He wanted to sound more aristocratic and to hide the fact that his parents are immigrants. Gatsby sounds much more impressive than Gatz. I would never change my name, because that would insult my parents.
Gatsby's past, in some sense, could be his fatal flaw. The reason people are attracted to him is the aura of mystery and wealth that surrounds him. If people knew he wasn't from "old money" and was in fact a bootlegger, he wouldn't be as appealing.
Gatsby in his past was not good enough to get Daisy, this is embarrassing for Gatsby. Therefore, he doesn't want people to know about his failed attempt after Daisy. Also, in a sense, Gatsby has reinvented himself over the ages and wants the new identity to be the the more prominent and well known aspect in his life versus his failures in the past.
"Why did Gatsby change his name? Would you ever consider changing your own name?"
His real name is associated with his real life and what he's been through. I think he wants to disassociate himself from his old lifestyle as much as possible by creating a new name, thus a new image and life.
“How is Dan Cody significant to Gatsby's past?” Dan Cody is extremely important to Gatsby’s past, as well as the entire book. Without Cody’s influence on Gatsby’s life, Gatsby wouldn’t have travelled the globe and fell in love with wealth and riches. Without this drive to become wealthy, he wouldn’t have been the man he was in the novel. He wouldn’t have the ridiculously extravagant house on West Egg. He may have still longed for Daisy, but Daisy would not have looked twice at him. Cody was his ticket in getting Daisy back as he inspired him to go out and gain wealth by any means necessary.
I think Gatsby is protective of his past because he is sensitive to status. He was humiliated having to work as a janitor during his days in college and dropped out. This also contrasts with his view of high society being so great; something he experienced while working for Dan Cody.
I think Gatsby changed his name because it was a step in the process by which he reinvented himself. Although the author Fitzgerald did not change his name, Gatsby's reinvention of himself is similar to the author's reinvention of who he himself was supposed to be. As a child it would have seemed that Fitzgerald was destined to be poor forever. Yet, after following through with his plans of becoming someone different, he experiences the life of the wealthy. I really have no reason to change my name but if i was in the same situation as Gatsby, who wanted to reinvent himself, I might consider it.
"How is Dan Cody significant to Gatsby's past?" Dan Cody is significant to Gatsby because when Dan died he gave Gatsby $25 000 and thats what started Gatsby off and encouraged him to be rich.
“How is Dan Cody significant to Gatsby's past?” Dan Cody is a significant part of Gatsby's past because he introduced Gatsby into a world of money, helped shape and confirm Gatsby's persona, and left money behind in his will for Gatsby which got him started in the world he so desperatlely wanted to join.
Why did Fitzgerald include Ella Kaye? She's only mentioned once, and it could as well be said that Dan Cody just died or squandered his fortune or something.
"Why do you think that Gatsby so desperately wanted to erase his past and become a new person? Do you think he ever started to forget who he had been?" I think it's because James Gatz was a nobody, and Gatsby didn't want to be connected with someone like him. The other part I'm not sure about, but I don't think so. Gatsby always seemed nervous and insecure, not just with Daisy but with everyone (like trying to impress Nick constantly), so it sorta seems like he remembers that he was once a nobody and still has some fear of obscurity.
If Gatsby got with Daisy. Do you think he would remain committed to having a Platonic conception of himself? Why is he so committed to this Platonic conception? He even conquers obstacles that society presents, as he try’s to develop into this Ideal.
Dan Cody is significant in Gatsby's past because he is the one who introduced him to wealth and riches. He is also the man that helped Gatsby become a part of this "new world" by helping him shape a new life, as well as leavng money behind in his will, to give him a point to start at.
"Why did Gatsby change his name? Would you ever consider changing your own name?"
Gatsby already changed his persona, and life style so why not change his name? By changing his name, it just completed the persona he invented. If he had kept his name, he would still be James Gatz, but with a different personality, like a poser/fake.
I think that Gatsby changed his name because James Gatz was not an important person. He had to create a name that suited his new social standing. "Jay" gave him a flashy, exciting feel, while "Gatsby" Has an old money, classy feel to it. As well, they aren't far from his old name, so it'll still let him think of his past, and good times he had under that name.
"Why do you think that Gatsby so desperately wanted to erase his past and become a new person? Do you think he ever started to forget who he had been?"
I believe that he wasn't proud of being an unwealthy person and he so desperately wanted to be rich. He wanted it even more when he met Daisy. I don't think that he forgot his past because he talks to Nick about it, but he seems to not want to remember.
Why did Gatsby change his name? Would you ever consider changing your own name?
ReplyDeleteHe wanted to sound more aristocratic and to hide the fact that his parents are immigrants. Gatsby sounds much more impressive than Gatz.
ReplyDeleteI would never change my name, because that would insult my parents.
Why is Gatsby so protective of his past?
ReplyDeleteGatsby's past, in some sense, could be his fatal flaw. The reason people are attracted to him is the aura of mystery and wealth that surrounds him. If people knew he wasn't from "old money" and was in fact a bootlegger, he wouldn't be as appealing.
ReplyDeleteGatsby in his past was not good enough to get Daisy, this is embarrassing for Gatsby. Therefore, he doesn't want people to know about his failed attempt after Daisy. Also, in a sense, Gatsby has reinvented himself over the ages and wants the new identity to be the the more prominent and well known aspect in his life versus his failures in the past.
ReplyDeleteHow does the revealing of Gatsby's identity affect your opinion of his class and character?
ReplyDeleteWhat is the significance of the janiotrial job that Gatsby had in his past?
ReplyDelete"Why did Gatsby change his name? Would you ever consider changing your own name?"
ReplyDeleteHis real name is associated with his real life and what he's been through. I think he wants to disassociate himself from his old lifestyle as much as possible by creating a new name, thus a new image and life.
How is Dan Cody significant to Gatsby's past?
ReplyDelete"How does the revealing of Gatsby's identity affect your opinion of his class and character?"
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't think very highly of Gatsby. While he did have ambition - an admirable trait - he used his wealth and influence for personal gain.
I suppose the main problem I have with Gatsby is that he lived his life for himself, instead of others.
How does the meeting between Gatsby, Tom and the Sloanes reflect the tensions between East and West Eggers?
ReplyDelete“How is Dan Cody significant to Gatsby's past?”
ReplyDeleteDan Cody is extremely important to Gatsby’s past, as well as the entire book. Without Cody’s influence on Gatsby’s life, Gatsby wouldn’t have travelled the globe and fell in love with wealth and riches. Without this drive to become wealthy, he wouldn’t have been the man he was in the novel. He wouldn’t have the ridiculously extravagant house on West Egg. He may have still longed for Daisy, but Daisy would not have looked twice at him. Cody was his ticket in getting Daisy back as he inspired him to go out and gain wealth by any means necessary.
``Why is Gatsby so protective of his past?``
ReplyDeleteI think Gatsby is protective of his past because he is sensitive to status. He was humiliated having to work as a janitor during his days in college and dropped out.
This also contrasts with his view of high society being so great; something he experienced while working for Dan Cody.
What is the significance of actor under the tree image?
ReplyDeleteI think Gatsby changed his name because it was a step in the process by which he reinvented himself. Although the author Fitzgerald did not change his name, Gatsby's reinvention of himself is similar to the author's reinvention of who he himself was supposed to be. As a child it would have seemed that Fitzgerald was destined to be poor forever. Yet, after following through with his plans of becoming someone different, he experiences the life of the wealthy. I really have no reason to change my name but if i was in the same situation as Gatsby, who wanted to reinvent himself, I might consider it.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think that Gatsby so desperately wanted to erase his past and become a new person? Do you think he ever started to forget who he had been?
ReplyDeletewhy does Nick believe that his dream is over?
ReplyDelete"How is Dan Cody significant to Gatsby's past?"
Dan Cody is significant to Gatsby because when Dan died he gave Gatsby $25 000 and thats what started Gatsby off and encouraged him to be rich.
“How is Dan Cody significant to Gatsby's past?”
ReplyDeleteDan Cody is a significant part of Gatsby's past because he introduced Gatsby into a world of money, helped shape and confirm Gatsby's persona, and left money behind in his will for Gatsby which got him started in the world he so desperatlely wanted to join.
Dan Cody is significant to Gatsby's past because he was able to provide the first steps into his new life.
ReplyDeleteDoes Gatsby general interaction with other people change throughout the chapter?
ReplyDeleteWhy did Fitzgerald include Ella Kaye? She's only mentioned once, and it could as well be said that Dan Cody just died or squandered his fortune or something.
ReplyDelete"Why do you think that Gatsby so desperately wanted to erase his past and become a new person? Do you think he ever started to forget who he had been?"
I think it's because James Gatz was a nobody, and Gatsby didn't want to be connected with someone like him. The other part I'm not sure about, but I don't think so. Gatsby always seemed nervous and insecure, not just with Daisy but with everyone (like trying to impress Nick constantly), so it sorta seems like he remembers that he was once a nobody and still has some fear of obscurity.
If Gatsby got with Daisy. Do you think he would remain committed to having a Platonic conception of himself? Why is he so committed to this Platonic conception? He even conquers obstacles that society presents, as he try’s to develop into this Ideal.
ReplyDelete“How is Dan Cody significant to Gatsby's past?”
ReplyDeleteDan Cody is significant in Gatsby's past because he is the one who introduced him to wealth and riches. He is also the man that helped Gatsby become a part of this "new world" by helping him shape a new life, as well as leavng money behind in his will, to give him a point to start at.
"Why did Gatsby change his name? Would you ever consider changing your own name?"
ReplyDeleteGatsby already changed his persona, and life style so why not change his name? By changing his name, it just completed the persona he invented. If he had kept his name, he would still be James Gatz, but with a different personality, like a poser/fake.
I think that Gatsby changed his name because James Gatz was not an important person. He had to create a name that suited his new social standing. "Jay" gave him a flashy, exciting feel, while "Gatsby" Has an old money, classy feel to it. As well, they aren't far from his old name, so it'll still let him think of his past, and good times he had under that name.
ReplyDelete"Why do you think that Gatsby so desperately wanted to erase his past and become a new person? Do you think he ever started to forget who he had been?"
ReplyDeleteI believe that he wasn't proud of being an unwealthy person and he so desperately wanted to be rich. He wanted it even more when he met Daisy. I don't think that he forgot his past because he talks to Nick about it, but he seems to not want to remember.
This chapter is mostly about social class, has Gatsby actually achieved his status? Is this why the book is called the Great Gatsby?
ReplyDelete