READING JOURNAL: The Great Gatsby - Chapter Two (27-42)

Chapter Summary:

       The second chapter starts off with the narrator, Nick discussing Doctor T.J Ecklburg and the valley of ashes and how they are made. Tom wants Nick to meet his mistress so they drive over to her. The two of them go to Mr. Wilson’s garage. Mr. Wilson is a friend of Tom. Soon after Nick meets Tom’s mistress Mrs. Wilson. After talking with Mr. Wilson for a bit, Nick, Tom, and Mrs. Wilson disembark on a train to go to their apartment. Mr. Wilson thinks that Mrs. Wilson, also known as Myrtle, is going to visit her sister. At the apartment Nick is introduced to Catherine, Myrtles sister, Mr. and Mrs. McKee. They all share two bottles of whiskey and Catherine and Nick start to gossip about Tom The chapter ends with Mrs. Wilson’s nose being broken by Tom.

Character Choice: 

          I.     Myrtle Wilson

       II.     “Daisy! Daisy! Daisy! … I’ll say it whenever I want to! Daisy! (Fitzgerald 41).

     III.     Myrtle was not happy with the life she lived, so she decided to change it and find another lover. 

    IV.     Myrtle is very materialistic. She thinks that she is a fool for marrying Mr. Wilson and wants to get a divorce, but she cannot because Tom tells Myrtle that Daisy is catholic and does not believe in divorce, which Nick later tells us in untrue.

Quote Selection:

“Neither of them can stand the person they’re married to” (Fitzgerald 37).

This quote by Catherine describes the situation between Wilson and Myrtle and Tom and Daisy perfectly. Except for Mr. Wilson, all of the characters make it very evident that they are unhappy in their relationships.  

READING JOURNAL: The Great Gatsby - Chapter One (5-26)

Chapter Summary:

         This story commences with the narrator, Nick Carraway, recollecting a time when his father gave him some advice for life. He talks about how he has just landed in New York and that he is working in a new bond business. He discusses the house next-door to him, where Jay Gatsby lives, and the difference involving the less-stylish West Egg versus the very nice, fashionable East Egg. He decides to go and visit his cousin, Daisy, and her husband Tom Buchanan at their mansion in East Egg. Over dinner Nick meets Jordan Backer, and unwittingly finds out that Daisy and Tom are in a faulty marriage.

Character Choice: 

          I.     Tom Buchanan

       II.     “Civilization’s going to pieces”

     III.     Tom if not afraid to show his opinion on something. He is open, and makes sure that he is heard.

    IV.     Tom is a very arrogant wealthy man, who is supposedly cheating on his wife with a woman from New York. He is a racist and thinks that society is ruined.

Quote Selection:

“This fellow has worked out the whole thing. It’s up to us who are the dominant race to watch out or these other races will have control of things” (Fitzgerald 17).

This quote by Tom, made me identify him as not only a racist, but almost like Hitler. He thinks that white people are the dominant race, and that he needs to rid of anyone who is in his way.