"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. Precisely at that point it vanished - and I was looking at an elegant young rough-neck, a year or two over thirty, whose elaborate formality of speech just missed being absurd. Some time before he introduced himself I'd got a strong impression that he was picking his words with care." (F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, Ch. 3, pages 52-53)
This passage, from chapter 3, is when Nick meets Gatsby for the first time. Nick is at Gatsby’s party with Jordan Baker and he strikes up a conversation with a man that he has no clue is Gatsby. This passage is Nick’s first impression of Gatsby. I think this passage sums up Gatsby’s overall character – or his fake personality. This gives you the impression that Gatsby is very charming and one of a kind but there’s something behind him or he is hiding something. Nick explains that Gatsby has a smile that you may only come across four of five times in life, which is a pretty significant quality for a person to have. But as we read on through the book, is this a fake smile that has been practised to the point of perfection? I think that we all realize that this is just a show Gatsby is putting on to eventually impress Daisy. This passage is important because at the end, Nick foreshadows that Gatsby picks his words – and essentially everything else – with care.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Paragraph analysis.
“You’re crazy!” he exploded. “I can’t speak about what happened five years ago, because I didn’t know Daisy then—and I’ll be damned if I see how you got within a mile of her unless you brought the groceries to the back door. But all the rest of that’s a God damned lie. Daisy loved me when she married me and she loves me now.” (Fitzgerald, 138)Previously in the book it is discovered that Tom had relationships with women other then Daisy during their marriage. Daisy had knowledge of this but Tom had recently discovered his wife’s relationship with Gatsby. Tom erupts in a rage of emotions when Gatsby confronts him about his relationship with his wife. Tom is outraged even though he himself was in a relationship with Myrtle.This is a key chapter in which Tom’s true personality is shown through his actions.Tom has the personality trait of neuroticism. Tom is emotionally unstable and is easily angered or stressed, is emotionally vulnerable and emotionally reactive.Tom only exhibits self interest and self concern. Tom consistently puts his own needs above the needs and desires of others and has an exaggerated sense of self importance. “You two start on home, Daisy” said Tom “in Mr. Gatsby’s car.” (Fitzgerald, 142) The spoken word of Tom above further to show his ego, and how little he cares about his wife and how she feels. Tom only shows how important it is to him to flex his strength and invulnerability by letting Gatsby and his wife drive home together. The author specifically made Tom this way; as a way to describe the thoughts and personalities of those who grew up with the fundamental thoughts that they were destined to be better; that wealth is distributed unevenly, and that one could be born into a superior family. This superiority complex provokes people like Tom to think they are above the normal morals of society enabling them act in selfish and egotistic ways. Like Tom cheating on his wife and then being offended because Daisy did the same.
Passage Analysis; Nicole
Chapter 7
Page 137, paragraphs 6- 13
“I’ve got something to tell you, old sport——” began Gatsby. But Daisy guessed at his intention.
“Please don’t!” she interrupted helplessly. “Please let’s all go home. Why don’t we all go home?”
“That’s a good idea.” I got up. “Come on, Tom. Nobody wants a drink.”
“I want to know what Mr. Gatsby has to tell me.”
“Your wife doesn’t love you,” said Gatsby quietly. “She’s never loved you. She loves me.”
“You must be crazy!” exclaimed Tom automatically.
Gatsby sprang to his feet, vivid with excitement.
“She never loved you, do you hear?” he cried. “She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved any one except me!”
Throughout the book Gatsby attempts to create a sophisticated, mature image of himself. Hosting social gatherings and involving himself with important business connections in other cities presents the idea that he is a well-known, highly valued individual. This interaction that Gatsby has with Tom in the Plaza Hotel shows a side of Gatsby that the rest of the book attempts to hide. He reacts impulsively and with no intention of appearing classy or put-together.
The fight to win Daisy’s love and attention consumes Gatsby, as the reader learns that he has never stopped loving her in the five years he’s been away from her. When this opportunity finally comes that he may be able to push her over the fence towards the idea of leaving Tom, he upsets everyone in the room with his hasty reaction.
Tom was already suspicious of Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship; so the shock from Gatsby’s response was automatic and defensive. Gatsby’s change in character here is also evident in his response to Tom calling him crazy. Gatsby changes from a quiet response to a loud, excited response. He springs up and reacts harshly; telling Tom that Daisy has never loved anyone but him.
This is one of the strongest points in the book where it becomes clear that Gatsby’s image is deteriorating. His home and parties have already begun to fall through in his confidence that Daisy will leave Tom to be with him; and now his personality is collapsing as well. This passage is significant due to being the first time his group of friends can really confirm that something is going on with him, and that he doesn’t care what anyone other than Daisy thinks of him. His actions are based on his emotional attachment to Daisy.
Page 137, paragraphs 6- 13
“I’ve got something to tell you, old sport——” began Gatsby. But Daisy guessed at his intention.
“Please don’t!” she interrupted helplessly. “Please let’s all go home. Why don’t we all go home?”
“That’s a good idea.” I got up. “Come on, Tom. Nobody wants a drink.”
“I want to know what Mr. Gatsby has to tell me.”
“Your wife doesn’t love you,” said Gatsby quietly. “She’s never loved you. She loves me.”
“You must be crazy!” exclaimed Tom automatically.
Gatsby sprang to his feet, vivid with excitement.
“She never loved you, do you hear?” he cried. “She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved any one except me!”
Throughout the book Gatsby attempts to create a sophisticated, mature image of himself. Hosting social gatherings and involving himself with important business connections in other cities presents the idea that he is a well-known, highly valued individual. This interaction that Gatsby has with Tom in the Plaza Hotel shows a side of Gatsby that the rest of the book attempts to hide. He reacts impulsively and with no intention of appearing classy or put-together.
The fight to win Daisy’s love and attention consumes Gatsby, as the reader learns that he has never stopped loving her in the five years he’s been away from her. When this opportunity finally comes that he may be able to push her over the fence towards the idea of leaving Tom, he upsets everyone in the room with his hasty reaction.
Tom was already suspicious of Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship; so the shock from Gatsby’s response was automatic and defensive. Gatsby’s change in character here is also evident in his response to Tom calling him crazy. Gatsby changes from a quiet response to a loud, excited response. He springs up and reacts harshly; telling Tom that Daisy has never loved anyone but him.
This is one of the strongest points in the book where it becomes clear that Gatsby’s image is deteriorating. His home and parties have already begun to fall through in his confidence that Daisy will leave Tom to be with him; and now his personality is collapsing as well. This passage is significant due to being the first time his group of friends can really confirm that something is going on with him, and that he doesn’t care what anyone other than Daisy thinks of him. His actions are based on his emotional attachment to Daisy.
Gatsby and Daisy - Akram
“He hadn’t once ceased looking at Daisy, and I think he revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her well-loved eyes. Sometimes, too, he stared around at his possessions in a dazed way, as though in her actual and astounding presence none of it was any longer real. Once he nearly toppled down a flight of stairs.” Pg. 96
This passage was chosen from Chapter V, from the book The Great Gatsby, which is written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This passage was chosen for its significant portrayal of the major theme that is presented throughout the entire novel. It is also chosen for identifying and relating characters together.
This passage identifies and presents one of the major themes in a positive atmosphere by bringing Daisy and Gatsby together for the first time since they lost connection. The major theme presented is the power and influence of money on people. It is clearly shown that Gatsby is overwhelmed by his own wealth when he presents all of his wealth to Daisy. Gatsby is so overwhelmed, he “nearly topple(s) down a flight of stairs.” This theme is identified as a major theme because it is brought up again later on in the book, but in a more negative form. The negative form of the theme is presented when Tom is actually able to hide behind his money and influence for the actions that he has committed by just skipping town, and showing no remorse in the process. It is also always lurking in the background because it is the stepping stone to Gatsby’s life and relationship with Daisy.
This passage has an underlying purpose presented by Fitzgerald. This passage presents Gatsby in his true form; as a human being that was poor, and only achieved all this wealth for a single selfish purpose. He achieved all of this to show it to another human being who did not acknowledge him, because of his lack of wealth previously. It also shows how madly in love he was with the idea of Daisy, because he showed his true emotions for the first time in chapter V (which this passage is extracted from). This opened up a new perspective of Gatsby, by showing him as a human who is able to express emotions similar to everybody else. This also accelerates the plot by allowing Gatsby and Daisy to reconnect emotionally, which allows for a new perspective of Daisy as well.
The Green Light
“You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock.” (Fitzgerald 98)
The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock is a significant symbol in The Great Gatsby and is mentioned numerous times throughout the novel. The colour green, we can associate with many things. Some of the more positive associations are: spring, life, and the words “Go”, are the first that come into people’s minds. A darker association is the colour of money - green American dollars. Money is everything for Gatsby, it puts him food on the table, a roof over his head, friends to avoid loneliness, and even a false sense of confidence that money gives him.
The green light for Gatsby is the physical distance that separates him and Daisy. Reaching the green light would mean having Daisy, so in perspective, it is Gatsby’s primary goal, his dream. The green light is visible through his own bedroom window, which reminds him everyday how close he is to having her.
Once Daisy is in his house, with him, Gatsby realizes that the symbol has now vanished. It is only a green light at the end of a dock “…the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever” (Fitzgerald 98).
Passage Analysis
“He must have looked up at an unfamiliar sky through frightening leaves and shivered as he found what a grotesque thing a rose is and how raw the sunlight was upon the scarcely created grass. A new world, material without being real, where poor ghosts, breathing dreams like air, drifted fortuitously about…” (Fitzgerald Pg.169)
In this passage, Gatsby is describing the weather moments before his death. The weather the day before the day he dies is sunny and beautiful. It seems like Gatsby can sense that he is going to die. It is his last premonition before he actually dies. It sets up his death to the reader, giving the reader a sense that something devastating is going to happen. Fitzgerald uses great literary devices like diction, personification and imagery to add a great effect to the passage. Diction like “grotesque”, “fortuitously”, “frightening” and “scarcely” all portray the image that Gatsby is trying to show the reader. He also uses personification to personify the leaves and ghosts to add to the imagery Fitzgerald wants to portray. It foreshadows what is going to happen when the page is turned, witch is his death. It sends a weary feeling to the readers, like something is out of place. It sets up his death perfectly. It also sets up the theme witch is death in these last two pages. Fitzgerald uses this passage to shift the theme from cheery to death.
In this passage, Gatsby is describing the weather moments before his death. The weather the day before the day he dies is sunny and beautiful. It seems like Gatsby can sense that he is going to die. It is his last premonition before he actually dies. It sets up his death to the reader, giving the reader a sense that something devastating is going to happen. Fitzgerald uses great literary devices like diction, personification and imagery to add a great effect to the passage. Diction like “grotesque”, “fortuitously”, “frightening” and “scarcely” all portray the image that Gatsby is trying to show the reader. He also uses personification to personify the leaves and ghosts to add to the imagery Fitzgerald wants to portray. It foreshadows what is going to happen when the page is turned, witch is his death. It sends a weary feeling to the readers, like something is out of place. It sets up his death perfectly. It also sets up the theme witch is death in these last two pages. Fitzgerald uses this passage to shift the theme from cheery to death.
Passage Analysis - Chris
"'I think he half expected her to wander into one of his parties, some night,' went on Jordan, 'but she never did. Then he began asking people casually if they knew her, and I was the first one he found. It was that night he sent for me at his dance, and you should have heard the elaborate way he worked up to it. Of course, I immediately suggested a luncheon in New York—and I thought he’d go mad..."(Fitzgerald 84)
Chasing the American Dream is to anticipate a life filled with everything you want. It is to expect what you want to exist. The American Dream and the pursuit of happiness are major themes in The Great Gatsby and this passage is no different. After informing Nick of Gatsby’s past with Daisy, Jordan describes a plan formulated by Gatsby to meet with Daisy: his golden girl, his ultimate dream. This passage is important as it shows the lengths at which people chasing their dreams will go. Gatsby sees the fact that Daisy is, albeit unhappily, married as an obstacle more than a barrier and Fitzgerald essentially uses Gatsby as a puppet to act out the absurdity of chasing the American dream.
At this point of the book, not much is known about Gatsby aside from his extravagant parties that are open to the public. The story surrounding this exchange of dialogue leads the reader to characterize Gatsby as a bit of a fool, determined to achieve his ultimate state of happiness - to fulfill his idea of the American Dream. Ultimately, this connects to another motif of the book: emotions driving our actions. The passage ends with “…and I thought he’d go mad…” in reference to Gatsby’s reaction to Jordan’s proposal. Fitzgerald uses Gatsby’s reaction to express an opinion that to love is to be perfect and anything that falls short will ruin the opportunity.
Gatsby has chased his dream from Lake Michigan, to Chicago, to Europe, and all the way back to New York because of how his emotions fuel his actions. As Fitzgerald has the book end, Gatsby gave up his life to chase a dream.
Chasing the American Dream is to anticipate a life filled with everything you want. It is to expect what you want to exist. The American Dream and the pursuit of happiness are major themes in The Great Gatsby and this passage is no different. After informing Nick of Gatsby’s past with Daisy, Jordan describes a plan formulated by Gatsby to meet with Daisy: his golden girl, his ultimate dream. This passage is important as it shows the lengths at which people chasing their dreams will go. Gatsby sees the fact that Daisy is, albeit unhappily, married as an obstacle more than a barrier and Fitzgerald essentially uses Gatsby as a puppet to act out the absurdity of chasing the American dream.
At this point of the book, not much is known about Gatsby aside from his extravagant parties that are open to the public. The story surrounding this exchange of dialogue leads the reader to characterize Gatsby as a bit of a fool, determined to achieve his ultimate state of happiness - to fulfill his idea of the American Dream. Ultimately, this connects to another motif of the book: emotions driving our actions. The passage ends with “…and I thought he’d go mad…” in reference to Gatsby’s reaction to Jordan’s proposal. Fitzgerald uses Gatsby’s reaction to express an opinion that to love is to be perfect and anything that falls short will ruin the opportunity.
Gatsby has chased his dream from Lake Michigan, to Chicago, to Europe, and all the way back to New York because of how his emotions fuel his actions. As Fitzgerald has the book end, Gatsby gave up his life to chase a dream.
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