by: Rhona 8T
Although we only meet Gatsby for a few seconds at the end of the chapter, already we can see that he is a solitary type of man. The first image of Gatsby is a silhouette of him alone in the twilight, with his arm outstretched as if he is trying to grasp the little green light in the distance. This light represents Daisy and how far out of reach she is.
'....he stretched his arms out towards the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward - and distinguished nothing except a single green light....'
We know that Daisy must already know Gatsby because when Jordan mentions his name she says......... 'Gatsby? What Gatsby?'
But she does not pursue the subject for several reasons. At the very beginning of the story Nick describes his great admiration for Gatsby. However, we do not yet know what has happened which makes him think of Gatsby as a hero.
'If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life,'
Nick disliked the rich people in his neighbourhood but he respected Gatbsy because of his absolute faith in life.
'.......it was an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as I have never found in any other person and which it is not likely I shall ever find again.'
by: Emma 8T
Nick Carraway begins the story by telling us of his father's advice to him.
'Whenever you feel like criticising someone just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages you've had'.
This lets us know that he does not make quick judgments so that we can trust him as he tells the story. He explains why he came to the East and tells us what Gatsby means to him. Gatsby represents everything Nick does not like, 'Gatsby, who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn.' yet there is something about him which sets him apart from the other rich people of the area, something that Nick admires and loves.
'....there was something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life.....'
Gatsby is a hero in Nick's eyes and he tells us more...
'Gatsby turned out all right in the end.'
