The Great Gatsby (Blog 8)

By: F. Scott Fitzgerald

I think that the rain in this chapter symbolized the
conflict that Gatsby faced in reuniting with
Daisy.  He was unsure of how she would
react; in addition, he didn't know if their
relationship could be rekindled after 5 years.

I expected Jay Gatsby to act cocky to try to impress Daisy when they were reunited over tea at Nick's house in chapter 5.  However, I was shocked to see that he acted completely different from this.  (I have only read half of this chapter so far, though!)  He was so nervous and practically had a breakdown before Daisy's arrival.  Two days before the event, Gatsby offers to have someone cut Nick's grass.  The day that Daisy is to come over, Gatsby sends a gardener with flowers and a man to mow the lawn.  He seems so serious about this event, which is the reason I did not expect him to get so nervous.  When Nick brings Daisy into the house, Gatsby is nowhere to be seen.  He emerges and looks almost ill.  "Gatsby, pale as death, with his hands plunged like weights in his coat pockets, was standing in a puddle of water glaring tragically into my eyes" (Fitzgerald, 86).  I think that Gatsby was afraid that he and Daisy could never be the same.  Because of this, he turns the whole situation into an awkward mess.  Nick leaves the room for a brief period of time to leave Gatsby and Daisy alone.  "While the rain continued it had seemed like the murmur of their voices, rising and swelling a little now and then with gusts of emotions" (Fitzgerald, 88-89).  Once he re-enters the room, Nick is relieved to see the two reconnecting and happy to see each other.  It had been raining the whole day, but it stopped when the awkwardness between Gatsby and Daisy ended.  I think that the rain symbolized the conflict that Gatsby faced.  He didn't know how Daisy would react to seeing him after 5 years.  Furthermore, he was terribly worried that their relationship could never be the same.  When the rain stopped, I think that it symbolized the peace of mind Gatsby was now experiencing.  He and Daisy were talking and were emotional to finally see each other again.  In the end, the problems cleared (like the sky cleared of rain).  I believe that Gatsby and Daisy's relationship is going to progress from this point forward.

The Great Gatsby (Blog 7)

By: F. Scott Fitzgerald

I was shocked to learn about Gatsby and Daisy's past in chapter 4!  The "secret" that Gatsby built up was not anything as serious as I thought expected it to be.  When Nick makes Gatsby go with him to greet Tom Buchanan at the restaurant, I was confused as to why Gatsby got so embarrassed that he walked away.  Nick seems just as surprised as I was when Jordan Baker tells him the whole story of Gatsby and Daisy.  Jordan noticed the way that Gatsby looked at Daisy the first day she saw him.  "'The officer looked at Daisy while she was speaking, in a way that every young girl wants to be looked at some time, and because it seemed romantic to me I have remembered the incident ever since.  His name was Jay Gatsby, and I didn't lay eyes on him again for over four years-even after I'd met him on Long Island I didn't realize it was the same man'" (Fitzgerald, 75).  When Jordan proceeds to explain Daisy's meltdown before her wedding to Tom, I instantly figured that she must have realized she was really in love with Gatsby (although she hadn't seen him in years).  Jordan also mentions Daisy's reaction to Nick's speaking of Gatsby when he visited the Buchanan house in East Egg just six weeks earlier.  "'...-I was half asleep-she said in the strangest voice that it must be the man she used to know.  It wasn't until then that I connected this Gatsby to the officer in her white car'" (Fitzgerald, 77).  I found it interesting that Gatsby never gave up on reconnecting with Daisy; he constantly hoped that she would end up arriving at one of his parties.  He even bought his house in West Egg to be closer to her.  When he asked his guests if they knew her, he was excited to find that Jordan did.  This is the long conversation that the two must have shared in solitude at his party.  Daisy seems extremely lonely in her marriage, and I do not think she is happy at all.  (Not to mention, Daisy's husband is a complete jerk!)  Gatsby also seems like he isn't completely satisfied with his life.  I really would like to see the two of them find happiness together!  I have regained respect for Jay Gatsby at this point in the book.  In addition, I hope his reunion with Daisy at Nick's house goes well.

Side Note:  I was really surprised and excited at the sudden change in Jordan and Nick's relationship!

The Great Gatsby (Blog 6)

By: F. Scott Fitzgerald

In my last blog post, I showed favor towards Jay Gatsby; however, I am not so sure how I feel about him after continuing my reading into the first half of chapter 4.  In chapter 3, I thought the rumors of Gatsby being a murderer were completely ridiculous.  I still do not see him as one, but the whole secret with Jordan Baker is getting me kind of confused.  When he and Jordan were away from his party for over an hour, I was a little bit lost on what had just happened because they were acting very suspicious.  Now I am starting to think that they were just talking about Gatsby's "secret" that he needs Nick to be aware of.  I think it's a bit cowardly that he is making Jordan tell Nick.  Shouldn't he own up to this secret and tell Nick himself?  "'You see, I usually find myself among strangers because I drift here and there trying to forget the sad thing that happened to me'" (Fitzgerald, 67).  Stop building up the suspense, Gatsby!  I just want to know what the secret is!  Even Nick is getting annoyed with Gatsby over this matter.  He even starts to regret getting to know Gatsby.  "I was sure the request would be something utterly fantastic, and for a moment I was sorry I'd ever set foot upon his overpopulated lawn" (Fitzgerald, 67-68).  Nick is already to the point of not wanting to associate with Gatsby due to the annoyance this issue is causing him.  Gatsby (NOT Jordan) needs to tell Nick the truth because he is making himself sound very suspicious!  I am questioning what Gatsby is really like at this point in the novel.

P.S.- At first I thought he was just trying to be friendly by calling Nick "old sport," but Gatsby says it so often that I am starting to wonder why he attaches this phrase onto the end of EVERYTHING he says to Nick.

The Great Gatsby (Blog 5)

By: F. Scott Fitzgerald

As random as this is, I pictured this library from Disney's
Beauty and the Beast when Nick described
Gatsby's library in this chapter.

Well, it's about time that we are introduced to Mr. Jay Gatsby!  Besides characters mentioning him briefly prior to chapter 3, it was difficult to know much of anything about Gatsby.  However, now that I have learned more about him and actually know his character, I really like Gatsby!  He seems to have more money than he knows what to do with, and he throws some very extravagant parties.  Aside from this, he seems like a genuinely nice person.  For example, at Gatsby's last party, a young girl named Lucille had a small incident that involved the dress she wore.  "'When I was here last I tore my gown on a chair, and he asked me my name and address-inside a week I got a package from Croirier's with a new evening gown in it'" (Fitzgerald, 43).  I thought that this was so sweet of Gatsby because at least he is willing to use some of his money for others.  I also liked that Gatsby was so interested in getting to know Nick.  I really like Nick Carraway, and he seems like he could get along with Gatsby well.  One thing that I thought was strange, though, was that most of Gatsby's guests either don't know him or just don't see him the whole time they are at his house.  I think that Gatsby at least makes an effort to try to associate with the people, but he kind of comes off as a shy and standoff-ish man.  For example, when the band was playing Jazz History of the World, he was just standing on his porch watching everyone.  "The nature of Mr. Tostoff's composition eluded me, because just as it began my eyes fell on Gatsby, standing alone on the marble steps and looking from one group to another with approving eyes" (Fitzgerald, 50).  I think that maybe Gatsby just stood back to make sure that his guests were all enjoying themselves, but I am not really positive.  Overall, I appreciate Gatsby's character as he comes off as a kind and genuine man.  Hopefully he continues to act this way throughout the rest of the novel!

The Great Gatsby (Blog 4)

By: F. Scott Fitzgerald

This picture depicts Jay Gatsby's house in the
film adaptation of The Great Gatsby.

Although I am not very far into this novel yet, I have already frequently taken note of Fitzgerald's excessive use of imagery.  He fabricates some really elaborate pictures for his readers.  When I first began chapter 3, I was really impressed with how much I was able to envision the extravagant parties at Gatsby's that Nick Carraway described.  Early on in the novel, the description of Gatsby's West Egg mansion helped paint a vivid picture in my mind; however, now I am able to envision more little details about his house.  Also, I am able to try to picture what his parties and guests looked like.  "On week-ends his Rolls-Royce became an omnibus, bearing parties to and from the city between nine in the morning and long past midnight, while his station wagon scampered like a brisk yellow bug to meet all trains.  And on Mondays eight servants, including an extra gardener, toiled all day with mops and scrubbing-brushes and hammers and garden-shears, repairing the ravages of the night before" (Fitzgerald, 39).  This thorough description proves that Gatsby goes all out for his parties, and he certainly invites a large number of people (although, Nick says that most people show up without an invite).  It also sounds like a great deal of drinking occurs at Gatsby's parties.  "The bar is in full swing, and floating rounds of cocktails permeate the garden outside, until the air is alive with chatter and laughter, and casual innuendo and introductions forgotten on the spot, and enthusiastic meetings between women who never knew each other's names" (Fitzgerald, 40).  Apparently so many people show up at Gatsby's that it is impossible to remember everyone's names.  Nick does end up mentioning that he was actually invited to one of Gatsby's parties.  "I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby's house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited" (Fitzgerald, 41).  I am only a couple pages into this chapter, but I find it interesting that Gatsby invited Nick, considering they have never formally met.  When Nick described how he got invited, I was pretty surprised because it seemed so random.  However, I feel like Nick is going to become good friends with Mr. Jay Gatsby, even though he criticized Gatsby's showy way of life at the very beginning of the novel.

The Great Gatsby (Blog 3)

By: F. Scott Fitzgerald

Tom Buchanan just gave me better reasoning to hate him!  When I read chapter 1, I sensed that Daisy Buchanan feared her husband, and I can't blame her!  In chapter 2, Tom takes Nick into town, where he introduces him to his lover Myrtle Wilson.  I haven't decided how I feel about Myrtle yet; however, I feel awful for her after what Tom did to her at the end of chapter 2.  Tom, Nick, Myrtle, Catherine (Myrtle's sister), and the McKee's are having a "party" and drinking heavily in the apartment.  Based on how much they were drinking, I knew something bad was going to happen, and my assumption was correct.  Tom and Myrtle were arguing about whether or not Myrtle should be allowed to mention Daisy's name.  "'Daisy!  Daisy!  Daisy!' shouted Mrs. Wilson.  'I'll say it whenever I want to!  Daisy!  Dai-' Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand" (Fitzgerald, 37).  Tom Buchanan is CRAZY!!!  I cannot believe that he would even think to hit a woman, and I do not think that saying he was extremely drunk justifies his action.  I hope that after this Myrtle realizes that Tom isn't as good to her as she initially thought.  She explained to Nick and Catherine that she was crazy when she decided to marry her husband, but I think it would be even crazier for her to stay with Tom after he broke her nose.  I am guessing that Tom is going to continue to give me reasons to dislike him.  Also, I am thinking that this event was not Tom's first time hurting a woman.  To put it simply, Tom Buchanan is a jerk.

The Great Gatsby (Blog 2)

By: F. Scott Fitzgerald

Although I do not know much about any of the characters yet, I do not like Tom Buchanan at all so far.  In chapter 1, Jordan Baker informs Nick that Tom has been unfaithful to his wife.  I think Tom is way too caught up in his riches, and he is completely disrespectful towards his wife Daisy.  He is having an affair with a woman in New York, and he doesn't seem to be very private about it.  However, I can't tell if Daisy really knows about the affair or if she is just suspicious.  When Tom leaves the dinner table to answer the phone call from this currently unknown woman, Daisy rushes to try to listen in on the conversation.  Towards the end of chapter 1, I began to feel much sympathy for Daisy.  She does not appear to be happy with her current life at all.  She talks with Nick on the porch and expresses her frustrations in her life.  She opens up to Nick about how her lifestyle has changed who she is.  "'Well, I've had a very bad time, Nick, and I'm pretty cynical about everything'" (Fitzgerald, 16).  In this quote, Daisy confesses that she has become a more negative person since she has been married to Tom.  I found this sad because it doesn't seem like Tom and Daisy really even love each other.  Another topic of discussion between Nick and his cousin is about the Buchanan's infant.  Daisy tells Nick a story about when her daughter was born, which I was actually kind of confused about.  She tells Nick that when she found out she had a baby girl she said, "'I'm glad it's a girl.  And I hope she'll be a fool-that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool'" (Fitzgerald, 17).  After reading this, I was confused because I honestly have no clue what Daisy means.  Overall, though, I have found that I like the character of Daisy Buchanan thus far.  Although she gets to enjoy everything she could possibly want, she seems to be kind-hearted.  I am predicting that her relationship with Nick is going to evolve into a much stronger one as the book progresses.