Monday, 9/22
Chapter 2 Presentation
Read Chapter 3
Wednesday, 9/24
BLOG ASSIGNMENT: Write a response to the following questions; 200 words minimum.
DUE: 9/26
- At one point in the novel Nick writes: "I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life" (40). What do you think he means?
- In what ways does Gatsby exemplify the "American Dream"?
Thursday, 9/25
Presentation 4
Read: Chapter 4
Friday, 9/26
HOMECOMING!!!
18 comments:
This quote illustrates what beauty, and what extravagant atmosphere lay within Gatsby’s property. It is as if his house is a whole other world, a fantasy world that people escape can escape to. Nick was thrown back when he walked into that room, surrounded by laughter, and music, it was so many people having the time of their lives. Such a joyous setting for an amazing party. Which therefore reflects the hosts’ character, this host being Mr. Gatsby. When Nick says “variety of life” this mean how many different people are in one place. How so many people who have never met before are so comfortable and so full of excitement, awaiting the climax of the night. Throughout the party, the reader glances upon different groups of people, from the young single girls out to have fun, to the older couples, who are sick of each others presence. Mr. Gatsby’s life is the American dream. At least on the outside looking in. Using what is revealed about Gatsby, the reader can tell that he has a perfect, or ideal life. He has the money, the presence as if he was president, and the character of a down to earth person. This is what everyone wants to be, rich, and is able to have lots of friends and company. But there is one twist, the reader doesn’t know what his life is like from the inside out. It slightly appears as if he is a lonely man looking for a companion, a worthy companion at that. Yet Gatsby’s life is a mirror of the American dream, once doesn’t know how deep that mirror image goes.
elegant and lavish they are, but at the same time he is taken back by the "variety of life". He is taken back by this because of how one man can gather all these varieties of people in one place for one event. This variety is that there are many people from many backgrounds, with many different social statuses. Nick is affected by this because even though they all are here, they are all different, yet all the same due to their desire to party. There are young women who dance from man to man and old couples who just are beginning to resent the other. Gatsby gives an excellent example of the American dream. He holds lavish, crazy parties, has many "friends" who attend and he seems to be carefree (for the moment). This is the American dream because everyone in America wants a life with unlimited wealth, which Gatsby has. This notion, that Gatsby is the American Dream is superficial. This is because even though he has all these things on the outside, i feel that he is hiding something from the public eye.
This quote reveals a great amount about the human condition because it states that there are two sides to every human being. In this case, Nick was previously describing how outsiders were able to see the yellow windows of the apartment. Nick was both inside and outside symbolically because he had this strange attraction and an unattraction to the varieties of life and humans. He was in between outside and inside, which is where all humans are, since sometimes he loved and then suddenly he hated. Being with Tom and Myrtle made him realize how there are so many varieties of lives. Some people are on the very bottom of the social class while others are on the very top. Even amongst the lives of the poor there are such great varieties between them. I also think that the outside could represent the inner soul of every human being and the inside of the apartment, where Myrtle and her friends were partying, represents the outside of every human. Some like to live by partying, but in the inside, they are dark and have a strange sadness within them. When Nick describes the pedestrians walking by the yellow windows in the night, the light windows could symbolize the light that humans look for within themselves to make their lives better and more joyous.
The American Dream has many different meanings. Taking into consideration most of these meanings and beliefs, its meaning is escaping a previous life and traveling somewhere else, such as to America, in hope to start a entirely new life that is more interesting and free. In the novel, Gatsby represents this concept because he continuously hosts these elegant and elaborate parties, almost every week. At the parties, most of the guests drink a lot of alcohol and then sing and dance, their hearts and minds complete empty and not thinking. Often times the American Dream includes these parties, in which girls wear the short and ruffled dressed , dancing, carelessly with every gentleman on the dance floor. The setting of the novel fits perfectly with the American Dream because after World War I, everyone was partying and seemingly happy in order to cover up the loneliness and hurt feelings that the war had created. Both emotions and people became fakes who were covering up the effects that the war had on the society and people.
Nick was surprised that there were so many different types of people at Gatsby's party. He sees how many people who have never met before act all friendly and kind to each other. It didn't matter what your social status was in society. This had really affected Nick, because all these different types of people were there, but their only desire was to socialize and party. He sees all these young girls dance from one man to another and the older couples who start to resent each other. Gatsby's life is what your typical American dreams of. He had so many things that people could never afford. Gatsby had a huge house, luxurious cars, a swimming pool, and he threw extravagant parties. Everyone always wanted to be around Gatsby. Gatsby had the money, power, and respect what more can a man want. But deep inside I think that Gatsby is hiding something from everyone, because he is very quiet and is far from arrogant unlike Tom. Rich people do not usually act like Gatsby, but rather more self centered and loud especially at parties. Even though Gatsby's life is the mirror of the American dream and has so many things, but he is definitely hiding something from the public eye.
"I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life". This quote is a strong discription of how one feels when on the Gatsby property. He is in and out of reality, being both enchanted and overwelmed by the finner things in life all at the same time. For someone to react like that to a property you know that it has to be drop dead amazing. The ambiance being let off of the house itself is without words. There are every type of person at his house. Everyone wants to be a part of this. Gatsby exemplifys the "american dream" because he has what other people want. At least on the outside. On the outside you see a rich house. Stunning property and drop dead partys. He has all the money in the world. People know that. They wanna be like him. On the inside though, Gatsby might not be the most perfect person. He is a happy nice man but has love for anouther that he cant have. Daisy. This is reveiled in ch. 4. He lives near her so he can be close. He has everthing in life but love. Some people say all you need is love to be happy. Others say money. Its hard to say what Gatsbys thoughts are on this because its to early. On the outside though he has the "american dream".
"I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life" (40) This quote comes from Chapter Two, when Nick is in the apartment with Tom and Myrtle. Nick describes the apartment their in as "yet high over the city our line of yellow windows must have contributed their share of human screct to the casual watcher in the darkening streets" This quote relates to how many people, who happen to be walking one the streets at night, with nothing better to do, examine buildings and apartments that are seen for miles and miles away, and have no clue what can be happening in that window at that very moment. And when Nick says, that he was one of those on the street, looking at the window, and wondering what was going on, it gives a sense of guilt. It shows that even though everything may seem okay to the naked eye, their can be real sins being committed, and nobody would know. Nick now realizes at this moment, that their are many different types of lives to live. He is beginning to live a life of deception, and lies. He is part of Tom's cheating ordeal, on his very own cousin Daisy, and does not have the courage to speak up. Gatsby's life is seen as the ideal life to live because of the things he has and what he can buy with his money. Everyone looks to the richer, and wishes to be just like them, and strive to get closer to that ideal life, but unfortunately, money doesnt buy happiness, and only Gatsby knows that. The American Dream is to become successful, well known, and have money at heights that couldnt be reached, but the most important part of the American Dream, is to have a better life, with happiness present; and money will never obtain happiness
In Chapter 2, Nick said “I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life" (40), this quote exemplifies the life in the 1920's that Nick was experiencing. There was the constant partying at Gatsby's house and in New York City, and then he was experiencing Tom cheat on Daisy with Myrtle. "The variety of life" means that he was constantly around different types of people, all with different kinds of fakeness. In Chapter 3, at Gatsby's party- Nick notices that everyone at the party is fake to each other and to themselves as well. He noticed that there was this emptiness in the people’s laughs, and they all seem to be lonely. Gatsby exemplifies the American dream because he has this gorgeous, extravagant house- full of beautiful gardens, high pillars, and a huge library. Gatsby has a lot of money, and throws huge parties everyday. This is the American dream, because everyone wants to have a lot of money, with a big house, and be able to afford to party all the time. However, Gatsby doesn't show off that he is the American dream. Gatsby is definitely keeping a secret, and a secret can only be kept for so long until someone finds out.
In Chapter 2, Nick said “I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life" (40), this quote exemplifies the life in the 1920's that Nick was experiencing. There was the constant partying at Gatsby's house and in New York City, and then he was experiencing Tom cheat on Daisy with Myrtle. "The variety of life" means that he was constantly around different types of people, all with different kinds of fakeness. In Chapter 3, at Gatsby's party- Nick notices that everyone at the party is fake to each other and to themselves as well. He noticed that there was this emptiness in the people’s laughs, and they all seem to be lonely. Gatsby exemplifies the American dream because he has this gorgeous, extravagant house- full of beautiful gardens, high pillars, and a huge library. Gatsby has a lot of money, and throws huge parties everyday. This is the American dream, because everyone wants to have a lot of money, with a big house, and be able to afford to party all the time. However, Gatsby doesn't show off that he is the American dream. Gatsby is definitely keeping a secret, and a secret can only be kept for so long until someone finds out.
At one point in the novel, Nick says, “I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.” (Page 40) This quote describes how the house of Gatsby brings out the best and the worst in those people who enter the house. There are clear examples of this with those characters described in chapter three. When Jordan was re-introduced into this chapter, her and Nick got to know each other more at this party but towards the end of the chapter she shows her true self to Nick with a very odd statement. And by the end of the night, it even does the same with Nick, when he tells himself that he is the most truthful person he knows, which is ironic because he doesn’t tell his own cousin about how her husband is cheating on her.
Gatsby is one of the very few people in this world (fictional and non-fictional) who actually expresses the full understanding of what’s known as the “American Dream.” Several ways he exemplifies this is the known fact that he was in the war, and the fact he come home alive without any (known) injuries (physical or mental). This is actually considered one of the most American things you can do in your life, serving your country in some way (from being in the army to being a mailman). He also exemplifies the “American Dream” by generally being rich. One way that I feel he illustrates the “American Dream” is by the fact that he likes holding big parties but doesn’t like being with people.
In the novel, Nick wrote: “"I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life" (40). Nick described how he associated with a variety of people including wealthy, poor, reserved and wild. When he was around these types of people, he was astonished and exasperated by their actions and personalities. When attending Gatsby’s party, he met many intoxicated people who were amusing but irritating: “In spite of the wives’ agreement that such malevolence was beyond credibility the dispute ended in a short struggle and both wives were lifted kicking” (57). Nick was amazed that the wives finally agreed they weren’t the last ones to leave the party. Yet, he was annoyed that they created such a commotion as they left the party. The wives were literally kicking their husbands as they were physically carried out of the party. Nick was not expecting to see such a variety of people at Gatsby’s party. Gatsby was very reserve and did not drink. The party was the total opposite of what Gatsby represented. Gatsby epitomized the “American Dream” in his accomplishments. The “American Dream” is a social ideal giving everyone in the United States the opportunity to be prosperous. When Gatsby returned from serving in the war, he threw himself into his work. His wealth was a result of his efforts. Gatsby was nonchalant about his success, but revealed his wealth through the massive parties he gave to random guests. His wealthy social status was well known and his winning personality added to his magnetism.
When Nick states “I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life” (40) he means that life is just full of surprises and comparing to the human condition, humans what the lavish things in life and sometimes for certain people think they can obtain it by money . For example, at Gatsby’s parties people are happy and merry, but in reality they’re simply living a lie. In the case during chapter 3 the lady who was drunk was one minute she was happy and all of sudden just broke down in tears until she finally went to sleep. Alcohol can be a depressive but it’s simply triggers problems that many be going on in life. For the girl it could have been her love life. So Nick is trying to say that the world offers all these marvelous and extravagant lavishes but it can bring you in at first but then bury you as well.
Gatsby most certainly exemplifies the American dream because he has wealth and u has all this education and dreams that millions wish they had but even those “American dreams” don’t come with guarantees. For him we can infer that he’s living a lonely and sad life. Even though he is well know and many people come to the all time famous “Gatsby parties” he truly doesn’t have these people as his friends also very doubtfully friends that are trustworthy. Everyone is just in it for the fun and to have a good old time.
Nick's quote illustrates his intrest yet fear, of the "civilized" uncivilalized world. He is interested but afraid of this world he understands so little of. Gatsby may also dislike this world, beacuse he stays so far away from it. Gatsby illustrates the ideal american dream through a few things. He has alot of money but not enough to do with it. This is one of the american dreams because the people of america dont want to have to need to earn things they would rather have enough to never need. He also is able to always throw parties and never need to actually earn anything. America likes fun but not work and would rather have instant gratification.
(ok after a word count...)
This quote also shows what Nick thinks of this lifestyle and how people act. He says how extravegant this life is but also how unknown and unstable it is. Nick doesnt know how to act around these people and doesnt know how to respond to Gatsby. Gatsby however knows this lifetsyle and its perks and irregularities. This quote helps simbolize Nicks ignorance.
Nick in the novel The Great Gatsby states "I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life" (40). What Nick is trying to convey through this quote is that everyone is different from eachother. Some people are more conservative then others, some are more social and so onn. Nick is explaining how life has many varieties. Not one thing is the same as the other, not one person is alike to another. This proves to be a good thing because if everything were to be the same the world would be dull and boring. Gatsby's parties seem to bring out peoples true self. Most of the guests at the parties drink alot and therefor show there true selfs. Gatsby exemplifts the "American Dream" in many ways. The American dream in a nutshell is being wealthy and living a great and fun life. This is exactly what Gatsby does. His material objects such as his house and his waterjet show that he buys what he wants and money is not an issue. The parties he throws is another example. Having parties every week shows that Gatsbys life is exciting and fun.
This quote exemplifies the almost magical atmosphere of Gatsby’s house. Nick is drawn in by the fun and dancing. He is also repelled by the masks people fit on to go to the party. The old married couples pretending to not hate each other. The young people drunk all over the place and not caring what goes on. He finds it fascinating to be on the outside looking in and yet being so close he’s almost on the inside. Gatsby is the American dream. He’s rich, has huge parties. He is what women want and what men want to be. He has it all yet every one puts on a mask to see him, so he doesn’t actually know anyone. He knows people but he has no real friends.
When Nick writes this, he is in attendance at Tom and Myrtle’s party. He is a part of the scene, involved in it, and yet he is an outsider to the way of life of his companions. The revelry and festive atmosphere, along with the newness of the experience, draw him in. He is enchanted. His fascination also stems from the “bad” aspect of it all, the act of betraying Daisy. At the same time, this facet of the situation damns him in his own eyes, and damns his company as well. They are merely players in a gaudy, ugly masquerade, one that Nick was formerly unaware of. The “variety of life” that he mentions is the difference between such tainted people and the fresh, pure goodliness of people like Daisy. There are many types of people in Nick’s world, and the “wicked” may seem more tempting, more interesting and fun than the good. He is enthralled by these people, and at the same time repulsed by his own fascination.
Gatsby is living the American Dream in that he has money enough to do as he pleases. He has made the most of the American idea of “opportunity” and is the envy of many of his peers. But in the vision of such a life, aspirants to this existence never view themselves as anything but happy. Thus, Gatsby’s life is the American Dream only in that his lifestyle is idealized by those who do not live it.
Nick is amazed on how a taste of the American dream can change you so much that you start thinking about the variety of life.This quote illustrates the variety of people that attend Gatsby's parties and how nick could feel a sense of attachment to them but knew that he also felt repelled from them because he was not used to that type of life.In every chapter Gatsby exemplifies the meaning of the American dream and that is the belief of freedom to pursue your goals through hard work and bravery .Some ways that Gatsby shows his hard work is by throwing amazing parties and basically letting people know that he is living the American dream
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