Location in Chapter Two

In Chapter Two, we learn about new locations- the Valley of Ashes and New York City:

•  The Valley of Ashes- In order to get to the city, Tom and Nick drive through the Valley of Ashes. The valley is described as "a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens, where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air (pg. 27)." The Valley of Ashes symbolizes dread and poverty, in a story where everyone is supposedly happy and well-off. Tom even refers to it, saying to Nick, "Terrible place, isn't it? (30)?" This is also where George and Myrtle Wilson live.
• New York City- Tom, Nick, and Tom's mistress Myrtle take the train from the Valley of Ashes, and spend the majority of Chapter Two all together in New York City. Full of alcohol, adultery, and violence, the city is a great representation of the sin that takes place in the Great Gatsby. After all, Tom practically flaunts Myrtle all over the city, despite both of them being married. Everyone is drinking whiskey throughout the chapter, despite it being illegal at the time. And, at the end of the chapter, Tom even breaks Myrtle's nose. The city is full of all that is bad and wrong during the time period.

The Colors Of Chapter One

Chapter one of the Great Gatsby shows a significant use of the colors white and green:

• White- In Chapter One, the color white is used to represent innocence, especially in the case of Daisy. When Nick first visits the Buchanans, Daisy and Jordan are both wearing white dresses: "They were both in white and their dresses were rippling and fluttering (pg. 12)..." Also, on page 24, Daisy says to Nick, "Our white girlhood was passed together there. Our beautiful white--" Therefore, white shows Daisy's innocence, especially in the beginning of the novel. 
• Green- At very end of Chapter One, Nick sees Gatsby standing in front of his own house, looking across the water towards where Daisy lives. This is when we first learn of the green light: "Involuntarily I glanced seaward-- and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been at the end of the dock (pg. 26)." The green symbolizes hope and a new beginning, as Gatsby was still in love with Daisy, and longed to be with her.

My Reaction So Far

So far, I have enjoyed The Great Gatsby. I love the time period it is set in. I love the fashion, the music, and newfound independence for women. The book was slightly hard to get into at first, as there were so many things the characters were saying and talking about that I didn't understand. I'm about halfway through the book by now, and really starting to get into it. I'm excited for the ending because I know that it is supposed to tie together the whole book. In all, I have liked The Great Gatsby so far.

Day One

Insert clever sentence about joining blogger here.