I must first start by saying The Great Gatsby is one of my most favorite books. I think I like it so much because of the time period in which it takes place. It is between wars, times and opportunities seem to be lucrative, the music was fun, and the fashion was beautiful. On the surface, everything seems to be so invigorating and carefree; but as we all know, under the surface things were not as they seemed.
The characters are intriguing, the settings are exotic, and the plot is thought-provoking. Fitzgerald does an awesome job using Nick Carroway to describe everything so the reader can really see what people, places, and situations look like; it's as if we are with Nick. The descriptive language is something that helps the book move rather quickly. One example of this is when Nick describes the party in Chapter III. It is a nice mix of narrative and dialog which keeps the reader's attention. Another example is the descriptions of East Egg, West Egg and the ash-ridden slums. Each setting reflects the characters who live in each. Nick and Gatsby are not flashy and don't really want to show off; therefore, they live in the less gaudy West Egg. Tom and Daisy love to show off and live is the very flamboyant East Egg. The Wilsons live in the valley of ashes where things are hidden, covered, and dirty - both Wilsons can fit into that description.
Fitzgerald sets Nick Carroway up from the very beginning to be a modest man. He talks about his father's advice, "Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages you've had." Because of this advice, Nick is able to empathize, or rather, not judge too harshly the people he encounters. He may not agree with what they do or say, but he never once criticizes anyone in the book. I am reminded of our VP Joe Biden when he said he never questions a person's motive because he doesn't know the whole story. That is really a good motto to live by, but it is difficult to not judge and criticize in the world we live.
Nick is a stark contrast to many of the other characters, except for Jordan. I might even go as far as saying Jordan is his female counterpart. Tom, Daisy, Myrtle, and Wilson are all very weak individuals. They are weak because they cannot be honest. The apartment scene in Chapter II shows the beginnings of this dishonesty and weakness. Everyone is lying to each other and lying shows weakness. It takes a strong person to be honest with others and him or herself. Nick is surprised by the actions of his fellow characters and their behavior, but the surprise seems to subside toward the end of the novel. Some of this may be because Nick is recalling and reflecting on the events. He is a third person narrator, but not the omniscient narrator we saw in The Grapes of Wrath. This might play a part in the way the characters are seen. Even though Nick doesn't judge, the audience is only privy to what Nick saw. If the story were told from Jordan's point of view, or any other for that matter, it would be a totally different story with totally different perspectives.
To tie this book to the others we have read, I see some similarities, the first being the difference in social class. This is something that will always exist; and if we look at literature, fiction or non, we can see this struggle throughout history. There will always be the have's and have not's, but it is up to each individual to determine what they are going to do about it. In this novel, the have's don't understand what it would be like to not get what their hearts desire. To the have not's, it seems they will do whatever to have something. We can see this with the party goers who don't even know Gatsby and Myrtle who desperately wants to have something (love, money, companionship, recognition). Another thing I see in all three books is the difference in gender. In Gatsby the gender issue immediately arises when Daisy says "I'm glad it's a girl. And I hope she'll be a fool-that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool." This quote speaks volumes about Daisy as well as women at the time. These are only two issues that are timeless, and I think that is why these books are still read today. We can relate to these social issues no matter the time period; and relating to the audience and being honest with the audience should be every author's goals.
I agree with you about the issues shown throughout The Great Gatsby and how they relate to every time period, making the book such a classic, but I think that their may be a different purpose of the honesty issue in the novel. I think that neither Tom, Daisy, Myrtle or Wilson are honest, but I don't think that was the point Steinbeck was trying to get across when writing this book. Gatsby also proves to be slightly dishonest when Tom confronts him about his true past in the end of the book. Gatsby lying about his past does not make Nick think he's weak, and I don't think he is weak either because of this. I think that Steinbeck wasn't trying to say that people who lie are weak, but instead, that the reason you lie is what makes you weak or strong. This proves true because Gatsby's purpose of lying was to better himself, while the others wanted to hurt others, and therefore, worsen themselves.
ReplyDeleteI really like your analysis on all the books we've read and especially this one. I as well love the time the story takes place in and think that it adds so much to the story. This is where woman are still trying to have a voice and I think that Daisy is a great example of that. I did not notice until you mentioned but the descriptive language is everywhere. My personal favorite is how the West and East Eggs are descried. I can see that picture in my head. I also want to comment on that I do see people like Gatsby who are so focused on the money and social standing who end up in situations like Gatsby. I see that more in the celebrities and "famous" people in America. They all had a dream like Gatsby but it can crumble just that easy.
ReplyDeleteI think another thing that ties into the books we have read, with respect to social class, is that it doesn't determine your character. I perceived Daisy as sort of shallow, and she had a vast amount of money. However Nick, who was a more low-budget person, was a wonderfully round character. In The Grapes of Wrath, the Joad family is low on money but that doesn't subtract from the people themselves, their characters are very developed and unique.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Hayley when she said that is doesn't determine your character. Her comparison of Daisy and nick was a good example, also.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Haley about how class doesn't determine the person's character. Another example from Great Gatsby could be Gastby himself because he came from a poor family but made himself rich and heis not shallow like daisy, but he is kind, loving, and willing to sacrifice himself for his love. Another example beside the Joads in Grapes of Wrath is Huck Finn from Adventures of Huck Finn. Huck seemed to be from a low class in society but he was caring, brave, kind, and the list keeps going.
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with your statement about Nick and Jordan, how Jordan is Nick's female counterpart. She seems to lie just as much as Daisy if not more, Nick says so himself. If you can recall the golf match where the ball was supposedly moved. They to me are not the same at all she to me is almost even sneaker then the rest.
ReplyDeleteAnother part of your post in which i do not agree with is the section where you say Gatsby is not flashy. Yes it is true Gatsby lives in west-egg along with Nick, but how do you know that is not just so that he doesn't show off even more. With all of those huge all night summer parties with all the servants, expensive food, and all other things he has that makes everyone look at him with awe.but off course other then those minor details in your post, i agreed with everything.
Ms. jesik,
ReplyDeleteI loved your analysis on this book. When you quoted the VP by saying, don't ever question a person's motives without seeing the whole story. Although this was written in the past, I think a lot of us today can learn something from the message in the story to not judge other people. A lot of us do this unknowingly, and we all can relate to the constant theme throughout the novel of divided classes, such as West Egg, East Egg and the ash-ridden slums. I also like how fast-paced the story is. It keeps the reader interested and always wanting to know what happens next. I love the plot of the novel, the fast-paced structure, the lessons learned and the time the story takes place in. This was definitely my favorite book so far.
-Always,
Brandd.
I love what you said about dishonest people being weak but I agree with the first person that commented on this, what makes the person weak is why they had lied. In this book though I think most of the people who are dishonest are weak people who just cant bring themselves to be honest good people. Gatsby lied to make himself Look better but not to better himself- he was still doing things that he would have to lie about later.
ReplyDeleteI also believe this would be a completely different story if it were told from a different person's perspective. The reason the author chose Nick Carraway I believe is because he was a more neutral character and his personal life had less to do with the story. If the story was told from Gatsby's point of view, it would be the story of a man desperately fighting for the love of his life to love him again. If the story was told from Daisy's point of view, this book would have been a hard core love story. If this book was told from Tom's point of view, you could imagine that it would be the same story as Tiger Woods' story. Here you have a great athlete who is cheating on his wife and nobody knows about it except his close friends. It all falls apart for him at the end, so he decides to go retreating back to his wife expecting everything to be fine. We don't know if Elin has a Gatsby in her life, but back on topic, Tom and Tiger have a striking resemblance. Did anybody else notice that?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you fully on the point that lies weaken us. I also think that this and the economic issue play to the notion of illusions with the characters. Tom and Daisy are under the powerful illusion of affluence. This clouds their vision, allowing them to lie not only to others, but to themselves as well. It would be interesting to see these characters interact DURING the depression, as opposed to before it. I feel that like others living in similar circumstances, they would be forced to give up their numerous illusions and false notions of the world.
ReplyDeleteI think Tom and Daisy are weak because they have money. I feel that they believe nothing matters because they can just buy out of their problems. I think this is why Tom had the affair because he thinks he can just buy Daisy out. Also, I do not think Jordan is Nick's female counterpart. She is a liar. Example is when she tells Nick that she cheated in her first golf tournament.
ReplyDeleteAnthony I agree with the part that I'd like to see them during the depression it would be pretty interesting and I bet it would be a completely different story.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Kayla's first comment. Lying does not make a person weak. Granted lying is wrong, have you ever considred lying to oneself can make you stronger and carry you through a given siuation? I think Myrtle Wilson lied to herself all the time. When she was in the pressence of company she had bought whatever she wanted, lied about her dresses, and made herself out to be this rich worldly woman. She no doubt lied to herself because she couldnt except her husband the gasoline pumper or their life above the garage.
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree with you about your view of Nick. We have to remember that this is only from his point of view. The right story could be all wrong, but in the book, Nick sees himself as the average. is he being modest, is he better than we think he is. These kind of books are very questionable, that is why I was confused. From the book, nothing can be proved because it is just from one persons point of view.
ReplyDeleteHaley, you're great. Social class definitely doesn't determine a person's character. People are people, no matter what life they've been dropped into.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Jesik, you really make me think. Everything you say makes me open my book and read again whatever section it is you're referring to. I never looked at Nick as being judgmenetal. Although, I never really payed attention to the fact that he was so accepting of everyone. Quoting Joe Biden was very effective. That single paragraph changed my mind about the way I though of Nick throughout the entire novel.
I agree, the descriptiveness in this novel is great. There's so much detail, and it really brings the story to life. And I also agree on Nick's importance as the narrator. As Jared said, he is a neutral character, and he's very central in most the relational situations. I say this because he knows most the import characters well. He's a cousin of Tom, who married Daisy. He's also a neighbor of Gatsby, who's in love with Daisy. So it's like a love triangle, with Nick at it's center. As always, your post was very great, I liked all your comparisons.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with a lot of your blog. Nick did criticize. In the beginning, he did not, but at the end he despised them. If that's not criticism, I don't know what is. Also Jordan is one of the worst liars in the book, she cheats and is cold and distant so she can lie effectively. Wilson is also very honest. He is the one that is used, not using others. He has nothing to lie about. I like your paragraph about social differences. You made a hard to state point very clear and I agree with it completely.
ReplyDeletelook to be honest i didnt like the book i cant say specifics on my opinions bacause if u asked me the story just didn't appeal to me i won't lie i didn't even want to finish the book there are good things like the time period and the creative writing but overall not a great story
ReplyDeleteI agree with where you say its one of your favoirte reads, it was one of mine as well. After reading what you saying on that lying in the books makes you stronger, the book as a whole and the events made alot more since.
ReplyDeleteFirst I want to say like Sabrina wrote that I enjoy reading your analysis on the summer reading novels. With this analysis in particular, the one thing I caught interesting was how you compared Great Gastby to the other novels we read. When you talk about how the characters in the Great Gatsby will do whatever they can to get what they want, it sort of made me think of Huck Finn and Tom. They did whatever they could and whatever they had to do to help Jim escape. Even with Huck and Jim, they did whatever they could to keep themselves hidden from people. I don't know why that was the first book to pop into my head, but it did. I agree with you whole heartedly that I loved the book and was no where near disappointed.
ReplyDelete-Angie
I like how you write your opinions so straight forwards. I strive to write in such an honest way, but theyr'e are a few statements I do not agree with. You descrbed the setting of the book as "exotic". I found the setting to be classic, it reminded me of home. I also disagreed with the statement that Gatsby and Nick lived in the less Gaudy West Egg. I think that may be part of the reason Nick settled there but not at all Gatsby's reason. Gatsby settled there because Daisy was acroos the water and he could see the light from her house across the way. He wanted to be close to her. The descriptions of Gatsby's house, belonging's, and parties were indeed very flashy. Last but not least the comment about the Wilsons blending with the dirty and hidden setting particularily made me think. Mr. Wilson was not all mentally there, he was slow and easy going. On the other hand Myrtle Wilson did everything she could to stand out and make people think she was someone special.
ReplyDeleteSo overall, I highly disagree with alot of your blog.
ReplyDeleteI too agree with what you said about if it were narrated from another point of view, it would be a completely different story. I think his ability to sit back and view everything with an open mind made the story much more interesting and relatable. I greatly enjoyed reading your post. I found it very insightful and I agree with everything you had to say. Reading this helped me break down the novel and find it just a little more understandable. This was a novel that I really enjoyed reading. It started out a little challenging but once I got started, I found it very easy to get into and relate to some character in one way or another.
ReplyDelete-kristen :)
I really like your analysis on all the books we've read, but mostly this one. I, unlike you, don't like the time the story takes place; though I do agree it adds a lot to the story itself. This point in time is when woman are still trying to get a voice and I think that Daisy is a great example of that. I didn't notice until reading this post, the descriptive language, which is basically everywhere!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to say that I enjoyed this book as much as you did. I loved almost everything about it. The dialogue, characters, setting and plenty more. In this post, I liked where you stated that lying is a sign of weakness. There was a whole lot of that throughout this book and I couldn't agree anymore with you than I already do. I wonder what it'd be like had it been written from Gatsby's point of view of Daisy's. I'd imagine Gatsby's would be somewhat depressing and Daisy's, flashy, but with sad emotions. Thinking about that just goes to show how different the characters really are in this book.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely positively agree 100,000% with your first paragraph! After reading Gastby it's definately one of my favorite books as well. I love it for the same reasons that you stated epecially the fashion! But I also loved how you said that on the surface everything seemed so great but underneath it was completely the opposite, which I agree most with.
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