Friday, February 27, 2015

The Great Gatsby: fishbowl #1 (chs 1 & 2)

Today we'll primarily focus our discussion on chapter 2 of The Great Gatsby.

You should feel comfortable, however, to also ask questions about previous sections.  I especially encourage you to do so if you have comprehension questions; use this discussion as an opportunity to understand the reading.

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Happy posting!

24 comments:

  1. On page 33 Catherine Myrtle's sister is whispering to Nick the details of Tom's and Myrtle's relationship. Tom has come up with such an elaborate lie about Daisy being Catholic so he can not divorce her. How come Tom has created this big of a lie and why did he do it?

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  2. Why won't Tom and Myrtle divorce their spouse and then marry each other? Are they truly in love with each other or just using each other? (Page 33)

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    1. Tom still has feelings for Daisy, but with his character and attitude, he feels that he has the power to do what he wants. I also think Daisy's social status is raised by being married to Tom, so she would not want a divorce.

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  3. When Tom buys Myrtle a dog is he trying to "buy her love/affection"? "Here's your money. Go and buy ten more dogs with it" (Fitzgerald 28). Does this tell us about Tom?

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    1. I feel like he is showing her how much money he has, and she is using him for money, because in page 37, it says, "Tom broke her nose with his open hand." He is so abusive but she is not doing anything! I think Tom's money is a big part of it all.

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    2. Well I think that Tom just knows how that business goes, because he was able to say what the sex of the dog was even though the man selling the dogs didn't know. "Is it a boy or a girl?" she asked delicately. "That dog? That dog's a boy." "It's a bitch," said Tom decisively. But along the lines of buying her love, then yes. Why else would he really buy the dog if not for that reason?

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    3. I have to agree with Niki, and how Myrtle only wants Tom for the money, but maybe Tom wants to show how much power he has as well try to dominate Myrtle. On page 29 "I have been drunken twice, and the second time...Sitting on Tom's lap was Mrs. Wilson" (Fitzgerald 29), and how in Tom's life Daisy doesn't provide the luxury life that Tom has, so that's why Tom has an affair with Myrtle because she was willing to do things that maybe Daisy feels timid about.

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  4. On Page 26 Doctor Eckleburg says "Wilson? He thinks she goes to see her sister in New York. He's so dumb he doesn't know he's alive." Does Mr. Wilson actually know about this affair? If not, how does he not know?

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    1. I think that he does not know because Tom has a strong alibi, it makes it less obvious to Mr. Wilson. Also its not happening around Mr. Wilson, The apartment Tom bought is a hidden location that Mr. Wilson does not know about.

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  5. "we're getting off." He insisted. "I want you to meet my girl."-Page 24
    Why would Nick tell tom where they were going once they were already up and leaving the train?

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  6. I think Tom made up the lie about Daisy being Catholic because divorce is a long process and was not as common as it seems to be today. I also believe Daisy is more wife material than Myrtle is because Myrtle does not care for her husband at all where as Daisy cares for her husband even though he is cheating and they have an unhealthy marriage.

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  7. What exactly does the valley of ashes represent?

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    1. Nick says, "He thinks to see her sister in New York. He's so dumb he doesn't know he's alive." (pg 26) Does Wilson really not know anything about the relationship going on, or does he get benefited by it because Tom is so rick? Are they using Tom's Wealth?

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  8. (Page 24) When Nick and Tom are getting off the train to see "Tom's Girl", why Nick is Tom introducing them when Nick is Daisy's semi-cousin?

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  9. On page 25 "Wilson? He thinks she goes to see her sister in New York. He's dumb he doesn't know hes alive." (Fitzgerald 25), and prior to that Tom and Mrs. Wilson plan to meet in the newsstand and go to there apartment. Is Nick afraid to confront Tom and Mrs. Wilson affair? Knowing how it could affect Daisy.

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    1. I think nick is scared but he should do something for Daisy as he knows this is not right.

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  10. Catherine talks about Gatsby, "well, they say he's a nephew or a cousin of Kaiser willhelm's. That's where all his money comes from." and Nick responds "really?" (pg. 32)How come Nick does not know much about his neighbor that much, but he keeps hearing about him?

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    1. He probably knows Gatsby pretty well, but he might have not heard about that story of him before.

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  11. pg 24 What is Doctor Eckleburgs stare? What does it mean? Why did Fitzgerald put this sign in this run down town?

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  13. I believe Daisy knows about the affair because Myrtle called their house in East Egg around Dinner time and she made is apparent to Nick, how she was not happy in her marriage.

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  14. Why does Fitzgerald create Gatsby to be such a mysterious character? Can we make predictions about who or what Gatsby will do? "I was down there at a party about a month ago. At a man named Gatsby's. Do you know him? ... I'm scared of him" (Fitzgerald 32).

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  15. “But his eyes dimmed a little by many painless days under sun and rain, brood on over the solemn dumping ground.” (page 24) This quote is really powerful in so many ways but does she ever regret that she cheated on him?

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  16. I think Myrtle does not regret cheating on her husband because he can't fully provide her where as Tom has lots of money which Myrtle seems to be after more.

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