Tractor Guy (Willy Freely)

The monster symbolizes everything that goes against the way of life that was lived in the 1930s. It symbolizes selfishness, greed, and that people have to stand up for themselves, and do whatever they need to to survive. On the contrast, people in the 1930s lived as a community, and owned and took pride in their own land that they were born, worked, died, and were buried on, or so they thought anyway. But in reality, it all belonged to the bank, or the so called monster. The monster wasn't making enough money, so they kicked all the people off their land, and planted a cotton field so they could make a better profit out of the land.

Grapes of Wrath

Turtle: When the turtle crosses the road it could mean that he's looking for a new beginning. While he's crossing, he almost gets hit by two cars; one swerves to miss him and the other to swerved to hit him, so the turtle hid in his shell, which could symbolize safety and security. While he does so, a piece of wild oat head gets stuck between his leg and shell, and as the turtle carries on, he plants those new seeds. By this, he could be thought of as god by creating new life.

Jim Casey: He is a preacher who is questioning himself about what he believes in. He claims that he doesn't love Jesus, but he loves people. When he used to preach, he would get people full of spirit when he speaks, but he does questionable things for being a preacher such as going out in the grass and sleeping with women after a speech. Through Jim, we see the theme of 'We v. I'. I think Jim is a good guy, he's just questioning himself about his beliefs.

Tom Joad: He comes from a farming family in Oklahoma. One night he was out drinking and got caught up in a fight and someone stabbed a knife into him, so Tom killed that guy and was sent to jail for 4 years and is now on probation. Now that he has just got out of jail, he is lost and is going home to try and figure out what to do. I think Tom could be close to being an alcoholic because he was drunk when the fight happened, and he carries a flask.

The Grapes of Wrath: Chapters 1 & 2

Chapters one and two deal with the exposition. We learn that it is very dry and the corn isn't doing too well. The setting is in Oklahoma. A truck driver pulls up and eats in the restaurant. He visits with a waitress, and as he leaves he notices a man asking for a ride. He gives him one, even though the company says they aren't supposed to, and we learn that the truck driver is a very detailed man. He tries to notice the fine details in the fabric. The truck driver also minds his own business, but the hitchhiker, Joad, told him about himself anyway, that he went to jail and is now going to his uncle's to work.

Characters: The truck driver: He is a truck driver for the Oklahoma City Transport Company, who stopped at a local diner to eat. He talked with the waitress a little while, finished up his meal, put his two nickels in the slot machine, and left. 

Joad: A man younger than 30, Hitch hiker, killed a man and went to jail for 4 years, going to his uncle's to work. 

Works cited 2

Datz Todd, “Teen Obesity Linked With Premature Death in Adulthood”, Medical News Today, July 19, 2006, Web, March 12, 2010, 2.

McEntire Teresa, “Parenting advice: 10 Benefits of Playing Sports”, families.com, October 30, 2006, Web, March 11, 2010, 1.

Metzl Jordan, and Shookhoff Carol, “The Benefits of Youth Sports”, eNotAlone, 2002, Web, March 12, 2010, 11.

Torgan Carol, “Childhood Obesity on the Rise”, World on Health, June 2002, Web, March 11, 2010, 4.

works cited page

McEntire Teresa, Parenting advice: 10 Benefits of Playing Sports, families.com, October 30, 2006, Web, March 11, 2010, 1.

Torgan Carol, Childhood Obesity on the Rise, World on Health, June 2002, Web, March 11, 2010, 4.

Metzl Jordan, and Shookhoff Carol, The Benefits of Youth Sports, eNotAlone, 2002, Web, March 12, 2010, 11.

Datz Todd, Teen Obesity Linked With Premature Death in Adulthood, Medical News Today, July 19, 2006, Web, March 12, 2010, 2.

Hook and Thesis Statement

“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Among others, these are a few ideals that most people strive for to achieve the American dream. Others include: Luxury, wealth, and being sophisticated, which all appear in The Great Gatsby. While some of these examples of the American dream are achieved, some die. In this paper, I will discuss how certain images or symbols from The Great Gatsby reflect the death, or corruption of the American dream.

Chapter 9 Journal

Summary: For the rest of that day, police, photogrophers, and newspaper men were swarming Gatsby's house. Nick wanted to get some friends there for Gatsby, so he called Daisy and Tom, but they were away. He also tried Wolfsheim, but it was too late. The next day Nick sent the butler with a letter to Wolfsheim explaining everything to him, and that he should come out on the next train. Wolfsheim explains that he can't get caught up in Gatsby's drama right now because he is tied up in some very important business. The phone rang that afternoon, and it was one of Gatsby's business partners, and he started talking to Nick about their business thinking it was Gatsby, then Nick informed him that Gatsby was dead. Three days later, he received a telegram from Gatsby's father saying to postpone the funeral until he arrived. His father arrived, and he said that Gatsby could have been a great man. Klipspringer called, and Nick told him about the funeral, and he said he wasn't going to be able to make it, he was just calling for a pair of tennis shoes he left there. The morning of the funeral, Nick went to New York to see Wolfsheim because he couldn't get ahold of him anyother way. Wolfsheim said he wasn't going to go to the funeral, so Nick drove back to West Egg in the drizzling rain. When he got back he visited with Gatsby's father, and he said that the last time he had seen Gatsby was two years ago. Then he showed Nick the picture of his house that Gatsby bought him. He put the picture away, and pulled out a book titled Hopalong Cassidy. It was a book about everything that Gatsby wanted to get accomplished during the day as a little boy. As they arrived at the cemetary, there was a total of three vehicles attending the funeral, one of which was Owl eyes from Gatsby's party a while back. After the funeral, he moved west and went to school. Nick talked to Jordan about what happened between them, and she told him she was engaged. One afternoon in late October, Nick saw Tom Buchanan who turned around and started talking to him. Nick asked him if he told Wilson who owned the yellow car, and Tom said he did tell him. They shook hands and went their seperate ways. Nick spent Saturday nights in New York, until he decided to move.

Characters: Nick, Wolfsheim, Mr. Gatz, Klipspringer, Jordan, Owl Eyes, Butlers, Minister,

Motifs: Owl Eyes- shows up at the funeral, Rain It poured rain when Nick drove back from seeing Wolfsheim, and during the funeral.

Allusions: James J. Hill, who was worth $53 million at the time of his death. Mr. Gatz compared Gatsby to being capable of living up to him if he would have lived a full life. Someone in Meyer Wolfsheim's office was whistling The Rosary, which refers to prayer. Nick said that West Egg reminded him of a night sene by El Greco who was a painter of the Spanish Renaissance.