I agree with L., but unfortunately, i dragged myself to read the book. There are some quotes which L mentioned that are in the book. So, beware of what you use and dont use.
I agree with L., but unfortunately, i dragged myself to read the book. There are some quotes which L mentioned that are in the book. So, beware of what you use and dont use.
Ha, ha! That's was a good one!
Also, his parents did not give Gatsby a set of rules, he made them up for himself. That is a key to understanding who Gatsby is and how the true American Dream lived in him. He had the ambition and motivation required to be more than he was. He really believed that he could have anything if he just tried hard enough. Unfortunalty, these ambitions took hold on an unworthy goal, Daisy. Gatsby instilled this kind of perfection in here that she didn't even possess. It was because of this blind misconception of Daisy and the foul means which he took to get her that caused Gatsby's downfall, and the downfall of his American Dream. Even more ironic is that his dream not only lead to his downfall, but his very death. If he could have let go of the dream of Daisy and realized he had lost her from the start, he could have left town after the accident and his life would have been spared. But, some say Gatsby was a dreamer, and a dreamer cannot live without his dream. Therefore, it was better for Gatsby to die than to go on livivng without his dream.
I partly agree with you Chris, and disagree with the other replies to this post. Gatsby did do some immoral things, but he didn't do them simply to win Daisy over (as a reply says). He worked to achieve his dream long before he even met Daisy. He is the one character in the book that did work hard to achieve the "American Dream." The people who took advantage of his hopitality without caring about him are the corrupt ones, i agree. And, as you said, Gatsby only had the best intentions. But remember, annoying platitude though it may be, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." <br>Of course Gatsby was involved in an extramarital affair, which is wrong, but Tom was involved long before that (with a very indifferent attitude). Gatsby loved only Daisy, and he did everything he could for her. Neither Daisy or Tom profess love for only one person, and show no guilt or remorse about playing with people's emotions. Daisy's reaction when she found out she killed Myrtle also shows what a shallow, uncaring person she reallly is.
I feel sorry for all of you who have to read TGG. I just got done reading it. I thought it was boring. But when you really get down into it the book really means some thing.
Gatsby is America - on a highly symbolic level. The readings shown here are very simplistic for such an intricate and deceptively accessible novel. Look at the symbolism and the literary allusions - it's so much more than a romantic story.
It's simple.<br><br>Gatsby is great because he lives in the moment, not thinking farther ahead in life other than his search for Daisy.<br><br>As well, if you read the beginning, Nick says that if personality was a series of unbroken gestures, Gatsby was it. Gatsby is the essence of the gesture, of not having the substance of life but having the cover, the surface. Of America, if you will.
Is it the "real world" or is everyone just living a dream they can't seem to wake from?
Typical responses from bored students help AP teachers like me create stronger lessons which require annotating pages, defending characters, analyzing strands, and producing creative products to prove mastery. Leaning on another source to think for you is like asking someone else to taste and digest your food...not the best idea in the world.
I hated the book and the movie.....at first. But you've got to give it a chance. Picking apart the book has become one of the most mind stimulating experiences I've ever had. I too was assigned it in an advanced english class and dreaded the thought of it, but I'm now researching my paper and I find it pretty challenging. Re read it and use an open mind, you might just be surprised.
i really dont think you fully understand the book so maybe u shouldnt be commenting. Gatsby did not have only the best intentions. He knew what he was doing - he had his parties only to get Daisy to come. When he wanted to marry her he was poor, and even though she told him she'd wait for him she didnt because Tom had more money (hence the $250,000 pearl neckalace he gave her at a time (the 1920's) where the average person made $4,000 a year). Your right, she was a brat, but it was more than that. she was an amoral person and she and tom ruined lives and left others to clean up the mess. IN THE END gatsby turned out to be the best out of all of them - "worth the whole lot.." but not necessarily the best. If Gatsby turns out all right in the end, you have to re-evaluate what morality is (taking in the time period of course, where there was the mofia, bootlegging and a lot of money circualting). Sure, Gatsby was a good man - whos to say he wasnt? But the collosal vitality of his dream of being with Daisy overpowered him and it took over all his morals. Just as Fitzgerald did with Zelda, Gatsby somehow (unbeknownst to the reader) gained a lot of money to win Daisy's hand. He honestly thought she would just leave Tom. And no, "prick" is a dumb way to critique the character of Tom, he is a racist, womanizer and sexist. But REMEMBER: the morality of this society was at its lowest point that Americas ever dealed with. They didn't have any type of God being represented or any code of ethics shown. THe closest thing they had to God was Dr. Eckleburg. That is Wilson's whole point of being in this WHOLE BOOK! to point out to us that these people had no god - whehter immoral or amoral they didn't have people who honestly stopped and said "hey this is wrong". And just as everyone else is, Gatsby is lured into the society of greed and money. "THEY WERE CARELESS PEOPLE..."
Forget that, Gatsby did a little of column A and alittle of column B.<br><br>Buying a new dress and all that stuff was to cover up his illegal affairs. I mean he was always inside taking a call or in a meeting during his parties. He just wanted to seem like a natural rich person that threw tons of awesome parties. So then the parties were used to hopefully lure Daisy, but it didn't really work.<br><br>It was two birds with one stone, i mean come on, give Gatsby is alittle more credit than feeling bad about a torn dress. Sure it's not in the text, but literature is all about inferencing.
What do you mean drag yourself to read it or that it was mind-numbing? You've clearly not read a lot. I'm 16 and even I can appreciate that TGG is an incredible literary work. I'm doing my AS-level coursework on it and I can honestly say it is the first time that I will have written a piece of coursework about a book I have actually liked. Rosie knows what she's talking about (and no that does not make it a girl's book). Like G, get past the first few pages, and don't be narrow-minded about it, you might actually enjoy it.<br>The quotations you suggest aren't the greatest either. Look at the presentation of Dr.T.J.Eckleburg instead, you have to appreciate that as fine writing. As much as it pains me to say it the American Fitzgerald knew what he was doing.
Each character is not distinct personality they are all just a clone of the fact that each of them are shallow, selfish and concerned only for wealth. Daisy goes back on her word and marries Tom, does not take responsibility for her actions of killing Myrtle. Jordan supposedly lied in a golf tornement and blows hot and cold with Nick and Myrtle denies her vows of marriage and is treated like an object by all men. She's simple and tries to be something she's not. (like when she changes a million times at the house)
Well everyone here seemed to believe that I should read the book all the way through to try and get a different perspective of it. So I have. And I'm terribly sorry but I fail to see the appeal of this book. I think it's Fitzgerald's style of writing is what I have a problem with. I can appreciate that the book demonstrates a billion and one "themes" so to speak, the corruption of Commercialism, The american dream and the detrimental effect that dream can have on a person etc. However I don't believe that these aspects make it a fantastic book, they make it mildly interesting but rather dry. Also I would like to point out to most of the commenters that I am NOT an unintelligent person. The fact that all or almost all of you attempted to fill out your response by denouncing my oppinion as that of an imbecile proves that you were having difficulty finding other fault. I admit, perhaps I was a little narrow-minded (thanks for pointing that out appreciative), but that never has and never will suggest intellectual incompetence. So please stop suggesting that I'm stupid, or that I don't read enough. If 2 or more books per night, every night of the year is not reading enough, Then there is something wrong with this world.
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