The Great Gatsby: Chapters 4-5

(1)  “He was balancing himself on the dashboard of his car with that resourcefulness of movement that is so peculiarly American"
In this quote, Fitzgerald argues that Americans are known for their resourcefulness and balance. Instead of simply describing the movement as "American," he uses the word "peculiarly," which limits the type of resourcefulness and balance he used to strictly that of an American. He also places these qualities above other countries in that instead of putting it that Gatsby was resourceful and balancing in the movement, he puts that the movement "is so peculiarly American." The author would not have done so, if he did not believe that Americans were resourceful and balanced.

(2) “Unlike Gatsby and Tom Buchanan, I had no girl whose disembodied face floated along the dark cornices and blinding signs, and so I drew up the girl beside me, tightening my arms.”

With this, Fitzgerald argues that Gatsby and Tom Buchanan had a girl "whose disembodied face floated along the dark cornices and blinding signs." To do so, the author states that "unlike" the two men, he "had no girl" that was similar to their girls. By stating this, he implies that this girl is different from those girls and that she was unique when compared to the other girls. At the same time, the author implies that he did not have a girl, until the second part of the sentence, which exclaims that he simply had the girl next to him. When first reading this, the reader may get a conflicting feel, as if the author had contradicted himself, but when greater examination occurs, the reader will discover that there is a deeper meaning within the text. This deeper meaning is that he does not have a girl like Gatsby or Tom, but has a girl who is unique.

(3) “We both looked at the grass — there was a sharp line where my ragged lawn ended and the darker, well-kept expanse of his began.”

In this quote, the author subtlety uses symbolism to display the class differences between him and Gatsby. The lawns represent the differences in class in that a "sharp line" separates the upper and middle class. The narrator's grass represents the middle class, being described as "ragged." Gatsby's grass, on the other hand, represents the upper class in that it is "darker," "well-kept," and expansive.

(4) “Americans, while occasionally willing to be serfs, have always been obstinate about being peasantry.”

In the selected sentence, Fitzgerald argues that even though there may be exceptions, Americans are typically to stubborn to put themselves below others. In this, the author carefully selects the words, using serf as the first description of what some Americans will put themselves through. In the second description though, he uses the word "peasantry," which, when used, sounds as if it is even further below that of a serf. When the author uses these descriptions for Americans, he argues that Americans are stubborn and proud, and that, with exceptions, most Americans will not put themselves that low.

(5) “No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart.”

In this quote, the author argues that nothing can even stand up to a man's emotional heart. He uses the terms "fire" and "freshness" to represent that "no amount of" power or emotion can challenge the potential of a man's heart. When the author uses the word "ghostly," he is describing the heart in two different ways, transparent and mysterious. The author also uses the verb "will" instead of can, which states that it is inevitable that a man will have something stored within his heart. By using these double meanings and selectiveness of words, the author argues that a man's heart is powerful and mysterious.

Let Teenagers Try Adulthood

           Leon Botstein is right when he argues of how "the American high school is obsolete and should be abolished." High school is just as Leon presents it, the hierarchy is simply based on popularity, athleticism, and looks. In the real world, things may be based on those qualities, but not as severely as they are in high school. In high school, the sports teams have the attention of the entire school and community surrounding it, while those who are unable to participate in events such as sports, or use their time in more academic ways, must watch as those who spend their time with sports acquire the attention. In the future though, those who spent their time on their school work end up successful while those who are popular such as the high school quarterback, may have to reconsider their plans in life and attain jobs which they dislike, due to their lack of education. While this popularity chain may exist, their is exceptions to it, as this is a generalization to what may happen.
          Botstein is also correct in that, things that happen in high school do not necessarily happen in the real life. In example, during high school, work and activities are separated, such as Botstein points out, by age, which does not and will not occur in the workplace environment. Also, in high school, one is typically allowed to choose who they may work with on assignments and projects, while in the real life, adults typically have to work with a mixture of those who they like and dislike. With an unsuccessful assignment or project, one may have a scolding by a teacher and be allowed to, in certain scenarios, turn in the work late, which eliminates the maintenance of deadline. In the workplace, however, if a deadline is not met, it is not taken from your grade, it is taken from your paycheck or can possibly even cost the job.
          Entering the work environment at an earlier age is ideal in that it helps prepare the young adult for the life ahead of them. It helps the teenager understand and better grasp responsibility rather than exposing them to another two years of relaxed responsibility in the missed deadlines. An earlier age of learning will also help the teenager with becoming social, in that the "outsiders" mentioned in Botstein's work, may not be pushed even farther outside what they accept as society in high school. The young adults will also sooner realize that college is simply different from high school in that the people teaching and running it were also considered "outsiders" at one point within their education. This understanding is better in college than high school in that some teachers in high school are coaches, who were once the star quarterback or basketball player, drawing attention to the sports teams yet again, rather than the education of the students. It is with this, that students may not reach their full potential for knowledge. In conclusion, parts of high school should be eliminated, as they provide distraction from education and may keep society from advancing further down the line, supporting the saying that "The children are our future," but extending it to those who were once children and are still the future, the teenagers.