ipl-logo

How Does Butler Use Power In The Great Gatsby

1541 Words7 Pages

Butler and Fitzgerald’s depiction through literature of how power is the needed in order to have the American Dream.

Butlers and Fitzgerald both use power as a theme in their literature. Power is a creative term because it can mean many things, power can be defined as the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others over the course of events. It may also be defined as political or social authority of control that is exercised by a government which would allow me to expand on race and classes. Power is important to analyze when analyzing the American Dream because both author’s use power as a symbol of receiving love, money or a source to fulfill their desires, which is what the American Dream consists of. I want to use a book written by Frederick Douglass and a book written by Peter Bufett title “Life,” In my analysis to expand on power and what the results of power may be.
In the book titled The Great Gatsby, written by, F. Scott Fitzgerald the …show more content…

Kevin says “Mr. Weylin doesn’t like the way you talk. I don’t think he’s had much education himself, and he resents you…. Weylin was warning me that it was dangerous to keep a slave like you- educated, maybe kidnapped from a free state- as far north as this”(Pg. 80 Butler). Kevin highlights the fear that a white man has about an educated back then. In the book, Narrative of the life of Fredrick Douglass, gives insight of what impacts learning can have on a slave that would threaten a white man dream. Douglass explains what his slave master Mr. Auld said about a slave learning. Mr. Auld said “If you give a nigger a inch, he will take an ell. A nigger should know nothing but to obey his master- to do as he is told to do. Learning would spoil the best nigger in the world”. (Pg.63

Show More
Related

Comparing Plato's Republic And Frederick Douglass

936 Words | 4 Pages

Douglass knew that the only way to be treated like a human being -- and eventually become on of the most successful black men of the nineteenth century -- was through learning. Learning can be tough and painful, but it is through the pain that people grow and learn to thrive. Both the man in Plato’s Republic and Frederick Douglass learned to breathe through the pain as they went about their learning experiences. Both works illustrate the idea of enlightenment through learning and how painful the brutal reality of truth is. While one is metaphor and one is autobiographical, they show that if one can learn to get passed the pain, you can free yourself and experience a world you never knew

Read More

Fourth Of July Essay

1350 Words | 6 Pages

Baldwin will be remembered as one of the greatest writers, especially for his essays on the experiences that black people had in America. Baldwin had one goal throughout this essay and it was to specify why education was important when he said, “The purpose of education, finally, is to create in a person the ability to look at the world for himself, to make his own decisions, to say to himself this is black or this is white.” Baldwin concluded that education is important because it forces people to know their own morality. Baldwin’s theory closely aligns with Douglass’ thoughts because at the end of Douglass’ speech he criticizes America for its mindset towards slavery. If an individual were to get educated correctly and actually know the importance their education, Douglass wouldn’t have to address this problem to America because every person would have and use their own morality and/or knowledge.

Read More

Frederick Douglass Why I Learned To Read And Write Analysis

582 Words | 3 Pages

Douglass began to view reading as a curse more than a blessing; a way in which he felt more imprisoned by the slave state he was in. Thus, the more he read the more he began to detest enslavers; which nonetheless in his mind would be nothing but thieves whom robbed slave’s homes. For it was not only reading but his ceaseless mind getting the best of him; such reading would create endless thoughts which haunted him and made him wish that he would remain an ignorant slave. Nonetheless, during Douglass’s thoughts, Douglass began to learn to

Read More

Frederick Douglass Manhood Analysis

203 Words | 1 Pages

In his narrative, Frederick Douglass explained the concept of manhood by emphasizing on how one should be acknowledge with their own identities and have their own possession of clothes, shelter, and foods as well as privileges that God has given them. Manhood is an important measurement for Douglass because every man discovers, have desires, and develop passions whenever a man looks into himself or by a mirror of reflection. Throughout his journey as a slave, Douglass observed and experiment the cruciality of mankind when one has the power to take control of their subjects. From Mrs. Auld’s amazing lessons, education has helped him not only able to read and write but also understand the reasons behind slavery existence (Douglass, pg 22-23).

Read More

The American Dream In The Great Gatsby And I Hear America Singing

785 Words | 4 Pages

How has the American Dream changed from the 1920’s to now and how has the theme of the American Dream been supported by works of American Literature. We will see how the American Dream though time did not follow what the founding fathers set out for us in the declaration of independence and when they said, “The authors of the United States’ Declaration of Independence held certain truths to be self-evident: that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness". We will see how the American Dream suffers, what an American Dream is centered on, and how, for some, the American Dream is unattainable. In "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, "I Hear America Singing" by Walt Whitman and in "Harlem" by Langston Hughes we see the American dream depicted, as the loss and utter death of a distracted corrupt American Dream, as the love of the American dream, and as the American Dream for Blacks in a time of segregation and discrimination.

Read More

Frederick Douglass Narrative Essay

793 Words | 4 Pages

Education gives hope for Douglass’s life since he began to truly understand what goes on in slavery. As he figured out more about the topic, his self motivation poured out hope in his life. As Frederick saw an opportunity to become

Read More

Essay On Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass

973 Words | 4 Pages

Because of this, he successfully creates a contrast between what the slave owners think of and treat the slaves and how they are. Douglass says that slave’s minds were “starved by their cruel masters”(Douglass, 48) and that “they had been shut up in mental darkness” (Douglass, 48) and through education, something that they were deprived of, Frederick Douglass is able to open their minds and allow them to flourish into the complex people that they are. By showing a willingness to learn to read and write, the slaves prove that they were much more than what was forced upon them by their masters.

Read More

Frederick Douglass Importance Of Education

836 Words | 4 Pages

Furthermore, Education opened Douglass’s eyes to the reality of his injustice as a slave; thus, compelling him to action as he recalls, “In moments of agony, I envied my fellow-slaves for their stupidity. ”(Douglass, 2014, p.133) Education caused Douglass heartache. While attaining his education benefited Douglass, he could not relate to his fellow slaves. The fellow slaves had the ability to remain content with their current state of being since it was all they had ever known. Douglass knew otherwise and longed for the forbidden life as a free man, as it changed from an unattainable idea into an achievable

Read More

Dehumanization Of Slavery

1638 Words | 7 Pages

Although it had been said 421 years ago this renowned proverb had cultivated itself as the apex of modern society. In addition to its modern influence, it had greatly impacted the decline of slavery. In the novel, “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass”, Douglass incorporates his acquisition of knowledge in order to implore others to conform to his cause. “These dear souls came not to Sabbath school because it was popular to do so, nor did I teach them because it was reputable to be thus engaged. Every moment they spent in that school, they were liable to be taken up and given thirty-nine lashes.

Read More

Education In The Narrative Of Frederick Douglass

1067 Words | 5 Pages

The level of education of the slaves on the plantation allow them to be manipulated by their masters. In many situations during the 1800s when slavery was prominent we can see that education holds power in society. Slave masters were educated and due to this, they were able to exert control over the slaves on the plantation. Douglass was self-educated and was able to analyze slave behavior and see slavery occur firsthand as a slave himself. In the book, we can see how the slave’s ignorance is actually bliss from the perspective of Douglass, how information like knowing how to read was withheld from the slaves and why and why slave-owners preferred non-educated slaves to educated ones.

Read More

The Power Of Education In A Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass

1673 Words | 7 Pages

The power of education is a main theme within A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Douglass 's experiences lead him to recognize its great power and to believe that education is a key in our life. It has the power to open all doors while providing us with several opportunities. Education makes the difference; it expands the human mind since the more we know the more enlightened we are. It makes us free and it avoid us to be enslaved, too.

Read More

The Facade Of The American Dream In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

1034 Words | 5 Pages

The Facade of the American Dream The American Dream is the opportunity for all Americans to live a life of personal happiness and material comfort, but is it actually achievable? F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, is a story of characters working hard to achieve the American Dream, but ultimately they are unable to ever realize their perfect life. The novel makes a strong naturalism argument about the rigid class system in society and the disillusionment of the American Dream.

Read More

Critical Analysis Of Learning To Read And Write By Frederick Douglass

1474 Words | 6 Pages

From the moment Frederick Douglass was given the tools to read “books” he was overcome with a joy and excitement for knowledge that inspired him to persevere regardless of the beliefs of others. As a slave Douglass was sent to live with his masters the Hugh family, during his time there his master’s wife began to teach him to read “books”. The lessons gave the young boy a chance to explore worlds he never imagined and was the beginning of an undeniable love for literature. Unfortunately when his master was informed of this he immediately halted all the lessons. Douglass recalls Mr. Hugh explaining to his wife that studying “books” was not suitable for slaves and

Read More

The American Dream In The Great Gatsby Essay

1133 Words | 5 Pages

Fitzgerald focused on the shift in the American Dream - from being the idea of self-fulfillment, dignity and comfort that is achieved through hard work, to being equated with the pursuit of wealth and power, and identifying happiness with having money. The novel depicts the rise and fall of the concept and describes the causes of its decay. The downfall of the American Dream is most accurately shown through the main protagonist of the story – Jay Gatsby. To reiterate, the American Dream is the concept that anyone can achieve a better life and become self-fulfilled, if they put enough effort to it and make the most of their abilities.

Read More

Othello Power Analysis

1029 Words | 5 Pages

A crucial part of power is gaining power which is shown in the novel by a diverse

Read More

More about How Does Butler Use Power In The Great Gatsby

Related Topics

Open Document