"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." (pg. 182)
I felt like this quote was important for some reason (and not just because it is the last sentence of the book). I think it's saying that our lives really can never escape the past. The past is what defines us, and we will keep drifting back without moving forward. Nick is telling the reader his story and how his past has affected him. Each part of this story has impacted him in some significant way. Otherwise, he would not have told the reader any of it. Overall, I was not a big fan of the book. Some parts confused me; other parts were boring. It was a fairly easy read though and there was some action at least going on in some parts of the book.
P.S. I hope this is my last blog ever.
Monday, April 30, 2012
The Great Gatsby - True Love or Just a Typical Triangle?
"He looked... as if he had 'killed a man.' For a moment the set of his face could be described in just that fantastic way.... Her frightened eyes told that whatever intentions, whatever courage she had had, were definitely gone." (pg. 135)
Throughout this book, Daisy and Gatsby have had a little somethin' somethin' going on. This is weird because they were planning to get married after Gatsby got back from the war, but Daisy married Tom instead. In Chapter 7, Daisy and Gatsby start to get a little more obvious with showing affection towards each other. Tom, being Daisy's wife, wants to end this right away. What I don't understand is why he would let them ride in the car together when they all took their trip. Was it a test to see if they would do anything? Anyways, Tom and Gatsby get into an argument and Daisy falls for Tom again. Who does Daisy really love? Sounds like a typical love triangle to me.
Throughout this book, Daisy and Gatsby have had a little somethin' somethin' going on. This is weird because they were planning to get married after Gatsby got back from the war, but Daisy married Tom instead. In Chapter 7, Daisy and Gatsby start to get a little more obvious with showing affection towards each other. Tom, being Daisy's wife, wants to end this right away. What I don't understand is why he would let them ride in the car together when they all took their trip. Was it a test to see if they would do anything? Anyways, Tom and Gatsby get into an argument and Daisy falls for Tom again. Who does Daisy really love? Sounds like a typical love triangle to me.
The Great Gatsby - Theme of Death
"It was after we started with Gatsby toward the house that the gardener saw Wilson's body a little way off in the grass, and the holocaust was complete." (pg. 163)
Chapter 8 is the second chapter in a row that has involved death. First, Myrtle was killed by being ran over by Daisy and Tom. Now, in this chapter, Wilson goes to Gatsby's house and shoots him before he even knows what is happening. I believe that these deaths are absurd. Why would someone drive a car into Myrtle? Also, why would Wilson want revenge so bad?
I want to know why it even crosses the minds of people in today's world to do such a thing. It is completely unacceptable to walk around and shoot people, but all the time you can turn on the news and some sort of shooting is being talked about. Society really needs a reality check but I don't believe that it is going to change anytime soon. All we can do is try to be the better people and show others how to act.
Chapter 8 is the second chapter in a row that has involved death. First, Myrtle was killed by being ran over by Daisy and Tom. Now, in this chapter, Wilson goes to Gatsby's house and shoots him before he even knows what is happening. I believe that these deaths are absurd. Why would someone drive a car into Myrtle? Also, why would Wilson want revenge so bad?
I want to know why it even crosses the minds of people in today's world to do such a thing. It is completely unacceptable to walk around and shoot people, but all the time you can turn on the news and some sort of shooting is being talked about. Society really needs a reality check but I don't believe that it is going to change anytime soon. All we can do is try to be the better people and show others how to act.
The Great Gatsby - Dramatic Irony
"'Then he killed her,' said Wilson. His mouth dropped open suddenly. 'Who did?' 'I have a way of finding out.'" (pg. 159)
I believe at this point in the book, Wilson associates the murderer and the person having an affair with his wife to be the same person. The reader knows that it is not who Wilson thinks it is. In fact, it is actually Daisy who drove the car and not Gatsby. Wilson never finds out the truth though, and things end up bad for Gatsby. Wilson finds Gatsby and shoots and kills him as soon as he sees him. His whole goal was to get revenge on who he thought killed his wife. Unfortunately, Wilson was not correct in his assumptions, and Gatsby had to pay the price. Although I can somewhat see where Wilson was coming from, I believe that he had the wrong reasons for just going out and killing Gatsby. He should have had some evidence to fully accuse Gatsby of murdering Myrtle before going out and killing him.
I believe at this point in the book, Wilson associates the murderer and the person having an affair with his wife to be the same person. The reader knows that it is not who Wilson thinks it is. In fact, it is actually Daisy who drove the car and not Gatsby. Wilson never finds out the truth though, and things end up bad for Gatsby. Wilson finds Gatsby and shoots and kills him as soon as he sees him. His whole goal was to get revenge on who he thought killed his wife. Unfortunately, Wilson was not correct in his assumptions, and Gatsby had to pay the price. Although I can somewhat see where Wilson was coming from, I believe that he had the wrong reasons for just going out and killing Gatsby. He should have had some evidence to fully accuse Gatsby of murdering Myrtle before going out and killing him.
The Great Gatsby - Flashback
"Now I want to go back a little and tell what happened at the garage after we left there the night before." (pg. 156)
As you can tell by the clever title of my blog, I noticed a flashback toward the end of Chapter 8. For this excerpt of the book, Nick is talking directly to the reader. He says that he is going to go back and tell the reader exactly what happened after Myrtle was killed. Nick explains that Michaelis told him that Wilson confronted Myrtle about her lover. Wilson is convinced that whoever was driving the car was seeking revenge and must have been her lover. I thought this was a strange theory for Wilson to come up with. If someone killed my wife, I would not think of it to be her partner whom she is cheating on me with. Everyone has their own way of thinking, I guess.
As you can tell by the clever title of my blog, I noticed a flashback toward the end of Chapter 8. For this excerpt of the book, Nick is talking directly to the reader. He says that he is going to go back and tell the reader exactly what happened after Myrtle was killed. Nick explains that Michaelis told him that Wilson confronted Myrtle about her lover. Wilson is convinced that whoever was driving the car was seeking revenge and must have been her lover. I thought this was a strange theory for Wilson to come up with. If someone killed my wife, I would not think of it to be her partner whom she is cheating on me with. Everyone has their own way of thinking, I guess.
Monday, April 23, 2012
The Great Gatsby - The Book So Far...
"It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey." (pg. 48)
When I was reading, this particular quote stuck out to me for some reason so I decided to put it in my blog.
First off, I dislike that the novel has long chapters. I would prefer a book with many short chapters opposed to a book with few lengthy chapters. I use chapters as stopping places, but it's hard to do that with a book with long chapters. I also dislike how much introduction there was to start the novel. It didn't keep my attention, and it was hard for me to get into the book.
On to a more positive note, I think that the plot is somewhat enjoyable so far. I also like how the author decided to have one of the characters be the narrator. I believe that it makes the story more personal. Lastly, I like how easy to read it is.
When I was reading, this particular quote stuck out to me for some reason so I decided to put it in my blog.
First off, I dislike that the novel has long chapters. I would prefer a book with many short chapters opposed to a book with few lengthy chapters. I use chapters as stopping places, but it's hard to do that with a book with long chapters. I also dislike how much introduction there was to start the novel. It didn't keep my attention, and it was hard for me to get into the book.
On to a more positive note, I think that the plot is somewhat enjoyable so far. I also like how the author decided to have one of the characters be the narrator. I believe that it makes the story more personal. Lastly, I like how easy to read it is.
The Great Gatsby - Romance
"They were sitting at either end of the couch, looking at each other as if some question had been asked, or was in the air, and every vestige of embarrassment was gone." (pg. 90)
Well, I saw it coming. Romance is introduced with the relationship between Daisy and Gatsby. They are reintroduced to each other after close to five years, and although it was awkward at first, everything seems to be going great now. They were in a relationship before Gatsby went off to war, but Daisy married before he came back. I don't understand why Daisy would do this if they were truly in love. Maybe she was lonely. I think that this relationship will be a major part of the plot. I haven't read past chapter five, but I have a feeling that the rest of the book might be focused on Daisy and Gatsby's relationship.
Well, I saw it coming. Romance is introduced with the relationship between Daisy and Gatsby. They are reintroduced to each other after close to five years, and although it was awkward at first, everything seems to be going great now. They were in a relationship before Gatsby went off to war, but Daisy married before he came back. I don't understand why Daisy would do this if they were truly in love. Maybe she was lonely. I think that this relationship will be a major part of the plot. I haven't read past chapter five, but I have a feeling that the rest of the book might be focused on Daisy and Gatsby's relationship.
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