Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Gatsby's House - Xavy SanGabriel



Gatsby’s House
Jay Gatsby’s house is home to lavish and extravagant parties filled with people who may or may not know Gatsby personally. They may have been introduced to Gatsby once and then stays there for the fun. The house parties also provide opportunities for young (and relatively poor) Englishmen to be able to create connections with rich Americans to be able to achieve the upper class status. Gatsby uses his big house parties to attract the woman of his dreams: Daisy Buchanan. Unfortunately, Daisy is one of the few people who don’t attend Gatsby’s parties. Gatsby also stays at his house and stares at the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock.
Serving these purposes, Gatsby’s house is home to many symbolic purposes for the book The Great Gatsby. Gatsby’s house symbolizes the path to Gatsby’s dream. It may also be interpreted as to how the American Dream has fallen to just seeking money and riches. The fact that Gatsby’s dream (Daisy) came last to his house symbolizes the patience required to attain the American Dream.
Quotes:
“There was music from my neighbor’s house through the summer nights… The lights grow brighter as the earth lurches away from the sun.”
“I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby’s house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited”
“I was immediately struck by the number of young Englishmen dotted about; all well dressed, all looking a little hungry, and all talking in low, earnest voices to solid and prosperous Americans.”
Sources:
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/gatsby/themes.html
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/gatsby/summary.html

Picture:
http://www.sitecreative.com/gallery/misc/White-mansion.jpg

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

wow! I hadn't made the connection between gatsby's house and the american dream!

Liz L. 8th :)

Unknown said...

I disagree that Gatsby's house came to represent the failed American dream in the pursuit of wealth for the sake of wealth. Gatsby built his empire and gained his wealth for the sole purpose of attracting Daisy. I think that the house is simply an extension of Gatsby: Wealthy and Extrvagent on the outside, but meaningless and hollow on the inside.

-Dan P.