how I feel about Dimmesdale right now. Up until this point I was very fond of him. He has obviously been concealing a great burden. I believed that he was doing this to protect his congregation. Now, I'm not so sure. Is Dimmesdale really just a coward? He appears to care for Hester and Pearl very much. However, if I were he I would have made a much better effort in trying to connect with my lover and daughter.
Dimmesdale said that he was afraid of anyone noticing the resemblence between himself and Pearl. I'm not sure if he was really ashamed of the part of himself that he saw in her or if he just wanted to protect himself, his daughter, and the church congregation. He certainly remembers Pearl's tenderness at the house of the governor.
Pearl senses that Dimmesdale has not fully accepted her. She knows that he will not hold her hand in public which is something that she has wanted more than anything. When he kisses her she washes it off in the stream and does not accept him. She knows that her father is a hypocrite. Hypocrite seems like a very strong word. If you think about it everyone is a hypocrite in some way whether you care to admit it or not. Dimmesdale does not have much courage and he has concealed his secret for so long that it is almost impossible for him to admit it. He believes that his only means of escape is to run away with Hester and Pearl where he can never be found.
It was hard for me to make this blog entry because I think that I criticized Dimmesdale pretty harshly. For some reason I have some great connection with him. Maybe it is just compassion. I'm really not sure. He is definately my favorite character in the book.
Dimmesdale said that he was afraid of anyone noticing the resemblence between himself and Pearl. I'm not sure if he was really ashamed of the part of himself that he saw in her or if he just wanted to protect himself, his daughter, and the church congregation. He certainly remembers Pearl's tenderness at the house of the governor.
Pearl senses that Dimmesdale has not fully accepted her. She knows that he will not hold her hand in public which is something that she has wanted more than anything. When he kisses her she washes it off in the stream and does not accept him. She knows that her father is a hypocrite. Hypocrite seems like a very strong word. If you think about it everyone is a hypocrite in some way whether you care to admit it or not. Dimmesdale does not have much courage and he has concealed his secret for so long that it is almost impossible for him to admit it. He believes that his only means of escape is to run away with Hester and Pearl where he can never be found.
It was hard for me to make this blog entry because I think that I criticized Dimmesdale pretty harshly. For some reason I have some great connection with him. Maybe it is just compassion. I'm really not sure. He is definately my favorite character in the book.
Andy's Scarlet Letter Reaction
I think one of the things that intrigued me the most was how Pearl seemed to openly deny the affection that Dimmesdale gave to her, and make the two adults realize that the love they all shared could only be true if Dimmesdale admitted his part of the sin. When Pearl washed away the kiss, it was only a reminder that love could only be built on the truth, and not the falsehood the minister lived. After the minister and Hester created their final plans to move away, the village seemed a little different to him when he was heading back home. It appeared that he had all these sudden urges to associate himself with sin, rather than remain a fake Puritan leader. I think that he was finally coming to terms with himself, and because he lived closely with the sin he and Hester shared only a few moments ago, he began to realize that this is his currently reality. He is a sinner and must repent, but until he does he will remain a sinner, and have a sinner's mind. The other thing that caught my attention, was Roger Chillingworth's sly move to place himself on the same boat Hester and Dimmesdale planned to run away on. It seems that by making this one final move, Chillingworth places Dimmesdale in a situation, where only his final words admitting his sin, will let him go free along with his family.
JT's thoughts on Chapters 19-21
I thought that this was a very interesting section of the book. The first thing I found interesting was that Pearl refused to cross the brook and come to Hester until she put the scarlet letter on. Then after she finally did cross Dimmesdale kissed her, and she went and washed off her face where he had kissed her in the brook. I thought that this showed that Pearl would not love Dimmesdale until he revealed his sin to the world. Chapter 20 was also very intersting. In this chapter Dimmesdale walked through the town and was tempted to do some terrible things. I thought some of the things he thought of doing were very funny, such as teaching the kids bad words. I could just picture the kids going to their parents and saying their new word the learned, and the terrible reaction that the parents would have. In Chapter 21 there was one part in particular that I liked. It was when the sailor informed Hester that Chillingworth was coming on the boat to England with them. It pretty much shattered the plans that she and Dimmesdale had made. I think it will make for a big conflict in the coming chapters.
A Pearly Scene - By: Matthew Huffman
Of the three chapters (19-21), i felt that chapter nineteen was the most interesting. This chapter begins with Hester speaking of Pearl's beauty to Arthur Dimmesdale. She brings up the fact that the flowers around her make her look exceptionally beautiful, and that not even pearls, rubies, and daimonds could make her look prettier than she did at that point. She also brings up the fact that Pearl has the minister's brow. The minister said he worried about Pearl having some of his features because people might recognize him as the father. However, he denies that she does even though it is clear the Pearl has some facial features that are clearly his. I find this interesting because, even though the minister claims to love Pearl and want to be honest about what happened, he still denies that she looks like him. To me, this is away of not wanting to claim her. Also, he still will not walk hand-in-hand with them. This is because he has still not accepted the responsibility for his sin, and he doesn't want to face the consequences.
Hester who?
I was very surprised when Pearl would not advance over the brook until Hester had put the scarlet letter back on. There really seems to be no reason why Pearl would want her mother to put the letter back on even though without it she is much happier. The only thing that I could think of was that Pearl, because she is the result of her mother and Dimmesdale’s sin, she is more of a living scarlet letter than anything else. If this is the case I do not think that she believes Hester should be able to fling off her sin whenever she pleases, even if the price has been paid.
Also without the letter on Pearl did not even recognize her mother, as it said before in the book, it seemed like the first thing Pearl would see was the scarlet letter. However I do not think it was a fault at recognizing her, but accepting rather. She does not want to accept her mother without the scarlet letter on because she knows the truth and knows that even by throwing the letter aside now there is hidden guilt instead of a public display of guilt which the letter provided. Pearl in a way is trying to save Hester from what has become of the minister, his heart aches because of the guilt that he cannot let out, Pearl helps insure that Hester’s guilt remains open to everyone to see.
Also without the letter on Pearl did not even recognize her mother, as it said before in the book, it seemed like the first thing Pearl would see was the scarlet letter. However I do not think it was a fault at recognizing her, but accepting rather. She does not want to accept her mother without the scarlet letter on because she knows the truth and knows that even by throwing the letter aside now there is hidden guilt instead of a public display of guilt which the letter provided. Pearl in a way is trying to save Hester from what has become of the minister, his heart aches because of the guilt that he cannot let out, Pearl helps insure that Hester’s guilt remains open to everyone to see.
Tom's Thoughts on Chapter 20
Hey, did anyone else find the image of the confused Dimmesdale kind of going on a rampage through town hilarious? You could almost imagine this guy popping some kid's balloon and knocking a little girl's ice-cream on the ground. Funnier still is that the book is written very proper and wordily, so that something like, "He was going to tell a deacon that Jesus sucks," the book reads, "Now, during a conversation of some two or three moments between the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale and this excellent and hoary-bearded deacon, it was only by the most careful self-control that the former could refrain from uttering certain blasphemous suggestions that rose into his mind, respecting the communion supper." I don't know about you, but I found all of this hilarious.
But of course under the hilarity there is some sort of meaning or point to be made. That point being that now Mr. Dimmesdale had a plan to get away from this place and start anew, without having to reveal his secret. Sure, the exodus to Europe would offer some kind of relief, but it is not the same as revealing his secret. However, his unprecedented change in behavior is possibly tied to this fact that he now plans to escape without letting anyone know about his sins. This perhaps makes him subconsciously seek out trouble and do wicked things so that attention may be drawn to him and possibly force him into revealing his dark sin. Or maybe he's just a big, old meany.
But of course under the hilarity there is some sort of meaning or point to be made. That point being that now Mr. Dimmesdale had a plan to get away from this place and start anew, without having to reveal his secret. Sure, the exodus to Europe would offer some kind of relief, but it is not the same as revealing his secret. However, his unprecedented change in behavior is possibly tied to this fact that he now plans to escape without letting anyone know about his sins. This perhaps makes him subconsciously seek out trouble and do wicked things so that attention may be drawn to him and possibly force him into revealing his dark sin. Or maybe he's just a big, old meany.
Pearl -- Emily Huffman
Throughout the entire novel, Pearl has displayed inhuman characteristics. She has always seemed to have a special instinct about different situations. For example, in tonight’s reading, she knows that it is not yet time for Hester to remove the letter. She throws a tantrum until Hester decides to wear the letter for a few more days. Pearl also knows that Mr. Dimmesdale must confess his sins. She persistently requests that he confess that he is part of their family in front of the entire town.
Pearl’s natural instincts insights have led some readers to view Pearl as a child who is mature for her age. I don’t think that many people take into account that she is still a very young child. I believe that Pearl’s mischievous personality is due to the fact that she is immature, not that she is evil. Pearl confirms that she is only a young child when she becomes jealous of Mr. Dimmesdale in chapter 19. She thinks that he is taking her place in Hester’s heart and refuses to show any love toward him. She also proves her immaturity when she is unable to address Hester without the scarlet letter. Just like many children, Pearl has a hard time dealing with change, especially in regards to a loved one. I believe that Pearl, rather than being evil, displays characteristics of a normal child.
Pearl’s natural instincts insights have led some readers to view Pearl as a child who is mature for her age. I don’t think that many people take into account that she is still a very young child. I believe that Pearl’s mischievous personality is due to the fact that she is immature, not that she is evil. Pearl confirms that she is only a young child when she becomes jealous of Mr. Dimmesdale in chapter 19. She thinks that he is taking her place in Hester’s heart and refuses to show any love toward him. She also proves her immaturity when she is unable to address Hester without the scarlet letter. Just like many children, Pearl has a hard time dealing with change, especially in regards to a loved one. I believe that Pearl, rather than being evil, displays characteristics of a normal child.
The Thoughts of Michelle
The most interesting part that I found in this reading was when Hester put the Scarlet Letter back on. She put the letter on to sooth Pearl and bribes her to come over to her. It amazed me that Pearl acted like she did not recognize her mother without the letter. I believe she did this so that her mother would not forget that the letter is what is holding together her and Dimmesdale. I applaud Hawthorne for his use of imagery in this paragraph. You could really see in your mind when her face and spirit dropped when she put on the letter. All of her beauty and youthfulness drowned away from her body when she put the letter on to her chest. I was confused with why there was such a change in her because Hester made me believe that the symbol did not mean anything to her. I always thought that the mark on her soul was what made her upset. I was surprised when she completely transformed when the letter was placed on her. I also heard a little resentment towards Pearl from Hester. She almost blamed her daughter for the grief she felt when she had the letter on. The final thing I would like to touch on is when Pearl kisses the letter. I think she sees the letter as a good symbol of her parents love and she is trying to get her mother to realize that the letter is not a bad thing.
The Escape..dun dun dunnn...by kayla
In the beginning of chapter nineteen Dimmesdale confessed to Hester his fear of the public recognizing his features in Pearl. As Pearl approaches them she points to her mother and "bursts into a fit of passion". Dimmesdale puts his hand over his heart as a reaction to cover his scarlet letter. Pearl only calms down after Hester puts her hair back up and pins the letter back on her chest. This showed strong symbolism between Pearl and Hester. It shows that the letter seems to in a way overpower Hester's motherly figure. Pearl can not see her mother the same way without the letter.
In Chapter twenty we see Dimmesdale as a new man. It focuses on Dimmesdale's new outlook. Now that Dimmesdale has decided Europe is the best choice he has been healthier and had a better outlook. But when Dimmesdale arrives back in the town he has incredible desires to do wrong. I think this is Dimmesdale's conscience telling him things won't become better if you run from the problem, you have to face it. This is one of the main themes in this story.
In Chapter twentyone Hester and Pearl are watching the Election Sermon. Pearl asks Hester if Dimmesdale will be joining them like he did on the scaffold that night. Pearl also describes him as the sad man with his hand always over his heart. This shows us that children can notice the small things adults tend to look over as nothing. Pearl knew something was bothering Dimmesdale while the entire community noticed nothing. In this chapter Hester also finds out Chillingworth will be boarding the ship to Europe also. This rises question in Hester. I think Chillingworth's plan is to follow Dimmesdale so he can not escape the torture.
In Chapter twenty we see Dimmesdale as a new man. It focuses on Dimmesdale's new outlook. Now that Dimmesdale has decided Europe is the best choice he has been healthier and had a better outlook. But when Dimmesdale arrives back in the town he has incredible desires to do wrong. I think this is Dimmesdale's conscience telling him things won't become better if you run from the problem, you have to face it. This is one of the main themes in this story.
In Chapter twentyone Hester and Pearl are watching the Election Sermon. Pearl asks Hester if Dimmesdale will be joining them like he did on the scaffold that night. Pearl also describes him as the sad man with his hand always over his heart. This shows us that children can notice the small things adults tend to look over as nothing. Pearl knew something was bothering Dimmesdale while the entire community noticed nothing. In this chapter Hester also finds out Chillingworth will be boarding the ship to Europe also. This rises question in Hester. I think Chillingworth's plan is to follow Dimmesdale so he can not escape the torture.
I don't want it
I find The Reverend's thoughts during chapter 19 to be very interesting. Hester opens the chapter by commenting on the beauty of her daughter, and she mentions some physical traits that Pearl shares with her father. I find it very interesting that at this point, Pearl's most beautiful moment, her father denies the traits he has passed on to his daughter. It almost seems that he does not want anything to do with the child. The unprecedented nature of these feelings is reenforced when Hester and Dimmesdale reflect on their meeting at the scaffold. There has always been a strange companionship between Dimmesdale and his daughter. A feeling that Dimmesdale has tried to hold on to for as long as possible, for instance on the scaffold. Knowing full well that he has such great love for his daughter, it is strange to see him almost deny ownership of her in this scene.
Hawk's Muses on CH 19-21
This was quite an interesting section of the book. Hester putting her “A” emblem and cap back on was highly symbolic. It was much more than a way to get
The New Man
Pearl had always thought of Dimmesdale as the minister, or the man who would never confess his sins with them or accept them when out in public. I believe that she understands the meaning of which he is but needs that closure or source of truth. We realize that she doesn’t accept him in chapter 19 when he kisses her forehead. I suppose that, like most children, if you don’t comply with there wishes, they wont accept any generosity from you. After this scene, Dimmesdale’s life began to change in a way he never expected.
When Dimmesdale re-entered the town, he entered with a totally new concepts and beliefs. He wanted people to know that he was a sinner and a blasphemer and that he wasn’t the man they all thought he was. Everyone wanted him to be glorifying and he just wasn’t. Hester and he were going to leave for the New World, but before they do he got to give his sermon. This was useful to him because the holiday was dedicated to those who have stepped between the individuals in love. Dimmesdale’s sermon that he had written before he ventured into the forest had little impact on what he wanted to say when he returned. He threw everything away, which I deemed to be his past, and started over, with a clean sheet!
When Dimmesdale re-entered the town, he entered with a totally new concepts and beliefs. He wanted people to know that he was a sinner and a blasphemer and that he wasn’t the man they all thought he was. Everyone wanted him to be glorifying and he just wasn’t. Hester and he were going to leave for the New World, but before they do he got to give his sermon. This was useful to him because the holiday was dedicated to those who have stepped between the individuals in love. Dimmesdale’s sermon that he had written before he ventured into the forest had little impact on what he wanted to say when he returned. He threw everything away, which I deemed to be his past, and started over, with a clean sheet!
Stupid Dimmesdale and His Stupid Ironies
Dimmesdale is really starting to grind my gears. He is a gigantic hypocrite and has completely deluded himself. He says that he is afraid that people will recognize his features in Pearl’s face, but then is upset when Pearl does not want to be loved by him. He complains about how children don’t like him, yet he does not remember the time Pearl came up and held his hand in the governor’s mansion. He comes back to Boston ecstatic that he is leaving, but full of false humility. He is upset that the old witch is talking to him about the Black Man, when he pretty much just returned from the Black Man. Also, when he sees Chillingworth, he is upset that this man is leading a double existence to harm him, but Dimmesdale is doing the same thing, and leading the same kind of double existence for the public. Earlier in class, I defended Dimmesdale by saying that the only thing that kept him from confessing was his fear that he would hurt his parishioners. I don’t believe it anymore. Dimmesdale is just afraid to confess. That is why he is running away.
A Brief Glimpse into Adam's thoughts on Chapters 19-21
In chapter 19, Hawthorne is able to use the symbols of light and mirrors again. Pearl’s beauty is stressed, and this is all magnified by the golden lights shining on her and her reflection in the brook. It is also very interesting that Pearl refuses to come to her mother when Hester is not wearing the scarlet letter. Pearl grew up knowing the letter, and in fact, Pearl is the letter. I think that Pearl is smarter than we give her credit for, because she points out how peculiar it is that Dimmesdale will only speak with them at night or in the cover of the woods. Pearl also has strong feelings against Dimmesdale which is shown by her washing the kiss off of her forehead. Perhaps she is angered at Dimmesdale for not declaring his sin openly. Speaking of Dimmesdale, he has some more emotional changes. He is severely tempted by sin, and yet barely manages to overcome. I especially liked that passage on page 220 that explained how two men can come so close to talking about a topic that they both dread, and yet still avoid it. I see this happening in everyday life, and now that I think about it, it is pretty peculiar. A strong symbol in chapter 21 occurs on page 223 in how Pearl is dressed. I also enjoyed reading about how Pearl in her actions was reflecting her mother’s hidden emotions. The nautical men were a welcome break from the strict Puritanism, and I find them fascinating. Lastly, I can’t wait to see how the escape to England plays out. Chillingworth seems genuinely evil, and I anticipate a fierce struggle between Hester and him over Dimmesdale. Another important event is Pearl choosing whether or not to cross the brook. She must decide whether to remain in the pureness of wild nature, or to come to her mother, a social outcast, and Dimmesdale, who is still full of guilt. In essence, I see this as a choice between choosing to refuse to conform to society versus accepting society's rules.
Pearl's Fit
Pearl stands in front of the brook pointing at her mother's bosom with a frown. As her mother continued to call her she stamps her foot. Pearl then burst into a fit of passion moving violently into the most interesting positions. This was all accompanied by shrieks and screams. Then her mother realizes the problem, her scarlet letter is missing. Pearl has not seen her without her letter Pearl’s whole entire life. Once her mother puts back on the letter, her hat and shadow of guilt and sin, Pearl comes to her and acts as if nothing had happened. This intrigued me, mainly for the reason we have never seen Pearl act this way. She is definitely a necessary character and up until this point this part of the story had been rather cheerful. When Pearl does not act normally, I realized something was wrong. Her reaction to the fact both her mother and Dimmesdale were in the same frame of vision to her was to throw a childish fit. This must show her true feelings behind their relationship. I think her fit was a way to show that she does not like Dimmesdale. With further reading, I believe this to be true. The reason I think Pearl does not like Arthur is for the fact he has yet to show his love in the light, and has only recognized them in the darkness.
Pearl as a Part of Nature
Chapters 19-21
Alright, I’m going to have to contradict a little of what Alex said here. I do think that Pearl is very natural, but she doesn’t want to become part of the Puritan society. As we have established in class, Pearl seems to be one with nature; this is something that the Romantics greatly valued and tried to stress in their writing. Pearl can’t want to be a part of both the Puritan society and nature at the same time. I believe that Hawthorne wanted us to view Pearl as a good force in this book since she is childlike and is a part of nature; since she is part of nature, she can’t be one with society which the Romantics viewed as a bad institution that people should try to escape from.
Although Pearl is one with nature and the letter is a symbol of society and the punishment it has inflicted upon Hester, Pearl wanted her mother to put the letter back on because Pearl’s main mission in the novel seems to be to constantly remind her mother of the sin she has committed. Thus, Pearl snatches up this opportunity to once again remind her mother of the adulterous act she has committed by forcing Hester to put on the letter and pull up her hair. Pearl avoids Dimmesdale for the same reason; she is reminding him of the sin he committed but is also angry with him because will not go and confess his true self to the town. That is why Pearl runs away from him and tries to scrub off the kiss that he gave her. Pearl seems to be playing a reverse role in the novel; she is a child but she seems to know what actions can save her parents while Hester and Dimmesdale remain clueless and intent on running away to escape from their sin.
Alright, I’m going to have to contradict a little of what Alex said here. I do think that Pearl is very natural, but she doesn’t want to become part of the Puritan society. As we have established in class, Pearl seems to be one with nature; this is something that the Romantics greatly valued and tried to stress in their writing. Pearl can’t want to be a part of both the Puritan society and nature at the same time. I believe that Hawthorne wanted us to view Pearl as a good force in this book since she is childlike and is a part of nature; since she is part of nature, she can’t be one with society which the Romantics viewed as a bad institution that people should try to escape from.
Although Pearl is one with nature and the letter is a symbol of society and the punishment it has inflicted upon Hester, Pearl wanted her mother to put the letter back on because Pearl’s main mission in the novel seems to be to constantly remind her mother of the sin she has committed. Thus, Pearl snatches up this opportunity to once again remind her mother of the adulterous act she has committed by forcing Hester to put on the letter and pull up her hair. Pearl avoids Dimmesdale for the same reason; she is reminding him of the sin he committed but is also angry with him because will not go and confess his true self to the town. That is why Pearl runs away from him and tries to scrub off the kiss that he gave her. Pearl seems to be playing a reverse role in the novel; she is a child but she seems to know what actions can save her parents while Hester and Dimmesdale remain clueless and intent on running away to escape from their sin.
Pearl as the Romantic Hero of the Book
I think that
Pearl's Dilemma
Chapters 19-21
Pearl’s dilemma whether to cross the brook results from a fear of lonely isolation. From the moment she was born, Pearl, along with her mother, have been looked down upon in the Puritan community. With Hester by her side, Pearl was able to grow accustomed to this empty gap between her family and that of society. The moment Hester removes her scarlet letter, a symbol of this isolation, she becomes, once again, part of the Puritan community. The brook acts as the wall between the free natural world and this strictly conformed Puritan society. Pearl, knowing nothing but the nature she was born into, is scared to cross this barrier without her mother’s guidance. She understands that she, like the letter, will always represent a negative separation. As a result, Pearl fears she will never become truly human and gain a rightful and accepted place in Puritan society. Pearl eventually does cross the brook, but only because her mother returns the scarlet letter to its original place on her bosom. Once again, Pearl feels a unity with her mother, and therefore, she comes willingly across the water. Pearl sees Dimmesdale as an integral member of the Puritan community. By rejecting his kiss, she is rejecting society and attempting to keep her mother by her side.
Pearl’s dilemma whether to cross the brook results from a fear of lonely isolation. From the moment she was born, Pearl, along with her mother, have been looked down upon in the Puritan community. With Hester by her side, Pearl was able to grow accustomed to this empty gap between her family and that of society. The moment Hester removes her scarlet letter, a symbol of this isolation, she becomes, once again, part of the Puritan community. The brook acts as the wall between the free natural world and this strictly conformed Puritan society. Pearl, knowing nothing but the nature she was born into, is scared to cross this barrier without her mother’s guidance. She understands that she, like the letter, will always represent a negative separation. As a result, Pearl fears she will never become truly human and gain a rightful and accepted place in Puritan society. Pearl eventually does cross the brook, but only because her mother returns the scarlet letter to its original place on her bosom. Once again, Pearl feels a unity with her mother, and therefore, she comes willingly across the water. Pearl sees Dimmesdale as an integral member of the Puritan community. By rejecting his kiss, she is rejecting society and attempting to keep her mother by her side.
Not Fully Human
“Will he go back with us, hand in hand, we three together, into the town?”
Looking for control and a unified family, Pearl asks her mother if Dimmsdale will go back into town with them. In the forest were she has played amongst creatures before, Pearl begins to resemble a creature herself. In past discussions we have went over Pearl's animalistic traits.
Why does this matter? Because it is the center of the abstract symbolism that surrounds Pearl as a whole! We see Pearl in Hawthorne's eyes: an innocent girl born as a symbol of sin who, unlike most Puritan children, refuses to conform. In my opinion, Pearl does not conform because she realizes that she will never be good enough in the eyes of Puritan society. Although a pearl is shiny and perfect, Pearl is broken due to the absence of her father. Although I believe that she has known all along whom Dimmsdale is, she cannot become completely human until Dimmsdale admits that she is in fact his daughter. Because the acknowledgement has not yet been made, Pearl will continue to stay broken. She refuses Dimmesdale's kiss because he continues to abandon her and she refuses to feel love to someone who cannot show it back.
Looking for control and a unified family, Pearl asks her mother if Dimmsdale will go back into town with them. In the forest were she has played amongst creatures before, Pearl begins to resemble a creature herself. In past discussions we have went over Pearl's animalistic traits.
Why does this matter? Because it is the center of the abstract symbolism that surrounds Pearl as a whole! We see Pearl in Hawthorne's eyes: an innocent girl born as a symbol of sin who, unlike most Puritan children, refuses to conform. In my opinion, Pearl does not conform because she realizes that she will never be good enough in the eyes of Puritan society. Although a pearl is shiny and perfect, Pearl is broken due to the absence of her father. Although I believe that she has known all along whom Dimmsdale is, she cannot become completely human until Dimmsdale admits that she is in fact his daughter. Because the acknowledgement has not yet been made, Pearl will continue to stay broken. She refuses Dimmesdale's kiss because he continues to abandon her and she refuses to feel love to someone who cannot show it back.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Mary Wiechart's Vocabulary
You all should be oh so proud of me I finally figured out this posting thing turns out the whole time I wasn't even a part of the blog well here goes my vocabulary!:
pillory
ignominy
contrivance
flagrant
phantasmagoric
magistrates
inquisitorial
intangible
betokened
abhorrence
pillory
ignominy
contrivance
flagrant
phantasmagoric
magistrates
inquisitorial
intangible
betokened
abhorrence
Blanchard's vocab
sepulchre- n.- a tomb, grave, or burial place.
ignominy- n.- 1. personal disgrace; dishonor. 2. shameful or dishonorable quality or conduct.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Monday, October 09, 2006
Tom Brodbeck's Vocab List
Here are the vocabulary words I assembled for this post (many are from Scarlet Letter):
1. gimme - noun - in golf, the final short putt that a player is not required to take in informal play.
2. contumely - noun - insulting display of contempt in words or actions; contemptuous or humiliating treatment.
3. physiognomies - noun - the art of judging human character from facial features.
4. heterodox - adjective - not in accordance with established or accepted doctrines or opinions, especially in theology; unorthodox.
5. farthingale - noun - a hoop skirt or framework for expanding a woman's skirt, worn in the 16th and 17th centuries.
6. evanescent - adjective - vanishing; facing away; fleeting.
7. ignominy - noun - disgrace; dishonor; public contempt.
8. infinitesmal - adjective - indefinitely or exceeding small; minute.
9. jingoism - noun - the spirit, policy, or practice of jingoes; bellicose chauvinism.
10. Bohemian - noun - a person, as an artist or writer, who lives and acts free of regard for conventional rules and practices.
Yeah, I totally couldn't figure out that whole hyperlinking thing for this one...I'll make another attempt for the next post, however.
1. gimme - noun - in golf, the final short putt that a player is not required to take in informal play.
2. contumely - noun - insulting display of contempt in words or actions; contemptuous or humiliating treatment.
3. physiognomies - noun - the art of judging human character from facial features.
4. heterodox - adjective - not in accordance with established or accepted doctrines or opinions, especially in theology; unorthodox.
5. farthingale - noun - a hoop skirt or framework for expanding a woman's skirt, worn in the 16th and 17th centuries.
6. evanescent - adjective - vanishing; facing away; fleeting.
7. ignominy - noun - disgrace; dishonor; public contempt.
8. infinitesmal - adjective - indefinitely or exceeding small; minute.
9. jingoism - noun - the spirit, policy, or practice of jingoes; bellicose chauvinism.
10. Bohemian - noun - a person, as an artist or writer, who lives and acts free of regard for conventional rules and practices.
Yeah, I totally couldn't figure out that whole hyperlinking thing for this one...I'll make another attempt for the next post, however.
vocab zack shindledecker
1.) imbued- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/imbued
2.) purport- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/purport
3.) enervating- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/enervating
4.) arduous- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/arduous
5.) ignominy- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ignominy
6.) sagaciously- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sagaciously
7.) imbecility- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/imbecility
8.) halberd- http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=halberd
9.) emaciated- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/emaciated
10.) erudition- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/erudition
2.) purport- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/purport
3.) enervating- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/enervating
4.) arduous- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/arduous
5.) ignominy- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ignominy
6.) sagaciously- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sagaciously
7.) imbecility- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/imbecility
8.) halberd- http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=halberd
9.) emaciated- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/emaciated
10.) erudition- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/erudition
JT's Vocab
1. Physiognomies
2. Heterodox
3. Sumptuary
4. Remonstrance
5. Sagacity
6. Temulous
7. Ignominy
8. Mutability
9. Anathemas
10. Phantasmagoric
2. Heterodox
3. Sumptuary
4. Remonstrance
5. Sagacity
6. Temulous
7. Ignominy
8. Mutability
9. Anathemas
10. Phantasmagoric
Austin's Vocab
1) Ignominy - n. 1. disgrace; dishonor; public contempt. 2. shameful or dishonorable quality or conduct or an instance of this.
2)Imperceptible - adj. 1. very slight, gradual, or subtle 2. not perceptible; not perceived by or affecting the senses. –n. 3. something not capable of being perceived by the senses.
3) Sumptuary - adj. 1. regulating or controlling expenditure or personal behavior. 2. intended to regulate personal habits on moral or religious grounds.
4) Betokened - v. To be or give a sign or portent of; indicate.
5) Disarray - v. 1. to throw into confusion; disorder. -n. 2. disorder; confusion.
6) Edifice - n. 1. a building, esp. one of large size or imposing appearance. 2. any large, complex system or organization.
7)Physiognomy - n. the outward appearance of anything, as in a character.
8)Imbued - v. To inspire or influence thoroughly; pervade.
9)Contingent - adj. 1. dependent for existence, occurrence, character, etc., on something not yet certain; conditional 2. liable to happen or not; uncertain; possible 3. happening by chance or without known cause.
10)Didactic - adj. 1. intended for instruction; instructive. 2. teaching or intending to teach a moral lesson.
2)Imperceptible - adj. 1. very slight, gradual, or subtle 2. not perceptible; not perceived by or affecting the senses. –n. 3. something not capable of being perceived by the senses.
3) Sumptuary - adj. 1. regulating or controlling expenditure or personal behavior. 2. intended to regulate personal habits on moral or religious grounds.
4) Betokened - v. To be or give a sign or portent of; indicate.
5) Disarray - v. 1. to throw into confusion; disorder. -n. 2. disorder; confusion.
6) Edifice - n. 1. a building, esp. one of large size or imposing appearance. 2. any large, complex system or organization.
7)Physiognomy - n. the outward appearance of anything, as in a character.
8)Imbued - v. To inspire or influence thoroughly; pervade.
9)Contingent - adj. 1. dependent for existence, occurrence, character, etc., on something not yet certain; conditional 2. liable to happen or not; uncertain; possible 3. happening by chance or without known cause.
10)Didactic - adj. 1. intended for instruction; instructive. 2. teaching or intending to teach a moral lesson.
vocab vocab vocab! by kayla
Physiognomies- The art of judging human character from facial features.
Farthingale- a hoop skirt or framework for expanding a woman's skirt, worn in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Pang- a sudden feeling of mental or emotional distress or longing: a pang of remorse; a pang of desire.
Beadle- a parish officer having various subordinate duties, as keeping order during services, waiting on the rector, etc.
Sumptuary- pertaining to, dealing with, or regulating expense or expenditure.
Evanescent- vanishing; fading away; fleeting.
Ignominy- disgrace; dishonor; public contempt.
Rheumatism- any disorder of the extremities or back, characterized by pain and stiffness.
Pillory- a wooden framework erected on a post, with holes for securing the head and hands, formerly used to expose an offender to public derision.
Contumely- insulting display of contempt in words or actions; contemptuous or humiliating treatment.
Well there's my ten vocab words. Soak em up.
Farthingale- a hoop skirt or framework for expanding a woman's skirt, worn in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Pang- a sudden feeling of mental or emotional distress or longing: a pang of remorse; a pang of desire.
Beadle- a parish officer having various subordinate duties, as keeping order during services, waiting on the rector, etc.
Sumptuary- pertaining to, dealing with, or regulating expense or expenditure.
Evanescent- vanishing; fading away; fleeting.
Ignominy- disgrace; dishonor; public contempt.
Rheumatism- any disorder of the extremities or back, characterized by pain and stiffness.
Pillory- a wooden framework erected on a post, with holes for securing the head and hands, formerly used to expose an offender to public derision.
Contumely- insulting display of contempt in words or actions; contemptuous or humiliating treatment.
Well there's my ten vocab words. Soak em up.
Nick Parker's Vocabulary Report
Top Ten Words of the Week
10. Pillory
09. Anathemas
08. Phosphenes
07. Soteriol
06. Simulacra
05. Plangent
04. Antediluvian
03. Pastiche
02. Gestalt
01. Ignominy
10. Pillory
09. Anathemas
08. Phosphenes
07. Soteriol
06. Simulacra
05. Plangent
04. Antediluvian
03. Pastiche
02. Gestalt
01. Ignominy
Diana Wieser Vocabulary
1. contogion
2. perilous
3. alchemy
4. cabalistic
5. sagacious
6. eldtirch
7. inauspicious
8. physiognomies
9. fibre
10. ignominy
2. perilous
3. alchemy
4. cabalistic
5. sagacious
6. eldtirch
7. inauspicious
8. physiognomies
9. fibre
10. ignominy
Maladaptive http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Maladaptive
Impart http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/impart
Defying http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/defying
Vexing http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/vexing
Cynical http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cynical
Altercation http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/altercation
Paisley http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/paisley
http://www.interiormall.com/images/cat/fabric/Magnolia/Anna-Harvest.jpg
Scoured http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/scoured
Conviviality http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/conviviality
Sloushed http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sloshed
Impart http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/impart
Defying http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/defying
Vexing http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/vexing
Cynical http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cynical
Altercation http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/altercation
Paisley http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/paisley
http://www.interiormall.com/images/cat/fabric/Magnolia/Anna-Harvest.jpg
Scoured http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/scoured
Conviviality http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/conviviality
Sloushed http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sloshed
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Emily Huffman Vocab
Prerequisite- 1. required beforehand 2. a course that is required prior to taking an advanced course.
Acclaimed- 1. to praise enthusiastically and often publicly; applaud.
Spoor- 1. a track or trail, esp. that of a wild animal pursued as game.
Abomination- 1. anything greatly disliked or abhorred 2. intense aversion or loathing; detestation
Phenomenal- 1. highly extraordinary or prodigious; exceptional.
Reprisal- 1. retaliation against an enemy, for injuries received, by the infliction of equal or greater injuries.
Transaction- 1. to carry on or conduct (business, negotiations, activities, etc.) to a conclusion or settlement.
Vivify- 1. to give life to; animate; quicken
Wile- 1. a trick, artifice, or stratagem meant to fool, trap, or entice; device.
Wry- 1. deviating from that which is proper or right.
Acclaimed- 1. to praise enthusiastically and often publicly; applaud.
Spoor- 1. a track or trail, esp. that of a wild animal pursued as game.
Abomination- 1. anything greatly disliked or abhorred 2. intense aversion or loathing; detestation
Phenomenal- 1. highly extraordinary or prodigious; exceptional.
Reprisal- 1. retaliation against an enemy, for injuries received, by the infliction of equal or greater injuries.
Transaction- 1. to carry on or conduct (business, negotiations, activities, etc.) to a conclusion or settlement.
Vivify- 1. to give life to; animate; quicken
Wile- 1. a trick, artifice, or stratagem meant to fool, trap, or entice; device.
Wry- 1. deviating from that which is proper or right.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Andy 7
Well I read the book, and I have multiple comments as well as opinions of this novel, after finishing it. First let me say how impressed I was, with the fact that it kept your attention just about the whole way through. The beginning was a little choppy but what beginning isn't? I enjoyed especially, trying to figure out what was going to happen next. There were just so many little twists, and turns, that it made the story sometimes unpredictable. Though, it still managed to leave you with a small hidden hint, just about each time. The character, Clay, was just so interesting to follow. At first, he was just a poor lawyer working at the OPD, then became a multi-million dollar tort lawyer. It was just such an enjoyable story, with a plot that could be molded page, after page. Although it was such a good read, I'm not sure if I will be reading another Grisham book anytime soon, because I have a lot of other books on my list to get through.
What to do
As you can see the blog post page only contains about 4 names. Andy, stop posting individually. Find your name already posted and click on the comment link. Everyone else, to find your name click on MAY 2006 under the archives heading in the right hand column. There you should find your names. Remember. Post under the comment link under your names.
MR. V
MR. V
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Andy 6
From reading a bit more, I find a very interesting point of information. When Clay was thinking about putting out tv ads to promote his case and his firm, I could only think of all the commercials on tv, that advertise the same thing. Whether it's drugs, tax money, or injuries, they all seem to be covered by large firms from all over the country. This also raises an interesting question, of how many "Clay Carters" are out there? What if all those lawyers in those commercials, just happened to get a lucky break like Clay, and started up a multi-million dollar law firm? Then comes the question of how many "Max Paces" are out there, secretly sabotaging big corporations all over the world? A lot of espionage, and deceit goes on in this world, and from reading this book, I say that I honestly will never become a lawyer, or an authority figure of the law. I just can't get wrapped up in secrets. A man who has a secret can never be trusted.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Andy 5
Well it seems Clay has gotten himself into another case, but this time I'm not so sure of the outcome. It seems like there are too many things that could go wrong here. Essentially he is trying to sue this company that makes a drug called "Dyloft." Dyloft is an anti-inflammitory and is a major treatment for arthiritis. Where Clay comes in is that the same client of Tarvan is in competition with Dyloft. So they had dug up a little dirt on Dyloft, proving that it could cause tumors in the bladder. So Clay's job is to have his firm represent the thousands of victims that could be at risk of tumors, and sue Dyloft. He has to make tv ads, phone calls, and represent about five thousand cases, in less than a month. It all just seems easier said than done to me. But like always, I am left to ponder throughout the pages of this book to find my answer.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Andy 4
I have just finished reading about how Clay closed the Tarvan case, and I have to say that I really like where this book is going. It is honestly keeping me interested to see what happens next. I thought the way the author described how Clay was making the private deals with the victims, was really entertaining. It was as though he had been doing it for years. I had a really good mental picture of how Clay was living the rich life, taking care of his new job, and just moving up in the world. Books that can give you that sort of feeling like you're watching a movie in your head are just phenomenal. Anyway I have another prediction. Clay meets another woman, and he eventually is torn between her and Rebecca, who comes back into his life because he has all these nice things now. Then I can just see having this "love triangle" some how screw up all of his work in the end. I just keep getting the feeling that something bad is going to happen to Clay, and that he is going to lose all of his money.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Andy 3
It is important to understand that I did not know about Clay's enormous financial opportunity with the "fire fighter" Max, when I made my last post. I had made the prediction completely on my own and it just so happened that I turned out to be correct. Once I reached this part in the story I felt relieved to know that it wasn't going to be some boaring book about some pathetic lawyer just going through life with a frame of mind aimed on the minimal. I think that it is a very unique concept to have a secret agent contact a nobody lawyer to clean up a multi-million dollar case. For Clay it was just like winning the lottery, with a jackpot of ten million dollars! The book really seems to be taking shape, and with this new plot twist a whole world of questions and possibilities opens up. Although I cannot admire Clay's current opinion of the offer, I trust he will make the right choice and take the case. If it comes to a matter of personal pride, and he turns down the offer for an incredible sum of money and a suitable lifestyle in the future, I can say right now that I will not be happy reading the rest of the book. So my next prediction is that Clay takes the job, but something terrible goes wrong in the process of the case, and he ends up cheated in the end.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Andy - King of Torts
As I have furthered my reading I've started to notice something about Clay. He really is a loser. He has a job he hates, for a city he hates, with people he doesn't really care about, and to top it all off a really preppy girlfriend. The man seems to be stuck in a rut. For some reason though, I don't think the rest of the book is about how pathetic his life is. If I were to guess, I would think that the case of Tequila Watson would have a large effect on him. I predict that he will take a better job somewhere else, start over, and create a better life for himself. But I also have a hunch that I am completely wrong. Anything could seem to happen this early in the book. All I know is that Clay will have a drastic change in his career, and that it will take him down a different road.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Andy's First Post
I have no flippin' clue of what I'm doing but here it goes. I've been reading The King of Torts for the past few weeks, and I have to say that I'm really starting to get into it. A young lawyer, Clay Carter, is on his latest case in D.C. He is a public defender, and has taken the side of a Tequila Watson, a young man convicted of murdering a Ramon Pumphrey. This case is not like any other that Clay has handled, because it seems like Tequila had no motive in killing his victim. He was not on drugs, or had any real grudge against Ramon. He just killed him because he knew him. Clay has a very difficult time trying to fit the pieces together on this case. He had interviewed Tequila's former rehab clinic, the D Camp, and had found nothing of use. It seemed the Tequila was a model patient, and was on the way of cleaning himself up, but when he was on his two hour parole, he had managed to wander the streets of D.C. and kill defenseless Ramon Pumphrey.
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