"One time he killed a man who had found out that he was nephew to Von Hindenburg and second cousin to the devil."
I thought it was really funny all of the random stories and ideas people had of Jay Gatsby. Even more amusing was the fact that all of these people claim that he is some strange killer or evil person and yet they are at his house for a party- most of them uninvited.
I think that it is very difficult to learn about Gatsby because most of the information given to the reader is passed on through other characters in the story. In addition, the information Gatsby gives is questionable (at least to the narrator and Jordan Baker). It is interesting that Gatsby knows people have strange perceptions of him and yet he continues to make himself unknown to the guests at his parties. He mentions to Nick "I don't want you to get a wrong idea of me from all these stories you hear." (pg 65). I think this makes Gatsby seem somewhat suspicious because he is concerned about what Nick thinks of him but no one else (except for Daisy- although it seems as if he cares more about what she thinks of his home and material possessions than anything.) Nick feels that Gatsby makes up a great deal about his past because it seems as if none of his stories match up. Right now Gatsby seems sort of like a flat character because a lot of things revealed about Gatsby thus far cannot be determined to be true.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Characterization of Nick
"In consequence, I'm inclined to reserve all judgments, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me and also made me the victim of not a few veteran bores." (pg 1)
I felt that the narrator, Nick, was especially hard to characterize. I think that he is a very lonesome person who is trying to discover his place in life. Having just recently moved to New York alone, Nick lives in a tiny unattractive home that sits across from Jay Gatsby's mansion. In a way, I think these two characters are somewhat similar because they are both fairly lonely. Nick mentions on pg 42 that at his first visit to Gatsby's party he feels as if he is floating around groups of strangers. He finally says that he "slunk off in the direction of the cocktail table- the only place in the garden where a single man could linger without looking purposeless and alone."
I also found Nick to be a bit hypocritical. On the first page Nick mentions that he reserves his judgments and does not criticize people. However, there is a scene where Nick is in the car with Gatsby and he find himself pondering whether or not the things Gatsby is saying are actually true or not. Nick seems to allow the perceptions other people have of Jay Gatsby affect his own opinion of him. I also found it strange that Nick considers himself an honest person and yet he suspects Gatsby and Jordan of being untruthful. "I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known."
I felt that the narrator, Nick, was especially hard to characterize. I think that he is a very lonesome person who is trying to discover his place in life. Having just recently moved to New York alone, Nick lives in a tiny unattractive home that sits across from Jay Gatsby's mansion. In a way, I think these two characters are somewhat similar because they are both fairly lonely. Nick mentions on pg 42 that at his first visit to Gatsby's party he feels as if he is floating around groups of strangers. He finally says that he "slunk off in the direction of the cocktail table- the only place in the garden where a single man could linger without looking purposeless and alone."
I also found Nick to be a bit hypocritical. On the first page Nick mentions that he reserves his judgments and does not criticize people. However, there is a scene where Nick is in the car with Gatsby and he find himself pondering whether or not the things Gatsby is saying are actually true or not. Nick seems to allow the perceptions other people have of Jay Gatsby affect his own opinion of him. I also found it strange that Nick considers himself an honest person and yet he suspects Gatsby and Jordan of being untruthful. "I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known."
Irony
"Yeah, Gatsby's very careful about women. He would never so much as look at friend's wife." (pg 72)
Throughout the first half of the novel "The Great Gatsby" I found two situations that I felt were somewhat ironic. The first occurrence that I felt was ironic was on page 72 (quote from about). In this scene Nick is speaking with Mr. Wolfsheim (a very suspicous man). Gatsby has just left and Mr. Wolfsheim and Nick begin talking about him. Mr. Wolfsheim makes this comment to back up his opinion that Gatsby is a great and genuine guy. This is almost like verbal irony because there is very little the narrator (Nick) knows about Gatsby. For all Nick knows, Wolfsheim's opinion of Gatsby could be completely wrong. Also, this becomes even more ironic when later on in the story Gatsby and Daisy are reunited. Gatsby makes his love and affection for Daisy very obvious- disproving Wolfsheim's claim.
"His name was Jay Gatsby, and I didn't lay eyes on him again for over four years- even after I'd met him on Long Island I didn't realize it was the same man." (pg75)
The second and more obvious ironic turn of events lies in the fact that Gatsby and Daisy happen to know each other. This could be described as situational irony. Gatsby made an effort to find Daisy, however, Jordan Baker did not realize that she was the link between Gatsby and Daisy for a long while. This is ironic because after five years a strange twist of events allows Gatsby to meet Jordan who knows Daisy and is able to persuade Nick to reunite the couple.
Throughout the first half of the novel "The Great Gatsby" I found two situations that I felt were somewhat ironic. The first occurrence that I felt was ironic was on page 72 (quote from about). In this scene Nick is speaking with Mr. Wolfsheim (a very suspicous man). Gatsby has just left and Mr. Wolfsheim and Nick begin talking about him. Mr. Wolfsheim makes this comment to back up his opinion that Gatsby is a great and genuine guy. This is almost like verbal irony because there is very little the narrator (Nick) knows about Gatsby. For all Nick knows, Wolfsheim's opinion of Gatsby could be completely wrong. Also, this becomes even more ironic when later on in the story Gatsby and Daisy are reunited. Gatsby makes his love and affection for Daisy very obvious- disproving Wolfsheim's claim.
"His name was Jay Gatsby, and I didn't lay eyes on him again for over four years- even after I'd met him on Long Island I didn't realize it was the same man." (pg75)
The second and more obvious ironic turn of events lies in the fact that Gatsby and Daisy happen to know each other. This could be described as situational irony. Gatsby made an effort to find Daisy, however, Jordan Baker did not realize that she was the link between Gatsby and Daisy for a long while. This is ironic because after five years a strange twist of events allows Gatsby to meet Jordan who knows Daisy and is able to persuade Nick to reunite the couple.
Language / Diction / Imagery
"There was music from my neighbor's house through the summer nights. In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars." (pg 39)
The author uses a lot of imagery as well as other literary techniques that really help in describing the setting and tone of the story. I recognized several similes, metaphors, and large paragraphs full of description. Almost all of these described the setting. For example, Nick spends a great deal of time describing his new home. On page 5 he says that his house is an "eyesore". However, when Gatsby's home is described there are generally paragraphs explaining the beauty of the garden: "the sparkling odor of jonquils and the frothy odor of hawthorn and plum blossoms and the pale gold odor of kiss-me-at-the-gate", or the interior as "Marie Antoinette music-rooms and Restoration salons".(pg 91) The author also uses language to help characterize the different people in the story. For example, I think that the fact that Gatsby always says "old sport" after everything he says makes him seem really fake. At first it seems like a sign of friendship and closeness. However, around page 94 when Gatsby is speaking to Ewing (his butler I believe) he is very demanding and impatient yet he ends every sentence saying "old sport". I think this makes it seem less meaningful when he says it all the time.
The author uses a lot of imagery as well as other literary techniques that really help in describing the setting and tone of the story. I recognized several similes, metaphors, and large paragraphs full of description. Almost all of these described the setting. For example, Nick spends a great deal of time describing his new home. On page 5 he says that his house is an "eyesore". However, when Gatsby's home is described there are generally paragraphs explaining the beauty of the garden: "the sparkling odor of jonquils and the frothy odor of hawthorn and plum blossoms and the pale gold odor of kiss-me-at-the-gate", or the interior as "Marie Antoinette music-rooms and Restoration salons".(pg 91) The author also uses language to help characterize the different people in the story. For example, I think that the fact that Gatsby always says "old sport" after everything he says makes him seem really fake. At first it seems like a sign of friendship and closeness. However, around page 94 when Gatsby is speaking to Ewing (his butler I believe) he is very demanding and impatient yet he ends every sentence saying "old sport". I think this makes it seem less meaningful when he says it all the time.
Motif / Theme
"There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy, and the tired"
"And Daisy ought to have something in her life." (pg 79)
If I was to choose a reoccurring theme or motif within the novel thus far, it would be that of broken relationships. It seems that most, if not all relationships Nick describes are dismal, dying, or nonexistent. Nick himself does not have a significant other. Although I am convinced he feels very strongly for Jordan Baker, he does little to make it known. Nick states at some point in the story that he had a girlfriend. However he admits that after a few days he "let it [the relationship] blow quietly away" (pg 57). This is not the only instance where a broken relationship is described. The marriage between Tom and Daisy is falling apart. Nick states: "It seemed to me that the thing for Daisy to do was to rush out of the house, child in arms- but apparently there were no such intentions in her head." (pg 20) This shows that Daisy and Tom are still together even though they would be better off apart. All of this is brought about due to Tom having a Mistress. Similarly, Tom's Mistress, Myrtle, is having problems in her marriage. Myrtle says, "The only crazy I was was when I married him [George]. I knew right away I made a mistake." (pg 35)
Finally, the narrator even describes a scene between two strangers (I believe this is the only time he describes a couple at Gatsby's party): "One of the men was talking with curious intensity to a young actress, and his wife, after attempting to laugh at the situation in a dignified and indifferent way, broke down entirely and resorted to flank attacks- at intervals she appeared suddenly at his side like an angry diamond, and hissed: 'You promised!" into his ear"
In all of these cases, not one positive, strong and happy marriage. I think this is the theme of the story because the narrator has continuously described only negative relationships and no positive ones. And all of these broken relationships are what have been moving the story/plot along so far.
"And Daisy ought to have something in her life." (pg 79)
If I was to choose a reoccurring theme or motif within the novel thus far, it would be that of broken relationships. It seems that most, if not all relationships Nick describes are dismal, dying, or nonexistent. Nick himself does not have a significant other. Although I am convinced he feels very strongly for Jordan Baker, he does little to make it known. Nick states at some point in the story that he had a girlfriend. However he admits that after a few days he "let it [the relationship] blow quietly away" (pg 57). This is not the only instance where a broken relationship is described. The marriage between Tom and Daisy is falling apart. Nick states: "It seemed to me that the thing for Daisy to do was to rush out of the house, child in arms- but apparently there were no such intentions in her head." (pg 20) This shows that Daisy and Tom are still together even though they would be better off apart. All of this is brought about due to Tom having a Mistress. Similarly, Tom's Mistress, Myrtle, is having problems in her marriage. Myrtle says, "The only crazy I was was when I married him [George]. I knew right away I made a mistake." (pg 35)
Finally, the narrator even describes a scene between two strangers (I believe this is the only time he describes a couple at Gatsby's party): "One of the men was talking with curious intensity to a young actress, and his wife, after attempting to laugh at the situation in a dignified and indifferent way, broke down entirely and resorted to flank attacks- at intervals she appeared suddenly at his side like an angry diamond, and hissed: 'You promised!" into his ear"
In all of these cases, not one positive, strong and happy marriage. I think this is the theme of the story because the narrator has continuously described only negative relationships and no positive ones. And all of these broken relationships are what have been moving the story/plot along so far.
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