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i cant believe people write books about boring everyday stuff like the subject of this book, that is why students today hate reading, because of books like this. If i actually have to wait until im 20 to understand this book, then why on earth am i reading it when im only 17. Teachers are so dumb.
I totally agree that this book was extremely boring. There was absolutely no action in it at all. I'm thinking Harry Potter is more my cup of tea, if you know what i mean.
I agree with L. This book was mind numbingly boring... for the first few chapters. It took my three weeks to reach the fourth chapter but took me one more week to complete it. I am studying this book for year 12 english and know this can be a difficult book to understand. This is a book that needs to be read slowly as everything it contains is significant. The symbolism in this book needs to be looked at deeply in order to fully comprehend the meaning of anything written. Although I do agree with the fact that this book is boring, i would never recommend to anyone to watch the movie rather than read the book. It misses some very crucial points of the book and does not contian the symbolism or representations of the book. This book is assigned to students to be deeply analysed, not to be glossed over. To those having trouble reading the book, I suggest slowing down and actually READING what it says. you might actually find it an interesting read. Also, thank that you simply have to analyse the book alone whereas I have to analyse it and the movie "American Beauty" , compare them and their views of gender, class, stereotypes and the american dream.
Continuing from where you left of, amy, the book says, 'I've always been glad I said that. It was the only complement I ever gave him, because I dissaproved of him from beginning to end.' Gatsby was not great in Nick's eyes. Gatsby is great because of the things he achieved and how he was always polite and welcoming. In my opinion, a man who can become as rich as Gatsby in just 5 years, even through illegal means, is a geniuss and deserves to be called great.
I just wanted to say that I was born in Houston Texas, but since then my family moved to Missouri. How are things down there. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I am a high school student that also is doing an Essay for The Great Gatsby. It sucks because its actually due tommorow. I only have one paragraph done. I think I'm gonna be screwed.
I believe your assumption as to peoples intelligence to be completely wrong. To say the least this was not my favorite book, but I am no moron and i throughly understand the deeper meaning of the book. However, I prefer Hemingway's much more simplistic but deep, if you will, writing style.
I think that the book is a great book so far. We are reading the book in English class and are not far yet, but what I have read so far this is a great book and would like to read another book by Scott Fitzgerald.<br> We have read the book The Catcher nad the Rye but I didn't think that book was really that interesting and would not like to have to read that book again if <br>i did not have to.
I never even thought of the cars & to you Loz, wow, that's a whole other way to look at the book & it's really intriguing. Anyway, to you Hillary, There are writers out there thta put symbolism into every aspect of the book. The people who see those symbols are the intelligent ones, they are the ones that truly, completely understand the books. I'm not trying to criticize what you said, but perhaps next time you read a book, try looking beyond what the story says, to what the writer is actually trying trying to tell you.
Has everyone made to read this book been in an AP class or a Junior or Senior or something of that nature? I'm in 9th grade & it was the first book we were assigned to read this year, so I was barely out of 8th grade & I personally loved it! L, I don't think you should be getting all the crap you are about not reading enough or whatever. You don't like the book, that your opinion, as long as you don't say the book was porly written, you have no reason to be criticized, nor does anyone else. It is not fair to say a book is poorly written if someone doesn't like it. So to the people criticizing knock it off! You have your opinion, let other people have theirs. You can express yours without the nastiness of criticism.
Perhaps, what Fitzgerald was trying to say was that Gatsby wasn't reall "Great". Maybe it was supposed to be somewhat ironic that he was called great when his life ended the way it did. Or, perhaps, he was great because he was willing to give his life for the person he loved even when she probably ended up setting him up. Just a couple suggestions.
Oh! I HATED the first chapter! I thought to myself, "If the rest of the book is like this, why even read it?" But I loved the rest of it. So don't give up if you've only read the first chapter.
Just what real proof is there that Nick's a homosexual? ?_? I really don't see it if Fitzgerald had it (intentionally) in there...
[Trying to make light of the situation] Okay, that's a bit harsh Hiliary. ^_^ Well, he had a point with Gatsby's car being show-offish, that I can say. Maybe the other thoughts are a bit extreme but when people are analyzing something perhaps it goes a bit too far?
maybe if you knew how to read and write, you could understand this simple book
I am 27 years old and I'm going to have to disagree with the fact that some people actually think this book is good. I hated reading it. It was a very depressing, boring book. There is no excitement in it at all. I think the best part is when Tom slaps Myrtle. It made me laugh when i read that part, but besides that I was bored out of my mind the whole time. I would never read it again and the only reason I'm here typing this now is because im procrastinating doing my final for my literature class and I can't seem to say anything good about the book right now. I applaud whoever it was who said they like Anne McCaffery, she is a brilliant writer. Now there is someone who can write a story and keep the reader in terested. I know everything about Pern and nothing about The Great Gatsby. lol.
I don't really agree or disagree with anyone one person here. Sure, TGG was basically uninteresting, but Fitzgerald really has a way with symbolism. Unlike The Cat in the Hat or some other children's storybook, the true meaning lies deeper than the words. For example, Owl-eyes symbolizes Jesus Christ, and Dr. T.J. Eckleburg represents God. The movie can never portray those symbols the way the bok did. And to those of you who decided to skip the book and watch the movie instead, go back and read it. The book is always better than the movie. ^_^
I just had to write in response to all of the comments. Every human being is different. Not everyone will enjoy or need the lessons taught through every "literary Piece" written. <br><br>I have read the book twice: once when I was in high school for an assignment and now again to help my 17 yearold through some tough projects utilizing the book. <br><br>(My grammar may not be perfect but my message will be understandable.) <br><br>I did not enjoy reading it. I have a B.S. degree in education and am also at the mid way point to my masters. I am an intelligent woman in her late 30's. I have lived a hard but fruitful life. I have not learned anything from it other than I am not sure I can assist my son in using this book to make positive, society improving, life improving decisions. This will not help him create positive relationships. This will not help him keep a budget or get to work on time. This will not motivate him to serve his country or complete his work week. <br><br>I understand that this may be construed and how people in this country used to live. I do not know or have known of anyone from that generation that lived that lifestyle. I personally do not want my son to learn anything from this other than not to choose to live and strive after such pitiful aims and goals.
Hmm... I think Gatsby was corrupt. If he wasn't corrupt he wouldn't feel the need to become a rich man using thieft and lies. Also he is just as materialistic as Daisy and Tom. And about Daisy and Gatsby's love being pure... um, no. If it was so "pure" why didn't Dasiy wait for him? <br>I admit that at the beginning of the story I thought Gatsby was the exception to the rule of rich people being horrible in this story, but in the end he was just like them. Yeah, he wasn't AS bad as everyone esle, but that doesn't mean he wasn't corrupt
Hey, just because someone doesn't like the Great Gatsby doesn't mean they're stupid. I didn't really like it either, and I'm not saying I'm an expert on the book, but my class totally picked it apart to find all the symbolism, which I usually enjoy. But it was just one of those books that didn't really click with me. If you guys are looking for a really good book "What the Scarecrow Said" by Stewart David Ikeda is REALLY good. We're reading it in English and I seriously can't put it down.
I know that you wrote your comment a long time ago...but...<br>I don't think that Daisy really honestly knew what she wanted. Gatsby went away to join the armed forces and Tom came along and she married Tom...she says that she loved Tom at one point and Gatsby was speaking on her behalf in the hotel, Gatsby indeed did know her first but Daisy didn't really deserve Gatsby, Gatsby was a good man and Daisy was a greedy woman just looking for someone with money to take care of her because it was the easiest way out of things in life without having to work for anything. Yes, Tom was a prick as you state, but he and Daisy belong to each other becuase they both are willing to use each other for the image that they want to portray to others that they may meet in their lives.
It's funny how you would rate a book on your own understanding of the English language. That shows a maturity that I have never seen before. You should be very proud of your pathetic attempt at reading.
No offence, but all of the stuff that you think is "irrelevant" and should have been ommitted is really deep and symbolic and everything has a reason (ie: the accident with owl eyes may seem irrelevant to you, but the car crashing represents bad morals and can be used in substitution with accident through that whole dialouge to infer some important stuff). Every singly sentence of this book has some deep connection to another part of the book or symbalizes sometihgn. IF your teacher didn't get that in depth with u, yes it could seem like a lot of irrelevent unneeded stuff is there, but trust me, it all has significance! this is not a book to read for plot!!!! its advanced
The original comment is all shameful, but the last line ("Gastby is a good man, making his way without causing others trouble") might be evidence that this reader either 1) Didn't read the book, 2) Perhaps read it but missed the most basic ideas, 3) Saw the movie years ago and is confusing it with The Grapes of Wrath, or 4) Heard about the movie from his/her sister who just likes Robert Redford, or whoever played Gatsby.<br><br>"Gatsby is a good man, making his way without causing others trouble...." <br><br>No. Gatsby, in the 1920s, when the novel is set, is the equivalent of a modern-day drug lord. He has murdered people, probably. In his most devious, fraudulent way, he is trying to take another man's wife. This pursuit of Daisy speaks of Gatsby's belief in "ideals," his "blind optimism" (disguised as good ol' American determination), and the means by which he's chosen to "get" Daisy -- larceny, lying, pandering, scheming, bribery, fraud, living a fantasy, basically -- the flagrancy with which Gatsby goes about these things ensures that he's going to butt heads with "the real world," which is what Myrtle's husband represents, and is Gatsby's wake-up call. <br><br>Gatsby might be "Great" ...but the question we should ask ourselves as we read, and after we've read, is, "He is great at what?" He's a great slime ball. He's materialism, capitalism, ego-mania, all run amuck. His *name* isn't even real.... So, if this is a "...good man, just making his way without causing others trouble," then heaven must be populated mostly by mafia bosses, it seems.<br><br>Maybe read it again?
can you put in more quotes from daisy and gatsby that shows how they are shallow? I have to do this book for school to and it is driving me crazy
I think the reason most high school students, myself included, fail to enjoy this "classic" is due to Fitzgerald's almost conceited writing style. This is evident at the very beginning of the book where Fitzgerald tends to take a "look at me, I'm an authour; look how good I can write" type of approach that doesn't address the central themes of the story. Yes, some of these overbearing sections of the text are vital in some way to the developement of the novel and, yes, I may simply not enjoy this style due to my polarised social constructs with Mr Fitzgerald. However, it is clear that at times during the novel, irrelevant words, phrases and even whole pages are added in an attempt for the author to demonstrate his literary prowess. Consequently, I found that this hindered the effectiveness and development of the story's internal message and, if anything, found 'The Great Gatsby' an excellent cure for insomnia as I resonated in and out of conciousness constantly throughout reading Fitzgerald's self-dubbed 'masterpiece.' Maybe I have overlooked an influential factor that has earned this book the category of a 'classic' or maybe readers are in awe of Fitzgerald's attempts to prove his status at an author that they fail to appreciate (or depreciate) the book for the failed message it has attempted to translate to its audience.
Funny how different people can be. Like L I did not read the book either, but I like it all the same. It was cheap, it fits perfectly in my bookcase and I have always something to talk about.
Um, I'm sorry but being a racist, womanizer makes you a prick! <br> Gatsby seems like a pretty good guy and (if he was real) he would be really hot!! HEheeee....
Easy money equals massive problems , nothing in this life is for free and there are many ways to pay and we are talking not exactly about cash and honest work.
Homosexuality is highly rewarded in ascending socialy, in politics or just financial $$$ if the individual doesn´t posseses this personality , disease or whatever that is much better because that´s part of the price to pay.
I agree with you who were saying that Gatsby was just stupidly in what he thought was love. As the old maxim goes, "Nice guys finish last". For Nick, Gatsby was a symbol that was put up on a pedestal. I mean, Gatsby is so much like Nick, so Nick sees him as such a great guy. Gatsby's intentions were honorable-if Daisy really doesn't love Tom, but the fact remains that Gatsby is trying to be a homewrecker. However, I do tend to side with Gatsby because he grew into manhood with his own idea of what Daisy was. The silk shirt sobbing was a dead giveaway, so ultimately Gatsby got what he begot-ignorance.
I totally agree with you! I really don't understand the importance of spending my summer reading a book filled with affairs every which way. I believe teachers should actually make us read books that will give us knowledge of some sort or make it enjoyable for us. I don't want to hear about some pathetic man who can't get over a girl that only wanted money from him in the first place. Sorry this is just my thoughts. But like you said, I didn't understand why he was sooooo GREAT anyways. He was a Bootleger!!!
hello i read your letter about TGG and i need some help ....<br>i'm graduating and i'm doing a research about the shakespearian fool in american literature . can you give me a hand?<br>i saw you was talking about Daisy as a "beautiful little fool" do you think she's really jester or is it only an ideomatic form to say that she's a bit "silly"?<br>i 'll wait for yous answer. <br>Roberta from Italy
I was never assigned to read Gatsby, but my sister was. She was having trouble like some of you--the beginning was too boring and she was having trouble picking it back up. Knowing it was a classic, I offered to read it to her and so over the next few nights both of us took part in Gatsby's life (me having to explain the details and significances every once in a while, but just the same...). I'm kind of glad that I didn't read it two years earlier, because much of its relevance would have been lost on me.<br><br>You can't argue Gatsby's worth in terms of it's style, or content--but how real it is. The Great Gatsby is very real, and what's more has a beautifully poetic style and an entertaining story. This novel is ALIVE and speaks to us on a level transcending "tastes in reading." You either hear this novel or you're deaf. It's unfortunate that the teachers of those who found the book boring were unable to illuminate the intricacy of the novel. No, the book doesn't draw you in with melodramatic explosions or crashes or murders or any of the gimmicks modern movies use to "entertain" their audiences. You have to be patient and attentive because the book will not unfold itself on it's own. It's your responsibility to lift each phrase up and examine it, and if you don't take the time to really discover the book, then it's your fault you find it boring. Don't go blaming the style, or the content. This isn't an action-packed testosterone rush. It's a slice of what it means to be human.
It's called irony.
"But the fact that he did it all because he held onto such a pathetic, outdated emotion is not “Great”. "<br><br>I love how glibly people critize Gatsby's "pathetic, outdated emotion." And what emotion is that, again? Why, of course, it's love. Pathetic and outdated? Well, love certainly is pathetic (look up the first definition, please), love is timeless and irrational. To speak of love using terms like "outdated" is to treat it like a fad.<br><br>"Did you hear? Love is, like, totally in, gurrrrl!"<br>"No way sister! You foolin'?"<br>"Naw!"<br><br>Yes, Gatsby fell into a trap--but that doesn't make him inhuman! He made a very common (I'd say universal error) and Fitzgerald took it to the extreme to illustrate that, and get this: we're all a little bit Gatsby. Haven't you ever broken up with someone, and yet neurotically checked your e-mail or waited by the phone on the slim chance that what is dead might be revived? Gatsby is guilty of HOPING--and though it was delusional can he really be despised for it?<br><br>*shakes head* Sigh...
I just wanted to say that I read The Great gatsby when I was a junior in high school..... which was nearly 6 years ago. It's a fantastic book!!! I'm so glad that it's required reading.
This was a Great analysis of The Great Gatsby. You really understand the characters and reading your analysis really helped me better understand the methods of symbolism used in this story. I think you helped me understand this book more than the book did! thank you!
While it is true that many students don't read the actual text of a novel when they are assigned it in class, I think it unfair to assume that a student who misrepresents the plot has not read the book. I teach this book to an Honors 11th grade class and have found that, while most of them are able to make sense of the text, there are always a few misunderstandings. There are several possibilities other than the student's neglect of the book. ESOL students, for example, and students raised with Black English Vernacular have a particularly hard time with certain phrasings. I think it is dangerous to prematurely attack a student who is confused and asks questions because this could discourage further inquiry.
Actually there is a theory of a theme of homo-eroticism being present in Tom and Myrtle's apartment. I don't really agree, but the elevator scene apparently uses the handle as a somewhat phallic symbol and the 'groan' of the elevator and then what you have mentioned..its all supposed to tie in. So this was not an entirely useless comment...maybe give ppl some credit for bothering to make this site and cut them some slack. Its not like theyre taking money for it.
These comments do not seem to me, to even be worth commenting on. Brian, I would find it almost impossible to believe you have even read The Great Gatsby. Some of the information is correct, but for the most part, if you have not been wasting your time creating bull****, your sources are very unreliable.