The Last Tycoon Essays - Films, The Last Tycoon,

The Last Tycoon Infatuating Idealism in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Last Tycoon Idealism Is undoubtably present in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Last Tycoon. Infatuation may be a better word, for that was exactly what possessed the main character, Monroe Stahr. He was totally engorged with one Kathleen Moore. He idealized Miss Moore as the second coming of his deceased wife Minna Davis. Stahr was a true man of men that had little to do with women since the tragic passing of his wife. He would rather put his feet up with a cigar and shoot the breeze with the boys. Yet once he laid eyes on Kathleen for the first time, all of that changed. It was love at first sight. Kathleen and Stahr meet after an earthquake rocked Los Angles. Stahr was surveying the damage done to the studio, when a prop came floating by with two "dames" clinging to it for their lives. A stage hand rescued and presented them to Stahr for judgement. That was the moment that would change everything. The following excerpt is a narration of what was going through Stahr's mind when he was struck blind by Cupid's golden arrow. "Smiling faintly at him from not four feet away was the face of his dead wife, identical even to the expression. Across the four feet of moonlight, the eyes he knew looked back at him, a curl blew a little on a familiar forehead; the smile lingered, changed a little according to pattern; the lips parted--the same." (Chp II, p.26) She was Minna, but she wasn't. All her features were Minna's, except her voice. "--and then he heard another voice speak that was not Minna's voice." (Chp II, p.26) She was obviously British and not glamorous American, as Minna's had been. Nevertheless, she was a replica of his life long love. Stahr determined right then that she would be the next. Before he could get himself together, Kathleen was whisked away by the police for trespassing. Stahr spent the next few days trying to track her down. By this time he had fully succumbed to her rapture. On their third meeting, they happened to stumble upon each other at a posh Hollywood party. Her beauty brought back all the sensations that had trapped him initially. The scene was as follows: "...the white table lengthened and became an altar where the priestess sat alone. Vitality welled up in him, and he could have stood a long time across the table from her, looking and smiling...(while dancing) she was momentarily unreal. Usually a girl's skull made her real, but not this time--Stahr continued to be dazzled as they danced out along the floor...." (Chp. V, p.73) Stahr wanted desperately to have her as is own, but she was not to be had. Unbeknownst to him she was engaged to be married. She tried to tell him, but could not. She too was in love. The romance that followed was of a whirl wind pace that ended with a "Dear John" letter. She could not bring herself to tell him in person. Kathleen had fallen in love with Stahr although she resisted it by the fact she was already involved with another man. His ideal was not to be realized. His ideal goddess was the beginning of Stahr's downfall. The simple fact that Stahr was unable to win Kathleen away from her fianc? causes him to become extremely miserable. In F. Scott Fitzgerald's own words: "Stahr is miserable and embittered toward the end." (Author's Notes, p.149) He continued to love her to the end, as he lost his life, he lost it lovelessly. All this fuss over a woman might seem a bit trivial, but in true love, nothing is trivial. Monroe Stahr idealized Kathleen Moore as the true cure to all his ills and loveless nights. To him, she was Minna Davis. In being, but not spirit, she was a replica. This theme of idealism is similar to what Richard Slotkin reflects as "the American dream of perpetual self-improvement and transcendence." (22) Stahr idealized Kathleen as his way of perpetual self-improvement. He believed that Kathleen was the ticket he was waiting for, the ticket to happiness and closure. His life was a non stop slug

Essay Writing Topics Samples

Essay Writing Topics SamplesThere are many different essay writing topics samples that you can find on the internet. And this includes essay writing topics and essay topic ideas. Now you may think that you need to know about all these topics in order to be successful with your essay writing. But you do not have to know all of them or even some of them.Here is a simple trick you can use to see what is out there and then you can narrow it down. The trick is simple, if you do not see what you want, try and search for it in the online writing sample forums. You will find these kinds of forums, especially those sites that deal with colleges and universities.You will find these forums are full of possible topics samples to help you create your essay. This way you will be able to narrow down your options. You may even find some topics samples that you do not like.The easy way to do this is to just go to the forums and then start browsing. There are many topics samples that may be better tha n the ones you are looking for.One more thing you can do to make sure that you find the best topics samples is to ask your classmates. They will probably be able to give you some ideas for topics samples. They may also be able to help you make up topics based on the topics samples they have seen.If you are a student, chances are that you have seen other students taking a class. So, if you are fortunate enough to be in their same class, you may want to ask them for some topic ideas and topics samples.One thing you should remember is that if you do not have time to write your own essays, you do not have to be a professional to write an essay. You can just take a few classes to learn how to write a great essay.Maybe you are a college graduate and you do not want to be a teacher or high school students, you can now learn how to write an essay as well. As long as you take your time to write a good one. You will not regret it.

The Catholic Church Through The Eyes Of Geoffrey Chaucer Essays

The Catholic Church Through The Eyes of Geoffrey Chaucer Geoffrey Chaucer uses some of the characters in the Canterbury Tales The Prologue in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales to point out his view of what was right and wrong within the Church during his time. He uses the Prioress, Monk, Friar, Summoner, and Pardoner to illustrate what he saw wrong within the Church. Chaucer uses the Clerk, Parson and the Plowman to illustrate the attributes the Church should possess. The Prioress is a nun who is probably equal to the rank of Mother Superior. She does not show the humility or dedication to God. Her compassion is shown towards animals. She makes sure her animals eat the best meats. She is more focused on natural love than agape love by the brooch she wears which says Love conquers all. She does not spend her time fasting because the author lets us know that she is fat. In correlation to the Church, the Prioress shows the Church's lack of dedication and humility towards God. The Church is more concerned with matters which do not deal with the deliverance of the human soul. Like the Prioress, the Monk does not walk in his calling. He is the monastery's outrider. This position allows him to roam the countryside at his will. Instead of being separate from the world, he is of the world. He loves to hunt and enjoys riding his horse. He does not value the teachings of his monastery because he feels they are somewhat strict. The Monk does not like to study. Why should he study, and drive himself mad, Over a book in a cloister always to pour, Or work with his hands, and labor, As St. Augustine bids? How shall the world be served? Let Augustine have his work to himself reserved (12-13). Chaucer sees the Church through the Monk as being more involved in its own affairs. The Church has gotten away from the basic Bible teachings and has instituted its own. Huburt, the Friar, like the Prioress and Monk, is not operating within his vocation. He does not spend time with the poor ministering to their phsyical needs as well as their spiritual needs. The Friar believes that because of his status he couild not spend time with these needy people. It was not fitting, considering his position, To be acquainted with sick lepers. It is not creditable, it holds no profit To deal with any such paupers (16). He spends time begging for donations from the rich farmers and other worthy women of the town. For a price he will hear confessions and give penance. He believes that ... instead of weeping and prayers, Men should give silver to the poor friars (15). This pilgram shows the Church being more concerned with the financial support for itself than the spiritual needs of the congregation. The Church has devised a way in which to collect money from it's members by promising them forgiveness with dollar signs attached to it. The Summoner is responsible for issuing summons for the Church to people who have violated Church doctrine. His position is interesting because he is handing out summons for people to appear before the Church when he himself is living in direct violation of Church doctrine. The Church seems to see what is wrong with everyone else but cannot focus on it's own violations of the doctrine taught in the Bible. The Pardoner is the most corrupt pilgram. He provides paper indulges for a price. These indulges are part of the scam the Pardoner is running. He also offers junk for sale which he says were relics of the saints. The Church has developed another mechanism for making money. It uses the selling of crosses, statues, and other trinkets which are supposed to remind us of what Christ has done for us. If these items were really to remind us of what Christ did for us they would be free, since Christ gave his life freely. The Clerk is the first pilgram Chaucer birngs into the script which has some godly attributes. He spends time in prayer and fasting because the narrator lets us know that he ...wasn't exactly fat, ...(19) and ...busily prayed for souls (20). He