Liam Fitzpatrick
English 300 Period 4
January 2nd, 2011
Mr. Puppione
English 300 Period 4
January 2nd, 2011
Mr. Puppione
Chapter 1: pages 1-22
- A boy named Nick narrates the story and begins by discussing how he does not judge people. Nick moves to the West Egg in New York. He then meets his Cousin for Dinner in the East Egg. Nick has dinner with his cousin Daisy, her husband Tom, and their friend Jordan. Tom gets a call from his lover and Daisy attempts to listen to the conversation. After an awkward dinner Daisy and Tom try to get Nick to date Jordan. When Nick goes home he sees Gatsby on a lawn.
-Tom:
“It was a body capable of enormous leverage-a cruel body”
Nick describes Tom as a powerful and strong man. Tom’s strength is expressed through his big body and his power is demonstrated through his Wealth. Tom does not think of anyone other than himself in the first chapter. He cheats on his wife, the person he is supposed to trust the most and love unconditionally. This demonstrates how he puts his feeling in front of his wife’s. While Nick is discussing the racism in the book, “The Rise of the Colored Empires,” Tom says racist comments implying that his race is better than any other one. Tom illustrates that he does not think of others passed the color of their skin. Tom is a self-absorbed wealthy man who is the opposite of Nick.
-Quote:
“Whenever you feel like criticizing any one just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.”
This quote stood out to me because it relates to so much in my high school experience. In high school kids like to “talk trash” about others when most of the time the people being talked about did not do anything wrong. Rumors are spread and reputations are ruined because people criticize others. This could all be avoided if people learned to “put themselves in others shoes.” This quote is expressing how judgment can be avoided by looking at the situation from another point of view. Also, the book starts off with this quote so I figured it is going to be important later.
lfitzpatrick12.blogspot.com
Liam Fitzpatrick
ReplyDeleteEnglish 300 Period 4
February 1st, 2011
Mr. Puppione
Chapter 2: Pages 23-39
Nick and Tom take a bus to the city. Tom leads Nick to George Wilson’s house and their they pick up Tom’s lover Myrtle. They take Myrtle to an apartment and then they run into Myrtle’s sister Catherine and the McKee couple. While at a party, everyone becomes really drunk and Myrtle mentions Tom’s wife. Tom warns her not to mention Daisy again. Then when Myrtle mentions Daisy again, he breaks her nose. This ends the party and Nick heads home and falls asleep waiting for a train.
Ms. Myrtle Wilson
“I married him because I thought he was a gentleman, I thought he knew something about breeding, but he wasn’t fit to lick my shoes.”
Myrtle is in her mid thirties, a little short, and on the heavier side. She dressed nicely and had no “gleam” on her face. She walked passed her husband as if he wasn’t there expressing her power.
Myrtle is Tom’s lover. She believes she is too good for George her husband so she cheats on him. She is just like Tom in the sense that they both do not care for anyone other than themselves and they are both powerful. They both treat their spouses terribly and like they are better than them. Myrtle sees herself as above everyone else.
“Making a short deft Movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand.”
This quote stood out because it relates to the description of Tom in chapter 1. He was described as a strong man that is very powerful. Also, Catherine told Nick how Tom did not care about Daisy yet he illustrates that he feels guilty by hitting Myrtle when she mentions Daisy’s name.
lftzpatrick12.blogspot.com
Liam Fitzpatrick
ReplyDeleteEnglish 300 Period 3
February 1st, 2011
Mr. Puppione
Chapter 3: Pages 39-60
Nick gets invited to Gatsby’s party which he attends with Jordan Baker. Jordan and Nick walk around listening to rumors about Gatsby and they start looking for him. While looking for Gatsby they meet a man that Nick calls Owl Eyes. Jordan and Nick then go outside and sit a table with a man. This man happens to have served in the same division as Nick during the war. This man happens to be Jay Gatsby. Nick takes great interest in Gatsby and realizes he has feelings for Jordan. Nick admits that Jordan is a dishonest person.
Jay Gatsby
“He smiled understandingly- much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced-or seemed to face the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you that had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey.”
Jay Gatsby is man with money, looks and generosity. He is humble and does not show off his money and wealth yet he shares it with everyone by throwing these parties. He makes the people feel like they belong. Although these parties are such a hit, he watches the party and sits by himself. No one at the party really knows him or his story.
So far in the story, Gatsby is a man of interest and mystery. Everyone seems to be fascinated by him. He is talked about everywhere yet no one knows him. He is a man of mystery and not much is known about him. His character interest Nick and provides a sense of optimism to the novel. Gatsby is the symbol of yoda (from star wars) in the sense that he is wise and I believe that he will be a source of information to the other characters.
“I am one of the few honest people I know.”
This quote stood out to me because often times I feel like that. I have heard many people make up stories to make themselves sound cool. I have heard this many times and I cannot stand it. People care so much about their reputation that they are willing to lie to everyone about who they really are. Also I hear people talk poorly about other people behind their backs when they pretend to be their friends to their face. How are people supposed to know who they’re real friends are if everyone is talking about others behind their backs.
lfitzpatrick12.blogspot.com
Liam Fitzpatrick
ReplyDeleteEnglish 300 Period 4
February 3rd, 2011
Mr. Puppione
Chapter 4: Pages 62-80
In this chapter, Nick listens to Gatsby describe his past although it seems very unbelievable. A cop pulls Nick over in the valley of ashes but Gatsby just shows him a card and the cop leaves. Then Nick is introduced to Meyer Wolfshiem who is very shady and has some underground businesses, He tells Nick that Gatsby became famous by working with Meyer. After that, Jordan and Nick have lunch and Jordan tells Nick that Gatsby is in love with Daisy and would like Nick to set them up on a date. Gatsby wants the date to be secret because Gatsby and Daisy have an interesting past.
Meyer Wolfshiem
“He’s the man who fixed the World Series back in 1919”
Wolfshiem is a flat nosed Jew with a big head and small eyes. He is fifty years old very intelligent and knows how to get want he wants He is very social and polite.
Wolfshiem was interesting to me because he gave another reason for why Gatsby was so wealthy. There is still not much known about Gatsby and how he got so rich. My original impression of him was that he was a very nice and honest man but Meyer illustrates that he may not be that great of a guy.
“There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy, and the tired.”
This quote stood out because it explains that you get to choose what you want to be in life and that you get to make your life whatever you want it to be. Life is full of opportunities and you can either purse those opportunities or you can pretend you are too busy, or too tired. I heard another quote that states “In life you can have one of two things, excuses or results.” Both of these quotes mean the same thing to me; you can either work as hard as you can to gain the live you want, or you can give an excuse for why you are so miserable.
lfitzpatrick12.blogspot.com
Liam Fitzpatrick
ReplyDeleteEnglish 300 Period 4
Mon. 2/7/11
Mr. Puppione
Chapter 5: Pages 81-96
Chapter 5 starts with Nick and Gatsby having a conversation in which Gatsby tries to get Nick to agree to set up a date between Gatsby and Daisy. It rains on the day of the meeting and Gatsby becomes very nervous. When Daisy gets there Gatsby goes on a walk by himself around his mansion in the rain. At first the meeting is awkward but then the rain clears up and it becomes very fun. Nick and Daisy go over to Gatsby’s house and listen to Klipspringer play the piano. Nick then leaves Daisy and Gatsby alone.
Daisy Bachanan
“The exhilarating ripple of her voice was a wild tonic in the rain. I had to follow the sound of it for a moment, up and down, with my ear alone before any words came through. A damp steak of hair lay like a dash of blue paint across her cheek and her hand was wet glistening drops as I took it to help her from the car.”
Daisy, throughout the novel, has been happy and makes the best of situations. She always seems to be in a good mood and she convinces others she is happy when really she does not enjoy her life. Her husband is unfaithful yet she attempts to make the marriage work. Daisy is very good at pretending to be happy.
“Americans, while occasionally willing to be serfs, have always been obstinate about being peasantry.”
This quote illustrates how American, especially at the time, was too involved in self-interest. During the time of “The Lost Generation,” people only looked out for themselves and sought money and material objects while they should have been searching for love and happiness. Also, this quote explains why Gatsby showed off all of his things to Daisy. Gatsby felt the need to impress her because Americans feel that money is the most important thing to have in order to get someone to love you.
Liam Fitzpatrick
ReplyDeleteEnglish 300 Period 4
Wed. 2/9/11
Mr. Puppione
Chapter 6: Pages 97-111
A reporter came to Gatsby’s house to interview him. Then we hear about the true of Gatsby’s passed and his journey with Dan Cody. Nick goes awhile without speaking to Gatsby or Daisy and when e stops by Gatsby’s house he sees Tom there. The Sloanes and Tom invite Gatsby to have dinner with them. Tom and Daisy attend Gatsby’s next party and they do not have a good time. Once they leave, Gatsby runs to Nick and describes how he wants Daisy to leave Tom so that’s they can be together.
Dan Cody
“Sober knew that lavish doings Dan Cody drunk might soon be about.”
He is a florid, grey man with a drinking problem. He has a hard, empty face. He was Gatsby’s best friend and mentor until he died at 50.
Dan took Gatsby with him on his ship when Gatsby has no one else. Mr. Cody is the reason that Gatsby does not drink very much. Also, because of all the nice things that Dan had, Gatsby became obsessed with material objects. Dan obviously had great influence over Gatsby and changes the way he thinks. Since Gatsby had been on the boat he dedicated his life to gaining martial objects.
“He talked a lot about the past, and I gathered that he wanted to recover something.”
This quote illustrates that Gatsby is living in the past and is obsessing over things that are already gone. The only things that were described in his room were the pictures of Dan Cody from years ago and a picture of Gatsby when he was younger. Gatsby has spent every second of everyday chasing a girl that he has not been with for many years. Gatsby needs to learn how to move on and learn from the past instead of dwelling in it.
lfitzpatrick12.blogspot.com
Liam Fitzpatrick
ReplyDeleteEnglish 300 Period 4
Mon. 2/13/11
Mr. Puppione
Chapter 7: Pages 113-145
Nick Stop by Gatsby’s house because Gatsby is acting differently and I not having anymore parties. The next day it is very hot and Jordan, Nick, Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby go to the city and get a hotel room. Gatsby and Daisy drive together. At the hotel suite, Tom and Gatsby get into arguments about Daisy and whom she loves. Everyone then decides to go home. On the way home Daisy runs over Myrtle and kills her. Tom becomes extremely annoyed and he blames Gatsby for the incident. They all meet up at Tom’s house except for Gatsby who is nowhere to be found. Nick decides to leave and while he is waiting for a cab he sees Gatsby. Jay is waiting outside incase he needs to protect Daisy from Tom. Gatsby send Nick back to make sure that Daisy is safe and Nick discovers that Tom and Daisy have made up and are no longer mad at each other. Nick then goes home and leaves Gatsby alone.
George Wilson
“Michaelis advised him to go to bed, but Wilson reused, saying the he’d miss a lot of business if he did.”
George Wilson is a caring man who loves Myrtle with all his heart. He is very hard working and gives 100% to his work even though he is poor. He does not stand up for himself when people like Tom pick on him.
George is in the novel to contrast Tom. Tom treats woman like objects and he does not care about them whereas George is in love with Myrtle and he really cares about her. George sees how money can corrupt people and make them into terrible people. Also, George does not love people because of money or looks, he love them because of who they are. Mr. Wilson demonstrates that the idea that if you come to America and work hard you can be whoever you want to be is not true. Wilson works extremely hard at his job yet he is still poor and has nothing to look forward to. He is the symbol of corruption in society.
“Was Daisy Driving?” Yes,” he said after a moment, “but of course I’ll say I was.”
This quote illustrates how much Gatsby loves Daisy. Throughout the novel, Gatsby does crazy things for Daisy. It has been a question in our class and in my mind as to whether Gatsby actually love her or not. I feel that this quote demonstrates that he actually does love her because in the earlier chapters he just buys things for her and now he is actually doing something that does not involve material objects. This is exemplifying that he loves her beyond material objects.
lfitzpatrick12.blogspot.com
Liam Fitzpatrick
ReplyDeleteEnglish 300 Period 4
February 18, 2011
Mr. Puppione
Ch. 8: Pages 147-162
Nick is unable to sleep and he feels the need to tell Gatsby something. He goes to Gatsby’s house and Gatsby tells him how he waited until 4 in the morning for Daisy and in the end she just turned off the light and left. Then Gatsby goes on to talk about his past with Dan Cody and Daisy. George becomes obsessed with finding the person who killed Myrtle and Tom tells him that it was Gatsby. George goes to Gatsby’s house and murders Gatsby and then kills himself.
George Wilson:
“I’m one of those trusting fellas and I don’t think any harm to nobody, but when I get to know a thing I know it.”
George has based his life around his marriage to Myrtle. His hope and pride were taken by Myrtle when they were married. She basically took control of his life. When she passed away, he was unable to continue living a normal life; it was as if a puppet had its strings cut.
“They’re a rotten crowd, you’re worth the whole damn bunch put together.”
Nick tells Gatsby that he is a better person than the rest of the people in the book. Gatsby is the only person with a dream or a purpose in this novel. Everyone else either coast through life not changing anything or they run away from their life when they do not enjoy it. In class, we have had discussions on whether Fitzgerald was saying that dreams are not worth having or whether he was saying people should have dreams. This quote expresses how Gatsby is the most admirable character. The only difference between Gatsby and every other individual character is that he has a dream. Therefore, Fitzgerald is saying that dreams are worth having.
lfitzpatrick12.blogspot.com
Liam Fitzpatrick
ReplyDeleteEnglish 300 Period 4
February 18th, 2011
Mr. Puppione
Chapter 9: Pages 163-180
Nick attempts to provide an elegant funeral for Gatsby. Nick tries to rally as many people as he can to come to the funeral. He talks to Wolfsheim who says that he will not attend as well as Daisy. The media is drawn in by Gatsby’s murder. Nick gets to meet Henry Gatz, Gatsby’s father. Mr. Gatz describes Gatsby’s true childhood which is for the most part, unknown throughout the book. Owl Eyes is at the funeral and he pays his respect to Gatsby. Jordan and Nick end their relationship. Nick later runs into Tom, he and Daisy have moved because of the crash.
Henry Gatz
“It was Gatsby’s father, a solemn old man, very helpless and dismayed, bundled up in a long cheap ulster against the warm September day.”
Henry Gatz is proud of his son and his accomplishments. Henry focused on his Material accomplishments and talked about Gatsby as a child and how he wanted to become successful even as a child.
Mr. Gatz is important to the story because he gives insight into Gatsby’s past. He describes James Gatz as a man who grew up and became successful. His father’s description of him just further shows how much of an illusion, James Gatz has put on. For the past five years, Gatsby has been acting as a child by obsessing over Daisy, while his father things he is being a man and becoming successful. Mr. Gatz role in the novel was to just emphasize the fact that Gatsby has built his life around an illusion.
“To-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms father… And one fine morning---”
This quote is related to Gatsby and how he chased a dream that he never achieved. This quote is aimed towards Americans that are chasing dreams. People will always go after their dreams even if they do not get it. Being denied a dream only makes them want it that much more so they work that much harder for it. They keep working harder yet it is unknown whether they will ever get it or not. This quote stood out to me because I was motivated by it..I will always chase my dreams yet I may never achieve them but my goals give me a purpose just like they gave Gatsby a purpose. It reflects in sports when it is tough to keep running or rowing, I know that trying harder gives me purpose. My goals will keep me going when it seems useless and I and whether I ever achieve it or not, at least I kept trying.
lfitzpatrick12.blogspot.com