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Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I0TyUr6UTdnVHnRNk1TPsovhwocoNNoJ_lzYaDrAsc8/edit

Rubric: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17XpVXkOzfJqBl198LGxAhTOOKtqPW-Opj5xli-xRnm8/edit

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While reading “The Great Gatsby” I realized how much it relates to the world. More specifically what is currently happening in the world right now. Such as the divisions in society, wealth and social class. But it also relates to the American Dream; As well as the hardships, commitment, and hard work involved in trying to achieve this dream.

Although it also goes beyond these points, talking about the idea of excess and unfairness in society. Like when more wealthier people can be careless and get away with almost anything. That people other than themselves can bear the consequences or take accountability.

Even if most of the characters are unlikeable and the story is quite tragic. There is a feeling of hope and optimism in the story through the American Dream. When people have ambitions and are willing to work their hardest. It succeeds in the end despite struggles people have to face.

Another part is the theme of love, about how sometimes it is hopeless and unrealistic. How complicated it could be for many different characters in the book.

In my honest opinion there are plenty more connections I can make between “The Great Gatsby” and the world today.

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The death of Gatsby at the hands of George Wilson reminds of an event that happened in a book I read in ninth grade called, “Chronicle of a Death Foretold.”

George thought his wife, Myrtle, was having an affair with Gatsby and he ran her over. Which was actually caused by Daisy’s reckless driving. He later finds out that the yellow car belonged to Gatsby. So his plan was to get revenge for her death by killing Gatsby with a gun.

In the other story I read the main character was killed to get revenge for something he supposedly was accused of doing. Like when Wilson killed Gatsby without trying to find who really ran Myrtle over.

I noticed that they were both killed out of revenge and murdered for unproven reasons. Which is why I related “The Great of Gatsby” to the book I read a few years ago.

Another book I read called, “Romeo and Juliet” has similar themes to a Great Gatsby. For instance, they both feature tragic love stories about how they don’t succeed. Gatsby thinks he could repeat what happened in the past. While Romeo and Juliet didn’t have enough time to love each other.

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The Great Gatsby relates to my struggles in life. For example, doing my best with working hard in school or the mistakes I have made and wish to improve from. It makes me think of luxuries that I have and ones that I don’t have.

Characters like Jay Gatsby also remind me that there is always a chance to improve things in life. Like myself as a person, my lifestyle, or even situations in life. But also to have hope and dream beyond what you currently have.

Towards the end of the book, I realize that most characters are self-centered and arrogant, but there are characters that show some or more signs of virtue. Which also reminds me that being more humble and nicer are actually good qualities to have.

The character that I think can represent and be considered as a role model is Gatsby. His desire for self-improvement and dreams for greatness are good traits. I just don’t agree with his means of acquiring wealth and his obsession with Daisy.

Personally I think that the concept of the American Dream is an important part of the book. It’s a great example of this theme in a fiction novel.

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I would say that Jay Gatsby is the best example of someone pursuing the American dream in this book. His 2 main goals were to become rich and later to be with Daisy.

In chapter 6 we found out that “His parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people.” Gatsby was raised in a poor family of farmers; who was also ambitious and had big dreams for his future.

We later find out in chapter 7 that he is definitely a bootlegger. Tom said, “I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn’t far wrong.” So he gained all his wealth by bootlegging which was considered illegal back then.

Gatsby achieves his first goal of becoming rich, despite him making money from an illegal business. Although he failed in his second goal of being with Daisy. It really only failed because of how unrealistic it was and he tragically died thinking he could still pursue this.

The book seems to tell us that the American dream can only be achieved through hard work. Also having the motivation and drive to do it is necessary. This being a direct parallel to Jay Gatsby’s story and how he works towards his dreams.

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The cover of The Great Gatsby represents a clear view into the 1920s. Which of course relates to the story like the lavish lifestyle of East and West Eggers. The beauty of the surroundings like New York and both of the Eggs.

It seems like a face with two female eyes gazing directly at the buildings in the night sky. She can clearly see the good and the bad of what is happening in the background. As if she can see the truth behind everything.

For example, the light on the cover represents Gatsby's hope of being with Daisy and his dreams that he wanted to achieve. The night sky symbolizes everything else that occurs in the story. Like the bad conditions in the Valley of Ashes, Tom’s affair with Myrtle, and even the illegal business Gatsby was involved in.

It’s like someone is constantly watching over the events and characters in the novel. That person has a full understanding of the aspects in the story. The cover accurately represents the atmosphere of the story and reflects on it.

There is something interesting about how this cover is perfect for a story like The Great Gatsby.

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I’d say that Gatsby really loves Daisy even to the point of being overly obsessed about her. An example of this was in Chapter 5 when he mentions to Daisy, “a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock.” Also he purposefully even purchased a mansion right across the bay from her house. He constantly thinks of her which further supports my point.

Daisy has conflicted feelings over Gatsby and Tom. She seems comfortable with Tom and is hesitant to love Gatsby again. She has lost interest in Gatsby over the years.

Tom seems to love Daisy even though he has or has had a mistress. For example in Chapter 2 Myrtle says, “I’ll say it whenever I want to! Daisy! Dai——.” Tom is very protective of Daisy, even feeling that his mistress has no right to say her name.

As far as I can tell Nick is not in love with anyone and he seems to be single for the most part. Potentially he could be in love with Jordan, yet it's difficult to know for certain. He doesn’t talk much about it.

Fitzgerald seems to say that love is complicated. Nothing in love happens in any way you would expect. That it’s not as simple as black and white.

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The story Gatsby created for himself greatly differs from his true story which he later reveals to Nick. While Gatsby portrays himself as someone who has lived an easy life, but in reality he seems to have lived a difficult life.

The main difference being that he mentioned he was from a wealthy family, but he was actually raised by poor farmers. Also he didn't inherit his wealth and he probably had to work hard to earn all of his money.

I think he lied about his past due to the fact that he came from a poor family. He may be ashamed or even embarrassed about his past. It also seems that he wanted to completely ignore his parents and fully forget about his past.

The dissatisfaction Gatsby felt with his parents motivated him to seek a better life beyond his one in poverty. Pursuing his ambitions made him determined to work hard for his dreams, no matter how difficult or impossible they are. His love for Daisy is a great example of this because he cared about Daisy even after 5 years. Although it also shows that he is blinded by his dreams even if they’re obviously unrealistic or bound to fail.

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“You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock” (Fitzgerald 92).

Gatsby can see Daisy’s house from across the bay and he always notices a green light on the dock. To Gatsby the green light represents hope that he will eventually be with Daisy. Which I think could also represent his longing to be with her after all those years they’ve been apart.

In our culture green has many meanings, but in general it can represent nature, wealth, or something new. Since the color green relates to nature, it could be a sign that Gatsby and Daisy could rekindle their relationship sometime in the future.

I think Gatsby’s desire to be with Daisy made him determined to regain the wealth that he lost. Which he believes would be the key to getting Daisy back. Which also symbolizes green because impressing Daisy by every item he possesses could gain him an opportunity. To maybe convince her to give him a second chance again.

I have a feeling that all of the events that have occurred in the past chapter could hint at something significant that could happen between them in the future. I have noticed that there is a reason for almost anything that appears in this novel. Even the small details such as colors.

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I started becoming suspicious of Gatsby when I discovered that one of his friends is Mr Wolfsheim. He is a gambler and his most prominent role was when he “Fixed the World Series.” Which means that he rigged the games, so they would be unfair. It got me thinking, why would Gatsby associate with this kind of a person who swindles people of their money.

Now I think this might also mean that Gatsby participates in illegal activities or businesses. Could this be the origin of all his wealth? Potentially it might, but there is not enough evidence to say that.

These details somewhat contradict what Gatsby is saying about himself. Like that he was “educated at Oxford” or that he “came into a good deal of money.” He tries to project himself as a rich, well educated person. But the new information provided does suggest otherwise.

Although physical evidence from his past can prove he is telling the truth and not just fabricating some story. For example he shows a medal from his time as a soldier and a picture of him at Oxford. So he probably is trying to hide something and is mostly telling the truth.

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Jordan seems like somewhat of an arrogant person; she was driving recklessly where she nearly hit some workmen. Also she assumes that people would simply stay out of the way. Nick goes on to say to her, “you’re a rotten driver.” But she insisted that she was being careful when clearly that was not the truth.

My best guest is that she is from a high social class. Her behavior is typical of someone that comes from this social class. For example, she said, “I am careful.” Her stubborn insistence that she was being careful shows how Jordan felt compared to other drivers. Jordan felt that she is a better driver compared to other drivers.

I feel like the setting can perfectly represent the theme of social class in the story. The valley of ashes has polluted air and rivers. With ash raining down and covering the land. Poorer social classes usually live in deplorable conditions similar to the valley of ashes.

Myrtle is an example of a character who can fit into multiple social classes. When she wore that dress in the previous chapter, her attitude and behavior changed. She really tries to be an entirely different person.

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In East and West Egg there are large houses and mansions where rich people live. The noticeable difference is that West Egg is, “the less fashionable of the two”. The main distinction between the two is that in East Egg people have inherited their wealth; while in West Egg people have worked hard to gain their wealth. The Valley of Ashes is very impoverished, poor people live in houses and its surrounding area is covered in ash. New York City appears to be more modest with apartments.

Tom and Daisy live in East Egg; Jordan seems to hang out at their mansion. Nick and Gatsby live in West Egg as neighbors. George and Myrtle Wilson, Tom’s mistress, live in the Valley of Ashes. The McKees live in New York City. Also Tom has an apartment in New York City where he meets his Mistress.

“With the influence of the dress her personality had also undergone a change. The intense vitality that had been so remarkable in the garage was converted into impressive hauteur” (Fitzgerald 30).

I notice that Myrtle’s behavior in New York City differs from when she is in the Valley of Ashes. Even something as simple as a dress can make her feel so powerful. It was obvious that she was behaving arrogantly throughout the rest of chapter 2.

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Ch. 1 Characterization (Tom Buchanan): 4/11

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Ch. 1 Characterization (Tom Buchanan): 4/11

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“Now he was a sturdy straw-haired man of thirty with a rather hard mouth and supercilious manner” (Fitzgerald 7).

Tom Buchanan seems like a person who thinks he is superior to other people and is someone who can be very difficult to reason with. Even his appearance and the way he behaves can convey who he is as a person. He is also probably a powerful person considering the amount of money he possesses.

Tom seems blinded by his power and wealth which makes him selfish. This is shown when he wasn’t present to support Daisy when she was giving birth to her daughter. Another example was when Jordan mentioned that Tom has a mistress in New York, even though Daisy is married to him.

One of the frequent colors used in chapter 1 is red. The color red can symbolize aggression or danger, but also in some cases love. An instance of his aggression can be seen when Daisy mentions that Tom had injured her finger, calling him a “brute of a man”. To be honest I feel bad about Daisy and what she has to endure from Tom.