The House of Mirth: Blog 7
Edith Wharton

    Shortly after the new year, a new family, the Brys, decide to have a party in order to pronounce themselves in society. Carry Fisher organizes the party and makes it a fashion show which includes "ableaux ivante" which is when actors wear costumes and recreate famous paintings and pictures. Many of the party-goers absolutely love Lily and speak of how beautiful she is. It seems like this kind of goes to Lily's head and makes her a bit arrogant, but I can't really tell.

    I find the the scene Wharton describes of the ableaux ivante absolutely fascinating. I think it would be amazing to attend a party such as this. Once, While visiting Chicago, I saw a group of about ten people all dressed from head to toe in silver clothing and even silver body paint. They would pose for about 30 seconds and then all frantically run around and somehow get into another choreographed pose. It was absolutely beautiful. I think I may have appreciated the show more because I dance, and I understand how hard it is to choreograph even the seemingly spontaneous pose changes. As I read the pages about the fashion show, I could not refrain from imagining these people.

   Getting back to the novel, it seems as though a chapter can't go by without some discussion of the men in Lily's life. In this chapter, Lily seems to deal the most with Selden. Then even have an intimate moment after the party. However, much to my dismay, Lily seems to be somewhat rude to him. She says, "Ah, love me, love me- but don't tell me so!" (Wharton, 112). I hope this does not mean the two of them will never be together, because I still think they are more meant to be than the other vain relationships she seems to have.

The House of Mirth: Blog 6

Edith Wharton

     In chapter nine of The House of Mirth, Lily Bart exhibits an ample amount of jealousy and seems to want revenge. These emotions are brought about by letters presented to Lily by an old maid. The maid had kept a collection of letters she found in Selden's room that he had not destroyed. They presumably are love letters, and the maid assumes they are from Lily. When Lily sees them, she knows they are from Bertha Dorset, who, it is assumed, had an affair with Selden. Lily buys the letters, which is why the maid brought them to her attention. Originally, her motivation of buying the letters was to protect Selden. She was not going to read them and simply destroy them herself. However, when Lily learns it was Bertha Dorset that set up Gryce with another woman solely so Lily could not marry him, Lily decides to keep them as blackmail against Bertha. Honestly, I would do the same thing. If someone had done something so rude like Bertha did to me, I would want to have something I could use against that person. 

     However, in chapter ten, Lily seems to have a change of heart. The overall theme of this chapter, in my opinion, is forgiveness. When running into other acquaintances at an opera she attended with Rosedale, the topic of her sudden financial success comes up. Even though she is not particularly happy about it, she brushes it off and does not get mad at anyone for discussing it. Another forgiving moment for Lily is when she sees George Dorset, who informs Lily that Bertha would like to have her over to their house the coming Sunday. Lily suddenly decides not to use the letters against Bertha and accepts the invitation. "If she had destroyed Mrs. Dorset's letters, she might have continued to hate her; but the fact that they remained in her possession has def her resentment to satiety" (Wharton, 97). This shows that simply keeping the letters and not destroying them had been enough revenge for Lily. 

The House of Mirth: Blog 5
Edith Wharton

     In chapter eight, Lily receives some heart-breaking news. She finds out that Percy Gryce, whom she has just decided she would like to marry, is already engaged to another woman, Evie Van Osburgh. Lily is extremely upset at this, but I honestly think it is for the best.

"Lily's passing light-heartedness sank beneath a renewed sense of failure. Life was too stupid, too blundering! Why should Percy Gryce's millions be joined to another great fortune?" (Wharton, 74).

     Like I said, I think it is a good thing Gryce is not marrying Lily. Lily had all of the wrong intentions for wanting to marry him- mainly for his wealth. I feel she is above doing this and deserves to find a man that she loves and can support her. I'll admit, I'm somewhat biased because I, personally, want her to marry Selden. He seems sweet and I think, even if they do not know it themselves, they both have some feelings for each other. 

     Prior to reading this section, I thought Lily could potentially end up being with Gryce or Selden. Now, since Gryce is out of the picture (well, who knows with the abundant amount of infidelity prevalent in this novel), I think her options seem to be Selden or Trenor. Selden, who is not particularly wealthy, would make Lily truly happy. Trenor, on the other hand, would be able to provide financial stability but not true happiness. Also, Trenor is currently married, so Lily would probably not be looked well upon by society if she broke up the marriage. Like I already said, I want her to marry Selden, not only because I think they are genuinely meant for each other, but also so Lily does not break up someone else's marriage. 

The House of Mirth: Blog 4
Edith Wharton

    As I finish chapter six, I am still extremely confused about what is going on currently in the novel. So many characters have been introduced that they are all running together in my mind. I also still don't know how any of these people even know each other. A few things are becoming clear, but, at the same time, becoming more confusing. After a long conversation between Lily Bart and Selden, I am left with explanations that lead to even more questions. Selden thought Lily was interested in Gryce, and Lily thought Selden was interested in Mrs. Dorsett. I don't know how true either of these ideas are though. During their talk, the two decide they will not marry

"'Do you want to marry me?' she asked.
He broke into a laugh. 'No, I don't want to..." (Wharton, 58).

I find it extremely awkward that they discussed the subject, especially since they never dated. I also find Selden's response to be quite rude, since he laughed at Bart. However, it seems things were extremely different during this time; I can not even imagine having this conversation with anyone.  

However, near the end of their talk, something seems to come up in the conversation that might lead to them confessing their true love for each other. However, for some reason Lily remembers she must get home just before anything happens in the conversation. I honestly have no idea if the two will ever get together throughout the novel, or if the abrupt ending to their evening was some kind of foreshadowing that their friendship is not going to progress. Also, while I am not really sure at all where the plot is going right now, I'm sure it will somehow involve both of their future relationships or lack there of.

The House of Mirth: Blog 3
Edith Wharton

     So far in the book, I am somewhat confused about all of the characters. So many have been introduced in these first four chapters that I am having trouble keeping straight who is who and how each character is related to another. I also have no idea what man or men Lily Bart seems to be going after as a potential husband because she has interacted with so many men thus far. Hopefully, as the story goes on, it will become clear who every character is.
     While talking about one character, Carry Fisher (who I really do not know who she is at all), Mrs. Trenor said something that surprised me. She said, "someone said the other day that there was a divorce and a case of appendicitis in every family one knows" (Wharton, 32). I found this shocking,because my thoughts on the early 1900's are that divorces were very rare and looked down upon in society. I never would have believed them to be so common. I feel this very much relates to our society today, since the divorce rate is now 50 percent. While I do not believe the divorce rate in the time of this book was anywhere near what it is now, I still find it shocking that Mrs, Trenor would say they were so common. This actually makes me feel better about our society today. While I am still ashamed of the number of divorces that take place, it makes me feel a bit better knowing this did not begin happening as all-of-the-sudden as I had previously thought.

The House of Mirth: Blog 2
Edith Wharton

     In chapter three, Wharton discusses one of the major themes of the book, the issue of money, in great detail. Before reading this chapter, I viewed Lily Bart as being very materialistic. She seemed only motivated to marry in order to get money out of the deal and she seemed to view social status as being extremely important. However, I find now that she is much deeper than that. It seems as though her mother is the materialistic one and only married Lily Bart's father for his financial wealth. I now see Ms. Bart as knowing money is important but also realizing there is more to life than being wealthy. Wharton says, "She would not indeed have cared to marry a man who was merely rich: she was secretly ashamed of her mother's crude passion for money" (Wharton, 27). I like this quote from the novel because it shows that even though it may not come off as such, Lily does not view money as the only important aspect of life. Lily seems to be the master at making others believe she has more money than she truly does because of her trendy wardrobe and attendance at many social events. While at first I was not particularly fond of Lily Bart's character, I am now beginning to like her.

The House of Mirth: Blog 1
Edith Wharton

      As I begin to read The House of Mirth, I am introduced to many characters and themes I feel will be prevalent throughout the book. Miss Lily Bart seems to be the main character, and Wharton provides an abundant amount of description of her personality in the first two sections of book one. We also meet a few other characters: Selden, Mr. Rosedale, Mr. Gryce, and Mrs. Dorset. There is a great deal of characterization for all of these characters.
     One theme that is brought up almost immediately by Bart is that of marriage. More specifically, Bart speaks of the relationship between women and marriage. She says, "What a miserable thing it is to be a woman!" (Wharton, 4). She says this when talking to Selden about his apartment and how he can freely do what he wants with the place since it is only his. She implies that men are allowed to have their own flat while it is unheard of for a woman to live alone because of the cost. Bart expresses that she does not want to get married, but she feels she has to because she has no means of income herself. She thinks men are lucky in regard to marriage because "a girl must, a man may if he chooses" (Wharton, 8). Bart seems to be somewhat a feminist, since she believes she should not have to get married. However she realizes it is not socially acceptable for her to work. I agree with Bart's opinion on not wanting to get married. I feel a woman should be able to have the same independence a man can. In our current society, it is acceptable and, for the most part, expected for a woman to work. Because of this, it is easier for a woman to live completely on her own, without the necessity of a man's support. Because this is set in the early 1900's when woman did not work, I am eager to see whether or not Bart will marry or continue living with her aunt.

The Great Gatsby: Blog 15
F. Scott Fitzgerald

     "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past" (Fitzgerald, 180).

Upon finishing the book, I had many mixed feelings. The last few pages jumped around from topic to topic very quickly. From Gatsby's father, Gatsby's friends, the funeral, the benefits of the western portion of the United States over the east, and many other events that have happened in the recent years in Carraway's life.

For the most part, I greatly enjoyed this book. While at first I didn't really understand what was happening, I quickly began to grasp the plot and become engaged in the story. However, I did not really like the ending, mainly the last chapter. I thought it was not wrapped up very well. However, I think this was Fitzgerald's goal. I think he did not have the intention of dwelling on the funeral for the last chapter, but focusing more on Carraway, which is exactly what he did.

I loved the last sentence to the novel, quoted above. I think it is true in every aspect of life. Our past is always with us and we will continually regress in life. However, just as a boat against the current, we must learn to fight for what we want, and, in the end, move forward.

The Great Gatsby: Blog 14
F. Scott Fitzgerald

     As I begin the final chapter of the novel, I begin to see a somewhat different side of Carraway. Previously, in chapter eight, Carraway had said about Gatsby, "I disapproved of him from beginning to end" (Fitzgerald, 154). It seemed as though Carraway did not feel he and Gatsby were actually friends. However, after Gatsby's death, Carraway told Mr. Gatz "We were close friends" (Fitzgerald, 168). After the murder of Gatsby, Carraway has seemed to turn into a much more caring friend to Gatsby. Carraway phones many people in order to make sure Gatsby has friends at his funeral, and it is important to Carraway to have these people there. Carraway's caring side begins to come out.
     Throughout the novel, Carraway and Gatsby have seemed to have very different personalities. Carraway is a very honest, helpful, reserved man. He never judges anyone and is always ready to help a friend in need. Riches are not the most important thing to Carraway, which is why he doesn't seem to mind his job in the bond business. Gatsby, on the other hand, is a dishonest and deceitful man. Living a luxurious lifestyle is so important to him that he was involved in criminal activity in order to become wealthy. He does whatever he can to win over the heart of Daisy, a married woman.
     Even though the two are so different, and Carraway even denies their friendship, I feel the bond they share is deeper than anyone can imagine. Even though the two did not know each other long, they developed a friendship that could not be destroyed. The two men were always there for each other, all the way to the bitter end.

The Great Gatsby: Blog 13
F. Scott Fitzgerald

I honestly can not believe how chapter eight ended. George Wilson knew it was Gatsby that killed Myrtle, and as revenge, Wilson went to Gatsby's house, killed him, and then shot himself. I am always horrible at predicting what is to come in a book, but I never expected Gatsby to die, nonetheless be murdered.

"...and the holocaust was complete" (Fitzgerald, 162).

Originally, I assumed he was comparing this minor incident to The Holocaust, because of the meaning that has accompanied that word ever since World War II. I was extremely confused as to why he would compare the killing of two people to the horrible event in history that ended millions of lives. However, I quickly realized his words had nothing to do with the tragic event of the 1940's, since that had not even occurred in history yet. Nonetheless, I find his ending of this chapter very effective. The term "holocaust" isn't used much in our society because of the meaning it carries with it, but in this situation, it is perfectly fitting. The murder of Gatsby and the suicide of Wilson could definitely be described as its definition according to Webster Dictionary as a "complete devastation." The deaths of these men will greatly impact the ending of the story because our protagonist is now dead.

The Great Gatsby: Blog 12
F. Scott Fitzgerald

     Even though this book is set in the 1920's, I feel it still relates to our modern world in more ways than I expected. For one, the ridiculous amount of infidelity is still abundant today. A step further, the abuse that appears in this novel is another tragedy that unfortunately has only become worse in our society.
     Overheard by a neighbor, Myrtle Wilson cried out "Beat me! Throw me down and beat me, you dirty little coward!" (Gatsby, 137). This was heard just before her death. As I read, I wasn't sure if her death had been planned by George Wilson or if she was coincidentally hit by a car during their tense argument. However, as I read on, I learned the accident was a surprise to everyone. And even more surprising is that the culprits were Daisy and Gatsby.
     Carraway happened to meet with Gatsby later on in the night, and it shocked me how calm Gatsby was when he learned she had died. He was only worried about Daisy, who was driving and who had to return to her house with Tom. While his care for Daisy is sweet, I feel like someone who just murdered another person should have a bit more regret and fear than he has.
     I am embarrassed to say the first thing I thought of while reading about George abusing Myrtle was the Rihanna-Chris Brown abuse incident. However, when I think about that I realize how often abuse must go on in our world, and yet we only hear about cases in celebrities. It is somewhat eye-opening to realize that not only has this been going on for decades, prior to when I believe our society truly became corrupt, but it is happening far more than most people are aware of.

The Great Gatsby: Blog 11
F. Scott Fitzgerald

     Things are somewhat starting to make sense for me as I read part of chapter seven. All of the confusing relationships and affairs are finally coming together. Tom Buchanan and Daisy are married and have a daughter named Tammy. One of Gatsby's friends is George Myrtle, who is married to Myrtle Wilson. Myrtle Wilson is Tom's mistress, and it seems as though George knows about the affair but simply lives with it. Daisy is secretly in love with Gatsby, which becomes not-so-secret when Tom confronts Daisy and Gatsby of the situation.
     Referring to Daisy talking to Gatsby, Carraway recalls, "She had told him that she loved him, and Tom Buchanan saw. He was astounded. His mouth opened a little, and he looked at Gatsby, and then back at Daisy as if he has just recognized her as some one he knew a long time ago" (Gatsby, 119). This is an important point in the novel because it is when Tom realizes what is going on between the two of them. When Tom confronts the two about it, things get extremely heated.
     Honestly, I find Tom's reaction to be extremely hypocritical. He, himself, has a mistress, Wilson's wife, Myrtle. And yet he becomes extremely hostile when he finds out about Daisy's "affair." The reason I don't quite consider it an affair is because, while they are somewhat over-stepping boundaries with their friendship, they are not having a serious relationship, or so it seems to me. Most of the occasions they have been together either Tom or Carraway have been there. Therefore, it is not much of a secret that they are friends. Back to my original point, I feel Daisy has every right to be even more angry with Tom because on multiple occasions he has lied in order to see Myrtle. Clearly, faithfulness is of great importance to me and that is why I feel it extremely unreasonable of Tom for becoming so upset with Daisy. Simply because Tom is doing the same thing to Daisy does not make it right in any way. However, I still feel he should have realized he made a mistake as well.

     

The Great Gatsby: Blog 10
F. Scott Fitzgerald

     Chapter six of The Great Gatsby brought many past experiences of some of the characters into light. The most surprising, and also most confusing to me, is that Gatsby and Daisy seemed to have had a relationship prior to Daisy's relationship with Tom. At first I thought Gatsby was simply dreaming of what could have been if Daisy and Tom hadn't gotten married, but after finishing the chapter I think they truly did have a relationship. Gatsby was longing for the past, he wanted to repeat what he had with Daisy. Carraway said, "He looked around him wildly, as if the past were lurking here in the shadow of his house, just out of reach of his hand" (Gatsby, 110). Carraway seems to think Gatsby and Daisy will never be, simply because of Tom. I honestly have no idea what will come of this sort of "love triangle" because there has not been much foreshadowing thus far.
     Daisy, who originally seemed to be just a minor character, seems to be playing a much bigger role than I expected. She is ultimately the source of the action because of both Tom and Gatsby's love for her. Daisy is one of only a few female characters in the book, so I feel that plays a role as to why she is becoming so important.

The Great Gatsby: Blog 9

F. Scott Fitzgerald

     Some of the details from Chapter five reminded me of my favorite book as a child, The Velvet Room By Zilpha Keatley Snyder. This book takes place during the great depression and is about a little girl who adores to read. Her family moves from place to place because of her father's jobs. At one house she lived in, there was an abandoned house nearby with a red velvet room she often went to as a quiet place to read. In this chapter of The Great Gatsby, Gatsby finally meets Daisy over tea at Carraway's house. Gatsby takes Daisy to show her around his house. Carraway describes their visit saying, "We went upstairs, through period bedrooms swathed in rose and lavender silk and vivid with new glowers, through dressing-rooms and poolrooms, and bathrooms, with sunken baths" (Gatsby, 91). The description of the period-style house reminds me of the descriptions of the house in The Velvet Room. The book often went into great detail of every room because the main character, Robin, was so enthralled in the beauty and decoration of the vacant house. I absolutely loved that book and reading this chapter of The Great Gatsby brought back many memories of the story. 

The Great Gatsby: Blog 8
F. Scott Fitzgerald

     At the end of chapter four, Miss Baker tells a story about when Daisy and Tom Buchanan got married. However, the night before the wedding, Daisy said something shocking. Referring to the expensive strand of pearls Tom bought her, she said, "Take 'em down-stairs and give 'em back to whoever they belong to. Tell 'em Daisy's change' her mine" (Gatsby, 76). It seems as though Daisy got cold feet before the wedding. The even more shocking part is that the "Next day at five o'clock she married Tom Buchanan without so much as a shiver, and started off on a three months' trip to the South Seas" (Gatsby, 76). The two of them went through with the wedding and are still married. In the 1920's, it was unheard of to get a divorce. Clearly that has changed quite a bit in our modern world. However, I still respect them for getting married and living a happy, married life.
     This relates to my life because my brother and his fiance will be getting married in about three weeks. Even though divorce is so prevalent in our society, I know they will live a happy, long life together. I hope neither of them experience any misgivings about the wedding like Daisy did.

The Great Gatsby: Blog 7
F. Scott Fitzgerald

     Beginning chapter four, it seems as if Gatsby and Carraway are becoming better and better friends. They go out to lunch together and get to know each other. At one point, Gatsby said "Look here, old sport, what's your opinion of me, anyhow?" (Fitzgerald, 65). If I had been asked this question by a wealthy, well-known man from my town, I would be extremely intimidated. I would never know at all what to say. I began to think what I thought of Mr. Gatsby. I feel, based on what I have read about him thus far in the novel, he seems as if he can come off a bit cocky. It is one thing to throw wonderful parties at one's luxurious abode, but it is another to boast about one's oxford education or inheritance they received. Honestly, I don't really like Gatsby. It seems as if he rubs people the wrong way often and he can come off as having a cold personality. However, I am only about seventy pages into the book, so maybe he will begin to grow on me. On the other hand, I greatly enjoy the personality of Carraway. He seems very different from Gatsby in that he is quieter and more strict with his life and personality. While these may sound like boring qualities to have, I feel Carraway is simply a hard-working man who knows his priorities in life.

The Great Gatsby: Blog 6
F. Scott Fitzgerald

     Chapter three ended with what I found to be a very profound statement by Carraway. He said, "I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known" (Fitzgerald, 59). When reflecting on this quote, I thought this can not be true for him. Everyone likes to think of themselves as being an honest person. However, is there really a person among us who has never told a lie? I certainly admit to having lied many times. While I am not proud of it nor do I encourage dishonesty, I feel, at some time or another, everyone is put in a situation where lying is necessary or simply the easy way out. However, I believe Carraway when he says this. Three chapters in, I am beginning to have a feel for what Carraway's true character is. Based on what I have learned about him thus far, I truly believe he may be a completely honest person. This made me begin to question who in my life is a completely honest person. After giving it some thought, I came to the conclusion that in this day and age, any person I think of I can never be positive they are always honest. I think this says a lot about what our world is coming to.

The Great Gatsby: Blog 5
F. Scott Fitzgerald

     As I continue reading The Great Gatsby, I have begun to learn more and more about the title character, Jay Gatsby. I have come to the conclusion that he is the protagonist in the story, because many conversations and events are centered around him. There is a great deal of characterization by Carraway about Gatsby, which helps the reader dive into his true personality. Caraway seems to use quite a bit of indirect characterization, because of the way he talks about his house, parties, and lifestyle. Carraway says, "On week-ends, his Rolls-Royce became an omnibus, bearing parties to and from the city between nine in the morning and long past midnight" (Fitzgerald, 39). From this sentence, it is understood that Gatsby is a rich, popular man in town. Even though Carraway does not use these words, we can tell this is true because of the type of car he drives and the extravagance of his parties. Gatsby seems to be a round character in the story. Not everyone who attends his parties really knows him, which is made apparent by Carraway and Miss Baker's conversation on the topic of whether or not Gatsby killed a man. Carraway slowly gets to know Gatsby, realizing their is much more to his personality than a wealthy man living in Long Island. He learns Gatsby also fought in the army, and he attended Oxford University. Carraway says, "I had expected that Mr. Gatsby would be a florid and corpulent person in his middle years" (Fitzgerald, 48). Gatsby's personality seems to surprise everyone and be much deeper than most expect.

The Great Gatsby: Blog 4
F. Scott Fitzgerald

     In chapter two of this book, I learned some surprising information about a few of the characters. I found out that Tom Buchanan, who is married to Daisy, has a mistress. His mistress is Myrtle Wilson, who is also married. Myrtle's sister, Catherine, said, "Neither of them can stand the person they're married to" (Fitzgerald, 33). I find this sentence somewhat hard to understand. Even though the idea of marriage has changed dramatically in the past few years, I can not imagine marrying someone on a whim and not actually wanting, even for a moment, to spend the rest of my life with that person. This book is set in the early 1900's, when divorce was absolutely unheard of. Because of this, it isn't socially acceptable for them to simply get divorced and marry each other. In order to do that, they would have to move far away in order to get away from their horrible reputations.The fact that this story involves so much infidelity shows that this isn't something that has just started happening in the last few decades; cheating has always been a problem. Catherine says they will eventually get married, while Myrtle Wilson says she can not get a divorce because she is Catholic. I think eventually they will get caught in all of the lies and maybe even be left by their spouses.

The Great Gatsby: Blog 3
F. Scott Fitzgerald

     As I finished up the first chapter of The Great Gatsby, some of the characters became a bit more clear while some became much more confusing. For one, I realized I was wrong as to who I originally thought the narrator of the book was. As I was trying to decipher who was the speaker, I began to assume the narrator was Fitzgerald himself. However, after reading further, I realized through a conversation with Daisy that the narrator is Nick Carraway.Nick described himself in the beginning of the book to be open-minded, quiet, and a good listener. I feel these qualities will play a major role in the story because of the way people so easily open up to him. I think Nick seems to be a dynamic character. I think he will gradually change into a more out-going person as the story goes on.
      Daisy is Nick's second cousin once removed, and Tom Buchanan is Daisy's husband. Daisy described Tom as "a brute of a man, a great, big, hulking physical specimen" (Fitzgerald, 12). The only other character that has been mentioned thus far, other than Gatsby, is Miss Baker. I am not exactly sure of her relationship to the other characters, but I think she is Daisy's friend. So far, I can tell these characters will be important throughout the story.

The Great Gatsby: Blog 2
F. Scott Fitzgerald

"You must know Gatsby" (Fitzgerald, 11). 

     Miss Baker says this to the author after finding out he lives in West Egg, which is also where Gatsby lives.  I think this sentence foreshadows a lot to come. Since Miss Baker says this, it makes it clear Gatsby is very famous. Since his name appears in the title of the book, it is obvious he will play a large role in the story, but this statement sort of proves he is a well-known man. The author does know Gatsby, since they are neighbors, but he doesn't receive the opportunity to tell miss Baker this. Gatsby seems to be a popular man that everyone who is anyone knows about. I feel every community, while maybe on not such a large scale, has someone comparable to Gatsby. For example, in the small town I am from, Pleasant View, their is one family absolutely everyone knows about. This family has lived in Pleasant View for many generations and is responsible for building many of the hundred-year-old houses that still stand today. The fact that Miss Baker assumes the author knows Gatsby shows that he is a very important man and will soon come up again in the story. 

The Great Gatsby: Blog 1
F. Scott Fitzgerald

   In the first few pages of The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I read a somewhat confusing glimpse of what the story is going to entail. Immediately upon picking up the book, my mind began to analyze some of the first words Fitzgerald wrote. The second sentence of the book really got me thinking. Carraway recalled some advice he received from his father at a young age. His father said,

"Whenever you feel like criticizing any one... just remember that all the

 people in this world haven't had the advantages you've had" (Fitzgerald, 1).

     This piece of advice really seemed to relate to my life. Having grown up in a privileged family and attended prestigious Catholic schools, I have truly had my fair share of advantages in life. I have had a multitude of amazing opportunities in my life. For example, I left the country for the first time at the mere age of seven, and, by the end of this summer, I will have already traveled to three countries multiple times in my sixteen short years alive. I am truly grateful for the opportunities I have had thus far in my life. Furthermore, I realize others do not experience the same blessed life I cherish. This advice from Fitzgerald's father has taught me to view the world not only through my eyes, the eyes of a sixteen-year-old teenager living on the south side of Indianapolis, but also through the eyes of the rich, the poor, the healthy, the sick and all other sorts of people scattered across the world. I have realized it is not acceptable to judge others, because everyone has gone through different life experiences and every opportunity has made them the person they are with the beliefs they hold. Having read this piece of advice has given me a new outlook on others.