As you know, The Great Gatsby (and especially chapter 7) is full of drama!
We also, of course, only see Nick's perspective of what happens.
Choose a section (or scene) from chapters 5 through 7 to re-tell through another character's perspective. (ex. through Daisy, Tom, Jordan, George or Jordan's eyes...or even someone else's...)
This retelling should be true to what happened in the text, but reveal some thing new through the new narrator's thoughts.
Sign your name!
(**I'm going to post an example that a student did a few years ago)
Daisy, pull over. Daisy, pull over. Daisy you are in no condition to drive. Please, please pull over.
ReplyDeleteThrough the rearview mirror, I could see only his furrowed brow, glistening in the August heat, as he slumped lower and lower in his seat. He never said these things to me, but I could tell he was thinking them. I could almost hear him shouting as I sped up through the fading twilight. The truth was, I knew perfectly well I was in no condition to drive. I also knew perfectly well that whatever I asked for, Gatsby would provide. The last few weeks had proved that. Stepping foot inside Gatsby's mansion was like leaving reality for a spell and entering into a hazy, glittering dream, almost like the distant sight of the city through the translucent shield of the Valley of Ashes. Although at first I had reveled in and even relished the reflection the glory cast upon me by Gatsby's imagination, the novelty of living outside the realm of realism soon began to fade. I began to question, and still question, whether or not Gatsby really loved me or if he was simply infatuated with me.
Daisy, please stop all this, he pleaded silently.
I drove on. I haven't been able to shake the growing dread that Gatsby was using me as a way to revisit the past for a couple of hours a day. That maybe he bends to my every whim not out of love, but because of something more selfish.
Daisy, this isn't safe!
I'm no angel. I wish he would call my faults and poor decisions as he saw them, like Tom does. Instead, he had allowed me to place both of us in danger simply because he didn't wish to offend me. That, I thought, is simply ridiculous...
I was shaken from my reveries by a loud thump, a scream, and Gatsby, finally pressed to action, forcefully steering the car out of my grip and away from the inevitable wreckage we had left in our path.
(a past-post to this prompt by Lia M. from 2012)
There was a light rap on the door. Nick politely excused himself from our conversation, and went to see who it was. I could tell that he had opened the front door because the sound of the rain immediately picked up into a deafening roar. It was cut off however, just as soon as he closed the door once again. I tried to hear who had entered the house. Nick started speaking to the visitor in quick, sharp whispers, as if in a scolding manner.
ReplyDeleteFor half a second I heard silence, and then the sounds of footsteps which came striding through the main entry and towards the living room. I looked up in curiosity to see who had come to visit Nick in such a horrible rain storm. But to my utter disbelief, I looked up into the eyes of none other than Jay Gatsby!
The complete shock must have ridden across my entire face; it took several moments of silence for us to both take in what we were seeing. Jay was standing before me in a white suit, still slender, broad, and incredibly dashing – just as he was when he was still in the army.
A flood of emotions poured through me as I stared out at the man whom I had spent so many nights dreaming about, and wishing I could see – my first real love, who out of nowhere, was standing before me.
Before I even had a chance to fully come to terms with his presence, I found myself speaking, as I said, “I certainly am awfully glad to see you again.”
Jay smiled his dashing smile while at the same time appeared noticeably nervous. He responded, “as am I.” He then sauntered around the living room, until he reached the fire place, at which point he leaned against the mantel; it was as if he needed the support from the strong wooded wall to keep him from falling over.
At this time Nick walked into the room, and looked back and forth between us. Jay, sensing his need for an explanation, looked right at me and breathed out, “we’ve met before.”
Great choice of scene & perspective & good pacing. I'd like to know even more about what goes through her head the moment she first sees him again. Ex. What memory does she have? any sadness mixed with joy?
DeleteEveryone was preparing to go into town. Tom, of course, grumbled consistently about anything and everything. He wasn’t too bright, but he had a good enough idea about what was taking place with me and Daisy. I suppose my presence didn’t help to improve tensions— not that I really wanted it to.
ReplyDeleteDaisy chirped about bringing something to drink and Tom scampered off to please her. He was strange in his inconsistencies. One minute he didn’t care, yet when I opened my mouth and reminded him of my existence, he put a little more effort into getting attention and showing off. I have to say, it didn’t really suit him to try too hard. It’s too contradicting to the facade he built which tells everyone that he’s above them and he’ll do what he wants.
I had so many thoughts swirling around in my brain. I turned to Nick and breathed, “I can’t say anything in this house, old sport.”
I wasn’t the one alerting Tom of our love; Daisy did that just fine on her own. I didn’t want to confirm Tom’s suspicions about the two of us, so I tried to be mostly invisible. Daisy though, she kept bringing me up saying things like, “You always look so cool”. I could see Tom’s irritation growing with each comment and I was tempted to be the one to incite his impending tantrum.
“She’s got an indiscreet voice,” Nick remarked. “It’s full of—” He hesitated.
He was going to say that it was full of excitement, full of wonder, but he stopped. He stopped because he was wrong.
Her voice was her charm, her spell. It captured me, like it did most everyone. Her voice was beautiful. But I knew she had a secret to make her voice beautiful. A trick.
“Her voice is full of money,” I said suddenly.
-Lauren McKie
Excellent place to end your mini-scene. I love the second paragraph especially. Through out you've revealed interesting aspects & woven textual details nicely.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThrough the tangle of vegetation I could watch the house silently without being detected. Crouching down in the bushes, my gaze was fixed on the mansion, hoping to detect even the slightest glimpse of activity around it. The air was quiet, but my mind was buzzing with a million feelings as I replayed the recent events in my head over and over. I couldn’t begin to imagine what she may could have been going through at this time. She must have been so scared, and felt so alone. I wished nothing more but to comfort her.
ReplyDeleteWith my mind racing I began to fear what was out of my control. I began to question whether she had made it to her room or if Tom had intervened only moments ago. These thoughts were unbearable and I realized that just by thinking about her in danger would drive crazy.
I couldn’t take it any more. I had to do something. I had to make sure she was safe. Perhaps if I walked around the house I could determine if she was safe.
Standing from the bushes, to my surprise I caught a glimpse of Nick walking down the path. Eager to meet with him I began whispering his name and I stepped out onto the path. Completely caught up in the moment, I failed to realize how odd I must have looked rising from the bushes in my pink suit at this time.
“What are you doing?” he questioned drowsily.
Unable to come up with anything else to say, I simply remarked “just standing here, old sport”
We began to discuss the accident and I eventually admitted that it wasn’t me who hit the woman, but daisy. I continued the conversation with Nick, but my mind was still focused on daisy. Eventually my concern for her became apparent to nick. To my relief, he remarked that he would check on the house. At that point I simply just had to wait again, as I quietly watching the house.
-Ethan McRae
Good choice of moment. This always reminded me of the Romeo & Julie balcony scene, but the opposite- where Romeo waits & waits but Juliet never comes out.
DeleteAs I stood at the door the rain pounded on me, however I was oblivious to the rain as I awaited for nick to answer the door. When I glanced up he seemed shocked by my soaked appearance and I looked at him trying to hide my trepidation.
ReplyDeleteI entered the house, there was no turning back now, somewhere within these halls Daisy was sitting patiently by herself most definitely not expecting my arrival.
I turned the corner and there she was.
"I certainly am awfully am awfully glad to see you again."
It was too much to take in I stared at her from head to toe unable to look away. I didn't know what to say or what to do. She was the beautiful. The gentle slope of her nose and her radiant eyes glimmered at me just as they did over five years ago. I leaned against the mantelpiece clock for support, this tempest of emotions was too much to bear and it took all my effort to remark,
"We've met before."
I quickly looked over at Nick, looking at him to break the dreadful silence and carry the conversation, but he did no such thing.
Under my weight I felt the clock suddenly tilt I panicked, but luckily caught it quickly, but not without trembling hands. I felt as though she was watching my every action and gesture. I wondered what she was thinking, was she happy? Sad? or simply indifferent to my presence? It was hard to tell for she always looked the same even after all these years, she looked like a dream,she looked like an angel, her outward appearance made it impossible to unveil what was going on in that head of hers.
-Anna D.
Great job really slowing down an important little moment. I can feel his adoration in the voice you gave Gatsby.
DeleteThe tension continued to build. My anger did as well. Alas there was a bright side to it. I was about to finally beat that shady clown Jay Gatsby. We had been going back and forth at each other for awhile now. And it was my turn to put him into his place.
ReplyDelete"Who are you, anyhow?" I snapped. "You're one of that bunch that hangs around with Meyer Wolfsheim-- that much I happen to know. I've made a little investigation into your affairs--and I'll carry it further to-morrow."
I knew he would have a sly remark to return with, but I knew I had the upper-hand in this conversation. My investigation was second to none. No matter how he tried to cover it up I had him.
"You can suit yourself about that, old sport," said Gatsby deviously.
Now was my chance, "I found out what your 'drug-stores' were." I looked over to the others and spoke with an unmatched passion. "He and this Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That's one of his little stunts. I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him and I wasn't far wrong.
He was cornered. He could try and escape but it would have no effect. Gatsby's loss was inevitable. It was my time to prove my superiority over this scum bootlegger. He wouldn't and will never steal my Daisy. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.
The conversation continued on, and I remained victorious over Gatsby. He couldn't keep up his act forever. And I was determined to break him.
Michael Schaefer
Excellent job capturing his aggressive anger and disdain.
Delete"We've met before," muttered Gatsby. He glanced momentarily at me, and his lips parted with an abortive attempt at a laugh. Luckily the clock took a moment to tilt dangerously at the pressure of his head, whereupon he turned and caught it with trembling fingers and set it back in place. Then he sat down rigidly on the arm of the sofa and his chin in his hand. .... "This is a terrible mistake" He said shaking his head from side to side, "A terrible, terrible mistake." (86-87)
ReplyDeleteI walked nervously into the room, where I knew my darling Daisy was sitting. When she glanced upon me, her eyes swelled with tears. How beautiful she looked; how sad. Once I realized I was staring too long, I quickly searched for something to say, “We’ve met before” I was all I could muster. Embarrassed by the stupidity I backed into the corner of the room, where the shadow could hide the age and redness of my face. I noticed I was trembling, so I attempted to hide my hands in my pockets. I attempted to cover my statement with a laugh, but to me, it seemed more like a sad whimper. Anxiously, I looked to see her reaction to my plunders. Her eyes searched me, remembering our past. The tears are streaming rapidly down her face; I cannot comprehend whether the tears are joyous or solemn. The clock which my head rested on fell, and ungracefully I caught it. The sound startled her and she jumped. We made eye contact, but she quickly averted her vision to her hands. Nick had just entered, his face looked nearly as embarrassed as my own I walked over to the couch, and sat on the arm. I looked to him, hoping he would somehow break the tension. To my disbelief, he turned and fled to the kitchen. I followed him there where I remarked, “This is a terrible mistake, a terrible, terrible mistake”. Although I was ready to quit, Nick assured me not to. That old sport saved my relationship with Daisy.
Megan Holmes
I especially like the little detail about wanting to hide his age and redness in the shadow. Good job capturing his self-consciousness.
DeleteFive years since I had seen the man, and not a single feeling I had for him is gone. I am still in absolute shock that he is here at Nicky’s, and now he wants me to go to see his home. I am so excited, but nervous. I must go meet the boys outside now.
ReplyDeleteJay brought us up the road and pointed to a ginormous estate.
“That huge place there”? I cried in awe.
“Do you like it?” Jay asked.
I loved it, but I could not believe he lived there all by himself, and not feel the least bit lonely. He told me not to worry because he was constantly filling it with guests.
His home was incredibly stunning. Filled with the most beautiful artwork, and an entire library containing volumes of the best writings. I knew Jay had always been a smart man.
He showed us each room, one by one, each one decorated with rose and lavender silk. I couldn’t help but imagine myself living here, and I think Jay may be thinking the same thing.
When he brought us to his bedroom it was quite simple, except for the golden brush on his dresser. I combed through my hair and pretended as though this were my own dresser.
Jay next opened up two large cabinets filled with the most expensive suits and ties. He began throwing the shirts into a pile. The shirts were so beautiful, I couldn’t help but start to cry. I made me think of how happy I could have been with Jay if only I had not made the foolish mistake of marrying Tom.
Julia Hadden
Good scene/perspective- play up her mixed feelings & regret (you touch on it at the end) even more through out the scene.
DeleteUpon looking at Daisy’s porcelain face, I could see the anguish building in her solemn eyes. Her sweet features were wilting.
ReplyDeleteNaturally, I couldn’t help but picture Myrtle, lying there in the street with her body broken. Of course I first felt the loss of her, but all that pain was alleviated knowing that Gatsby would get what he deserved for what he’d done. My face must have shown this placidity because Daisy looked up at me. “Tom,” she hesitated, “What’s come over you?”
“I’ve been thinking about doing something for us, Daisy… You weren’t wrong for craving attention with that bootlegging Gatsby, but now I’m ready to put us back on track.” I lied with ease, and my Daisy ate up every word of it. “Now Daisy, we’ll leave this silly life behind and move on from it all. We’ll never speak a word of any of this again. All this nonsense will be the past.” I watched Daisy’s eyes fill with a little more life than they had had before. “It’s final, we’re packing up! Just me and you.” I concluded.
“And the child?” Daisy inquired.
“Ah yes, her too.” I answered
I took a seat on the couch and Daisy let herself fall against me.
She sighed, “Oh Tom, this has been awfully dreadful business today.”
“The past is the past, Daisy.” Her head fluttered down to my impeccably toned chest. And once again I had done what I do best. I won the game.
Kate Massucco
Ah! I've always wondered what they talked about over those plates of fried chicken & ale. I like the deception & focus on "the game"
DeleteAs I stand in Nick’s house, I continue to become more and more heartbroken. I thought for certain the love of my life was not going to show up until, out of the blue I hear the sound of a car motor speeding down the street. It comes to a screeching halt. Daisy’s face, as beautiful as I've ever seen it glistens in the sunlight. I couldn't help but smile after seeing hers. The sound of her voice was music to my ears. As she begins her walk to up to the house I just couldn't get the courage to stay there. I silently exited through Nick’s backdoor as Nick greeted the beautiful Daisy out front.
ReplyDeleteI stood outside in the rain pondering my choices. I could either go back to my mansion and make a fool of myself for telling Nick to have Daisy over and never show up, or get the courage to go back in and try to win her back myself. After a deep breath, I slowly and quietly made my way back into the living room. I couldn’t get over the beauty of her face. I could feel my distraught eyes stare her down. “We’ve met before,” is all I could get myself to say. As Nick got up, I couldn’t fathom the idea of being alone with her. After nearly five years, the day I’ve always been dreaming about is finally becoming a reality.
Following the first introduction, talking to Daisy soon became casual. Time flew by with her. As Nick came back, I could nearly feel myself glowing. I hadn't been this happy in years. Instinctively, I invited Nick and Daisy back over my house to show this dazzling lady around.
Katie Crowley
Good scene/perspective- I'd love to know what they talked about at the end- how did things go from awkward to comfortable?
DeletePg 104 when the reporter comes to Gatsby's house
ReplyDeleteI heard a loud ambitious knock on the door this morning and opened it to find a young man. A reporter from New York.
"Do you have anything to say sir?" He questioned.
I looked at him confused for a moment before I asked him what he wished to know. He revealed to me that he had heard my name floating around the office attached to some rather less than admirable stories. Nervously I answered him
"Well, Old Sport, I have nothing to add to the stories."
The young reporter thanked me and hurried off. I shut the door and sat myself in a chair and began to recall how even my name wasn't honest to me. I decided to tell Nick to dispel the rumors he's heard about me.
Five years of waiting. I have stared at that green light for five years. Five years I have longed for that green light. So many nights I have dreamed of our reunion. Parties wasted alone, respectable and potential girls cast aside in hopes of one day getting back my Daisy, and this is all?
ReplyDeleteWhere was the beautiful pale goddess that kept me up all hours of every night for the past half decade? Where is the the perfect woman that I was enamored with? What was in my head those five years ago, when I was ready to marry her in that old Louisville house?
Maybe it was my fault. I mean, all I have thought about for the last five years was that perfect Daisy Buchanan. The luscious blonde hair, that pale complexion that caught the light just perfectly, those eyes that sparkled brighter than my house lit from tower to cellar during the night time. Wait a moment--that's still her.
Daisy is still that and so much more. She is every bit as beautiful now as she was those long years ago. So, what was it? Why had I lost that trance she put me in? Oh dear, this entire operation shouldn't have happened. This has been a disaster.
Oh, but that voice. She said those words, I can't even recall them. But it didn't matter. All I needed was to hear the sweet melody of her voice to fall back in love, an ensured, definite love, for good.
The English shirts, I must show her the English shirts.
The shirts that are better than Tom Buchanan's.
Ben Macchi
Mr. Sloane had invited me to a mansion not quite as great mine over on the West Side. I saw Nick standing there with a man that I had never seen in my life before. He carried himself in a weird fashion as though he was hiding something.
ReplyDelete“I’m delighted to see you,” he said, and “Sit right down. Have a cigarette or cigar.”
He seemed to think that his presence should have been of utmost importance to us, but it clearly wasn’t. Mr. Sloane, his lady friend and I had come on horseback to this place! I didn’t even know this man and he seemed to know exactly who I was. He started time-wasting small talk with Mr. Sloane that had no importance to me or what we were doing there. The man then turned to me and introduced himself.
“I believe we’ve met somewhere before, Mr. Buchanan,” he said. I still had no idea who this mystery man was and I had no intentions of finding out. I thought we would be going on our way to supper and having a fine evening, but we were stuck at this man’s house. Mr. Sloane’s lady eventually invited this man to supper. How could she do this? I didn’t even know this man, but then he said that he knew Daisy. Where did this man meet Daisy? Nick, who was also invited to the dinner, politely declined because of the lack of transportation that both the men lacked. When this man said he would be travelling in his car I thought he was joking, but I was mistaken. This man actually thought that he was wanted at the dinner, although no one even knew him.
Nolan Kessinger
Page 110
ReplyDeleteI saw nick standing in the garden as I sauntered down the steps. I lowered my head and muttered
"she didn't like it" Nick replied "of course she did." But I knew he was being nice.
"She didn't like it." I insisted.
"She didn't have a good time." I don't want to start new with her. I want everything to be like it used to be. My mind was racing with thoughts, I began to say them out loud.
"I feel far away from her, it's hard to make her understand." Nick replied, "you mean about the dance?"
"The dance? Old sport the dance is unimportant" he didn't seem to understand. He doesn't understand that I don't want to start over with Daisy. I want these last few years erased. I want to hear her say I'm the only man she's ever truly loved. I want us to marry and go back to Louisville-live just how we did five years prior. I began to pace. Nick interrupted my thoughts,
" I wouldn't ask to much of her. You can't repeat the past" He said. I laughed
"Can't repeat the past? Why of course you can!" I tossed my head back and looked around. A sea of memories swarmed back into my head. Nick is crazy, he doesn't understand. What me and Daisy had could never have died, I'll fix it.
" I'm going to fix everything just the way it was before, she'll see" and she'll love it. The past filled my heart and I began to tell Nick. It's a love story like you would read about in novels I thought.
Olivia vinton
around pg 90-92 in Gatsby's point of view
ReplyDeleteWhen Daisy stood up to watch the clouds I was overwhelmed by her swiftness and tame demeanor. She adored the pink clouds that hovered over the west, and I adored her curiosity for such irrelevant things. However we had overstayed our welcome in Mr. Caraways and this gave me the opportunity to pitch my own place. "I want you and Daisy to come over my house", i said, "I'd like to show you around." As they followed me around the big postern I refused to keep my eyes off Daisy. It appeared that nervousness and embarrassment had gripped my bones, holding me at bay to her amusement. The anticipation that had smoldered my soul refused to let go, and I regret to say the moments I spent with Daisy felt no more than a wispy dream. However even in my dreams I never lost sight of my goal. As we strolled the bedrooms and halls my eyes still stuck to her, studying her eyes as they twitched for every commodious entrance we passed. It was beautiful, her reactions, for seeing my own affluence pour in front of her. It would be no time for her to leave Tom.
Max Michaud
page 138 Tom's point of view
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw everyone gathered around a body the first question that went through my head was "Who is that?" and the second was "How is someone dumb enough to get hit by a car?" I heard that someone just ran out into the street and so I decided to go see who the dumb person was. When I peeled the blanked off the persons face I did not expect to see Myrtle. At first it was hard to distinguish who it was because of all the blood, but when I looked in her eyes I immediately knew it was Myrtle. A lump formed in my throat and I could not swallow. I wanted to cry. Though, I knew I could not show any emotion because people would know. There were so many unanswered questions. Though most of my questions were answered when I realized who's car it was. I felt bad for thinking she was dumb, though it was dumb of her to run out in front of the moving car. I had so many mixed emotions. All I was sure of was that I wanted to cry, but I had to keep it together. I was hurt, confused and mad. Gatsby did this to me. He was trying to ruin my life to better his. He will pay for this.
Kerry Luiso
Gatsby’s point of view. Pg 86
ReplyDelete“Old sport, what time is it?” “Well, it’s just about noon” Nick exclaimed……(a long pause)
“Gatsby… Gatsby, hello…. Sir?”
“Oh, yes indeed.”
“Old sport, do me a favor if you will”
“Yes” he responded.
“Are these flowers intoxicating”?
“Only in the best manner, jay”
“Great, so please move them in front of the window so that I will not see her eyes as she steps out of her car”
“Jay, don’t you want to see….”
“Just do it, will you”
*shuffles flowers over to the window sill”
“Old sport, what is her voice like?”
Well, jay, I can only compare it to the satisfying sound of shuffling hundred dollar bills in my hand” he said giggling.
“Nick. Money is not the sweetest thing in life”
It seems as though he was amused by my response. Yes money is worth a lot and I have valued it a bit too much in the past, but now I have a different ambition. Yes, ambition, that’s what it is. I haven’t even seen the lady and I refer to her as my ambition? Have I gone mad?
“……. Jay, Jay…. Jay…. She is here”
And just like that my heart started to pump faster and I took to the floor and started crawling to the living room in hopes that she wouldn’t see me as she stepped out of the car.
“eeeeeeee” the door squeaked open.
“Hello darling” she said
All my life I have never heard the voice of an angel, until now.
“Step, step, step, step” she was about to enter the living room.
Jay, Jay your stance what are doing? No time for that, look forward and just that. Wait! The flowers what if she can’t see and is distracted by them, I must call nick to move them quickly!
“Ni…” I stopped
And there she was… and my heart had skipped a beat.
Filipe S. Galvao
“I adore it,” exclaimed Daisy. “The pompadour! You never told me you had a pompadour-or a yacht.”
ReplyDeleteMy hair? Oh goodness does she like it? Does she actually adore it? Does she like the yacht? Maybe she’s just being nice? I'm being rude. She is the treasure here. “Look at this,” I interjected, “Here’s a lot of clippings-about you.” That’s it, show her that you care… that you still know her. I hope she likes this; she’s standing so close I can feel her brush up against me. I’ve missed this. I’ve missed my Daisy.
Then suddenly the telephone pierces the air of the moment, like a rock through a window. Some man wants to talk business, but I wont have it. This is the time for Daisy and me. It’s a small town, and I want to savor every succulent moment with my Daisy. I left him alone.
“Come here quick!” she said, and I immediately joined her at the window. “Look at that,” she paused, taking in the cacophonous melody of the rosy sunset. "I’d like to just get one of those pink clouds and put you in it and push you around.”
I would have liked that if I didn’t already have it. Daisy had me on a cloud, pink and rosy and covered in a field of Daisies.
Justin Stott
around 128-130- toms perspective
ReplyDeleteWe were all relaxing in the suite, chatting and reminiscing on old memories, having a good time- well somewhat of a good time. Gatsby was getting on my last nerve. Every time he uttered his witty expression “old sport” it felt like i was punched in the gut, it was nauseating. Finally, I couldn’t take it, I had to confront this guy before he got the best of me.
“By the way, Mr. Gatsby, I understand youre an oxford man?”
He hesitated, “not exactly”
He then continued to explain how he attended Oxford, but he was not telling me when he was there. I had to get the answer out of him, I had to prove that I was a better man. A stronger, smarter man, at least smarter in the sense that I could stay in New Haven.
“I heard you, but I’d like to know when.” I replied sternly, getting annoyed at his lack of response.
He began, “it was nineteen-nineteen. I only stayed five months. That’s why I can’t really call myself an Oxford man.” He was still being broad, why would one just up-and-leave New Haven? He continued, “it was an opportunity they gave to some of the officers after the Armistice, we could go to any of the universities in England or France.”
I wasn’t sure if I was satisfied with his response; I had a newfound faith in him yet part of me knew something was amiss, and I was not about to let him think we could be on good terms. As Daisy tried to interrupt, to stop my interrogation, I inquired one last question to Mr. Gatsby that I knew would assure him of my opinion of him, “what kind of a row are you trying to cause in my house anyhow?” and with that I was satisfied, his response was irrelevant because I knew I had set Gatsby in his place.
sophia jessiman
I was utterly shocked to see him here. Emotions flooded my brain plunging me head first five years into the past. The man whose letter confused me so had turned up again in this small cottage in West Egg. He was standing there looking at me. I could see how uneasy he was on reading my thoughts. I couldn’t quite decipher them myself.
ReplyDeleteThe loud silence between us seemed like it lasted about a hundred years; pounding at my ears with every second that had gone by. I couldn’t even dream that I would encounter Jay Gatsby, when Nick had invited me to tea. The only thing I could think to say at this moment was “I certainly am awful glad to see you”.
Erin Chute
(pg 110, from Gatsby)
ReplyDeleteShe just doesn’t understand. I figured it would be so simple: sure, I had waited long enough to finally reunite with my darling Daisy, but once we were together again, everything would be alright. But things were becoming…complicated.
The party was over.
“She used to be able to understand. We’d sit for hours…” I trailed off. Nick was staring at me rather quizzically. He didn’t understand, he couldn’t. The love Daisy and I shared was insurmountable; our bond was like no other. These types of sentiments cannot be expressed in mere casual conversation.
I picked up a crushed flower and twirled it around my fingers. The petals were still intact, though various partygoers had trampled the flower itself.
“I wouldn’t ask too much of her,” Nick said. His quizzical expression had returned, he was observing me as one would an innocent child. “You can’t repeat the past.”
“Can’t repeat the past?” I repeated, incredulous. The mere notion of that idea – it was ridiculous. “Of course you can!”
The past must be tangible; it must be shaped, reworked. It has to be. Daisy and I can transcend time with our love, our bond can withstand years of isolation and sadness. Here we are, in love, happy. Sure, she’s married to Tom currently, but this is just a technicality. With my wealth, and our true love, we could go anywhere she wished. We could undo those five years of separation; make up for all that time lost. Of course you can repeat the past. I’ve spent my entire life looking for Daisy, and I’m not going to stop now. Not then, not now – nothing can stop our love.
Nick’s expression remained unchanged.
-Danny Fier
The exchange between Gatz and Cody when Cody first drops anchor. (98)
ReplyDeleteIt was an overcast, ominous day, but that did not stop the soup of a sweltering heat from shrouding my boat. For five years I'd seen the same sea of water rolling me from coast to coast, and it was beginning to drive me mad. Ella told me it would be good to get some time off, but all that was on my mind these days was the restlessness of a working man, and the knowledge that I would begin to rust if I stayed on the boat any longer. I looked out over the balcony of the ship as the crew behind me worked busily.
Just then, I heard a yelp from beneath me, coming from a dock that jutted out of the pier like an accusing finger. There, on the edge of the dock, was a scrappy young boy whose clothes seemed to hang off him. He was tanned a deep shade of brown, partly from being baked in the kiln of the sun, and partly from a shade of dirt that seemed to cling to him. The boy gazed up at me, and gave me a smile. He was intriguing, this boy. Coming seemingly out of nowhere, approaching a stranger who was leagues above him with the warmth of a brother radiating from him.
"Can I help you?" I asked the stranger.
"That's a nice boat you got here." The boy remarked.
"Well, it did cost a fortune." I responded with a tinge of bitterness in my voice.
"I'll bet you." He said. The boy put his hand on the boat, stroking it's weathered sides.
"Do you like boats?" I asked.
"I like travel sir." The boy responded, squinting as he looked back upwards.
"Is that so?"
"Sure." The boy said.
"How much can you tell me about sailing?" I asked him. He looked around, then gazed off out at the sea.
"I can tell you a wind is coming. It'll catch you and break you up in half'n hour." The boy said. I couldn't help but be amused. Whether the boy's claim was true or not I wanted to question him further.
"What's your name young fellow?" I asked him. He continued to gaze out at the overcast sky in thought, and as he returned his gaze to me, a hopeful warmth and a reassuring smile told me I'd stumbled upon something that could be mistaken for gold.
"Jay Gatsby." He told me.
-Alex VanAntwerp
"Ah... You look so cool."
ReplyDeleteThe words spilled from her mouth as she glanced at Gatsby. Knowing I had caught her, she quickly dodged her eyes to the table, I shook my head; I mustn't have heard correctly. As if to prove her point , Daisy uttered the phrase once again, "You always look so cool."
As the words trickled from her lips they pierced in my ears. How dare she say such a thing. I was unable to control myself, I felt my jaw slowly drop with an over whelming sense of disgust and embarrassment. Suddenly, Daisy was shone in another light. She was a girl I had known along time ago, a girl I was going to fight Gatsby for. I was as usual going to come out on top.
Daisy continued her flirtatious conversation. I was about to boil over, so I interrupted, breaking their longing stare.
“All right, “I’m perfectly willing to go to town. Come on — we’re all going to town.”