5th response

Jaehak

11-1

23-11-2008

 

The Great Gatsby

 

Response #5, pp. 61-111

Response type #4: Quotations

 

Quotation:

             After Nick arranged the list of people who attended Gatsby’s parties that summer, a roll call of the nation’s the most wealthy and powerful people, he described the trip that Gatsby called on Nick to go to New York city in order to have lunch there. During driving to New York City, Gatsby and Nick had a conversation. “Look here, old sport,” he broke out surprisingly, “what’s your opinion of me, anyhow?” A little overwhelmed, I began the generalized evasions which that question deserves. “Well, I’m going to tell you something about my life,” he interrupted. “I don’t want you to get a wrong idea of me from all these stories you hear.” So he was aware of the bizarre accusations that flavored conversation in his halls. “I’ll tell you God’s truth.” His right hand suddenly ordered divine retribution to stand by. ”I am the son of some wealthy people in the Middle West – all dead now. I was brought up in America but educated at Oxford, because all my ancestors have been educated there for many years. It is a family tradition.” (pg, 65) Although this short conversation seems nothing for all of the factors that create story, this small element was a motive that stimulated me to read this book more and more. The reason was this conversation is the first part to mention about Gatsby’s past. From the beginning of reading, I expected the story’s plot is going to be about Gatsby as the title says so. However, page one through page sixty; there were no information about him. What I read was the rumors that people in the Gatsby’s parties made. I wanted to know who Gatsby is, why he is creating luxury parties even though he is joining, and what factor will explain why the title said Gatsby is a great man. Finally, as I started to read over one third of book, the story mentioned a little bit about Gatsby like above quote. And I believed that the story will disclose Gatsby deeply as the story passed.

             In the middle of the story, Nick met Jordan who is friend of Daisy. And, Jordan talked about the conversation that the history of Daisy. Jordan said “The officer looked at Daisy while she was speaking in a way that every young girl want to be looked at some time, and because it seemed romantic to me I have remembered the incident ever since. His name was Jay Gatsby, and I didn’t lay eyes on him again for over four years” (pg 75). This quote helps me to solve several Gatsby’s mysterious. In the past, Gatsby and Daisy fell in love each other, but some of obstacle let them take away. Later, Gatsby missed her so that he brought his house nearby Daisy house where is Long Island. Moreover, he produced luxury parties every Saturday in order Daisy came there. Because of that, he did not join parties and looked at the parties from outside. After I read this part, I could understand his behaviors.