Friday, April 24, 2009

Dreamers

Please answer the following questions in a thorough response; please pay attention to fluency and conventions. I would like you to repsond to at least one other person within your reflection.

If you are a dreamer, do you have to be more careful or vigilant? Explain. Do the characters in Gasby have a dream? Is idealism a way for people to escape reality? Nick says to Gatsby, " You can't the repeat the past." What do you think? Are there repercussions? Can we reinvent what has already happened?

17 comments:

Danielle S said...

If you are a dreamer I do think in some way you have to be careful, but at the same time, not really. I think this because the only way to try new things, and figure out stuff you don't know, you would have to take risks. Without taking risks and chances with things you'll be in your own little world of knowledge. I think yes though, you would have to be careful. If what you are aiming for is very high and strict bound, then your route to get there should probably be along those lines as well. If your dream though, like Gatsby, is to get a girl, then being careful is probably not the right word to use. I think its more like having boundaries for yourself and not crossing them. So yes, the characters in the book do have dreams Gatsby's is to be with a girl. Nicks I think is to live with the quote in the beginning of the book when his father told him not to judge people. As although he didn't really like either Tom or Gatsby that well in the beginning, he still was nice and accompanied both of them. I can not tell yet what Daisy's dream is by chapter eight, but I think she wants to live in love, as because she is undecided which man to choose so far, maybe she is afraid to live alone, so her dream is to be with somebody. Their dreams are not very defined, but throughout the book there are many I can see. So if idealism means, “the tendency to represent things in an ideal form, or as they might or should be rather than as they are, with emphasis on values,” then my answer is yes, people can escape reality through this form of thinking. I think this because if you don't look as reality as something real, its almost like a dream; something there but not something you can grab.
Yes, I think Nick is correct. I do not think we can repeat the past, I think what has happened, has happened. I think that we can do the same thing in the past, but then it's called the present. I think the past can have a impact on the future, like how they cay “history repeats itself” but everything that repeats is not that same in anyway, so I do not think the past can really be repeated. I don't think we can reinvent things from the past because an invention is something new of any sort. And if you remake something from the past, its already been created, so no, nothing from the past can be reinvented.

Anonymous said...

I think that dreamers have good and bad aspects; they have the ability to reach for something new, and strive for something better. This also makes them venerable to reality's effect on their dreams. Things don't always go as planned, and what one may have envisioned as perfect can be skewed and destroyed by the clutches of reality. Dreamers should always strive for their dreams, but keep in mind that dreams don't always come true. All we can do is try our best, and in the scheme of things, that is all that matters.
The characters in The Great Gatsby have dreams, and this is especially true for Gatsby. It is shown throughout the book that Gatsby is a dreamer, and we have seen that he has turned some of these dreams into reality. Since he was young Gatsby wanted to achieve wealth and stature, and he achieved that goal (though immorally nonetheless). He also dreams of having Daisy, although this dream leads to his ultimate demise. This idea of his dreams destroying him makes him the tragic hero of the story.
I think idealism can serve as an escape, but it also serves a greater purpose. It would be nearly impossible to be happy knowing all of the horrible things that go on and can happen in life; but idealism goes beyond an escape route from life’s problems and becomes something that can make life better. Without it we would never achieve our dreams and live life to its fullest.
I believe the past can be repeated. We have physical proof all around us. Racism, genocide, all the evils that exist in the world are not new to us. History shows us what should and should not be repeated. It serves as a guide book for future genarations.
I also believe that we can reinvent the past. Not necessarily the events themselves, but in the way we look at them. The holocaust and was a tragedy that has devastated the world for generations; but we have turned our feelings of grief and mourning into something that brought us together. Religious intoleration and racism has become so much more frowned upon, and in this way we have learned to see past our differences.

brynns said...

I agree with Danielle if you enjoy dreaming then I think that you need to be careful, in some respect. Making mistakes are a way of life and sometimes you need to make mistakes in order to achieve you dreams. I think that the characters in Gatsby, do have dreams. I think that idealism is a way for people to escape their own reality. I think that if you are careful, then you cannot repeat the past. Most people learn from their mistakes that they make in their pasts, if you let them reoccur then you are stuck living in a circle life. "History has a chance of repeating itself". For Nick and Gatsby, I think that they are really careful, that they don't let themselves repeat the past. They have learned from their mistakes and they care too much about achieving their dreams to repeat their pasts.

Dani H said...

If you are a dreamer I do not think you should be more careful. The more we openly express our dreams of the future, the more we can create our own dreams. Also listening to another’s dreams can help stimulate new thoughts or actions you have for the future. I agree with Danielle, that if we don't take risks why is there a point to dream. With dreams should come risky actions? I do not believe the characters in Gatsby have a real dream. Well most don't, they want riches and wealth and all those they already have. Once you have achieved a dream, it's no longer a dream. Your dreams should always be changing as your life succeeds. I also think idealism is a way for people to escape reality. They can't handle the brutal truth so the escape it. I think you can repeat anything you want to. Though just because you may want to repeat something does not mean the people involved do. Though sometimes, good or bad, repercussions happen. We can act to prevent or cause these events but once they have started we can't go back in the past. I think we can reinvent what has happened, but should we. Let the past be the past and live in the future.

Abby S said...

Dreaming is something that should not be detained. Our minds create amazing worlds of new possibilities, why would we want to limit that? Free to discover, we should let our minds loose and explore the wonders we can create. Dreaming is a way for people to start to achieve what they most desire. A motivation that thrives through our veins. If we were to be a careful dreamers, what would we achieve in life? In the book, Gatsby does have a dream. A dream to be with the one he desires most forever. By waiting all the years Daisy has been married to Tom, proves that dreaming can become a reality. Gatsby's love for Daisy show a unique side to the book about dreaming. A side that may only occur on someone unique like Gatsby. I believe that the charecters in the book such as Tom and Mr. Wilson try to become the dreams that others have for themselves. Due to their wealth, they try to live up to the standard of what a perfect life would be back in the roaring twenties. The scandals, mistresses, and wild parties all come before anything they may want only for themselves. I wonder, if they were to rule out all of society when dreaming, would their outcome change? I most definetly think you can repeat the past. I agree with what Shelby says about how you may not be able to change the past, but you can relive it. People make mistakes once, twice, maybe even three times without changing or realizing the damage. There are repercussions of repeating the past. For one, if you were unhappy the first time, who knows how terrible you will feel repeating the same actions. I think that we can reinvent ourselves, which in a way is reinventing what has already happened. By reinventing ourselves we can learn from the past and focus on our brighter futures.

Tiffanyvvv said...

Being a dreamer you need to be more vigilant than careful because you need to be watchful for the barriers ahead or obstacles that may affect your dream. The characters in The Great Gatsby definitely have dreams whether its good or bad. I agree with Matt that Gatsby is the big dreamer in this book because how he achieved most of his goals from rags to riches. Gatsby is also the big dreamer because when his dreams die he dies as well. I believe that idealism is a way for a lot of people to escape reality. I don’t think it is possible to exactly repeat the past because as we grow as people, we change and everyone and everything is going to be different. I agree with Matt that the past history has been repeated but not exactly in the same way. Of course there are going to be repercussions any decision in life. I don’t believe that anything can be reinvented because something that has already been invent can’t be invented again.

Unknown said...

I believe that if you are dreamer, you are neither careful nor vigilant. You have an ambition for life, and you would do anything to achieve it, even if it meant making mistakes. You can’t always be making sure that everything is going the way you want it, because unexpected things come up all the time. If you are a dreamer, you take what you get and turn it into something useful. I agree with Dani H. when she says that most of the dreams in Gatsby are to be rich and wealthy. But I disagree, too, because Gatsby’s dream was to be with Daisy, or to have love. Idealism is the best way to escape reality. It lets you have a life you want, and everything you want, even if it never happens. Reality is cold and hard, but if you live in a dream, you could have the best life ever. It lets you forget about all the harsh things going on around you, and makes you think about good factors in life. I agree, yet disagree with Nick, because, yes, nothing happens the same way twice, but sometimes, similar things do occur. Hopefully, we learn from the first event, and make it better if something similar happens. We could reinvent ourselves, but that doesn’t mean it should be the exact same.

Meg P said...

I think a dreamer must be a little of both. I think it's important to know that dreams aren't as simple as they seem. A lot of times, if something seems so great, people miss consequences to them. It's just important to make sure it is what you really want. Also, a dreamer must be watchful. It is also important to know what it is you want, and when the opportunity is there. So, they must be careful in the sense that they know what they want and the consequences, and they must be watchful so that when the opportunity comes, they are prepared. I think all of the characters in Gatsby has a dream. Matt M. says that this is especially true for Gatsby, and I agree. However, I think all of the characters dream equally; Gatsby just is the one who fights for his dreams the most. Like Matt said, he worked hard to get money, a good life and home, throw great parties, and this, I believe, is all for his biggest dream: to be with Daisy. I think Daisy wants to be rich, but at the same time she wants love. I'm not sure if she knows exactly what is right for her to do and what exactly she wants. She is a confusing character. Tom has already achieved his dreams, and I'm not sure what else he wants. He was unloyal to Daisy, however now he wants her again. Does he want Daisy, or a loyal woman to love him, who Daisy used to be? Nick is a bit harder to read. I think Nick wants to resist falling into the way of life of the people surrounding him. I think this is hard for him, but he also tries to stay true to who he used to be. I don't think idealism is a way to escape reality. I think reality can't be avoided for long. For a week, on a vacation, maybe you can escape reality. But, eventually, you must face the truth of life. I disagree with Nick's statement that you can't repeat the past. I think sometimes the past isn't repeated because people learn from mistakes. But, then again, sometimes it takes many times to learn from your mistakes. And, this is okay, I think. I believe this is how people find who they are. By just living life, making mistakes, and learning, people define who they are.

Unknown said...

It depends on what the dreamer is careful or vigilant about, then it depends on their dreams. A single mother with two kids should prioritize on her kids before buying a boat.
Of course Gatsby had a dream, Daisy (as everyone else said). Nick dreamed that he would become successful and also for love. Daisy and Tom are looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, always over the next hill.
You can make amends for most previous actions, but you should be careful of who you are doing it for, yourself or to someone you wronged. But there is no easy way to change the past. The idea of repeating the past is sad and gray, that is what it means to be a ghost, endless repetition. To be happy you must live in the present or future not in memories of youth, even happy ones.

Katie H. said...

I think that if you are a dreamer that you don't have to be more careful. I actually think it's the opposite. If you are a dreamer you should be out there experiencing things and figuring out what you want to dream to do next. The only way to be a dreamer is to be adventurous and take risks. I think that Gatsby, Myrtle, Daisy, and Wilson all have dreams but it doesn't really seem like anyone else does. They are just along for the ride. Yes, I definately think that idealism is a way for people to escape reality, because they are dreaming of a perfect world and trying to live the life of that perfect world, when in reality, nothing is ever perfect. I think that you can't repeat the past in trying to re-live memories because you can never go back to when you were little and do something over again. It just doesn't have the same effect that it did back then and doesn't turn out how you expected, leaving you disappointed. I definately think there are repercussions from trying to repeat the past. People grow up and learn more and so people expect more out of them and to know better. Trying to re-live the past can actually undo what you were trying to re-live. I don't think we can reinvent what has already happened. I think that what has happened, has happened and it's in the past. There's nothing that you can do about it and there's no way to go back. People change and the environment changes so it will never be exactly the same as it was in the past.

Elycia O. said...

As a dreamer there is nothing in your way but the competition and that’s the one thing you should be careful of. As a dreamer society might not accept you but it’s up to the dreamer to let that bother them or persuade their thoughts. I think you must be more vigilant than careful because you need to be aware of reality, society, materialistic people, and things like that but if you are a true dreamer you can be aware of the distractions and let them bother you.
I think that the characters in The Great Gatsby have a dream but for most of them it’s very shallow. Their dream is to have a lot of money and party a lot; their dreams are to have good images. Things like that are shallow; however Gatsby had other dreams, to become a great man in society through depth, and true character. That’s a deep dream, but for the most part the characters in this book have very shallow dreams. Mr. Wilson had a little but deeper of a dream in a sense that he wanted to love his wife and do everything he could to make her happy because he truly loved her.
I think that the past can be repeated in a negative way if you never learned from your mistakes. It’s happened to me, just like everyone else. In a positive way you can repeat things and have it be a very good accomplishment, although it’s hard to achieve its possible! Repeating negative things in the past are easy while repeating positive things done in the past are hard to do but if you have the will power to learn from your mistakes you won’t have to repeat the negatives and if you work hard to achieve the positives they will be done!
I think that we can reinvent what has already happened in other areas, which make you learn the same thing from it.

Allie S said...

I agree with Danielle in that dreamers do have to be careful sometimes. The entire point of a being a dreamer is being careless and hanging onto dreams that may not necessarily be attainable. However so, it is still necessary to be careful in that you don't get your dreams completely crushed. I believe the characters in Gatsby do have a dream. They dream of true happiness. Each character in some way or another is stuck in a rut of a life of wealth. Each person has every single tangible thing that is said to equate to happiness, a wealthy spouse, a big house. Tom is looking for happiness in love with Myrtle. Daisy is looking for old memories of good times. Gatsby looking for renewed love, etc. I do not think idealism is a way to escape reality. Even if you live in your personal idealistic world, you never truly find happiness there, or truly escape what is really happening eith your emotions. There is no way to repeat the past however, it is possible to reinvent where you go after what has already happened.

Kris F. said...

I agree with Danielle dreamers tend to be more carefree because they are living on desires and hopes. They need to be much more careful otherwise everything around them could crumble and their dream would be diminshed. Dreamers need to plan out their moves before in order to find an effective way of achieving them. In the book "The Great Gatsby" many characters have dreams. Gatsby dreams of the times he had Daisy and also dreams of having her back once again. Nick dream of success and making it big like all the other people in West and East Egg. People use their dreams and idealism to escape reality because everyone needs a break once and awhile. Many go to sleep hoping for a good dream that they will remember. In the quote from Nick I would agree. It is impossible to repeat the past exactly. There could be times where it would be clsoe but things change all the time and it all becomes a little different than the past. We can't invent our pasts. We just have to look torwards the future and all it has in store for us.

Unknown said...

If you are a dreamer I think in some ways you do have to be careful but also not because as a dreamer you have to take risks. Following your dreams is all about taking risks. Without taking risks you will never know if you could have actually acheived that dream that you had. Many people have their own set boundaries and I think that as long as you follow your own boudaries and guidelines you can do anything that you want to do. The characters in Gatsby definately have a dream like Gatsby trying to get Daisy back. I think Daisy's dream is to just find someone to truly love and live life happy. Nick's dream is to live the way his father told him to live and to not judge people. I think idealism is not really a way to escape reality because everyone can have an ideal life. Everyone can want something ideal. You are aloud to believe in something that is not reality. When Nick says "You can't repeat the past." I disagree with him because you can repeat the past very many times. There is nothing that says it isn't possible. I think you should learn from the past and try not to repeat the bad things but it could happen. There are repercussions to repeating the bad things. The same bad thing can come about in many different ways. It is a definate possibility to reinvent what has already happened because you see things in history that are happening again. They are not necessarily the same exact things but they are similar and replicate each other.

ky k. said...

We all have dreams or dream about things we wish we could do. When we dream I agree with Shelby in that we have to take risks with our dreams because if we don’t then we won’t get anywhere. Our dreams should be a little out there and should push us because if they don’t we’re not reaching our potential. This is like saying if you don’t dream big then you’re only shortening the things you could’ve accomplished. In Gatsby, many characters have a dream: Gatsby dreams of getting Daisy back, Daisy had dreamed of becoming rich, and Mr. Wilson dreamed of going out West. Idealism is a way for people to escape reality, but in the end you’ll always have to face what’s true. Sometime you’ll have to deal with what you have and the truth. When Nick says to Gatsby, “You can’t repeat the past,” that’s not totally true. You always have a first impression, but many times you can have a second chance if you make a mistake. Although Gatsby wasn’t rich when he was first with Daisy, now that he is, he is getting another chance. Sometimes you may only get a first impression, but in many circumstances you can make up for the mistakes you have made in the past.

CodyK said...

If you’re a dreamer you have to be able to take risks because to reach your dreams, you have to go get them. The charicters in Gatsby have dreams, the main one being Gatsby himself. Gatsby was the “ultimate” dreamer in a sence with what he acomplished throughout his life. He dreamed of being wealty and having power and wouldn’t settel for anything else. Nick also has a dream in moving back out west after he gets sick/annoyed of the city life. Idealism is not a way to escape reality, no one is perfect and all you can ask for is your best. I agree with nick when he says “you cant repeat the past” . Everything in the past is in the past and there is no sence in worrying about it. Move forward and do the best you can with what u have in the present. You can try to reinvent what has happened but in reality you cant. There is just the future and new things to come, In Gatsbys mind he shouldn’t have been worrying about making his life with Daisy what it used to be. He should be worrying about making something new with Daisy. I agree with daniel when she is talking about how you don’t need to be careful because there is so much out there.

Morgan H said...

I beileive that if you are a dreamer than you must not be careful. Part of being a dreamer is to go for what you want and what you believe, no matter what the out come is. Matt commented that "they have the ability to reach for something new, and strive for something better." I completly agree with this statement and think it completly sums up what a dreamer is. When you are a dreamer;you have to be careful about your feelings, because your dreams may not work out,and you have to be able to accept that and find new dreams. In the book the Great Gatsby, I think that all of the charactors have a dream. Gatsby's is to get the girl, for most of them its to be rich and famous. Most of the charactors just have a broad dream, but Gatsbys is very defined and you know exactly what he wants. I believe that idealism is a way for people to escape reality. I believe this becuase idealism is something that you want but just cant have and I think that if you live in idealism you never face reality, which then means that you are escaping the truth. I both agree and disagree with this statement. I think that you can't go back in time and repeat things that have already happened, or try and change how they happened; yet I think that you can take your past expierences and learn from them and not make them again, or you can take those experiences and not take anything from them, and making the same choices; therefore, repeating the past. No,I don't believe that anything that has already happened can be reinvented. It happened and its in the past. You can do something again, and maybe keep it the same or change it but it will always be the 2nd,3rd, 4th ect.. that you do it or that it has happened. We are just better living our lifes and not looking back, only looking at the future, and what we can do to make it better than the past.