I Just Play

My drums are my connection to rock

When I sit behind them and play

It brings me to the good days

I play in Led Zeppelin

When I’m up on stage

I am the man

My sticks fly

I just

play

The Old Man and The Man

Every time you earn your pay check all you get is the bare bones. Because it is picked off by the government to serve their needs. You lose almost everything you’ve worked for to the man. Santiago is the same. He worked for days to earn his pay check (which is represented by the fish). Then as he was bringing it home the man decided to take his taxes away from it. (This is represented by the sharks in the story.) This book is a metaphor for what is happening every day.

If you think back to the story, the old man goes out on a small boat by himself to try to catch a fish. Some will say that this was a mistake but I disagree. He is a wise old man and knows what he is doing. After a while he hooks a giant marlin. He reels it in for a few days, he then killed the fish and tied him to the side of his skiff. This is when the man comes.” Galanos,” he said aloud. He had seen the second fin now coming up behind the first.” (107) Here they are the leaders of the ocean the sharks. They are the head honchos they are the man. They are out to steal your hard earned pay. The man sees what you have worked for and takes what he feels he deserves. Santiago is to proud to admit he is unhappy.
Throughout the entire book Santiago is fighting the man. “he was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the gulf stream and had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish.”(9). this is the very first line in the book. The man is trying to bring Santiago down. He’s denying him of his lively hood. The old man is not working any less than the other fishermen but he is receiving less pay. This, of course is not fair but that’s how the man operates.
“In the first forty days a boy had been with him. But after forty days without a fish the boy’s parents had told him that the old man was now definitely and finally salao.” (9) Another way the man tries to bring Santiago down is by taking away the boy. The boy, whose name is Manolin was Santiago's best friend in the story. They had many great times together. But because of the situation they are separated. Santiago's personality is being tested. He is upset and tired. His buttons are being pushed and he is trying not to let the man get to him.
“They must have taken a quarter of him and of the best meat.”(110) This is the largest concept of the story. The man always takes away the best part of what you have received. This quote is referring to when the sharks have eaten a part of his fish. It’s just like when the man takes away you money. He takes away most of what you need. Santiago struggled to bring in the fish and then the best parts were stolen away.
The main point that I am trying to get through in this essay is that the man brings us all down. The man is a supernatural being who shows himself in many different figures. He is the government and any one who you can think of who tries to bring you down. In this story the man is showing himself in the sharks. Santiago is an average guy who is just trying to get by. He goes out and earns his pay, which is the fish. Then as you know the man came and took what he felt he deserved. That is what happens top an easy going guy just tries to get by but is shut down by the man.

Grandpa Moneybags

It was an average day at the household for Thomas who lived with his five siblings in a small house. Their parents had died in a car accident several years prior. Thomas was the middle child. He had two unkempt younger siblings, John and Doris, and two older siblings Michael and Jenna. Michael and Jenna took care of the rest of the kids. Jenna was mean and abused her power. Michael was nice inside but acted mean because of Jenna.
Once a week Tom, John and Doris would go to their wizened grandparent’s house. It was fun for them. They always had cookies and played cards. While the younger kids were at their grandparent’s house Jenna went clubbing and Michael worked on his novel. He is an aspiring painter and writer. One day as the kids were about to leave to their grandparents house the phone rang.” aaahhh” Jenna said. “Tom go get the phone.”
Tom walked inside the kitchen and answered the phone. “Hello” Tom said “its grandma honey let me talk to your sister Jenna.” Said Gram from the other end of the phone. Something didn’t seem quite right.
Tom walked in to the living room and gave the phone to Jenna. He tried to listen to what his grandmother was saying on the other end. Jenna pushed him on the ground and walked into the next room. All Tom heard was “oh that’s terrible I can’t believe it.” Jenna didn’t sound sincere with these comments. Jenna hung up the phone, looked at Tom and said “Grandpa’s dead” She didn't hedge like she would have if she cared.
Tom was furious and dolful but didn’t want to show his emotions. The next few days were hard on everyone in the family except Jenna who went about her normal business. Finally the day had come for the funeral. It was very sad and everyone was teary eyed. While they were at the funeral home Jenna pulled Michael into the room with everyone’s coats. Tom followed them closely behind. He heard Jenna say “Just a couple of hours until we get his money.” “How do you know he’s going to bequeath us his money”, Michael asked shakily. “He better leave us that money. I was so nice to him”, Jenna said.
Tom now knew why Jenna had been so happy these past few days, she just wanted his money. Tom didn’t know that his grandfather even had any money at all. He lived like he didn’t. After the burial they were going to hear the will being read. Everyone was in a limo because the lawyer said that the will was to be read at grandpa’s private island. They went to the docks and got on a boat, and sailed for about an hour. On the shore there was a table and ten chairs. The lawyer set up at the table and each family member took a chair. The lawyer opened up his brief case and pulled out a thick packet which was Tom’s grandfathers will. A few small items were given away first. Jenna was biting her finger nails waiting to hear about the money. Tom sincerely hoped that Jenna would not receive the money. Anyone could get it, just not Jenna.
“The money I have saved my entire life shall go to the person who most deserves it.” Said the lawyer as he was reading the will. “And so my two million dollars, this island, and the lovely estate that sits on it shall be left to…” Jenna was shaking, so was Tom. Tom knew that Jenna didn’t deserve it, and hoped that his grandfather knew it as well. “Thomas Michael Scott” the lawyer said finishing the previously started sentence. “What?” Tom said, happy and surprised at the same time.
“What” Jenna screamed? “There is no way! That money is rightfully mine”.
The lawyer handed a $2 million check to Tom. “This is the only record of the money. Without this check you will not receive the money or the island, so do not lose it!” the lawyer said.
Jenna looked at Tom with fire in her eyes. Tom could tell that she had turned into a malefactor. She wanted that money and there was no way Tom was going to give it to her. She jumped out of her seat and charged at Thomas. Thomas, who was much faster than her, took off running. He ran inside the house and up the stairs.His health was depleted so he hid in a closet which was too small for Jenna to fit inside. He couldn't beleive how truculent Jenna had become. He sat down and pondered the impasse he found himself in. He felt a large amount of trepidation. Jenna eventually gave up looking for Tom in the large house, and realized that at some point Tom would have to come out. She found two vines and tied using her dexterious them to a prodiscious log with a large girth. She then climbed her way up and tied the ends of the vines to the house so that it would swing freely when she pushed it. Jenna was very flexible. She then stood in front of the door and waited.
After about twenty minutes in the closet, Tom decided to see if it was safe to come out of the house. He walked to the front door and slowly opened it. As he did he saw Jenna holding a rather large log that was coming directly for his head. Tom very quickly ducked and the log swung over his head. As Newton’s Law states and object in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. And so, the log swung back and clocked Jenna in the face. It’s pretty gruesome, but she deserved it, trust me.
“I’m sorry sis.” Tom said, as he ran to the boat at the island’s edge, clutching the check in his hand. He untied one of the boats and sailed home.Despite what happened tom suprisingly did not loath his sister.
The money Tom acquired was used to fix up the island house, wich was showing some sighns of decadence, and take care of his two younger siblings John and Doris who weren’t really mentioned in this story. Tom loved his grandpa, and would always miss him. Every day he thanks him for his life without Jenna. He is also grateful l every day for his great home and loving family.