52 pages (in my edition) into the story and we finally meet Gatsby. (You can already imagine how the new movie is going to play this moment up, with Leonardo and Tobey) Fitzgerald does a masterful job of leading up to this moment. How many rumors have we heard about Gatsby so far? At least four, by my count. He's the nephew or cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm (if you don't know who this is, look him up); he killed a man once; he was a German spy; he went to Oxford. One thing is for certain, he knows how to throw a party. And if you didn't know, this is in the middle of Prohibition.
So, with this in mind:
1. Your reaction(s) to Gatsby's party? Go ahead and quote in your response. And make a judgement about it—what do you think Fitzgerald wants us to feel or think about it after we've seen it?
2. Your impression and/or reaction to Gatsby himself? Like him? Dislike him? Trust him? Distrust him? Quote here as well.
3. Nick is becoming a more visible character as the novel goes on. What do you think of him now? Is he as honest as he thinks he is?
4. Finally: what about today's discussion especially struck you, stayed with you—and why?
Tomorrow we will talk about the Valley of Ashes and T.J. Eckleberg, leading up to a discussion about the party and our introduction to Gatsby. Friday you will have a quiz on the week's reading and discussions. I'll get your first essay back to your next week. As I said in class, the freebie blog entry ends now: you don't do it from here in on time, you don't get credit for it.
See you tomorrow.
1. In my opinion Gatsby's party was one of the more enjoyable scenes in the book so far. This is in part because, unlike the previous two chapters, we are not exposed to anyone inherently dislikable. Fitzgeralds portrayal of the party as a whole seems to express the idea that Nick is enjoying himself. I think one of the key differences between this party, and the "party" in the last chapter is expressed best when Jordan says, "... I like large parties. They're so intimate. At small parties there isn't any privacy."
ReplyDelete2. Gatsby so far is a fantastic character, there is so much mystery surrounding him that we can't help but be curious as to his origins and history. In truth I kind of like his character. His use of the term "old sport" has for some reason endeared him to me. But despite liking his character I can't say I trust him as a character. In truth we haven't learned anything about him yet and have no idea as to his history or true personality. The source of this distrust would probably be Nick's quote, "The familiar expression held no more familiarity than the hand which reassuringly brushed my shoulder." This reminds us that despite his kindness to Nick we still know very little about him.
3. At this point I'm still pretty ambivalent regarding our narrator. I don't get the feeling that he's someone I should either trust or mistrust, he's kinda just... there. As we learn at the end of the chapter, he is a relatively lonely character, and this serves somewhat to make me trust him a little more. But even so he does seem to have various flaws, and he certainly is not modest. All in all I don't really know what to think and I hope to learn more about him as a character as we continue.
4. The discussion in class today served mostly to cement my dislike of Tom. Some excellent points were brought up, and I think that through all of the discussion that went on the fact that Tom is an unappealing character stands out the most.
1. My reaction to Gatsby’s party is frankly that it seems like a lot of fun; it sets a very light and playful tone on the entire party scene and maybe even the whole chapter. The party does seem very over-the-top however, but that makes sense since Gatsby is more ostentatiously and obnoxiously rich than even Ken-and-Barbie Buchanan. Seriously: “At least once a fortnight a corps of caterers came down with several hundred feet of canvas and enough colored lights to make a Christmas tree of Gatsby’s enormous garden. On buffet tables, garnished with glistening hors d’oeurve, spiced baked hams crowded against salads of harlequin designs and pastry pigs and turkeys bewitched to a dark gold.” This is literally just for the food and this sounds like a wedding feast fit for 200. I think that Gatsby is a “look at how much money I have” kind of guy, which is very similar to the Buchanans, though Gatsby definitely trumps them.
ReplyDelete2. Personally, I thought that meeting Gatsby was going to be a large and grand affair, not a seemingly random occurrence that Nick happens to sit next to him at dinner. He seemed very personable and very friendly and I thought that other than his obnoxious show of his wealth, he didn’t seem like such a bad guy. I really love the way Nick describes his smile, which is what made such a big and positive impression on me: “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 so 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.”
3. I definitely agree with Andrew about Nick. We get very little insight on his life, and a lot of objective observation of other people’s lives. I’m not really sure how I feel about him, because he doesn’t give us a lot to work with. I don’t really he is very honest about/with himself, though. I think that in living his party life occasionally, he thinks it’s the real world, which it’s not. But he’s been very passive so far throughout the book, and I really don’t know how I feel about him.
4. In class, I definitely felt more and more dislike for Tom, but I also feel like there’s something that I’m missing about his relationships with both Daisy and Myrtle, as well as just something about his character. I really am looking forward to finishing the book and hopefully finally getting whatever it is that’s missing.
1. From the moment Fitzgerald begins to describe the setup of the party, I was impressed with the rich description and overbearing detail to the food, the orchestra, the tents and the entire cornucopia of material goods being put into this "little party". "the lights grow brighter as the earth lurches away from the sun, and now the orchestra is playing yellow cocktail music...the groups change more swiftly, swell with new arrivals, dissolve and form in the same breath." Gatsby has filled his mansion to the brim with people, many who he did not even invite. I think that his party is an attempt to fill the void he has in his life, how he is talked about, but no one really knows him. He uses his money to create a false sense of friendship with all the people at his party. Which brings me to #2...
ReplyDelete2. Nick describes Gatsby very positively, painting a charismatic and confident air about the man, but leaving him mysterious as well. From what I've learned, I do like Gatsby, but I feel nick is a bit enamored with him, and that may fog the truth of what he may really be like. HIs party made me see him as a lonely character that deals with his isolation by throwing money at it, and it makes me feel for him.
"'Who is he?' I demanded. 'Do you know?'
'He is just a man named Gatsby.'"
He is an icon for Nick, but barely anybody knows anything about him.
3.As the novel progresses, I come to dislike Nick more and more. Particularly at the end of this chapter, when he went on about Jordan Baker, he describes her as boring, dishonest, and rude. She may be these things, but the nonjudgemental Nick that has existed in previous chapters is long gone, and he is becoming a spiteful character. I do not think he is honest, and the fact he describes himself as, "one of the few honest people I have ever known." Makes me dislike him more.
4. The point we came to that stuck with me the most is how Tom has reached the pinnacle of his life, his very happiness, and it has passed him. He may be a violent, moronic character, but I find it sad that the rest of his rich life will be spent searching for happiness and never quite finding it.
At first, I found Gatsby's party to be extremely wonderful and lavish. At first glance it seems like a fantastic time, with great food and company and cocktails to last until early in the morning. "The bar is in full swing, and floating rounds of cocktails permeate the garden outside, until the air is alive with chatter and laughter." But as the party goes on, I get the feel that these parties are more or less the same every time. I get the feel that maybe Gatsby throws these parties not for the sake of having a good time, but to keep his mind off of something else that is troubling him. I also found that the party seemed to unravel as the night went on and the more drunk the guests became. At first the alcohol seems to liven up the party, but then it brings out the truth in all of the guests and there is fighting amongst them. This ties into what Fitzgerald wants us to take away from the party, that there is chaos hidden under the fantastic time and the rich guests and it may not be what it appears.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I really like Gatsby from what we've seen of him so far. He is a mysterious man, but not mysterious in a way that is dark and foreboding. He's mysterious in the kind of way that instantly makes you want to know more about him. He obviously is a very important man with much on his mind, and yet he is still polite to Nick when they first meet and to everyone else at his parties. "'I'm Gatsby[...] I thought you knew, old sport. I'm afraid I'm not a very good host.' He smiled understandingly-much more than understandingly." Yet, I still feel there is very much a part of Gatsby that we have yet to see, a different side to him that explains who he really is. But for now, I really like the personality of Gatsby.
Nick makes a point at the beginning of the novel to say that he is not judgmental and that he is very honest. As the book goes on I disagree with this statement more and more. Every time we meet a new character, we get a description of them from the one writing this book, Nick. They are terrific descriptions that thoroughly explain the character, but they are extremely judgmental and bias, and that's what makes them such good descriptions. But what I think we can say about Nick is that he's honest with himself. He knows what he wants. He knows where he stands in life and he knows his limits.
The part of today's discussion that really stuck with me was when we talked about Tom playing football for Yale, a top school academically and for football at the time. I find it interesting how the reason for his personality, the reason for his actions, is because he has realized that the greatest thing he will ever accomplish is finished and he is trying to cope with that. It makes him angry that he will not live his college life, makes him desperate to find something close to the excitement of football.
1. Since the beginning of the chapter, I was astounded at the magnitude of the party. When I first began riding this book, I thought Gatsby was going to be as secluded, quiet characters, but hes was not in the least bit. It seem that it was great and many people enjoyed it, but what I found interesting is how many people just went instead of being invited," People where not invited-they went there." The way Fitzgerald describe the party was so beautiful that I wish I could be there.
ReplyDelete2. Like I said before, I thought that Gatsby was going to be a secluded guy but he turned out to be a nice guy. The way he just allows people to go and that he blends in with his guest is purely magnificent. He appears to be humble since he does not like to brag about his power. He is also very generous, the way he offer Nick to ride with him," Want to go with me, old sport?". I like him but I don't know if I trust him. He seems to have an interesting past that might come back and affect Nick.
3. I learned not to rely on the narrator since you never know what is true(thanks to "Life of Pi") and so far I don't really see Nick as a very trustful characters. To be honest, I don't really think about him, he is just there. I think that he is not very modest since he keeps saying how he is so honest, and simply saying that he is honest makes me distrust him.
4. I really think there is more to Tom than we are giving him credit. Maybe he is just a racist,sexist abusive bastard, but there has to be something behind his actions. Maybe his life was too perfect and now that he is in his own, he can't survive on his own. I also enjoy those comparisons between him and Daisy. Maybe they are meant to be together after all. I found Tom to be a very interesting character and I would like to learn more about him. I
1. I thought Gatsby’s party was an interesting contrast to Tom’s party in the last chapter. The party in the Valley of Ashes was a sort of surreal, sad little party that was made interesting only by the fact that everyone probably got drunk and it ended with some domestic violence. Gatsby’s party actually sounds fun. “A celebrated tenor had sung in Italian, and a notorious contralto had sung in jazz, and between the numbers people were doing “stunts” all over the garden, while happy vacuous bursts of laughter rose towards the summer sky.” I think Fitzgerald wants us to feel like we’ve just been to this party. It’s clear that Nick enjoyed himself and has taken a liking to Gatsby. I think we’re getting Nick’s favorable view of that night.
ReplyDelete2. Gatsby seems like a cool guy. As I said, it’s clear that Nick likes him, and we’re getting our descriptions from Nick, so at this point I can see nothing wrong with him. It’s interesting that Gatsby hosts these huge parties for people that he doesn’t know (and who don’t really know him). I might be inclined to think that he does this because he’s lonely, but from his descriptions, I don’t really get that vibe. Nick says, “… my eyes fell on Gatsby, standing alone on the marble steps and looking from one group to another with approving eyes.” Again, maybe this is just a bias I’m getting from Nick, but Gatsby seems completely in control. He’s not anxious in any way. He watches everyone, and talks to everyone like he knows something that they don’t. I’m interested to find out more about him.
3. It’s obvious that Nick thinks of himself as the good guy. It really isn’t befitting of the picture that he’s painting of himself that he keeps telling us how good and honest he his. That’s what makes books with first person narrators interesting. We can’t really be sure how accurate Nick is being. If I were to believe everything he writes, I might think that he’s just a normal guy in the midst of all of these rich weirdos. Maybe that’s true. Maybe he’s just a simple Midwestern kid, but I doubt it. I think there’s still a lot to find out about all of these characters.
The party scene was, as Andrew said, the most carefree and fun scenes in the book so far. Everything is so decadent, from the food to the orchestra that was “no thin five-piece affair.” The party fills up the house with life and noise and music but as soon as the party is over and everyone has left, Nick says that “a sudden emptiness seemed to flow now from the windows and the great doors, endowing with complete isolation the figure of the host.” I thought this was a interesting, depressing way to end a party scene. These great, fun parties are short lived, and after they are over, Gatsby goes back to being a mystery and as this description describes, lonely.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was an interesting contrast in characters between the last chapter that focused mostly only Tom and exposing his malevolent ways and this chapter which showed Gatsby to have the complete opposite nature of Tom. Gatsby seems very genuine and kind. He sent a new dress to Lucille after she ripped her dress at one his parties, he offers to take Nick in his hydroplane just shortly after meeting him, and he throws these spectacular parties to people, seemingly more for their enjoyment then his, as he does not drink and spends most of the party tending to calls from various places. He’s the first character in the novel that came off as an all-around nice guy to me.
I do agree with Cam in that as the novel goes on, Nick is becoming more judgmental and is giving himself more and more praise and making himself become more and more unlikable, but at the same time, I still respect him as a narrator. And I think it’s because he is our way into this glamourous and overwhelming world and in a way, he is our guide through it. Nick is a voyeur and he is telling us everything thats going on. He does not have any motivation to distort or misconstrue what is going on and the actions of the characters. While he does tell us his judgements on the characters, we still are able to judge for ourselves based on how the characters are acting.
4. I agree with Aldo in that there is more to Tom than his awful ways. There is definitely something beneath the surface with Tom, as there is with all the characters in this novel. As awful as Tom is, I find him incredibly intriguing and I want to know more about him and what led him to become the terrible man that he is.
1. Gatsby's party seems to have a very frivolous air to it. Everyone seems to go to his parties to escape an overbearing reality, and he offers them a night to be anyone they want to be, if only for a little while. While his parties seem to have a sophisticated edge to them, the descriptions make it sound very fairy tale-esque and slightly magical. "At least once a fortnight a corps of caterers came down with several hundred feet of canvas and enough colored lights to make a Christmas tree of Gatsby's enormous garden. On buffet tables, garnished with glistening hors d'œuvre, spiced baked hams crowded against salads of harlequin designs and pastry pigs and turkeys bewitched to a dark gold." Everything just seems so enticing and I think Fitzgerald is trying to get the readers drawn in and feel and understand the appeal of the party. I think he is trying to draw attention to the fact that everyone wishes to escape and imagine a different life for themselves and Gatsby is the gatekeeper between the two worlds.
ReplyDelete2. I think Gatsby is the most honest and real character that we have met so far. I think he is more relatable to Nick than any other person because of his casual demeanor. While he may be proper he seems to be the only person that recognizes he's a human with a personality and he seems like that old reliable friend everyone has. The way he casually talked to Nick about the military, he didn't put himself on a high pedestal like other people do. There is also something that seems by fatherly about Gatsby and the way he smiles: "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".
3. Nick has evolved more and come out of his shell. He seems to be more comfortable with his life and seems to have found his place perhaps. The way he talks about New York and how he liked the "racy, adventurous feel of it at night" and the "satisfaction that the constant flicker of men and women and machines gives to the restless eye". I think he's still honest, however I get the feeling he is judging people more than he cares to actually address.
4. Today what people said about Tom and how maybe he wants something else that money can't give him really stuck out for me. I think it's a recurring theme in humanity and that many people who have (and in some cases have earned themselves) suffer from unhappiness and don't quite understand why they aren't happy.
1. I think the party sounds fantastic. Everyone is having a great time; there is music, food, and good company. Nick says that it was "significant, elemental, and profound." However, as the party proceeds, we see that married couples are fighting, there is lots of gossip, and that most people are just lonely. To me, this relates back to the Buchanan's lifestyle. At first glance, they are a happy couple with a huge house, a baby, and all the money in the world, but in reality, they are some seriously unhappy people.
ReplyDelete2. When Nick was first talking to some guy that he met in the war, I felt so surprised when he said "I'm Mr. Gatsby." This was surprising because in my mind Mr. Gatsby definitely wasn't a humble, down to earth guy like we see in this chapter. I really like Mr. Gatsby. He seems so genuinely nice and humble compared to what we have previously been reading about Tom. However, I think that Mr. Gatsby is a really lonely and sad guy, and he throws these lavish parties in order to have lots of people around him and ease that loneliness. I think that although he has people constantly around him, he is even more lonely because he doesn't quite have a personal connection with everyone. He is still very mysterious.
3. I like Nick a lot. He seems like that genuinely nice guy that everyone wants to be friends with. I think that New York has really changed him for both the good and bad. He is starting to notice more things and be more excited about the life he is living. Like Tanja, I love the way he talks about New York and says "I began to like New York, the racy, adventurous feel of it at night, and the satisfaction that the constant flicker of men and women and machines gives to the restless eye." It is quite evident that he came to New York for excitement, opportunity, and fun, and he is definitely starting to achieve and realize that.
4. What really stuck out for me in class today was that Tom reached the high point at his life at age 21 and now has nothing to do and is trapped. I think that Tom sees Myrtle because when he is around her and her acquaintances, he is so obviously on top and gets to feel the way he felt when he played football in college. However, when he is with Daisy, he is constantly around others with the same lifestyle as him and he can't find something to set himself apart. Although Tom is a d-bag, he is an interesting, complex character that adds a lot to this book.
1. Gatsby's party is a scene of complete and total chaos. Hordes of people left the city to go to this party yet half of them don't even know the host. The party, the party-goers, the house and the entire atmosphere is dripping with melodrama. The party has a full band, full catering, tents and drinks older than some of the guests. Even the invitation, cordially sent by a butler in an ostentatious uniform, drips of gross wealth. Gatsby's house is also incredibly rich. The massive garden and the large windows give the sense that the house is giant, yet barely lived in. Most striking, however, are the books in the library. Gatsby has a huge library full of presumably first edition books, none of which has been read. Gatsby's party and guests are over the top. I think that the guests use Gatsby's house and parties as an escape from their everyday lives. The parties give people the opportunity to go wild, be whoever they want and not face any negative ramifications. The whole scene disturbs me. The ridiculous sense of sin, insanity and ingenuity is awful. People go to the party to align themselves with the obscenely wealthy, act like fools and get sickeningly drunk. As Nick says, "...they conducted themselves according to the rules of behavior associated with an amusement ark."
ReplyDelete2. My impression of Gatsby is completely at odds with my impression of the party. Gatsby appears to be a down-to-earth, sensible, caring man who has a good memory of meeting Nick and is rather likable. My first impression of him is that he would be the last person to host such a party. Yet he did put on this insane gathering and is proud of it! Nick describes the party scene, "...my eyes fell on Gatsby, standing alone on the marble steps and looking from one group to another with approving eyes." Why would such a sincere seeming man, a man who seems so...normal, take pleasure in such a horrible spectacle?
3. Nick is still quite frustrating. In the first chapter he spoke of detesting the people he is now becoming increasingly good friends with. He and Jordan are starting their relationship, he enjoys the party and, I think, takes pleasure in watching people act in horrible taste. When he speaks of Jordan's aversion to clever, shrewd men. He speaks of her dishonesty and insolence yet he is happy to be with her. He calls him self one of the few honest people he knows yet he continues showing us the story through a very narrow frame and surrounds himself with very dishonest people. He cannot be as honest as he thinks if he is submerged in a fake, superficial, lying world.
4. What stuck out to me today was our delving into Tom's past. Though I find it very hard to sympathize with him, it was slightly enlightening to think about why he is the way he is. Our discussion of him wanting to be the star of something didn't justify his actions but at least shed some light on the reasons behind them.
1. I loved Fitzgerald's description of Gatsby's party. The party itself was incredibly lavish and extravagant, but seemed like it was a common thing for Gatsby. With an orchestra, hundreds of feet of food, and raucous behavior happening everywhere, the parties happen every weekend. I found myself wondering how he could afford this and what his job was, and why he was constantly being called away for phone calls. Anyways, party seemed to allow the rich, "refined" people of both eggs come together and have a good time, while Gatsby stood in the back as the unifying man. I think Fitzgerald wants us to see Gatsby as an unifying figure in the tumultuous society of the rich, which is probably why Nick only likes Gatsby in the end; he is like himself, the third wheel.
ReplyDelete2. Gatsby is still a very mysterious character. This chapter introduces him, but I felt that it only added to the mystery of "The Great" Gatsby. He sits in the back of his own parties, doesn't cavort alongside his guests, doesn't seem to care what happens, and most curiously, he tells Jordan something that "was.. simply amazing". I am drawn to Gatsby like a mystery novel; each clue is so delightful, but only widens the mystery. But, I question his motive as to why he throws these parties, if not to socialize and interact with others.
3. Nick is still a passive character to me. Though his relationships in New York have grown, his personality has not; he is still absorbing the "excitement" of the new land. I can only see him as the narrator, and am bound to trust him while reading, but something ticked in my back when he said "I am one of the few honest people I know". Also, he takes a lot of enjoyment out of Gatsby's smiles, which is a little bit weird.
4. Today's discussion revolved around Tom, and I agreed with everything being said. But, I had not seen Tom as trying to relive his old college days as the reason for his behavior. He just doesn't know why he is unhappy and overcompensates with drink, violence, "science stuff", and his mistresses. Of this this is no justification for his actions, but it has made me come to understand Tom just a little bit more.
1. I loved how detailed the descriptions of the party were, and how they never seemed to stop coming. Each page seems to add a new element to this astonishing party. I really liked the initial description of the parties: "In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whispering and the champagne and the stars". To me the sets a romantic and lively tone for the party, even though many aspects seem garish and overdone. Just like everything else in the book, I think Fitzgerald wants to illustrate the good and bad of these parties. Throughout the chapter everything seems grand and happy, but then the last image of the party we see in a drunk driving accident. I think the accident was included to show that many of these people are partying to get drunk and forget about their problems, not just to have fun.
ReplyDelete2. I really like Gatsby so far. I find it interesting that he seemed so mysterious but then when Nick actually meets him he is so friendly. Gatsby seems to be happy when his guests are happy. He stands on the stairwell and watches them, and Nick comments that he is "looking with approving eyes". Then Gatsby is feels bad for not introducing himself: "I'm afraid I'm not a very good host". The only suspicious thing he does is send for Jordan, which I did find odd.
3. Nick is totally weird to me. He ends the chapter saying he is one of the few honest people he knows, and by this he is referring to the fact that he hasn't made a move on Jordan because of the girl back home. But he admits to having an affair with the girl from Jersey... so clearly he isn't too honest. I find the way he looks at Gatsby and New York City endearing, but he is far to full of himself.
4. Today in class I definitely began to understand Tom better, or at least consider different aspects of him. The thing that stands out to me the most about Tom is that nothing can live up to his life in college. This must be stressful for him, and maybe part of the reason he is always seeking control (although I still think that he is an asshole).
1. I think I might very much enjoy attending one of Gatsby's parties. They sound like such high affairs, with the caterers and fruit juice and orchestra of Wagnerian proportions playing jazzed-up versions of the Charleston. Fitzgerald wants us to feel pampered during the party, Gatsby wants us to be pampered. And yet the people attending don't seem too hot. Most of them are either toasted from the champagne, performing "feats" of dubious safety on the lawn, or arguing with their spouses: "Most of the remaining women were now having fights with men said to be their husbands." (51) Sounds fun enough, but might be kind of a drag in reality.
ReplyDelete2. I trust Gatsby so far. When we meet him, he seems honest almost to the point of apology, and he's friendly enough, inviting Nick to go hydroplaning with him and referring to everyone as "old sport." He sent one of the yellow-dressed twins a new dress after she tore hers on a chair at one of his parties. I think that Gatsby would be a good friend to have, especially when your other friends are Tom Buchanan.
3. As I will say below, I think that Nick has done a pretty good job of keeping himself out of the narrative, although we start to see a little more of him as the book progresses. He says at the very end of Chapter III, "I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known," and his account is relatively unbiased. I think in this way he tries to identify himself with Gatsby a bit, with the whole notion of honesty, which has been given a good thrashing by Tom Buchanan and his mistress in Chapter II.
4. I think one thing that jumped out at me during discussion today was Jimmy's description of Nick as the "Professional third wheel." I think that Nick's role as the narrator is going to be fleshed out a little bit more by Fitzgerald, but this is a very apt description of his part in the book so far. I was also interested to listen to other's descriptions of Tom, and their feelings about his character.
1. I love the description of Gatsby's party. I can really picture everything. "Already there are wanderers, confident girls who weave here and there among the stouter and more stable, become for a sharp, joyous moment and center of a group, and then excited with triumph, glide on through the sea-change of faces and voices and color under the constantly changing light." This party is so different from Myrtle's party. Myrtle's party was tacky, and Gatsby's party is all class. There's a live orchestra and there's two dinners. It sounds like a party that I would want to go to for one night.
ReplyDelete2. Even though Nick has officially met Gatsby, there's still this mysterious and other side to Gatsby. We definitely didn't see the full Gatsby at the party. He still seems unknown to us and everyone the story. "Sometimes they came and went without having met Gatsby at all, came for the party." Most people just know Gatsby as this rich guy who throws these parties. Gatsby doesn't interact that much as a host. He stays inside or just watches from the back of the party. Why does he throw these parties? I think there's still much more to learn about Gatsby. I don't feel as though I learned that much more about him in this chapter, except that he was in the war and his first name is Jay.
3. I'm a little uncertain about Nick. He does not seem completely honest. Something just seems off about him. I can't decide what I don't like about him or what's making him seem off.
4. I really like today's discussion. One thing that really struck me was Tom and everyone's view on him. He was this all-american star college football player and now has a beautiful wife and child, but he has a mistress and he broke her nose... It's just confusing. Who is this guy? Even though he seems as though he's one of the more easily defined characters as the aggressive muscle man, we still don't fully understand him. Another thing that really struck me was Myrtle's party. The whole scene with people getting drunk in this tiny New York apartment with a puppy barking and wanting attention. It's gross and tacky. But John did make a good point and asked if Myrtle's party is any better than the Buchanans. Myrtle's party is artificial and tacky. The Buchanans is fake and dramatic. The theme of appearance vs. reality really becomes evident at Myrtle's and the Buchanans'.
1. Gatsby's parties have a reputation for being the best and from what it looks like in this chapter, that's what it is. It's a place where anybody who's anybody goes, where you don't know what to do or who to speak to first. His parties seem to be social events that are not to be missed. You really get a sense of the feel of the party when Nick writes, "they conducted themselves according to the rules of behavior associated with an amusement park." I think Fitzgerald really wants us to feel the excitement that Gatsby's party brings. It's a whole new beginning for Nick and as I read this chapter I found myself excited and waiting for something amazing to happen. I think the whole scene is a build up to Nick's encounter with Gatsby. The scene only adds to the mystery that is Gatsby and Fitzgerald uses the scene to simply intrigue us. So far, this scene seems to be the most important in terms of building the story.
ReplyDelete2. Gatsby is known by all. He's famous for his parties and infamous for what he has or hasn't done previous to living in West Egg. But you can't help but be fascinated by this oddly mysterious character. He throws these great lavish parties for everyone but himself. He seems to have a big desire to make sure everyone has the time of their lives, but he does this by having a big band, lots of drinks, and lots of people, rather than entertaining them himself. For someone as hidden as Gatsby is, I find it really odd how quickly he invites Nick to spend time with him. Gatsby seems to be looking for a companion of some sort and I think he tries to fill that void with the parties, but he ends up just playing into everyone's superficiality. Whether people know him or not, he has a reputation for being "the Great Gatsby." Nick says, "We all turned around and looked for Gatsby. It was a testimony to the romantic speculation he inspired that there were whispers about him from those who found little that it was necessary to whisper about in this world." People are in awe of whoever this man really is. I think the excitement comes from not knowing.
3. I do think that Nick is more judgmental than he tends to let on, however I find him to be fairly innocent in this new world. He has no idea how this whole "Great Gatsby" thing works. Sure, everyone wants to know who this man is, but other people seem to be able to ignore the fact that they are at a strangers house. Nick looks like a true outsider at first when all he wants to do is find Gatsby and then also when he doesn't know what Gatsby even looks like. I like Nick more in this chapter than in the other ones. He was very arrogant about not passing judgement and saying how everyone loves to talk to him because he is such a great listener, but I see a easy-going, naive, enchanted guy here more than anywhere else.
4. What really stuck out to me today was the idea that Tom's life is basically over. His passions and greatness ended when college did. How can you not feel sympathy towards someone who can't really see anything worth fighting for? But at the same time, how can he not appreciate a wife and child?
1. Honestly, I would love to go to a Gatsby party! The mystery and wonder of the parties surround every aspect-- from the invitation to the farewells. A great line is when Nick says, "I had actually been invited." I hear him saying this with a sense of honor and wonderment. The fact the Fitzgerald can create a character so intriguing is absolutely ingenious. While reading about the party, and after finally meeting Gatsby, I found that I had even more questions. Why exactly is he having these parties? Maybe Sam's right, maybe there's something he's trying to get away from. The line that I think gives the perfect image of a Gatsby party is "The first supper-- there was another one after midnight-- was being served..." I wanna go to a party with 2 dinners!
ReplyDelete2. I love Gatsby. He is so classy. Maybe it's just because I picture Leonardo DiCaprio? While I was reading this chapter I was thinking of the song Suddenly I See by KT Tunstall (John you should listen to it). I think it describes the way Nick feels about Gatsby perfectly. I don't know enough about Gatsby to decide whether or not I can trust him. But even if he turns out to be like Tom, I still love him. "...My eyes fell on Gatsby, standing alone on the marble steps and looking from one group to another with approving eyes. His tanned skin was drawn attractively tight on his face and his short hair looked as though it were trimmed everyday...[rest of the paragraph]" This whole paragraph is all I needed to completely fall for Gatsby.
3. Nick is getting to be more and more interesting... more complex for sure. The most disrupting thing about Nick is the last line in chapter 3: "I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known." I feel like this is Fitzgerald waving a giant red flag, saying, "HE'S LYING ABOUT EVERYTHING!"
4. After leaving today's discussion, I found myself wanting to watch a movie all about Tom's life. Something dramatic and horrible must have happened. At least I hope something happened, otherwise he's just going stir-crazy. A problem I have no sympathy for because it seems selfish and petty.
1.
ReplyDeleteI believe Fitzgerald wants us to see Gatsby in a surrounding he is comfortable with: many guests, whom he may or may not know, enjoying themselves. I found that the image of Gatsby, "standing alone on the marble steps and looking from one group to another with an approving eye," was one of the most important descriptions of the chapter. Why is Gatsby doing this? I believe he enjoys the thought that he has created this web of social interactions, with himself in the middle of it, and that through hosting such parties he can somehow touch and influence others.
2. As I said before, Gatsby seems to relish his ability to bring the wealthy to his doorstep, and then to subsequently watch the social interactions played out before him, which without him would never have occurred. The mystery of this man is irresistible to Nick, who, as a man who is used to listening to gossip, yearns to learn more about. As of now, he is still a mystery to the reader, but a mystery with a more distinct outline than previously.
3.
Ah, Nick, the man who always needs to be "tagging along," whether it be to Tom in New York or Jordan at Gatsby's party. Nick cannot stand alone, and does not instigate social interactions, rather letting others take the lead and guide him as he drifts into the background where he can listen and remain largely unnoticed. For a man who claims he has reached his limit in terms of listening to others, that he, "wanted no more riotous excursions with privileged glimpses into the human heart," he has a hard time shaking such a habit. Not only has this become a habit, but how he acts in every situation we have seen him in so far. From the first meeting with his cousin to the grand party at Gatsby's, Nick has never once initiated a social interaction with someone he does not know well, the only one as of yet being his simple, "Hello!" to Jordan Baker. An interesting pattern, which I'm sure will come under closer speculation later. As for honesty, I find it ironic that directly before he states that he is, "One of the few honest people," he recalls something that he did indeed lie about in the first chapter: a relationship back west. I don't believe this is honesty in any such form.
4. The discussion today centered around Tom and his role in this story. I suppose the item of interest to me was his history, which cemented my belief that Tom is a product of the society in which he has grown.
1. I think that Gasby's parties are very over the top. They're just so outrageous that it has to be on purpose. The whole first page of the chapter is spent on describing all of the events that go into one of Gasby's parties. His Rolls-Royce is downgraded to an "omnibus" while his station wagon becomes a "brisk yellow bug to meet all trains." He even has a group of people specifically hired for cleaning up the parties from the previous night. His parties seem to be very fun, kind of like a cross between a frat party and a high upper class champagne dinner. On one hand, you have all these people getting drunk and crashing his parties, then on the other you have groups of rich people who enjoy listening to the orchestra and sipping wine.
ReplyDelete2.I really like Gasby. As much as I dislike Tom, I like Gasby. He seems like the kind of guy that everybody enjoys having around. He's easy going, nice, funny, and can always relate to the people he talks to. This is actually THE BEST skill that a person can have. In a conversation, if you can someone how relate to the situation that the person is talking about, with out making it awkward, you are insistently excepted into that group. Gasby so far seems to have this skill mastered and I'm really jealous. He has a lot of money, but he doesn't flaunt it like Myrtle the Turtle. He shares it. Everything in the party that he buys is for other people to enjoy with him. He even shares his personal plane with Nick. I feel like Gasby would be the type of person to donate 90% of his money to a charity because he wants to help. Everything that Gasby does seems to make you respect him and except him.
3. I can't say that I view Nick any differently than at the beginning of the book. Nick is the narrator, the awkward third wheel in almost every situation. So far, to me, it seems like Nick has had anything to do with the story. It's possible though that Nick has effected the way I think about all the characters through his narration, but nothing really that he has done or said has stood out to me.
4.The thing that really stood out to me is the Discussion about Tom. Since the start I've always hated Tom, but since the discussion in class I've really been thinking about him. I'm starting to get the sense that his situation is very similar to a bully that's been bullied or abused in the past, but not really. What I do understand though is how frustrated he is. His life should be the greatest thing on the earth, yet he still seems to be missing the one thing that made life worth living. He tries to fill that part of him with money,women, and more money but it just isn't the same. I can really understand his feeling behind his actions, but it still doesn't excuse his actions. I no longer think that he is just a moron though.
I think I would have tons of fun at one of Gatsby’s parties, because I like dancing and socializing. However, I would be keeping company with all the rich, and at that point drunk, East Egger, West Eggers and New Yorkers; people with, “a simplicity of heart that was its own ticket of admission” (41) to the party. What appeals to me about the parties is that if I had a mansion I would have a great time organizing and setting up for them. There is somewhat of a thrill in organizing big, fun, evening events, but Gatsby does not seem to take part in these parties at all. In the description of the preparations he is not mentioned once. He does not supervise the trafficking at his house and the description gives the impression that people simply start arriving on Saturday evenings whether Gatsby is out or not and then he appears later to observe, scan the crowd and mingle, but just for a while. He does not take part in the partying or the drinking at the party, which is strange because no wealthy people living in these cities threw parties just to watch other people enjoy themselves. Parties were thrown for entertainment, because people had nothing better to do, or for social upkeeping, but Gatsby must have ulterior motives for having huge, expensive parties every weekend. I think Fitzgerald also used the party scene to bring together and show how East and West Eggers interact, “Instead of rambling, this party had preserved a dignified homogeneity, and assumed to itself the function of representing the staid nobility of the countryside—East Egg condescending to West Egg, and carefully on guard against its spectroscopic gayety” (44). All together though, as the party went on, it was not made evident that there was a serious split between the two sides.
ReplyDeleteI do not like or dislike Gatsby, I am just curious about him, as everyone else probably is. This describes my first impression of him well, ‘“he doesn’t want any trouble with anybody”’ (43). This seems like the characteristic of a really nice guy, but there is a mysterious and ambiguous feeling about him that not only the reader has, but the guests at his parties have too. I do not know if I trust Gatsby, because his, “rare [smile] with a quality of eternal reassurance in it” (48) put me at ease at first, but once it vanished gave me the impression that he is good at putting on a show/appearance, without revealing his true self.
I think that Nick cannot stand alone, and that is why he is such a good listener for others, because although he does not say much or initiate conversations he tends to attach himself to people and “third-wheel.” I do not think he is as he says, one of the few most honest people he’s ever met, because he has now admitted to us that he is friends or fascinated with several characters who are dishonest and have qualities that he normally scorns.
Something that I have not quite settled in my head yet is the idea that Tom’s has reached and passed his high point in life. He’s done. I think that is true, but I wonder if he knows that and therefore is desperately searching for a way to be a great somebody again or if he has great hope that he will become a great somebody without really understanding that it will never happen.
1. Gatsby's parties scream new money which attracts people from all over. "Every Friday five crates of oranges and lemons arrived from the fruiterer in New York-ever Monday these same oranges and lemons left his back door in a pyramid of pulp-less halves." People are drawn to the parties for the excitement and money. Gatsby is shown as a powerful and mysterious figure which brings men and women from all over to his abode. I think Fitzgerald shows the reader how classy and exuberant Gatsby is through these parties.
ReplyDelete2. I love Gatsby. I always have to stop and realize he is only in his mid-thirties because he gives off wisdom and power in ways no other young man can. There are so many words that can describe Gatsby such as mysterious and humble. Fitzgerald gives us examples of how he is all these things in one through rumors, "You look at him sometimes when he thinks nobody's looking at him. I'll bet he killed a man." These rumors represent the mystery behind the deep character of Gatsby.
3. Nick is not always the most honest such as his affair with the New Jersey girl, but I think Nick is thoughtful and thinks before he acts and talks unlike Tom and Daisy. He is starting to have stronger opinions therefore deepening his character which Fitzgerald puts into play soon.
4. Today's discussion on Tom showed what many of us already realized, that Tom was stupid and hulking, but I also feel we realized that there may be more to Tom than meets the eye. I almost feel sad for Tom and wish he could have a friend that respected him. Though breaking people's noses is not the best way to make new friends.
1.) So Gatsby's party seemed like one of those parties where all you do is stand up and drink and talk. It might be because the party wasn't full of adolescents or that it's set back in the last century but it didn't seem to appealing to me. Poor Nick, this scene definitely showed us how he's not only the third wheel but the fifth, seventh, ninth or eleventh wheel. All the time he is the odd one out. Also, this party surprisingly reminds me so much of Bruce Wayne's parties. He invites all these middle age boring people with fake smiles and compliments. Unlike Bruce though, Gatsby doesn't mind that all these people are here for superficial reasons. Most of the people haven't even seen Gatsby. An interesting point Fitzgerald showed us was the repetition of the truth bursting out violently when drunk. Nick points out, "I looked around. Most of the remaining women were now having fights with men said to be their husbands." For some reason Fitzgerald seems to stress the point that there are no functional romantic relationships. This is quite sad for me, but it's also very interesting because I want to know what's behind all of these repetitions.
ReplyDelete2. It may be that Nick is sugar coating everything about Gatsby, but I really don't think he has a reason to. If he's only met annoying superficial rich people recently why should he lie about Gatsby. I think his character is wonderful. For some reason he reminds me of Morgan Freeman. I guess I think about him the way Nick describes him because I have no alternative but I definitely like Gatsby so far. He seems humble because although he may have everything materialistic, he's trying his best to share it with as many people and which ever people he can. He admits, "'...I'm afraid I'm not a very good host.'" which makes me trust him because he's being honest. Gatsby seems genuinely nice when he asks about getting on the hydroplane and even though the matter had been forgotten, he didn't forget. He insisted but instead basically ordered this event. It didn't seem as forced as Tom forces Nick to look at his lawn but simply because he said anytime was fine was that it seemed like it was just for fun.
3. Well I somewhat sympathize for Nick because he never really sounds ecstatic or jolly or happy. Content, yes, but he speaks about being alone or loneliness too much to convince methat he's fine. Perhaps it's because Nick doesn't feel any lady in New York is worth falling in love with because he has only seen dysfunctional and unhappy relationships here. He may actually like his solitude but still wants a best friend.
4. I guess the fact that Tom is like a very enormous child. He has all the characteristics of a butt hurt boy who can't seem to get over himself and hasn't gone through all the stages of loss correctly. Of course there's the part of vulnerability that comes with losing something and he has never owned up to his vulnerable side, therefore the cycle isn't even half finished. He hasn't healed from something and it's not letting him advance. He's not learning from his books or his mistakes, or being respectful or appreciative of his things and family. But I agree with what Amanda said today, there is definitely a reason for why he is like this. It's just sad that he's so sour like this when people die to have the lifestyle he has.
1) “Laughter is easier minute by minute, spilled with prodigality, tipped out at a cheerful word.” Gatsby’s party is our first insight into the world of Gatsby. Nick has been formally invited, and therefore is expecting a formal party. This scene is my favorite of the book so far because there is no laughable ridiculousness or drama, it’s simply people who are having a good time. My favorite part about the party is that hardly anyone has been invited. In a story all about image and gossip, Gatsby’s house is relaxed and careless.
ReplyDelete2) The image of carelessness in Gatsby’s house is a product of Gatsby himself. He has such an easy-going vibe about him that we almost feel ridiculous to have wondered about him and played him up to be a spy or a murderer. This book is full of fake characters that are trying to impress, and Gatsby is a refreshing reminder of what a good man looks and acts like. If Gatsby isn’t trustworthy, he’s fooled me so far.
3) I don’t feel that Nick has shared enough about himself for me to form an opinion about him. The amount of time he talks about how honest and humble he is leads me to believe he’s trying to convince himself that he’s someone he’s not. Nick is a storyteller, and hardly has time to take a break and talk about himself, leaving us to wonder what kind of person he is.
4) The thing that stood out to me the most was our discussion about the reasoning behind Tom’s foolish actions. At first, he seems like a stuck-up rich guy who thinks of himself extremely highly. But as we dig deeper, we can find a man who’s past his prime and is spending his time desperately trying to find a connection with someone. He wears the fancy clothing and parades around because he’s trying to convince himself that he is as great as he says he is. I went from hating him to sympathizing, despite his horrible actions.
1. I think as many people have said before, that Gatsby's parties are supposed to be the best ever. Just the way Nick describes how he gets ready, with the vast amount of lemon rinds, the car that becomes a bussing system, he hires more servants, it is an elaborate set up, so the party must be out of this world. I agree with anna in that i would love to go to one of his parties, simply to people watch. They way he describes why people come, "I believe that on the first night I ent to Gatsby's house I was on of the few guests who had actually been invited. People were not invited--they went there." this description made me think how amazing these parties must have been if people would just come. The invitation spread by word of mouth. These parties seem very lavish and over done, almost to the point of tooooo much but I feel Gatsby does a very good job of keeping some sort of handle on the party. I personally love the way the parties are explained because I think they do a very good job of representing the theme of Appearance v. Reality because on the outside, looking in these parties seem perfect, like places we would ant to be. In reality when we dive deeper into the relationships, and those at the parties I think we see that these people are just trying to hold on in some cases, and that there are a lot of imperfections.
ReplyDelete2. I love Gatsby when we first meet him. Not only the way he speaks to Nick, in a little bit of a patronizing way, but at the same time and endearing way, but I love the classiness of him. He shows a sense of humor, and has no problem with all of these random people in his house, he seems to enjoy the company. I love the frase that Gatsby uses when he says 'old sport'. I think this gives Gatsby a feeling of like a fatherly figure or like a close uncle feeling. I agree with amanda that is is hard not to be intrigued with his character during this chapter. You get small glimpses of Gatsby, not enough to make a clear figure of him but enough that you want to know more about his life, and about his personality. Just from this chapter I really like Gatsby because he is one of the first characters we see that has substance, or we believe has substance.. He is not daisy floating, and his is not Tom, hulking he is his own person and has his own ideas, we just hav to wait to get to know him.
3. I am still on the fence about nick. I think he shows a little bit more judgement during this chapter, and i think that he begins to up play himself as well, However, I think at the same time he is still trying to listen and to not make too quick assessments of people. I think that in the next fe chapter we will really get a sense of who nick is and what kind of narrator basedupon what he learns and what he gets out of living next to such a powerful man.
4.I really liked our discussion today because i feel like as we were trying to figure out other characters, we were figuring out Tom too. I think the idea that he is over compensating for something that he is not giving or getting is a really plausible explanation for what is going on in his life. I also found it interesting that at the beginning of the period I had written tom off as a character but at the end I saw him as a more three dimensional character that might be mis understood of have problems that he is not equipped to deal with. I really like our discussions because I think that everyone gets to be involved and opinions like mine can change. Now I am not saying that I do not believe that Tom is a moron, I just think he is a misunderstood moron that needs to figure his life out, before he ruins to many other peoples.
1. The Gatsby parties are big events. We see all the preparation that goes into them. Something that strikes me about these parties is how most people don't get invited: "People were not invited- they went there. They got into automobiles which bore them out to Long and somehow they ended up on Gatsby's door...Sometimes they came and went without seeing Gatsby at all, came for the party with a simplicity at heart that was its own ticket of admission." People come and go at their own leisure not even bothering to meet the host of the party. Gatsby doesn't even spend that much time enjoying it. He just watches and sometimes makes conversation. The party has a fitting air of mystery surrounding it like Gatsby himself.
ReplyDelete2. I really like Gatsby so far. He has a way of making people very comfortable in awkward situations and treats everyone like a friend. He is someone people would like to hang around. He lets strangers into his house without an unsettling feeling at all. He always looks at ease and has a presence filled with confidence. He doesn't pull a lot of attention to himself, but he can be more of an observer in his own home. Nick's description of Gatsby from the beginning seems fitting. Though Gatsby appears to be amazing on all accounts, I'm not sure if I should trust him yet. It will take more of his character to tell. I am excited to see more of is character come out.
3. I'm still unsure of how I feel about Nick's character. At the end of the chapter he says that he is one of the most honest people he has ever met. He won't let up on talking about his own qualities that make him a good narrator, He says he doesn't judge anyone, but he judges himself all over the place. There is nothing that makes me want to really dislike Nick or really love his character either. He can sometimes fade into the extravagant background tat swarms him.
4.I liked our class discussion about Tom and Myrtle. It gave me a whole new perspective on Tom. He feels that his the best part of his life is over. His passion has run dry without football. Now Tom is in a dull relationship and he has no idea where his life is going.He does not have the right to cheat on his wife, hit his mistress, and neglect his child, but seeing life through his eyes gives another view of Tom. He is trapped and lost. I almost feel sorry for Myrtle. She in two one-sided relationships. Mr. Wilson is in love with Myrtle but she could care less for him. Myrtle might love Tom but he will never really be with her. He even lies to her saying that Daisy is Catholic and does not believe in divorce. What exactly is keeping Tom and Daisy together?
1. Gatsby's parties seem like the party that everyone knows about, everyone goes to, and everyone wants to go to again. It seems like a great place to have a great time. "Laughter is easier minute by minute." His parties also scream of money, his Rolls Royce and Station wagon picking people up, five crates of lemons and oranges coming every Friday to be turned into juice in less than half an hour, and his house lit up like its Christmas. I feel like, Ben said, that Fitzgerald wants us to feel pampered. This party has everything that you could ever want. Hell, it has two dinner, and I could really use something to eat right now. "I had actually been invited." Nick says it like it's a wonder to be invited to this party.
ReplyDelete2. I really like Gatsby. He seems like a sociable, kind, and polite person. He does not take offense to Nick's mistake with his identity, chats with Nicks and invites him to ride his hydroplane, and seem amiable to all his guests. At the same time, I distrust him a little bit. He seems almost… too nice. His parties are great and he is rich, but I feel like he is hiding something, and maybe these parties are just a cover for that. I’m not sure though what exactly he could be hiding, whether it is something emotional or something gruesome about his character.
3. While Nick is becoming a little bit more visible and active in the book, I still feel like he is a “professional third wheel.”He goes to Gatsby’s party “dressed up in white flannels” and never seems to fit in anywhere until he sees Jordan. As for his comment, I feel like, similar to Anna, that him saying that he is an honest man is a warning for the future.
4. What really struck me today is how many sides, dynamics, and approaches you could take to the Daisy-Tom-Myrtle relationship. Tom seems to be integral character so far, but he is also very strange, trusting, or wanting to flaunt in front of, Nick with his secret. There is also the fact that Tom seems to need something from this mistress, and the fact that Daisy knows about this mistress makes it all the more interesting.
1. The description of Gatsby's party makes me laugh as well as makes me want to yell at everyone present. If I chose a word to describe his parties, I would go with shallow. Nick says that the conversations consist of "casual innuendo and introductions forgotten on the spot." The entire scene has an unavoidable sense of superficiality to it. It feels like people go to Gatsby's house as a sort of escape from their real lives. Names and actions don't matter and won't be remembered anyways.
ReplyDelete2. The way Nick introduces Gatsby allows little room for feelings other than admiration. He's painted as a easy going good-old-boy, who says things like "good sport." Nick's description of Gatsby's smile, "one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it," puts Gatsby in an even more positive light. Based on just this description, Gatsby seems like the most trustworthy character in the book so far. on page 50, Nick even goes on to say that "he could see nothing sinister about him." The fact that Gatsby doesn't drink at his parties was also interesting to me. Everyone else is completely blitzed, but Gatsby simply observes with his "approving eyes."
3.I think Nick's actions make him more honest the the majority of the other characters in the novel. He hasn't done anything that was intentionally deceitful to the other characters in the book, and he never lies about his opinion.
4.The discussion of Tom and Daisy's relationship was interesting to me. It had seemed pretty straight forward before, but people came up with lots of hypothetical situations that I hadn't thought of before.
Fitzgerald's descriptions of the party made me feel like I was part of the ambient environment. The environment seems a bit childish due to the vivid, amusing descriptions. What made me believe everyone was acting like careless children was the fact that "People were not invited-they went there." This to me shows that many people just go to have fun but also to see who and what Gatsby is. Towards the middle of page 41, Nick describes the guests as conducting "themselves according to the rules of behavior associated with an amusement park.” They run around and have fun, just like children (in my opinion). This behavior reminds me of children in a playground just going in and out playing with kids around and having a good time. Overall I think it is a sweet party that Gatsby threw.
ReplyDeleteI think Gatsby is a laid back character that likes to have fun, but is authentic (at least to me). This goes along with the owl-eyed man’s comments about the library, “What thoroughness! What realism!” Everyone along with the owl-eyed man thinks Gatsby is all for show, but we are proved wrong here by the books. His line “old sport” is very comforting and it makes me feel as if I was Nick and Gatsby where talking to me. I actually did not expect Nick to find Gatsby at all anywhere but out of nowhere Fitzgerald brilliantly introduces Gatsby. He also kind of reminds me of Bruce Wayne, but not completely.
Nick is still the observer and I don’t see any signs of judgement from him in this chapter. He is still a decent character that is innocent and kind of new to this world.
What stuck with me was the discussion of Tom wanting that football superstardom. I never actually noticed that praise and how big he was as a college athlete. I now see how big and how much of an impact it had on his life.
1. In some ways, the party was one of the most honest scenes in the book as of yet. As the night went on, more and more of the reality of people’s lives began to sink in: the dysfunctional marriages, the abusive husbands, and the gossiping nature of almost everyone at the party. It was Nick who was there to see everyone’s lives in their full glory, to sit their and judge their unprotected and exposed little worlds.
ReplyDelete2. Everyone seems to gravitate towards this Great Gatsby. In some ways, he is the epitome of the American Dream, the shining beacon amongst the swathes of the lesser people, and everyone can’t help but fall in love with him. As the night goes on, he remains composed, the exact opposite of the debauched partygoers who continue to get more and more drunk as the night goes on.
3. Nick is slowly loosing the illusion of being “the only honest man I know”. As we see more and more of him, especially at the party, we see how he in fact does have a tendency towards being judgmental. He seems to survey the crowds of people with removed skepticism, scrutinizing people right and left.
4. It was very interesting how we talked about the valley of ashes, and how it is in some ways the most honest scene in the entire book.
I think that this party is supposed to show us that Gatsby is not scared. He will do what he wants because he feels entitled to it. He has the money and he shall use it as he wants to. It's very extravagant and I think that Jordan's comment about how private such large parties are is very interesting. The party is so large that you can feel surrounded by friends but you don't have to make connections and conversations as one must when having just a few friends over to dinner.
ReplyDeleteI really like Gatsby, but I don't trust him. I think this is because of how quickly I became to like Gatsby. I feel that the faster you come to like someone, the more likely it is that you have missed some characteristic that may turn you off to the person.
I think I like Nick although I am not entirely sure yet. I really do not think he is as trustworthy as he says he is. Those who tend to assert that they have a certain qualities often either do not have them or are terrible at them. The insecurity of not being good at something presses the person to tell others that they are amazing at it.