Life of Pi: Part 2

I love how Pi combines religions. He says all that he wants to do is love God and I think that's what religion should be about. While Pi engages in Buddhist and Hindu acts, along with others, to love his god, I still feel that Pi gets the whole religion concept more than many people in today's society. Many people claim to be "Christian" but really they are nothing more than someone combing his or her beliefs and wants with the justification of the Bible; I have found that many people twist religious teaching, texts, etc. into what they want these practices to be in order to justify wrong doings. Pi innocently just wants to love God. While I find it hard to grasp his combination of religions, I really do feel that he has mastered the main concepts of religion in general. I personally believe that God is love and through Him we are saved and I really do think that's what Pi is striving to have a deeper understanding of with his many religions.

Justin is Growing Up!

   On ABC news one of the things the two hostesses discussed was Justin Bieber and his new transformation. While Justin's mature metamorphosis was a key component of the clip from Good Morning America, the main issue is if Bieber's new "Boyfriend" video is "too steamy" for tweens. A good point that is brought up is that Bieber is eighteen years old. He is a legal adult. He can vote. He can join the military and get into clubs. So why can't he make his music videos like he wants? Bieber is compared to Christian Aguilera and Britney Spears. The connection that is supposed to be made is that both artists started out young and "bubble-gum pop" and moved on to more mature works along with successful careers.
  While some parents may find "Boyfriend" to be too "hot" for their young little girls, Bieber is growing up and is no longer the same artist he once was. I think the new, more mature route for his music is a good choice as far as reputation and business goes. Bieber can't sing "baby, baby, baby oohhhh" forever and is taking a good career path. While I can't call myself a "Bieleber", I can say that I am rooting for Justin Bieber and I hope the best for him!       


"Is Bieber's Boyfriend Video Too Hot for Tweens?" Good Morning America. ABC. ABC, New York City.                                       .     19 April 2012. Television.

"Pi"- A New Beginning

  So far, the first 100 pages or so have been kind of a struggle. The third party observations mixed with Pi's thoughts and opinions have been intriguing while mystifying but overall confusing. I'm looking forward to why all of the background information is vitally important to the rest of the plot. I've enjoyed some of Pi's outlook on religion. My favorite opinion of his so far is "to choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation" (36). I think anyone can relate to the part where Pi is talking about how children are mean. The children pick on Pi about his name and make his "refreshing aquatic name" a cruel joke. I think his way to find a fresh start by "changing" his name shows the reader a lot about his character and how he is as a person- determined. I look forward to seeing more of Pi's determination!

Fahrenheit 451- Parts 2 and 3

        Bradbury takes us through Fahrenheit 451 almost on the edge of our seats, or atleast I was! Montag reads a poem, "Dover Beach", when Mildred has a friend over to watch TV (her favorite pass time. Actually TV viewing isn't even a pass time for Millie; it's life!).  The poem evokes emotions in Montag, and I think Bradbury put the poem where he did to further emphasize that Montag isn't like everyone else; he actually feels and he's not numb like the others. I get the feeling that hardly anyone else in Montag's world actually has REAL emotions. The lack of emotion comes from the superficial, technological stimulation; humans need other humans in their lives! I believe that is why we humans are here; to help each other. In  Farenheit 451, the humans seem to have forgotten that they actually need each other to feel alive! Mildred doesn't even remember when or how she met her husband! In real life that's supposed to be something that sticks with a woman forever, right? The touch of personalism has been completely lost, and what little value of relationship that's left has been given towards technology.

The Hearth and the Salamander- Part 1 Fahrenheit 451

   In the first section of Fahrenheit 451, the reader can clearly see that this a classical dystopian novel. We meet Guy Montag, the main character, and learn about his daily routine. Montag is a firefighter; however, we quickly see that he is not our idea of a fireFIGHTER. Rather than putting out fires, Montag and the other firefighters are in charge of starting fires. In these fires, they are supposed to destroy and burn books, and sometimes the people who stand in the way. In the beginning Montag doesn't doubt his life or question his career and its purpose. However, after an encounter with a unique, free thinking teenage-girl, Clarisse, Montag begins to have his own thoughts. The government that is in charge of Montag does not encourage original thought and discourages individualism; if all are the same and entertained, all are happy. Montags wife, Mildred,  is what I think Montag himself is afraid of becoming. Mildred is constantly being fed thoughts and ideas and is seemingly incapable of forming her own ideas; she doesn't even seem to have her own memories.
  One day Clarisse asks Montag if he is happy. At first he scoffs at her question and answers her immediately. However, in just the brief walk from the sidewalk to his bedroom, Montag realizes that he is not happy and from there on out begins to wonder about his life. He wonders about the books he is supposed to destroy. Why are they so dangerous? What is so great about them that people would sacrifice themselves?
  I have a feeling that Montag will become more defiant in the next sections. I also hope we find out more about Clarisse's disappearance, and I also hope Mildred becomes less of a noodle and gets an original thought!

The Great Gatsby- The Withering of the American Dream

   In Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, the reader quickly sees that Gatsby isn't really all that great. One of the most apparent themes in The Great Gatsby is that of the withering of the American Dream. Most glamorize the American Dream and only focus on the great and wonderful outcomes the American Dream has to offer; few take the time to consider the work and possible hardships of obtaining the American Dream. In this tragedy, Gatsby is made the scapegoat and is the prime example of the misconception of the American Dream; however, there are many other characters who help support the theme. Daisy and Tom Buchanan, and our narrator,  Nick Carraway, are also examples of the corruptions of the American Dream
  We learn that Jay Gatsby, who has a tremendous amount of wealth, didn't come from wealth. Gatsby was but a mere farm boy who left his family behind to participate in an unknown business (the reader can infer that he is a gambler). Before leaving to fight in World War I, Gatsby meets a young Ms. Daisy and falls in love. He vows to Daisy that when he returns home from the war, he will have a wealth that will be able to support them. Upon returning home, Gatsby discovers that Daisy has moved on without him and has married a man of great wealth, Mr. Tom Buchanan. Gatsby, who is heartbroken and still madly in love with Daisy, buys a mansion in West Egg right across the bay from the Buchanans.
  To make this tale just that much more bitter, we find out that Tom is cheating on Daisy with Myrtle Wilson. Myrtle is married to George, who owns a car garage in the Valley of Ashes. Myrtle longs to be in the center of attention and yearns for the life of a wealthy woman. She and Tom have an affair. While Daisy has her suspicions, she is still under the rule of her husband.
  Nick Carraway is, in my opinion, an innocent by standard who likes to keep his own business to himself. From the beginning of the novel, the reader learns that Nick doesn't really like to get into others' business and generally keeps to himself.  We learn that Nick is also a veteran of the war and has moved away from his family. He has found himself in a modest home next to Gatsby. Although they are neighbors, Nick's house might as well be a shack compared to Gatsby's empire. Gatsby often has elaborate parities. Eventually, Nick and Gatsby become friends and Nick is invited to the party. Nick is one of the most observant characters in the novel. While mingling with Jordan, Daisy's cute friend who is a professional golfer, Nick takes note of his surroundings. He notices that everyone is having a good time, but little to none of the guests try to interact with Gatsby. All of the party guests are talking about Gatsby and about his possible place of origin.
  Well, Gatsby finally gets to see Daisy again: five years have passed since their last meeting. Eventually, Daisy gives in to her previous love for Gatsby and they begin spending time together in the afternoons. One day, Gatsby, Nick, Jordan, and the Buchanans go to the city to try to escape the blazing  summer heat. Tom confronts Daisy and about her and Gatsby's affair. Gatsby demands that she tell Tom that she is leaving him and that she no longer loves him, but Daisy simply can't. She tried to explain to Gatsby why she's unable to no longer love her husband, but she can't. She feels as though Gatsby is wanting to much of her; she loved him before, then she didn't, and now she does again. Why couldn't that be enough for Gatsby? She leaves in a flustered hurry and gets in the car. Gatsby goes with her. Daisy is still incredibly tense from the confrontation and "accidentally" runs over someone. That someone just happened to Myrtle, Tom's mistress. (Ironic, right?) Daisy becomes engulfed with psychotic-ness and Gatsby says to blame him (hoping to calm Daisy down). Myrtle's grieving widower George is taken over a by a sense of helplessness and seeks revenge. George goes to Gatsby's house and kills him and then commits suicide.
  Gatsby, as was mentioned earlier, is the scapegoat and had to die. Gatsby had worked his entire life to get... What? To get what? Gatsby worked to get a wealth and fortune so that he could support his woman and one true love, Daisy, and himself. Gatsby had put so much emphasis on money, because he associated money with Daisy, throughout his life he even begin to put a value on Daisy. Gatsby's life seemed glamorous, but he was actually truly miserable, even with his wealth. Gatsby is human, just like everyone else, and what do humans do? They die, humans die. Gatsby died. None of his so-called party guest faker friends even bothered to go to Gatsby's funeral.
  While Gatsby was truly miserable, so were all of the other characters. Nick turns thirty and he realizes that his life hasn't really meant much; George loved his wife who was cheating on him because he had never been good enough for her; Tom and Daisy both found other loves, yet chose to remain together and be miserable.. together.
  The American Dream was utterly shattered in The Great Gatsby. The pursuit of wealth in love was ultimately pointless in the end because all were still miserable with their worldly possessions. None of the characters were truly happy throughout the entire novel. Although they had wealth, money never satisfied them; their money couldn't satisfy them.

The Great Gatsby- Part 2

  In the second part of The Great Gatsby, the plot has really unfolded, the extended symbolism is entirely revealed, and the characters have been completely developed and trashed. The end of the novel is, well, the end, but it is also the end. What I mean is, several characters meet their ends (death) and the ones that are fortunate enough to survive might as well have ended: they lead miserable lives. Nick is 30 and still hasn't made anything of himself; Tom and Myrtle are clearly no longer in love and want to be with other people and are miserable with each other, but ultimately just decide to stay together and be miserable. The Great Gatsby's main plot was to show the corruptions of the "American Dream". Obviously, the dream has many corruptions, but I like to remain hopeful. I like to think that everyday-nobodies make someone of themselves even though society is rooting against them: I like to believe that people can rise out of their social classes and become someone great. However, I am not saying The Great Gatsby says people can't do that, but the ending can kind of leave one feeling a little bit hopeless.
  My favorite symbol in the book is the green light. At the beginning the green light is hope for Gatsby to achieve his dream of getting Daisy, and, by the end of the book, Nick sees the green light as a sign of lost hope, broken and unobtainable dreams. And, if I think about it too long, the symbol is a bit depressing, but I think this symbol is pretty cool because it shows as people have different life experiences, people change their perspectives.