The weather in the great Gatsby

After finishing reading “The Great Gatsby”, I find there are always detailed descriptions about a new character whenever he or she comes into our reader’s eyes. The author, however, doesn’t spend much ink on weather descriptions. And we learn from the story that Nick, as the narrator of the novel, chooses to “reserve all judgments”, so we don’t know exactly what Gatsby thinks about and how he feels. But we could still get a better understanding about it through weather descriptions, which are separated skillfully into this novel. These weather descriptions works like a barometer, reflecting Gatsby’s feelings—when Gatsby tends to be nervous or unhappy, it rains; when he becomes happy or excited, it shines; when he calms down at night, the weather then is clear and quiet.
The weather when Daisy is invited to Nick’s house reveals Gatsby’s inner world feelings. For instance, “The day agreed upon was pouring rain.”(Page81, The Great Gatsby) Though it is a short sentence, it indicates a lot. Gatsby hasn’t met Daisy for almost five years. He doesn’t have any idea of how Daisy would react when they meet each other, though he never stops thinking about Daisy. So his inner world is struggling. On one hand, he is afraid that Daisy may have a cool attitude toward him or even worse. On the other hand, he keeps telling himself that Daisy still loves him. This unusual struggle put him under high pressure like the pouring rain. This explains why “he was pale, and there were dark signs sleeplessness beneath his eyes.”(Page 81) we readers can’t see Gatsby’s pressure, but we could feel it when we see these words “the day agreed upon was pouring rain.”(Page 81)
Here is another good example. “After half an hour, the sun shone again.”(page86) Now it is a fine day and every thing goes fine, including Gatsby and Daisy. They two have finished a short conversation when Nick comes in again. At this time, Gatsby is happier, more excited than ever, and there’s no nervous, embarrassing any more. Because he has confirmed that Daisy still loves him. Besides, he is rich now, “fully able to take care of her” (page142). Nor does he have to consider whether he has a “comfortable family standing behind him”. (page142) So he thinks he still have plenty of chances to win daisy back. Not only that, it is a dream he has chased for almost five years. And now it’s time! This also can explain why “he literally glowed” (page86).
The weather when Gatsby spends all night outside Tom’s house shows Gatsby’s mood too. After the car accident, Gatsby waits all night, worrying that Tom may “tries any brutality” (page137). The weather says like this--“him standing there in the moonlight—watching over nothing” (page139). We at least know from these words that it is a clear and quiet night, because the moon is in the sky. As Gatsby used to think, when “he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way” (page25), and “a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock” (page25), it should be a night when he and Daisy stay together or walk in the quiet moonlight shadow, enjoying happy time. And now he doesn’t think about that any more. He has calmed down (because when Gatsby and Tom argue who Daisy loves, both two men seem to be over excited), and actually I believe his inner world should be quiet or we may say he has accepted everything which is happening. And he has made up his mind to protect Daisy and all he cares about is her. If she “turns the light out and on again” (page137), he would get in Tom’s house and probably take her far away. Or if the policemen call, he is going to say it is he who drives the car and kills Mrs. Wilson. As Gatsby sees it, everything is under control.
Through the analysis of the three examples above, we’d have a clearer image about Gatsby as well as his inner world feelings. Gatsby’s mood develops from being afraid, nervous to being happy to being quiet and calmness, and the weather changes also from raining to shining to being clear and quiet at night. These changes in the weather reflect the development of Gatsby’s mood. So it is obviously that the weather plays a role of vital importance in this novel, which looks just like a barometer whose degree changes according to the temperature.
written by Ocean Lu walkeith@163.com http://ocean6.yo2.cn/

The Yue Lu Mountain

The Yue Lu Mountain, located in the west part of Changsha, is very different from other mountains in China. It has an area of no more than 8 square kilometers and its highest altitude is 306.2 meters. Thousands of tourists are attracted because of its special scenery. Trees, grasses, flowers are all telling one story, a story about quietness and peacefulness.

Although it is only 6 in the morning, there are already a lot of people exercising in the mountain. Middle aged women, wearing casual clothes, are jogging along the way, aiming the top of the mountain. The old couples are walking down slowly and talking quietly, with bottles of spring water in hands. There comes little boys’ laughing and shouting. Though you have no idea where they are exactly, because of the flourished trees which have lived for hundreds of years, you’re sure they must be very lively, energetic boys.

The silence is suddenly broken when a touring car with its horn blaring passes. Then you notice there is a figure in front of you. It’s a monk who buries himself in reading a piece of newspaper, waving his head with an air of self conceit.

The sun rises. Then the old Yue Lu Temple also starts to shine, for its yellow walls, reflecting sunshine. Monks there are reciting scriptures. The wind, blowing, flies their sound intermittently over the old temple’s walls, into your ears and somewhere deep into your heart. It makes you feel like you have been here before. But you just can’t remember it clearly.

Now it is half way up the mountain. Hundreds of slab stones with mosses on lead to the top, telling people the ancient stories. Alongside the slab stones are the spring water, singing, flowing down. The water is so clean that you can’t help putting your hands into it. How cool it is! How pleasant it is to have such king of feeling in this hot summer. Sometimes you could even hear a leaf touch the surface of the spring water, circling.

There is a lake in the mountain with a pavilion at west in case people are tired and can have a rest. Qiao Yu says:” A place with water and fish must be good setting, which keeps people in good mood.” I believe this is one of the places he’s talking about. People here are always involved in surroundings. Birds and insects are singing competitively, rising one after another. The sun shins in the middle sky, shadowing trees. You smell waterweed when a gust of wind blows, which frightens butterflies.

With the goal of climbing to the top of The Yue Lu Mountain left behind, some people are addicted here. Others keep moving, knowing there is something better waiting ahead. Finally they get to the top. The blue sky embraces them. It is a brand new world with your own heart beating.

written by Ocean Lu   walkeith@163.com   http://asiafriend.siteem.com/

Mountain and beach

Mountain is to beach what man is to woman. Generally speaking, mountain is always masculine while beach tends to be feminine. Thus a distinction between them is undeniable. Personally, mountain is much more to the taste of mine.

Mountain is a man who hardly speaks. He is always silent. Only will the falling leaves tell their master’s story when the wind passes. Mountain is a man who is kind-hearted and filled with responsibility. Trees, grasses, flowers, insects or animals live, just like a big family, in the warm embrace of a mountain. He provides shelters in rainy days and shadows under the sunshine. However, he asks for nothing.

Standing at the foot of a mountain, human beings may find he is a king from ancient times, full of power. He is a host to the present. He tells human beings what is right and what is wrong, leading them to the gate of the future.

There are countless mountains all over the world. And the majority of them have already been marked by human beings. Yet they can be reached but never conquered. Mountain, as a true real man, will never be suffocated by any power or force. Beaches are more generous.

Beaches are charming women but hot temper. It is such an enjoyable thing to lay on the beach, with sea breeze touching one’s hair, sun shining in the sky. But please do not take it seriously and, beaches never tell their truth...

Beaches are indeed very patient in the process of one’s walking into their inner world. At the very beginning, one is far away from the sea water, and then he is attracted. Step by step, he is in water now. Gradually, he could hardly see the people on beach. Suddenly this young lady does not want to play the game any more and, the danger finally arrives.

 Made by Ocean Lu

walkeith@163.com

http://asiafriend.siteem.com/

 

 

Join the Army of Volunteers

It is a good idea for people, no matter young or old, man or woman, to become volunteers. By being volunteers and taking part in public activities, people can help those who are in difficulties and will learn more about responsibilities as members of the communities. Personally, I think being a volunteer should be encouraged. The reasons are as follows.

Firstly, there are a huge number of activities that need volunteers every year around the world. “August 29, 2005: Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast, destroying lives, leveling homes and leaving thousands of survivors with the same story: We lost everything.”① It is reported that about 1100 people were killed, hundreds of thousands of people had once been evacuated and 80% of the urban area in New Orleans was flooded. ②After the breakout of the disaster, volunteers were urgently needed. And the number of volunteers kept going and finally, more 1.1 million Americans joined the army of volunteers in the reconstruction work. ③These volunteers played a role of vital importance as non-government forces. They helped to distribute food, clean up streets, and look after patients and so on. According to the news released on October, 2004, the Germany World Cup which was held in 2006 recruited at least 15 thousand volunteers. And statistics shows that 561,296 people were enrolled in the Beijing Olympic Games in July, 2008.④ From the above, we can see that there is always a great demand for volunteers.

Secondly, people by doing voluntary works will have a better idea of responsibilities. Once we join in an organization and become volunteers, we have to follow many principles. We have to go to work on time. We have to keep a smile on our faces instead of sadness no matter what happens personally, because we are supposed to provide service and bring happiness to other people. Image if we volunteers were always unhappy all day long, will people still have expectations from us? And it is obviously that our unfriendliness would only lead to people’s disappointment or even worse. Most of the volunteers are doing trivial things in daily life. For example, if someone is sick, it would be a pleasure for a volunteer to help out. Or we may often see old men with certified cards on guiding pedestrians when they walk across zebra crossings. These small tiny little things win volunteers people’s respect. However, escaping one’s share of work will, I guess, dirty one’s name forever. Because being a volunteer is voluntary, if you don’t like or are not qualified for it, why did you join in? In the process of doing voluntary works, we shall learn to get on well with other voluntary members, work with and learn from each other as a united team too. Only in this way will our volunteer career be more successful. The experience, especially the sense of responsibility of being volunteers will benefit us both in school and in our future development.

All in all, it is a valuable experience for people choosing to be volunteers. And I believe that volunteers are bright stars in the sky that help sailors find the right way home in the darkness. I believe volunteers give people hope, confidence and strength. What are you hesitating for?  Join the army of volunteers right away and let’s be volunteers!

1            http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2005/katrina/

2            http://news.sohu.com/20070830/n251864970.shtml

3            http://www.thebeijingnews.com/news/dqzk/2008/06-01/011@094801.htm

4            http://news.china.com/zh_cn/focus/aoyun/11062974/20070801/14253010.html

 Made by Ocean Lu

walkeith@163.com

http://asiafriend.siteem.com/

Inspiration and perspiration

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning, my topic today is inspiration and perspiration.

Thomas Edison once said:” genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration, without the one percent inspiration, all the perspiration in the world is only a bucket of sweat.” I do not agree with him and I believe perspiration can make a difference.

Hilary Clinton, starting the great effort in a beautiful farm and 62 counties , 16months, 3debates, 2opponents, and 6black pantsuits later, won the united states senator in new York on the may16th,2000. it means perspiration of hard work works in approaching success.

On july6, 2005, London presented her bid for the 2012 Olympic Games, informing the rest of the world that a new, free, and strong country, basing on Winston Churchill’s blood, toil, tears and sweat in 1940, sharing a passion for sport, had once again stood up. That means perspiration really matters in the process of gaining our rightful place.

On may12, 2008, the wen chuan earthquake killed nearly 20.000people. And whole communities or even towns were washes away.

And we need perspiration of people’s hard work in the race against time to rescue victims and to prevent further deaths.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still believe in perspiration of people’s hard work which deeply rooted in the Chinese traditional culture.

With this perspiration, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.

With this perspiration, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of the destroyed parts of Si chuan province into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.

And when perspiration rises up and rings from every village and every hamlet, from every city and every province, we will be able to join hands and live in a stronger and more harmonious society.

That’s all, thank you.