Draft 1 - Gatsby

The Great Gatsby depicts the theme of the American dream perfectly because the characters have have the perfect life, have many oppurtunities for things, and are wealthy.

• In The Great Gatsby, they make it seem that their lives are perfect, on the exterior to everyone else. But in reality they're many relationships that are troubled and affairs. Tom was having an affair with Myrtle that everyone knew about, but no one said anything about it because they didn't want to start an arguement and show others their problems. "She was only extemporizing but a stirring warmth flowed from her as if her heart was trying to come out to you concealed in one of those breathless, thrilling words." (Fitzgerald, 19)


• All of the main characters in the book were wealthy. Tom, Daisy and Nick had old wealth from their family names and Gatsby had new wealth. Gatsby used his wealth to impress Daisy so he could get her back. Tom and Daisy are horrible people and when things go bad or not the way they want to go, they fall back on their money and take a trip or move, just to get away. "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy--they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money of their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made." (Fitzgerald, 183).


• Living the American dream means that one has many oppurtunties for different things and achieving one's goals. Gatsby was a man that lived by strict rules, and at the end his father said that he was gonna be successful. "Jimmy was bound to get ahead. He always had some resolves like this or something." (Fitzgerald, 182). Gatsby's first dream was to be successful and make lots of money but all that changed when he met Daisy, then all he wanted was to have her, which was his downfall and the reason why he lost both his success and Daisy.

• Gatsby threw his chances of happiness away when he starting lying to his friends in order to take Daisy back from Tom. Because he tried so hard to keep her in his life, he made the mistake of taking the blame for her and that was the reason Wilson went for him, and shot him. If Gatsby would have been more truthful and would let go of the past, he would have had a much more successful life and he wouldn't have been murdered like he was.
  

Great Gatsby Thesis Draft

The Great Gatsby depicts the theme of the American dream perfectly because the characters have have the perfect life, have many oppurtunities for things, and are wealthy.

Chapter 9 - Gatsby

Abstract: Nick tries to have a big funeral for Gatsby. He tries to invite lots of people but Nick can't get anyone to come. He tries to invite Daisy and Tom but they had moved away. Nick is tired of the East and is going to move back to the Midwest. He breaks up with Jordan, then before Nick leaves he sees Tom. Tom says that Gatsby deserved to die. Nick thinks that Tom and Daisy are horrible people who think they can do whatever they want to and are protected with their money.
Response: Nick realizes that everyone in life is motivated by goals. Gatsby's wasn't to become rich and powerful but just to get Daisy back. Fitzgerald has a similar goal which was to get lots of money to impress a girl that he liked so she would marry him, and they got married because of his money. Fitzgerald related lots of his real life experiences into this book into the character of Gatsby.
Q: Why did no one want to go to Gatsby's funeral?

Chapter 8 - Gatsby

Abstract: The next night Nick goes to Gatsby's house to talk with him. Gatsby said he waited til early morning for Daisy but she never came. Nick suggests to Gatsby that he should move and forget about her. But he doesn't want to leave her. He says that they were close before he left for the war and were almost about to get married. Nick leaves for work. He couldn't concentrate on work. The story goes to George who is telling myrtle she can't keep doing what she is doing because god is watching. He thinks that whoever drove the car was the killer. He thinks that is is Gatsby, he goes to Gatsby's house, sees him in the pool, shoots him then shoots himself. Nick hurries back and sees Gatsby dead.
Response: George killed Gatsby based only on assuming that he was the murderer, if he wouldn't have rushed to get revenge and figure stuff out I think he would have shot Daisy. Gatsby didn't do anything wrong but take the blame for his love Daisy. I would have thought that Wilson would shoot Tom for the affair he was having with Myrtle. I think that Gatsby didn't care if he died or not because he got Daisy back but lost for the second time now.
Q: Why didn't Wilson look more into the death of Myrtle instead of falsly assuming it was Gatsby?

Chapter 7 - Gatsby

Abstract: Gatsby calls off all his parties and fires his servants so rumors won't spread. Gatsby goes over to Tom and Daisy's house. Gatsby and Daisy can't hide their love anymore, Tom realizes this and says they should all go to town. They get a room at a hotel and Tom and Gatsby begin to argue. Gatsby says that Daisy has always loved him and Daisy agrees with him. Tom accuses Gatsy of bootlegging. Nick realizes that it is his birthday. Nick, Tom and Jordan see a car accident and that Myrtle was hit by a car. Nick realizes that Gatsby and Daisy hit her with Gatsby's yellow car. Tom thinks Wilson will remember the car and will assume it was Gatsby driving. Gatsby says that Daisy was driving the car when Myrtle was hit but he will take the blame for it.

Response: Gatsby and Tom were arguing a lot in this chapter. Toms says that Gatsby got his wealth by bootlegging and that Daisy loves Gatsby. Tom and Daisy's relationship is very good, Tom cheats on her then she cheats on him?

Q: Is Daisy going to stay with Tom or Gatsby?

Chapter 6 - Gatsby

Abstract: Rumors about Gatsby begin to spread around the city. A newspaper reporter comes to interview Gatsby, but Nick interupts the interview to talk about Gatsby's past. He said that his real name was James and that he worked on Lake Superior as a fisherman. He met Dan Cody, who owned a yacht, which Gatsby worked on, and he fell in love with money and power. He was left $25,000 and dedicated himself to become a wealthy person. Nick goes to Gatsby's house and sees Tom there. Tom doesn't know of Gatsby and Daisy yet but he is suspicious of them. Gatsby throws another party and both Tom and Daisy go. Tom tells Daisy that Gatsby got his money from bootlegging, she got upset and said that he got his money from a chain of drug stores. Nick thinks that now Gatsby has Daisy, his dream is over.

Response: Nick believes that Gatsby has Daisy back, and doesn't have anything to work for now. He worked hard to get his money and power to impress Daisy and get her back, and now he has her back, he doesn't feel as happy as he thought he would. He expected too much from Daisy. He wanted things to be like how they were in Louisville.

Q: Why was Daisy so mad about Tom's comment about Gatsby being a bootlegger?

Chapter 5 - Gatsby

Abstract: Nick returns home from his date with Jordan. He sees that Gatsby's house is lite up. Gatsby approaches Nick and offers many things to him, like business opportunities. Nick realizes this is so he would set up a meeting with Daisy. Nick agrees to the meeting. Daisy comes over and Gatsby is there, for a little while it is awkward for everyone and they finally begin to talk. Gatsby says they could all go to his house, Daisy sees how nice it is and how nice all of his belongings are. Nick realizes they don't notice him anymore so he leaves.

Response: Nick did a good thing for Gatsby. Nick set up a meeting for Daisy and Gatsby so they could see each other and talk. I think Tom will start to become jealous of Gatsby now and will become angry at Nick for setting up Daisy and Gatsby. Which I don't see he would get mad at anyone else because he already cheats on Daisy all the time.

Q: Are Gatsby and Daisy going to get back together?

Chapter 4 - Gatsby

Abstract: Nick is talking about what happened on his trip to New York with Gatsby. Gatsby tells Nick about his past, saying he was from the midwest and went to Oxford University. Nick asks him what city he is from and Gatsby says San Francisco. Gatsby talks about some accomplishments that he has done, Nick is skeptic so Gatsby shows Nick pictures to prove his story. They get pulled over, Gatsby shows the cop a white card and they are let go without getting a ticket. Nick meets Jordan and she tells him that Gatsby loves Daisy. She said that Gatsby met her when he was int he army but he got shipped out. Then she met Tom. They get a plan to get Nick to invite Daisy to Nick's house and Gatsby will be there.

Response: This is similar to events that happened in Fitzgerald's life. He was in the army and was with a woman. They were engaged but broke up because he couldn't provide for her enough money. I think that Gatsby and Daisy will get back together because it will be like what happened to him in Fitzgerald's life.

Q: Is Gatsby lying about his past? Some things don't add up. Saying from midwest but lived in San Francisco.

Chapter 3 - Gatsby

Abstract: In the beginning Gatsby is throwing a big party. He is known for putting big parties together with well known and wealthy guests. Nick is at the party and he sees Jordan there with her friend Lucille. Lucille thinks that Gatsby is some kind of German spy and has killed a man before. Nick and Jordan go out, they sit at a table where Nick sees a man that he recognizes but doesn't remember the mans name. The man says his name is Jay Gatsby. Nick notices that Gatsby tends to keep to himself and isn't a drinker. Nick begins to walk home and sees a car in a ditch, it is the same man he had seen in the library earlier.

Response: This makes Gatsby seem more mysterious to me, he throws many parties but isn't seen much around them. He isn't trying to be the center of attention even though it is his party. Jordan talked to Gatsby and said she heard something great, but it was never said what she was told.

Q: Why doesn't Gatsby want to be the center of attention at his parties? What did he tell Jordan?

Chapter 2 - Gatsby

Abstract: Tom and Nick are going on a train. Tom forces Nick out of the train when it had to stop. They go to George Wilson's place to meet Myrtle. She is Tom's other girlfriend. They get back on the train and go to Morningside Heights where Tom has an extra apartment for his affair. There was a party and Myrtle was there. Everyone starts to drink and it gets loud. Myrtle starts talking about Daisy and then after Tom told her to stop and she wouldn't, Tom broke her nose.

Response: Tom put Nick into another awkward situtation like the dinner he went to with Daisy, Tom and Jordan. He didn't know anyone at the party. People were getting drunk and acting stupid, then he sees Tom break Myrtle's nose.

Q: Why does Nick keep going to these different places with Tom which keep turning up awkward for Nick?

Characters of The Great Gatsby

Tom: Husband of Daisy and had affair with Myrtle. Famous football star in highschool.

Daisy: Tom's wife, she used to be with Gatsby then left him because he had no money. Has a daughter. She is the perfect woman any man could want, made everything seem perfect.

Gatsby: Very rich who lives in mansion next to Nick Carraway. Is thought to be involved in bootlegging. Obsessed with Daisy, threw big parties at his house. Killed by George Wilson.

Nick Carraway: Daisy's cousin and narrater of story. Lives next to Gatsby and became good friends with him. Came from midwest moved to West Egg.

Jordan Baker: Good golfer but cheats a lot. Liked Nick in story.

Myrtle: Tom's girlfriend that he had on the side. Met him on train. Gets hit by a car driven by Daisy and she dies.

Chapter 1 Gatsby

Abstract: Starts out with Nick Carraway, who is narrating the story. Dad tells him not to judge others. Story skips to summer of 1922. Nick is renting a house in West Egg, New York. West Egg is mostly for people who have gotten new wealth and haven't made a name for them selves, East Egg is for people with old wealth and have a family name that is well known. Nick visits his cousins house in East Egg, Daisy, who is married to Tom. They have an awkward dinner, Nick leaves then when he returns home he sees Gatsby.

Response: In the beginning here Gatsby I think seems like a mysterious and creepy person. He was standing near water with his arms and hands out toward the water like he was reaching for something. He lives in a large house which is gothic like. Tom and Daisy are also trying to push Jordon and Nick into a relationship.

Q: Why was Gatsby near the water holding his arms out?