Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Faulkner Relaxing after his AP Lang & Comp Exam
Faulkner Relaxing after his AP Lang & Comp Exam
Contributors
- AParrish
- Alex
- Alice Rocha
- Ally
- Amanda
- Anna Burns
- Arjun
- Beth
- Celi
- Claire W.
- Dan A.
- Emma Sweet
- Eric
- Grace
- Kara Donahue
- Kate Walpole
- Katie Coyle
- Keriksen
- Lee Ving
- Lexi Cardenas
- Libbey
- Lord Byron
- Luke Clifford
- Maggie Brown
- Maggie Calcutt
- Maggie
- Maggie
- Maggie
- MeganLanglais
- Molly O'Connor
- Molly
- Nicole
- Rosie
- Sara Darcy Klik
- Sarah Wakefield
- Taylor Peterson
- brooke
- chia
- connor s.
- connor
- emily matis
- emma
- mfrasco6
- rhandler
This is actually from Ch. 3. We don't mind if you respond to the question. :) You could even connect this to the question from Ch. 4. It is Gatsby's party after all.
ReplyDeleteThere is a strange feel to the party from the beginning of Chapter 3 because no one sitting at Nick's table is more than acquaintances with the host, Gatsby. It is evident that the beginning of the party is awkward and everyone remains amongst their designated "party". Nick states that "The party has begun" right after he witnesses someone taking a risk. He witnesses a "gypsy" going and dancing "out alone on the canvas platform" (41). She has seemingly broken the barrier between people and encouraged an intermixed party. Nick claims that the party has begun after this because she has taken a risk no one else was willing to take. Everyone at the party can now watch her and chose to accept, or to judge her.
ReplyDeleteNick notices that the party "had preserved a dignified homogeneity" (44), and began to become something that to Nick was consisting of different parts, East Egg and West Egg, yet all the same. The "scene had changed before [his] my eyes into something significant, elemental, and profound" (47).
At least in the beginning of the party's description, Nick has a much more positive opinion of Gatsby's party compared to the McKee's. He shows more opinionated statements (going back to the question of Nick's role as an outsider), such as, "I was enjoying myself now" (51). Although, now Nick's previous status as an outsider is questionable ever since his specific invitation to Gatsby's party. Nick clearly feels honored to be chosen and actually invited rather than crashing, especially when he brags to a man (before his discovery that the man is Gatsby himself), "'This is an unusual party for me. I haven't even seen the host. I live over the -' I waved my hand at the invisible hedge in the distance, 'and this man Gatsby sent over his chauffeur with an invitation'" (52).
ReplyDeleteThere is adistinction made by Nick towards the beginning of chapter 3 that sets the New York party apart from Gatsby's. He portrays the level of power and prestige at Gatsby's party when he first enters, "I was immediately struck by the number of young Englishmen dotted about; all well dressed, all looking a little hungry and all talking in low earnest voices to solid and prosperous Americans. I was sure that they were all selling something: bonds or insurance or automobiles" (46). The party, at least in Nick's eyes is appealing in contrast to the McKee's. One easily detectable example of the differences in the two parties is the degree of enjoyment, "numbers of people were doing 'stunts' all over the garden while happy vacuous bursts of laughter rose toward the summer sky" (51) contrasted to "the room rang full of her artificial laughter" (40). Jordan's statement, "'I like large parties. They're so intimate. At small parties there isn't any privacy'" is the main difference between the two parts.
Another opposite I noticed in chapter 3 has to do with honesty and dishonesty between Nick and Jordan's growing romance. Nick is completely aware of Jordan's dishonesty but he says, "'It made no difference to me. Dishonesty in a woman is a thing you never blame deeply - I was casually sorry, and then I forgot'" (63). However, Nick reflects on himself, "I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known" (64). Considering Nick's cardinal virtue, the readers would think that honesty is essential in his life, but on the contrary, Nick is drawn in by Jordan's dishonest tendencies. What do you think about "'Dishonesty in a woman is a thing you never blame deeply'" and what does it say about Nick/the society? Also, based on the polarity of Nick and Jordan's stance on honesty, do you think they will last? I don't think Nick and Jordan's romance will be a major part in the novel, but it refers to the cliche of do opposites attract?
Katie's response about the line, "The party has begun" makes sense and ties into Nick's character. When he is more of an outsider in New York, he remains fairly quiet, keeping his thoughts to himself, while observing the people around him. He also does so at Gatsby's party in the beginning (as Katie mentions, it was awkward) but as time goes on, Nick becomes more and more comfortable. He runs into Jordan, giving him more confidence to mingle among others.
ReplyDeleteTo continue on Katie's thought, you could suggest that the party hasn't begun until a significant event occurs, or in this case, a prominent person in public society has made and appearance. Kate also makes several good points, especially in contrasting Nick's honesty and Jordan's dishonesty. Considering our previous discussions of his possible bias, is Nick not only judgmental, but sexist as well?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Nick claimed “The party has begun” (Fitzgerald 45) is very strange because beforehand he mentioned, “The bar [was] in full swing… [and] the air is alive with chatter and laughter and casual innuendo…” (44). The party was clearly in “full swing,” however, Nick thought that the party started when suddenly a woman started to dance alone. Katie mentions that she was “someone taking a risk” and in Nick’s mind this was a “significant event” (Maggie) to set off the night. Even though the party had begun to Nick he seemed to not know his place at the party. Despite the fact that he was one of the few that was officially invited, as Kate mentioned, he still seemed like an outsider, in the beginning, due to him starting to feel like he looked “…purposeless and alone” (46). Then he started to converse with many people at the party and he was a new outsiders looking on the inside from the inside and because of this look to this prestigious party and society, his fascination grew.
ReplyDeleteJordan invited Nick to “…her own party…around a table on the other side of the garden,” (49) and then a distinction between the East and West Egg was made clear. The people he was talking to seemed eerily similar to the McKee’s dinner party and their senseless gossip. The conversations exemplify how the West and East Egg are different because these people including Jordan and Nick removed themselves from Gatsby’s house, momentarily, to gossip. The West Egg, where Gatsby’s house lies, had the woman who took the risk to dance by herself. Whereas, these people, who seem to be from the East Egg had a mob mentality to stick together. Nick even reveals that the East and West Egg are only associated together when the East Egg is condescending the West Egg.
Overall, Nick seems to be intrigued by both the West Egg society and the East Egg’s, despite their differences.
To answer the initial question:
ReplyDeleteI agree with Katie that the party truly starts when the gypsy goes up to dance and everyone starts to have fun. It goes from an awkward gathering of people to a party in one defined instance. It is interesting to note that in Gatsby’s “absence” people are able to still have a party. A party without a host is a very awkward event, and Gatsby forces people to take their own initiative, break the norm and do something they normally would not, such as “start a party.”
But the idea of opposites in the party plays a big role in differentiating Gatsby from the other wealthy citizens of the region. Of course when considering opposites there is the relationship between Nick and Jordan as Kate emphasized. Gatsby, through his party, and subsequent plot to meet Daisy, inadvertently (at least we think so) brings Nick and Jordan together. But they are not the only opposites that Gatsby brings together. He draws crowds from all around the area, from West Egg and East Egg. He brings the outsiders in; his mystery serves to bring everyone together, beyond their social status. They are all similar in their pursuit for the background of Gatsby. He even brings Nick, normal an outsider, on the inside. “I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby’s house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited.” (45) He later repeats the same sentiment, leading one to believe that this makes him feel distinguished in his own way, and more special than others, the same way Owl Eyes feels special when he learns that the books are real. Gatsby has a way of making people feel good about themselves, something which transcends social status and puts everyone on a level playing field, as later shown by the different types of people that visit his house.
To answer Maggie’s follow up question:
I believe it can be useful to think of Nick as an Odysseus like figure. He is portrayed as greater than he is, and gives into temptation very easily. There are certain parts of him, such as his curiosity that render him weak to the charm of those who are not like him. He looks at people different than him and is attracted by what he can observe about them, and how they can be successful in their own style, while Nick himself is trying to develop a true personality. He is fighting between what he believes is right and wants to be and his guilty pleasure to act and be like the wealthy people of New York. So I do not believe he is sexist but just fascinated.