The Great Gatsby Chapter 4

At the start of chapter 4, Nick discusses the list of names he made of the people that attended Gatsby’s parties in the summer of 1922. The list contained some of the most wealthy and influential people in the nation, which isn’t surprising based on what we know about Gatsby thus far. After this, Gatsby picks Nick up at his home for a lunch together in New York. During their car ride to the city, Gatsby asks Nick what he thinks of him, and to not believe all the misconceptions that most people have. This further proves the idea that Gatsby is constantly concerned with his reputation and people’s perception of him. While Gatsby tells, what is essentially his life story, Nick can’t help but be a little suspicious about the validity of what he is being told. When they get pulled over by a policeman for speeding, the cop lets them go on with their evening with no repercussions and even apologized for stopping them. This is an example of Gatsby’s widespread reach and power.

Once they arrive at lunch, Gatsby introduces Nick to his friend Meyer Wolfshiem. When Gatsby gets up to take a phone call, Wolfshiem starts talking about Gatsby. He says, “Yeah, Gatsby’s very careful about women. He would never so much as look at a friend’s wife” (72). I took this statement as a little bit of foreshadowing! When Gatsby returned to the table, Wolfshiem quickly gets up and leaves, which I found a little bit odd. It is soon after this that they run into Tom Buchanan, which causes Gatsby to disappear without saying a word.

Finally, Nick gets to talk to Miss Baker, and receives an abundance of authentic information about his neighbor for the first time. Baker tells Nick what she and Gatsby talked about that night at the party. She tells him that Daisy was a beautiful girl who was sought out by many of the military officers in Louisville, but she ended up falling in love with Gatsby. However, after Gatsby left for war, she married Tom, which may or may not be the worst decision of her life. This is shown when Baker recounts the memory of Daisy drinking (which she never does) and crying the night before her wedding because of a letter from Gatsby.  Long story short, she alludes to Nick that Gatsby is still in love with Daisy Buchanan. Baker also reveals that Gatsby bought his house in West Egg so that he could be close to Daisy. This meeting concludes with the mention of Gatsby wanting Nick to invite Daisy over for tea so that he can come over and see her.

This chapter was packed with clarity about the events of the book thus far, as well as insight into Gatsby mind. I would like to discuss the following questions with the class. What do we think will happen at this “tea” with Gatsby and Daisy? What do you think were the causes of Wolfshiem and Gatsby speedy exits from the New York lunch?

The Great Gatsby Chapter 3

I was undoubtedly drawn into chapter three by the descriptive imagery of the famous Gatsby parties. I felt like I could imagine exactly how the house looked and who was there and what was going on. I loved the odd yet specific details that made the mansion come to life. I also appreciate how Mr. Gatsby was introduced into the novel. I was expecting an extravagant man with an extravagant suit with an extravagant entrance, but it was so simple and sudden. Nick and I were both caught off guard to say the least. Casually meeting Mr. Gatsby makes him feel much more human, but he is still such a mystery. I thought I understood him and his personality until he returned from chatting with Jordan. He appeared to automatically shift how he spoke and how he carried himself once he returned to the party. I am curious to find out who he really is. I am also intrigued by the dynamic of Mr. Gatsby's parties after last night's reading. As the party started, everyone seemed to be having a great time laughing, dancing, and catching up with friends, but there was a mood change once the night got later. Handfuls of married couples began to fight, and most people had had entirely too much to drink at that point which resulted in pure chaos. I wonder if these couples are just as unhappy in their marriages as Tom and Daisy are. On another note, I was having a hard time understanding what was going on when Nick began talking about his personal life at the end of the chapter. I would like to clear that up a bit in class. I am also so confused about Jordan and Nick's relationship. They hung out at Mr. Gatsby's party and then all of a sudden he is talking about love! What is that all about? Are they interested in each other or just friendly?  The last thing I want to talk about is the last line of the chapter. Nick says once again that he is one of the few honest people he has ever known, but what exactly is the significance behind that?

Great Gatsby Chapter 1 & 2

This book starts off with narration from a character named Nick Carraway looking back on his past years. He tells readers how in his younger years his father told him not to judge people because not everyone has been as fortunate as he has. This is perhaps said to put the idea in readers mind to not judge the characters as we continue through the duration of the novel due to the fact it is one of the first ideas presented in the book. He describes Gatsby as “everything for which I have an unaffected scorn” yet also says “there was something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivities to the promises of life”. After this we dive into the actual story that takes place in the summer of 1922. Carraway tells us this was the summer he moved away for a year to learn bonds under his father's financial aid. He tells how he lived in West Egg and his cousin Daisy lived in East egg. He describes West egg the “the less fashionable of the two”. He lived next to a huge house which he refers to as Gatsby’s mansion. One night he goes to visit his cousin Daisy for dinner where her Husband Tom Buchanan greets him on the porch in full riding clothes. Tom is obviously wealthy and is viewed as a powerful man. He finds Daisy with her friend Jordan inside lounging around. The group spend time together catching up and discussing a book until the mood shifts and they are interrupted by a phone call. Tom leaves to take the call and Daisy frantically follows. Jordan tells Nick that Tom “got some woman in New York” and “thought everybody knew”. The dinner is left on an awkward note as the night comes to an end. Tom and Daisy hint to Carraway as he leaves that perhaps he should take in interest in Jordan romantically. As Nick arrives home he sees Gatsby for the first time outside. He can’t see his face but he just sees him looking out in the distance at a green light. Gatsby reaches out his arms and after Nick looks away for a moment Gatsby is suddenly gone leaving Carraway alone.

Chapter two starts off with describing an area halfway between West Egg and New York City where ashes are dumped on a plain. It described as this ghostly somewhat haunting place. Here is when the eyes are introduced into the book that we saw on the cover. They are the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg and are described as blue and gigantic with retinas one yard high. He says “they look out of no face, but, instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles that pass over a non-existent nose.” They watch over everything. One day when Tom and Nick are taking the commuter train Tom forces Nick off at one of the stops because he wants him to “meet his girl”. They walk out to George B. Wilson’s garage at the edge of the Valley of Ashes. Tom makes small talk with Wilson when suddenly Myrtle comes down the stairs seductively. Tom tells Nick that her husband does not know of the affair and thinks she goes to see her sister in New York whenever she is out seeing Tom. Tom, Myrtle, and Nick all leave and take the train to New York City together to an apartment. Tom pulls out a bottle of Whiskey and Nick tells readers “I have been drunk just twice in my life, and the second time was that afternoon”. Myrtle’s sister, Catherine joins as well as the Mckee couple. The group have a good time together and party. Gatsby comes up in conversation as Catherine says she heard Gatsby is the nephew or cousin of Welhelm the ruler of Germany at the time of World War one. They continue to get drunk together and the conversations are repulsive to Nick such as when they talk about marriage between Myrtle and Tom. Nick finds himself wanting to leave, yet at the same time fascinated by the people. Tom gifts Myrtle a new puppy and she continues to grow louder as she gets more drunk. Myrtle begins to bring up Daisy and Tom warns her to not say her name again. Angrily Myrtle begins to shout “Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!” and says “I will say her name whenever I want!” She is cut off by Tom quickly extending his hand and breaking her nose leaving her a bloody mess. The party ends and Nick quickly leaves. The chapter ends with him waiting for the four a.m. train. These two chapters a lot happens so I would like to just unpack everything that took place together. I would like to discuss Daisy and Tom’s marriage and if we think they love each other or if we can even tell at this point I also want to ask what people think Nick Carraway’s role and purpose is in the novel. Lastly I want to talk about different themes we have seen come up so far.

Hamlet Act V

Act V of Hamlet ironically opens in a graveyard with two gravediggers in conversation regarding the death of Ophelia. The first question arises when the gravediggers ponder the reasons that Ophelia will be given a Christian burial as her death seems as though it were a suicide. This question’s answer is that she is being given a Christian burial due to her high rank, but more importantly, this question introduces the idea of death and burial for all citizens. When Hamlet and Horatio enter the scene, Hamlet immediately notices a skull and questions who the skull belonged to. In this moment, Hamlet realizes that death is death whether one was of high rank or no status at all. I found this aspect of Act V to be something worth discussing because Hamlet once again faces the idea of death, but in a somewhat different light. In a way, he answers one of his troubles that he mentioned in his famous “To be, or not to be” soliloquy: what happens after death? In his time in the graveyard during Scene i of Act V he addresses this conflict and he seems to come to peace with returning to dust. Hamlet states, “Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returneth to dust, the dust is earth” (V.i.176-177).

Claudius, Gertrude, and Laertes then enter the scene with Ophelia’s coffin and Hamlet then discovers the death of Ophelia. A question arises in this scene because of Gertrude’s statement that “[she] hoped [Ophelia] shouldst have been [her] Hamlet’s wife” (V.i.211) and Hamlet’s statement that “[he] loved Ophelia; fourty thousand brothers could not with all their quantity of love make up [his] sum” (V.i.236-238). This seems to be the first real moment that the audience understands that Gertrude felt that way about Ophelia and the first time we hear Hamlet express his admiration of her. I question the extent to which these statements are true because Hamlet seems, through his guiltlessness, to be forgetful that his actions in killing Polonius indirectly killed Ophelia as well. I also wonder if this makes Laertes in a way regret his warnings to Ophelia about the validity of Hamlet’s love and the fact that Hamlet could not choose his own wife.

Scene ii is when Claudius’ and Laertes’ revenge plot takes place. Before the duel begins, Hamlet asks for Laertes’ forgiveness and explains that his madness killed Polonius and does not actually blame himself. I believe he cannot blame himself because as Hamlet is imperfect, the guilt of his actions would be overbearing. As expected, the plan does not play out perfectly. Hamlet makes two hits at Laertes, but he does not accept the offer of the poisoned wine. Then, Gertrude drinks the wine, Laertes wounds Hamlet, Hamlet wounds Laertes, Gertrude dies, Laertes explains that the king is to blame, Hamlet stabs Claudius and makes him drink the poison, Laertes dies, and then Hamlet tells Horatio not to kill himself to tell Hamlet’s story, and Hamlet dies. There is a lot to analyze from this scene, but I would like to discuss Hamlet’s death in the context of its heroism or lack thereof. 

Hamlet act IV scene V - VII

Act 4 Scene 5 begins with a conversation between Gertrude and Ophelia. Distraught over the death of her father, Ophelia seems to unravel quickly. She sings a song throughout the conversation, with themes of lost love, death, and virginity. Gertrude is not very interested in consoling Ophelia, but then Claudius enters and drawn into the strange conversation. Once he realizes her strange actions, he asks Horatio to watch her closely since she is not in her right mind. I thought this was interesting, and wondered why Claudius would care what Ophelia was doing or saying, since he traditionally has not cared about anyone but himself.

He then reveals the next problem, to come up, a very angry Laertes who is fueled by rumors spread about his fathers death while he was away. Here he confronts Claudius, backed by an army of equally enraged townspeople with the intention of de-crowning the king and taking the throne for himself. He lets Laertes continue to build up his anger, mocking him and letting it grow before he explains that it was Hamlet who unfairly killed his father, not him. He says that not only did Hamlet murder him, but that he had planned the murder before hand. Claudius tells Laertes that he will not allow for Hamlet to escape his crimes, and after learning that he is planning on returning anyway, they both jump at the chance to punish him.  

Claudius then begins to plan a way to get rid of Hamlet once and for all, just like he did with his father. He continues to encourage Laertes need for revenge, telling him of Hamlets jealousy of him and how his envy was what was behind his actions. They then begin to think of ways to kill Hamlet, finally deciding on a rigged duel between Laertes and Hamlet; a sword and drink, both poisoned, will make sure that Hamlet pays for his actions. 

Finally, Gertrude gives the two men news of Ophelia's death and Claudius lies to her, saying that he worked hard to calm him down and that this will only upset him more. In class I would like to talk about Claudius and how he stirred the pot, and how Gertrude acted towards Ophelia in the beginning and why.