A Diary Entry by Ruth

Dear Diary,
I'm so glad we moved into our new house!  There were so many problems with that old "rat trap" (44) of a house.  For one, we've put in "enough rent ... to pay for four houses by now" (44).  Also, I couldn't stand those "cracking walls" (93) and the armies of cockroaches "marching ... like Napoleon" (55).  But besides the house's problems, there were many disputes among the family there, mainly revolving around Mama's check of ten thousand dollars.  Bennie, Travis, and I knew "that ain't none of our money" (34), but Walter wouldn't understand.  Walter strongly believed that, with his partners Bobo and Willy Harris, he could invest into a "little liquor store" (33) and obtain money for the family.  I realize and appreciate that he just wanted to provide a better life for his family, especially for Travis - Walter felt ashamed that his own son "sleeps in the living room" (34) and all Walter "got to give him is stories about how rich white people live" (34) - but there is bound to be trouble when working with Willy Harris, who is a dishonest, "good-for-nothing loudmouth" (32), and I think Walter learned his lesson about working with people like him.  Despite losing all of the money that Mama entrusted him, I am so glad that, when faced with the Clybourne Park Improvement Association, he decided for us to still "move into our house" (148), affirming that his father "earned it for us brick by brick" (148).  Mama and the rest of our family is proud of Walter, and Mama and I decided that he had "finally come into his manhood ... like a rainbow after the rain" (151). 

Walter had "finally come into his manhood ... like a rainbow after the rain" (151). 

I'll write to you later, Diary.  Mama is calling me.  I think she is going to start planting her garden today. 
                                                             Love,
                                                                 Ruth

Fitzgerald and Princesses

Throughout "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz", F. S. Fitzgerald conveys that immorality is caused by self-interest.  Although it is possible to manifest this theme by writing with in-depth rhetoric, it would not be as meaningful as by portraying it through stories, such as fairy tales that, today, everyone is familiar with. 
Fitzgerald's theme is found most prevalent in Disney princess movies.  Once upon a time, Snow White is given a poisoned apple because the Queen wanted to be "the fairest one of all".  The Evil Stepmother locked Cinderella in her room so Cinderella could not marry Prince Charming; the Evil Stepmother wanted to continue to own her, like the stepfather of Moses wanted to continue to own his Hebrew slaves.  Maleficent casts a curse on Aurora as revenge on King Stefan for not inviting her to a celebration for Aurora.  Ursula transforms Ariel into a human for three days, a request as absurd as wanting to witness pink elephants, as part of her evil scheme to become the ruler of the sea.  Mother Gothel kidnaps Rapunzel and channels the magic in Rapunzel's hair to herself continuously in order to look young for eternity.  Mother Gothel's selfishness is evident in the special song that activates Rapunzel's magic hair:  

Flower Gleam and Glow
Let your power shine
Make the clock reverse
Bring Back what once was mine
Heal what has been hurt
Change the Fates' design
Save what has been lost
Bring back what once was mine
What once was mine