Joana Tsuhlares Question 2
I think Nick brings a really interesting feeling to this novel. He develops with the reader, in the beginning he seems separated to the world he is entering shocked at somethings even, but by the end he isn't clear on his feelings towards people he is more angry and clearly plays a part in that upper class world. I do not believe Nick is trustworthy, he isn't clear on his feelings for Gatsby and other characters (Jordan) openly claim he us untruthful. This questionability of the narrator brings something to the novel. Nick says, " Every one suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known" (Fitzgerald 59). That's a pretty big, and frankly arrogant statement that gets the reader thinking about what Nick's position really is.
He is not perfect, no one is in this novel. Everyone has skeletons in the closet and the narrator isn't exempt. The point of this book is showing the role of a perfect dream. Gatsby tried to create himself a perfect world and it fell apart, so it makes sense that the narrator isn't perfect either. It shows how we all have different perceptions of ourselves compared to reality and it plays into the themes on unattainable and unhealthy dreams for the past.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Joana Tsuhlares Question 1
In the Great Gatsby we know Nick was born into an affluent family and he has recently moved to New York. He is distantly related to Daisy and he lives right next door to Gatsby. Over all through out the novel the story does not focus on him, but rather on Gatsby and Daisy. It does address him but the story isn't about him. My opinion really changed when it came to Nick through out the novel in the beginning he was an outsider. Nick wasn't comfortable with Gatsby's parties and the casual affair Tom had. Nick seemed above that, he seemed to be trying to be unbiased towards the story. He cared for Jordan and it looked like he would develop a relationship with Gatsby.
By the end of the novel I have a sour taste in my mouth about Nick, he is a complex, but subtle character, he does some good things, but he isn't all upfront. He says, "'They're a rotten crowd,' I shouted across the lawn. 'You're worth the whole damn bunch put together.' I've always been glad I said that. It was the only compliment I ever gave him, because I disapproved of him from beginning to end" (Fitzgerald 154) What does that mean? There has been almost no major point where Nick showed this disapproval. This is also right before he obsesses about finding people who really cared about Gatsby enough to pay respects, and he even gets mad at people who don't do this. Then there is the one thing that really made me think about Nick. Towards the end of the Novel Jordan confronts Nick with, "'You said a bad driver was only safe until she met another bad driver? Well, I met another bad driver, didn't I? I mean it was careless of me to make such a wrong guess. I thought you were rather an honest, straightforward person, I thought it was your secret pride" (Fitzgerald 177). This is the same position the reader is in, Nick seems truthful until you look at the little things he says like his comment on Gatsby, or the woman in the west he barely talks about, or how he continues to be his relationship with Jordan, when he doesn't really love her. This statement from Jordan makes you question what you don't know. He is hiding how he feels about Gatsby and the others, is there more?
I believe that Nick doesn't realize how many of his biases show, which can be dangerous, because that can make it hard to tell what is him and what is truth. He called himself the most truthful person he knows right after ending a relationship ,he lied to Daisy about, to be with Jordan. He is a part of that high-class and untruthful world, and he doesn't see it.
In the Great Gatsby we know Nick was born into an affluent family and he has recently moved to New York. He is distantly related to Daisy and he lives right next door to Gatsby. Over all through out the novel the story does not focus on him, but rather on Gatsby and Daisy. It does address him but the story isn't about him. My opinion really changed when it came to Nick through out the novel in the beginning he was an outsider. Nick wasn't comfortable with Gatsby's parties and the casual affair Tom had. Nick seemed above that, he seemed to be trying to be unbiased towards the story. He cared for Jordan and it looked like he would develop a relationship with Gatsby.
By the end of the novel I have a sour taste in my mouth about Nick, he is a complex, but subtle character, he does some good things, but he isn't all upfront. He says, "'They're a rotten crowd,' I shouted across the lawn. 'You're worth the whole damn bunch put together.' I've always been glad I said that. It was the only compliment I ever gave him, because I disapproved of him from beginning to end" (Fitzgerald 154) What does that mean? There has been almost no major point where Nick showed this disapproval. This is also right before he obsesses about finding people who really cared about Gatsby enough to pay respects, and he even gets mad at people who don't do this. Then there is the one thing that really made me think about Nick. Towards the end of the Novel Jordan confronts Nick with, "'You said a bad driver was only safe until she met another bad driver? Well, I met another bad driver, didn't I? I mean it was careless of me to make such a wrong guess. I thought you were rather an honest, straightforward person, I thought it was your secret pride" (Fitzgerald 177). This is the same position the reader is in, Nick seems truthful until you look at the little things he says like his comment on Gatsby, or the woman in the west he barely talks about, or how he continues to be his relationship with Jordan, when he doesn't really love her. This statement from Jordan makes you question what you don't know. He is hiding how he feels about Gatsby and the others, is there more?
I believe that Nick doesn't realize how many of his biases show, which can be dangerous, because that can make it hard to tell what is him and what is truth. He called himself the most truthful person he knows right after ending a relationship ,he lied to Daisy about, to be with Jordan. He is a part of that high-class and untruthful world, and he doesn't see it.
Question two Luke Knollinger
I think the author chose Nick to be the narrator for a few reasons. The first reason is that Nick isn't directly involved in any of the conflict in the book. He is mainly observing all of the actions take place in front of him. This gives him an unbiased view based off of the events that happen so we can get the clear story without having feelings get in the way of how the story went in the first place. Because of these attributes of Nick in the story, this gives Fitzgerald a unique and perfect way of telling the story by using Nick as the narrator.
In the beginning of the book, Nick is very neutral an optimistic about meeting the characters in the story and getting to see how the titans of wealth lived. He went with the flow and was just there to witness it all go down. He went to extravagant parties, and had great dinners and memorable times with these people. As the story goes on, he keeps this momentum going until after Gatsby dies. After Gatsby got brutally murdered, it changes Nick's way of life and how he sees these people. He becomes a drunk and New York haunts him. He is appalled by the lack of attendance to Gatsby's funeral. In the final pages of the novel, he sees Tom again somewhere in New York. Nick is disgusted to see him and even states, "I could not forgive him or like him" ( Fitzgerald 179). This shows the hatred for tom and he even goes on by calling Tom and Daisy "careless" as well (Fitzgerald 179). When he says ,"They were careless people, Tom and Daisy-they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back to their money or their vast carelessness" (Fitzgerald 179). This just shows the major change in Nick's attitude from the beginning of the book from the end of the book. I think this adds realism to the book and shows the reality of the life and the way Nick feels coming out of all of this. It shows that he is not directly involved with all of the events, but it ends up affecting him in a lot of ways, even making him an alcoholic. It also adds that Nick felt this way pretty much the whole time he was writing the story. These events weren't journal entries so they were being told after the fact that all of this happened. There is hardly any way to be able to tell that Nick felt that way towards those people until after it is all said and done and he tells the reader about it.
I personally believe that Nick is an honest man and is very mellow. He goes with the flow and enjoys every minute he gets meeting these new people. I believe these things because Nick seems very down to earth and He even calls himself honest on page 59. Also how he is very neutral and does not express any emotional irrationality one way or another towards the other characters until the ending of the Novel. Also I believe this because as stated earlier, where he's positioned among these people. He is not directly involved in any of the conflict, but rather just acquainted with the people involved. He has no emotional attachment until the end when of course Gatsby dies because of Tom's words to Wilson. In conclusion, Nick is a great aspect of the book, and Fitzgerald did a great job by incorporating Nick's point of view as the narrator of the novel The Great Gatsby.
I think the author chose Nick to be the narrator for a few reasons. The first reason is that Nick isn't directly involved in any of the conflict in the book. He is mainly observing all of the actions take place in front of him. This gives him an unbiased view based off of the events that happen so we can get the clear story without having feelings get in the way of how the story went in the first place. Because of these attributes of Nick in the story, this gives Fitzgerald a unique and perfect way of telling the story by using Nick as the narrator.
In the beginning of the book, Nick is very neutral an optimistic about meeting the characters in the story and getting to see how the titans of wealth lived. He went with the flow and was just there to witness it all go down. He went to extravagant parties, and had great dinners and memorable times with these people. As the story goes on, he keeps this momentum going until after Gatsby dies. After Gatsby got brutally murdered, it changes Nick's way of life and how he sees these people. He becomes a drunk and New York haunts him. He is appalled by the lack of attendance to Gatsby's funeral. In the final pages of the novel, he sees Tom again somewhere in New York. Nick is disgusted to see him and even states, "I could not forgive him or like him" ( Fitzgerald 179). This shows the hatred for tom and he even goes on by calling Tom and Daisy "careless" as well (Fitzgerald 179). When he says ,"They were careless people, Tom and Daisy-they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back to their money or their vast carelessness" (Fitzgerald 179). This just shows the major change in Nick's attitude from the beginning of the book from the end of the book. I think this adds realism to the book and shows the reality of the life and the way Nick feels coming out of all of this. It shows that he is not directly involved with all of the events, but it ends up affecting him in a lot of ways, even making him an alcoholic. It also adds that Nick felt this way pretty much the whole time he was writing the story. These events weren't journal entries so they were being told after the fact that all of this happened. There is hardly any way to be able to tell that Nick felt that way towards those people until after it is all said and done and he tells the reader about it.
I personally believe that Nick is an honest man and is very mellow. He goes with the flow and enjoys every minute he gets meeting these new people. I believe these things because Nick seems very down to earth and He even calls himself honest on page 59. Also how he is very neutral and does not express any emotional irrationality one way or another towards the other characters until the ending of the Novel. Also I believe this because as stated earlier, where he's positioned among these people. He is not directly involved in any of the conflict, but rather just acquainted with the people involved. He has no emotional attachment until the end when of course Gatsby dies because of Tom's words to Wilson. In conclusion, Nick is a great aspect of the book, and Fitzgerald did a great job by incorporating Nick's point of view as the narrator of the novel The Great Gatsby.
Question one Luke Knollinger
The narrator in the novel The Great Gatsby is the one and only Nick Carraway. Nick is a graduate of Yale and he works with trading and selling bonds to make a living. He makes good money and lives a mediocre life for the most part. He does not come from big money but does come from a wealthy family line from their earnings in the wholesale hardware business. He also has grown up with a huge family as stating,"The Carraways are something of a clan"(Fitzgerald 3). Nick is also a WWI veteran and served in the Army. These are the main points of information that we know about Nick and his life previously and leading up to the start of the book. In the beginning, Nick is very informational and gives us a descent amount of information about himself to get the reader up to speed on himself. The only downfall is that Nick doesn't take the time to describe the physical features of himself. Quite frankly, there really isn't any form of way to describe him besides one's imagination. Due to me seeing the movie of the book beforehand, my mind was already set on him looking like Toby Mcguire and no one else. I guess that is for most people as well. For the readers who have not been contaminated by the movie, I guess it is up to his/her will on his looks. Aside from that, we are in the loop from the beginning on the Narrator and his life before the story officially begins.
My personal opinion on Nick stays virtually the same throughout the novel. I personally believe Nick is a well centered guy who goes with the flow, so to speak. I also believe that Nick is an honest guy. In the end of the book, we realize his hatred for Tom after the fact, and that he didn't really care for Gatsby. Throughout the book, it doesn't seem that he has any negative affliction toward either of the characters or doesn't seem biased with them either. Even when the story clearly happened well before the story was published, Nick didn't put his bias into the equation. I believe he is an honest person. Nick even states in the novel , "I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known" (Fitzgerald 59). Not only this, but I believe that he is honest from what he stated, "I'm inclined to reserve all judgements, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me" (Fitzgerald 1). Due to him saying these two statements really makes me believe that he is actually an honest person. He seems down to earth and very revealing from the start by even saying that he reserves all judgements. This to me shows an honest person, or at least one who doesn't jump to conclusions on someone and how they are with other people. In conclusion, the novel's narrator is an honest, down to earth guy who gives us The Great Gatsby like no other.
The narrator in the novel The Great Gatsby is the one and only Nick Carraway. Nick is a graduate of Yale and he works with trading and selling bonds to make a living. He makes good money and lives a mediocre life for the most part. He does not come from big money but does come from a wealthy family line from their earnings in the wholesale hardware business. He also has grown up with a huge family as stating,"The Carraways are something of a clan"(Fitzgerald 3). Nick is also a WWI veteran and served in the Army. These are the main points of information that we know about Nick and his life previously and leading up to the start of the book. In the beginning, Nick is very informational and gives us a descent amount of information about himself to get the reader up to speed on himself. The only downfall is that Nick doesn't take the time to describe the physical features of himself. Quite frankly, there really isn't any form of way to describe him besides one's imagination. Due to me seeing the movie of the book beforehand, my mind was already set on him looking like Toby Mcguire and no one else. I guess that is for most people as well. For the readers who have not been contaminated by the movie, I guess it is up to his/her will on his looks. Aside from that, we are in the loop from the beginning on the Narrator and his life before the story officially begins.
My personal opinion on Nick stays virtually the same throughout the novel. I personally believe Nick is a well centered guy who goes with the flow, so to speak. I also believe that Nick is an honest guy. In the end of the book, we realize his hatred for Tom after the fact, and that he didn't really care for Gatsby. Throughout the book, it doesn't seem that he has any negative affliction toward either of the characters or doesn't seem biased with them either. Even when the story clearly happened well before the story was published, Nick didn't put his bias into the equation. I believe he is an honest person. Nick even states in the novel , "I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known" (Fitzgerald 59). Not only this, but I believe that he is honest from what he stated, "I'm inclined to reserve all judgements, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me" (Fitzgerald 1). Due to him saying these two statements really makes me believe that he is actually an honest person. He seems down to earth and very revealing from the start by even saying that he reserves all judgements. This to me shows an honest person, or at least one who doesn't jump to conclusions on someone and how they are with other people. In conclusion, the novel's narrator is an honest, down to earth guy who gives us The Great Gatsby like no other.
Question 2 Jared Jorden
I believe Fitzgerald chose Nick to be the narrator because he is a mutual party and leaves many things unanswered early in the book. Throughout the story Nick corrects himself about information he didn't know so it's almost like we're learning as he is. He also is very close to everyone while staying as unbiased as possible. In chapter 1 Nick describes how he lives right next to Gatspy and right across the lake from Tom (Fitzgerald 5). This shows how he is involved with everyone simply by location.
With that he is also involved because of relation.
Nicks perspective changes the story because it's a neutral state. If Gatspy was the narrator it would be his creepy planning to get Daisy then his different attempts at that. If it was Tom then it would be him trying to keep Daisy while he's going out with other girls. I think it's good for Nick because he is subjected to both sides of the cases. Since he is related to Daisy he can see things from Tom's side and since him and Gatspy became closer he can see things from that side as well. My opinion of Nick is that he is a good guy and I personally like him a lot. He always tried to do what the best thing he thought was even though it didn't always play out like that.
With that he is also involved because of relation.
Nicks perspective changes the story because it's a neutral state. If Gatspy was the narrator it would be his creepy planning to get Daisy then his different attempts at that. If it was Tom then it would be him trying to keep Daisy while he's going out with other girls. I think it's good for Nick because he is subjected to both sides of the cases. Since he is related to Daisy he can see things from Tom's side and since him and Gatspy became closer he can see things from that side as well. My opinion of Nick is that he is a good guy and I personally like him a lot. He always tried to do what the best thing he thought was even though it didn't always play out like that.
Part 2- Shayla McFarland
I think
Fitzgerald chose to make Nick the narrator so all his experiences were new. All
the other characters were rich, or had at least basic knowledge of each other,
whereas Nick was seeing everything for the first time. Because of this, it lets
the reader experience what’s going on for the first time too. It almost makes
it seem as though you are going through everything with Nick, adding the
ability to form your own opinions about things without a biased influence as he
says, ” reserving judgments is a matter of infinite hope” (Fitzgerald 6).
I
personally think Nick is a good guy. I like his personality and his state of
mind. It seems to me that he always makes rational decisions, and uses common
sense and morals. Very rarely did he do anything that I thought a bad decision,
and he says a lot of inspiring things. All in all, I would have to say Nick is
my favorite character.
Question 1 Jared Jorden
The narrator of our story is Nick Carraway. Nick is both the narrator and a participant in the Great Gatspy. His family hardly had any money and he graduated from Yale. Nick is friends with Tom Buchannan and cousins with Daisy Buchannan. He has an awkward intimate relationship with Jordan Baker and his lives in West Egg right next to Jay Gatspy. I would describe Nick as someone who just goes with the flow of everything. Especially towards the beginning of the book he gets kind of walked all over by Tom because of Tom's wealth. At the apartment party Nick kept trying to leave but he didn't because Tom wanted him to stay (Fitzgerald 27). This showed that Nick was more focused on going with the flow of things because these people were more successful than he was.
Nick was characterized as the guy that had certain connections to everyone but wasn't exactly in the mix of everything. Like how he was neighbors with Gatspy and related to Daisy. He was also old buddies with Tom. So Nick had certain connections to everyone that no one else had. My opinion of Nick didn't exactly change during the novel. I always liked him. I thought he was very interesting and gave the story a good flow. He story changed occasionally, but my opinion of him didn't change because he was a nice guy that always tried to do the right thing.
Nick was characterized as the guy that had certain connections to everyone but wasn't exactly in the mix of everything. Like how he was neighbors with Gatspy and related to Daisy. He was also old buddies with Tom. So Nick had certain connections to everyone that no one else had. My opinion of Nick didn't exactly change during the novel. I always liked him. I thought he was very interesting and gave the story a good flow. He story changed occasionally, but my opinion of him didn't change because he was a nice guy that always tried to do the right thing.
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