The Great Gatsby / F. Scott Fitzgerald (pg 115-118)

Nick seems to be a flat character he does not change during the story.  He is a fixed point of reference for Gatsby.  His main purpose seems to be a tangible narrator so he can give the reader a better perspective of Gatsby.  If the story was told from the point of view of Gatsby it would seem more cluttered.  That point of view would also erase some of the mystery that is wrapped around Gatsby.  The mystery of Gatsby’s past and his elusive nature make the book a more intriguing reed.  “‘Can’t repeat the past?’ he cried incredulously. ‘Why of course you can!’” (Fitzgerald 116).  In the end of chapter six Gatsby is shown to be desperate for Daisy.  He wants their relationship to return to the way it was five years ago.  Gatsby does not seem to realize he can not go back but he could still be with her now it just would be different.  He seems to self absorbed in the past to realize what future he could have.  His desperation seems kind of like Lily Bart’s in House of Mirth and I hope Gatsby does not kill himself to.

The Great Gatsby / F. Scott Fitzgerald (pg 110-114)

When daisy and Tom come over to Gatsby’s party they seem out of place.  They are east eggers and are not used to west egg parties.  Daisy seems to enjoy her self some what but some of the people are too much for her to take.  Gatsby tries to entertain Daisy as best he can.  Tom is decidedly not overjoyed about the party.  Gatsby seems to kind of pick fun at him as well.  “‘Who is this Gatsby anyhow?’ demanded Tom suddenly. ‘Some big bootlegger?’”(Fitzgerald 114).  Tom seems to be very judgmental of Gatsby.  He questions how Gatsby knew Daisy.  Tom seems to be a hypocrite because he has another woman but he questions when Daisy knows someone he did not know about.

The Great Gatsby / F. Scott Fitzgerald (pg 103-109)

The beginning of chapter 6 seems to shift to third person limited point of view.  Nick is still the narrator but he is not involved in the story and he does not know what is going on in the minds of those he is narrating for.  James Gatz is introduced but is not really all that important to the story or at least not yet.  James seems to bee a flat stock character which is just used to fill some space in the story.  He also seems to be used as a lead into telling a part of Gatsby’s past.  James is portrayed to treat Gatsby as a roll model.  However he over exaggerates his qualities as a be all end all of a god person to be.  “But it was already Jay Gatsby who borrowed a row-boat, pulled out to the Tuolomee and informed Cody that a wind might catch him and break him up in half an hour” (Fitzgerald 104).  This segment of the book gives a break from the current situation that Gatsby is in. it show some of the good he did in his past and also sets the record strait on what he actually did somewhat.  This story also shows that he is not actually all that rich.

The Great Gatsby / F. Scott Fitzgerald (pg 86-102)

I originally thought that the main character might be Nick. I thought this odd because of the name of the book. The focus of the book in the beginning is how Nick meets Gatsby and learns about Gatsby through what others said.  I thought Nick was the main character because this focus on Nick’s learning about Gatsby and not Gatsby himself.  This changes in the fifth chapter and now the focus is on what Gatsby is doing.  Gatsby in his quest to talk with Daisy becomes the main topic of the story.   “He had passed visibly through two states and was entering upon a third.  After his embarrassment and his unreasoning joy he was consumed with wonder at her presence.  Gatsby originally seems to be a very distant, detached person.   Now we begin to learn that his detached thoughts were focused on meeting Daisy, not just because he didn’t care.  Throughout the chapter, his emotions change as the quote suggests.  We learn that he really does care.  He was just so preoccupied with meeting Daisy. 

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.