What's So Great About Gatsby

1. Is Gatsby great?  Is he even good?  Why/ why not?

• He's similar to the American Ideal. Someone who re-forges himself to conform to what he thinks is success, and to be the kind of person who will draw Daisy to him. He's pretty much an actor playing a role and that's not good. And you really can't have a person who portrays as a mysterious person who's an admirable human being.

2. Nick opens the book by complimenting himself for his honesty.  Is Nick honest with himself?  Why does he constantly hang out with dishonest people?  Why does he respect them and seek out relationships with them?

• Nick certainly seems to be a pretty honest character. He doesn't have the womanizing attitude of Tom, the deceptive heart of Daisy, or even the law-breaking tendencies of his beloved Gatsby.

3. Fitzgerald describes Daisy and Tom this way: “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.”  What does this mean?  Do you agree?

• The reason why I think Fitzgerald describes Tom and Daisy as careless people is because they have ruin lives of other individuals and simply disappear by hiding behind their wealth. I do agree that they are careless people because not only did they ruin other people's lives/ relationships but there own as well. Their relational ship as husband and wife is all about dishonestly, wealthy, and no communication with one and another. 

4. Do you understand Daisy's behavior?  Do you agree with her choices?  Is she a person you would let your brother/son/friend date?

• I do understand Daisy's behavior to an extent on loving both man at the same time. Yes, I do understand why she picked Tom since that he's the father of her child; even though he cheated on her with Myrtle. He has gained her love throughout their time of being with each other without wealth. Unlike for Gatsby he had a fantasy on getting the love of his life back with the amount of money he has. For example, his mansion, over the top parties, high end clothing, cars, etc. If you're telling me that if I would ever let her date a brother, son or friend I wouldn't just because if she ever loved Gatsby truly she wouldn't failed in love with Tom and wouldn't have lost faith on knowing if Gatsby survived the war. They always say that "if you had to choice in two people to be with go with the second people because if you ever loved the first one you wouldn't be interested in the second." which I believe is true. How can you know if you're not willing to do the same thing all over with another guy and the next.

5. The last line of the book: "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."  What does this mean?  How does it relate to the theme/s of the book?

• This is a final image of Gatsby as powerful presence who lives on despite the destruction of the dream. Nick reminds us on the thin line separating dreams from reality, causing everyone to stop and wonder about the validity of the dreams people chase.