Discuss and explain the irony revealed in the purchase of the dog.
The irony in the purchase of the dog is connected to Myrtle’s marriage life. When Myrtle wants to buy a dog, she wants a strong dog and hence, she asks for a police dog. The god seller did not have a police dog so he offers her an Airedale. An Airedale in contrast to the police dog is not as strong and cannot protect Myrtle as she had hoped for. However the seller persuades Myrtle into buying the dog by telling her that an Airedale will satisfy her needs. This even is similar to Myrtle’s life. She believed that Mr. Wilson was the right man for her as she thought he was a gentleman and possessed the wealth. She made a quick decision and got married to him. However it was after that she discovers that he was not a wealthy man and did not possess any of the qualities she expected.
The purchase of the dog is also ironic because during the purchase, Myrtle really wants the dog. She buys it and brings it home, and initially, takes good care of it. She says “I’ve got to get. A massage and a wave, and a collar for the dog […]” (36). However, afterwards, there are no indications of the dog in the text. The purchase of the dog represents the consumerism of a society where everyone buys without any true intentions and at the end, everything is disposed.
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Showing posts with label Myrtle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Myrtle. Show all posts
Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Group 3 - Question #1
Nick meets Tom's mistress, Myrtle, and her sister. Describe each of these characters and comment on their function in the novel.
Myrtle is Mr. Wilson's wife and Tom's mistress. She is described as being sensuous, and as having a soft coarse voice and a large body type, as she has surplus flesh, wide hips and a thickish figure. She often speaks with passion and in a high pitched tone. Her personality and her appearance change once she leaves Wilson's garage and arrives at the apartment. She is initially described as having a perceptible vitality. However, once she arrives at the apartment, her vitality is exchanged for haughtiness and pride and her behaviour becomes violent and obscene. Her laughter is described as pointless and artificial, and she often shouts. She is even said to be expanding. Similarly, her dress progressively becomes more complex in design and lighter in colour.
Catherine, Myrtle's sister, is described as having a small body type, as she is slender. She also has a milky white complexion, red hair, and a blurred air to her face. Myrtle states that her sister is “said to be very beautiful by people who ought to know". Unlike her sister, Catherine doesn't drink alcohol and is for the most part calm.
Myrtle and Catherine have distinct functions within the novel. Myrtle represents excess and recklessness while her sister represents modesty and conservatism. Their large and small body types are indicative of this. Also, as Myrtle moves from the valley of ashes to downtown New York, her dresses gradually become more complicated and lighter, which symbolizes the illustrious and carefree nature of high society. She also spends a lot of money on frivolous things, becomes haughty and proud, and laughs in a pointless and artificial manner, which implies that high society is inane and superficial. Myrtle's character is also heavily sexualized, and she drinks alcohol. On the hand, Catherine is more modest and does not drink. Although Catherine, in contrast to her sister, who possesses "no facet or gleam of beauty", is said to be beautiful, Mr. McKee has no interest in photographing her. However, he does express interest in photographing Myrtle. This represents the popular notion that high society is refined and dignified, and that it is something that should be coveted. In reality, high society is corrupt and insincere.
Ariel
Tags: Myrtle, Valley of Ashes
Myrtle is Mr. Wilson's wife and Tom's mistress. She is described as being sensuous, and as having a soft coarse voice and a large body type, as she has surplus flesh, wide hips and a thickish figure. She often speaks with passion and in a high pitched tone. Her personality and her appearance change once she leaves Wilson's garage and arrives at the apartment. She is initially described as having a perceptible vitality. However, once she arrives at the apartment, her vitality is exchanged for haughtiness and pride and her behaviour becomes violent and obscene. Her laughter is described as pointless and artificial, and she often shouts. She is even said to be expanding. Similarly, her dress progressively becomes more complex in design and lighter in colour.
Catherine, Myrtle's sister, is described as having a small body type, as she is slender. She also has a milky white complexion, red hair, and a blurred air to her face. Myrtle states that her sister is “said to be very beautiful by people who ought to know". Unlike her sister, Catherine doesn't drink alcohol and is for the most part calm.
Myrtle and Catherine have distinct functions within the novel. Myrtle represents excess and recklessness while her sister represents modesty and conservatism. Their large and small body types are indicative of this. Also, as Myrtle moves from the valley of ashes to downtown New York, her dresses gradually become more complicated and lighter, which symbolizes the illustrious and carefree nature of high society. She also spends a lot of money on frivolous things, becomes haughty and proud, and laughs in a pointless and artificial manner, which implies that high society is inane and superficial. Myrtle's character is also heavily sexualized, and she drinks alcohol. On the hand, Catherine is more modest and does not drink. Although Catherine, in contrast to her sister, who possesses "no facet or gleam of beauty", is said to be beautiful, Mr. McKee has no interest in photographing her. However, he does express interest in photographing Myrtle. This represents the popular notion that high society is refined and dignified, and that it is something that should be coveted. In reality, high society is corrupt and insincere.
Ariel
Tags: Myrtle, Valley of Ashes
Group 3 - Question 2
Question: #2 How are the eyes of Dr. Eckleburg described? What do they symbolize?
The eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg are described as, " blue and gigantic- their retinas one yard high. They look out no face, rather, instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a non existent nose." The eyes are actually a billboard in which an oculist set up in order to fatten his business, before he had left. (Pg. 24)
Symbolically, Doctor Eckleburgs' eyes are commonly conceptualized as an allusion of "God" and the Eye of Providence (all seeing eye). This symbolic view of the eye's is stated amongst many scholars as being watchful of "the corrupt materialism and infedelity,"* in which the characters begin to display. The connection between the eyes of Doctor T.J Eckleburg and "God" is that "God" watches over all the reprehensible proceedings in the world, just as the eyes of Doctor Eckleburg were said to persistently watch over Tom and Nick, whilst on their way to visit Myrtle- Tom's mistress. (pg. 24) Amongst the allusion of the symbolism behind the eyes, the inference that the realization of the transition away from proper moral values and into illicit actions is expressed through the idea of the eyes watching over the wrong-doings and corruption pertaining to the Valley of Ashes. Tom and Myrtle's affair further expresses this transition into illicit conduct. Nick's statement about the eyes of Doctor Eckleburg persistently staring, connects the eyes to the idea of "God's" perpetual heed for the unscrupulous and nefarious conduct of humanity.
Tags:
Myrtle
Tom
Nick
Valley of Ashes
*sourced from http:// www.enotes.com/great-gatsby/discuss/eyes-dr-t-j-Eckleburg-3385
The eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg are described as, " blue and gigantic- their retinas one yard high. They look out no face, rather, instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a non existent nose." The eyes are actually a billboard in which an oculist set up in order to fatten his business, before he had left. (Pg. 24)
Symbolically, Doctor Eckleburgs' eyes are commonly conceptualized as an allusion of "God" and the Eye of Providence (all seeing eye). This symbolic view of the eye's is stated amongst many scholars as being watchful of "the corrupt materialism and infedelity,"* in which the characters begin to display. The connection between the eyes of Doctor T.J Eckleburg and "God" is that "God" watches over all the reprehensible proceedings in the world, just as the eyes of Doctor Eckleburg were said to persistently watch over Tom and Nick, whilst on their way to visit Myrtle- Tom's mistress. (pg. 24) Amongst the allusion of the symbolism behind the eyes, the inference that the realization of the transition away from proper moral values and into illicit actions is expressed through the idea of the eyes watching over the wrong-doings and corruption pertaining to the Valley of Ashes. Tom and Myrtle's affair further expresses this transition into illicit conduct. Nick's statement about the eyes of Doctor Eckleburg persistently staring, connects the eyes to the idea of "God's" perpetual heed for the unscrupulous and nefarious conduct of humanity.
Tags:
Myrtle
Tom
Nick
Valley of Ashes
*sourced from http:// www.enotes.com/great-gatsby/discuss/eyes-dr-t-j-Eckleburg-3385
Saturday, 20 October 2012
Group 1 – Question 6
Question: Time is an important motif in the novel. Describe the use of time and the effect in these closing chapters.
Time passes very slowly throughout the majority of “The Great Gatsby”. The whole affair passes over several months. This is accentuated with the heat of the day of the Luncheon at Daisy’s house. Daisy speaks about how she doesn’t know what she’ll do today or tomorrow or for the next thirty years. This demonstrates clearly just how long time seems to stretch out. They have all the time in the world and all the money they need. The heat creates an atmosphere of almost creeping anxiety. And then, soon after this time seems to move faster and faster until everything is coalescing at once. Soon they’re fighting in New York Wilson Jordan
Gatsby’s father shows Nick his time table. This shows that Gatsby’s time’s run out. He spent all his life planning and worrying, organizing everything to his perfect ideal, from his work, to Daisy. He moved across the Bay simply to be closer to Daisy. He planned for five years his meeting with her and fretted over it intensely when the day actually arrived. He plans his parties to rise in social status to know people, to become this mystery. He bides his time. Yet when he stops planning, when he reacts and he feels that is when everything falls apart. And it is once he gives up on the ideal of once was, when he finally relaxes and enjoys his money not for the ideal, not to fit the plan, but for himself he is murdered.
As well, age is used to show the passing of time. The day that the corruption of all the characters really begins to blow up in their faces, (the affairs, the excess of money and liquor) that is the day that Nick turns 30. The connotation behind the age of 20 is very free. It is the careless youth, a lifestyle to party and do as you wish. Yet 30 is the end of that. Suddenly, one is really an adult. The expectation is to raise a family, work a good job and have a solid built future. Not the careless youth that once was. This is entirely parallel with what is happening in the story. When Nick turns 30 he is at the last Party that will ever happen again between these characters. After he realizes this things turn to the worse. Myrtle is hit by Daisy in Gatsby’s car and killed, Gatsby is shot by Wilson Wilson
Jennifer
Group 4 - Question 6
Reading Gatsby’s funeral using a Marxist lens reveals historical materialism. This category of the lens is revealed when Mr. Gatz, Gatsby’s father, shows Nick the schedule that was once written by Gatsby when he was young. The schedule Gatsby wrote determines that Gatsby was disciplined and organized , also he was determined with every thing he did, even as a young child.
Class struggle is also noticed at Gatsby’s funeral. Gatsby is not rich but he is considered wealthy. At his funeral , people who are rich do not show up. For example - Tom and Daisy. Neither did people who attended his parties. They only came to dance, drink and have fun , other than that , they were no friends of Gatsby. Meyer Wolfsheim , partner of Gatsby in the bond business, did not show up . Even though Mr.Wolfshiem , knew Gatsby for a long time he did not attend his funeral. His excuses was not to get involved in his death. Wolfsheim was a rich man, but he ignored his partner’s death . One could connect , due to Gatsby not being rich but wealthy, he is actually considered lower class since his family background was lower class. Therefore, people like Tom, Daisy , Mr.Wolfsheim , did not show up because they were all categorized as the higher class. Overall, it is remarkable how values toward other people change according to the social class. When was money more valuable than a person’s death?
Reading Gatsby’s funeral through a Feminist lens , it is noticed that patriarchy is presented due to no women attending Gatsby’s funeral. Even the woman Gatsby loved did not attend. Even though Gatsby did not accidentally kill anyone , unlike Daisy, Gatsby did not want any one to know that is was Daisy . This reveals the category of, the need for masculine protection , where every women needs her man to protect her. In this context , Gatsby was protecting Daisy from the crime that she had convicted.
Examining Gatsby’s funeral through a Psychoanalytic lens , the collective unconscious is revealed in the text. Gatsby was murdered by Mr. Wilson , because he though Gatsby ran over his wife, Mrs. Wilson, with a car. The reader is aware that it was daisy , the lady who is so innocent and sweet but. she mirrors the archetypal figure of the destroying angel. Even though Daisy character is recognized as a sweet, angel type women, the author uses this archetypical figure to mask the truth about daisy to the society. No one would ever believe that Daisy killed Mrs. Wilson , due to her innocence and sweet appearance.
Karishma
Class struggle is also noticed at Gatsby’s funeral. Gatsby is not rich but he is considered wealthy. At his funeral , people who are rich do not show up. For example - Tom and Daisy. Neither did people who attended his parties. They only came to dance, drink and have fun , other than that , they were no friends of Gatsby. Meyer Wolfsheim , partner of Gatsby in the bond business, did not show up . Even though Mr.Wolfshiem , knew Gatsby for a long time he did not attend his funeral. His excuses was not to get involved in his death. Wolfsheim was a rich man, but he ignored his partner’s death . One could connect , due to Gatsby not being rich but wealthy, he is actually considered lower class since his family background was lower class. Therefore, people like Tom, Daisy , Mr.Wolfsheim , did not show up because they were all categorized as the higher class. Overall, it is remarkable how values toward other people change according to the social class. When was money more valuable than a person’s death?
Reading Gatsby’s funeral through a Feminist lens , it is noticed that patriarchy is presented due to no women attending Gatsby’s funeral. Even the woman Gatsby loved did not attend. Even though Gatsby did not accidentally kill anyone , unlike Daisy, Gatsby did not want any one to know that is was Daisy . This reveals the category of, the need for masculine protection , where every women needs her man to protect her. In this context , Gatsby was protecting Daisy from the crime that she had convicted.
Examining Gatsby’s funeral through a Psychoanalytic lens , the collective unconscious is revealed in the text. Gatsby was murdered by Mr. Wilson , because he though Gatsby ran over his wife, Mrs. Wilson, with a car. The reader is aware that it was daisy , the lady who is so innocent and sweet but. she mirrors the archetypal figure of the destroying angel. Even though Daisy character is recognized as a sweet, angel type women, the author uses this archetypical figure to mask the truth about daisy to the society. No one would ever believe that Daisy killed Mrs. Wilson , due to her innocence and sweet appearance.
Karishma
Group 4 - Question 5
Eyes continue to appear as a pattern of imagery, a motif, used to convey a message. Explain the symbolism of the eyes in the novel.
Answer
The eyes in the novel are represented through the big billboard with the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg. They stand for god’s eyes and symbolise that god is always watching over them. Wilson says to Michealis “I told her she might fool me but she couldn’t fool God” and also he adds “God knows what you’ve been doing, everything you’ve been doing. You may fool me, but you can’t fool God” (Pg159) this shows that Wilson believed in god and knew that he was always watching. Right after this conversation Michaelis looks with shock at the eyes of Dr. T.J Eckleburg watching over them, this portrays that the eyes see everything which happens in the novel. Also, the billboard is located in the Valley of Ashes and is described as being blue, which stands for hope, meaning there is some hope in midst of the grey and dull valley of ashes. Also to go from East Egg to New York or West Egg the characters always had to cross the valley of ashes, where - the eyes of Dr. Eckleburg are located, this suggests that they were always watching over the characters in the novel, they knew that Daisy killed Myrtle and they knew that Wilson’s wife was cheating on him.
Nayaelah
Answer
The eyes in the novel are represented through the big billboard with the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg. They stand for god’s eyes and symbolise that god is always watching over them. Wilson says to Michealis “I told her she might fool me but she couldn’t fool God” and also he adds “God knows what you’ve been doing, everything you’ve been doing. You may fool me, but you can’t fool God” (Pg159) this shows that Wilson believed in god and knew that he was always watching. Right after this conversation Michaelis looks with shock at the eyes of Dr. T.J Eckleburg watching over them, this portrays that the eyes see everything which happens in the novel. Also, the billboard is located in the Valley of Ashes and is described as being blue, which stands for hope, meaning there is some hope in midst of the grey and dull valley of ashes. Also to go from East Egg to New York or West Egg the characters always had to cross the valley of ashes, where - the eyes of Dr. Eckleburg are located, this suggests that they were always watching over the characters in the novel, they knew that Daisy killed Myrtle and they knew that Wilson’s wife was cheating on him.
Nayaelah
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