Hello fellow group members! I'm sorry I didn't post this on the 15th like I should have, but late is better than never (which I hope Ms. Watkins is agreeable too...).
In this post, I'm going to briefly dissect the locations that are presented to us in chapter two. Each one represents something greater than just being another place on the map.
***Locations***:
*The Midwest: It simply represents the morality that is missing from the big city life Nick moved to. It is far away from the taint of New York City. It represents honest, hard work.
**Quotes:
----"Instead of being the warm center of the world the middle-west now seemed like the ragged edge of the universe..." (pg.7)
----"...I had just left a country of wide lawns and friendly trees..." (pg.7)
**Who lives here?
>Supposedly the rest of the Carraways
**Who lived here?
>Nick Carraway
*The West Egg: It represents those who are "new money." The people who live here throw their money around, such as hosting lavish parties to boast their grandeur. They have none of the social connections nor the refinements of those of the other Egg. They are never going to be accepted by the "old money."
**Quotes:
----"I lived at the West Egg, the-well, the less fashionable of the two, though this is a most superficial tag to express the bizarre and not a little sinister contrast between them." (pg.9)
----"My house was at the tip of the egg, only fifty yards from the Sound, and squeezed between two huge places..." about Nick's home. (pg.9)
----"...it was a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool and more than forty acres of lawn and garden." about Gatsby's mansion. (pg.9)
**Who lives here?
>Nick Carraway
>Jay Gatsby
*The East Egg: It represents those who come from "old money." The people who live here have social status, education, reputation, and refinement that goes along with their "pedigree." And, this really is where the pedigrees of society live. Aristocracy, breeding, and those who live the "life o' luxury" all reside here. Flashy, lavish parties aren't needed here for reputation "points." Old view-points on race are also still present here such as Tom's racism toward blacks.
**Quotes:
----"Across the courtesy bay the white palaces of fashionable East Egg glittered along the water..." (pg.10)
----"Their house was even more elaborate than I expected, a cheerful red and white Georgian Colonial mansion overlooking the bay. The lawn started at the beach and ran toward the front door for a quarter mile, jumping over sun-dials and brick walks and burning gardens..." about Tom & Daisy's mansion. (pg.11)
**Who lives here?
>Tom & Daisy Buchanan
>Jordan Baker
*The Valley of Ashes: It is the epitome of an "Industrial Wasteland." It's bleak, grey, and lifeless. Industrialization and machinery have taken over the area. The people here move dimly and are all but crumbling under the dank atmosphere that encases the area. Those who live in the Eggs must pass through the valley to get to New York City. They must pass through this wasteland to get to the glitz and glamor of the City.
**Quotes:
----"About half a way between the West Egg and and New York the motor-road hastily joins the railroad and runs beside it for a quarter mile so as to shrink away from a certain desolate area of land. This is a valley of ashes-a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens, where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and finally, with transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air." (pg.27)
>>>This passage basically describes how the desolation and bleakness of the valley take over not only the homes and factories but also the people themselves who live there. The atmosphere consumes them and spits them out as empty ashes of the people they once were. It's got an infectious atmosphere.
----"But above the grey land and the spasms of bleak dust which drift endlessly over it, you perceive, after a moment, the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg." Talking about the billboard sign along the road which is found in the valley. (pg.27)
----"The valley of ashes is bounded on one side by a small foul river, and when the drawbridge is up to let barges through, the passengers on waiting trains can stare at the dismal scene for as long as half an hour." (pg.28)
**Who lives here?
> Myrtle & George B. Wilson
*New York City: It basically represents much of what it still does today... It represents sin and immorality. It's the place where people from all over, including both the Eggs, go to party, drink (illegally at this time due to prohibition, but illegal drinking was also going on in the Eggs too), and see their mistresses (a la Tom). It is the absolute opposite of the valley of ashes. The City glitters where as the valley is kept clouded by smoke.
**Tom has an apartment here in NYC that he takes Myrtle to as to keep his affair away from his home in the East Egg.
**Who do we meet here?
>Catherine (Myrtle's sister)
>Mr. & Mrs. Mckee
So I did my best to find quotes for each locale. I couldn't find any in the first few chapters for NYC, so it would be a major help if anyone who has one or might of read ahead could leave page numbers on which to find them :) I'm going to go to bed now as it's almost 1 AM...
-Kelli <3
In this post, I'm going to briefly dissect the locations that are presented to us in chapter two. Each one represents something greater than just being another place on the map.
***Locations***:
*The Midwest: It simply represents the morality that is missing from the big city life Nick moved to. It is far away from the taint of New York City. It represents honest, hard work.
**Quotes:
----"Instead of being the warm center of the world the middle-west now seemed like the ragged edge of the universe..." (pg.7)
----"...I had just left a country of wide lawns and friendly trees..." (pg.7)
**Who lives here?
>Supposedly the rest of the Carraways
**Who lived here?
>Nick Carraway
*The West Egg: It represents those who are "new money." The people who live here throw their money around, such as hosting lavish parties to boast their grandeur. They have none of the social connections nor the refinements of those of the other Egg. They are never going to be accepted by the "old money."
**Quotes:
----"I lived at the West Egg, the-well, the less fashionable of the two, though this is a most superficial tag to express the bizarre and not a little sinister contrast between them." (pg.9)
----"My house was at the tip of the egg, only fifty yards from the Sound, and squeezed between two huge places..." about Nick's home. (pg.9)
----"...it was a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool and more than forty acres of lawn and garden." about Gatsby's mansion. (pg.9)
**Who lives here?
>Nick Carraway
>Jay Gatsby
*The East Egg: It represents those who come from "old money." The people who live here have social status, education, reputation, and refinement that goes along with their "pedigree." And, this really is where the pedigrees of society live. Aristocracy, breeding, and those who live the "life o' luxury" all reside here. Flashy, lavish parties aren't needed here for reputation "points." Old view-points on race are also still present here such as Tom's racism toward blacks.
**Quotes:
----"Across the courtesy bay the white palaces of fashionable East Egg glittered along the water..." (pg.10)
----"Their house was even more elaborate than I expected, a cheerful red and white Georgian Colonial mansion overlooking the bay. The lawn started at the beach and ran toward the front door for a quarter mile, jumping over sun-dials and brick walks and burning gardens..." about Tom & Daisy's mansion. (pg.11)
**Who lives here?
>Tom & Daisy Buchanan
>Jordan Baker
*The Valley of Ashes: It is the epitome of an "Industrial Wasteland." It's bleak, grey, and lifeless. Industrialization and machinery have taken over the area. The people here move dimly and are all but crumbling under the dank atmosphere that encases the area. Those who live in the Eggs must pass through the valley to get to New York City. They must pass through this wasteland to get to the glitz and glamor of the City.
**Quotes:
----"About half a way between the West Egg and and New York the motor-road hastily joins the railroad and runs beside it for a quarter mile so as to shrink away from a certain desolate area of land. This is a valley of ashes-a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens, where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and finally, with transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air." (pg.27)
>>>This passage basically describes how the desolation and bleakness of the valley take over not only the homes and factories but also the people themselves who live there. The atmosphere consumes them and spits them out as empty ashes of the people they once were. It's got an infectious atmosphere.
----"But above the grey land and the spasms of bleak dust which drift endlessly over it, you perceive, after a moment, the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg." Talking about the billboard sign along the road which is found in the valley. (pg.27)
----"The valley of ashes is bounded on one side by a small foul river, and when the drawbridge is up to let barges through, the passengers on waiting trains can stare at the dismal scene for as long as half an hour." (pg.28)
**Who lives here?
> Myrtle & George B. Wilson
*New York City: It basically represents much of what it still does today... It represents sin and immorality. It's the place where people from all over, including both the Eggs, go to party, drink (illegally at this time due to prohibition, but illegal drinking was also going on in the Eggs too), and see their mistresses (a la Tom). It is the absolute opposite of the valley of ashes. The City glitters where as the valley is kept clouded by smoke.
**Tom has an apartment here in NYC that he takes Myrtle to as to keep his affair away from his home in the East Egg.
**Who do we meet here?
>Catherine (Myrtle's sister)
>Mr. & Mrs. Mckee
So I did my best to find quotes for each locale. I couldn't find any in the first few chapters for NYC, so it would be a major help if anyone who has one or might of read ahead could leave page numbers on which to find them :) I'm going to go to bed now as it's almost 1 AM...
-Kelli <3
6 comments:
Wow Kelli, I'd say that's more than thorough. The only thing I don't see is if the Valley of Ashes is the exact opposite of NYC. I'd say the NYC represents a microcosm of the East which is the direct opposite of the West but whichever.
I like how you went in depth with all the locations and the quotes really helped explain a lot too. From what I've read so far I haven't seen any quotes for NYC either, but great post.
Yea, way to go with the detail. You really broke down the different locations well. Plus, the quotes help make it a lot clearer and will be a huge help for the research paper.
Great detail!!!!! So helpful and accurate.
Something interesting to keep in mind while you are reading this --- Nick does come from the Midwest, but his family has money. In the first chapter we learn that his family owns a wholesaler business to hardware companies. Plus, Daisy is his second cousin. So even though he has somewhat of an outsiders point of view, he is still a man who has a shot at an Ivy League education and he comes from money so his point of view can not be entirely unbiased.
Ladies and gentleman, I just want to remind you that you are supposed to be making connections and observations in your posts - not just writing a whole lot of nothing. Your posts don't have to be long, but they should be thoughtful - especially on a post as detailed as this one. Nice job Kelli.
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