Great Gatsby Reading 2

1. I see Meyer Wolfsheim as being a way to develop Gatsby, in our eyes. His character shows just who Gatsby will put up with and deal with. In this case, Wolfsheim is a little bit sneaky and cheating, and maybe colors our judgement of Gatsby. But at the same time, one can also look at their relationship as interesting in the fact that Gatsby seems to merely put up with him, though showing a few signs of liking him as a person.

2. Their relationship makes Gatsby seem a little tragic. They seem to have been in an obviously good relationship, however he had to leave to go to war. Then Daisy marries Tom (for what reason, we aren't quite informed, only that she thinks it was a mistake) and she is obviously unhappy with him. Gatsby, in the meantime, is well forgotten for all intents and purposes, and yet he still loves her all the same. It just happened that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, or more likely not at the right place at the right time. Now he has to see Daisy in an unhappy relationship and he is unable to do anything about it himself.

3. Gatsby, unlike many of the others of this crowd, is partially a self-made man (other than the money left behind to him by Cody) and that sets him apart from the rest of the people in that we can respect him for making his own money rather than merely inheriting it. We also feel sorry for him in that part of his money came from his best friend who died. In general, the rest of his background makes him into a rather sad figure, and it seems as though he has some issues dealing with his money and with what he is doing and in general it just shows you why he is so awkward at his own parties.

4. I get the feeling that I shouldn't like him more, since he is in love with a married woman. However, overall, these chapters have only served to make me like Gatsby more. I feel sorry for him, losing Daisy to Tom, and I also like him for how awkward he is whenever he first gets to see Daisy again. His wonder at the situation (after his embarrassment) made him more likeable and overall human. He seems more real than some of the other characters, and feels like maybe he's still in wonder with his wealth, still capable of real happiness, while all of the other characters seem to look at everything like it's old stuff.