Discussion Notes (Annotations) from Ch. I - IV
All of these page numbers are from the paperback version I have been using. Sorry. Look at the 2nd half notes to estimate how many pages apart the hard bound and paperback are.
Tom - adrift, condescending, controlling(16), abusive, violent (37, 41), racist (17), egotistical, brash
Daisy - manipulative? (13) - Is she going to use Gatsby to get Tom's attention?
charming, wistful, melancholy, cynical, bored, dissastified
tone of boredom in beginning
Dr. E first mentioned - 27
class issues: pages 6, 7, 10, 15, 17, 18, 21, 22, 24-25, 30
Lost Generation - 10
Myrtle - sensual, affected, user - 29
Nick - accommodating, curious - 18
Jordan - affected, snobbish - 23
George - lifeless, washed out, downtrodden - 29,30; several references to his being invisible, etc.
significance of Myrtle choosing a mutt - 32; pretentious and can't reach real status she desires (Someone in class mentioned that dog is surrogate for a baby -- just for show, just like Pammy -- interesting idea)
product of her class and her environment; heritage; class - 33
antithesis - What is Fitzgerald trying to convey? - 33
Myrtle's attire marks her perceived changes in status; Myrtle's diction and dialect - 35
racism - 38
antithesis - 40
Jordan's attendance of Gatsby's part reflects one class; she looks "contemptuous" -- reflecting another - 46
rumors about Gatsby - 48
"Owl Eyes" - 50
Nick's description of Gatsby's smile and manner - 52-3
significance of the use of "melted" describing Jordan leaving the party - Can she only have an identity assumed from those with whom she surrounds herself -- like a chameleon? 57
Jordan as a liar and cheater - 62
"incurably dishonest" - 63 (like Gatsby?)
"Dishonesty in a woman is a thing you never blame deeply." - 63
"I am one of the few honest people I have ever known." - This turns out to be true! - 64
more rumors - 1st page of ch. IV
Note the differences in the names of the East Egg guests vs. the West Egg guests. West Egg reflects the "melting pot" image of America -- the American Dream relates to this. - 65-6
Gatsby's lie - 69
"His correctness grew on him as we neared the city." (like Myrtle) - 72
What is the purpose in the description on p. 12
role-colored; indication that things are not what they seem -- seeing things through rose-colored glasses - 12,16
Wolfsheim - 71-78
Quotes to note:
6 - "reserving judgment. . . hope"; "extraordinary gift for hope"
10 - "Tom would drift on forever. . . ."
10 - "one of those men who reach such an acute . . . . "
16 - "Tom Buchanan compelled me from the room as though he were moving a checker." (Compare to situation of Tom's taking Nick to NY.)
first page of ch. III - "In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars."
45 - "I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited. People were not invited -- they went there."
Notes with no page numbers:
Midwest = innocence
Nick - in bond business - Yale graduate
Myrtle and Gatsby - in search of
Daisy and Tom - have