The Great Gatsby Chapters 4-5

“….And a whole clan named Blackbuck, who always gathered in a corner and flipped up their noses like goats at whosoever came near.”

            In listing the guests who attended Gatsby’s party, the Blackbuck family was listed and we are given a description of their character as a group. To say people “gather in a corner” gives the impression that they are exclusive, superior, better than their company around them. We are supposed to get the message that the Blackbuck family thinks they are too good to associate with the rest of the people at the party. The author then goes a step further to say that they “flipped up their noses like goats at whosoever came near.” For one to stick up their nose at someone, is an action for showing superiority, or that they are better than someone else. The overall impression we get about the Blackburn family is that they think they are too good for the rest of the people at Gatsby’s party. (143 words.)

“What day would suit you?” he corrected me quickly. “I don’t want to put you to any trouble, you see.”

            Gatsby has asked Nick to invite Daisy to tea, and they are discussing the date. The author puts emphasis on the word “you” when Gatsby is responding to Nick’s asking of what day he would like to meet. In this conversation we see a glimpse of how desperate Gatsby truly is. Of course to maintain his appearance and persona, he acts like it is not very important, but inside he really is desperately seeking to reconnect with Daisy. Saying he “corrected me quickly,” Nick is showing us the nervousness and almost an obsession with making sure Gatsby sees Daisy, without seeming desperate. (102 words)

“So I thought you ought to know something about me. I didn’t want you to think I was just some nobody. You see, I usually find myself among strangers because I drift here and there trying to forget the sad thing that happened to me.”

            Gatsby is giving insight as to why he has these extravagant parties, where he does not seem to be enjoying himself as one normally would. The author is describing him with his past. He has had a traumatic event happen, something that is unknown to the public this way Gatsby still maintains his mystical and secretive persona. We also see how he is self-conscious about what the community’s opinion on him is. He wants Nick to know that he is not a strange person, or a liar who makes up an exocentric stories. He deliberately takes time to say that he does not want Nick to think of him as some nobody. There we see his insecurities. (117 words)

“He lit Daisy’s cigarette from a trembling match, and sat down with her on a couch far across the room, where there was no light save what the gleaming floor bounced in from the hall.”

            Upon encountering Daisy for the first time in almost five years, Gatsby is extremely nervous, stressed and embarrassed. He lit Daisy’s cigarette as he was trembling with the match in his hand. He sat with her in a dark area of the room. The writer is showing us that Gatsby certainly has a weak spot for Daisy. Everything he does he is nervous, clumsy, awkward, etc. The elegance of the moment is reflected in the gleaming floor containing the light bouncing in from the halls. This moment is set up to continue moving thing in a romantic direction. (98 words)

“I looked once more at them and they looked back at me, remotely, possessed by intense life. They had forgotten me, but Daisy glanced up and held out her hand; Gatsby didn’t know me now at all.”

            The night is ending for Gatsby and Daisy. The connection between the two ex-lovers is very present. This was to the point of the two forgetting about Nick standing there. The author pushes the weight of this moment my using words like “remotely,” “glanced,” and “didn’t know me now.” The moment is important because it shows that both Gatsby and Daisy have a connection that is going to flourish throughout the rest of the story. (75 words)

Let Teenagers Try Adulthood

Let Teenagers Try Adulthood?

    The writer's opinion in this writing is simple that teenagers do not gain anything for living in the real world in high school. This is not logical, nor is it factual. High school is a place for teenagers to maneuver from being a child living for their parents, to a well off functioning adult who can support themselves. High school is not a safe or secure place for many teenagers however it is necessary to build the generations of society.

      The author expresses his beliefs that the society of today does not have cliques and is not built on a tower of popularity and achievement, however he is mistaken. High school has 'levels' based on what you are involved in and how well you exceed at them. This is the same in a work place. A successful worker who has it all together, is on the boss's good side, has the good looks, good family, etc, is going to get more attention than a worker who does mediocre work, is single, not outgoing, and not done anything notable. It is just how society works.

     To elaborate a little more on this subject, in high school the 9th and 10th graders are often put on a lower level because they are new in the school. Also because they have two groups of older upperclassmen above them, who have been there longer. This also is replicated in the real world. In union workplaces, those with seniority get first selection in shift time selection, vacation times, even job transfers. Learning young that adults have to respect those with seniority is a beneficial life application skill gained from high school.

      The students are not all that effect the author's opinion on high school, the teachers are faulted as well. It is stated that the teachers have had poor education and recruiting themselves, effects the intensity at which the curriculum affects the students. This is not fairly weighted between the two contestants. The intensity at which a students takes his or her studies is at their free will. Having a teacher who is well educated, meets each students' needs, and is capable of making any student comprehend the materials will make no difference than the teacher who does not care, if the student is going to put forth not effort regardless. The teachers are blamed when a student fails, for example the TAKS tests, when truly the students fail at their own fault. During the TAKS testing, if a student fails the teacher is getting blamed for poor teaching, consequently the student does fail the year however the teacher can be fired if too many students fail. Of course when a student is faced with growing up, maturing, hormones, and the need to be socially accepted they are going to put that first because it is more of a necessity in comparison to the need to be scholastically successful.

     The author states that because every 15 and 16 year old adolescent is capable to obtain "every real and virtual freedom of movement [associated] with adulthood"  he or she should be expected to be capable to obtain success in society. However he does not take everything into consideration. Simply because these freedoms and abilities are available does not mean each individual, 15 or 16 year old in America is mentally ready to handle them. It is statistically proven that men do not fully mature until they are in their mid 20s', how just is it to put someone who is 10 years from being fully mature into  a mature, adult like situation where they will destroy the paths for the rest of their adult lives? It is not. There is no way a teenager who has not fully matured, to take care of a job that supports themselves. Granted, yes there are many teenagers who DO support themselves at that age, but that is not the majority of the population or the upcoming generation. The freedom of movement could be thought of as the ability to drive. If anything this right should be moved up to the obtainment of a drivers license at 18 instead of 16, because of the obvious lack of maturity.

    In summery the author does not understand the benefits of high school that adolescents gain from the four year experience. High school is a necessary part of growing up and maturing and should stay implemented for the following generations.