The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby is an insight into the American dream: hope. The first five chapters really lead into this idea of the American dream, with looks into the characters’ personal lives and wishes.  Nick, for example, is out trying to make his own life and be his own person. The characters aren’t all important symbols of hope, however. The story line between Gatsby and Daisy is however, as Daisy is the focus of Gatsby’s hope. He has already reached the financial, stereotypical goal of the American vision, but it isn’t enough for him. His desire for Daisy rules his life, and he wants more than anything to have her. He even reaches toward a green light in chapter one that is off of her dock, not only a symbol of reaching for Daisy herself, but of reaching for hope. He also even expresses his almost need for Daisy when he asks Nick to invite the two of them over for dinner so he can see her and talk to her again.  The story between the two of them allows for the persistence that ensues the American dream, and the desire to obtain it.

The Minister's Black Veil

The Minister’s Black Veil is a story of a minister who breaks out of the norm, by suddenly wearing a black veil in a small Puritan town. Reverend Hooper is described as being a gentleman, but when he makes an appearance with the black veil that hangs from his forehead with only his mouth allowed to be seen, people’s views became somewhat different of him. Although still the calm natured preacher he was before the veil, people are frightened by him, and rumors begin that he has become something awful. His sermons become focused on secret sin, sending more rumors flying, but they become much more interesting and people travel from all over to come watch this strange, veiled minister preach.

After service, Hooper performs a funeral service, making it much more daunting than regular funerals. Later, he marries two people and his veil raises the tensions even at a happy event, even frightening himself when he catches his reflection in a wine glass. Groups are formed to ask Reverend Hooper about the veil, but falter when they come face to face with him. His fiancée, Elizabeth, gathers to courage to ask about it, and he tries explaining he may not remove it for the rest of his moral life, in his explanation: “There is an hour to come…when all of us shall cast aside our veils”. Though he begs her not to leave him, she says she cannot live a life with him and leaves, which results in Hooper remaining alone and an outcast in society, though still a predominant clergyman.

The story then sends the reader far into the future, when Hooper is on his deathbed. Reverend Clark, the minister of Westbury is praying at his side, and attempts to remove the veil before Hooper’s death. Reverend Hooper pulls the veil back over his eyes desperately, and is asked what sin he has committed that he does not want his face seen. Instead of discussing his own sins, he discusses how poorly he has been treated and accuses everyone of having secret sins, and dies (and is buried) in his veil.

This story relates to The Crucible in the way that people view those who see things differently. He becomes an outsider to the community when he begins wearing a veil, in the same way that the girls in The Crucible became viewed differently when they claimed to see witchcraft. He becomes convicted, as though there is some sort of sin about him because he is not like the rest of society.

On Writing Essay (:

Stephen King is a firm believer in following one’s belief in writing. His works of art that are his writings are proof that practice can make close to perfect. He is creative and used everything he has learned throughout the years to improve his writing to the extent of him having the ability to now critique others on their writing ethics.

He’s been writing since he was a child and attempting to get his work published, and allowed the criticism to only make him stronger. Being told by Algis Budrys that his work was good, just not good enough for Fantasy and Science Fiction, he took that to heart and even rewrote the piece and got it submitted ten years later (pg. 41). Not only does he believe that criticism through years of writing can make one a stronger writer in substance, but in ability as well. A writer can grow in vocabulary, for example. As King puts it, “As the whore said to the bashful sailor, ‘It ain’t how much you got honey, it’s how you use it.’ (pg. 114)” He doesn’t believe in using big words just because you can, but using words that fit and making the sentences much easier to read.

               Stephen King also is a firm hater of adverbs, because they are not a writer’s friend (pg. 124). They’re used for timid writers, those afraid of writing something that seems like it won’t be taken seriously. With his views of the path to hell being paved with adverbs, writing for a long period of time should teach writers to stop writing in passive tense, and be more confident in their abilities. With more writing practice, more writing skills will be achieved, less adverbs will be used, thus making one a better writer.

               Not only does he have certain critiques on what to include and what not to include, but with how to and what to write. He says to write what one is interested in, or the writing will not be interesting to the writer nor to the reader. Readers only want to read interesting books, ones they can take on an airplane for entertainment (pg. 160), not books that only follow literary qualities. Writing incessantly improves writing and lets a writer learn what his or her boundaries are and what he or she will be interested and good at writing.

               King puts forth good arguments on writing throughout his book. He gives great advice, and points out all his pet peeves and mistakes that writers will make. He doesn’t believe in giving up, but persevering writing if it’s what one enjoys doing, then gives advice on how to write and what to include or leave out. Stephen King is truly an amazing writer and a great inspiration to all aspiring writers.