"After that I felt a certain shame for Gatsby - one gentleman to whom I telephoned implied that he had got what he deserved." -page 171
This quote also relates to the importance of internal events. Jay Gatsby had died, and Nick was left in charge of letting people know. Unfortunately, no one wanted to attend his funeral. Gatsby had opened up his house to thousands of people and was welcoming every weekend, but still a mere four people showed up to his funeral. Nick feels terrible and wants to get as many people as possible to attend. Obviously, he is unsuccessful. Daisy, who Jay would be most interested in coming, did not answer any calls, or send any flowers, or show up to the funeral. I'm honestly not even sure if she knew that he had been killed. It is almost depressing that the only person Gatsby had to arrange the funeral was his neighbor, who he had barely known and reluctantly become his friend. Nick feels responsible, since no one else will help.
Monday, April 30, 2012
The Great Gatsby 9
"Or perhaps I had merely grown used to it, grown to accept West Egg as a world complete in itself, with its own standards and its own great figures, second to nothing because it had no consciousness of being so, and now I was looking at it again, through Daisy's eyes." -page 105
Contrasting places can often have an important role in a novel. In the Great Gatsby, West Egg Village is contrasted to East Egg. Actually in this case, West Egg is contrasted with the entire world. West Egg is totally different and separate from any type of normal life. It is a crazy place that is different from the rest of the real world. It is filled with rumors, conspiracies, parties, and drama. Nick Carraway is caught directly in the middle too. He is the next door neighbor to and friend of Jay Gatsby, who is the center of all of the commotion. The characteristics of West Egg are hard to fathom as a teenager from the Midwest that has never even been to New York. I can only imagine the craziness of this place. Setting is a very crucial part of the plot.
Contrasting places can often have an important role in a novel. In the Great Gatsby, West Egg Village is contrasted to East Egg. Actually in this case, West Egg is contrasted with the entire world. West Egg is totally different and separate from any type of normal life. It is a crazy place that is different from the rest of the real world. It is filled with rumors, conspiracies, parties, and drama. Nick Carraway is caught directly in the middle too. He is the next door neighbor to and friend of Jay Gatsby, who is the center of all of the commotion. The characteristics of West Egg are hard to fathom as a teenager from the Midwest that has never even been to New York. I can only imagine the craziness of this place. Setting is a very crucial part of the plot.
The Great Gatsby 8
"I can't describe to you how surprised I was to find out I loved her, old sport." -page 150
This quote reveals a lot of Gatsby's motives and interactions with Daisy. He had fallen in love with her, and had never forgotten her. He felt as if he were attached to her, but unfortunately he had no choice but to leave for war. Dasiy couldn't wait any longer, moved on, and married Tom. Through all of this, Daisy and Jay had still always loved each other. This past event influences the entire plot. The affect of past events can greatly influence a piece of literature. The reader understands why Gatsby is so attached to Daisy. Gatsby has not been able to get over his love for Daisy, or find any other woman that could compare to her and create the same feeling that he felt with her. He will do anything to get her back, and he is not phased by the fact that she has a family now. He strongly believes that she still loves him as much as he loves her and that she never loved Tom. Past events are very crucial to the story.
This quote reveals a lot of Gatsby's motives and interactions with Daisy. He had fallen in love with her, and had never forgotten her. He felt as if he were attached to her, but unfortunately he had no choice but to leave for war. Dasiy couldn't wait any longer, moved on, and married Tom. Through all of this, Daisy and Jay had still always loved each other. This past event influences the entire plot. The affect of past events can greatly influence a piece of literature. The reader understands why Gatsby is so attached to Daisy. Gatsby has not been able to get over his love for Daisy, or find any other woman that could compare to her and create the same feeling that he felt with her. He will do anything to get her back, and he is not phased by the fact that she has a family now. He strongly believes that she still loves him as much as he loves her and that she never loved Tom. Past events are very crucial to the story.
The Great Gatsby 7
"It was when curiosity about Gatsby was at its highest that the lights in his house failed to go on one Saturday night - and, as obscurely as it had begun, his career as Trimalchio was over." -page 113
Jay Gatsby is an all around very mysterious man. No one seems to know much about him at all. After his meetings with Daisy, he begins to act even stranger. This mysteriousness builds suspense with the reader. Why does he throw the parties? How did he get so rich? These questions were ones that I was waiting to be answered the whole novel. I also was confused on the background between him and Daisy. Had he really been waiting five years to see her again. And he expected her to drop her life and be with him out of nowhere? Gatsby is a very mysterious character and the suspense builds every page. However, he is not the only mysterious character. Really, I think Daisy is the easiest character to understand. Mystery was very important to the novel and added to the meaning.
Jay Gatsby is an all around very mysterious man. No one seems to know much about him at all. After his meetings with Daisy, he begins to act even stranger. This mysteriousness builds suspense with the reader. Why does he throw the parties? How did he get so rich? These questions were ones that I was waiting to be answered the whole novel. I also was confused on the background between him and Daisy. Had he really been waiting five years to see her again. And he expected her to drop her life and be with him out of nowhere? Gatsby is a very mysterious character and the suspense builds every page. However, he is not the only mysterious character. Really, I think Daisy is the easiest character to understand. Mystery was very important to the novel and added to the meaning.
The Great Gatsby 6
"Thirty - the promise of a decade of loneliness, a thinnning list of singlemen to know, a thinning briefcase of enthusiasm, thinning hair." -page 136
This is a crucial point of Nick's internal conflicts. He barely remembers his own 30th birthday, and he is not excited for the future at all. He has no one to wish him happy birthday and realizes that he is not that happy with his own life. Also, he realizes that turning 30 his life is only going to go down hill and be more boring. It is safe to say that he is scared of the future. Internal conflicts are an important part of the novel. These psychological events of Nick allow the reader to understand what is going on in his mind and what he thinks about the other characters. Nick is a very complex character who almost seems bipolar. The reader also sometimes sees the internal events of Gatsby, because the narrator, Nick, is able to understand what he is thinking at points in the novel.
This is a crucial point of Nick's internal conflicts. He barely remembers his own 30th birthday, and he is not excited for the future at all. He has no one to wish him happy birthday and realizes that he is not that happy with his own life. Also, he realizes that turning 30 his life is only going to go down hill and be more boring. It is safe to say that he is scared of the future. Internal conflicts are an important part of the novel. These psychological events of Nick allow the reader to understand what is going on in his mind and what he thinks about the other characters. Nick is a very complex character who almost seems bipolar. The reader also sometimes sees the internal events of Gatsby, because the narrator, Nick, is able to understand what he is thinking at points in the novel.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Great Gatsby 5
"I'm Gatsby," he said suddenly.
"What!" I exclaimed. "Oh, I beg your pardon."
-page 48
I found this quote quite humerous and ironic. The narrator had expected Gatsby to be some wise, very distinguished middle aged man. In fact, Gatsby was around the same age as him and looked like everyone else. I found this interesting, because we have all been in this same situation before, or one similar to it. I know I have several times. Nick is just lucky that he did not say anything bad about Gatsby, not knowing he was right there. This also shows that Gatsby is a little bit arrogant. He just assumes that the narrator knows who he is without ever truly being introduced. It reminds me to watch what I say when I'm around people that I don't really know. Gatsby is very nice to Nick, and we find out later that it is not just because he is a friendly neighbor.
"What!" I exclaimed. "Oh, I beg your pardon."
-page 48
I found this quote quite humerous and ironic. The narrator had expected Gatsby to be some wise, very distinguished middle aged man. In fact, Gatsby was around the same age as him and looked like everyone else. I found this interesting, because we have all been in this same situation before, or one similar to it. I know I have several times. Nick is just lucky that he did not say anything bad about Gatsby, not knowing he was right there. This also shows that Gatsby is a little bit arrogant. He just assumes that the narrator knows who he is without ever truly being introduced. It reminds me to watch what I say when I'm around people that I don't really know. Gatsby is very nice to Nick, and we find out later that it is not just because he is a friendly neighbor.
Great Gatsby 4
"One October day in nineteen-seventeen - (said Jordan Baker that afternoon, sitting up very straight on a straight chair in the tea-garden at the Plaza Hotel)..."
-page 75
This quote begins an anecdote that is told by Jordan Baker. The author uses parentheses to let the reader know that the narrator for this particular story has changed to Jordan. Mr. Gatsby wanted Nick to hear this story, but did not want to tell it himself. He also wanted the story to come from Jordan's point of view. This type of writing reflects more about Fitzgerald's style. The author could have told the story differently, but he wanted Jordan to be the narrator at this point. Her perspective will relate better to Nick and he will have more sympathy to help Gatsby meet up with Daisy. Also, the parentheses make it easy for the reader to understand what is going on before they read through the entire anecdote. I enjoy Fitzgerald's writing style and think that it is easier to understand than other authors.
-page 75
This quote begins an anecdote that is told by Jordan Baker. The author uses parentheses to let the reader know that the narrator for this particular story has changed to Jordan. Mr. Gatsby wanted Nick to hear this story, but did not want to tell it himself. He also wanted the story to come from Jordan's point of view. This type of writing reflects more about Fitzgerald's style. The author could have told the story differently, but he wanted Jordan to be the narrator at this point. Her perspective will relate better to Nick and he will have more sympathy to help Gatsby meet up with Daisy. Also, the parentheses make it easy for the reader to understand what is going on before they read through the entire anecdote. I enjoy Fitzgerald's writing style and think that it is easier to understand than other authors.
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