Whats Up With That Guy?!?
Flashback to highschool and try to remember one of the literary masterpieces that you studied...
Other than the traditional one-Shakespeare-per year play, I remember reading "The Great Gatsby" in 11th grade and that is helping me today. I think that this novel has a lot of depth to it, making it hard for me to understand because I am not the deepest of thinkers.
For some reason, I appreciate the story a lot more now than I did then. I am still confused about a few things in the story but the main query that I have is:
When did Nick start liking Gatsby?
As I recall at the very beginning of the book, Nick said that Gatsby was, " the only person who was exempt from my reaction-Gatsby who represented everything for which I have an affected scorn." Thats not really screaming "new best friend" to me. Was there an event or time that Nick started to take a liking to Gatsby? Or was it more of a fascination with a mystery figure?
Don't get me wrong, I really like this book. In class we all discussed whether or not we think Gatsby is great. I would not go as far as stating that Gatsby is a great person but more of a good person. Sure, he wasn't the most honest person but everybody lies whether they will admit it or not. I'm not saying that they tell massive whoppers but even the tiniest white lie is a lie.
With all of the deceit that permeates the entire book, Nick really comes out at the most honest character, even if he doesn't display a large amount of personality. I tend to take a shine to Nick just because he hidding who he is. I know that at the beginning of the story he says he is the most honest person he knows, but once again...everyone lies.
I think Fitzgerald designs Nick to have faults, even though Nick's life is not fully revealed in the story. I think Nick is as objective as he can be. Of course he is going to have opinions on certain events and people...he would be a good narrator if he had no opinions but he would not be a good character/narrator if he did not because then he wouldn't have enough human qualities.
any ideas for my questions... HOLLA!! :-D
peace
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I think that is a great answer Heidi. That is a perfect moment that demonstrates Gatsby's vulnerability. I agree with Professor Jerz that that is a very good line to describe the relationship between the two men.
Oh, another thing. I just noticed that I spelled "hiding" wrong. Sorry for making everyone look at my minor spelling error. :(
Heidi -- you found a really good quote to explain the relationship between Gatsy and Nick. Even if Gatsby had tried using his money to get Nick to help him, Nick would have resisted -- but Nick helps him anyway.
I'll never forget when my techer announced to our high school senior class that we were reading "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (I think i spelled it right). I knew I was going to like that book just by the title. Never in my high school years did a read a book so fast. I actually was ahead of our reading schedule and that had never happend before! I look back on it now and can remeber the factory scene where the big indian guy watches this strange assembly line. What did that scene mean? I also remeber Nurse Rachet and how great of a character she was. You hated her and wanted her dead, but you knew she was a great villian. I don't know how much of this book I applied to my own writing, but it was one of the few books (or the only one) in high school that I actually liked.
Thanks for reminding me of a book I need to reread :)
I'm not extremely sure on when Nick began to like Gatsby either. I think at first he was simply intrigued by the man next door who threw parties, but then came to know Gatsby and saw him as more than that.
If I had to say where he begins to like him, I would say it was the day when Daisy came over to Nicks at Gatsby's request. Before that Gatsby was still untouchable, but on that day, Nick saw him as a human.
Gatsby was nervous and worried, I think it made him more likable to Nick, because he saw that beneath the calm exterior, he had emotion, which we had never really seen before that point. When Nick gets the door in Chapter 5, page 91, he describes Gatsby as, "Gatsby, pale as death, with his hands plunged like weight in his coat pockets, was standing there in a puddle of water glaring tragically into my eyes."
The excerpt shows that Gatsby was in a way looking to Nick for guidence, and I think Nick admired him more as a person knowing he does have weaknesses.
Emily... when u said
"Nick really comes out at the most honest character, even if he doesn't display a large amount of personality. I tend to take a shine to Nick just because he hidding who he is. I know that at the beginning of the story he says he is the most honest person he knows, but once again...everyone lies."
I agree with you 100%, if you look at my blog called the O-NOT-SO great gatsby, I sortof jump around and throw my thoughts all down, but basically I said that Nick was a very honest character as well. I'm still really knew at this whole blog thing, I wish I knew how to link you to my blog, sorry. Hope you can find it.
Anyway, I'm not sure when he decided that he liked Gatsby, but I'm sure deep down he was infatuated with the fact that Gatsby was mysterious. He kept him close, because he knew that he was 'famous' throughout the town, and it's always good to have a guy like that on your side, ya know what I mean? But the interest in Gatsby itself was enough to keep him a close friend, and to like him. Learning new things about someone is always a good quality to keep friendship new and fun and evenutally still going. I don't think there was a distinct time in the story when it was clarified, but at the end, it was evident that he was Gatsby's friend when he was the only one besides his father at Gatsby's funeral.
Thats my take on your question. Don't know if you agree or not, but yeah.
: ) Melinda *
Donnie, the basic premise of Farenheit 451 was that the elite noticed that books make people unhappy because it makes them think, while television and other mass-media make people numb, happy, and easily controlled. Book censorship began gradually, through laws enacted stating that it was illegal to offend people in group X, or group Y, or group Z. Eventually, it was illegal to offend anyone at all, especially the powerful. Which led to the book hunts.
When I first read this book in the early 80s, I thought the live broadcast from a helicopter chasing a fleeing suspect was far-fetched... but now it seems tame!
I thought about your question and i'm probably dating myself here but the one particular novel that I read was( and please excuse my misspelling)"Farenheit 451". It's been so long ago I can't remember all the details but a significant part of the novel was the burning of books. The idea of acquiring knowledge was of great concern to certain towns people. If anyone can remember more I would love to be refreshed!
hey em! you are right behind me right now, crazY! I think this is an excellent blog...good question, I have no idea...i'll keep checking back though to see other people's comments...
WORD.
Melly Mel