23 July 1922
Dearest Tom,
It's been such a long while since you've visited me here in the Valley of Ashes. George has been too busy puttering around the shop to pay any attention to me, and I've been awfully lonely because of this. I fill my time thinking of you, and when I will see you next. It's times like this I wish I had kept the puppy you bought me; I've heard that many of the upper-class ladies living in East Egg keep dogs as pets. I could never keep a dog here though. Not because of George, I doubt he would even notice (he is quite oblivious), but because it would be a sin to keep such a sweet, innocent animal in this miserable place. Hopefully some day, you'll leave that wife of yours, and we can have our own house. Wouldn't it be grand if you and I had a house of our own? It could be a huge mansion, beautifully decorated, with huge stone columns, high arched windows, and in an extraordinarily wealthy neighborhood, of course. It would be just an absolute dream, my Dearest! Oh, I know I shall never replace your Daisy, but think about how lovely our life could be together! There would be no more sneaking around, no more secret meetings in Catherine's apartment, no more George and no more Daisy. I know, I should not speak of her so much. Judging by our last encounter, the mention of her name makes you simply mad. I know you didn't mean to hit me though. It was really all my fault; I apologize Dearest, it will never happen again! Oh Tom, you just make me feel so alive, it's hard to contain my emotions sometimes! I'm quite fed up with my life as it is now. I need a big, strong man like you to come and rescue me from this terribly grim place and from my dreadfully bland marriage. I refuse to call on you at home, because the last time I did it raised some suspicions among your guests, but I sure do hope to hear from you soon! Until then, I will be thinking of you...
All my love,
Myrtle
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
"A Rare Smile" Chapter 3, Passage 5
Passage 5
"He smiled understandingly—much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced—or seemed to face—the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey. Precisely at that point it vanished—and I was looking at an elegant young rough-neck, a year or two over thirty, whose elaborate formality of speech just missed being absurd. Some time before he introduced himself I’d got a strong impression that he was picking his words with care."
Chapter 3 includes an in depth description of one of Gatsby's notorious parties. This is also the first time the reader is formally introduced to the great Jay Gatsby, the man the novel is named after. Until this point Gatsby is shrouded by mystery. When Nick first meets Gatsby he begins talking to him without even knowing who he is. Once Gatsby introduces himself, Nick becomes enthralled with his smile. Nick describes Gatsby's smile as having a "quality of reassurance," to show that Gatsby was able to captivate those around him with the simple flash of his pearly whites. However, Nick also describes the words spoken by Gatsby as having a formality of speech that is almost inappropriate when used in a certain context. Nick says that he gets the impression that Gatsby is "picking his words with care." This provides an example of a euphemism, or a way of wording an unpleasant observation in a more appealing way. From what Nick tells us, we can conclude that he feels as though Gatsby is trying to impress others by using elaborate language and his charming smile. Basically, he thinks Gatsby's persona is a facade. The way in which he presents this inference allows us to draw this conclusion, without it taking on a negative connotation.
"He smiled understandingly—much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced—or seemed to face—the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey. Precisely at that point it vanished—and I was looking at an elegant young rough-neck, a year or two over thirty, whose elaborate formality of speech just missed being absurd. Some time before he introduced himself I’d got a strong impression that he was picking his words with care."
Chapter 3 includes an in depth description of one of Gatsby's notorious parties. This is also the first time the reader is formally introduced to the great Jay Gatsby, the man the novel is named after. Until this point Gatsby is shrouded by mystery. When Nick first meets Gatsby he begins talking to him without even knowing who he is. Once Gatsby introduces himself, Nick becomes enthralled with his smile. Nick describes Gatsby's smile as having a "quality of reassurance," to show that Gatsby was able to captivate those around him with the simple flash of his pearly whites. However, Nick also describes the words spoken by Gatsby as having a formality of speech that is almost inappropriate when used in a certain context. Nick says that he gets the impression that Gatsby is "picking his words with care." This provides an example of a euphemism, or a way of wording an unpleasant observation in a more appealing way. From what Nick tells us, we can conclude that he feels as though Gatsby is trying to impress others by using elaborate language and his charming smile. Basically, he thinks Gatsby's persona is a facade. The way in which he presents this inference allows us to draw this conclusion, without it taking on a negative connotation.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Just some facts..
My first name is Alexis, but nearly everyone calls me Lexi.
My favorite color is orange (if you couldn't tell by the colors on my blog :p).
I am obsessed with Arizona Iced Tea. I drink it every single day.
Christmas is my favorite holiday. Although Halloween is a close second.
Looking up quotes is one of my favorite things to do. No matter what mood I'm in, I can find a quote that fits my situation and expresses how I'm feeling. It can actually be very therapeutic.
Chadwick Beach is a huge part of my life. Up until this year, I spent every single summer down the shore. Even though my grandpa sold his shore house, I still consider the beach my second home and my friends from down there my second family.
I love music and I listen to almost everything (except Country). Hip-Hop, Rock, Rap, Pop, Alternative-I love all of it. My favorite artists include Bon Jovi, Eminem, and All-Time Low. <3
I'm a huge football fan. My heart belongs to the New York Giants. One day, I hope to be on ESPN as an analyst or a broadcaster. My dream is to be the first female coach in the NFL.
I love to talk. But, I love to laugh even more.
And, as Porky Pig would say, "That's all folks!." :)
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