The City of Ashes
Many characters in novels go through life changing experiences and change mentally and physically because of it. The City of Ashes takes place in present day New York. The novel is filled with forbidden attractions and magical life altering experiences. The author, Cassandra Clare, uses Jace Wayland as a flawless, dynamic character who unintentionally grasps readers’ hearts with his unwavering love for Clary Fray, with internal and external conflicts, and confidence driven by passion.
For instance, when Jace cannot seem to charm his way out of a conflict, he often finds himself in trouble. Jace is torn within because of his desires for his sister, Clary, when he is forced by the Seelie Queen to kiss her in order to release her from spending eternity in the Seelie Court. There is external conflict between Jace and the Seelie Queen because of her, forcing him to kiss his sister, which is frowned upon by the whole world. Jace experiences internal conflict
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Although, in a split second his confidence can be altered. The author states, “The ice in Jace’s chest turned into liquid fire; he clenched his hands at his sides as Simon took Clary gently by the arms.” Jace cannot stand the idea of Clary and Simon together. Although, he quickly gains his composure back when Clary looks hesitantly around the room trying to escape Simon. The look on Clary’s face gives relief for Jace’s fearful heart and allows him to surmise that Clary has not lost her faith in them. Jace’s belief in their clandestine relationship is inspirational to all readers. He is standing up for what he believes and is not backing down on his desires, even if the whole world is against him. This shows he is mentally and physically strong, capable of overcoming many situations. With this inner relief Jace has enough confidence to continue their relationship with only minor
The book I choose for the book talk is “Dead and gone” written by Norah McClintock, this book talks about a murder mystery of Tricey Howard. The main character of the story is Mike, an orphan whose parents got killed in a car crash. He lives with his foster father named John Riel, who was once a police officer. During a swim meet, Mike see Mr.Henderson is staring at a girl name Emily without stopping. Then he informs Emily about what happened in the community center. However, as return Emily blackmails Mike to investigate Mr. Henderson. During the investigation, Mike finds nothing suspicious, but realize Emily is the daughter of Tricey Howard. Tricey Howard was murdered years ago, but the police still haven’t find the real killer. At the meantime,
Jace Witherspoon is a determined, responsible, and secretive sixteen year-old teen. Throughout the whole story, Jace has one goal: to save his mother from the pain afflicted by his father. He never gives up on his objective, even when his older brother Christian was ready to move on. The mother soon rejects the brothers’ attempt to rescue her, and Jace is unable to cope with it, shedding many tears, showing how unyielding he was about the situation the whole time. Adding on the Jace’s character, he did not blame anyone for him hitting his ex-girlfriend except himself. This shows he is able to accept responsibility for his actions, not blaming Lauren even though she slept with his supposed best friend. This is where his brother sees the difference between Jace and his father; Jace knows that he is wrong...
The valley of ashes is “a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent efforts, or men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air” (23). Here, The Valley of Ashes is regarded as complete destitution and hopelessness. The people known as the lower class do not wish to live in the valley of ashes. This is why people, like Myrtle try to do anything to get away from it but instead it becomes unachievable for them.
In this quote, the Valley of Ashes is portrayed as a “desolate area of land” where the glory of West Egg and New York are separated by a valley characterized as “grotesque,” dim, and “crumbling.” Fitzgerald includes this setting to describe important characters, such as Myrtle Wilson, who have an extreme influence on others because they are considered impoverished and trashy with no class. The Valley of Ashes symbolizes despair and poor lifestyles, which is why Myrtle is able to be used by Tom, who, in disdain, no longer shows feelings for his wife. The road is also personified to represent those who reside in the West Egg, who are snobby and want nothing to do with the poor.
Another internal conflict is how Lilly feels responsible for her mother?s death. When she was four, she accidentally shot her mom, and wasn?t able to forgive herself. The reason she runs away in the first place is because her dad tells her that her mom left her, which is both an internal, and man versus man conflict. She?s mad at her dad for saying it, but can?t fully convince herself that it isn?t true. There?s a man versus society conflict when men beat up Rossaleen because of her color, and another internal conflict when May is so overcome with grief that she cant stop crying.
Cassandra Clare, author of the best-selling novel City of Bones, once wrote, “To love is to destroy, and to be loved is to be the one destroyed”. As an author of a series of young adult books, Clare wishes to send a message to adolescent readers regarding the destruction that young, passionate love can lead to. A similar theme is explored in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, where two adolescents from feuding families fall in love with one another. When they first see each other on the night of the Capulet party, they quickly fall in love and are soon married by Romeo’s friend and mentor, Friar Lawrence. Their love, being full of passion in its quick course, faces many trials such as Romeo’s banishment from their hometown of Verona, as well as Juliet being forced to marry Paris, kinsman of the Prince. The affection they feel for one another, being all consuming, often leads them to want to sacrifice everything for each other, including their own lives. Their self-destructive, rushed love ends with their deaths, occurring just a multiple days after they first met. In William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, many characters such as Friar Lawrence, Romeo, and Juliet illustrate that young, passionate love is a powerful force that leads to destruction.
Although we spent little time here in the novel, F. Scott Fitzgerald utilized “The Valley of the Ashes” to its fullest. In this novel “The Valley of Ashes” symbolizes a great number of issues of morality in this society. “The Valley of Ashes” was located between New York and the two Eggs. “The Valley of Ashes” is a barren wasteland made of the ashes of which were dumped there as a byproduct of various modern items and was polluting this area. Although the valley of ashes is treated as ““nowhere”, a place to be driven through on the way to “somewhere” by the characters from both East and West Egg.”(Angela D. Hickley 1), Fitzgerald riddles it with heavy symbolism. Fitzgerald uses “The Valley...
...someone who is respected and is watched upon by many. He becomes in control of his own circus and leaves everything in the town of Deptford behind. He does not hold on to any of the guilt that he had handed to him by his father but instead grows from all of it. He also chooses not to see his mother even though he knows she is not doing so well. Magnus becomes a completely different person from who he was as a child. The only thing that is remaining from him as a child was magic.
“The valley of ashes is bounded on one side by a small foul river, and when the drawbridge is up to let barges through, the passengers on waiting trains can stare at the dismal scene for as long as half an hour”(Fitzgerald 28). This is representation of the social classes and how the wealthy not only perturbedly but physically ruined the townspeople. In pursuit of their own success and happiness the affluent individuals have no regard for the others that are being dragged through their path. The valley of ashes also represents not only the rich hurting others, but themselves and making their souls hollow. In result of this it overall symbolizes hopelessness and
The book is set in Reno, Nevada. Kristina gets clean for her baby but only a couple of short months after she has Hunter, she starts getting bored again. Het mother and step father have agreed to look after Hunter if she gets her GED and goes to college. Kristina decides to hit up her old party buddy, Robyn. Sneaking around her parents back in Crank, has made Kristina's parents put her on restrictions and be watched at all times. But Kristina's mom thinking it's a "college fair", agrees to let her go. While at Robyn's, she meets Trey. A roommate of a friend who would become the love of her life. Due to college, Kristina only sees Trey every few weeks and gets a phone call or two a week since Trey is always "busy". She gets a job shortly after at 7/11 so she can support her "old" habit, which she claims she can still have a great life and not become addicted by smoking small quantities. To everyones surprise, Kristina's father deci...
He then starts going into detail about the two mortal cities. The first city opens with a description of a wedding and a wedding feast. Sharing details such as the glowing torches, the choirs singing, the young men dancing with flutes and harps, and the women who rushed to the doors, were moved with wonder. Then it goes into a mass of people streaming into the marketplace where a quarrel had broken out and two men struggled over the blood-price for a kinsman just murdered. Their quarreling is settled when they call for a ...
The valley of ashes is a place between New York and the West Egg, where the eyes of T.J. Eckleberg lie. The valley of ashes is a place in which carries many trials for each of the characters, holding their hardships while they all try to reach the common goal of the American dream. The valley of ashes isn’t a place of wealth or prosperity; however every person must first pass through it to get to a better place. In his novel, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the valley of ashes, the eyes of T.J. Eckleberg, and the light symbolically.
Honesty on the Line Honesty is a value that is imperative to the trust and honor of a person. When the main character in “Ashes” by Susan Beth Pfeffer, is faced with a decision that may cause her to break the trust she has with her mother, she is torn as to what she should do. The main character is Ashleigh, a middle school age girl, whose parents are divorced. Within the last couple months previous to the story, Ashleigh had decided she liked her dreamer of a father more than her practical, prepared mother.
The valley is described as a “desolate” place where “ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills into grotesque gardens”. (21) Ashes that dominate the area take the shape of natural greenery. The term “grotesque gardens” uses alliteration, with juxtaposition; to highlight the odd pairing of ashes and greenery. Ashes are associated with death while ridges and “gardens” represent the potential to flourish and grow in the promise and ideal of equality as in “the trees that had made way for Gatsby’s house, had once pandered in whispers to the last and greatest of all human dreams.” (143) The trees that once stood here were able to speak to man’s dreams, which allude to America, the land able to speak to man’s dreams and capacity for wonder. All this is replaced by grey ash that suffocates the inhabitants, restricting them to their social class. This presents a bleak image of hopelessness that surrounds the valley.