Questions

1. Do you think Chief was a reliable narrator?
At first, I didn't simply because they stated he had hallucinations and I thought it would cause him to view things alot differently. But my opinion changed throughout the book. When he was having that crazy dream and realized it, that's when I changed my mind that he actually was reliable.
2.At the end of the book, do you still view Big Nurse as the villain?
By the end of the book, I think big nurse is more like an anti hero. Even though she is awful and rude, when McMurphy hurt her, I couldn't help but have sympathy for her. This made her more of an anti hero than a villain.
3.Do you think McMurphy resembles a Christ like figure?
I do because, like Christ, he felt the need to save people. He had the chance to escape, but he didn't. He knew he wasn't finished helping everyone at the hospital so he sacrificed himself for others.
4.Why do you think McMurphy didn't escape when he had the chance?
I think this relates back to him resembling a Christ like figure. He knew he wasn't done helping people so he had to stay.

I think, at the end of part one, McMurphy has the upper hand. When she reads his history out loud, he explains himself. The others seem to find it funny and look up to him when he does this. He even gets Hardings to agree that she is a horrible women. Having all these people on his side definitely makes him seem like he has the upper hand even though Big Nurse has alot of control. I can't rely on Chief that much because I think his view on things and how he tells the story can be misleading or over exaggerated. He doesn't seem very important at the moment. Chief has become more interested and involved (as best as he can be) with the rebellion against Big Nurse with the arrival of McMurphy. At this point, I am rooting for McMurphy. He interests me and Big Nurse is mean and awful seeming and it makes you not want to root for her.

One flew #1

As of right now, the hero seems to be Chief Bromdem. We don't know that much about him yet, but we can assume he is the hero since he is narrating the story. We know he is narrating the story because he uses first person. The anti-hero seems to be Randle McMurphy. We don't know that much about him yet either, but we are told to assume he is the most crazy. But he doesn't seem too evil, so we can't dislike him. The villain is Nurse Ratched. He says when she walks in the room in the beginning of the book, "She's going to tear the black bastards limb from limb, she's so furious." ( Kesey 5) We can't help but think she is crazy and evil by the way she is described.

Gatsby #3

1. Why did Fitzgerald title the book Great Gatsby?
Gatsby, for the most part, was looked upon by others as someone who had made it. Someone who had accumulated wealth and status. Using the word Great in the title probably represents his achieved status but also is probably used to make fun of Gatsby. Because in the end, Gatsby didn't seem that great to anyone except his father and his friend Nick. Even his dear friend Wolfsheim couldn't be bothered with getting involved with Gatsby's death. On page 174 when Fitzgerald is talking about Gatsby's funeral one sentence is simply - "Nobody came." That doesn't seem like the right kind of send off for someone who is considered great.

2. What was the purpose of the eyes in the book?  The sign of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg is mentioned in the very beginning of the book and serves as a sign of things to come. The eyes in the sign are described as really serving no purpose other than to glare down at what is below. Before the tragic scene of the car accident, the eyes become a focus in the story. As Mr. Wilson talks with Tom and Myrtle peers out from the window above, the eyes are watching too. Watching all that is wrong in the world. "...the giant eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg kept their vigil..." page 124.

3. What is the theme of the book? The theme of The Great Gatsby is simple, all that glitters is not gold. Gatsby had spent his life gathering riches and possessions hoping to win the heart of a woman he was not worthy of because of his social status. He was a poor man and she was a rich woman. Gatsby felt if he could only become rich with a lavish home and fancy possessions he would be able to have Daisy. In the end, he had gathered a fantastic wealth but was still unable to have Daisy. So, all of the riches did not make his life complete.

4. What did the green light symbolize? The green light at the end of Daisy's dock symbolized the fact that Daisy was so near yet so far from Gatsby. The first time Nick sees Gatsby he is standing in his yard in the dark with his arms outstretched towards a single green light. Even though we don't know what that symbolizes, reading it you knew there was some meaning to the green light. On page 180, when Nick is thinking about the first time Gatsby might have realized the green light was Daisy's dock, he says" He had come a long way to this blue lawn, and his dream must have seem so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it."

Gatsby #2

In the first part of the book everyone is guessing where Gatsby is from and how he made his money. Even Gatsby himself says he went to Oxford and got his money by being from a wealthy family. When Meyer Wolfsheim enters the story he brings a shady side. He has cuff links made of human molars. Gatsby says Mr. Wolfsheim is a gambler and actually fixed the World Series in 1919. This makes you think that maybe Gatsby is into some shady business by keeping company with Mr. Wolfsheim. After learning of Daisy and Gatsby's past, you start to realize Gatsby is doing everything he can to impress Daisy. Mostly showing off his wealth, his big mansion, fancy car, servants and big parties. It appears that Daisy's parents did not approve of her dating a soldier, Jay Gatsby, and put an end to their relationship. She ended up marrying Tom, a very wealthy man. This makes the reader feel that Gatsby was not good enough for Daisy. Gatsby thinks if he becomes a richer man, he will win her back. This makes me feel very sorry for him. He loves her and all he wants to do is be with her. It seems like everything he has ever done since meeting and losing her, is done to impress her. I guess I like him more but definitely feel sorry for him. He will probably never be good enough. Even though he seems more shady, I definitely feel he is deeply in love with Daisy and it makes me want him to win because he is the underdog.

Gatsby #1

The hero is Jay Gatsby. Even though there is a lot of curiosity about Gatsby, one thing is for certain. Everyone wants to be associated with him. All of the characters want to be part of his rich lifestyle. Nick witnesses this by the comings and goings during the summer. When speaking of Gatsby, Nick says "In his blue gardens, men and girls came and went like moths..." (pg 39) There was a constant stream of people in and out of his house. The antihero is Jordan Baker. She is obviously a good friend of Daisy's and sees Daisey's unhappiness. That makes the reader like her, but she also has a down side. After losing a major golf tournament, Jordan says to Nick, she says "I've been drunk for about a week" (pg 49) and later, Nick refers to her "she was incurably dishonest." (pg 58) Even though she has those faults, you find yourself rooting for her. The villain is Tom. He is cheating Daisy, which easily makes him disliked. He is not ashamed of his affair and says to Daisy's own cousin "I want you to meet my girl" (pg 24) referring to Myrtle, his mistress.

Kroll

I am more persuaded by Kroll's essay. I am more persuaded because his appeals to my emotions more. He is witnessing his friend being sentenced to the death penalty, having to wait to die, and dying. His argument seemed much stronger due to the fact it appeals to my emotions more. In Mencken's essay, there isn't really any personal accounts so I don't get as persuaded.