For Wednesday (by 7:00 a.m.), please respond to the following question:
What sort of people are they (Nick, Tom, Daisy, and Jordan)?
1. Your response should be ~250 words, go to the text, and be vigorously vetted for grammar, usage, and mechanics. It should also be original––i.e. Don't read other people's comments first.
2. Once you have responded to the prompt, please respond to two of your classmates' comments.
What sort of people are they (Nick, Tom, Daisy, and Jordan)?
1. Your response should be ~250 words, go to the text, and be vigorously vetted for grammar, usage, and mechanics. It should also be original––i.e. Don't read other people's comments first.
2. Once you have responded to the prompt, please respond to two of your classmates' comments.
The characters in the story are people who believe that they are superior to others. They believe this because they have had the opportunities to be educated and they are more wealthy than most other people at the time. They are not only classist, but also racist, and anti-Semitic. Tom insists that white people created the ideas of civilization (science, art, and writing) when this is not true, and it was Semitic peoples who ruled the Fertile Crescent. The reason the characters act this way is because the world has been kind to them. People like Nick were taught at the time by their families to look down on other people because they had more money than them.
ReplyDeleteHowever, Nick does seem to recognize that other people may not have been as lucky as he is. As his dad told him, Nick tries to remember, “that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had”(5). From this statement, we see how Nick is kept honest by the fact that he is fortunate to be able to live the way he does. When Tom launches into his theory that civilization is crumbling because the idea of equality between the races is starting to be brought up, Nick calls him “pathetic.” The fact that Tom was able to rant about this topic shows how the characters are comfortable enough to think about their culture and have enough time to read, which would be a luxury for those who are less rich. Tom is a very arrogant man because the people around him want to be as wealthy as he is.
I definitely agree with what you are saying about each of the characters believing "that they are superior to others." I noticed, while writing my response, that each character had their own way of being self-centered and the feeling of being superior, and I see that a lot in your response too. One thing I really liked about your response is when you mentioned Tom's arrogant nature. I hadn't thought about what made him this arrogant in my response.
DeleteI think that it is interesting how you grouped together all four of the characters. You are right that they are all wealthy, educated, have easy lives. Tom definitely shows that he thinks he is better than others and is racist and classist. You mention that Nick seems to be more humble, which I also agree with. However, I think it is harder to classify Jordan’s and Daisy’s feelings of superiority. It seems likely that, being women in this era, they have faced prejudice. Daisy lives with a domineering man, and while she agrees with Tom when he goes on his racist rant, I found it hard to tell what her true feelings were. We do not learn much about Jordan’s personality in this part of the book, but she does not actively support Tom’s racist notions.
DeleteI fully agree that Tom is incredibly arrogant, and wrong with his rant. I also find it interesting that Nick has a slightly different idea about their wealth. Why do you think that Tom feels he is so above other people? I believe that Tom is able to rant on such things, mainly money, because he is poorly educated on that subject. I wonder why Nick and Tom have such different perspectives. It seems as though it is because of how he was raised. From what the book says it seems as though they were fairly similar in life. I find the contrast between those two characters, but also between Jordan and Daisy very interesting. It makes me wonder, more in depth, what Jordan and Daisy’s stances are on those topics.
DeleteGood response, Eamon. I like your reference to the Fertile Crescent.
DeleteStarting off “The Great Gatsby” we learn quite a bit about Nick, as he is the narrator and a character of the story. He identifies himself as an honest man, who isn’t judgmental, yet later in chapter two we see things differently and who Nick really is starts to be revealed. Because he narrates the story we see everything through his thoughts and how he wants things to be perceived. “I’m inclined to reserve all judgments” (5). Daisy seems to have a desire to be noticed, a need to be loved. She almost pretends to be someone she's not, does she do this because she wishes to be a different person? “That’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool” (21). I’m thinking there is more to her then it may seem, she tries not to be in her husband's shadow. To me, Tom is perceived as needing to feel powerful, in control, smarter, and better than everyone else, especially his own wife. With this power he claims he is also very racist, “The idea is if we don’t look out the white race will be-will be utterly submerged. It’s all scientific stuff; it’s been proved” (17). He thinks that white people started it all and gave everything to everyone else. Finally, Jordan isn’t much different from the rest. She comes from wealth and seems self-centered. They all seem to be coming from the same place, feeling some type of superiority over all others.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a good point as to how you mention briefly that it isn't until the second chapter when Nick is being revealed more. Comparing the first two chapters, Nick is definitely more of a pawn in the first than he is in the second, where we get a more omniscient view with him. I feel the same way with how you describe Daisy, as someone who "desires to be noticed" and "needs to be loved." She is rather flirtatious, and does give off a sense that she is lonely despite being in a marriage, which I think is not an uncommon trait for main female characters in literature. It's interesting how you say that Tom is better than anyone else, because aside from going on about the "dominant race" thing, there is not much else that is convincing for that point. I also agree with how you say that Jordan is self-centered, as she is not very outgoing in her little role in the first chapter.
DeleteI think that you make good points about Daisy. It does seem that she has a desire to be loved, but also a desire to not be out of the ordinary. It seems that some part of her character is due to her marriage. She does not seem very happy in her marriage—she knows that Tom is cheating on her—but she seems keen on keeping up the appearance of a happy marriage. And I agree with your judgment of Tom, that he needs to feel in power, which also seems to be a contrast to Daisy, who seems somewhat free-spirited.
DeleteI think you make a very good point about how Tom's wealth and prominence makes him think that he has the power to be racist. With this wealth and prominence, he is ignorant of the world around him and very self-centered. This point is only reinforced more by Nick's reaction to his racist slurs, because as a less-wealthy, more modest person, Nick does not agree with Tom's comments and finds them to be very senseless. I think it is important that you brought up this point, because with wealth, comes ignorance and a blindness to a lot of things that do not concern oneself.
DeleteI agree that most of the characters in the story are judgemental towards people who are less wealthy than them, but I think Nick is less so than the other characters. He seems to be more judgemental of people like Tom than he is of poorer people. Tom is definitely someone who thinks he is better than all other people. He struggles to understand how the world could change around him, not that he is in a group of people who are trying to bring about change. I like your point about how Daisy wants to feel loved, or at least make it appear so. I do not think she actually cares about her husband, but I think she wants them to appear like they are in a happy marriage.
DeleteInteresting observations about Daisy, Grace. Why do you think she says that the best thing a girl can be is a fool? It's a striking comment.
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ReplyDeleteThe narrator, Nick, is honest and straightforward. He was told by his father to “reserve his judgments,” and to be grateful as he was raised in a family better-off than others. However, despite him reserving judgments, we see him grow a tendency to not want to be around certain people. When he is in the cab with Tom and his “girl,” he requests to leave:
ReplyDelete“Hold on,” I said. “I have to leave you here.”
“No, you don’t,” interposed Tom quickly. (28)
Nick also grows old in the apartment with the McKee’s, saying “I wanted to get out… in some wild, strident argument…” (35). Alongside Nick, the man he meets up with and went to school with in New Haven, Tom, is an arrogant, unsettled man. He is racist, claiming “it’s up to us, who are the dominant race, to watch out or these other races will have control of things” (13), though he read this from a book. Tom also cheats on his wife, Daisy, with a woman who lives in New York City. Despite the affair, Tom is rather quick to action, attacking his “girl,” Mrs. Wilson, at the end of chapter 2. Daisy, Tom’s wife, is rather charming and accepting to the sometimes crude behavior that her husband emits. Daisy makes kind remarks about those around her, and is cheerful to be with her cousin, Nick, offering compliments about him. But, I think she does this as she may expect to receive the same appreciation in return Jordan, on the other hand, is rather reserved and self-centered. When Nick tries to strike up a conversation with her, Nick “was about to speak when she sat up alertly and said “Sh!” in a warning voice” (14). Jordan is almost the complete opposite of Daisy as well, sort of how Nick and Tom are opposites. I find this to be an interesting tone going forward how the first four characters we dig into are unalike.
It's interesting how you said the first four characters are unalike. I think all the characters can be stereotyped into rich, white people. Especially Tom, who is racist and sexist. I believe that the location of where they live and the differences between the East and West Eggs will play a role going forward. While the West shows what the self-earned, "new style" of rich is like, the East egg people are reaping the benefits of what their families have built before them. Nick falls somewhere in between these two, potentially bridging the gap between the two locations. Nick's character development going forward should distinguish more between the sides going forward.
DeleteWhile it’s true that the characters are all rich white people. I agree with you when you say that the four people are different from each other character-wise. Many of their personalities and actions aren’t don’t overlap with other people. Tom is an aggressive, sexist and racist man, as he shows multiple times during the party in New York. Talking about the dominant race, and breaking a woman’s nose show just how riled up he is, even if he doesn’t show it. Daisy, on the other hand, does show it, as she is more vocal and passive-aggressive. She often throws in her rather pointed two cents to ongoing conversations. Nick is calmer, acting as the more relatable character to the reader. This gives them a grounding into what could otherwise be a very hectic scene.
DeleteThis is a good line, Ty: Tom, is an arrogant, unsettled man.
DeleteNick is the narrator of the story. He is different from the other three because he is not as immensely wealthy. He still has a sense of superiority like all the other characters. Nick seems to be a quiet character that is observant of his surroundings. He sees the world through analytic eyes. Nick seems to respect women more than other male characters.
ReplyDeleteTom is different from Nick. He is very wealthy and seems to think he is invincible because of it. Tom does not value the people in his life especially his wife who he cheats on. Tom reminds me of a frat boy in many ways and it still seems like he is ‘stuck’ at that time of his life. It is a sense of toxic masculinity. He “played football a New Haven– a national figure in a way, one of those men who reached such an acute limited excellence at twenty-one that everything afterward savors of anti-climax.” (10).
Daisy seems like a suppressed character who does not yet know her place in the world. She is young and has a baby and is married to a man who does not respect her and cheats on her. She seems very nervous and trapped. “She leaned slightly forward with a conscientious expression” (13).
We know the least about Jordan. She is still a mysterious character and I think she is intended to be this way. Jordan is a powerful and revolutionary woman due to that fact that she is not married and also a female athlete at a time where it is very uncommon “Jordan’s going to play in the tournament tomorrow,” (23)
Your thoughts on Daisy are interesting. For my response, I used the quote that she "had everything figured out" and that women were nothing but "pretty little fools." I wonder if she's accepting the role that females play at the time or if she is actually trapped, wanting to escape this. It should be interesting to see how her character develops over the course of the story.
DeleteI like how you analyzed each character. I generally agree with the conclusions you drew about Nick and Tom, although I am not sure to what extent Nick has a sense of superiority. I like how you discussed Tom’s toxic masculinity. I feel like from what we learn of Daisy’s character in the first chapter it is hard to tell what role she will have, and how she will be affected by Tom. I like your idea that she is trapped by him. I did not think about Jordan the way you did, but you bring up a good point. She does seem to be breaking the gender norm of the era, and I wonder how much of a feminist she really is.
DeleteI like what you said about Nick having a sense of superiority over other characters, I based a lot of my response off of that as well. I also thought it was interesting how you compared Tom to a frat boy, in the examples you used I would agree but other than that I wouldn't have thought about that. Finally, I agree with what you had to say about Daisy. I think she doesn't know exactly who she is, and she expresses this in a way that makes her seem "lost."
DeleteI find your analysis of Daisy very interesting. Do you think she is trapped by her husband, or the culture they live in? For the time it is very stereotypical for women to be trapped. Daisy seems to be oppressed by both her husband and her society. I wonder if much of the ‘ditzy’ portrayal is a coping mechanism. She is being cheated on by her husband, which could be devastating for her. It is clear she knows about it, but what if she is pretending it is not happening as a coping mechanism. Does she have to cope, because of the way society would treat her for a divorce? Or does she not want to leave her husband?
DeleteI like the points you made about Jordan. She is definitely ahead of her time, and in the midst of all the other drama I don't think I took notice of that. In society at that time, it was uncommon for a woman of her age and status to be unmarried, let alone a competitive athlete. I am interested to see if her character will evolve differently from the others.
DeleteThis is well-said, Elle, "Tom reminds me of a frat boy in many ways and it still seems like he is ‘stuck’ at that time of his life. It is a sense of toxic masculinity."
DeleteThe characters in the book are all similar in the fact that they are very wealthy, white people thriving in the 1920s. They could also be stereotyped even further. Tom, Daisy, and Jordan are all rich people that are stuck-up and seem to have everything handed to them in life. For example, simple things like the interior decoration of the house upset Daisy, “‘Why candles?’ objected Daisy frowning” (16). This suggests the great privilege that these people are taking advantage of everyday.
ReplyDeleteDespite being rich, Daisy still is victim to the gender role stereotype for the time period. She acknowledges this by saying that she hopes her daughter will be a fool because “that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool” (21). It will be interesting to see how or if gender plays a role in the story going forward.
Nick separates himself early from the other three characters because of the location he lives in. In general, people from East Egg seem snobby and stuck-up, they are rich because they were born into it. People from the West Egg are self-made, hardworking wealthy men and women. Nick seems to be bridging the gap between the two places, because of his family connections to East Egg, but lives in the West and describes himself as non-judgemental and “inclined to reserve all judgements.” The two eggs are polar opposites of each other, yet both very wealthy, which could lead to conflict between them in the future. It will be interesting to see how these stereotypical characters will progress as the book goes on.
I like how you think that the characters are similar, which is different than me. You make a good point going into the whole stereotyping thing, which was definitely a big factor at the time. In 1920, women had just earned the right to vote, but they were still heavily degraded in society. I like how you bring up the differences of between East and West Egg—the class division and all. It's interesting how you note that Nick is "bridging the gap" between the two communities, but it makes sense because of his tone we have discovered so far in the book. One thing I also like about your response is how you described the two Eggs as the polar opposites, whereas I described the individual characters falling under that category.
DeleteYour ideas about Nick, and the contrast between East and West Egg are interesting. It does seem like there is quite a contrast between the two Eggs, with the very upper class, and the lower upper class, or the self-made versus inherited fortunes. Nick does bridge the two worlds with his life, and his cousin/friend’s life, but I wonder how Gatsby will fit into it, for it seems as though he is very upper class, and yet, he lives on West Egg. It seems to be a statement that he is not on East Egg. You point out that another difference between Nick and the East Eggers are the judgments they have. Nick seems to be quite friendly with the East Eggers, but I wonder how the lack of judgment from Nick, compared to the judgment after judgment of the East Eggers will hold up over time.
DeleteI liked how you mentioned Nick was a character who bridges the gap between the two places. I think we see that in more than just the location of his house, but also in character and action. While Nick is still quite wealthy, he is not as wealthy as the others. In addition, he has shown no signs of the entitlement, and arrogance that many others have shown so far in this story. I think in that sense Nick serves as a bridge from the wealthy characters in this book to the readers. Acting as a middle man of sorts, the reader is able to experience the lavish setting through a character that maybe is a little closer to them in terms of attitude and values.
DeleteYour idea about Nick bridging the gap between the two worlds (West and East Egg) was very intriguing to me. I think because of his open-mindedness he will be a unique character in that we will see a more rounded view of the time. Not only does he seem less classist and racist, he has had an upbringing rooted in acceptance of other who have less than him. I think it will be very interesting to see how his position in both of the worlds will ease or cause tension between his friend group.
DeleteGood catch on the difference between the "Eggs." The difference also has to do with old money vs. new money.
DeleteIn these first few chapters of The Great Gatsby, we meet the narrator Nick, and his friends Tom, Daisy, and Jordan. Tom and Daisy are married, and Jordan is a friend of theirs. Tom and Daisy have a troubled and tense relationship, because “Tom’s got some woman in New York,” (19) as Jordan puts it. They are very passive aggressive toward each other, even bickering with guests present in their home: “A subdued impassioned murmur was audible in the room beyond and Miss Baker leaned forward, unashamed, trying to hear. The murmur trembled on the verge of coherence, sank down, mounted excitedly and then ceased altogether” (19). Although it is clear that Daisy is aware of Tom’s affair, she does nothing about it, portraying her as a pushover who lets herself be mistreated by her husband. On the contrary, Tom is self-centered and thinks he is untouchable. As for Jordan, she has an air about her that she believes she is above everyone else, and must know everybody’s else’s business. For example, she tells Nick to be quiet when trying to eavesdrop on a fight between Tom and Daisy: “Don’t talk. I want to hear what happens,” (19) she says to Nick. She seems to always have to have a say in anything,–even if it is none of her business–like after she listens in on the conversation between Tom and Daisy, she exclaims, “She might have the decency not to telephone him at dinner-time. Don’t you think?” (20). In regards to Nick, he is a very perceptive character, who sits back quietly and takes things in. It is not that he is not sociable, he just seems to pick up on everything and takes the time to notice things. This can be seen in the first few lines of the story, when he is describing himself: “In consequence I’m inclined to reserve all judgements, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me and also made me the victim of not a few veteran bores” (5). His nature is to be a listener, and therefore picks up on more information than most in social situations. Even this early on in the story, we know enough about each character to see them as their own individual people with individual personalities that all shape the storyline in different ways.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with your assessment of Nick. It is clear that his calm yet discerning demeanor is definitely an advantage, and may help him through difficult situations. This trait may also help him in later confrontations, situations, and conflicts, but he may still need to develop it. Perhaps the fact that the story is told from his perspective contributes to this perception.
DeleteI like this observation, Morgan: Tom is self-centered and thinks he is untouchable.
DeleteTom and Daisy seem largely to be opposites of each other. They both seem quite stereotypical. Daisy seems very talkative, friendly and quite ditsy. She quickly transitions from one idea to the next, as shown when she is asking Nick what they should do to celebrate the longest day of the year, but “Before (he) could answer her eyes fastened with an awed expression on her little finger” (16), and she moved on to what was wrong with her finger without ever getting Nick’s opinion. On the other hand, Tom appears stoic and unfriendly. While Daisy is talking about all sorts of irrelevant things, Tom sits quietly. When the reader is introduced to Tom for the first time, the appearance and mannerisms that Tom has that give him a mean and unfriendly air. And many times it mentions how he likes to control people; as he leads Nick to dinner, Nick describes it as “wedging his tense arm imperatively under mine Tom Buchanan compelled me from the room as though he were moving a checker to another square” (16). Tom also makes sexist and racist comments. They are both quite dumb and ignorant, as they show when talking about the book, “The Rise of the Coloured Empires”. Jordan, Daisy, and Tom, all act like the privileged people they are, whereas, Nick, so far, does mainly seem like the observer he describes himself as in the beginning. Nick interacts with all of the characters, but he does not really make judgments about their actions. Jordan, on the other hand, upon learning Nick lives on West Egg, reacts with contempt.
ReplyDeleteI find your analysis of Tom really interesting. He is definitely dealing with a lot of suppressed feelings of inadequacy—as Nick mentioned somewhere in Chapter 1, he peaked physically at the age of 21 with his football-related athletic accomplishments. I think this might have something to do with him seeking out other women, and his overwhelming superiority complex.
DeleteI like your point about Tom having a sort of enforcing nature about him in which he makes everyone around him comply to what he wants. I think this comes a lot from his wealth and privilege, and just being used to getting what he wants in general, but I also think that it comes from a place of insecurity in which he is scared of people disagreeing with his opinions, so he shuts them down before they have a chance to say any different.
DeleteThis is an excellent point: Nick, so far, does mainly seem like the observer.
DeleteNick is very much the observer.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is narrated by Nick Carraway, a fairly wealthy Yale graduate and veteran of World War I from the midwest. Throughout the first two chapters, Nick is easygoing and willing to get along with anybody. He tells readers, “I’m inclined to reserve all judgements, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me” (5). He has been friendly with all of the characters introduced in the beginning of the novel.
ReplyDeleteTwo of Nick’s friends are Tom and Daisy Buchanan. Nick knows Tom from Yale, and Daisy is Nick’s cousin. Tom is exceptionally wealthy, racist, and has an aggressive personality. Seemingly everybody who knows Tom knows that he is cheating on his wife. Nick witnesses Tom’s aggression when accompanying Tom and his mistress, Myrtle Wilson, to New York. The couple are fighting about whether Myrtle is allowed to say Daisy’s name. Tom responds violently to Myrtle, and Nick explains, “Making a short deft movement Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand” (41). Despite this violence, Nick remains friends with Tom.
Daisy shows two different personalities when with her husband and when she is alone with Nick. With Tom, she seems to be an airy rich housewife. However, alone with Nick, she becomes cynical, with little hope for the world. After their conversation, though, Fitzgerald writes, “The instant her voice broke off . . . I felt the basic insincerity of what she had said” (22). From the first chapter, it is hard to determine which is her true personality.
Nick meets Jordan Baker at the Buchanan’s house. She seems to generally be a quiet person, but also to like to know the gossip. She is the one who informs Nick of Tom’s affair.
When I was reading the scene where Tom broke Myrtle’s nose I didn’t think about the fact that Nick didn’t say anything or do anything, and still remained friends with Tom. That makes me feel as though Nick either doesn’t want to get involved and is too reserved, or he didn’t see anything wrong with it. The whole thing was a very messy situation.
DeleteI'm glad you picked up on this: Nick explains, “Making a short deft movement Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand” (41). Despite this violence, Nick remains friends with Tom.
DeleteWhat's amazing about this is it comes out of nowhere. It's so disturbing, but such a well-written scene.
The main characters that we have been introduced to so far in The Great Gatsby, have all been similar in regards to their race, and relative social class. All of them are white and are part of a wealthier demographic. Nick, the narrator, stands out a little more from the other three, however (Tom, Daisy, and Jordan) as he is a little different. Unlike the others, he lives by himself, in a much humbler home. While the others are living in lavish apartments and seaside mansions, Nick’s eighty dollar-a-month home was “an eyesore” (7). This is not the only difference between Nick and the others however, as their personalities seem to differ as well. Daisy, who is the irritatingly narcissistic cousin of Nick, and wife of Tom, seems to think that she knows it all. Saying “I’ve been everywhere and seen everything and done everything...God I’m sophisticated!” (22). From this comment we can clearly see how spoiled and conceited Daisy is as she thinks she’s nobody knows more about the world then she does. This snobby, privileged tone also comes across with Tom. With him frequently cheating on his wife with another woman in New York, as well as uttering sexist, and racist remarks, Tom is another character who boasts an easily dislikable personality. Nick, on the other hand, is a little different. As the narrator of the story, we are naturally more connected to him. However, in addition to that, his personality is much more centered as well. It never feels as though he is really part of the snobby elite, talking down about everyone else. He is wary of Tom and his calm, charming attitude, and is annoyed with many of the lies and stories being told at the luxurious parties. Nick feels much more like a character who is a common man experiencing the privileged wealth around him as opposed to being a part of the snobby elite.
ReplyDeleteI think that the distinction that you make in terms of personality between the social elite from the East Egg and Nick is very important as there is a unique difference between Nick and the rest of the characters we have encountered so far. I agree with you that Nick is a character that is centered and going a little deeper, I think that Nick is a character that knows that he doesn't have to pretend to be someone whom he really isn't in order to fit in with the snobby elite. In these first two chapters Nick came out to me as a very observing, non-judgmental character who doesn't bother to waste his energy in all the vanity and materialistic attributes that come with being part of the wealthy elite.
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DeleteI agree with you that Nick is not portrayed of someone from the snobby elite like his friends are. This portrayal may be wrong though he is very wealthy we know he went to Yale. Going to Yale is a symbol of status in this period. I believe his humbler life is based on him changing in World War One. His actions are separated are it does not seem like he is alike his friends in mentality. This difference in mentality does not seem to be a difference of socioeconomic class rather than Nicks experiences changing him.
Ryan wrote: Nick feels much more like a character who is a common man experiencing the privileged wealth around him as opposed to being a part of the snobby elite.
DeleteAnd this is more in keeping with the author's view. Fitzgerald both loathed and was fascinated by the rich.
Nick Carraway, the narrator of the story, seems to change between chapters one and two. He has self-described himself non-judgemental but then gives himself the right to judge everyone else later in the book. “I’m inclined to reserve all judgments” (5). He claims to be not wealthy, but then he lives very well off. His family money has given him many more opportunities than the average person. He seems to be quite the opposite of Tom (Daisy’s husband). He is less wealthy than Tom but has the same level of superiority. Daisy is quite stereotypical for women of her statue in this time period. Nick describes her as a friendly, talkative woman. Her husband Tom is quite the opposite. He is portrayed as the very traditional sense of masculine, and seemingly above people. This is conveyed in two different ways, both with his actions but also his physical appearance. He is described as “sturdy, straw-haired man of thirty with a rather hard mouth and a supercilious manner” (11). The extreme opposites puts their marriage in trouble, and Tom has an affair with a woman. This also portrays Daisy in another stereotype for the time and the culture that all of the characters are in. While Nick is describing all of the characters, and Jordan is also chiming in about the affair. It is said that Daisy knows of the affair, and is doing nothing about it. She is becoming a pushover to her husband, and this also makes her seem ditzy and dumb. Both of these characters are very stereotypical. In the first two chapters, it seems as though there are many opposites with the characters themselves. Daisy and Jordan seem to be very different from each other. She is portrayed as this strong woman, for her time, because she is athletic, but there is much mystery surrounding her. “Jordan’s going to play in the tournament tomorrow,” (23) this shows the extreme differences between her and Daisy. Although most of the characters are extremely different from each other they are all very stereotypical white wealthy people, with similar views about society.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you said Nick changed between the two chapters. I didn't think about it that way but now that you mention it if agree. I think I shows more about his character than we first thought because he was so different in different settings. He was really the only character who did this. Tom was pretty much the same and the two women were only in the first chapter. I think it will be interesting to see how the women change I have a feeling that Jordan is going to be a layered character with many sides.
DeleteMorgan, I really like that you have picked up on the contradictions that are Nick.
DeleteIn The Great Gatsby, we are introduced to several characters who each have their motives and personalities but together form a powerful collective identity of wealth, status, and power. The story is told from the perspective of Nick, a wealthy Yale graduate originally from the midwest, who is now looking to find his place on the east coast. He has a desire to be a decent person, but that is diluted by the unrelenting pressure of living among the social elite: “I wanted no more riotous excursions with privileged glimpses... Gatsby who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn (6)”. As for Tom, he is represented as tough, inflexible, and perhaps nostalgic about the status quo ante. He is quite wealthy, and exploiting his wealth and status is quite possibly his only goal in life: “If we don’t look out the white race will be—will be utterly submerged. It’s all scientific stuff (17)”. Tom and Nick have a relationship that appears to be built on trust (back to their time at Yale), but they see the world differently, it would seem.
ReplyDeleteDaisy is Nick’s cousin. She is very beautiful, and this has attracted the attention of Mr. Gatsby. She is well established among the wealthy citizens. Her vast network of friendships is presumably supported by her marriage with Tom. There is a difference between her interactions with her husband, and with the other characters; this suggests that their relationship is substantiated, and not just based on wealth, status, or connection.
I agree with how you pointed out that Nick seems to be more showy now that he is said to be living on the east coast. It seems as though he is in fact a respecting person, but senses that since he is living on the east coast, he has to come to terms with his wealth. I also like how you introduce the idea of how Tom may have only one goal in life, that is money and wealth. It is very evident that being able to show off his wealth and gloat about what he has is a main part of his lifestyle. I never considered the idea that he may be only focused on being above everyone else in society.
DeleteEach of these four characters has an overwhelming sense of superiority. Nick, the story’s narrator, is slightly different from the others in that he is not so obscenely wealthy; however, his superior view of himself stems from a notion that he has a sturdy moral high ground, and therefore is privy to glimpses of others unmarred by judgement or personal bias: “... I’m inclined to reserve all judgements, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me…” (5). Daisy, Tom, and Jordan all come from a much wealthier class of people, and are all shallow characters—they are caught up in the superficiality of the rich lifestyle. Tom and Daisy’s marriage is a miserable one. Tom has taken a lover, and Daisy has grown increasingly pessimistic about life. Both are attractive, wealthy, and successful, but Tom struggles with feelings of under-accomplishment, and Daisy (though her vibrant and charming manner may suggest otherwise) is desperate and empty inside. In fact, both Daisy and Jordan are characterized as having beautiful, flawless facades, while inside they are tired and apathetic: “Sometimes, she and Miss Baker talked at once, unobtrusively and with a bantering inconsequence that was never quite chatter, that was as cool as their white dresses and their impersonal eyes in the absence of all desire” (17). And while each of these characters has a personal view of superiority, the author also brings into the story racist attitudes, strongly suggesting that Tom and Daisy, in particular, are white supremacists.
ReplyDeleteIt never crossed my mind that perhaps the reason Tom acts in such an aggressive and arrogant manner is because it is a way for him to hide his insecurities or as you mentioned to suppress his feelings of "under-accomplishment." Living in such a superficial manner in addition to the external pressures that come from stigma, explain why Tom portrays himself as someone who is "tough". Especially because he likely feels that showing his vulnerabilities could be seen as socially unacceptable or as an act of emotional instability.
DeleteI like your take on the characters! I didn’t realize that Nick also seems to have a superiority complex, just for a different reason. I also noticed the racist comments that Tom and Daisy made, and it seemed like just a normal topic of conversation for all of the characters which makes it even more unsettling.
DeleteI think your idea about Tom's behavior making up for his injured ego is really good. I didn't think about it this way, but I totally agree. I think especially since he has already reached the climax of his life, he tries to gain some power and control over women. I think this is why he also is so classist and racist–his superior race and wealth is all he has left.
DeleteSomething I did not think of is Nick setting himself up as non judgmental puts him on the moral high ground. This makes sense to why he seemingly makes such a big deal about being non judgmental. Tom’s relationship with a lover from New York seems to be based on him being superior to everyone else in the story. Tom seems to think that because of his money he can do whatever he wants. His wealth is a cocoon that protects himself from social consequences that most people would be worried about when cheating on their spouse.
DeleteThis is a good (and accurate) line: Daisy (though her vibrant and charming manner may suggest otherwise) is desperate and empty inside.
DeleteWell done
Right from the start, “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald puts into perspective how American society even in the 1920s was structured based on social class and race, something that hasn’t changed much over the last 100 years. Nick Carraway, the narrator of this novel moves to an area of Long Island, New York known as the neighborhood of the “new rich” or West Egg. The West Egg could be seen as a neighborhood with character and innovation, whereas the East Egg was referenced as being highly aristocratic, exclusive, and luxurious yet conservative in its ways and ideologies. One afternoon, Nick decides to join his cousin Daisy and her wealthy husband Tom Buchanan, a former graduate from Nick’s Alma mater Yale, for dinner in the East Egg. Right away, Tom’s elitist, manipulative, and arrogant manners are shown when he expresses his white supremacist attitudes when talking about a book that instills the ideas of maintaining white dominance. When Tom comments, “—and we’ve produced all the things that go to make civilization—oh, science and art and all that. Do you see?” (18) it shows Tom’s racial bias and conservative ideologies that have negated him from seeing the truth of the situation.
ReplyDeleteDaisy on the other hand comes out as a hyperactive, imprudent, and gossipy person who seems to have an inability to hold long and profound conversations. Signals of an unstable relationship are demonstrated in subtle ways, including when Daisy accuses Tom of having bruised knuckles because of him, and when she follows Tom into the house after the phone rings for the second time. Along with what seems to be a lack of trust, it is evident that Daisy is constantly trying to change herself to feel loved by Tom, who’s had his mind set on another lady for a while.
I appreciate the point you make about the parallels between society a century ago and nowadays. I definitely felt the same way about the contrast between the neighborhoods. Do you think East Egg's more progressive atmosphere will provide an advantage in later conflicts, and West Egg's approach will be a detriment?
DeleteI like how you said that the West Egg was the "new rich" neighborhood while the East Egg is more people who were born into wealth. I hadn't thought too much about how this affects the story but it definitely has an affect on the mindset of the characters. Being from a family that is historically wealthy, the people of East Egg might not be willing to change, but West Egg could be a place that is open to new ideas. West Egg is probably less elitist, and more willing to work hard. Nick definitely embodies this perspective, even though he was born into wealth. Tom is elitist, and has the luxury to live his life searching for the thrill of some football game he played when he was in college.
DeleteGood observation, Frank: “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald puts into perspective how American society even in the 1920s was structured based on social class and race, something that hasn’t changed much over the last 100 years.
DeleteNick is the narrator of the story and different from Tom, Daisy and Jordan. Nick portrays himself by being non judgmental “I”m inclined to reserve all judgements”(5) The key similarity of the four is that they are all white people from extremely wealthy families. Nick and Tom both graduated from Yale. Daisy is Tom’s wife and Jordan is a golf professional. They are from multigenerational wealth and have not needed to worry about money their entire lives. Tom and Daisy live in the east egg of Long Island. The difference between the east egg and the west egg is when people gained their wealth. The west egg is were people that newly gained their wealth live. Tom is racist and his views come out during diner. “‘Civilization’s going to pieces,’ broke out Tom violently. ‘I’ve gotten tp be a terrible pessimist about things. Have you read ‘The Rise of the Coloured Empires’ by this man Goddard?’”(17) Tom is convinced this book is based on science. His wife seems to disagree with his views but would not say anything. Maybe they all have views like this because this racism was unaddressed other then Tom recommending the book. Tom has an other women in New York but no one seems to care other than Daisy. Nick does not seem to care even though Daisy is his cousin. The four are similar in demographics but are all independent people.
ReplyDeleteI liked the point you made about they having similar demographics but they are still all different people. I think Fitzgerald did I really good job going deeper into the blanket rich white person. Even characters who are mentions only briefly are different from one another. I also had not thought of that fact the people one East and West Egg gained their money differently. I wonder if it will have significance later on in the story.
DeleteI hadn't thought of how similar each of the character was, in terms of their demographics that is. They all are of a wealthy status, and trying to maintain a lifestyle out of it. Also, it is interesting how you mentioned that racism wasn't made a point by anyone except for Tom. No one had an opinion on it except Daisy, but Tom had quickly shut her down. I'm curious if Nick will show to be more arrogant like Tom as the story goes on, or if Tom begins to recognize how he acts.
DeleteThis is a good point: They are from multi-generational wealth and have not needed to worry about money their entire lives.
DeleteIt reminds me that so little has changed.
The main characters of The Great Gatsby have incredible wealth. Even Nick, who chooses to live in one of the poorer sides of his city, is still surrounded by mansions and opulence. Because of the fortunate status these characters have inherited, they openly believe they are better than others. This is seen especially through Tom and Daisy who seem to have convinced themselves, they are “the dominant race” (13. Part of their racist mindset is a result of their wealth–they are afraid if other races gain some power they will lose some of theirs: “watch out or these other races will have control of things” (13). Nick is unusual in that he does not seem to share these beliefs. Perhaps it is a result of his upbringing when his father told him, “that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had”(5). It also might be a result of his tolerant and open-minded personality. I think his ability to “reserve all judgements” (5) causes people to tell or show their secrets to him. Because he seems so open-minded they feel they can show their worst parts of themselves without fear of being looked down on. This allows him an ability to know his friends on a deeper level and be able to share his knowledge with the reader. While he keeps his opinions to himself when talking directly to the other characters, as a narrator he shares his personal feelings and thoughts with the reader.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing we see in the first two chapters through Daisy and Tom is the gender roles of the time. Tom seems to represent the idealized toxic masculinity of the time. He is rich, strong, athletic, and opinionated. He “played football at New Haven– a national figure in a way, one of those men who reached such an acute limited excellence at twenty-one that everything afterward savors anti-climax.” (10). He has a lavish lifestyle filled with women and disregards the happiness of others (such as his wife’s) over his own. We can see how toxic this notion of being the perfect man becomes when Tom and Myrtle are fighting about whether Myrtle is allowed to say Daisy’s name. When Myrtle appears defiant, Tom responds violently to Myrtle: “Making a short deft movement Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand” (41). Daisy, on the other hand, represents the tiny, kind, meek woman that is idealized in this time period. She lets her husband be in control, not leaving him even though he cheats on her. She seems to realize to be the perfect woman of the time she must be beautiful yet easy going, never truly sharing her opinion: “That’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool” (21). At the same time Daisy seems to seek attention from anyone, especially males, in an attempt to get the love she doesn’t receive from her own husband.
This is so true, and very little has changed: Part of their racist mindset is a result of their wealth–they are afraid if other races gain some power they will lose some of theirs:
DeleteEarly on, it is evident that Tom is a person who believes that he is more high test than others within the society they all live in. Tom is wealthy, and we learn that by the house that he lives in and the way he dresses. “Now, don’t think my opinion on these matters is final, just because I’m stronger and more of a man than you are” (p. 11). Tom basically wallows in the fact that he is economically higher class, and revels in the advantages of it. He also is rude towards Daisy, and often cuts her off when she is talking, to then talk over her. Also, page 17 shows how we learn that Tom is disrespectful towards anyone who is not of the white race, “the white race will be–– will be utterly submerged.” On the same page, he also glanced at Daisy when he was correcting what she was saying in a disrespectful manner, eluding that he may have a sexist side to him. Nick’s cousin Daisy appears to have a solidarity personality, in which she keeps to herself and tries to lay low when around Tom. However, she almost seems to want affectionate or loving attention more often, rather than being ignored and looked down upon. On page 21, Daisy exclaims how she was glad that her child was a girl, because the best thing a girl could do in the world was to be a beautiful fool. Daisy reflects that she acts like a fool in a way, where she doesn’t reveal to Tom that she knew how she was being treated by him. From being the narrator, Nick is able to tell readers about how he wants them to see him. He describes himself as an honest man knowing his father has told him how he is lucky to have the advantages that he does. Even though he is more respectable, his sense of power and being of the superior race shows through. Jordan seems to be different from Daisy in a way. Both are reserved, however, Jordan seems to draw her attention towards things she is attentive to. She shushed Nick when she was eavesdropping on Tom and Daisy, and seemed to direct her attention towards their conversation more than talking to Nick.
ReplyDeleteThis is a powerful quote: Now, don’t think my opinion on these matters is final, just because I’m stronger and more of a man than you are”
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you picked up on it.
The characters in this story so far all seem to have similar standings, they’re all very well off and privileged, but personality-wise they’re all different. Nick, the narrator, seems to be a very honest man and acknowledges the fact that he’s privileged. He tries not to judge people before getting to know them and seems like a “go-with-the-flow”, very down to earth type of guy. Tom seems to be the character we’ve heard about most, he seems a bit arrogant and dominant but also tries to make Nick like him, and cares about how he’s perceived. The way that Tom carries himself shows you a lot about his character, “Two shining, arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face and gave him the appearance of always leaning aggressively forward” (11). Daisy is Nick’s cousin, and is married to Tom. Daisy seems to be kind but also quite manipulative in the way that she speaks, “The instant her voice broke off, ceasing to compel my attention, my belief, I felt the basic insincerity of what she had said. It made me uneasy, as though the whole evening had been a trick of some sort to exact a contributary emotion from me” (22). Daisy is hard to read but is very charming nonetheless. We don’t know much about Jordan, she’s very mysterious and doesn’t seem to have romantic relations with any man. She’s very pretty, and has a more carefree spirit than Daisy.
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