Dear AP students:
Let's analyze the significance of three items:
First, there is a curious episode at the beginning of Chapter VII in which the narrator Nick Carraway describes the replacement of Gatsby' servants with a strange group of people. He first describes these new servants as possessing "villainous" faces. He later describes one of the servants as sounding "dilatory" in the way he said "sir." Gatsby describes them as people who who used to run a small motel, and then mentions that they had been supplied by Wolfsheim. He said he wanted people who wouldn't gossip. What's with these mysterious people? What is their significance to this story's theme?
Second, we briefly meet Daisy's daughter in a scene where Gatsby is present. Nick Carraway says about this encounter..."Gatsby and I in turn leaned down and took the small reluctant hand. Afterward he kept looking at the child with surprise. I don't think he had ever really believed in its existence before." Daisy subsequently says to the child " You dream, you. You absolute little dream....She looks like me. She's got my hair and face." What are we to think of this scene?
Third, what's with Gatsby always using the saying "Old sport"? Tom is the only one that seemed to have taken offense at his use of this saying.
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1) I believe these mysterious people seem odd because the don't want to attract any attention to hemselves from those who they are not very fond of. Knowing that they are not the right type of group to be around, they feel that with their rude behavior and smart-butt comments/questions will fill their surroundings with loneliness (which is probably what they want), and also the fact that they probably do not like where their choices in life has gotten them. :)
2) I feel the reason why Gatsby is saying that Daisy's daughter carris a few of his traits is so that when Daisy leaves Tom for him, he won't feel so awkward when the little comes and lives with them. Also, it would make Gatsby feel so relieved that she does not possess any of Tom's traits as well.
3) The words "Old Sport," in the 1920's, was a common phrase to say to a friend or a stranger who you found comforting enough tosay hello to. Knowing that Tom is not very settled with Gatsby when he addresses him like this because of what is going on between him and his wife, Daisy, is getting under his skin. Why whould Gatsby call him "Old Sport" when: a) Tom is a hard-head and has a name that he would rather be preferred by, b) does not like Gatsby very much, and c) with so much thoughts going through his head at this scene just by witnessing how comfortable and side-taking of Daisy is around Gatsby in front of his own eyes?
Nick does not mind to be called "Old Sport" because at this point in the book he's become used to the words. As for Gatsby to call anyone "Old Sport" it just gives himself and the person a good vine about each other that Gatsby is a peacefulman and does not wish to cause and harm or drama between the two.
The newly instated servants are obviously Wolfshiem's hired heinous henchmen (alliteration!). The fact that they possess "villainous" faces is simply due to the fact that they are all criminals who work under Wolfshiem's illicit biddings. The butler was dilatory in his speech, because he is obviously not accustomed to addressing others with courtesy. All of the servants lack the proper social etiquette, because they are simply unrefined minions who were hired on a whim. Gatsby trusts them, because they are ultimately all of his workers. This scene points to the corruption of the American Dream with the rise of criminality.
I think Gatsby was perturbed by Daisy's daughter, because he initially didn't believe that Daisy would actually have one. He is under the impression that Daisy has only loved him, and only him, these past five years. Thus, he cannot believe that Daisy would conceive a child with a man whom she had barely loved. Daisy also seems rather indifferent to her daughter, failing to even mention or introduce her to the others in the first place.
Gatsby uses the saying, "old sport," because it is all part of his image. From what I understand, the phrase is apparently a British term of endearment that was considered colloquial during the 1920s. Hence, Gatsby wants others to believe that he had attended Oxford in the past and that he is an old friend when, in reality, he isn't. No one besides Daisy has had a deep connection with him, and this is why Tom finds it frustrating.
The fact that the servants are said to come from Wolfsheim just explains that they are most likely criminals or probably even in the business with Wolfsheim. People whom nobody would want to mess with if any were to come to Gatsby's door asking about whereabouts with his life. They seem to have a mysterious face because they are most likely not people one would trust in certain situations but also they are hired because evidently they posses some sort of connection to Gatsby's apparent good friend Wolfsheim.
Daisy's daughter comes in and Gatsby is astounded and shocked because I presume that he hadn't a clue that she a had a daughter and most likely went through his mind that he might have to think a little more thurough to the fact that his lover has a daughter and she is not that 18 year old lady he had fallen in love with so long ago. Daisy claims that she is an absolute dream and looks like her more to make the scene unawkward so that Gatsby wouldnt feel so shocked and clues him that he doesnt really love her husband bu tloves Gatsby more.
Old Sport saying is what i think is just like a gesture to the character he seems to play as a person or in the novel itself. For example many wealthy young and old men seem to have a word they call others they like or younger men like" ole chap" just to give it that effect that will earn them poise and upperness to themselves. Upperness meaning more importance or value to their personality.
Sunny Avila
The mysterious people represent the evil that Gatsby surrounded himself with after he entered into the illegal bootlegging business. Their significance is that they represent the evil hidden side of Gatsby. Although he is respected and friendly, he hides a dark truth like the mysterious group surrounding him.
The introduction of Daisy's daughter is the introduction of a new barrier for Gatsby's love for Daisy. Daisy uses the excuse that her daughter resembles her so that Gatsby may accept her, but I believe it is a symbol that Daisy had truly fallen in love with Tom before seeing Gatsby again.
Gatsby uses the term "Old Sport" as a form of endearment to hide the truth that he is desperately alone. He calls Nick, "Old Sport," to act as if he's known him for a long time like an "old sport."
First off, the sevents were sent by Wolfsheim who is a bad guy, and this could only mean that something has happened to Gatsby who needs this type of security. Also the servents are possibly wearing off people who they do not want to at all communicate ot get to know cause they do not interest them in any way.
Second off, the whole scene with Daisy's daughter seemed to have made Gatsby a little uncomfortable and shocked at first, since it wasn't his, and by him pointing the same genetic features that she has of him is making him feeling accepting of her for when Daisy leaves Tom for Gatsby.
Last, "Old Sport" was a common phrase used back in the 1920's that men would call other men if they were a pal, neighbor, stranger, or possible if they didn't know the other person's name; a back-up name for the clueless.
Wolfshiem is a gangster who helps Gatsby get to where he is with money deals and whatnot. He replaces his old, reliable servants with ones that have served Wolfsheim as well. He doesn't want gossipy servants. He, in doing this, surrounds himself in the criminal underworld in a sense, and also prevents others from knowing what he has done the past five years. It adds to the overall mystery in the novel, the darkness of the American Dream.
Gatsby looks at the child with surprise, because there is a deeper layer of disbelief that he may not be able to be with Daisy after all. She already has a kid with Tom. She is like a dream and extension of her, because Gatsby cannot be with either of them, despite all the wealth in the world. All the money in the world cannot buy a person.
Finally, Gatsby says "old sport" as much as Holden Caulfield says "goddam" in Catcher. I think he just uses this term to describe someone as his buddy of sorts. Of course, Tom isn't his buddy since Tom knows about his love interest for Daisy after a while. Then again, Tom has that sort of attitude with everyone, even with people he's on good terms with. Using this phrase gives him a down to earth feel, not what an immensely rich man usually is (mythical, on a higher level).
First , the servants were sent to protect, which leads me to think that something has happened to Gatsby.
Second, the when Gatsby discovers that Daisy has a daughter we can see how it upsets him because at first he is upset that she is not his daughter. Later as we read on though we learn that Daisy's daughter has physical features of Gatsby which makes him more accepting of the girl.
Lastly, "Old Sport" in the 1920's was a phrase used for men to call to other men, much like how in current lingo we use the phrase "Dude" in order to call our friends, associates, or even strangers.
Jillian Buenviaje
These mysterious people that enter Jay Gatsby home are meant to keep the secrets that Gatsby stowed away in his home so he hired new servants that hardly knew him in order to keep those secrets in his home. To the story's theme, this keeps the identity of Gatsby a secret and an enigma to the cast of characters.
This scene with Daisy and her Daughter may imply that the daughter may belong to Jay Gatsby and not Tom Buchannon. She says that she has her facial features but may hide the identity of her father.
The term "old sport" simply implies that a rich person Jargon to another rich person. Tom is annoyed by this term because Gatsby had earned his own wealth and was not inherited, so Tom is jealous and annoyed at Gatsby's success.
James Lee
First, the beginning of Chapter VII demonstrates how troublesome life becomes if one associates with shady people. Gatsby became paranoid, firing all of his servants and trusted Wolfshiem, a very shady character, to replace them with rude servants. Since these “mysterious people” apparently follow Wolfshiem’s orders, they must also have been involved in illegal activities while working under him. The servants’ significance to the theme reflects their bad decisions, and how their bad decisions will impact them for the remainder of their lives—evident in that they are employees of Wolfshiem.
Second, Daisy’s daughter, like all children, can symbolize a permanent bond between the parents, for the parents as partners can always break up, or divorce, then known as “ex” lovers. However, there is no such thing as an “ex-child.” Thus, Gatsby denies the daughter’s “existence” because he hates the idea of Daisy, his love, having a permanent bond with another man, specifically Tom.
Third, Gatsby always uses the saying “Old sport,” specifically to Nick most of the time because he and Nick were familiar with each other during their first meeting; they both were in the “Third Division during the war” (51).
The men that Gatsby has brought into the picture are shady characters. Their intentions are obviously dishonest, as is their purpose of being there. Fitzgerald could be using them as a tangible representation of the dark side that Gatsby has given a great deal of his life to, to trust with and to gain from, however sneakily.
Concerning Daisy's daughter, I think Gatsby could be trying to convince both himself and her that he can still be a part of her life. Still, his surprise at her existence reveals his already crumbling personification of Daisy, whom he supposedly would love regardless yet does not know such things about her.
I did notice that Gatsby uses the phrase often throughout the novel. I always imagine it in my head as being said with an English accent or otherwise uppity male manner. Tom, as a man of well-to-do means might be offended that Gatsby is using phrases that relate to the upper class caste of educated men, probably seeing him as an actor playing at aristocracy.
1) I feel these people are mysterious beause they are unlike the normal charcters the Gatsby is asocaited with. The fact that Gatsby likes them beacsue they do not gossip shows his mistrust of many indivdiuals. Gatsby has had a life in full view of all people and now his love for daisy has caused him to want to lead a differnet form of life.
2)I feel that Gatsby was suprised by the character of Daisy's daughter beacuse it madce it more real that Dasiy was not attenable. The fact that she had a daughter makes him question if he can reallly have the life he wishes to have with Daisy.
3)"old sport" was a term common in this era and was poart of the character of Gatsby. Tom's offence to this term shows how he feels threathened by Gatsby and does not want him in his or his wife's life.
These new servants are obviously criminals working for both Wolfsheim and Gatsby. It has been implied that Gatsby was back in the business – not that it was implied otherwise – but hints of returning to illegal sales had been made continuously throughout the book, beginning with Gatsby asking Nick if he would like to earn more cash by working with him on a job. Knowing that, we understand that Gatsby’s sudden change of servants implies another illegal job offer. This points out the destruction and corruption from the American Dream.
Seeing Daisy’s daughter cracks Gatsby’s fantasy of being with Daisy for one reason only: if they were to end up together, he would be constantly reminded of their separation, of his loneliness, and of his corruption. Her daughter symbolizes one thing, and one thing only, and that is she is not Gatsby’s daughter, but Tom’s. This agitates him, considering he believed she only loved him and only him, not another man, loving him so much she’d bear a child with that man. Daisy’s daughter’s age also references when they consummated their love: soon after they were married and while Gatsby was in Oxford, diligently trying to return back to be with her.
The pet name “old sport” is Gatsby’s finishing touch on his sham to everyone. There is not one person in the story – except his father – who he has not lied to. This term of endearment originates from Great Britain and it symbolizes wealth and experience, in which Gatsby has neither, yet pretends to have the entirety. This disturbs Tom since he hired a detective to scavenge information on him, and when finding nothing, he goes on a rampage, calling him a phony and pointing out all of Gatsby’s lies to Daisy. Given that Gatsby only has a history with Daisy, Tom finds it unbelievably bogus of Gatsby to be giving people pet names when he barely knows anyone himself.
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