How does Fitzgerald tell the story in chapter 5 of the Great Gatsby
LYDIA GEORGE How does Fitzgerald tell the story of the Great Gatsby in chapter 5? During chapter 5 Gatsby is reunited with Daisy and it becomes clear to the reader that Gatsby's emotional frame is out of sync with the passage of time as the novel explores the coming of love of the past into the present. The chapter starts with the return of Nick from his date with Jordan whose relationship seems very impersonal and surface deep compared and contrasted to the passionate and fulfilling relationship of that of Gatsby and Daisy that is addressed and unpicked during chapter 5. Nick describes Jordan to have a ‘disembodied face’ and a ‘wan, scornful mouth’ which give her a ghost like quality suggesting a transparent and empty liaison. Nick returns home to find Gatsby’s house all lit up – ‘from tower to cellar’ and believes Gatsby is having another extravagant party, Nick walks over to investigate and on his way is startled by Gatsby. Nick invites Gatsby to have tea with himself and Daisy the next day, at this Gatsby becomes very alarmed and nervous about meeting Daisy. This brings to light Gatsby’s feelings towards Daisy and the subject becomes a sensitive one; this foreshadows their romantic connection later on in the chapter. Before Daisy arrives Gatsby orders for the grass to be cut and flowers to When Gatsby first meet’s Daisy he is wearing a ‘silver
Discuss the presentation of Gatsby's character through Carraway's narrative perspective
Discuss the presentation of Gatsby's character through Carraway's Narrative Perspective In the novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald tells the story through the narrative perspective of Nick Carraway, a character within the novel who has a somewhat peripheral role in the story. The effect of this is that the reader learns about Gatsby's character through the eyes of Carraway, thereby revealing information about Gatsby gradually; the effect of this is to keep the reader interested in finding out more about Gatsby; were the reader to find out his past at the beginning of the novel, part of the character's appeal would be ruined: his mystery. The mystery surrounding Gatsby is something that Carraway's Narrative perspective plays the key role in creating; that Carraway and the surrounding characters don't know much about his past, other than rumours and fragments of information to begin with is mirrored in what Fitzgerald reveals to the audience, creating an empathy with Carraway. This empathy with Carraway means that Carraway's opinions are likely to be shared by readers on some level, as Fitzgerald gradually reveals information. That Gatsby's past is shady presents him as a secretive character, and stimulates contemplation regarding how Gatsby acquired his wealth; as Carraway speculates within the novel, 'Young men didn't... drift casually out of nowhere and buy a place in Long
To what extent and in what ways is Fitzgerald purely critical of Gatsby's dreams?
To what extent and in what ways is Fitzgerald purely critical of Gatsby's dreams? One of the main themes of 'The Great Gatsby' is that of dreams, none of which is more noticeable than Gatsby's own dream of five years in his pursuit of Daisy. What is less obvious is how Fitzgerald wants us to react to these dreams, and whether he is being purely critical of them or whether he in fact does also reveal some good in them. In this essay I aim to show that although in a lot of ways Fitzgerald is critical of Gatsby's dreams, for example by ensuring that Daisy can never live up to the vision of herself which Gatsby has created, he is not entirely disapproving and in several cases even goes as far as to suggest that dreaming is what makes us human. One way in which we may be unsure about Fitzgerald's presentation of Gatsby's dreams is whether they are meant to appear romantic or slightly pathetic. At face value it can seem to be extremely romantic that Gatsby has waited these five years and remained so loyal to Daisy, and I think that it this way Fitzgerald wants us to be on Gatsby's side. Gatsby himself is portrayed as being a very romantic character and this can be seen in his speech when he talks about the past, for example telling Nick that "His heart beat faster as Daisy's white face came up to his own. He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable
What has principally interested you in your study of 'The Great Gatsby' so far?
What has principally interested you in your study of 'The Great Gatsby' so far? I find Fitzgerald's interpretation and examining of the American dream and ideal in The Great Gatsby very intriguing. The novel is set in 1920s America - a time when the country's industry was booming as the post-war trade took-off. As Tanner said, 'The American Dream- whatever one takes that phrase to mean - is not an index of aspiration but a function of deprivation', and Fitzgerald certainly explores the capabilities of his characters to fulfil this 'dream'. As the hero of the novel, Gatsby is the focus and he is presented as an attractive character, his exuberant wealth is attractive even to Nick, who I feel is often quite sceptical about his peers, 'there was something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life' - it is this attractiveness about Gatsby and his wealth, that perhaps those who attend his parties would consider his living out this American dream. Materialism is extremely evident in the novel, Nick describes it as an era when it was 'quick to get rich' and Gatsby earns a certain popularity and status due to his immense wealth and lavish lifestyle. Gatsby's house which is 'a colossal affair by any standards' and contrasts Nick's 'weather-beaten cardboard bungalow', which in comparison is nowhere near as extravagant. Gatsby's popularity due to
The characters are irresponsible dreamers'' - The Great Gatsby
"The characters are irresponsible dreamers''. How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of The Great Gatsby? The Great Gatsby is an effective novel in epitomising the relentless struggle of many to achieve the American dream. The economic boom and the radical change in society following the First World War may have contributed largely to the idea of the American dream. Fitzgerald portrayed in The Great Gatsby the stark contrast between the rich and the poor whilst revealing a common similarity - a hope in attaining the American dream. The novel follows the dreams of members of entirely separate social classes and encapsulates the thwarted dreams of both the prosperous and the underprivileged, through immoral and irresponsible actions. Overall, it can be said that The Great Gatsby summarises the way in which society's definition of the American dream morphed from that of achieving happiness to acquiring monetary effects. Daisy Buchanan can be regarded as one of the foremost 'irresponsible dreamers' in the novel. Her personality appears to reflect that of a child's. She often acts fickle, immature and is constantly seeking attention. An example of this is on page 15 where Nick mentions "I've heard it said that Daisy's murmur was only to make people lean toward her." Her childish attributes may have contributed to her irresponsible nature. After meeting Gatsby,
"Nick's main attitude to east coast society is fascination." How far, and in what ways do you agree with this statement?
"Nick's main attitude to east coast society is fascination." How far, and in what ways do you agree with this statement? In "The Great Gatsby" the feelings of the main characters are often difficult to work out, and this ambiguity continues with the character of Nick. However, I believe that the feeling of "fascination" could be taken in two different ways - positive and negative. It could mean that Nick is enthralled and entranced wholly by what he sees, or fascinated in that he is amazed by how fake or shallow the people can be on the East Coast. Throughout the novel, Nick's thoughts and feelings change frequently, depending on the situation he is in and the people that he is with, and this is why it is difficult to try and establish what his main feeling is as it varies so much. I will look at the main points in the book where the East Coast society is clearly shown, and try to establish Nick's main attitude and how Fitzgerald presents his thoughts and feelings to us. One of the primary places where Fitzgerald displays the society to us is when Nick meets Tom and Daisy. When describing Daisy's voice, Nick words phrases such as "low, thrilling", and calls it an "exhilarating ripple". I believe that this type of description, which occurs frequently whenever Nick talks about Daisy, show his fascination in a positive way with the East Coast world. The words "thrilling" and
Great Gatsby Chapter 9 notes
CHAPTER NINE Fitzgerald draws his novel to its conclusion. This chapter allows him to make his final comment on the corrupt and destructive side of the American Dream. On one level it could be said that Gatsby represents the success story of the American Dream - the epitome of the stereotypical ascent from 'rags to riches'. He drives his own fortune and prosperity acquiring great wealth and material possessions; but , ultimately, his dream fails anyway. Fitzgerald makes it abundantly clear just how distorted the collective vision of society had become with regard to the accumulation of wealth and the influence of mass media - represented by the eyes of T J Eckleburg. Such materialistic goals had overtaken the more altruistic and virtuous pursuits inherent in the original interpretation of the American Dream. In this chapter the reader senses Nick's great sense of despair, disillusionment and disgust. He is appalled by the behaviour he encounters in his preparation for Gatsby's funeral: 'I found myself on Gatsby's side and alone.' After all the parties he had thrown for a countless trail of guests who paraded through his house 'Nobody came.' The reader has now experienced Nick's journey, his voyage - note the sea imagery to which he refers in the final lines of the novel. It is interesting to note just how much Nick has matured as a result of his experiences:
To what extent and in what ways is Fitzgerald purely critical of Gatsby?
To what extent and in what ways is Fitzgerald purely critical of Gatsby's dreams? Dreams are a large part of "The Great Gatsby", both in the wider sense and in terms of individuals, and Gatsby is the character whose dream is focussed on the most. It is difficult to tell what Fitzgerald truly thinks, due to the fact that he uses Nick as the narrator - meaning the reader finds it hard to separate their feelings. However, by looking at how he presents the characters in the novel, and the society as a whole, we can perhaps see what Fitzgerald thinks about Gatsby's dreams in the novel. Fitzgerald's views are presented ambiguously in the novel, with the comparison to the rest of society being the main point against the title views, and the presentation of Daisy and materialism perhaps being the main arguments to support the statement in the title. One way in which Fitzgerald shows his views to the reader is in his presentation of Gatsby's dream itself, otherwise known as Daisy. From the beginning of the novel, she is presented by Fitzgerald as a rather annoying, simple character who seems to have very few redeeming qualities about her other than her looks. From her simple and repeated dialogue "Do you always watch for the longest day of the year and then miss it? I always watch for the longest day of the year and then miss it", the reader is made to feel that Daisy has very
Was Gatsby Great
How Great is Gatsby? The title of the novel, 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is ironic as the heading's character is neither 'great' nor named Gatsby. He is a criminal who has altered his harsh surname of Gatz to the melodic Gatsby and the life he has created for himself is an illusion. The book's name is the first feature that appeals to the reader. Before even opening the book the person expects Gatsby to be great. The caption, 'The Great Gatsby', itself suggests a theatrical billing given to an artist. It could also symbolise the act of Gatsby's life in the novel. Fitzgerald presents Gatsby as living a luxurious life, with plenty of friends, no worries and an honest man. Yet by the end of the novel his whole illusion unravels and the reader discovers that he has many problems, he is dishonest and has no true friends. One of the ways in which Gatsby is 'great' is the fact that he is extremely wealthy and owns many material items such as a yellow station wagon and a "Rolls-Royce". Fitzgerald uses descriptive words such as "hulking patent cabinets', "massed suits" and "shirts pilled up like bricks in stacks a dozen high" to emphasise Gatsby's luxurious lifestyle. Furthermore, to encapsulate his wealth Fitzgerald portrays Gatsby in royal, rich colours like "Indian blue" and "apple green and lavender." Materialism is important to Gatsby as he sees it as the only
gatsby 2
"The characters are irresponsible dreamers" How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of The Great Gatsby? F.Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" is a well known novel, which portrays the life in 1920's America and The American Dream. At that time the economy soared. Generation that fought in World War I used this opportunity to compensate by turning to wild and profligate living. The American Dream was the belief that anything is possible as long as you try hard to succeed. People took this very seriously and everyone had a dream they wanted to fulfil. Whether it was wealth, power or love, they did everything to achieve it, even if it meant death of other people. "The Great Gatsby" is a reflection of these kind of people - reckless dreamers. Even Nick admits this in chapter 9 : "They were all careless people". Nick Carraway shows his irresponsibility through his narration. Although he tells the story, he remains on the margins of main events, such as Myrtle's and Gatsby's death. He has to rely on accounts of other people, which makes him untrustworthy. Even when he is present, he doesn't know what other characters think and feel. He assumes that he does know, but the reader doesn't know if it's true, because the narrator might have misinterpreted gestures and situations, or added something from himself to make himself or another character look better.
