gatsby56-8-4


 * //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?

If these chapters were short stories, I think their themes would be "People tend to put money as their first priority." So far this novel is all about money and people showing off how much they have. Gatsby is probably the wealthiest man in the story and he loves having extravagant parties with hundreds of guests with the highest quality of food and entertainment. Some characters act very snobby and think they are better than everyone else because of how much money they have. Jordan Baker probably does this the most and she gives off an impression that she thinks she can get any guy she wants because every guy is in love with her. In The Great Gatsby they are constantly mentioning colors, which could be a symbol. The same colors seem to be repeated like red, white, and blue. I'm not quite sure what they represent, but I know I will probably find out by the end of the novel. Nick is my favorite character because he is not wealthy like the rest of the characters and he has lived a normal, American life. Like I mentioned before, a lot of the characters seem to think that because they have so much money, they are automatically better than everyone else which is not true.

Chapters 1-4
//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? 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?//

The parties that we have seen so far are very extravagent and luxurious. There is enough to food to feed an army and it is the highest quality of food, price does not matter. Hundreds of people show up to these parties and only a small number of people actually receive invitations **how do they all get there if they don't all have invitations?**. The majority of people who come just want to drink and some do not even know who owns the house they are in. Everyone is drinking and having a good time and these parties go all through the night. There is a hired orchestra and they stay until 1am but the party is still loud and crazy since people are getting even more drunk. Nick is very calm and just wants to enjoy himself, while Jordan is drinking, dancing, and wants to keep doing different things. Gatsby is basically invisible during the party, he keeps to himself and makes sure everyone is having a good time. Owl Eyes is introduced for the first time and he is amazed that all of the books in the library are real. This novel does represent what life was like for the wealthy in the 1920's and these parties were a normal event. When Jordan says that large parties are more intimate and you have more privacy, she is right because no one would notice if you were gone during Gatsby's last party but the gathering at the Myrtle's house was very small and it ended with a fight **good, you could talk about specific people who go at a large party and nobody notices.**. The only bad thing to happen at Gatsby's house was a car wreck, but luckily no one was hurt and no major fights broke out. I really want to see what happens in later parties and if a relationship between Nick and Jordan develop. Good job! You could talk more about how the characters we've met relate to each other. You do a good job giving examples from the story.**
 * Angel,

//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?//
 * Chapters 1-4**

Since The Great Gatsby is told in first person, it is told from Nick's point of view and how he sees everything. If it were told in Gatsby's point of view, the story would completely change since Nick and Jay Gatsby's life are total opposites. If it were told in Gatsby's point of view, i think that it Gatsby would not going into as much detail about the parties and his surroundings as Nick does since Gatsby has lived a lavish life for a long time **very interesting thought!**. In my opinion, I think Fitzgerald made a good choice to choose to tell the story from Nick's point of view because he has a more typical, American lifestyle compared to Gatsby's and he also does not know the other people he has recently met as well as Gatsby.**You have some really interesting thoughts.** **Do you think people would relate differently to the story if it was told from Gatsby's point of view? Would the storyline change if it was told from another's point of view?**

//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.// Money is a huge part of The Great Gatsby. Every party and get together is full of food, alcohol, and other expensive goods. Gatsby's first party in the book is by far the most extravegant. Everyone was in couture gowns and expensive suits and all of the food was the most expensive and highest quality someone could buy. The wealth does affect the characters' lives because it allows them to live a very nice life, but I think they all take it for granted **what in the texts makes you think this?**. Gatsby gets special priviledges because of his wealth. For example, when he got pulled over on the way to New York, all he did was wave a white card from the chief of police and he did not recieve a ticket. Another example of this would be that a lot of the guests drive home while intoxicated and they don't think about how the choices could affect others lives. **You talk about ways people take advantage of their wealth which addresses the question of how it affects their lives but how is it portrayed? Is it a good thing to be wealthy?**

//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 these timepieces represent how much time the characters have wasted in their lives worrying about money and material things **What in the reading makes it appear they are wasting their lives worrying about money?**. I cannot find the exact quote, but Daisy did say that a rich girl could never marry a poor boy. She basically married Tom because she wanted to live the lifestyle she was born into and she knew it would not be acceptable to marry Gatsby because of how poor he was. Fitzgerald writes, "Luckily the clock took this moment to tilt dangerously at the pressure of his head..."(91). This quote is referring to the first time Daisy saw each other in five years at Nick's house. Gatsby almost knocked the clock over at the first sight of Daisy. Gatsby has wasted so much time waiting for Daisy and I really wish they had ended up together, instead of Daisy and Tom. **Do you think the story would be different if this happened? do you think people would be happier?**

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.

The American Dream in my opinion would be living a fulfilling life with a spouse, having a good job, and just being happy. No one in the Great Gatsby is living the American Dream. Everyone is unhappy about something even though they all have money, except Nick and he is the one that seems the happiest about but I still would not say he is living the American Dream because he does not have a spouse.**Why is having a spouse so important do you think?** The American Dream does have an influence on someones life. Everyone is always trying to achieve the perfect lifestyle, but it never happens. I would say that the American Dream could be attainable to everyone. Even if someone does not have a lot of money, they could still be happy if they have a spouse they love and they do not mind not having a lot of money. I would rather have a husband and be poor than being rich and lonely. Fitzgerald writes, "High in a white palace the king's daughter, the golden girl..."(127). I would say most Americans want to live in huge houses that look like palaces and be extremely wealthy and I know there are a large majority of women that want to be the "golden girl" of America **Linking the quote with this last sentence would help the reader follow your thoughts more**.
 * The idea of the "American Dream" is common throughout literature. Why do you think having a spouse is so important? Do you think the characters in the book can achieve this? How? I like that you included being happy in the "American Dream" as that is very important to have a good life. :) Good job!** //

**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 Nick is the protagonist. Although Nick and Gatsby are the two main characters, Nick is the narrator and most of the actions follow him throughout the story **What are some other reasons you think Nick is the protagonist?**. I think that the antagonist is Gatby's house. It is where are all of the main events happen but also where all of the problems occur. At Gatsby's first party, there was a car accident in the driveway where a tire came completely off of the car. In the last chapter, Tom and Mr. And Mrs. Sloane stopped by Gatsby's house and were extremely rude to Gatsby but they invited Gatsby to dinner as a joke and by the time that Gatsby came back outside, they had ditched him. At Gatby's most recent party Daisy and Tom had a dispute over the amount of time that she spends with Gatsby and on her own. It seems like Tom is very jealous of Gatsby because of his money and he can tell Gatsby still has feelings for Daisy **what happens to give you this impression?**.
 * You have very good ideas. You say Nick is the protagonist but why do you think Gatsby is NOT the protagonist? Keep up the good work!**

//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.//

The theme that has become apparent throughout The Great Gatsby is that people tend to put money as their first priority. It seems like a lot of the characters that attend Gatsby's party only focus on the importance of money and do not realize the important things. The only things guests talk about at Gatsby's parties is gossip and how extravagent of a lifestyle Gatsby has. The main focus of these peoples lives is money, they never talk about family or things not involving money and they also like showing off how much money they have. A good example of this would be Ella Kaye **good example**, the first women that seperated Gatsby from his money. She went of Dan Cody's boat and a week later he was dead. She was granted all of his money, even the $25,000 Cody left for him. Gatsby shows off his money but he does not do it in an arrogant way **How is it not arrogant? What does he do to "play down" his wealth?**. The only example that I found a little offensive was when he asked Nick about his financial status and payed someone to cut his grass for him. Money is a very important part of these peoples lives **Why do you think that is?**.
 * You** **do a good job picking examples from the book. Do you think wealth play a part in how the character is perceived and does this, in your opinion, have any impact on the themes? Good job!**

//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**

Nick would be the most dynamic character in my opinion. At the beginning of the book he was quiet and really did not speak his opinion but every chapter he speaks his mind a little more. In chapter 7 while they were in the hotel room, he got involved with the dispute between Tom and Gatsby and tried to end it before anything bad happened, but I think he is still a little intimidated by Gatsby and scared to tell him he's wrong about anything **why do you think he's scared of Gatsby?**. For example, Nick wanted to tell Gatsby he was wrong about waiting until Daisy fell asleep to make sure she was safe when Nick knew Tom wouldn't hurt her, but he just couldn't tell him that. I think he will change more by the end of the book. Nick is a flat character because has not shown that many emotions, he usually just goes with the flow and nothing really bothers him **Do you have any examples to support the idea he is a flat character?**.
 * You do well identifying characters and deciding if they are round or flat. Remember to have examples for every claim you make. Keep it up!**

//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?//

Nick and Gatsby could be considered a foil. Nick and Gatsby come from two different walks of life, Gatsby is wealthy and Nick does not have money. Gatsby has definetely changed Nick for the better. When Nick moved to New York, he was really shy and quiet but kept to himself but Gatsby has pulled out his true personality and is developing more as a character throughout the book. I think Fitzgerald used Gatsby and Nick as one of the foils because they are the two main characters and it would be easy to create a foil around them **Do you think them being foils adds anything to the story?**. Structuralism is a theory that concentrates only on the text and investigates patterns and uses them to get an interpretation of the text and Binary Opposition are two opposite things that help define the value of the book **Good definitions**. I'm having a hard time thinking of specific patterns and two opposite things that define the value of the book, but I would say that Tom and Gatsby are Binary Opposites because they are complete opposites but they're both competing for the same thing, Daisy **Good idea, exploring this more may help you develop your idea**. Good job. You have a lot of good ideas and I enjoy reading them. One thing you could discuss is the values that are important in the book shown through structuralism and binary opposition (which you discuss at the end).**
 * Angel,

//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.//

In The Great Gatsby, colors are used as symbols the most. I think the colors represent wealth because Fitzgerald used white and gold a lot throughout the story. Fitzgerald writes, "High in a white palace the king's daughter, the golden girl..."(127). This quote is referring to Daisy and how her voice is full of money. Fitzgerald writes, "They stood on my shelf in red and gold like new money..."(8). This is referring to the dozens of banking and credit and investment securities volumes Nick bought. Fitzgerald writes " The front was broken by a line of French windows, glowing now with reflected gold, and wide open to the warm windy afternoon..."(11). Nick is describing the Buchanans house and how beautiful it is **Good ideas! I agree that colors are important**. I think the theme of The Great Gatsby is even if you're wealthy and have every material possession possible, you can still be unhappy. Fitzgerald writes, " I waited and about four o' clock she came to the window and stood there for a minute and then turned out the light" (154). Daisy was willing to stay unhappy with her life even though she loves Gatsby. She has every material possession she could ever want but she is only staying with Tom because she married him and she cannot leave him. This is not a specific example, but Nick seems to enjoy his life even though he does not have a lot of money and his life proves you do not need money to live a happy life. Another example of how money does not buy you happiness is Gatsby's whole life. He has never been happy since he became wealthy except for the short time Daisy and him were having an affair because he though she was going to leave Tom and marry him. Gatsby's life was pretty hollow and lonely and I really wish Daisy would have left Tom so Gatsby could finally live a fulfilling life with the love of his life.
 * Good ideas! Try working on incorporating quotes from the text by putting them into sentences, you say "Fitzgerald writes..." a lot. YOu have excellent ideas and seem to have a good grasp of the text. Keep up the good work.**