The following quotes have been taken from this website: http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/f/fitzgerald/f_scott/gatsby/
1. “Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,” he told me, “just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.”
Fitzgerald starts his book with a quote about the main character. The quote comes from the father who tells his son, Nick, that he should be grateful for his advantages and not look down upon anyone who was not as fortunate. He compares the main character with "all the people in this world" to exaggerate his point. The father truly believes that his son is special and privileged. Although, the author makes a point that Nick should not take it to heart and look down at others. This quote is important because the author is trying to tell the readers that Nick will have the opportunity of seeing and doing things that others might not be able to do. (119 words)
2. "This isn’t just an epigram — life is much more successfully looked at from a single window, after all."
The author talks in first person as Nick, the main character. In this quote, Nick declares his goal to read these newly printed books. He wishes to become a "well-rounded man" but not just to be able to say pretty words. The author proclaims that life would be viewed better if everyone saw it through one perspective. Because everyone is different, everyone has their own opinions. Because everyone has their own opinions, everyone sees things in a different way. Therefore, the main character cannot be viewed as a "well-rounded man" because in some individual's perspective, he might be missing something else within his knowledge. In other words, he cannot please everyone. (111 words)
3. "It was a body capable of enormous leverage — a cruel body."
Tom Buchanan is described to be a very strong man. Not only is he filthy rich, he is also huge. His body is so rock solid and hard that it expands his shoes. This means a great deal because shoes are meant to be tough for the ground movement of our feet. The quote states that Tom's body is capable of enormous leverage. This could be viewed in two ways. A leverage is an item to help exert force upon objects. Therefore, the author could be saying Tom is a very strong person. Although, another definition of leverage is the power to influence a person or situation to come out with your desired outcome. This meaning Tom has influence over people because of the power and money that he possesses. Either way, Tom is viewed to be a "cruel" person. (140 words)
4. "Her face, above a spotted dress of dark blue crepe-de-chine, contained no facet or gleam of beauty, but there was an immediately perceptible vitality about her as if the nerves of her body were continually smouldering"
Fitzgerald describes the girl to be a simple girl with no special quality in her yet she possesses this trait that makes her come off as seductive. She is wearing a spotted dress, which symbolizes poverty. While her face contains no evidence of beauty, the author describes her body to be "smouldering". When he talks about her nerves, it could be assumed that he meant her hormones. While she is having urges for the man in front of her, her burning desire reflects towards her body language as well. (89 words)
5. " We all turned and looked around for Gatsby. It was testimony to the romantic speculation he inspired that there were whispers about him from those who found little that it was necessary to whisper about in this world."
In a scene where all the women came together to talk about Gatsby, they realize that they don't know much about him. The clear definition of romantic is having a made up idea of reality. Therefore, their gossip is all lies. The author then says the ladies have very little to talk about in the world since they are basing their conversation off lies. The author uses stereotyping because it is well known in all societies that young women had nothing better to do than gossip since they did not go to school. (93 words)
