The Diamond as Big as the Ritz Themes to Explore http://www.shmoop.com/diamond-as-big-as-ritz/ The Diamond as Big as the Ritz

Wealth The Diamond as Big as the Ritz

Wealth America: a wealth- obsessed country Wealth as a religion All in the name of wealth: imprisonment, murder Wealth is its own prison Blindly chasing wealth dehumanizes human life Insanely wealthy Opulence Filthy rich Excess Luxury Diamonds are a girl’s best friend

Let’s discuss it! Compare and contrast John’ feelings about wealth at the beginning and end of the story. Are the Washingtons morally corrupt due to being wealthy, or did they become wealthy because they were morally corrupt? Considering that diamonds are a natural resource, how much of the Washington estate is actually natural? Which of the following does Diamond support: one can be free only when rich or one can be free only when poor?

Visions of America The Diamond as Big as the Ritz

Visions of America Americans deify the rich Americans worship at the altar of money The pursuit of success has replaced morality Allegory: expansion of America to the West Founding fathers share the blame for enslaving others http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hades Hades: ancient greek god of the underworld, representing the abode of the dead; oldest male child, defeated the Titans with brother Zeus and Poseidon and thus claimed rulership over the cosmos (underworld, air and sea) Allegory: al·le·go·ry ˈaləˌɡôrē/ noun a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. "Pilgrim's Progress is an allegory of the spiritual journey" synonyms:parable, analogy, metaphor, symbol, emblem"Saramago's latest novel is an allegory of social disintegration" a symbol. Hades, Missouri http://emruf.webs.com/diamond.htm Hades Creek, WA http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/publications/pnw_1972_franklin001/FRNA_HadesCreek_HA_1_8.pdf Hell Hole Hollow, MO http://missouri.hometownlocator.com/maps/feature-map,ftc,1,fid,750282,n,hell%20hole%20hollow.cfm Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritz-Carlton_Hotel_Company

Let’s discuss it! Which specific words does Fitzgerald use to describe the natural landscape of Hades and then Montana? Compare and contrast Hades and Montana. How does Fitzgerald describe the situation of the slaves Braddock Washington keeps on his château? Describe Fitzgerald’s social critique of slavery.

Let’s discuss it some more. Is Fitzgerald’s history of the Washington family an allegory of the growth and expansion of the U.S.? How does Diamond satirize immigration laws? sat·ire ˈsaˌtī(ə)r/ noun the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. synonyms: mockery, ridicule, derision, scorn, caricature

Religion The Diamond as Big as the Ritz

Religion Religious and mythological allusions “In money we trust” as a timeless theme King Midas Man’s unstoppable desire to reach higher Reference to mythological figure Prometheus al·lu·sion əˈlo͞oZHən/ noun an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference. "an allusion to Shakespeare" synonyms: reference to, mention of, suggestion of, hint to, intimation of, comment on, remark about "the town's name is an allusion to its founding family“ The most famous King Midas is popularly remembered in Greek mythology for his ability to turn everything he touched with his hand into gold. This came to be called the Golden touch, or theMidas touch.[1] 

Let’s discuss it! Two settings are contrasted in this religious allegory. What are they? Which one is ultimately Heaven and which one, ultimately Hell? Does Fitzgerald distinguish between mythology and religion in his allusions? Fitzgerald implies an absence of religion. What are the resulting consequences?

Let’s discuss it some more. Braddock can bribe even God. God refuses Braddock’s bribe.

Discuss it some more. Diamond is a mythological tale. Diamond is a modern short story. Diamond is a religious parable. Religious parable: e.g. America has abandoned God.

Youth The Diamond as Big as the Ritz

Youth Allegory of youth Nature of wealth First love Summer haze, dream-like state, “a form of chemical madness” Youth never living in the present but rather in an imagined future “Those Lazy-Crazy-Hazy Days of Summer” by Nat King Cole https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOV96BCAvZc “Summertime” by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIDOEsQL7lA “Long Hot Summer” by Keith Urban https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dtfBxUTXRY “Cruel Summer” by Banarama https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ePIZugahFc “Summer Madness” by Kool and the Gang https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SFt7JHwJeg

Let’s discuss it! Describe the Washington children’s upbringing within the context of their circumstances. How would you describe Mrs. Washington’s devotion to her son? What part does her motherly devotion play in the story? How does John’s age affect character? How does John’s age affect his reaction to the Washington estate? What do the final few passages conclude about youth?

Lets discuss it some more. Splendor of youth Religion and wealth These two three themes are/are not equally important in Diamond.

…and a bit more. Does John Unger come of age in the course of this story? John Unger does not come of age in the course of this story.

Freedom and Confinement The Diamond as Big as the Ritz

Freedom and Confinement Imprisonment of those who know about the diamond Imprisoned via obsession with wealth Americans imprisoned by their own founding history Parallelism to immigration since estate is closed-off to outsiders http://www.mercereducation.com/whatsnew.html “Disillusionment About Diamonds” student showcase-high school book report, 1999 American Foundational Mythology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folklore_of_the_United_States

Let’s discuss it! You can be either free or poor but not both. How are “imprisoned” and “free” defined in the story? Why does Washington imprison some and kill others? Who is imprisoned and who is free in Diamond? Why do Washington, his wife and son choose to go down with the château? Respond to the above. John tells Kismine that you can be either free or poor but not both. Does the story support or contradict this statement?

Let’s discuss it some more. When the story begins, John is imprisoned by wealth; but by the end John is free. John is never able to escape from his own imprisonment: his obsession with wealth.

Diamond Trivia Diamonds are a girl’s best friend Shine like a diamond! The Diamond as Big as the Ritz Escape: The Diamond as Big as the Ritz