Chapter 4 of Great Gatsby

 

Chapter 4

 

Nicks begins the chapter listing all the people he meets at Gatsby's parties - it becomes apparent that Nick has become a regular at the parties. The list is like he has to say it all and say it all really quickly.

 

Time reference - 9.00 July.

                         -  October 1917

 

Another direct reference to Gatsby's car.

 

Nick says how his admiration for Gatsby faded as he got to know him - realised he was just a normal guy. "he was a person of some undefined consequence, had gradually faded and he had become simply the proprietor of an elaborate roadhouse next door."

 

 

Gatsby tells him that he was brought up by a wealthy family and went to Oxford - begin to think that Gatsby is very well educated but in chapter 6 we realise it is all lies and his parents were farmers and he was only at Oxford for two months. Nick picks up on something funny but doesn't say anything.

 

Gatsby tells him that he has asked Jordon to tell Nick something at tea but we don't know what it is - holds us in suspense.

 

Nick makes a point in telling us about the hearse that drives buy - could this be to make the book more sinister? Gatsby more sinister? Or is it to foreshadow what will happen to Myrtle at the end?

 

We are introduced to a character called Mr. Wolfsheim.

     Soon realise that he is an eccentric character - learn that his friend was shot in the restaurant they are in.

 

Wolfsheim leaves and Nick introduces Gatsby to Tom however Gatsby walks off after the introduction. Is this because he knows that Tom is Daisy's husband?

 

Jordon takes over the story for a while telling the story of how Daisy and Gatsby meet, how she decided to marry Tom then got drunk and cold feet before the wedding.  (change in narrator)

 

Know that Gatsby has never stopped loving her and he brought the house so she would be just across the bay. (Gatsby is still living in the past)

The two decide to invite Daisy to Nicks house so he can meet Daisy.

 

Nick and Jordon begin to have a moment - Is Nick developing feelings for Jordon? Do they kiss or not?

 



Chapter 3 of Great Gatsby

 

Chapter 3

 

Nick describes Gatsby having a "blue garden" - I think the use of blue in this sentence could mean two things either 'blue' as in blue blood like the royals and 'blue' as in it is a very vivid colour.

 

Makes a point about telling us about the amount of servants who come to his house - he notes that they come every Friday, this makes his life seem very regimented and robotic like its in a cycle.

 

Nick is also very descriptive about the food, money and the people there creating the illusion of wealth. He makes sure we know that the orchestra is very big not just a "thin five piece affair."

 

The main colour in this scene for me if the colour YELLOW Nick draws close attention to this colour - yellow dresses

- yellow bug (car)

- yellow cocktail music  

 

People walk in who are not invited - Nick refers to it as an amusement park.

Very superficial - just there because it is the place to be 'to make a name for themeselves'

People are very fake, selfish,  materialistic.

 

Jordon says " I  like large parties. They're more intimate. At small parties there isn't any privacy"

 

Their are many different rumours about Gatsby like 'he killed a man' etc but only important people have people whispering about you.

 

Everyone makes a massive deal about Gatsby and you imagine a very distinctive figure but when Nick does not even know who he is talking to you realise he is just the same as everyone else.

Nick makes a very distinctive image about the crowds yet when he is with Gatsby he likes to create a sense of intimacy like its just him and Gatsby in the room.

 

Nick keeps telling us how Gatsby keeps getting called away to answer phone calls - makes Gatsby seem very important and also makes a direct reference to new technology of the phone

 

Jordon and Nick go to find Gatsby and instead they find a man who is described as being "owl eyed" he is drunk and trying to sober up (hasn't been sober for a week - shows what kind of life these people lead) he is amazed at the fact the books are real.

 

 

Lots of time references throughout the book,

- Vladimir Tostroff, 

- Late when Nick leaves the house. 

 

Outsiders appear to be a massive theme in this book - chapter 1 Daisy's house is uncomfortable

                                                                                                      Now Nick is an outsider at the party

                                                                                                      because he knows no one at the party.

Nick lacks social structure - goes to the bar "the only place in the garden where a single man could linger without looking purposeless or alone"

 

The car crash could be a sense of foreshadow to what is going to happen to Myrtle.

 

Nick has an over exaggerated imagination - imagines following women home and going out with them.

Very lonely - wants to be with someone.

Becomes fascinated with Jordon - not in love.

He says she has grey eyes - grey is a slightly odd colour and he uses grey a lot to describe the 'valley off ashes' in chapter two is there a link between these two?

 

Thinks he is very honest but i think he is one of the most deceitful.

Get the idea that Nick does not know himself - doesn't know what he wants (2 affairs) - wants to fit in with everyone else and be accepted.

 

 

There is a sense of foreboding at the end of the chapter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Chapter 2 of Great Gatsby

Chapter two

 



 

As in chapter one there are a lot of emphasis on colour however in this chapter it is mainly about the colour grey. grey is a bleak - dark and scared (area of the town is plain compared to chapter 1)  

 

Grey cars - very mechanical (they are very slow)

Invisible = the place is desolate (valley of ashes) - lower class area - place could be swept away.

Like a ghost town. There is a theme of death at the beginning of the chapter.

Train always stops at the valley of ash for at least a minute (makes it seem like more than it is) again emphasis on the new technology.

 

Their are references to the time - Dr.T.J.Eckleburg and John Rockerfeller

date  a summer Sunday afternoon - summer and Sundays and afternoons are always slow

Ton Buchanan's mistress

• Their is no hesitation when introducing her - like when introducing Gatsby because their is no mystery  about her and the affair.
• Why does Nick not care?
• Myrtle is a very average women - quite plump. Why does Tom risk an affair with her?
• Is Nick only criticising Myrtle because Tom is having an affair with his relation

Wilson is a cold hard man - only in it for the money

Myrtle is very materialistic - wants a dog
Myrtle likes to pretend that she is rich and upper class when around Tom.
Tom rents out a very expensive apartment on 5th avenue - Nick revues it as small



Tom is sensitive about his name and therefore his wife's - punches Myrtles friend and breaks her nose.

The ending is very disjointed - written in the mind of a drunk man
Begin to question the reliability of the narration as he is drunk (an immoral act )

At the beginning of the book Nick acts like he has very high morals.

Nick creates a lot of judgements in this chapter - judgement on Myrtle
                                                                              judgement on Tom's apartment

 



Chapter 1 of Great Gatsby

Chapter one

 

The book is narrated my Nick

The book begins with Nick saying 'when you feel like criticising anyone ... just remember that all the people in the world haven't had the advantages that you've had' this shows that Nick believes he has high moral values but also shows that he comes from a wealthy family.

We are introduced to the character Gatsby and from the shirt description given we learn that Nick regarded very highly. and changed the way he views life.

The title is the Great Gatsby - Why is he great?

 

Nicks family ran a prosperous family business - believes he is descended from a wealthy and high status background.

He decided to go into the bond business.

 

 

- The language is very matter of fact like a biography

 

Introduced to Daisy (Nicks 2nd cousin once removed) and Tom (her husband).

• Tom has got lots of money also from a wealthy background
• Nick is very descriptive about Toms face and body
• You already have a feeling of Toms character by the description e.g. 'arrogant eyes' and ' a cruel body'

The name Daisy is used in literature for the idea of an unattainable lover.

Nick goes and visits Daisy and Tom, again Nick is very descriptive about their house - encourages the view of them being very rich (lists of references to light and gold eg reflected gold)

Introduced to Jordon Baker

•  The name Jordon = masculine name
• Dressed also very masculine (tom boy)

There are lots of sound references. (unquiet darkness)

He personifies the night - makes it come alive

Fitzgerald was influenced by John Keats (a poet he was very romantic) Mr Gatsby is the stereotype of the the romantic character.

 

When Nick is looking out of his window he sees a cats silhouette

- there are lots of silhouettes and shadows used. 

- only see a shadow of Gatsby (shadow = idea of what he is - only has rumours to base his views on him)

there is a fascination with new technology throughout this chapter and the rest of the novel eg. telephones, cars and mechanical objects.

 

Book is very cinematic due to the dramatic imagery

There is a lot of emphasis put on the use of colours and lights. very bright and vivid. 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  



Reading journal act 5

Scene 1 

1. Antonio is trying too comfort Leonato about his daughter's 'death.'
2. Leonato quarrels with Claudio and Don Pedro and they almost duel.
3. Claudio is convinced he killed her and when Benedick turns up his fears are confirmed.
4. Benedick tells them that Don Pedro has fled.
5. Claudio and Don Pedro try to steer the conversation onto to Beatrice but Benedick walks away.
6.  Dogberry and Verges enter leading Borachio and Conrade bound together.
7. The men tell Claudio and Don Pedro all that has happened and they are sad, when they ask Leonato for forgiveness he tells them to spread the word that Hero died honourably, for Claudio to write a poem for her grave and for him to marry his brothers daughter tomorrow.
8. The men agree.

• Why does Claudio so readily agree to marry a women straight after he finds out the women he 'loves' is dead by his hand?
• Why do Claudio and Don Pedro not find it weird that they have such light punishments even though they have killed Hero?
• Why do they not punish Borachio and Conrade further but instead pin all the blame on Don John?
• Why does Benedick so readily slander his best friends name for Beatrice who is just using her power over him?
• Why does Dogberry suddenly uncover his wit in this scene but in act 3 scene 3 he is a rambling idiot?

Their is great importance in this scene mainly being the fact that the plot is uncovered and there looks like their will be a happy ending after all but also because again we see the flippant nature of Claudio and Benedick succumbing to the will of love.

Scene 2

1. The scene begins with Benedick and Margret sharing a crude joke.
2. Beatrice then confronts Benedick about not killing Claudio, they then share another moment when Benedick confesses his love for Beatrice and she does encourage him this time.
3. Ursula then enters and tells them all that the plot has been uncovered.

• What is the significance of the joke between Benedick and Margret at the beginning?

Scene 3

1. The scene is the reading out of Claudio's poem and Hero's 'funeral'

Scene 4

1. The wedding is about to begin, all the women are masked.
2. Leonato brings Hero forward and Claudio is relieved to be marrying the same women.
3. Benedick and Beatrice then find out that they have been played, however when poems and letters are brought forward by their friends it becomes obvious that they do love each other.
4. They decide to get married as well, however they pretend they are doing it on the others behalf.
5. At the end of the scene we learn that Don John is on his way back to Messina with armed guards, however Benedick waves it off.

• Why does Claudio not raise more questions when Hero is brought forth?
• Why is Benedick not more concerned about Don John and his army?

The scene begins with the friar saying "Did i not tell you she was innocent?" this shows that the friar knew her better then her father or just has faith in god and that women cannot lie.
This scene is both serious and comedic.
Their is comedic value to this scene especially when Beatrice and Benedick decide to get married.

Reading journal act 4

Scene 1

1. The wedding scene - they are all at the alt
2. Claudio accuses Hero of being unfaithful to him, he is backed up by the prince.
3. Hero faints and her father encourages that death should take her as she has shamed herself.
4. Friar comes up with a plan to pretend that Hero is dead and then when all the slander has died come back but as a different person.
5. Benedick then comforts Beatrice and then reveals his love for her, she does not discourage him nor encourage him.
6. She tells Benedick to prove his love for her, he must kill Claudio.
7. After a while Benedick agrees.

• Why did Hero not stand up to Claudio's accusations? And why did Margret knowing it was her they saw stand up and say it was her?
• Why does Leonato beg for her daughter's death?
• Why does he not believe her protests?
• Why is it the friar who comes up with the idea to save her and not her father?
• Is their significance in the fact that it is the friar who wants to help and deceive when he is meant to be a godly man? Is their significance in the fact that it is the friar who comes up with the solution like in Romeo and Juliet and they both revolve around death?

This scene is very serious and we begin to see the stereotypes and the levels of authority clearly of the Shakespearean era.
This is act 4 scene 1 and most major tragedy's happen in this seen in Shakespeare's plays.
I think the reason why Leonato prays for the death of his daughter is because she has brought shame to the family and the slander of this will follow her all her life and therefore no one will ever want to marry her.

Scene 2

1. In this scene Dogberry, Verges have brought Borachio and Conrade to be judged before Sexton (new character)
2. Borachio and Conrade confess to their crime and Sexton reveals the news of Hero's death and that Don John has fled.
3. Dogberry then reminds them that he is wealthy and basically 'bigs himself up' and makes a comedic speech about being called an 'ass'

• Why does Dogberry continue to be comedic in such a funny scene? What is the purpose of this?

Reading journal act 3

Scene 1

1. In this scene Hero and Ursula plant the bait that Benedick loves Beatrice.
2. Beatrice believes them

• Again the same question Did Beatrice have feelings before she overheard Hero and Ursula talking?
• Because the scene is between women does this make it more romantic?

This scene also has the comic and serious elements of act 2 scene 3.

Scene 2

1. Don Pedro and Claudio are taking the mick out of Benedick saying that he is in love and Benedick is not denying it nor making any comment against their banter like he normally does.
2. Don John then enters and convinces Don Pedro and Claudio that Hero is unfaithful.
3. They agree to go with Don John to Hero's window later that evening.
4. Te two men agree that if she had been unfaithful then they shall disgrace her at the alter tomorrow.

• Is their significance in the rapid change between comedy and seriousness in this play?
• Why does Claudio so readily believe Don John after he has already deceived him in act 2 scene 1?
• Why does Claudio not believe Hero - surely if he loved her he would?
• Why do the two men decide what fate, and such an extreme one at that, before finding out what is actually happening?

Claudio's flippant nature resurfaces in this scene.
I think that Claudio's belief of what Don John says is from the fact that Claudio and Hero had only just meet and do not really know each other.

Scene 3

1. In this scene we are introduced to Dogberry, Verges and the Watchmen.
2. The scene begins with a somewhat dumb Dogberry giving his instructions to the Watchmen which basically goes along the lines of if you meet trouble then just ignore it.
3. Borachio enters drunk and tells Conrade all about the plan and how he wooed Margret outside Hero's window.
4. The watchmen hearing this but not quite understanding the significance of the information arrests the two men and take them away.

• Is their dramatic significance in the fact that we do not see this scene between Margret and Borachio take place? Is it more significant coming from the 'horses mouth'?
• What would be the effect if Dogberry was not a stupid character but was in fact a serious character?
• How would the story plot be changed if Borahio and Conrade never showed up? Or if the men did not arrest them?

Their is great significance in this scene in the fact that we now know the deed has taken place and that Don John and Claudio believed it.
Dogberry is seen as a dumb and stupid character which is comedic.

Scene 4

1. In this scene Hero is getting ready for her wedding choosing the gown to wear,
2. When Beatrice arrives she is ill, Margret makes some crude jokes and about Benedick and Beatrice becomes quite curious and defencive.

• Could the fact that Beatrice is sick be a pun for being love struck?

Scene 5

1. In this scene Leonato is preparing for the wedding
2. Dogberry and Verges try to tell him about Borachio and Conrade but babble and ramble on that they never get to the point sending them away.
3. He tells them they should judge them for him.

• If Dogberry and Verges had got to the point would the story of stopped their?

This scene is very quick, I think the length of Dogberry's and Verges's speeches and the short reply of Leonato's shows the busyness of the scene.

Bollywood Shakespeare ... ?

At first I will admit the concept of Bollywood and Shakespeare didn't really appeal to me, I thought it would be tacky, boring and to be fair I didn't think I would understand a single word. How is this going to help me? I thought to myself, but I decided to go, heck it was a day of from college!!

BUT ....

I was pleasantly surprised!

The acting was very impressive and at times I forgot that we were watching a Shakespeare play and I really enjoyed the performance. The dancing and singing was very good and fit in well, however Don John was played as quite a comical character however I would of preferred him to of been more sinister then sarcastic to of emphasised the fact that he was a villain and to of confirmed my thoughts of him being the more serious side of the play.

 

Overall though i thought the day was very fun, can't wait for the next one

 

DON,DON,DON....