“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.” (Ch. 1)
-The author reflects back on a saying that his father used to show a guideline that shaped the author into who he is as a person today. His father wanted to make sure that his son knew he had it better than most and that he should not take the life he lives for granted. The father is sure to use “advantages” the author has had in life, rather than saying that other people have gone through worse because everyone in life has their problems. Some people, however, do not have the extra hand or “advantage” in life that others are lucky to have.
“Now he was 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” (Ch. 1)
-The author uses a detailed description of his old friend, Tom Buchanan, to show the changes he now sees in Tom’s appearance. The author makes inferences from this new look to try and figure out how he has changed as a person. From his size to the look in his eyes, the author can see that his friend has been through a lot and puts up an alpha persona. Such a persona can suggest that Tom has proven himself as an alpha or that he feels the need to act like one to get the respect he desires in life.
“Yet high over the city our line of yellow windows must have contributed their share of human secrecy to the casual watcher in the darkening streets, and I was him too, looking up and wondering.” (Ch. 2)
-Nick classified himself with the wonderers because he felt trapped in secrets and lies he would never understand. In one night, he was engulfed in the secret lives of people he did not even know, and heard lies regarding his cousin. He used this metaphor of street watchers that randomly look up wondering what is happening to relate to how he felt about the overwhelming situation. This situation confused him and caused him to want to drink. Nick did not care as to why these people lived the way they lived, but he felt trapped in the room with them.
“He doesn’t want any trouble with ANYbody.” (Ch. 3)
-Mr. Gatsby was rumored to be the kind of gentleman that treated people with care and respect, but was never really around. When a young lady, Lucille, ripped her dress at one of his events, he was sure to replace it with a better dress to make sure no trouble or disrespect was made. This kind of man can make people feel like he is hiding something. That there is a reason why he is too nice to people and can never really be found at his own evening party, but everyone assumes the worse. Rhetoric is strongly used when people judge others. Mr. Gatsby gets pulled in the middle of it when no one really knows what kind of man he is, nor does anyone really take the time to try to figure it out.
“It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced — or seemed to face — the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey.” (Ch. 3)
-A single smile can make someone’s day. To Nick, Mr. Gatsby’s smile caught him off guard, made him feel understood and respected. That smile changed everything Nick thought about Mr. Gatsby, and he instantly respected the man more. Nick’s description of the rare, unforgettable smile helps the reader visualize and believe in such a smile that changes the way someone is seen as well as make someone feel as though, they too are looked at as someone important. The importance of this quote is that, from that moment on, Mr, Gatsby became the one exception in the way Nick views everyone.
