the great gatsby

“Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,' he told me, 'just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.'"

I find this quote to be a very interesting beginning to the story and a strong statement. It sets a tone of how Nick was raised and how he decides to act as a human being.  This is also a great message to live by as a reader. I find books often don’t give such clear messages like this and they should.  This also shows what kind of a father Nick had which was likely the man he is a reflection of today. The idea of Gatsby himself raises many questions and a lot of question. This story barely has Gatsby in it thus far he is a brief shadow in the scene or not even mentioned. Overall I find this book very interesting so far.

langston hughes part 2

Langston Hughes grew up during the early 1900’s which had a lot of racism and hate towards African Americans.  He also lived in the south, which was a dangerous place for African Americans. This poem has no rhyme but a certain rhythm and meter. The feeling behind the words are what draws me to this poem, you can feel the pain and suffering of the time. The other poem I read was http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/freedom-s-plow/ in this poem he uses much more description and powerful words to describe freedom and the fight for it.  What makes his work so American is his writing of slavery and freedom for those slaves. This shows a clear vision that only an American could write.  He has a style that changes with each poem. He does not stick to one kind of poem which gives the poems more appeal. Langston Hughes was a great American poet and still inspires us to this day. His words still move me and gives me a great vision of the past struggle and triumph of African americans.

langston hughes: the negro speaks of rivers

http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15722

mark twain journal

I think that Mark Twain is trying to say that being good is not always the answer. He has a common theme of mischevious boys that always win in the end. Huckle berry fin is a great example of this. I wonder if Mark was a good or bad boy in his life. This must have been written for adults because it has a long and complicated story with a pretty violent ending.  The relevance of Mark Twain to me is his nostalgic writing, to me this is classic American literature.  Here is a great quote to sum up his writing theme. “ This Jim bore a charmed life – that must have been the way of it. Nothing could hurt him” this was how Mark Twain felt about evil or troublesome boys. I feel this is an interesting and different point of view on life growing up. Over all I think Mark twain was an interesting writer of the American realism era.

can writing enact social change?

I believe that writing does have the power to enact social change. It has the power to move people

 and give them insight into the current situations of the world. It has the ability to give people

 hope for the future or realize the grim present the people may be in.  it has the power to give

 truth and wisdom in a time of deception and ignorance. It can speak the words that so many

 want to say but don’t have the courage to. It can do so much just by telling people what’s really

 going on and how the world is around them. It takes a high grasp of reality and the ability to

 see the truth to make a speech that can enact social change. This is why I feel writing has the 

power to enact social change.

price of a child post

What is the true price of a child?

It takes the ability to say no and make your own rules

It takes care and love for another human being even over your own feelings

It takes the time to teach them the basic skills in life

It takes patience and understanding for when they make mistakes

It takes the ability to talk to them and help them through life

It takes the courage to defend them and keep them from danger

It takes responsibility and care

This is the true price of a child and this price is one that must be payed every day