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.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
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?
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Week 1- October 31, 2007
"Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone," he told me, "just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had." This quote, by the narrator's father, will be significant throughout the entire book. In my opinion, it means that just because someone doesn't have as many material possessions as you do, does not mean that you should make fun of or comment about them. In speaking about them, all you will do is misunderstand them.
In the beginning of the book, I was very confused. I didn't begin to understand the book much until I read the first chapter. Then it became a little easier to follow. Nick Carraway, the narrator of the book, tells us that in the summer of 1922, he moves to New York from Chicago to work in the bond business. He lived in a house located in West Egg, which is on Long Island. Unlike East Egg, West Egg was for people who weren't familiar with the area or the people. Nick knew many of the people from East Egg and graduated from Yale, yet he still dwell in West Egg. This house that Nick lives in is neighbor to the Gatsby mansion.
Nick goes to visit two of his friends, Tom and Daisy Buchanan, that live on East Egg. When Nick arrives there, Tom is on the porch, and Daisy and her friend, Jordan, are sitting on the couch. They have dinner, and as Nick is leaving, Tom and Daisy hint for him to get together with Jordan. When Nick gets home he sees Gatsby standing on the lawn reaching for the water and a green light towards the end of the dock.
As Tom and Nick are on the train to New York City, Tom gets Nick to follow him at on the the stops. He leads Nick to George Wilson's garage. Tom's lover is George Wilson's wife, Myrtle. Tom makes fun of Wilson, and then Tom, Nick, and Myrtle take the train the rest of the way to New York City to an apartment that he keeps for his affair. While there, the couple that lives downstairs, the McKees, and Catherine, Myrtle's sister join them. They drink a lot and Nick says that it is the second time that he has ever gotten drunk. Nick then tries to leave, but becomes fascinated by the way the others are acting. Myrtle becomes very loud and obnoxious, and she begins to talk about Daisy. Tom tells her to stop, but Myrtle says that she will talk about whoever she wants whenever she wants and repeats Daisy's name. Tom breaks her nose, and this ends the party immediately. Nick leaves drunk and takes the train back to West Egg on Long Island.
In the beginning of the book, I was very confused. I didn't begin to understand the book much until I read the first chapter. Then it became a little easier to follow. Nick Carraway, the narrator of the book, tells us that in the summer of 1922, he moves to New York from Chicago to work in the bond business. He lived in a house located in West Egg, which is on Long Island. Unlike East Egg, West Egg was for people who weren't familiar with the area or the people. Nick knew many of the people from East Egg and graduated from Yale, yet he still dwell in West Egg. This house that Nick lives in is neighbor to the Gatsby mansion.
Nick goes to visit two of his friends, Tom and Daisy Buchanan, that live on East Egg. When Nick arrives there, Tom is on the porch, and Daisy and her friend, Jordan, are sitting on the couch. They have dinner, and as Nick is leaving, Tom and Daisy hint for him to get together with Jordan. When Nick gets home he sees Gatsby standing on the lawn reaching for the water and a green light towards the end of the dock.
As Tom and Nick are on the train to New York City, Tom gets Nick to follow him at on the the stops. He leads Nick to George Wilson's garage. Tom's lover is George Wilson's wife, Myrtle. Tom makes fun of Wilson, and then Tom, Nick, and Myrtle take the train the rest of the way to New York City to an apartment that he keeps for his affair. While there, the couple that lives downstairs, the McKees, and Catherine, Myrtle's sister join them. They drink a lot and Nick says that it is the second time that he has ever gotten drunk. Nick then tries to leave, but becomes fascinated by the way the others are acting. Myrtle becomes very loud and obnoxious, and she begins to talk about Daisy. Tom tells her to stop, but Myrtle says that she will talk about whoever she wants whenever she wants and repeats Daisy's name. Tom breaks her nose, and this ends the party immediately. Nick leaves drunk and takes the train back to West Egg on Long Island.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Chapters 27-30
In chapter 27, they begin picking cotton, but in order to pick the cotton and make any money they are to purchase a bag. Also the men who weigh the bags change the scales to make sure that the workers don't make the amount of money that they are supposed to.
In chapter 28, the Joads finally have enough money from picking cotton to buy clothes and food, and they now live in a boxcar near a stream. Ruthie gets into an argument for showing everyone her Cracker Jacks and tells that Tom is hiding because he committed a murder. That night, Ma finds Tom in the woods. She wants Tom to take seven dollars and ride the bus to get away. Tom tells Ma that he is going to do what Casy had done, and he promises her that he will return. When Tom was gone, it began to rain and Ma went back to the boxcar. There, Al and Aggie announce to their families that they are going to get married. The next morning, they go out before sunrise to pick cotton. Many other families are out there already and it begins to rain causing Rose of Sharon to get sick.
In chapter 29, it continues to rain. It hurts many car, tents, and other shelters. There were relief shelters open during the storms, but one was not allowed to get relief unless they had lived in California for at least one year. Because of the storms, there would also be no work for at least three months. Many families began to starve, begging for food.
In chapter 30, it continues to rain, and Pa is afraid that the stream will flood so he and some other men try to build a damn. Also at this time, Rose of Sharon goes in labor, making it impossible for the Joads to leave with the Wainwrights. The water rushes through the damn, so Al, Pa, and Uncle John hurry to the car only to find that it will not start and Rose of Sharon gave birth to a stillborn. Unle John places the baby in an apple box in the stream and lets it float downstream. They begin building a flat surface on top of the car. The water continues to rise, and they remain on top of the car until they find shelter inside of a barn. In the barn, there is a starving man and boy. Ma orders everyone else to leave, and Rose of Sharon breast feeds them.
Throughout this book, everything just kept getting worse and worse, showing us no hope until the end. Rose took care of the man even after she just lost her child. This shows us the hope and how important family truly is.
In chapter 28, the Joads finally have enough money from picking cotton to buy clothes and food, and they now live in a boxcar near a stream. Ruthie gets into an argument for showing everyone her Cracker Jacks and tells that Tom is hiding because he committed a murder. That night, Ma finds Tom in the woods. She wants Tom to take seven dollars and ride the bus to get away. Tom tells Ma that he is going to do what Casy had done, and he promises her that he will return. When Tom was gone, it began to rain and Ma went back to the boxcar. There, Al and Aggie announce to their families that they are going to get married. The next morning, they go out before sunrise to pick cotton. Many other families are out there already and it begins to rain causing Rose of Sharon to get sick.
In chapter 29, it continues to rain. It hurts many car, tents, and other shelters. There were relief shelters open during the storms, but one was not allowed to get relief unless they had lived in California for at least one year. Because of the storms, there would also be no work for at least three months. Many families began to starve, begging for food.
In chapter 30, it continues to rain, and Pa is afraid that the stream will flood so he and some other men try to build a damn. Also at this time, Rose of Sharon goes in labor, making it impossible for the Joads to leave with the Wainwrights. The water rushes through the damn, so Al, Pa, and Uncle John hurry to the car only to find that it will not start and Rose of Sharon gave birth to a stillborn. Unle John places the baby in an apple box in the stream and lets it float downstream. They begin building a flat surface on top of the car. The water continues to rise, and they remain on top of the car until they find shelter inside of a barn. In the barn, there is a starving man and boy. Ma orders everyone else to leave, and Rose of Sharon breast feeds them.
Throughout this book, everything just kept getting worse and worse, showing us no hope until the end. Rose took care of the man even after she just lost her child. This shows us the hope and how important family truly is.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Chapter 26
During this chapter, the family cannot find work near Weedpatch so they must pack up and leave. After Tom tells them of the work near Marysville, they head north, where the cotton is about ready to be harvested, and stay at the Hooper Ranch, which is much less comfortable than Weedpatch. The family soon begins to fall apart. Pa makes a comment about how women seem to be in control, and it might be time to get the stick out. Ma hears this and explains to him that the control has changed because the men no longer provide for the family like they are supposed to. After this, Ma become the head of the household.
Al becomes preoccupied with finding a girl to settle down with, along with a steady job as a mechanic. Rose becomes fearful of her child, and thinks that the murders her brothers committed will scar her baby for life. This shows us in some way how Rose is like Mrs. Sandry, the woman who told Rose not to hug-dance or act because it was sin and she would lose her baby.
A store near Hooper Ranch, has raised prices because it is the only store near the ranch where the workers can purchase groceries. Besides that, the wages are high enough to raise the prices because of a recent strike. While Tom is walking to the store, he is joined with Jim Casy again. Casy was released from jail and is now an activist who has found his religious side again. He is with a group of men that are also on strike. At this time, the police meet Tom, Casy, and the strikers. One of the men hits Casy in the head with a pick handle. This angers Tom, and he begins to fight with the man. He gets the pick away from the man and hits him with it, killing him. Tom leaves immediately.
Because of Tom's "heroic" act, Tom must leave Hooper Ranch so as not to get captured by the police. Tom wants to flee the area by himself but Ma will not let him split up the family anymore.
Al becomes preoccupied with finding a girl to settle down with, along with a steady job as a mechanic. Rose becomes fearful of her child, and thinks that the murders her brothers committed will scar her baby for life. This shows us in some way how Rose is like Mrs. Sandry, the woman who told Rose not to hug-dance or act because it was sin and she would lose her baby.
A store near Hooper Ranch, has raised prices because it is the only store near the ranch where the workers can purchase groceries. Besides that, the wages are high enough to raise the prices because of a recent strike. While Tom is walking to the store, he is joined with Jim Casy again. Casy was released from jail and is now an activist who has found his religious side again. He is with a group of men that are also on strike. At this time, the police meet Tom, Casy, and the strikers. One of the men hits Casy in the head with a pick handle. This angers Tom, and he begins to fight with the man. He gets the pick away from the man and hits him with it, killing him. Tom leaves immediately.
Because of Tom's "heroic" act, Tom must leave Hooper Ranch so as not to get captured by the police. Tom wants to flee the area by himself but Ma will not let him split up the family anymore.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Chapters 22-25
At the beginning of what I was reading, Ma seems to be rather suspious about the camp manager when he comes over to have a cup of coffee. I don't understand why Ma talks to him as though she is trying to protect something. Is it because of all of the other cops and everyone else who act superior to them? Another event that I didn't really understand or found weird was when a woman walks up to Rose of Sharon and tells her not to hug-dance or act because other pregnant women who did that lost their baby. Rose gets worried, but the camp manager tells her that the woman just tells other people things like that to make them miserable and that the two women lost their babies because they were weak and didn't have enough to eat. At the end of the day, Al, Uncle John, and Pa come back to the camp and have to found jobs yet even though Tom had.
At this camp there is a lot of music and dancing, especially on Saturday night when they have their weekly dance. On that night, the Farmers' Association planned to start a riot on purpose just to get the camp shut down. Someone on the camp committee hires someone to watch for anything unusual that could start a riot. Tom and some other men see a couple of suspicious men. When one of the men tries to dance with another man's date, the men are evicted from the camp.
Chapter 25 talks about how beautiful California is in the spring.
At this camp there is a lot of music and dancing, especially on Saturday night when they have their weekly dance. On that night, the Farmers' Association planned to start a riot on purpose just to get the camp shut down. Someone on the camp committee hires someone to watch for anything unusual that could start a riot. Tom and some other men see a couple of suspicious men. When one of the men tries to dance with another man's date, the men are evicted from the camp.
Chapter 25 talks about how beautiful California is in the spring.
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