...Gatsby: The Deadly Deceiver What makes someone truly happy in life? Is it money? Power? Love? The reasons for happiness vary from person to person. But how much happiness does someone need? Are people ever truly satisfied, or does the constant "selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food", otherwise known as greed drive people(Oxford 1)? Why are some wealthy people unhappy, when they have so much? In The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald uses Gatsby's deceptive personality, bamboozling Nick, and fabricating the truth, to explain how greed leads to a deterioration of life. Gatsby's shady history was deceiving, and effectively portrays how greed can ruin a life. The many rumors circulating about Gatsby such as "he was a German spy during the war" illustrate that no one really knew who Gatsby was(Fitzgerald 48). Through his deceptive ways he never rebuffed nor verified the claims, which led to more curiosity. Gatsby did this so that his name would radiate through town and Daisy would hear his name. Gatsby used this deception to fuel his greed for Daisy. His reputation suffered, but he was willing to sacrifice his own reputation just to impress Daisy, no matter the cost. This deception represents greed of the 1920's. Gatsby is a figure of greed, because even when he had all the wealth in the world, he was never truly satisfied. Fitzgerald wanted people to realize that greed is rampant in society, and he wanted people to be happy with what...
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...FRQ #3 : Intentional Deception In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, deception is used as a ploy for the titular character. He uses his wealth and notoriety to deceive those around him to paint himself into a more positive light . Jay Gatsby is introduced as a mysterious man-in wealth and background. His primary uses of deception are through his distorted background and achievements. He claims to be an “ Oxford man”, and gives a bold first impression with his fast cars, a juicer that can squeeze up to 200 oranges, as well as throwing lavish parties quite often. Gatsby’s mysteriousness and suaveness helps him accomplish his primary goal: to get the attention of Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby’s fame and fortune are a part of his...
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...The Greatness of Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel the Great Gatsby is a well-known classic and an extraordinary piece of literature but the title leaves little to the imagination with the exception of one question “why is Gatsby so great?” Jay Gatsby has everything at his disposal, money, success, good looks all of which are seen as his greatness to some but Gatsby is great for bigger reasons such as his hopefulness, relentlessness and the fact that he is flawed. Gatsby has many things going for him but it was not always like that. Gatsby was born James Gatz, a farm boy with little to no income or social stamina. His parents were unsuccessful and “his imagination had never really accepted them as his parents at all” (Gatsby, pg. 98). James...
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...The Great Gatsby Oct 26, 2012 “Dishonesty” Dishonesty in a relationship exists when one person withholds or manipulates information about themselves or others and presents the facts as a truth. Being dishonest or bending the truth may seem favorable initially, but when the truth is finally revealed, you will have to spill back on more lies which will eventually push the relationship further apart. The Great Gatsby is a novel that shows the reader slyness and fraud around every corner. All of the main characters are dishonest people who portray their lives as nothing more than living in a self obsessed world while making adolescent decisions about love; all these people care about is living in the now. They lie, cheat, and deceive. This was a time when the economy was booming, spreading prosperous jobs in big town cities. This era saw the large-scale diffusion and use of automobiles, telephones, motion pictures, electricity, and unprecedented industrial growth. People dreamed big, and expected better. Everyone was breaking traditions and experimenting with advanced and diverse goods. Fitzgerald depicts Nick Carraway as a moral guide throughout a novel infused with lies and deception. Fitzgerald utilizes many themes throughout the book; truth versus lies, illusion versus reality, or compassion versus apathy. Within the novel, virtually all of the main characters are dishonest to others or to themselves, which exposes each character’s true self to the reader. Deception...
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...The Great Gatsby In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses four settings; two main locations of wealth, the East and West Egg, New York City where both sides do business and the Valley of Ashes home of the poor and a total wasteland of ash. The Eggs are separated by a small bay, on Long Island. This bay separates more than just the two locations. It also, separates and defines two very different social classes and ways of life. One area is known as the East Egg, where “old money” resides and the other is the West Egg, where the “new money” lives. The East Egg is characterized by long-standing wealth also referred to as "old money". People who live there come from generation after generation of money and social prestige. The Roosevelt's, DuPont's and Vanderbilt's would be considered "old money" during this time. They are similar to royalty. Their lifestyle is grand, sophisticated, fashionable and elegant which was characterized by their homes "white...
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...historical fiction novel “The Great Gatsby” written by Scott Fitzgerald in the 1920’s is about the societal and personal issues during that decade. The scenes and details in the book are related and connected to the new technologies, flapper ideals, and the mass culture of youth. Many of the characters were fake,not genuine, and untrustworthy.For example Jordan Baker, Daisy, and Gatsby were all proven to be fake or deceitful in the their actions. Jordan Baker,Daisy's best friend, was a professional golfer that was known for having dishonest character. There was an example of her fake character when she and Daisy were getting ready. The book said, ¨Jordan’s fingers, powdered white over their tan¨. This symbolizes that she is fake and not pure. It shows how she is trying to cover up her true identity and hide her true personality by being dishonest and untrue. Nick states, ¨she was incurably dishonest. She wasn't able to endure being at a...
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...Prohibition and The Great Gatsby. The Great Gatsby a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald is set in the 1920s. Havinn wrote about the nightlife and bootlegging of the that time period. While the government was shutting down bars, and clubs, then having gang’s members taking over the parade and opening up speakeasies. Making the government having a prohibition, but it didn’t really make the people stop drinking. On a relative note when banning the production of alcohol it made people desire it more. Going to imply that the same goes for Gatsby having the desire to have more money to get Daisy's attention towards him to make him notice and more appealing when his achievements. But it backfires on him and Daisy stays with Tom and doesn’t care a damn. I know you didn’t mean to, but you did do it. “That’s what I get for marrying a brute of a man, a great, big hulking physical specimen of a-”- Daisy. The center of the book is Jay Gatsby coming from a dirt poor family, being a big dreamer, and also a big risk taker. Like for example doing anything to win Daisy back for himself. Keeping his past behind him and others that he meets along the way. Deceiving...
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...Compare the presentations of appearance and reality in The Great Gatsby and one other short story by Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald presents the theme of appearance and reality throughout his novel The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald presents 1920’s America as the decade of illegal use of substances, promiscuity and the status and wealth of similar Americans, showing this era to be a time of moral decline. "They smashed things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness... and left other people to clean up the mess they've made." Fitzgerald writes as if to show the breakdown in this vigorous society, especially due to the expectations and judgements throughout this time; the men were expected to be educated, rich and charming while the women, simply beautiful and good company. The phrase “retreated back into their money” reveals the true reality behind the characters. It demonstrates the idea that despite the immorality of their actions, characters like Tom and Daisy will always have their money to fall back on. Fitzgerald uses the idea of money as somewhat of a protective barrier to the consequences of the actions of the upper class. This is shown when Daisy Buchanan gets away with murder and promiscuity, but with other characters of Fitzgerald's, such as Myrtle, and Evelyn from The Cut Glass Bow, that they do not. It could be said that the deception of these characters are punished by death due to their less-than elitist images, whereas Daisy Buchanan...
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...famous movie star or athlete. Sometimes what we long for will come true and everything will be as we imagined; sometimes we are given what we want, but when we get it, it does not seem to be enough; other times our dreams will not come true at all. Given the uncertainty of the outcome of our dreams, the thought that “attaining them can only lead to happiness” is a path to destruction. In The Great Gatsby, the mysterious character of Gatsby has become so consumed in pursuing his dream, that he has convinced himself the only way he could ever be happy is to have that dream. This is very sad and immature to me. Gatsby had a wonderful life: a dad that loved him, many people bowing at his feet to be his friend, a huge house, and great amounts of money. Many people would die to have the life of Gatsby, but getting hung up on his dream made him unable to appreciate or really experience all the pleasures he did have in life. Gatsby’s dream was for the love he once lost. Daisy was the one thing that Gatsby thought could make him happy; how could he know this was true? Since Daisy and Gatsby last dated, they had both changed and the world around them had changed as well....
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...“The Great Gatsby”, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, portrays a world filled with rich societal happenings, love affairs, and corruption. Nick Carraway is the engaged narrator of the book, a curious choice considering that he is in a different class and almost in a different world than Gatsby and the other characters. Nick relates the plot of the story to the reader as a member of Gatsby’s circle. He has ambivalent feelings towards Gatsby, despising his personality and corrupted dream but feeling drawn to Gatsby’s magnificent capacity to hope. Using Nick as a moral guide, Fitzgerald attempts to guide readers on a journey through the novel to illustrate the corruption and failure of the American Dream. To achieve this, Nick’s credentials as a reliable narrator are carefully established and reinforced throughout the story. The American Dream is a sensitive and beloved topic in American culture. Discussing its failure and corruption needs to be done gently and morally. Fitzgerald understood this, and therefore acknowledged the need of a kind and cordial narrator within a materialistic society. Enter Nick Carraway, who on the first page lets readers know “In consequence, I’m inclined to reserve all judgments” pg 7. This statement already serves to set Nick up as a decent and honest man that can be trusted. To back up this statement Fitzgerald included a short section regarding Nick’s family and background. The Carraway’s claim themselves to be loyal Americans. However, when...
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...critical theory today critical theory today A Us e r - F r i e n d l y G u i d e S E C O N D E D I T I O N L O I S T Y S O N New York London Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business Routledge Taylor & Francis Group 270 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10016 Routledge Taylor & Francis Group 2 Park Square Milton Park, Abingdon Oxon OX14 4RN © 2006 by Lois Tyson Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business Printed in the United States of America on acid‑free paper 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 International Standard Book Number‑10: 0‑415‑97410‑0 (Softcover) 0‑415‑97409‑7 (Hardcover) International Standard Book Number‑13: 978‑0‑415‑97410‑3 (Softcover) 978‑0‑415‑97409‑7 (Hardcover) No part of this book may be reprinted, reproduced, transmitted, or utilized in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publishers. Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. Library of Congress Cataloging‑in‑Publication Data Tyson, Lois, 1950‑ Critical theory today : a user‑friendly guide / Lois Tyson.‑‑ 2nd ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0‑415‑97409‑7 (hb) ‑‑ ISBN 0‑415‑97410‑0 (pb) 1. Criticism...
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...Specimen Papers and Mark Schemes for English Literature For first AS Examination in 2009 For first A2 Examination in 2010 Subject Code: 5110 Contents Specimen Papers Assessment Unit AS 2 Assessment Unit A2 1 Resource Booklet Assessment Unit A2 2 1 3 9 15 25 Mark Schemes Assessment Unit AS 2 Assessment Unit A2 1 Assessment Unit A2 2 29 31 61 95 Subject Code QAN QAN 5110 500/2493/0 500/2421/8 A CCEA Publication © 2007 Further copies of this publication may be downloaded from www.ccea.org.uk Specimen Papers 1 2 ADVANCED SUBSIDIARY (AS) General Certificate of Education 2009 English Literature Assessment Unit AS 2 assessing The Study of Poetry Written after 1800 and the Study of Prose 1800-1945 SPECIMEN PAPER TIME 2 hours INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES Write your Centre number and Candidate Number on the Answer Booklet provided. Answer two questions. Answer one question from Section A and one question from Section B. Section A is open book. INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES The total mark for this paper is 120. All questions carry equal marks, ie 60 marks for each question. Quality of written communication will be assessed in all questions. 3 Section A: The Study of Poetry Written after 1800 Answer one question on your chosen pairing of poets. Heaney: Opened Ground Montague: New Selected Poems 1 John Montague and Seamus Heaney both write about the Irish past. Compare and contrast the two poets’...
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...6 Build Your Vocabulary ■ ■ ■ ■ The SAT High-Frequency Word List The SAT Hot Prospects Word List The 3,500 Basic Word List Basic Word Parts be facing on the test. First, look over the words on our SAT High-Frequency Word List, which you’ll find on the following pages. Each of these words has appeared (as answer choices or as question words) from eight to forty times on SATs published in the past two decades. Next, look over the words on our Hot Prospects List, which appears immediately after the High-Frequency List. Though these words don’t appear as often as the high-frequency words do, when they do appear, the odds are that they’re key words in questions. As such, they deserve your special attention. Now you’re ready to master the words on the High-Frequency and Hot Prospects Word Lists. First, check off those words you think you know. Then, look up all the words and their definitions in our 3,500 Basic Word List. Pay particular attention to the words you thought you knew. See whether any of them are defined in an unexpected way. If they are, make a special note of them. As you know from the preceding chapters, SAT often stumps students with questions based on unfamiliar meanings of familiar-looking words. Use the flash cards in the back of this book and create others for the words you want to master. Work up memory tricks to help yourself remember them. Try using them on your parents and friends. Not only will going over these high-frequency words reassure you that you...
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...Readings for American History Since 1877 Historiography in America...................................................................................................................................................... 2 How to teach history (and how not to) ................................................................................................................................ 6 How Ignorant Are Americans? ........................................................................................................................................... 9 The West ............................................................................................................................................................................... 11 The Education of Native Americans ................................................................................................................................. 11 Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee .................................................................................................................................... 15 Prostitution in the West: .................................................................................................................................................... 17 The Gilded Age ..................................................................................................................................................................... 21 The Duties of American Citizenship ...........................
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...C h a p t e r 1 Prewriting GETTING STARTED (OR SOUP-CAN LABELS CAN BE FASCINATING) For many writers, getting started is the hardest part. You may have noticed that when it is time to begin a writing assignment, you suddenly develop an enormous desire to straighten your books, water your plants, or sharpen your pencils for the fifth time. If this situation sounds familiar, you may find it reassuring to know that many professionals undergo these same strange compulsions before they begin writing. Jean Kerr, author of Please Don’t Eat the Daisies, admits that she often finds herself in the kitchen reading soup-can labels—or anything—in order to prolong the moments before taking pen in hand. John C. Calhoun, vice president under Andrew Jackson, insisted he had to plow his fields before he could write, and Joseph Conrad, author of Lord Jim and other novels, is said to have cried on occasion from the sheer dread of sitting down to compose his stories. To spare you as much hand-wringing as possible, this chapter presents some practical suggestions on how to begin writing your short essay. Although all writers must find the methods that work best for them, you may find some of the following ideas helpful. But no matter how you actually begin putting words on paper, it is absolutely essential to maintain two basic ideas concerning your writing task. Before you write a single sentence, you should always remind yourself that 1. You have some valuable ideas to tell your reader,...
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