On a very hot day, Nick travels to Tom and Daisy's house for lunch. He is somewhat surprised to find Gatsby and Jordan there as well. While they are talking over lunch, their nurse brings Daisy's baby girl. Gatsby is shocked to find out that she has a child. This also surprised me because I actually forgot that Daisy and Tom even have a child, so I couldn't imagine how much it stunned him to find this out.
Later that afternoon, Gatsby's and Daisy's love for one another becomes obvious for Tom when Daisy asked Gatsby if he wanted to go to the city with her. After Tom figures this out, he says that maybe they should all go to the city together. I found it weird that Nick, Jordan, and Tom ride in Gatsby's car, and Daisy and Gatsby ride in Tom's car. Why didn't they just take their own vehicles? I also don't think that this helped with the fact that Gatsby and Daisy are trying to hide their "relationship" because this only makes it more apparent to Tom that they are in love. They all stopped at Wilson's for gas. At this time, they find out that Wilson knows about Myrtle's affair, but he does not know who her secret lover is. Nick realizes that Wilson and Tom are in the same situation because both of them know that their wives are having an affair. Also, Tom and Gatsby are in the same situation because they are the secret lovers that Myrtle and Daisy are attempting to hide. So I don't think that Tom has the right to do anything about Daisy and Gatsby even though he knows about it because he is doing the same thing.
They go to a suite at the Plaza Hotel, and it is there that Gatsby reveals Daisy and his relations. He says to Tom that Daisy loves him, not Tom. Also Nick realizes that it is his 30th birthday. On their way back to East Egg, Nick, Tom, and Jordan come upon a car accident. The Greek guy who runs the all-night restaurant beside Wilson's tells them that Myrtle was in it. It was a hit-and-run. Nick thinks that she was probably hit by Gatsby and Daisy coming back from the city in Gatsby's car. Tom assumes that Wilson will remember the yellow car and that Gatsby was the one driving.
At Tom's house, Gatsby is hiding in the bushes, and he tells Nick that Daisy was driving and hit Myrtle. I think that Daisy hit Myrtle on purpose because she knew about her affair.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Week 4- November 20, 2007
In chapter 6, we finally learn the truth about Gatsby. He was not what everyone expected him to have been. Gatsby grew up on a farm in North Dakota. He went to school, but soon dropped out because he had to do janitor's work to pay for college. The next summer, he worked fishing for salmon and digging for clams. I didn't that would be such a bad job. I mean seriously, getting paid to fish. That would be awesome. One day, he rowed out to a yacht to tell the man that a storm was coming. The man that owned the yacht made Gatsby his personal assistant. Gatsby soon became wealthy, and he absolutely loved it. Also, Gatsby had to watch his "boss" while he was drunk so he didn't do anything stupid. This caused Gatsby not to drink. His boss died and left Gatsby quite a bit of money, but was not allowed to claim it due to the man's mistress. Gatsby then decided he was going to become a successful man. I did not expect that Gatsby was from such a poor family. I figured that he was born that way and had everything since he was young. He seems like a very elegant guy for growing up poor.
Nick goes over to Gatsby's house and finds Tom there too. But Tom is only there because he was out riding around with the Sloanes, and they stopped at Gatsby's. He invites then to dinner, but instead he ends up going with them out to eat. What Gatsby does not know is that Tom is becoming suspicious of Daisy seeing Gatsby so much, but he does not realize their love YET.
The next weekend, there is another party at Gatsby's. This time, Tom and Daisy attend. Tom merely went to keep an eye on Daisy and Gatsby. Nick does not have a good time and neither does Daisy, and this make Gatsby feel bad. Gatsby says that he wants everything to be the way it was before he went to war. He wants Daisy and Tom to break up so he can be with Daisy. Nick tells him that he can't bring back the past, but Gatsby says that money can do anything. I didn't like when Gatsby said that because money doesn't bring true happiness. True happiness comes from love, and love cannot be bought.
Nick goes over to Gatsby's house and finds Tom there too. But Tom is only there because he was out riding around with the Sloanes, and they stopped at Gatsby's. He invites then to dinner, but instead he ends up going with them out to eat. What Gatsby does not know is that Tom is becoming suspicious of Daisy seeing Gatsby so much, but he does not realize their love YET.
The next weekend, there is another party at Gatsby's. This time, Tom and Daisy attend. Tom merely went to keep an eye on Daisy and Gatsby. Nick does not have a good time and neither does Daisy, and this make Gatsby feel bad. Gatsby says that he wants everything to be the way it was before he went to war. He wants Daisy and Tom to break up so he can be with Daisy. Nick tells him that he can't bring back the past, but Gatsby says that money can do anything. I didn't like when Gatsby said that because money doesn't bring true happiness. True happiness comes from love, and love cannot be bought.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Week 3- November 14, 2007
In the beginning of chapter 5, Nick returns home after another wonderful date with Jordan. Gatsby's mansion is very brightly lit up, yet no one seems to be in it. As Nick is walking up to his house, Gatsby scares him. Gatsby seems to be in a good mood, or at least a very good mood towards Nick. Nick finds out that Gatsby is being this nice to him because he wants Nick to set up a tea date and invite Daisy over. Ecstatic that Nick will go along with him, Gatsby offers Nick a chance to make some money, but Nick declines. I think that this part shows a side of Gatsby that is sensitive and somewhat overwhelmed with feelings for Daisy that he has not been able to let out for a long time.
The day that they have tea, it rains. I think that this is foreshadowing something terrible to come. That Gatsby and Daisy meeting again is a bad idea. Then when Daisy arrives, I don't understand why does Gatsby leave and walk around the house in the rain just to come in the front door. I found that quite unusual, unless he wanted it to seem like he was just stopping by for a visit and Daisy happened to be there at that particular time.
At first, Gatsby thought that this "reunion" was a terrible mistake because everything seemed to be going wrong. Then after the rain stops and Nick leaves, Daisy and Gatsby have a great time. I think that the rain stopping is a sign of hope. That there is hope for Gatsby and Daisy still being together. Gatsby invites Nick and Daisy to his house and tells Daisy of the nights that he dreams about being with her and being happy for the rest of his life. They listen to the piano, and Nick leaves, realizing that he has been forgotten. He leaves Daisy and Gatsby alone. I think that this part of the book is a major turning point because I think that this will be the cause of many major events to come.
The day that they have tea, it rains. I think that this is foreshadowing something terrible to come. That Gatsby and Daisy meeting again is a bad idea. Then when Daisy arrives, I don't understand why does Gatsby leave and walk around the house in the rain just to come in the front door. I found that quite unusual, unless he wanted it to seem like he was just stopping by for a visit and Daisy happened to be there at that particular time.
At first, Gatsby thought that this "reunion" was a terrible mistake because everything seemed to be going wrong. Then after the rain stops and Nick leaves, Daisy and Gatsby have a great time. I think that the rain stopping is a sign of hope. That there is hope for Gatsby and Daisy still being together. Gatsby invites Nick and Daisy to his house and tells Daisy of the nights that he dreams about being with her and being happy for the rest of his life. They listen to the piano, and Nick leaves, realizing that he has been forgotten. He leaves Daisy and Gatsby alone. I think that this part of the book is a major turning point because I think that this will be the cause of many major events to come.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Week 2- November 7, 2007
At the beginning of Chapter 3, Gatsby throws another party like he does about every weekend. But what I don't understand is that if Jay Gatsby has so many parties and a lot of people come to them, then why does nobody really know anything about him? I figure that he must be really secretive or not very social even though he is the host of the parties. I don't know, that just confuses me. But I am guessing that a lot more about Mr. Gatsby will be uncovered because of all of the speculations and rumors going around about him.
Nick gets invited to one of his parties. At the party, he meets up with Jordan Baker whom he met when he went to the Buchanans'. Later that night, Nick and Jordan are sitting at a table outside when the man sitting next to Nick say that he recognizes him. Nick finds out that it is Jay Gatsby, and they serve in the war together. They talk for a long while, and Nick becomes fascinated with Gatsby. I found this very ironic because earlier that evening Jordan and Nick went looking for their host to see what he is like, and later they meet him anyways. I guess it's just one of those things that was meant to happen.
In chapter four, Gatsby tells Nick about his life. He says that he is the son of wealthy, deceased parents from the Midwest. I didn't understand this part because he says that he is from the Midwest, but when Nick asks him what city, he says San Francisco. The last time the I checked, San Francisco wasn't in the Midwest. So does this mean that Gatsby just doesn't know his places or does it mean that he is actually lying?
As Nick and Gatsby are driving through the valley of ashes, a policeman pulls him over for speeding. Gatsby shows the officer a white card, and the officer apologizes and allows them to continue driving. After eating lunch with Gatsby and his friend, Meyer Wolfshiem, Nick sees Jordan. She tells him about her mysterious talk with Gatsby. She said the Gatsby told her that he is in love with Daisy. Gatsby tells her that Daisy was a beautiful girl in Kentucky and that all of the military men were in love with her, but Daisy fell in love with Jay Gatsby. After Jay left for the war she chose to marry Tom. Jordan also added that Gatsby bought his mansion on West Egg only to be by Daisy. At the end of this chapter, they plan to reunite Gatsby and Daisy.
This was a lot of information to take in and comprehend, in what seemed like such a short amount of time. For some reason it made me somewhat suspicious of Gatsby because it seems to me like he made up everything. I don't know why, but I don't believe a lot of what he says because if what he says is true then how come nobody else knows anything about him?
Nick gets invited to one of his parties. At the party, he meets up with Jordan Baker whom he met when he went to the Buchanans'. Later that night, Nick and Jordan are sitting at a table outside when the man sitting next to Nick say that he recognizes him. Nick finds out that it is Jay Gatsby, and they serve in the war together. They talk for a long while, and Nick becomes fascinated with Gatsby. I found this very ironic because earlier that evening Jordan and Nick went looking for their host to see what he is like, and later they meet him anyways. I guess it's just one of those things that was meant to happen.
In chapter four, Gatsby tells Nick about his life. He says that he is the son of wealthy, deceased parents from the Midwest. I didn't understand this part because he says that he is from the Midwest, but when Nick asks him what city, he says San Francisco. The last time the I checked, San Francisco wasn't in the Midwest. So does this mean that Gatsby just doesn't know his places or does it mean that he is actually lying?
As Nick and Gatsby are driving through the valley of ashes, a policeman pulls him over for speeding. Gatsby shows the officer a white card, and the officer apologizes and allows them to continue driving. After eating lunch with Gatsby and his friend, Meyer Wolfshiem, Nick sees Jordan. She tells him about her mysterious talk with Gatsby. She said the Gatsby told her that he is in love with Daisy. Gatsby tells her that Daisy was a beautiful girl in Kentucky and that all of the military men were in love with her, but Daisy fell in love with Jay Gatsby. After Jay left for the war she chose to marry Tom. Jordan also added that Gatsby bought his mansion on West Egg only to be by Daisy. At the end of this chapter, they plan to reunite Gatsby and Daisy.
This was a lot of information to take in and comprehend, in what seemed like such a short amount of time. For some reason it made me somewhat suspicious of Gatsby because it seems to me like he made up everything. I don't know why, but I don't believe a lot of what he says because if what he says is true then how come nobody else knows anything about him?
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