From the gecko of Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby we find ourselves captivated by Jordan Baker. A strong, opinionated woman revealing herself from the very first words she remarks towards Nick upon his arrival at the Buchanans. “You live in West Egg,” she remarked contemptuously” (11) In just five words from a character barely introduced yet, we can immediately spot the way she views ‘that crowd’ on the other side of the lake, seldom by the tone in which she phrases herself.
At the start of the book we see Jordan to be a very contrasting character from Daisy, an odd fit for such close friends. Jordan seems to be a sharp character, able to think quickly on her feet, and carries an aura that creates impact on whomever she is around. “Let’s get out,” whispered Jordan after a somehow wasteful and inappropriate half hour; “this is much too polite for me.” (45)
I believe that Jordan’s flirtatiousness and mysteriousness is what draws Nick’s attention to her throughout the novel. We can tell from the start there is some sexual tension between the two, but it is not until they are spending much more time together that we get to see how their relationship develops and how Jordan is the first of the two to reveal her feelings. This is first noticed when Nick innocently comments on Jordon’s reckless driving with her while stopped for gas. “I hate careless people, that’s why I like you.” (59) We can see that Jordan’s reply is where her character really starts to develop. It is the first time we see Jordan being outwardly honest in the book, and showing a sign of true affection towards Nick.
Although Jordan Baker’s role in the novel was not extensive, her impact on the storyline held prevalence to the themes of hollowness of the upper class, and the decline of the American dream. Jordan shows the reader that just because you have material wealth, does not mean you have everything.
Part b.) He had 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 as you would like to believe in yourself. (ch 3)
While reading this passage, I found a very courageous canvas being painted into my mind. An image of a smile was depicted for me, but it was a smile in which you can tell that the beholders eye’s are smiling as well. This image created a very genuine character with promise and a great deal of charisma and wisdom. The way Fitzgerald imposed this passage was the perfect way to introduce Gatsby. It opened up his character with a simultaneous pizzas and serious tone, at the same time. I found it really made the reader intoned with the book and look foreword to his character introduction development. The passage here deeply emulates how Gatsby is revealed to the outside world.
I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool. (17)
I found this to be a very effective quote in the book and a very insightful quote for Daisy as we are able to gain revealing insight about her character. We can see Daisy almost describing herself, revealing how women can enjoy themselves more if they are nothing but a fool. Daisy is completely aware that the role women play in her society is very minimal and not nearly as heavily impacted or as prevalent as men. By being a fool, she is not merely disgracing women, yet evaluating that all women can do in this era, is to raise her children, and look pretty. We see Daisy for the first time, being sardonic about a fact, which is both true and a reality.
“We’re getting off,” he insisted. “I want you to meet my girl.” (24)
I found this sentence to be especially effective in The Great Gatsby as it highlighted the amount of infidelity all throughout the novel, and how cavalier Tom Buchanan is about keeping his affair a secret. It shows how similar today’s generation is alike from 100 years ago. In both societies you have groups that conduct in acts that could terribly harm another person. Whether is be; disloyalty or the illegal distribution of alcohol and other drugs. With both being prevalent in separate generations it shows how different social groups come together to make up a community. Ultimately revealing how you can never have perfection if you have unjust practices. This short sentence that Tom barks out at Nick, strongly relates to the theme of the decline of the American Dream, as it reveals the imperfection in the characters lives and the lack of will to create such a life.
C.) We are able to understand the life of Nick Carraway through his observations of the characters and situations around him, but how do the other characters perceive Nick and whether or not he fits in to their society?
Nick states that he is one of the only honest people he has ever met, how is this proven throughout the novel? Is nick a reliable narrator?
No comments:
Post a Comment