Most Memorable Journal

5/11/15

    Most Memorable Moment Chps 2-4 - Akunna Nwaogu

The Great Gatsby is a fascinating novel about the early 1920’s in New York and pursuing the American dream. There are so many prominent and intriguing moments that have stuck with me throughout the first four chapters of the novel. By far the most memorable moment I have read about so far is about when Jordan tells Nick about Daisy and Gatsby’s history together. This part stood out to me because as a reader I didn't fully understand the significance of how Daisy and Gatsby knew each other.  It also gave some insight into Jordan’s character because she had no problem spilling all of these secrets that didn't belong to her. Also this part is important because it allowed Nick to further understand why Gatsby was so eager for him to invite Daisy to tea. “He had waited five years and bought a mansion where he dispensed starlight to casual moths — so that he could 'come over.' some afternoon to a stranger’s garden.”(Fitzgerald 61) Gatsby never forgot about Daisy and he genuinely thought that she would wait for him.

This part in the story was memorable for me because I got a better understanding of the characters and the plot. I can relate this moment to when I hadn't seen some of my good friends in a long time. It was very difficult to find time to see each other and we would have to cancel if someone couldn't come. Nick is madly in love with Daisy and he desperately wants to reunite with her. I found it interesting that Jordan was the one telling Nick about Daisy's and Gatsby's eventful past because when they first met he didn't seem to like her very much. It seems that Jordan and Nick may grow closer throughout the novel.

In my life I have told many stories some fabricated and some true, like the one Jordan had told Nick. ¨Gatsby doesn't want her to know. You’re just supposed to invite her to tea.¨ (Fitzgerald 62) She probably felt the need to give him some background before she asked him to invite Daisy to tea. Jordan's character seems mysterious and easygoing so far in the novel and she is a relatable character in the sense that she feels she has been living in Daisy's shadow. This part in the novel is memorable because before this the reader didn't know how Daisy and Gatsby knew each other but after this point we get to fully understand the significance of their relationship in the novel.  
                                              

 

Most memorable moment Chapters 8-9: PriyanaJeyanathan

The book overall had so many fascinating, interesting, and intense moments. However, in the last two chapters of the book, I found Gatsby's death the most memorable part of the book. Gatsby was an interesting, mysterious character in the beginning of the book. Later on we get to see who Gatsby is, and if the rumors that people were saying about Gatsby is true. Gatsby is not only rich, successful, handsome, and charming, he is also loving and caring, especially towards his lover, Daisy. He sacrificed his reputation and his life by taking the blame for Daisy killing Myrtle because he loves her. This shows how much love Gatsby has for Daisy. We get to see another side of Gatsby, which I find very romantic.

In chapter 8, we find out that Gatsby was killed by Wilson (who shortly after kills himself) because Wilson thought that Gatsby killed Myrtle. The most heartbreaking part was that Daisy didn't feel any pain or guilt that Gatsby died for her. This shows how careless and selfish Daisy is. She'd rather be with a man who lied and cheated on her, than to be with a man who sacrificed his life for her, and who truly loved her. Nick, Daisy's cousin, only knew Gatsby for a short period of time. Yet, he cared about Gatsby and wanted him to leave West Egg so nobody will find him and kill him. Gatsby was hurt by Daisy multiple times throughout the book. Daisy promised Gatsby to wait for him after he left to fight in the war, and she broke that promise. She married Tom, mostly because of his wealth. When Gatsby was telling Nick about how much he loved Daisy in chapter 8, it was very romantic, intense, and gave me chills while reading it. Now that Gatsby is dead, it is very sad that he had to die feeling heartbroken, lonely, and depressed.

When Nick gives Gatsby a compliment, saying " Their a rotten crowd, your worth the whole damn bunch put together" (Fitzgerald 164) it reveals how Gatsby was not selfish and careless because of his money and success. Nick was referring to Daisy and Tom, who only used their money to solve their problems, and let others suffer for Daisy and Tom's mistakes. Now that Gatsby is dead, Nick knew that Gatsby would want many people to attend his funeral. Nick invited many of Gatsby's "friends", but they made excuses not to come. Tom who told Wilson about Gatsby owning the yellow car that killed Myrtle, didn't want to go to the funeral, saying that he deserved to die. Of course, Daisy wouldn't come too. As a result, only Gatsby's servants, father, and Nick attended his funeral. Nick was the only true friend to Gatsby. Nick was a great character, and his friendship with Gatsby was also very memorable for me.

  Most Memorable Journal Chapters  5-7

Bushra Rizvi

                                                                                              

                      This book so far is pretty interesting as Fitzgerald keeps adding in surprises that both excite and keeps the reader glued to their seat even more. As this book takes place in the 1920's and people now a days like me aren't too fond to read stories in that time period, the tone and plot really catches you off guard and urges you to continue reading on. 

                     By far so much has happened in this little tale but as to specifically my section of chapters five to seven one of the most important events has occurred. The most memorable moment in these few chapters is clearly when Gatsby and Daisy finally confessed their love for each other to no other than Daisy's husband Tom, who was in the way. This happened when Nick, Jordan, Tom, and Daisy decided to spend the rest of the searing July day in New York. Tom had already had so much suspicion built about Daisy and Gatsby's bond and how they were when in the same room. Tom even witnessed Daisy going up to Gatsby and kissing him while he left the room to get some drinks, really surprisingly Tom didn't say nor do anything about it. It's as if Tom couldn't care less if his wife went on and about with Gatsby even if sometimes Tom's anger would start to sizzle in. But it was the total opposite when Tom finally found out about Daisy and Gatsby's relationship, confirmed from both of them. 

                  Surprisingly, yet again Gatsby was the one to blurt it out as if the man of so much power was so desperate to expose his love for Daisy of five years so bad. Gatsby said it so bluntly to Tom without a second's hesitation as if he'd been waiting to say this for years. "Your wife doesn't love you, said Gatsby, "She's never loved you. She loves me."(Fitzgerald 147). As if something revolting in Tom to deny this truth for so long breaks and Tom loses it like never before. At first he commands to know what's the whole story and what's been going on which you got to admit takes a lot of toleration in that situation. When Gatsby tells Tom about their five years of affection with each other Tom denies it thoroughly and says that Daisy did love him when they were married and still does. A really  unexpecting thing Tom says is that he may do stupid things like Daisy and anger each other but he always comes back to love Daisy. This is reveals that Tom has such a soft spot for Daisy even if he doesn't admit it a lot, but it's no denying it in his tone of honesty. But Gatsby doesn't stop there on trying to pull the plug he makes Daisy tell Tom he never loved him. Instead of agreeing immediately and leaving arm in arm with Gatsby, she hesitates. Daisy someone that has so much pride and isn't timid gets hit with this hard demand, alas she admits that she can't say she didn't love Tom because she knows deep down in her hard rock shell of an ego that isn't true. 

                 Overall, this most memorable moment is very crucial as it opens up so much about how the characters actually really feel about each other versus the way they act on the outside. For example, Tom who barely displays emotions of affection to anyone at all admits he loves Daisy even after all the stupid things that happen. There's also character development as Daisy the one who just like Tom doesn't show as much loving feelings towards others because she's too busy admiring Gatsby's riches and wealth. Daisy doesn't go with Gatsby's commands of telling Tom a lie that she never loved him even if it means possibly losing Gatsby and all the wealth he has in store for her. This is the biggest strongest thing she's done that isn't in the name of money which shows there's a chance she'll be even stronger later on and stay with Tom. Left with a baffled and broken Gatsby who thought he had his way of luring Daisy to him and she only loved him, but he was wrong.