The Great Gatsby: Blog 2

   After reading the eventful second chapter of The Great Gatsby, I have come to develop extremely negative feelings for Tom Buchanan.  I am truly taken back by the fact that Tom, a wealthy man with a bright wife and youthful daughter, could have a mistress.  It further frustrates me when Tom Buchanan insists that Nick meet his girl.  So, if I am correct, Tom is public with his infidelity to his wife.  Right before meeting this girl, Tom takes Nick to the residency of Mr. Wilson, the husband of his mistress.  After being very rude and condescending to Mr. Wilson, Buchanan proceeds to stare at his wife as enters the room.  I felt like the author made the entrance of Mrs. Wilson melodramatic, but then goes on to say that she "contained no gleam of beauty" (Fitzgerald, 25).  This made absolutely no sense to me.  Why would Mr. Buchanan's mistress be less unattractive than his wife? This usually is not a characteristic of a mistress!  Through this is entire chapter I am wondering why Nick, the cousin of Tom's wife, does not scold or tell off Mr. Buchanan.  I did not like the Tom Buchanan in the first chapter, but now I have lost respect for this character.

The Great Gatsby: Blog 1

     Upon finishing the first chapter of The Great Gatsby, the actual character of Gatsby remain a mystery.    Obviously, this character is one of significance due to the title of the novel.  With the wording of author F. Scott Fitzgerald, I sense clues that hint of what lurks behind the mask of Gatsby.  Not having the faintest idea if this is accurate, I predict that Gatsby is a self-made, wealthy black man.  My reasoning for this is because of the conversation that takes place in the Buchanan home concerning "the rise of colored empires" (Fitzgerald, 12).  Moreover, the Buchanans, believing they are of the dominant race, stress over the thought that "...other races will have control over things" (Fitzgerald, 13).  I assume these opinions are stated to display this era's feelings toward minorities as condescending.  Because of this discussion, the audience is led to believe that people of a lesser ethnicity are inferior to those of the white race.  Also, earlier, the narrator, Nick, describes Gatsby as a man who lives in an expensive home.  Apparently, many know of him, but few actually know him.  With this, I really think Gatsby will be of color, which will shock many causing all stereotypes to vanish.  This prediction is the only idea I have of what lurks behind the mystery of Gatsby.

 

   Looking at the cover of this piece, I can only guess that it displays the face of Gatsby.  In support of my assumptions, I believe Gatsby's face appears the same color as the rest of the background to show that he, not only wants to blend with the scenery of busy New York, but is a minority wishing to remain unnoticed by the public.  I can only guess that this mysterious man hides myself because of his untypical lifestyle.  Because of the beliefs of the the people in this time, Gatsby may feel threatened as well as unaccepted.

The House of Mirth: Blog 15

     In my opinion, I felt that The House of Mirth was so-so.  I have a feeling I will come to appreciate this piece of classical literature more with time.  Overall, the life of Lily Bart, quite frankly, was extremely agitating.  Lily always seems to have devious schemes on her mind.  From the start, Lily "was too self engrossed" (Wharton, 19) to find happiness.  This selfish character, not once took consideration of others thoughts and feelings.  I found the mentioning of Lily's constant obsession with money to be too repetitive.  Also, I feel Lily's efforts throughout the novel all go to waste as she kills herself, leaving behind Lawrence Seldon, the one man who truly loved her.  Honestly, I just did not take away anything meaningful or lasting from this work.  But as I suggested, I am hoping I can take something from this novel in the future.

"I ain't sayin she a gold digger, but...." -Kanye West

The House of Mirth: Blog 14

    After thinking over the plot of The House of Mirth, I have formed my own analysis of the plot.  The exposition tells of a wealthy-born beauty, Miss Lily Bart.  Lily Bart, a natural charmed, uses to appearance to acquire what she yearns for: money.  Although brought up believing being poor and dingy is a sign of true disgrace, Lily, upon the death of her father, is left struggling.  Miss Bart proves herself to be a contradictory when she refuses her numerous, advantageous offers of marriage, but believes the only way to live a life of luxury is through marriage.  Lily associates herself with the members of the social elite, careless spending, and gambling, for she believes, in the end, they will financially benefits her.
 
    I would say the rising action consists of Lily Bart's greedy actions, such as using the money given to her by her aunt on clothing and bridge.  Also, Lily's decision to accept a handsome amount of money to spend as she wishes from Mr. Trenor in my opinion, is a huge part of her downfall.  With all this financial aid, Lily is clearly never truly satisfied.  Lily's belief that money will exclude her from worldly obligations ultimately leads to the climax of The House of Mirth.


    I believe that the climax of the work is when Mrs. Peniston learns of the tremendous debt Lily is in even after she has been given so much.  Upon hearing this, Lily's aunt cuts her off and wishes for Lily to make her home elsewhere.  Also, Miss Lily later meets with Rosedale who reveals his and others knowledge of Mr. Trenor's aid to her.  These events lead to the excommunications of her friends and even of her family.  Lonely, buried in debt, and unmarried, Lily had dug herself into a hole that she will never rise from.

    The falling action basically is made up of Lily's attempts to reclaim her reputation.  Lily attends new, even better parties with Mrs. Fischer.  However, these gatherings only made the break between those of status and Lily more definite.  Then, Lily tries to marry Rosedale to regain all that she has lost.  This would have been highly beneficial for Lily.  But, Miss Bar is declined by Rosedale claiming she will only drag him down.  Oh, the irony!

    The resolution would undoubtedly be the death of Lily Bart.  Lily dies dingy, unmarried, and alone.  Although Lily Bart could not find the slightest trace of satisfaction in the streets of New York, Edith Wharton writes of the morning after her death as "bright, with a promise" (Wharton, 263), hinting of Lily's happiness in death.

The House of Mirth: Blog 13

    Throughout The House of Mirth, Edith Wharton uses long, descriptive diction to tell her tale of Miss Lily Bart.  At first, I thought her highly detailed response to literally just about everything to be extremely monotonous.  Finishing to book, I now have an appreciation of Wharton's long, drawn-out wording.  Because of this style, the audience has a much better understanding of the character's though, Lily's feelings, and the outcomes of the piece.  For example, when Lily, in her desperation, says that she will finally accept Rosedale's proposal in marriage,  Edith Wharton uses her wordy tone to illustrate Rosedale's "reddening to the roots of his glossy hair" (Wharton, 205).  Because of this detailed phrase, the audience can now predict that Rosedale now feels "comic discomfort: at the mention of marriage to Lily.

    Also, Edith Wharton's writing style lets readers in on the workings of Lily Bart.  If Lily's obsession to wealth was not constantly spread throughout the story, the audience would have little understanding behind the meaning of her actions.  The long phrases concerning Miss Bart's financial distress allowed me to, not agree, but see her thought process behind wishing marriage to Rosedale, denying the love of Lawrence Seldon, and sadly, taking a large dosage of her medication to end her life.  Wharton's diction aids the audience in recognizing that Lily Bart really did not possess the power to climb from the horrid life she created for herself.

The House of Mirth: Blog 12

    The beginning of chapter five opens with the statement, "It seemed to Lily, as Mrs. Penistons's door closed on her, that she was taking a final leave of her old life" (Wharton, 187).  Upon reading this, I really felt that after the complicated mess that Lily gotten herself into, she finally is going to start anew.  This is Miss Bart's opportunity to escape the dramatic atmosphere of her friends.  I believe that environment pressures Lily to gamble and spend the money she does not have.  Lily has even managed to befriend the generous Gerty Farnish who has shown Lily true friendship when her other friends shunned her.

    However, in my opinion, the opening statement is deceiving.  Just as Lily starts to realize the benefits of this schism between herself and her social circle.  Mrs. Fischer appears out of nowhere to Lily.  Apparently, Mrs. Fischer wishes for Lily to accompany her to Alaska.  Lily thinks of this time not as a vacation with her friend, but a getaway until her friends realize how much they miss her.  Gerty presses her not to go this trip was "forfeiting her last chance of ever escaping from it" (Wharton, 191).  I fully agree that this will only led Lily BBart back to her old habits.  If Lily does decide to go on this trip to Alaska, I predict that she will, in fact, never recover from obsession with wealth and high society.

The House of Mirth: Blog 11

      In the next chapters of Book 2, I find irony woven through almost every page.  From the beginning of the novel, the audience quickly learns of Lily Bart's sick obsession and earnest desire to accumulate as much money as possible.  Lily repeatedly mentions how she must never be dingy.  Miss Bart's upbringing has led her to truly believe that being poor is the ultimate sign of disgrace.  Now, Lilly is completely alone in the world struggling to not become the poor, dingy girl that she has spend every waking moment aiming not to be.  I find how Lily's "money over morals" attitude has gotten her nowhere to be ironic.  Buried in debt, alone, and kicked out of her social circle, Lily later learns that her own, recently passed, aunt has left her nothing in comparison to her other family members.  Lily, completely alone, is disliked even by those who once admired her.  "No one looked at her, no one seemed aware of her presence; she was probing the very depths of insignificance" (Wharton, 180).  Now, not even Lily's beauty, a characteristic that she has always used to benefit her, cannot save her.  Also, I find it ironic that the only person willing to be friends with Lily is Gerty Farnish, who, at the beginning, was an object of ridicule to Miss Bart.  I don't think Lily will ever fully recover from her destroyed reputation due to her numerous schemes and plots over the one things she yearns for the most, but does have: money.