"The Great Gatsby" share us the discussion

Hey guys and girls.
I'm new to this site, so sorry if there are some decencies I ignore.
I just had a thought about this whole five thing, and I'm very sorry if someone else has already pointed it out which is perfectly possible as it's late at night here, and I didn't get through all the comments.
The use of five could sort of be construed at a metonymy for desire(It's stretched, I know), because five related to pentagrams and and Satanism, and the key to Satanism is desire. Most characters in the book are ruled by desire, principally lust- ALL the women cheat, so does Tom, and Nick leaves his fiance for Jordan Baker. So the recurrence of five is to do with the theme of human desire in the book?
Sorry if I'm rambling, as I said, it's late.

Lioness Heart, thank you!
I was mystified as to why he was referred to as great, and now that I think about it Fitzgerald's title only made me feel more empty and hopeless for the situation by the end of the novel.
It's an interesting idea, deceiving the reader right from jump, simply to make the ending more tragic.
He was one clever drunk!

I think this may be too shallow of a thought but the first thing that came to my mind when you pointed out the continuous recurrence of the number 5, was Nick, Jordan, Daisy, Tom, and Gatsby. They are the main characters of the novel.

The number 4 seems like a very pleasant number. Dividable and such. And just the thought of 2 + 2 gives a feeling of completeness.

As for the number 5, there is always the odd one out. (In this case, it would be Gatsby). 2.5 + 2.5 ... does not give any feeling of completeness?

Hence, the number used to be 4 before Gatsby is introduced to the group, which soon leads to the problem.

At the end of the novel, the group breaks apart (Nick and Jordan and Gatsby) while Daisy and Tom still stay together. Nick then talks about how selfish they are.

I'm not so sure though. Just my thoughts.

In fact I have started reading this novel thinking or reading somewhere that it is one of the great books,and I could not resist the temptation of reading a great book. However the book could not engage me the way it should. Of course another book that was more acclaimed to be great was Ulysses and of course it is a great book by all standards, yet it too was incomprehensible to me.

At times I buy a great book, a classic but they mostly belong to the rack of books, for after leafing through a few pages I do not like to continue. This book comes to that category.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Courtney Patter

Well, for such a short title, The Great Gatsby can be interpreted in a couple of different ways. Fitzgerald might just be being ironic or is Gatsby’s ‘greatness’ what the book is really all about then? I would go with the ironic option. Gatsby’s life is a sham. Inspite of the glamour and fortune, he made his way to the top of the social heap through illegal means. And to the upper class that he aspires to, he is a phony. When the truth comes out, people show their true colors and his greatness is exposed. Of course, there are several other ways of interpreting the title.

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Actually I would arggue that the emphasizing of "great" in the title could just be the sympathetic admiration Nick as the narrator shows for Gatsby. True, Gatsby's mean of aquiring wealth is not the most moral, however throughout the novel, he is also the only character true to his feelings. His dedication to Daisy is the main motivation to attaining wealth and status, and sadly also the cause of his death. I think it is this admiration for his love that wins him the title of 'Great'.

The number three is also a recurring number in the Great Gatsby.
-Nick receives a telegram from Henry Gatz three days after Gatsby's death.(167)
-The funeral was originally arranged for three o'clock in the afternoon. (170)
-Nick tries to call Wolfsheim three times after Gatsby died.(165)
-Wilson goes insane at three o'clock in the morning. (157)
-When Gatsby is young he resolves to save three dollars a week, instead of five. (174)
-The minister arrives for Gatsby's funeral around three. (175)
-Three cars in the funeral procession. (175)
-Pammy is three years old. (10)
-Nick served in the Third Division. (47)
-A band plays Three O'Clock in the Morning at one of Gatsby's parties. (110)
-Nick comes from three generations of "well-to-do people." (2)
-Nick left Gatsby's party around three in the morning. (53)
-Three people on horseback. (102)
-A limousine passed Nick and Gatsby with three "modish negroes" in it. (69)
-Nick met Owl Eyes three months before Gatsby's funeral. (175)
-Nick ate with Daisy, Tom, and Jordan three months before Myrtle's death. (146)
-Nick emphasizes three important nights. (56)
-Nick asked (two or) three people who Gatsby was. (42)
-Nick sits at a table with (two women and) three men. (43)

I'm sure there are several more that I'm missing, but these are the only ones that jumped out at me. Why is three so important? And I noticed that three is often paired with either two or five as well, why is that? Any suggestions?
I wish Fitzgerald was still alive...I would love to ask him.