The Great Gatsby Journal 8

George Angelopoulos 4˚

1. The Great Gatsby: Chapter 9, Pg. 163-180

2. Gatsby’s murder is surrounded by gossip, journalists, and reporters. His former “friends” did not attend his funeral, including Tom and Daisy. Former servants, Nick, Gatsby’s father, and Owl Eyes attend. Nick decides to move back to the Midwest, and infers that the East had a horrible affect on everyone’s actions. Nick walks through Gatsby’s mansion on his last night, and reminisces. Nick comments that Gatsby’s dream was just like what the American Dream has become: empty, with no foundation. He says that people have to wake up before their hearts are broken, like Gatsby’s was.

3.            a. Henry C. Gatz

            b. “He had reached an age where death no longer has the quality of ghastly surprise, and when he looked around him now for the first time and saw the height and splendor of the hall and the great rooms opening out from it into other rooms, his grief began to be mixed with an awed pride.” (168)

            c. Henry Gatz is a good and proud father. He wanted the best for Gatsby, and only wanted him to be happy. Henry hasn’t seen the success that his son has achieved, and is really just left in awe. He still carries around a picture of him, and keeps him in is heart always. He truly is a great, loving, and protecting father, who is shocked that his son was killed. The life that Gatsby led after he left his home, was a fair mystery to Henry. This is the first time that he could admire his son’s life, and celebrate his accomplishments.

            d. Henry represents a different side of Gatsby. He symbolizes the Gatsby before his life in West Egg. The innocence, sincerity, and love of love that Gatsby had is shown through Henry. The amount of corruption that society had on Gatsby is really evident when comparing the two men. There is also a contrast between inner and outer wealth. Henry had inner wealth, while Gatsby could only chase for inner wealth. The chase for outer wealth has dominated Gatsby’s life so much, that he had no room for inner wealth. Henry represents a success of the American Dream, and the success of happiness.

4. “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter- to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther… And one fine morning – So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” (180) The Great Gatsby has been based on the pursuit of individual dreams and the pursuit of the American Dream. Dreams must be sacrificed for, but we cant be destroyed d by the pursuit of our dreams. Nick learned something very powerful from Gatsby: optimism. Gatsby looked to his future and his dreams with all of the hope in the world. He kept his eyes on the green light on the other side of the lake. He encourages us to do the same, to dream, to hope, and to believe we can achieve. Gatsby’s failure shouldn’t be a warning, rather an inspiration to achieve our dreams.