Discussing the Greatness of Jay Gatsby Essay -- The Great Gatsby F. Sc

The first thing you see when you pick up the novel is the title. Fitzgerald chose the title ‘The Great Gatsby’ for his novel. This could lead us to believe that he personally believed his character to be great. However, this was not his only title for the book. The original title of the novel was: ‘Trimalchio in West Egg.’ Perhaps Fitzgerald changed the title as his story developed as he came to realise Gatsby’s greatness. However, this could be used to argue the other way, perhaps this original title relates more to the party throwing Gatsby and the hedonistic Jazz Age, suggesting that Gatsby isn’t great. Gatsby, as a rich man, has many beautiful possessions. This can be noticed in his ‘gorgeous’ car which had ‘a labyrinth of wind-shields that mirrored a dozen suns’. Nick discovers that at one of Gatsby’s parties a woman named Lucille tore her dress, and within a week she ‘got a package from Croirier’s with a new evening gown in it.’ This portrays Gatsby’s greatness through his generosity, and the impression is given that it is wonderful to be involved in Gatsby’s world. As The Great Gatsby is narrated by Nick, we see everything through Nick’s eyes. Nick tells us towards the beginning that there was something ‘gorgeous’ about Gatsby which set him apart from everyone else. We as the reader feel attracted to Gatsby like Nick is. When Nick receives the invitation to Gatsby’s party, Nick says that the invitation was signed in a ‘majestic hand’, this makes Gatsby sound elegant. The beginning of chapter three, immediately gives the reader the impression of a fantastical atmosphere. Gatsby’s gardens are described as ‘blue’, a somewhat magical colour for gardens to be. Nick tells us that ‘men and girls came like moths among the w... ...proves to cost him his life. Having a dream to that extent is not exactly great. There is evidence for both sides of this argument. Personally I believe that Fitzgerald did not wish to prove that Gatsby was corrupt, instead he wanted to relate Gatsby’s dream to the American Dream, showing that it has been corrupt by people such as Tom and Daisy who pursue money for money’s sake. The original dream has been betrayed. It is no longer the ‘fresh green breast of the new world’, instead it has become corrupt, and no longer true. Only Gatsby holds a true dream, which is what, in my opinion, makes him so great. He cannot be blamed for the failure of his dream, because his dream was true, and gave him a purpose. It failed because of the corruption of Daisy, and her utterly careless nature. I believe that, as the title of the novel suggests, that Gatsby is truly great.

Military vs. Civilian life Essay

5 A.M. and morning drill is blaring over troop’s heads. One more morning that doesn’t allow extra sleep. These are thoughts that are going through military member’s heads as they are herded down to chow like a bunch of cattle. They had a choice to become a respected member of the military community or fight for college and rent money out in the civilian world. Leading a â€Å"normal† life is a big decision. The option of military is thrown into senior’s heads pre graduation. This is the time to outweigh the pros and cons of such a life changing profession. When faced with the decision to go to college cost is always an issue. The options are limited on how it should be paid for. In general, civilian life offers more money. But there is a catch: more money must be spent to get educated. On the other hand, in the military college is completely paid for while on active duty. The college money doesn’t stop there. Upon getting out of the military, member’s get what’s called a GI bill. This is more money that is given every semester while in school, to further one’s education. The best part about the GI bill is that it does not have to be paid back. It is common knowledge that a degree is needed to get a well paying job, having the military pay for this is a great perk. Many things are either substantially cheaper or free in the military. Medical and dental care is an example of this. These bills can get outrageous for simple things as going in for a stomach ache. Military makes it a little easier on troops in that it provides most dental and medical services right on base. It is easy to make a phone call to a medical provider and be seen without having the stresses of cost and missing work. In the civilian world, if seeing a doctor is necessary during work hours, it is considered missed work and not paid for. Traveling the world at the military’s expense is a liberating experience. Most likely traveling to see several locations through deployment and temporary duty locations will happen. As a civilian paying for traveling expenses is a must, unless a job is found that pays for this. Vacation time is a major factor when traveling. Most civilian employers start an employee at 10-14 vacation days per year, with little increase until several years  have been devoted to the employer. If no vacation days have been acquired as a civilian then traveling is virtually impossible. However, in the military 30 days of vacation are guaranteed a year, those days are not counted against a member if they are sent to another air force base for work. Many times the military will send troops to a stateside base to attend some work issues. More often than not there is free time that allows the member to see the sights around where they were sent. So in a sense this is a â€Å"free† vacation. A normal thought that comes with joining the military is war, and all the above perks of the military are outweighed by the fear of dying. However, being faced with a life decision such as what to do after high school causes one to weigh the pros and cons of all their options. Joining the military or going to college and finding a job of that gives added perks, is based solely on what type of person he/she is and what one is looking for in life.

“I just want to be Average” by Mike Rose Essay

The essay by Mike Rose made me really think about the purpose of education schools have to offer us. He talks about how a basic exam can determine your whole life; it made me really think about how accurate these tests really are. The purpose of this essay seemed to be how he feels students failures isn’t because of us, its because of the school system overall. He shares how the vocational track is basically portrayed as students who are not motivated to learn. The question he makes us think about is, why are these students so unmotivated to learn? He states how for the most part the teachers are the ones who are not motivated enough to teach them. Basically the teachers have to be there because it’s their job, and from the moment of the student’s first grade the teachers automatically think that they’re UN teachable. Students believe whatever the teacher says so they start believing that their stupid and so they wont try. Later on in the book, Rose talks about Jack MacFarland. He descries him as a unique person, because even though he’s a teacher he puts work to make students understand that all teachers are not the same. 1. Roses’ life in Voc.Ed was a nightmare. R he teachers would basically talk to him like he’s retarded. Roses’ teachers were so unmotivated to teach him. They basically gave up on everyone who was in voc. Ed since day one. 2. Voc. Ed. Basically made everyone not want to learn anything. It affected them in a harsh manner because the students started to believe that they were never going to be anyone in life so they just stop trying all together. Math was a subject that Rose could never come to a full understanding of it because, it was his teachers’ unwillingness to make sure he continually learned this skill. 3. Students, who often see themselves in a negative way, see a negative impact on their schooling. Ken Harvey didn’t necessarily think he should being the Voc. Ed. pathway. He took it out on himself for being led to that pathway. At the end of the day, he knew he couldn’t change it, and other people’s opinions didn’t matter to him, He had to realize that in a classroom like his everyone had their own opinions that often did not match the likes of his. Students often let the opinion of others bring them down and affect them in their academics, but if you set your mind to it at the end of the day no ones opinions really matters accept your own. 4. Jack offers rose the help and support that roses’ teachers would not give him. I think anyone with Roses’ intelligence  can succeed if they put their mind to it. Roses essay makes me think about the reality of this world. How the mistake of the school district can impact your life in a whole different way. How students who are placed in â€Å"slow† classes, basically get no help at all because teachers believe their UN teachable. Don’t people realize that makes a child’s life even worse?