In the beginning of the chapter, Tom drags Nick off the train so Tom can induce his girl to Nick. Tom's girl, Myrtle Wilson, and Mr. George Wilson are married and live and work at a run down garage in the valley of ashes, which is in the middle of West Egg and New York City. After speaking in the garage, Tom, Nick, and Myrtle go to Catherine's place; Catherine is Myrtle's sister. Each time Nick wanted to leave, he was brought back by arguments. Later that evening, Myrtle and Tom argue whether Myrtle has the right to say Daisy's name, which leads to Tom punching and breaking Myrtle's nose. At the end, Nick promises to eat lunch with Mr. McKee another day.
Character: Myrtle Wilson
"I thought he knew something about breeding, but he wasn't fit to lick my shoe." (Fitzgerald 34)
Myrtle, a woman in her thirties, is unfaithful, egocentric, and arrogant. Her unfaithfulness is shown as she scoots near Tom when her husband takes a leave to get something. Her arrogance and egocentric self is exemplified when she says the quote above.She thinks she is better than everybody.
Myrtle Wilson's role in this novel is to be an object of Tom. Myrtle is able to chose from two men: one who is faithful, loving, and hardworking but poor, or another who is rich. But even though Myrtle cheats with Tom, Tom only treats her like a toy for his amusement, punching her when she gets annoying and useless.
Significant Quote: "All I kept thinking about, over and over, was 'You can't live forever; you can't live forever." (Fitzgerald 36)
The quote stuck out to me not because this is how Myrtle justified her cheating, but because it is true. One cannot live forever. It is important to live out one's life to the fullest. Myrtle, even though she had a corrupt motive, wanted to live her life to the fullest and be set free of her burden of not being satisfied with her current life. I personally do not want to waste my life away and want to do the things I want to do so I do not end up regretting later on. There is only one lifetime, and it doesn't last forever, so I have to make full use of it.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
The Great Gatsby: Ch. 1, pages 1-21
In the beginning of the chapter, the narrator, Nick Carraway, tells that he moved to West Egg Long Island, which is the less fashionable side compared to East Egg. Even though he recently just moved there, when a newer resident asked for directions, Nick felt like an original settler. Later on, Nick goes to have dinner at Tom and Daisy Buchanans's house, the former his friend and the latter his cousin. During their conversation, Tom brings up the novel "The Rise of the Colored Empires'" by Goddard and discusses white supremacy. At the end of the chapter, Nick sees Gatsby on the lawn, but decides not to bother him because Nick felt that Gatsby wanted to be alone.
Character: Tom Buchanans
"This fellow has worked out the whole thing. It's up to us, who are the dominant race, to watch out or these other races will have control of things." (Fitzgerald 21)
Tom seems like a snobbish, rich, unfaithful, and racist person. Tom's racism is shown through the quote above. He believes in white supremacy and believes white people are the chosen race. His unfaithfulness is portrayed through his affair with another woman in New York while being married to Daisy. Furthermore, his wealth is described through him living in East Egg.
Tom's role in the novel is to be the arrogant and snobbish character who only cares about himself. When he speaks to Daisy, he speaks in a demanding way. While Nick and Daisy were in the middle of a conversation, Tom interrupts and demands Daisy what Nick and she were talking about. Additionally, he tells Nick to not believe anything she says.
Quote: "I told him. And as I walked on I was lonely no longer. I was a guide, a pathfinder, and original settler."
The quote stood out to me because this summed up what we learned about last semester about immigration. Not only was this excuse used a long time ago, but it is still used today in the immigration problems of Arizona. "I have been here in America longer than you have. You have no right to take away our jobs, etc." People always use that excuse even though at one time, they too at one time were shunned the same way.
Character: Tom Buchanans
"This fellow has worked out the whole thing. It's up to us, who are the dominant race, to watch out or these other races will have control of things." (Fitzgerald 21)
Tom seems like a snobbish, rich, unfaithful, and racist person. Tom's racism is shown through the quote above. He believes in white supremacy and believes white people are the chosen race. His unfaithfulness is portrayed through his affair with another woman in New York while being married to Daisy. Furthermore, his wealth is described through him living in East Egg.
Tom's role in the novel is to be the arrogant and snobbish character who only cares about himself. When he speaks to Daisy, he speaks in a demanding way. While Nick and Daisy were in the middle of a conversation, Tom interrupts and demands Daisy what Nick and she were talking about. Additionally, he tells Nick to not believe anything she says.
Quote: "I told him. And as I walked on I was lonely no longer. I was a guide, a pathfinder, and original settler."
The quote stood out to me because this summed up what we learned about last semester about immigration. Not only was this excuse used a long time ago, but it is still used today in the immigration problems of Arizona. "I have been here in America longer than you have. You have no right to take away our jobs, etc." People always use that excuse even though at one time, they too at one time were shunned the same way.
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