Focus: What is Modernism, and how does this help you put The Great Gatsby in perspective?
1. Warming up with Modernist art from 1925
2. Investigating Chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby, Fishbowl-style
3. Wrapping up with big takeaways
HW:
1. Finish Chapter 4 and complete your journal entry by Thursday. Stay up with your reading and journals.
2. Interested in a free audiobook with follow-along pages and your choice of reading speed? Click HERE (also on website).
On page 41, Nick says, “I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby’s house I was one of the few guests to be invited.” What makes Nick different from all of the other people at the party both in a literally and morally?
ReplyDeleteEven though Gatsby and Nick have never met, why is Gatsby talking to Nick like he's known him all his life? On page 53 as Nick is getting ready to leave Gatsby says, "'And don't forget we're going up in the hydroplane tomorrow morning, at nine o'clock.'" It's just interesting that this is their first time ever meeting and they're acting like best friends.
ReplyDeleteI think that part of that is that maybe Gatsby has been watching Nick.
DeleteThey were in the war first. Gatsby recognized Nick before Nick did. Perhaps Gatsby is happy to find someone who has something in common with him.
DeleteI agree with Abby. We saw in chapter 1 I think was when he saw Gatsby on his deck overlooking the landscape, maybe he was watching him. I think Gatsby might be reminded of himself in Nick.
DeleteMaybe he just wants to be friendly with him so Nick has a good impression of him. Also, they were in the same army division so Gatsby can relate with Nick.
DeleteDuring the party why did Gatsby choose not to drink?
ReplyDeleteGatsby seems to be a socially reserved man, and drinking is a social activity.
DeleteI think this scene is interesting. I think that the author wanted to show Gatsby was superior to others. It adds a sense of mystery when the person throwing the party looks down on all of the intoxicated people from his staircase.
DeleteI think also being the host of a party that big he may want to avoid drinking to prevent anyone at the party from acting brash.
DeleteI agree and disagree because he wasn't looking down on him because it says on page 50 "...my eyes fell on Gatsby, standing alone on the marble steps and looking from one group to another with approving eyes." If he as you say is looking down on them why does he have a look of approval?
DeleteKorbs this is some very amazing vocabulary. I think he might not partake in consuming libations as although he isn't gauche, he is above the others. That being said he is not drinking with them and acting in this bacchanalian lifestyle.
DeleteThis may also relate to Fitzgerald's drink problem. Possibly he wants Gatsby to seem better than himself.
DeleteOne of the girls in a yellow dress said that "I never care what I do..." (43). This seems to be a pattern with the people Nick talks to about Gatsby's parties. Why do these people no care what they do while they are at Gatsby's parties?
ReplyDeleteThey just want to have fun and no matter what they always have fun at his parties.
DeleteIn my 6th hour yesterday, students talked about the carelessness of all three settings, though each is careless in a slightly different way. New York City has a violent carelessness, the Valley of Ashes has a lifeless carelessness, but West and East Egg have this sort of rich, high-flying carelessness, as though they they think they're above the rules/morals that guide everyone else.
DeleteI was a little confused about this line: ”...we sat down at a table with the two girls in yellow and three men, each one introduced to us as Mr. Mumble.” page 43
ReplyDeleteWhere the three men introducing themselves as Mr. Mumble? Or was it someone else they were calling Mr. Mumble?
I think by this he means they were slurring their words.
DeleteAfter Gatsby pulls Jordan aside she comes back and says, "It was... simply amazing," she repeated abstractedly. "But I swore I wouldn't tell it and here I am tantalizing you." What do you think Gatsby told her that was so amazing?
ReplyDeleteWhy would Fitzgerald have a character like Tom who is kind of a drunk and then have Gatsby who decides not to drink?
ReplyDeleteI think Fitzgerald has these two characters included to show the two absolute opposite sides of the spectrum. One who has very little control and is hardly respectable, and one that has lots of self control and is very respectable.
DeleteOpposites attract?
DeleteThis is especially interesting since Fitzgerald himself struggled with drinking. I wonder sometimes if Gatsby represents some kind of ideal that Fitzgerald aspires to.
DeleteMaybe he resembles a lot of Tom when he's drunk, snobby and rude but when he's sober tries to be more like Gatsby, successful and charming.
DeleteNo one really knows a ton about Gatsby. Does he throw the grand parties to help cover up what he has done almost like a distraction?
ReplyDeleteI feel like Gatsby throws party because he feels lonely sometimes. I think Gatsby is trying to fill a part of himself that is missing and he doesn't know how to fill it so he throws parties.
DeleteI find it weird how Gatsby is famous for throwing these huge parties at his mansion, but he doesn't drink. Gatsby just stands on his marble staircase and looks at the crowd. Why do you think that Gatsby does this?
ReplyDeleteGatsby could've had a bad experience with drinking in his past, or he may just enjoy hosting people and watching them have fun. I feel like we will learn more about why he doesn't drink later in the book.
DeleteDo you think that he's an attention seeker and just likes to see crowds of people in his mansion. He also could sort of have to always be around people.
DeleteIt seems like during these parties Gatsby is always being pulled aside or has something else going on, rather then just focussing on enjoying the party like his guests.
DeleteMaybe he doesn't want to drink or anything because he wants to enjoy his parties that he throws with a clean conscience? Also it just adds to the mystery behind his character
DeleteAdding on to what Kaylee said, I think the fact that he could have had bad experiences with drinking in the past is much like Fitzgerald himself. Fitzgerald was an alcoholic for a long period of time.
DeleteI like that connection, Korbin. Like the inner circle has said that Gatsby might be a version of Fitzgerald if everything in his life went the way he wanted it to. One of his struggles in life was drinking so it would make sense to have the perfect version of himself not drink.
DeletePg. 50 "... my eyes fell on Gatsby, standing alone on the marble steps and looking from one group to another with approving eyes." Also on that page it mentioned that Gatsby wasn't drinking unlike his guests. Since there is a mystery around Gatsby and how he got the money, did he get the money in a dirty way? If he got the money in a dirty way, does he feel like he doesn't deserve it and spend it on making other people happy?
ReplyDeleteWhy does Gatsby assume that nick knew who he was? "Im Gatsby' he said suddenly. 'What!' I exclaimed. 'Oh, I beg your pardon.' 'I thought you knew, old sport. I'm afraid I haven't been a very good host.'" page 48
ReplyDeleteSince he is at his house, he should know who's house he's at
DeleteI think this is interesting because a lot of the guests that attend the parties haven't even met Gatsby. They are usually just friends of a friend or just show up but Gatsby just assumes that everyone who comes, knows who he is.
DeleteI was also confused about this. Even after they were introduced, Gatsby acted like Nicks best friend. Maybe Gatsby somehow knows about Nick?
DeleteI think it's interesting that Gatsby doesn't like to be very social or to drink but he still throws massive parties where hundreds of fruits get squeezed just to be cocktail mix, and I think it could be a subconscious decision to make people like him or make other people happy because he feels he has done something wrong
ReplyDeleteWhat you said almost supports the rumor of him having killed a man in cold blood
DeleteOn page 48 Nick describes Gatsby's surprise reveal as more than understandingly, but as eternal reassurance that only comes across four, or five times in life. What about Gatsby gives Nick this feeling?
ReplyDeleteWhy was Gatsby absent or not around at his own party? "The bar, where we glanced first, was crowded, but Gatsby wasn't there. She couldn't find him, she said, and it was making me uneasy." page 45
ReplyDelete"Something in her tone reminded me of the other girl's "I think he killed a man," and had the effect of stimulating my curiosity" Page 49 Why does he think he killed a man?
ReplyDeleteI think Gatsby is known as this mysterious man who is rich and throws these huge parties and people like to make up assumptions about who they think he really is.
DeleteI think it's because no one really knows who he is or what he's done, so they make up stories like this to keep the mystery interesting.
DeleteAnother question I have based on Jordan's dishonesty. Why do people cheat there way to success?
ReplyDeleteI think there are different kinds of mindsets in the world. You can have people who like to feel the success of earning something and some who want to feel the success of winning.
DeleteAlso do people gain power through cheating?
ReplyDeleteI think at first people can gain power through cheating, but eventually the cheating will come back to them, and they will maybe lose the power they gained.
Deletemaybe it makes them feel better about themselves but soon they will realize that it will come back and hurt them
DeleteWhy does Gatsby host parties if he doesn't participate?
ReplyDeleteI think Gatsby uses the parties to fill a whole in his life. He isn't very social. So, he has to force himself into social situations.
DeleteHe may like the fact that people want to go to his house to have fun so he can show off all of his cars and house
DeleteHe might be trying to cover up something or he may be trying to blend in with the rest of the rich crowd in the area.
DeleteWhat can we learn about Gatsby with his party and the people that he invites? "She had drunk a quantity of champagne, and during course of her song she had decided..." (Page 51)
ReplyDeleteI don't think you can judge him based on who just shows up because a majority of these people just showed up rather than receiving an invitation like Nick. It even says that Gatsby did not drink, so what does that say about him?
DeleteI understand that but do think that he is getting taken advantage of because they know that he is rich?
DeleteJordan talks about how she hates careless people; however, she is very careless herself. Does this mean she has a hatred for herself?
ReplyDeleteI think she just hates careless people because then she can't be as careless or have as much fun
DeleteHow do you think Gatsby and Fitzgerald relate to one another?
ReplyDeleteThey are both reserved in a way and they are both really complicated humans. I think this may be the perfect example of who Fitzgerald creates his characters around his life
DeleteI think that Gatsby reflects what Fitzgerald wanted to be. He was almost a better version of himself. They lived lavish lifestyles, but only one of them was able to hold onto it
DeleteFitzgerald threw many parties during his life but he was unstable and had a huge drinking problem. And as we all know Gatsby throws these amazing and elaborate parties, but he does not drink at them. The more we read I believe we will find out if they relate to each other more.
DeleteGatsby may be a character that he wishes he was because Fitzgerald had a horrible drinking problem but Gatsby didn't drink at all.
DeleteOn page 48 Jordan says, "He's just a man named Gatsby." Nick seems so intrigued by Gatsby's character and wants to know what he does and Jordan does not seem so interested. Does Jordan know Gatsby's whole story and who he really is?
ReplyDeleteI was wondering this too, why are some people so interested in him and his secrets, while others could care less. Some people are just there to use him and what he offers to them like the parties, food, and drinks. Nick is in the minority of actually wanting to know who he is
DeleteAt the end of chapter one Fitzgerald was describing Gatsby as a strange figure in the distance. I like how in chapter three the same mystery surrounds Gatsby at his party. Everyone is questioning his background, and why he throws these parties.
DeleteWhy does Gatsby enjoy observing people rather than interacting with them?
ReplyDeletePeople don't really know his past and maybe by isolating himself he can keep his past a secret.
DeleteI think that Gatsby likes seeing other people interact with each other and have a good time in his mansion.
DeleteI think that Gatsby is trying to learn and observe different people to learn how they act. Is that a collation to Fitzgerald?
DeleteAt the end of the chapter Nick is talking to Jordan when she is driving and almost hits someone. They don't seem to be getting along when Nick thinks to himself, "Her gray, sun-strained eyes stared straight ahead, but she had deliberately shifted our relations, and for a moment I thought I loved her." Why do you think that Nick feels like he is in love with Jordan?
ReplyDeleteBecause opposites attract and at first he thought he loved her because she was everything he wasn't.
DeleteI think Nick is lonely. Even though Jordan doesn't seem like that great of a person, and I'm not seeing a huge romantic connection there, it's convenient. In the words of Billy Joel's "Piano Man," "They're sharing a drink they call loneliness, but it's better than drinking alone."
Delete"Good night." he smiled - and suddenly there seemed to be a pleasant significance in having been among the last to go, as if he had desired it all the time." (pg. 53)
ReplyDeleteIs this true? does Gatsby have a plan with him? And why?
gatsby as a clear headed, person, sees something in him and I feel like is excited to see whats to come
DeleteIt definitely seems like Gatsby wants to get to know him, I can't tell if he has a plan for him or not.
DeleteI agree with Korbin, and thats probably part of the reason he got an actual invite
DeleteAwesome question on the inner circle, Henry.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the significance of Gatsby's library, why does he have it?
ReplyDeleteI think it is a connection to Fitzgerald and how he loved to read.
DeleteIt's probably significant that he just doesn't love to party but is also intellectual as well.
DeleteIts probably there to show that he isn't just some random the likes to party. It also shows that he can be intelligent and sophisticated.
DeleteI'm curious about the owl-eyed man in that scene, too. Reminds me of the eyes of TJ Eckleburg...the characters behave as though no one is watching, but perhaps someone is.
DeleteOn page 24, Nick says (to Tom) "Though I was curious to see her, I had no desire to meet her-but I did." Why is Tom so insistent on Nick meeting his Mistress? Weill she become and important character int he book, or is he just wanting Nick to meet her for no reason?
ReplyDeleteI thought it was kind of weird too that he was so eager to have Nick meet her. I think Tom maybe just wanted someone to be with him when he went to meet with Myrtle.
DeleteYes. Weird. I think Tom might be showing off that he can have a beautiful wife and a sensuous mistress, and nobody can do anything about it? I don't get it.
DeleteI feel like with Tom's personality he wants to show her off to Nick. Tom seems like he wants to brag to nick about all his riches and his mistress.
DeleteI was wondering this too, why is he ok with everyone knowing that he has a mistress. Maybe he wants to show Nick because he is trying to show off his life to Nick and to show how he is a powerful rich white man.
DeleteI definatly think by isolating himself he is possibly trying hide his past. But i find it interesting he is somewhat opening up to nick
ReplyDeleteI agree with that. I feel like Gatsby has something to hide. Also I think this contributes to why he doesn't drink because drinking can lead to saying something you can't control so maybe this is why he didn't want to drink
DeleteI feel like if Gatsby was trying to isolate himself he wouldn't be throwing massive parties every weekend.
DeleteWhat defines happy?
ReplyDeleteDoes Gatsby represent FItzgeralds american dream and Tom as societies american dream??
DeleteTom is a very outwardly narcissistic but he has little to no actual faith in himself. When he starts to feel that he is less than someone he picks another person to victimize or to show his strength over. When he feels weak he says things to belittle whoever he can like on page 13 when he says "if we don't look out the white race is... utterly submerged", and he takes another man's wife when he doesn't feel comfortable enough on his own.
ReplyDeleteWhat do the colors that he is illustrating say maybe what Gatsby observes?
ReplyDeleteOn page 44 when Nick joins Jordan's group he talks about her escort saying "...a persistent undergraduate given to violent innuendo, and obviously under the impression that sooner or later Jordan was going to yield him up her person to a greater or lesser degree." What does this description say about her escort?
ReplyDelete"I beleove the first night i went to gatsbys house i was one of the few guests who had actually been invited" pg 41. I think gatsby is trying to be happy but he is trying to isolate himself and his friend group.
ReplyDeleteIts interesting that so many people feel comfortable going to his parties without an actual invite.
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ReplyDelete"As soon as I arrived I made an attempt to find my host, but the two or three people of whom I asked his whereabouts stared at me in such an amazed way, and denied so vehemently any knowledge of his movements, that I slunk off in the direction of the cocktail table – the only place in the garden where a single man could linger without looking purposeless and alone. "(pg 42) I just think this is funny, usually when I don't know anybody somewhere but there's a food table I migrate over that way too.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with you Preston food will always trump people
DeleteThat party needed fruit salad.
DeleteDo you think that Gatsby's time in the war has something to do with why he throws so many parties?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteParties are a way for him to feel like he is living a normal life along with other people his age.
DeleteIt could have something to do with this. Maybe he just want to live his life to the fullest since during the war he could have died at any point.
DeleteWhat does Nick and Gatsby's instant connection show us about who Gatsby is as a person
ReplyDeleteHe is really charismatic and charming.
Delete“I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby’s house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited. People were not invited - they went there.” pg 41
ReplyDeleteDo you think Gatsby cares that many of the people at his house weren't actually invited or do you think he wants that because he enjoys hosting big lavish parties?
I don't think it bothers him too much because it seems like he loves having so many people at his parties
DeleteOn page 48 it says "He's just a man named Gatsby." Do you think people thought he was some special person that they couldn't talk to? Once Nick talks to him he realizes that he isn't much different than anyone else.
ReplyDeleteI think that Gatsby was kind of built up in Nick's head because Nick saw how large his house was and was hearing stories of him and he thought that Gatsby was someone magic and exciting but when he met Gatsby he also realized Gatsby is just a person too
DeleteI feel like they think that because they aren't all similar and how nick wants to be like him and that he thinks that he cant be friends with someone like that. He might have also thought that Gatsby would act snobby because he has as much money and that he would treat nick badly because he is very different than him.
DeleteI think people do think there is something special, and i feel like obviously there must be something special about him, we just might not know what it is yet, but since the book is called "the great Gatsby" i feel like there must be something important about him
DeleteI think its just the fact that he has money and he was related to a well know person he comes off as some special person.
DeleteWhy was Gatsby absent or not around at his own party? "The bar, where we glanced first, was crowded, but Gatsby wasn't there. She couldn't find him, she said, and it was making me uneasy." page 45
ReplyDeleteIt said that gatsby does not enjoy drinking at his parties and he likes to stand apart from the scene and silently observe everyone. I think that he has so many parties because he is emotionally damaged or has problems that are temporarily fixed by having people around him.
DeleteMichael Sullivan
I found this very interesting that Nick couldn't even figure out who the host was because Gatsby was the typical host running around talking to everyone. Maybe he's so used to having these parties and knows most all the people who have come that he doesn't feel the need to constantly be around
DeleteI think Gatsby gets lonely and bored in that big house by himself, so when all the people come to his parties his house doesn't seem so big and empty.
DeleteAfter Gatsby privately pulls Jordan aside at the party, she comes back and tells Nick "It was... simply amazing," she repeated abstractedly. "But I swore I wouldn't tell it and here I am tantalizing you." What do you think Gatsby told her and why do you think this scene is significant?
ReplyDeleteMichael Sullivan
On Page 41, He says "I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby's house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited." Do you think everyone else just gets invited by word of mouth? Or that everyone can come or is it only the people that are like Gatsby?
ReplyDeleteI think it is a lot of word of mouth but also form what the book has hinted at about him throwing frequent lavish parties, they kind of all are just waiting for the music to start playing
DeleteI was wondering this too. What makes nick special, why did gatsby personally invite him?
DeleteAnd, as a follow-up to this question, why was Nick invited?
DeleteI think that people kind of feel like once they've been invited once they can just keep coming and Nick had never been invited but Gatsby recognized him and they're neighbors
DeletePart of this might just be that it is rude to not introduce yourself to your new neighbor. An invitation to a party can serve as a neighborly welcome.
DeleteI think Gatsby might have wanted to get to know nick and would want to be neighbors with him. I think Gatsby wants to get to know people and be friendly> I feel like people that have lots of money come off as snobby people and I don't think Gatsby wanted that reputation.
DeleteI think his smile was his way of persuading you to trust him and kind of bringing you in so that you can feel more comfortable telling him anything
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDo you feel like these people are snooty? do they deserve to be so special because they are rich?
ReplyDeletei dont think they had the right to, but back in this time thats just the way it was
DeleteI feel like most people when they gain a lot of wealth become very entitled. And these people are no different.
Deleteat the time there was "old money" and "new money" if I remember correctly old money was wealth passed down from generation to generation and new money was wealth that was acquired in the specific person's lifetime. in a simulation we did last year in ms dodges class we came to the conclusion that the old money people came across more snooty because they feel that new money people were irresponsible with their money throwing extravagant parties etc. it makes sense when you think about the author because he definitely would have fallen under the new money category and he threw huge parties and got drunk and wasn't the most responsible human being when it came to his life. Especially after making all of his money to a point at which he was having trouble paying to keep his wife in the best places to care for her.
DeleteI think that it could have something to do with the fact that they are rich and everyone wants to have a different change to his life, and they have what they are looking for
ReplyDeleteI think that the characters are described charismatic. Because the novel is such a big exciting novel and the characters need to be charismatic in order to go along with the story, and the big parties.
ReplyDeleteOn page 49 the woman states that she thinks that Gatsby had killed someone, do you think that there is a significant reason to tarnish his name or paint him in that light.
ReplyDeleteI think that it was more like when somebody tells you what they heard about someone not to tarnish their name but just to warn them or say they might not be who you think they are
DeleteI think it lines in with the "American Dream" idea. Maybe she is all jealous of everything he has, and how he likely has lived a better american dream up to this time, so to make her feel better she tries to tarnish his name.
DeleteI think the rumors surrounding Gatsby demonstrate the he is both mysterious and a local celebrity. Everyone is talking about Gatsby, but no one really knows him.
DeleteI think people go out of their way to go these parties to see the way other people are living. There is a lot of talk about his parties too, Why do you think Gatsby is so trusting to let these random people in his house.
ReplyDeleteI think that they go to the parties because he is willing to let anybody in and he doesn't seem to talk to many people considering people say what they heard about him not from him directly like the thing about him potentially killing a man
ReplyDeletewhy does gatsby throw these huge parties, when he just stands in the background watching? he doesnt seem like he enjoys them very much
ReplyDeleteI think that there are a lot of potential reasons but I think that he is trying to change his public image from someone who killed a person to a great party holder. He is trying to drown that reputation with new experiences.
DeleteMichael Sullivan
he might be looking for someone in particular or he is just socially awkward
DeleteYou're actually going to get a pretty specific, concrete answer to this question in Chapters 4 and 5. Hang in there!
DeleteI think he wants people to be able to get to know each other and I think he is using his place for the parties because he does have a large house but I also don't think he wants to have the reputation of a mean person who doesn't want to be nice to people.
DeleteMaybe he enjoys providing the good time for others rather than being the life of the party
DeleteAgree with Jacob. Maybe he is a people watcher. Haha
DeleteI would agree with what Nash is saying, I think that Gatsby wanted to get to know Nick more personally.
ReplyDeleteWhy does Gatsby not really talk to a lot people, instead just stare at them and try to understand them by their looks?
ReplyDeleteI think he is trying to just feel out the situation and kind of read them before just jumping right in with the chance of him saying something wrong.
DeleteOn pg. 39 Fitzgerald describes aspects of Gatsby's lifestyle, "On week-ends his Rolls-Royce became an omnibus, bearing parties to and from the city between nine in the morning and long past midnight." From what we learned in the documentary, this is very reminiscent of Fitzgerald's own lifestyle. Yet, Fitzgerald begins the book by allowing Nick to state his scorn for Gatsby. So, if Fitzgerald creates Gatsby as a character parallel to himself, while allowing the protagonist to have contempt for said character, is Fitzgerald being critical of himself or providing a rebuttal of his admiration for his own lifestyle?
ReplyDeleteOn page 47, Gatsby said to nick, "Weren't you in the Third Division during the war?.. I knew I'd seen you somewhere before." Why does Gatsby remember more about Nick than Nick does of him? Is there a reason why he wants to get close with him?
ReplyDeleteThis might be that maybe Gatsby new him even before the war and there is some kind of previous connection that he is trying to remind him of.
Delete“I wondered if the fact that he was not drinking helped to set him off from his guests, for it seemed to me that he grew more correct as the fraternal hilarity increased.” pg 50
ReplyDeleteGatsby throws these large lavish parties but he isn't partying with all of his guests, he was actually MIA for a lot of the party and night, why? Do you think he's had so many of these parties he doesn't care to party anymore and enjoys providing the good time for people more or do you think this could be reflecting how Fitzgerald threw similar parties himself and he could never control his alcohol consumption?
I think he was gone for most of the part because he doesn't want everyone knowing everything about him, it also gives people a reason to want to go to these parties to try to find out more about this man. I think he also might have had something happen to him with alcohol but he likes the party lifestyle
DeleteI agree with Diego. I didn't understand why Owl Eyes was put in the story, but It goes along with how a lot of things happened in the 20's. He was having a great time, and then crashed. This was how Fitzgerald's life went; up and down.
ReplyDeleteWe have heard the word eyes in this book a few times, even on the cover there are a set of eyes. Why are eyes so symbolic
DeleteOn page 60, after the party, nick says " a sudden emptiness seemed to flow now from the windows and the great doors,endowing with complete isolation the figure of the host who stood on the porch, his hand up in a formal gesture of farewell" this made me think that gatsby throws these big parties to fill a void, and once they are over, an emptiness fills the house once again and he is all alone in isolation.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with this, I think Gatsby feels lonely sometimes and throws big parties to have company.
DeleteI feel like Gatsby is longing for something and really wants people to like him but is he doing this for the wrong reasons?
DeleteI think you could be right because as much as people can be initially happy when they get/have/spend a lot of money that can only take you so far. He has this huge house but he's in it all alone and he has all this money but no special person to share it with or spend it on. I think he wants someone to spend money on and so he hosts these parties but works during them because at least this way he isn't in complete isolation
DeleteI think green will represent money, greed, this deep want.
ReplyDeleteI think it will too and it will also represent the path to get there and what people are doing to try and get money
DeleteI think Tom lives off showing off his "power." He's bragging to Nick that he can have a mistress and a beautiful wife, and nobody can say boo about it.
ReplyDeleteI think Tom brought Nick to meet the mistress because he is just so easy to take advantage of and he is one of those kinds of people that you can say anything to them and you know they won't say anything because he is scared of the consequences. I think its just the way Nicks personality is.
ReplyDeleteI feel like Nick is easy to take advantage of, but I still think he is smart enough not to do anything that stupid
DeleteI agree with Mrs. LeClaire by saying that Tom is just trying to show off his power because he sees Nick as someone who is easy to impress and he clearly lives his life trying to establish power and authority
DeleteMichael Sullivan
I think Tom is just proud of himself right now because he has kept this affair going on as long as he has and now he is kind of getting stuck up about it and he might start to become careless and let some things slip
ReplyDeleteI have a great, sarcastic article about how everything you need to know about dating you can learn from The Great Gatsby. I'll bring it in when you're a little further in the book.
ReplyDelete" Every one suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honesty people that I have every known." 59
ReplyDelete- This is how Chapter 3 ends. What do you think of this? I found the last line really interesting. Is he being truthful when saying he is one of the few honest people he ever knew?
Great question! I like these little moments in the book where you see an older, wiser Nick reflecting on what happened that summer. What makes the other characters dishonest?
DeleteOn page 48, Gatsby and Nick were talking and Nick didn't even realize who he was talking to "'I'm Gatsby,' he said suddenly. 'What!' I exclaimed". What does this say about Gatsby? Gatsby didn't drink or interact a lot with his party guests, yet every weekend he goes to extreme lengths to host lavish parties. Why does he do this? Is there something else that he wants? Who is close to Gatsby in his personal life?
ReplyDeletei think the fact that gatsby already knew nick and nick had no clue he was talking to gatsby, shows that gatsby has power and he knows things other people dont
DeleteI think this is Gatsby's way of filling a lonely void of being alone in this big house by himself
Delete“It’s really his wife that’s keeping them apart. She’s a Catholic, and they don't believe in divorce.” Daisy was not a Catholic and I was a little shocked at the elaborateness of the lie.” pg 33
ReplyDeleteDo you think Tom made this up because he loves them both but doesn't want Myrtle to to know that he doesn't just love her?
I don't think that Tom cares what Myrtle thinks. I think he picked her as a mistress because she's not that pretty, she has no social status, etc. She's just a thing to be used, for him. I think this quotation is important because it reveals how much they value appearance over reality.
DeleteI think that he just wants both of them but then he makes up lies for both of them because he doesn't want to lose either of them. Do you think that later in the book they are both gonna find out about each other and how he has lied about both of them to each other and do you think they will get payback?
DeleteI think that Gatsby gets very lonely and seeing people have fun in a way is like him living through them he doesn't drink, but everyone else at the party does. I'm also thinking that in the past Gatsby may have had a drinking problem.
DeleteOn page 42 it says, "As soon as I arrived I made an attempt tot find my host, but the two or three people of whom I asked his whereabouts stared at me in such an amazed way, and denied so vehemently any knowledge of his movements, that I slunk off in the direction of the cocktail table--the only place in the garden where a single man could linger without purposeless and alone." Did nick know anyone at the party? Did he intend to talk to anyone before he went over?
ReplyDeleteI don't think Nick knew anyone who was going to be at the party but he's been wanting to meet Gatsby and he has his butler come personally give him and invite so he decided to go despite the fact that he didn't know anyone
DeleteIt's my understanding that Nick did not know if he would know anyone at the party. He planned to introduce himself to the host and go from there. When he could not find Gatsby, he felt uncomfortable until he ran into Jordan Baker.
DeleteI agree with what nash said about how he can still be lonely because he cant buy friends. I think part of it also is that people are so intimidated by how rich he is that people are afraid to approach him
ReplyDeleteYeah I wonder if he even cares about having money that much because he doesn't seem to be getting what he wants out of life.
DeleteGatsby could be the reflection of slightly of the person that Fitzgerald wanted to be.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with that statement, when I was reading thats what I thought it could be also.
DeleteOn page 46, the man in the library puts the unread book back on the shelf, "muttering that if one brick was removed the whole library was liable to collapse." How does Gatsby's library of unread books relate to his life? I wonder if there is some "brick" in Gatsby's life that could bring his whole life down. If so, what is it?
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ReplyDeleteIn the 1920's, prohibition was in effect. A lot of gangsters at the time made their money off of illegally distributing liquor. It's kind of a crazy theory but he might be related to this. Is this why nobody knows what he does for a living or where he got his money?
ReplyDeletepg58 Nevertheless there was a vague understanding that had to be tactfully broken off before I was free" To me there was some sense of hostility of that quote.
ReplyDeleteLooking back through all of the comments, I notice one is repeated a lot. The question is: "Why does Gatsby throw big parties, but doesn't participate?" To answer that question, I think it's because Gatsby has parties a lot, and if he drank at everyone of them, he is fearful that he will turn into Dan Cody. He has observed what people are like when they are under the influence of alcohol, and Fitzgerald justifies Gatsby's moral decisions by having two characters crash a car directly outside of Gatsby's house. Another good question I saw was: "Why are Nick and Gatsby naturally drawn to each other?" After reading the book, I know why both Nick and Gatsby are attracted to each other. It's clear that Gatsby was drawn to Nick because Gatsby wanted to get in touch with Daisy, but why Nick was drawn to Gatsby is debatable. I think he was because he compares Tom and Gatsby together in his head. Both are rich, young men who Nick has a slight connection to. But Tom is repulsive and arrogant, and Gatsby isn't the best person ever, but when compared to Tom, Gatsby is an angel.
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