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.
No comments:
Post a Comment