POST #2
Instructions, one post due by THURS. Jan 22 or sooner. Don't forget to give SPECIFIC detail and to respond to each other. There will be 5 posts in all.
Reading chapters III-V
Describe your first encounters as a reader with Gatsby. What about him rings true? False? Compare him to any other "famous" person you have personally met. It can also be someone who has a lot of social respect that you were awed to meet or be in the presence of.
39 comments:
When I first meet Gatsby in the book, it's almost unannounced and surprising. Nick is at a party looking for the infamous Gatsby that everyone seems to talk about until he stumbles upon a man who asks "Your face is familiar...weren't you in the Third Division during the war?" (47). Nick and the man start to chat until Nick mentions he's looking for the host of the party. That's when the man claims "I'm Gatsby!" (48).
Gatsby gives off the impression that he is a shy and innocent young man. He seems harmless, which makes me wonder if he really did kill a man, like everyone claims he did. Nick questioned whether Gatsby really did fight in the war, but he was shown proof when Gatsby showed him a medal with a ribbon attached. On the back it read "Major Jay Gatsby...For Valour Extraordinary" (67).
Gatsby also claimed to have gone to Oxford for education. Again, Nick questioned this statement based on the fact that "he hurried the phrase 'educated at Oxford' or swallowed it, or chocked on it, as though it had bothered him before. And with this doubt, his whole statement fell to pieces, and I wondered if there wasn't something a little sinister about him, after all" (65). Gatsby was, indeed, telling the truth when he showed Nick a picture (that was taken in Trinity Quad) of him on the cricket team.
As for meeting someone "famous" to compare to Gatsby, my person would be my friend's brother. He is socially respected and is well-known where he lives. Compared to Gatsby, the two are very different when it comes to meeting and interacting with others. Gatsby is a humble man and doesn't stand out much in a crowd. My fiend's brother isn't afraid to socialize with others and has a tendency to 'show-off' to others. He also likes to joke around and laugh a lot, which helps him be more social and respected.
My first encounter with Gatsby as a reader was unexpected. Nick was invited to Gatsby's party and the whole time he had his eyes peeled for Gatsby when Nick finally found himself talking to him without knowing it. To me Gatsby seems like a very average man, other than the fact that he has a lot of money. Gastby is friendly, easy to have a conversation with, and maybe all the rumors don't match up with the personality. It is, of course, possible that he has killed a man and feels a need to not have trouble so he doesn't raise suspitions. "He doesn't want any trouble with anybody." (43).
When I compare a "famous" person that I have spoken to with Gatsby the two are different. Gatsby is gentle and makes you comfortable, when a person who is socialy respected sometimes he/she can make you feel uncomfortable or unequal, but I didn't get that vibe from Gatsby.
When I first met Gatsby in the book, it was really...odd. The reader and narrator didn't have any idea as to who Gatsby really was and even when you meet him he has to say who he is for you to know. I can compare this to a person who has a lot of social respect in many ways, there is always a ton of hype about that person. I know myself and others kept saying, "I'm so excited we get to meet So and so" Then when you meet him they are very humble and casual, when you are expecting them to act superior. As to what rings true, he definately is definately a man with a ton of money. I don't think he is a killer or bootlegger, or anything else of that sort. I like Gatsby he seems very down to earth so far, I like him a lot better than Nick.
However, in reguard to llam_llama_duck comment about gatsby being shy and innocent, i don't think he is either. He seems confident and in his place. It is very weird how he calls a lot of people old sport. He's not old and he speaks to others like they are years younger than him even if they are the same age or older.
when i first met Gatsby, it was a bit of a dissapointment because i was expecting a grand entrance due to his notoriety, but instead he was just there. but throughout, he seems very charming, and also he seems to want to please people. i think he puts on a false front to do so, and he is a socialite by chance and not birth. but he really is a good-natured person. i would compare him to this guy i met from broadway. he was about the same age as gatsby and was also very polite and charming, but maybe just like Gatsby, he was just trying to gain respect.
I was truly surprised when I first met Gatsby in the book. He reminds me of a guy I know, which is pretty refreshing :] I do agree with asianlover09- Gatsby shows he is humble and just another guy at the dinner table. He doesn't go out of his way to make you aware of the fact that he is this big head honcho and has money up the wazoo. You wouldn't really know it unless you asked him, frankly. Sure, he has a big house, outrageous parties with extravagant food, music, drinks, and guests- but even though I had just met him, I got the feeling that he was wholesome and down to earth.
In response to browneyedgirl17:
I agree with how you view Gatsby as far as appearance and manner. However, I was not at all disappointed at his entrance- even though it is just a book, its nice to see someone of a higher status remember that in the end we are all the same. It isn't about fame or fortune, it's about respect. Give respect, and it will be given back to you.
I REALLY hated Gatsby when I first met him (in the book). I think I was jealous because he had so much and I have even had to apply for assistance before.
I do like him a lot more by the end of the book! I think many of his problems could have been solved by telling the truth though. He also fell in love with someone who wanted money so Gatsby did what he felt he had to do--got more money!
As for meeting someone famous, I did at first and didn't even know it. He was just a regular guy and asked for my help. I didn't know the answer so I found it out and helped him find the location he was looking for. It turned out to be the dude from the Mac commercial and then all my students were "rewarded" by getting their photos taken with him. I don't even know his name...sorry. He was super kind and I thought he may tell us no photos in Paris, but he was very gracious--for a famous person I guess.
I was SUPER thrilled to meet published authors in person like: Elie Wiesel, Walter Dean Myers, Dr. Yvonne Thorton, and Paul Zindel. Mr. Myers was very cool and I could hardly speak I was so thrilled to meet him.
I also REALLY enjoyed hearing Maya Angelou and Frank McCourt speak. I could have listened to them all day!
But---I think they are all just regular people. Mainly not stuck up, but richer than I am!
I also have to disagree with PART of what llama_llama_duck said. I don't see Gatsby as shy OR innocent. He seems very wise, as if he may have learned some very important lessons the hard way. As for speaking about his Oxford education, I think he may have regretted bringing up something that may give the impression of him thinking he was superior, hence him biting his words. I think Gatsby has learned his limits- where he can show off, when and in front of whom he can.
I met a realllllllly famous equestrian once. We got our horses from the same farm, so I thought he might be kind of intrigued- but he was really stuck up and acted like he didn't deserve to be there. He was doing a T-shirt signing for the first 100 people! Why would you volunteer to do something like that, for people who are in shock just to stand next to you and completely admire you, and then just treat them like scum?
I am liking the earlier blogging instead of at the bell blogging.
I also love the quotes with support.
I am impressed with those of you who actually have "conversations" with each other instead of leaving a blog comment and then talking the rest of the hour.
Items posted after deadline/time are not posted (but will receive partial credit). Items posted too soon will also not be posted if we needed to do something connected to a class activity.
Extra credit can only make up a point or two for helping out with rough drafts....so get reading:)
Good detail and keep on blogging. We will watch some more of the movie prior to deadline.
when I first met Gatsby, he seemed like he himself didn't want to party, but just wanted everyone to see his house and soak up all the attention. When Nick finds a man all alone reading books he starts saying how he wants to meet Gatsby, and tells the man he looks familiar. It turns out that Gatsby was in a war. Nick is still suspicious about Gatsby being in the war, so Gatsby shows him a ribbon he got from it. On the back of the medal it said, "Major Jay Gatsby , four valour extraordinary", and Nick believes him. Nick still wonders about Gatsby killing a man though, because of what everyone has said, but Gatsby looks like an innocent man so Nick does not think anything more about it.
Somebody famous that would compare to Gataby would be the rich people at the Huron Mountain Club where I work in the summer. They are all very well respected where they live and at the club, but even they have their flaws like Gatsby. The difference from Gatsby compared to these people is they don't only like to throw parties, but they like to be the center of attention at them too. Gatsby likes to throw parties, but not get mixed into the crowd.
At first, I thought Gatsby would be very stuck up and obssesed with himself and his money, but I found it really easy to like him because he has a down-to-earth personality. I did sort of wonder why he throws such big parties and doesn't really socialize with the people there. I see Gatsby as a 'peacemaker' in a way, because he goes through a lot just to avoid having any trouble with anyone. That leads me to believe that he may have something to hide if he is that cautious. I don't, however, believe that he murdered someone.
Gatsby must have done something great because the book says "Major Jay Gatsby... For Valour Extraordinary (67). If I had to compare Jay Gatsby to a celebrity I would compare him to Paris Hilton. They both have a lot of money and throw big parties for a lot of guests, but Paris Hilton always wants to be the center of attention while Gatsby stays off to the side.
The first time I met Gatsby was not how I expected it at all, he just kind of showed up. Because he was so big and famous I expected it to be this huge big deal, and it wasn’t. Then Nick was invited to a party at his house and my impressions of Gatsby were that although he has money and can do anything that he wants, he’s just a typical guy. He has typical love/relationship problem just like everyone else. The only real different between him and other people, as far as I can see so far, is he has money and can buy anything he wants. But let’s remember that money can’t buy happiness, so Gatsby, has at times experienced loneliness and seems as though he feels his life is missing something or missing Daisy.
I would assume that Gatsby is like all famous people. They at times live in glamour but when it comes down to it they are nothing less than a regular person. They put their pants on just like everyone else, one leg at a time.
I agree with Secret Life, I don’t think Gatsby is shy. I think he’s proud of his accomplishments and shows that by having pride in his house. I also think he has pride in how other people view him because he treats everyone with respect. If he didn’t care what people thought he wouldn’t treat them well. Also if he was shy he wouldn’t talk to people as much as he does and he wouldn’t have parties all the time.
I was very shocked when I first met Gatsby in the book. He seemed kind of down to earth, but a little strange. I was expecting Gatsby to be someone a little more "grand". He kind of just popped out of nowhere. Also, he just seemed so friendly, calling Nick "old sport" every time he talks to him, and I thought he would be someone who felt a bit superior. I also thought that he would either be the life of the party or maybe some mysterious person in some VIP room or something, but he wasn't. Obviously Nick wasn't expecting Gatsby to be like that either because he didn't realize that was Gatsby either, seeing that there were people spreading rumors like, "'Somebody told me they thought he killed a man once'"(Fitzgerald 44). Personally, I don't think he seems like someone who killed someone, but Nick seems to think that. There's only one famous person who I've met- Ethan Zohn, a winner of one of those survivior shows, and he seemed to be pretty down to earth too, but maybe not someone who would throw lavish parties and then just watch.
I would disagree with james13, I don't think Paris Hilton is anything like Gatsby- I don't think she would be in the army or seem really charming the way that Gatsby does. But I do agree that she would want to be the center of attention, whereas Gatsby would not.
I agree with llama. When I first met Gatsby it was very unexpected. Out of no where Gatsby invites Nick to a party. Gatsby never even speaks to Nick. When Gatsby talks to Nick about the war I had a feeling Nick and Gatsby knew each other. Jay Gatsby does seem shy, but he seems kind of fake. Gatsby seems to be hiding something from people around him. For instance, Gatsby was going to tell Nick something, and he just doesn't. However, Mrs. Baker tells Nick later on.
The first time I met Gatsby, I thought of him as a regular person. Everyone thought he had murdered someone, and is a bootlegger. The first time I met him while reading I just thought of him as a regular person like you and me. Then when he threw a party, he seemed like the people that attended his party. He wasn’t boasting about the amount of money he has, or what he’s done in his life. He just seems to stick to himself. As it is I like Gatsby so far. He seems like a good guy. I don’t know if I believe what other people are saying about him. He hasn’t shown any signs of being a bootlegger or murderer. So far from meeting Gatsby in the reading I like him; he seems like a good person.
Meeting Gatsby is like when I first met a friend of mine. I had heard bad things about her, but I’ve known her for almost a year and she hasn’t shown any signs of what people have said about her. Maybe she did have a bad past, but people can change. Maybe Gatsby had a bad past, but changed his life around. You never know. I don’t like it when people judge others before they know them. My friend has never done anything to me to make me mistrust her. She’s been there for me through thick and thin. That’s why meeting Gatsby was like meeting my friend, because they both had things said about their pasts, but as it is their not coming out in them.
When I first met Gatsby, I was very suprised. I thought the guy that Nick was talking to was just a new character being brought in the book, but when he said "I'm Gatsby"(48) I was in just as much shock as Nick was. From reading how Gatsby talked to Nick, I think he is a really down-to-earth, mellow, and simple kind of guy. I figured he was going to be a rich snob. Even when he talked, I was thinking the same thing Nick was and wondering if Gatsby was really in the war. When Gatsby showed Nick his metal that said "Major Jay Gatsby...For Valour Extraordinary" (67), I beleived him. I do think it's very odd that Gatsby never even socialized with his guests at the party. It makes me wonder if he is just really lonely and has these huge parties so he knows he's not totally alone anymore. He just seems really mysterious at this point.
I would compare Gatsby to the rapper P.Diddy. P.Diddy has these outragious Hollywood parties all the time. The only difference between the two is that P.Diddy throws these parties to get recognized by the media and Gatsby doesn't want to get noticed at all.
The first encounter with Gatsby was a little weird. Gatsby just pops up out of no where. Nick didn't even know it was him. When he pulls Jordan aside, that gave me a creepy feeling. Why was he talking to her? The things about him that seem true is that he is a wealthy man and he has connections of some sort. When he meets Wolfshiem, that is when I am sort of convinced that he may be a murderer with all of that "underground business". Also, the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy is true. Since that is what Gatsby talked to Jordan about. I thought it was weird how Gatsby and Daisy first met again after so long they were awckward at first and then in love again.
Overall, the first couple of times meeting Gatsby gave me a feeling that there is more to him than we think. Nothing is what it seems.
Donald Trumps money and "business man" personality reminds me of Gatsby. Gatsby always seems to be busy with business. I also agree with "AP Teacher Nayback" that he seems like a lot of other people, except RICHER!!
I agree with Asianlover09 on the fact that our first meeting with Gatsby was very unexpected. I also believe the author may have done this on purpose so that we don't make too many assumptions about Gatsby before we even meet him. This was a very good tactic, because despite his mass amounts of money, he seems to be a pretty average guy. After Nick meets Gatsby, I can't help but ignore all of the rumors about him. He just seems to be too innocent for these rumors to be true. Before I met him, I thought that he would be sort of stuck up or shady because of the rumors I heard about him. This rings false. What rings true about him is that he is very rich. I knew that from the start, but now it is just confirmed because we actually went into his house and found out how much he really has.
I haven't ever met anybody very famous, but if I did, I would expect them to be very stuck up and not very caring about fans. A ton of famous people would just like to get rid of all of the people chasing them, and I can understand that. Jay Gatsby is nothing like this, however. He is even willing to stay with nick to talk to him for a while (before we knew he was Gatsby), unlike most famous people would(52).
llama_llama_duck and Secret Life, I agree with you about how Gatsby seems a bit strange, even though he smiled "one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it." However, as I read on, I am starting to think that our suspicions about him are just due to the rumors, because most of the things that we are skeptical about him turn out to be proven true.
Like asianlover09, my first encounter with Gatsby was a surprise. Neither Nick nor I had any idea that the "...man of about my age...(47)" or the "...elegant young roughneck, a year or two over thirty, whose elaborate formality of speech just missed being absurd (48)" was actually the renowned Gatsby. I was expecting a loud, rather obnoxious person to swagger up to Nick and announce his identity. The unnassuming, quiet, kind, friendly Gatsby just didn't fit with my preconceived notions about him.
As nice as he is, very little about Gatsby rings true. His service in the military in WWI sounds legit, but his education at Oxford sounds a little fishy.
The first sight of Gatsby in the book is very surprising. It is very sudden, and I was expecting him to be much older. However, the first encounter left me with many impressions. He seems to be very confident and respectful. With all the phone calls on the side, though, and all his money, I suspect he is into some shady deals. Especially with the rumors that surround him.
As far as how I would compare my own experience to meeting a famous person to meeting Gatsby, I would say there is little similarity. I met Bart Stupak while in Washington D.C. and he seemed to be a very nice person. We covered several issues, but since we hadn't had any particular events in common the conversation never really go to deep. The meeting went un-interupted, and at the end we took some pictures. So, overall I don't find too many similarities between Gatsby and Stupak.
I agree with the surprise llama_llama_duck, manbearpig2009, and asianlover09 felt when they met Gatsby in the book. When Nick was at the party unknowingly speaking to Gatsby, I did not expect the man to wind up being Gatsby. The book is written in a manner that highlights how over-the-top Gatsby's party and lifestyle are. The book talks about his parties having "a whole pitful of oboes and trombones and saxaphones and viols and cornets and piccolos, and low and high drums"(40), and that the help made "a Christmas tree of Gatsby's enormous garden"(40). So, I suppose I was expecting to see Gatsby acknowledging that the party was his own, or to see him address his guests and thanking them for coming. Instead, Gatsby slipped into the book. During the party, Gatsby was determined to get Nick on his very good side. Maybe Gatsby sort of expects people to know who he is since he is well known. Anyway, I was a little surprised by the incredibly smooth talking, seemingly nice, and introverted person that I met. I think Gatsby's main goal at that party was to get closer to the people who knew Daisy well. So, that made me question him a little bit. He seems perhaps too determined to get to Daisy.
I believe that Gatsby has a good deal of money. He wouldn't be able to sustain his lifestyle if he didn't have a source of income. However, I'm unsure of where Gatsby's source of money is coming from. On page 90, Gatsby said (about his house) "It took me just three years to earn the money that bought it."(90), and Nick jumped in with "I thought you inherited your money."(90), so Gatsby quickly did some damage control and smoothly stated "I did, old sport...but I lost most of it in the big panic--the big panic of the war."(90). There is something fishy about Jay Gatsby. Like Mr.Apblog said, I don't believe that Gatsby attend Oxford. I do, however, believe that he loves Daisy. There is something very fish about him, though. His involvement with the man Meyer Wolfsheim made me wonder what he is involved in. The mob? Gambling? What does Gatsby do illegally? I don't agree with llama_llama_ducks's comment that Gatsby is innocent. There is something illegal or suspicious about him.
For the "famous" person that I have personally met, I suppose I will use meeting the head of a large board. The man was in charge of quite a bit, but he still seemed cool and collected like Gatsby. Both men, I believe, must be under a good deal of stress, but in person, they don't give off that impression. I think that that is impressive. When I am stressed, it is generally obvious.
Good comments about the education ad the military service. Remember WHY Gatsby is throwing these parties. Who is he trying to impress?
What is he trying to prove?
I agree with Mr. AP and Asian lover also. I get a false vibe from Gatsby but I don't think he is a "killer" or a dangerous man.
These are probably just rumors that jealous people create. I wonder why the GREAT Gatz is trying so hard to impress people but maintaining a low profile. Compare to Brad Pitt. Pitt isn't shy and will take credit for his wealth and some of his good deeds (i.e. helping out New Orleans).
This could be completely far fetched but is he trying to impress Daisy? I don't think he is throwing parties for social status by any means. Compared to Brad Pitt, well I guess you could say he isn't shy and takes credit for his work but not in a unclassy showy way, he makes you believe he is doing such good deeds out of the goodness of his heart, and i'd like to believe Gatsby is doing things such as throwing parties infamously for no reason, maybe it is to impress Daisy.
Gatsby reminds me of Bart Stupak. He seems nice and kind of to himself. Bart is nice too and he does what he think is right like Gatsby.
When i first met Gastby, i didn't think it was him at fist because i knew from the beginning of the book that he was very wealthy. And by the way all of the other wealthty people have acted in this book, I expected him to act very stuck up, rude, and just self-absorbed. But when he was introduced ;into the book, I was surprised by the fact that he was very down to earth and unselfish. He just seemed like a normal person overall, a very respectable person no matter how many possessions he owns, or what his wealth and social status are. all in all i liked him.
Although I would rather not use her name, I have met someone who reminds me of Gatsby. She and her husband are well known and respected in their community. Like Gatsby, she is a social climber. Although Gatsby may have been motivated by the desire to impress a lover , this woman is motivated purely by a desire to impress the world. Any awe I may have experienced was short lived when I quickly realized that she was quite shallow. She talked about what she had, and her past amazing experiences. Gatsby, to some degree, is the same. His parties are meant to spread his own acclaim and impress Daisy, the girl he lost because of his low degree. For instance, on page 90, he feels the need to say (in regards to his magnificent house), "It took me just three years to earn the money that bought it." Now isn't that a subtle approach!
When I firts met Gatsby I was very surprised, because I was expecting someone much older. He seemed very confident in himself, and seemed very respectful. However, with all the phone calls, and all of his money, he seems to be hiding something on the side. I once met Bart Stupak. Although he is famous, at least in the UP, he didn't seem like Gatsby. He was respectful, but was down to earth and didn't act like someone with money. He also talked to us the whole time, and never diverted his attention.
in response to *.SecreT.*.LifE.*
I totally agree with what you said, and by everyone else's responses on here, im happy im not the only one who got this impression from Gatsby. I think this is what sets him apart in this book, and that is why Daisy likes him haha.
I cannot really comment much on my first meeting with Gatsby because I haven't read that far in the book, but I imagine that he may be intimidating and at the same time very reassuring to be near. Reassuring in the sense that he is secure, level-headed, and powerful. A celebrity that reminds me of him, but I have not met is Marilyn Manson. Although his shows and lyrics may be shocking, In all interivews of Manson I've seen, he has been very well spoken and kept his composure through all of the rediculous questions he is asked. He gives the impression that he knows exactly what to say and isn't thrown off by any thing. I imagine that Gatsby and Marilyn Manson may enjoy eachother's company, but it may also make them explode because they're both so hot. :D
Our first encounters with Gatsby seem to be very brief but full of the mystery that seems to surround Gatsby. This mystery is very evident in our first encounter because Nick doesn't even know that he is speeking to Gatsby, when he found him, until Gatsby introduced himself at the end of their first converstation. What rings true in Gatsy is how humble he is and he seems to want only to please eachother. What rings false is his highly rich status. Gatsby doesn't seem to fit into the "rich mans" world or shoes. I did meet a governer one time when I was littler. When compared to Nick's first meeting with Gatsby I think mine was along the same lines. The governor was the same as anyone else.
I agree with llama_llama_duck, asianlover09, and manbearpig2009's comment about Gatsby's appearance being a surprise. His party contained a massive orchestra and a lawn decorated as though it was a Christmas display. I was expecting Gatsby to be sort of a ham, but instead he was very mellow. I suppose I expected him to address his guests or thank his guests as a whole, but instead, he seemed introverted and mellow. Perhaps he expected everyone to know him, since it was his party. It also seemed like he was seeking Nick out because of his connection to Daisy.
I disagree with llama_llama_duck when he or she said that Gatsby is innocent. I think that he seems to be a little sneaky and know what is happening. I don't believe that he attended Oxford. He is also involved with the man Wolfsheim. He must have mob experience or something. I can't decide if he is a bootlegger, or just a sneaky guy. He is obviously up to something that isn't good. I also believe that he loves Daisy. Another sign that shows how Gatsby may not be telling the truth is that he said it took him three years to pay off his house and that he had come into money.
I suppose my experience with someone "famous" was with a man on a higher up board. He seemed very pulled together like Gatsby and was a very smooth talker.
I am happy that there is sooooo much detail in here. Not everyone has read (according to blogging) but good feedback.
I am happy that some of you have had positive experiences with famous people or semifamous ones.
It makes me sad to hear any of you who are disappointed in people who you look up to (or looked up to). I don't understand social climbing.
I am LOW and I am okay to stay low--I don't want fame but more money might be cool. Perhaps this is the point Fitzgerald may be trying to make? How do people climb around here? I am not even clear about the social ladder here and my family is trying to move to Chatham....we will see if we can afford to leave! Or we will make due with the best we have in good ol'Shi.
Hope those of you who blogged did show up!
Good notes Mr. Ap and LLama especially! Good blogging from MANY of you! You are wisely using support from the book.
Well I think that all books are better than their movies. Movies tend to throw in extra unneeded parts or leave out parts that seem to be important. Also, characters in books have a more developed personalities compared to those of their movie counterparts. Now I haven't read the entire book or watched the entire movie of The Great Gatsby, but the movie seems to have little differences right now from the book. Agreeing with "aeneva09," I think Nick doesn't have the two-faced personality he seems to have in the book, but once again I've only seen bits of the movie. All in all, most characters in movies, compared to the characters in the book, have differences in personalities. F. Scott Fitzgerald probably would have found the movie entertaining, but more than likely wouldn't approve of it compared to his book. He grew up in a period without tv and movies, but books were the "big" thing. So being able to see his book come to life would have been a cool experience for him, but the movie wasn't his work, and he probably would have agreed with it creation.
Post a Comment