"Nick's main attitude to East Coast society is fascination" - How far and in what ways do you agree?
"Nick's main attitude to East Coast society is fascination" - How far and in what ways do you agree? In "The Great Gatsby", Nick is presented as having quite a complex attitude to the society of the East Coast of America, with this attitude often being quite ambiguous or hard to pin down at any one point. In many scenarios, particularly those around Daisy or at Gatsby's parties, it can be read that Nick's main tone could seem to be one of fascination, a word I am using in this essay to mean a positive admiration as opposed to a distanced interest. However, I believe that although this is partially the case there is another feeling beneath it which shows mockery and almost distaste for the East Coast society, and in this essay I plan to look at the parts of the novel where this society is presented and discuss how Nick's attitudes are presented in these ways. Fitzgerald uses the characters of Tom and Daisy very prominently in his portrayal of East Coast society and therefore the way in which Nick reacts to them can tell us more about his opinions, especially with Daisy. On first reading, I think that it is very easy to think that Nick is completely fascinated and entranced by her in a very positive way. One way in which this is done is by using many words associated with light, such as 'white', 'glowing' and 'bright' which give us the sense that Nick is almost dazzled by
WHAT DO WE LEARN ABOUT THE CHARACTER MYRTLE IN CHAPTER 2 AND WHAT TECHNIQUES DOES FITZGERALD USE TO TELL THE STORY?
Look again at chapter two of the novel. Then answer the questions. ) What do we learn about the character Myrtle in this chapter? The description of Myrtle in chapter two reveals a lot about he personality and appearance. Myrtle seems to be very sensuous and full of vitality, 'she carried her flesh sensuously'. This implies that she has a kind of sexiness about her. The fact that Nick describes it means that it was prominent enough for him to notice how she was walking across the room. At the same time the word 'flesh' creates an image of Myrtle that she has excessive weight. This could be interpreted unconventionally as slim and slender women are normally associated with sexiness and sensuality. Because of this stereotype, it could imply that Myrtle has confident quality about her, to be able to feel sexy enough to carry her 'flesh sensuously' and not feel ashamed or embarrassed as some women would. Myrtle also shows a little bit of aggressiveness throughout the chapter towards her husband, Wilson, the mechanic, and Tom, friend to Nick and Daisy's husband. The aggressiveness and assertiveness is not shown through her actions but her idiolect. When Nick and Tom go to visit Myrtle in the Garage, Myrtle directs Wilson, her husband to 'Get some chairs, why don't you,' she made no effort to use polite mannerisms to her husband or to get the chairs herself. Later in the chapter
How can Gatsby be called 'great'?"
"A bootlegger with gangster 'gonnegtions', a purveyor of sordid parties, a prime exponent of the hedonistic Jazz Age, how can Gatsby be called 'great'?" The title of F Scott Fitzgerald's novel 'The Great Gatsby' can be seen as incredibly ironic: not only can the 'greatness' of the eponymous character be vehemently contested, he is not even named 'Gatsby'. In fact, he is a criminal, James Gatz, who, although he appears to be an epitome of the idealistic American Dream, having grown from an impoverished childhood into a life of excess and splendour, he has obtained everything through crime and corruption. Indeed, it has been said that 'The Great Gatsby' is "a parable of disenchantment with the 'American Dream'"1, and it is, for the American Dream is the idea that "through hard work, courage and determination, one could achieve prosperity." James Gatz did not obtain his prosperous lifestyle through "hard work", but rather through felony. Of course, it may seem that he 'worked hard' for it, and there is no disputing his determination and perhaps even his courage, but the "hard work" on which the American Dream is based is not the work of criminals. Of course, we cannot deny that Gatsby has achieved a great deal in his lifetime, all, apparently, in the name of love. Indeed the narrator of the story, Nick Carraway, describes Gatsby as having "an extraordinary gift for hope, a
The Great Gatsby critical essay piece
"It was an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as I have never found in any other person" How far can Gatsby be viewed as a tragic hero? Throughout the novel, it can be seen that Gatsby's life is indeed tragic. His tragic life is portrayed throughout the novel to have been fated by the post-war American society, despite the heroic attempts he made in order to achieve his ultimate wish of obtaining the desirable and affluent Daisy Buchanan. Firstly, it can be seen at the beginning of the novel how he is indeed a tragic hero in the point of view of Nick Carraway. Nick claims that "there was something gorgeous about him", and he had "an extraordinary gift for hope". This portrays how Nick admires Gatsby's ability to dream, and how his attempt to pursue these dreams were nothing short of heroic. However, further in the chapter it Nick says "it is what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams...". This is a suggestion that Gatsby's dreams were forever doomed by some overpowering "foul dust", that his hopes were always destined to fail, and that it was nothing short of a stroke of fate which caused his dreams to ultimately fail, therefore deeming his life to be destined to tragedy. Gatsby's involvement with the corruption and crime in post-war America also shows an inevitability that, in the end, he was going to end his life
Compare and Contrast: Passage 1: Description of Tom, Passage 2: Gatsbyseen by Nick
Compare and Contrast: Passage 1: Description of Tom, Passage 2: Gatsby seen by Nick The first passage is a description of Tom. He is portrayed as strongly built: "It was a body capable of enormous leverage-a cruel body." He also seems to be a brutal an supercilious man. Words as "arrogant", "sturdy", "gruff" and "husky" create a mood around him which is quite unpleasant. This description is very objective and we get a clear picture of what Tom looks like. We are also given a description of Tom's voice as being "...a gruff, husky tenor..." The other passage is not really a description of Mr Gatsby, but rather an occasion which he fits into. The description we are given about Gatsby is much more unclear than that of Tom. The night makes the atmosphere more mysterious around Gatsby. Here words as "night", "trembling", "silhouette" and "dark" set the theme of the passage. There is a clear contrast in the themes between the two passages. In the first one 'day' or 'light' can be said to be a theme in comparison to the 'night' or 'darkness' in the other. Even though the description of Tom is quite objective, the sunshine and clearness has a high symbolic importance to the passage and makes it more of a contrast to the other passage. This sunshine could be there because Tom is an antagonist in the novel, thus his description should not be complicated as, for example Gatsby's.
Structure in Chapter 1,8 and 9 of The Great Gatsby
Structure in Chapter 8 of The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald begins chapter eight with 'I couldn't sleep all night...frightening dreams.' This creates the tension at the beginning of the chapter. Fitzgerald does this in order to prepare the reader for the worst outcome; the death of Gatsby. From Nick's diagesis about his restless night, the reader can understand the honesty of his relationship with Gatsby as he as a character can sense that there is something wrong. Beginning the chapter with the fog-horn 'groaning incessantly on the Sound...' surprises the reader as this is a sound that has not been mentioned up until this point of the narrative. The fact that this sound is not usual, also implies that the something out of the ordinary is going to happen, increasing the tension in build up to the crux of the narrative. Fitzgerald chooses to have the death of the protagonist in the penultimate chapter of the novel in order to present the reader with a mimesis, that is, that the death of Gatsby leaves the novel with no purpose to carry on. The chapter ends with 'It was after we started... and the holocaust was complete.' Nick describes the death of both Wilson and Gatsby as the 'holocaust'. This is symbolic of the two characters as one could argue that they were the most innocent of the characters in the novel, yet neither of them managed to fulfil their idea of the American
HOW DOES FITZGERALD TELL THE STORY IN CHAPTER 1 OF THE GREAT GATSBY?
"HOW DOES FITZGERALD TELL THE STORY IN CHAPTER 1 OF 'THE GREAT GATSBY'?" The opening chapter of any novel is fundamental in setting the tone for that which follows it: Fitzgerald therefore ensures that the first chapter of the 'The Great Gatsby' firmly imprints certain key themes into the mind of the reader, using a variety of devices to do so. The very first thing that Fitzgerald makes clear to the reader is the perspective from which the novel will be presented. From the first sentence, it is plain that there is a first person narrator, meaning that the narration will opinionated and cannot be taken as fact. The narrator is a man called Nick Carraway, and the first thing the reader learns about him is something which his father told him when he was younger, which he has been "turning over in (his) mind ever since" (i.e. something essential to our understanding of his views and actions: a core part of his psyche). This turns out be his father telling him that "all the people in the world haven't had the advantages that (he has) had". As a consequence of this advice, Nick tells is, he has always been "inclined to reserve all judgements", showing the reader that he will not tend to present his views on a person before he has had a chance to learn more about them. This appears to make him an ideal narrator for a story, because all of his views will be given after
'The Great Gatsby' is an interesting novella about the intertwining lives of those who are striving for the artificial American Dream.
Emma Kent 'The Great Gatsby' is an interesting novella about the intertwining lives of those who are striving for the artificial American Dream. It is a story of contrasts: the rich and poor, the loved and unloved and the different aspects of society that are shown in this passage through dramatic symbolism and highly structured parallels. The parallels between the first and third chapters show rich and privileged lifestyles, first the life of Tom and Daisy then Gatsby's party. This passage is conveniently placed between the two to show the "real world" of the likes of Wilson and other "sickly", "ash-grey men". It helps us to understand Myrtle as a character. Her hopes and dreams to get away from this life that is a constant struggle. This also describes the way both Gasby and the author Fitzgerald lived as children, and therefore their reasons to follow their dreams and aspire to something better. These parallels are a typical example of how novella's are tightly structured. We are led to believe that Nick is the narrator of this passage, however Nick has never been to the area before so when it is described cinematically and we are told of how passengers on trains wait "for as long as half an hour" we realize Nick could not have previously known this and therefore it is told to us directly by Fitzgerald. This poses a problem because the reader knows and trusts Nick
Write a detailed analysis of a section, highlighting the effects which F. Scott Fitzgerald achieves in your chosen passage (pp.88-90)
Write a detailed analysis of a section, highlighting the effects which F. Scott Fitzgerald achieves in your chosen passage (pp.88-90) F. Scott Fitzgerald is primarily concerned in this passage with introducing the reader to the unvisited interior of Gatsby's house and revealing the emotions that are provoked during the tour with Nick and Daisy. Indeed, the house is described as being 'breathlessly silent' and Nick comments, "It was strange to reach the marble steps and find no stir of bright dresses in and out of the door..." It is likely that following the descriptions of lavish celebrations early in the novel, Fitzgerald is aiming to provide a more realistic and intricate perception of Gatsby without the obstruction of the party guests. The imagery of wealth is continued to a large extent, and Daisy remains in awe of Gatsby's house and possessions. However, aside from the expensive shirts, Fitzgerald generally distances Gatsby from the wealth surrounding him and orientates the text around the importance to him of having Daisy in the house. Nick states, "Sometimes, too he stared around at his possessions in a dazed way..." and suggests that he is quite insecure in the circumstances by describing how he 'nearly toppled down a flight of stairs'. Whilst the house is lavishly furnished, at the heart of it lies Gatsby's bedroom, which is the simplest room of all and which could
Character analysis of Myrtle and Daisy in "The Great Gatsby".
Two of the main characters in "The Great Gatsby" are Myrtle and Daisy. There are definition connections between Daisy and Myrtle. For instance both of them are unhappy with the person that they are married to. This is because they are both in love, in different ways, with Tom. Myrtle attempts to appear as a high class citizen but the reader notices that there are many holes in this disguise. Myrtle wishes to emulate the appearance of a high-class citizen but the reader see a clear disparity between her ideal vision of herself and reality. Myrtle does not have the figure of a high-class woman. She is neither skinny nor beautiful. " ...her face contained no facet or gleam of beauty". Unlike Daisy Myrtle is not a physically attractive person. The book makes reapeated references to her being "stout" or "thick figured" All of the high-class people that live on East egg come across as physically attractive. This quality comes though very clearly in Daisy. Myrtle clothing is one of the ways that she tries to project this upper class image. At one point in the book she changes her clothes three time in one chapter. This repeated changing of costume is her attempt to be seen as though she os wealthy and can afford to have many different dresses. The material that her dresses are made out of is also very expensive and this is one of the ways that the author makes it look like she
