The Great Gatsby Chapter One
Gatsby and America Nick immediately establishes the influence of his father on page 7 Which relates to the idea of how the past influences the present Gatsby’s past & present, America’s The American Dream was founded on hope: Gatsby has an extraordinary gift for hope. Nick too has hope as a pathfinder. However this comment may be ironic
Names What connotations does egg have? Nick and Gatsby are separate on West Egg- separate from the community of the Buchanans Daisy- connotations? Nature, delicate, pure Carraway also the name of a plant: Homely, natural
The Old World The influence of Europe is all around: Gatsby’s house is a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy Q What suggested by spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy? Nick has served in Europe The Buchanans, in contrast, spent a year in France for no particular reason A nightingale come over on the Cunard or the White Star Line
Nick’s Background Makes a point of stating his ancestry: Something of a clan…descended from the Dukes of Buccleuch. But seems keen to put the emphasis on the American and the entrepreneurial: The actual founder of my line…started the wholesale business…look like him This ancestor notably avoided conflict: Sent a substitute to the Civil War Family is important: All my aunts and uncles talked it over
Nick Tone of: that delayed Teutonic migration known as the Great War? He portrays himself at times as reserved values the fundamental decencies And is concerned with people’s conduct He works in finance: the bond business He seems to revel in being near the rich: twelve or fifteen thousand a season the consoling proximity of millionaires The white palaces of East Egg glittered
Nick Look at the paragraph beginning There was so much to read… What tone does he use? Midas- turned things to gold Maecenas- Roman patron of the arts Here he is looking back on his good intentions with irony. Because he is looking back this also colours the way that he describes Tom in particular.
Nick’s view of Tom Always leaning aggressively forward Shining arrogant eyes A body capable of enormous leverage- a cruel body I always had the impression that he approved of me and wanted me to like him with some harsh wistfulness Wistfulness? Look at the paragraph beginning Sometimes she and Miss Baker pp18-19
Ennui The characters seem lifeless, lacking in direction or purpose and full of ennui. What word choice suggests this? Yawned Unobtrusively Bantering inconsequence As cool as their white dresses Impersonal eyes The absence of all desire A polite pleasant effort I meant nothing in particular
A change in mood Look at pages What words suggest that passions do become stirred? Tom? Daisy? Page 20: her voice compelled me forward…street at dusk. Daisy’s daughter on page 23. Daisy: Turbulent emotions possessed her of the ether with an utterly abandoned feeling The basic insincerity
Nick There are suggestions that Nick too is suppressing emotions: Memories of the Teutonic migration He jokes away questions about the girl out West “I’m too poor”…I wasn’t even vaguely engaged She may be the reason he is beginning over again.
Daisy’s daughter pp23
Gatsby The reader is kept in suspense about Gatsby Like Nick we hear about him first through rumour and gossip First description: emerged from the shadow Language becomes quite poetic: the silver pepper of the stars Word choice? A single green light The unquiet darkness