The Evening Sun - Faulkner

The short story "That Evening Sun" by William Faulkner displays his essential ideas from his speech.  In his Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech Faulkner states that a writer can "help man endure by lifting his heart" by writing about courage, honor, hope, pride, sacrifice, compassion, and pity.  These are evident in his short story.  The short story takes place in the south where whites are racist towards blacks.  Courage is displayed through Nancy, a black woman who stands up for herself when she knows she is just being used and cheated.  "When are you going to pay me white man?  It's been three times now since you paid me a cent--" (page 168)  This illustrates how Nancy has courage because back then blacks held no status, especially in the South, however she knows that she is going to receive some sort of punishment.  Her courage is seen through her confronting this white man of high status in front of many people.  Although Nancy is showing courage here, she also expresses pity towards herself when she keeps repeating, "I ain't nothing but a nigger."  (page 170)  This illustrates how Nancy is still falling into the trap that the white people want blacks to believe: Whites are better than blacks.  She even got embarrassed in front of the town when Mr. Stovall knocked her on the ground and kicked her face in.  She expresses pity by saying that she is just a nigger and letting Caddy say that he is not a nigger.

Jason, one of the children in the story displays pride.  He displays pride by saying how he is better than Nancy and keeps referring to her as a nigger and that the white race is better than  the blacks.  Mr. Stovall also illustrates pride when he tries to display power and pride over Nancy by knocking her down and beating her up.  "I ain't a nigger.  Disley is a nigger too."  (page 170)  "Mr. Stovall knocked her down...kicked her mouth in with his heel..." (page 168)  Both of these quotes illustrate how Jason and Mr. Stovall express pride in the white race.  Father demonstrates compassion by walking Nancy home at night because he knows she is scared about Jesus coming to kill her.  "I'm going to walk down the lane with Nancy.  She says that Jesus is back." (page 169)  Here he displays his compassion because the father knows that Nancy is in fear of Jesus so he wants to make sure she feels safe.  Father is also the only person in the short story that seems to treat the black people with respect even though he is white.  All the other white people in the short story some how indicate that white people are better than black people.  
  

A Clean Well Lighted Place - Hemingway

• I think that the adaptation is appropriate because it is very similar to the description in Hemingway's actual story.  The place is self explanatory, clean and well lit for people to hangout and get drinks after hours.  However, I did not expect the people to have Irish accents because in the actual story, the bartenders used the Spanish language.
• The film is true to Hemingway's intent.  It is illustrated through the whole Our Father prayer and is emphasized in the repetition of the prayer.  This displays Hemingway's thought on not having a God.  Alcoholism was another great aspect of Hemingway's life and it is displayed through the old drunk man at the bar.  Along with alcoholism, the idea of suicide is portrayed through the old man.  Suicide was a huge deal in Hemingway's family and it is illustrated in the story.
• The one thing that really bothered me was the Irish accents.  It was hard to understand what they were saying at times, but in the story I remember that they used Spanish so I was expecting the people in the video to be Latin American.  I thought that the video was a good visual description of the story, however in the novel I thought the older bartender remained in the café after the younger one left.  In the video, the older bartender went to another bar.  However, the video almost followed the exact lines which was nice.  
• The film makers did a good job in having the lines almost exactly to the ones in the story.  They also emphasized the "clean well lighted place".  What was really annoying was the prayer at the end.  It was repeated like a million times and it sounded like a million people were saying it at different intervals of time like they were trying to do some ten person harmony.  I think the video helped give a better visual, but to me, the book expressed his message more because the discussion in class allowed me to see the lines that expressed Hemingway's ideas unlike the video.
• I would make sure that the people were Spanish speaking, not people with Irish accents.  I would also have the actors have more emotion because it seemed like they were just reading off a piece of paper.  I would also make the bar a little more aged looking because the bar in the video looked like it was brand new and in the 21st century.  
• The actors did a good job getting his message over, but it was annoying that they had accents.  Overall they did a good job trying to get Hemingway's message across by have to interpret the text themselves.  I thought the old man could have done a better job of being drunk because in the story he was shaky when he was picking up the drink and when he was leaving the bar he walked pretty normally.  I also imagined the older bartender to be a lot older and the younger bartender to be younger.  

The Great Gatsby: Chapter 9-Page 163-180

Summary

• This chapter starts off with the reporters, police, and detectives showing up everyday at Gatsby's house.  While Nick tries to plan Gatsby's funeral, we learn that Gatsby's father, Henry C. Gatz, is alive and is going to Gatby's house to meet Nick and Nick goes to Meyer Wolfsheim's work place to convince him to come to Gatby's funeral.  Meyer says he is not going to attend Gatby's funeral, but we learn that Meyer made Gatsby and gave Gatsby his job opportunities.  No one shows up to the funeral except Nick, Henry Gatz, and Owl Eyes.  The chapter ends with Nick talking about his past, breaking up with Jordan, and saying how Tom and Daisy just screw everything up. 
• Meyer Wolfsheim 
• Quote:  ""We were so thick like that in everything"-he held up two bulbous fingers-"always together."" 
• Description:  Small, flat-nosed Jew, large head, visible hair growing out of his nostrils, tiny and dark eyes, overweight, eats like an animal, selfish, talks a lot about what he did, gambler, fifty years old-from a different generation, seems like he does not care enough about Gatsby to go to his funeral 
• Meyer is in this novel because he serves as a source that knows about Gatsby's past.  He knows Gatsby more than anyone else in this novel, but only as Gatsby, not James Gatz.  Meyer also makes us think that Gatsby is involved in a lot of illegal business because he says that Gatsby and him were really good friends back in the day.  He also scared the crap out of one Tom's friends so he would not say anything about Gatsby's past.  Meyer also fixed the World Series.  
• Quote that Stood Out: "But it wasn't any use.  Nobody came."
• This quote stood out because it shows how no one really cares about Gatsby. Everyone just knows him as a person who hosts parties.  It also illustrates how Gatsby never had any friends or told anyone about him.  Everyone just thought he was somebody who killed a man before because Gatsby never showed his face around.  It also stood out to me because it is sad that no one showed up at his funeral except his dad and his neighbor.  It also just summarizes how Gatsby never was close to anyone.  He was a person who only chased after his dream and never made any friends that supported him.  The only person he was after was Daisy.  No one else mattered to him.  

The Great Gatsby: Chapter 8-Page 147-162

Summary

• The chapter starts off with Nick going over to Gatsby's because he could not sleep.  Gatsby decides to tell Nick his whole life because Nick heard remarks by Tom about Gatsby's past and Gatsby wanted to clarify what his life was about.  We learn that Daisy was the first "nice" girl that Gatsby ever met and we learn about Gatsby's past when he met her and what happened between them after he left to go to war.  The chapter turns to a scene with George and Michaelis, who is trying to comfort George in his time of need, and we learn a little bit about George and Myrtle through Michaelis' questioning.  The chapter closes with Nick finding Gatsby and George dead by Gatsby's pool.  
• Michaelis 
• Quote: "After that he stayed there alone with Wilson until dawn."
• Description:  George's neighbor, cares about George by staying with him and keeping him company, he is a symbol of hope because he tries to help calm George through his rough time, he also tries to tell George that George is talking about things, like Myrtle cheating on him, that is nonsense because George is just shocked at what happened
• Michaelis is in this novel because he acts as one of the few caring people in this book.  He stays with George to comfort him and to give George someone to talk to because no one seems to try to help George.  Everyone is just talking about what happened and not trying to see if George is alright because his wife just got killed.  Michaelis is also the only witness that saw the death of Myrtle.
• Quote that stood out:  ""They're a rotten crowd," I shouted across the lawn.  "You're worth the whole damn bunch put together."  I've always been glad I said that.  It was the only compliment I ever gave him, because I disapproved of him from beginning to end."
• This stood out because Nick said that he disapproved of Gatsby from the beginning to the end.  This represents how Nick knew that Gatsby was better than Tom and Daisy, but Gatsby still was not a good person.  Gatsby basically was trying to get with a married woman and tried to get her to break up with Tom.  Fitzgerald has written this book so we like Gatsby, but Nick throws out this quote making us think about what Gatsby did to deserve what Nick said.  We also believe that Nick is very honest and the person to believe because he is narrating the story.  This persuades us into thinking that Gatsby really was not all that great to begin with.  

The Great Gatsby- Chapter 7: Pg. 113-145

Summary

• In the beginning of this chapter, Nick talks with Gatsby and then gets invited over to the Buchanan's house for lunch.  When they arrive there, we finally get to meet Daisy's daughter Pammy only for a brief second and then Tom decides to make everyone go to town to the Plaza Hotel.  On the way, Tom, Jordan, and Nick stop for gas at Wilson's place and we learn that Myrtle wants to move West and Tom is surprised.  When they all arrive at the Plaza Hotel, Gatsby tells Tom that Daisy never loved him and then there is a huge argument when Tom brings up how Gatsby got all his money through selling grain alcohol at his drug store with Wolfsheim. Gatsby becomes silent and leaves with Daisy, who is very upset, back to her house in East Egg, but on the way home, Daisy decides to drive and runs Myrtle over by accident, killing her.  Tom, Jordan, and Nick stop at Wilson's business to see why there is so many people crowded around his place and Tom starts to tear a little bit when he finds out that Myrtle is dead.  When Tom, Jordan, and Nick get back to Tom's house, Nick finds Gatsby outside and learns that Daisy ran Myrtle over and not Gatsby, however Gatsby is going to take the blame.
• George Wilson 
• Quote: "He found George Wilson, sick in his office-really sick, pale as his own pale hair and shaking all over."
• Description:  Hard working, actually loves and cares about his wife Myrtle, grey color tone, pale hair, pale blue eyes, over all he is a good caring person but it does not seem like he will stand up for himself, spiritless person, handsome, poor
• George is in this novel because he is one of the only honest people in this book.  He works hard for his money even though he is poor, but he loves his wife because of who she is, not because she is an object like how Tom treats his women.  Even though George is honest, he is weak because he cannot stand up for himself and lets Tom run all over him.  George also shows a contrast between him and Tom.  George allows us to see how money can ruin and shape people like Tom.  "Michaelis advised him to go to bed, but Wilson refused, saying that he'd miss a lot of business if he did."  This illustrates how George is putting his heart into his work so he can raise enough money to take Myrtle West and that he wants her to be happy.  It also displays how he is ridiculously sick but he is still tying to make money to provide for Myrtle and him.  
• Quote that stood out: "Oh, you want too much! I love you now isn't that enough? I can't help what's past.  I did love him once-but I loved you too."
• This stood out because it illustrates how Gatsby really wants to just erase the present and live how they were in the past before Daisy met Tom.  We also talked a lot in class about this so it really just popped out at me because Gatsby is asking her to basically forget five years of her life when she clearly had feelings for Tom at some point in their marriage even though he cheats on her.  Tom even says that there are some things that have happened between Daisy and Tom that they will never forget.  This also just shows how Gatsby already has her, but wants even more.  When Daisy is talking, we can even see that Gatsby is forcing her to say what she is saying because there is always a "hesitation" or "with a visible effort" after everything she says to Tom.              

The Great Gatsby: Chapter 6-Pg. 97-111

Summary

• In the beginning of this chapter, we learn that Gatsby's hype is sky high through a reporter who shows up at his house because the reporter heard Gatsby's name in his office and that Gatsby threw crazy parties that everyone knows about.  We are then introduced to James Gatz (Jay Gatsby back in the day) and how his life was as a young adult before and after he met Dan Cody, the man who made Gatsby.  Dan Cody basically took Gatsby in and bought him new clothes and took him around the world in his yacht. After Dan died, James Gatz decided to start his new life as Jay Gatsby.  Tom and Daisy attend one of Gatsby's house parties and after the party, Gatsby tells Nick that Daisy did not like the party and Nick tells us how Gatsby is always talking about the past and how Gatsby is trying to re-make the past.
• James Gatz 
• Quote: "He knew women early, and since they spoiled him he became contemptuous of them, of young virgins because they were ignorant, of the others because they were hysterical about things which in his overwhelming self-absorbed he took for granted."
• Description:  Dark skinned, very short neat hair, romantic, stalker, rich, the smile that everyone loves, restless, acts like a little boy when he first meets Daisy after five years, wants to be known by everyone, lives his life in the past, obsessive, thinks in imagination, all he does is hope, does anything that might please Daisy or win her
• Gatsby is a person in the novel that the author wants us to like.  The author has made Gatsby seem like a nice, giving man.  However, after we have read some of the novel, we find out that Gatsby is really a stalker.  He is in this novel because he is Daisy's lover even though she is married.  He will do anything to have her.  He does not care about any of his material possessions because he only has them so he can impress Daisy.  He built his name and wealth up so he can come back into the game and win Daisy.  
• Quote that stands out: "He talked a lot about the past, and I gathered that he wanted to recover something, some idea of himself perhaps, that had gone into loving Daisy."  
• This quote stood out because there is this reoccurring theme of Gatsby living his life or talking about the past throughout the novel.  It seems like Gatsby is stuck in time when he was with Daisy and that he cannot pass that period in his life when he lost her.  It is also important for us to know that even Nick states that Gatsby is talking way to much about the past.  The author wants us to like Nick, and has made us believe that Nick is trustworthy.  This allows us to see that Gatsby is obsessive.   

The Great Gatsby: Chapter 5: Pg. 81-96

Summary

• This chapter opens up with Nick coming home at night to see that Gatsby's house is completely lit up, but there is no party or anyone at Gatsby's house.  Gatsby walks onto Nicks lawn and Nick tells Gatsby when Nick is going to invite Daisy over to his house for tea and Gatsby wants Nick to get in on his business so Nick can make a few extra dollars.  The next day, Gatsby's lawn mower shows up at Nicks so he can trim Nicks yard and put some flowers in it for Daisy's arrival.  Gatsby arrives at Nick's house on the day Daisy is coming for tea in a frantic state, and when Daisy arrives, Gatsby is embarrassed, but Nick is able to make him snap out of it.  Later, Gatsby invites Nick and Daisy over to his house so they can have a tour on his mansion and then later in the evening Nick leaves Gatsby's while Gatsby and Daisy are on the couch.  
• Daisy Buchanan
• Quote for the character: "And i hope she'll be a fool--that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool."
• Description:  She's good at hiding her pain, not independent, face is sad and lovely with bright things in it, bright eyes, bright passionate mouth, excitement in her voice, nice, forgiving, pretty, all the guys love her
• Diasy is Nicks cousin and serves as a women in the novel who is smart in the sense that she knows in order to get things she needs to just act dumb and hope that a man will take care of her.  She is the opposite of Jordan Baker.  Daisy is not independent, she needs someone to baby her.  Daisy knows that Tom is cheating on her, but she will not do anything about it because she needs him to take care of her.  She is not happy with the way she is living so that is why we see a little bit of light when she gets reunited with Gatsby after five years.  
• Quote that Stands Out:  "I was in the drug business and then i was in the oil business.  But I'm not in either one now."
• This stood out because we had no idea how Gatsby earned all his money, but the fact that he said he was in the drug business is kind of sketch and makes me think that he might not be the most honest person.  He might have a shady side to him.