This Side Of Paradise

What It Is To Be an American

From the beginning, when America became independent from the England Empire in 1776, this great country has been making truly great Americans, whether if someone was African, White, Mexican or any race or ethnicity, America has welcomed them all with open arms. Young and old or wise and adventurous many people that have loved and lost have molded and shaped the America that is here today. During the readings of This Side of Paradise by Scott Fitzgerald, Armory, the lead character in the book, would distinguish himself as an American by the passion he had for his true love, to the patriotism that he had for his country, and acting upon his right to freedom of speech when he thought it was right. It will be known
He wanted to be, what they call today, the popular kid. He wanted people to like him and even love him, and that started his ever so delightful egotistic life style, but this would change when he met Rosalind. "Within two weeks Amory and Rosalind were deeply and passionately in love. The critical qualities which had spoiled for each of them a dozen romances were dulled by the great wave of emotion that washed over them." (Fitzgerald) At this moment he was full of passion. This kind of passion can drive any person to do some crazing things for good, or can have the opposite effect and drive them mad. Armory was in love something that all men have or want to have. Unfortunately that was not the case for Armory. It was a disaster for him because Rosalind was driven from Armory because of her mother, stating that he was not good for her. This was manly the fact that he had not money. That money from previous, was gone because of some poor investments on his families part and therefore was not seen to be able to support Rosalind. This left Armory heart-broken and he would never be the same again, and would judge all other women that would come into his life and compare them to Rosalind. He would do this because he thought that there was hope for them, that they would come back together until this moment.
Kennedy, he still enlisted in a time of war. Armory’s best friend Burne choose not to support the war but his brother, Kerry, did, which shows that not everyone is cut out to be a warrior. Going to war doesn’t mean that you are patriotic but supporting the troops that defend America is. Even when Armory, “thought how much easier patriotism had been to a homogeneous race, how much easier it would have been to fight as the Colonies fought, or as the Confederacy fought. And he did no sleeping that night, but listened to the aliens guffaw and snore while they filled the car with the heavy scent of latest America. In Princeton every one bantered in public and told themselves privately that their deaths at least would be heroic.” (Fitzgerald) Armory was definitely not a warrior by any means, more like a lover and not a fighter kind of guy. At least Armory joined as an officer, instead of an enlisted person, because during that was a lot of enlisted died and not as many officers, so at least he had a fight chance to survive. War can change a man, and it sure did for Armory and that is when he met Rosalind. Love and lost a lot, but not down yet Armory reflected his entire life. He voiced his opinion and made it known what he was feeling not matter who was around or who he was talking to, and