Once again this chapter sees the use of a lot of creative description and metaphorical language, such as the references to ashes in the first paragraph, and the mentions of 'T J Eckleberg', who is compared to Tom later on in the novel. Moreover, Sundays seem to be a key day in the novel, and the majority of this chapter seems to happen on a 'Summer Sunday afternoon'. Sunday is generally seen as a religious day, or a day to rest, so the fact that the people of New York use this day to party (and in Tom's case see his mistress) shows how they have no concept of religious days, and are very care free.
Once again there is a lot of emphasis on Tom's personality, and this chapter highlights how rude he is when Myrtle wants to buy the dog. Tom continually interrupts the salesman, often undermining what he has just said. The fact that none of this goes unnoticed by Nick also shows how observant he is, and how everything that is included, down to the small details, are important in the novel.
Nick sometimes seems to lose his grip on reality, and in this chapter it is made clear in the way that time keeps jumping backwards and forwards, and that only particular moments stand out to him, such as when Tom breaks Mrs Wilson's nose. This is written in a very blunt way: 'Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand', which is a significantly different style that Fitzgerald's usual descriptive sections. This may show how quickly the narrator feels it happened, and how blunt Tom was when doing it.
Finally, there is a lot of mention of 'Ashes' and how people were in a 'daze'. This may show how the people of New York are very insular, and their lives revolve around being social and going to parties, almost as if they are in limbo.
Thursday, 22 November 2012
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
The Great Gatsby - Chapter One
In the first chapter of 'The Great Gatsby', we get a great sense of where you come from affecting who you are and how you're seen, for example the mid-westerners seen a lot more calm and serene than those who have grown up in the east. We are also given an insight into Nick's character, when he says: 'I'm inclined to reserve all judgements' as if he's been brought up in a particular way, and since moving to a 'looser' place he is slightly alienated and out of his comfort zone.
He spends a large majority of his time observing, particularly observing wild behaviour. 'Accused of being a politician' shows how he may try to please everyone, and get on their good side. It also presents the idea that he is old for his years, possibly having been matured by war.
Later on in the chapter, we meet Daisy, Jordan, and Tom, and straight away are given a sense of how wealthy they are from the line: 'They had spent a year in France for no particular reason'. Throughout Nick's visit to their house, it made obvious how arrogant Tom is. For example when he says 'I've got a nice place here', normally this is a phrase given to someone else as a compliment, however Tom is saying it about himself. Also, he later says that 'he'd be a damned fool to live anywhere else', not only showing off about where he lives, but also trying to make Nick look inferior for living somewhere else. When Tom talks about how he has read a book claiming that 'the white race will be - will be utterly submerged', we are shown that not only is Tom arrogant and self centred, but he is racist as well. Finally, Tom takes a phone call from his mistress in the middle of dinner, not only being rude by missing dinner, but not being even slightly subtle in the presence of Daisy.
A feature of F. Scott Fitzgerald's writing that is shown clearly at the end of the chapter, is his use of vivid detail to create interesting images for the reader. He often uses phrases such as 'pools of light' and 'loud, bright night' in his work, and oxymoronic language such as 'paternal contempt'.
He spends a large majority of his time observing, particularly observing wild behaviour. 'Accused of being a politician' shows how he may try to please everyone, and get on their good side. It also presents the idea that he is old for his years, possibly having been matured by war.
Later on in the chapter, we meet Daisy, Jordan, and Tom, and straight away are given a sense of how wealthy they are from the line: 'They had spent a year in France for no particular reason'. Throughout Nick's visit to their house, it made obvious how arrogant Tom is. For example when he says 'I've got a nice place here', normally this is a phrase given to someone else as a compliment, however Tom is saying it about himself. Also, he later says that 'he'd be a damned fool to live anywhere else', not only showing off about where he lives, but also trying to make Nick look inferior for living somewhere else. When Tom talks about how he has read a book claiming that 'the white race will be - will be utterly submerged', we are shown that not only is Tom arrogant and self centred, but he is racist as well. Finally, Tom takes a phone call from his mistress in the middle of dinner, not only being rude by missing dinner, but not being even slightly subtle in the presence of Daisy.
A feature of F. Scott Fitzgerald's writing that is shown clearly at the end of the chapter, is his use of vivid detail to create interesting images for the reader. He often uses phrases such as 'pools of light' and 'loud, bright night' in his work, and oxymoronic language such as 'paternal contempt'.
Saturday, 3 November 2012
Much Ado About Nothing - Act Five
In the final act of Much Ado, Claudio spends a large amount of time mourning, not only for the death of Hero and the woman he thought she was, but for the shame and humiliation that he feels toward the situation.
Scene Two brings the story back to Benedick and Beatrice, and shows how they feel about what happened at the wedding. Beatrice is clearly very upset about the whole situation, claiming that both she and Hero are 'Very ill'. In Scene 3, Claudio goes to Hero's grave and sings to her, accompanied by Balthasar, after Hero's father asked him to. In return, her father will set him up with Hero's 'sister', who is actually Hero, but masked.
They marry, and after the marriage we once again see Benedick and Beatrice's relationship develop. They confess their love for each other, and their story ends happily as well. However at the very end of the play, a slight loose end is given. A messenger brings word that Don John is bringing an army back to Messina, meaning that the drama is not yet over.
Scene Two brings the story back to Benedick and Beatrice, and shows how they feel about what happened at the wedding. Beatrice is clearly very upset about the whole situation, claiming that both she and Hero are 'Very ill'. In Scene 3, Claudio goes to Hero's grave and sings to her, accompanied by Balthasar, after Hero's father asked him to. In return, her father will set him up with Hero's 'sister', who is actually Hero, but masked.
They marry, and after the marriage we once again see Benedick and Beatrice's relationship develop. They confess their love for each other, and their story ends happily as well. However at the very end of the play, a slight loose end is given. A messenger brings word that Don John is bringing an army back to Messina, meaning that the drama is not yet over.
Much Ado About Nothing - Act Four
Act Four, Scene One is probably the most important scene in the play with regards to the plot, and it seems as though the entire play has lead up to this moment. It shows the true nature of Claudio's character, through the fact that he decides to publicly humiliate Hero, rather than talk to her privately. This also shows how he treats her like a possession.
This scene is also an indicator of Hero's personality, and it shows how she will not defend herself. Throughout the scene when all the accusations are being thrown at her, she remains very quiet, as if she is hoping it will sort itself out if she does. When she finally does speak up for herself, saying:
It is said so gently that the men probably wouldn't believe her anyway. Maybe because she knows that if she sticks up for herself it will make no difference, that the damage has already been done to her reputation.
KEY WORDS:
This scene is also an indicator of Hero's personality, and it shows how she will not defend herself. Throughout the scene when all the accusations are being thrown at her, she remains very quiet, as if she is hoping it will sort itself out if she does. When she finally does speak up for herself, saying:
'I talked with no man at that hour m'lord'
It is said so gently that the men probably wouldn't believe her anyway. Maybe because she knows that if she sticks up for herself it will make no difference, that the damage has already been done to her reputation.
KEY WORDS:
- Shames
- Humiliation
- Confrontation
- Dramatic
- Misconstrued
- Slander
- Deceit
- Power
- Jilted
- Tension
- Betrayal
- Love
- Guilt
All the above words also have a sense of dualism, and mean different things depending on who they are referring to. For example 'Humiliation', to Hero, this means that Claudio has publicly humiliated and upset her, however to Claudio it refers to his reputation being damaged, which to him would be very humiliating.
Much Ado About Nothing - Act Three
The first part of Act Three sees Hero conspiring to trick Beatrice, in the same way that the men tricked Benedick in Act Two. As this is a comical part of the play, a large amount of the dialogue is written in verse, for example:
In Scene Two, once again Don John enters and the mood changes. He and Don Pedro begin causing trouble in Claudio and Hero's relationship. This serious tone is a large contrast to Scene Three, which is full of comical aspects. Scene Three contains the watch (e.g. Dogberry, Verges etc.) who create a lot of confusion, and generally get things wrong.
Scene 4 brings the story back to Benedick and Beatrice, typical of a romantic comedy in both Shakespeare's day, and the modern day. In most rom coms, a main plot and a sub plot take place at the same time, and if the story drifts to the sub plot, it is quickly returned to the main plot.
Finally, Scene 5 again reverts back to the humorous aspects of the plot. Dogberry, who is easily confused, is meant to tell Leonato of the plot to break up Hero and Claudio's marriage, but gets confused and doesn't. Once again, the story has not taken the road the audience expect it too, and a more comical route has been taken instead.
'Good Margaret, run thee to the parlour.There shalt thou find my cousin Beatrice'
In Scene Two, once again Don John enters and the mood changes. He and Don Pedro begin causing trouble in Claudio and Hero's relationship. This serious tone is a large contrast to Scene Three, which is full of comical aspects. Scene Three contains the watch (e.g. Dogberry, Verges etc.) who create a lot of confusion, and generally get things wrong.
Scene 4 brings the story back to Benedick and Beatrice, typical of a romantic comedy in both Shakespeare's day, and the modern day. In most rom coms, a main plot and a sub plot take place at the same time, and if the story drifts to the sub plot, it is quickly returned to the main plot.
Finally, Scene 5 again reverts back to the humorous aspects of the plot. Dogberry, who is easily confused, is meant to tell Leonato of the plot to break up Hero and Claudio's marriage, but gets confused and doesn't. Once again, the story has not taken the road the audience expect it too, and a more comical route has been taken instead.
Much Ado About Nothing - Act Two
Act Two gives us more information, and a better insight into how the characters feel about the idea of love, for example Beatrice says:
Showing how she clearly despises the idea of being married. Act Two also contains a lot of confusion between the characters, mostly caused by Don John during the masquerade ball, for example he sends Don Pedro over to Hero, so that he'll pretend to be Claudio and trick her. Once again as soon as Don John is on the stage, the mood shifts to a more serious, less humorous tone, showing how he is clearly the stereotypical 'baddie' of the play.
In Scene Three, when Don Pedro, Balthasar, Leonato and Claudio trick Benedick into thinking Beatrice is in love with him, we once again get a sense of comedy. This is mainly caused by the confusion created, and the fact that Benedick has fallen for it completely. Moreover, this creates foreshadowing for what is to come in their relationship.
'Just, if he send me no husband; for the which blessing I am at him upon my knees every morning and evening. Lord, I could not endure a husband'
Showing how she clearly despises the idea of being married. Act Two also contains a lot of confusion between the characters, mostly caused by Don John during the masquerade ball, for example he sends Don Pedro over to Hero, so that he'll pretend to be Claudio and trick her. Once again as soon as Don John is on the stage, the mood shifts to a more serious, less humorous tone, showing how he is clearly the stereotypical 'baddie' of the play.
In Scene Three, when Don Pedro, Balthasar, Leonato and Claudio trick Benedick into thinking Beatrice is in love with him, we once again get a sense of comedy. This is mainly caused by the confusion created, and the fact that Benedick has fallen for it completely. Moreover, this creates foreshadowing for what is to come in their relationship.
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