1. In your active reading journal, list the things you’ve learned about Nick Carraway in the first two chapters of the novel. How might his background colour the way he tells this story? How trustworthy is Nick? How might the perspective of Chapter 1 change if F. Scott Fitzgerald had chosen to narrate the story in the first person from Daisy’s “sophisticated” point of view?
2. Read Chapters 5 and 6. At the end of Chapter 5, Nick says, “It was the hour of a profound human change, and excitement was generating on the air” (p. 95). What happens in Chapter 6 to fulfill Nick’s prediction? Add your response to your journal.
In the first two chapters of the novel we learn that Nick is a lot like the author (Fitzgerald). Nick represents the views of Fitzgerald as he is a lot like him; Nick is like Fitzgerald in the means that he is not a very wealthy man hanging around with the quite wealty. Nick also made a grand move, as did Fitzgerald, from Chicago to New York (West Egg). They were also both in the war, although Fitzgerald was never deployed because the war ended. (This is taken from my discussion post on "Applying Critical Theory to Nick and his Perspective").
Nick's background might colour the way he tells the story, because when he was younger his father asked him to not to be judge-mental, but Nick is anyway. You can tell this because it is obvious that Nick disapproves on Tom's affair with Mrs. Wilson. So this may colour the way he tells the story because he is not completely unbiased in his opinions.
I think that if F. Scott Fitzgerald had chosen to narrate the story from Daisy's "sophisticated" point of view that we would not get as much detail as we do with Nick narrating the story. Daisy seems oblivious to the fact that her husband is having an affair, and doesn't have the same connections that Nick seems to have. I think that a more "sophisticated" point of view would lead to a boring and uninteresting story.
Chapter 5: Summary
In chapter 5 it begins with Nick coming home from tea with Jordan. He notices Gatsby's mansion, which is brightly lit. Gatsby approaches Nick offering him to do things with him, and so forth, so that Nick will agree with his plan. Nick agrees, and calls Daisy up asking her to come over for tea. When it is the day for Daisy to come to tea, it rains a lot, Gatsby arrives at Nick's house in doubt that she will arrive. Just before Gatsby is about to leave Daisy arrives, and Gatsby hides outside. A few moments (minutes?) later Gatsby is at the door and Nick invites him in. Daisy and Gatsby reunite and it seems quite awkward for a while before Nick excuses himself. Nick goes outside to provide Daisy and Gatsby with some privacy. When Nick returns both Daisy and Gatsby are very happy, and Gatsby invites them both over to his mansion. Much goes on, and tears are shed (Daisy is overwhelmed by the brilliant and luxurious lifestyle Gatsby lives). Gatsby mentions the green light across the the water, and how he dreams about her. Later Nick realizes that Daisy and Gatsby don't really recognize his presence so he leaves.
At the end of this chapter Nick says: "“It was the hour of a profound human change, and excitement was generating on the air” (Fitzgerald, 95) To fulfill this prediction in the next chapter Tom and Daisy attend one of Gatsby's lavish parties.
Chapter 6: Summary
In chapter 6 we learn a lot about Gatsby's life, such as he was born as Jay Gatz, did a lot of fishing and digging for clams, was invited to be a personal assistant of Dan Cody (who is dead now) who had a serious alcohol problem and this is why Gatsby watches what he drinks. Gatsby made his life goal to become successful and wealthy. Then Nick doesn't hear anything from Daisy or Gatsby for weeks, and then sees Tom at Gatsby's house. Tom is dining with some other people and Gatsby invites them to stay for dinner but they decline his offer. Daisy and Tom come to Gatsby's next party, and Tom has an unpleasant time. Gatsby thinks that Daisy also had an unpleasant time and is upset by this. Gatsby reveals that he would like Daisy to tell Tom that she is leaving him. And Nick tries to bring him back to the future by saying: " 'I wouldn't ask to much of her' ... "You can't repeat the past.'" (Fitzgerald, 111) But Gatsby refuses to believe this.
In the first two chapters of the novel we learn that Nick is a lot like the author (Fitzgerald). Nick represents the views of Fitzgerald as he is a lot like him; Nick is like Fitzgerald in the means that he is not a very wealthy man hanging around with the quite wealty. Nick also made a grand move, as did Fitzgerald, from Chicago to New York (West Egg). They were also both in the war, although Fitzgerald was never deployed because the war ended. (This is taken from my discussion post on "Applying Critical Theory to Nick and his Perspective").
Nick's background might colour the way he tells the story, because when he was younger his father asked him to not to be judge-mental, but Nick is anyway. You can tell this because it is obvious that Nick disapproves on Tom's affair with Mrs. Wilson. So this may colour the way he tells the story because he is not completely unbiased in his opinions.
I think that if F. Scott Fitzgerald had chosen to narrate the story from Daisy's "sophisticated" point of view that we would not get as much detail as we do with Nick narrating the story. Daisy seems oblivious to the fact that her husband is having an affair, and doesn't have the same connections that Nick seems to have. I think that a more "sophisticated" point of view would lead to a boring and uninteresting story.
Chapter 5: Summary
In chapter 5 it begins with Nick coming home from tea with Jordan. He notices Gatsby's mansion, which is brightly lit. Gatsby approaches Nick offering him to do things with him, and so forth, so that Nick will agree with his plan. Nick agrees, and calls Daisy up asking her to come over for tea. When it is the day for Daisy to come to tea, it rains a lot, Gatsby arrives at Nick's house in doubt that she will arrive. Just before Gatsby is about to leave Daisy arrives, and Gatsby hides outside. A few moments (minutes?) later Gatsby is at the door and Nick invites him in. Daisy and Gatsby reunite and it seems quite awkward for a while before Nick excuses himself. Nick goes outside to provide Daisy and Gatsby with some privacy. When Nick returns both Daisy and Gatsby are very happy, and Gatsby invites them both over to his mansion. Much goes on, and tears are shed (Daisy is overwhelmed by the brilliant and luxurious lifestyle Gatsby lives). Gatsby mentions the green light across the the water, and how he dreams about her. Later Nick realizes that Daisy and Gatsby don't really recognize his presence so he leaves.
At the end of this chapter Nick says: "“It was the hour of a profound human change, and excitement was generating on the air” (Fitzgerald, 95) To fulfill this prediction in the next chapter Tom and Daisy attend one of Gatsby's lavish parties.
Chapter 6: Summary
In chapter 6 we learn a lot about Gatsby's life, such as he was born as Jay Gatz, did a lot of fishing and digging for clams, was invited to be a personal assistant of Dan Cody (who is dead now) who had a serious alcohol problem and this is why Gatsby watches what he drinks. Gatsby made his life goal to become successful and wealthy. Then Nick doesn't hear anything from Daisy or Gatsby for weeks, and then sees Tom at Gatsby's house. Tom is dining with some other people and Gatsby invites them to stay for dinner but they decline his offer. Daisy and Tom come to Gatsby's next party, and Tom has an unpleasant time. Gatsby thinks that Daisy also had an unpleasant time and is upset by this. Gatsby reveals that he would like Daisy to tell Tom that she is leaving him. And Nick tries to bring him back to the future by saying: " 'I wouldn't ask to much of her' ... "You can't repeat the past.'" (Fitzgerald, 111) But Gatsby refuses to believe this.
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