Gatsby ch. 6-8 outer circle
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1. answer a question from the leaders
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3. make a connection
4. challenge someone else's idea (with respect)
5. share an observation, inference, or close reading
You must use textual evidence, with appropriate citation from the text, each time to receive full credit.
Comments
I think Nick found some sort of wisdom in Gatsby. Yes he might not be a good person, but Gatsby had spent his whole life in love. He organized countless parties to see Daisy again, and everything he's done has been for Daisy. He's never been ashamed to do so, and I think Nick finds that admirable and respects that. Nick said "I disapproved of him from beginning to end" (Fitzgerald 154) because he couldn't relate to him and his actions. Nick doesn't have enough experience with love to realize the obsession behind it, but Gatsby taught him that there are many darker shades to love, and that scared Nick into disapproving him. Perhaps so he can believe love can be good.
I think Nick's point of view causes the reader to believe in all his values and gives us a biased view on the story. He says a character is bad, we believe he is bad, he says a character is complicated, then we don't come to a conclusion about whether they are good or bad. This is seen in the descriptions of Jordan, "The younger of the two was a stranger to me. She was extended full length at her end of the divan, completely motionless and with her chin raised a little as if she were balancing something on it which was quite likely to fall" (Fitzgerald 13). This makes Jordan seem arrogant, but later on, Nicks says, "Her grey sun-strained eyes stared straight ahead, but she had deliberately shifted our relations, and for a moment I thought I loved her" (Fitzgerald 63). He notes her eyes rather than her stature, making her seem human rather than an object. This is described once he starts falling in love with her, and this causes his and the reader's perspective of Jordan to change into a positive understanding of the character.
How does Gatsby's death change the reader's perception of him and his character arc?
Ryan: Although the car may represent wealth and power since most cars at this time are black. The color yellow in chapter 7 however represents what a coward Daisy is due to the fact that yellow is often associated with a lack of confidence. For example the word yellow-belly is defined as someone who is cowardly according to Merriam Webster. Therefore, Fitzgerald is trying to make the point that cowardness is not extirpated when one has wealth and power.
Paige: What does the heat described in Chapter 7 symbolize?
Ryan: First of all it is important to remember how humid New York is especially in the summer due to the high amount of water in the area. Thus, one would feel very claustrophobic due to how hot and thick the air would be. With this sudden change of weather in the story, it symbolizes how drastically a place of peace and contentment can change to an oppressive, inescapable prison. "The relentless beating heat was beginning to confuse me." (156) "Tom pushed the unfamiliar gears tentatively and
we shot off into the oppressive heat leaving them out of sight behind." (153) From these quotes it is obvious that the characters are struggling in this heat and feel as if they are almost being attacked.
Kat: Gatsby mentions to Nick that he hasn’t used the pool all summer, what is the significance of him using the pool when his carefully built dream falls apart?
Ryan: "Gatsby shouldered the mattress and started for the pool. Once he stopped and shifted it a little, and the chauffeur
asked him if he needed help, but he shook his head and in a moment disappeared among the yellowing trees." (202) From this quote one would visualize Gatsby is relaxed and at a peace as he is described as "disappearing among the yellowing trees" as he rests on a floaty in a tranquil pool in silence. This signifies that Gatsby has released himself from his dream of having Daisy back again as he realizes that it is no longer in his hands. All he can do now is wait to see if she calls. Thus, this scene tells us that Gatsby is finally at peace and is no longer worried about whether Daisy will choose him over Tom. The drama is over between Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom.
First of all, Daisy is meak, and have unfortunately learned to stop talking and speaking her opinion because of the implied abuse she has dealt with from Tom. At this point, everyone knows about Tom's affair and nobody says anything, including Daisy. Because of this absent reaction, Tom thinks that it is ok to continue to do.
In the other case with Daisy's affair, Tom is so used to Daisy's loyalty as sticking with him even throughout his affair. "You're crazy!" he exposed. "I can't speak about what happened five years ako because I didn't know Daisy then-- and I'll be damned if I see how you got within a mile of her unless your brought the groceries to the back door. But all of the rest of that's a God Damned lie. Daisy loved me when she married me and she loves me know" (Fitzgerald 131). We as readers, for a fact, know Daisy still loved Gatsby more than Tom. Tom doesn't understand that and he explodes when he learns that Daisy's loyalty to him was a lie and she was in fact loyal to Gatsby instead.