Daisy's Scene

I stared out the window as Nick’s house came into view. I saw Nick open his door and come down to my car.

“Is this absolutely where you live, my dearest one?” This requested meeting was quite suspicious; I was instructed not to bring my husband. Nick graciously offered his hand to help me out of my car.

“Are you in love with me,” I whispered to him, “or why did I have to come alone?”

“That’s the secret of Castle Rackrent. Tell your chauffer to go far away and spend an hour.”

I turned to my chauffer, “Come back in an hour Ferdie.” then to Nick, “His name is Ferdie.”

“Does the gasoline affect his nose?” asked Nick. That was a silly question. “I don’t think so. Why?”

We went in the house and he led me to the living room

The room contained a small coffee table, surrounded by a sofa and 2 stiff chairs. On the far wall was a small fireplace. I thought the room was quaint but classy.

There was a knock at the door and Nick left the room to go answer it. A minute later, JAY GATSBY walks in. I was shocked; I hadn’t seen him in years. Before I had even known my husband. This as a VERY unexpected surprise. Was this why I had to come alone? Did Nick know about our past? Why was he here? I was panicking, my thoughts were in disarray, but I managed to put on a composed Façade. With forced calm, I sat, and managed to squeak out:

“I certainly an awfully glad to see you again.”

What would his response be? Would he bring up our past? Would he explain himself? There was only silence. Jay looked very uncomfortable. He leaned against the mantel, hands in pockets, trying to look calm. His unease soothed me a little. It was reassuring that he appeared to be as nervous as I was.

“We’ve met before,” he muttered, addressing Nick, who had entered the room behind me.  So Nick didn’t know. Jay tried to laugh and caused the clock behind his head to tip, almost managing to drop over the edge before he whirled around to catch it. After he put it back in place, he walked to the sofa, opposite of me, and sat, still looking uncomfortable and nervous.

“I’m sorry about the clock,” he said.

Nick seemed flustered, “It’s an old clock,” he blurted.

“We haven’t met for many years,” I said, trying to break the silence.

“Five years next November,” Jay replies, quickly, automatically. Nick, frenetic, suggested we help him make tea in the kitchen, but just as we got to our feet, Finn brought some in.

There was a gladly received frenzy of tea cups and little pastries. Nick and I began talking, but I couldn’t help but notice Gatsby glancing between us with tense, unhappy eyes. Soon enough, Nick made a quick excuse and tried to duck out of the room.

“Where are you going?” the frightened edge to his voice stopped Nick quickly in his tracks.

He turned around “I’ll be back.”

"I’ve got to speak to you about something before you go.”

They both disappeared behind the closed door.

This scene takes place on p. 85-87

Direction The Class Needs

so, I don't know if we can still turn in this blog or if it was due already, but I'm going to write it anyway and see if I can get points...
I think that that this is one of my most interesting classes, I love the discussions and there are some really interesting people in my class, which just makes it better. 
If I had to choose something that the class needs, it would be more writing. But not related to the book. Sort of like the blogs, except more formal and we turn it in. I guess the word I'm looking for is essays. I want to write essays. Wow, when I say it like that, I feel like I'm digging myself into a hole here. but I just feel like since I've come to Whitney, I haven't really done any writing except for papers about books. And the blogs, I guess.
So as I'm typing this I realize that I don't have any time to write papers. So if we ever get assigned a paper I hope we have loooooooooooooooooooooots of time to do it. OK, well its late and I'm tired so that's the end of my post. 

The American Dream Today

Report: The American Dream--What Are We Working Towards?

by AFRO Staff

The definition of the “American Dream,” and the best way to pursue it, has become more individual and personal than ever before, according to a new report.

The 2011 MetLife Study of the American Dream, released Dec. 8 drew on a representative sample of approximately 1,400, including individuals from the silent, baby boomer, Gen X and Gen Y generations, and a variety of ethnic groups.

The report found that Americans are still largely driven by the belief that hard work will bring success, but what they are working towards has shifted from the early-to-mid-20th Century norm of a college education, marriage, a single-family home with a picket fence, a car, and children.

The report characterizes the new American dream as “do it yourself,” with individuals finding and adding the elements most important to them when deciding how to define their success.

Increasingly, respondents said they placed importance on self-fulfillment and strong relationships with family and friends, and were less focused on attaining material items, as 74 percent said they have all the necessities of life. Also, the need to obtain a lifestyle that surpasses that of their parents is also less important. For all groups, personal fulfillment and attaining enough money to live the way they chose trumped the importance of wealth and financial success.

For all groups except the oldest generation, whose children are likely already grown, providing for security of their children was more important than wealth and financial success.

According to the report, overwhelming numbers of African-Americans did not see wealth as an integral part of achieving the American Dream. More than 70 percent felt that they didn’t have to be wealthy, 65 percent said they do feel they need a college degree and 71 percent said marriage is not important to achieving the American Dream.

Despite the change in focus, 76 percent of African Americans said they are working as hard, or harder than their parents to achieve their version of the American Dream, saying they are working longer hours, or picking up freelance work and second jobs. 

http://www.afro.com/sections/news/afro_briefs/story.htm?storyid=73466

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This article talks about the American Dream today, as opposed to the one of the past. I think that when most people hear the term "The American Dream", they think of a TV show from the 50s. but when they think about it seriously, about what they want, their goals are a little different. People still want success, a term often brough up in class when the subject of the American Dream comes up, but they want a different type of success. They are less concerned with the pecuniary and material values of the original American Dream (the one discussed in The Great Gatsby or the 50s TV show), and more concerned with having strong relationships with people, or personal success. 

The American Dream is evolving with the rest of society. Society as a whole has become more individualistic, so it would only make sense that people's goals have become more unique. 

One thing that I thought was similar was people wanting to provide security for their children. in the book, when Daisy finds out that she had a daughter, she says "I hope shell be a fool- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool." Daisy realized that her daughter might have limited opportunities and it is her way of being concerned about her future.