The Great Gatsby Comprehension and Literary Analysis Blog

Throughout the story, Nick Carraway experiences entering and observing other people’s lives and problems. All of Nick’s aquaintences are involved in something scandalous. I believe that Nick symbolizes the order and sensibility in the novel, and he is the only one who really “gets it”.

Tom is married to Nick’s cousin, Daisy, but he has cheated on her multiple times and is involved with Myrtle Wilson during the novel. This is a scandal in his life and cause problems for him and other down the road when Myrtle is killed because of him. Nick later indirectly addresses this when he talks about Tom as careless and uncaring. He feels as if he is talking to a child at the end of the novel when he talks to Tom. He does not associate himself with living life this.This infidelity in Tom’s life is ultimately the cause all of the problems in the characters lives, ending with Gatsby’s death. Nick separates himself from their mess and is disgusted.
Daisy is married to Tom but meets up with Gatsby and loves him as she did before she knew Tom. She plans to leave Tom and this causes a big blow-up with the three of them. This mess in Daisy’s life is also abserved with disgust by Nick.

Jordan lies her way through life without a care. She cheats in her golf tournaments repeatedly and Nick basically describes her as a pathalogical liar. Nick separates himself from her at the end of the novel.

Gatsby’s life is a mess. He has lied to many about his past, and we find out that he made his extreme wealth illegally. Even though he comes clean to Nick later in the novel, he has still lied to many, including Nick, in the past. He is involved in the mess with Daisy and Tom, which Nick looks down upon.

Nick observes these people’s lives and is involved in them, but he does not get involved in their problems and does not have any of his own. He observes all of these problems and is the only one who understand them and is disgusted. He is the only one who cares about Gatsby when he dies, and the only one who seems to realize the fakeness of how they have all been living. He is the only one who has it together in the end. I believe that Nick represents the order and sensibility in The Great Gatsby.

Fitzgerald uses time throughout the novel. The reason that he does this is to help amplify the story. The story uses time to help to connect to real life. The real life factor would be difficult to determine if the time was not shown. The author uses this wisely as with it the reader can see exactly how one can live in this enviroment. The reason that the story is hard to believe without the use and description of time is because it uses references that require the knowledge of the time as they are not present in today’s enviroment and culture. An example of this is the easy earning of money. The money in this seems to come so easily and allows for the purchase of so much that it would not be equivelent to today’s economy. Another example of this is that the characters professions are not as prestigious as they were in the past and thus would cause some confusion if the time was not present today. 

 -Bill

After completing the book, I wondered about the meaning of the title, The Great Gatsby. What is it about Jay Gatsby that warrants him as “great?” I believe that this question is not answered by any particular accomplishments or deeds that Gatsby accomplished during his lifetime, but how he was viewed in the eyes of others, particularly Nick. Nick’s relationship with Gatsby is an interesting one, since it takes many turns and is somewhat complicated. Through most of the book he is fascinated by Gatsby, and by the end of the book kind of turns away from him. While Nick does not agree with Gatsby in regards to all of his actions, he clearly still respects him and admires him. Nick sees that Gatsby is getting something out of life that he is not, and this is what makes Gatsby so alluring to him. 

It is interesting but important that Nick becomes involved with Gatsby in the first place. “Nick finally meets Gatsby, who clearly represents everything Nick has been taught to scorn, to disapprove of…He is rumored to be a criminal, a killer” (Gross 2). So why does Nick take to him so well? I believe the answer to this is that Gatsby represents everything to Nick that he himself does not represent. He has a large mansion, throws elaborate parties, and appears to be very outgoing. It is Nick that makes Gatsby so great, not Gatsby himself. He looks into Gatsby and sees what he could become. “He smiled understandingly—much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced—or seemed to face—the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey” (Fitzgerald 48). That is why Gatsby is so “great,” and could even be considered somewhat of a hero. He opens Nick up, even after his death, to who and what he should, and should not become, and changes his way of thought and living in ways that will reverberate in him for the rest of his life. 

Does anyone else have any ideas why Gatsby is titled as “great?” 

What does Gatsby teach Nick about life and vice verse? 

Can Gatsby actually be considered a hero? 

- Adam H.

            The Great Gatsby’s characters frequently are frequently seen committing or being related to crime, the most common examples of this being murder, drinking and gambling. Fitzgerald uses these crimes to express the consequences of leading a life without moral, something that was of great concern to many people in the 1920’s (and today for that matter). 

            Drinking is often displayed by Fitzgerald as nearly glamorous through Gatsby’s parties at the start of the novel, however shortly into the novel Fitzgerald explains how through his liquor industry Gatsby has become associated with further dangerous and illicit activities, most prominently an acquaintance with Meyer Wolfsheim a large and powerful bookie.
            Although these crimes are relatively without consequence they slowly begin to open up to worse and worse infringements on society and order. As the characters slowly become more and more confused and lost due to the lies and crimes they have surrounded themselves with, they also begin to commit worse and worse acts, starting with Daisy’s violent (if unintentional) murder of Myrtle. Daisy’s disregard and immediate concern only for her own safety upon striking myrtle with a vehicle led to Myrtle dying in the road. This in turn upset Wilson and sparked another vicious crime, the murder of Gatsby. Gatsby’s small lie of taking of blame for Myrtle’s death serves as his final infringement on morality, incurring Wilson’s wrath serving to punish him for the many crimes and lack of morals that appear throughout his life.
How else does crime factor into The Great Gatsby? How about punishment?
            -Adam B

            Throughout The Great Gatsby, disillusion in relationships remains a recurring theme. It is seen in several places, specifically in Gatsby’s relationships with Daisy and in Nick’s relationship with Gatsby. In each case, the relationships are built upon misconceptions and false beliefs. 

            Firstly, Gatsby maintained his short relationship with Daisy by fooling himself into thinking she loved only him and did not care about tom. She never said anything to such an extent, however because she was never entirely open about her love of Tom, Gatsby became infatuated and hopeful. Gatsby himself is also at fault, having built an entirely new self as a rich and powerful socialite to impress Daisy. He even sheds his given name for the sake of becoming what he believes to be what Daisy desires. However in changing himself for Daisy he also became something other people.

            As he developed himself into a rich, millionaire gangster for the sake of Daisy, he also (although unintentional) invented himself into a figure that Nick could latch onto and respect. When Nick first becomes friends with Gatsby he looks up to him and sees him as an intelligent, interesting business savvy man. However as he begins to realize that his illusions are false upon seeing Gatsby crumble beneath Daisy’s manipulation, his opinion of and respect for Gatsby begins to disappear.

            How else do false beliefs, and infatuation play into the novel?

                                    -Adam B

Jay Gatsby is known for his extravagant parties in his mansion for the rich and famous. Although Gatsby only holds these parties to get to Daisy, they accentuate his riches and show the public that he is living his American Dream. These parties are a key component in the life of Gatsby, they represent the fact that he living the hard earned dream he looked forward throughout his life, as well as sharing his riches with the public.

            Gatsby’s parties are also a site of class issues, which appear variously throughout the story. I find the class issue present the most at these parties more than anywhere else in the novel. Gatsby’s guests are mostly of the higher class of New York City, who come to the party to socialize. “There was dancing now on the canvas in the garden; old men pushing young girls backward in eternal graceless circles, superior couples holding each other tortuously, fashionably, and keeping in the corners…” (Fitzgerald 46).  Even Nick notices the class issues of the time that seem to be prominent at the parties.  He becomes aware of the superior couples as he watches them dance in the garden, keen to their social status as they are dancing stiffly and in the latest fashionable dances.

            I see Gatsby’s parties as his way of showing the public that he is living the American Dream. He lavishes his property with various decorum, such as various string lights and canvas. “At least once a fortnight a crop pf caterers came down with several hundred feet of canvas and enough colored lights to make a Christmas trees of Gatsby’s enormous garden. On buffet tables, garnished with glistening hors d’oeuvre, spiced baked hams  crowded against salads of harlequin designs and pastry pigs and turkeys bewitched to a dark gold,” (Fitzgerald 40.) Gatsby not only lavishly decorates his yard and gardens, but also spends his money on fine foods and beverages to accentuate the fact that he can spend his money on such fancy things without worrying about certain debts that would have to be worried about if he was not living his American Dream.

Questions:

What do others think of when Gatsby’s parties are brought to light?

Was Gatsby to be considered living the American Dream?

~Sadie~  

            A theme that may be overlooked in The Great Gatsby is Gatsby’s hope for the future. It is significant because much of the characters actions and dreams involve an optimistic look on the future.

            Gatsby is a character that is renowned for his politeness and optimism. Even as a child, Gatsby had hopes of wealth and popularity in his future. When Gatsby’s father is found inside Gatsby’s house wandering the halls after his death, Gatsby’s father showed Nick an example of the young and ambitious Gatsby. We learned from his father that in his youth Gatsby made resolves which would improve his future. These resolves include: no smoking or chewing, which is an expensive habit and a terrible waste of money, to read an improving book or magazine per week, and to save three dollars per week. These resolves would help make him into a successful, personable, gentleman. As he grew, Gatsby was determined to meet the right people and become acquainted with those that could improve his life financially. After the war, Meyer Wolfsheim picked him up and sent him on various jobs. When Wolfsheim met him “he was so hard up he had to keep on wearing his uniform because he couldn’t buy some regular clothes” (Fitzgerald 172). Gatsby is willing to do anything to reach his ideal life. This ideal life involved money happiness, and most important of all, Daisy. Without her Gatsby has no one to impress, no one to share his feelings with, and no one to love. This hope for an impossible and unattainable dream is what makes Gatsby more than the sum of his reality (Hermanson).

            Gatsby’s desire to supersede the impossible is what ultimately embodies an undying hope for the future. Fitzgerald’s use of this theme is both inspirational and a disappointment because Gatsby is unable to achieve the unachievable. Although the reader is held up and upset at the fruits of Gatsby’s labor, we are inspired by Nick’s final statement and call to duty. Nick inspires us to “run faster, stretch out our arms farther,” (Fitzgerald 180) so that we may improve our lives just as Gatsby worked to achieve the best for his own.

Questions:

Any other thoughts about Gatsby’s optimism?

Do any other characters express this optimism?

Hermanson, Casie E. “An Overview of The Great Gatsby.” Literature Resourece Center on Galenet. Springfield Township HS Library. 1998.

One thing Fitzgerald incorporates into this characterization of Nick verses the other characters of the story is the idea of order vs. disorder.  As Lisca, author of “Nick Carraway and the Imagery of Disorder,” points out, Nick tends to only approve of those people who are polite and dignified.  When at one of Gatsby’s parties, he approves of then group who is sitting quietly.  This theme is prevalent in Nick’s past as well.  He moved to the East in order to get away from the rumor of him having an affair.  Additionally, Jordan shows this as well.  She shows signs of dishonesty, and when Nick finds out he is bothered by it because it shows disorder.  This is true as well with her careless driving.  He is also bothered by her callousness when she gets mad at him for not being “nice” to her the night before.  As the times indicate, this is not normal for a woman to do, and it represents disorder, which Nick does not like.

Additionally, Tom and Daisy’s whole relationship can represent disorder.  They came to the East for no real reason, and they never know what they are going to do next.  This differs greatly with Gatsby, for he had plans written out.

What does everybody think about disorder and Gatsby?  Does anybody think that the reason Nick is his friend is that maybe Gatsby contains some elements of a person living with order?  For instance, Gatsby’s list of goals shows order, and his overall goal of having his parties was to lure Daisy to his house so he could win her back also shows order.  Does anybody disagree with this?  Some counter arguments could be that Gatsby came from being a small town nobody, to a rich superficial man, who doesn’t really manage his own life, but rather lets his butlers take care of everything.  Let me know what you think.

Also, here is my works cited for all of my posts:

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby.  Scribner; New York, 1925.

“Jiffynotes.com”  4/1/06.  www.jiffynotes.com.

Peter Lisca, “Nick Carraway and the Imagery of Disorder,” in Twentieth Century Literature, Vol. 13,

            No. 1, April, 1967, pp. 18-28.

“Sparknotes.com” Spark Notes.  3/28/06. www.sparknotes.com.

As everyone knows, The Great Gatsby is set in the 1920s before the Great Depression. This time period adds a lot to the story. In fact, it almost makes the 1920s a character in itself.

Following World War I, the nation was in a state of ectasy. Not only had the US done well in the war, but the stock market was booming like never before. Due to all of this, the extravagance and carelessness of the times manifested. Money became the most important thing of the times, and caused for an increased amount of materialism. Fitzgerald is able to set the scene of West Egg because of how easy it was becoming to get rich. The new rich were becoming more and more abundant, and the aristocrats (East Egg) resented that immensely. The lavish parties thrown by Gatsby show how important money was to everything, and how unimportant other aspects of life were.

Since money was becoming more and more important during the 1920s, Fitzgerald was able to convey his message of how the American Dream was deteriorating. They (The Eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg) may represent God staring down upon and judging American society as a moral wasteland, though the novel never makes this point explicitly. Clearly, the value of religion was becoming less important in people’s lives, as why did they need religion when they had all this money to get whatever they desired?

Furthermore, since the 1920s had so many newly rich people, Fitzgerald was able to represent the differences between the new rich and aristocrats. Gatsby seemed to value money a ton on the surface, but in a different way than the aristocrats. He seemed to portray his money in a more flaunting, in your face way than the East Egg characters did. Though he did this, he still was more pure in heart than any of the East Egg characters, most likely because the money had not acted as a particular comfort for him, like it did for the East Egg characters.

Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald seems to use the 1920s as a platform to describe each of the characters, as they are not particularly “timeless.” (In the sense that you could place them in any time period and they’d fit in) Their place is the 1920s, and Fitzgerald makes sure that the setting essentially needs to be the 1920s.

Does anyone think other symbols are used because of the times?

-Dan

In chapter nine, the final chapter of the book The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby, the main character, has a funeral for his death.  However, we see that despite the determination Nick displays, Gatsby funeral is very lonely.  We see just how close his “friends” were to him.  The last chapter of the story shows the difference between those in East Egg as opposed to those in West Egg.  Throughout the story Nick discusses the importance of East-West Egg and how East egg is the more superficial side, as well as down to earth.  When Mr. Gatz shows up to go to his son’s funeral we see how calm and collected he becomes.  This is a representation of the East of America that Fitzgerald intended to show.  He is showing how Nick and Gatz are not as self-centered as the others who live on the West.  These Westerners, the “friends” of Jay Gatsby who would attend the parties, do not attend Gatsby’s parties, nor does it appear that they even care.  Instead, they are so wrapped up inside themselves and their money that some even have the nerve to show up to Gatsby’s house well after the funeral, thinking that a party was going to occur. 
 
We do not know for sure if Gatsby would attend a funeral of someone that was at his party, but my best guest from the descriptions of Gatsby as a person indicate that he would.  Just goes to show the reader how not self-centered the East can be.  Fitzgerald certainly meant for this to occur because he lived in the East.  While it is unsure that Fitzgerald ever encountered a situation like this one, we must assume that he must have had some inspiration to write about the topic. 
 
Does anyone feel like Fitzgerald may have used some of his life-experiences to fuel his book?
 
Does the East-West rivalry portrayed in the story have significant meaning?
 
What events throughout the book support the East-West rivalry?

Chris C.

                Rich or poor? This theme of wealth is brought up constantly during The Great Gatsby, but is first introduced to the reader in the second chapter.  It seems as though there are three main “groups” in The Great Gatsby, the rich and wealthy, the newly rich (no social connections), and the poor.  Fitzgerald displays characters for each group and there is a certain and important role for each character.  In the “rich” we have the Buchanans (Tom and Daisy), who are arrogant and snobbish people that love money.  In the “newly rich” we have the two main characters of Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby.  Finally in the “poor” group there is Myrtle and George Wilson.  All of these characters seem to come from different backgrounds and have turned out in different “social groups.”  “My family have been prominent, well-to-do people in this Middle Western city for three generations.  The Carraways are something of a clan, and we have tradition that we’re descended from the Dukes of Buccleuch” (Fitzgerald 3). While Nick is born into wealth and has it later on in his life, Gatsby is not as fortunate as Nick and has to work for his money.  Now although these two characters are in the same group (they both live in West Egg), they did not start out the same.

 Wealth of the members of each group is not the only things that determine the social group the members are in, but location also plays a large role.  There are four main locations discussed, East and West Egg, the valley of ashes, and New York City.  I have related each location to a type of group/ desirable status.  Due to Fitzgerald I feel that East Egg represents the snobby rich and arrogant people who only love money and not each other.  I have come to this conclusion from the characters of Daisy and Tom.  This couple shows many signs of greed, selfishness, and carelessness.  Also I believe that the two don’t even love each other at all, I think that they just love each others social ranking, money, and power.  The next location is West Egg; two inhabitants of this area are Nick and Gatsby.  Now when categorizing this location I believed that that it belonged in the newly rich (because Fitzgerald states this).  Next we have the “valley of ashes,” the barren zone between West Egg and New York City.  The valley also serves as a home for the Wilson’s and the billboard.  The valley is portrayed as “a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling though the powdery air” (23).  Due to this description of the location I saw this area being categorized with the more less wealthy people involved in the story.    

The last location I would like to discuss is New York City, now although most of the story does not take place in the city and it does not quite fit into a social category; I still feel it had important meaning.  The main events that go on the city are Tom and Myrtle’s affair, meeting with Gatsby and Wolfshiem, and the party that Nick goes to with Daisy and Tom.  I believe these three events are the most important, because they all share on thing, desire.  I feel that the city of New York in some way represents desire.  In the beginning of the story I realized that Nick possibly wanted more then he had, and in so I believed that he wanted to become one of or at least be associated with the West Eggers, in doing so he goes to a party with daisy and Tom.  I think he did this because he wanted to meet new people, and establish his name to others, and he does so.  Desire is obviously portrayed in the affair with Tom and Myrtle because she longs for Tom’s wealth.  In their relationship Tom to push and boss her around consciously, because she feels he is the better person.  She desires to be a West Egger and the closest she can get to this is by having a relationship with one of them.  The last event that I feel represents desire in New York City is the meeting that Gatsby has with his old business affiliate, Wolfshiem.  Years and years ago, before Gatsby was popular and wealthy, he came from a North Dakota farm, with not much money.  I believe that this meeting represents desire because Gatsby wanted to become wealthy and powerful, so Daisy would love him.  This related to the meeting with Wolfshiem, because I think that he was involved with whatever was the source of Gatsby’s enormous fortune.  

Lyle          

Though the 1920s may be nothing more than an after thought for most people of today’s generation, it cannot be denied there are glaring similarities between today’s society and the culture of the twenties.  When you look at the surface of today and the surface of the twenties one may be hard fought to find any similarities.  Today you cannot go anywhere without seeing someone using a cellphone, laptop, or some other high-tech gadget suppose to make our lives easier.  During the twenties, the fad in entertainment was the radio.  Imagine living in our society without the advantages of technology.  So from this standpoint, it may seem trivial to say that our society and the 1920s have anything in common.  By taking a closer look though, you see that the similarities cannot be over looked.

One glaring parallel is the general attitudes and behaviors shown today and in the twenties.  At the onset of the twenties, America was just removed from the first World War, there was a spread of patriotism and people wanted to get out and experience new things presented to them.  In addition to the new found need to spend money on products, many people became rich and began to develop a “me first” attitude.  This is apparent all throughout The Great Gatsby.  The earliest example of this is the beginning when Nick states, ”Everybody I knew was in the bonds business, so I supposed it could support one more singles man,” (Fitzgerald 3).  Though he is not rich, Nick is demonstrating that he does not neccessarily care for the bonds business, but he wants to join because he thinks he will be able to make good money out of it.  This type og attitude is over our society today.  People will look for the simplest way they know how to make money, whether it is what they care for or not.  When Gatsby throws his lavish parties he has one goal in mind, impress Daisy.  He does not socialize well with his guests, whether he knows them or not, but worries only about Daisy and how she likes his parties.  Tom also shows signs of this behavior.  He hates the fact that Daisy sees Gatsby, but all the while he has an affair with Myrtle Wilson. 

Much like today, professional sports were pierced with scandal.  Currently, Major League Baseball has announced an investigation into past steroid used by current players.  In 1919, there was the Black Sox Scandal.  This was when eight players from the Chicago White Sox took an offer to throw the World Series (Historical Context: The Great Gatsby).  This leads us into another character from the book, Meyer Wolfshiem, who apparently made the deal with the White Sox to throw the Series.  Wolfshiem did not care about the integrity of the game or the pure competetive nature of the players.  Rather he was in for himselfand was looking for a big payday, much like the people at teh heart of the steroid scandal today. 

As you can see, there are striking similarities between today and the twenties.  Has our society progressed or are people to caught in a “Me First” attitude that is keeping our society from moving forward?

-Eamonn

Works Cited (for all my posts)

“Historical Context: The Great Gatsby.”  Student Resource Center.  Gale Group.  Springfield Township high school Library.  29 March 2006.  http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/SRC>

Fitzgerald, F. Scott.  The Great Gatsby.  New York: Scribner, 1953

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, music represents several aspects of Gatsby’s lifestyle.  At a Gatsby party, one hears the highest of the high notes and the lowest of the low because Gatsby’s bands use instruments that go to those extremes.  The high and low instruments mirror the mood range of Gatsby’s parties as well.  According to literary critic Bruce Bawer, Gatsby’s bands use “instruments one might expect at a fashionable twenties party (trombones, saxes, cornets, even an oboe)” as well as the unexpected “viol and the piccolo–significantly, the pieces which reach the lowest and highest notes respectively in the canon of instruments” (64).  Where they can be really fun and exciting at times, Gatsby also has a tendency to become depressed at some point in the night.  So the high notes represent feelings of excitement and elation whereas the low notes illustrate a slower and sadder mood.

The instruments themselves aren’t the only sounds that contrast one another.  Bawer suggests that the singers at Gatsby’s party, “a celebrated tenor [that] had sung in Italian, and a notorious contralto [that] had sung in jazz,” represent contradictory personalities as well.  The “celebrated tenor” shows the serious and traditional side of life, and her songs are of the classic nature.  The jazz singer, on the other hand, sings in a style that is often times characterized by improvisation.  The Italian tenor’s music is timeless, so it will always be beautiful.  The jazz singer, on the other hand, sings in what was a very new technique in 1925, and each time she sings a song, it will probably be a little bit different (due to the improvisational nature of jazz).  The jazz singer at Gatsby’s party augurs Gatsby’s “failure to revive his relationship with Daisy on a permanent basis” (Bawer 65).

Brawer also points out the contrast between the musical moods at Gatsby’s nighttime parties (the setting in which chapter three begins) to the Sunday morning church bells in the beginning of the fourth chapter.  Using music, Fitzgerald emphasizes a contrast between decadence and piety, and that speaks to the duality of man theme we’ve discussed in class.  The extravagant music at Gatsby’s nighttime soirées show his wild side, whereas the placid church bells on Sunday morning also tie music to Gatsby’s morality, showing that he is also a man of God.

Sarah Beth

Fitzgerald portrays Daisy in two very different lights.  First, he portrays her as charming and beautiful; in Gatsby’s eyes, she is perfect.  As the story begins to develop, the reader sees Daisy’s love for money more and more.  For example, Gatsby had to lie to her about his identity because she would not love him if he did not have money.  In addition, she married Tom because of his money, and because he could provide her with a wealthy lifestyle.

Additionally, as the story continues to develop, the reader sees the more fickle, shallow, and less wonderful aspects of Daisy, (the ones Gatsby cannot see).  Most importantly, her characteristic as a careless person comes out.  In chapter 9, Nick says, “It was all very careless and confused.  They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their cast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made…”  (Fitzgerald 179).  This carelessness is shown through out the story.  Daisy lets Gatsby take the blame for Myrtle’s death, and then does not even attend Gatsby’s funeral. 

Additionally, her carelessness is shown through her relationships (Sparknotes.com).  First, she shows she is not able to truly care for someone through her dealings with Gatsby and Tom.  While she acts as though she is in love with Gatsby again, she stays with Tom, not because she is deeply in love with him, but rather because she feels safe with him, and he can provide her the life she wants.  Her carelessness is also shown through her relationship with her daughter.  She is unable to take responsibility and take care of her daughter, and instead has a nurse do all of the work. 

Does anybody else have any opinions on the characterization of Daisy?  Does she show more characteristics of the East or West regarding Megan’s second post?

In chapter 5 of “The Great Gatsby,” we learn a lot more about Nick’s perception of Daisy.  We have learned at this point, Tom’s affair with Myrtle.  Although Nick disapproves of this affair, he still associates with them and does not openly condemn them.  This is the chapter where Daisy and Gatsby’s affair begins.  Nick perception of Gatsby is beginning to change as he is seeing Gatsby as more of a human (his nervousness around Daisy) and begins to see Daisy as less of an upstanding citizen so to speak. He always seemed to respect Daisy and talked of a certain air her voice carried (which he later surmised was ¡§money¡¨) he thought she was respectable.  Although he never calls Daisy out on her deeds, probably because Tom is doing the same thing to her, he is beginning to become more aware of the decay of the morals of the rich.  Nick says that he is one of the only honest people he knows.  Nick has high moral standards (which can be later seen when he ¡§breaks-up¡¨ with Jordan) and he does not like the decay of the morals of the high class that are becoming more apparent in this chapter.

I also think he sees the east of the country as having lower moral standards than the west.  He left the west where rumors flew for the east to escape those rumors, but it seems that in the east the moral standards of the rich are much lower.

What does everyone think about the morals of the east vs. morals of the west?

-Megan

“A note on Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby” by David F Trask discusses how the American dream is portrayed throughout the novel.  This critical essay does not give specific examples in the text of the American dream, but it does discuss Trask’s interpretation of it.  Trask states “[t]he American dream consisted of the belief (sometimes thought of a promise) that people of talent in this land of opportunity and plenty could reasonably aspire to material success if they adhered to a fairly well-defined set of behavioral rules…” (Trask 1).  I agree with Trask that the American dream is to succeed and become rich and have many belongings to show off to people.  This part of the American dream is very well portrayed in The Great Gatsby, in my opinion.  For example, in chapter nine, Gatsby’s father Henry comes to his son’s funeral.  Henry shows Nick an old book of Gatsby’s from when he was a child.  In this book, Gatsby made a strict schedule stating the things that he needs to do and at what specific time they had to be completed.  These guidelines that Gatsby made could possibly be related to his success because he was determined to succeed in life, which could be considered the American dream. 

Contradicting himself, Trask implies that Gatsby does not really represent the American dream.  Trask states, “Gatsby was alone in death as he had been in life” (Trask 2).  This is implying that Gatsby is not the American dream.  Gatsby is rich and he throws many extravagant and lavish parties, but he does this for one purpose, and that purpose is to see Daisy.  The people who attend his parties do not usually know him and they do not care to find him.  In Holden’s words, they are phonies.  One would think that all of these parties would have made him popular and he would have friends, which is also part of the American dream.  When Gatsby dies, the only people who come to his funeral are his father, Nick, and the person who looks like an owl.  Kilpspringer does not come to his funeral even though Gatsby was kind enough to open his doors and allow Kilpspringer to board there.  Wolfshiem does not come to the funeral either, even though he has known Gatsby for many years and considers him a friend.  Daisy does not come to his funeral as well, she was supposedly in love with him, and she wanted to be with him.  She and Tom were conveniently out of town on the day of the funeral.

What does everybody think of this critic’s interpretation of the American dream- do you think he is correct in his analysis?

Are there any other examples of these two quotes that I have pulled from the critic in the rest of the novel?

-Kristen

I think that a important, but very overlooked so far, theme in this book is Fitzgerald’s use of color. Brandon touched upon the green light symbolizing Gatsby’s search for Daisy and the American dream, and I would like to touch upon another important use of color in the novel. This color, or possibly seen as lack of color, is white. The signifigance of this color is seen in the wardrobe of the characters, most prevalently Nick, Daisy, and Jordan.

Before examples are given to support the use of white in the story, it would probably be best to say what the color white represents. I believe that it represents innocence, purity, and honesty.

These characteristics can first be seen with the portrayal of Nick. Nick’s shirt of choice is a white sailing like shirt, and he wears it when he goes to Gatsby’s party and other places. “Dressed up in white flannels I went over to his lawn a little after seven, and wandered around rather ill at ease amoung swirls and eddies of people I didn’t know…(41). He says in the beginning of the book that he never lies and is one of the few honest people that he knows. Nick alone would not make white seem to represent this theme, but the choice of both Daisy and Jordan to wear white when Nick visits the Buchanon’s house support this. (The Great Gatsby). ”They were both in white, and their dresses were rippling and fluttering as if they had just been blown back in after a short flight around the house” (8). Nick throughout the book views Daisy as innocent and pure, seeing her almost as a child. Whether she is or not is not the point, simply the fact that what she is trying to represent is. The same description applies for Jordan as well. When Nick first meets Jordan he has this opinion of her as well, but of course later he finds her not to be innocent at all.

What does everyone else think that white represents?

Does anyone have any ideas for what some other colors represent?

“The Great Gatsby.” 4/5/06. www.fcps.k12.va.us.

- Adam H.

            Many authors use the characters in their books to convey certain messages and themes.  F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is no different.  In the book, Tom Buchanan, a rich and snobby businessman, “poses as a guardian of tradition and public values [during the 1920’s]” (Berman).  In other words, Tom stands as a “representative figure for Fitzgerald’s view of the cultural moment” (Berman).  Tom fulfills the duty Fitzgerald gives him by discussing such issues as racism and discrimination and science.  Tom also demonstrates the theme of the decade – the importance of books and science in describing events, ideas, etc. – by his constant use of books and publications as the basis for his opinions.

            Fitzgerald sets Tom up to be a well-read, seemingly erudite upper-classman.  Daisy, for example, explains in the beginning of the book that “Tom’s getting very profound…He reads deep books with long words in them” (Fitzgerald 13).  To this, Tom immediately replies that “these books are all scientific” (Fitzgerald 13), relaying to the reader the value society in the 1920’s placed on books and scholars.  Simply put, “the implication is that [Tom’s] ideas do in fact circulate from texts” (Berman), representing the widespread theme of the decade.  Tom himself continues Fitzgerald’s work by also becoming emotionally (as opposed to educationally) involved in the ideas he presents.  Tom “is equipped with a number of anxieties connected to his ideas” (Berman).

            The general theme of Tom’s commentary revolves around the word “civilization.”  The term “’civilization’ was everywhere [in America during the 1920’s] in the use for the expression of anxiety.  After Nick complains that Daisy “makes [him] feel uncivilized” (Fitzgerald 12), Tom responds with his caveat to Nick that “Civilization’s going to pieces” (Fitzgerald 12).  Thus, Tom’s infatuation with the issues in society – most notably the integration of blacks and immigrants into society [note: I discussed Tom’s racist views in my previous post] – begins.  At the same time, the introduction of the book The Rise of the Colored Empires by Goddard symbolizes (literally) the theme of reliance on books during the decade.

            At times in the book, Fitzgerald emphasizes the aforementioned theme by deemphasizing the actual content of the books and publications.  For example, Miss Baker “read[s] aloud to [Tom] from The Saturday Evening Post” (Fitzgerald 17).  The “words…run together in a soothing tune” (Fitzgerald 17), and “what Tom is hearing [the reader] will never know” (Berman).  However, the reader “can expect that the ideas of the moment are being read to him” (Berman).  In this way, “Fitzgerald’s text reminds [the reader] of the existence of other texts” (Berman).  Thus, even when Fitzgerald does not reveal the content of publications Tom reads, he makes sure to reveal the fact that Tom read the publications and gained insight and ideas from them.
            Tom’s ideas encounter no resistance from anyone, which further reflects the belief of the period that books and publications were quickly accepted as fact.  “There are no independent minds in [Tom’s] household” (Berman).  Daisy and Jordan pose no arguments to Tom’s theories; “they find [Tom] ridiculous but acceptable” (Berman).  This lack of counter-arguments could reflect Fitzgerald’s belief that theories stated in books during the time were too quickly accepted as fact.  Perhaps Fitzgerald values seeing every side of an idea.  This would correspond to his negative belief of the 1920’s.

Questions:  Does the quick acceptance of certain ideas presented by authors plague (if it is a bad thing) society today?  If yes, what are some examples of it? 

-Keith

Works Cited (for all my posts)

1. Berman, Ronald. “Contexts.” Rpt. in The Great Gatsby and Modern Times. 1994: (15-37). 5 April 2006. .
2. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner, 1925.

            Peter Lisca presents a new view of The Great Gatsby in his piece entitled, “Nick Carraway and the Imagery of Disorder.” Peter mentions throughout his criticism that Nick embodies the principles of “order and decorum” (page 3), and all the other characters represent “disorder and indecorum” (page 3). Upon reading Peter’s piece, I thought it was untrue. Gatsby’s strict schedule near the end of the book kept reappearing in my mind (173). This orderly lifestyle seen by Gatsby’s book seemed to disagree with what Peter was saying. Then, pondering further about this thought, Peter’s opinion seemed to make less sense.

            Throughout the book, the other characters, particularly Gatsby, did not seem to represent disorder, but instead represented order. For example, before Daisy was coming over for lunch, Gatsby made sure everything was right in Nick’s house (the grass was cut, the kitchen was fixed up, there was enough food, etc.). This doesn’t seem like a sense of disorder by Gatsby. Instead it seems like he wants to be ordered and possesses a sense of readiness.

            I am curious as to how others feel about this. Do you feel that Nick represented “order and decorum” throughout the novel? Furthermore, did the other characters represent “disorder and indecorum?”

Peter Lisca, “Nick Carraway and the Imagery of Disorder,”in Twentieth Century Literature, Vol.13, No. 1, April, 1967, pp.18-28.

-Brandon