I think that I have come to definitive conclusion about whether or not I liked my book: not really. First off, the end was slightly sad, and slightly pleasurable depending on how you look at it. The book ends by Amory crying that he knows himself, "but that is all". For one thing, my prediction came true. The book ended with Amory being alone and depressed because he pushed everyone away from him. This was no surprise at all, and was a little satisfying because after many of the things that happen in the book, I simply just do not like Amory as a person, and i feel that after his entire life, he made no adjustments to be a good person or anything. In my opinion, the book ended the way that it should have because he didn't develop at all.
And that was one of the reasons why i didn't like the book. One of the main things i said that i was excited to read about in the first blog post was the development that Amory made throughout his life. After reading the back i figured that some sort of character development was inevitable, not only because it is apparent in nearly every story i have ever read, but because he is a person who gets no results out of his actions. That is a person who you would expect to develop and change, right? Wrong. I am not exactly sure what Mr. Fitzgerald was thinking when he wrote this, because it simply made Amory more and more annoying as the book went on. In the last section, he mentions his mother's death in a letter to his great friend Darcy. He speaks about it in an emotionless manner, and even seems annoyed a bit when mentioning the fact that she left most of her wealth to the church. This was the point of no return for me as a reader, because as soon as he disgraced his mother simply because she didn't leave him enough money, i decided that he didn't deserve the happiness that i once hoped he would achieve. in that sense, the book was a success, but if you look at if from Amory's point of view, it really is a sad sad story. The boy was born to an extravagant mother who brought him up to be the way he is, and as a result of the war, he ends up emotionless. However it is not his background that makes me hate him, that can be excused. It was his inability to change that annoyed me, he seemed to get worse with this egotism, arrogance, and pomposity throughout the novel.
In addition to just the actual story, i thought it was lacking in general. For example, the entire book followed only one person in detail. This might have been okay if that one character was extremely interesting, like-able, or changed a lot throughout the book, but Amory was none of those things. I think the addition of more characters would have made the book less boring and a lot more exciting. Another thing was the dead spots. They made the book very hard to read because they would discourage me from wanting to turn the page. However, regardless of all of this, I think that if i did learn something from this book, it is who i should never be. I see the things that Amory did, and the way it affected him, and it brought him nowhere but to loneliness. Not only that specifically, but i also learned just the general importance of being able to change. I see now that it can be crippling if one is not able to adapt or change when their situation or strategy is not working. For this, i guess i am thankful, but in all honesty, i would have liked to be taught these lessons in a different way with a more interesting book.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Week Three
In this weeks portion of the reading, Amory seems to have been put in his place. It is recommended to him that he should go to Philadelphia by a friend of his that he met through his mother, Monsignor Darcy,A man he respects very much and connects with. Darcy introduces Amory to a woman named Clara, and just as you or I could have predicted, he falls in love with her. However, this time it is different for Amory. She does not respond the same way that every other girl has, she doesn't just fall into his arms. Instead, she rejects Amory when he proclaims his love for her. Since this is not the reaction that Amory is accustomed to, he knocked down a peg, and starts to realize that he is not really this amazing and perfect suitor for any girl who comes his way. This is the path that Amory takes in this weeks reading section:
http://13jgiacalone.glogster.com/amorys-path/
The rejection that Amory encounters is very disappointing for him because it reveals to him, and ensures the reader, that he is not as irresistible as he once thought. This deflation of Amory's perspective of himself helps him overall by sending his self-image down to an average position. I think that there is going to be a journey from here on of Amory becoming less and less arrogant and becoming less concerned with impressing other people. Aside from the affect that Clara had on his self-image, she also caused him to just want to get his mind off of things. It doesn't say it in the text, but i think that the reason he enlists in the army is another one of his ways to go with the grain and continue finding ways to impress people. I think that in his mind, this will act as a redemption for what happened with Clara. His mindset seems to be that if someone tries to tell him he isn't good enough, he will just try as hard as he can to prove them wrong. Amory doesn't enlist in the army extremely willingly, so i think that proves that he is only doing it, in his mind, to prove to everyone else that he is doing what kids his age 'should' be doing, and that he is the ideal person. However, i don't think that anyone is really paying attention, so he is really only trying to prove this to himself. But the fact that he is doing something that he doesn't really want to do will cause him serious grief in the future, especially for something as life changing as entering the army.
My prediction for the next passage differs from my hope. My hope is that Amory comes to grips with the fact that he is only doing this, and everything in his life for that matter, for the purpose of impressing other people, not for his own happiness. If this occurs, he will recognize it in time to change his life and improve it, doing what he wants to do. However, i don't think that this will happen at all...Amory is very intent on doing everything to the fullest, so i think that he will end up going through any pain, mental or physical, if that is what it takes to prove to everyone else (yet again, only in HIS mind), that he is the ideal man of his age. Overall, the book is becoming a little more exciting, but i still feel that it has large dead spots about essentially nothing, or rather useless information.
http://13jgiacalone.glogster.com/amorys-path/
The rejection that Amory encounters is very disappointing for him because it reveals to him, and ensures the reader, that he is not as irresistible as he once thought. This deflation of Amory's perspective of himself helps him overall by sending his self-image down to an average position. I think that there is going to be a journey from here on of Amory becoming less and less arrogant and becoming less concerned with impressing other people. Aside from the affect that Clara had on his self-image, she also caused him to just want to get his mind off of things. It doesn't say it in the text, but i think that the reason he enlists in the army is another one of his ways to go with the grain and continue finding ways to impress people. I think that in his mind, this will act as a redemption for what happened with Clara. His mindset seems to be that if someone tries to tell him he isn't good enough, he will just try as hard as he can to prove them wrong. Amory doesn't enlist in the army extremely willingly, so i think that proves that he is only doing it, in his mind, to prove to everyone else that he is doing what kids his age 'should' be doing, and that he is the ideal person. However, i don't think that anyone is really paying attention, so he is really only trying to prove this to himself. But the fact that he is doing something that he doesn't really want to do will cause him serious grief in the future, especially for something as life changing as entering the army.
My prediction for the next passage differs from my hope. My hope is that Amory comes to grips with the fact that he is only doing this, and everything in his life for that matter, for the purpose of impressing other people, not for his own happiness. If this occurs, he will recognize it in time to change his life and improve it, doing what he wants to do. However, i don't think that this will happen at all...Amory is very intent on doing everything to the fullest, so i think that he will end up going through any pain, mental or physical, if that is what it takes to prove to everyone else (yet again, only in HIS mind), that he is the ideal man of his age. Overall, the book is becoming a little more exciting, but i still feel that it has large dead spots about essentially nothing, or rather useless information.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Week Two
Not too surprisingly, my prediction is beginning to come true. Amory has lost another one close to him because of his vanity and conceit. Isabelle, the girl Amory was in love with, left him without regard after coming to the realization that the his "self-confidence" that once pulled her in, was actually extreme conceit and has pushed her away. Amory's reaction is not what i would expect, however. He seems to not care much and sort of shrug it off saying, "oh well". Based on his reaction, I still don't think that Amory is going to change anytime soon. Perhaps the reason why he didn't care a lot was because he didn't have a lot of time to become attached to Isabelle, so when she left, there wasn't enough time or affection sewn between them that got damaged. If this is the case, then i think that he will have to become attached to someone for a very long time, and then be heartbroken, before he will even think about changing.
There are a few things about this book that really give away that this book was set a while ago. One of the things is the interactions between Amory and his various loves. The author will describe how in love he is with her, and vice versa, but then will note in passing that Amory wishes to kiss her for the first time. This was especially shocking to me because in today's world, many people will do that before falling in love. The other thing was the fact that Amory communicates to his mother by writing letters. Obviously they are not going to text during World War I, but it was fairly eye opening for me because i am NOT used to that being a common form of communication between a parent and their child away at college.
http://www.princeton.edu/mudd/news/faq/topics/WW1.shtml
This link has made me think more about what is going to come in the future for Amory. In the article it talks about how Princeton, Amory's school, was essentially a military university for a time during World War I. There has been no mention of this in the book yet, but Amory has made a comment like "once this dreaded war ends," so the war has begun at this point. War has an interesting effect on people, so maybe Amory will know someone who enlists in the Army, or will do so himself, which could lead him to change by realizing that there are much more important things in life (like living) than your own success and looks.
This video makes me dislike Amory even more. It annoys me to think that a war of this magnitude was going on, yet all he could think about was himself. In fact, as the book goes on I am beginning to root against Amory more and more. He is too conceited as of now to be a likable character, and this video is a perfect example of that. The more I read, the easier I relate to the characters that he is pushing away himself.
Overall, this section of the book was alright. It was extremely slow and bland at parts, but some parts were more intriguing. Usually whenever there is dialect, it is fun to read, but at other times the author just seems to ramble on and on about nothing. Hopefully if my war prediction comes true, there will be more action and emotion to write and read about, and there will be less dead space in the book.
There are a few things about this book that really give away that this book was set a while ago. One of the things is the interactions between Amory and his various loves. The author will describe how in love he is with her, and vice versa, but then will note in passing that Amory wishes to kiss her for the first time. This was especially shocking to me because in today's world, many people will do that before falling in love. The other thing was the fact that Amory communicates to his mother by writing letters. Obviously they are not going to text during World War I, but it was fairly eye opening for me because i am NOT used to that being a common form of communication between a parent and their child away at college.
http://www.princeton.edu/mudd/news/faq/topics/WW1.shtml
This link has made me think more about what is going to come in the future for Amory. In the article it talks about how Princeton, Amory's school, was essentially a military university for a time during World War I. There has been no mention of this in the book yet, but Amory has made a comment like "once this dreaded war ends," so the war has begun at this point. War has an interesting effect on people, so maybe Amory will know someone who enlists in the Army, or will do so himself, which could lead him to change by realizing that there are much more important things in life (like living) than your own success and looks.
This video makes me dislike Amory even more. It annoys me to think that a war of this magnitude was going on, yet all he could think about was himself. In fact, as the book goes on I am beginning to root against Amory more and more. He is too conceited as of now to be a likable character, and this video is a perfect example of that. The more I read, the easier I relate to the characters that he is pushing away himself.
Overall, this section of the book was alright. It was extremely slow and bland at parts, but some parts were more intriguing. Usually whenever there is dialect, it is fun to read, but at other times the author just seems to ramble on and on about nothing. Hopefully if my war prediction comes true, there will be more action and emotion to write and read about, and there will be less dead space in the book.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Week One
The main character in this book is not exactly the most lovable protagonist. Amory, a boy who studies at Princeton University, is extremely arrogant, pompous, and wishful; but he wishes only to be better than everyone else. He seeks new ways to excel in things, and seeks new things to excel in. This "eccentric" personality of Amory's is largely due to his mother, Beatrice. She was always a sophisticated, extravagant woman, and taught her son everything. Sh taught him to be sophisticated just as she was, and she is the source of his arrogance. Not to say that it wasn't deserved; Amory is described as being very handsome and fairly smart as well. The only problem is that he knows it. He envisions heads rolling to look at him once he has passed a group of people by. He loves to be better than other people, impress people, and make sure his ego and status are top notch. This is Amory's main problem in this novel: he lets his starvation for perfection get in the way of his life.
I feel very mixed about the book so far. At times, I find humor in the insanity of Amory's arrogance and strides to become better. Other times, however, I become disgusted and annoyed with his character. It is very hard to like a character who i feel is pushing everyone in his life away from him. It makes me wonder if this is possible though. I think that in today's society, people are less likely to be so blatant about their arrogance, but maybe that was not the case at this point in time. It would not surprise me, because social laws and common courtesies can change very much in a short period of time (only 70-80 years). The thing that i do like about this book is that it is written in third person. If it was written from Amory's point of view, I am not too sure i could handle it. I also like to see that Amory has made some adjustments about his personality, because i think that if he stayed the same the entire time it would get boring and predictable. However, I don't agree with why he has made adaptations: to fit in wherever he goes. Each new place he makes some small adjustments to who he is and who he wants to be. Normally, i would assume that the character was just going through natrual development. He is, after all, only 15-20 in this passage. However I think that based on what I have read about him, and his passionate desire to be the best and show off to all, I can gather that Amory makes these changes in order to further his status. For example, he didn't play sports until he visited Minneapolis for two years, but then he all of a sudden began. The author mentions nothing about his love or interest for the game, but only says that football is just one more thing that Amory wanted to excel in.
I mentioned before that he seems to be pushing everyone in his life away from him. This is what i think will be the ultimate demise of Amory. He wants to get close to different girls, but I can't see how that is going to happen if he continues to push people away from him the way he does. For example, he meets a girl and uses his charm to make her like him, yet when she kisses him, he is complete repulsed, leaving the girl furious at him. He also was called into a professor's office at his school, St. Regis'. The professor tries to tell Amory that the reason why he is unpopular among the other boys is because of the fact that they all see his arrogance, but Amory is offended. Not because he couldn't believe that people disliked him, but because he felt as if the professor was insulting his intelligence by telling him something that he already knew. In both instances, Amory pushed someone away who was totally willing to offer Amory some sort of companionship or help, yet he scoffed and blew them both off. If things keep going this way for Amory, then he will destroy himself by being so intent on finding someone to love, but continuing to push them all away.
I feel very mixed about the book so far. At times, I find humor in the insanity of Amory's arrogance and strides to become better. Other times, however, I become disgusted and annoyed with his character. It is very hard to like a character who i feel is pushing everyone in his life away from him. It makes me wonder if this is possible though. I think that in today's society, people are less likely to be so blatant about their arrogance, but maybe that was not the case at this point in time. It would not surprise me, because social laws and common courtesies can change very much in a short period of time (only 70-80 years). The thing that i do like about this book is that it is written in third person. If it was written from Amory's point of view, I am not too sure i could handle it. I also like to see that Amory has made some adjustments about his personality, because i think that if he stayed the same the entire time it would get boring and predictable. However, I don't agree with why he has made adaptations: to fit in wherever he goes. Each new place he makes some small adjustments to who he is and who he wants to be. Normally, i would assume that the character was just going through natrual development. He is, after all, only 15-20 in this passage. However I think that based on what I have read about him, and his passionate desire to be the best and show off to all, I can gather that Amory makes these changes in order to further his status. For example, he didn't play sports until he visited Minneapolis for two years, but then he all of a sudden began. The author mentions nothing about his love or interest for the game, but only says that football is just one more thing that Amory wanted to excel in.
I mentioned before that he seems to be pushing everyone in his life away from him. This is what i think will be the ultimate demise of Amory. He wants to get close to different girls, but I can't see how that is going to happen if he continues to push people away from him the way he does. For example, he meets a girl and uses his charm to make her like him, yet when she kisses him, he is complete repulsed, leaving the girl furious at him. He also was called into a professor's office at his school, St. Regis'. The professor tries to tell Amory that the reason why he is unpopular among the other boys is because of the fact that they all see his arrogance, but Amory is offended. Not because he couldn't believe that people disliked him, but because he felt as if the professor was insulting his intelligence by telling him something that he already knew. In both instances, Amory pushed someone away who was totally willing to offer Amory some sort of companionship or help, yet he scoffed and blew them both off. If things keep going this way for Amory, then he will destroy himself by being so intent on finding someone to love, but continuing to push them all away.
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