After you have read the first five pages of The Great Gatsby, please choose one of the questions below and respond. Use text support and, if you post after other people, try to build on (and not repeat) ideas.
Please make sure to state which question you are responding to.
1. Do you trust the narrator? Why or why not?
2. Reread the portion where you first learn about Gatsby. What do you learn about him? What predictions do you have for this character?
3. Explain the significance of one or more geographical locations mentioned (you can focus on the geographical names or the descriptions).
1. Do you trust the narrator? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteI trust the narrator because he appears to be well-educated, sensible, and only slightly judgmental. An educated person is not automatically a trustworthy person, but there is a higher chance that he or she will represent things in a reasonable and thought-out manner. Sensibleness is the opposite of insanity and irrationality. A perfectly sane and rational character can be trusted much more easily than a crazy, deluded one. Most people are judgmental and it is unrealistic if a character is never critical of anyone. Being slightly judgmental is a sign of a ‘normal’ person with whom the reader can identify. Trustworthiness basically translates into how normal a character is to the reader. If the character does not match up with the reader’s idea of normalcy, the reader is disinclined to believe what the character says.
-Vicki Intara
Although I would like to say that I trust the narrator, I know I should be cautious in doing so, especially since this story is told in first person point of view. Because of this, us as readers can only see the story depicted in this character's mindset, which is most likely going to be one-sided, as no one person really has complete knowledge of anything. Through first person point of view, the readers are exposed to the narrator's personal opinions; he describes his new house in the East as a "small eyesore" portraying the narrator's haughty personality, given the fact that he is not pleased with such a tiny living arrangement. In addition, he describes the intimate revelations of young men as "plagiaristic and marred by obvious suppressions", illustrating his rather arrogant and criticizing nature. Given the narrator's imperious personality, the reader is forced to see this story portrayed from only an arrogant point of view, making the narrator untrustworthy.
ReplyDelete1. So far the story is being told from the first person point of view. So the narrator cannot be completely trusted.
ReplyDelete2.The narrator is astute with high moral standards.Gatsby represents everything he is against."...Gatsby, who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn."(2) This foreshadows that the narrator will portray Gatsby as someone who is not likeable.
3.The narrator lives in Long Island Sound in the West Egg section, which is less high end than the East Egg. The contrast between the social climates of these two areas may suggest that the behavior of the people in the West Eggs will be less refined.
SIDENOTE: "If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life, as if he were related to one of those intricate machines that register earthquakes ten thousand miles away."(2)
This quote confuses me. I tried "spark notesing" it, and it said something about how even though even though Gatsby represented everything the narrator scorned, he still found his personality beautiful. This tells me that Gatsby is the sort of stock character that is cool and carefree. I still feel like I'm missing something. What do you guys think?
@Danielle I don't think Gatsby is a stock character but more as a antagonist not in the sense of fighting with the narrator but as a mental block. In the quote the narrator mentions Gatsby as a person she resented but loved suggesting that Gatsby will probably be a roadblock or a major point in the story. Also there must be something special about Gatsby that makes the narrator feel this way. I'm certain it'll be revealed later on though.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone's opinions about the narrator in the story. There is a certain extend to where we can trust what the narrator is saying and when we can doubt it. Although the narrator appears to be intelligent, multifaceted, observant, and all the qualities that make an excellent narrator, we cannot overlook the fact that the story is told in the 3rd person point of view. Taking in to account that the story is told from the protagonist's own thoughts, we cannot help but feel some bias in her narration such as, "Gatsby turned out all right at the end; it is what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out my interest in the abortive sorrows and short-winded elations of men."(2) which states what the narrator feels about Gatsby is not necessarily what all other characters might portray him as. The narrator's somewhat bias views on men might suggest a sense of "bias narration" later on in the story because the narrator might portray men as what she feels instead of what everyone feels giving readers a twisted opinion in the story. Also I agree with what Danielle said about the social classes. Living in a rich, high-end life might instill a sense of arrogance and ignorance in a character while as living in a middle class life might instill a sense of value, respect, and jealously in characters. All these factors matter. So, we can trust the narrator to an extent, but knowing what extent that is matters.
I forgot to use textual evidence in my previous post. I would like to add to what I wrote earlier. The narrator is well-educated because he “graduated from New Haven” and comes from a “prominent, well-to-do” background (Fitzgerald 3). Wealthy people are usually cultured and put emphasis on being more knowledgeable than the poor man. He also plans things out and thinks sensibly, such as when he states, “The practical thing was to find rooms in the city” (Fitzgerald 3). Not too fond of listening to the “griefs of wild, unknown men,” the narrator pretends to be preoccupied when he senses a confession about to happen (Fitzgerald 1). This also indicates sensibleness, since the reason he does not want to hear these confessions is that his life will be more difficult if people believe that he is a politician who coerces dark secrets out of people. That the narrator sees Gatsby as different compared to the intolerable strangers means he is judging people. He attempts to “reserve all judgments” (Fitzgerald 1), but that does not necessarily mean that he can prevent himself from being critical of men he does not know or care to learn more about. Nevertheless, he is not bitter towards the world and continues to believe that he should keep his unsavory opinions of others to himself.
ReplyDelete2. Reread the portion where you first learn about Gatsby. What do you learn about him? What predictions do you have for this character?
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Danielle and Li about their predictions on Gatsby. I think that Gatsby will portrayed as an amiable person because "there was something gorgeous about him" (2). Although there are very evident differences between Gatsby and the speaker, the speaker admits that "Gatsby turned out all right at the end" (2). Rather, The "unaffected scorn" that the narrator has towards Gatsby is caused by "what preyed on Gatsby" (2), not his personality itself.
Good ideas so far, everyone. Two points of clarification--the narrator is male, and the story is told in first person. Also, what college is in new haven?
ReplyDelete2. Reread the portion where you first learn about Gatsby. What do you learn about him? What predictions do you have for this character?
ReplyDeleteIn respect to the previous predictions on Gatsby, I must agree with Margret. From how the narrator described him, it seemed that despite the faults that the narrator had "unaffected scorn" (2) for, he was taken aback by the "extraordinary hope" (2) he saw in Gatsby. I would venture to say that the relationship between these two characters will be more of a foil, that Gatsby is the embodiment of the things the narrator despises and that it will help the narrator grow as a character and to accept these faults; not only in Gatsby, but other characters he meets.
2. Reread the portion where you first learn about Gatsby. What do you learn about him? What predictions do you have for this character?
ReplyDeleteFrom what the narrator has said about Gatsby so far he seems to be a person who although has some unfavorable qualities "Gatsby, who represented everything for which I have unaffected scorn" (2), he overall is a likable person. The narrator admits to having disliked Gatsby at first but then coming to approve of him eventually. In addition, the narrator describes Gatsby to be someone who is passionate about love "a romantic readiness such as I have never found in any other person and which it is not likely I shall never find again" (2). Also it seems to me that the narrator is suggesting that Gatsby had impure thoughts or ulterior motives for something "it is what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams" (2). This can be foreshadowing toward an event that may occur later on in the novel that gave the narrator a dislike for Gatsby. What appealed to Gatsby, or what "preyed on Gatsby" (2), could also be what the narrator found disturbing about certain aspects of Gatsby's personality. However the narrator gets passed these negative aspects of Gatsby's personality "No-Gatsby turned out all right' (2).
-Dominic Monares
Question 3: Explain the significance of one or more geographical locations mentioned.
ReplyDeleteWest Egg is significant because it is where the narrator lives and is described as “one of the strangest communities in North America”, thus indicating that it will most likely be the important location of unusual events that take place later in the novel. The narrator also plainly states the contrast between West Egg and East Egg, describing the communities as having “dissimilarity in every particular” save physical appearance. The contrast of the locations can be compared to foil characters, East Egg being the beautiful and perhaps more ordinary foil for West Egg, the “bizarre” and “less fashionable” of the areas. Furthermore, the names containing “Egg” gain significance by the narrator’s statement that the “most limited of all specialists” is “the well-rounded man”, since an egg is round in shape, expressing that the narrator may be starting to tell the story of how he broke through the shell of everyday life.
1. Do you trust the narrator? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteI think it's too early in the story to tell whether or not the narrator can be trustworthy, but if I must say, I think that he can be trusted. He comes from a middle class family, and "graduated from New Haven in 1915" (3). Although as Vicki mentioned earlier, someone who is well educated doesn't make them trustworthy, the educated have a better perspective on how they view things, which would later influence how he tells us the story. Building onto Jing's point of the story being told in first person, we are put in the shoes of the narrator, seeing, hearing, and feeling everything that happens to him. From this, it becomes harder for the narrator to distinguish the line between what's really happening, and he believes he see's is happening. Because our view is only through his insight, we must accept that the narrator's words might be not exactly what appears to be, but rather what he says for it to be. An example of this would be when he describes Gatsby. The narrator says "there was something gorgeous about him" (2). We don't know for a fact that Gatsby and his actions can be described as gorgeous, but because this is all we have been told from the narrator, that is what our basis of knowledge must begin from. Though it is still too early in the novel to deem the narrator trustworthy or not, I would have to say for now, because of the way he perceives his surroundings, and his way of telling the story, that he is trustworthy.
3. Explain the significance of one or more geographical locations mentioned (you can focus on the geographical names or the descriptions).
ReplyDelete"I graduated from New Haven in 1915, ..after my father", it can be inferred that he graduated from Yale, where his father also went to, and that he came from either a high class family or a middle class. If he had come from a middle class his situation could be that he would still have to pay back some loans, which would explain why he lives in a small area right next to Mr. Gatsby, who lives in a mansion.
3. Explain the significance of one or more geographical names/locations mentioned.
ReplyDeleteA place mentioned in The Great Gatsby is West Egg Village. This name invokes many layers of symbolism. The West is a symbol of the American Dream. The Dream refers to the idea that anyone can be successful with hard work and dedication, even someone born into a lower class, and is symbolic of hope for the future. This is shown in the novel on Page 4, when the narrator tells readers, "...and now I was going to bring back all such things [reading books] into my life and become again that most limited of all specialists, the 'well-rounded man.” The narrator is saying that he, in this new place, is going to work hard to become what he wants to be so that he may once again attain his coveted title of “well-rounded.” Eggs, on the same note, are symbolic of a rebirth and new life. This is stated explicitly in the text when the narrator says, “I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” In other words, by moving to West Egg Village, the narrator feels that he can be reborn as whomever he so chooses to become. In short, West Egg Village symbolizes a new beginning for the narrator, and a beginning of the story for readers.
3. Explain the significance of one or more geographical locations mentioned (you can focus on the geographical names or the descriptions).
ReplyDeleteTo answer Ms. Scher's question. Yale University is located in new Haven. The narrator mentions that he wrote editorials in the Yale News.
In the first five pages, the narrator mentions things about his college, Yale. I think Yale is significant to him because he graduated, "a quarter of a century after [his] father." The narrator respects his father.
Also, I agree with Allison. he wants to break out of his shell and start anew. The Egg could a symbol for rebrith and renew. The narrator wants to renew himself and start fresh.
1.Do you trust the narrator? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteThe narrator “graduated from New Haven in 1915”(3) which can be concluded that he has graduated from the prestigious Yale University. This explains that he is an intelligent man which can lead to him being a reliable narrator but I believe he is not, primarily because it is in first person. Due to it being in first person, all the view points in the story are going to be one sided and opinionated. His opinionated view points are show when he describes the “intimate revelations of young men”(2) and how they “are usually plagiaristic and marred by obvious suppressions”(2) which shows that he is quick to judge. The narrator also “resented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn”(2) towards Gatsby which demonstrates how heavily opinionated he can be on someone and foreshadows more opinionated viewpoints he will have later on in the story.
Justin Labrado
ReplyDelete1. Do you trust the narrator? Why or why not?
Unfortunately I can't trust this narrator. Although he does seem to be sophisticated and civilized, I can't help but think that his judgments throughout the story will lack empathy, or will be one sided. My rationale is based off of the narrator's philosophy that "life is more successfully looked at from a single window..." which can be seen as the narrator's unwillingness to change his view of the world, society, or other people. It also gives readers a glimpse of his personality, the narrator's words show hints of stubbornness, or an unyielding personality, which will definitely cause him to make mistakes and errors throughout the story.
3. Explain the significance of one or more geographical locations mentioned
ReplyDeleteKristoffer Solomon
The narrator resides in West Egg, this is a place of importance because of the cultural and societal standards that occur within the community and surrounding areas. The homes around the narrator rent for “twelve or fifteen thousand a season”, yet the narrators own home, which is in between two mansions, rents for only “eighty dollars a month”. This surrounding of higher class citizens tosses the narrator back into his previous college environment, since writing for “Yale News”. Yet the character is found out of place with his home being “an eyesore” in the community, this could be symbolic of this transition in his life to get out of his old world and create a life of his own. Also the uniqueness of his house could represent how the narrator is perceived in society by being an outcast or lead a solo life. @ Allison , I agree with Allison’s idea that the two areas are contrasting, this could possibly lead to some discrepancies between the two cities or between the narrator and a character from East Egg.
1. Do you trust the narrator? Why or Why not?
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of the class, about trusting the narrator to some extent. Since it is a first person narrative, we are limited to only hearing one opinion and one point of view. This causes the story to biased, just like Li said. In the novel it talks about Gatsby being who the narrator has “unaffected scorn” towards. We are only hearing from one person’s opinion; this statement might not be true for other people. Also in the same page, the narrator goes from resenting him, to tolerating him. “Gatsby turned out all right at the end;” letting us know that the narrator’s opinion change. Opinions are usually not the best statements to base your knowledge on, and the fact that the narrator’s opinions change makes it more difficult to trust the narrator. On the other hand, I can trust the narrator because he seems to have fine morals. He learned from his father to not criticize someone because “people in the world haven’t had the advantages” he had. People with good ethics can be trusted, and the narrator seems to have that quality. Also the narrator helps someone find a certain place, he was a “guide, and pathfinder […]”, which is a sign that he seems approachable. He considers himself a benevolent person, helping others; someone with that kind of confidence can be trusted. Although it is usually a better idea to not trust the narrator when it is told in first person, in the novel The Great Gatsby, we can trust the narrator to someone extent.
2. Reread the portion where you first learn about Gatsby. What do you learn about him? What predictions do you have for this character?
ReplyDeleteWe learn that Gatsby is clearly a charismatic and engaging character when the narrator says "If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life,"(2), as stated in previous posts. In addition we learn that Gatsby was not always preferable to the narrator,"Gatsby turned out all right in the end"(2). The narrator and Gatsby may have not agreed on the same things since the narrator appears to be adamant in his own ways of thinking shown through a variety of statements made by the narrator such as "Conduct may be founded on the hard rock or the wet marshes,but after a certain point I don't care what it's founded on."(2). With that being said, i believe that that when the narrator focuses on his relationship with Gatsby we will see great rivalry between the two and one or the other will budge learning to change their ways.
-Jeremy Fontelar
1. Do you trust the narrator? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteDante Fernandes
Although the narrator has presented himself to be an educated and well-spoken individual, I do not believe he will provide truthful insight into the story. The narrator starts with “In my younger and more vulnerable years”(1), revealing that he is still vulnerable and not a completely reliable source which I expect will continue throughout the book. All people are subject to human flaws, but this narrator says “I am still a little afraid of missing something” (2); since the man already expects to overlook important information, it makes sense not to trust his narration. This story is told through a first person point-of-view and the narration is subject to opinion and non-objective statements. Non-objective statements and opinion are the opposites of fact which is always a truthful statement. Furthermore when the narrators says “I wrote a series of very solemn and obvious editorials” (4), it demonstrates how this man is incapable of offering real insight and analysis into events, something I desire in a trustworthy narrator.
Graham Birks
ReplyDeleteQuestion#2:
By what the narrator shares about Gatsby, I learned that Gatsby is a polar opposite of the narrator. Gatsby was a successful man who loved life. He always showed "heightened sensitivity to the promises of life"(2). He was always ready to live, he a had a "romantic readiness"(2) to expirience life and give others hope. I think that Gatsby will be a character who changes the narrator's life, he will show the narrator how to live a little. The fact that Gatsby is his neighbor shows weven more how they are bound to meet and interact. The fact that Gatsby lives in a mansion in west egg shows how he is wealthy, but chose to live in a less wealthy community than he probably could have. The reader could maybe take from this that he does not enjoy the high class social life, or he just likes the view better from west egg. Although Gatsby had the qualities that the narrator had "unaffected scorn"(2) towards, we see that in the end the narrator admires him and looks at him as a person of hope and life.
2. Reread the portion where you first learn about Gatsby. What do you learn about him? What predictions do you have for this character?
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree with Haley and Margret about their ideas on how the narrator and Mr.Gatsby are foil characters, I would like to elaborate and say that I believe that the narrator is a complete opposite of Gatsby and that the author wanted to juxtapose them so the narrator and Mr.Gatsby's personality can be more expressed (like a protagonist vs. antagonist situation). However, even though the narrator talks about how Gatsby "represented everything for which I (he) have an unaffected scorn" (Fitzgerald, 2), he also says that it wasn't really Gatsby who he despised, but "what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams" (Fitzgerald, 2). This would mean that Gatsby is a naive and/or gullable person as he was thwarted into something that the narrator would condemn negative. I predict that, after this situation that arises (the part where I talk about how he does something negative), the narrator and Mr.Gatsby will find a common ground to touch base despite their differences in their problem, because the narrator says, "Gatsby turned out all right at the end" (Fitzgerald, 2).
-Joshua Rivera
2. Reread the portion where you first learn about Gatsby. What do you learn about him? What predictions do you have for this character?
ReplyDeleteThe narrator personifies Gatsby as a person who, "...represented everything for which [he has] an unaffected scorn." Thus, Gatsby seems to be an abhorrent character. However, as the narrator also uses words like, "gorgeous," or the phrase, " ...sensitivity to the promises of life," the possibility that the narrator may just be jealous of Gatsby's station in life rather than any wrongdoings on Gatsby's part.
As for predictions, the lines, "No- Gatsby turned out all right in the end... what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams," lead to a sense that Gatsby will be successful and rich, but his mind will deteriorate because of some specter from his past. Using dust as a symbol of the past such as in "ashes to ashes, dust to dust," his past will come back to haunt him in the midst of his successes.
3. Explain the significance of one or more geographical locations mentioned.
ReplyDeleteThe protagonist, restless after the war, has recently relocated to an island very close to New York. New York is a metropolis, a city with citizens of great variety. Swept up in the decadence of the Roaring Twenties, it was hotpot of unprecedented liberality coupled questionable morals. The protagonist returns home "[wanting] the world to be in...a sort of moral attention forever." This statement foreshadows a tragedy in his stay in the East.
It was also a time of great social change in the hierarchy of society. As a result of the Prohibition Act, bootleggers suddenly had the change to join the wealthy in their indulgent lifestyles. Only, the the already wealthy did not welcome the recently rich, very much like the 1800's; what with the bitter animosity the haughty aristocrats harbored towards the emerging merchant class.
The island he moves to is called West Egg. The island's twin in shape, East egg, is described as the more "fashionable" of the two. The islands are dissimilar " in every particular aspect except for size and shape. This reflects the difference between the already rich and the made rich. Wealth is the only similarity between the residents of the two islands. The innate "fashionable" and grace of the already wealthy sits highly in their pedestal of East egg, looking down on the gaudy recent millionaires try to imitate them and join their ranks. This theme is furthered bolstered when the narrator admits that although "[his family] has a tradition that [they're] descended from the Dukes of Buccleuch," their real founder is his grandfather's brother who made a small fortune off of the hardware industry.
Question 2: Reread the portion where you first learn about Gatsby. What do you learn about him? What predictions do you have for this character?
ReplyDeleteWhen the narrator describes Gatsby, it is admiration that leaks through the pages. The narrator describes him as “successful”, “gorgeous”, and “intricate”. Of course this seems almost entirely biased; however, the reader can infer that Gatsby is a rebellious and a dreamer. Rebellion is described in Gatsby by the words “creative temperament”, saying that this person is angry but he uses it in different ways to show some form of creativity, a standard definition of a rebellious nature. Gatsby is also a dreamer for the narrator points out that Gatsby has a, “heightened sensitivity to the promises of life”. This can say that Gatsby always wants what is best in life, dreaming on what could be improved or what can be created.
2. Reread the portion where you first learn about Gatsby. What do you learn about him? What predictions do you have for this character?
ReplyDeleteAfter rereading this section, the narrator describes Gatsby as a very meticulous character, that seems to pay attention to small, intricate details, hence "heightened sensitivity to the promises of life." His "heightened sensitivity, and description that Gatsby "were related to one of those intricate machines" explains that the narrator is either jealous or threatened at this point because the two have similar views on life, being very meticulous. Especially when the narrator tends to be judgmental and intelligent, further supporting the similar views. This foreshadows a conflict between the narrator and Gatsby, due to their clashing views. This proves why the narrator has "unaffected scorn." Also, the narrator states that "Gatsby turned out all right at the end" which portends that their paths actually cross. According to the narrators comment stating "what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out my interest" explains that Gatsby underwent some sort of change in the story which results with the change in opinion as well.
1. Do you trust the narrator? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the first 5 pages, my impressions on the narrator are split. First off, I would like to agree with Vicki and Kenny about trusting them due to their background. For instance, when the narrator states that they "graduated from New Haven in 1915" and soon after having a role in the "Teutonic migration known as the Great War" (Fitzgerald 3). These statements prove that the narrator was well educated, inferring his ability to understand and fully comprehend their actions and thoughts. However, the narrator can also be jealous causing him to be more opinionated in their thoughts. While describing the Gatsby, the narrator describes him as a representation of "everything for which I have an unaffected scorn" soon following up stating "there was something gorgeous about him" (Fitzgerald 2). These two contrasting opinions lead to a sense of confusion, causing a lack of trust from the reader because his jealousy which also shows later on in the context. This proves that the jealousy may be impacting the narrators thoughts that make him judge the Gatsby easily, whether good or bad, causing an unstable amount of trust towards the narrator.
-Jeremae H.
Jasmine Quesadilla
ReplyDelete1. Do you trust the narrator? Why or why not?
Although the narrator seems to be well educated and trustworthy, for he "graduated from New
Haven in 1915"(3), a I still have to consider the fact that the story is told in first person. No narrator has knowledge of everything, so the story is being told one-sided and opinionated. The narrator starts off the book with an idea his father had told him during his "younger and more vulnerable years"(1). His father's words have stuck with him throughout the years, deeming the narrator as untrustworthy, for his opinions have built on his younger, naive mind. Despite the fact that the narrator has never met his great-uncle, he believes that he is "supposed to look
like him"(3). The narrator is an unreliable source due to his lack of providing real evidence, and rather implying his own ideas.
1. Do you trust the narrator? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteI do not trust the narrator, as he appears to be far too biased against Gatsby. While he does admit that "...Gatsby who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn." (Fitzgerald 2), he then goes on to state "...there was something gorgeous about him..." (2), completely negating what the first statement claims. While, as many keep restating he "graduated from New Haven in 1915." (3) it merely shows that he comes from a well-off family, it also shows that the narrator is even more biased then was shown before. The narrator's opinions would be influenced far, far more by those he knew, because he would also believe that which everyone else seems to infer. That as middle or high class family's, he has a better perspective on the events that will take place. The narrator believes that Gatsby is a sort of god "...heightened sensitivity to the promises of life..." (2), which lessens the believability of the narrator, as does his cynical view of the world "I wanted no more riotous excursions with privileged glimpses into the human heart." (2) All of these combined create an unreliable trust sense towards the narrator.
please ignore the extra spaces in the paragraph. it just posted like that. there's some technical difficulties.-_- i have no idea what is going on with my computer. i think it hates me. -Jasmine Quesadilla
ReplyDeleteDo you trust the narrator? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteI cannot completely trust the narrator because of certain qualities which make him unreliable. When the narrator’s father says that “All the people haven’t had the same advantages you’ve had,” the reader learns that the narrator is a privileged man. This may become a problem later on because people from higher classes tend to look down on those lower than them. The narrator may make somebody who is on the same level or higher look better than someone who is on a lower level. The narrator later says that he is “inclined to reserve all judgements” and keeps his feelings of what his thinks of other people to himself. This helps his credibility because he acts like a neutral party is less likely to be biased toward other people. Then he describes himself as a “normal person.” It is a fact that people are not perfect. If we were, we would not be human. The narrator says that he is just a regular person with flaws. During his narrator he may tell lies or exaggerate what really happened. When reading in first person point of view, the reader must not always trust the narrator and make his/her own opinions using what is given.
Evan Jones:
ReplyDelete1. Do you trust the narrator? Why or why not?
Upon my initial reading of the first page, I felt the narrator was untrustworthy because right away he said he "frequently I have feigned sleep,
preoccupation, or a hostile levity" (Fitzgerald 3). While this is something that many young people do, I was reading it out of context during my initial reading, and did not get the full picture. Upon reading the rest of the five pages, I decided that the obviously intelligent narrator could be trusted (temporarily of course) because of his willingness to help others. While not a viewed as a well thought out decision for some, I believe that it was the correct decision. When the narrator first helps the man, he is rewarded when he says "And as I walked on I was lonely no longer" (Fitzgerald 6). This quote clearly demonstrates the narrators love for helping people, and I believe a similar event will occur in the future.
Response to question No. 2
ReplyDeleteThough little specific information is given about Mr. Gatsby, it is revealed that he possesses characteristics that prompt the narrator to hold him in high esteem.
Although, the narrator expresses his desire for a morally uniform world, he makes an exception for Mr. Gatsby, who “..represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn”. This suggests that there may be a moral conflict between these two characters in the story, but also implies that whatever moral discrepancies he may possess are outweighed by his other qualities . What the narrator does admire of Mr. Gatsby is his “..romantic readiness such as I have never found in any other person and which it is not likely I shall ever find again”, revealing that Gatsby is a dreamer and possibly an idealist. It is also mentioned by the narrator that Mr. Gatsby owned a mansion,suggesting that he is an affluent individual or, at least, has access to such funds. In short, based upon the information the narrator gives in the first five pages of the novel, it can be inferred that Mr. Gatsby is an affluent, idealistic, yet morally questionable man.