An honest discussion in these tough times...
by Dalton on Nov 13, 2008 11:14 AM PST
39 comments
I think a lot of these Peavy and Hoffman rumors have gotten everybody way too riled up. We're all friends here, remember people??? I was thinking that maybe we could have a civil discussion about a different, but still closely related topic. Namely:
What would you say are the major symbols (and their meanings) in The Great Gatsby? And how do they relate to Gatsby representing (or not representing) the American Dream? Please use specific examples from the text to support your arguments. Five paragraphs should be enough.
And please remember to cite any sources (MLA style only, please) you use.
Actually, don't even comment-- it's best if you just email your responses directly to me.
This FanPost was written by a member of the Gaslamp Ball community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Gaslamp Ball managers or SB Nation.
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The color green
The color shows up repeatedly. There are the flashes from the lighthouse (I think, it’s been a damn long time since I’ve read it) and also I believe it’s the color of Daisy’s eyes, which has significance.
I believe the color green is supposed to represent the dichotomy of hope/jealousy.
I could be wrong. I seriously wrote an essay about this once upon a time, but that wasy a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
by Phantom on Nov 13, 2008 11:19 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
WRONG
Dr. TJ Eckleburg’s eyes are clearly the biggest symbol in the novel. I’m not even sure where you come up with the color green. The lighthouse and the stoplight (which you didn’t even mention, which is classic, haha) are vastly inferior in their symbolism. Eckleburg’s eyes clearly were meant to represent God’s eyes watching over humanity, that no act goes unseen. The color green is irrelevant. True fans of the novel know that the eyes are the major symbol of the novel and any argument against is simply a waste of time. Eckleburg’s eyes aren’t hurting the novel – the color green is hurting the novel and I don’t understand how you don’t see that.
Also – Eckleburg’s eyes remind me of Sandy’s.
Source: Winfield’s Ghost’s Guide To Knowing Stuff
by Winfield's Ghost on Nov 13, 2008 11:37 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
You're totally and completely right
I have failed you, F. Scott Fitzgerald!
Also, The Metamorphosis by Kafka, great book or greatest book?
by Phantom on Nov 13, 2008 12:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Great book
I’m not a Kafka guy, but I can see his value.
by Winfield's Ghost on Nov 13, 2008 12:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Oh man
When I was in high school, that was by far my favorite classic/contemporary lit book. It’s probably up there in terms of one of my favorite books, period. I just loved how the book started off with Gregor Samsa as a beetle/cockroach/giant bug (so much debate about this) and just went from there. The book never questions this as completely possible.
Other great books I read in high school:
- Gatsby
- Grapes of Wrath
- The Giver (I’m seeing a weird trend here)
- The Fountainhead (not for class, but I wish it had been)
As one professional writer to another, what’s your favorite classic/contemporary lit WG?
by Phantom on Nov 13, 2008 12:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Faulkner was my favorite in HS
Hawthorne was cool too.
Ron Rivera. Change we can believe in. YES WE CAN!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Nov 13, 2008 2:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Hawthorne is so incredibly underrated
especially as a gothic/horror writer. I first got really interested in writing when I went through my pre-teen emo/the world is so cruel/everyone hates me phase. I instantly latched onto Poe and followed him to other authors. But yeah, Hawthorne is tremendous.
by Phantom on Nov 13, 2008 2:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Well this is a conversation that will bore the crap out of most everyone else
But I’m partial to Fitzgerald – I did my senior thesis on his work and taught a post-graduate class on his stuff. I do like Hemingway, as well – I highly recommend a visit to his home in Key West if you ever get the chance – the bar urinal in the backyard is so awesome.
But then I get weird (for an English major) and veer away from the canonical works and I prefer crime fiction – Raymond Chandler, James Cain, Ross Macdonald, etc. Those were the guys that drew me to writing fiction.
by Winfield's Ghost on Nov 13, 2008 2:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes it is
Far too often it gets left out of the conversation.
by Winfield's Ghost on Nov 13, 2008 2:15 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Total respect
for your own preferred genre. I don’t think anyone is ever completely satisfied with the classics. I feel like a bad English major these days since I rarely read anything classic or contemporary anymore (I’ve been reading a lot of baseball books recently).
My own diversion was to SciFi (weird). Totally in love with the Ender and Bean series by Card. I’ve never quite gotten the courage to read his other stuff (especially his fantasy stuff).
Also, the Harry Potter series is epic. That probably goes without saying, but it’s really interesting to see Rowling develop and mature as a writer as those books progress.
by Phantom on Nov 13, 2008 2:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I love Harry Potter
Ron Rivera. Change we can believe in. YES WE CAN!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Nov 13, 2008 2:31 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm shutting down this thread if you guys start talking about Harry Potter.
by Dalton on Nov 13, 2008 2:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
So Phantom
Do you know anything about that new spinoff book she’s releasing?
Ron Rivera. Change we can believe in. YES WE CAN!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Nov 13, 2008 2:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I haven't heard anything about it
I don’t know what she’s doing, but if I were Rowling, I would think about re-writing the series from the perspective of a different character (Draco Malfoy or even Voldermort?). That seems to be the new trend in fiction these days. Orson Scott Card did it with the Ender’s Game series and my wife keeps telling me that those Twilight books are going to do something similar.
by Phantom on Nov 13, 2008 3:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I never read anything "important" anymore
I have a couple of friends writing for Marvel right now and my nightstand has a pile of comics on it. My English professors would be disgusted.
by Winfield's Ghost on Nov 13, 2008 2:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah that's the excuse I use
I have a couple of friends that write “Entertainment for Men”
by jbox on Nov 13, 2008 3:00 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
i've always been partial to Vonnegut
cat’s cradle and galapogos are phenominal
www.wellbelowthemendozaline.blogspot.com
by justdave on Nov 14, 2008 12:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
My only objection to Vonnegut
Is the reoccurring themes and names he has a tendency to use in a lot of his books. It’s almost as if you don’t read Slaughterhouse Five, you’ll miss a reference in Breakfast of Champions, and then you won’t know why this one name is used all the time in Cat’s Cradle .. . and so forth.
No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.
by royhobbs on Nov 14, 2008 12:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
biting and poignant
at the same time.
F Winfield Ghost.
www.wellbelowthemendozaline.blogspot.com
by justdave on Nov 14, 2008 12:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
There are winners, there are losers
Daisy’s the one who ran over Myrtle. But since she was driving Gatsby’s car, he ends up being falsely suspected and killed in the end. The guy who didn’t do anything wrong, ends up paying the price. And there is no turning back. Sounds like the American Dream to me.
But I read this book so long ago, I fully expect a WRONG rebuttal in the near future.
No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.
by royhobbs on Nov 13, 2008 12:00 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I get the feeling
We are being used to do someone else’s homework assignment.
Homer: Ohhhh, The Denver Broncos.
Marge: Whats wrong with the Denver Broncos?
Homer: Marge you just don't understand football.
by Wonko on Nov 13, 2008 1:02 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I’ve actually written this exact paper and still have it. Had you just asked rather than trying to trick us, you could have had it.
by Richard Wade on Nov 13, 2008 2:02 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I'm pretty sure that was the joke.
(see the fanpost below this one)
www.PadsAndEnds.blogspot.com
"jbox does not drink coffee, as it makes him clean house big time." ~Kev
by TheThirdGonzalez on Nov 13, 2008 2:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
i too wrote this paper about 12 years ago.
www.wellbelowthemendozaline.blogspot.com
by justdave on Nov 14, 2008 12:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Actually, I read this book two weeks ago.
And this woulda helped.
Life always goes on...even if you don't want it to
by TheVinylCrocodile on Nov 13, 2008 9:49 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
This is about Khalil isn't it?
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. " ~Frank Sinatra
by Sammy G on Nov 14, 2008 9:32 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Hated Gatsby
I could never get past page 10. I seriously fell asleep multiple times while reading the book.
Then I rented the movie..and fell asleep during that too.
I’m a reader and like the classics..but Gatsby bored the ever living crap out of me.
Don't hate the game, hate the nerds!
by thenerdhater on Nov 14, 2008 2:55 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
same here
had to read it in summer school, then watch the movie
couldnt stay awake. im sure its a classic but it just never grabbed my attention at all
I hooked up my accelerator pedal in my car to my brake lights. I hit the gas, people behind me stop, and I'm gone.
~*Chicks Dig 3rd Basemen*~
by iLOVEkouz5 on Nov 14, 2008 6:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
James Joyce
Does the same thing to me.
Ron Rivera. Change we can believe in. YES WE CAN!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Nov 14, 2008 8:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
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