Akins AP Lang & Comp - Hollis 8 discussion

Nick Carraway is the narrator, but also a character in the story. How does this dual role in the story affect you the reader? Do you get all the information you need? Is Nick free from bias? Here are some other questions for you all to ponder as you read and discuss:

Why does Fitzgerald wait so long to introduce his title character into the story?

What is the role of "place" in this story? Normally we think of "setting" as having meaning in a story, but this story goes beyond setting to geographical place having meaning. What are some of the places in the story, and what could they mean?

Finally, there are a lot of round images in the Great Gatsby ... eggs, eye's, eye glasses, what in the world could this mean?

... oh, and what's up with all the adultry?

I believe the connection between the narrator and the character gives the reader a better.. understanding.. of how the character in the story is..? I've always had that question myself; different authors are motivated by different things. Maybe the answer will arise once we read close to the ending.

I agree with Kristen,
I am currently getting to know the characters in the story and i am also having a deep connection with each of them. Mostly with Nick Carraway. He explains the meaning of judgement in his personal perspective, and describes himself tolerantamong other people.
Pretty good book so far.

I'm starting to feel a little bit of a connection with Dr. Eck. º ^ º "

I also agree with Kristen. (Snice sista'!)
Having the narrator also be a character in the book brings much insight and helps the reader understand so much more, as opposed to having the narrator just be the narrator, which would create some confusion for the reader.

And as for all the adultery... Well, it seems pretty normal, not that it makes it okay, just normal to have in those parts of the city and the time period.

As for the eggs, eye's, eye glasses, I still don't know what they mean. Hopefully, as I keep reading, I'll catch on. :)

Could it be possible that the decision by Fitzgerald to have Nick as a narrator actually limits the information you recieve? Think of first person point of view verses third person omniscient?

... oh, and the circles, or could that be cycles? (hint)

why is adultery normal to them?
i dont understand.

Think about who is cheating on whom, and what social class they are. Draw it out if you need to, but there is something very important going on in this book when it comes to social class and "romance."

You make a good point Mr. Hollis (A reply to Message 6).

Sierra wrote: "why is adultery normal to them?
i dont understand."

Sierra, I used the word normal because from what I've read, adultery doesn't seem like a huge capital offense and looks like it's not taken seriously. I say this because in the book, Daisy and Jordan Baker both suspect or know that Daisy's husband is cheating on her and yet she does nothing about it. But I can't be completely sure on this because I'm still reading and it might come up later on. Another action that led me to believe adultery was common was when Daisy's husband, Tom, took Carraway to meet his mistress and Carraway acted like if it was an everyday occurrence. That's what I understood from the book, but I might be wrong or misinterpreted what Carraway was feeling.

Hope you can see my point, Sierra. :)

Yeah what Mr.Hollis says helps me out a lot. Tom and Daisy are wealthy while Mr.Wilson (Myrtles husband) is just a garage shop owner. So I think that Tom and Myrtle are just looking for something different that they dont have with their current spouses. But at one point, when Nick is talking to Daisy's friend Jordan about the affair thats going on, Jordan mentions Daisy being a catholic and that being the only reason they cant divorce. But Nick knows that Daisy really isnt catholic, so I think thats an excuse by Tom so he can basically have his cake and eat it too, by keeping both women.

I believe everybody is making good points on the book. The social classes definitely makes a huge point in the book. You have the rich and the poor intermixing, if that's even a word.

I also agree with Mr.Hollis on the narrator perspective. I also believe that is limits the information because it is kind of giving Nick's opinions at points in the book.

Okay,
so at first i didnt really understand about the reason for the cause of the affair (thanks Kailey).
But now i understand why Tom is doing it. I mean, of course at least one person out of many marriages gets tired of the usual thing and routine with their own spouses. Although having an affair with another woman is wrong, there are many obsticles interfering with a divorce. Think about the effects.

Ugh i hate men like TOM! :( cheating is not acceptable gosh!!! lol

I agree with Kailey as to why they are fooling around. I also believe another reason for the affairs is that it's almost like a fad, or like a testemant to show that just one person isn't good enough for their luxurious lifestyles.

I think that what Kailey is say is making a good point but i think that he shouldn't be able to get away with cheating on his wife, he signed up for marriage when he said "I do" and the only way to break that is by making her sign the divorce papers. After that he can do whatever he wants.

Mr. Hollis wrote: "Could it be possible that the decision by Fitzgerald to have Nick as a narrator actually limits the information you receive? Think of first person point of view verses third person omniscient?

...."

I think that yes it does limit the information you receive but i think that Fitzgerald did that for a reason, if he wanted the reader to know the information he would make it that you do.

Mr. Hollis wrote: "Nick Carraway is the narrator, but also a character in the story. How does this dual role in the story affect you the reader? Do you get all the information you need? Is Nick free from bias? Here a..."
I think the Nick being the narrator and the character does limit the information you read, however it does give some information you would not receive if it wasn't in first person. With the story being in first person you are able to learn more about actual character and why he does what he does. I feel like I have more insight.

Im not really sure what I think about Gatsby. When he took Nick to lunch and Nick met that sketchy guy Mr.Wolfshiem, it made me feel like Gatsby is involved in something. Also, when they were on their way to lunch and the police officer stopped them, Gatsby showed him a white paper that I guess was a picture and the police officer was like "excuse me" then tipped his hat. What was that all about, like why is he getting special treatment?
Then the last thing I read was when at lunch Nick saw Tom and tried to introduce them, Gatsby just left. I realized it was because he was once Daisy's lover like 20 years ago and all that but still, I feel like Gatsby is hiding something. I wonder what will happen when Nick invites Daisy over for tea and Gatsby just "happens" to stop by.

Kailey wrote: "Im not really sure what I think about Gatsby. When he took Nick to lunch and Nick met that sketchy guy Mr.Wolfshiem, it made me feel like Gatsby is involved in something. Also, when they were on ..."

this kinda adds to the whole bias thing. we aren't getting the entire side of the story. just what nick is finding out, or what his perception of what Mr. Gatsby is

i agree with ty, the fact that we only know what nick knows does limit the information we get from the story.

so is jay gatsby having an affair with daisy?

Hmmm. Seems like you kids are sufficently far enough along in the story to reveal this little tid bit of information regarding all the adultery. Check out the definition of "Courtly Love" in the Medieval Romance at this website. Pay particularly close attention to the "rules" of Courtly Love, and then rething this Daisy, Tom, Gatsby, Myrtle love affair.

http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/courtly...