Extract Coursework Essay – The Great Gatsby
Zahra Kiyani 12-13 Penguin Books
The luxurious house thy live in frames their characters; their house is grand and imposing, which could be seen as impressions or extensions of their characters. The Buchanans have spent a year in France, not fighting in the war like Gatsby and but as “ wealthy ” drifters. This means that the Buchanans are comfortable and do not have to work, so we now know their financial status. This extract concentrates on when Nick meets the Buchanans for the first time since he went to Yale. So far Fitzgerald has been describing Gatsby, and it seems, that the story begins here.
Nick visits “ two old friends” that he “scarcely” knows, which are contradictory terms. They convey a false sense of intimacy, and superficiality. Nicks own past is linked with that of the Buchanans- Daisy is his cousin and Tom is an old college football hero. Tom’s days of leisure are gone and he has so much money we get the impression that he doesn’t know what to do with himself. Nick knows that Tom is “ enormously wealthy”, and that they live in a rich neighbourhood, yet he is still surprised when he first lays eyes on the house. The description of the movement up to the front porch is cinematic and suggestively masculine; the description of the garden conveys strength and assertiveness, expansive “ ran towards the door for a quarter of a mile ”. as if the broad grounds are identified with their owner Tom. Tom stands on the front porch “ in riding clothes ”, which tells us that he keeps horses emphasising his own muscular qualities.
