When Bigger is finally alone in his own room in the Dalton house, he finally had a sense of freedom. He now has his own space and place to call his own, unlike his old home where he had to live in a small uncomfortable, cold, and dirty room with three other people. It finally seems like Bigger is somewhat happy. He talks about, “bringing Bessie here some night,” “not have to sleep with Buddy,” and “to drink in peace.” (59) Bigger finally realizes all the pleasures you can have when you are given choice and more freedom. Where as before he had to listen to his mom tell him to do everything, drink where blacks were supposed to drink, and “polish his nightstick in the movie theater.” (30) With something as simple as a room with heat and a nice, soft, and clean bed, Bigger has had a big positive mood swing. (PP 59) He feels his new job will help him get more material things like a new watch too. (PP59) Bigger seems like he is glad he took the job, but he still scared of the white people, especially the girl. (59)
I don’t think Bigger is “selling-out” because he still has the choice to leave the job or not. In my opinion, you have to take the best situation you get, even though that may sound selfish, sometimes at that point in time there isn’t a better option. I think this is the first time in Bigger’s life where he is away from home and away from his mom, and now he must take in on his own responsibility. Even though Bigger is 20 years old, he still acts and thinks like a child and he needs to grow up, this my be the experience he needs to do that. I don’t think Bigger is surrendering to the white man, I think he is just trying to best for him and his family. Really that’s all that matters, I know bigger wants to follow his dreams, but he has to wake up and realize life isn’t all milk and cookies, and that the world is corrupt and sucks for everyone, but you have to deal with it. But it is also possible to see him as a “sell out” in the way where he is being extremely selfish and is more thinking about himself than his friends and family. For instance he cares more about getting a new watch than helping out his family and friends that are on hard times. (PP59) So I can see it both ways, but I think Bigger is more selfish than a “sell out” and he is only trying to better himself.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Faulkner Speech Response
In Faulkner’s Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech, he calls on young writers of today to write about the major conflicts of society to show the issues of our humanity. He explains that many young writers shy away from the problems of the human heart in society. Faulkner emphasizes and shows in “That Evening Sun,” that we as humanity must write about our moral problems, showing the contrast of past and present to help change our views and actions of today. For example in the “That Evening Sun,” Faulkner shows the problems of segregation, prejudices, and racism in society, through the dialogue of Nancy, Jesus, and the young children and through the description of the characters. In this story Faulkner shows the real side of the South of this time period and gives criticism of the Protestant aristocracy and white supremacy of the era. This idea of writing about the true issues of society and revealing the truth that is right in front of our faces is what Faulkner is calling on young writers to do.
With the use of Faulkner’s description of Nancy in “That Evening Sun, he allows the reader to see the immoral issues of the early 1900s in the South. Throughout the story Faulkner shows the agonies of the human heart or blacks through Nancy’s emotions and actions. Nancy was described as a very distraught and depressed character, which was continually taken advantage of. Nancy has no control of her situation and that is what Faulkner is trying to emphasis in the story, the lack control blacks have on their lives during this era. For instance, Nancy is having Mr. Stovall’s baby, but he will not help her even when she continually asks, “When you going to pay me white man?” She even gets so distressed with going to jail, losing her husband, and not getting help from her baby’s daddy that she continually sings in a blues-like manor and even goes as far to try to kill herself. Nancy only believes, “she ain’t nothing but a nigger.” Faulkner shows through his writing that society must be pretty corrupt if a young girl thinks nothing of herself, has no control of her life, and tries to kill herself all because of her skin color. This is a perfect example of what Faulkner calls us to do in his speech; he wants the young writers of today to show the true emotions of our societal problems, that it may cause a change to future generations.
Faulkner also shows the societal problems of this era through the repetition of dialogue between Nancy and the young children in the story to emphasis how society can corrupt an innocent young child to become immoral. Throughout the story there is a repetition between the boys dialogue of, “I ain’t a nigger” or “You scardier than a nigger.” Faulkner tries to show through Quentin, Caddy, and Jason who are relatively young, that society corrupts the mind of what are innocent kids. The kids in the story don’t even know what a “nigger” is, but they know they don’t want to act or be one. This is an example of Faulkner showing the conflict of the human heart and how it innocently affects the next generations without people even recognizing it. Also with the repetition of blacks having no control of their life shows the immoral acts of the period. For example Jesus says” I can’t hang a round white man’s kitchen. But white man can hang around mine,” again shows that the societal issues that blacks have no control of their rights. Faulkner shows that young writers must write about things that are worth writing about that show the blood, sweat, and tears of our societal issues today. What Faulkner is calling on young writers of the future is similar to many other famous activists call on us do. These famous leaders want us to show through our actions and writing about the problems of society and conflict of the human heart. A influential leader once said, “The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict… If we are to go forward, we must go back and rediscover those precious values - that all reality hinges on moral foundations and that all reality has spiritual control.” (MLK) Like MLK, Faulkner calls on us to write something meaningful that shows the courage, honor, pity, compassion, pride, and sacrifice of society.
With the use of Faulkner’s description of Nancy in “That Evening Sun, he allows the reader to see the immoral issues of the early 1900s in the South. Throughout the story Faulkner shows the agonies of the human heart or blacks through Nancy’s emotions and actions. Nancy was described as a very distraught and depressed character, which was continually taken advantage of. Nancy has no control of her situation and that is what Faulkner is trying to emphasis in the story, the lack control blacks have on their lives during this era. For instance, Nancy is having Mr. Stovall’s baby, but he will not help her even when she continually asks, “When you going to pay me white man?” She even gets so distressed with going to jail, losing her husband, and not getting help from her baby’s daddy that she continually sings in a blues-like manor and even goes as far to try to kill herself. Nancy only believes, “she ain’t nothing but a nigger.” Faulkner shows through his writing that society must be pretty corrupt if a young girl thinks nothing of herself, has no control of her life, and tries to kill herself all because of her skin color. This is a perfect example of what Faulkner calls us to do in his speech; he wants the young writers of today to show the true emotions of our societal problems, that it may cause a change to future generations.
Faulkner also shows the societal problems of this era through the repetition of dialogue between Nancy and the young children in the story to emphasis how society can corrupt an innocent young child to become immoral. Throughout the story there is a repetition between the boys dialogue of, “I ain’t a nigger” or “You scardier than a nigger.” Faulkner tries to show through Quentin, Caddy, and Jason who are relatively young, that society corrupts the mind of what are innocent kids. The kids in the story don’t even know what a “nigger” is, but they know they don’t want to act or be one. This is an example of Faulkner showing the conflict of the human heart and how it innocently affects the next generations without people even recognizing it. Also with the repetition of blacks having no control of their life shows the immoral acts of the period. For example Jesus says” I can’t hang a round white man’s kitchen. But white man can hang around mine,” again shows that the societal issues that blacks have no control of their rights. Faulkner shows that young writers must write about things that are worth writing about that show the blood, sweat, and tears of our societal issues today. What Faulkner is calling on young writers of the future is similar to many other famous activists call on us do. These famous leaders want us to show through our actions and writing about the problems of society and conflict of the human heart. A influential leader once said, “The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict… If we are to go forward, we must go back and rediscover those precious values - that all reality hinges on moral foundations and that all reality has spiritual control.” (MLK) Like MLK, Faulkner calls on us to write something meaningful that shows the courage, honor, pity, compassion, pride, and sacrifice of society.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
The Great Gatsby Chapter 9
Chapter 9 Page # 163-180
Chapter Summary
In this chapter it describes the struggle Nick goes through to help Gatsby have a respectable funeral, but in the end Gatsby lived lonely and died lonely because no one went to his funeral. Daisy wouldn’t even call about Gatsby and Wolfsheim Gatsby’s only friend besides Nick refuses to go for business and personal reasons. The only important people to attend the funeral were Nick, Gatsby’s father, and surprisingly Owl Eyes. After Gatsby’s death Nick is a changed man and he decides to break up with Jordan and move out of West Egg. Later in the chapter he also meets Tom and refuses to shake his hand or even tell him the truth about Myrtle’s death, the sight of Tom disgusts him. In the end Nick goes back to Gatsby house and reminisces about Gatsby and talks bout how the dream is over.
Character Analysis:
Nick Carraway
Quote:
“Look here old sport, you’ve got to get somebody for me. You’ve got to try harder. I can’t go through this alone.” (Nick’s mind 165)
Description:
Nick is a young, kind, and educated man who doesn’t seem as corrupt or fake as the other characters in the novel. He also is a pretty successful young man working for a bond company and living in a comfortable house in West Egg next to Gatsby. He seems like a trustworthy narrator, except in my opinion when he talks about Gatsby because he is bias for the reason that he sees Gatsby as his friend. In my opinion the first time Nick tells the truth about his truly feelings about Gatsby is in chapter 8 when he says, “They’re a rotten crowd. You worth the whole dame bunch put together…I’ve always been glad I said that. It was the only compliment I have ever gave him, because I disapproved of him from beginning to end.” (Nick 154) Nick liked Gatsby so much that I felt like he was untrustworthy narrator when talk about how Gatsby until chapter 8, where he tells his true thoughts. Jordan also agrees with me when she says, “It was careless for me to make such a wrong guess. I thought you were a rather honest person, straightforward person. I thought it was your secret pride.” (Jordan 177) Nick was a true friend and kind person, but I don’t think he was as a trustworthy person as he seemed like he was earlier in the book. Nick best quality in the novel is that he is a true friend and we can see in chapter 9 when he did everything in his power for Gatsby to not die alone. Nick was an untrustworthy narrator because he was a good friend and put Gatsby before everything, showing that he is a truly caring person.
Character Role in Novel:
Nick’s role in the novel is to give the reader a trustworthy person to tell the corrupt lives of these people that live in West and East Egg. He is also important because he helps unfold the plot of the story and Gatsby’s past. Nick is important to novel because if you compare him to other characters in the book, it helps to show the characterization of other characters too. Nick is more of the innocent, quite character as to many of the characters in the novel are flashy, fake, loud, or corrupt.
Meaningful Quote:
“Let us learn to show our friendship for a man when he is alive and not after he is dead.” (Wolfsheim 172)
Significance:
This quote really troubled me because I agree with both sides. I do think it is more important to be a better friend when they alive than dead like Wolfsheim, but it is also good to honor and pay respects to them when they die like Nick. This quote really got me thinking about the true meaning of friendship or love, that if is about being together or is about truly caring for the person. Personally I don’t think funerals are as important as being a good friend when they are alive. I understand Nick is trying to let Gatsby die without being lonely, but what really matters was how he lived, not how he was buried. But I do understand where Nick is coming from because he doesn’t his friend to have lost everything and die alone. I think this quote is important because it also helps you really see the difference between the corrupt characters and Nick. The comparison ultimately shows that only Nick and his father cared for Gatsby and it seemed that Gatsby ignored these two the most.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter it describes the struggle Nick goes through to help Gatsby have a respectable funeral, but in the end Gatsby lived lonely and died lonely because no one went to his funeral. Daisy wouldn’t even call about Gatsby and Wolfsheim Gatsby’s only friend besides Nick refuses to go for business and personal reasons. The only important people to attend the funeral were Nick, Gatsby’s father, and surprisingly Owl Eyes. After Gatsby’s death Nick is a changed man and he decides to break up with Jordan and move out of West Egg. Later in the chapter he also meets Tom and refuses to shake his hand or even tell him the truth about Myrtle’s death, the sight of Tom disgusts him. In the end Nick goes back to Gatsby house and reminisces about Gatsby and talks bout how the dream is over.
Character Analysis:
Nick Carraway
Quote:
“Look here old sport, you’ve got to get somebody for me. You’ve got to try harder. I can’t go through this alone.” (Nick’s mind 165)
Description:
Nick is a young, kind, and educated man who doesn’t seem as corrupt or fake as the other characters in the novel. He also is a pretty successful young man working for a bond company and living in a comfortable house in West Egg next to Gatsby. He seems like a trustworthy narrator, except in my opinion when he talks about Gatsby because he is bias for the reason that he sees Gatsby as his friend. In my opinion the first time Nick tells the truth about his truly feelings about Gatsby is in chapter 8 when he says, “They’re a rotten crowd. You worth the whole dame bunch put together…I’ve always been glad I said that. It was the only compliment I have ever gave him, because I disapproved of him from beginning to end.” (Nick 154) Nick liked Gatsby so much that I felt like he was untrustworthy narrator when talk about how Gatsby until chapter 8, where he tells his true thoughts. Jordan also agrees with me when she says, “It was careless for me to make such a wrong guess. I thought you were a rather honest person, straightforward person. I thought it was your secret pride.” (Jordan 177) Nick was a true friend and kind person, but I don’t think he was as a trustworthy person as he seemed like he was earlier in the book. Nick best quality in the novel is that he is a true friend and we can see in chapter 9 when he did everything in his power for Gatsby to not die alone. Nick was an untrustworthy narrator because he was a good friend and put Gatsby before everything, showing that he is a truly caring person.
Character Role in Novel:
Nick’s role in the novel is to give the reader a trustworthy person to tell the corrupt lives of these people that live in West and East Egg. He is also important because he helps unfold the plot of the story and Gatsby’s past. Nick is important to novel because if you compare him to other characters in the book, it helps to show the characterization of other characters too. Nick is more of the innocent, quite character as to many of the characters in the novel are flashy, fake, loud, or corrupt.
Meaningful Quote:
“Let us learn to show our friendship for a man when he is alive and not after he is dead.” (Wolfsheim 172)
Significance:
This quote really troubled me because I agree with both sides. I do think it is more important to be a better friend when they alive than dead like Wolfsheim, but it is also good to honor and pay respects to them when they die like Nick. This quote really got me thinking about the true meaning of friendship or love, that if is about being together or is about truly caring for the person. Personally I don’t think funerals are as important as being a good friend when they are alive. I understand Nick is trying to let Gatsby die without being lonely, but what really matters was how he lived, not how he was buried. But I do understand where Nick is coming from because he doesn’t his friend to have lost everything and die alone. I think this quote is important because it also helps you really see the difference between the corrupt characters and Nick. The comparison ultimately shows that only Nick and his father cared for Gatsby and it seemed that Gatsby ignored these two the most.
The Great Gatsby Chapter 8
Chapter 8 Page # 147-162
Chapter Summary
Tom is very worried about Gatsby and goes over to his house to tell him he should leave town for a while until Myrtle’s death blows over, but Gatsby refuses because he wants to hear Daisy’s response on who she will choose. Then Gatsby tells Nick about his true past about Daisy, the war, Oxford, and about how he lost his love. Then Nick goes to work even though he doesn’t want to and Gatsby decides to take a dip in a pool that he never uses. At work Nick is very distracted and only thinks about Gatsby and won’t even go on a date with a Jordan. Mr. Wilson gets really sick minded and he begins to look for the killer with the yellow car and he finally finds out Gatsby owns it, then in last part of the chapter Wilson kills Gatsby in the pool and then kills himself.
Character Analysis:
George Wilson
Quote:
“He was a blonde spiritless man, anemic, and faintly handsome. When he saw us damp a gleam of hope sprang into his light blue eyes.” (Nick 25)
“God knows what you’ve been doing, everything you’ve been doing. You may fool me, but you can’t fool God!…God sees everything.” (159-160 George Wilson)
Description:
He is Myrtle’s husband who owns an auto shop and in the last 2 chapters he begins to suspect that Myrtle is having an affair, which makes him both physically and mentally sick. For example George used to be a kind and good worker, but after his wife’s death his whole demeanor changed and, “George Wilson (became) sick in his own office-really sick, pale as his own pale hair and shaking all over.” (136) When Myrtle dies he becomes extremely mentally ill and is set on finding her killer. Before George became insane over his wife’s death he was a honest loving husband and a good, kind worker. Once he found out about his wife’s affair and later her death it changed the man completely giving him a “deranged grief” (164).
Character Role in Novel
George Wilson’s role in the novel is to show the contrast of innocent and sinful characters. We see the contrast between Tom and him, which helps us understand the characterization Fitzgerald is trying to convey. George also shows the effects other characters can have on others when they do wrong and that one lie and sin can lead to a big problem and sadness. Also George especially depends the plot in the story. We also see the transformation a person has, when something truly terrible happens to them. George Wilson is one of the main parts in climax of the novel because he kills Gatsby, one of the main characters, and then kills himself.
Meaningful Quote:
“God knows what you’ve been doing, everything you’ve been doing. You may fool me, but you can’t fool God!…God sees everything.” (159-160 George Wilson)
Significance:
This quote is significant because no matter what you do even if you can get away from getting in trouble, only you and God will know about what you did. If you want to live a life full of lies like Gatsby, Tom, or Myrtle than that is your decision, but it is important to think about if you are doing the right thing and who you can hurt in the process. Tom hurts Daisy, Myrtle makes George go insane after her death, and Gatsby becomes obsessed with Daisy, which partially leads to his death. It is important to know that usually a little white lie catches up with you and we see many times in the novel with Tom, Myrtle, and especially Gatsby. This quote is significant because it tells you that cheating and lying may be fun or an easy way out, but it is not the right thing to do and only you and God know it, which you will have to live with.
Chapter Summary
Tom is very worried about Gatsby and goes over to his house to tell him he should leave town for a while until Myrtle’s death blows over, but Gatsby refuses because he wants to hear Daisy’s response on who she will choose. Then Gatsby tells Nick about his true past about Daisy, the war, Oxford, and about how he lost his love. Then Nick goes to work even though he doesn’t want to and Gatsby decides to take a dip in a pool that he never uses. At work Nick is very distracted and only thinks about Gatsby and won’t even go on a date with a Jordan. Mr. Wilson gets really sick minded and he begins to look for the killer with the yellow car and he finally finds out Gatsby owns it, then in last part of the chapter Wilson kills Gatsby in the pool and then kills himself.
Character Analysis:
George Wilson
Quote:
“He was a blonde spiritless man, anemic, and faintly handsome. When he saw us damp a gleam of hope sprang into his light blue eyes.” (Nick 25)
“God knows what you’ve been doing, everything you’ve been doing. You may fool me, but you can’t fool God!…God sees everything.” (159-160 George Wilson)
Description:
He is Myrtle’s husband who owns an auto shop and in the last 2 chapters he begins to suspect that Myrtle is having an affair, which makes him both physically and mentally sick. For example George used to be a kind and good worker, but after his wife’s death his whole demeanor changed and, “George Wilson (became) sick in his own office-really sick, pale as his own pale hair and shaking all over.” (136) When Myrtle dies he becomes extremely mentally ill and is set on finding her killer. Before George became insane over his wife’s death he was a honest loving husband and a good, kind worker. Once he found out about his wife’s affair and later her death it changed the man completely giving him a “deranged grief” (164).
Character Role in Novel
George Wilson’s role in the novel is to show the contrast of innocent and sinful characters. We see the contrast between Tom and him, which helps us understand the characterization Fitzgerald is trying to convey. George also shows the effects other characters can have on others when they do wrong and that one lie and sin can lead to a big problem and sadness. Also George especially depends the plot in the story. We also see the transformation a person has, when something truly terrible happens to them. George Wilson is one of the main parts in climax of the novel because he kills Gatsby, one of the main characters, and then kills himself.
Meaningful Quote:
“God knows what you’ve been doing, everything you’ve been doing. You may fool me, but you can’t fool God!…God sees everything.” (159-160 George Wilson)
Significance:
This quote is significant because no matter what you do even if you can get away from getting in trouble, only you and God will know about what you did. If you want to live a life full of lies like Gatsby, Tom, or Myrtle than that is your decision, but it is important to think about if you are doing the right thing and who you can hurt in the process. Tom hurts Daisy, Myrtle makes George go insane after her death, and Gatsby becomes obsessed with Daisy, which partially leads to his death. It is important to know that usually a little white lie catches up with you and we see many times in the novel with Tom, Myrtle, and especially Gatsby. This quote is significant because it tells you that cheating and lying may be fun or an easy way out, but it is not the right thing to do and only you and God know it, which you will have to live with.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
The Great Gatsby Chapter 7
Chapter 7 Page # 113-145
Chapter Summary:
Gatsby changes his normal routine of parties on he weekend and also fires his old servants for new ones so they won’t gossip about him and Daisy being together. Tom, Nick, Daisy, Gatsby, and Jordan all have lunch and drinks on the hottest day of the year at Daisy’s house and Tom begins suspect something more between Gatsby and Daisy fairly quick. Also Gatsby and Nick meet Daisy’s girl for the first time there. Gatsby and Daisy aren’t that sneaky about their love and then the straight shooter that Tom is, puts two and two together about his wife and Gatsby, so to try to diverge the situation, he persists about Daisy’s earlier suggestion to go to town, but they end up going to a hotel instead. Tom insults, confronts, and questions Gatsby about his past, which results in some answers about his job, family, schooling, and Daisy and Gatsby’s relationship being revealed. Then they all leave the hotel angered and there was accident on the road, where we later learn that Daisy hit Myrtle in Gatsby’s car and the chapter ends with Gatsby waiting outside Daisy’s house in the bushes making sure she gets to sleep safe.
Character Analysis: Pammy (Daisy Buchanan’s Daughter)
Quote: “How do you like your mother’s friends?” Daisy turned her head so that she faced Gatsby. “Do think they are pretty?” (Daisy 117)
“Where’s Daddy?” (Pammy 117)
Best Qualities:
She is a shy young girl who wears a white virgin dress. She seems very innocent, and too young to understand the situation. Her best qualities are that, “She doesn’t look like her father…She looks like me. She’s got my hair and my shape of the face.” (Daisy 117) Since she resembles her mother’s beauty, she must be a very pretty young girl who in the future can easily marry a rich man from East Egg like her mother. Her problem is she seems naive and not very disrespectful to the guests, but she is under odd circumstances when she enters the room and she is only a child, so she may have an excuse.
Character Role in Novel:
The child may play a larger role later in the novel deepening the plot of the love between Gatsby and Daisy. When Gatsby met Pammy, “he kept looking at the child with surprise. I don’t think he ever really believed in its existence before.” (Nick 117) In think later in the story when Daisy has to decide between Tom or Gatsby this will be a factor in her decision. Gatsby wants Daisy to forget the last 5 years of her life and just run away with him, but how is a mother going to run away from her own child? Gatsby still hasn’t had the realization that the girl exists and he believes that nothing has happened in the last 5 years for Daisy. Also it is weird though that Daisy is very distant from her child and it seems the nurse that cares for her has a closer relationship to Pammy than her own mother. (117) I think Daisy doesn’t care for Pammy because she is all about the show and has little emotion, or maybe she doesn’t love the child because it is the daughter of Tom. Either way Pammy will deepen the plot and make the decision for Daisy harder in the end of the book in deciding who will she go with.
Meaningful Quote: “On the green Sound, stagnant in the heat, one small sail crawled slowly toward the fresher sea. Gatsby’s eyes followed it momentarily; he raised his hand and pointed across the bay.” (Nick 118)
Significance:
I think this passage is significant because the sail crawling slowly toward the “fresher sea,” represents Gatsby future. I interpreted the lonely white sail is Gatsby and it is gradually moving to “fresher” sea, like Gatsby will have to do if Daisy goes with him or is she stays with Tom. I think the “one” sail is foreshadowing that Daisy will stay with Tom and lonely Gatsby must gradually move on and finally have a “fresher” start after 5 years of slowly “crawling” and waiting. This quote stands out to me because like many things in life you must always learn to move on. Even little things can be hard to break in your routine, but I realized that it is important to always look for a fresh outlook on life, even if you’re up or down. Gatsby’s problem is he is reminiscing too much on the past when he should be thinking about the future. I have learned that when you think about the past it makes you sick or sad, so it is better to move on set sail and start new everyday.
The Great Gatsby Chapter 6
Chapter 6 Page # 97-111
Chapter Summary
In this chapter we begin to learn a little about Gatsby’s past. Gatsby past is very different than what he told Nick earlier, his parents were poor farmers, he changed his name from James Gatz to Jay Gatsby, and he did not come from a rich fortune from the West. We learn that he worked as an assistant for Dan Cody on his yacht and that Gatsby. Also as Cody’s friend, he did not rightful get his share of Dan Cody’s will. Nick goes to see Gatsby at his house after a couple weeks of absence and he is surprised to see Tom there with the Sloans, Gatsby seemed very nervous around Tom. The next Saturday Daisy and Tom finally come to one of Gatsby’s weekend parties and Daisy and Gatsby dance and have some private time together. We find out that Gatsby is an emotional lover and Daisy is a physical lover. Tom also begins to suspect Gatsby as a fraud. In the last part of the chapter Nick and Gatsby have a strong talk about Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship and Gatsby tells Nick that emotions are what important to him in the their love and all he wants Daisy to do is forget her last 5 years and leave Tom, but Nick argues that it will be hard for her to do that.
Character Analysis:
James Gatz
Quote:
“I suppose he had the name ready for a long time, even then. His parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people-his imagination had never really accepted his parents at all. The truth was that Jay Gatsby of West Egg Long island sprang from his Platonic conception of himself.” (Nick 98)
Description: Jay Gatz is Gatsby true self and past. It is almost like he is alter ego, and the Gatsby side has fully taken over his true self Jay Gatz. Jay is a normal boy who came from a poor farming family, who felt like he was a nobody, so he decided to change his whole life and start new with a new name James Gatsby. Jay Gatz best quality is the probably the truth and caring for others like his family, unlike James Gatsby who lies throughout his whole life and only cares for Daisy, but instead sees her more as property for a sense of status than as an equal. Usually when people change their whole outlook on life it is usually for the better, but not in this case where when Jay changes he becomes more lonely, greedy, and sad than before.
Character Role in Novel
The Jay Gatz ego in Gatsby is a good dichotomy to help the reader understand how Gatsby has changed over the past 5 years. He is not the same simple young boy he used to be, now he is a cheating, lying, and conniving rich young man, who presents himself as a quiet innocent lover and also that he completely deleted his past including his true self Jay Gatz. The role of Jay Gatz is to strongly show through change the differences on how Gatsby has transformed his whole lifestyle and outlook on life. Gatsby has deleted his whole past, but it is important to see later on in the plot if that was the right decision or not for Gatsby to make.
Meaningful Quote:
“It is variably saddening to look through new eyes at things upon which you have expanded your own powers of adjustment.” (Nick 104)
Significance:
This quote is significant because it is always hard to look at something through another person eyes and not feel new emotions. It is similar to the old saying “putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.” The importance of this quote is to show that is vital for a person to look at different perspectives in life and not only their own. In this passage Nick began to become accustomed to Gatsby parties and the West Egg lifestyle, but once he looked through Daisy’s eyes he got a whole new perspective. I need to learn to look through others perspectives and it help me to understand situations a lot more like Nick. It could even help me to stop being judgmental and also help me to make better decisions under hard circumstances.
Monday, February 14, 2011
The Great Gatsby Chapter 5
Chapter 5 Page # 81-111
Chapter Summary
Nick comes home from his date he had with Jordan in the end of the last chapter and Gatsby comes up to Nick’s house in his car asking him to go out with him, but his main intention is to ask him to invite him and Daisy to tea, almost like a blind date. Nick agrees and Gatsby thanks him and in return asks if he wants a special job, but Nick refuses because it seems scandalous. Daisy finally comes over and at first it is very awkward and quiet between the two, but once Nick leaves the house and leaves them alone, they begin to fall in love and talk more. After when Nick returned Gatsby invited them to his house so he could show off all his great stuff in his big house to impress Daisy. Daisy is shocked by his house, servants, things, etc and thinks very highly of Gatsby and begins to build a big image of him and his life-style.
Character Analysis: Dan Cody
Quote:
“A large phonograph of an elderly man in yachting costume attracted me, hung on the wall over his desk… He’s dead now. He used to be my best friend years ago.” (Nick and Gatsby 93)
Best Qualities:
There is not a lot known about Dan Cody so far because when Nick talked about him to Gatsby, he tried to shy away from the subject just saying the minimum information. We know he is a man much older than Gatsby and he must be fairly rich because he is on a yacht. His best quality is probably the extensiveness of his wealth, shown through him owning a yacht in that time period.
Character Role in Novel:
His role in the novel is to give some back-story to Gatsby, even if there is only a little given. It is a possibility that Gatsby got all his wealth from this rich yachting tycoon. Also Gatsby describes him as his dead best friend, maybe that is why Gatsby is so exclusive and quiet now because he is said he lost all his close family and friends. Even with the little information we receive about Dan Cody, it helps us to characterize Gatsby more as being truly lonely and sad. Also we know Gatsby isn’t lying that Cody is his friend because why else would he hang the picture over his desk. This is first person we see in the novel that Gatsby somewhat cares about besides Daisy. Dan Cody is important insight to Gatsby personality, past, and emotions.
Meaningful Quote:
“One thing’s sure and nothing’s surer, The rich get richer and the poor get---children.”
Significance:
In think this part from a short song in this chapter is important because it is era-less saying. Throughout history you always see a strong division and vast separation in classes of rich and poor. Not very often do you see a strong middle class like the U.S. Like the old saying goes, “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer” is timeless. This idea frustrates me so much; the rich don’t care about the poor and will step on anyone to stay rich and all the poor want to do is become rich. No one is ever content with what they have. Don’t get me wrong I don’t want to be poor, but society will also have rich and poor because of greed. We see this greed in all the characters in the novel except in Nick and a little in Tom, but the rest are greedy, show offs, and always want more. This may have a deeper meaning later on in the novel with Nick's lack of greed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)