Chapter+9

The Great Gatsby
Chapter 9

//F. Scotts Fitzgerald compiles a series of events together throughout The Great Gatsby to accentuate the American Dream and its downfalls. During this time people were recovering from the war and our economy appeared to take a step out of poverty and depression. People began to get a feel of money and its abilities; people focused on the pursuit of wealth and social ranking. Along with the decline of the american dream came the decline in like the social and moral values of the people.//

The events and reoccurring theme in chapter nine elaborate on the theme from chapter two; they both emphasize the failures and disappointments of the American dream. //“About half way between West Egg and New York the motor road hastily joins the railroad and runs beside it for a quarter of a mile, so as to shrink away from a certain desolate area of land. This is a valley of ashes—a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air”.// //By the end of the novel every character’s American dream is corrupted, happiness is definitely not a by product of the American dream; the American dream, instead, resulted in death and affairs. To everything good comes something bad, and in this case the American dream does not end with a happy ending- everything eventually turns into ashes. Relating it to a more biblical sense you developed out of dust and ashes, therefore your life would end where it began.//

Questions:
1. Why does Nick compare the Dutch sailors to Gatsby? How does the comparison help to state Fitzgerald’s conclusion?

"The first Dutchmen to come to the America were explorers under the command of the English captain Henry Hudson who arrived in 1609 and mapped what is now known as the Hudson River on the ship De Halve Maen. Their initial goal was to find an alternative route to Asia, but they found good farmland and plenty of wildlife instead." When the Dutch Sailors first saw New York they saw green- grass; to them this meant freedom, a new beginning, and the ending of their journey. This parallels with Gatsby green light because he sits by the water and gazes at the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock; to him this meant hope for Daisy to be his. The Dutch Sailors as well as Gatsby both have the same emotions, and share the same attitudes towards the goals that they are pursuing. They devote all of their time and energy into finding this fresh start, but in the end when it all slips away, they are left empty handed. Dutch Sailors not only parallel to Gatsby, but the inhabitants of Long Island as well; the sailors intended on finding an alternative route to Asia, but instead landed on America. Once they realized the positives of there delay, good farmland and plenty of wildlife,they resided in America and gained more than they seeked. The numerous acres of farmland and wildlife they attained,portray a parallel to the excess money people of West Egg and East Egg acquired. Like Nick, many of those people ventured to Long Island because of the pursuit of wealth; the only difference between the Dutch Sailors and Nick is that one was driven a compelling economical factor, while the other sought for a route to consistently become wealthy and obtain money. Sometimes two different people or things can have a similar dreams or meanings.

2. How is the story an ironic twist of the American Dream? Consider Daisy and Gatsby, Daisy and Tom, Myrtle and George Wilson, Myrtle and Tom, Nick and Jordan.

The story is an entire ironic twist due to the fact that great American dream does not seem to satisfy anyone. The characters like Nick and Wilson, work so hard to get up on the social ladder yet don't get far in life. The other characters already have reached the high point of the social ladder but they don't feel complete and they still aren't satisfied with their lives. The failure of Gatsby to achieve his personal American Dream is due to the fact that his background won't let him be happy. He is leaving in a dream with his past shadowing him, which give to rise to the idea that people may not be able to completly forget their past and move on to achieve the American dream. Tom and Daisy have achieved the material aspect of the dream yet, emotionally they are completly alone. Yet, they both have what they want from the marriage, money and freedom from each other to do as they please. They tend to take everything for granted when people are actually working hard to achieve their goals.

3. Nick speaks of the “corruption” of Gatsby’s guests and Gatsby’s “incorruptible dream.” How do these phrases begin to pull all the threads of the story together?

Gatsby’s purpose of throwing these expensive parties was to attract and win over Daisy; in contrast his guests attend his party for his wealth and material possessions. Everyone, but Gatsby, was so far into achieving their American Dream and the corruption of money, alcohol, and fancy parties they never took a second to care about Gatsby. But, Gatsby really does not pay attention to his guests except for Daisy. The ‘corruption’ of Gatsby’s guests and ‘incorruptible dream’ tie the entire story together to show that everyone is selfish and is alll working for their own dream. No one takes the time to look at what is going on around them, or to get to know anyone else. All they care about is themselves, and their own goals.

4. How does Fitzgerald make statements about pseudo-intellectualism?

Pseudo-intellectualism is when one can only name things associated with intelligence or attempt to speak in a high-minded fashion and be considered intellectual. "**Pseudo-intellectual** is a pejorative, word or phrase that displays contempt or disapproval, term used to describe someone who engages in //false// intellectualism or is //intellectually dishonest//." Although Gatsby only attend Oxford College for sometime after serving time in the war he brings up Oxford College numerous of times because he feels that it builds a respectable perspective on him and people will believe he was well educated.

5. Fitzgerald demonstrates the power of proper names. Prove this statement.

Although a person may seem shallow, Miss Baker, or uneducated, Fitzgerald uses the power of proper names to make a person seem more important or respected. He also creates proper names for many of Gatsby’s guests and Gatsby as well. By the end of the novel, we realize that Gatz was neither a rich or powerful man in society, but as he made his way up the social ladder, Gatsby seemed to fit the part. By using proper names a person gains more respect with other characters in the story. During this period, it was vital to be someone- not just a human being, but someone with class, wealth, and a name.

6. Compare the beginning and the ending of the novel. Has Gatsby changed? Has Nick changed? Explain and justify your responses.

Gatsby and Nick both play important roles in this novel. At the beginning of the novel Nick is optimistic and is satisfied with his lifestyle. Gatsby is flourished wish wealth but is not happy because he can not be with Daisy. At the beginning of the novel Nick is only Gatsby's neighbor but by the end of the novel they are more than neighbors. Gatsby also wins over Daisy’s heart but is punished at the end of the story. Both realize the affects of wealth and its corruption and both are left unsatisfied and unhappy at the end.

Works Cited