Faulkner's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech

     In his acceptance speech, Faulkner explains that“…the young man or woman writing today has forgotten the problems of the human heart…(Faulkner, 176).” He goes on to explain that the job of a poet or a writer is to assure us that life is worth living and prove to us why. He mentions that humans have courage, pride, pity and an inexhaustible voice and that with these tools we not only can survive this crazy ride we call life, but we will prevail. He shows his belief of this idea in does his short story "That Evening Sun" through Nancy, Mr. Stovall, Mother and Father. 

      As far as exhibiting these traits go, I feel that Nancy does it the best. She is not afraid to say what she feels or knows. She has an inexhaustible voice. When she's thrown in jail, she yells at Mr. Stovall, "When you going to pay me, white man? (Faulkner 168)," and recieves a kick in the face in return. She repeats that she knows Jesus is back because she can feel it (Faulkner 169) but Father just tells her that he went away even though she is adamant upon Jesus' return. Mr. Stovall and Mother are both very proud. Mother shows it when she asks Father if her safety is less important to that of Nancy when Father walks Nancy home. Mr. Stovall shows off his pride when he kicks Nancy in the face after she asks him for her pay. Obviously gender comes into play but the fact he kicks her in the face and she loses teeth shows much more then gender and that is also race. Father shows pity and courage as he tries to talk to Nancy and help her. He walks her home and tries to talk to her about Jesus and ease her stress. No matter how nice he may seem though, he and the rest of the family abandon Nancy at the end of the story regardless of their knowing that Jesus was going to kill her.

A Clean, Well-Lighted Place

1. Yes and no. When I first read "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" I imagined the environment to be much darker and not big as the actual bar/cafe was in the visual adaptation. I do think that it was portrayed very honestly in comparison to the context of the story aside from maybe one major difference.
2. Like I said in question number one,  I think the film was accurate in its depiction of Hemingway's short story. His existential-nihilistic ideas are expressed through the old man's choice of death (suicide), the emphasis of being an "old man",  and through the repetition of "nada" throughout the end of the story. 
3. I think they could have changed the setting of the story to a more intimate surrounding in contrast to this very empty and big space. I also think that at the end of the video, when the voices are talking over each other and you can only make out the word "nothing" because it is repeated. I think that added to Hemingway's existential-nihilistic beliefs but it could have been done a different way. 
4. I thought the difference in age and morals between the waiters was done very well (in spite of the less than decent acting). I also thought that however successful the production was at making the movie identical to the story, it could have done things to emphasize Hemingway's "under the surface" information because it is a visual representation rather than a written work. 
5. I would have changed the closing audio (screaming). I wasn't very fond of it. I also would have recast the younger actor and cast someone more experienced. I would have darkened the old man a bit more and cast someone more like the old man that I imagined. I feel like the movie also lacked emotion so I would have definitely tried to implement more things to make sure there would be more emotion or "pazzazz" emitted.
6. I think the actors were cast well. I didn't quite think of the old man as a short, hairy guy but it worked. I wasn't a huge fan of the acting but I felt the older waiter did a better job than the younger waiter. You could tell he wasn't a very experienced actor by his movements and because he wasn't very comfortable on camera.

Chapter 9, pages 163 - 180

Summary

       In Chapter 9, Nick recalls the days after Gatsby's death and his funeral. Nick scrambles to find people close to Gatsby, he finds out that Tom and Daisy left their home and didn't leave any information regarding where they moved to and he can't get a hold of Wolfsheim. He receives a letter from Wolfsheim that states he is too busy and caught up in something to attend the funeral but that he is truly sad for what has happened. Nick tells us that 3 days after failing to compile some of Gatsby's "friends", Gatsby's father, Henry Gatz, sends a telegram to him and when he arrives at Gatsby's house, Nick and Mr. Gatz have a long conversation on Gatsby. We see how proud of his son Mr. Gatz is and how modest a man he is. Klipspringer calls to see if Nick could send him his shoes but Nick just hangs up the phone. The next day, Nick goes to Wolfsheim's office to persuade him to go to the funeral, but his receptionist tries to convince Nick Wolfsheim's not there. Wolfsheim eventually meets with Nick and they talk about Wolfsheim's relationship with Gatsby and how close they were. Wolfsheim helped Gatsby make his name and reach success the wrong way. After Nick fails to persuade Wolfsheim so he returns home and he and Mr. Gatz talk about Gatsby again and how he was a very ambitious young man. Nick sees Jordan later on and they talk about what happened to their relationship and she mentions that she's engaged to another man but Nick doesn't care. Nick tells us about his encounter with Tom on Fifth Avenue and he tells us that people like Tom and Daisy just make a mess but don't stick around to clean it up. 

Character Analysis 

•  Mr. Henrey Gatz
• "After changing my clothes I went next door and found Mr. Gatz walking up and down excitedly in the hall. His pride in his son and in his son's possessions was continually increasing and now he had something to show me." 
• Mr. Gatz's Good Qualities
• He's proud of Gatsby
• He loves Gatsby so much
• He's a humble man
• Mr. Gatz's Bad Quality
• He sees only good in Gatsby which is a bit naïve
• Mr. Gatz shows us how Gatby's life was before he became "Jay Gatsby". Mr. Gatz is the "average joe" beginnings of Gatsby and also exemplifies how Gatsby would have probably ended up if not having become Jay Gatsby. His love for his son is wonderful and he really thinks of "Jimmy" as a great person. 

Important Quote & Significance

"And as the moon rose higher the inessential houses becan to melt away intil gradually I became aware of the old island here that flowered once for Dutch sailors' eyes - a fresh, green breast of the new world." 

This quote stood out to me because of its message, that however perfect something may seem, there is something imperfect about it, be it it's beginnings or it's purpose. This quote can represent Gatsby and his humble beginnings from the Midwest and his journey to going from James Gatz to Jay Gatsby. The quote could also describe Jordan, Daisy and Tom and how beautiful and perfect they seem on the exterior but how shallow, ugly and corrupt they are on the interior. Everything has a beginning and a meaning and no matter how much you try to sugar coat flaws, they always find a way of making their way to the surface of things.

Chapter 8, pages 147 - 162

Summary

      In Chapter 8, Nick tells us he has the urge to speak to Gatsby in the middle of the night and around dawn, he rushes outside because he hears a taxi go to Gatsby's house. Gatsby tells him nothing happened at the Buchanan's and when he and Nick go inside his house, Nick explains how dusty and empty Gatsby's house is now. After Nick suggests that Gatsby leave town for a little they begin talking about Gatsby and Daisy's past. Gatsby tells Nick of their nearly perfect relationship and how Gatsby became attached to Daisy, contrary to her moving on from him. One of Gatsby's servants interrupts the conversation to tell Gatsby that he's going to drain the pool before the leaves clog it up but Gatsby asks him to hold off on it because he has a new found interest in it, along with the various things in his home that he's never once used. Nick puts off leaving Gatsby's but he eventually goes to work. Jordan calls him at work and they have a little spat over the phone where she mentions that she's engaged to another man. When she asks to meet up, Nick just blows her off and tries to think. After, we here more about George Wilson, after Myrtle's death. Michaelis tries to console him but he is just out of it and vengeful. They discuss George's marriage but he seems distant throughout the entire conversation. Michaelis eventually leaves to go home and sleep while someone else stays with George but when he returns, George is gone. We find that that he makes his way to Gatsby's house and while Gatsby's in the pool, George shoots and kills him then commits suicide.

 Character Analysis

• Dan Cody
• "A large photograph of an elderly man in yachting costume attracted me, hung on a wall over his desk"
• Dan's Good Qualities
• He's wealthy
• He took Gatsby in when he was 17
• Dan's Bad Qualities
• Lived in his own worl on his yacht
• Was taken advantage of by gold diggers
• Bad influence on Gatsby
• Dan is the reason James Gatz became Jay Gatsby. He was his mentor and influence when Gatsby was 17. Gatsby saw the dream that Dan Cody was living in because of his wealth and he was mesmerized by Cody's ability to escape from reality.

Important Quote & Significance 

 "The chauffeur-he was one of Wolfsheim's protégés-heard the shots- afterward he could only say that he hadn't thought anything about them."

When Gatsby was shot in his pool, no one made a fuss about it. The servants he had didn't bother to call the police or anything of the sort. It shows that the people Gatsby surrounded himself with were not good people and that they really did not care about him or what happened to him. This quote also shows that his servants were not very good people in the sense that they heard gunshots and were so used to them that they didn't think anything of it.

Chapter 7, pages 113 - 145

Summary 

      In the opening of Chapter 7, we find out that Gatsby hasn't thrown a party in weeks and that he fired his entire staff because of Daisy's disapproval. At first Gatsby refused to talk to anyone but he only spoke to Nick because Daisy wanted him to invite him over. When Nick and Gatsby arrived at the Buchanan household, Daisy and Jordan were lounging on the couch and we are introduced to the Buchanan's daughter, Pammy. Gatsby immediately becomes uncomfortable. The men move outside and begin planning for the afternoon and they decide to go to town. On the way to town Tom, Jordan and Nick run out of gas in Gatsby's car and they go to George Wilson's garage. They find George in terrible shape because he knows about Myrtle's affair, just not who she's having it with. The group has a hard time deciding on what they were going to do but Nick just remembers ending up in a hotel room and Gatsby and Tom start bickering about Gatsby's past. The bickering soon escalates into a huge argument in which Daisy admits to not having loved Tom ever and then saying she has. They decide to go home and on the way, Daisy and Gatsby hit Myrtle Wilson as she leaves the garage. The authorities arrive and shortly after so do Tom, Jordan and Nick. After they find out what happens, Tom is flustered and Nick just wants to leave. When they arrive at the Buchanan's house, Nick talks to Gatsby and we find out that Daisy was driving the car when Myrtle was hit. 

Character Analysis

• George Wilson
• "He was a blond, spiritless man, anæmice and faintly handsome." 
• George's Good Qualities: 
• He loves his wife 
• He is an honest man
• He is handsome
• He does what he can to please his wife
• George's Bad Qualities
• He's weak spirited and easily taken advantage of
• He's naïve and too trusting
• George's role in the story has been minor but extremely symbolic. Although we are not given an honest depiction of the working class, George Wilson is the primary symbol for it. He is a man that works for himself and for his wife. He loves her and wants to please her but is obviously failing because she's cheating on him with his complete opposite, Tom. He and Gatsby are similar because both are willing to do anything for the women they love but are left in heartache and sadness and because they both did not come from money.
  

Important Quote & Significance 

"'Her voice is full of money,' he said suddenly," 

When Gatsby says this to Nick in Chapter 7, Nick has epiphany and with his discovery we too are given a glimpse into Daisy's character and Gatsby's realization of it as well. In this quote, Gatsby put it all out and shows that the love of his life only wants him for his money. He mentions in earlier chapters that she has changed and that "she doesn't understand anymore" but he doesn't believe that it was the end until this point. I believe that when he says this, he is almost to the point where he doesn't see his future with Daisy as a possibility anymore and that his perfect dream is slipping from his grasp just like Tom's balance between women.

Chapter 6, pages 97 - 111

Summary

       Chapter 6 opens with Gatsby being interviewed by an ambitious reporter. Followed by this, we are given a true description of Gatsby's early life. We find out that James Gatz became Jay Gatsby when he met a rich man by the name of Dan Cody while Cody's yacht was stopped on the beach. Cody, most likely enchanted by Gatsby's smile, fosters him and buys him expensive clothes. This helps shapes Gatz's image of "Jay Gatsby" and when Cody dies, he loses everything, including the inheritance money that he never received. After this flashback, we move to Gatsby's house where Nick is shocked to find Tom, a man named Sloane and pretty woman. Tom is suspicious of Gatsby and Gatsby meets all his wise remarks with even smarter retorts. 2 weeks later, Tom and Daisy decide to attend one of Gatsby's parties and although they know no one, Daisy manages to have a good time but only during the half hour she spends with Gatsby. Tom tries to find flaws in the party and is shut up by Daisy who claims to have had a good time. The chapter concludes with yet another flashback into Daisy and Gatsby's past to when they first kissed.

Character Analysis 

•  Nick Carraway
• "Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people I have ever known." 
• Nick's Good Qualities:
• He's incredibly honest
• He works hard 
• He's able to see past people's flaws (even if it's solely for his benefit)
• He's a great listener
•  Nick's Bad Quality: 
• Overlooks people's flaws which could potentially hurt him
• Nick's purpose in this novel is the most important, he is telling the story. We only know the information he chooses to share with us, therefore we are dependent on his judgement, which he claims and we believe to be the most honest. I believe so because of the setting as well. He is surrounded by so many people that are deceptive, corrupt and completely dishonest, so the fact we have someone "normal" like Nick, helps prove the legitimacy of the novel and information we are presented with.

Important Quote & Significance

"So he invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen-year-old boy would be likely to invent, and to this conception he was faithful to the end."

This quote is extremely important for the sole reason that it explains Jay Gatsby's motivation to get where he is now. He came from nothing and strove to become something. Although we aren't sure how (not yet at least) he did succeed and he is using his success to court Daisy and is finally getting results after 5 years of nothing. This quote also shows Gatsby's work ethic and how he will achieve whatever he wants if it helps him achieve the image he wants to portray. He was dedicated to becoming a sophisticated and refined version of himself and although he has gotten significantly wealthier, he is still not satisfied with himself.

Chapter 5, pages 81-96

Summary 

      Chapter 5 begins with Nick's conversation with Gatsby in the very early hours of the morning. They discuss plans for Daisy's visit and if Nick would join Gatsby in one of his business ventures. Nick declines but throughout the entire conversation Gatsby seems a bit off. The next day, Gatsby sends a man over to trim Nick's lawn and flowers for Daisy's visit. Gatsby arrives early and is miserable until Daisy arrives but that only turns into embarrassment once they begin to talk. Finally Nick makes Gatsby snap out of it and he becomes his confident and glorious self once again. The night continues great as the migrate over to Gatsby's house but Nick constantly finds himself feeling intrusive so in the end, he just leaves them alone in at Gatsby's house and goes home. 

Character Analysis 

• Daisy Buchanan
• "Her face was sad and lovely with bright things in it, bright eyes and a bright passionate mouth, but there was an excitement in her voice that men who had cared for her found difficult to forget: a singing compulsion, a whispered 'Listen,' a promise that she had done gay, exciting things just a while since and that were gay, exciting things hovering in the next hour." 
• Daisy's Good Qualities
• She's beautiful
• She's well off
• She's very good at pretending to be happy
• Daisy's Bad Qualities
• She's superficial
• She's not independent 
• She's not strong
• Daisy is Nick's cousin and she's married to Tom, who is cheating on her. She exemplifies the women who are rich, beautiful and have security and she would never put any of those things in jeopardy, which is why she is still with Tom when she knows he's having an affair with Myrtle. She's very close friends with Jordan Baker and despite this friendship they are completely different when it comes to life and the way they live it. Jordan is her own person whereas Daisy just hides behind Tom and their money. 

Important Quotes & Significance 

"'My house looks well doesn't it? he demanded. 'See how the whole front catches the light." 

Gatsby's character is given more depth throughout the entire chapter but this quote adds to his and everyone's character in the entire novel. It shows how superficial and self conscious he really is. Like the Tom, he asks for Nick's opinion of his house and Nick being his honest self, agrees but with less adoration than Gatsby of his own house. This quote also lets us know how fake Gatsby is. He is thought to be this very kind and generous man but he is deceptive, creepy and shallow.

Chapter 4, pages 61-80

Summary 

      Chapter 6 consists of interesting and scandalous revelations to say the least. We learn more about Gatsby when he and Nick go to lunch. We find out that Gatsby really did go to Oxford and that his family did when he was young. When they meet for lunch, we meet one of Gatsby's friends, Mr. Meyers Wolfsheim and we learn that he is responsible for rigging the World Series in 1919.  After lunch, Nick meets up with Jordan for tea and she tells him about her memories of her friendship with Daisy, including when she went to Daisy's house and saw her on her porch with a army lieutenant named "Jay Gatsby." They make the connection that Nick's neighbor is the same Gatsby from Daisy's past and that Gatsby wants Nick to have Daisy over for tea and invite him over to see Daisy. 

Character Analysis 

•  Meyers Wolfsheim
• "'You sit here and discuss your sports and your young ladies and your-' He supplies an imaginary noun with another wave of his hand.'As for me, I am fifty years old, and won't impose myself on you any longer.'"
• Meyers' Good Qualities 
• He's a smart man (according to Gatsby)
• Meyers' Bad Qualities 
• Gambler
• Rigged the World Series
• Shady/gang related activities
• Meyers' doesn't have a specific role in the story. He's introduced to us as a 50 year old Jewish man with a big head, small beady eyes, a flat nose and being Gatsby's friend. We can tell he's a shady man when he tells the story of his friend Rosy Rosenthal who gets shot at Metropole. Later, we find out that he is a gambler and he rigged the 1919 World Series. Although we don't know much about him, we can tell what kind of person he his because he is the total opposite of both Nick and Gatsby. His friendship with Gatsby seems a bit odd as well considering Gatsby is a very precise and honest man and Wolfsheim is scheming and sly. 

Important Quote & Significance 

"I was flattered that she wanted to speak to me, because of all the older girls I admired her most." 

-Jordan Baker (p 75)

This quote stood out to me because it shows a side to Jordan that is not very familiar to us. So far, Jordan has come across as a very independent and sneaky woman but in this quote we find out that she looked up to Daisy in her youth. Daisy; the bright, beautiful woman hiding behind her rich husband who's cheating on her. I know that we all had that older girl that we thought was gorgeous and we looked up to her like she was a saint but it seems a bit surreal that Jordan would look up to Daisy, someone that she is nothing like aside from their "white girlhood" and blonde hair.

Chapter 3, pages 39-59

Summary

     Chapter 3 opens with a detailed description of Nick's neighbor, Mr. Gatsby's, party regimen. As the description of one of Gatsby's parties continues, Nick tells us about his first experience at Gatsby's parties beginning with being presented an invitation by Gatsby's chauffeur on his lawn. At the party, he runs into Jordan Baker and spends time with her and her party discussing Gatsby's mysterious persona. They all try and search for him but fail so they retreat to the garden. There, Nick meets a man that served in the war with him and they begin discussing their experiences in France and as the conversation continues Nick finds out that this man is none other than Mr. Jay Gatsby. They plan to go try out a hydroplane Gatsby just bought the next day and then he is quickly taken to his office to take a call but later on, requests to speak with Jordan alone. She tells Nick "it was simply amazing" and that she'll explain why at her Aunt Sigourney's home. As Nick leaves the party, he thanks Mr. Gatsby and witnesses the car accident of a man he met in Gatsby's library. He finishes the chapter discussing his everyday life and his relationship with Jordan despite knowing her dishonesty.

Character Analysis

• Jordan Baker
• "'Let's get out,' whispered Jordan, after a somehow wasteful and inappropriate half-hour; "this is much too polite for me.'" and “She was incurably dishonest. She wasn’t able to endure being at a disadvantage and, given this unwillingness, I suppose she had begun dealing in subterfuges when she was very young in order to keep that cool, insolent smile turned to the world and yet satisfy the demands of her hard, jaunty body.”
• Jordan's Best Qualities: 
• She's strong 
• She's independent
• She's beautiful
• Jordan's Bad Qualities: 
• She's dishonest
• She's cynical
• She's self-centered
• Jordan's Role in the novel is to provide a foreshadowing of the future women in America. So far, she is the only woman who cares about herself enough to have a back bone and "wear the pants" in every situation. She loves gossip and seems to be the type to fan the flames just to get a show out of it. She and Nick are romantically involved even though he dislikes her dishonesty. She values his truthfulness and his company.

Important Quote & Significance 

"Once they were introduced by somebody who knew Gatsby, and after that they conducted themselves according to the behavior associated with an amusement park."

This quote struck me because Nick describes people attending a high class in this way. Amusement parks are usually filled with wild and loud behavior and that is generally not the way one would act at a party with members of high society. Nick's testimony shows just how influential the changes of the 20's actually were.

Chapter 2, pages 23-38

Summary


     In Chapter 2, Nick and Tom take the commuter train to the "valley of ashes." There, Tom and Nick stop off at George Wilson's car repair shop where Tom talks about selling a car and coincidentally we meet Myrtle Wilson, George's wife and Tom's mistress. Tom tells Myrtle he wants to see her, so she tells her husband she's going to visit her sister in New York. From the garage, Tom buys Myrtle a dog and they (along with Nick) go to Tom's apartment that he keeps for the affair. Myrtle decides to throw a party and invites her sister, Catherine, and their neighbors, the McKees, over. They end up smoking and drinking heavily and Nick tries to leave but he's mesmerized by the way they were partying. The festivities ended as Myrtle began getting a bit carried away and kept repeating Tom's wife's name when he had told her not to. He broke her nose and Nick left with Mr. McKee and went on the 4 am train back to Long Island. 


Character Analysis

• Myrtle Wilson
• "Mrs. Wilson rejected the compliment by raising her eyebrow in disdain."
• Myrtle's Best Qualities: 
• She likes dogs
• Myrtle's Bad Qualities:
• She's cheating on her husband
• She's superficial
• She's arrogant
• She's fake and annoying
• She only cares about herself
• Myrtle's Role in the story is to be Tom's mistress. In my opinion, she is exactly just like Tom, but a woman. She and Tom have the same personality and are both extremely arrogant. Myrtle and Tom's not-so-secret relationship empowers her because she feels like she can do whatever she wants, regardless of whether she's a woman. This is the opposite of Daisy, who is still married to Tom because of the comfort and ease.

  Important Quote & Significance


"With the influence of the dress her personality had also undergone a change."

I found this quote extremely significant because it not only explains Myrtle, but also Tom. I feel like they are so similar the only difference is their gender. I also find both of them very fake and deceptive. I think this theme will be coming up a lot as the novel progresses because this high class group of people exemplifies the wealthy society of the time and their life style. Also, I found it significant because it shows that we never really know a person completely. Like their clothes, they can just change depending on certain circumstances.

Chapter 1, pages 1-21

Summary

     In the first chapter of The Great Gatsby we are introduced to Nick Carraway; alumnus of New Haven, veteran of the Great War and inhabitant of West Egg. He tells us (vaguely) of his neighbor, Mr. Gatsby, and his extravagant house. We are also given a glimpse of the differences (though few) of East and West egg, the people that live in both Eggs and the type of writing being published in that time. As the chapter progresses, Nick presents 3 other characters to us: Jordan Baker and Tom and Daisy Buchanan. Daisy is Nick's cousin and she lives on East Egg with her husband Tom and baby daughter. We find out that Tom has a woman in New York and that Jordan is a competative golfer. 

Character Analysis  

• Tom Buchanan 
• "It was a body capable of enormous leverage - a cruel body."
• Tom's Best Qualities: 
• He had been one of the most powerful ends that ever played football at New Haven
• He is married to Daisy Buchanan
• He is strong/muscular
• He likes Nick 
• Tom's Bad Qualities: 
• He is extremely arrogant
• He is wealthy and shows it 
• He abuses Daisy
• He is cheating on Daisy with a woman from New York
• He lives in the past, constantly dwelling on his football years
• He is racist
•  Tom's role in the novel is to show us the general high society male of the time: rude, insensitive, arrogant, abusive and a hypocrite. He is portrayed as Nick's polar opposite. I also believe that Tom's role in the novel is an example for readers of how not to live and be. His irritability and lack of morals prove his lack of friends in his college years along with his pompous and elitist ideals.

Important Quote & Significance

     " And as I walked on I was lonely no longer. I was a guide, a pathfinder, an original settler." 

This quote stood out to me because of its versatility. It can be understood in many ways to everyone. Along from it explaining Nick's successful fit into his neighborhood in West Egg and its presentation of his strength and independence, it can also exemplify our struggle in life to find a place where we fit in and be truly happy.