Chapter 3
55 or so pages in and we are introduced to the brilliant, or great, Gatsby. This chapter is brilliant as it finally shows why the title is what it is. Nick finally attends a party at Gatsby's house and enjoys himself, has a few drinks, takes in the atmosphere and admires the women, Jordan in particular.
As the rest of the book, it follows the fast paced descriptive narrative and gets increasingly engaging. The narrative is easy to follow and it's a brilliant way to give the title of the book justification, giving Gatsby positive descriptions... Polite, understanding and comments of his appearance and smile in particular regularly. It is clear that Nick has taken quite an affection towards Gatsby.
I get the impression that Nick in vulnerable and lonely, a lot of the people he makes contact with are people he knows fairly distantly and hasn't got a very strong bond with them. However he does appear affable with strangers, particularly noticeable at the Gatsby party. When people approach him he will make these attempts to be affable and pleasant. Thought the chapter is the beginning prolonged engagement of Gatsby, it leaves me wanted to know more about him, and wanting to see the rest of his brilliance, rather than just his wealth and affable charm which is so obviously apparent.
The second section of the chapter is yet again more indulgence to Nick Carraway. He begins to explain himself more and more of what he partakes in, in his recreational time. The arguments that Nick may be selfish, arrogant and vain can perhaps be justified in the end line of the chapter... 'I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known.'
Joe
Monday, November 22, 2010
The Great Gatsby Chapter 1
Chapter 1
The beginning chapter of The Great Gatsby (TGG) is the first insight into the man the reader will be spending one hundred and eighty odd pages with, it begins to unveil the character and shows what he is like as a narrator, perhaps unreliable, but that's up for debate.
Nick Carraway is the narrator, and he tells the story from his eyes, he mentions briefly of the title of the book, and the actual intended drive behind the whole book... Gatsby. Yet it is interesting to notice in the first chapter that Nick refers to Gatsby once or maybe twice within the whole chapter. Perhaps this is showing that Nick is that unreliable narrator or alternatively the reader is expecting too much from the first chapter because it is read from expectation of the title.
Nick quotes his father at the beginning of the book 'whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in the world haven't had the advantages that you've had.' I think this quote is hugely important, notice that it is within the very first paragraph of the book and Nick has decided to put it there, perhaps suggesting to the reader that he is either caring, considerate and loyal to his father, on the other hand it could suggest that because his father had to tell him this he is not considerate, caring and loyal to his father.
When you read onto the chapter, it is notable that Nick has his thoughts and views on the world, and they are not going to change any time soon. He is a bias narrator to his own beliefs, and so he should be. At times Nick can come across as bitter and spiteful, this showing he was not listening to his father, and it is noticeable that the way he tells the story can appear slow. The title is The Great Gatsby. The reader, after they have read the front cover of the book, is expecting something to do with Gatsby, and with one hundred and eighty pages there isn't a lot of time just to get to know the narrator. But it's so interestingly written in a way in which the book is still incredibly fast paced. The content of detail and swinging from setting to setting and person to person, it's tricky to keep up yet Gatsby is still no prominent.
I enjoy Nick as a narrator, it is possible to argue that he will add elements of humour to his narration due to his views and ideologies. And still, I am looking forward to the grand entry of Gatsby.
Joe
The beginning chapter of The Great Gatsby (TGG) is the first insight into the man the reader will be spending one hundred and eighty odd pages with, it begins to unveil the character and shows what he is like as a narrator, perhaps unreliable, but that's up for debate.
Nick Carraway is the narrator, and he tells the story from his eyes, he mentions briefly of the title of the book, and the actual intended drive behind the whole book... Gatsby. Yet it is interesting to notice in the first chapter that Nick refers to Gatsby once or maybe twice within the whole chapter. Perhaps this is showing that Nick is that unreliable narrator or alternatively the reader is expecting too much from the first chapter because it is read from expectation of the title.
Nick quotes his father at the beginning of the book 'whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in the world haven't had the advantages that you've had.' I think this quote is hugely important, notice that it is within the very first paragraph of the book and Nick has decided to put it there, perhaps suggesting to the reader that he is either caring, considerate and loyal to his father, on the other hand it could suggest that because his father had to tell him this he is not considerate, caring and loyal to his father.
When you read onto the chapter, it is notable that Nick has his thoughts and views on the world, and they are not going to change any time soon. He is a bias narrator to his own beliefs, and so he should be. At times Nick can come across as bitter and spiteful, this showing he was not listening to his father, and it is noticeable that the way he tells the story can appear slow. The title is The Great Gatsby. The reader, after they have read the front cover of the book, is expecting something to do with Gatsby, and with one hundred and eighty pages there isn't a lot of time just to get to know the narrator. But it's so interestingly written in a way in which the book is still incredibly fast paced. The content of detail and swinging from setting to setting and person to person, it's tricky to keep up yet Gatsby is still no prominent.
I enjoy Nick as a narrator, it is possible to argue that he will add elements of humour to his narration due to his views and ideologies. And still, I am looking forward to the grand entry of Gatsby.
Joe
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Essay Plan
Is Hamlet a hero or a villain.
There is obviously a lot of room to include tragedy into this essay question.
I plan to produce an essay that sections down all the relationships Hamlet has in the play with other characters, rather than particular events that happen. I will discuss Hamlet's love life with Ophelia, his family life with his Mother, his conflict with Claudius and his encounter with his ghost of a father.
I will talk about how Hamlet treats each character and whether or not there is justification for him being a hero or villain in his behavior and thoughts. I will do this by backing each point up with evidence from the text.
Paragraph 1 - Relationship with Ophelia - I will discuss if Hamlet was good for Ophelia or whether or not he was the soul momentum to drive her to her death, or if he was the only joy in her life, therefore bringing it back to the question... is he a hero or villain?
Paragraph 2 - How he deals with his Mother - I will talk about how Hamlet deals with the treachery that his mother undertook. Does it make him a hero or a villain if he decides to simply agree with his mother?
Paragraph 3 - The Ghost - Is respect for his father and revenge enough to warrant him a hero. Or is killing simply Hamlet being aggressive and evil? Or is it an eye for an eye?
Paragraph 4 - Claudius - Why did he take so long to murder? Was it a grasp at fame perhaps or just to create more tragedy?
Conclude.
There is obviously a lot of room to include tragedy into this essay question.
I plan to produce an essay that sections down all the relationships Hamlet has in the play with other characters, rather than particular events that happen. I will discuss Hamlet's love life with Ophelia, his family life with his Mother, his conflict with Claudius and his encounter with his ghost of a father.
I will talk about how Hamlet treats each character and whether or not there is justification for him being a hero or villain in his behavior and thoughts. I will do this by backing each point up with evidence from the text.
Paragraph 1 - Relationship with Ophelia - I will discuss if Hamlet was good for Ophelia or whether or not he was the soul momentum to drive her to her death, or if he was the only joy in her life, therefore bringing it back to the question... is he a hero or villain?
Paragraph 2 - How he deals with his Mother - I will talk about how Hamlet deals with the treachery that his mother undertook. Does it make him a hero or a villain if he decides to simply agree with his mother?
Paragraph 3 - The Ghost - Is respect for his father and revenge enough to warrant him a hero. Or is killing simply Hamlet being aggressive and evil? Or is it an eye for an eye?
Paragraph 4 - Claudius - Why did he take so long to murder? Was it a grasp at fame perhaps or just to create more tragedy?
Conclude.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Nick Caraway
I think Nick Caraway is a fairly opinionated man who looks out for himself and enjoys his thoughts. Where he thinks over what his father once said to him "Whenever you feel like critisizing anyone just remember all the people in this world haven't had the advantages you have had", I think after reading the first section on the book you get the impression that he may be a bit spiteful and care-free of others emotions. However this is just a thought.
The fact that he stduied at 'New Haven' suggests he is privileged yet through reading on not boastful.
All he says about his father may show that he is very appreciative of his family (also with them in agreement of him to go into bonds and his father funding his trails) and thinks rather highly of them.
He appears judgemental but not too harsh in his thoughts.
The fact that he stduied at 'New Haven' suggests he is privileged yet through reading on not boastful.
All he says about his father may show that he is very appreciative of his family (also with them in agreement of him to go into bonds and his father funding his trails) and thinks rather highly of them.
He appears judgemental but not too harsh in his thoughts.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Get thee to a nunnery
Act III shows the increasing manifestation of Hamlets artificial madness. of course he was showing signs of madness in act II but in act three there is more evidence for the madness.
This act is also home to the famous soliloquy commencing 'to be or not to be'.
The tragedy that swallows this act comes from various characters, yet the relationship between Ophelia and Hamlet is slowly disintegrating, and it is hugely visible to the audience. He tells her he loves her and also tells her that he never loved her. Hamlet plays with her heart and toys with her emotions, this does indeed make one wonder whether or not Hamlet is a good man, and whether he doing his father justice, as he still has not slain Claudius.
And of course this act is the home of Claudius's death, the mistaken accidental death that Hamlet does not seem to regret as he says he is an intruding fool and bids him farewell.
Also act III contains the controversial play that Hamlet has staged to expose Claudius as the Charlatan he is.
Joe
This act is also home to the famous soliloquy commencing 'to be or not to be'.
The tragedy that swallows this act comes from various characters, yet the relationship between Ophelia and Hamlet is slowly disintegrating, and it is hugely visible to the audience. He tells her he loves her and also tells her that he never loved her. Hamlet plays with her heart and toys with her emotions, this does indeed make one wonder whether or not Hamlet is a good man, and whether he doing his father justice, as he still has not slain Claudius.
And of course this act is the home of Claudius's death, the mistaken accidental death that Hamlet does not seem to regret as he says he is an intruding fool and bids him farewell.
Also act III contains the controversial play that Hamlet has staged to expose Claudius as the Charlatan he is.
Joe
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)