Friday, April 10, 2009

Gatsby Fishbowl: Chapter 4

Remember to participate thoughtfully, frequently, and professionally; bring in a textual passage when you can. Enjoy!

17 comments:

ErinH said...

I don’t think that Gatsby was ashamed of going to Oxford. I think that he was more ashamed of the things that happened at Oxford or that something bad happened at Oxford that Gatsby doesn’t want to bring up again.

ErinH said...

I think that Gatsby is hurt person and is afraid of being hurt again. For example he obivisouly was madly in love with Daisy when he went to war, then he finds out that she married someone else. I think that the reason that he doesn’t just go up to Daisy and say “Hey whats up” maybe he doesn’t want to uproot her life. He is trying to protect her and get the best of both worlds by seeing her but not hurting Daisy.

KeriN said...

If Daisy knew Gatsby was in love with her do you think she would leave Tom?

Barry Tischler said...

It seems to me that he is to good or too powerful to be direct, and he feels it is beneath him to go chasing after a girl. He apparently wants to maintain his power over those around him by being subtle and underhanded, getting Daisy to come to him.

Stephanie C said...

I think that Gatsby was scared to talk to Daisy because one she is married to Tom and second because he is scared to talk to the one he loves. I don't agree with Eva when she says bigger mansion bigger security. I think that Daisy does love Tom and feels happy and secure with him.

ErinH said...

I don't think that Daisy would leave Tom for Gatsby. I think she would stay with Tom to protect her daughter from the devestation of the divorce.

Stephanie C said...

I agree with Barry, Gatsby might be embarresed to have the girl he loves in love and married to another man. He might not want for his love to be open.

KeriN said...

I agree with Erin. He keeps mentioning something that happened in his past that was sad. Maybe he got hurt somehow and is too scared to approach Daisy for this reason. Also, when they are at the bar talking to Mr. Wolfsheim he says, "'He would never so much as look at a friend's wife.'" Maybe that's why he doesn't talk to Daisy.

Barry Tischler said...

Daisy cannot possibly actually love Tom. She may be infatuated with the lifestyle he provides her with, and the image she maintains by being married to a person of his stature, but she is not in love with the tom by himself. she is unhappy with her marriage and her husband treating her badly, but she doesnt know another way to live. she is dependent on tom's wealth and image.

Unknown said...

I do not think Daisy is a stupid girl she knows what she is doing, she is playing the game if she stays with Tom she will have the things she wants and her daughter will be protected.

PatrickD said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ErinH said...

Why do we think that Daisy is shallow? I also disagree with Eva about her thinking that a mansion showed her security. I think that she has more brains then we think. Yeah I don't agree with Daisy's choice of staying but her life is more complicated then we think

ErinH said...

This book seems to be about sacrifce. Daisy sacrifices her pride to keep with Tom, she also sacrificed her love for Gatsby for Tom. Gatsby sacrificed a life from daisy for Daisy.

KeriN said...

Erin, how do you know she sacraficed her love for Gatsby. I thought she didn't know he loved her?

PatrickD said...

I agree with Nacarid. I think that Daisy is just playing the game she is making her choices and choosing her moves i think it is going to be a while until she checks her mate and the game is over. I think there is a little more to the story then we all know.

Barry Tischler said...

I like Pat's analogy to a game of chess, although I dont think the lives of the characters follow as much startegic thinking as a chess match. Their choices, although difficult, are cut and dry, and the future that stems from their choices is not as fluid as the results of a move in chess.

Andrew L said...

In this Chapter Gatsby finally revels the true meaning of why he throws all the parties he does. He does this because he hopes that Daisy will happen to stumble into a party and get to know him better. I believe he also befriended Nick so he could use Nick to get to Daisy, nick cousin. I feel that Gatsby has a plan to get what he wants and that he does not really care if he hurts people in getting it. “’Good morning, old sport. You’re having lunch with me today and I thought we’d ride up together.’” Mr. Gatsby and Nick just met but Gatsby is trying his hardest to befriend him as quickly as he can so he can get to Daisy though him.