The Gold Bug

The story that was given to us for this class, in this opportunity was “The Gold Bug”. This text was written by the American writer Edgar Allan Poe. It was published on a newspaper of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1843. In this blog I am going to write and give a contrast and comparison of this text and “The Million Dollar Bond Robbery”. Also, I’m going to give my opinion about the style of writing of Edgar Allan Poe and Agatha Christie.

Basically, the story is about William Legrand, a man who lived on a very small island. He found a gold bug in the shore and that little bug later will help William, Jupiter and the narrator to find a treasure which belonged to a pirate called Captain Kidd.

I want to begin this paragraph talking about the style of Edgar Allan Poe. This writer has a particular way of writing, mostly he used to write horror stories, but in the case of “The Gold Bug”, as readers we could realize that this short text has an adventure style. In my opinion, for the way of writing of Edgar Allan Poe, this text is very different, but at the same time very good and not boring at all.

If we want to talk or describe the narrative style of Agatha Christie, it is different. She was a writer who her specialty was the detective stories. As Edgar Allan Poe, she was a famous writer with a particular style too, but very difficult if we want to compare her style with the narrative of Edgar Allan Poe. She had a priceless talent in her style and for that reason “The Million Dollar Bond Robbery” was not a bored story, at the contrary, was very dynamic but not short at all.

“The Gold Bug” and “The Million Dollar Bond Robbery” could be contrast and compare on many ways, but I am going to analyze these two texts in my point of view. First of all, I could realize that the two stories have many differences, for example, the main characters of each story. “The Million Dollar Bond Robbery” has as main character to the French private investigator Hercules Poirot. Psychologically he was very particular, mysterious and with an always right way to discover the truth, no matter how difficult the case was. Moreover, William Legrand was a normal person who discovered a treasure (the treasure as the case of “The Million Dollar Bond Robbery” was also a very particular mystery) but he was not an investigator, just an amateur in thinks like that. Other difference is the time where the story is developed. “The Million Dollar Bond Robbery” is developed in the XX Century, and “The Gold Bug” is in the IX Century. The places are different too. In “The Million Dollar Bond Robbery” mostly the places that are described are from Europe (England), the Queen Elizabeth and New York (but the last two are not mentioned in many opportunities). “The Gold Bug” has a lot of open spaces and an isle as main scenarios. The hunt where William Legrand lived was also a very important place the story, because here the parchment with the bug drawn, changed when the narrator put it near to the fire.

If we want to compare these two stories it’s a very interesting experiment. We need to be clear and think that the two texts do not have a lot of things in common, but I could mention that the two has a very mysterious thing. We are clear, the story of “The Million Dollar Bond Robbery” IS a detective story, and “The Gold Bug” is mainly an adventure narration, but the two have suspense and some drama, for that reason I think are very interesting and dynamic. The second thing could be the final. The outcome of “The Million Dollar Bond Robbery” is good, Poirot discover that the money was stolen and has a happy ending. “The Gold Bug” has also a happy ending, because William Legrand, Jupiter and the Narrator won a lot of money with the treasure (almost 2 million dollars). Other thing that could be compared in these stories is the help that the main characters received from another people. Poirot could not be helped without the hand of some characters, he just investigate, but by himself could not be so easy. In “The Gold Bug”, William Legrand was helped for his employee called Jupiter. Also, the help of his friend, the narrator was very important, because he saved the secret of the treasure and then helped his friend digging and carrying things to find the treasure.

As a conclusion, I am going to give my opinion of “The Gold Bug”. For me, this text was very special. I have got problems reading the texts, because sometimes for me are very difficult for the vocabulary, that in previous occasions have been my biggest weakness. I have to say that this time was different and I could understand the main idea of the text the first time that I read it. The thing that I like a lot about “The Gold Bug” was, of course the vocabulary. It was very easy to understand and memorize. Also, I think this story mix the mystery with the adventure. It’s hard to find a text that gives to the reader the feeling of being on an adventure, but at the same time with a bit of things like skulls and crossbones (Personally, I love the books and stories of Edgar Allan Poe. It has that dark thing, almost gothic). If we need to read in the future more stories or short texts of this writer, I would be very glad, because he mix a lot of styles in one story and that is hard to find in the contemporary literature. The text was short, precise and concise, for this reason was easy to read and reread. Finally, I have to say that I enjoy a lot this text. It was fun, mysterious and interesting.

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Private Danny Chen was alone when he died. The Army says that he shot himself in a guard tower in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. But, in an extraordinary case alleging criminal culpability in a suicide, it has charged eight soldiers in connection with his death, saying they bullied Private Chen into killing himself. Seven enlisted men face counts that include involuntary manslaughter, negligent homicide and assault. One officer, a first lieutenant, is charged with dereliction of duty.

The Pentagon insists that it does not tolerate hazing. But the alleged assault on Private Chen bears the markings of ritualistic abuse. He was dragged out of bed, pelted with rocks and racial taunts and forced to crawl along the ground and do pull-ups without swallowing or spitting out a mouthful of water — all apparently because he forgot to turn off the water heater after taking a shower. Private Chen was the son of Chinese immigrants in Manhattan, and he had written to his parents about being the butt of racial jokes, but it’s not clear that racism was a primary reason for the attack.

It is encouraging to see the Army — criticized for being opaque and insensitive to families in high-profile deaths of soldiers — moving with apparent swiftness to investigate Private Chen’s death. It must pursue every detail and not hide them.

Private Chen’s parents may never know what drove their son to kill himself. But they deserve to know everything that can be learned about his final days and hours., his family deserves to see justice done. Others soldiers deserve to know that the military and if, as Army prosecutors claim, he was pushed into suicide by fellow soldiers who brutalized and humiliated him takes seriously its policy forbidding hazing and its promise to punish those who violate it.

Underlined: Simple

Italics: Compound

Black: Complex

Labeled: Compound-Complex

My friends, family and depression.

-Where you came from is not relevant…– I heard how the secretary said to a person, who was before me –Okay, please leave your number and I will call you as soon as I can… -Okay, bye.

-What you did make me laugh –Said the man next to me to…maybe his girlfriend. The voices in that room were absolutely insane. My head hurt and the only thing that I wanted was being in my room with my cat. I said to myself that this was going to be my last visit to the Psychiatric.

-Miss Anderson! It’s your turn – Said a tall and skinny woman. I just said “Thanks”.

- I’ve been with depression since last year, when my dad died tragically – I said while I was crying inconsolably.

-Well…taking a look to your exams, the depression that you have is severe. You need new medicines. The pills that I’m going to give you are very strong. You must be responsible with it.

-Okay doctor, I will be careful. Thank you very much – I closed the door as I checked my mobile phone. I had ten missed calls from my best friend Anna. We were meeting on a Starbucks at 7pm.

I opened the door and the place where my best friend was sitting was so comfortable and cozy.

-And…tell me, are you ok? – She almost throws me the cup of coffee. I was very sad and confused.

-Mmm, not actually. The doctor who was an expert in depressions said that the medicine I need is very strong…and you know! I don’t want to go to the Psychiatric anymore!

-I know Sarah, I know. What do you think is correct? Since you lost your father in that accident, you never were the same anymore.

-I don’t know. The only thing that I know is I want to be healthy and this sadness can’t be anymore in my head. My dad rest in peace…

-Yes, that’s right. What you need to do is take your medicines and try to leave this treatment as soon as you can.

-…Also, you know that you and your brother are the only family of your mother. You must be strong!

-Yes…I must be strong for my mother and for Bill (her brother), whom are everything.

-Okay, so…what do you think to buy something to carry home while I go to my car? – Said my friend - I forgot my wallet –She run to her car while I ordered frapuccinos and some donuts.

We went to my home. Before, we went to Blockbuster to rent some movies. We are friends since the Kindergarten and now we’re 24 years old.

We invited also our boyfriends. Her boyfriend, Louis, who is very tall in comparison to Anna, came to my house and bought some ice cream for us. My boyfriend Joe, who is the best friend of Louis, came with him. We received our boyfriends and they take sit with us. With Joe, we are boyfriends since two years ago, so he knew my father before he died tragically.

-So, how was your hour with the doctor, baby –said my boyfriend.

-It was fine. I’m ok…I guess – He hug me on a very cute way.

-Everything is going to be fine Sarah…-He smiled.

Since that reunion with my friends and boyfriend, I realized that I was fine with my life. The support that they give me finally helped me to get over of my depression. I was not alone.