The Great Gatsby Study Guide

The Great Gatsby Study Guide The Great Gatsby, published in 1925, is F. Scott Fitzgeralds most famous novel. Set during the Roaring 20s, the book tells the story of a group of wealthy, often hedonistic residents of the fictional New York towns of West Egg and East Egg. The novel critiques the idea of the American Dream, suggesting that the concept has been corrupted by the careless pursuit of decadence. Though it was poorly received in Fitzgerald’s lifetime, The Great Gatsby is now considered a cornerstone of American literature. Plot Summary Nick Carraway, the narrator of the novel, moves to the Long Island neighborhood of West Egg. He lives next door to a mysterious millionaire named Jay Gatsby, who throws extravagant parties but never seems to show up at his own events. Across the bay, in the old-money neighborhood of East Egg, Nick’s cousin Daisy Buchanan lives with her unfaithful husband Tom. Toms mistress, Myrtle Wilson, is a working-class woman married to mechanic George Wilson. Daisy and Gatsby were in love before the war, but they were separated due to Gatsby’s lower social status. Gatsby is still in love with Daisy. He soon befriends Nick, who agrees to help Gatsby rekindle his affair with Daisy by acting as go-between. Gatsby and Daisy restart their affair, but it is short lived. Tom soon catches on and becomes furious over Daisys unfaithfulness. Daisy chooses to stay with Tom due to her unwillingness to sacrifice her social position. After the confrontation, Daisy and Gatsby drive home in the same car, with Daisy driving. Daisy accidentally hits and kills Myrtle, but Gatsby promises to take the blame if need be. Myrtle’s suspicious husband George approaches Tom about the death. He believes that whoever killed Myrtle was also Myrtles lover. Tom tells him how to find Gatsby, suggesting that Gatsby was the driver of the car (and thus indirectly suggesting that Gatsby was Myrtles lover). George murders Gatsby, then kills himself. Nick is one of only a few mourners at Gatsby’s funeral and, fed up and disillusioned, moves back to the Midwest. Major Characters Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is a mysterious, reclusive millionaire who climbed from a poor upbringing to immense wealth. Hes an idealist fixated on grandeur and romance, but his relentless attempts to woo Daisy and free himself from his past only brings more tragedy upon him. Nick Carraway. Nick, a bond salesman whos new to West Egg, is the narrator of the novel. Nick is more easygoing than the wealthy hedonists around him, but he is easily awed by their grand lifestyles. After witnessing the fallout from Daisy and Gatsby’s affair as well as the careless cruelty of Tom and Daisy, Nick becomes more jaded and leaves Long Island for good. Daisy Buchanan. Daisy, Nicks cousin, is a socialite and flapper. She is married to Tom. Daisy displays self-centered and shallow characteristics, but the reader occasionally sees glimmers of greater depth beneath the surface. Despite renewing her romance with Gatsby, she is too unwilling to give up the comforts of her wealthy life. Tom Buchanan. Tom, Daisys husband, is wealthy and arrogant. He also displays hypocrisy, as he regularly carries on affairs of his own but becomes furious and possessive when he realizes Daisy is in love with Gatsby. His anger over the affair leads him to mislead George Wilson into believing his wife had an affair with Gatsby- a lie that ultimately results in Gatsbys death. Major Themes Wealth and Social Class. The pursuit of wealth unites most of the characters in the novel, most of whom live a hedonistic, shallow lifestyle. Gatsby- a â€Å"new money† millionaire- finds out that even immense wealth does not guarantee crossing over the class barrier. In this way, the novel suggests that there is a significant difference between wealth and social class, and that social mobility is more illusory than the characters think. Love. The Great Gatsby is a story about love, but it is not necessarily a love story. No one in the novel truly feels â€Å"love† for their partners; the closest anyone comes is Nick’s fondness for his girlfriend Jordan. Gatsby’s obsessive love for Daisy is the center of the plot, but he is in love with a romanticized memory rather than the real Daisy. The American Dream. The novel critiques the American Dream: the idea that anyone can achieve anything if they work hard enough. Gatsby works tirelessly and acquires enormous wealth, but he still winds up alone. The misfortune faced by the novels wealthy characters suggests that the American Dream has become corrupted by the greedy pursuit of decadence and wealth. Idealism. Gatsby’s idealism is his most redeeming quality and his biggest downfall. Although his optimistic idealism makes him a more genuine character than the calculating socialites around him, it also leads him to hold onto hopes that he should let go of, as symbolized by the green light he stares at across the bay. Historical Context Fitzgerald was famously inspired by both the Jazz Age society and the Lost Generation. The novel is steeped in the historical context of the era, from flapper and bootlegging culture to the explosion of â€Å"new money† and industrialization. In addition, Fitzgerald’s own life was reflected in the novel: like Gatsby, he was a self-made man who fell in love with a bright young ingenue (Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald) and strived to be â€Å"worthy† of her. The novel can be read as Fitzgerald’s attempt to critique Jazz Age society and the concept of the American Dream. The decadence of the era is portrayed critically, and the idea of the American Dream is depicted as a failure. About The Author F. Scott Fitzgerald was a key figure in the American literary establishment. His work often reflected on the excesses of the Jazz Age and the disillusionment of the post-World War I era. He wrote four novels (plus one unfinished novel) and over 160 short stories. Although he became something of a celebrity in his lifetime, Fitzgeralds novels didn’t achieve critical success until they were rediscovered after his death. Today, Fitzgerald is hailed as one of the great American authors.

History of the Integrated Circuit (Microchip)

History of the Integrated Circuit (Microchip) It seems that the integrated circuit was destined to be invented. Two separate inventors, unaware of each others activities, invented almost identical integrated circuits or ICs at nearly the same time. Jack Kilby, an engineer with a background in ceramic-based silk screen circuit boards and transistor-based hearing aids, started working for  Texas Instruments  in 1958. A year earlier, research engineer  Robert Noyce  had co-founded the Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation. From 1958 to 1959, both electrical engineers were working on an answer to the same dilemma: how to make more of less. What we didnt realize then was that the integrated circuit would reduce the cost of electronic functions by a factor of a million to one, nothing had ever done that for anything before - Jack Kilby Why the Integrated Circuit Was Needed In designing a complex electronic machine like a computer it was always necessary to increase the number of components involved in order to make technical advances. The monolithic (formed from a single crystal) integrated circuit placed the previously separated transistors, resistors, capacitors and all the connecting wiring onto a single crystal (or chip) made of semiconductor material. Kilby used germanium and Noyce used silicon for the semiconductor material. Patents for the Integrated Circuit In 1959 both parties applied for patents. Jack Kilby and Texas Instruments received U.S. patent #3,138,743 for miniaturized electronic circuits. Robert Noyce and the Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation received U.S. patent #2,981,877 for a silicon-based integrated circuit. The two companies wisely decided to cross-license their technologies after several years of legal battles, creating a global market now worth about $1 trillion a year. Commercial Release In 1961 the first commercially available integrated circuits came from the Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation. All computers then started to be made using chips instead of the individual transistors and their accompanying parts. Texas Instruments first used the chips in Air Force computers and the Minuteman Missile in 1962. They later used the chips to produce the first electronic portable calculators. The original IC had only one transistor, three resistors, and one capacitor and was the size of an adults pinkie finger. Today an IC smaller than a penny can hold 125 million transistors. Jack Kilby holds patents on over sixty inventions and is also well known as the inventor of the portable calculator (1967). In 1970 he was awarded the National Medal of Science. Robert Noyce, with sixteen patents to his name, founded Intel, the company responsible for the invention of the microprocessor, in 1968. But for both men, the invention of the integrated circuit stands historically as one of the most important innovations of mankind. Almost all modern products use chip technology.

Operations Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Operations Management - Essay Example Indeed, in highly competitive environment, consumers’ role has become more distinct in the wider context of business goals. The businesses which cater to the changing needs of the consumers are better equipped to sustain their market position. For example, tourism is now called leisure market because people not only prefer to visit places but also want to be entertained with creative travel schedule that is better able to satisfy their aesthetic, mental and physical needs. Hence, transformation process applies to both goods and services as consumers’ changing preferences for goods and service needs to be met by the businesses. Data is vital part of process mainly due to the fact that manipulation of data considerably helps to facilitates informed choices. A good database creates new opportunities for expanding business and improving business productivity. It helps to understand the changing trends in the preferences of the people, resulting in new products development and value addition to the existing products that meet the changing requirements of the consumers. (words:

Research paper about famous photographer Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

About famous photographer - Research Paper Example He started working with Mathew Brady after making contacts with him, for six years. Brady’s eyes developed problems and failed him; therefore Alexander had to do most of the work. Gardner was then given the role of being in charge of the Brady’s gallery in 1856. During the elections which made Abraham Lincoln the American president, and war that came after the elections, Gardner was keen on capturing all the photographs. He took pictures of soldiers going to war and all the photographs of the civil war. Gardner wanted to deliver Brady’s ideas to Lincoln so he initiated a relationship with Allan Pinkerton, who headed an intelligence operation. Gardner was then made the chief photographer by Allan. After this job, the commander of the Army of the Potomac, General George B. McClellan, appointed Gardner the staff photographer. This appointment then ended Gardner’s job as the manager of Brady’s gallery. Alexander Gardner took photographs of the battle of Antietam and was then given the rank of captain in 1962. He later lost his job as chief army photographer, after McClellan was dismissed by Lincoln from command of the Potomac Army. This was also the time when Gardner ended his working relationship with Brady. The main reason why Gardner terminated his working relationship with Brady was because Brady always attributed the work of Gardner as â€Å"photographed by Brady†. This gave more credit to Brady and very little recognition for Gardner. Later during that winter, Alexander Gardner went with Ambrose Burnside to the Battle of Fredericksburg to take photographs of the battle. His historic photographs during that battle explained the pain that the soldiers went though. Gardner started a studio with his brother in 1963, in Washington D C, where he employed most of the people who worked for Brady. He then took photographs of the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863 and the Siege of Petersburg in 1864-1865. The Gardner’s Photogr aphic Sketch Book of the Civil War, which contained two volumes, was published but it did not sell as expected. Some of the photographs in the book were not taken by Gardner. He owned the studio so all the work produced was credited to him. Gardener had taken photographs of Lincoln as well as his conspirators in his assassination. He took ten photographs during the hanging of the men who conspired to assassinate Lincoln. The first photograph was of the soldiers and reporters who were gathered to witness the execution. In this photograph, guards together with the prisoners are seen at the platform. Three conspirators are seated while one is standing. The third photograph showed General Hartranft as he was reading the order of execution to the people assembled as well as the prisoners. The fourth photograph showed the ministers praying for the prisoners who would be executed. The fifth photograph was of the prisoners being tied to the ropes and the crowd is still gathered. In the sixt h photograph, Gardner captured the prisoners’ bodies immediately after they were let to drop. This was the moment when the prisoners died. Gardner took two more photographs of the bodies, twenty five minutes later after they were executed. The last two photographs showed the graves that had been dug next to the scaffold, and a rooftop view of the execution, with the bodies still hanging. He took

Analysis of The Inquisitors Argument in Dostoevskys The Brothers Kara

Analysis of The Inquisitor's Argument in The Brothers Karamazov      Ã‚   Dostoevsky makes a strong case against Jesus in "The Grand Inquisitor": Jesus did not love humanity sufficiently to care for the greater good of the race.    The majority of people, according to the Grand Inquisitor, are weak and "like sheep." Jesus prized freedom of faith above all else, and because he cared more for that freedom than for the happiness of people, the Grand Inquisitor and the Catholic Church, as led by he Inquisitor, reject Jesus. Only the strong, like the Inquisitor, who can "go the forty days and nights in the desert," are capable of attaining the reward of Heaven, while the weak millions, "who are weak but still love Thee... must exist for the sake of the strong." The Inquisitor states that the reason the weak cannot take the narrow road to Heaven is that they are afraid of freedom, that "they can never be free." Trent Reznor of the musical group Nine Inch Nails summarized the Inquisitor's view of humanity in "Happiness In Slavery." In the second verse, Reznor sings, "Slave screams! But he's glad to be chained to that wall!"    The central argument that the Grand Inquisitor makes involves the temptation of Jesus by the Devil in a desert. Satan poses Jesus three temptations, each of which would better the earthly lot of man but decrease his freedom, and Jesus rejects each. First, Satan says, "You must be hungry, turn these stones into bread and feed yourself and the people." Jesus says, "Man does not live by earthly bread alone." Jesus was not just refusing to assuage his hunger: by performing a miracle, he would have lessened man's freedom of faith. Satan was asking the same question, on the behalf of humanity, that Jame... ...e harmful than any vice ("sin") is "active pity for all the failures and all the weak: Christianity."    An interesting test of the Inquisitor's view of freedom will come on this next election day. Our state senator, and many other people, claim that "we need more restrictive laws help fight crime in our neighborhoods" and that new laws will "assist our law enforcement officials... in their efforts to control the pornography industry." I don't intend to argue the pros or cons of more restrictive pornography laws, but one thing is certain: these laws will limit American’s freedom of speech. Will American’s give up some freedom for a possible payoff in lower crime?   I think Dostoevsky's Grand Inquisitor would be interested in finding out.    References Dostoevsky, Fyodor. The Brothers Karamazov. Trans. Andrew MacAndrew. New York: Bantam, 1981.   

Premarital Cohabitation Essay

Over the past 30 years countries have experienced a phenomenon that has raised many questions about the future of the institution of marriage. Western societies, such as the United States, Canada, and countries in Western Europe have witnessed a virtual explosion in the number of unmarried cohabitating couples. Quite a number of studies have been done to research what effect, if any, this trend has on the subsequent marriage, and how does this affect any children as a result of this union. According to some estimates, since the 1970s, the number of couples that live together has more than tripled. However, there are two sides to the story – one, proposes that premarital cohabitation is like a trial marriage and allows people to eventually marry the one they are more comfortable and compatible with. The other point of view is that premarital cohabitation leads to a higher divorce rate in the society and may also have other negative effects. However, research suggests that there is little merit to the claim that cohabitation effectively serves as a trial marriage. Furthermore, studies indicate that premarital cohabitation is actually detrimental because it leads to higher divorce rates and dissolution of marriage. Why Would People Prefer to Cohabit To understand the effects of cohabitation it is necessary to review why people cohabit in the first place. About 50% of cohabitating individuals express the belief that living together without is a way to determine compatibility before getting married. Based on the premise that premarital cohabitation allows couples to determine compatibility, this practice should result in more stable marriages. However, evidence suggests that the contrary is true. Cohabitation is linked to lower levels of marital satisfaction. Couples who previously lived together are reported to spend less time together in shared activities. They report higher levels of marital disagreement, less supportive behavior, less problem-solving, more marital problems, and greater perceived likelihood of marital dissolution (Amato 2003). Premarital Cohabitation Leads to Higher Divorce Rates Research has shown that cohabitation is extremely unstable. For example, Canada has experienced a ninefold increase in the numbers of cohabitating couples, as well as a fourfold increase in the number of divorces over the past 30 years. Recent studies have not only indicated that cohabitation is negatively linked to marital stability, but studies also indicate that living in common law is related to a decrease in quality of marriage (Hall 1995). In a survey conducted by the Australian Institute of Family Studies Family Formation Project showed that after 5 years of being married, 13 per cent of those who had cohabited before marriage would divorce, versus six per cent of non-cohabiters. Ten years later, the difference increased to 26 per cent for those who had cohabited and 14 per cent for those who had not. After 20 years, there was a further increase of 56 per cent of people who had cohabited versus 27 per cent of those who had not (Weston 2007). Many reasons are cited for the resulting instability and the higher divorce rate among former couples who formerly cohabitated. Cohabitators are thought to hold more unconventional values and attitudes than those who marry without cohabitating. Those who cohabitate are thought to have a weaker commitment to marriage in general, or they may have higher expectations about the quality of marriage than those who do not cohabitate. Cohabitators are also thought to have socioeconomic or personality characteristics that are linked to higher likelihood of union dissolution (Dourleijn 2006). Among these socioeconomic and personality factors which are thought to be linked to higher instances of marital dissolution are parental divorce, less education, lower income, premarital pregnancy and childbirth, being non-white, and having had a previous divorce (Cohan 2002). According to research conducted and published in the American Sociological Review, it was concluded that â€Å"Overall association exists between premarital cohabitation and subsequent marital instability. The dissolution rates of women who cohabit premaritally with their future spouse are, on average, nearly 80 percent higher than the rates of those who do not. † (Bennett, Blanc, and Bloom 1988). Based on the US data, researchers have shown that ‘marriages that are preceded by living together have 50 per cent higher disruption rates than marriages without premarital cohabitation. In Sweden, researched showed that cohabiters were more likely to divorce even if the period of marriage is counted from the beginning of cohabitation. A subsequent study also found that premarital cohabitation, regardless of the nature or reason; it is associated with an increased risk of marital instability. Based on the work of Bennett, Blanc and Bloom (1987) whose findings correspond with previous findings, the following conclusions can be made: knowing that cohabiters and non-cohabiters differ in the sense of higher risk of divorce, the researchers set about to explore if there are other characteristics which were unique to these two groups, or a factor which can show that it is not premarital cohabitation alone which leads to higher divorce rate. While no one factor was found to support the argument that cohabitation caused the difference, researchers did not find a characteristic to dispute the argument. According to their data sample, women who cohabited were younger than those who did not. They are also more likely to have had a premarital conception, and were twice as likely to have had a premarital birth. For those who marry at a young age, or who have had a premarital birth have higher divorce rates. However, the first birth within a marriage has a stabilizing effect, and for these couples divorce rates are one quarter lower. These results are consistent with previous research. In 1985, it was found that for every year of age an adult attains before marrying, the risk of dissolution decreases by 16%. Education achieved for women is negatively related with the possibility of divorce. However, for this aspect other factors may also be involved. When social background was considered, similar findings were found. Social background is measured by using the occupation of the main breadwinner in the household. This factor indicates level of education achieved, parent’s marital status etc. It was found that women in households with a white collar worker as the breadwinner had higher divorce rates than other women. Another interesting finding concerns the duration of how long the couple have been together. The researchers assume that people who cohabit can be roughly divided into two groups: those who believe in the institution of marriage, and those who don’t. In such a case, the less committed group should be seen to have higher divorce rates. This should be observable if the relationship between cohabitation and dissolution should decrease with increase in duration. This is proved by the data researchers had collected. Their findings show that for up to two years of marriage the divorce rates of people who had cohabited before was almost three times. This reduced to twice for people who were married for two to eight years. After eight years, the differences in divorce rates of cohabiters and non-cohabiters are statistically insignificant. Thus one interpretation of this is the fact that people who cohabit have characteristics that make them more likely to have higher chances of a divorce. Another finding points to the fact that women who cohabit premaritally for more than three years have a 54 percent higher divorce rate than those who have cohabitated for shorter periods of time. This is because the former groups of people have such characteristics which make them less willing to commit. These include valuing one’s independence and being more self-reliant (Bennett 1987). Other Adverse Effects The increase in the rate of premarital cohabitation raises important concerns about the institution of marriage from a societal perspective. One concern is that individuals may find cohabitation to be an attractive arrangement and will be more likely to view marriage as undesirable. Another concern is that the high rate of dissolution among couples will reinforce the view that â€Å"intimate relationships are fragile and temporary,† thereby reducing the view within society that marriage is a rewarding lifetime commitment. In addition, research shows that cohabitation is linked to delayed marriage, an increase in nonmarital fertility, less commitment to marriage, and greater approval of divorce and nonmarital cohabitation. Furthermore, societies which have experienced a sharp increase in premarital cohabitation rates have also experienced an upward trend in divorce, premarital sex, and premarital pregnancy rates, while marriage and marital fertility rates have declined (Balakrishnan 1995). Conclusion: Although a number of individuals believe that cohabitation provides a means by which couples may determine their compatibility before getting married, there is a vast body of strong evidence that suggests otherwise. Married couples who previously lived together report high levels of marital disagreement, spend less time together, and are more likely believe that their marriage will end in dissolution. These couples tend to be less supportive of each other, and they institute fewer problem solving skills. Cohabitation has been linked to lower commitment levels among couples, diminished views on the marital relationship in general, and a higher divorce rate. These ill effects are directly linked to the cohabitation trend, which has exploded over the course of the past few decades. Researchers believe that cohabitation leads to unstable marriages because those who cohabitate tend to have weaker commitment to marriage in general, or they may have higher expectations for the quality of married life. Cohabitators are also more likely to hold unconventional views on marriage. It has also been observed that those who cohabitate tend to have other socioeconomic and individual characteristics that are linked to a higher rate of marriage dissolution. In addition to the higher divorce rate that seems to be directly related to the dramatic increase in cohabitation, other undesirable effects have also resulted. Societies that have experienced a surge in premarital or nonmarital cohabitation have also seen a sharp increase in premarital pregnancies, delayed marriage, and greater acceptance and approval of divorce and nonmarital cohabitation.

Status Offenders, Dependent and Neglected Youths, and...

Status Offenders, Dependent and Neglected Youths, and Juvenile Victimizations: As they come into contact with the juvenile justice system different, delinquent youths are treated differently in this system. Notably, the jurisdiction of this system and its courts also extends to non-delinquent youths like dependent and neglected youths, and status offenders. However, non-delinquents are not only viewed differently but they are also treated separately from delinquents. In most cases, non-delinquents are regarded as children in need of help and supervision while delinquents are held accountable and punished for their actions. Nonetheless, non-delinquents undergo several similar processes and dispositions like delinquents because of the differing reasons for the intervention of the juvenile justice system. Delinquents vs. Non-delinquents: Whereas dependent youths are those whose parents dont have the ability to take care of them, the neglected ones are youths whose parents have declined to take care of though they have the ability to do so. Some of the major causes of dependency include severe physical and mental disabilities and death of parents while the failure to offer adequate supervision to intense sexual, physical, and emotional abuse contributes to neglect. There are two major types of agencies in the juvenile justice system that deals with the delinquents and non-delinquents. One of these types of agencies is the human-service type agency that focuses on theShow MoreRelated The Development of Childhood Throughout History Essay3065 Words   |  13 Pagesto enter religious orders, become soldiers or seek wealthy patrons. Under the Dower system, a womans family gave money, land or other wealth in exchange for a potential husband. This system forced women into the role of second class citizens dependent on the ir fathers and brothers. Wet nurses took care of newborn, thus restricting contact between child and parent. The practice of wrapping newborn in swaddling often led to high infant mortality. (Siegel 12). During the 17th and 18th CenturiesRead MoreJuvenile Justice System. The Federal Juvenile Delinquency1845 Words   |  8 PagesJUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM The Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act defines juvenile delinquency as, â€Å"any act that is otherwise a crime, but is committed by someone under 18 years of age (â€Å"Juvenile Justice, 2007†)†. This act sets forth rules in which state laws must comply with in regard to juvenile court procedures and punishments. A majority of states have a criminal culpability set at 18 years of age, however culpability age can differ depending on the state. Certain states base whether a juvenile’sRead MoreEffects of Child Abuse on Juvenile Delinquency4283 Words   |  18 PagesThe Effects of Child Abuse on Juvenile Delinquency Tyshenia Gavin Virginia State University Dr. Hodgson Abstract This literature review explores existing literature and scholarship that outlines the effects of early child abuse (2-8 years old) on future acts of delinquency. Literature suggests that a correlation exists between the effects of child abuse and delinquency. Common problematic behaviors are socialization changes and learning abilities fromRead MoreJuvenile Delinquency And The Nature Of Police Juvenile9755 Words   |  40 PagesThere is substantial concern about rates of juvenile delinquency and the nature of police-juvenile encounters fueled most recently by the â€Å"Black Lives Matter† campaigns nationwide toward improved police-youth interactions. Yet, there are knowledge gaps on how best to proceed. There is insufficient information on the prevalence and nature of police-juvenile encounters in the rural areas of Mississippi, specifically, the Delta region. This lack of information means that policy-makers and academicsRead MoreEssay on Criminological Theories13456 Words   |  54 Pagesworld or across a society. They attempt to answer why there are variations in group rates of crime. Other authors have used the terms â€Å"epidemiology† or social structural theories. Micro. Micro theories of criminal behavior focus on a small group of offenders or on an individual crime. They attempt to answer why some individuals are more likely than others to commit crime. Other authors have used the terms â€Å"individual conduct† or processual theories. Necessary Condition. This means that X must be present