gatsby57-9-5


 * //The Great Gatsby//** F. Scott Fitzgerald
 * Chapter 1-2:** //If these chapters were short stories, what would be their theme? (What insight do they give to human life? What do they tell us about how people act?) Have you noticed any symbols? What do you think they represent? What are you thinking about the characters we've been introduced to so far?//

So far after reading the first two chapters Im not quite sure of the theme, a lot of things are happening in the story now and Im not sure how to put them together. The characters in the story discluding Nick show that they live a bad lifestyle like they drink which is illegal at the time. Tom is having an affair with another woman and his wife just seems to ignore it. Tom then goes and spends time with his mistress buying her whatever she wants and having parties. This all shows the bad insight to how people act the backside to how people may act fine but are capable of doing bad things as well. Everyone just likes do what they want. . **Do you have an idea of what it may represent yet?** The protagonist, Nick, I think very surprised at the lifestyles of Tom, Daisy, Myrtle and Jordon. They do as they please and dont work for anything while he is barely trying to survive and work for his money.
 * This is an important statement.** Something i think might be a symbol is the dust because it seems to be a reocurring thing mentioned in the story.
 * What does this say about his character?** Tom is just an arrogant man who orders everyone else around and completely has Daisy around his finger to ignore the fact that he is cheating on her. She cant do anything about it maybe because Tom has more power over her and she is unsure about what he may do. Which shows her character as someone that everyone walks right over.
 * Why do you say “everyone”?**


 * Emma, you’ve made some interesting interpretations of the characters. That’s okay that you don’t know what a specific theme would be yet, but a statement like “everyone just likes to do what they want” seems to point to a theme, or general idea about the book so far. Think a little more about this. Good start- you’ve got some great ideas. Molly**

Chapters 1-3
//Well, so far we've seen three crazy parties that Nick has shared with us. What stuck out to you about each of them? What do each of them tell us about the characters we've met and how they relate to each other?//

In each of the three parties Nick went to alcohol was involved in all of them even though it was illegal at the time. All of the parties also were hosted by or included by very rich people like Tom and Gatsby. At Gatsby's party he wasnt being what a host should be like at their party. It just seems he puts on the parties for everyone else to enjoy instead of for him. Tom's party was more of a small dinner get together rather then something extravagant and lively. Myrtles small party was similar to Tom's and thats how they relate. Im not quite sure how all three of the party hosts all relate to each other besides Tom and Myrtle. **You note a lot of interesting details about the parties, but what do they mean??? For example, what do you think the fact that they were drinking alcohol even though it was illegal say about the characters?**

//Jordan is talking to Nick when she says, “And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy” (Fitzgerald 52). How does this quote reflect each of the gatherings in the first three chapters?//

At small parties there isnt much privacy because your stuck with the same people in usually the same conversation. At a bigger party if there is maybe someone you dont want to encounter or talk to you can just move around and find something else to do. And usually its in a bigger space. **What does this say about Jordan and the other characters?** This quote relects that Tom and Myrtles parties were small so you had to interact and encounter everyone there. Gatby's party was different in the sense that you really dont see the same people walking around and everyone is engrossed in something of their own interest with different conversations and things to be doing.


 * Emma, in both answers you note interesting details and observations. However, you can relate these to the texts more- make these statements unique to the characters and their actions and interactions.**

//The point-of-view that a novel is told in frames the entire story. How would// The Great Gatsby //change if if it were told in another character's perspective (like Jay Gatsby's point-of-view?) Why do you think Fitzgerald chose Nick to be the narrator?// I think that if the story was told in Jay Gatsby’s view there wouldn’t be any talking about rich people or fancy parties because he already has that. In Nick’s point of view he doesn’t have a lot of money and is new to the rich thing so he describes things differently than to as if Jay were telling the story. If Gatsby was also telling the story he’d talk about his family and about Daisy. I think the author chose Nick as the character because it’s an insight to the wealthy life he has never experienced and is now a part of.
 * Chapters 1-4**
 * What does it mean to us as readers that we see an insight to the wealthy life? Why is it important that we read about money and rich people?**

//Apply Marxist Criticism to the first four chapters of// The Great Gatsby//. How is wealth portrayed in this book? How does the characters' wealth affect their lives and their choices? PLEASE, USE EXAMPLES FROM THE TEXT TO SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER.// In the book wealth is portrayed as if you have money you can do whatever you want. Tom and Jay are clear examples of that. Jay has the money and just has huge parties with lots of expensive food and alcohol. Tom’s buys whatever his mistress wants because he has the money to do that. Also when Jay was pulled over for speeding he just showed a card and got away with it because he has the power to do so. Both Tom and Jay’s lifestyles are basically carefree and do what you want.
 * Good portrayal. Explain “power” a little more. **

//Fitzgerald makes use of timepieces in several parts of chapter 5. What do these clocks and watches represent? Explain why these symbols are especially important in this chapter. Find one to three quotes that would serve as an example of a timepiece being a symbol, and explain what they represent.//
 * Chapters 1-5**

I think that the clock in Nick's house that was broken represents time stopping for Daisy and Gatsby. They have not seen each other for 5 years and they are making up for the lost time. These symbols are really important because time is everything. . **Explain “time is everything.”** "His head leaned back so far that it rested against the face of a defunct mantelpiece clock ....."
 * What does this specific quote represent?** Time is important in this chapter now because it focuses on Daisy and Gatsby.

//The American Dream shows up as theme in many writings and discussions over// The Great Gatsby//. How do you define the American Dream? Does it have any influence in your life? Is the American Dream attainable to everyone in the United States? Find one to three quotes from the text that you believe makes a connection to the American Dream and explain why.//

I define American Dream as just a broad dream of wanting to live a life with no worries with nice things and of course, money. The American Dream kinda influences my life in the sense that my parents are trying to live their lifes like that. I think the American Dream can be attainable by anyone if they work hard at what they do and strive to be at the top of what they consider to be their own American Dream. I think that it ties in to what maybe Nick wants and admires about Gatsby.
 * How does the American Dream relate to the text?**

**Chapter 1-6 ** //There is sometimes a question about who exactly the protagonist is in The Great Gatsby. Is it Nick or Gatsby? Who then would be the antagonist? Explain your answer using at least three events from the story to defend your thinking.//

I think that the protagonist is Nick still because he is the one telling the story from his view but what makes it confusing is that the whole book is about Gatsby which would make it seem like he is the protagonist. In this section of the story its all about Gatsby and Daisy being back together. I think the antagonist is then Gatsby because this book is supposed to be about Nick but the attention is drawn all to Gatsby and Nick's story about him. Another great portion of the book is about Gatsby's parties and the whole set up of Daisy and Gatsby. I also think that Gatsby is the antagonist because he just got to know Nick and is just using him to get to Daisy and has now gotten what he wanted. He used Nick's house as well to look worn down so that his looked better.


 * Good explanation of Gatsby as antagonist but I want to hear a little more about why Nick is the protagonist. Is it just because Nick is telling the story from his view or are there more reasons for him being the protagonist?**

//What theme(s) are becoming apparent in The Great Gatsby by this point in the book? Support your answer with at least three examples in the text up until this point.//

So far in the book I think the theme is if a person has money they have power. To me that seems to be the theme of the book right now. I think thats a good them because Gatsby has a lot of money and seems to have a lot of power as well. When he got pulled over for speeding he just showed a special card and was off the hook. He also has thrown many parties at his house with alcohol and has gotten in no trouble for it yet.
 * Good examples.** It seems as if he can get whatever he wants whenever he wants with the money he has. Now that he has met back up with Daisy again he seems to be getting everything he ever wanted and has basically everything.


 * Think about how Gatsby’s money and power affects the people he interacts with. Why does the policeman let him off the hook? Why is Daisy attracted to him? Explain the power that Gatsby has.**

//Who is the most dynamic character in this book? How (and how much) do they change? Would he/she be considered round or flat? Support your thinking with examples from the text.//
 * Chapter 1-7**

I think that Gatsby is the dynamic character in the book because at the begining of the book he was not known and no one really knew who he was. At his parties he just kept quiet and just let others enjoy themselves, he was sort of a mystery. No one knew about him as a person either, where he was from, where he got his money. Every part of his life was just a secret. At this point in the book now he isn't afraid to let people know who he is or stand up for himself saying that hes in love with Daisy.
 * Why do you think he changed? Why is this significant?** I think that he is a flat character still though because I havent seen all the sides of him in the book. Hes just changed as a character but still has the same side of him showing.
 * Explain. What do you mean by “all the sides of him” and “the same side of him”?** Now his life isnt much of a mystery anymore, he has told Nick the truth about himself and share part of it with Tom even though his whole life is just a lie.
 * Explain what you mean by “just a lie.”**

//Who would be considered a foil in The Great Gatsby? Why would the author use these characters to show differences? By applying structuralism and looking for binary opposition, what values are considered important in this book?//

I think that Gatsby and Nick are considered a foil because ever since they met each other different things have been brought out of each of them. When Gatsby finally met Nick he was outgoing and they seemed to have things to talk about.
 * Why do you think Gatsby was outgoing with Nick?** Soon after Gatsby was inviting Nick to do things with him as if he were like his new best friend and maybe his only. When Nick moved into the West Egg the only people he knew were Daisy and Tom but i dont know if he would consider them to be his friends.
 * Why not?** With Gatsby he could talk and enjoy himself while they could go out and do things.
 * Why do you think Nick felt open to talking to Gatsby specifically? (instead of talking to people like Daisy and Tom)** It was like they both need a friend or needed someone since they were both so lonely and new. The differences between them is that Nick is a more down to earth person, hes excepted that he doesnt barely have money or a nice house and lives with that. Gatsby on the other hand likes to be cocky is the slightest way and show off what he has and his money. Hes not a good friend to Nick in the sense that I think he just used him to get to Daisy which is basically what he did.

//Choose one of the following symbols and explain what they represent. Then find three quotes in the text where this symbol appears – use MLA formats to avoid plagiarism. • Ashes and Dust • Cars and Drivers • Colors • Houses and Owners • Photography and Lenses • Flowers
 * Chapters 1-9**

Answer definitively what the theme of The Great Gatsby is. Find three quotes in the text to support your thinking.//