I am going to write about my views and opinions on Nick and his effectiveness as the book's narrator. In the first chapter, Nick says that he comes across to others like a 'politician'. It is as if he doesn't mind sharing the negative viewpoints of other people about him, suggesting that he is honest and the fact that he says that he was 'unjustly accused' proves that he has got nothing to hide, otherwise he would not have said anything at all. To back it up, he mentions later on in the novel - 'I am one of the few honest people I have ever known'.
However, his reliability could be questioned. Taking into account that he is a first person narrator, you have no choice but to see things from his point of view and believe the supposed facts through his words. The people and events he describes, even things to do with himself, could be seen completely differently if it was through an omniscient narrator. There are many examples throughout the novel, that I will mention later on, where the reader has to ponder and even question Nick's honesty and possibly biased views.
First of all, you see all the characters through Nick's eyes. When he describes both Daisy and Myrtle, he could just be biased because Daisy is his cousin and Myrtle is a complete stranger, whom Tom is cheating on Daisy with. Throughout the novel, we are obliged to think that Daisy is the victim of a failed relationship and an unfaithful husband (this iswhere Myrtle plays a part). Also, with Tom we are bound to think that his role in the novel is of the villain, the one causing all the distress and troubles for cheating, being racist and being arrogant. However, looking at the novel more deeply, there are no victims or villains. Everyone plays a part in the succession of events throughout that whole summer that Nick doesn't quite seem to forget.
Gatsby, even though he is shown as mysterious and untrustworthy, is generally seen in good light. Not only is the book titled with his name, Nick also likes him, describing him as 'gorgeous' and saying that he found a 'romantic readiness' in him. On the other hand, Wilson isn't really described at all by Nick. This could be because they didn't have much contact with each other but even on their first meeting, there was no full descriptions of him, only Myrtle. The readers are left to deduce what kind of a person Wilson is through the things he did while Nick was there to witness it. This could also be because Nick, re-telling the story, already knows that Wilson is responsible for Gatsby's death and therefore has a biased opinion about him. When Wilson dies, he makes no comments of sympathy or explanations as to why Wilson would have done such a thing. He leaves the readers to decide for themselves.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Chapter Two
English Literature Homework
Reading Journal – ‘The Great Gatsby’ Chapter Two
This chapter starts off with Nick’s point of view about the setting. He talks about New York City in complete contrast to the luxuries he described in the previous chapter about the East and West Egg. As him and Tom drive to their destination, he describes what he sees as a ‘dismal scene’. He also talks about - ‘a line of grey cars… gives out a ghastly creak… ash-grey men swarm up with leaden spades and stir up an impenetrable cloud’, which consists of a variety of negative descriptions and giving the impression of a not so well-off neighbourhood. Nick’s voice influences the reader’s response - to think that it is a poor and rough environment, one that he is not used to.
Nick knew of course that he was going to meet Tom’s mistress. Before going on their way, Tom told him – ‘I want you to meet my girl’. This is an extremely interesting use of language as he views her as a girl and not a woman and the use of the possessive pronoun – my, seems like he just views her as a property, one he can easily have and one he can easily dispose of. Nick’s description of the neighbourhood Tom’s mistress lives in is probably an insight to what kind of person she’s like. Nick does not know this at the time but his tone seems curious and a bit confused as he describes the place, probably thinking why Tom would pick a woman with no status and of a completely opposite background to his sophisticated life.
More characters are introduced and described in this chapter including Wilson and his wife Myrtle, whom we find out, is Tom’s mistress. Wilson doesn’t really say a lot when Nick meets him but he gives a distinct impression of himself through his actions and the way he responds to the people around him.
When Wilson complains about not getting the car Tom promised for him for his garage on time, Tom threatens to stop the deal and Wilson corrects himself quickly by saying ‘I don’t mean that’. Through this, I can tell that Tom has complete control over him. His authority demeans Wilson because without him, Wilson would be out of business. This also gives light not only to Nick but also the readers, as to why Tom would pick Myrtle out of all the women he could have as his mistress. Knowing that they are poor, he is the only one whom Myrtle and his husband depends on and he likes the feeling of power, which reinforces the way he was described in the first chapter - strong, intimidating and superior.
Wilson of course, is completely clueless to Tom and Myrtle’s relationship. Even if he suspects it, Wilson depends on Tom and probably doesn’t want to voice out his suspicions in fear of getting on the wrong side of him. Also, Myrtle seems in control of their marriage because when she orders him to get some chairs for their visitors, Wilson agreed ‘hurriedly’, just to please her and as if to avoid an argument. Again, this could be another reason why he doesn’t want to let Myrtle know of any possible suspicions. This theme of relationships carries on from chapter one and it seems that because of the affair, both marriages are affected and both marriages seem to be on rocky ground.
Myrtle is also described in detail when Nick first meets her. As she comes into the room, Nick says that she ‘contained no facet or gleam of beauty, but there was an immediately perceptible vitality about her’. He doesn’t find her attractive but I can tell that he understands why Tom would be drawn to her. In my opinion, at that moment in time he was still reserving judgements. We do not really get an opinion from him whether he likes her or not.
Another comparison is made between the different lifestyles, not just with New York City and West/East Egg but also with Daisy and Myrtle; a very vague comparison, which I think Fitzgerald deliberately put in to show a deep contrast between the two women. Myrtle says to Tom – ‘I’d like to get one of those police dogs’, which shows that she likes the feeling of getting what she wants from Tom. It’s a completely different world to the life she leads with her husband. Nick spends a lot of time describing this scene and I think its relevance is to compare Myrtle’s desires to what Daisy actually gets. A dog would be nothing compared to what Daisy is entitled to being Tom’s wife.
‘At 158th Street, the cab stopped at one slice in a long white cake of apartment houses. Throwing a regal homecoming glance, Mrs Wilson… went haughtily in’. This quote describes a completely new setting and emphasises irony. White cakes are usually connected to weddings, although Tom and Myrtle aren’t married. Nick’s description makes me think, as a reader, that he finds it ironic himself that Myrtle would have picked this place for her apartment. The word ‘regal’ also connects to royalty or of the rich and sophisticated – traits that Myrtle does not possess. Again, this shows what Daisy has that she hasn’t. All Myrtle has is a place where she can pretend everything is different to what her life really is. It’s a place for her escape.
‘With the influence of the dress her personality had also undergone a change… converted into impressive hauteur’. This extract talks about how Myrtle has changed her outfit since arriving to the apartment. It shows that there, she is in her element. Looking glamorous makes her feel comfortable in her own place. Nick also describes that she is wearing an ‘elaborate dress… which gave out a continual rustle as she swept about the room’. She sounds a bit too overdressed and the sound of her dress makes everyone notice her. This states that she likes being the centre of attention.
As the day progresses, the readers get the feeling that Nick doesn’t really like her much. He says – ‘as she expanded the room grew smaller around her until she seemed to be revolving on a noisy, creaky pivot through smoky air’. The word expanded shows that he thinks she likes to take over and shows that she wants to be dominant, again reinforcing her need for attention. The negative adjectives like noisy, smoky and creaky shows Nick’s very dim and negative view of her. She might look glamorous on the outside, but her personality isn’t very attractive. The use of language in the quote – ‘the room grew smaller’, suggests that Nick might have felt really small, as if with her around, everyone else including him have to be shunted to the background.
We find out more about Tom in this chapter as well. Tom tells Myrtle that she doesn’t have the right to mention Daisy’s name and when Myrtle insists, he ‘broke her nose with his open hand’. This shows violence on his behalf. He doesn’t just look violent, his actions also prove it. In the first chapter, he bruised Daisy’s finger, which you could argue was a clue to this upcoming event.
The scene that follows after has a great deal of meaning. Fitzgerald uses Nick to convey a description full of interesting use of language. Nick describes the scene like he is just watching and not doing anything to help, because he is too drunk. ‘… His wife and Catherine scolding and consoling and they stumbled here and there among the crowded furniture’ is a quote describing the complete chaos. Scolding and consoling are both contrasting words, which could mean that they are all so shocked and drunk that they don’t know what to do or could suggest Nick’s confusion about the whole thing.
He also describes Myrtle as ‘the despairing figure on the couch, bleeding fluently, and trying to spread a copy of Town Tattle over the tapestry scenes of Versailles’. This shows Myrtle trying to shield the important artwork with a gossip magazine of some sort. Again, this is quite ironic because it is as if at this point, her pretend glamorous life (symbolised by the artwork) is being covered by the unimportant issue, which represents her actual life. Tom’s actions towards her brings it back to reality that he’s not hers, and her life is not yet as secure with Tom as she wants it to be.
The use of time throughout the chapter is chronological up until this point. Everything is going smoothly and Nick is explaining the events in time order. After Tom hurts Myrtle, he suddenly becomes too drunk to realise what happens in what order. He describes the next couple of things in a very vague manner, suggesting that he remembers some things but not in full detail and he doesn’t know exactly what happened when. The ellipses towards the end of the chapter also suggest that there were moments in time when he didn’t have a clue where he was or what he did.
Reading Journal – ‘The Great Gatsby’ Chapter Two
This chapter starts off with Nick’s point of view about the setting. He talks about New York City in complete contrast to the luxuries he described in the previous chapter about the East and West Egg. As him and Tom drive to their destination, he describes what he sees as a ‘dismal scene’. He also talks about - ‘a line of grey cars… gives out a ghastly creak… ash-grey men swarm up with leaden spades and stir up an impenetrable cloud’, which consists of a variety of negative descriptions and giving the impression of a not so well-off neighbourhood. Nick’s voice influences the reader’s response - to think that it is a poor and rough environment, one that he is not used to.
Nick knew of course that he was going to meet Tom’s mistress. Before going on their way, Tom told him – ‘I want you to meet my girl’. This is an extremely interesting use of language as he views her as a girl and not a woman and the use of the possessive pronoun – my, seems like he just views her as a property, one he can easily have and one he can easily dispose of. Nick’s description of the neighbourhood Tom’s mistress lives in is probably an insight to what kind of person she’s like. Nick does not know this at the time but his tone seems curious and a bit confused as he describes the place, probably thinking why Tom would pick a woman with no status and of a completely opposite background to his sophisticated life.
More characters are introduced and described in this chapter including Wilson and his wife Myrtle, whom we find out, is Tom’s mistress. Wilson doesn’t really say a lot when Nick meets him but he gives a distinct impression of himself through his actions and the way he responds to the people around him.
When Wilson complains about not getting the car Tom promised for him for his garage on time, Tom threatens to stop the deal and Wilson corrects himself quickly by saying ‘I don’t mean that’. Through this, I can tell that Tom has complete control over him. His authority demeans Wilson because without him, Wilson would be out of business. This also gives light not only to Nick but also the readers, as to why Tom would pick Myrtle out of all the women he could have as his mistress. Knowing that they are poor, he is the only one whom Myrtle and his husband depends on and he likes the feeling of power, which reinforces the way he was described in the first chapter - strong, intimidating and superior.
Wilson of course, is completely clueless to Tom and Myrtle’s relationship. Even if he suspects it, Wilson depends on Tom and probably doesn’t want to voice out his suspicions in fear of getting on the wrong side of him. Also, Myrtle seems in control of their marriage because when she orders him to get some chairs for their visitors, Wilson agreed ‘hurriedly’, just to please her and as if to avoid an argument. Again, this could be another reason why he doesn’t want to let Myrtle know of any possible suspicions. This theme of relationships carries on from chapter one and it seems that because of the affair, both marriages are affected and both marriages seem to be on rocky ground.
Myrtle is also described in detail when Nick first meets her. As she comes into the room, Nick says that she ‘contained no facet or gleam of beauty, but there was an immediately perceptible vitality about her’. He doesn’t find her attractive but I can tell that he understands why Tom would be drawn to her. In my opinion, at that moment in time he was still reserving judgements. We do not really get an opinion from him whether he likes her or not.
Another comparison is made between the different lifestyles, not just with New York City and West/East Egg but also with Daisy and Myrtle; a very vague comparison, which I think Fitzgerald deliberately put in to show a deep contrast between the two women. Myrtle says to Tom – ‘I’d like to get one of those police dogs’, which shows that she likes the feeling of getting what she wants from Tom. It’s a completely different world to the life she leads with her husband. Nick spends a lot of time describing this scene and I think its relevance is to compare Myrtle’s desires to what Daisy actually gets. A dog would be nothing compared to what Daisy is entitled to being Tom’s wife.
‘At 158th Street, the cab stopped at one slice in a long white cake of apartment houses. Throwing a regal homecoming glance, Mrs Wilson… went haughtily in’. This quote describes a completely new setting and emphasises irony. White cakes are usually connected to weddings, although Tom and Myrtle aren’t married. Nick’s description makes me think, as a reader, that he finds it ironic himself that Myrtle would have picked this place for her apartment. The word ‘regal’ also connects to royalty or of the rich and sophisticated – traits that Myrtle does not possess. Again, this shows what Daisy has that she hasn’t. All Myrtle has is a place where she can pretend everything is different to what her life really is. It’s a place for her escape.
‘With the influence of the dress her personality had also undergone a change… converted into impressive hauteur’. This extract talks about how Myrtle has changed her outfit since arriving to the apartment. It shows that there, she is in her element. Looking glamorous makes her feel comfortable in her own place. Nick also describes that she is wearing an ‘elaborate dress… which gave out a continual rustle as she swept about the room’. She sounds a bit too overdressed and the sound of her dress makes everyone notice her. This states that she likes being the centre of attention.
As the day progresses, the readers get the feeling that Nick doesn’t really like her much. He says – ‘as she expanded the room grew smaller around her until she seemed to be revolving on a noisy, creaky pivot through smoky air’. The word expanded shows that he thinks she likes to take over and shows that she wants to be dominant, again reinforcing her need for attention. The negative adjectives like noisy, smoky and creaky shows Nick’s very dim and negative view of her. She might look glamorous on the outside, but her personality isn’t very attractive. The use of language in the quote – ‘the room grew smaller’, suggests that Nick might have felt really small, as if with her around, everyone else including him have to be shunted to the background.
We find out more about Tom in this chapter as well. Tom tells Myrtle that she doesn’t have the right to mention Daisy’s name and when Myrtle insists, he ‘broke her nose with his open hand’. This shows violence on his behalf. He doesn’t just look violent, his actions also prove it. In the first chapter, he bruised Daisy’s finger, which you could argue was a clue to this upcoming event.
The scene that follows after has a great deal of meaning. Fitzgerald uses Nick to convey a description full of interesting use of language. Nick describes the scene like he is just watching and not doing anything to help, because he is too drunk. ‘… His wife and Catherine scolding and consoling and they stumbled here and there among the crowded furniture’ is a quote describing the complete chaos. Scolding and consoling are both contrasting words, which could mean that they are all so shocked and drunk that they don’t know what to do or could suggest Nick’s confusion about the whole thing.
He also describes Myrtle as ‘the despairing figure on the couch, bleeding fluently, and trying to spread a copy of Town Tattle over the tapestry scenes of Versailles’. This shows Myrtle trying to shield the important artwork with a gossip magazine of some sort. Again, this is quite ironic because it is as if at this point, her pretend glamorous life (symbolised by the artwork) is being covered by the unimportant issue, which represents her actual life. Tom’s actions towards her brings it back to reality that he’s not hers, and her life is not yet as secure with Tom as she wants it to be.
The use of time throughout the chapter is chronological up until this point. Everything is going smoothly and Nick is explaining the events in time order. After Tom hurts Myrtle, he suddenly becomes too drunk to realise what happens in what order. He describes the next couple of things in a very vague manner, suggesting that he remembers some things but not in full detail and he doesn’t know exactly what happened when. The ellipses towards the end of the chapter also suggest that there were moments in time when he didn’t have a clue where he was or what he did.
Chapter One
English Literature Homework
Reading Journal – ‘The Great Gatsby’ Chapter One
The first chapter of the book is full of endless description. Nick Carraway, the persona in the novel, talks about his life – his childhood, his experiences, his views, and his summer. F. Scott Fitzgerald cleverly puts it together, using various writing styles full of meaning to grip the readers. The book is only short and first impressions make a huge difference. Fitzgerald doesn’t waste a word and the first chapter is extremely important. It gives the readers a view of what the book is going to be like, influencing them to read and find out more.
We get a vague impression of Nick as he describes his experiences. At college he was ‘unjustly accused of being a politician’, which shows that he had bin privileged and well-educated by the way people at college were judging him. It also shows what Nick is like with other people. It could mean that he has good people skills but it could also mean that he just tells people what they want to hear, just like politicians do. This is quite an interesting statement because it is as if Nick was described as untrustworthy but the word ‘unjustly’ suggests that he really doesn’t think that he is.
The first part of the chapter is like a little prologue, described by Nick in the present and reflecting back on his past, giving us an insight to what he was like and what he used to do. He mentions a man named Gatsby. He does not describe him and we do not know who he is but we get a feeling of what Nick thinks of him. Nick said that Gatsby ‘represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn’. He also said ‘there was something gorgeous about him’ and explains that he found a ‘romantic readiness’ in him that he has never found in anyone else before.
These descriptions contrast. It hints to the reader that Nick didn’t like the things Gatsby stood for but somehow, he was still entranced by him. Further on he says, ‘Gatsby turned out all right at the end’, which tells the reader that this is a guy he used to know but doesn’t know anymore because of the past tense he keeps using. Also, it tells us that he never used to like him but hints that something must have made Nick like this person. What and why it was so, we do not know yet, leaving the readers curious about this man.
Nick then carries on talking about his life. He mentions how he used to go to New Haven, which is a prestigious university (Yale), which again proves that he is well educated. However, he talks about being in the First World War. This shows that although he was very privileged to study at an exclusive university, he had survived one of the most horrid challenges at the time. This tells us that, being a survivor, Nick’s outlook on life has probably been affected; maybe he appreciates life a lot more.
He then says – ‘I came East, permanently, I thought, in the spring of twenty-two’. This raises questions. Why did he leave the East if he planned to move there permanently? This hints that something might have happened to him when he stayed there.
Nick then elaborates his stay in America. ‘I lived at West Egg, the –well, the less fashionable of the two, though this is a most superficial tag to express the bizarre and not a little sinister contrast between them’. He compares West Egg to East Egg and the hesitation in his voice when he explains that where he lives is less exclusive shows that he doesn’t feel comfortable about the fact. Maybe he had been so used to living over in the West with the privileges he used to get when in university and most probably, after surviving the war.
He then goes on to talk about Gatsby’s mansion, his neighbour. He describes it as a ‘factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy’ and has ‘more than forty acres of lawn and garden’. There may be a slight hint of jealousy in his voice and the short sentences within the paragraph where he describes the place where this Gatsby lives shows that he is taking everything in slowly and carefully, as if he cannot quite believe someone could live in such luxury.
Afterwards, he says ‘the history of the summer really begins’. This is quite ironic because as he describes his new life over in America, the readers get the impression that his summer has started already. However, the word ‘history’ gives this phrase a slightly different meaning. It isn’t just any summer, it’s the summer. This shows that the events he’s going to describe from that point all lead up to a summer he obviously cannot quite forget.
He then goes on to describing his first stay at the Buchanan household over at East Egg. Daisy was his cousin and he married a guy called Tom Buchanan. We get a very distinct and firm impression of Tom, even at this early stage in the novel. Nick describes that he has a ‘hard mouth and a supercilious manner… arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face… always leaning aggressively forward’ and also says that he had a ‘body capable of enormous leverage – a cruel body’. These descriptions are all very negative and give an impression of a very violent and superior man, someone you would not want to get in the wrong side of. The way Nick describes him also gives the feeling that he does not like him very much.
Throughout the night, Tom makes remarks that lead to an even clearer impression of him and his actions show what he is like as a person, a husband and a father. When Daisy asks Nick if he would like to see their baby, he completely changes the subject as if his own child is the thing he would least like to talk about.
When Nick starts off a conversation about civilisation, he took it up in an ‘unexpected way’ and talks about a book that he has read. He says that ‘the white race will be utterly submerged. It’s all scientific stuff; it’s been proved’. This shows that he is racist. He also always wants his opinion heard, and thinks that he is always right. No one else’s opinion matters to him. He makes himself look intelligent by saying all these supposed facts but then he hasn’t backed it up. You just have to take his word for it and agree to his view of life.
Before Nick leaves to go home, he also ‘advises him’ not to believe all the gossip that he hears from other people, once again assuming that he knows everything and that Nick really values his opinion. He gives off the vibe that he is more superior to anyone.
Nick also hears from Jordan Baker, Daisy’s friend, that he has ‘another woman’. This clearly surprised Nick and shows the complete contrast to the civilisation he’s used to, to what Tom and Daisy are currently immersed in. The fact that ‘everyone knows’, according to Jordan, makes it even worse for Nick especially because Daisy is still with Tom even though the fact that he has another woman is quite well-known. Again, this is showing Tom’s dominance over Daisy, how he’s got hold of her and can seem to do anything he wants without consequence.
However, I also get the feeling that Tom only puts this superior act because he is insecure. ‘I hate that word hulking… even in kidding’, he says when Daisy uses the word to describe him. This shows me that he hates coming across as violent, whether he is or not we do not quite know yet, although we already get a hint of violence when Daisy talks about how Tom bruised her finger, but it seems like he hates it if people think of him in a negative way. Daisy insists on the word, and the whole conversation just suggests marital disharmony. It is like Daisy just wants an excuse to talk to Tom but he is taking to it in a completely different way that she probably expected him to. She probably just wanted to joke around with him, but he didn’t like it.
Daisy is the complete opposite to Tom, although she seems very dotty and shallow and seems to agree to everything Tom says just to please him, she seems like a nice person all round. She seems very spoilt but in a very angelic way, as if she’s been brought up to think that all the privileges she gets is normal. ‘What do people plan?’, she asks. This is shows that she is idle and extremely rich because she is just bored and has nothing to do.
The way Nick describes her shows that even though he thinks that Daisy lives in a completely different world and acts in a completely different way to how he would act, he still has a soft spot for her. This is shown because maybe he feels sorry for her and her relationship with Tom and Tom’s relationship with her daughter. When she had a one to one talk with Nick, he is very sarcastic – ‘God, I’m sophisticated’, which shows that she isn’t really happy even with the glamorous life that she leads. Nick describes – ‘I felt the basic insincerity of what she had said’, which again suggests that he feels sorry for her.
Reading Journal – ‘The Great Gatsby’ Chapter One
The first chapter of the book is full of endless description. Nick Carraway, the persona in the novel, talks about his life – his childhood, his experiences, his views, and his summer. F. Scott Fitzgerald cleverly puts it together, using various writing styles full of meaning to grip the readers. The book is only short and first impressions make a huge difference. Fitzgerald doesn’t waste a word and the first chapter is extremely important. It gives the readers a view of what the book is going to be like, influencing them to read and find out more.
We get a vague impression of Nick as he describes his experiences. At college he was ‘unjustly accused of being a politician’, which shows that he had bin privileged and well-educated by the way people at college were judging him. It also shows what Nick is like with other people. It could mean that he has good people skills but it could also mean that he just tells people what they want to hear, just like politicians do. This is quite an interesting statement because it is as if Nick was described as untrustworthy but the word ‘unjustly’ suggests that he really doesn’t think that he is.
The first part of the chapter is like a little prologue, described by Nick in the present and reflecting back on his past, giving us an insight to what he was like and what he used to do. He mentions a man named Gatsby. He does not describe him and we do not know who he is but we get a feeling of what Nick thinks of him. Nick said that Gatsby ‘represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn’. He also said ‘there was something gorgeous about him’ and explains that he found a ‘romantic readiness’ in him that he has never found in anyone else before.
These descriptions contrast. It hints to the reader that Nick didn’t like the things Gatsby stood for but somehow, he was still entranced by him. Further on he says, ‘Gatsby turned out all right at the end’, which tells the reader that this is a guy he used to know but doesn’t know anymore because of the past tense he keeps using. Also, it tells us that he never used to like him but hints that something must have made Nick like this person. What and why it was so, we do not know yet, leaving the readers curious about this man.
Nick then carries on talking about his life. He mentions how he used to go to New Haven, which is a prestigious university (Yale), which again proves that he is well educated. However, he talks about being in the First World War. This shows that although he was very privileged to study at an exclusive university, he had survived one of the most horrid challenges at the time. This tells us that, being a survivor, Nick’s outlook on life has probably been affected; maybe he appreciates life a lot more.
He then says – ‘I came East, permanently, I thought, in the spring of twenty-two’. This raises questions. Why did he leave the East if he planned to move there permanently? This hints that something might have happened to him when he stayed there.
Nick then elaborates his stay in America. ‘I lived at West Egg, the –well, the less fashionable of the two, though this is a most superficial tag to express the bizarre and not a little sinister contrast between them’. He compares West Egg to East Egg and the hesitation in his voice when he explains that where he lives is less exclusive shows that he doesn’t feel comfortable about the fact. Maybe he had been so used to living over in the West with the privileges he used to get when in university and most probably, after surviving the war.
He then goes on to talk about Gatsby’s mansion, his neighbour. He describes it as a ‘factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy’ and has ‘more than forty acres of lawn and garden’. There may be a slight hint of jealousy in his voice and the short sentences within the paragraph where he describes the place where this Gatsby lives shows that he is taking everything in slowly and carefully, as if he cannot quite believe someone could live in such luxury.
Afterwards, he says ‘the history of the summer really begins’. This is quite ironic because as he describes his new life over in America, the readers get the impression that his summer has started already. However, the word ‘history’ gives this phrase a slightly different meaning. It isn’t just any summer, it’s the summer. This shows that the events he’s going to describe from that point all lead up to a summer he obviously cannot quite forget.
He then goes on to describing his first stay at the Buchanan household over at East Egg. Daisy was his cousin and he married a guy called Tom Buchanan. We get a very distinct and firm impression of Tom, even at this early stage in the novel. Nick describes that he has a ‘hard mouth and a supercilious manner… arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face… always leaning aggressively forward’ and also says that he had a ‘body capable of enormous leverage – a cruel body’. These descriptions are all very negative and give an impression of a very violent and superior man, someone you would not want to get in the wrong side of. The way Nick describes him also gives the feeling that he does not like him very much.
Throughout the night, Tom makes remarks that lead to an even clearer impression of him and his actions show what he is like as a person, a husband and a father. When Daisy asks Nick if he would like to see their baby, he completely changes the subject as if his own child is the thing he would least like to talk about.
When Nick starts off a conversation about civilisation, he took it up in an ‘unexpected way’ and talks about a book that he has read. He says that ‘the white race will be utterly submerged. It’s all scientific stuff; it’s been proved’. This shows that he is racist. He also always wants his opinion heard, and thinks that he is always right. No one else’s opinion matters to him. He makes himself look intelligent by saying all these supposed facts but then he hasn’t backed it up. You just have to take his word for it and agree to his view of life.
Before Nick leaves to go home, he also ‘advises him’ not to believe all the gossip that he hears from other people, once again assuming that he knows everything and that Nick really values his opinion. He gives off the vibe that he is more superior to anyone.
Nick also hears from Jordan Baker, Daisy’s friend, that he has ‘another woman’. This clearly surprised Nick and shows the complete contrast to the civilisation he’s used to, to what Tom and Daisy are currently immersed in. The fact that ‘everyone knows’, according to Jordan, makes it even worse for Nick especially because Daisy is still with Tom even though the fact that he has another woman is quite well-known. Again, this is showing Tom’s dominance over Daisy, how he’s got hold of her and can seem to do anything he wants without consequence.
However, I also get the feeling that Tom only puts this superior act because he is insecure. ‘I hate that word hulking… even in kidding’, he says when Daisy uses the word to describe him. This shows me that he hates coming across as violent, whether he is or not we do not quite know yet, although we already get a hint of violence when Daisy talks about how Tom bruised her finger, but it seems like he hates it if people think of him in a negative way. Daisy insists on the word, and the whole conversation just suggests marital disharmony. It is like Daisy just wants an excuse to talk to Tom but he is taking to it in a completely different way that she probably expected him to. She probably just wanted to joke around with him, but he didn’t like it.
Daisy is the complete opposite to Tom, although she seems very dotty and shallow and seems to agree to everything Tom says just to please him, she seems like a nice person all round. She seems very spoilt but in a very angelic way, as if she’s been brought up to think that all the privileges she gets is normal. ‘What do people plan?’, she asks. This is shows that she is idle and extremely rich because she is just bored and has nothing to do.
The way Nick describes her shows that even though he thinks that Daisy lives in a completely different world and acts in a completely different way to how he would act, he still has a soft spot for her. This is shown because maybe he feels sorry for her and her relationship with Tom and Tom’s relationship with her daughter. When she had a one to one talk with Nick, he is very sarcastic – ‘God, I’m sophisticated’, which shows that she isn’t really happy even with the glamorous life that she leads. Nick describes – ‘I felt the basic insincerity of what she had said’, which again suggests that he feels sorry for her.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Mr. Bleaney by Philip Larkin
English Literature Homework
Poem Analysis
Philip Larkin portrays a theme of loneliness in the poem 'Mr. Bleaney'. Not only does the story within the poem suggest a feeling of solitude and emptiness, Larkin also deliberately uses language and techniques to emphasise the theme he's going for.
First of all, the title itself is of a person who's first name we do not know. It creates a sense that it is irrelevant and that 'Mr. Bleaney' isn't of much importance. The lack of strong syllables in the title makes it sound monotonous giving the impression of boredom, of a life lacking excitement.
The poem, throughout, is a big metaphor of Mr. Bleaney's life. The way the room is described doesn't really make an impression and shows how rough and lonely it must have been to live there. For example, Larkin uses the words 'littered' and 'upright'. Also he talks about a 'sixty-watt bulb', which states how his surroundings weren't very bright, like how his life must have had little inspiration.
Larkin reinforces this by describing a repetitive habit of Mr. Bleaney visiting the same family members every year. 'The Frinton folk put him up for summer holidays' - the poet gives the feeling that Mr. Bleaney wasn't really wanted there and that they're just putting up with him. It suggests that they are most probably forced to look after him, out of pity maybe.
Along with the lack of excitement in his life, Larkin also portrays Mr. Bleaney as very reliant on the people around him. The quote 'they moved him' not only symbolises death and hints that Mr. Bleaney has passed away but also that he was unable to make decisions for himself.
'One hired box' evokes the images of a coffin, again leading the reader to think that Mr. Bleaney has indeed passed away. Prior to this, Larkin describes the room's curtains as 'thin and frayed', which could be a metaphor of Mr. Bleaney's past condition and it could be argued that he died of some sort of illness.
The use of two characters, being the landlord and the buyer of the old room, ensures that the poem is based on reality. The pessimistic view of the assumed buyer shows lack of pride. The quote 'I lie where Mr. Bleaney lay' suggests that even though his presumptions of what the man's life must have been like aren't very assuring, his is no different either. He is in the same position. He also has to rent that shabby room like Mr. Bleaney did, showing that he isn't rich enough to own a place of his own too. He is also presumably alone in renting that room, suggesting that he doesn't have many friends either.
The enjambaments used to carry sentences on symbolises the pointless existence of Mr. Bleaney, having to continue living a dull and tedious life. The lack of obvious similes and metaphors again suggests boredom and lack of inspiration.
In the last phrase, the buyer says 'I don't know', which states how even though he can deduce this man's life by how he used to live and what he's got to show of his previous existence ('that how we live measures our own nature'), he still cannot be sure exactly who he was and what he was like when he was alive. I personally think that Larkin had a hidden message between the lines of this poem, which is not to judge anyone when you know very little about them.
Poem Analysis
Philip Larkin portrays a theme of loneliness in the poem 'Mr. Bleaney'. Not only does the story within the poem suggest a feeling of solitude and emptiness, Larkin also deliberately uses language and techniques to emphasise the theme he's going for.
First of all, the title itself is of a person who's first name we do not know. It creates a sense that it is irrelevant and that 'Mr. Bleaney' isn't of much importance. The lack of strong syllables in the title makes it sound monotonous giving the impression of boredom, of a life lacking excitement.
The poem, throughout, is a big metaphor of Mr. Bleaney's life. The way the room is described doesn't really make an impression and shows how rough and lonely it must have been to live there. For example, Larkin uses the words 'littered' and 'upright'. Also he talks about a 'sixty-watt bulb', which states how his surroundings weren't very bright, like how his life must have had little inspiration.
Larkin reinforces this by describing a repetitive habit of Mr. Bleaney visiting the same family members every year. 'The Frinton folk put him up for summer holidays' - the poet gives the feeling that Mr. Bleaney wasn't really wanted there and that they're just putting up with him. It suggests that they are most probably forced to look after him, out of pity maybe.
Along with the lack of excitement in his life, Larkin also portrays Mr. Bleaney as very reliant on the people around him. The quote 'they moved him' not only symbolises death and hints that Mr. Bleaney has passed away but also that he was unable to make decisions for himself.
'One hired box' evokes the images of a coffin, again leading the reader to think that Mr. Bleaney has indeed passed away. Prior to this, Larkin describes the room's curtains as 'thin and frayed', which could be a metaphor of Mr. Bleaney's past condition and it could be argued that he died of some sort of illness.
The use of two characters, being the landlord and the buyer of the old room, ensures that the poem is based on reality. The pessimistic view of the assumed buyer shows lack of pride. The quote 'I lie where Mr. Bleaney lay' suggests that even though his presumptions of what the man's life must have been like aren't very assuring, his is no different either. He is in the same position. He also has to rent that shabby room like Mr. Bleaney did, showing that he isn't rich enough to own a place of his own too. He is also presumably alone in renting that room, suggesting that he doesn't have many friends either.
The enjambaments used to carry sentences on symbolises the pointless existence of Mr. Bleaney, having to continue living a dull and tedious life. The lack of obvious similes and metaphors again suggests boredom and lack of inspiration.
In the last phrase, the buyer says 'I don't know', which states how even though he can deduce this man's life by how he used to live and what he's got to show of his previous existence ('that how we live measures our own nature'), he still cannot be sure exactly who he was and what he was like when he was alive. I personally think that Larkin had a hidden message between the lines of this poem, which is not to judge anyone when you know very little about them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)