Dialectical Journal For The Great Gatsby

Literary Elements

Characterization: - Nick Carraway reserves judgments about other people, because if he holds them up to his own moral standards, he will misunderstand them. - Characterizes himself as highly moral and highly tolerant. - Page 1: “In consequence, I’m inclined to reserve all judgments, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me and also made me the victim of not a few veteran bores.”

Juxtaposition: - West Egg and East Egg are compared to show they are complete opposites. - East Egg represents breeding, taste, aristocracy and leisure. - West Egg represents ostentation, garishness and the flashy manners of the new rich. - Page 5: “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.”

Setting: - The valley of ashes is a picture of desolation and poverty.
- It lacks a glamorous surface and is located halfway between West Egg and New York. - Symbolizes moral decay of the Eggs, meaning it’s just as ugly on the inside than the outside of East Egg and West Egg. - Page 23: “This is the valley of ashes- a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens…”

Foreshadow: - Guests mill around exchanging rumors about Gatsby- no one seems to know the truth about Gatsby’s wealth or personal history, - Indicates the novel will be about the unraveling of Gatsby’s character. - Page 44: “Somebody told me they thought he killed a man once.”

Enjoyable Passages

Page 16: “… I followed Daisy around a chain connecting verandas to the front porch…”

I enjoyed this piece because this is when Nick and Daisy talk about Daisy’s hopes for her infant daughter. Daisy hopes her daughter is a “fool.” I think this is because the social environment in that time period (1920s) does not value the intelligence in women. She talks about the social values of her era but does not challenge them; instead, she describes her boredom and how a girl can have more fun if she is simplistic and
beautiful.

Page 48: “He had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it…”

I liked this passage because this is when readers first meet Gatsby.
I think Nick describes Gatsby’s smile to show the theatrical quality of his character as well as his charisma. It also captures the manner Gatsby reacts to the outside world. Nick describes Gatsby’s rare focus where he has the ability to make anyone he smiles at feel as though he has chosen that person out of the world, reflecting that person’s most optimistic conception of him or herself.

Questions

1. Discuss how Nick Carraway contradicts himself in the beginning of the novel. 2. Why does Tom take Nick with him to Myrtle’s house? 3. Why is Gatsby properly introduced in Chapter Three rather than Chapter One?

Analysis

At times I felt bored by these first few chapters of the novel. There was nothing really keeping my eyes peeled to every page. One particular thing that I noticed was how the geography and social values are interrelated, where each setting corresponds to an idea or character type. For example, the valley of ashes represents poverty and moral decay. The world of East Egg reminds me of the Gilded Age, and how things may seem to have an alluring appearance but is covered with unattractive realities. For instance, Jordan Baker displays boredom, cynicism and dishonesty despite her wealth and
beauty.

Vocabulary

Privy (adj.): participating in the knowledge of something private or secret
The agent was privy to the classified information.

Feign (v): to put on the appearance of; pretend
She didn't have to feign about her illness, she really had a fever.

Levity (n): lightness of mind, character, or behavior; lack of appropriate seriousness or earnestness.
She has been a bit appalled by the levity with which some of our politicians discuss the issue.

Mar (v): to damage or spoil to a certain extent.
The holiday was marred by bad weather.

Parcel (v): to divide or distribute in portions.
Sometimes my parents really don’t parcel the fairness at home between my sister and me equally.

Excursion (n): a short trip or outing, usually for a special purpose.
The old, stocky businessman took an excursion to Europe to investigate a potentially lucrative deal.

Flabby (adj.): lacking strength or determination
Her arms were really flabby after losing all that weight.

Bungalow (n): a cottage of one story.
We were visiting the countryside so we rented a bungalow.

Elation (n): a feeling of great pride or joy.
There was elation among students when the last day of school finally arrived.

Supercilious (adj.): arrogant, scornful.
His supercilious smile conveyed he was not going to take anything we said seriously.

Effeminate (adj.): characterized by excessive softness, delicacy, etc.
At school the other boys made fun of his effeminate behavior and fondness for wearing fluorescent socks.

Swank (n): dashing smartness, as in dress or appearance; style.
It's probably been a life's ambition of his to eat in an ultra-swank restaurant and then walk out without paying.
Buoy (v.): to sustain or encourage.
Her courage was buoyed by the doctor’s assurances.

Divan (n.): a sofa or couch, usually without arms or back, often usable as a bed.
Each master bedroom includes a double bed with the second bedroom having either a single divan or bunk beds.

Accentuate (v): to give emphasis.
The ambitious manager tried to accentuate his own role in the success.