An American in Paris
Once upon a time there was an American man named Jerry Mulligan who lived in Paris. When he was discharged from the army he decided to become a painter and continue to live in Paris so he could just paint and study art. Paris is a place that a painter or artist is inspired. This is why Jerry loves it so much. Jerry lives 2 floors above a café in a little cramped apartment. But he is not complaining, he is lighthearted and fun. Jerry is popular with the children on the block because he gives them American Bubble Gum. Adam Cook is one of Jerry's very good friends in Paris. He is currently unemployed and keeps winning scholarships to stay overseas. Though, he is not doing much with any of them.
Adam works at a bistro down the street playing piano for Henri. Henri shows Jerry a picture of his young girlfriend. As he is describing his girlfriend Jerry imagines five different personality of young Lise. Jerry works in Montmartre selling his paintings on the street. He has a hard time with criticism though. One of his first customers we see he tells to "move on" because she is critical of his work. Jerry is fortunate to have Milo pass his way. A wealthy American woman takes a liking to Jerry and offers to buy two of his pieces. He travels with her in a chauffeured car to her hotel so she can be paid. Her parents are suntan oil founders and she is the heiress to their fortune. She takes an immediate liking to Jerry and invites him back to a small party later that evening. She tells him to have her driver take him home.
Later when Jerry arrives at the "party" he admires Milo's dress and wonders about the other party-goers because so far it is only to two of them. Milo said that they are the party. Jerry is not the type of guy that wants to be someone's escort. He offers to return the money and suggests that she find some other man to do this for her. She tells him that she is more interested in his work than him. She wants to help him make it big and introduce him to important art dealers and such. While at a club he has a chance encounter with the infamous Lise.
France has had a presence in North America since long before the birth of the United States. Most American history looks back at France's presence on the continent largely from the British side of events that occurred. W. J. Eccles' France In America introduces readers to French history in North America drawing largely from the french side of events. Eccles begins the book around the year 1500 with early french exploration and the events that eventually lead to colonization. France In America details the events that took place in France and french colonies from colonial beginnings to the years following the American Revolution.
Identity is something every human quests for. Individuals tend to manipulate views, ideas, and prerogative. Janie's identity became clay in her family and friends hands. Most noteworthy was Janie's grandmother, Nanny. Janie blossomed into a young woman with an open mind and embryonic perspective on life. Being a young, willing, and full of life, Janie made the "fatal mistake" of becoming involved in the follies of an infatuation with the opposite sex. With this phase in Janie's life Nanny's first strong hold on Janie's neck flexed its grip. Preoccupation with romantic love took the backseat to Nanny's stern view on settling down with someone with financial stability. Hence, Janie's identity went through its first of many transformations. She fought within her self, torn between her adolescent sanction and Nanny's harsh limitations, but final gave way and became a cast of Nanny's reformation.
Zoë is obsessed with finding ties to the outside world, depicted through her relationships with her mailman, her cab driver, her sister, and late night TV. “Zoë lived for the mail, for the postman...when she got a real letter, with a real full-price stamp, from someplace else, she took it to bed with her and read it over and over” (Moore 70). At Christmas, she tips two people and two people only: this mailman and Jerry, the cab driver who drives her to the airport when she makes her frequent trips to New York. It is intriguing that both of these people represent a link to the world beyond Paris, Illinois. Zoë describes the letters as being “real,” as if in contrast to her actual life in the Midwest, which she is never happy with. And Jerry the cabbie is her only friend, one of the few people or things Zoë ever talks about in a positive way, giving him the nickname Jare. The third and perhaps final person Zoe likes is her sister, 1,000 miles away in the faraway land of New York City, so opposite from her Midwestern suburb in Illinois. Lastly, “She also watch[es] television until all hours,” (Moore 71) which is a universally known form of escape. It is clear that confinement and escape are underlying themes throughout the
Maupassant, Guy De. “An Adventure in Paris”. The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction. Cassill, RV. New York: Norton & Company, Inc. 2000. 511-516 Print.
Each character in the novel has their own interpretation of the ‘American Dream – the pursuit of happiness’ as they all lack happiness due to the careless nature of American society during the Jazz Age. The American Dreams seems almost non-existent to those whom haven’t already achieved it.
When Meursault returns home he decides to take another day off and relax at the beach. On his way out he sees an old man beating his dog and cussing at it ruthlessly. Normally most people would be bothered by the fact of a man beating a small dog, but Muersault watches as if nothing bad were happening. When Meursault is at the beach he meets a girl, named Marie, which he finds very attractive. Meursault and Marie become very close. As the story progresses they begin taking part in sexual activities. Marie tells Muersault that she loves him and asks if he loves her back.
Many expatriates flocked to Paris to follow forerunners in the movement such as Ezra Pound and Gertrude Stein. Most of the expatriates wished to have an introduction to Gertrude Stein at her apartment. There they would discuss art, literature, and the ideals of America for hours on end. Gertrude Stein characterized the expatriates' view of America when she said, "America is my country, and Paris is my home town". (Stein) This idea, of having a place that you consider your home, but not your homeland, is the basis of the expatriate movement.
Janie’s life with Joe fulfilled a need -- she had no financial worries and was more than set for life. She had a beautiful white home, a neat lawn and garden, a successful husband, and lots of cash. Everything was clean, almost too clean. A sense of restraint is present in this setting, and this relates to the work as a whole due to the fact that this is the epitome of unhappiness for Janie.
In “The Discovery of What It Means to Be an American” by James Baldwin, written in 1961, he tells us he grew up in the United States but moved to Paris, France. He description of the differences of bring an American writer in Europe and the feeling of being released from American social norms and adjusting to European way of life through his experiences. Baldwin goes to describe his personal experiences as a writer, talking to people from all classes and parts of Paris. He tells us of how these experiences make him a better writer and how it changed his views on the “American Dream”. Baldwin goes on to tell us of the difference of his profession being seen as less suspicious and lack of a “fixed” society in Europe
The fairytale depiction of love and romance seems to no longer exist in society. With the growing divorce rate and the increase of loveless marriage, it is rare to find an honest depiction of twenty first century love. Using the relationship of Carol and Howard as a hyperbole to modern day romance, Mavis Gallant explores the theme of algorithmic relationships to develop a commentary on the lack of love in modern day relationships. The characterization of Carol and Howard as an engaged couple lacking love and the use of abstract ideas, analogies, and hyperbole, “The Other Paris” tells the dismal future of relationships.
The main character Adam Trask proves that by letting go of Cathy and deciding to create a new type of Eden that mankind holds the ultimate decision to rise above their destines. After finding Cathy and marrying her, Adam believes that he has found the missing part of his life. Cathy becomes the emblem of perfection and a key to happiness for him. As Adam continues to fall in love with her he starts to fall more out of touch with reality causing him to miss the obvious signals that Cathy does not feel the same way about him. Her manipulative ways are able to fool Adam’s kindness. Adam, being too naive to pay attention the obvious indications that Cathy does not love him is left in complete shock after she shoots and leaves him after the birth of their sons. After centralizing his dream around creating his own Eden with Cathy as his own Eve, he se...
Juliette Ferrars is the protagonist of the story. She is 17 years old. She is a static character because as the story goes on she becomes more courageous and opens up to Adam Kent. Adam Kent, aged 18 years, is a supporting character in the story. He is romantically involved with Juliette throughout the story. Warner is the antagonist in the story. He is 19 years old. As the story progresses he stays crazy and wants to use Juliette’s power to hurt oth...
Jeanette mentions that her mom is homeless, and digs through dumpsters. On the other hand, Jeanette has Persian rugs, and a leather armchair in her apartment (6). The writer wears pearls, while her mom is searching for something to eat (6). Jeanette and her mother are extreme opposites because Jeanette 's mother enjoys being homeless, and Jeanette worries about her parents being homeless. It is difficult for the writer to enjoy her apartment, without worrying about her parents being homeless (6). Jeanette 's mother tells her not to worry about them, and to tell people the truth about her parent 's situation (26). The author mentions that her mom had grime on her neck and that she made an effort to fix herself up (9).
I would be honored to participate in this program due to the invaluable experience I will receive from SMU in Paris. The advantages from this program can be expressed in two groups: personal and academic. From a personal standpoint, I never thought I would have the opportunity to join a program such as this due to the lack of programs from the previous institutions I attended. When I transferred to SMU exactly one year ago, I began to learn about the extensive study abroad programs and listened to countless stories told by students who had personal experiences. I believe studying in Paris will give me many advantages.
...clever human being whose imagination enables him to escape the net of lies and excuses which he has, often deliberately, constructed. Operating from the "will to power" of his individual desires, Adam is driven by his desire for the young woman and eventually finds himself caught in the determinisms of the law and society.