Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Digging into Chapter 3

Passage 2 "In the main hall a bar with a real brass rail was set up , and stocked with gins and liquors and with cordials so long forgotten that most of his female guests were too young to know one from another. "

This passage indirectly reveals the moral conduct at Gatsby's party. Technically, Gatsby could be proven as a criminal since alcohol was illegal during that time period. Nick does not only accepts the presence of the liquor, but seems to have a certain fascination by it through the way he describes it. The liquors that Nick finds "long forgotten" can also give the reader a sense of curiosity and they may ask the question: How does Gatsby find the way to obtain the forbidden alcohol? Furthermore, the majority of Gatsby's female guests were seen as young or lively girls. When Nick mentions that these girls were "too young to know one from another", the reader can infer the reasons why many of these girls were present at the party. Based on this time period, girls sometimes had the chance to married older wealthy men. Also, the 1920 era was filled with independent single ladies. As Nick describes the girl's lack of knowledge of the alcohol, it can symbolize how accepting they are toward a lifestyle that they do not truly know about.
         

1 comment:

  1. I totally agree with what you're saying about how Gatsby can be pertained as a criminal based on his alcohol collection in his home. I also think that it may suggest that Gatsby is so wealthy that he is almost above the law and the alcohol ban. The fact that he has some really old alcohol suggests this.

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