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Theory Presentation Essay: Q2

Jaydon Geyer

ELA 03-11

Mrs. A. Wynkoop

23 January 2020
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Jaydon Geyer

ELA 03-11

Mrs. A. Wynkoop

23 January 2020

Theory Presentation Essay: Q2

Ralph Waldo Emerson once stated in a research paper: “A man could wear an expensive

wristwatch, but could not tell time by looking at the position of the sun in the sky.” While

modern day technology is helpful, it can sometimes prevent the practice of some of the basic

fundamentals of life in both social and personal areas of life. Modern day technology is not

limited to a wrist watch. With further exploration, this quote represents the idea that one can be

easily distracted, including from themselves. People within society are often distracted and not

aware of the world around them. When this happens, these people are not only blind to the world

outside of their inner bubble, but they can sometimes no longer even process what they

themselves are doing. For example, when a person is cleaning their room, they may also listen to

music. They get so wrapped up in the music that they don’t recognize that they are throwing

away a piece of paper, or picking up clothes. This is an example of the benefits. However, there

are just as many cons to this.

People may not pay attention to the world around them, including Gatsby. It was easy for

Gatsby to lose himself within the jazz age and the style of the times. The people around Gatsby

actions influenced his own actions whether he realized it or not. He made a character for himself

that he could have stepped away from at any time. However, the people he had in his life

expected this character from him, and treated him as if he were this character at all times. When
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they acted this way towards him, he allowed himself to be influenced into staying this character.

The people did not see through the character, nor did they see that this was not the real gatsby

because they stopped paying attention to him as a person.

When society gets to a point where no one is paying attention to each other, the

willingness to learn from one another is lost. Once you stop learning from one another history

fades and you forget the basic skills you once had.

If someone is not paying attention to the people and the world around them, they may

miss the lessons of other people about the fundamentals of life. The fundamentals of life include

basic survival skills Such as how to interact in social settings, and how to provide for oneself in

the later stages of life. Essentially how to live without some of the modern day tools that help us

but do just as much damage. This is presented in quote through the idea that there is a tool, the

watch, that gives him a shortcut to an outcome he could have gotten using a skill he once had

verses the technology available to him.

One final analysis of Emerson’s quote speaks on the idea of distractions. ​“People are too

busy looking at what is directly in front of them, what’s occupying their time at that moment.

They never take the time to look up, and observe the world around them, and live. They just,

exist​.​” (Wynkoop, 2020) ​This relates to Gatsby in the sense that Gatsby confined himself to his

own personal needs and the people he deemed important in his life. Gatsby was not only

distracted from the world around him, but also himself. He did not take the time to observe

himself and his actions, and thus became dangerous to the people around him, like Daisy and Mr.

Wilson. They are not doing anything to solve any problems within society, or within themself.

One may be alive but they are not experiencing life.

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While Emerson put this idea out in the world quite a while ago it is still relevant to

society today. one may have heard this quote and thought nothing of it but, the brain still

processes the idea and thought causing one to subconsciously act upon it. While the tools and

technology of today can be useful to one's life, it can do just as much harm. A tool should help

one utilize a skill not act as a way to avoid learning it. Those who walk through life distracted are

not going to be a productive part of society or contribute anything to help themselves or others.

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