A Class Blog exploring American literature and the American experience.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Why is Gatsby so Great?
After reading the first chapter of The Great Gatsby, what are your predictions for who Gatsby is, what he means to both Daisy and Nick, and what makes him great?
Gatsby is mostly likely some sort of tragic hero, who defies the way of society and teaches us some lesson about what they world is really like. Like most characters. For Nick, he is like an idol who he will slowly become disillusioned with and for Daisy they will most likely become romantically involved because Ms. Stuart said this book is more exciting then Age of Innocence.
At this point I think Gatsby is "great" to Nick because he is mysterious. Nick seems to think that he has most people figured out, because he is non-judgmental and they tell him their secrets voluntarily. He doesn't want to hear most of these personal stories, but I'm guessing that it will be the reverse with Gatsby: Nick will be curious about who Gatsby is. I also agree with Kelsey that Gatsby and Daisy will be romantically involved somehow, though I'm starting to wonder if they already knew each other before the book started.
I agree with Kelsey that Gatsby will defy the traditional society. Even though Gatsby lives in West Egg, in which the residents are not as powerful as the residents of East Egg, he seems to be richer and more honorable character than the residents of East Egg like Tom Buchanan and Daisy. In the beginning of the chapter 3, Gatsby invites a lot of people to his party. This scene also indicates Gatsby's wealth by mentioning his "Rolls Royce" which illustrates Gatsby's both admirable reputation and prosperity in the society. Therefore,the beginning chapters show contradiction of his house in West Egg, less prestigious than East Egg, and how the narrator describes Gatsby as one of the most respectable character (in page #2). And it symbolizes Gatsby as "a wealthy man" with the most elevated characteristic but not corrupt and arrogant like other wealthy people in East Egg. I also agree with Emily that Nick's view of Gatsby as a person whom Nick wants to talk to while he usually does not talk to others, makes Gatsby "great".
I also agree with EWC, that part of the greatness of Gatsby, is the intrigue of his mystery. If we knew about him, or more then nick, it would not be as interesting. Nor, would nick be able to find him so great. Fitzgerald adds to this mystery by having his other characters talk about Gatsby, It gives us a second hand way of discovering Gatsby, therefore adding to the mystery.
I agree with Kelsey in that if we knew more about Gatsby, then we would not find him as interesting. The same is with Nick and because the book is told in first person, we have a very limited narration. Therefore, our thoughts are shaped by the narration of Nick, who does not know everything about Gatsby. I find Gatsby to be a really interesting character because he does not drink and he watches his guests in silence. I'm interested in how he relates with other characters and his interactions with them as I read the rest of the novel.
I think that Gatsby is so "great" because, like already stated before, he is mysterious. The reader is mostly going by what the other characters in the book are gossiping about. There are rumors going around that he has killed people and that he was a German spy. These things cause the reader to imaginatively establish unlikely possibilities of who Gatsby really is. We are going by conjecture rather than evidence or facts. Considering he is Nick's neighbor, Nick really has no idea who this man is until he unexpectedly bumps into him at his party. I also believe that Daisy and Nick will dramatically fall in love because what is an American Literature class book without sappy romance?
Oh, and I believe that Gatsby is going to turn out to be a devious man with a grand master plan for evil. He seems a little too reserved. He also secretively keeps too many things to himself, which possibly hints that he is up to something that he does not want anybody to know about.
I believe that at this point it is hard to predict what Gatsby will do or even who he is. The one thing we are certain of is that Gatsby is not all that he seems to be. Gatsby and Daisy's past has been revealed but now there are more question to address. Gatsby has been living across from Daisy staring at that green light for years and he hasn't done anything. Sure, he has tried to meet Daisy with his parties, but one of my biggest questions is how and if Gatsby will try to get back together with Daisy. I believe he will try with help from Nick although I do not know how it will work out for him
Gatsby is mostly likely some sort of tragic hero, who defies the way of society and teaches us some lesson about what they world is really like. Like most characters. For Nick, he is like an idol who he will slowly become disillusioned with and for Daisy they will most likely become romantically involved because Ms. Stuart said this book is more exciting then Age of Innocence.
ReplyDeleteAt this point I think Gatsby is "great" to Nick because he is mysterious. Nick seems to think that he has most people figured out, because he is non-judgmental and they tell him their secrets voluntarily. He doesn't want to hear most of these personal stories, but I'm guessing that it will be the reverse with Gatsby: Nick will be curious about who Gatsby is. I also agree with Kelsey that Gatsby and Daisy will be romantically involved somehow, though I'm starting to wonder if they already knew each other before the book started.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kelsey that Gatsby will defy the traditional society. Even though Gatsby lives in West Egg, in which the residents are not as powerful as the residents of East Egg, he seems to be richer and more honorable character than the residents of East Egg like Tom Buchanan and Daisy. In the beginning of the chapter 3, Gatsby invites a lot of people to his party. This scene also indicates Gatsby's wealth by mentioning his "Rolls Royce" which illustrates Gatsby's both admirable reputation and prosperity in the society. Therefore,the beginning chapters show contradiction of his house in West Egg, less prestigious than East Egg, and how the narrator describes Gatsby as one of the most respectable character (in page #2). And it symbolizes Gatsby as "a wealthy man" with the most elevated characteristic but not corrupt and arrogant like other wealthy people in East Egg. I also agree with Emily that Nick's view of Gatsby as a person whom Nick wants to talk to while he usually does not talk to others, makes Gatsby "great".
ReplyDeleteI also agree with EWC, that part of the greatness of Gatsby, is the intrigue of his mystery. If we knew about him, or more then nick, it would not be as interesting. Nor, would nick be able to find him so great. Fitzgerald adds to this mystery by having his other characters talk about Gatsby, It gives us a second hand way of discovering Gatsby, therefore adding to the mystery.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kelsey in that if we knew more about Gatsby, then we would not find him as interesting. The same is with Nick and because the book is told in first person, we have a very limited narration. Therefore, our thoughts are shaped by the narration of Nick, who does not know everything about Gatsby. I find Gatsby to be a really interesting character because he does not drink and he watches his guests in silence. I'm interested in how he relates with other characters and his interactions with them as I read the rest of the novel.
ReplyDeleteI think that Gatsby is so "great" because, like already stated before, he is mysterious. The reader is mostly going by what the other characters in the book are gossiping about. There are rumors going around that he has killed people and that he was a German spy. These things cause the reader to imaginatively establish unlikely possibilities of who Gatsby really is. We are going by conjecture rather than evidence or facts. Considering he is Nick's neighbor, Nick really has no idea who this man is until he unexpectedly bumps into him at his party. I also believe that Daisy and Nick will dramatically fall in love because what is an American Literature class book without sappy romance?
ReplyDeleteOh, and I believe that Gatsby is going to turn out to be a devious man with a grand master plan for evil. He seems a little too reserved. He also secretively keeps too many things to himself, which possibly hints that he is up to something that he does not want anybody to know about.
ReplyDeleteI believe that at this point it is hard to predict what Gatsby will do or even who he is. The one thing we are certain of is that Gatsby is not all that he seems to be. Gatsby and Daisy's past has been revealed but now there are more question to address. Gatsby has been living across from Daisy staring at that green light for years and he hasn't done anything. Sure, he has tried to meet Daisy with his parties, but one of my biggest questions is how and if Gatsby will try to get back together with Daisy. I believe he will try with help from Nick although I do not know how it will work out for him
ReplyDelete