The Great Gatsby Essays (1561 words) - The Great Gatsby, Literature

The Great Gatsby A Critical Review: The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a universal and timeless literary masterpiece. Fitzgerald writes the novel during his time, about his time, and showing the bitter deterioration of his time. A combination of the 1920s high society lifestyle and the desperate attempts to reach its illusionary goals through wealth and power creates the essence behind The Great Gatsby. Nick Carraway, the narrator, moves to a quaint neighborhood outside of New York City called West Egg; his distant cousin and his former colleague, Daisy and Tom, live in a physically identical district across the bay called East Egg. The affluent couple quickly exposes Nick to the corrupting effect of wealth and materialism. He often serves as a sophisticated observer at several fashionable parties, yet he remains uninvolved in the hedonistic lifestyle. Jay Gatsby, the man who gives his name to the book, lives in an extraordinary estate adjacent to Nick, where he incessantly welcomes guests to sumptuous parties. Nick develops a fixation and a selfless devotion to Gatsby. Gatsby is a dreamer, absorbed by the past, and Nick reluctantly aids him in attempts to fulfill his ideal. The impractical illusions, in the end, destroy Gatsby and lead Nick to see the ultimate manifestation of corrupt American society. In The Great Gatsby, greed and corruption centralize the theme. Fitzgerald uses the contemporary public as a core of life for his characters. Gatsby's intent to win a love from his past by the display of lavish possessions results in annihilation. He was doomed from the beginning by his avaricious wishful thinking. Gatsby's approach to attain his goal was encumbered by immoral manners. The way he made money, tried to find love, and lived his life were all completely selfless, yet unjust. His bootlegging business earned him millions but also repelled everyone from his funeral. The countless years Gatsby worked to earn his fortune to win back his beloved abruptly ended with a decisive close. And the lavish parties with caterers, bartenders, and orchestras never drew his ?golden girl? to the scene. The characters of The Great Gatsby are in constant search of their own identities?a second theme. They think that the only ingredient to happiness is wealth and possession. At the beginning of the novel, certain images of the characters are embedded in the reader's mind, but as each one approaches a goal, he or she becomes more absorbed in desire and shows a shocking change in temperament. When Nick went to Tom and Daisy's house for dinner one evening at the beginning of the novel, Daisy attempted to make plans with Nick. She said, ?What'll we plan? What do people plan? (p.25).? She acts na?ve and innocent with no sense of independence. Contradicting this episode, she kills a woman in a car accident and goes home to, literally, eat cold chicken. She is in constant dispute with herself; she truly has no idea of what to do, and her husband, Tom, has the same dilemma. Tom believes that his exterior belongings make him the ?brute of a man (p.25)? Daisy says he is. After Tom read the book The Rise of the Coloured Empires, he became violently angered by the threat of another race submerging the whites. This shows that even though Tom felt superior, he had inner self-doubt that he could be defeated which caused him to react with rage. Both Tom and Daisy eventually discover the shameful history they have so carefully amassed yet are still unable to overcome their deceit and allow themselves to retreat back into their money and vast carelessness. A corrupting effect of wealth can easily be found among both the established rich people of East Egg and the newly rich residents of West Egg. The people of East Egg, such as Tom and Daisy Buchanan, have developed in a world of money and hold an empty future of purposelessness encompassed by assets. On the other hand, the inhabitants of West Egg have worked their way up into the world of fortune, many dishonestly, but still hold the vulgarity they garner from their origin. The events that take place in East Egg promote conservatism and power; they are moderately low-key and

Internet Addiction Disorder Essays

Internet Addiction Disorder Essays Internet Addiction Disorder Essay Internet Addiction Disorder Essay Name: Course: Instructor: Date: Internet Addiction Disorder Introduction Internet addiction disorder refers to a behavioral malady that affects computer users who tend to engulf themselves excessively in computer usage to a point that disrupts their normal lives. It is characterized by net compulsions, cyber-relationship addiction, cybersex addiction, computer addiction and information overload. We live in a digitized world and a great proportion of our activities are better done digitally for efficacy and reliability. The use of computers has therefore become mandatory for everyone in businesses, schools, and even personal use. In addition, the world has become a global village with the incorporation of social networks, search engines and leisure activities in the internet. Mobile phones have also been revolutionized to hold certain internet applications for the owners. Since the idea sprung, some computer and mobile phone users have immersed themselves in the internet such that other normal activities in their lives have been vividly sidelined. Internet usage can only be termed as a disorder if it pushes the user to alienate from important things in his or her life. There has been a debate among different people on whether such consistent and excessive usage of the internet is a fad or a real problem. Therefore, several scientists have taken their stands to clarify the ideology of internet addiction disorder. Fad or Real Problem According to Grohol (1999), a psychologist, there has not been extensive research yet to validate excessive internet use as a disorder since only exploratory surveys were used for determination. Such surveys were not backed by outright rationale to expose the problem clearly as a psychological disorder. Therefore, it still stands on its theoretical base. Due to lack of solid conclusions from the surveys, the terminology for the presumed malady is considered a scientific fallacy. Grohol furthers his thought for internet addiction disorder as a fad when he asserts that just as too much television watching or book reading has not been diagnosed as a disorder. He does not see the reason why internet addiction can be termed as a disorder. Ivan Goldberg, M.D rules out internet addiction as a disorder since he argues that just as workers are addicted to their work to solve other problems in their lives so does internet users. In his view, the workers cannot be termed to have a disorder beca use they are doing it for a worthy cause. Hence, according to him internet addiction disorder is simply a fad. Scientists who believe that internet addiction disorder is a fad argue that the addiction is not necessarily caused by the technology but by people’s behavior when they want to drift away from the problems they are facing in their normal lives. If at all the internet users have no problems in their normal lives, then they are probably compelled to over use it based on other similar interests and behavioral forms such excessive reading books and watching too much television. Cognitive behavior techniques in psychotherapy can be used to correct such behavior. Furthermore, Grohol (1999) believes that case studies are not in any way helpful than the unauthentic surveys because instead of determining the causes and effects, case studies only provoke emotional reactions about the idea of internet over-use. On the other hand, scientists who are out to prove that internet over-use among people is actually a disorder have attempted several affirmations. Young et al (2011) insist that excessive net use is nothing less than a clinical disorder. They emphasize that the human brain undergoes certain morphological changes when a person is addicted to the net in the same way that there are changes in the brains of those addicted to drugs and other detrimental instances. Proponents have based their conclusions on clinical criteria that march the levels of chemical addictions. Internet addiction can cause inefficiency in decision-making among users and with the effect stretched to an experience of short-term memory. Case study on Chinese college students addicted to computers confirmed the morphological brain changes (Shek et al, 2008). Online gambling causes financial strains for users because they indulge in the game and lose a lot of money. Social networks crack physical friendly and family re lations. Online affairs or relations cause unfortunate break ups. For these reasons, proponents strongly believe that internet addiction disorder is a real problem. Young (2011) compares internet addiction to other addictive disorders, which are based on impulse-control. Her criterion for diagnosing the disorder was the use of the Internet Addiction Diagnostic Questionnaire with questions that could guide the respondent to provide measurable evidence. The responses covered a wide range of symptoms such as neglecting friends and family, dishonesty, guilt and anxiety, withdrawal from important schedules, physical problems and inability to control the behavior. Her department, which is known as The Center for Internet Addiction provides treatment for those diagnosed with internet addiction disorder by the application of cognitive behavioral therapy techniques. Conclusion When a person constantly indulges in an activity beyond the required measure, he or she becomes addicted. Addiction causes a mental drift in the life of a person to the point that he or she stops recognizing priorities in life. Cybersex addiction, online gambling, net compulsions and too much engagement in social network, whether categorical or combined, lead to the disruption of a person’s social system. If a person’s social and normal life system is disrupted, there is an underlying disorder responsible for the action; hence, it must be addressed to balance the person’s schedule. However, a lot of research needs to be done to come up with substantial evidence as to why internet addiction is categorized as a disorder that needs psychiatric therapy so that opponents can chip in to play a role in averting it. Work Cited Grohol, JM. â€Å"Too Much Time Online: Internet Addiction or Healthy Social Interactions?† Cyberpsychology Behavior: the Impact of the Internet, Multimedia and Virtual Reality on Behavior and Society. 2.5 (1999): 395-401. Print. Shek, DT, VM Tang, and CY Lo. â€Å"Internet Addiction in Chinese Adolescents in Hong Kong: Assessment, Profiles, and Psychosocial Correlates.† Thescientificworldjournal. 8 (2008): 776-87. Print. Young, Kimberly S, and Cristiano N. Abreu. Internet Addiction: A Handbook and Guide to Evaluation and Treatment. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley Sons, 2011. Print.

Metonymy

Metonymy Metonymy Metonymy By Maeve Maddox Metonymy [meh-TAHN-uh-mee] is a figure of speech that substitutes a word or phrase that stands for an object, action, institution or the like for the object itself. For example, in the phrase â€Å"surf and turf†- in the context of restaurant fare- surf is a metonymy for seafood and turf is a metonymy for beef. In a different context, the word turf is a common metonymy for the institution of thoroughbred horseracing: One of the  most famous jockeys  in the  history  of the  turf  a century ago was Sam Chipney, who was â€Å"jockey for life† to the Prince of Wales, at a salary of $1,000, and retired from the turf with his royal master in 1791. Home and Country, Volume 9, Monthly Illustrator Publishing Company, 1894. Here are some more examples of metonymy from various sources: Tories were American colonists who  remained loyal to the Crown during the American Revolutionary War. Crown = â€Å"the British government.† Suits  stars Gabriel Macht as Harvey Specter and Patrick J. Adams  as Mike Ross- lawyers at a high-powered New York law firm.  (Suits is the title of a television series.) Suit = an authority figure such as a lawyer or FBI agent. Ready for another cup? cup = a cup or mug filled with coffee The pen is mightier than the sword. pen = written form of persuasion sword = military action Friends, Romans, countrymen: Lend me your ears. ears = attention Lamb and potatoes: a dish fit for a king dish = a meal France, less favoured on the whole as to matters spiritual than her sister of the shield and trident, rolled with exceeding smoothness down hill, making paper money and spending it. This quotation from A Tale of Two Cities contains more than one layer of figurative language. France = the people of France. France is also being personified as a woman with a sister. sister of the shield and trident = Britannia, ergo, Britain. A common symbol of the nation of Britain is the image of Britannia- a seated woman holding a shield and trident. The shield she holds represents military might, and the trident represents sea power. The trident is associated with the sea because it was the emblem of Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology. Reading fluency requires background knowledge that enables readers to interpret the use of metonymy and other figurative language. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Words for Facial ExpressionsGrammar Quiz #21: Restrictive and Nonrestrictive ClausesTestimony vs. Testimonial

Default Determination Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Default Determination - Term Paper Example This paper thus is going to handle and talk about the termination by default or default termination to every detail while analyzing everything that it entails, as well as the remedy of default termination in the context of federal procurement in reference to the nature of the course. In termination for default, the government always wants to have the upper hand on the contract hence always trying to make sure that the contract is always to their advantage. So in that case, in order for the government to prevail in the defense of a termination by default, the government must establish that the termination of the contract by default prior to the contract completion date was effective, proper and correct. Since this default termination is such a drastic action, the federal procurement must show how its determination was well grounded and had no hidden motive or agenda, and is supported by solid evidence. Moreover, the agency must show/demonstrate through convincing evidence that there was no reasonable likelihood that the contractor could complete the work in time as agreed. The untimely performance of work which does not affect the critical path does not provide a basis for a default termination. The above said, there are suggestions that it is improper for the government to terminate a contractor for his or her failure to make progress where the contactor had reason to be expected to complete the work to finish the job contracted fro in due time. In such cases the federal procurement must consider all available factors and reasons when they are determining whether to terminate a contractor using the default termination. Moreover, if the totality of the state of affairs shows or indicates the unsupported and arbitrary nature of the decision to terminate for default the law requires conversion of the action to termination for convenience. There are laws put in reference to this type of termination

To produce an informal report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

To produce an informal report - Assignment Example ROCE also increased to 24% in 2011 as compare to 20% in 2010 due to increase in net income and shareholder’s equity and decrease in long term debt. Current ratio increased from 1.39 to 1.67 mainly due to decrease in current liabilities particularly bank overdraft by 4000 during 2011 and increase in inventory by 2000 during the year. Acid test ratio also increased from 1.25 to 1.42 in 2011 due to decrease in current liabilities by 2000 and increase in current assets by 1300 during 2011. Stock turnover decreased from 20 in 2010 to 17 in 2011 due to increase in cost of goods sold and inventory, which highlights the hotel’s efficiency in managing its inventory and avoiding under stocking instead we could conclude that hotel is experiencing higher sales than the previous year. Debtor collection period decreased from 48 days in 2010 to 41 days in 2011 due to application of robust collection policies. Creditors payment period decreased from 16 days to 15 days during 2011 is mainly due to increase in payables. Capital gearing ratio decreased from 16% to 11.5% in 2011 is due to increase in shareholder’s equity and decrease in long term debt, which is considered good as it signifies the hotel dependence more on equity financing as compare to debt financing thus it lessens the risk of interest rate burden and other related fixed costs but it may also heightened the financial risk due to higher volatility in profits. As per the financial ratio analysis for the year 2010 and 2011, it is clear that Hotel is enjoying a marvelous growth in terms of sales both from rooms and other restaurant functions. However, hotel needs to control the cost of goods in order to improve the gross profit margin for the up coming years and other operating expenses. In addition, hotel may also have to look upon its payment patterns and improvise the payment period to suppliers and creditors for the goods bought on credit by paying off early. In order to reduce the financial risk

A Caribbean Legacy Essay -- Caribbean History Culture Essays

A Caribbean Legacy The notions of slavery, colonialism, and race are indelible aspects of Caribbean history. In order to fathom the current political, social, economic, and cultural climate of the Caribbean one must engage in a critical study and understanding of the impact slavery has had in modern day Caribbean societies. The modes and intricacies of modern day Caribbean societies are intimately related to the plantation systems of the colonial period, which welcomed the arrival of the largest migration in history. Author Michelle Cliff, in her essay "If I Could Write This With Fire," attempts to make sense of the current deplorable social conditions of racial inequality in her native land of Jamaica. It is within this context of understanding the current social and racial strife in Jamaica that Michelle Cliff presents the intimate relationship between past and present. Michelle Cliff, in an ontological manner attempts to unmask the current phenomena of racial strife in Jamaica by considering and examining the disdainful legacies of slavery brought upon by ruthless European colonialism in the Americas. Cliff, like many of the historians, sociologists, and economists which we have encountered in our study of Caribbean history, is partaking in an unmasking process of the Jamaican society in her literature in order to reconcile a ravaged Jamaican and Caribbean identity. Ultimately, Michelle Cliff’s desire to make sense of the Caribbean’s intricate social and cultural mosaic prompted her to "look back," and, as she states in her essay: To try and locate the vanishing point: where the lines of perspective converge and disappear. Lines of color and class. Line of history and social context. Lines of denial and rejection. Wh... ...nges imposed by the plantation system created a hierarchy of color (similar to the one discussed by Michelle Cliff in Abeng, wherein the color of one's skin designated one's occupation and social position). Whiteness indicated economic and political superiority as well as leisure while blackness represented low social status and arduous labor. Consequently, it is quite evident that Knight offers significant evidence affirming the notion that slavery, or in this particular case, the social caste system imposed by the plantations has indeed had a grave influence in the evolution of Caribbean societies. -Footnotes- 1.) Excerpt taken from: Michelle Cliff’s essay, "If I Could Write This With Fire." 2.) ibid (1) 3.) Quote taken from page 124 of: Knight, Franklin. The Caribbean: The Genesis of a Fragmented Nationalism. Oxford University Press: New York, 1990.

Alternative Method of Learning English

English oral was a difficult subject in secondary school. I felt nervous and embarrassed when I was speaking in English. I found no method to tackle the fear. In secondary 6, I joined an activity named â€Å"Interviewing Tourists†. We interviewed tourists asking where they were come from, what they felt about Hong Kong†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ The difference of speaking English in school and outside is that outdoor speaking provides more opportunities to talk. In school, we only had chance to speak in lessons.But most of the time the teacher was speaking. At the activity, we were forced to speak because foreigners may only understand English. Most of the time we felt more comfort when are talking to the local. Actually, we do not realize the common mistakes we made, like Chinglish. However, it is better to learn English from foreigners. They talked in the most natural, fluent way. That is why schools invite foreign teachers to teach speaking English. Teachers taught us the skills to deal with exams.But what we were talking to the tourists were something we seldom discussed such as cuisine and cultural. These were funny and I forgot what nervous is thought out the activity. In conclusion, I will keep practicing to improve my English. At this college, I found we have a lot of opportunities such as presenting projects and I will not hesitate to discuss the projects in English. I found there are some foreign students and I am going to make friends with them in order to speak more. Word count: 255