The Great Gatsby Group

Question:

mano789
mano789
Student
High School - 11th Grade

What is the summary for the first part of Chapter 2 of "The Great Gatsby"?

It should be in a paragraph including answers to the question did the major characters change in any way and also what literary devices we notice

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Posted by mano789 on Monday June 2, 2008 at 8:06 PM and tagged with chapter 2, literary devices, summary, the great gatsby, themes.

Answers:

  1. reidalot
    reidalot Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    The first part of Chapter 2 opens with the images of ash  and desolation, "...the gray land and the spasms of bleak dust..." This sets the mood for the chapter as Tom and Nick must cross this wasteland on the way to the city, but first they go to Wilson's garage to pick up Mrs. Wilson, Myrtle, Tom's mistress. It is a bleak scene which shows Tom's arrogance and coldness. Mr. Wilson, the husband is clueless about his wife's affair and he is emasculated (loses his manhood) in this scene. They go to the city and Nick meets Mytles's sister, Catherine. They drink all afternoon. Tom and Myrtle get into an argument over Daisy, and Tom breaks her nose which also shows his violence.This chapter reinforces the shallowness of life, the ashes become a metaphor for a life with no meaning or hope. Nick continues as a watcher, so the bigger question may be , Why does he go along with people he does not care for?

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/thegreatgatsby

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    Posted by reidalot on Tuesday June 3, 2008 at 4:04 AM