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The Great Gatsby Chapter 1 Characterization

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Prompt #1 Chapter 1 – Characterization In the first chapter of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, we are introduced to five characters. Fitzgerald begins with Nick Carraway who seems to be narrating the story. Nick describes himself as highly moral and highly tolerant. Later, Carraway mentions Jay Gatsby, the man who represents everything he scorns. Nick states, “I wanted no more riotous excursions with privileged glimpses into the human heart. Only Gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book, was exempt from my reaction…”(p. 19-20) explaining how he sees good in Gatsby, even though he may be from “new money”, he has the proper decencies that other high society members lack. “If personality is an unbroken series of successful …show more content…

He finally was able to see the luxury that is known as Gatsby’s mansion. In literature, geography can be much more than just humans occupying a space, “it can be revelatory of virtually any element in the work. Theme? Sure. Symbol? No problem (p.174)”. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald takes time describing the mansion that we long to read about. As the story unfolds, however, the reader learns more and more about Gatsby’s personality and his life story. Everything he has done in his adult life has been with the sole purpose of fulfilling an unrealistic dream, to recapture the past. Gatsby is in many ways, as the title suggests, great, but when looking at him, some of the things he stands for may not be so admirable. Foster mentions how “geography can also define or develop a character (p173)”, which is what occurred to Gatsby. He fell in love with a rich girl, Daisy, and was ashamed of his financial background, therefor lying. He went off to the army and returned, attending Oxford, so he can make something of himself. While he was at school, Daisy married Tom. Fitzgerald finally introduces Gatsby with dialogue in the third chapter where he has a conversation with Jordan and Nick during the party.

Prompt #3 Chapter 4 – “Truth and Lies” Motif and Time / Flashback
1) Gatsby says to Nick “I’ll tell you God’s truth” A: Gatsby tells Nick about his past during a drive to the city, however, Nick wonders if all these things are not true. He claims to have been

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