Hamlet and Ophelia: The Beginning

Young Ophelia went out for a walk around the castle grounds, with all eyes on her. As the daughter of King Hamlet's advisor, she always received much attention. But she never quite received the attention from who she wanted. Ever since she was a child, Ophelia had been in love with Prince Hamlet. Although she had only spoken to him scarce occasions, she knew that she wanted to be with him forever.
"Hello, Ophelia," the shopkeeper said as she entered the small building, with the intent of buying parchment for her father, Polonius.
"Hello, sir," she responded politely. "I'm here to buy the shipment of parchment my father requested.
"Oh, of course, I'll go get it in the back. I'll be only a moment." As the shopkeeper wandered into the back on his quarters, Ophelia began looking around, running her delicate hands over fabrics and books.
"Ophelia, is it?" She jumped at the sound of a young man's voice. She turned around to find Hamlet smiling down at her.
"Hello, sir," she remarked shyly, curtseying like her father always told her to do. "How are you?"
"Oh, I am fine," he said as he moved in closer to her. "I just needed to get out of that stuffy old castle." Ophelia responded with a slight grin, understanding his need to be free.
"How is your father?" Hamlet asked, examining a line of fabric.
"Oh, he is fine."
"Good, good. But more importantly, how are you?" Ophelia was startled by the prince's question. Very rarely was she asked how she was doing. But to have Hamlet believe that her feelings outwayed those of her father's? That was something she had never experienced.
"I am fine, thank you." The shopkeeper came back, a pile of parchment in his dry hands. Ophelia handed him a variety of coins, and turned to leave the shop.
"Goodbye, Ophelia," Hamlet called. "It was nice seeing you."
"And you, too." She placed one foot out the door, but then suddenly stopped herself. "Actually, Sir Hamlet, would you like to accompany me on my walk?"
Hamlet's face lit up in delight as he replied, "Of course."

Minor Characters in Chapter 8

In this chapter, the only minor character we really see in Michaelis:

• Michaelis- In this chapter, Michaelis attempts to comfort George Wilson after the death of his wife, Myrtle. Michaelis stays with him for hours, and tries to calm him down. He asks him question about his life, Myrtle, and suggests that Wilson go to a church or talk to a priest. When Wilson tells him of his suspicion that someone purposely tried to kill Myrtle, Michaelis assures him that it was an accident. Then, when Wilson refers to the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg as God, Michaelis replies, "That's an advertisement (pg. 167)." I believe that Michaelis could possibly symbolize good, because he is the only one to stay with Wilson all day, and he does not seem corrupt. He could even symbolize reason, as he tries to reason with George that his wife was not murdered and that the advertisement isn't really God.
• Wolfsheim- Wolfsheim is very briefly mentioned in this chapter: "The chauffeur- he was one of Wolfsheim's proteges- heard the shots (pg.169)-" This could further show that Wolfsheim symbolizes corruption, as the chauffeur, his supposed protege, did not think much about the shots he heard.

Themes In Chapter Six

In Chapter Two, the two major themes are evident:

• Immorality in the 1920's- In this chapter, we once again see a lot of drinking. Tom and his friends Mr. and Mrs. Sloane stop by Gatsby's house, where they have drinks. Later, Tom and Daisy attend one of Gatsby's parties for the first time, where drinks are of course served all around.
• The American Dream- Nick finally learns about Gatsby's real background in this chapter. "The truth was that Jay Gatsby, of West Egg, Long Island, sprang from his Platonic conception of himself (pg. 104)." He was born James Gatz, of North Dakota, with little money. I believe that Gatsby's want and need for the American Dream has a lot to do with the fact that in his younger years, he never had the ideal living. Add in the fact that he longed for Daisy so much, he would do anything to capture the dream. Nick tries to convince Gatsby that he can't repeat the past with Daisy, but Gatsby's need for the American Dream convinces himself otherwise.

Symbols in Chapter Four

In Chapter Four of The Great Gatsby, we see a variety of symbols:

• Gatsby's car- In this chapter we learn more about Gatsby's infamous car. It is described as "a rich cream color, bright with nickel, swollen here and there in its monstrous length with triumphant hatboxes and supper-boxes and tool-boxes, and terraced with a labyrinth of windshields that mirrored a dozen suns (pg. 68)." In the beginning of this chapter, Gatsby and Nick get pulled over by a cop while driving through the Valley of Ashes. Because of this, Gatsby's car symbolizes the carelessness and recklessness of the wealthy during this time period.
• the Green Light- Towards the end of this chapter Nick realizes that Gatsby is in love with Daisy: "Then it had not been merely the stars to which he had aspired on that June night (pg. 83)." Nick begins to realize that when he first saw Gatsby looking across the bay at the green light, he was longing for Daisy. I believe that the green light represents Gatsby's longing for Daisy and his hope that someday they may be together. I also think that the light could even symbolize the American Dream itself.

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.