Symbolism in the novel The Great Gatsby Essay Example for Free

Symbolism in the novel The Great Gatsby Essay F. Scott Fitzgerald uses much symbolism in his literature, here in the novel The Great Gatsby. He uses the image of Doctor T. J. Eckelburgs eyes to symbolize a godlike being. Fitzgerald uses the symbol of the two women in yellow at Gatsbys party to represent the values of the 1920s. The food provided at Gatsbys party symbolically represents the members of 1920s society. F. Scott Fitzgerald uses Symbolism in the novel The Great Gatsby as an accurate reflection of life in the American 1920s. In The Great Gatsby the symbol of T. J. Eckelburgs eyes represent a godly being watching over society. Fitzgerald incorporates the eyes into his novel to represent a pair of all seeing, all knowing and judging eyes, which are meant to intimidate. The character of George Wilson believes that the eyes are the eyes of God. I spoke to her, he muttered, after a long silence. I told her she might fool me but she couldnt fool God. I took her to the window- With an effort he got up and walked to the rear window and leaned his face pressed against it, -and I said God knows what youve been doing, everything youve been doing. You may fool me but you cant fool God! Standing behind him Michaelis saw with a shock that he was looking at the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg, which had just emerged pale and enormous from the dissolving night. God sees everything, repeated Wilson. (p.167) Through Wilsons beliefs Fitzgerald explains that the eyes can see everything including Myrtlesinfidelities. Myrtle is a typical person of the 1920s. She has put her own life and interests ahead of everyone elses including her husbands. The eyes of God are frowning down on the 1920s society. But above the grey land and the spasms of bleak dust which drift endlessly over it, you perceive, after a moment, the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg. The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic-their retinas are one yard high. The look out of no face but, instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a non-existent nosehis eyes, dimmed a little by many painless days under sun and rain, brood on over the solemn dumping ground.(p.27-28) Through Fitzgeralds wording in describing the image of Eckleburgs eyes the reader develops a mental image of an omnipotent being who is constantly watching over the land. The reader discerns that the eyes not only see  everything but that they eyes are morbidly unhappy. The use of the word brood suggests that whatever the eyes are seeing has made their owner disappointed. This is Fitzgeralds way of indicating that the people of the 1920s are disgraceful and undignified because of their selfishness. People of the 1920s spent large sums of money on themselves, and they would attend parties where they didnt know the host. This type of behaviour is why the 1920s are known as a decadent era. The eyes not only symbolize a god-like being but also Fitzgerald himself and his negative views of 1920s society. Fitzgeralds negative views of society are also portrayed through his depiction of certain guests at Gatsbys parties. The symbol of the two women dressed identically in yellow at Gatsbys party depict the values of the people of the 20s. The two women in yellow meet Jordan and Nick at one of Gatsbys party and are entirely self involved. Do you come to these parties often? inquired Jordan of the girl beside her. The last one was the one I met you at, answered the girl in an alert, confident voice. She turned to her companion: Wasnt it for you Lucille? It was for Lucille too. I like to come, Lucille said I never care what I do, so I always have a good time. When I was here last I tore my gown on a chair, and he asked me my name and address- inside of a week I got a package from Croiriers with a new evening gown in it.(p.47) Lucille admits that her general attitude toward life is that she doesnt care what she does as long as she has a good time. Her entire motivation in her life is to enjoy herself. When all she was asked was if she came to the parties often she also felt the need to inform the rest of the guests of her trivial anecdote. The reason that these women are indicative of the generation is because of their self-absorbed character and their egotistical nature. Gatsby. Somebody told me- The two girls and Jordan leaned together confidentially. Somebody told me they thought he killed a man once. A thrill passed over all of us. The three Mr. Mumbles bent forward and listened eagerly. I dont think its so much that, argued Lucille sceptically; Its more that he was a German spy during the war. One of the men nodded in confirmation. Oh know it couldnt be that because he was in the American army during the war.(p.48) The two women are spreading vicious rumours about their host purely for the sake of attention. They are so egotistical that they are  willing to tarnish the reputation of the man who has invited them into his house, simply on the basis that they want to be the centre of everyones attention. In Fitzgeralds opinion, people of the 20s were mainly made up of this type of person. The symbols of the food served at Gatsbys party represent and personify the people of the 20s. Gatsbys house frequently receives crates of oranges which demonstrates the wasteful character of people in the 1920s. Every Friday five crates of oranges and lemons arrived from a fruiterer in New York-every Monday these same oranges and lemons left his back door in a pyramid of pulpless halves. (p.45) This incredible wastefulness is representative of people who lived in the 1920s. They were wasteful to the extreme because they assumed that they deserved to be wasteful and carefree. After so many years of being unhappy from, among other things, World War I. During the war, they were forced to ration everything, so the twenties was the time to gain back their selfishness. Their personalities are also symbolised by the colossal food buffet served at the party. On buffet tables, garnished with glistening hors doeuvre, spiced baked hams crowded against salads of harlequin designs and pastry pigs and turkeys bewitched to a dark gold. (p.44) These symbols all personify the people of the 20s. The people garnished themselves in glistening jewels and clothing just to impress the people that they met. They are all spiced implying that they have made themselves into something that they are not by spicing up their lives with fancy clothing and costumes which hide who they really are. They design themselves as they think they will be most accepted, and are bewitched by the brightness and glow of popularity and richness. People of the twenties wore costumes and this is part of what Fitzgerald is trying to convey. In the novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses the literary technique of symbolism to reflect what life in the 1920s was like, through Fitzgeralds eyes. The image of Doctor T. J. Eckelburgs eyes is used to signify a disappointed godlike being. Fitzgerald uses the two women in yellow at Gatsbys party to as a symbol to represent the values of people in the 20s. The food provided at Gatsbys party is symbolic of people who lived in the  20s. Through Fitzgeralds use of symbolism to describe the costumed characters of the 20s the reader can learn to constantly, and consistently examine the people that they surround themselves with. The novel also teaches the lesson of being true to ones self, since true closure may only come once honesty is achieved. Fitzgerald is not only a consequential author but an effective moral adviser as well. Bibliography: Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Macmillan Publishing Company. New York. 1992.

Eating Disorders in Online Communities :: Communication Computers Papers

The Internet has an infinite amount of resources to occupy its users, and certainly two of the most frequently used applications are that of the chat room and message boards. Chat rooms perfectly exemplify the concept of an online community, where real-time communication happens between users everywhere in the world. Whereas message boards allow for the posting of journals and stories that can later be responded to by others that connect to that website. These virtual interfaces provide the backdrop for a whole new dimension of social interaction. The people who populate this particular form of online community, of course, deserve extensive examination. Many individuals, for instance, seek to communicate their problems and self-destructive tendencies. Significant niches of these people specifically correspond about eating disorders. The motivations and purposes for which they devote their time and energies certainly provide for an interesting case study. When examining the many dementias of chat rooms and message boards, it becomes imperative to consider the individuals who most frequently take advantage of these platforms to discuss eating disorders. These people, obviously, feel the need to communicate on some level with others. What they wish to communicate about, however, literally covers every dementia of the disorder. The wide and limitless variety of chat rooms and message boards on this subject caters to a vast span of related topics; individuals who have eating disorders, are seeking out information, and wish to help others all have a distinct space for discussion. The eating disorder chat participants come into contact with various worldviews and lifestyles that are typical of a diverse web community. Although I know that a countless number of people take advantage of this communication form everyday, it still remains a question as to why eating disorder victims choose to participate. The eating disorder victims who frequent chat rooms and message boards must do so for a massive span of reasons. Logically, I would assume that these people choose this method of communication because they prefer it instead of other alternatives. Perhaps they dislike talking with people about their problem face-to-face. After all, it cannot be ignored that the nature of chat rooms and message boards eliminates the physical connectedness requirement of communication. It is probable that embarrassment, shame, and countless other emotions play significant roles in the victim's decision.

Psychologists’ Participation in Military Interrogatory Operations Essay

The issue of ethical responsibility is always in question especially in the medical and allied medical fields. The article â€Å"Psychologists Clash on Aiding Interrogations† (Carey, 2008) tackles this issue in the context of the services rendered by psychologists to military operations involving the interrogation of detainees. The article points out certain details regarding this issue; among others, those tackled were the issue of this type of assistance and its relevance to the American Psychologists’ Association Code of ethics, the consideration of international laws in the performance of a psychologist’s duties, the ethical responsibilities of a psychologist to the person being interrogated, the relationship of the APA to the practice of its members, and the individual integrity of psychologists who chose to collaborate with the military in interrogatory operations. An initial approach to this issue would be to consider the role of psychologists in society in the context or professionalism. Base on the preamble of the APA Code of conduct, psychologists are â€Å"committed to increasing scientific and professional knowledge of behavior and people’s understanding of themselves and others and to the use of such knowledge to improve the condition of individuals, organizations, and society† (APA, 1992), in addition, psychologist should â€Å"respect and protect civil and human rights and the central importance of freedom of inquiry and expression in research, teaching, and publication. They strive to help the public in developing informed judgments and choices concerning human behavior. † (APA, 1992) Certain features can be easily gleaned from these APA passages; to note in particular are the psychologist’s roles in the development of academic knowledge in the field, the fostering of individual and social understanding, and in promoting and preserving individual, organizational, (your family name) 3 and social welfare. Over and above these professional roles are the particular attention given to civil and human rights and the freedom of inquiry and expression. In this context there is no argument as to whether the psychological profession in general should concede to working with the military in interrogatory operations – the mere fact that these interrogations do not serve the purposes of the profession as outlined above and may even be violations of certain civil and human rights simply shows that participating in military interrogations can be against the APA code of ethics. However, if the last part of the passage is considered, which concerns the preservation of individual, organization, and social welfare, psychologist participation in interrogations may actually serve this end. If the purpose of the military interrogation is to preserve the established order and the issue is national security, then psychologists being accountable, not only to their patients but also to their country, should do well by assisting the military in their operations. This is the argument put out by certain psychologists who have been found to be collaborating with the military – that they did not do anything to cause harm to any of the subjects of interrogation, rather, they merely ensured that the subjects were not caused any harm. In addition, they claimed to also be performing their duties to their country. Another perspective should be considered in this issue – the reports that have been going around that psychologists have been assisting the â€Å"CIA and the military in developing abusive interrogation techniques used on terrorist suspects† (Benjamin, 2007), that psychologists have collaborated with the military in the military’s secretive Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape program to â€Å"reverse-engineer† techniques originally designed to train U. S. soldiers to resist torture if captured, by exposing them to brutal treatment. † (Benjamin, 2007). These grim (your family name) 4 reports bring the issue of civil and human rights into the picture. In a profession that is easily abused as to its practice, civil and human rights should be protected at all costs, but what if those who are supposed to protect these rights are the ones violating the rights themselves? The military and psychology is a very unlikely and dangerous mix, with the former working for national security under the protection of national and international law, and the latter working for the advancement of the psychological profession which incidentally could be of valuable use to the military, and with only the APA Code of Ethics standing in the way, possibilities can be very scary – think Nazi concentration camp style. However, certain arguments point out that psychologists, like their military counterparts are able to set aside the APA Code of Ethics in the interest of national or international law. In the results of a 20025 APA Taskforce, it was implicitly implied that â€Å"psychologists can ignore their ethical code if a governing authority (in this case, the U. S. Military) asks them to do so. † (Reiss, 2007) This implication is based on no less than the the APA’s code of conduct, which states, in full, â€Å"If psychologists’ ethical responsibilities conflict with law, regulations, or other governing legal authority, psychologists make known their commitment to the Ethics Code and take steps to resolve the conflict. If the conflict is unresolvable via such means, psychologists may adhere to the requirements of the law, regulations, or other governing legal authority. † (APA, 1992) This brings the issue to a whole new level – instead of the issue being an organizational or professional concern, it becomes a concern of individual integrity, which, by the way, becomes blurry when an individual is offered lucrative benefits and perks in exchange for that (your family name) 5 integrity. While the issue is obviously one that concerns not only the military, or the field of psychology, but the safety and welfare of even the most hostile subject of an interrogation, the APA Task Force served to bring the issue down to a more personal level to dismiss whatever argument is raised by the profession as a whole. Now, it is basically a question of, â€Å"As a psychologist, are you personally inclined to assist the military in their interrogatory operations even when these operations can be inhumane and can violate civil and human rights as long as the operations are within the â€Å"requirements of the law, regulations, or other governing legal authority† (APA, 1992)? † Many a psychologist would find an easy answer to this question, because this question does not require a psychologist to consult any code of ethics or any law; it simply requires that the psychologist go through the process of self-discernment and consider, first and foremost, his/her reasons for choosing the psychology profession, his/her commitments to the people that he/she serves, and his/her priorities in exercising his/her profession. The issue of whether psychologists should collaborate with the military in developing interrogation techniques that may be inhumane is beyond the jurisdiction of any law or code. This issue is a question of morality and integrity, which, in themselves, are very subjective areas of abstraction. In a moment of personal thought, psychologists should at least put themselves in the shoes of the victims of these inhumane interrogation – knowledge is indeed power, â€Å"and power corrupts† (Acton, 1887) Psychologists wield a considerable amount of knowledge with their training in the profession, and it is up to them whether they would use this knowledge to harm their fellow humans or not. (your family name) 6 The solution to this problem lies in the individual integrities of psychologists. Each psychologist should maintain an internal regulatory mechanism when participating in these operations. The secret is being able to say ‘no’ when what is being asked to be done is beyond our personal conviction, ideals, and the moral standards governing the profession. While laws and codes can only do so much in regulating what psychologists can do, these also serve as roads signs for psychologists so that they may be constantly reminded if they are already overstepping in their profession. On the issue of national security, some argue that the life of one can sometimes be dispensable for the life of all; this argument is a blind interpretation of the truth. Life, whether it be of only one, or of all is still life, and should not be meddled with in any aspect. Where does this put the psychologists conceding to collaborations with the military? In as much as we all want to believe in the integrity of our own chosen professions, we have to have faith in the individual and inherent goodness of man. We cannot condemn psychologists who work for the military just because we think what they are doing is inhumane, and it is also not up to us to pass personal judgment regarding the military’s motives; but in as much as we have hope and confidence in the rationality and discernment of human beings, we might as well advocate integrity and morality as a whole, not only in the field of psychology. Individual issues and motivations of psychologists cannot be questioned by a raging mob – but we can sure make them see the truth, and remind them of their commitment to the welfare of all, and not just for the satisfaction of brute and barbaric interests. (your family name) Works Cited Acton, John Emerich D. â€Å"Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely. † The Phrase Finder. 1887. 26 Feb. 2009 . APA. â€Å"Ethical Principles Of Psychologists And Code Of Conduct. † APA Online. 2003. 26 Feb. 2009 . Benjamin, Mark. â€Å"The CIA’s torture teachers. † Salon. com. 21 June 2007. 26 Feb. 2009 . Carey, Benedict. â€Å"U. S. psychologists debate role in military interrogations. † International Heral Tribune – The Americas. 16 Aug. 2008. 26 Feb. 2009 . Reiss, Natalie S. â€Å"The Psychologist’s Role in Military Interrogations. † Mentalhelp. net. 3 Aug. 2007. 26 Feb. 2009 .

Rostows Stages of Economic Growth and Development

Geographers often seek to categorize places using a scale of development, frequently dividing nations into the developed and developing, first world and third world, or core and periphery. All of these labels are based on judging a countrys development, but this raises the question: what exactly does it mean to be developed, and why have some countries developed while others have not? Since the beginning of the twentieth century, geographers and those involved with the vast field of Development Studies have sought to answer this question, and in the process, have come up with many different models to explain this phenomenon. W.W. Rostow and the Stages of Economic Growth One of the key thinkers in twentieth-century Development Studies was W.W. Rostow, an American economist, and government official. Prior to Rostow, approaches to development had been based on the assumption that modernization was characterized by the Western world (wealthier, more powerful countries at the time), which were able to advance from the initial stages of underdevelopment. Accordingly, other countries should model themselves after the West, aspiring to a modern state of capitalism and liberal democracy. Using these ideas, Rostow penned his classic Stages of Economic Growth in 1960, which presented five steps through which all countries must pass to become developed: 1) traditional society, 2) preconditions to take-off, 3) take-off, 4) drive to maturity and 5) age of high mass consumption. The model asserted that all countries exist somewhere on this linear spectrum, and climb upward through each stage in the development process: Traditional Society: This stage is characterized by a subsistent, agricultural based economy, with intensive labor and low levels of trading, and a population that does not have a scientific perspective on the world and technology.Preconditions to Take-off: Here, a society begins to develop manufacturing, and a more national/international, as opposed to regional, outlook.Take-off: Rostow describes this stage as a short period of intensive growth, in which industrialization begins to occur, and workers and institutions become concentrated around a new industry.Drive to Maturity: This stage takes place over a long period of time, as standards of living rise, the use of technology increases, and the national economy grows and diversifies.Age of High Mass Consumption: At the time of writing, Rostow believed that Western countries, most notably the United States, occupied this last developed stage. Here, a countrys economy flourishes in a capitalist system, characterized by mass productio n and consumerism. Rostows Model in Context Rostows Stages of Growth model is one of the most influential development theories of the twentieth century. It was, however, also grounded in the historical and political context in which he wrote. Stages of Economic Growth was published in 1960, at the height of the Cold War, and with the subtitle A Non-Communist Manifesto, it was overtly political. Rostow was fiercely anti-communist and right-wing; he modeled his theory after western capitalist countries, which had industrialized and urbanized. As a staff member in President John F. Kennedys administration, Rostow promoted his development model as part of U.S. foreign policy. Rostows model illustrates a desire not only to assist lower-income countries in the development process but also to assert the United States influence over that of communist Russia. Stages of Economic Growth in Practice: Singapore Industrialization, urbanization, and trade in the vein of Rostows model are still seen by many as a roadmap for a countrys development. Singapore is one of the best examples of a country that grew in this way and is now a notable player in the global economy. Singapore is a southeast Asian country with a population of over five million, and when it became independent in 1965, it did not seem to have any exceptional prospects for growth. However, it industrialized early, developing profitable manufacturing and high-tech industries. Singapore is now highly urbanized, with 100% of the population considered urban. It is one of the most sought-after trade partners in the international market, with a higher per-capita income than many European countries. Criticisms of Rostows Model As the Singapore case shows, Rostows model still sheds light on a successful path to economic development for some countries. However, there are many criticisms of his model. While Rostow illustrates faith in a capitalist system, scholars have criticized his bias towards a western model as the only path towards development. Rostow lays out five succinct steps towards development and critics have cited that all countries do not develop in such a linear fashion; some skip steps or take different paths. Rostows theory can be classified as top-down, or one that emphasizes a trickle-down modernization effect from urban industry and western influence to develop a country as a whole. Later theorists have challenged this approach, emphasizing a bottom-up development paradigm, in which countries become self- sufficient through local efforts, and urban industry is not necessary. Rostow also assumes that all countries have a desire to develop in the same way, with the end goal of high mass cons umption, disregarding the diversity of priorities that each society holds and different measures of development. For example, while Singapore is one of the most economically prosperous countries, it also has one of the highest income disparities in the world. Finally, Rostow disregards one of the most fundamental geographical principals: site and situation. Rostow assumes that all countries have an equal chance to develop, without regard to population size, natural resources, or location. Singapore, for instance, has one of the worlds busiest trading ports, but this would not be possible without its advantageous geography as an island nation between Indonesia and Malaysia. In spite of the many critiques of Rostows model, it is still one of the most widely cited development theories and is a primary example of the intersection of geography, economics, and politics. Sources: Binns, Tony, et al. Geographies of Development: An Introduction to Development Studies, 3rd ed. Harlow: Pearson Education, 2008. Singapore. CIA World Factbook, 2012. Central Intelligence Agency. 21 August 2012.