The Great Gatsby Group

Question:

bledsoe168
bledsoe168
Student
High School - 11th Grade

In Chapter 9 of "The Great Gatsby", how do Nick's feelings about the midwest relate to one of the themes of this novel?

pick two themes and comment please.

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Posted by bledsoe168 on Tuesday February 10, 2009 at 6:18 PM and tagged with chapter 9, characters, midwest, nick, the great gatsby, theme.

Answers:


  1. ms-mcgregor Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    One of the major themes of the novel is the Culture Clash that occurs between new wealth of Gatsby and the inherhited wealth represented by Daisy and Tom. This clash is also represented by Nick and Gatsby's  Midwestern views and those of Tom and Daisy, who have adjusted to the Eastern mentalities of materialism and sophistication. Gatsby who moves from the west tries to adapt to the Eastern views, but, finds himself destroyed and rejected in the end. Tom, who never really accepts the East coast values is able to the Midwest. Although Nick has been hurt by the values he sees exemplified on the east coast, he is also "morally enlightened" and recognizes the importance of his conservative values. Fitzgerald seems to be making moral values about Midwesterners and Easterner and people from the East Coast do not do fair by comparison. 

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/great-gatsby

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    Posted by ms-mcgregor on Tuesday February 10, 2009 at 7:05 PM