The Great Gatsby / F. Scott Fitzgerald (pg 76-85)

Its kind of interesting that Mr. Wolfshiem mentions where Gatsby went to college, and Nick acts like its new information.  This is interesting because Nick had just heard from Gatsby himself that he went to Oggsford; however, Nick acted like this new information to him.  The manner in which Gatsby tries set up a meeting with Daisy is amusing. He is trying to arrange a way to see her without it seeming that he is trying to do so.  This happens today at school by way of a friend asking another friend to speak to someone for them, or find out is they might be interested. Today’s methods are via text, facebook, or email; and as round-a-bout as in this book.  “I turned toward Mr. Gatsby, but he was no longer there” (Fitzgerald 79).   This alludes to Gatsby capability to be cleverly allusive.  I find it interesting that Nick starts to think about asking Jordan to dinner.  This is funny because they were currently discussing a way to get Gatsby and Daisy to meet over tea. 

The Great Gatsby / F. Scott Fitzgerald (pg 65-75)

In chapter four, the first three pages are devoted to a list of guest that attend Gatsby’s parties.  This matches earlier mention in the book about the enormous amount of food needed for his parties.  I find it interesting that he list so many people and the tone of the book suggest that one should know all these people personally.  However this is impossible because they are fictional characters not based on any historical people.  His use of the term “old sport” in reference to Nick brings to mind the movie “The Santa Claus”.   In this movie, the head elf refers to the new Santa’s child as “Sport”, even though they didn’t know each other.  This is similar to Gatsby because it seems like a very friendly term even though they don’t know each other well.   “My incredulity was submerged in fascination now; it was like skimming hastily through a dozen magazines” (Fitzgerald 71).  This quote is a simile.  It’s comparing Gatsby larger-than-life explanation of his life to flipping through a magazine so swiftly one just catches the bold phrases and wonderful pictures.   One is reliving, or living just the highlights of life so swiftly, there is no savoring or depth.

The Great Gatsby / F. Scott Fitzgerald (pg 55-64)

I like how Fitzgerald two mini stories almost about what happened at the party right before Nick left.  The stories about a singer crying and people mixing up their spouses were funny.  I also enjoyed his description of the car wreck out side of Gatsby’s house.  These three stories make the book more enjoyable to read.  They also make it seem all the more like I am listening to a friend telling me about a fun experience they had.  “Reading over what I have written so far I see I have given the impression that the events of three nights several weeks apart were all that absorbed me” (Fitzgerald 60).  This statement makes the book seem like it is supposed to be a bibliography.  It make is sound as if Nick is the Author not Fitzgerald.  It contributes to me feeling like it is one of my friends telling me a story not me reading a book.  At the end of the third chapter Jordan is described by Nick to be incurably dishonest.  It’s interesting that after this he considers himself f to be the most honest person he knows.

The Great Gatsby / F. Scott Fitzgerald (pg 43-54)

In the third chapter Gatsby almost seems to be a ghost.  Earlier in the book Gatsby seems to disappear when Nick glanced away from him for a few seconds.  When Nick goes over to one of Gatsby’s parties he can not see him for a while after he arrives.   So many different people have stories about his past but none really know what he actually did.  All of their ideas are either outlandish or just gossip.  Gatsby is almost imaginary.  When Nick first meats Gatsby face to face he does not recognize him.  Dering this meeting Gatsby seems to create welcoming thoughts in Nicks head. Gatsby then promptly leaves because of a phone call.  Gatsby although he hosts a lot of parties seems to be distant from those at the parties and not many people really know him well. They all seem to know of him. “‘And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy’” (Fitzgerald 54).  This statement I think is a paradox.  When I first read it is sounds backwards but after thinking about it actually makes sense.

The Great Gatsby / F. Scott Fitzgerald (pg 27-42)

In the second chapter Tom is shown to be forceful.  He forces Nick into coming to visit his mistress.  Tom forces Wilson into ending their conversation about his workmen by threatening too sell his car to someone else.  Tom is very decisive and curt with the dog salesmen.  Tom also persuades Nick to come up and visit the apartment.  With visual picture given of tom and his actions so far in the book he seems like a man I would not like to have on my bad side.  I would not like to meet him in a dark ally either.  “We backed up to a grey old man who bore an absurd resemblance to John D. Rockefeller” (Fitzgerald 31).  This comment I think is interesting.  Rockefeller was considered a robber baron during that era.  Some considered him to take unfair advantage of his workers and not give enough back to the community.  This fits the salesman because he is selling sketchy dogs for questionable prices.

The Great Gatsby / F. Scott Fitzgerald (pg 17-26)

I find it interesting that you do not find out the main characters first name until page 19.  On the third page you learn some of his family history but not his name.  The main character is also the narrator.  This is a first person point of view narration.  Not telling you the main characters name and having it be first person point of view adds to the feeling of being told a personal story or memory. That is however what the book is and the author did a good job of giving that feel to the book so far.  Telling a story like it is a personal memory I think helps the book be more engaging especially compared to House of Mirth’s third person point of view.  How he references the cultural feelings towards minority races is interesting.  “‘This fellow has worked out the whole thing. It’s up to us who ate the dominant race to watch our or these other races will have control of things’” (Fitzgerald 17).  This comment is by Tom a friend of Nicks.  I find it interesting how hardcore Tom takes to the ideas in the book.  It is also interesting that because it says it is scientifically proven it is that much more believable to Tom.

The Great Gatsby / F. Scott Fitzgerald (pg 6-16)

I find the first two pages of the Gatsby interesting. They give me the feeling of sitting in front of my grand parents listening to them recite a story of their past exploits. These two pages seem to represent a conversation leading up to a story or a conversation that ignites a spark of recognition in the story teller to bring up his story in the conversation. This conversation then leads to him actually telling the story which is like the rest of the book. From the start of the book I think it will be more fun to read than house of mirth.  Gatsby seams to be more like most other book I have read.  It seems to be more of a fun book and not so much of a literary wonder kind of book.  “To see two old friends whom I scarcely knew at all” (Fitzgerald 11). This sounds like an oxymoron. If some one is an old friend that implies that you have known them awhile.  If you have known them awhile then you should know then.  This is sounded odd when I read it but know that I wrote this blog it seem to make more sense and seems to be feasible.