Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Time for Some Family History

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Chapter 6
"So he invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen-year-old boy would be likely to invent, and to this conception he was faithful to the end" (Fitzgerald, page 98).
Surprise, Surprise. Gatsby's past is finally revealed and definitely not what I expected. I will say that I was expecting cookie-cutter lifestyle story where Gatsby was only trying to get away from his childhood and make something of himself. Sure he made something of himself but in a different way than I imagined. At the beginning of the chapter before the retelling though, Gatsby's portrayal of his life reminded me of the movie Disturbia with Shia LeBeouf. Like the creepy neighbor, Gatsby seems to have the unknown factor that could cause harm or good to his friends at his house. I am pretty certain he will not turn into a killer with the bodies in his basement but I guess anything could happen at this point. 
Furthermore, I find it strange that I am still left in the cold on what Gatsby's exact job is and how he makes his living. The story of his "inheritance" seems to be masking a worse career of Gatsby as it is revealed he did not get the small inheritance he was supposed to earn. Adding to this, he made up a past that seemed pleasing to the people of his social class yet not totally true. This past, though, seems to have shaped Gatsby into a man who misses his young love and life on the boat so he pushes to isolate himself again in the same way. I found it further interesting the Gatsby took on the name Jay Gatsby from the man that left him some money in order to become a different man that the previous Gatsby had been. 
Lastly, I find it interesting the directness of Gatsby to Tom about him knowing Daisy. I believe that Gatsby is trying to put doubt into Tom's mind about his marriage so he will leave Daisy for his mistress that I presume Nick has told Gatsby about. 

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