https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n Thanh Tang en-us 2021-04-02 02:35:56 UTC 2025-11-24 15:55:11 UTC hello@padlet.com tltang2022_3 https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1410658119 Tom Buchanan is a character introduced into the book that has been described as many things. The narrator, Tom Buchanan's wife's cousin, Nick, mentions how they went to college together, and how he was "one of those men who reach such an acute limited excellence at twenty-one that everything afterward savors of anti-climax.". This makes Tom out to be a man looking for something more for himself, something he can do to achieve more than his days in college. Tom was also a very fit and well-built man, to the point where he was intimidating to others, the narrator describes, "It was a body capable of enormous leverage-a cruel body.". As the chapter progresses and Nick enters the house, he describes it in a way that readers can depict which color belongs to which character that owns the home. The home is described in a lot of red, white, and gold, red can be described as power and intimidation. This shows that the home isn't that welcoming, however, the white that is also incorporated in the home gives you a different feeling. White can be represented as a lot of things, but many would think it shows purity and innocence which clashes with the red in an interesting way. Lastly, the house also has gold in it which gives you an idea of how rich the owners really are because gold shows wealth.]]> 2021-04-13 06:41:54 UTC https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1410658119 tltang2022_3 https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1410778716 This story picks up on a good area, The narrator just moved into this area and using such amazing adjectives, readers can get a sense of the environment he lives in. I believe the story gives you a lot of information, but not too much so you can still leave room for wondering and guessing, for example, at the end of the chapter, Nick mentions seeing a "distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far way, that might have been the end of the dock" (Fitzgerald 21). In the chapter, Jordan Baker mentions that Tom has a mistress, this makes reader start to think more and wonder about how Daisy might feel about this, hence making readers want to continue. Overall, the first chapter was written very well, especially with the way the author describes people and things. ]]> 2021-04-13 07:26:16 UTC https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1410778716 tltang2022_3 https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1483673799 As Nick and Gatsby drives through the city, Gatsby reveals more about himself and whether they're a lie or not, Gatsby proceeds to tell them. He builds this image for himself that makes him appear to come from a wealthy family and decided to go to Oxford due to tradition. When Mr. Wolfsheim comes along and starts talking about his acquaintance with Gatsby, he brings his attention to his cuff buttons, “‘Finest Specimens of human molars,’”. This makes you wonder with the type of people Gatsby is acquainted with. Gatsby also lets Nick know that Mr. Wolfsheim was “‘the man who fixed the World’s Series back in 1919.”’ This can divert people’s attention to the fact that Gatsby doesn’t hang around the more wealthy people that came from businesses, but people who make money illegally. With this piece of information, Gatsby’s image of himself that he’s built is questioning due to the people he is associated with. However, Mr. Wolfsheim does talk about how Gatsby is a good man that’s loyal, mentioning how he doesn’t look at other people’s wife so it does make Gatsby seem friendly.]]> 2021-05-03 03:10:36 UTC https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1483673799 tltang2022_3 https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1484037276 This chapter was especially interesting since I started to get more interested in Gatsby’s background and he allows us to learn more about him within this chapter. When Gatsby introduces Nick to a buddy of his, I start to wonder just exactly if Gatsby is influenced by his friend who makes money the shady way. Gatsby mentions how he comes from money and more with some evidence to support his story, but he does mention how he was from San Francisco and said it was from the Middle West which has me wondering if Gatsby was an honest man. However, Jordan Baker does reveal more into Gatsby’s past about how he and Daisy knew each other from the past and he wanted to meet her again with the help of Nick. I found this piece of information adorable because this man, Gatsby, the man that rumors seem to love to follow, is a romantic who wants to see his past lover. The chapter ends with progression in Nick and Jordan’s relationship as well which doesn’t interest me as much but I still found it something to wonder about. Does Nick really like Jordan or is he making a move towards her because he wants someone with him?]]> 2021-05-03 06:32:33 UTC https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1484037276 tltang2022_3 https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1507842057 Since the beginning of the book, a green light was mentioned, though it may have seem insignificant at first, it holds true meaning to Gatsby. The meaning of this green light was explained, "'If it wasn't for the mist we could see your home across the bay.'" This quote refers back to the first chapter near the end when Nick saw Gatsby reaching his hand out for a light. When he talks about how the green light could be visible, it shows how much he really looks out to it and reaching out for the light is a symbol of hope or trying to reach for a goal. I believe the green light symbolizes similar ideas to what Gatsby believes, however, due to the color of the light, I started to wonder, why green? Green has been used for numerous phrases and ideas in our culture, though, in this situation, Gatsby, a man who's old lover has moved on and he's still holding to her, is trying his hardest to win her back. Daisy is married which makes Gatsby's mission a little harder and the green light could symbolize envy, as if he was envy of Tom and everything Tom had. Tom had the girl and the money which was inherited and Gatsby most likely didn't come from the same life as Tom.]]> 2021-05-10 05:36:55 UTC https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1507842057 tltang2022_3 https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1507891161 Gatsby and Daisy, the couple that I've been dying to see progress for, meets each other, just like Gatsby had wanted for years now. This chapter specifically was exciting to read as I got to see the relationship between the two unfold. I was honestly a little nervous at first to read about how Daisy would react towards the small ambush but was pleased to see the results. As Daisy and Gatsby spend more and more time together, their closeness is transparent along with their happiness. Gatsby seemed like a love sick puppy who wanted Daisy's approval on everything he's worked hard for for the past few years of his life, "He hadn't once ceased looking at Daisy, and I think he revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her well-loved eyes." I believe this chapter was a very important step for Daisy and Gatsby because this allowed Daisy to be aware of Gatsby and how he was now rich and could provide for Daisy if that was what she needed. ]]> 2021-05-10 05:59:13 UTC https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1507891161 tltang2022_3 https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1534134619 Gatsby’s upbringing differs from the one he originally told Nick and may come as a surprise to people who weren’t suspecting it. Gatsby has always made himself out to be a wealthy man, inheriting money, coming from money, basically being set for life since birth. However, the story he reveals to Nick is nothing like that, Gatsby’s family doesn’t come from money but are poor farmers. Jay Gatsby isn’t even his real name, it’s James Gatz. Later on in his life, Gatsby went to college and worked as a janitor there but eventually dropped out after 2 weeks. After being taken in by a man that goes by Dan Cody who had given James the nickname, Jay Gatsby. Dan Cody would be a big factor in Gatsby’s life since Gatsby was Cody’s personal assistant, basically just looking out for Dan when he was drunk. Ultimately Dan passed away and his money was supposed to be inherited by Gatsby but was interfered with by one of Dan’s mistresses. This made Gatsby devoted to the wealthy life and from then on out, he wanted to live out the life he had when he was cruising around the world with Cody. Gatsby would also avoid alcohol after seeing what it did to Dan. This makes Gatsby a very determined man, however, he also doesn't seem to be much of a grateful man, "his imagination had never really accepted them as his parents at all." this shows that Gatsby never really appreciated his parents due to their misfortune.]]> 2021-05-18 04:34:19 UTC https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1534134619 tltang2022_3 https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1534248492 This chapter was one of the most informative chapters that we’ve gotten from the story so far in this story. I believe it really shows you a lot more into Gatsby’s life and it makes you wonder still, how did he get his money? From being the son of farmers to a rich man who can throw extravagant parties everyday within the span of around 5 years isn’t easy. Gatsby seems to be a very motivated man and has a strong drive for the things he wants. However, near the end of the chapter when he was talking about how he wanted the past to return, it shows readers more about him, “‘Can’t repeat the past?’ he cried incredulously. ‘Why of course you can!’” Gatsby seems to have the mindset that he can achieve anything he wants with enough work. Daisy on the other hand, at the end of the chapter, she seems to be longing for Gatsby, scared if those 5 years of devotion for her would go away if he had caught the glimpse of someone else. I feel like this just inches us closer to their relationship and it makes me excited to see if Daisy will give in in the upcoming chapters.]]> 2021-05-18 05:22:51 UTC https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1534248492 tltang2022_3 https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1552776242 Though this novel may seem like a love story, this chapter seems to push that idea away. When given the question if Gatsby loves Daisy, it might seem like a no-brainer, however, after reading this chapter, you start to see that Gatsby might not really love Daisy in a way that most people would love another. For Daisy, maybe once upon a time, she was in love with Tom, but now, she seems to be with him only for the lifestyle he provides and now that Gatsby has come along, she’s interested in him. Daisy seems to have feelings towards Gatsby because of the lifestyle he could provide her. Tom doesn’t seem to love Daisy, and again, maybe once upon a time, but currently at the chapter we’re in, he doesn’t seem to. Tom cheats on Daisy and when it finally feels like she’s slipping away from his life, he’s trying hard to hold onto her and it just seems like a toxic relationship. Near the end of the chapter, Nick seems to have feelings towards Jordan, but the reason doesn’t seem much as love but merely because she’s someone that’s just there when he needs it, for example, when he was talking about there were men at the age of 30 who were single, but not him, because Jordan was there, “The promise of a decade of loneliness… But there was Jordan beside me.”]]> 2021-05-24 05:54:36 UTC https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1552776242 tltang2022_3 https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1552776769 This chapter was a real eye-opener to the relationship that was between everyone. I felt like the idea of a love story blinded me from seeing that the relationship between these characters was toxic and might not even be genuine for some. For example, when Tom realized that his mistress would be moving and his wife was getting more cozy with Daisy, he became more possessive. As for Gatsby, he builds Daisy up to be this god and has all of these expectations for her that he has created from the past. The only sane couple in this novel is Nick and Jordan, they’re not cheaters or anything, but just two single people who are seeing each other. I now feel more pulled and interested in Nick and Jordan’s relationship rather than Gatsby and Daisy because it’s just a mess and rather confusing. The near end of the chapter was also rather horrifying with Myrtle getting hit by a car by Daisy in an accident, however, Daisy just fled the scene and Gatsby keeps making these excuses to make her a good person. ]]> 2021-05-24 05:54:51 UTC https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1552776769 tltang2022_3 https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1572347185 The Great Gatsby is full of symbolism which shapes the book into a beautiful work of writing. Not only is the writing symbolic, but the cover as well. When one reads the book, they will learn about a billboard mentioned a few times in the story and how the billboard is the face of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg, “The eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic--their retinas are one yard high. They look out of no face, but, instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a non-existent nose.” With this description, you can compare it to the cover and it represents how Doctor T.J. Eckleburg was somewhat always watching. The eyes lay on top of a layer of dark purple and top of a glowing and vibrant city. The vibe that the colors that clash together give off a sad feeling, the purple gives a mellow feeling instead of a happy one. This can represent the sadness of this book and how it isn’t much a story with a happy ending, but a dark one.]]> 2021-05-31 01:25:39 UTC https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1572347185 tltang2022_3 https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1572428746
If there was one word to describe my thoughts for this chapter, it would be ”what?” I was genuinely shocked and speechless about the outcome of the chapter. It left me baffled and confused. Just the chapter before, even though it seemed a little disturbing, it didn’t really hint towards the product of chapter 8, Gatsby’s death. I had to reread the last few pages a few times over to understand what was going on and when I finally understood, I wish I could’ve unread it. Gatsby, in my opinion, deserved better, he was a man who worked hard for money for his ex-lover and when he was getting back into her life and everything seemed to be going his way, he died. I’m now starting to wonder about Daisy’s reaction, how would this affect her, will this leave her wrecked or will it not affect her? As if Gatsby was just a fling. Overall, I think this was a good climax for the story and a real plot twist, it makes me want to continue on with the next chapter. ]]> 2021-05-31 02:01:17 UTC https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1572428746 tltang2022_3 https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1588268333 In the Great Gatsby, the American Dream is shown throughout the whole story for many to almost all the characters. The American Dream could be something that is fortunately achievable for some and unfortunately not for others. For example, characters like Gatsby and Dan Cody had achieved the American dream. They were characters that come from almost nothing to wealthy people who had money to last them a comfortable lifestyle for the rest of their life. Gatsby was unfortunately killed when he was at a prime in his life, he had money and was making progress with Daisy. Dan Cody was rich enough for him to cruise throughout the world with ease, he unfortunately had brain problems due to his time in the mines and was taken advantage of a lot, “The transactions in Montana copper that made him many times a millionaire found him physically robust but on the verge of soft-mindedness, and, suspecting this, an infinite number of women tried to separate him from his money.” Another character, Myrtle, would’ve been successful reaching the American dream, her tactic being marrying the rich, if she didn’t die so suddenly. However, her chances of actually marrying Tom were little to none since Tom was more into Daisy then he was into her.]]> 2021-06-06 19:36:53 UTC https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1588268333 tltang2022_3 https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1588992656 At last, the last chapter of The Great Gatsby. Given the events of the other chapters before this, I feel like this chapter was the most calming one. This chapter explained what happened after Gatsby’s death. In my opinion, it’s one of the saddest things about this book given how Gatsby seems like a good man. Sure there were some flaws with his characters, like the fact that he never seemed like he loved Daisy, but loved the distant memory he had of her. Though that may be true, Gatsby still deserved people to care for him, and what I believe was sad to think about was that he did everything he did for Daisy, and after his death, she didn't go to his funeral. The only person that truly attended Gatsby’s funeral was Nick and Gatsby’s father who was barely introduced the given chapter. I still believe it’s horrible that Gatsby was probably at maybe a happy point in his life too and died of a misunderstanding that was influenced by Tom Buchanan. 

]]> 2021-06-07 04:44:16 UTC https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1588992656 tltang2022_3 https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1610620919 When reading the Great Gatsby, I found myself relating to Nick Caraway a lot. I'd like to think of myself as an open-minded person and I've been told I'm a good listener and those traits that Nick acquires also make him the perfect person to narrate a story. Nick also mentions how he believes that you can't repeat the past and I strongly believe that idea as well despite any of my past efforts with past friends. The narrator of this story is also Nick, he’s a very observant person who knows what’s happening, whether they’re affairs or just the past, he knows. Even in the story, though he’s a big main character, the story focuses more on Gatsby and Daisy, I feel the same way when I’m with others, Though I should feel like my life is based on me, I also feel like I focus on others a lot too to the point where I’ll forget I’m still here.

]]> 2021-06-16 18:35:24 UTC https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1610620919 tltang2022_3 https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1610634186 The text relates to the larger world in many ways. This story doesn't end in a fairy tale like many others do seem to do, but it gives readers the cold hard truth about life. How you might not have a happy ending and you can end up in an unfortunate situation. The American dream is shown a lot in this story too and it shows all the different ways one can achieve their American dream and how not everyone can achieve it even if you do, you might not always end up well, like Gatsby and Dan Cody. Even when the characters in the story unfortunately dies, for example, Gatsby, though he might seem famous, people still don’t attend his funeral due to the fact that he was never close with everyone even though he surrounded himself with a lot of people like when he throws parties almost every day.]]> 2021-06-16 18:43:04 UTC https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1610634186 tltang2022_3 https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1610635037 This text reminds me of another story, Kite Runner. A book I read my sophomore year of high school. The reason why this reminds me of that is due to the fact that one of the main characters that readers will get attached to eventually dies in the end, both my gunshots coincidently. That story is also very dark in some sense, even though the ending might seem happy, throughout the book, horrible things happen to one of the main characters. They do differ as well though, like for example, in the Kite Runner, the rich make it out alive and the poor and unfortunate had to stay behind and lead a horrible life. In the Great Gatsby, the rich, Gatsby, died due to the influence and words of Tom Buchanan when he confirmed George Wilson’s suspicions of Gatsby and Myrtle’s affair. ]]> 2021-06-16 18:43:34 UTC https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1610635037 tltang2022_3 https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1610703973 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1m2lnNjenmi26r4vySb_3QtPiIGpyosi8Z8RDviDe2co/edit?usp=sharing]]> 2021-06-16 19:28:19 UTC https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1610703973 tltang2022_3 https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1613459624 East Egg, West Egg, Valley of Ashes, and New York City all have their differences and similarities, for example, though East Egg and West Egg might seem like the same thing, usually, the rich people reside in them. However, East Egg is for people who come from old money, people who inherit their money, like Tom Buchanan. West Egg is for the hard workers who make their money and earn it themselves, like Jay Gatsby. There’s also the Valley of Ashes, basically the poverty area of the story, where it’s grey due to the ashes, this place is where it’s more on the poor side, Tom Buchanan’s mistress resides here, Myrtle. Lastly, in New York City, we were introduced to this place when Tom and Myrtle wanted to be together so they own an apartment in New York City. Tom is seen differently here, along with Myrtle. At their own home, they don’t seem that happy, especially with their spouses, however, when they go to New York City, in their apartment, they’re throwing parties and drinking, basically having fun.]]> 2021-06-18 02:01:35 UTC https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1613459624 tltang2022_3 https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1613461142 Chapter 2 gives us more of an insight into Tom’s life and lets us into more of the bigger picture around Tom and Daisy’s marriage. We learn about Myrtle, Tom’s mistress and even though I feel like I shouldn’t like her, I find myself feeling pity towards her, that is until towards the end of the chapter when she started repeating Daisy’s name repeatedly. This angered Tom which he then slaps her, and suddenly I’m feeling sorry for her again, but then, what did she expect? She was only a mistress to Tom, there was no way Tom was going through a divorce for a woman he sleeps with when he needs it. When Tom did hit her for disrespecting Daisy’s name, I almost, almost, respected him, that was until I remembered the fact that he was also chatting with Daisy. Overall, I believe that this chapter was a good way to give readers more of an idea and understanding of what’s going on in the story, the full picture, not just the inside of the big home that Tom and Daisy reside in.]]> 2021-06-18 02:02:28 UTC https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1613461142 tltang2022_3 https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1613490557 Jordan Baker, a woman in the high parts of the social classes due to her being famous for playing golf. When Nick and Jordan were cruising through the streets, Jordan is shown to be a reckless driver, when Nick confronts her about it, she tells him, “‘They'll keep out of my way,’ she insisted. ‘It takes two to make an accident.’” This paints her character as a person who uses her social status to get away with what she does. The fact that she declares this shows that a car accident won’t affect her, due to her being rich and it would be pocket change fixing her car, however, she doesn’t consider the other person in the accident as well. To them, a car accident could drop them into debt or terribly impact them, but Jordan’s more careless when it comes to that. Therefore, in this novel, social class could be shown as a ‘ticket out’ when it comes to situations like these.]]> 2021-06-18 02:19:21 UTC https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1613490557 tltang2022_3 https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1613492542 The introduction of Gatsby is finally given to us readers in Chapter 3, Nick gets invited to one of Gatsby’s parties, to which he states that no one ever gets an invitation to those parties, people just enter. Nick roams through the home trying to find Gatsby and he also manages to find Jordan Baker along the way who decides to help him find Gatsby. I found this part, though it may be small, nice because Jordan is this lady, high social class, but wants to spend her time with Nick instead of partying and having fun. Throughout their search, they catch many rumors throughout the house about Gatsby that paints him into many different roles. However, when Nick took a break and talked to one of the guests, it happened to be Gatsby. Gatsby turned out to be a very nice man and Nick described his smile as a rare smile, one that you only see a few times in your life. This is a warming feeling because all of the rumors make Gatsby look like a terrible man when he’s just a man who’s quiet and throwing parties, he doesn’t dance with others, but merely just watches them from afar, this shows that no one in Gatsby’s home really knows who he is or what he even looks like.]]> 2021-06-18 02:20:23 UTC https://padlet.com/tltang2022_3/ab927gg6s6rqfm6n/wish/1613492542