Monday, April 30, 2012

The Great Gatsby 10

"After that I felt a certain shame for Gatsby - one gentleman to whom I telephoned implied that he had got what he deserved." -page 171

This quote also relates to the importance of internal events. Jay Gatsby had died, and Nick was left in charge of letting people know. Unfortunately, no one wanted to attend his funeral. Gatsby had opened up his house to thousands of people and was welcoming every weekend, but still a mere four people showed up to his funeral. Nick feels terrible and wants to get as many people as possible to attend. Obviously, he is unsuccessful. Daisy, who Jay would be most interested in coming, did not answer any calls, or send any flowers, or show up to the funeral. I'm honestly not even sure if she knew that he had been killed. It is almost depressing that the only person Gatsby had to arrange the funeral was his neighbor, who he had barely known and reluctantly become his friend. Nick feels responsible, since no one else will help.

The Great Gatsby 9

"Or perhaps I had merely grown used to it, grown to accept West Egg as a world complete in itself, with its own standards and its own great figures, second to nothing because it had no consciousness of being so, and now I was looking at it again, through Daisy's eyes." -page 105

Contrasting places can often have an important role in a novel. In the Great Gatsby, West Egg Village is contrasted to East Egg. Actually in this case, West Egg is contrasted with the entire world. West Egg is totally different and separate from any type of normal life. It is a crazy place that is different from the rest of the real world. It is filled with rumors, conspiracies, parties, and drama. Nick Carraway is caught directly in the middle too. He is the next door neighbor to and friend of Jay Gatsby, who is the center of all of the commotion. The characteristics of West Egg are hard to fathom as a teenager from the Midwest that has never even been to New York.  I can only imagine the craziness of this place. Setting is a very crucial part of the plot.

The Great Gatsby 8

"I can't describe to you how surprised I was to find out I loved her, old sport." -page 150

This quote reveals a lot of Gatsby's motives and interactions with Daisy. He had fallen in love with her, and had never forgotten her. He felt as if he were attached to her, but unfortunately he had no choice but to leave for war. Dasiy couldn't wait any longer, moved on, and married Tom. Through all of this, Daisy and Jay had still always loved each other. This past event influences the entire plot. The affect of past events can greatly influence a piece of literature. The reader understands why Gatsby is so attached to Daisy. Gatsby has not been able to get over his love for Daisy, or find any other woman that could compare to her and create the same feeling that he felt with her. He will do anything to get her back, and he is not phased by the fact that she has a family now. He strongly believes that she still loves him as much as he loves her and that she never loved Tom. Past events are very crucial to the story.

The Great Gatsby 7

"It was when curiosity about Gatsby was at its highest that the lights in his house failed to go on one Saturday night - and, as obscurely as it had begun, his career as Trimalchio was over." -page 113

Jay Gatsby is an all around very mysterious man. No one seems to know much about him at all. After his meetings with Daisy, he begins to act even stranger. This mysteriousness builds suspense with the reader. Why does he throw the parties? How did he get so rich? These questions were ones that I was waiting to be answered the whole novel. I also was confused on the background between him and Daisy. Had he really been waiting five years to see her again. And he expected her to drop her life and be with him out of nowhere? Gatsby is a very mysterious character and the suspense builds every page. However, he is not the only mysterious character. Really, I think Daisy is the easiest character to understand. Mystery was very important to the novel and added to the meaning.

The Great Gatsby 6

"Thirty - the promise of a decade of loneliness, a thinnning list of singlemen to know, a thinning briefcase of enthusiasm, thinning hair." -page 136

This is a crucial point of Nick's internal conflicts. He barely remembers his own 30th birthday, and he is not excited for the future at all. He has no one to wish him happy birthday and realizes that he is not that happy with his own life. Also, he realizes that turning 30 his life is only going to go down hill and be more boring. It is safe to say that he is scared of the future. Internal conflicts are an important part of the novel. These psychological events of Nick allow the reader to understand what is going on in his mind and what he thinks about the other characters. Nick is a very complex character who almost seems bipolar. The reader also sometimes sees the internal events of Gatsby, because the narrator, Nick, is able to understand what he is thinking at points in the novel.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Great Gatsby 5

"I'm Gatsby," he said suddenly.
"What!" I exclaimed. "Oh, I beg your pardon."
-page 48

I found this quote quite humerous and ironic. The narrator had expected Gatsby to be some wise, very distinguished middle aged man. In fact, Gatsby was around the same age as him and looked like everyone else. I found this interesting, because we have all been in this same situation before, or one similar to it. I know I have several times. Nick is just lucky that he did not say anything bad about Gatsby, not knowing he was right there. This also shows that Gatsby is a little bit arrogant. He just assumes that the narrator knows who he is without ever truly being introduced. It reminds me to watch what I say when I'm around people that I don't really know. Gatsby is very nice to Nick, and we find out later that it is not just because he is a friendly neighbor.

Great Gatsby 4

"One October day in nineteen-seventeen - (said Jordan Baker that afternoon, sitting up very straight on a straight chair in the tea-garden at the Plaza Hotel)..."
-page 75

This quote begins an anecdote that is told by Jordan Baker. The author uses parentheses to let the reader know that the narrator for this particular story has changed to Jordan. Mr. Gatsby wanted Nick to hear this story, but did not want to tell it himself. He also wanted the story to come from Jordan's point of view. This type of writing reflects more about Fitzgerald's style. The author could have told the story differently, but he wanted Jordan to be the narrator at this point. Her perspective will relate better to Nick and he will have more sympathy to help Gatsby meet up with Daisy. Also, the parentheses make it easy for the reader to understand what is going on before they read through the entire anecdote. I enjoy Fitzgerald's writing style and think that it is easier to understand than other authors.

Great Gatsby 3

"'It's a bitch,' said Tom decisively. 'Here's your money. Go and buy ten more dogs with it.'"
-page 28

In this quote, Tom is being characterized indirectly. It shows that Tom has a temper and can be very rude. He is a cynical man with a large stature. His appearance is directly characterized, but for the most part his attitude is indirectly characterized. The author likes to do this through his actions and in this case, his words. Tom is having an affair and is clearly not a very upstanding man, whom the reader does not care much for. This quote also displays some of the author's style. The author is not afraid to use vulgarity in his diction. He purposefully uses the vulgar language with Tom to further characterize him. I really do not like Tom, and I think that the narrator should stay away from him.

Great Gatsby 2

"I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known."
-page 60

In this quote, the narrator directly characterizes himself. The narrator's first name is Nick, which is found out on page 59. Nick prides himself on his honesty. He obviously does not have much trust in other people. Maybe there was one large event or several events that lead him to lose trust for other people. He clearly does not care much for dishonest people. He is someone who refuses to be dishonest with people. He apparently has a girlfriend at home, but is starting to have feelings for Jordan Baker. He wants to break off things with her before he does anything with Jordan. He does not want to two-play any women, because it would be dishonest. I have a feeling that the honesty issue will probably come up again in the novel.

Great Gatsby 1

"Reading over what I have written so far, I see I have given the impression that the events of three nights several weeks apart were all that absorbed me."
-page 56

This quote shows part of the author's technique. The reader directly addresses the reader and makes it clear that he is writing down his experiences. He lets the reader know that he is telling/looking back at past events. By doing this, the author allows the reader to understand how the events in the book have related to the narrator's life. This quote really caught my eye and caused me to sympathize with the narrator more. When an author/narrator directly addresses the reader, it captures the attention of the reader and makes them refocus the meaning of the story to be on the narrator. The narrator goes on to tell the reader what other things that he did during the week. He wants the reader to know that he is not just some crazy partier. He has a real job and a real life and the three parties were just special events that he wanted to write down. I think the narrator will directly address the reader again later in the story.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Frankenstein 10

"As he hung over the coffin, his face was concealed by long locks of ragged hair; but one vast hand was extended, in colour and apparent texture like that of a mummy."
-page 163

This quote comes from the final scene of the novel, in which the creature comes to see Victor and ask forgiveness, but finds Victor to already be dead. This scene and image has a lot of parallels with the original creation scene. One similarity I noticed between the scenes was the out stretched arm of the creature. In the creation scene, the creature reaches out to Victor, like a baby to his father. Also in this scene, the creature has his arm stretched out to Victor. One key difference between the scenes is that in the creation, Victor was overlooking the creature. However, now that Victor is dead, the creature is the one overlooking him. In all of the scenes when the creature appears to Victor, or in this case Walton, they hear the creature before they see him. There could be a murmur in another room, or a creaking of a door, or a scream from someone else. I just find it interesting how Mary Shelley uses characteristics of scenes many times throughout the novel. I also think the idea of the creature being the one standing over Victor this time really helped portray the meaning of the story.

Frankenstein 9

"The shutters had been thrown back; and, with a sensation of horror not to be described, I saw at the open window a figure the most hideous and abhorred. A grin was on the face of the monster; he seemed to jeer, as with his fiendish finger he pointed towards the corpse of my wife."
-page 145

To me, this scene is the scariest scene in the whole story, and this quote is the scariest image. I can only imagine the fear that ran through Victor when he heard Elizabeth scream and realized that the creature's plot was to kill her, not him. The image described in the quote is horrifying. The creature at this point is almost demonic. He points and laughs at the dead body of Victor's wife! In the end, the creature says that he regrets killing Elizabeth and feels bad. Based on this image, I would have to disagree. At least in the moment, the creature seemed extremely satisfied with killing her. It was almost like he was happy because Victor was starting to feel like the creature felt with having no companion and love. I think I actually got the chills from reading this scene, because of all of the suspense built up to the wedding night, and finally the terrible scene had taken place.

 A light-hearted visual of the creature's expression.

Frankenstein 8

"I thought with a sensation of madness on my promise of creating another like to him, and trembling with passion, tore to pieces the thing on which I was engaged. The wretch saw me destroy the creature on whose future existence he depended for happiness, and, with a howl of devilish despair and revenge, withdrew."
-page 121

There are many important events in the story, but if I had to choose a climax of the novel, it would be this quote. At this point, there is no turning back for either Victor or the creature. Victor decides that he will do nothing to help the creature and will certainly not create another destructive being. He wants nothing to do with the creature anymore. This is also when the creature decides that if he cannot be happy, than Victor does not deserve to be happy. The creature decides that he will do everything in his power to make Victor as miserable as him. In this scene, the creature makes the threat of Victor's wedding night. Victor assumes that the creature is going to kill him, but the creature knows all along that he is going to kill Elizabeth and wants to destroy the people that Victor loves. From this point in the story, pretty much everything else is down hill. The point has been made clear that the creature and Victor will not make ammends or compromise with the other. Destruction and death ensues until the end of the story.

Frankenstein 7

"Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence; but his state was far different from mine in every other respect."
-page 92


This is the creature talking, and in this quote, Mary Shelley uses an allusion to the Bible and the beginning of time. The creature learns about this through the book Paradise Lost. He says that he is like Adam because he was created with no other being like him, however, this is the only way they are similar. Adam was created to be beautiful and happy, and was protected by his Creator. The creature says that he is actually more like Satan because he is envious and bitter. He then goes on to say that he is actually worse off than Satan. "Satan had his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am solitary and abhorred." At this point in the story, I feel so bad for the creature. He has done nothing wrong yet, but is hated by everyone and is totally alone in the world. To consider himself more miserable than Satan, he must really be in a low place. He desires more than anything to have a friend and to feel loved. My sympathy for the creature keeps growing and growing, until he kills William and then it starts to decline again.

Frankenstein 6

"At first I started back, unable to believe that it was indeed I who was reflected in the mirror; and when I became fully convinced that I was in reality the monster that I am, I was filled with the bitterest sensations of despondance and mortification."
-page 80

This quote comes from the creature after he looks in the water and sees himself for the first time. Even he is startled by his own appearance. He is used to seeing the beautiful faces of the cottagers and has no idea the exremity of his deformity. He becomes upset because he realizes why people are so scared of him at first sight, besides the fact of his outrageous size. This discovery motivates him even more to learn the language of his protectors. He knows that he has to be able to communicate with them in order to be accepted, because they will most certainly be scared by his looks. I feel sympathy towards the creature at this point, because even he thinks that he is hideous and starts to realize that it will be close to impossible to fit in with society. Unfortunately, no one ever gives him a chance and judges him based on appearance. By the description in the book, the creature sounds absolutely awful looking. I'm curious to see what Mary Shelley's vision of him was.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Frankenstein 5

"You, my creator, abhor me; what hope can I gather from your fellow creatures, who owe me nothing? they spurn and hate me."
-page 69

This quote comes from the creature himself. He is complaining to Victor how everyone hates him and wants to kill him, but he has done nothing wrong. He has mad at Victor because he thinks that him of all people would be the only one to like or understand him, because he created him. This shows that the creature is obviously lonely. He wants people to accept him and he wants to experience love and friendship. The creature cannot belong to any sort of community, because everyone is so scared of his size and appearance. We see his desire to be loved even more in Chapter XII when the creature describes the family of cottagers that he has been observing. They are a poor family barely getting by, but the creature is so jealous because he sees how much they care for and love each other. The creature even starts to feel a part of the family and is affected by their emotions. This just proves that even though some people like to be alone, no one likes to be lonely, even a gigantic man-made creature. Even he wants to be accepted and loved.

Frankenstein 4

"I could not sustain the honor of my situation, and when I perceived that the popular voice and the countenances of the judges had already condemned my unhappy victim, I rushed out of the court in agony."
-page 57

This quote deals with the unjust conviction of Justine. She has been wrongfully convicted, and even the victims of the situation believe her to be innocent. However, the evidence against her is too strong for the jury to believe them. The justice system has always been flawed, no matter what era. It functions to protect people's rights and give justice to everyone. The only problem, is that no one really ever knows the truth or won't tell it. People have to assume based on evidence, which is not always correct, or can be manipulated. The people in power, such as the judges, have all of the control and ultimately decide right and wrong. They can sometimes be corrupt or be persuaded by false evidence. Innocent victims sometimes pay the price they do not deserve. Justice ultimately serves its purpose, and is usually right, but occasionally, like in the case of Justine, people can be wrongly convicted. I'm wondering if Justine was given that name because of its similarity to the word justice.

Frankenstein 3

"It was a divine spring; and the season contributred greatly to my convalescence."
-page 39

This quote shows how Victor's health goes hand in hand with the weather/season. Victor had gotten extremely ill after the creation of the creature and had spent all of winter being sick. Henry had taken care of him during this time, until finally he started to feel better in the spring. This had partly to do with the help of Henry, the better weather, and the passing of time, which had allowed him to partially forget about the creature. I find it interesting that throughout the entire story, Victor always seems to be happier and healthier in the spring. And during winter, he always seems sick or depressed. It is almost like a cycle. Something bad happens to Victor in the fall, he is depressed/sick/scared all winter, then he starts to feel better/happier in spring, and is content through summer until the process repeats. I'm sure there are several flaws in my pattern, but that seems to be the best cycle I could come up with regarding Victor's emotions and health. I'm not sure if the weather, or his emotions have a bigger influence on his health, but they certainly affect it.

Frankenstein 2

"From this day natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry, in the most comprehensive sense of the term, became nearly my sole occupation."
-page 29

This quote comes at the very beginning of Chapter IV. Victor had just talked to two of his professors. Mr. Krempe had been very discouraging about Victor's past studies, saying that he needed to start all over. Mr. Waldman was a lot more encouraging saying that he may be misled by his previous studies, but he can take this past knowledge and apply it to new, better areas of study. Mr. Waldman was the influence for Victor saying the quote above. This sequence of events once Victor goes off to college shows how teachers can influence students so much. Victor dedicated his entire life to his studies, which were influenced/suggested by his professor. Victor took it so far, that he did not recognize the dangers present in a relentless pursuit of knowledge. Besides not seeing his family, Victor discovered something that no man should be able to do. This craze for success, influenced by his professor, is the reason that he creates the creature, which he deems a total mistake in the future.

Frankenstein 1

"He then told me, that he would commence his narrative the next day, when I should be at leisure."
-page 13

This quote comes at the end of Robert Walton's August 19th letter. It is right before the stranger begins to tell his story that is warning Robert of pursuing knowledge and success. Frankenstein is a frame story, and this is the point in which the stranger (Victor Frankenstein) tells his story. As the reader, we are now into the second frame of the story. This is definitely not the last frame either. After Victor finishes his story, the novel will most likely take the reader back to the original frame containing Robert. The structure of a frame story can be somewhat confusing, but Mary Shelley has the original story structured with letters, and the second story by chapters, which helps the reader keep track. This type of structure lends itself well to foreshadowing and suspense, which makes the story more appealing. Even though Robert is the original main character, overall I think Victor would be considered the main character for the novel.