In, “Man with the Iron Heads,” Gary Paulsen used indirect characterization to develop Jay’s character. The most effective type of indirect characterization used to develop Jay’s character was actions. I was able to learn a great deal about Jay through the way he conducted himself throughout the story. Jay is watchful. Jay is on the lookout for Blade and Blade’s boys. According to the text, “I watch for them. I watch for Blade’s boys every waking minute of every day.” (6). This action reveals that Jay doesn’t want to get caught by Blade. Through Jay’s actions we learn he is also shy. This is shown when the man who makes the iron heads smiles at him and Jay slowly waves back. This is a timid response. The text states, “And he smiles. Nods and smiles to say hi, …show more content…
so I raise my hand, kinda wave back at him.” (13).
Jay is shy due to the limited amount of social interaction that he has experienced. We also discover that Jay is afraid of Blade. Jay is afraid of what Blade could do to him because of what Blade has done to other people. On page 13, “If I don’t get back up to Layla’s apartment soon, I’ll run into Blade’s people.” (13). This shows that since Jay is afraid of Blade, so he quickly hurries back to Layla’s apartment so he doesn’t get caught by Blade. Jealous is another way one could describe Jay. Jay is envious of what other people have since he has so little. The author states, “They made us read that book you wrote and everybody in your book was happy, living in good houses, talking about their problems until the problems went away.” (16). Jay wishes he had the type of life described in the book. The way the author explains how Jay finds food shows he is resourceful. Jay doesn’t live in a family where groceries are purchased regularly or in enough of a quantity. The text states, “I used to shop for food at Skinny Tony’s corner store half a block away. I used to shop without money, but Skinny Tony got too smart.” (18). Jay would steal food from the shelves since his aunt only
purchased big cans of beans. Another example in the text, “After I hit up Layla’s ma and my aunt, I’ll go through some other apartments where the locks don’t work right.” (19). Jay takes advantage of the unlocked apartment to get money for food. Jay is lonely. Jay likes to be alone. This is shown, “Now up the back stairs that smell like pee so bad you can’t breathe. Fast. Quiet. Looking around the whole time. No one sees me. I don’t see no one. I like it that way.” (14). The last sentence shows how Jay is shy and likes it when he is alone. That means that he is safe from Blade at that moment. Jay is brave. The text states, “Nobody stuck their hand up but me.” (15). This shows that Jay is not afraid to make his point heard. In conclusion, the most effective type of indirect characterization used to develop Jay’s character, “Man with the Iron Heads,” was by his actions. I was able to learn a great deal about Jay through the way he conducted himself throughout the story. Jay is watchful, shy, afraid, jealous, resourceful, lonely, and brave. These character traits about Jay are given to the reader through Jay’s actions.
You can see that he's strong but he's also frightened. As you move your eyes towards what's behind him you notice that his hand is crippled and was probably burned. Your eyes meet his and they're a piercing blue. You are so struck by his looks you can't wait to go talk to him and find out about his personality traits. Johnny Tremain's personality was very fascinating, and it was most intriguing to read about how he changed from a bossy, impatient boy, into a thoughtful, patient gentleman.
In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby provides the reader with a unique outlook on the life of the newly rich. Gatsby is an enigma and a subject of great curiosity, furthermore, he is content with a lot in life until he strives too hard. His obsession with wealth, his lonely life and his delusion allow the reader to sympathize with him.
Jay’s friend, Chris says “He’s, he’s an alpha, he’s definitely an alpha male. And he always seemed very honest with who he was. He was kind of this, beautifully unconventional guy.”...“He loved animals, he once bought a giant rat eating frog, and he loved the outdoors. Fishing, hiking, swimming. He rode BMX bikes at an old skate park.” Stella Armstrong said “He seemed like he was streetwise,...or he was able to take care of himself. He reminded me of-- he would be that friend if you got in trouble you would call.” “Jay’s tough upbringing, that he didn’t have adults helping him set a moral compass, that he’s hard working and loves animals and is good with kids, that he’s headed to college and wants to better himself. Wong: “Koenig allows Rabia Chaudry, a family friend, to provide our first portrait of Adnan: “He was an honor roll student, volunteer EMT. He was on the football team. He was a star runner on the track team. He was the homecoming king. He led prayers at the mosque. Everybody knew Adnan to be somebody who was going to do something really big.” Koenig largely confirms Chaudry’s description, with the caveats that he was paid to be an EMT, wasn’t a “star” on the track team, and was prom prince, not homecoming king.” Serial, “Some kids
In The Great Gatsby, it is evident by Jay Gatsby’s surroundings that his life is the epitome of the American Dream, although it clearly is not to the people that are closest to him. As Bruce stated the next book that was to be read (61 panel 5), Alison Bechdel describes her father as the representation of a man that does not reflect upon his choices before making them. Similar to him, Bruce Bechdel portrays himself as a lavish scholar, with many acquire abilities far beyond anyone else, when in reality every aspect of his life is a façade used to show that he is great and can take care of himself. Through the characters Jay Gatsby and Bruce, it is imperative to note that they coincidentally succumb to the same storyline of confused men who succumb to the outrages of society while changing their attitudes without realizing it as stated in The Great Gatsby as Jay cannot be recognized as money changes men (Fitzgerald 81). Although Bruce Bechdel is not expressively wealthy, his goal remains to be condescending to everyone around him despite the comments he receives from his peers or outsiders as his actions become those of a person that does not need anyone in order to become successful which then leads to Bruce’s egocentrism. Jay Gatsby also shows signs of a rich man, and acquires the materialistic mindset of rich men, whereas Bruce Bechdel does not demonstrate nor show those signs but he simply puts his mind in a world where he is the authority and everyone else is a subordinate to
Employing Gatsby’s reactions towards Daisy, Nick notices that Jay realizes the power of affluence, understanding
Self-deprecation makes the readers think that Nick Carraway is weak and thus, questioning his ability to narrate the story as an unbiased and upstanding gentleman. In addition, self-deprecation can be a sign of deeper routed issues that have not surfaced within Nick Carraway. An instance of self-deprecation by Nick Carraway is when he discusses his house next to Jay Gatsby’s mansion and other wealthy families, “small eyesore, even though it offers him the consoling proximity of millionaires”. He calls his house an ‘eye sore’ as it is not has grandiose as the other mansions that surround his abode. By doing so, the readers may question his confidence and whether he is joking or he actually feels that he is not as successful as those around him. As advice to help Nick overcome his self-deprecation, he should find methods to boost his confidence. Self-deprecation is seen as a form escape from reality by using laughter and jokes to deter the attention. By bolstering his confidence, he will no longer need to self-deprecate and can see himself as an equal to the rest of the wealthy families in the area. This also makes Nick Carraway a stronger narrator as he does not doubt himself, thus the reader does not doubt him as
Jay Gatsby believes he can buy happiness. For example, Gatsby's house is “ A factual imitation of some Hotel De Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool and more than forty acres of lawn and garden” (The Great Gatsby 9). His house is nothing more than an perfect symbol of his vast income. Gatsby uses the house in an attempt to win happiness and respect from his peers. Furthermore, Gatsby also tries to impress others with such unimportant possessions as his clothing, as when Daisy emotionally comments, ”beautiful shirts… It makes me sad because I have never seen such beautiful shirts before”(98). Crying over articles of clothing is outrageous, yet it is not the shirts that overwhelm Daisy. Their symbolism of Gatsby’s unlimited wealth and faith in money is truly saddening. Also, Gatsby realizes that Daisy’s main and only concern in life is money. Gatsby pursues immoral and often illegal actions in pursuit of wealth, subconsciou...
" well-to-do people in this Middle Eastern city for three generations. ".. pg.2 Why did he have to lie when he knew that if they really got to know him they would find out the truth. Jay gave everyone the impression that he was this kind. of a rich, snobbish guy.
Jay Gatsby’s insignificant upbringing gave him reasons to make himself better and constantly look for ways to improve as a person and contribute to society. When Gatsby’s father arrives at his son’s house, he meets Nick. Mr. Gatz shows Nick a page from an old book of Gatsby’s. On the page was a outline of a young James Gatz’s day, including a list of general resolves and very organized schedule. Some of his resolves included: “no wasting time at Shafters or, no more smoking or chewing, and be better to parents” (173). These resolves indicate that Gatsby was trying to get rid of bad habits and be a better person. Raised by poor and unsuccessful farmers, Gatsby always had a vision that he was destined to be the “Jay Gatsby of West Egg” (98).
When you take them together, however, you discover the complicated and unique individual that is Jay Gatsby. One of the traits of Gatsby that makes him truly great is his remarkable capacity for hope. He has faith that what he desires will come to him if he works hard enough. He does not comprehend the cruelty and danger that is the rest of the world. Gatsby, while a man of questionable morals, is as wide-eyed and innocent as a small child in his views of the world.
He manipulated Nick ask Daisy to tea and keep it a secret. He manipulates Daisy to keep seeing him, even though she is married. He is good at getting what he wants, as is seen many times throughout the movie. Jay is rich and is able to use money however he wants, so he buys luxurious things that he does not personally want or use, but buys them to impress Daisy. That is a small way that Jay manipulates Daisy. If everyone manipulated each other, like most characters in The Great Gatsby do, no one would have any true intentions and things would not work. For example, it did not end well for anyone in the movie because they all manipulated each other. Daisy ended up where she always ends up; unhappily stuck with her husband. Nick ended up insane, and constantly questioning others motives. Jay ended up
Jay Gatsby is the epitome of a tragic hero; his greatest attribute of enterprise and ambition contributes to his ultimate demise, but his tragic story inspires fear amongst the audience and showcases the dangers of allowing money to consume one’s life. To qualify as a tragic hero, the character must first occupy a "high" status position and also embody virtue as part of his innate character. In Fitzgerald’s novel, the tragic hero Jay Gatsby was not born into wealth but later acquired social status through bootlegging, or selling illegal alcohol during Prohibition. When he was a child, James “Jimmy” Gatz was a nave boy from North Dakota without any family connections, money, or education who was determined to escape his family’s poverty through hard work and determination. Once he enrolls in the army, however, Gatsby gets “’way off my ambitions, getting deeper in love every minute, and all of a sudden I didn’t care” (151) when he meets who he believes to be the girl of his dreams—Daisy.
The author illustrates through the characters that the search for wealth, love, or fame or going after the past ideals may not lead to true happiness. Jay Gatsby, the central figure of the story, is one character who longs for the past. Surprisingly, he devotes most of his adult life trying to recapture it and, finally, dies in its pursuit. In the past, Jay had a love affair with the affluent Daisy. Knowing he could not marry her because of the difference in their social status, he leaves her to amass wealth to reach her economic standards.
Throughout the novel, it explains what kind of person Jay Gatsby is. It is evident that he is an attractive male with magnetism and charisma.
The novel, The Great Gatsby focuses on one of the focal characters, James Gatz, also known as Jay Gatsby. He grew up in North Dakota to a family of poor farm people and as he matured, eventually worked for a wealthy man named Dan Cody. As Gatsby is taken under Cody’s wing, he gains more than even he bargained for. He comes across a large sum of money, however ends up getting tricked out of ‘inheriting’ it. After these obstacles, he finds a new way to earn his money, even though it means bending the law to obtain it. Some people will go to a lot of trouble in order to achieve things at all costs. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby, conveys the numerous traits of Jay Gatsby through the incidents he faces, how he voices himself and the alterations he undergoes through the progression of the novel. Gatsby possesses many traits that help him develop as a key character in the novel: ambitious, kind-hearted and deceitful all of which is proven through various incidents that arise in the novel.