During this section, Nick sees his infamous neighbour, Jay Gatsby for the first time. Although he is intrigued by the majestic figure cut by Gatsby, Nick does not approach him personally. At this time, Nick notices a single green light burning across the water, and is strangely drawn to it.
Next, Nick spends some quality time with Tom Buchannan. The two men spend an afternoon with Tom's mistress, Myrtle Wilson. Once again, Nick finds himself immersed in the disingenuous world of Tom Buchannan.
On Tom and Myrtle...
- Tom is once again described as a pompous, self-important man who drags Nick with him in to a "supercilious" (27) interlude with his mistress. Tom treats Mr. Wilson, a small town mechanic, with contempt, ignoring the man's entreaties, and threatening to take his business elsewhere. Later, Tom states that Wilson is "so dumb he doesn't know he is alive" (29). Ironically, Mrs. Wilson is described as "haughty" (31) and pompous in her treatment of her husband, whom she walks through "as if he were a ghost"(28). She is not your typical eye-candy, rather a "smouldering", (29) and vital individual who is not described in flattering physical terms, but seems to be a powerful and charismatic individual.
- The two lovers spend the afternoon in an apartment, drinking and carousing before inviting a group of acquaintances to smooze with. The party itself seems to consist of a collection of self-congratulatory and desperate people who run around dishing out shallow compliments to each other in vain efforts to gain favour with their host.
- Juxtapose the relationships of Tom and Daisy with Wilson and Myrtle. Why would Tom find Mrs Wilson so appealing?
- On page 32, we meet Mrs. Wilson's sister Catherine. Fitzgerald goes to great length in describing her character. What impressions do you have of this character? What lines in this description are the most effective in conveying this impression to you?
- Find two quotations from this section that you feel are significant and intriguing. Explain why these lines are interesting and important.
- The green light will be significant to the text. What might the colour green symbolize, and how could it be useful at this point in the novel?(http://goinside.com/98/4/colors.html)
- Identify two potential vocabulary terms and define each.
5 comments:
Marc, Sheena, Mikaela, Arie
1. With Tom and Daisy they fight for power because Daisy is an intellectual individuals and she knows that the way she is being treated is wrong, for example when Tom says " I hate that word, Hulking” and Daisy immediately answers “Hulking”. She is trying to make him weak and she is fighting back. Mr. and Ms. Wilson she has all of the power and treats her husband like crap, He does not fight back he just gives in, for example when it says “ she walked right through him as if he were a ghost”. This shows that she treats him like crap because he is weak and helpless.
2. From the description in the book we get the impression that she is materialistic and a know it all also she seems as if she thinks she is better then everyone else, for example “she came in with such proprietary haste and looked around so possessively at the furniture that I wondered if she lived here”. This quote gives us the impression that she is a know it all because she looks around the room like she owns it even though we find out later that she does not.
3. “That dog is a boy”…. “It’s a bitch, said Tom decisively”--This quote is significant because it shows the kind of respect that Tom has for women.
“The I heard footsteps on the stairs and in a moment the thickest figure of a woman blocked out the light from the office door.” --This quote shows that the mistress that Tom has isn’t the typical type of woman that he would go for. This quote tells us that she is thick unlike his wife currently. This is suprising because you would think that he would go for a beautiful woman unlike his mistress.
4. The color green is a symbol of hope. Since Nick sees is across the bay he is hopping that the people on the other side of the bay will change into more honest and caring people.
5. Perceptible-- Easily perceived or seen
Proprietary-- A owner of a business establishment
Byron, Pierre, Caitlin, Jack
1.Tom and Daisy’s relationship is very different compared to Wilson and Myrtle. Tom and Daisy always bicker and argue with each other. "Be a damned fool to live anywhere else" this quotation shows that what ever Daisy says, no matter how quiet and peaceful it seems Tom will always have a cheeky remark as a reply. Tom wishes to appear superior to others, this is why he speaks with a foul tongue. Tom wants to be in charge of the relationship and in control of his wife. However, juxtaposed to Wilson and Myrtle’s relationship, Wilson “is so dumb he doesn’t even know he is alive”, from this excerpt the reader can infer that if someone is not smart enough to be aware of their surroundings, then he is not smart enough to realize his wife is Tom’s mistress. Wilson is a weak minded person who cannot determine what is right and what is wrong. In his relationship with his wife, Myrtle is the one in control. In Tom’s marriage, he thinks he has command however juxtaposed to Wilson’s marriage; Myrtle is the one with total power.
2.) Catharine, Mrs. Wilson’s Sister is described as some one who sees the world around her as things that should belong to her rather than other people. The line in this section that shows this the best is “She came in with such a proprietary haste”. The use of the word “proprietary” demonstrates this quality of Catharine being possessive of every thing around her as a way to attempt to become part of something which she is not.
3)“And if you feel that way about I might as well sell it to someone else after all”
Tom sees this as a power trip over Mr. Wilson. For him, the ability to feel that he has the upper hand is true to his supercilious nature. Here the significance of this quote shows that Tom is in need to experience the position of an intelligent human being, because in his life he is far from it.
“I forgot to ask you something, and it’s important. We heard you were engaged to a girl out West”
For the aristocrats the notion of something scandalous is quite exciting and important no less, because they do not have to worry about money. The irony of this is that there is no significance to whether or not Nick is engaged to this mystery woman. However, the importance to the story is greater, symbolizing the superficial ideals of the aristocrats.
4)The colour of green can be symbolized in many different forms. Spiritually this colour represents hope and growth. For those who are economic by nature, the colour green can mean money and prosperity. It is suitable for this novel that the hue of green is used to display the interests and themes, for it is true to the meaning of each individual in this time of the “American Dream” that prosperity and hope would be the reigning mood. For Gatsby, the green light is a symbol of who he is, seeing as how he is a social climber and did not come from “old” money; he’s had to make it on his own, in hopes that he may have the same status as someone who is aristocratic.
5)Supercilious (27): Superficial and very arrogant. Egotistical at the least
Earnestly (29): Seriously, solemnly
LOGAN
COLIN
MORGAN
- Juxtapose the relationships of Tom and Daisy with Wilson and Myrtle. Why would Tom find Mrs. Wilson so appealing?
Tom and Daisies – In Tom and Daisies relationship, Daisy challenges Tom with every conflict and discussion and generally counteracts what Tom has to say. Daisy consistently puts up a fight with Tom as they compete for who will gain the alpha position in the relationship. This is evident in the lines ““Did you give Nick a little talk to talk on the veranda?” demanded Tom suddenly. “Did I?” She looked at me. “I can’t seem to remember.””, where Daisy says a sarcastic remark, referring to how Tom is always putting her down and saying she is “stupid”.
Wilson and Myrtle- In Wilson’s and Myrtle’s relationship, Myrtle is the alpha in their relationship who makes the rules and the decisions. Wilson, who is inferior to his wife, agrees with the decisions because he fears the dominance of his wife. The lines “She smiled slowly and, walking through her husband as if he were a ghost, she shook hands with Tom, looking him flush in the eye.” suggest that Myrtle does not even care about her husband’s existence. She then proceeds to “wet her lips, and without turning around, spoke to her husband in a soft, coarse voice “get some chairs, why don’t you, so somebody can sit down.”” which shows how Myrtle as acquired alpha position in the relationship and can dominate Wilson around, knowing he will not object.
- On page 32, we meet Mrs. Wilson's sister Catherine. Fitzgerald goes to great length in describing her character. What impressions do you have of this character? What lines in this description are the most effective in conveying this impression to you?
The impressions of Catherine conveyed in the paragraph describing her suggest that she is always seeking attention from those around her, as well as to give a sense she is better than everyone else. Catherine wants everyone to know how great she is, and how beautiful she is, which is shown in the line “When she moved about there was a incessant clicking as innumerable pottery bracelets jingled up and down upon her arms.” This line is suggesting that she wears a lot of expensive jewelry to show how rich she is, and since they “jingle together”, people will look over at the noise, and see Catherine. This explains how Catherine is always searching for attention, in order to feel higher up than everyone else.
- Find two quotations from this section that you feel are significant and intriguing. Explain why these lines are interesting and important.
“She was in the mid thirties, and faintly stout, but she carries her flesh sensuously as some women can. Her face, above a spotted dress of dark blue crepe-de-chine, contained no facet or gleam of beauty, but there was immediately perceptible vitality at her as if the nerves of her body were continually smoldering.” This is significant to the story because Tom is a wealthy, handsome man who has a beautiful and intelligent wife but yet he is cheating on her with an average looking woman who is not wealthy or part of their upper class society. Therefore, this is odd because it does not make sense for an upper class man to be involved with an average women, it would make more sense that he would be with a bombshell who was less intelligent from his wife, and part of the upper-class society.
“It’s a bitch” said Tom decisively.” Here’s your money. Go and buy ten more dogs with it.” This quotation is significant because it describes the personality of Tom. It describes how he is insensitive, and bold. This is significant to the story because it explains why Tom and Daisy do not get along together. Tom and Daisy do not get along because the two have inflicting conflicts when trying to gain power.
- The green light will be significant to the text. What might the color green symbolize, and how could it be useful at this point in the novel?
Green symbolizes the color of growth and prosperity which relates to Nick aspiring to become part of this high class society. He believes that he must follow what these people do in order to fit in and achieve his goal of wealth. He is surrounded by many wealthy people - Gatsby, Daisy, Tom, etc, and is getting persuaded to join this lifestyle. This explains why Nick saw the faint green light in the distance, and was strangely drawn to watching it.
- Identiy two useful vocabulary terms and define
Grotesque – bizarre, gross, unnatural.
Proprietor – A person who has the exclusive right or title to something.
Morgan and Mikaela
1. At the end of Toms and Myrtle's party Tom punches Myrtle in the face for saying Daisy's name. This scene ends in mayhem and Nick and Mr. McKee leave in a hurry.
2. Myrtle’s justification for cheating on her husband is because in her eyes he is not a gentleman and that he cannot support her with money. This is explained in the line “He wasn’t fit to lick my shoe.” This quote tells us that Myrtle believes that her husband is not rich enough for her and that he can not give her everything that she need. By saying this quote it shows us that Myrtle wants a man that was respond to her every demand.
3. The theme of deceit is strongly shown in the novel thus far. Deceit is shown through the relationships that the characters have with each other. From what we have read of the novel we can see that all the marriages and the social portrayals of the characters are all lies. From the beginning of the book we see the deceit that Tom has with Daisy and that Myrtle also has with her current husband. This deceit is shown in the line “Neither of them can stand the person they are married to.” This quote shows that both of their marriages are lies. Both of the relationships, Tom and Daisy and Myrtle and her husband are based on deceit because they can’t stand the person they are married to and are openly cheating on their husband or wife. We see deceit through the way that Tom and Myrtle betray their relationships with their husband and wife. As we can see deceit is clearly displayed thus far in the novel.
Sam Coutu
1) Tom and Daisies relationship is much different than that of Wilson and Myrtle. Daisy is a high class individual who is intelligent and powerful. Tom does not have much power over daisy because he knows that she is smarter than him. Tom tries to treat her like a bully and shuts her down whenever he gets the chance. Wilson and Myrtle are different because Myrtle is the one who is always shutting down her husband. Tom finds his relationship with Myrtle appealing because he knows that she is not high class and he knows that he could push her around a lot unlike he could with Daisy.
2) I think that Catherine is very self confident and feels better than most people. “She came in with such proprietary haste…” This line shows to me how she walks with pride and she walks with the feeling that she is better than everyone.
3) “Well, they say he’s a nephew or a cousin of Kaiser Wilhelms, so that’s where all of his money comes from.” This line shows to me how people in this society learn everything that they know from rumors and ideas. This is not good because people in this society might never know the real truth about things.
“ He borrowed somebody’s best suit to marry me in, and he didn’t even tell me!”
This line shows to me that Myrtle thinks that she is better than she really is. She pretends that she is high class like Tom and his friends. She does this to impress tom and his friends.
4) The colour green is a symbol of hope and it can be reflected to what nick is feeling inside. When he looks across the bay he is feeling hope that the people he has met will change and learn how to treat people better and live more honest.
5) Entangled: To become involved or trapped in something
Despairing: Feeling or showing the loss of hope.
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