Post by thethoughtpolice on Sept 27, 2011 13:24:26 GMT
Chapter 4 begins with a long list of those who have attended Gatsby's parties, highlighting the fact that Nick knows nothing about them but their names. It illustrates the variety and high social status of his guests. The East Eggers who were there get themselves in to debauched trouble through abusing alcohol, one even gets sent to jail for his actions. More than a few of the party invitees bring not just one girl but several, hinting at the sexual promiscuity of the upper classes.
"He was never quite still; there was always a tapping foot somewhere or the impatient opening and closing of a hand."
This shows that Gatsby is nervous and not quite at ease with his surroundings and appearance. He is restless in his desire to appease his companions. He has not reached his goal but he is striving to do so and is unable to relax.
Gatsby's Car
'triumphant hat boxes' : This highlights Gatsby's decadence and immorality. His female companions are objectified by the use of triumphant and this casts aspersions on his character.
'labyrinth' : May indicate Gatsby's insecurity, he is attempting to hide in and behind his car and its image. It may show Gatsby doesn't really believe himself to be a member of that lifestyle. It also highlights the extravagance, rarity and expense of the car itself.
'monstrous' : Highlights the grandeur of the car although it also makes it seem inhospitable and shows the excessiveness of it. It may also show the predatory nature of Gatsby as when he sees a persons weakness he exploits it to place himself in a better position.
'conservatory' : A conservatory is an extension of a house, so the car could be construed as an extension of Gatsby's excessive lifestyle. It is made for entertainment, socialising and generally impressing people. The green colouring may indicate envy and money, he is locked in his own bubble away from the 'common' masses. The green is also representative of his dream, what he is so desperately trying to achieve.
In Chapter Four Gatsby feels the need to paint a biased and false history of himself. He gives himself the image of a traditional aristocrat educated at Oxford, attempting to imitate the stories of the East Eggers and what he believes is right.
Hyperbole - Over-exaggeration to emphasise the point (Gatsby's car)
Gatsby-self perpetuating the myth
Gatsby adds to the rumours around him by telling Nick ‘God’s truth’ he gives himself the image of a traditional aristocrat educated in Oxford.
‘I’ll tell you god’s honest truth’ His right hand suddenly ordered divine retribution to stand by.
Gatsby says this to try and make Nick believe that he is telling the truth about his past. However Nick’s description of his body language gives the impression that Gatsby is uncomfortable and indicates that he is lying. ‘Divine retribution’ shows that Nick feels that he is lying as the gestures he makes after swearing by god seem to be holding back his wrath. The idea of a more sinful side to Gatsby as he stakes his lies on faith just further the idea of is statements not being true.
Gatsby seems to have proof of his earlier life which Nick finds confusing as Gatsby’s stories seem untrue.
“In the Argonne Forest I took the remains of my machine-gun battalion so far forward that there was a half mile gap on either side of us where the infantry couldn’t advance.”
This story seems unbelievable as such a feat would surely have been used in wartime propaganda and the story does not actually correspond with the accounts of the warfare.
When talking about his life Gatsby hurries the phrase “educated at Oxford” almost choking on the phrase indicating that he never went to Oxford. However Gatsby seems to have proof in a photograph taken when he was a ‘little younger, but not much’, it seems unlikely that Gatsby actually attended Oxford many years earlier and still looked about the same age. It is more likely that he went over to Oxford and had the photograph taken so that he could boast about a phony education.
Gatsby’s stories are all too wild to believe and Nick attentively listens on not believing and silently mocking him.
Concerns about Gatsby and his business
Gatsby seems to be lying about his life and this raises doubts about his past and what kind of life he is trying to hide. With all the trouble Gatsby is going through to keep his past hidden there must be some dangerous secrets that lurk in his persona. The meeting of Wolfshiem raises questions about Gatsby’s business as Wolfshiem seems to be a mobster and it is like Gatsby is slowly introducing Nick to his darker side.
Wolfshiem to Nick: “I understand that you are looking for a business connection”
Gatsby hurriedly: “This isn’t the man”
This ties Gatsby to Wolfshiem and suggests the involvement of Gatsby in some shady business dealings that go on between the two. This connects Gatsby with crime and immorality.
Wolfshiem
On meeting Wolfshiem Nick describes him as a ‘small flat nosed Jew’ with a large head; this description makes him out to be a little bit of a shady character and indicates that he could be a mobster. When Gatsby tells Nick that Wolfshiem that he evaded capture for fixing the 1919 World Series he seems very smart. He also seems quite understanding when he realises that Nick is uncomfortable with the mobster situation and is quick to leave.
Young Daisy
Daisy was quite promiscuous and a very popular young woman who quickly fell in love with Gatsby. She herself isn’t a drinker but she mixes with very wild crowds. Her parents prevented her from saying goodbye to Gatsby when he went on tour with the army and she mourned his departure for months. She stopped dating soldiers as they could disappear at any moment and she moved on the more stable who couldn’t enlist. A few months later she was ‘as gay as ever’. She got engaged to Tom only a year after Gatsby left but only on her wedding night she drank for the first time and cried for Gatsby, married Tom anyway. Three months later she is madly in love with Tom but he cheated on her with a chambermaid. They then travelled a lot and partied but with Daisy creating a perfect reputation by being in full control around the other drunken party goers.
"He was never quite still; there was always a tapping foot somewhere or the impatient opening and closing of a hand."
This shows that Gatsby is nervous and not quite at ease with his surroundings and appearance. He is restless in his desire to appease his companions. He has not reached his goal but he is striving to do so and is unable to relax.
Gatsby's Car
'triumphant hat boxes' : This highlights Gatsby's decadence and immorality. His female companions are objectified by the use of triumphant and this casts aspersions on his character.
'labyrinth' : May indicate Gatsby's insecurity, he is attempting to hide in and behind his car and its image. It may show Gatsby doesn't really believe himself to be a member of that lifestyle. It also highlights the extravagance, rarity and expense of the car itself.
'monstrous' : Highlights the grandeur of the car although it also makes it seem inhospitable and shows the excessiveness of it. It may also show the predatory nature of Gatsby as when he sees a persons weakness he exploits it to place himself in a better position.
'conservatory' : A conservatory is an extension of a house, so the car could be construed as an extension of Gatsby's excessive lifestyle. It is made for entertainment, socialising and generally impressing people. The green colouring may indicate envy and money, he is locked in his own bubble away from the 'common' masses. The green is also representative of his dream, what he is so desperately trying to achieve.
In Chapter Four Gatsby feels the need to paint a biased and false history of himself. He gives himself the image of a traditional aristocrat educated at Oxford, attempting to imitate the stories of the East Eggers and what he believes is right.
Hyperbole - Over-exaggeration to emphasise the point (Gatsby's car)
Gatsby-self perpetuating the myth
Gatsby adds to the rumours around him by telling Nick ‘God’s truth’ he gives himself the image of a traditional aristocrat educated in Oxford.
‘I’ll tell you god’s honest truth’ His right hand suddenly ordered divine retribution to stand by.
Gatsby says this to try and make Nick believe that he is telling the truth about his past. However Nick’s description of his body language gives the impression that Gatsby is uncomfortable and indicates that he is lying. ‘Divine retribution’ shows that Nick feels that he is lying as the gestures he makes after swearing by god seem to be holding back his wrath. The idea of a more sinful side to Gatsby as he stakes his lies on faith just further the idea of is statements not being true.
Gatsby seems to have proof of his earlier life which Nick finds confusing as Gatsby’s stories seem untrue.
“In the Argonne Forest I took the remains of my machine-gun battalion so far forward that there was a half mile gap on either side of us where the infantry couldn’t advance.”
This story seems unbelievable as such a feat would surely have been used in wartime propaganda and the story does not actually correspond with the accounts of the warfare.
When talking about his life Gatsby hurries the phrase “educated at Oxford” almost choking on the phrase indicating that he never went to Oxford. However Gatsby seems to have proof in a photograph taken when he was a ‘little younger, but not much’, it seems unlikely that Gatsby actually attended Oxford many years earlier and still looked about the same age. It is more likely that he went over to Oxford and had the photograph taken so that he could boast about a phony education.
Gatsby’s stories are all too wild to believe and Nick attentively listens on not believing and silently mocking him.
Concerns about Gatsby and his business
Gatsby seems to be lying about his life and this raises doubts about his past and what kind of life he is trying to hide. With all the trouble Gatsby is going through to keep his past hidden there must be some dangerous secrets that lurk in his persona. The meeting of Wolfshiem raises questions about Gatsby’s business as Wolfshiem seems to be a mobster and it is like Gatsby is slowly introducing Nick to his darker side.
Wolfshiem to Nick: “I understand that you are looking for a business connection”
Gatsby hurriedly: “This isn’t the man”
This ties Gatsby to Wolfshiem and suggests the involvement of Gatsby in some shady business dealings that go on between the two. This connects Gatsby with crime and immorality.
Wolfshiem
On meeting Wolfshiem Nick describes him as a ‘small flat nosed Jew’ with a large head; this description makes him out to be a little bit of a shady character and indicates that he could be a mobster. When Gatsby tells Nick that Wolfshiem that he evaded capture for fixing the 1919 World Series he seems very smart. He also seems quite understanding when he realises that Nick is uncomfortable with the mobster situation and is quick to leave.
Young Daisy
Daisy was quite promiscuous and a very popular young woman who quickly fell in love with Gatsby. She herself isn’t a drinker but she mixes with very wild crowds. Her parents prevented her from saying goodbye to Gatsby when he went on tour with the army and she mourned his departure for months. She stopped dating soldiers as they could disappear at any moment and she moved on the more stable who couldn’t enlist. A few months later she was ‘as gay as ever’. She got engaged to Tom only a year after Gatsby left but only on her wedding night she drank for the first time and cried for Gatsby, married Tom anyway. Three months later she is madly in love with Tom but he cheated on her with a chambermaid. They then travelled a lot and partied but with Daisy creating a perfect reputation by being in full control around the other drunken party goers.