Most of the characters in The Great Gatsby are developed, but still ambiguous. The reader doesn't always know what their motives are, or how they feel about the different situations.
Which questions would you like to pose to a certain character, or are there questions you would like to pose to several different characters? Why would you like to get answers to these questions?
Alternatively, consider the symbolic nature of Gatsby's house - as Nick describes it, "that huge incoherent failure of a house" (Fitzgerald, 188). Does it represent the American Dream, unrequited love, capitalism and conspicuous consumption, or something else?
Trivia question: F. Scott Fitzgerald shares his first three legal names with another historical American figure who is famous for what?
36 comments:
Marieke van Lith - DENS3A
I think the house represents The American Dream to the people that go there to party but all the negative aspects of it to Gatsby himself. The people that come to party all wish they had the luxury of a life like Gatsby's. They wish they could drink champagne all day, fill your house with flowers, have staff to cater to your every need and feel like that for those hours they are in that house. It's an experience and lifestyle for them that is out of reach. Gatsby on the other hand is doing all of this to get back to the love of his life. Daisy. He wants to be reachable and known so that perhaps she will come to him as these other people do. He himself is a shy man and not interested in The American Dream as portrait. He is doing it out of love. He could really care less about his possessions. As you can see from the lack of people attending his funeral, nobody cared about Gatsby as a person when all he wanted was to be loved. I think if he hadn't died, he would've moved away and given everything up after seeing Daisy go back to her husband.
Loïs Berghout,
0905131
VENS3C
I would like to ask Daisy the question why she did not wait for Gatsby when he had asked her to do so. I am aware that Tom was rich and that that called to her. Being able to live a rich lifestyle, however, she loved Gatsby so why did she not wait?
I also would like to ask Tom why he thought he had the audacity to get mad at Daisy for spending time with Gatsby, while he was constantly off with Myrtle?
I get the fact that for that time and for people of that status that it was rather normal to have an affair but Tom is actually mad and angry, which also causes the fight between him and Gatsby in New York, however, I wonder why he did not think of the fact that he has practically been doing the same to Daisy?
Trivia:
Francis Scott Key, who was an American lawyer and poet, wrote the American National anthem.
Dalina Mahmood (VENS3C)
During the whole reading of this book, I personally think the house represent different things. On one hand, it represents the character of Gatsby, and how he constantly renews himself, to achieve the wealth needed to recreated himself, by doing corrupted things such as shady schemes, and also by disconnecting himself from his past. These things symbolize the American dream of rising from the lower class to the top, by been wealthy. So he saw wealth as a solution to his problems.
On the other hand, the house represents his love for Daisy, he had hoped that the house would impress her and win her love back. Daisy chose the comfort of money over love, that’s why Gatsby made himself rich. By buying a Giant mansion in West Egg across from her.
Besha Mahmood - VENS3C
Throughout the book, Gatsby's house represents different points in Gatsby's life. Firstly, it represents emptiness, this because he would fill it with people weekly. The people that came to the party all want the luxury and the life that Gatsby had. Secondly, the house symbolized his love for Daisy. He bought the house with his "new money" to impress her because she chose the security of money over love. The interesting thing about the house is that it is not Gatsby's dream at all, he is not interested in The American dream of the Roaring Twenties. The house does not represent his personality, only his belief that in order to get Daisy’s love he needs to get rich and fit with in. So the house shapes him, instead the other way around, he is just living in another’s man's dream.
Gatsby became rich in the roaring twenties version of the American dream this by doing criminal activities. He did all of this for real love. In de end there aren’t many people that attend his funeral, so none of the people he invited to his parties cared about him. It’s sad because Gatsby only wanted to be loved more.
When Daisy's daughter was born, Daisy said the following things: "I'm glad it's a girl. And I hope she'll be a fool - that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool."
Now, I can guess why Daisy is thinking that way. Looking at Tom's other relationship with Myrtle, I can perfectly understand one of the reasons she may have for her behaviour. But, when having a child, I usually hope that a mother would gather the strenght to stand more positively in life, for the sake of her child. I believe that a child is heavily influenced by their parents, and thus I think that a positive mindset can go a long way when raising a kid.
All of this leads me to my question: why did Daisy not initially think about this to begin with? Does she not immediately realise that she is not bringing one, but two people down with that mindset?
The reason for me to ask this question, is to know what she thought at that very moment. It baffles me, that a mother to be, can have such thoughts. I have a hard time trying to understand her vision and therefore I think that having an answer on this question would enlighten that.
I think, especially if we take the ending of the book into consideration, the representation of Gatsby’s house in regards to the American dream of happiness and individualism has disintegrated into the mere persuit of wealth.
My question to Tom:
Why is even the thought of your wife having an affair outrageous when you are wrapped up in one yourself? Bit hypocritical, aren’t we?
My question to Gatsby:
Why did you take the blame for Daisy’s mistake?
Trivia question: F. Scott Fitzgerald shares his first three legal names with a distant cousin who wrote the National Anthem.
Zenab Zamil, 0909703, VENS3C
Debbie VENS3C
Some questions I'd like to pose to the characters are:
Tom: Why did you cheat on your wife? I want this question answered because Daisy is a lovely woman who chose him over waiting for another man. Yet he doesn't appreciate her and cheats on her.
Gatsby: Why change your name? I want this answered because there's nothing bad about being named 'James Gatz'.
Trivia: He shares these names with his second cousin three times removed who wrote 'star spangled banner'.
Babette Sutter
VENS3C
I feel like Jay Gatsby’s house represents many things.
First of all, it represents his loneliness, which is why he throws so many parties. The temporary business makes him forget how lonely he really is.
It also represents his love for Daisy. Because Daisy chose the safety of a rich husband over one who really loves her, Jay decided to become rich and buy a giant mansion which is way too big to live in all by himself. Gatsby himself isn’t that interested in materialism, he only does it for Daisy.
The story takes place during the roaring twenties, which was a time of prosperity for many Americans. In a superficial way, Gatsby and his house represent the American dream of becoming rich and successful, but if we look deeper we see that he is actually very lonely and unhappy, despite all his fortune.
I would like to ask one question to Daisy: why didn’t you wait for Gatsby, even though he clearly loves you? And why would you put up with a cheating husband? Girl, you deserve better than that. Leave his sorry ass.
Felicity Postma_0881014_Vens3C
Gatsby's house doesn't represent the American dream to be honest because it's built on dirty money. This might be the reason Nick calls it 'incoherent failure'.
I'd like to ask Nick what he feels about the luxurious lifestyle and how far he would go to get that. Also, I'd like to ask Myrtle's husband, George, if it's worth killing someone when you've already lost the one thing you loved.
It can't be easy to make a life-changing decision like that, even though it seemed that nobody missed Gatsby at his funeral.
Trivia: Fitzgerald shares his names with a cousin who wrote the national anthem.
Seda Ozdemir
VENS3C
Alternatively, consider the symbolic nature of Gatsby's house - as Nick describes it, "that huge incoherent failure of a house" (Fitzgerald, 188). Does it represent the American Dream, unrequited love, capitalism and conspicuous consumption, or something else?
Gatsby’s house seems to represent numerous negative aspects of the American Dream along with conspicuous consumption.
First of all, Gatsby seems to have built his ‘empire’ by not looking back at his past and he just focussed on his goal which was to move up in the social ladder in order to be valued by mainly Daisy, his love. He throws many parties and continues his temporary businesses to forget his loneliness. However, since Daisy chose to marry Tom over Gatsby because he was richer than Jay at the time, Gatsby strived to become rich. Moreover, I think the main reason for Jay to be so ambitious and determined to become rich has derived from Daisy. Unfortunately, despite Gatsby’s efforts to become a wealthy gentleman, which he did become, the classes were what had separated Gatsby and Daisy initially.
The questions I would like to ask both Daisy and Gatsby are: Was it money you needed to live your lives together? Could you both not just escape that lie you had chosen to live?
If we had answers to these questions the actions of both of them would be justified or at least they would have seemed to make more sense.
Zeynep Cabuk 0912821
Vens3c
My question for Gatsby:
Why did you ask Nick to help you reunite with Daisy, the love of your life, especially when you knew she was married to Tom?
I get it, I really do. Gatsby lost his heart to Daisy. Sadly, their feelings weren’t mutual. Daisy moved on and made a vow to Tom, to marry him and to stay true to each other until death does them apart. Yes, we know Tom cheated on her but that doesn’t give her permission to do the same thing too. If she really loves Gatsby, she should divorce Tom. Gatsby should have complied with the choice Daisy made many years ago. There must be a reason why Daisy chose to marry Tom instead of waiting for Gatsby.
Gatsby was immensely in love with Daisy, and still is. You know what they say, love is blind. If you love someone, you can’t see any faults in that person. This is exactly what Gatsby was going through. For instance, The famous parties he threw were only to impress Daisy. The most shocking thing Gatsby had done for her is, to take the blame on him after Daisy’s car had struck and killed Myrtle, the woman who had an affair with Tom. At the end, he got himself killed by Myrtle’s husband. His unconditional love for Daisy killed him, literally.
Trivia question: F. Scott Fitzgerald shares his first three legal names with another historical American figure who is famous for what?
Fitzgerald shares his first three legal names with a far relative, who is famous for writing the National Anthem of the United States.
Lisa Aalmers VENS3C
I think Gatsby’s house symbolises the 1920s high society: from the outside it seems big and luxurious but on the inside it is empty.
Even though the 1920s was an era of prosperity and wealth it was also a time of greed, wild parties (think about the parties Gatsby throws every Saturday night) and recklessness which led to decayed social and moral values. These new 1920s social values have corrupted the American dream, which according to Nick used to be all about discovery and the pursuit of happiness. But the lifestyle and values of this era do not make the characters in this book happy. It makes them wander around aimlessly and prevents them from following their hearts and dreams which makes them miserable and lonely. All the luxury and parties make their lives look amazing, but in reality they are empty.
Bart Neven VENS3C
If I could ask a question to someone it would be to Gatsby. I would ask:" in hindsight, was your pursuit of money and wealth worth it?
In the end, your money was not enough to convince Daisy to leave Tom. So all the trouble he put himself through was, in the end, all for nothing. He did not want to live "the American dream" but, he wanted to win back his former love interest. And when Gatsby almost completed his goal to win Daisy back, it is revealed that he made his money by illegal means. This makes Daisy decide to go for Tom in the end. Which makes all Gatsby's work meaningless.
Which is kinda sad, to be honest. You dedicated your entire life to achieving a goal and broke the law in the progress, and in the end, you do not achieve the goal. Bummer.
Trivia: He shares his last name with a distant relative who made the US's national anthem.
Tamara Salem - 0920243 - VENS3C
I think Gatsby's house represents several things. Firstly, the loneliness Gatsby encounters. This is obvious because of the many parties he throws. He tries to fill the empty house with people every single week.
Secondly, he lures Daisy to his house and that's where the story begins. He is madly in love with her and wants Daisy to tell Tom she never loved him.
I think it's obvious that people envy Gatsby's house.
Yessica van der Veere, VENS3C, 0893804
I have several questions for several people because I want to know what the characters were thinking.
Tom:
First of all, how dare you?
Why are you such a hypocrite? Not to mention greedy
Nick:
I get that you don’t want to judge other people, but why did it take so long for you to talk some sense into Tom and Daisy? Why didn’t you talk sense into Tom right when you found out he was cheating? Why did you set up a meeting (or should I say date) for Daisy and Gatsby?
Daisy:
Why didn’t you wait for true love? Why did you settle for anything less than true love?
Why are you such a coward?
Gatsby:
Why are you torturing yourself over a woman who will never choose you?
Why did you take the blame when Daisy was the one responsible for Myrtle’s death?
Cornelis van der Klooster VENS 2B
The house has several meanings in this story. Ultimately it represents the goal he set for himself in order to achieve success on his journey for love. More importantly is the representation of 'the American dream' through this mansion. He was able to afford it through earning money his own way. Having a poor upbringing has nothing to do with achieving wealth. What made this house different from a 'wolf of wallstreet' type of living is the aspect of love that sparked the idea of becoming wealthy. The mere abundance of house parties he threw and yet no one to attend his funeral goes to show he wasn't there to be the man of the people, but rather the man of his crush.
There are a great amount of angles one can take when analyzing The Great Gatsby, often in a variety of ways. However, when it comes to Gatsby himself, one cannot examine him without also understanding his history as James Gatz. It is exactly that which leads me to make this statement: the house represents Jay Gatsby himself.
We find out relatively early that Jay Gatsby is a false identity, a cover story, an alter ego. It is not who he is, but who he wants the world to see. The house that he lives in must then be of a similar nature: namely, a construct. The house (much like the man) are interesting enough to warrant gossip, but never true inspection. This is illustrated in the description of the library, where surprise is uttered at the fact that the books are real, with no attention paid to what books there actually are, just as nobody ever really learns anything about Gatsby.
While any mention of the house can be scrutinized as such, special mention goes to the segment towards the end of the novel. After the tragedies that occur, Gatsby’s life has become open to outside scrutiny. The reader learns things they never knew, as does Nick, and - crucially - the same goes for the police, now moving in and out of his house frequently and at will, in the same way they are no doubt examining every detail of his life.
In conclusion, my reading of the symbolism behind Gatsby’s house assumes it to be a reflection of the persona he’s created; the house, in its man-made nature, is as much Jay Gatsby as the man who claimed to be him.
Lisanne Bakker VENS3C
Gatsby’s house is described as a failure of a house, meaning that it is described as this big and negative thing by Nick. Now there are two ways of looking at it.
The first being: To people who come there, to party & celebrate, it is the American Dream. It is there where they drink alcohol, conspicuous consumption. And it is a beacon for capitalism, because the bigger the house; the more money there is. Which is positive.
But to Gatsby, the owner of the house. It is where he throws parties, yes. But he does this, to show his wealth and to show that he is deserving of love. He is looking for the validation not just from the people around him, but especially from Daisy. Now that is quite sad, in a way.
But there is also the fact that, when Gatsby is left alone, he is alone with his thoughts. He’s alone with his, relatively crushed, hopes and dreams. The home is also where he dies. So in a way, the house is an ironic view / twist on his life.
In the end, Gatsby wanted to be loved and validated & yet nobody, except for Nick and his dad, came to his funeral. Everyone cared about the things around him, but not once did they look at him. The man from North Dakota.
Noor Gudden DENS2A
I would like to ask Jordan Baker some questions. To me, Jordan is a mysterious character throughout the story. She doesn’t express her true emotions, see seems to be rather careless and spoiled. It is like she puts up a mask and plays her role but never shows her real self. She doesn’t really attach herself to people and keeps a certain distance. I am curious to discover the reason behind this. It also makes me wonder about how she really feels about certain situations in the book. I would like to ask her whether she is really happy with her life. Has she ever really been in love? What does her success mean to her? How does she feel about her friendship with Daisy, will it last?
As for specific situations in the book I would like to know what she really talked about with Gatsby at his party. And what did she think of Gatsby as a person? How did she feel about his death? To conclude, I am curious to see how her life has moved on after the accident and whether it had changed her as a person.
Bea Viergever DENS3A
The house in which Gatsby resides symbolizes certain endlessness to the extreme wealth of the time period in which the story is set. Everything in and about the house, including its parties, is limitless to ones imagination. As a reader you might question whether this exterior wealth is something of a cover up for Gatsby’s empty feeling when it comes to his love for Daisy. Furthermore it is clear that a shift in society is obvious when it comes to courtship and the role women play in this. Women who lived during the roaring twenties were one of the first to experience a certain freedom their predecessors had never exposed to. With that freedom it must have been difficult to stand with on leg in what was expected and with the other in what was possible. In the end wealth didn’t make Gatsby the loved man he might have wished to be as his funeral wasn’t’ attended in the way his parties were.
Trivia question: F. Scott Fitzgerald shares his first three legal names with a cousin three times removed ,who wrote the national anthem of the USA.
I feel that many of Gatsby’s and Daisy’s choices are based on a deep-funded insecurity of the self. So, the questions I would ask would be meant to shed some light on whether they have any idea of it.
I would ask Daisy why she chose Tom, after seeing his repetitive poor behaviour towards her, his disregard for her worth and affair with Myrthle. Contrasted with Gatsby’s never-ending admiration and investment in her. Even going so far as to take the blame for a serious accident she caused. Was Gatsby’s love too much for her? Did she feel she wasn’t worth it? Or was the pull from Tom too strong?
And then, Gatsby. Why did he feel the need to transform so much for someone? Did he think who he was wasn’t worth it? Because he does treat everybody around him, no matter where they come from, with respect. Didn’t he deserve the same respect and have the same worth before he became “The Great Gatsby”?
There’s so much love is this book and yet, not nearly enough.
Francis Scott Key, who was an American lawyer and poet, wrote the American National anthem.
Andrea Moreira Santos - 0765744
I believe Gatsby's house stands for unrequited love, because Gatsby does not fit into Daisy's skewed idea of the American dream.
Jay Gatsby symbolizes the bankruptcy of the American Dream and the stubborn belief in the makeability of our existence. Gatsby is in love with and obsessed with Daisy, the woman who left him in his younger years for another man. The main character is a naive romantic and displays his wealth to win Daisy's love. He sells his soul and salvation in his efforts to regain Daisy's heart so that he can continue where they once left.
The self-centeredness and heartlessness of the others and his impressive mansion are in stark contrast to the complicated, sensitive Gatsby.
Throughout the book, Gatsby's desire for going back to the past is present. My question for him would be: why do you try to go back in time? Don't you see that you will fail in the end? I want this question answered, because it will put his lifestyle in a whole new perspective. Would he have made different choices when he would focus on the future, instead of the past?
One could say that Daisy is also an example of poor judgement. Why choose Tom, even when there are numerous reasons to find love somewhere else?
Martijn van Oudheusden - DENS3A
Claudia Crenshaw DENS3A
Gatsby’s house represents how the American Dream changed in the 1920s. Historically, the idea of the American Dream was one of freedom to pursue one’s happiness without the restraints of social class. Moreover, the government was entrusted by the Founding Fathers in the Declaration of Independence to protect this freedom. During the Roaring 20’s the measure of whether someone had become successful became inextricably tied to the amount of wealth and material possessions they had. The more one had, the more one could say they had achieved their aspirations. Gatsby’s house stands for the excesses of the time, and one could argue that the American Dream was in fact a hoax of sorts. Fitzgerald uses the house, the parties, the clothes and cars to paint a picture of materialistic excess and meaningless existence. Despite all of his fortunes, Gatsby is a lonely outsider who will never truly be welcome in Tom and Daisy’s old money social circles. He will be sought out for his lavish parties, but happiness will still elude him. It would seem that by owning such a place that Gatsby had “made it”, but as the green light at the end of the dock symbolizes, he was still hoping for something else. Gatsby is the quintessential self-made man on the outside, but unfulfilled amidst his possessions and extravagant house. For all of its grandeur, the house represents the illusory nature of the American Dream.
Dagmar Dubois DENS3A
As the saying goes: a house does not make a home. “Home” in this sense would mean a certain kind of identity –the feeling of belonging and/or a true place of one’s own. I think when it comes to Gatsby, his house represents an outer construction which holds little to no authentic life within. There is a sense of emptiness when looking closer at what the house symbolizes. I believe the house suggests a certain façade Gatsby upheld with the extravagant parties and evident opulence. However, on the inside he never seems completely happy with what he has achieved and what he desires and sadly, ends up empty handed. The allusion to the American Dream can also be tied back to the house as it could be a representation of “new money” acquired as a self-made man.
Saliha Ballah
DENS3A 0860327
Gatsby’s mansion does represent the American Dream as well as unrequited love. In my opinion, Gatsby saw Daisy as his physical ‘American Dream’ and bought the lavish mansion only to get her attention.
Gatsby’s concept of the American Dream is a corrupted one because the original idea of the dream is achieved through hard and honest work. Whereas in Gatsby’s case, he very quickly acquires a large amount of money through crime.
My question to Daisy:
Did all the things make you happier than Gatsby ever did?
In chapter five there is a moment where Gatsby throws colorful shirts down at Daisy, she tries to catch the shirts and laughs. She then cries about the colorful shirts. I personally thought that she realizes at that moment that her life, together with Gatsby, could have been just as colorful as the shirts.
Chapter 5: ‘Daisy bent her head into the shirts and began to cry stormily.
“They’re such beautiful shirts,” she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds.’
Gatsby’s house made me thinking about a holiday I once spent in Biarritz – France. There were tree rich English boys of about the age of twenty. They also had a huge house and gave party’s like the party’s of Gatsby. Party’s that were visited by people they didn’t even know and maybe they never got to know.
I think when you are that rich and you have that amount of space there is something inside you that says you need to do something with it. Because you have so much money, you can get (almost) everything you want so property must loose its value somehow. You don’t care that much anymore about “who” also makes use of it. So these boys, just like Gatsby, liked to fill there house with other people, just for the sake of filling this empty space for which they didn’t care that much in the first place.
Of course when we talk about Gatsby and the book, there is obviously more going on. The party’s of Gatsby only included people within the higher ranks of society. Everyone who was someone was going to the party’s of Gatsby. But Gatsby himself didn’t quite seem to enjoy the party’s did he? But did Gatsby enjoy living in this house, in this region of America? I don’t think so. Gatsby was living there because he knew that his long lost love was also living there and he hoped to eventually get acquainted with her again. That’s why he never paid much attention to the house itself or the party’s he gave. I think in the meantime of his “stay” he just wanted to fill some empty spaces, just like the boys in Biarritz.
Gatsby’s house is a symbol of how Jay Gatsby has reinvented himself into a prosperous and wealthy man, with only one goal in mind: to attract, to mesmerise and enchant his lost love Daisy, in such an intoxicating way that she couldn’t possibly move elsewhere but into his loving arms. Underneath this there is another layer: Gatsby’s house and the hedonistic party’s he inexhaustibly throws embody the paradox and drawback of modern life. They depict the excessive opulence gained from disputably murky businesses, the shameless urge to for instant gratification and the insatiable and hollow urge for pleasure (through alcohol, food, sex).
In the end the ‘Great Gatsby’ isn’t great at all. By having altered his identity, by mingling with criminal affairs and by being shady about his doings he ‘gains’ the opposite of what he has attempted for; he draws Daisy further away from him and gives room for speculations. Yet his blind love for her remains unabated, although he has forever lost her. The apocalyptic ending leaves the narrator of the story, Nick Carraway, pondering about Gatsby’s tragic fate.
Ercan Yilmaz DENS3A
The Hollowness of the Upper Class.
First of all the huge house, where Gatsby lives all by himself, represents the affluence and excess of the 1920s. In order to justify living in this grand house alone, Gatsby entertains himself (and the others) by throwing huge luxurious parties on a weekly basis.
The parties, which take place in that mansion, represent the American Dream characterized by wealth and luxury. Sky is the limit! The house also seems to be a physical symbol of Gatsby’s love for Daisy. By building an astonishingly large house with new money Gatsby hopes to win Daisy’s heart after it had been stolen by “old money” (Tom Buchanan).
The “new money”, the rumors, the so-called friends and the parties that are all linked to the house represent the shallowness of the Roaring Twenties. Gatsby seems to hold on to the past and recreate memories.
The pursuit of true happiness; At first glance, the characters in the story have achieved things where many people would fulfill their needs and attain true happiness. But when you get what you wish for, you will see that it isn't as pretty as it was beautified. Having your mind set on one thing will lead you to a temporary bliss, because after you've achieved it you will long for something else. And when you build up your life around one person, it does tend to shatter when that person leaves, as is the case with Daisy. He makes up a life of hollow parties, soirees and homes, where luxury isn't an issue. My question for Gatsby would be: What is true happiness for you? What if that goal disappears, what will you do then? Did you achieve true happiness when you reconnected with daisy? Did you ever think of the negative consequences of chasing after Daisy or did you think it was worth it? I guess we will never know now.
0880341
Gatsby’s mansion symbolizes some of the major themes in the book, including the representation of the character of Gatsby himself. His house is a mixture of different periods and styles, symbolizing Gatsby not knowing his own true identity. In the roaring 20s, people were all about grandness, material wealth and creating an image that can actually be seen as shallow and superficial. To Gatsby, the American Dream was to acquire a lot of money and goods in order to lead a happier life.
Unrequited love is one of the symbolic natures as well. Jay Gatsby bought the house hoping to regain the love of Daisy by impressing her with his huge house and extravagant parties. His love itself didn’t seem to be enough for her to wait for him, so maybe this giant mansion would do the trick… Unfortunately, his plan to rekindle their love resulted in leaving him dead.
Ymke Went
(DENS3/4A)
Ed Kraak
DENS3A
The house serves as a key symbol of aspiration, reflecting both Gatsby's success as an American self-made man and the mirage of an identity he has created to win Daisy's love. Gatsby follows his American Dream as he buys the house to be across the bay from Daisy, and has parties to gain wide-spread recognition in order to impress her. Yet, Owl Eyes compares Gatsby's mansion to a house of cards, muttering "that if one brick was removed the whole library was liable to collapse" (50). Ultimately, the inevitable collapse occurs, as Gatsby loses Daisy and dies absolutely friendless (with the exception of Nick), prompting Nick to refer to Gatsby's mansion as "that huge incoherent failure of a house".
Tom, why on earth would you cheat on your wife if you yourself say it is a horrible thing to even think your wife would have an affair.
Daisy, why the gold digger move? Why not wait?
Gatsby, didn’t you know good guys finish last? Why take the blame for Daisy’s stupid mistake?
Martin Steegmans – Dens2A
Gatsby’s great mansion could be seen as a symbolic nature for a lot of things. As for me, I think it’s symbolises the American Dream. The American Dream is the fairy tale of a hard working person who becomes successful in all areas of life. This means a successful career, a beautiful house and a loving wife/family.
Gatsby has more or less the same view. He wants, strives for and experiences the riches of a successful career. Even if it is illegal. This way he gets the beautiful mansion which he thinks he needs to fulfil his last wish: Daisy’s love. Although he eventually has an affair with Daisy, the woman he wanted and dreamed of for so long, he never really gets to be with her. Therefore the house and consequently his dream is never filled with the love he so desires. After his death, the empty house therefore symbolizes the hollow shell of his unfulfilled American dream.
Trivia question: F. Scott Fitzgerald was named after the second cousin Francis Scott Key . FSK, born in 1779 and died in 1843, wrote a poem titled "The Defence of Fort McHenry". The poem was later set to an old English gentlemen's society tune, and eventually became the national anthem, the called "The Star-Spangled Banner".
I have a few questions that I would like to ask some characters in the book, namely:
Gatsby: Why did you want to change your name?
I don't understand why you wouldn't want the name James Gatz. I don't see anything wrong with that name and don't see what Gatsby has to add to it.
Tom: Why did you feel the need to cheat on your wife? What made you do that?
I would like to find the answer to that question because I can't imagine doing that to a beautiful and wonderful woman such as Daisy. She choose him over another man, which should be a big compliment to him. Instead of appreciatie this about her, he goes and cheats on her. I really would like to know why.
Eveline Hilberding, 0929840
The great Gatsby is all about classes. There are three kind of classes: the old money, the new money, and the no money class. The old money are those who have fortunes dating from the 19th century of before. Families who have built up powerful social connections. Tom and Daisy Buchanan are a perfect example. Those people end up marrying each other. The new money class refers to people who have made their fortune in the 20s. The person in the great Gatsby who belongs to this category is obviously Gatsby himself. The newly rich people are often the people who drop huge parties to show how wealthy they are. The third class, the no money class. Myrtle and George Wilson belong to this class. They struggle to keep up, live in filthy circumstances. Mostly forgotten or ignored by the new and old money class.
The people from the ‘Old money’ class didn’t really care for others but themselves. Gatsby was originally from the No Money class, he knew what he wanted. Believed in fate and believed in having choices. That you can change your future with good choices you make now while Tom and Daisy find noblesse more important.
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