Tuesday, February 7, 2017

is gatsby a mystery? is gatsby a mystery?

The first question: Is Jay Gatsby a mystery?  On one hand, he's out in the open-- everyone goes to his house, everyone recognizes his car.  On the other, what does anyone really know about him?

The second question: Is The Great Gatsby a mystery?  On one hand, it's not a police procedural or the story of solving a crime.  One the other, aren't we following Nick as he's handed clues about why people are doing what they're doing?  Does that make this a "whydoneit" instead of a "whodunit"?  [Hey. Not so fast. Click that link.]

Please comment to this post with your thoughts on both questions.

13 comments:

  1. At first, instead of reading whodunit, I read whodonut. I think I'm hungry.

    I don't think Jay Gatsby is a mystery. From what I understand so far, it's not like people seem to want to know Gatsby. People would rather spread rumors about him.

    I also don't think The Great Gatsby is a mystery. Yeah, Nick is being handed clues about why people do what they do, but I think that's more of.... the author trying to get us to understand the characters more. I don't really know how those clues will play into the rising action, and when I think of mystery, I feel like there's a direct relationship between clues and the plot. I don't know if there is a relationship and I just don't see it... but yeah....

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  2. Jay Gatsby is a real mystery. He tells Nick everything that Nick would want to know but Nick is still wary of him. Jordan reveals him a story about the past with Daisy and Gatsby. The book is getting interesting. Who is this man Gatsby? What is up with his past? This is the type of plot that doesn't make sense yet but it will eventually.

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  3. I think Jay Gatsby is a mystery. Most people don't know who he is, hence the rumors. Just because people are not trying to solve the mystery, doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. There are a lot of mysteries out there- it just takes the right detective who is actually interested in that case. From what we know, Jay Gatsby is a rich guy who lives next to Nick. The story behind him is the mystery.
    As for The Great Gatsby in general, I don't think it's quite a mystery. I've been already forming predictions since chapter one that are becoming true. For example, Gatsby looking across the water at Daisy's house is because he's interested in her. The reason for Gatsby to take interest in Nick all of the sudden is because he knows that Nick is related to Daisy somehow. Gatsby talking to Jordan privately at the party is because he knew they were friends and maybe wanted to know more about her. Now I think why Gatsby left when Nick was introducing him to Tom is because Gatsby knows Tom is Daisy's husband.

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  4. Gatsby is pretty mysterious because when he says something he doesn't seem so sure of it, for example when he said he studied at Oxford in chapter 4, while talking to Nick, he said it in an unsure way as described by Nick.
    Right now I wouldn't consider "The Great Gatsby" a mystery it seems more like a typical book which will make sense in the end because it's somewhat confusing at times

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  5. I believe that Gatsby is a pretty mysterious guy we don't really know a lot about him. There are a lot of rumors about him which aren't true because they are just rumors. When he talks to Nick about his "life" we still didn't really learn anything about him. When he response his answer didn't sound so sure.

    "The Great Gatsby" I consider a mystery book because where the story starts off with Nick and the book is called "The Great Gatsby" not The Great Nick, but then reading more still trying to find out even if there is a Gatsby and who was he and when we found him much wasn't said about him

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  6. I believe that Gatsby is a mysterious person. Through the chapters read all we know is that there are rumors being spread about this Gatsby, but is it really true. Who knows. We don't really know that much about him that makes him Great. But that hes is incredibly wealthy, throws lavish parties, and is desperate to win back Daisy. But who really is this Gatsby?

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  7. Jay Gatsby is a mystery. Even though we've learned a bit about Gatsby's past, he still has this mysterious vibe to him. We learned about Gatsby's intentions, but it just seems like he has a huge secret he is hiding.

    I would consider "The Great Gatsby" a mystery. We are following Nick's journey as he uncovers Gatsby's past. It's kind of what drives this story along. Because of this, the story is more of a "whydoneit" because I believe the book it focusing more on Gatsby's motives.

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  8. I consider Jay Gatsby a mystery. We've learned little about this man, we know he's a rich guy, and throws "big celebrations". As well Nick encounters him, and he is slowly figuring out who The Great Gatsby really is and how Gatsby approaches Nick with an unfamiliar question, "What do you think about me, old sport?"

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  9. I think Jay Gatsby is this mysterious man. Everyone in the chapter seems to describe him as the g.o.a.t. I feel like Jay Gatsby has two sides of personalities. When he is around his rich friends, he's a different person he isn't like his rich friends. He doesn't drink a lot to cover up pain like most people. He just observes people. The other side of him is more independent and more hidden. He doesn't reveal himself too much. He is a mystery. So far he is my favorite character. I think the Great Gatsby is a mystery. It is not necessarily a mystery towards a certain thing. I think the mystery is uncovering everyone's past and explaining why their present is that way.

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  10. In my opinion, i think Jay Gatsby is a mysterious man. Nobody really knows who he really is or how he is. Some were making predictions of how he would look like because they have never seen him before. He's not a man who is always out in the open, where everyone can see him. He holds parties at his house but isn't present there to greet them. He lets his stuff be seen, but it him. For these reasons, I think Jay and The Great Gatsby are very mysterious.

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  11. I believe that GATSBY is a true mystery because throughout the book I have noticed that he knows so many people and all for different reasons. I also feel like he's a mystery because he invites so many people to his parties but it doesn't seem like he is social with these people. When I read chapter 4 I felt him even more mysterious because of his past and everything that he was saying that maybe most people didn't know about him. But the again I think everyone has secrets or mysteries in their lives that people may not know about.

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  12. Gatsby is very interesting man, like it seems too good to be true. He is seriously hiding something he is very peculiar. I seriously flipped out when he had got stopped by the cop and showed him a card!? and the cop APOLOGIZED?? What is this! Something is very fishyyyy. He's a special man and we still don't know why.... this book has me thinking way to much.

    I hope you are feeling better and get well soon because I miss you and like this Sub doesn't talk! #WENEEDYOU

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  13. Super Late, as usual (maybe fashionably late?) I read all the comments first and laughed so hard at Lesley's and Paloma's.
    I think Gatsby is a mystery at the moment because there are so many stories about him and even when he tells the "truth" is sounds like a big fat lie. He's got to be hiding something. His history is what makes him mysterious.
    I don't think the book is a mystery though, may sound stupid, but I just don't get the feeling of a mystery...information is given to us we don't have to go looking for it. When I think mystery I think of looking for clues, but in the book Nick is given the clues. (I'm not sure if that makes much of a difference)

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