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This is a place for us to discuss openly and honestly the literature we are reading. Here we are all just communicating our thoughts on what we are reading. There are no right and wrong answers. However, you are expected to be polite, mature, and on topic.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Just a little party talk...
Chapter Two of The Great Gatsby moves us from the lavish home of the Buchanans to Tom's and Myrtle's apartment. It is a different type of party than the dinner party Nick first attended, but this party reveals a great deal about Tom, Myrtle, and Nick. Select one of these characters and explain what the events and talk at the party reveal about this character. Include in your reply one line that best conveys this message. YOU MAY NOT WRITE ON THE SAME CHARACTER THE PERSON BEFORE YOU HAS POSTED ABOUT. ALSO, YOU MUST SAY SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN ANY PREVIOUS POSTER HAS STATED. (The deadline to post is midnight Tuesday, February 26, 2013.)
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4 comments:
I believe this chapter reveals a significant amount about Tom. Tom is not portrayed as a bad character in Chapter One. However, in the second chapter, Tom's hypocritical nature is shown. He is betraying his wife Daisy and meeting with Mrs. Wilson. While he is showing poor decision making and cheating, he still believes that Mrs. Wilson, or Myrtle, should do as he wishes. However, when she continues to disobey Tom and mention Daisy, Tom strikes her and breaks her nose. This also shows Tom is not as mannered and correct as he previously seemed. I believe the lines that best portrays this characterization is, "... Tom Buchanan and Mrs. Wilson stood face to face discussing, in impassioned voices, whether Mrs. Wilson had any right to mention Daisy's name. 'Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!' shouted Mrs. Wilson. 'I'll say it whenever I want to! Daisy! Dai----' Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose..." This section shows Tom's belief that she should do as he pleases, while he shows none of this loyalty or faith to Daisy.
During the party, much of the affair is unfolded between the conversations in the apartment. Nick is there for the entire party, but he does not participate in much of the gossip. He appears to be a tape recorder. Nick never asks about people's secrets, yet people tell him everything. This is shown through his talk with Catherine at the party. Without even prying, she tells him whatever she knows about her sister's affair. Furthermore, once he is leaving, Mr. McKee asks Nick to lunch. When Nick asks "where," Mr. McKee says, "Anywhere." Again, it reveals how people gravitate towards Nick even if they may not know him very well.
I believe this chapter is about Myrtle. This is the first chapter that the reader truly finds out about Myrtle. Myrtle is displayed as not only selfish, but also very vein and deceitful. Myrtle claims that she does not love her husband because he is to poor for her. She is deceitful because she cheats on her husband with Tom, and she has no regrets or cares about it. The party also shows that she is not pure like Daisy is by the clothes she wears. Myrtle is a very seductive, deceitful person. She is also a hateful character because she is hurting Daisy by ruining her family and taking Tom. This part of The Great Gatsby shows that Myrtle is someone who is not to be trusted.
I believe chapter two reveals much characterization about Nick. Even though he witnesses and hears the characters of the party, he never depicts the people as bad characters. When Myrtle states "'You can't live forever; you can't live forever'", Nick does not judge how reckless she may be. Nick is very open minded.
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