The Review

Blog Topic #5 Personal Review

The Great Gatsby was certainly a good read. No only did it invoke one's own aspirations, but also explored the dark side of those desires. Similar to the varied saying “Be careful what you wish for”, the novel explores this side ultimately ending with the death of Gatsby. This was a great novel that tied into history and yet it still has value today as it includes many present themes.

I liked Nick as the narrator as his characteristics blended well with the story. His personality allowed a more clean and honest view of the situation. Unfortunately though, I felt like the characters were underdeveloped. Perhaps it was the authors intention, but even so I felt that their could have been more. The characters all stayed relatively flat and unchanged from beginning to end. Even Nick experienced little change.

The thing that stood out to me that was perpetual throughout the story was the green light. It has been attributed to Daisy, hope, a drive,and the American Dream. This, I feel , is one of the novels strong points because all of us have a “green light” in our lives, well I'd hope so. Fitzgerald manages to critique the American Dream in telling the story of Gatsby.

The American Dream

Blog Topic #4 Text Connection

The green light that is so ever mentioned throughout the novel strikes up a connection to the “American Dream”. The American Dream developed during the industrialization of the 19^th and 20^th centuries. Ever since then, many have come here hoping to achieve the American Dream. Even today, it is often heard of people coming here for that same American Dream. The book, however, also goes into a possible corrupt side to reaching this goal. Gatsby although seemingly rich and happy, achieved this through unethical means therefore coining him a “robber baron” a term often used during the Gilded Age. Even today, many debate whether the American Dream still exists today or whether it has romanticized, a mere figment of what once was. Whether or not the American Dream is still viable at this time, it is a drive many people have and lead people to become persistent.

Syntax

Blog Topic #3 Syntax

• “He didn't answer”(119).
• “A pause”(120). “I hesitated” (120). “That was it. I'd never understood before”(120).

The rekindling of love between Gatsby and Daisy reaches to such a height that Tom soon starts to notice. The short terse statements mimic the high tension that is present when a surge of realization reaches Tom. Afraid to express much, all of them feel awkward talking about thus realization. The telegraphic sentences showcase the gravity of the situation and the refusal to say much in fear of retaliation.

• “'Left no address?' 'No.' 'Say when they'd be back?' 'No.' 'Any idea where they are?' How could I reach them?' 'I don't know. Can't say'”(164).

The syntax used here in the responses they both give signify hopelessness of ever fining Daisy or Tom again. Short terse responses correspond to the abrupt end of communication between any of them. The telegraphic responses are used to express the lack of longevity of Gatsby's life.

'' 'I am careful .' 'No you're not.' 'Well, other people are, she said lightly.' she said lightly. 'what's that got to do with it?'” (58).

Fitzgerald's purpose here is to dive into the relationship of the cousins, Nick and Daisy. Not only is there lack of depth between the two, but they seem to lack and understanding for each other.

Diction?

Blog Topic #2 Diction

• At the beginning of chapter two, Fitzgerald gives imagery of the location of the story. He describes it as “a valley of ashes” with “grotesque gardens”(23). Even the “ashes tale form of houses and chimneys”(23). These gloomy words create a solemn tone and aids in conveying the sense of decay of the “American Dream”.
• After the death of Gatsby, Nick ponders how Gatsby's mind created the big picture of what happened. He thinks that Gatsby “found what a grotesque thing a rose is and how raw the sunlight was upon a the scarcely created grass”(161). Using the words “grotesque” and “raw” adds to the mourning tone that is created by Gatsby's passing. Using the harsh words also shows the harsh reality of one's own wishes and the mourning present when you find the thing you wished for biting back at you.
• After, getting reacquainting with Daisy, Gatsby remembers awhile ago when he “kissed her. At his lips’ touch she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was complete”(111). This created a hopeful tone in the story. The simile also illustrates the way that the feeling was mutual between them both and they both had been given a new life with that kiss. With this given hope, Gatsby hopes to reach this reincarnation again with Daisy, even if it means getting between her and Tom.

The Rhetorical Strategies

Blog Topic #1: Rhetorical Strategies

• Symbolism: “...and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far way, that might have been the end of a dock ” ( Fitzgerald 21).
• Symbolism: “...the old island here that flowered once for Dutch sailors' eyes–a fresh, green breast of the new world” (180).
• Symbolism: “Mow it was again a green light on a dock. His count of enchanted objects had diminished my one” (93).
• Symbolism: “ Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year receded before us” (180).

One of the most prominent symbols of the Great Gatsby is the color green, or the green light. Fitzgerald chose to add the green light as a centrifugal point of the story. The story often refers to the green light as the source of hope. It's can also be said that it ties with the money Gatsby used in order to coax Daisy into taking interest.. Gatsby, in his fervor for Daisy, often finds himself staring with the same fervor at the green light across the dock. The same green light can be used to symbolize Daisy herself. The color green was also noted when the Dutch first approached the land. Albeit a different time period, the “American Dream” still exists today as a drive and hope to many such as it was to those at the time period. Fitzgerald chose to open an close with the perennial green light as the focus of the book as this same green light can give new beginnings, but can ultimately lead to one's own demise like the one of Gatsby.

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