Lord Francis Bacon in his essay on Beauty said, “There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.” This quality of strangeness is the fact that she’s “slow.” As the story progresses it becomes clear that some things go over her head and as a result she tends to distrust and doubt what to others are acceptable events. In one instance Nick perceives this flaw when he says, “She saw something awful in the very simplicity she failed to understand.” (GG, 107).

Echolalia:

Understanding doesn’t come easy to Daisy, and when she offers an opinion, it is always an inane opinion that often verges on absurdity. Notice how she deals with one single idea by repeating the same idea three times:

“In two weeks it’ll be the longest day in the year.” She looked at us all radiantly. “Do you always watch for the longest day of the year and then miss it? I always watch for the longest day in the year and then miss it.”

If you count the pronoun “it” you will realize that she has mentioned the longest day of the year five times. Now, how many of us-unless we are physicists or meteorologists– entertain the idea to “always watch” for the longest day of he year only to miss it? Is it possible that she associates the summer solstice (June 20-21) with a personal date that she should both simultaneously remember and forget? June seems to be an ill-starred month in that summer of her discontent.

For, “In June she marries Tom Buchanan of Chicago, with more pomp and circumstance than Louisville ever knew before,” Jordan Baker tells Nick. Since she married Tom in June, then Daisy may be alluding to her wedding anniversary date; a date that she watches for with painful expectancy only to dismiss it. One should also recall that on the eve of her wedding day she receives a letter (presumably from Gatsby) which distresses her immensely, moving her to the point of drunken stupor. As the story unfolds, we learn that Daisy is unhappy in her marriage to Tom, knowing that he is not only a womanizer but also a violent and abusive man.

A character that not only repeats the same words with each utterance, but also repeats trivialities and stutters has to be slow, or a least limited, if not feeble-minded. The British philosopher John Locke said of humans, “in their thinking and reasonings within themselves, make use of Words instead of Ideas.” In our own times, the linguist Noam Chomsky sees language as something that grows in the brain. In this light, when Nick portrays Daisy’s with a paucity of speech, we have no choice but to see her as an empty-headed beauty with little or no intellectual acumen.

The Renaissance scholar Erasmus of Rotterdam, in his Copia of Words and Ideas-a treatise on the varying of speech-says,

“In particular, however, it will be useful in avoiding tautology, that is repetition of the same word or expression, a vice not only unseemly but also offensive. It not infrequently happens that we have to say the same thing several times, in which case, if destitute of copia we will either be at a loss, or, like the cuckoo, croak out the same words repeatedly, and be unable to give different shape or form to the thought. And thus betraying our want of eloquence we will appear ridiculous ourselves and utterly exhaust our wretched audience with wariness.”

But let’s return to Daisy’s repetitions: “I looked outdoors for a minute, and it’s very romantic outdoors.” Daisy’s idealized world is a chimerical, fabulous, enchanted dimension where she hopes-with enough faith-she might find love in the form of a rescuing prince.

She sees in her cousin Nick as a pleasant, unthreatening figure, who is fun to be with, who is discreet, and who seems loyal to her. Nick for Daisy is someone who will not cause hurt to her as Jay Gatsby did with their separation, and as Tom Buchanan does in their unhappy marriage.

“Ah,” she cried, “you look so cool.”

“You always look so cool,” she repeated.

As she repeats the word ‘cool’ she emphasizes her sentiments that she finds in Nick a benign soul. When Daisy accepts Nick’s invitation to visit with Gatsby, little did she know that Nick would be opening the flood-gates of adultery, misery, crime and evasion, and much unhappiness.

“Come back in an hour, Ferdie.” Then in grave murmur: “His name is Ferdie.”

When she repeats the name Ferdie in a “grave murmur,” what the narrator signals is the gravity of her unennobling actions; we know that has sealed her fate to committing adultery.

Once Daisy enters Gatsby’s mansion, there’s no escape from that castle of doom. Once in Gatsby’s inner sanctum, dazzled by the opulence, she can only spew trivial observations, as when she sees the collection of shirts:

“They’re such beautiful shirts,” she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds. “It makes me sad because I’ve never seen such–such beautiful shirts before.”

Oxford shirts were imported from London, and were the expensive uniform that people in Wall Street would wear. Since Nick was a bond trader, he presumably knew about such beautiful shirts. We can also note a symbolic connection to Gatsby, as he was referred to as an “Oxford man.”

What is surprising is that she blurts out not only platitudes, but also absurdities as in the following examples: “I’ll tell you a family secret,” she whispered enthusiastically. “It’s about the butler’s nose. Do you want to hear about the butler’s nose?”

But again, what appears an absurdity (to talk about noses in a serious book) may be pseudo symbols to depict “the help,” just as the houses (Daisy’s, Jay’s, and Tom’s) are representative of the “upper crust.” (p.13).

Nick refers to Daisy’s laugh as “an absurd, charming little laugh.” (p.8)

Daisy also stutters: “I’m p-paralyzed with happiness.” (p8.)

Low Self Esteem

But much unhappines she reveals when the nurse informs her that her baby is a little girl. Acknowledging the plight of the American woman of her times she says: “I am glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool–that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” This poignant remark shows Daisy’s little self-esteem and resignation to a life of utter dependency. The French moralist, La Rochefoucauld, writes in maxim 207: “People do not grow mentally after age 25, nor do they grow older mentally. There is little wisdom based on understanding – most wisdom consists of prettified disillusions and is based on bitter experience.” Within the realm of the story, Daisy is the heroine reduced to ill choices caused by her disillusions and bitter experience.

When Garcia Marquez’s character (in One Hundred Years of Solitude) Remedios the Beauty ascends to heaven, the reader accepts this fact because the woman in her simple mindedness never sees that her beauty hurts people; even kills them. But when Nick Carraway paints Daisy as a southern belle, an innocent ingenue –knowing full well that she killed Tom’s mistress– that is asking too much of a reader. The text shows that she is the driver in that fated hit-and-run death.

When Hamlet said, “Frailty thy name is woman,” he meant, “Frailty thy name is Daisy.

                 “He who controls the story controls their destiny,” said CJ Cregg and this is a very true thing. You should not assume that once you get the first interview for a job, you are first question will be “Why did you quit the previous job?” Your answer will say more about you. You say, “I was fired and I have no idea why? You seem a little scary and lacking resourcefulness – qualities that nobody wants to an employee. You say, “I was fired and I hate that losers and I spend all my free time hunting them for the rest of my life? At least this answer denotes passion. Any of these responses is better than you stutter.

we live in an environment where brands are sold. So how can you enter the labor market without a name? So after you thought what you will say about your sudden availability, think about why you should hire. What is absolutely unique about you? In other words, think about why an employer should hire you and not on the 10,000 other people out of work, which have recently been affected by the economic recession.

usually, when you take a presentation to a client, you should not do it just for once, twice – maybe three. We are not accustomed to have the same enthusiasm from the beginning to the tenth or fifteenth presentation. And exactly this should you handle a job interview.

Of course, our natural instinct is to adapt as this. Not necessarily improved, but even refresh to maintain passion. Otherwise, we get bored. However, here – even if it is the tenth time you say the same thing probably is the first time you hear your client. All this is new for him and you need to make sure it sounds like it is new for you.

If you have a stuttering problem there is help out there for you and there is no need to suffer by yourself. Try some of the tips below and see how you get on.

1) Ease the anxiety

Some proponents of nlp techniques claim that the causes are psychological rather that physical, claiming that stutterers can speak fine in certain situations. There is certainly an element of anxiety surrounding speaking that can be worked with. If you feel anxiety before speaking locate the anxiety in your body and breathe into it. Let it be there and feel it. This can help take your mind off your thoughts, get you more grounded and keeping you focussed.

2) Inner dialogue

Some theorists believe that we have all the resources we need to solve a problem like stuttering. The answer may be different for each individual. If you take a quiet moment, close your eyes and ask yourself what need to do for yourself to help you stop stuttering, you may be surprised at the answer that may come. It may come immediately or later on. Trust yourself and see what happens.

3) Tips and tricks

There’s also various other bits and pieces that you can try to help you with your stuttering problem. Singing and visualising the words has helped some people while taking a breath before you speak and not being hard on yourself for getting it wrong can really help people too.

Steps

1. Examine the possible causes of your speech disorder and understand, if you can, what causes yours. Work with a speech expert or medical professional if you need to.
   • Look for possible physical causes:
     • Cleft palate was a major cause of speech impediments until surgery became affordable for people afflicted with it.
     • Malocclusion is when the teeth do not have the proper normal bite. Malocclusions are usually corrected through braces, although orthodontic surgery is necessary in some cases.
     • Neurological disorders caused by accidents or brain and nerve tumors can cause a speech disorder called dysprosody.
   • Look for possible learning disabilities:
     • Dyslexia and mental retardation can prevent a person from learning how to speak properly.
     • Children who suffer from autism or other learning disabilities often have speech impediments, although they can be overcome through speech therapy.
   • Is it caused by an emotional problem?:
     • People who suffer from traumatic experiences often develop speech problems like stammering and stuttering. A death in the family, an accident, or a crime can often affect the ability of a person to speak clearly.
     • Child abuse is also a frequent cause of speech impediments.
2. Find out whether your speech impediment is permanent. Some speech impediments are permanent, especially when caused by neurological disorders. On the other hand, a speech impediment may be the result of not having been taught how to speak clearly and communicate effectively. If you or your child are not taught proper speech practices at school or at home as a youth, it could lead to a speech impediment.
3. Proceed to work on improving your speech once you understand the cause of your speech difficulties.
4. Learn to speak correctly. There’s no substitute for learning when it comes to the proper and effective use of language. Practice makes perfect, and this holds true for speaking. Take every opportunity to speak, to practice and brush up on correct pronunciation and enunciation.
5. Speak publicly. The more chances you have to speak publicly, the more chances you get to practice. “Publicly” doesn’t have to mean a large audience, especially if that makes you nervous. Instead, practice talking to a friend or family member you can trust to listen patiently. Then, move on to speaking with others.
6. Try books on spoken English and speech-drill tapes. Allot two to three hours each day to practice how to pronounce words properly. Take down notes of words and sentences that you find difficult or tricky to pronounce.
7. Record your practice sessions on a hand-held voice recorder, or through a microphone connected to a stereo set or boom box. Practicing correct pronunciation, enunciation and diction may sound like a lot of hard work, but all the dedication does pay off.
8. Read out loud. Get a hold of some inspirational speeches from a college English textbook (or any other text you like), and read them aloud. In time, you may even develop your public speaking skills. That way, you can concentrate on the sounds and not coming up with the words.
9. Take your time. Speaking slowly may be frowned upon by some people because it sounds like they “talk stupid,” but slow and careful speaking is a very effective and persuasive way to communicate. You don’t have to speak very slowly; you need to speak in a pace that’s comfortable for you and your audience. A steady pace is better than speaking in a fast pace, especially if you want to send the intended meaning of your message across.
10. Speak your mind. Another reason why some people develop speech impediments is that they don’t take the opportunity to talk or to express themselves in public. The more you keep quiet and stay reserved, the more you might develop speech impediments like stammering, stuttering or cluttered speech.
11. Get braces. If you have misaligned teeth, you may have difficulty pronouncing some words because of a lisp. Most malocclusions are corrected through braces. Braces pull, push, and adjust individual teeth to correct your bite. Kids and teenagers don’t like to wear braces because they’re often teased as “metal mouths” or “railroad faces.” The fact is that braces are still the best way to correct a lisp caused by misaligned teeth. The problem with braces is that they often cause a speech impediment, especially when the springs, bands and wires of a set of braces are adjusted every month.
    • Every time the dentist adjusts your braces (or even dentures), you need to train yourself to talk and to eat properly. It may be quite painful at first, but remember not to go too far, lest you end up with a mouth injury.
    • Most braces are used for orthodontic purposes, although some braces can be used as decorations. Braces are rather expensive, and you may need to take out a dental plan or cash in on dental insurance to pay for them.
12. Maintain good posture. Most speech impediments are caused by problems in the mouth, but some impediments like stuttering and stammering are caused, or exacerbated, by bad posture. If you keep your back bent and hunch your shoulders over, you don’t allow enough air to exert pressure on your diaphragm or pass through your larynx (voice box). The best public speakers and orators often maintain proper speaking posture:
    • Stomach in
    • Chest out
    • Shoulders relaxed
    • Back straight
    • Feet steady.
13. Support your speech from the diaphragm. The proper standing and sitting posture means that you draw your voice not directly from the larynx, but from the diaphragm. You also relieve pressure on your larynx by relaxing your shoulders, which means that you would talk in your natural pitch. If you keep your feet flat and steady, you also give yourself a very stable vertical base to support your body when you talk.
14. Stand tall. Another great advantage to proper posture is that you look and feel good whenever you’re speaking, whether it’s a formal speaking engagement or a chat over lunch. Proper posture boosts your confidence, and tells people that you know what you’re talking about.
15. Try speech therapy psychologists and speech therapists to help you overcome your speech impediments if they are caused by emotional distress or learning disabilities. Speech therapy is very useful if you need to break out of your silence, and to talk about your problems, your frustrations, or your own personal tragedy. Speech therapy is also very helpful for correcting your impediment; the therapist will point out the part of speech where you’re having problems, and will work with you to correct it. Private speech therapy sessions do not come cheap, although you can take out money from your personal health insurance policy if your coverage application allows it.

Tips

• If you can’t get rid of your speech disorder on your own, see a doctor.
• Proper speech is important to maintain high self-esteem and self-confidence.
• The great Greek orator and statesman Demosthenes once got rid of his speech impediments by reciting verses while his mouth was full of pebbles. It may sound like a good idea, but you wouldn’t want to choke on small rocks just to get rid of a stutter or a stammer.
• Welcome good speech. Look forward to it, and accept and celebrate even little improvements.
• See a Speech Pathologist who maintains their Certification of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association. These professionals are able to evaluate, diagnose and treat speech impairments.

Warnings

• See a doctor if you can. Nothing replaces sound medical advice from a specialist. They have helped many other people before, and will certainly be able to aid you.

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