Great Gatsby Dialectical Journal

4. Describe and explain why you would/would not like to have lived in the time or place of the story.

The 1920s or the roaring twenties was post World War I and before the Great Depression. Unfortunately, not everything was pleasing for the 1920s, as this time period experienced social, economic, and cultural alterations that affected the lives of Americans. One reason I would not enjoy living in the 1920s was because during this time a law prohibition was passed abolishing the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol and liquors which led to bootlegging and high crime.The 20’s were a very time changing era. Personally, I think things were to uncontrolled and especially for young women living the cities of America. They could now

The author was emphasizing that time is of the essence and how you can not repeat the past no matter what is said or done. Also, the book's main characters were very wealthy and sometimes took that for granted. I believe the novel was written to suggest that the aspiration to become wealthy in America was in reality, not as great as people imagined it to be. In this way, it is a novel of disillusionment.

12. If you were the author, would you have ended the story in a different way? Why? How so? Yes, I would have had the book end in a different way. In chapter 7 Gatsby and Daisy were driving and struck and killed Tom's mistress, Myrtle. When It was found out that night It was Jay Gatsby's car, driven by Daisy, (although Gatsby was in the car), Gatsby took the blame. This leading to Myrtle's husband George killing Gatsby then himself. I would not have written about the car accident killing Myrtle, so Gatsby would have never been shot. Also, I would have liked it to end with Gatsby happily married to Daisy.

13. How does the author provide information or details to make the story seem

Do you have any unanswered questions about the story? Explain.

Yes, n chapter one where nick meets up with Daisy, Tom, and Jordan and then Daisy steps out to talk to Nick about her life. Daisy talks about Tom, her husband, and explained she didn't know where he was when she gave birth. Daisy then brings up she had a daughter and says... “I hope she'll be a fool -- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” Why would she want her daughter to be a fool? Why did she say the best thing in this world a girl can be is a beautiful little fool?

15. Copy an interesting/confusing/important/enjoyable passage and explain why you chose it.

“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter–tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther…. And one fine morning– So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” Initially, the tone of this quote is hopeful and optimistic. It is based on the idea that we must overcome failure by continually striving for success. In other words, we must never ever give up. Like how Gatsby never stopped trying to be with Daisy, but the tone changes towards the end of the quote becoming more pessimistic. The idea of the boat being "borne back," for example, highlights the idea that no matter how hard Gatsby tried to win back Daisy, he was never successful. This quote describes the failure