gatmoral Moral and Emotional Range of The Great Gatsby :: Great Gatsby Essays

The Moral and Emotional Range of The Great Gatsby    Throughout Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, there is a broad spectrum of moral and social views demonstrated by various characters.   At one end, is Tom, a man who attacks Gatsby's sense of propriety and legitimacy, while thinking nothing of running roughshod over the lives of those around him. A direct opposite of Tom's nature is Gatsby, who displays great generosity and caring, yet will stop at nothing to achieve his dream of running off with Daisy. The moral and emotional characteristics of Gastby and Tom are juxtaposed, Tom, the immoral character and Gastby, the moral character while the other characters' moral and emotional developments appear between these two.      Ã‚  Ã‚   At first glance, The Great Gatsby is merely a classic American tragedy, portraying the story of a man's obsession with a fantasy, and his resulting downfall. However, Fitzgerald seems to weave much more than that into the intricate web of emotional interactions he creates for the reader. One interesting element is the concepts of greatness each has. For Daisy, it lies in material wealth, and in the comfort and security associated with it. Daisy seems to be easily impressed by material success, as when she is touring Gatsby's mansion and seems deeply moved by his collection of fine, tailored shirts. It would seem that Tom's relative wealth, also, had at one time impressed her enough to win her in marriage. In contrast to that, Gatsby seems to not care a bit about money itself, but rather only about the possibility that it can win over Daisy. In fact, Gatsby's extreme generosity gives the reader the impression that Gatsby would otherwise have never even worked at attaining wealth had it not been for Daisy. For Gatsby, the only thing of real importance was his pursuit of Daisy. It would seem that these elements are combined, too in the character Myrtle.    Myrtle is, as Daisy, impressed with Tom's wealth and appearance, but, like Jay Gatsby, is stuck in a fantastic, idealized perception of her object of affection. Even when abused and trampled over by Tom, Myrtle continues to adore him, just as Gatsby continues to dote upon Daisy after being obviously rejected by her. As far as ethical considerations, Gatsby tends to prove himself a sincere and caring person, while Daisy and Tom just destroy the lives of two people and then leave town to escape the consequences of their actions. gatmoral Moral and Emotional Range of The Great Gatsby :: Great Gatsby Essays The Moral and Emotional Range of The Great Gatsby    Throughout Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, there is a broad spectrum of moral and social views demonstrated by various characters.   At one end, is Tom, a man who attacks Gatsby's sense of propriety and legitimacy, while thinking nothing of running roughshod over the lives of those around him. A direct opposite of Tom's nature is Gatsby, who displays great generosity and caring, yet will stop at nothing to achieve his dream of running off with Daisy. The moral and emotional characteristics of Gastby and Tom are juxtaposed, Tom, the immoral character and Gastby, the moral character while the other characters' moral and emotional developments appear between these two.      Ã‚  Ã‚   At first glance, The Great Gatsby is merely a classic American tragedy, portraying the story of a man's obsession with a fantasy, and his resulting downfall. However, Fitzgerald seems to weave much more than that into the intricate web of emotional interactions he creates for the reader. One interesting element is the concepts of greatness each has. For Daisy, it lies in material wealth, and in the comfort and security associated with it. Daisy seems to be easily impressed by material success, as when she is touring Gatsby's mansion and seems deeply moved by his collection of fine, tailored shirts. It would seem that Tom's relative wealth, also, had at one time impressed her enough to win her in marriage. In contrast to that, Gatsby seems to not care a bit about money itself, but rather only about the possibility that it can win over Daisy. In fact, Gatsby's extreme generosity gives the reader the impression that Gatsby would otherwise have never even worked at attaining wealth had it not been for Daisy. For Gatsby, the only thing of real importance was his pursuit of Daisy. It would seem that these elements are combined, too in the character Myrtle.    Myrtle is, as Daisy, impressed with Tom's wealth and appearance, but, like Jay Gatsby, is stuck in a fantastic, idealized perception of her object of affection. Even when abused and trampled over by Tom, Myrtle continues to adore him, just as Gatsby continues to dote upon Daisy after being obviously rejected by her. As far as ethical considerations, Gatsby tends to prove himself a sincere and caring person, while Daisy and Tom just destroy the lives of two people and then leave town to escape the consequences of their actions.

Coral Reefs, Our Disappearing Beauty

Coral reefs are one of nature's riches ecosystems with a diverse existence of life which is ultimately quite complex. They are a colorful ecosystem that plays an important role in the marine world and the human world as well. They are home to countless plants and animals, a source of food, medicines and one of the unique wonders of our world. While they might bring the image of life near a tropical paradise, there is much more to the coral reef than its beauty. These beauties are home to a diverse population that benefits humans, each type in its own way. But will we be able to save these natural wonders? Corals belong to the same group of animals as jellyfish and sea anemones. While they seem to move in the current of the ocean, they actually do not move and stay in one place. Coral use their tentacles to feed and exist in colonies. They grow every slowly but they can live anywhere from a few decades to even centuries. They have a hard calcium carbonate skeleton which provides them with protection. The calcium carbonate is continually deposited which added to its size, however, their growth varies depending on the conditions within the environment. The growth of the coral reef is long and slow and it takes several years for it grow only a few inches. This growth can be even slower when you consider the destructive activities of animals, storms and humans. As the coral grows they form colonies which become the basic foundation of the reef. Coral reefs need particular conditions in order to survive. They generally grow near the shoreline which is a form of protection for the shore. Coral reefs only grow to depths approximately 45 meters because they need sunlight in order to survive. The amount of oxygen available is also important because coral have symbiotic relationship with some types of algae. The algae live in the coral and perform photosynthesis which makes food for the algae and the coral alike. The coral gives the algae protection and sunlight. For this reason coral reefs are built in shallow, clear water where lights can reach them. The amount of sedimentation mud be low because sediments can block the sunlight they need. There are three main kinds of coral reefs. Each of these is thought to be a stage in the development of the coral reef. (Birkeland, 1997). These include the fringing reefs, barrier reefs and atolls. Some scientists include a fourth type, the patch reef, as well. The most common type of ref is the fringing reef. Found very near to land they can often form a shallow area in the lagoon. When reefs are formed it is the fringing reef that is formed first. Another type of reef is the barrier reef. It can resemble the fringing reef but they do not form so close to shore and are usually much larger than the fringing reef. The fringing reef grows out and the distance from land becomes greater causing the fringing reef to become a barrier reef. The atoll is shaped like a horseshoe or can be a circle. It surround the lagoon although there is no land associated with the atoll. This is because when the land subsides, only the reef remains and it has the shape of the land it surrounded. Finally, there is the patch reef which usually are found within the lagoon and ore the outcrops of coral. An abundance of both plant and animal life are an integral part of coral reefs. Scientists continue to discover new species and learn a great deal from coral reefs. First, the coral itself is living with the skeleton of calcium carbonate surrounding them for protection. The first animal that comes to mind when discussing coral reefs is the fish. Fish of every color swim in the reef, finding food, using it for protection, making it their home. Fish camouflage themselves within the reef to steer clear of larger fish and sharks. Sharks often scour the coral looking for a stray fish. Sea snakes also make the coral reef their home. There are also invertebrates like starfish who travel through the many species of seagrass and algae within the reef. There are many species of sea turtles that make coral reefs their home as well. These are only a few of the massive variety of creatures that live in the coral reefs. There are urchins, sponges, crabs, eels and literally thousands of others. It is the richest place of biodiversity. In fact, â€Å"Guam hosts over 3. 500 species of plants and animals, including 200 different types of corals. † (Teach Ocean Science, ret. June 14, 2013). In addition to theses kinds of plants and animals, there are also microorganisms that call the coral reef home. Coral reefs don't only benefit animals and plants, but they also benefit humans. They are one of the oldest ecosystems on our planet and one of the most beautiful. One way they benefit humans is due to their beauty. Areas with coral reefs bring tourism. This tourism supports local communities, creating jobs for local inhabitants. Visitors come to dive, snorkel, fish and enjoy the coral. These jobs help support the infrastructure of the community and build a strong economy. The economic value of many of the reefs individually are in excess of hundreds of millions of dollars, some over $1 billion each year. More importantly, there are many plants and animals that help us in the creation of new medicines and perfecting ones we already have. Medicines that have been developed or are being developed from the coral reefs include treatments for heart disease, cancer, arthritis, viruses just to name a few. More obvious than the previously mentioned benefits, coral reefs provide an abundance of fish and other sea life that helps populate the oceans for fishing. This also benefits humans. Fisheries are important for recreation as well as a trade to provide food. Also, as the name implies, coral reefs are a natural buffer between the ocean and the land. This helps prevent property damage, soil erosion, and protects people from storms. Nearby communities depend on the coral reefs for their well-being. Even though humans depend on the coral reef in so many ways, we are unfortunately slowly losing them. These natural beauties are disappearing at a faster and faster rate. The biggest threat is humans themselves. Healthy coral reefs need clean water but people are polluting these waters causing significant harm to the reefs. Fertilizers, soil, pesticides and even sewage is put into the water. These things make the water unhealthy for corals, smother the reef and make it more likely the will get diseases. Pollution is a major threat. Humans also often have destructive fishing practices. They use explosives to fish or bang on the reef with large sticks as well as bottom-trawling. In addition to these destructive practices, humans have been overfishing which upsets the natural balance of the ecosystem of the reef. The food chain is then so out of balance that the effects are not only the direct fish population but the entire ocean and beyond. Humans are not the only threats to coral reefs. Natural disasters can also harm the reefs. Hurricanes and other storms can cause damage as well. Global warming is also a threat. Corals will only survive in a certain water temperature and global warming has caused damage by elevating the levels of coral bleaching. When the reef is already unhealthy it is difficult for it to improve such a disaster. One way our own government has started to help protect the coral reef is by developing the U. S. Coral Reef Task Force. â€Å"On June 11, 1998, President Clinton issued Executive Order 13089 on Coral Reef Protection. † (EPA, Ret. June 10, 2013). This task force was charge with the duties of mapping and monitoring the US coral reefs, conducting research to identify major causes and consequences of the decline of the reefs and with developing ways to restore the damaged reefs and prevent further damage. Governments have set up Preservation Zones to focus on the cost of human impact to the coral reefs and how to maintain the reefs. Each of us can help protect the coral reef. Be sure to clean up after yourself when you go to the beach. It sounds simple, and it is but many people don't follow this advice. If you go to the area, be sure not to touch the coral. Take care of it. Leave shells and other creatures where they are. The food chain is a delicate balance and we should not do anything, no matter how small it might seem, to upset that balance. If you fish, catch only what you will eat. Throw small fish back to reproduce and the largest because they lay the most eggs. And if you don't fish, eat only the species of fish that are on the sustainable seafood list. Even if you are not in the area, you can reduce the amount of freshwater you use, develop habits that reduce the amount of greenhouse gases we produce like using too much electricity or driving a lot. Recycle more, including reusing items. Basically reducing our carbon footprint helps our coral reefs. Coral reefs are a vital resource in our environment. They are home to an extremely diverse population that is necessary to all life on earth. Humans have come to depend on this ecosystem for numerous things yet we still see the coral reefs disappearing quickly. But this sensitive ecosystem is depending on us was well. We each can do our part by minimizing our own carbon footprint but so much damage has already been done that this alone is not enough. Humans must get involved and be proactive to save this valuable resource before it's too late.Sources:Ruppert, EE and Barnes, RD, 1994, Invertebrate Zoology, 6th Edition, Saunders College Publishing, Philadelphia â€Å"What lives on a coral reef?†, Teach Ocean Science, http://www.teachoceanscience.net/teaching_resources/education_modules/coral_reefs_and_climate_change/what_lives_on_a_coral_reef/, retrieved June 14, 2013. Water: Habitat Protection, EPA, http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/taskforce.cfm, Retrieved June 10, 2013. Birkeland, C. (1997). Introduction. In Life and Death of Coral Reefs. Birkeland, C. (ed.). Chapman and Hall, New York. Achituv, Y. ; Dubinsky, Z. (1990). Evolution and Zoogeography of Coral Reefs. In Ecosystems of the World: 25 Coral Reefs. Dubinsky, Z. (ed.). Elsevier, New York.

Essay on John Winthrop - 878 Words

The City upon the Hill John Winthrop founded the colony of Massachusetts Bay in 1630, where he was the first Governor of the colony, a position he held for twenty years. In April, 1630, aboard the ship Arbella, he led a large party from England for the new world to establish a pure Christian based colony. They hoped to establish communities of pure Christians who collectively swore a covenant with God that would they work for his ends, knowing that in return, He would watch over them. John Winthrop was born in Edwardstone, Suffolk, England, on January 22, 1588, and died in Boston, Massachusetts on March 26, 1649. He was the only child of Adam Winthrop and his wife, Anne Brown. Winthrop briefly attended Trinity College in†¦show more content†¦This sermon is believed to have been given abound ship in route to the New World. This sermon was inspiring to the Puritans, giving them a sense of holy duty that would be crucial if they wanted to increase their chances of survival in the new world. The A Model of Christian Charity sermon is based on Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden , in which John Winthrop warned the puritan colonists that their new community in New England would be a city upon a hill, watched by the world. Winthrop stated For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. This entire sermon is a clear statement of the special purpose, instilled by Winthrop, which helped motivate the colonists in route to the new world, establishing a covenant with God, with strict adherence to Puritan religious beliefs. The section of the sermon that compares the new colony with a city upon hill starts out with instruction to follow the council of Micah. This council that Winthrop refers too is the Old Testament Book of Micah. Micah was an Old Testament Prophet, who in the middle of his oracles of judgment, revels the Lords wonderful promise of a glorious future. Verse 6:18 of Micah states He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you. But to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. ThisShow MoreRelatedOpposing Views of Early Americans, Thomas Morton and John Winthrop1423 Words   |  6 PagesThere may not be two more contrasting characters of early America then Thomas Morton and John Winthrop. Morton was nicknamed, Leader of Misrule while Winthrop was seen as the model of [a] perfect earthly ruler (147). These two figures not only help settle a new land, they also had firsthand knowledge of each other. They are not two people that lived years apart from each other but rather they lived concurrently. With two such polarizing people living in a small new land, there was bound toRead MoreEssay about John Winthrop and the Suffolk County Court Cases737 Words   |  3 PagesIn 1630, Puritan leader John Winthrop led the great migration to the New World. On board the ship Arbella, John Winthrop delivered a sermon titled A Model of Christian Charity. His speech outlined the objectives he hoped to achieve in the New World. His ideals slightly influenced the Puritans judgments and philosophy however not as much as he had initially hoped for. It seems the judgments of the Suffolk County Court were not influenced by the Arbella sermon. Similarly, it doesnt appear thatRead MoreJohn Smith vs John Winthrop2051 Words   |  9 PagesJessica Helin Paper 1 U.S. History 1 GEN223 John Smith vs. John Winthrop In the early years of America, there was a great deal of political and religious turmoil occurring in England. People wanted to escape to a place where they wouldnt be outlawed for their independent congregations and personal philosophies that they believed in. Eminent men, like John Smith and John Winthrop, saw America as a great opportunity to start over where they could establish new communities separatedRead MoreJohn Winthrop And John Adams1284 Words   |  6 PagesJohn Winthrop and John Adams and their respective works were heavily influenced by their times. Winthrop was a devout Puritan Christian that was escaping a persecuting king in the early to mid-seventeenth century. As a learned and religious man, he came to be the leader of this puritan sect that was to establish a society unlike any other, free from religious corruption that his fellow people saw in the Church of England, that would be a model community much like the â€Å"Citty upon a Hill† describedRead More John Winthrop s The Puritan1610 Words   |  7 PagesPuritan religion, one cannot love anything more than one loves God. 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These writings include A Model of Christian CharityRead MoreBenjamin Franklin And John Winthrop1651 Words   |  7 PagesBenjamin Franklin and John Winthrop, men with different ideals, present the same notion that America should be presented as a â€Å"city upon a hill.† Franklin believed that the American dream should be presented as an ideal where men and women are equal and can both move up in social class on their own, practicing any religion they desired. On the other hand, Winthrop believed that the new world was a religious safe haven only for the Puritans. American Exceptionalism was overall the main focus, guidingRead MoreJohn Winthrop And James Madison1197 Words   |  5 PagesFrom the beginning, America has been a safe place for the fostering and cultivating of new thoughts and ideologies, but not without repercussion. This is evident in the life of both John Winthrop and James Madison. From early on in their political careers, both leaders faced political opposition. John Winthrop left familiarity in search of religious freedom and the pursuit of a life pleasing to God. James Madison, in creativity, thought of an entirely renovated way to successfully restructure theRead MoreThe American Dream By John Winthrop1168 Words   |  5 Pagesstability, etc. It is â€Å"the pursuit of individual achievement without consideration for moral or legal restrictions† (Angulski, 2013). This idea dates back as far as 1630 to the puritan colonists. It was first established within a sermon given by John Winthrop while sailing to Massachusetts. This sermon set into motion the ideals that we have adapted today enveloping the â€Å"American Dream†. From then on Americans put their faith in the theory that if you work hard and do the right thing you will manifest