Why do you think Fitzgerald uses "west egg" and "east egg" more than once?
What is he describing in the beginning of chapter two? why does he descdribe it the way he did?
What does the relationship of Tom and Daisy show about the time period?
If you had no background knowledge how would you know or find out the time period?
why does Fitzgerald bring up Gatsby breifly in random moments of the book?
i think that Fitzgerald uses "west egg" and "east egg" as symbolism. the "East egg" is like the people that have been wealthy for a while like Tom and Daisy and "West egg" are the people who are new to wealth just like Nick and Gatsby.
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ReplyDeletein chapter two Fitzgerald describes the poor people and how the wealthy people over look them. Fitzgerald describes them in this way because he is trying to make it seem dark and grim.
ReplyDeleteToms and Daisies relationship is weird like they are together but they hate being together.Daisy says she has become ‘pretty cynical’ and Tom tells Nick he is now ‘a terrible pessimist’.
ReplyDeleteif i had no background information i would find out by the dates he gives and because this takes place in the jazz age its all pretty simple
ReplyDeleteI think the west egg and east egg are used a fictional places in the book to give the city a sense of ambiance. The "eggs" are supposed to symbolize (like Cesar said) the different social classes existing at the time, with the west egg being were the middle class or poor live, and the east egg being the more expensive and wealthy area of town.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of chapter two i believe Fitzgerald is attempting to explain the more desolate and industrial side of New York. He does not do a very good job of this because using "a valley of ash" as his primary metaphor is much too vague. What he is saying is up for interpretation but it appears our protagonist is explaining a particularly sullen part of town that he is not very particular to.
ReplyDeleteThe relationship during this time period shows that people were very sexually flamboyant and these dual relationships could have even been frequent. Women like Daisy were not as keen to become single mothers and ex wives as today. Daisy's husband is cheating on her, but she no longer feels as attached to him either, yet the baby keeps them together. Divorce and being a "part time" parent were not quite as common then as now.
ReplyDeleteHopefully i would find out about the time period from our group researcher. However if left to my own devices i would probably judge by the way the town and the people are described that this was definitely far in the past. I would judge by the use of automobiles that this is post 1900, and the party lifestyle and migratory attitude of characters such as Tom of Nick that this is screaming roaring twenties. I probably would not but this book as taking place before 1920, and before any mention of the Great Depression, that this taking place post 1930.
ReplyDeleteI think the main character has a particular interest and Gatsby, and perhaps it is a mutual interest. Nick has a very interesting neighbor, and a mysterious one at that. Later in the book i am sure we will learn more of Jay Gatsby but until then i think he will be constantly on the mind of our protagonist.
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ReplyDeleteFitzgerald definietly mentioned West egg and East egg various times through out the novel. Both, West and East are regions were in which, form part of the setting in the story. However, these two regions are targeted as two very different classes. East is characterized as the home to the "new rich" who having made their fortunes recently, neither social connection nor refinement to make among the East egg. On the other hand, West is illustrated as poor, by lavish displays of wealth and garnish poor taste, the "old rich".
ReplyDeleteTowards the beginning of chapter two, in the novel, Flitzgerald , is describing the spare space between the West and East egg. He interprets this area as the valley of ashes, "Based on the corna dump in the borough of Queens, a swamp that is being filled with ashes, garbage, and manure"(208). As a result, the vallley of ashes is a picture of absolute desolation and povety. Lacks glamorous surface, between East and West egg. This senario also simbolizes the moral decay hidden by the beautiful fecades of eggs. Valley is created by industrial dumping and is therefore home to the poor characters of the novel.
The relationship between Tom and Daisy demonstrates how this time period money played a crucial role in relationships. Both, Tom and Daisy, were pretty much united mainly for economical reasons. which led to class labels, so they did not respect the "lower class"
If I were not to have any background information on this book about the era, I would figure out the time period, by the mentioning of jazz music being played, the automoblies being described, and the orchestra playing.
Flitzgrald brings up Gatsby brefily in random moments in the book because he is preparing the audience for the great entrance on the upcoming future in the novel.
Reseacher
ReplyDeleteSeveral connections I have made between this reading and my own experiences, the wider world, and other texts or authors:
-This book, as you guys are aware of, exemplifies the Great Depression era. The era where in which America fell into a rough down fall that marked history.
-East and West Egg: are two distinct locations where in which are catagorized as different, opposite, and contrasting. They can relate to gangs, water and oil, and yin yang. What all of these examples have in common is that they can not get along with eachother and always have a conflict between one another
-This novel also opens up a different point of view towards the roaring 1920s, the Great Depression. On the contrary, the charcters in this novel are doing the complete opposite from what is expected from the citizens during this era. Fitzgerald, can relate to the author Zin, this author explains history from his paradigm, and perspective, with out the intention to conceal the reality