The Great Gatsby: Chapters 8-9

"He was clutching at some last hope and I couldn't bear to shake him free."
In this sentence, the author is transferring some of Gatsby's sorrows into the reader as well as Nick. He was showing how pathetic Gatsby's behavior was, waiting for Daisy to give him a sign to rush over to her house to save him. But the girl showed no signs. She was perfectly fine with her own husband and Gatsby stays up all night, yearning over at the view of her house instead of getting his sleep. Nick wants to help because he found his friend is that position but he couldn't tell Gatsby that Daisy was getting along fine without him. He didn't want to be that one to break his friend's dream. All Gatsby's life, he has worked to get rich just so he could show Daisy what he was capable of. He worked so hard to earn her love and now he will never receive it(148).

"She was the first 'nice' girl he had ever known."
The author adds quotation marks around the word "nice" because Nick was telling the readers what Gatsby had called Daisy. This shows that Nick never believed that his cousin was ever nice since Daisy was trailing along multiple guys all her life. Even when she claimed she loved Gatsby when she was very young, she could not stay with him despite his financial and school issues. Instead of waiting for him with faith, she started dating half a dozen of guys at once to help her get over Gatsby. Soon, she met her husband and married him instead. Since Gatsby has so much love for Daisy, Nick could not bear to bring this out (114).

"They're a rotten crowd," I shouted across the lawn. "You're worth the whole damn bunch put together."
In this quotation, Gatsby officially wins Nick's heart. From the beginning, Nick had always disliked him. But after seeing him go through all this for a girl that he would never have, he feels sympathy. Nick had reached the age of thirty the previous day and he explained how lonely he felt. He has not found a wife after so long. He says at least he has Jordan, but even so, he did not feel for her what is meant to be felt. So having this stamped in his mind, he is able to connect with Gatsby and compliments him with his whole heart. This means a lot because Nick is a very judgmental person and does not easily like people (121).

"S. Wilson was reduced to a man 'deranged by grief.' in order that the case might remain in its simplist form. And it rested there."
The police is trying to convince the community that there was no story behind the murder scene of Gatsby. They are trying to lie and say that Wilson, the man who killed Gatsby, was just messed up due to the recent death of his former wife. The police wanted to keep people from pestering the issue and keep bringing it up because Gatsby was no one extremely special. No one knew him, so he was a hopeless case. He would be wasting time and energy to be researched over, in the police's opinion (93).

"'Well, the fact is -- the truth of the matter is that I'm staying with some people up here in Greenwich, and they rather expect me to be with them to-morrow. In fact, there's a sort of picnic or something. Of course I'll do my very best to get away.'"
This quote was said by a man by the name of Klipspringer. He called the Gatsby household and Nick gets his hopes up that Gatsby actually had friends. He wanted close people to come to his friends funeral, not just strangers who get excited over the mere death of someone so popular. Unfortunately, this guy was not a real friend. Klipspringer tries to convince Nick that he would totally go to the funeral but he had another engagement to go to that would be more important. He lies and says he will try to go to the funeral if given the chance. After this quote, he proceeds to ask for his shoes that he had left over at Gatsby's (119).

Annals of Education: Best in Class

     In the article, it talks about how some people take being valedictorian extremely serious. It doesn't matter how you get up there, as long as you do. You always have to be the best as well as the smartest. This guy decided to do a shortcut and took an easy course to get himself on top since he realized there was a loophole. Grades actually do not matter. Since only your credits mattered, he took an easy course so that his GPA could jump. Once he was announced to be valedictorian, everyone was enraged by what he did. People take being the best in class thing too seriously. No one actually focuses on talent and the fight to get to the top. The principal at Sarasota High School did the right thing when he took out the valedictorian system and enforced a nicer competition.
     Kennedy did the right thing by abolishing the valedictorian system and instead, only enforcing the top 10% of each class recognition. That means more people will be recognized for the hard work that was put in to be where they are. Just because you are not number one does not mean you are not smart. When you have dealt with the hard classes and its roller coaster ride, you'd want to be recognized for it.
     Parents were starting to sue the school for the valedictorian spot. When someone is willing to hire a good lawyer to waste their time in court, the issue means something to them. All parents would like to brag about their child to their friends and family saying, "My child was the best." But is that always the case? Or is it simply, "My child just tries harder." Grades don't tell you as much about a student anymore. Schools are evolving. Some in a positive way where everything is more competitive while some in a negative fashion, where the criteria is getting easier within the years. Being valedictorian at one school does not mean you are smarter than the other kid at the better school.
    With today's technology and resources, it's hard to decide whether it's hard work they're doing or it's just their research method. The internet provides all information. Some students have it right near their finger tips so whenever they see a problem they cannot resolve on their school work, they search it online. Back then, it was whether you know it or you don't and have to result in looking in a book. Technology makes it easier for students to advance because everything is not as time consuming. Everyone is capable of being right. So therefore, you cannot determine who is the smartest since they are incorporating their knowledge with the global web.
    Overall, the valedictorian system is not accurate anymore due to the time period, the standing of the school, and global technology advances. In having recognize the top 10%, you acknowledge more of the students who have put in hard work throughout the four years. More people would be appreciated and everyone would get to graduate with a big proud smile on their face.

The Great Gatsby: Chapters 6-7

1. "He was a son of God."
      This quote argues that Jay Gatsby is the son of God. Although everyone is considered to be God's children, he is said to be the true one since he shaped himself to be the man that he is. He created himself. Since he turned himself from something poor and weak into a strong man that is liked by everyone due to his generosity, he created something new from something old. He provides hospitality to everyone and cares about everyone despite knowing him. He has great compassion for all. He is in the business of his father since God is not here to show his care. (105)

2. "I'm delighted to see you," said Gatsby, standing on his porch.
     In this quote, Gatsby is trying to convince Nick that it was great seeing him after such a long time. Nick has a hard time believing him because he hasn't seen him in weeks and there has been no phone call or exchange of letters during the time apart. He is also surprised and hurt when he sees Gatsby with Tom, the most unexpected visitor, considering that he has history with Tom's wife. Gatsby adds, "I'm delighted you dropped in," in which Nick is trying to digest as an innocent statement with no sarcasm beneath. (95)

3. "By God...women run around too much these days to suit me. They meet all kinds of crazy fish."
     In this dialogue, Tom is discussing his true feelings about Gatsby to Nick. He is surprised that his wife knows him. This quote shows that he is very stubborn and hypocritical because Tom runs around with poor people who drink all day (especially his mistress), while he criticizes his wife for knowing a man that is all too friendly in his taste. His remark about fishes reflects upon the quote, "There are many fishes in the sea," saying that loose women meet odd single men that are single for a good explanation. Tom tries to convince Nick these horrible things about his wife to make himself feel better that she has connections with someone as powerful, handsome, and popular as himself. (121)

4. "...some authentically radiant young girl who with one fresh glance at Gatsby, one moment of magical encounter, would blot out those five years of unwavering devotion."
     The author suggests in this line that during one of Gatsby's extraordinary parties, young beautiful girls who have devoted their hearts to a special gentlemen already, would fall for Gatsby the moment the meet him no matter how much they were into their previous lad. Gatsby has the personality that would make you fall for him because of his kindness and hospitality.He is also filthy rich and handsome. This is enough to make any girl swoon and lose sight of what they had their eyes on. Unfortunately for them though, Gatsby would still be strongly devoted to the one Daisy. (101)

5. "Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall."
     Daisy Buchanan was being negative about how life is so boring. Since the climate's been hot even though it's in the fall, the ladies have done nothing but sit around all day in their white dresses. Daisy's the type of person that likes to roam around and frets when placed in one place. Her friend Jordan argues that once it gets cooler in autumn, they would be able to do more things and they would once again resume their lives. Being a lady with financial support, there is little to nothing for them to do to past their leisure hours. (100)

Commencement Speech

                        In the commencement speech, the author tells us that she had once believed perfection is the key to happiness. She says everyone should not live according to standards and what society believes. You should do what makes you happy.

            This is true if what makes you happy is to become a singer or a zoo keeper. As long as you are striving for what you believe in, you will be successful in your own terms.
Although, you can’t do something like stop trying in school just because homework makes you unhappy. If everyone was free to do what they want and when they want, our world would end in chaos. We have standards to abide by not to just restrain us from doing what we really want to do but also to shape the world around us. If more of us start doing what pleases us, this is called being selfish. Not everything is about ourselves and we should acknowledge that. We should have to force ourselves, once in a while, to do things that we simply have to do. This is called responsibility.
            Being responsible is not always a great thing. People expect way too much from us to do things that they expect us to do. Kids are responsible for brushing their teeth. Teenagers are responsible for staying in school. Adults are responsible for going to work and bringing home food. If one of these cycles is broken, there would be consequences. If kids stopped brushing their teeth, their mouth would rot and result in pain every time they take a bite out of anything. If teenagers skip school, their future would be down the drain since they will lack education. If adults stayed home just because they hate their job, their family would starve to death.
Everyone will have a role they have to play; an event they have to do that is not pleasant to them. But if they strongly hold down their foot to live a happy life for themselves, they have to realize other people are affected by their actions as well.
            The author in the speech was describing about how she quit a job at New York Times to be a full time mother. She has the right to do that because she possibly received an opportunity. Her husband could have a great standing career to provide for the family. But if there was someone else who wanted to quit to become a full time mother but does not have a husband to support her, with this lack of opportunity, of course, she must refrain from making herself happy and do what is needed to provide her children with what they need.
            Being the idea of perfection is not necessarily a bad thing if that is what you want. If you are happy with knowing that pretty much everything about yourself is perfect, then that is how you should do it. When it comes down to it, everyone’s idea of perfection is different but yet, it is impossible to reach there. In the end, it’s not success we have to live by. It is responsibility and opportunities.