Words Describing Nick:
- Conscientious
- Genuine
- Straightforward
- Observer
- Hypocrite
- Chary
- Thoughtful
- Good Hearted
Chapter One
Response One:
I find it interesting that although Nick Carrarway describes himself as nonjudgmental and Patient with all people, he also describes himself as more morally decent than most people.
Response Two:
I was a little surprised to hear Tom’s racist attitude, the book he was reading was called The Rise of The Colored Empire. I guess I always thought racism only existed in the south back then.
Response Three:
I was shocked at the openness of Tom’s affair. Jordan simply tells Nick when the other woman calls that it’s Tom Mistress in New York, She doesn’t even know Nick.
Response Four:
Daisy’s relationship with her daughter reminded me of the 18th century when mother never saw their daughters but only had their nanny’s take care of them.
Response Five:
At the end of the chapter Tom and Daisy hint they want Nick to consider Jordan as a love interest. I wonder if this is foreshadowing a relationship in the future.
Chapter Two
Response One:
During the book when they travel from West Egg to New York City they pass through a grey valley where ashes are dumped. I wonder if the valley really exists and if so where so the ashes go from.
Response Two:
I thought the sign board with Doctor T.J Eckleburg eyes was symbolic of god, watching over the valley. The valley is where Tom mistress Myrtle lives.
Response Three:
I was absolutely disgusted how Tom paraded around with hid mistress on his arm. He didn’t even care if people he knew saw him with another women. Also, despite Nick “moral standards” he doesn’t seem to be totally against the whole affair.
Response Four:
Once again in this chapter tom totally appalls me. When Myrtle was saying Daisy’s name, he goes off and wails her, breaking her nose. He uses he body power as a way to show his dominance
Response Five:
I felt really bad For Wilson. His character is so sad. He has good morals and works hard for his family, and he doesn’t even know his wife is off having whole different life.
Chapter Three
Response One:
I thought that Gatsby party was a perfect example of the lifestyle in the 1920s. at Gatsby party everything if grand and elegant, people are eating, drinking, dancing, socializing, and thoroughly enjoying themselves, all very 1920’s.
Response Two:
I found it interesting that all these people come to Gatsby’s parties yet no one know much about him. What is so mysterious about this character?
Response Three:
At the party Gatsby never joins in on the drinking and the dancing, he simple observes his guests from afar. It almost seems like he is waiting or looking for someone.
Response Four:
There was such a contrast in the atmosphere between the beginning of the party and towards the end of the night. At first the is vibrant and there is a feeling of excitement in the air where at the end everyone is fighting in drunk stupors and Owl Eyes gets into a car wreck.
Response Five:
I was a little surprised by Nick’s relationship to start a relationship with Jordan, He knows she is dishonest yet he looks past that because she is a women.
Chapter Four
Response One:
An interesting thing I noticed about Nick is that he is more of an observer than a participator. One summer he lists all the people who attend Gatsby party.
Response Two:
I found it was interesting that Gatsby has such a story about his background. He even provides a medal, and several other tings as proof, almost as it had been rehearsed.
Response Three:
During this chapter you see a really shady side of Gatsby. When he gets pulls over, he is able to show a card and get out of a ticket. Also, he friend Wolfshiem was the one who fixed the World Series in 1919. It is definitely apparent that Gatsby has things going on he wouldn’t want other people to know about. (I.e.-daisy)
Response Four:
There are so many sides to Gatsby in this chapter. One part of him is shady and he has a lot of corrupt stuff going on, while the other side is this sweet, love sick man, still deeply in love with this woman.
Response Five:
The symbol of the green light is brought up in this chapter. You see not only does it represent Daisy and Gatsby desire to have her once again, but it is also symbolic of Gatsby pursuit of wealth(money is green) and his goal becoming a better man.
Chapter Five
Response One:
It is interesting to see the extent Gatsby will go to in order to attain his desire. He even goes as far as offering Nick a job to make Nick some money, which Nick seems to be offended by.
Response Two:
I thought it was really clever how Gatsby knocked over the clock. The clock which symbolizes time, in which Gatsby is trying to retrieve something that happened I the past.
Response Three:
When they first meet the atmosphere is so awkward and intense. Daisy and Gatsby both act like little children with crushes in each other. It brings realism to the story and allows you to connect with the characters on a personal level.
Response Four:
When Daisy starts to cry about how beautiful his shirts I am not sure if she is crying because she is honestly happy for Gatsby or if she if really just overwhelmed by the extravagance of the shirts.
Response Five:
I wonder if Nick feels guilty for setting up this date for Gatsby and Daisy or if he feels justified because he knows that type of love is absent in Tom and Daisy relationship.
Chapter Six
Response One:
I wonder if Gatsby humiliating experience as a janitor has anything to do with his determination in being a wealthy rich man, almost as if he is trying to erase his poor past.
Response Two:
I think among the things that daisy symbolizes, one major symbol is wealth. I think this I one reason why Gatsby may see her as so perfect among her other qualities, she is a huge symbol of wealth.
Response Three:
In this chapter use see a class division between the rich in West Egg and The rich in East Egg. People from East Egg disregard Gatsby not because of his lack of money, but because of his lack of social and aristocratic grace.
Response Four:
Gatsby is so tangled up in Daisy that it just makes me wonder is he so blind to the fact that she will never leave her class for him.
Response Five:
It is so fascinating to see how Gatsby character changes not that Daisy is a real person in his life and not just a dream. Now that Gatsby has Daisy he has captures his dream girl.
Chapter Seven
Response One:
I have always wondered how it came to be that Gatsby is already there when nick arrives to have lunch with Tom and Daisy. The author never really explains.
Response Two:
When the nurse brings in Daisy’s daughter, Pammy, Gatsby just stares at the child in disbelief as if he can’t believe she exists. I think this is because he is realizing that daisy did at one point love another man, get married and have a child.
Response Three:
I couldn’t believe how daisy simply kissed Gatsby in front of everyone, openly without fearing any consequences. It just shows what a careless person she really is.
Response Four:
When Nick, Jordan, and Tom all stop for gas Wilson tells them he has discovered his wife is having an affair. I find it interesting the story now puts Wilson and Tom in the same boat, all under the eyes of Dr. Eckleburg.
Response Five:
When Gatsby takes the blame for Daisy’s death you truly see how in love he really is with Daisy. It brings a sort of nobility to his character.
Chapter Eight
Response One:
I really think it was so symbolic when Daisy looked out the window and turned out the light, it was as if she was saying good-bye to Gatsby and to their relationship. It is just so sad that Gatsby doesn’t get it.
Response Two:
Once again you see clearly that Gatsby love for wealth and Daisy have intertwined. It was Daisy’s initial aurora of wealth and privilege that Gatsby was attracted to in the first place.
Response Three:
In the beginning one the story one of the things that made Gatsby so great was he ability to dream so great and actually live and breathe for that dream, it was very aspiring. Now that the dream is unreachable, it seems now just a quest to accumulate more wealth.
Response Four:
It is so fascinating how the author makes the weather completely change once Daisy decision is made to stay with Tom is final. It is almost like Gatsby wants to keep it alive, keep the summer, by insisting to swim on the pool.
Response Five:
I like how Nick compares Daisy to a rose, because I have thought that roses can be a precious beauty, yet they also have very ugly dangerous thorns.
Chapter Nine
Response One:
I find it rather sad that Nick was really the only true friend of Gatsby who actually cared for him, yet ultimately it was him who caused his death (setting him up with Daisy).
Response Two:
Mr. Gatz is so interesting because he is one out of all the characters who is truly proud of Gatsby and his life. However, it is ironic that Gatsby himself was so ashamed of his parents and background.
Response Three:
Throughout the story it seems like the narrator really paints the picture like the West is the promise land, full of morals and pure goodness, yet all the main characters are from the West and yet leave it. Very interesting!
Response Four:
I think one the greatest qualities Gatsby had was his ability to live on a dream. It seemed like the entire book he was trying to escape his past, yet his memories of Daisy from his past were what kept him going.
Response Five:
Overall, I thought the book was incredible. There was so much symbolism. I felt like I could dissect each page into a million pieces. I am not sure if I exactly understood everything in the book, but none-the-less I really felt it help me grow as a person. It also, gave me a new outlook on America and the “American dream.”
Locations
East Egg- This is Daisy and Tom Live. This town is across the bay from West Egg. This is the side where all the socially graced, wealthy people live. The shores glitter from reflections of the mansions.
West Egg-This is where Nick and Gatsby live. It is said to be the “less fashionable of the two”. Nick lived on the very tip of West Egg Towards the bay.
Buchanan’s House-Their house is in East egg. Gatsby can see their light from their house across the bay. It has French windows, brick walkways; luxurious carpets the color of red wine.
Gatsby House-It is the “factual imitation of Hotel de Ville in Normandy”. I call it a mansion on forty acres! It has a marble swimming pool and the gardens and lawns are splendid. The inside has libraries and ballrooms, great for parties.
Valley of Ashes-It is a grey land in which dust and ashes constantly drift over it. It is about half way between West Egg and New York, where the motor road runs along side the railroad.
Wilson’s Garage/House-The interior of the place is bare and dull. It contained only one wrecked Ford truck, covered in dust. Upstairs there was a cozy, romantic apartment.
Tom and Myrtle’s apartment-The apartment is in the city. It has a dining room, a small bedroom, and bath. There are lots of oversized furniture in the living room and one picture of a hen, which from a far looks like a stout old lady in a hat.
Nick Bungalow- Nick’s house is right next store to Gatsby’s in West Egg. It is rather shabby compared to his cousin’s or Gatsby’s. It is squeezed between two houses that cost millions, while his rent is eighty dollars per a month.
