Group 4 - Question 1

Question: Nick Carraway says, "Reserving judgements is a matter of infinite hope (2)." What does he mean? What does this reveal about his character and how might this be significant to the novel?

Reserving judgement means holding back one's opinion on a subject— refraining from judging a person or an object at first glance. "Reserving judgments is a matter of infinite hope" could mean that keeping your thoughts to yourself comes with the hope that everything would come together in the end. We think what Nick is basically saying is to do nothing and hope for the best. 

This quote reveals a significant part of Nick's character. In the novel, Nick is roped into multiple situations that give him the chance to do something, or, at least, speak out but he chooses to execute neither action. This proves that Nick is the type to stand back and watch a scene in silence. He is someone who keeps his thoughts to himself and would rather not get too involved with anything. An example would be Gatsby and the rumors circulating around the man. Nicks remains quiet even as hears negative things about his neighbour and, most importantly, doesn't judge the other male before they get the chance to meet. Another example is when Nick finds out about Tom's mistress. As expected, he doesn't say anything, letting the others deal with their own problems instead. 

This quote is important as we later find out that reserving judgement and hoping for the best is not the best way to deal with the happenings in the novel. 

Labels:
Gatsby, Nick, Tom

Group 3 - Question #3

Chapter 5 begins with Mick's fear of a "fire". Discuss and comment on the symbolism of this section in the novel.

Nick is afraid that his house had caught fire upon returning home. However, he realizes that it is only "Gatsby's house, lit from tower to cellar". Gatsby's house is so bright that "the whole corner of the peninsula was blazing with light".

The blazing light coming from Gatsby's house symbolizes his "infinite hope" and his "romantic readiness". Gatsby is utterly devoted to the pursuit of his dream, and cannot distinguish his reveries from his reality. He continues to believe in the "green light" until the very end. Nick admires his optimism, yet, at the same time, has no desire to partake in it. On the one hand, Gatsby's fire evokes a sense of wonder and amazement within Nick, and on the other, he fears its destructive nature, and would prefer to avoid it entirely. Nick understands just how destructive Gatsby's quest for the holy grail is. He understands the danger of devoting oneself entirely to an impossible ideal, an unattainable dream. Nick may indulge in the occasional fantasy, but he, unlike Gatsby, remains grounded in reality.

Gatsby's fire was at its brightest just as he was on the cusp of realizing his dream. Even as his dream was being undone, he remained as luminous as ever under the moonlight, his resolve visibly unshaken. This would prove to be his undoing. Unable to see Daisy for what she really was, unwilling to let go of his impossible illusion, he takes the fall for her carelessness and immorality. His fire consumes him, and causes him to meet a tragic end.

Ariel

Tags: Nick, Gatsby

Reference: http://cup.columbia.edu/book/978-0-231-14816-0/fitzgerald-and-hemingway/excerpt

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

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; Daisy and Gatsby’s relationship falls apart. Myrtle is struck down very quickly, and then Wilson in horror shoots Gatsby and then himself. This all seems to occur very quickly in the span of one day and night. It is only after the deaths of Gatsby and Myrtle that time seems to stretch on again, the lethargy of death. Time feels empty, like a dream sleep. Daisy and Tom are missing, Jordan is almost a passing thought, and Nick is drifting through the motions of funeral arrangements with no idea what to do.

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, and then Wilson kills himself. Tom and Daisy simply disappear with no trace. Nick is left alone. The reckless vapidity of the youth degraded with the passage of time, and the turning of ages.

Jennifer