The Leader of the People by John Steinbeck

The Red Pony is probably one of least known stories written from Steinbeck, but one of the furthest from current reality. He displays the mysteries of generational differences within one sweeping blow in the conclusion of this story, by telling a small story within it called, The Leader of the People. No one would deny that Steinbeck's style of writing is wrapped around current issues in society, all processed through simple and easily understood underlying messages, but the greatest thing about Steinbeck is his sympathy for the common man, which he blatantly describes as very misunderstood. To be completely honest, I have never actually read the Red Pony in its entirety, but of the small portion that I have, I have come to appreciate it just as much as Of Mice and Men, or The Grapes of Wrath.

So what is the point of his message here?  When we look at the character of Jody, Mr. and Mrs. Tiflin, and grandfather, we learn that something vitally important is missing from the young adult generation,...gratitude; or appreciation for themselves, and their past, and this is the perspective I want to build upon. We know this because, when grandfather comes to visit the Tiflin house, Mr. Tiflin is upset that he will have to listen to his father-in-law's same old stories of when he moved out west, and the difficulties in that. In fact all the adults reveal, in some fashion or another, throughout the story, their boredom with him; showing their careless attitudes. Jody is the only one who "gets it," and the only one who seems to appreciate what his grandfather went through so that he could be who he was.

This story really touched my heart, because I too feel as if my generation is slowly pulling away from the past, so here is something to think about...

You and I do not just happen to exist. But we came from our parents, who in fact came from theirs. We are who we are today because of our family before us.

Like Jody, ... I remember my grandfather telling me stories about times in his life where he could have died as a soldier in WWII, or where times were so hard for him and his family, he believed he was never going to make it. He was a "common man". And you know something...I would have ceased to exist if that so called "common man" had died. As I sat their listening to him as a little girl, even though I had never been through what he had, I felt myself there with him through it all. It was true! The things that I had only read about in history were all true! And I could see it in how my grandfather lived his life. For instance, my grandfather was a little boy through the Great Depression, and so he and his family had learned to save everything they could. From the time I could remember him, and now that he is gone, I never once will forget him reusing Cottage Cheese containers for leftover pot roast, or reusing PAPER PLATES sometimes three or four days old just so he would not waste them.
I appreciate my grandfather, not just because of the things he went through,... but because without him... I would cease to exist... for I am a part of who he was in more ways then one.

John Steinbeck

Image URLs: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8732.The_Red_Pony, and http://www.ozark.k12.mo.us/Page/5453

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
It is no surprise that the Great Gatsby is one of the best known stories of all time (or at least one of the most popular). So it should be no surprise to anyone when I say that I absolutely love The Great Gatsby, along with a wide array of others who have read the book as well! But what is it about this book that makes it so amazing? Because honestly, if we think about it, there is not much to like; one man despairingly obsessed with trying to win the long lost love of his life, yet coming to realize that all his work to get her is useless, a lover, who dreamed of having a real love story with the man she has always wanted, yet choosing instead to love the riches and position of another simply because she was unwilling to wait for him, a husband who, dissatisfied with his life, cheats on his wife and becomes a social tyrant, a mechanic who lives in the slums of society desperately longing for a better and happier life for him and his wife, and a mechanic's wife who is unfaithful and ungrateful to her husband for how they live, and so takes every opportunity to escape and become involved with a social tyrant who can shower her with all the riches she could ever want. These and so much more are all indications of the sad and dramatic plot line Fitzgerald draws out before us, and part of the reason why it is so loved.

It is not that there is really any cause for me to like it, but I believe that is the point Fitzgerald tries to make. Every girl longs to feel the desperate love and attention of a handsome, popular, and successful guy, and every guys hopes to win the heart of stunningly beautiful and affectionate lovely lady, but even throughout the course of this story these wishes seems to be nothing short of a dream. Actually this whole novel is all about dreams, and how they can often blinds us to the depths of reality until it almost smacks us straight in the face.

Though the story is told through an outside observer, I think the truth behind these dreams can be revealed in an astounding way, through the eyes of one of the main characters, Daisy herself.  

I could see the end of the street curved a ways as we crossed over into West Egg; a line of houses bordering the sides. "Is this really where Nick lives?" I thought to myself after a minute or two. "Each house is so modern... so unique, definitely not as stately as my own." For me that was the exciting thing about it. I was ready for a change, and something to excite myself, and secretly I hoped that my cousin's appearance was the answer. Tom was in town today, for whatever reason, and so I tried to push the pressing thoughts aside. "He never seemed to mind when I was gone anyway, so it should not bother him that I am here with Nick." Besides, I didn't like the stuffy conference rooms him and his co-workers crammed into for session. Oh sure, once or twice I had gone with him to work, never wanting to leave his side. But those days were short lived, and I wondered why I had ever gone in the first place. Even if he did have important business to attend to, I was sure he would go and have his car checked as he always did. I could never see why he needed it checked so much, he only just bought it a few months ago, yet he treated it like was some child...No!... Better than his own child! But I knew the real reason he had it checked, and had come to grips with a long time ago. Tom was a smart successful man, but he was never one to keep a secret. 

Image URL: http://media.gq.com/photos/564d23f5b25c6bc36ea02d8e/master/pass/70s-movies-need-to-see---gatsby-01.jpg