You can do this assignment tonight or tomorrow during class. They will be due by the end of class tomorrow.
"...'No," Nick said. Marjorie stood up. Nick sat there, his head in his hands. (204)
"...I'm
through. We won't ever speak about it again. You don't want to think
about it. You might get back into it again." (215)
In The Nick Adams Stories, Phillip Young places these stories after Nick's war experience (which we'll read about next week). I have changed the order: I just can't accept these stories as being the Nick we will read about in war: wounded, traumatized, even...crazy. He could be right though: we hear Nick talking about going to Italy with Marjorie in "The Three-Day Blow." But I stand by my choice.
1. Does Nick in these stories seem like a young man who has been to war? Why or why not? Quote in your answer.
2. What do you think of Nick in these stories? Like? Dislike? Why?
3. Bill: Nick's good friend. He is all about Nick's best welfare isn't he—and there's nothing self-serving about him here. Agree or disagree—and why? Quote in your answer.
4. If you were Nick and had to choose between Bill and Marjorie, which would you pick—and why?
That's good enough. See you all tomorrow!
1.In these two stories Nick does not seem at all like a man who has been to war. I cannot speak from experience, but I would assume that someone coming from war would be scarred. At the end of the last story, the narrator said, “He was very happy.” That just does not sound like someone who has been to war. But, after that, the narrator says, “Nothing was finished. Nothing was ever lost. He would go into town on Saturday. He felt lighter, as he had felt before Bill started to talk about it. There was always a way out.” This sounds like Nick is very aware of life and how it’s going on is inevitable. He seems to have accepted the past and is has moved to the present and future. I think that that may be the reason why he does not seem like someone who has gone to war. Either that or he has just decided to not think about it.
ReplyDelete2. I do like Nick in these stories. That is because of his awareness of himself and the world around him that he has not had in another other story we have read so far. After he breaks up with Marjorie, his emotions are very clear. As readers, we get to see a new side of him as a character. Nick seems to have accepted life and the fact that not only is life inevitable to go on but that bad things are inevitably going to happen; at this point, Nick is able to move on from those bad things.
3. I agree. Although when I first thought about it, it seemed as though Bill was only making Nick more sad about his life, but when I though about it, Bill’s doing that was the reason for Nick being able to express his sadness and move on from it. It seems like this story is representative of what could have happened at the end of “Ten Indian’s” if Bill were Nick’s father. Bill said, “I talked about it and now I’m through. We won’t ever speak about it again. You don’t want to talk about it. You might get back into it again.” In this story, Bill teaches Nick how to express and move on, something that will be of great use to him later in life. He teaches Nick how to react.
4. If I were Nick and had to choose between Bill and Marjorie I would choose Bill. One reason being that the relationship between Nick and Bill seems to be much stronger than the relationship between Marjorie and Nick. They seem to connect on a deeper level. Another reason is because Marjorie doesn’t help Nick in the way that Bill is able to. There was a line that said that Nick helped Marjorie, but it is not shown that Marjorie did anything that could help Nick. It seems kind of like a one sided relationship.
Nick’s attitude towards life seems to have definitely changed; it is a subtle change, but there nonetheless. He no longer seems to find joy in the everyday activities, like fishing, that he loved growing up. Hemingway 203) seems almost interchangeable with the way someone would say “I’m just not happy”. His statements seem to be void of emotion and its almost as if Marjorie has assumed the role of a parent when she says ‘Come on and eat, Nick” (203); he has to be prodded to eat. No longer is he the teenage boy in“The Battler” enjoying ham and bread with Bugs and Ad; it is almost as if eating has become a chore.
ReplyDeleteI am really concerned for Nick in these stories, particularly “The End of Something”. As I alluded to above, he seems to have loss touch with the everyday activities that tend to make most individuals happy. Love, something that is supposed to bring joy, happiness and fun times is no longer appealing to him. This is particularly disconcerting when he says, “It isn't fun anymore. Not any of it” (204). He doesn't just seem to be writing off him and Marjorie’s relationship, but love in itself. Maybe I am reading too much into this and taking this to far, but when he “slumps back in his chair” (207) in front of the fire, it seems to hold so much significance. Of course, we all slump back in chairs, but this action seems to hold particular weight here. It is as if the chair is providing an escape for his beat, fatigued body; is the chair providing a respite from life?
Hmm. On the surface, Bill seems to have Nick’s best intentions at heart; they seem to hang out alot together and Nick feels comfortable enough with him to spend the night. I find it discovering through when Bill begins to trash the concept of marriage and says “Once a man is married he’s absolutely bitched. He hasn’t gotten anything more” (213). Of course, he is entitled to his own opinions and maybe they are valid if coming from experience, but the way with which he talks about marriage is so insensitive. Nick is the product of a bad marriage; he understands the implications of committing to a lifelong union with another individual; he does not need Bill crushing any last remaining hope he has for love or marriage. Bill almost seems to be taking on the same role as when Doc Adams announces the situation with Prudence: so direct and insensitive. Nick is obviously distraught, or at least appears to be so, that he is no longer together with Marjorie. But then “He felt happy” (215) so maybe Bill was helping him; was his tirade against marriage and Marge an act of tough love?
Although I just spent a whole paragraph criticizing Bill and his intentions, I would rather have Bill as a friend if I was Nick. Bill seems to have actual substance to him; although his actions and observations seem a bit harsh, he doesn't stray from what he perceives to be the truth. This is refreshing. Marjorie on the other hand seems to be so complaisant; she doesn't seem to be putting up much of a fight when Nick tells her they can no longer be together anymore. Is he not worth fighting for? Or does she just not have the strength or motivation? Is she adhering to what Nick wants and not what she believes in?
1. Nick does not seem to be a war veteran in "The End of Something" or "The Three Day Blow," or at least, not one who had serious psychological influences on his mind from the bloodshed he was amidst. He does not appear self-destructive or disposed to violence, and his experiences have not scarred his everyday life. However, in "The End of Something," there is a brief moment where we see Nick admitting his feelings about his life and his experiences after the war; he states that "it isn't fun anymore. Not any of it (204)," and continues, saying that, "everything was gone to hell inside of me (204)." This signals that he's having some sort of memory come back to him while fishing with Marjorie, seemingly beginning when they start talking about how Marge knows about what the moon will do that night. He comments on how she "knows everything (203)," and shows his anger at the possibility of her knowing everything. After all, he says he's taught her everything; this might mean that he's told her everything about his experiences at war, and just a simple moment has reminded him of that. This also could be about how Nick feels their love is going sour, however. In "The Three Day Blow," we don't see any sort of events like this; the story is mostly about Nick and Bill getting drunk, and talking about baseball, the weather, and his ended relationship with Marge. This talk brings up feelings he still has for her, but not much concerning wartime.
ReplyDelete2. I enjoy these stories because they actually involve Nick much more that all the previous ones we've read. We get to see some of his past experiences and teachings from those experiences play into how he acts as a grown man. I think it's nice to see him play a greater, more featured role in the short stories now, just because of how attached I have gotten to his character.
3. Overall, I would concur that Bill seems to focus on keeping Nick happy in "The Three Day Blow," the main story featuring him. Every time Nick brings up buried feelings about Marjorie, Bill is by his side to remind him that there's always another chance later in life to find someone you love, and to stay happy and not let yourself get tied down in a situation you don't care completely for. Nick is able to get rid of his bottled up feelings with Bill's assurances, along with some booze to send away any inhibitions he had about sharing his emotions.
4. That's a more difficult choice than it would seem, honestly. Marjorie seems to reciprocate his feelings, as we see that "she loved to fish. She loved to fish with Nick (201)." Hemingway wouldn't have repeated that point unless he wanted to emphasize the specific joy she gets while with doing something she enjoys with Nick. However, the two of them do have their fair share of arguments, as the latter half of "The End of Something" solely concerns a tense talk between the two of them, in which Nick reveals that love with her isn't an enjoyable thing for him anymore. Because of this, despite Nick's little outburst against him in "The End of Something," I would probably choose Bill because of the support her offers so Nick can get over his residual feelings about Marge. The two of them (Nick and Bill) seem to have more to talk about and enjoy together than Nick and Marge do as well, so Bill is the character who I could see Nick form a stronger relationship with overall.
1.)No, Nick does not seem like he has been to war. He is too carefree to have been through the horrors of war. He talks about fishing, baseball, books, and love like they are the most important things in life- or at least the only things that interest him. When Bill gives him the idea of getting back together with Marge, he is optimistic and hopeful and thinks, “It had seemed so absolute. (Getting back together with Marge) was a thought. That made him feel better” (215). These do not seem to be the thoughts of a man back from war, but a boy becoming a man and learning how to form relationships.
ReplyDelete2.) I still like Nick in these stories. Although he is a jerk to Marjorie, it is clear he did not mean to be- he just does not know how to develop healthy relationships. He feels guilty and tries to drown away his sorrows with alcohol, but it is clear he is still a young man with a lot to learn about the world.
3.) Disagree. Bill seems to not want to lose Nick. He is not acting in Nick’s best interest, but tries to persuade him into not being with Marjorie because he does not want Nick moving away. This is clear when he says “If you had gone on that way we wouldn't be here now”(214). Maybe it is because Bill has problems with his dad and does not want to be alone, or maybe he just wants Nick around, but he selfishly tries to keep Nick away from Marge and close to him, whether or not that be in Nick’s best interest.
4.) I would choose Marjorie. She seems more stable and satisfied with life than Bill. Bill is dependent on Nick, which is never a good sign, and also controlling over Nick’s life. It is almost as if Nick is trapped with Bill. With Marjorie, he still seemed trapped- into the stereotypical life of a married couple, but not in a sinister way.
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ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete1. I think that he is does because his attitude has shifted. He is quiet in a sense of desperation rather than a sense of innocence. When he says, “All right… let’s get drunk” (91) we see a different side of Nick. A side that is eager to not feel things.
2. Nick seems to have a more prominent role in these stories. I am not sure if sure if I like Nick because he was quite rude to Marge but I understand that he is struggling through something.
3.I think on the outside Bill is a really caring friend that gives Nick the support and love his is lacking but I also think that he is giving him a sense of security that is false. He also doesn't understand Nick. Nick is still thinking about Majorie. He says “You were very wise…to bust off that Marge business” (90) as nick is reminiscing about her. He is trying to be a good friend but I don't think he lets Nick talk enough.
4.I would pick Marjorie because she doesn't what Nick wants to do and is understanding. Bill just doesn't seem like my type of companion because he talks a lot and leaves no room for nick to speak.
1. Nick does not seem like a young man who has been to war because he still has this sense of curiosity and innocence. It almost seems as if he’s trying too hard to push his boundaries and become a “man,” especially when he “...wished to show he could hold his liquor and be practical” (211).
ReplyDelete2. I like Nick in these stories because his disconnect from the world and people around him reveals how soft he still is, but at the same time, Nick is still growing and learning how to face these challenges.
3. I disagree because he completely disregarded Nick’s heartbreak and labelled it as something to get over. He didn’t even attempt to console Nick or to check in with him, rather, Bill just assumed what Nick was feeling and said it wasn’t a big deal. There was even a point in the story where Bill says, “‘You’ve seen the guys that get married’” (213), which was very insensitive because I read it as a reference to Doc Adams and Mrs. Adams.
4. I would choose Bill because even though both of them are terrible friends, I really disliked the part where Marjorie kept pushing Nick to answer her even when he said that he didn’t know. Bill seemed more in tune to the fact that not everything is rainbows and sunshine, but Marjorie ran away from Nick when confronted with conflict. In my opinion, Marjorie did not try to offer a solution or even help Nick with his problems, and Bill did.
Nick seems vastly different than he did in the first couple short stories. He seems like he has lost his innocence and naivety, not really finding any interest in the activities that might have entertained him or made him happy. I feel that this especially prevalent ‘The End of Something”, when Nick is indifferent to anything and everything Marjorie tries to do. Before the war, he seemed like the type of person who would encourage people to learn, even if they already know. He seems a bit like a broken man, one who’s friends tries to fit him back together again, but he doesn’t want to. “ ‘It isn’t fun any more. Not any of it.’ She didn’t say anything. He went on. ‘I feel as though everything was gone to hell inside of me. I don’t know, Marge. I don’t know what to say.’ (204).”
ReplyDelete2. I am not particularly fond of Nick in these stories just because of the way he is acting. I feel bad for him, and pity him, but he could have a better attitude. I understand that the war was presumably very traumatic for him, but it seems like he has just given up. He pushed away Marjorie, and then continues to hang out with Bill. I get that he needs time to heal, but he could also be a bit more considerate of Marjorie and how she is trying to help. She is trying to get his mind off the war by doing pointless activities like fishing or having a picnic, just for the sake of doing so. He seems to be going deep into the rabbit hole, but I would like to think he will get better and get Marjorie back. Like how the timber started to grow back after the logging factory shut down, the ruins becoming part of nature, Nick will be healed, but it will take time. If that ever does happen, I think I would enjoy Nick as a character again, but right now, he is just broken.
3. To be honest, I don’t trust Bill at all. He acts like a good friend, but he seems to be leading Nick down into the rabbit hole, encouraging him to have a lot of alcohol and to hook up with other people after he pushed Marjorie away. He seems like an intelligent guy, but there is just something off about him. When they’re talking about different authors and who they think would be a good fisher, Nick quotes: “If an angel out of heaven / Gives you something else to drink, / Thank him for his kind intentions; / Go and pour them down the sink,” (209). Then Bill offers him some more whiskey, and practically convinced him to get drunk. That really doesn’t seem like a healthy relationship between the two of them. If Bill and Marjorie are the angel and the devil on Nick’s shoulders, Bill is definitely the devil, and in “The Three-Day Blow”, Bill has managed to get Nick to push Marjorie away and he is being led by the devil, a fallen angel from heaven.
4.I would probably choose Marjorie because she seems like a good person. She may have her annoying quirks and stuff, like knowing everything, but at least she is trying to help Nick move on after the war. She seems to be pushing for a healthy relationship between the two of them while Bill seems to be pushing for what Doc Adams became: an angry man who just wants control. Rather than binging on whiskey, Marjorie is trying to show him some joyful scenes in life, like fishing or having a picnic. She takes him to some of their old memories, the ruins and how they have returned to nature. I think that she is trying, to some degree, to return Nick to nature, as he has done at the end of most the short stories, something that has always seemed to make everything better.
1. I don’t think that Nick seems like a young man who has been to war in these stories because he does not seem to display any of the signs of cynicism or depression that sometimes come after being at war. On the contrary, towards the end of “The Three Day Blow”, he seems quite hopeful: “He felt happy. Nothing was finished. Nothing was ever lost. He would go into town on Saturday. Hefelt lighter, as he had felt before Bill started to talk about it. There was always a way out. “Let’s take the guns and go down to the point and look for your dad,” Nick said. “All right.” Bill took down the two shotguns from the rack on the wall. He opened a box of shells. Nick put on his Mackinaw coat and his shoes. His shoes were stiff from the drying. He was still quite drunk but his head was clear.”
ReplyDelete2. I like Nick in these stories because he is pragmatic, relatively kind and empathetic, and he values human connection.
3. It is hard to tell, but I do think that Bill does have Nick’s best interests at heart. This quote shows that Bill cares about Nick’s family: “My old man’s all right,” Nick said. “You’re damn right he is,” said Bill.”
4. If I were Nick I would choose Marjorie because he clearly regrets breaking up with her and I think that he wants to start a family, which he can’t do with Bill.
I think that Nick dos seem like a man who has been to war. Instead of his usual innocent self that we have read before, we see a quiet and sad man. It is obvious that he has grown up and lost much of his innocence and has become depressed. "I don't feel like eating" (203). This shows us that he definitely has changed from the problem prone boy we used to know.
ReplyDeleteI do still like Nick as a character in these stories, but i think that he is very depressed. If we read more stories about what his experience in the war was like it would be easier to tell what he is going through and why. I think that is we knew what happened during war we could get a better idea of how he is coping.
I do think that Bill is looking out for his friend, but i don't think that he understands exactly what Nick is going through. When he says "Now she can marry somebody of her own sort and settle down and be happy. You can't mix oil and water (...)." (213) it shows that he never thought they were right for each other but we know that Nick had been planning for them to be married and travel all over.
I would choose Bill over Marjorie because Bill and him seem to have a real relationship with Nick. When Nick is with Marjorie they never talk but when Nick is with Bill they have loads to talk about. Although Bill is a tad bit ignorant to how his friend feels, I think he is better for Nick than Marjorie is.
1.) There is definitely an element to Nick that seems as though he has been to war, and there are some aspects of the stories that seem to hint that he was deeply hurt and traumatized by what he saw there. I think that one of the biggest clues comes in “The Three Day Blow” when he keeps on talking about feeling “quite proud of himself. He had been very practical” (p 211). There was something about that that struck me as for some reason, Nick has had something happen to him where he has a difficulty being practical, and knowing that he was in the war, I think that war has something to do with his perceived lack of practicality.
ReplyDelete2.) I don’t really like the Nick I see in these stories because he seems to be kind of the same way he was in the first set, as a child, in that he is very passive and malleable. Yes, he does take the action into breaking up with Marjorie, but he does that because, in large part, Bill convinced him too. He comes across as a weak-willed guy, no different in that regard than he was as a boy, and for that I dislike him.
3.) I think Bill is completely self serving. He keeps Nick around in this little shanty because he needs Nick to be his companion. He points out that “once a man’s married he’s absolutely bitched” (p 213), and this only serves to strengthen his argument that Nick did the right thing by breaking off his engagement with Marjorie. Bill cares for Nick as a friend, but not enough to let Nick go off to a normal life and the chance at happiness beyond getting drunk in a little shack in the woods.
4.) If I were Nick, I think that I would have chosen Marjorie. From the first story it becomes obvious that they have history together, similar interests, and generally fit well together, when Nick isn’t being a jerk. Bill just seems too controlling, too happy to live in a little cabin with his father and whiskey to be a good friend, and a good person to spend a life with. Marjorie gives the possibility of real happiness, and so I think I would have chosen to follow through with the promise to marry her and not break it off for no reason.
1. Nick doesn't have the same childish curiosity and naivety in these two stories; something had to have happened for him to become so cold and pessimistic. While he's drunk with Bill in “The Three-Day Blow”, he says, “All of a sudden everything was over. I don't know why it was. I couldn't help it.” Nick thinks in such a hopeless manner that couldn't possibly have been caused just by maturing. War affects people in countless different ways, but maybe it extracted all ambition from Nick.
ReplyDelete2. I don't enjoy seeing Nick so despairing in these stories, but he needed something to tear him away from his oblivious childish mentality. These are the first stories we've seen where Nick seems to connect with the adult world, even if most of his thoughts are expressed in the words, “I don't know”.
3. I got the impression that Bill was trying to make Nick feel better but also trying to make himself feel better. He didn't want Nick to leave him and marry Marjorie because he couldn't find a woman for himself to marry. He gloats that he'd “marry Ida that works for Strattons. She'd probably like it, too,” but I have a feeling this was just a declaration to make himself feel better and to convince Nick that he'd be able to find a girl, too, if he tried.
4. Bill has his own intentions in mind, not Nick’s. He coerces Nick into breaking up with Marjorie because if they stayed together, Nick would be weighed down into marriage. We never see why Marjorie would be such a bad choice; all we see is how upset and frustrated she is during the breakup. Marjorie was upset that her relationship was ending, while Bill was meddling with a relationship that wasn't even his.
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ReplyDelete1) Though he might have been to war, Nick definitely does not seem like it in these stories. His confusion and heartbreak over Marjorie make Nick seem very young and inexperienced. In "The Three-Day Blow", Nick seems to regret breaking up with Marjorie and lingers on the idea of going into town to try and make it right with her: "Still he could always go into town Saturday night. It was a good thing to have in reserve" (Hemingway 216). Nick seems very wishy-washy with his emotions and doesn't seem to be sure whether or not he really wanted to break up with Marjorie. It's clear that isn't completely aware of himself or of his emotions. This is not the behavior of a man who has lived through war.
ReplyDelete2) I think I mainly feel bad for Nick in these stories. He's learning hard, confusing lessons about love and doesn't seem to have a father figure to guide him through these experiences. I also feel that we see a lot more of Nick in these stories than in the previous stories we've read, and get a better understanding of his personality.
3) I completely disagree. Bill is clearly trying to persuade Nick to leave Marjorie behind so that Nick will spend more time with him. If Nick had stayed with Marjorie, he would have left Bill, gone home and gotten a stable job. After Nick breaks up with Marjorie, Bill convinces Nick to spend the whole next day fishing with him. It seems that Bill was jealous of the time Nick and Marjorie spent together.
4) I would choose Bill. While Nick seems a little confused about his feelings for Marjorie, it's clear that he no longer wants to be in a romantic relationship with her. He even says "All of a sudden everything was over. I don't know why it was. I couldn't help it. Just like when the three-day blows come now and rip all the leaves off the trees" (Hemingway 214). Though Bill is a bit manipulative and self-serving, I think Nick would rather spend time with him than with a girl he no longer has feelings for.
(1) I think that he has definitely changed once war. He seems to be less in touch with his feelings, which may be why he wants to get drunk. The beginning of the conversation that he has with Bill has almost no emotion, and it seems like everything that they are talking about is just to cover up the fact that Nick inset fine, and is hurting. He had the same kind of conversation with Marge on the boat. Very short, clipped sentences. It also seems like he is more reliant on other people to take care of him. You can see this in both stories, when Marge has to get Nick to eat, and Bill has to get him to take off his shoes and put on socks.
ReplyDelete(2)I like these stories a lot, because they show us more of Nick’s personality, but they also made me worried about him. These stories are less about how others affect Nick and more about his experience in war, and how that has affected him. The way that he is pushing people and his emotions aside makes me concerned for him.
(3)At first when I read “The Three Day Blow” I was irritated by Bill, because he seemed to be making Nick more and more sad, but when I thought about it, I realized that Bill is helping Nick. Although he is a bit harsh when talking about Marge, I think that it was a good thing that Bill brought it up. He helped Nick get in touch with his feelings, and I think he ultimately had good intentions for Nick.
(4)I think that, although Marge seems like she made Nick very happy, he needed to end it with her. He has been through war, and I think that so far, all he has done is push away his pain instead of dealing with his emotions. Before he has a serious relationship, he needs to figure himself out and become more mentally stable, and I think that Bill helps him do this more than Marge
1. I think that it is plausible to put these after the war because of how hollow Nick seems when he breaks up with Marjorie. He says, “I feel as though everything was gone to hell inside of me. I don’t know, Marge” (Hemingway 204). This is a very interesting reason for a break-up because it seems like it has less to do with her than some sort of depression he is experiencing, which would make sense after coming home from war.
ReplyDelete2. I like Nick in these stories because he is more of an actual character than an observer as he had been previously. Also, I think that his motives for breaking up with Marjorie and drinking to take away that pain are logical, and I sympathize with him for the emptiness and indecision he is feeling.
3. I strongly disagree. I think that Bill has Nick’s interest in mind, but he also did not want his friend to be taken away from him. This is evident throughout their conversation as he speaks of what Nick would’ve been doing had he stayed with Marjorie, such as “we wouldn’t even have gone fishing tomorrow” (Hemingway 214). Perhaps he is just trying to comfort Nick, but I think he is mostly very relieved he hasn’t lost his companion.
4. I would probably pick Marjorie. Nick’s conversation with Bill seems stilted, and they have to get drunk before they start having fun. Nick clearly misses Marjorie, yet Bill doesn’t let Nick talk about it, dismissing her as “terrible” (Hemingway 215). Bill’s motives for supporting their breakup seem selfish and maybe even jealous, not qualities you want in a friend. On the other hand, I don’t think any of the reasons not to be with Marjorie (her mom, getting married, missing fishing) are valid.
1. To me Nick does not seem like a man who has been to war. In these stories, he still seems naive and inexperienced, which is the opposite of what you would expect from a veteran. Especially when Bill and Nick were drinking, they acted like they hadn’t drunk very much before. “‘I’m a little drunk now,’ Nick said. ‘You aren’t drunk,’ Bill said.”
ReplyDelete2. I don’t like Nick very much in these stories, and I feel bad for Marjorie. It seems like Bill is afraid of commitment and marriage, and that he convinced Nick to feel the same way. In the end of The Three-Day Blow, Nick realizes that he can still get Marjorie back, and he is very relieved that what he has done can be undone.
3. Maybe he doesn't mean to, but I definitely think that Bill pushes his own thoughts and fears about marriage onto Nick. This leads Nick to break up with Marjorie, which he regrets and plans on getting her back. Another reason Bill might be doing this is because he wants Nick to spend more time with him, rather than getting married and committing to Marjorie.
4. While we don't actually learn much about Marjorie from these stories, from what I know, I think that Nick should choose Marjorie over Bill. Bill has pushed Nick into doing something he regretted, losing Marjorie. Nick decides he wants to win her back, which shows that he really cares about her.
1. No, Nick doesn't feel like a war veteran but something has definitely shifted in his character. He seems older and wiser now, like he's seen some things. He's always in his head and is always deep in thought. Like most kids his age, Nick doesn't seem to be having "careless" fun, even when he is getting drunk, he's always thinking, like he can't turn his brain off for a minute. He seems beyond most of the characters his own age in years, "'I feel as though everything was gone to hell inside of me. I don't know, Marge. I don't know what to say.' He looked on at her back. 'Isn't love any fun?' Marjorie said. 'No,' Nick said."
ReplyDelete2. I like Nick more in these stories, mores than the previous ones. He seems older, more mature, and is more involved in his own life, more in control. I am able to see some emotion and how he's starting to see the world for what is really is.
3. Usually, yes, Bill seems to be all about Nick's best interest, like a good best friend should be. Despite his slightly selfish behavior about wanting to have Nick all for himself, he sees that Marjorie may not be the best for Nick right now, even though he's a little torn up about her. Bill helps him in the process of getting over her and helps him to feel better about his early love, "'We won't ever speak about it again. You don't want to think about it. You might get back into it again.' Nick had not thought about that. It had seemed so absolute. That was a thought. That made him feel better." After Bill tells him this Nick doesn't seem to be in his head as much and is able to enjoy this moment with his best friend.
4. If I were Nick I would definitely pick Bill, Marjorie annoys me and Bill seems like a good best friend. It doesn't seem like Nick and Marjorie had any real connection and he's still very young.
1. In these stories Nick doesn’t seem like a man who’s been to war. He is acting strange and seems to have been through alot in life though. Nick saying, “It isn’t fun anymore. Not any of it.” when talking to Marge about his life. This makes sense going off the theme of him coming back from war, but I would never had made that connection without you telling us. Nick is obviously a very troubled man but only some of that can be contributed to his time at war, and the rest to the way he was raised.
ReplyDelete2. I dislike Nick in these stories. He has become very weak and is being manipulated by Bill. He seems to be unable to be his own person and make his own decisions so he seeks Bill for aid and follows Bill into making bad decisions, such as getting drunk and then taking guns and going shooting.
3. Well like I said in my last story Bill is taking advantage of Nick’s weakness so I don’t see him as a good friend. I can’t find out though what Bill is gaining from doing this. An example of him not being a good friend is him forcing Nick to break up with Marge. Bill tries make Nick think that it was best for him to end his relationship by saying, “You were very wise , Wemedge … To bust off that Marge business.”
4. If I were Nick I would choose Marge because Bill seems to have some ulterior motive that I can’t figure out.