414: Tell Me What Your Pain Sounds Like

Published in 1925, 'The Great Gatsby' is a tragic love story, a mystery, and a social commentary on American life during the Jazz Age. The novel is narrated by Nick Carraway, who moves to Long Island and becomes entangled in the lives of his wealthy and mysterious neighbor, Jay Gatsby, and Gatsby's obsession to win back his first love, Daisy Buchanan. The story delves into themes of honesty, the temptations of wealth, and the struggle to escape the past, ultimately reflecting on the disintegration of the American Dream.

The story follows Miles 'Pudge' Halter, a teenager fascinated by famous last words, who leaves his safe life in Florida to attend Culver Creek Preparatory High School in Alabama. There, he befriends Chip 'The Colonel' Martin, Takumi, and the enigmatic Alaska Young. The novel is divided into two parts, 'Before' and 'After,' which explore themes of life, death, and the search for meaning. An unthinkable tragedy changes the lives of the characters, prompting Miles to reflect on the deeper meanings of existence.

The novel follows Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old girl with thyroid cancer that has spread to her lungs, and Augustus Waters, a 17-year-old boy who lost his leg to osteosarcoma. They meet at a cancer support group and develop a deep bond over their shared experiences and favorite books. The story explores themes of mortality, the meaning of life, and the intensity of their love as they face the harsh realities of their illnesses. The narrative is marked by its direct and introspective tone, as Hazel navigates her feelings and the existential questions that come with facing death.

Elaine Scarry's 'The Body in Pain' explores the relationship between physical pain, language, and political power. It argues that pain is a state of being that resists verbal expression, making it difficult for individuals to convey their suffering to others. This inarticulacy, according to Scarry, can be exploited by those in power to deny or ignore the pain of marginalized groups. The book examines how the infliction of pain can lead to the dismantling of a person's sense of self and their ability to participate in social and political life. Scarry also investigates how certain political and social structures rely on the suppression of bodily experiences to maintain control. The book is a profound exploration of the ways in which pain shapes our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.