The Great Gatsby Ch 8- END

In Chapter 8 and 9 there were a couple aspects that I would like to bring forth. Such as in chapter 8 the character Doctor T. J. Eckleburg emerges through the night with his seducing eyes and pale complexion. Fitzgerald does show that these eyes represent the eyes of God and by that he means everything we do is seen by God. This reminds the readers about the eyes in Chapter 1 and what they symbolized.

In chapter 9 It is all about the American Dream with that huge amazing dream that everyone has because it is what they want their life to become. Whether your dream is graduating college, having a very well-paid job, and starting a family with your one true love everyone has That dream. Gatsby is a prime example of this. He almost represents what a person acts like with an American dream on the mind. His wealth, fame, and love for attention are all trampled by society because his success was all an act put on because Gatsby was not born into his wealth. Gatsby’s dream of getting Daisy was never meant to be because Gatsby’s past caught up with him. This contrasts what the American dream  is all about which is forgetting and leaving the past behind because the future and what’s ahead of you is all you need.

The end of the book surprised me a lot with the death, fights, and heartbreaks. But an unexpected ending is always a pleasant surprise.

The Great Gatsby Ch. 6-7

A flashback with the real James Gatsby has finally appeared. The true story of Gatsby comes out through Nick who reveals that everything that Gatsby is now is not what he used to be. In college Gatsby had a low paid job as a janitor to pay for college. Because of this and the humility that came with it Gatsby dropped out. While working for Dan Cody, a wealthy business man like Gatsby is now; James falls in love with Daisy who is now Tom’s wife. Gatsby envied Dan and dreamt of becoming what he is someday. He later became who he is now the rich and wealthy working man but without the love of his life Daisy. The connection is Gatsby dreamt of becoming wealthy and famous while still seeing Daisy but he lost that battle with her. He is shaded y the fact that he will never be with Daisy again because of their different social classes. Daisy not so wealthy and famous could never be with Gatsby whose life is trapped by fortune. There slow connecting relationship may or may not rekindle or it could all just be a faded dream to Gatsby that his life is a fairytale with the riches and a beautiful girl. But will Daisy overcome the social classes?

The different social classes are what the book calls “new money” and old money”. The difference is the new money classes are people that have just recently ran into money and riches such as James Gatsby. The old money classes are the people who were born into the money and the wealth. They have had money all their life such as Daisy and Tom.

In chapter 7 Tom and Gatsby are going back and forth. It is like a giant love triangle between them all. Gatsby’s trying to convince Daisy that she loves him and Tom is trying to convince Daisy that she has always had feeling for him and Daisy is almost torn but later decides with Tom that they are together. Gatsby’s dream of sooner or later living a life with Daisy has just been thrown in the dumpster. He is crushed. Gatsby sits outside the lawn of Tom and Daisy and contemplates what happened and slowly realizes his chance with Daisy is gone. This almost brings him back before he became wealthy to college when he was humiliated with his life like he is now. His life revolved around Daisy which brings him back to the position of nothing.

The Great Gatsby Ch 3-5

In chapters 3-5 the setting portrayed as our society worsens with all the sinful acts being taken place. A lot is introduced with Mr. Gatsby but not enough to really know who he really is. Nick meets a new character Owl Eyes who in Gatsby’s elaborate library. Gatsby’s library is full of book. When the character Owl Eyes brings up that Gatsby’s titanic library is actually full of real books instead of just hard covers that look like he may have a huge library. This makes Gatsby seem like an exception to the others around him. Maybe he is not trying to put on a show and he is an honest person or maybe he is like the high class society that lives an opulent life all for show and bragging rights.

During Gatsby’s notable party Owl Eyes mentions that his party is like a theatre. Like a theatre the characters are just pretending and are only there to please the audients. So is Gatsby just putting on a show at his own party to please and prove to everyone that he is better than them when he really is just hiding behind his own web of lies? I think Owl Eyes sees right through Gatsby. He is figuring out the truth in him.  

The mysterious green light appears again. Although none of us know what it is yet but because it is mentioned in every reading so far it has important value. I am really looking forward in finding out what this is. The different social classes are starting to become more distinct also. The different classes with Gatsby contrast and bring out the underlining realities for each other. For example, Gatsby’s real library that makes him look like an exception to the rule about high class being fake. But then at his party Owl Eyes referred to his party being a theatre, in other words, or he was putting on a show to prove to the higher class that he is like them. But he is really like them? I am excited to find out the truth about the real Mr. Gatsby.

The Great Gatsby Ch 1-2

The roaring twenties were interpreted in a way through the story of Nick Carraway. He grew up in the big city but it’s ironic how he does not like it and that the morals are unrefined.  His personality and morals have been passed down from his family before him. All of them lived a life with high morals, so Nick moves Minnesota to get away from all the uncivilized bustle of the cities. Soon after moving Nick soon realizes that Minnesota is no different than the cities.

The Irony in Nick’s house is obvious. His high morals and almost high but innocent standards contrast with his rugged and low grade house. His new friends, on the other hand, have giant fabulous mansions that do not compare with Nick’s. Nick’s friend Gatsby has many morals and has the same expectations as Nick. Gatsby has an attraction to this mysterious green light but the symbolism involved with it may come later in the book. Nick realizes that the different social classes involved with the cities are so different and stressful that it overwhelms Nick. The difference between the west egg and the east egg are so great they cause controversy and arguments. (Calling the two side’s eggs was different to me.) Gatsby helps him out and brings him under his wing.

Meeting the relatives that Nick knew of but did not know about was interesting to read. Tom Buchanam who is married to Daisy who is Nick’s cousin. The people in the twenties had so much money and wealth that they thought they could do anything. Tom told Nick that he was having an affair with a married woman and Daisy did not know about it. Tom wanted Nick to meet her but I don’t think that was really Nick’s thing in getting involved in that.

So to conclude the mysterious green light will probably show up later and represent something with Gatsby. Nick is trying to fit in but so far is sitting back and watching everything unfold in front of him. He does not really know where to go or what side to pick.