"She vanished into her rich house, into her rich, full life, leaving Gatsby- nothing." page 149
I think a big theme in this book is societal issues. Social status is very important to many characters. I think the character's actions shows how much society affects people's decisions. Daisy loved Gatsby but he was poor. She felt pressure from society and even her own family to marry someone who was at the same social status as her and could provide for her financially. Daisy didn't even want to marry Tom, she didn't love him but because society told her to, she did. She would rather be miserable and rich than poor and happy. All of these people that attended Gatsby's parties didn't care about Gatsby at all or even the other people at the parties, they just wanted to be cool and fit in with the "popular" people. This showed that they didn't really have minds of their own. They constantly looked at other "influential" people to decide what their next move should be. No one stood up and tried to stop it. Everyone, even Nick, just let it happen. People hid behind their secrets and lies because they were afraid if people knew who they really were, they wouldn't be accepted. That was something that no one's "social status" could afford.
Monday, April 30, 2012
The Great Gatsby- East vs. West
"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." page 105
The setting plays an important part in this story. There is definitely a contrasting element to the East Egg and West Egg. The people interact with each other but they don't really like each other. I think the West Egg people are more of the people who get rich quick like the movie stars and live life in the fast lane. When Daisy goes to Gatsby's party she is appalled by the scene she sees and the way people act. I think the East Egg people are more civilized and either had to work for their money or are born into a rich family. Their attitudes are also contrasting. West Egg people seem to have more feelings and really care about people like Nick and Gatsby. The East Egg people seem to be more shallow and put money above everything like Tom and Daisy. There is also a contrast between the Western and Eastern part of the United States. "I see now that this has been a story of the West after all- Tom and Gatsby, Daisy and Jordan and I were all Westerners and perhaps we possessed some deficiency in common which made us subtly unadaptable to Eastern life." (177) The Easterners had a more fast paced way of life and were more consumed with social status and money. I think all of the characters got sucked into that way of life, some more than others. I think Nick left his home to experience that yet always felt like he could be more grounded at home because it was a simpler way of life.
The setting plays an important part in this story. There is definitely a contrasting element to the East Egg and West Egg. The people interact with each other but they don't really like each other. I think the West Egg people are more of the people who get rich quick like the movie stars and live life in the fast lane. When Daisy goes to Gatsby's party she is appalled by the scene she sees and the way people act. I think the East Egg people are more civilized and either had to work for their money or are born into a rich family. Their attitudes are also contrasting. West Egg people seem to have more feelings and really care about people like Nick and Gatsby. The East Egg people seem to be more shallow and put money above everything like Tom and Daisy. There is also a contrast between the Western and Eastern part of the United States. "I see now that this has been a story of the West after all- Tom and Gatsby, Daisy and Jordan and I were all Westerners and perhaps we possessed some deficiency in common which made us subtly unadaptable to Eastern life." (177) The Easterners had a more fast paced way of life and were more consumed with social status and money. I think all of the characters got sucked into that way of life, some more than others. I think Nick left his home to experience that yet always felt like he could be more grounded at home because it was a simpler way of life.
The Great Gatsby- Poor Gatsby
"The minister glanced several times at his watch, so I took him aside and asked him to wait for half an hour. But it wasn't any use. Nobody came." page 175
This book wasn't really sad but this part really made me sad. I kind of sympathized with Gatsby the whole book. There was something about him that was relatable. He threw all these huge parties and was so mysterious about where he got his money but deep down he did everything he did for Daisy. He was so in love with her and he would do anything to get her back. He didn't have a lot of friends but he seemed to be a pretty likable guy to me. The fact that four people came to his funeral is really sad. It's almost kind of funny because you would think there had to be more than four people come to his funeral considering he had parties every week at his house with hundreds of people. I think that showed what kind of society they were living in. Everyone was "friends" but really they just talked to each other because they wanted to be with people who were at the same social level as they were. Every move people made, every person they talked to was just a calculated move that had to do with money or success. Gatsby truly did care about people but no one cared for him in return.
This book wasn't really sad but this part really made me sad. I kind of sympathized with Gatsby the whole book. There was something about him that was relatable. He threw all these huge parties and was so mysterious about where he got his money but deep down he did everything he did for Daisy. He was so in love with her and he would do anything to get her back. He didn't have a lot of friends but he seemed to be a pretty likable guy to me. The fact that four people came to his funeral is really sad. It's almost kind of funny because you would think there had to be more than four people come to his funeral considering he had parties every week at his house with hundreds of people. I think that showed what kind of society they were living in. Everyone was "friends" but really they just talked to each other because they wanted to be with people who were at the same social level as they were. Every move people made, every person they talked to was just a calculated move that had to do with money or success. Gatsby truly did care about people but no one cared for him in return.
The Great Gatsby- Oh Daisy
"They were careless people, Tom and Daisy-they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made..." pages 180-181
At first I liked Daisy. I saw potential in her to be a character who rebelled against society. Her husband was cheating on her and I thought there was going to be some big scene where she went up against Tom and left him and decided to make a life with Gatsby. However, she ends up being a shallow, heartless character. She killed Myrtle! I know it was an accident, but she still killed her and then just left. If that isn't bad enough, she let Gatsby take the blame for it. Supposedly she loved Gatsby but letting him take the fall for a crime she committed doesn't sound a lot like love. I think this just showed how immature Daisy was. She didn't want to take ownership for her mistake because it would mean giving up her lavish lifestyle. She was too afraid to leave Tom because Tom meant security and Gatsby meant wild and free and unexpected. I think deep down Daisy did love Gatsby and wanted a life with him but she couldn't part with her money and place in society.
At first I liked Daisy. I saw potential in her to be a character who rebelled against society. Her husband was cheating on her and I thought there was going to be some big scene where she went up against Tom and left him and decided to make a life with Gatsby. However, she ends up being a shallow, heartless character. She killed Myrtle! I know it was an accident, but she still killed her and then just left. If that isn't bad enough, she let Gatsby take the blame for it. Supposedly she loved Gatsby but letting him take the fall for a crime she committed doesn't sound a lot like love. I think this just showed how immature Daisy was. She didn't want to take ownership for her mistake because it would mean giving up her lavish lifestyle. She was too afraid to leave Tom because Tom meant security and Gatsby meant wild and free and unexpected. I think deep down Daisy did love Gatsby and wanted a life with him but she couldn't part with her money and place in society.
The Great Gatsby- The Green Light
"Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter-tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther..." page 182
I definitely think the green light is a symbol throughout the novel. When I read the first half of the book, I knew that it represented Gatsby's dreams of having a life with Daisy. Every time he saw that green light at the end of her dock, he held on to the hope that his dreams could come true. After reading the whole book, I see that the green light not only represented Gatsby's dreams, but everyone's dreams. It represented the American dream that so many people had. However, along the way I think people lost track of what the American dream really was. It became more about money and success than family and hard work. "He did not know that it was already behind him, somewhere back in that vast obscurity beyond the city" (182). I think Gatsby was so intent that his dream was possible that he lost sight of reality. The truth was, Daisy lived in a different world and she wasn't the same woman he fell in love with years ago. Just like people lost sight of reality when they were in search of the American dream. Everyone became obsessed with money and fame that they gave up their morals and dignity.
I definitely think the green light is a symbol throughout the novel. When I read the first half of the book, I knew that it represented Gatsby's dreams of having a life with Daisy. Every time he saw that green light at the end of her dock, he held on to the hope that his dreams could come true. After reading the whole book, I see that the green light not only represented Gatsby's dreams, but everyone's dreams. It represented the American dream that so many people had. However, along the way I think people lost track of what the American dream really was. It became more about money and success than family and hard work. "He did not know that it was already behind him, somewhere back in that vast obscurity beyond the city" (182). I think Gatsby was so intent that his dream was possible that he lost sight of reality. The truth was, Daisy lived in a different world and she wasn't the same woman he fell in love with years ago. Just like people lost sight of reality when they were in search of the American dream. Everyone became obsessed with money and fame that they gave up their morals and dignity.
Monday, April 23, 2012
The Great Gatsby- 5
"It was a matter of chance that I should have rented a house in one of the strangest communities in North America." page 4
This story is told in first person from the point of view of Nick Carraway. I like Nick and I think his perspective is interesting because he is the one who Gatsby opens up to and he has connections to Daisy and Tom. However, I kind of wish we could see the perspectives of other characters. I really want to know what Daisy is thinking. She seems like such a strong character, always trying to hold it together. But she kept getting emotional when she was with Gatsby. I really want to know why she is staying with Tom! If she knows he is cheating and making her look like an idiot then why is she still married to him and act like nothing is wrong. There has to be a reason. And I want to know what she thinks about Gatsby, although I guess that could be revealed in time. I would also love to know Gatsby's perspective on things. His real story about what he did to get all of his money. Lots of emotions are revealed through his conversations with Nick, but I still feel like there is more to him.
This story is told in first person from the point of view of Nick Carraway. I like Nick and I think his perspective is interesting because he is the one who Gatsby opens up to and he has connections to Daisy and Tom. However, I kind of wish we could see the perspectives of other characters. I really want to know what Daisy is thinking. She seems like such a strong character, always trying to hold it together. But she kept getting emotional when she was with Gatsby. I really want to know why she is staying with Tom! If she knows he is cheating and making her look like an idiot then why is she still married to him and act like nothing is wrong. There has to be a reason. And I want to know what she thinks about Gatsby, although I guess that could be revealed in time. I would also love to know Gatsby's perspective on things. His real story about what he did to get all of his money. Lots of emotions are revealed through his conversations with Nick, but I still feel like there is more to him.
The Great Gatsby- 4
"Involuntarily I glanced seaward- and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and faraway, that might have been the end of a dock. When I looked once more for Gatsby he had vanished, and I was alone again in the unquiet darkness." page 22
At first I didn't know if this had any relevance at all but after reading the first half of the book, I definitely think the green light is a symbol. I was confused as to why Gatsby was staring at a dock. This was also when little was known about Gatsby's character so he appeared mysterious and like he was hiding deep secrets. We later find out that the green light was at the end of Daisy's dock and Gatsby is in love with Daisy so he likes to look out and know that he can see her. I think the green light represents Gatsby's hope for the future. As long as he can see that green light, he believes that there is a chance for him to be happy with Daisy. I think it represents everyone's dreams as well. The green light is like that light at the end of the tunnel. If we see even a slight possibility that something can still happen, then we believe it and we hope for it.
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