Lovely Literature

Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her;
If you can bounce high, bounce for her too,
'Till she cry "Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover,
I must have you!"
-Thomas Parke D'Invilliers

This quote shows up on the title page of the book and it intrigued me. This kind of sets the theme for the rest of the book because it speaks of people always wanting more and especially lover's wanting something that looks or seems to be impressive. It shows how the characters in this book are very attached to their material items and have a problem with giving them up. If they see something they like such as a "gold hat" or something that interests them, they must have them. They must have the things that interest or entertain them the most. They seem to believe their sophistication stems from the size of their paycheck, or rather, their husband's paycheck. This poem seems to emulate the feeling in the air of the wealthy because they just want more and more. Eventually they are going to get to rock bottom because no matter how much they get, they are never going to be satisfied because material items cannot replace physical people or the feeling of love.

"And I like large parties. They're so intimate. At small parties there isn't any privacy." (page 49)

This is a paradox and a quote from Jordan Baker to Nick Carraday when they are at Gatsby's party. Carraday was specifically invited by Gatsby and he is searching for him to meet him. I find this quote interesting because at a first read I was thinking why would a larger party be more intimate? But a large party would be intimate if there were only a select few people that one would want to be around because people are so engrossed with their little groups that they wouldn't bother others. On the other hand, smaller parties are somewhat more private if the people aren't trying to be away from anyone at the actual party. Jordan seems to drop hints often about being alone with Carraday or something of the like. Even Daisy says that she will "arrange a marriage" between the two of them at some point. They seem to have a budding love that is starting out very slowly but when Jordan and Nick go out so she can explain what Gatsby would like, they begin to forget about their friends and focus more on each other. I love this book so far!!! :]]

"They drifted here and there unrestfully wherever people played polo and were rich together." (page 6)

This quote embodies much of the wealthy society of the '20s because they were all sort of lost souls. They were searching around for something that they didn't have but they weren't finding it because they basically had everything they needed material wise. Yeah, they would take expensive vacations around the world and own multiple houses, but they could never really find what they needed. For instance, Daisy seems to be very happy on the outside or on the first impression, but as we get to see Daisy more in the story, we see that she is upset with her life and her husband. We can see that her husband is cheating on her but she doesn't know what to do about it because without him she would be a social outcast and would not have any fortune to her name. These people were like lost, diamond-clad souls who would wander around looking for adventure, or something to spend their money on. Gatsby I think is still one of those souls as he is searching for his love or someone to be his lover, but until then he throws parties hoping to meet her and then stands outside to watch the night sky when the party comes to an end.

"The younger of the two was a stranger to me, She was extended full length at her end of the divan, completely motionless, and with her chin raised a little, as if she were balancing something on it which was quite likely to fall. If she saw me out of the corner of her eyes she gave no hint of it-- indeed, I was almost surprised into murmuring an apology for having disturbed her by coming in." (page 8)

Ahh characterization...the backbone of literary analysis, in my personal opinion of course.

Nick Carraday
Carraday is the protagonist and narrator of the story who is the sense of realism because he is not focused solely on riches and getting richer. He lives in a simple house in the midst of mansions [i.e. Gatsby's and Daisy's mansions] and he lives in a part of New York, though somehwat "less fashionable" as he put it, that is centered around fame and luxury. He is an intelligent man who graduated from Yale and now feels the calling to learn about bonds in NY much to his family's chagrin. He ends up being a matchmaker between Gatsby and Daisy by chapter five, and he seems to have found a love for himself in Jordan Baker.


Jay Gatsby
Gatsby is the most mysterious character so far because he is so famous in the wealthy world yet no one actually knows him. Everyone assumes these stories about him, like he "once killed a man" or he is "actually a criminal," when in reality, he was a man from North Dakota who didn't fit in with his family and decided to get away. From there he plunged himself into his new identity and his dream...he went from James Gatz to Jay Gatsby, and began to make a name for himself. We do know that he was and is desperately in love with the beautiful Daisy Buchanan who he met many years ago when he was in the armed forces.


Daisy Buchanan
Daisy is the cousin of Carraday who is married to Tom Buchanan. Tom is basically...a cheating scumbag who has had a mistress for many years, who might I add is also married and cheating on her husband. The sad part is, Daisy knows of his adultery and yet she refuses to divorces him because "she is religious" according to Tom's mistress's sister. Daisy is the kind of woman who is beautiful yet focused on social status and luxuries. She believes because she has had experiences and has traveled much that she should be happy with everything. On the other hand, she is is miserable and seems to be looking for a way out. Finding her former love I think is going to help her get there.

Jordan Baker
Jordan Baker is another interesting character who is somewhat mysterious. She is a famous athlete and friend of both Gatsby and Daisy. She was not well acquainted with Gatsby though until Carraday came into her life and she realized they were neighbors. Jordan has begun to be a love interest for Carraday, and something about her makes me like her. I hope things work out :]

"Whenever you feel like criticizing any one," he told me, "just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages you've had. " (page 1)

This quote starts off The Great Gatsby with an immediate theme and tone. The protagonist and narrator, Nick Carraday, is told this quote by his father. As the first couple paragraphs continue on, we find out that our narrator believes his father to have been quite snobbish but still had great advice every once in a while and this is some of that advice. He taught Nick how to listen and reserve all judgments, but mostly to be a gentleman in a world full of people who are rich and poor. One of the themes of The Great Gatsby definitely revolves around the lifestyles of the rich and famous [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-jC3H_8Dk4 <-- yeah that's a clever little Good Charlotte video Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous :]. The story takes place back in the "Roaring '20s" when the rich were richer than ever and the poor weren't getting anywhere. Leading up to the Great Depression, this story focuses on people like Carraday, his cousin Daisy, and of course the infamous Jay Gatsby who seem to have no problems because they are born from money and basically made of money. As I am currently only halfway through the book, I am curious to see more action take place and see how their social statuses are going to evade their lives.