Great Gatsby Reading Blog #1 (Chapters 1-3)

Having only read the first three chapters of The Great Gatsby, it was difficult to pinpoint what "title" each character possessed. However, the description of the main characters allowed us to be conscience of what traits they displayed and what attitudes they expressed. Nick appears to be our reliable narrator from the very beginning. This would allow us to automatically categorize him under the "hero" subtitle. Not only do we recognize him as reliable, but we see him as a good-hearted man and kind. Tom, however we see as a villain. He isn't kind and he's very rude and arrogant. He's having an affair and just doesn't seem like the type of man you would call your "friend". On page 7, Nick describes Tom as "a sturdy straw-haired man of thirty with a rather hard mouth and a supercilious manner. Two shining arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face and gave him the appearance of always leaning aggressively forward. Not even the effeminate swank of his riding clothes could hide the enormous power of that body....it was a body capable of enormous leverage- a cruel body." This shows how he establishes his higher power over everyone and thinks he's better than all. This would definitely be a characteristic of a villain, considering no one likes him. However, I believe there may be a chance later in the book for him to redeem himself, then making him an antihero. I don't think we've seen enough of Daisy to know whether she's really a heroine or not; therefore, I don't see a reason to draw a conclusion to her. Jordan may appear as an antihero because she is dishonest and cheats, but the audience still likes her. This would tie in with the definition of antihero, whereas an antihero employs many characteristics of archetype but their actions contradict what society deems acceptable, but then uses vigilante justice. Our first impression of Jordan is when Nick says ""Oh-you're Jordan Baker." I knew now why her face was familiar-its pleasing contemptuous expression had looked out at me from many rotogravure pictures of the sporting life at Asheville and Hot Springs and Palm Beach. I had heard some story of her too, a critical, unpleasant story, but what it was I had forgotten long ago. (page 18)" We later find out how she cheats and lies continuously, but yet we still are fond of her. Mr. Gatsby is a very mysterious character; yet his name is the title of the book, thus giving us the idea he plays an important role in the book. I would indicate him as a hero, merely from the fact that the title is his name and he is mysterious and we as readers want to grow closer to him. This will lead us to have an emotional attachment with him. I believe that he will make some kind of extraordinary appearance and do something that will prove himself worthy of the name "hero", but for now all we can do is hypothesize.