I wonder, Connections, Social Satire

   I wonder if "The West" has anything to do with "West Egg" in Great Gatsby. I also wonder if  the story was a work of magical realism, or if it was just exaggeration. For the turn of the century, the kind of phenomena that Percy showed John was uncanny. Even now a lot of those things were hard to believe. There's never been enough diamond to make a mountain.
   Fitzgerald teases youth by how fantastical their ideology is. Percy made everything seem so amazing for John, but treated John's comments as overstatements. Fitzgerald makes fun of wealth by placing a setting in this huge "behemoth" of astounding things. This alludes to rich people always living in private manors and having just about everything. Percy lived in this almost-fantasy land, with technology to hide the property from even the government, and a huge diamond mountain. Percy had everything in that kingdom of his, and he didn't take it so seriously. Fitzgerald uses religion to allude how rich people are never satisfied, with the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. The setting in the story was called Fish --one of the foods Jesus used to feed the people--, and there were twelve men, just as there were twelve disciples of Jesus. This relates to the story by the situation that the crowd of 5,000 had enough food to eat, despite just five loaves of bread and two fish. Rich people have that kind of opportunity every day, except they never have enough of anything-- they only want more and more. Percy made everything "seem like nothing", because he saw them everyday. He took it for-granted.

Symbolism in Great Gatsby

   The symbolism's significance was that people worship something that can't provide for them. The goals attempted for achievement are illusions, and can't go down without chaos. To get rich, you have to suffer, just like traveling from New York City to West Egg-- the Valley of Ashes is unavoidable. The Eyes of Dr. Eckleburg only saw everything. They didn't help any struggles, just like our government. But the green light is the reason why people take the plunge. We are always dissatisfied, and we want to cross for something better, but we end up stuck in our valleys.

The American Dream

The American Dream is so significant in the Great Gatsby, by the time period where patriotism was signature, and when things were changing so people wanted to splurge, purge and live every day as if it were their last. In the Great Gatsby, all of the characters displayed some interest in the American Dream, and they fell into the drawbacks of it. Case and point, Daisy married a rich man, Tom-- money made the world go round, so a rich man would make hers, too.

In New York-- 1920s

   When I caught the wind that my family moved to New York, I was enthralled. I immediately packed my things and caught a train there from Philadelphia. I was so tired of the town; I needed to go back to my family. When I arrived at New York, the weather was cool. Coincidentally, I met with a good friend, Merriwether. I booked myself a room at the Four Seasons, unpacked my things, grabbed a taxicab and hounded my family.Oh, I was so excited to see them, but they were not at their new high-rise in Le Bronx-- this was most alarming. I dialed on the telephone, and I called. My mother, Margot, apologized and said she was at Little Italy, touring with Mildred and Dean. Papa was getting food for the housewarming soiree, and golly-- was I ever lost in the mix. I decided to stay with Merriwether for a quick lunch of tea sandwiches and petit fors until my family was available. When that time came, I was so gay! Never in a while did I feel so compelled to see my family; after leaving them for college for three years, the reunion broke me. If it did not get any better, all of my childhood friends were there, as well as my extended family. I was so blessed to see Uncle Drew and Aunt Clara-- they were still as chipper as I had recalled. And my high school friends, Daisy, Beth and Terry, were so happy to see me. The feelings were mutual, and we caught up with each other the whole time. After I found out that they, too, lived in New York, I instantly made my mind-- I simply had to move, too! Sure enough, three months later, I found myself a nice little apartment not too far from Central Park. I had myself a housewarming party, as well. I invited all of my family and friends, and we all had a grand old time. I shall never forget this wonderful moment of my life. I brought myself a diary to document my lovely times.

Purpose of the Paradox

   The purpose of the paradox in the novel was to help the reader understand the situation better. Pi was with Richard Parker-- but Richard Parker is a human name, and Pi comes from a word that means 'fish'. Why is Pi an "animal" and Richard Parker a "human"? Because when Pi embarked on his adventure across the ocean, his wild instincts activated, and he needed Richard Parker to tame him. Martel meant for this because in troubles like Pi's, everyone has an animalistic tendencies, but they need to be tamed so we aren't conquered.

Draft

   Richard Parker is real. Religion is true, and Pi's journey centered around his religions. Martel's purpose for the reader was to allude irreligion and religion and work the reader's mind. Is the story Pi told rational as irreligion or was it impossible like religious concepts? It is real, because all things are possible.

   Richard Parker did not exist. He was only a symbol of help and deliverance, and more broadly, Pi, himself. Martel's purpose was to show readers that their imagination is them and they can save their life even in a time as Pi's.

Reader Autobiography

   People read because they feel as if either they get information better, or their source of imagination is held by the power of reading. Someone is a reader based on whether or not they read books, let alone know how to read. If someone wants to earn that title, then they must love reading with a passion. A passion for reading isn't predisposed, so it must be learned, hence. A good reader must be savvy with the text; they need to be perceptive and discerning of what they are reading. If one reads with only their eyes, but not the heart and mind, they aren't good readers. Reading is symbolic in many ways, so it takes engagement to read very well. I don't really have a favorite author, even though I've read books before. I don't really have anything for or against their literature. 
   I absolutely do not consider myself a reader. Because of my short attention span, I am unfortunately not a good reader. I am easily bored by the thought of it, and I can't push myself much further than glossing over pages. Reading is not my cup of tea under any circumstances, notwithstanding the Bible. I really don't like reading because I don't see it like others do. People are enthralled by it, and they can binge on several series of books in months. I, however, can't finish a chapter without throwing an internal temper tantrum. The cuticles of my fingers start to burn and itch from the austerity of it. For me, there isn't an objective to reading-- I don't gain very much from it.
   I learned to read through homeschooling; my mom required me to read books since I was four. I'm a very blocked reader at the very, very least. I have no passion for it in any way, shape or form unless it caters to my interests-- which is still very blocked. I'd love to be able to read without my eyelids becoming so sore. I wish I could read a book without any trouble, skimming through it, yet grasping every little detail down to the ink of the letter. I'm never enthusiastic about reading, and I wish I could find my enthusiasm for it.
   The reading I choose to do on my own is limited to the Bible, picture books, a few comic books here and and a few animal encyclopedias there, and only a handful of other categories. I hate non-fiction, sci-fi, mysteries and whatnot. The ideas are so boring and weird, so I don't like bothering them. I got nightmares from certain book covers or other attributes to the books that I rendered creepy.
   I didn't gain anything, really; I knew all of this all along. I've always known how selective and halfhearted my approach to reading is-- period. This process was very upsetting. It's enough that I don't enjoy reading, yet I have to read books I don't like for a grade, and this doesn't help much more. Sharing this makes me feel grouchy and indifferent to how others feel about reading, and I'd like to assure that I am not deliberately trying to downplay something that people love.