Fitzgerald's View of the Rich in *The Great Gatsby*

          I think one of Fitzgerald's most revealing paragraphs into the minds of the rich comes early on in the novel.  On page three there is a paragraph in which Nick describes his decision to go into the bond business and go to the East.  This paragraph begins with Nicks explaining how much he looks like his great uncle, whom he has never seen except for a painting that hangs in his father's office.  He goes on to state that he graduated from "New Haven" just a quarter of a century after his father.  The most notable aspect of these statements  is how he establishes his blood-line and the relevance of ancestry.  Especially in the tradition of old money, carrying on ancestral values is very important.  It is only fitting that Nick would point out how alike he is in appearance to his uncle, and how he received the same education as his father from New Haven, which is actually Yale (but if you are a member of his class you would know that New Haven and Yale are apparently interchangeable terms).  This conveys a sense of entitlement which is further enhanced by his decision to go into the bond business.
          He informs the reader that everybody he knows is in the bond business so it could surely support one more single man.  In conferring with his family they all seem to agree after talking it over as if they were choosing a prep school.  It is apparent that this family believes if they think his career choice is a good idea than that is that and he will be successful.  However, their sense of entitlement is not what determines success in the real world.  Nick departs with unrealistic expectations that he will be out East permanently with his father's backing for the first year.  His initial seed out East is not planted by his own hand, but by his father's backing.  Already, he has began a career on somebody else's merit and he anticipates that his last name and breeding will guarantee him further success.
          This concept of entitlement based on breeding is also corroborated by Tom's dialogue on page thirteen.  He rants about the scientific studies about the Nordics (people like Tom and Nick) as the dominant race.  The dominant race's duty is to suppress other races or else control will be lost and civilization will go to hell.  Not only does their sense of entitlement stem from a family name and class standing, but also from racial backgrounds.  These are two attributes that they were born with, descended from, underscoring the preposterous concept that entitlement to success and power is inherent not earned.

The Importance of Animals in *Grapes of Wrath*

          In reading Dana's post about the land turtle I was drawn to Steinbeck's general use of animals thus far in his novel.  Not only are some of these creatures great symbols, as Dana pointed out, but they also expose the distinct link between humans and animals.  As a result of the animals being strongly relatable to humans, the reader is forced to recognize qualities and behaviors that are inherent in all living things; the will to survive and the impulsive, and possibly sinful, forces that overcome all people from time to time in order to do so are natural.
          One of the first critters that is truly explored is the land turtle.  This turtle's journey is described as a struggle.  This struggle is defined by Steinbeck's word choice:  crawled, dragging, boosted, threshed, climb, clawed, reached, kicked, scraped, pushing, strained, slipped, braced, strained, scratched, worked, waggling, flipped, spun, rolled, flopped and slipped.  Clearly, this turtle had a rough go of it simply getting up a hill and crossing the road.  He crushes and pushes aside obstacles, leaving a trail behind him where his shell has dragged.  Any plant matter that falls on him rolls off his shell and an ant that crawls into his shell is quickly crushed by the jolt of his limbs tucking into his dome-like covering for protection.  This turtle knows how to persevere.  He is not the most attractive creature; his shell is rough and dusty and his eyes are fierce.  However, his appearance is functional and he survives this trek.  The dramatization of his short walk emphasizes his human qualities, or perhaps emphasizes his animalistic qualities that we define as human.  In fact, I believe animals struggle for survival more than any human.  They have more limited resources, stricter diets and environmental restrictions, and no technology to aid them.
          Interestingly enough, Tommy Joad picks this turtle up.  The two are of entirely different species but seem to be kindred spirits.  Much like the land turtle smashed the ant in an effort of self-defense, Tommy committed homicide when he felt his own life being threatened.  Both parties struggles have made them pensive yet relentless, simply trying to reach a destination that the reader is still unsure of.  The preacher and Tommy both reflect upon turtles and their constant journeying to an unknown place.  Likewise, Tommy is journeying to California, but where exactly and with what obstacles and consequences are a mystery.  This turtle is not only a representative of Tommy, but of the human race in general;  All people face a struggle to survive and travel a road to a future that is ultimately undefined, they only do their best to get there.  Their appearance may not always be the finest, but functionality is all that is required.
         The inherent nature of survival that is harbored in all living things is also signified by the cat.  The cat is predatory towards the turtle, showing that animals must fear each other just as humans must.  The cat invades the turtle's shell, his home.  Similarly, other men knock down the home's of men such as Tom Joad, not because they want to but because they too must make a living.  The cat is also harassing the turtle because it is hungry and must be a predator to eat.  The men are also in search of food in this scene, and one of them has come upon it by means of hunting.
          These similarities propose that perhaps behavior that is so natural to uncomplicated beings, is not sinful in a more complex species such as humans it is just constructed as wrong-doing by over-analyzing.  The preacher mulls over his own sins and is incredibly contemplative.  He is slowly realizing that maybe these sins are not sins at all, but necessary actions that all humans carry out.  I think the behaviors of the animals  corroborate his thoughts.  Animals do not sin, they kill each other and have sex with each other (see story about bull and heifer) as a means of survival without repercussions, guilt, or shame.  If these two instincts are natural in humans as well, as Steinbeck's animal-human relation suggests, then they are not really sins but instinctive reactions.    Unfortunately humans are just given intelligence that allows for a thought process greater than what is needed for vitality.  It is when a person's back is up against the wall that their conscience is dulled and their behavior is most genuine.

Imagining *The Great Gatsby*

Daisy's green dock light

One of Gatsby's parties

The eyes of T.J. Eckleberg

East and West Egg

Gatsby's car

A 1920s Coupe (Tom's car)

Oheka Castle, Long Island, 1915, partial inspiration for Gatsby's Estate

Sand's Point Estate, Inspiration for the Buchanan Estate

*The Great Gastby* and Meanings Behind Names

           A brief study of name etymology reveals some interesting symbolic meanings behind each character of The Great Gatsby, which constructs and reinforces certain personality traits of the figures in Fitzgerald's novel.  
Tom 

"familiar shortening of masc. proper name Thomas, used by late14c. as a type of a nickname for a common man. Tom Walker , U.S. Southern colloquial for"the devil" is recorded from 1833."

          Tom Buchanan is a very abrasive and self-important figure in the novel.  However, the common nature of his name parallels his truly common personality.  He is arrogant and incredibly wealthy, capable of transporting a whole string of polo horses to his impressive estate at East Egg.  A rather unimpressive character belies all this wealth; Tom is crude, ignorant, and a bit racist (believing the "Nordic" race to be the dominant race that must suppress the rise of others).  All of these qualities, and the fact that he cheats on his wife, construct his character as rather brutish and beast-like.  He is simple and immoral man that hides behind the veil of wealth to attain approval, much like Gatsby hides behind his wealth (although for other reasons).

 

Daisy 

"O.E. dægesege,  from dæges eage  "day's eye," because the petals open at dawn and close at dusk. In M.L. it was solis oculus  "sun'seye." Pushing up daisies  "dead" is attested from1918, but variant with the same meaning go back to 1842."

          Daisy could be described as a whimsical character.  Her speech and the description of her appearance give the impression that she is a delicate sort of fairy that floats through life trying to ignore her troubles (such has her unfaithful husband).  Daisies are resilient and as the etymology states, represent the "day's eye".  She behaves in a lively manner and becomes giddy over small things, such as Gatsby's shirts and the clouds they gaze at together.  In the face of company she is typically all sunshine and rainboes.  However, she "turns a blind eye", so to speak, to the more reprehensible aspects of her life which could be symbolic of the daisy closing at dusk.  The saying "pushing up daisies" also provides some insight into Daisy and Gatsby's relationship.  "Pushing up daisies" signifies uncovering what is dead and buried.  Daisy and Gatsby's relationship was a memory, a part of the past; a memory which Gatsby is desperately trying to uncover throughout the text.  Often though, it is best to leave dead things buried, as Gatsby is sure to find out.

Jay 

"c.1300, Supposedly influenced by L. Gaius,  a common proper name. For other birdnames from proper names, cf. martin and parrot. Applied to theN.Amer. blue jay ( Cyanocitta cristata ) from 1709. Applied to humans in sense of "impertinent chatterer, flashy dresser" from 1620s."

          Jay (Gatsby), is derived from the common proper name Gaius, a common name for Roman emperors .  This name evokes greatness but is also described as slang, meaning "impertinent chatterer" and "flashy dresser".  These are two aspects that are apparent in Gatsby's personality.  He is frequently described wearing gold, silver, or pink shirts, and white suits.  These flashy colors compliment his flashy personality and speech.  He refers to men as "old sport" and has twice already, throughout the course of the novel, thrown two lavish parties.  This flashiness seems to be covering up a true identity.  Nobody knows who the real Jay Gatsby is, what he does, or where he comes from.  His background is a point of contention in the dialogue amongst his guests and in Nick's thoughts, which the reader is allowed access to through his narration.  Beneath the facade of this flashy materialism there dwells deeper story.

 Nicholas

"as a boy's name is pronounced NIK-oh-lus. It is of Greek origin, and the meaning of Nicholas is "people of victory". Biblical: one of seven "qualified men" in the first-century Christian congregation. "

          Within the first few pages of the story Nick, our narrator, establishes himself as a well-off character from an affluent family.  He is from a "people of victory" and of the breed of "qualified men".  The key for Nick is that he believes himself to be of a certain quality of man due to his blood-line that entitles him to success/victory.  He assumes that he will go into the bond business and do well because many do, and intends to stay on the East coast for quite a while.  The journey for Nick, and a large factor in what makes this story a bildungsroman, is based around his experience of working for victory and earning it himself.  He has to learn that he is not qualified on account of relations, but instead on account of himself.

Jordan

          I don't have much to say about the name Jordan apart from the relevance of it being a name that can be used for a male or female.  This corroborates Jordan's somewhat androgynous identity.  She has a boyish body, and is a professional athlete.  Her entire demeanor is somewhat gruff or at least ambivalent, in sharp contrast to the incredibly delicate and feminine Daisy.  These women are intriguing foils of each other; each emphasizes the extreme nature of the other's personality through the juxtaposition of their behavior.