Writing Prompt - Past Comes Back To Haunt Present

F. Scott’s Fitzgerald’s classic novel, The Great Gatsby, is a perfect example of a man whose past comes colliding into his present day ideal life. Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan, former lovers from down South have been reunited through wealth, high society, and Gatsby’s own dogged pursuits of her. She represents the American Dream to him and it is she who holds the key to his happiness. The wealth he has accumulated, the house he lives in, the people he runs around with, are nothing to him because they are merely obstacles he has to deal with to be with her once more. His past with Daisy leads him into a delusional state about her which he cannot snap out of. His past relationship with her has perverted his idea of who she is now and shows how far a man will go to pursue the American Dream, needless of how unrealistic it is.

Gatsby in the present has endless wealth and numerous contacts with the upper classes. However, it is his humble beginnings that shape this present day thirst for a place and the top of society. Gatsby, formerly known as Jay Gatz, falls in love with the beautiful debutante, Daisy Buchanan, but before the two can get married, he is shipped off to fight in the First World War. He comes back to find she has married a rich, well-to-do fellow, this being the catalyst for his quest to become the richest, most popular man possible, all in the hopes he can win back his love Daisy.

Unfortunately, he holds these preconceived notions of her from the past that she no longer has or ever did have. He sees her as infallible and a caring person, when in fact her high society living has twisted her into a selfish, empty shell of a woman. Gatsby is blind to this, however, due to his obsession with winning her back, she being the pinnacle of all his successes. He believes that she left him not because she stopped loving him but because the other man had money and power. This delusion to the fact that Daisy is far from the fairy tale princess he made her up to be makes his pursuit for more status a pointless venture.

This venture is a representation of the American Dream, and how one can become so delusional in achieving it that they are blind to either the worthlessness or the impossibility in it. Love has made Gatsby a fool, forcing him to believe that the girl of his past can be won back and she would meet all the wild expectations he has built up about her over the years. It is foolishness that leads him into wealth, but also unhappiness, always being dissatisfied with his accomplishments. All of Gatsby’s efforts are for Daisy; his past has corrupted him and his mind, and he is likely to let it continue until a dramatic event shows him who the present Daisy is and always was.

Gatsby’s views on Daisy are completely understandable, as love and obsession can distort the past and present memories about someone. He cannot help but by being caught up in the materialistic times of The Jazz Age, where everyone believed that wealth and the like were the keys to success. Seeing Daisy marrying the rich man rather than him, how else could he have believed he could win her back by anything other than becoming a man of status? His past controls his life, leaving him in an unhappy state and left to chase something that never was what he thought it to be. His former relationship with Daisy can never be regained and it is this sad pursuit of happiness that leads to Gatsby’s death.

When The Sun Goes Down

by Arctic Monkeys.

Who's that girl there?
I wonder what went wrong
So that she had to roam the streets
She dun't do major credit cards
I doubt she does receipts
It's all not quite legitimate

And what a scummy man
Just give him half a chance
I bet he'll rob you if he can
Can see it in his eyes,
Yeah that he's got a driving ban
Amongst some other offences

And I've seen him with girls of the night
And he told Roxanne to put on her red light
We're all infected but he'll be alright
Cause he's a scumbag, don't you know
I said he's a scumbag, don't you know!

Although you're trying not to listen
Overt your eyes and staring at the ground
She makes a subtle proposition
"Sorry love I'll have to turn you down"
I know he must be up to summat
What are the chances sure it's more than likely
I've got a feeling in my stomach
I start to wonder what his story might be

They said it changes when the sun goes down
They said it changes when the sun goes down
They said it changes when the sun goes down
Around here(Around here)

Look here comes a Ford Mondeo
Isn't he Mister Inconspicuous?

And he don't even have to say 'owt
She's in the stance ready to get picked up
Bet she's delighted when she sees him
Pulling in and giving her the eye
Because she must be f**king freezing
Scantily clad beneath the clear night sky
She doesn't stop in the winter, no

They said it changes when the sun goes down
Yeah they said it changes when the sun goes down
And they said it changes when the sun goes down
Around here
Well they said it changes when the sun goes down
Over the river, going out to town
And they said it changes when the sun goes down
Around here
Around here

What a scummy man
Just give him half a chance
I bet he'll rob you if he can
Can see it in his eyes that he's got a nasty plan
I hope you're not involved at all

Sky Blue Sky Response

Well, my original idea for this response was to listen to the album and give my first impressions, but since this will be the 4th or 5th time listening to it this week, I will be giving my "enough already" response. So let me hit the play button on the other page and begin.

Listening to this album is like hearing a Volkswagon commercial for an hour, since they licensed their songs out to them and are now played constantly. It's a very relaxing music that Wilco brings to the table, reminiscent to pop rock of the 70s and 80s. The second listen through of this Sky Blue Sky was when Tyler and I read our AP books and Becky did her response and we all came to the same conclusion that this music is comforting, and perfect for reading. It isn't overpowering, and the lyrics didn't have us distracted, making for terrific background noise. Because the lyrics have a running theme to them as well, there doesn't seem to be any distinctive breaks between each song either, which reminded me of how first few songs on Beck's Guero CD blended together perfectly. This lack of distinction lends to the feeling that Sky Blue Sky is just one big song.

This is not supposed to be a harsh criticism of of Wilco or their CD, I think they're good and appreciate them and everything they stand for, you might say. The singer sings lyrics that are heartfelt and for the most part straightforward. He doesn't rely too much on metaphors or wordplay, rather he writes how things really are. While they don't do anything groundbreaking with their music either, they do take what has been done before, the sound and feeling, and do it much better than most of their contemporaries.

I know this should be one of the bands that a person like me is supposed to listen to and enjoy, and while I do, it's only to an extent. This is too white bread for me, and while I do listen to this kind of music on occasion, I need to switch styles up frequently. I need some wheat and whole grain too. Perhaps because I was able to listen to this while reading is why I'm not crazy about this album or Wilco as a whole. I like an overpowering element in most of my music. The drum work, guitars, and imagery of Arctic Monkeys, the intensity of 50 Cent or T.I., the metaphorical wonders of Beck, or the emotion from Coldplay. I suppose because Wilco doesn't come at me with something unique in this album is why it's just good music to me, nothing special. Their music on this fits the commercials that feature their songs because the music isn't distracting to the viewer watching the action on screen, but it's of a quality that might stick in your head for the day. This being a good thing for Volkswagon CEOs wanting you to remember their product.

On a more positive note, Sky Blue Sky makes me feel like I'm in a coffee shop listening to a poet sing his work to the patrons. It creates an atmosphere that is, like mentioned before, relaxing and comforting. I can imagine being at Panera with a hot beverage, sitting in the corner with friends, and having Wilco playing a set right next to me. I guess that's all I get from listening to this, a relaxing comfort.

Oh, and need for a cappuccino.

Metamorphosis Essay #2

Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis is recognized for its extensive use of symbolism, leading it to have nearly limitless interpretations by its readers. Symbols vary from Gregor's metamorphosis into the creature, to his window, to his fasting. Put together, these symbols give the quick read a great depth to it. Kafka's use of these shows the extent of his talents and ability to put greater meaning behind practically every object and person. Because of this, Kafka was able to show the state of man during his time, and through the use of symbolism, better get his idea across.

Kafka begins the story with what would be the climax in most stories, Gregor transforming into a "monstrous vermin." This shape-shifting is more than a simple plot device though, it is Kafka's critique on 20th century man. the 20th century man wakes up, goes to work, comes home, eats, goes to bed, and does it all again the next day. Modern life and even society itself has come to isolate the individual. Gregor the Roach represents this loneliness and alienation from the world around him as he is stuck in his room for months on end.

While dealing with his situation, Gregor passes the time by staring out the window. Kafka uses this to serve as a representation of the life that was once had by Gregor, and the life he is now cut off from. It is a symbol used in many other works of literature wherein a character is confined in some way to a room or building and can do nothing more than helplessly look out and wish they could be on the other side of the glass. Gregor, due to his hideous form, is forced to live in his room and spend his days wishing he was on the other side again.

These unfulfilled wishes, coupled with his family's straining over money leads Gregor to stop eating his food and fasting instead. Guilt has overcome the creature, still able to think as Gregor, and he can not bear to see his family suffer anymore because of him. The fasting represents Gregor's crushing guilt and wish to escape his fate, eventually leading to his starvation and death. This self-sacrifice unburdens the family of him and acts as a final cleansing of the pain he was feeling from living as the creature.

These symbols work very well to express Kafka's disdain for the isolated lives men are forced to lead in modern times, the world passing them by, and some men's escape from the pain their lives bring them. The fact that all these views are given in just over 50 pages is amazing. The ability to cohesively use these symbols are what give The Metamorphosis its great weight and lasting appeal. Without such brilliant writing and use of symbolism as a further way of getting his point across, Kafka's short story would be nothing more than a man becoming a roach.

The Hunger Artist Response

To say he looked skeletal would have been a gross understatement, but the fact remained that there were no other words for the onlookers to describe the man. To even call it a man at this point was an insult to the healthy, virile men observing from the crowd. He was reminiscent of a Holocaust survivor, with his knees thicker than his thighs and eye sockets protruding in a sickening fashion. The crowd stared at this caged thing with their jaws slacked to the ground. They would all wonder why he would do this to himself, but none of them could come up with an answer. Whatever the reason, what the man was doing was impressive. The crowd suddenly broke out into a deafening cheer, causing the man's eyes to bulge even more.

It was the trend of the time, gathering the kids on a Saturday afternoon when the sun was at its peak and heading down to the amphitheater, hoping to get a good seat before the rush came. The children would have to be quieted down and told politely to sit and watch. Then the drapes over the cage would be taken off and the children would grab their mothers' arms in shock. The man was like a walking nightmare to them, and the parents would just have to reassure them that it was locked away behind that cage. Soon enough the cheer would break out and some of the audience members would approach the cage to actually talk to it.

A hunger artist they called it, a person who had devoted his life to starving himself of one of the most basic pleasures to man, food. Remarkably, it could go forty days and no longer, per instructions, without a meal. To the crowds, it was a sick delight, schadenfreude in its most pure form. What the crowds did not know was that it actually relished in its ability to fast for so long. How this trend came about is sketchy, but what is known is that it was the primary attraction at the time, bringing in thousands of visitors a week. For what, a lonely beast? Society was pitiful in that regard.

And yet, something about this was utterly fascinating. Why would a man go through such misery? Is he even paid for this? What sort of life does he live outside the cage? How could he live a life outside it? The man is world famous by now for his feats of endurance, what other person in their right mind would dare associate themselves with the hunger artist? This man is cruel to himself, one cannot imagine what he is like to others. The life he has chosen for himself is a special kind of isolation. One wherein his loneliness is watched over and gawked at all hours. Simply said, this thing is no man, he is an organism under a microscope. And like all others, this slide was going to be replaced sooner or later.

The days went by and attendance began to dwindle. Smaller and smaller until economic sense kicked in and the hunger artist's manager decided to cut his losses, as well as his ties to the artist. The cage was rolled out of the amphitheater and the next day a dancing Capuchin monkey and his accordion playing owner took its place and made an absolute killing.

From what is known, the hunger artist took his craft to less respectable venues, finally settling into a dilapidated circus of some sorts. What he found there was worse than his experiences under management at the amphitheater. The crowds he encountered were wholly unappreciative of his art, merely passing by, glancing, then moving on to the more exciting animals that awaited down the hall. And yet, from reports of the artist's remaining performance days at the circus, he found an unsettling freedom behind those rusty bars. Apparently now that he wasn't under such a strict watch or contract, he pushed his limits past the forty-day mark, so far that not even he was counting by the end. It seems he had hopes of breaking records, of making a name for himself in a world that did not care for him anymore. Still it must be asked, why? For what reason would man destroy the body God gave him in such a way as this? And willingly! Naturally, a man, even one who has lost so much of his humanity as the hunger artist, cannot fast forever. An obituary was posted in the paper claiming him to have died in his cage after having fasted to his death after 74 days without eat or drink. He is survived by no friends or family, and all that will live of him is a blurb at the bottom of a Records book. He was 32.
_________________________________________

Provocative Questions

1.) What would be a modern equivilent to the crowds watching the hunger artist?
2.) Could the hunger artist be seen as a hero in some twisted way?
3.) Does this promote anorexia?
4.) Does this parallel to Kafka's life?
5.) Why does this "performance" by the hunger artist seem so sickening and taboo to observe?
BONUS.) What kind of provocative underwear was the impresario wearing?

The Metamorphosis Writing Prompt 1

Steven Soderbergh's film Kafka uses recurring themes to create a harrowing mystery. Alienation, Absurdism, and Anxiety are such prevalent themes that are found in both Kafka's novels and in Soderbergh's interpretation. The main character in the film is a fictional version of Franz Kafka (Jeremy Irons), also sharing the author's former job as an insurance agent as well as a writer. Throughout, Kafka is unraveling a growing conspiracy and is being pulled in two conflicting directions. Kafka can decide whether to pursue the truth about his friend's death or continue living his quiet life.

The death of his friend and his subsequent investigation becomes more than an unsolved murder to Kafka. He is actually pursuing the truth in the world he is living in. The truth, though very intriguing and new to Kafka, also poses its unique risks. Because of these risks, he must decide whether learning the truth is worth dying for. This conflict of finding out the grand plan behind his friend's death is met with an equal pull to drop all of it and continue living a quiet, if not isolated, life.

The conflicting need to keep to himself is more to Kafka than just that. Kafka knows he must make sacrifices to uncover the murder and learn the truth. On the other hand, if he were to leave the conspiracy and intrigue alone, he would be willing to make himself ignorant to the dangers this hidden plot brings. So, by association, uncovering the death equals truth to Kafka and ignorance of the world around him means living a nice life.

This conflict continues on even after Kafka believes the worst is over. After seeing a colleague's death at the hands of the conspirators, Kafka chooses to act in ignorance by claiming she committed suicide when he well knows she was killed. Yet, Kafka later says, "Better to know the truth than to live in ignorance. I can no longer deny that I am part of the world around me." This situation that Kafka has gone through, along with his conflicting feelings on how to go about it, has left him with a bad cough. The world is breaking Kafka down, weakening him, and he now knows that the world is not so clear cut.

The film, being black and white the whole time, becomes color only for the scenes in the conspirator's castle. This is the point where Kafka learns the truth, that not everything is black and white. Once he escapes the castle however, his world becomes black and white again. Truth connects to color, the whole spectrum of everything, and for Kafka's world to be black and white once more means that the conflicting decisions are done, and he is choosing to accept ignorance.

Kafka Response

Kafka, Steven Soderbergh's interpretation of author Franz Kafka's prevalent themes in his novels, is quite unique. This black-and-white film concerns the fictionalized version of Kafka, who, as a morbid insurance agent searching for his friend's killer, stumbles upon anarchists, mad scientists, and a plot beyond his imagination. Themes of alienation, anxiety, and solitude, all of which are found in Kafka's works can be found in the film as well.

To be honest, after viewing the movie, my feelings and perspective on Kafka's The Metamorphosis did not change in the least bit. Possibly if I were to sit in a Gothic styled room and think over the two works in solitude, I could find some profound connection between the two. Having not done that, I still feel the same way about the Metamorphosis, that the story was engaging and strangely moving to me. It's odd how bad I felt about Gregor's death, and Kafka did not make it feel any more or less peculiar.

The Metamorphosis, as symbolic as they come, has a grounded moral in its story of Gregor Samsa's short life as a bug. Gregor, a pitiful salesman of the traveling variety, faces the ultimate isolation from his transformation. Just when he thought the world he lived in before was one that isolated all of its citizens, he is suddenly a hideous beast who has lost all communication with the world he once knew. The importance of having people in your lives that are close to you and able to talk with, the things that Gregor lost as a result of his metamorphosis, is the moral of the story.

Essentially, Gregor's transformation is Franz Kafka's way of showing the isolation and destitute life at an extreme. His life is cut off from his dear family's after he has become a bug. He cannot talk to them, support them financially, or even bear to look at them, preferring a cloth over him to his family's frightful looks. Family is one of the most important things in the world to Gregor, and with that lost and knowing that his form is causing them emotional and financial pain eventually leads to his suicide. It is his fasting that he shows his love for them, finally releasing them from the burden of his care.

To call Kafka a genius from this endlessly symbolic work may be a stretch. I would prefer to consider him a talented psychoanalyst. The way he focuses on Gregor's situation and give what must be the most reasonable analysis of his mind and how he is thinking. Maybe it is just because I have an affinity for the probing of the human mind and how people think in all situations imaginable. This is likely the reason for why I became so involved in reading the Metamorphosis. Yet still, I would shy away from calling Kafka a genius. Now Seinfeld, that there is a genius.

Kafka, the fictional one, has interesting connections with true life Kafka's character Gregor Samsa. Both men work in jobs that do not interest them, but rather suck the life out of them, which lead toward their isolated lives. Both men deal with severe anxiety in different ways. Kafka is a nervous wreck from the beginning of the film, and his encounter with powerful forces of madness only lead his paranoia further off the charts. Conversely, Gregor is a giant roach. What could cause more anxiety than that?

Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis is renown for its limitless themes, ranging from guilt to loneliness. In a formal essay, make a convincing argument for the main theme of The Metamorphosis, with regards to Gregor Samsa's evolving state of mind and predicament. Include at least three graphs and/or pie charts.