This document provides analysis of 6 passages from chapters 5-6 of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby. The passages discuss themes such as Gatsby's fading dream represented by the green light, his happiness upon reuniting with Daisy, his nervousness when she first arrives, Daisy's judgment of West Egg, Gatsby's inability to accept the past, and that Gatsby invented his persona to fulfill his dreams from age 17. The analyses explore these themes and Gatsby's character.
This document provides analysis of 6 passages from chapters 5-6 of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby. The passages discuss themes such as Gatsby's fading dream represented by the green light, his happiness upon reuniting with Daisy, his nervousness when she first arrives, Daisy's judgment of West Egg, Gatsby's inability to accept the past, and that Gatsby invented his persona to fulfill his dreams from age 17. The analyses explore these themes and Gatsby's character.
This document provides analysis of 6 passages from chapters 5-6 of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby. The passages discuss themes such as Gatsby's fading dream represented by the green light, his happiness upon reuniting with Daisy, his nervousness when she first arrives, Daisy's judgment of West Egg, Gatsby's inability to accept the past, and that Gatsby invented his persona to fulfill his dreams from age 17. The analyses explore these themes and Gatsby's character.
This document provides analysis of 6 passages from chapters 5-6 of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby. The passages discuss themes such as Gatsby's fading dream represented by the green light, his happiness upon reuniting with Daisy, his nervousness when she first arrives, Daisy's judgment of West Egg, Gatsby's inability to accept the past, and that Gatsby invented his persona to fulfill his dreams from age 17. The analyses explore these themes and Gatsby's character.
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Novel Notes : Chapter 5 - 6 , The Great Gatsby
Passages from text - 6 quotes per section of
reading
Response (Analysis)
Possibly it had occurred to him that the
colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever. Compared to the great distance that had separated him from Daisy it had seemed very near to her, almost touching her. It had seemed as close as a star to the moon. Now it was again a green light on a dock. His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one (Fitzgerald 100).
This passage is particularly intriguing because it shows the contrast
between Gatsbys dream vs reality. Originally, to Gatsby, Daisy was a symbol of his American Dream, and it was something that had always motivated him, and that he had strived for. The green light, from the first few chapters, is the representation of his dreams and hopes, and Gatsby could always see it clearly on the other side. It was significant to him, for everyday, he would gaze into the night for a grasp of his dreams. However, now that Daisy and him are finally reunited, it seems as if his original dreams are vanishing, although he has not fully attained it. The green light was clear from the start, and now that it is starting to vanish, it seems like Gatsby is lost, because he wasn't fully prepared for the reality. The dream is not so clear to Gatsby anymore, and he struggles with reality vs dream.
But there was a change in Gatsby that was
simply confounding. He literally glowed; without a word or a gesture of exultation a new well-being radiated from him and filled the little room (Fitzgerald 95).
This is a metaphoric reference to Gatsbys happiness and excitement
over the fact that Daisys visit is going well. This passage helps to emphasize how important Daisy is to Gatsby, because her mere presence makes him glow. It also develops the mood, from Gatsbys gloomy days, to a new hopeful one. All his life, he struggled to attain his dream of being with Daisy, and now that she is finally here, after all his hard work, he is confident that she will love him again. Nick is highlighting the electric chemistry between Gatsby and Daisy that is literally making radiating the room, which hints to the future, and raises the question of whether Daisy will leave Tom for Gatsby or not, now that she will see all the wealth he has.
She turned her head as there was a light,
dignified knocking at the front door. I went out and opened it. Gatsby, pale as death, with his hands plunged like weights in his coat pockets, was standing in a puddle of water glaring tragically into my eyes (Fitzgerald 92).
This is when Daisy arrives at Nicks house after Gatsby hinted at Nick that he wanted him to invite Daisy. Gatsby, behind Daisy is extremely pale as death nervous, because his dream is in front of him. She is what he was not able to attain, and his lost love. He is purely obsessed and in love with her, and this use of imagery in the passage exaggerates the significance of this situation. Gatsby is unsure and nervous of what could happen while Daisy is here, because it had been so long since they were reunited.
She was appalled by West Egg, this
unprecedented place that Broadway had begotten upon a Long Island fishing village appalled by its raw vigor that chafed under the old euphemisms and by the too obtrusive fate that herded its inhabitants along a short cut from nothing to nothing. She saw something awful in the very simplicity she failed to understand (Fitzgerald 115).
This quote is significant, in that it reveals a vast distinction in the true
characteristic of Daisy, and how others see her as. While she may be beauty and pureness on the outside, she is judgmental and poisoned by the predisposed prejudices of her rich society. It shows the bigotry of Daisy, and people of her social class that are unwilling to experience what it is like for the different social class citizens, or be associated with them. She is obsessed with selfish, materialistic ideals, and while it is human nature to be selfish, Daisy is on that extreme end, like many others. On a wider scale, this passage shows the sharp contrast between West Egg (new money) and East Egg (old money), although both sides are equally corrupt.
Cant repeat the past? he cried
incredulously. Why of course you can! (Fitzgerald 118).
Gatsby has a clear obsession with the past, and simply cannot let go of the past, or the idea of changing it. This introduces a new important theme, which is the past. He thinks that Daisy will easily leave Tom, and be in love with him again, once she realizes the amount of wealth and status that Gatsby has gained over the years. However, it is not as easy as it seems. This also shows the dissatisfaction that Gatsby shows despite having wealth and social status. His American Dream is essentially Daisy because of what she originally represented for him, and he is overly confident in his determination that he can change the pass to his liking. This shows that the American Dream ideals are severely flawed, in that it is not always possible to achieve anything through hard work. The pass can never be changed, and Gatsby doesn't know how to deal with those consequences.
The truth was that Jay Gatsby, of West Egg,
Long Island, sprang from his Platonic conception of himself. He was a son of God a phrase which, if it means anything, means just thatand he must be about His Fathers Business, the service of a vast, vulgar and meretricious beauty. So he invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen-year-old boy would be likely to invent, and to this conception he was faithful to the end. (Fitzgerald 105).
This quote helps the reader to further explore the characteristic of
Gatsby, and the range of his past. Through Nicks perspective, we learn that Jay Gatsby is not real. It was a persona created by Gatsby himself. By not being real, I mean that Gatsby originally did not have all the same dreams, and hopes, and didnt start off the right end. Gatsby turned himself into a better version of himself, which was the persona that everyone saw him as. The Gatsby with flaws was unknown. He made himself into the ideal that he dreamt of at the age of 17. He is the American Dream. Gatsby wanted to become a new person, and became a self-made wealthy aristocrat.
