So, now that you have finished reading the text, what was the foul dust that floated in the wake of Gatsby's dreams?
I'd also like to hear your thoughts on this question:
Did Gatsby die for his dream or because of his dream?
This blog is due on Tuesday, 2 November by 11:59 pm - 300 word minimum
To me the foul dust ends up being Gatsby’s lack of being able to achieve perfection. I feel like what hurts Gatsby the most is that he will never be happy with what he has. I do not think that having Daisy would be the end of Gatsby’s search for his dreams. He is constantly trying to have the best things and I think that back fires on him. I feel like if only Gatsby for once would be happy and accept what he has he might not have “foul dusts”. In the novel, when Nick is describing Gatsby’s house as cold and huge it just shows that no matter how much he can have in his house it will never be a home. In other words he can put all of his money into his house and material things but he can never be happy or show emotions toward the things he has. I feel like Gatsby needs a lot of help when it comes to finally reaching his dreams. Even if he had gotten Daisy I still think he would try to move on to better things. Gatsby is a strange character because he has these secrets and mysteries that never come out. I think foul dusts were not just one thing. I think it was also his mysteries and other things nobody knew about him that hurt him. I think Nick really respected Gatsby but I feel like he lost some of his respect when Gatsby was found lying about things and covering up his past. His past is part of the things that were stopping him from achieving his dreams. I think Daisy saw that Gatsby’s past was a big cloud of dust that nobody really understood. I feel that Daisy was not willing to understand or try to learn about Gatsby’s past and that is what hurt his dreams.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the novel, Gatsby’s dreams were never complete because of the foul dust. I believe that the foul dust could still stand for many things. First off, it was the people that he came in contact with when trying to achieve his goals, including Daisy. Tom, Daisy, Jordan, and the Wilsons were all awful people. They were materialistic and insincere and really didn’t care about anyone else. Gatsby knew what he wanted, which was Daisy, and Daisy didn’t even know what she wanted. She was easily persuaded into believing she loved Tom as soon as he told her that. Tom was wicked because he threw Gatsby under the bus and ratted him out about killing Myrtle. He did it with the intent that George would kill Gatsby and that is exactly what happened. Also, Daisy never owned up to hitting and killing Myrtle. She let Gatsby take the blame and even die because of it. His mind set on Daisy was also foul dust. He lived his life for Daisy and everything he did was because of her. He never actually lived his life and this was a huge factor. The foul dust was the wealth, the scandals, and the acquaintances that were in his life. Although Gatsby could have been satisfied with what he had and settled for it, I feel like he did die FOR his dream. His whole life was centered around Daisy. He got wealthy and did everything to try to get her back and in the end, it all came crashing down on him. He was driven to get what he wanted and didn’t stop until he was killed for it. Again, if he wouldn’t have been trying so hard, he probably wouldn’t have died but I respect him for the fact that he knew what he wanted and did not give up. He fought for Daisy from the day he met her, until his death.
ReplyDeleteI stand by what I originally said about the foul dust that floated in the wake of Gatsby’s dreams, I still believe it was the aristocratic society that he immersed himself in but did not really belong to, because he was not born into wealth. I think it was the foul dust because in order for Daisy to even consider being in a relationship with him, he needed to be wealthy. She was his dream, and wealth and the aristocratic society were what floated in the way of his dream, keeping him from obtaining it, and eventually costing him his life. As for whether or not he died for his dream, or because of it, I think you can blame it on both. Because of his dream, he spent all of his life chasing what he could never obtain, and it killed him in the end. I think it is pretty safe to say that if he had chosen to move on like a normal healthy human being, I don’t think he would have met his end this way. As for dying for his dream (his dream being Daisy), I do believe that Gatsby died for her. That doesn’t mean that I think he loved her, because that I am not really sure of. But I do think that in being willing to take the blame in her place, he was trying to be honorable, thinking it would make her want to be with him. No matter how honorable his intentions, it comes across to me as somewhat depressing, because Daisy didn’t really care for him, and so he died for her and it didn’t even make a difference to her. I find this so depressing because of two reasons, because either Gatsby was just doing it to appear honorable to win daisy’s heart (which is not honorable, a true sacrifice is one you don’t intend to profit out of), or he was doing it without himself in mind and truly wanted what was best for Daisy. I think he may have wanted what was best for Daisy, but thought that he was what was best for Daisy. So in my opinion Gatsby both died for his dream and because he could not let go of it.
ReplyDeleteGatsby came to a sad demise at the end of The Great Gatsby. There is no question in this fact, but there may be some controversy on the reasons surrounding his death. Simply put, did he die because of his dream or for his dream? The facts of the book all point to the same answer. Gatsby died because of his dream. He was a very driven man who got everything that he sought after. He had an endless drive that motivated every move in his life. This drive led to his immense riches, his identity and his overall character. His latest motivation was Daisy. He wanted to be with her more than anything in the world and this started the chain of events that ended with his death. Every event that led up to him being shot by Wilson occurred because of his obsession with Daisy. The extravagant parties, the house across the bay, the trip into town, the argument in the hotel, the cover-up of Daisy’s crime, all these deeds were done in the name of Gatsby’s love for Daisy. These were also the events that led to the fatal shot in Gatsby’s pool on that summer afternoon. Therefore, Gatsby died because of his dream and what he did to achieve it. Gatsby was not the type of man to die for a dream. He would do everything in his power to stay alive and attain that dream. He would view dying as giving up and bowing out, which he would never settle for. I truly believe that Gatsby had other plans forming to win Daisy. It goes against his entire character to simply give up and take death as a martyr for his dream. He would have strived day after day until he got his dream (just like his other ones). So it was impossible for Gatsby to die for his dream, his death was an unfortunate effect of his pursuit of his dream.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the foul dust was everything that got in the way of Gatsby achieving his dream. All these different factors such as the importance of money, the insincerity of the people that surrounded Gatsby, his enemies and Daisy’s true feeling all were working against him. What Gatsby wanted was not at all easy for him to get, and I believe that is why he worked so hard for the love of his life. Gatsby was an individual who always wanted what he couldn’t have, but most of the time he was able to get it anyway; but Daisy was a different story. Many of my classmates think that as soon as Gatsby were to get Daisy back he would just move onto the next best thing and not truly love her anymore; but I disagree. I think it is different with people than material items. I think it is fair to say that everyone works hard to get “the next best thing” or something they don’t already have. It only makes sense because that is what gives most people gratification with themselves. As if they are setting goal to reach a self perfection. We may do that with material items but I don’t think anyone could possibly do that to someone they truly love. Gatsby died for his dream. In was very clear that Gatsby would do anything for Daisy. He even told Nick that he was going to tell people he was the one who killed Mrs. Wilson so Daisy would not be affected by the incident. I believe he truly loved her and the reason he died was because he was trying so hard for his dream.
ReplyDeleteI would have to say that the foul dust represented the entire era that they lived in, and also the people that were in the novel. I think Tom, Daisy, Myrtle, and George were all awful to Gatsby in their own ways. Tom stopped Gatsby from being with the girl he loved and I don’t think that Daisy ever really loved him. I think she used him for his money and his social status. Daisy also didn’t really make her own decisions, she just did whatever Tom said. I think if she really loved Gatsby, she would have left Tom and been with him. Myrtle and George were ultimately responsible for Gatsby’s death. If Myrtle wouldn’t have had an affair with Tom, her and George wouldn’t have been in that situation that they were before she ran out of the house and Daisy killed her. George obviously wasn’t too good to Gatsby because he was the one that killed him. I also think the foul dust represents the want for wealth and a good social standing at that time. I think Gatsby immersed himself in a society that he didn’t belong in, and that he wouldn’t ever fit into. I think that Gatsby was too good of a person to have been caught up in money like Tom and Daisy were. I think that because he had to work for his money and it wasn’t just handed to him, he actually appreciated it unlike Tom and Daisy. Also, I think that Gatsby truly died because of his dream and not for his dream. I think that all of the events that led up to his death were because of Daisy. Even though I think that he died because of his dream, I think that his dream of having Daisy wasn’t ever going to come true, even if she left Tom.
ReplyDeleteI believe the foul dust that symbolized Gatsby's personal feelings of failure. In the past he tried to get Daisy, but he failed so he had to try again. He also failed at making friends because not a single one of the people who came to his parties showed up to his funeral. His whole life was spent chasing after Daisy and even when he got his second chance he failed. I think the dust that floated around him was all the mistakes, in his mind, that he counted as failures. He had everything anyone could want, yet he was never satified. That sense of failure had always haunted him since he could neve accept himself for who he was. I also think that Gatsby died because of his dream not for it. His dream was to be with Daisy and he couldn't fathom seperating himself from her. How was Gatsby to know his life was in danger because of what Daisy has done? Wilson shot Gatsby because he believed Gatsby killed his wife. If Gatsy would have jumped in front of the bullet that Wilson shot at Daisy then I would say he died for his dream. Yet, Daisy wasn't there when he was shot and she most likely wasn't aware that Wilson knew the car that killed his wife belonged to Gatsby.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the book the foul dust in Gatsby's dreams is clearly his infatuation with Daisy. Other than his drive for Daisy that has created a ruckus in his life and the lives of everyopne ivolved, Gatsby is not a bad guy. He cares about his parents. He buys the woman a dress that wripped her old one at one of his parties. Gatsby doesn't deny his intentions to Tom. Gatsby is fooled into thinking he can change the past by imitating it in the future by his own brain. The foul dust is not just Daisy, but the life and the image she holds to him. This foul dust has changed Gatsby completely, therefore he has fallen to its wrath in hhis death.
ReplyDeleteGatsby dies because of his dream. He doesn't know that his decision to take the blame for Daisy leads to his death. However, I don't think he just feels remorse for putting her in the stressful situation of having to decide between himself and her husband. I think he feels bad for himself, because he chances his ability to win by making a scene with Tom. He wants to prove to Daisy his loyalty that Tom has never had with his mistress and all by giving her a free pass past the murder of Myrtle. When Tom tells Wilson the owner of the car, Gatsby's dream gets the best of him. He cannot fight death in this situation, because he gets himself into the inevitable mess in the first place. Gatsby wants Daisy even after she turns out the light on him that night he waits in the bushes. Death is never have been an option, because it does not bring him Daisy.
I believe that the “foul dust that floats in wake of his dreams” is the fact that Gatsby is always trying for something better, always trying to improve his financial status and spot in the New York society. He has wealth but yet he still wants more. His constant climb for greatness is what holds him back in the end. Striving for perfection is never good for anybody; someone can try to improve their life but perfection tends to be something many people can never reach. That part of Gatsby, his search for perfection, is what slowly drags Gatsby down to the level of the shallow and self-centered society that he surrounds himself in. Nick believes that Gatsby has risen above these people but only slightly. The constant want and need for more is always in Gatsby’s head and was the cause of him almost losing his true self by the end.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion I think that Gatsby died because of his dreams not for them. Gatsby was continuously striving for something better or something that made him look better in the eyes of east egg. That included his need for Daisy. He claimed he loved her but I just think he loved the idea of being with her. His climb and need for more led to a quick and unfortunate demise. In the end it showed that even though society thought he was one of them they could have cared less about him and defiantly did not respect him. No one showed up to the funeral expect for Nick, Gatsby’s father, and the owl eyed guy. Gatsby was never able to fully achieve his goal, not that I think he ever would; there would always be something else to want. Gatsby and his desire for wealth and power are what caused his death.
The foul dust that preyed on Gatsby was the cruel aristocratic society that he longed to belong to. Despite the vast fortune accumulated, he was never accepted. As the son of poor, unsuccessful farmers in the West, Gatsby was forever an outsider. He simply did not have the family connections like Tom or Daisy. He attempted to create respectability for himself by claiming he attended Oxford, but was still the subject of sneering comments, such as when Tom snobbishly commented, “Oxford, New Mexico, or something like that.” The “superior” East Eggers simply saw right through Gatsby’s deception, which causes the rumors (such as he is a bootlegger or that he killed a man) to run rampant. Even Daisy, who was supposedly in love with Gatsby, allowed her feelings for him to fade when she heard Tom’s wild, but probably true, accusations in the hotel room. Gatsby attempted to defend himself, but “with every word she was drawing further and further into herself, so he gave that up and only the dead dream fought on.” When Daisy learned the disillusioning truth about Gatsby, her affection for him ended because she realized that he did not “belong” in her world. She is so shallow that simply because Gatsby is not from a wealthy, well-respected family, she cannot be with him. If something such as social status can destroy her relationship, she clearly was never truly in love with Gatsby. I think that Gatsby died because of his dream. He was so driven to succeed, that he was never able to recognize the impracticality of his goal. No amount of work or effort would ever change the fact that he was not born into the world of privilege. However, he was blinded by his own ambition. Perhaps if he had reflected and realized Daisy’s superficial love, he would have been spared from his demise.
ReplyDeleteUpon finishing the reading, I think the “foul dust” is symbolic of the various things that impeded his ability to reach his dreams. It is the lingering items of his past that eventually led to his demise. The foul dust would include his need for material items to satisfy Daisy, as well as Daisy herself, Tom Buchanan, and the fact that he can’t escape the past. Now, did Gatsby die for his dream or because of his dream? I don’t think he necessarily wanted to die, I think it was his dream that ultimately caused his death. He did not die a happy man, but rather lonely with a misconception of reality. His dream caused this skewed disposition. It was a chain of events that caused his life to slowly go downhill. If he hadn’t chased after a relationship that had been dead for the past five years, he never would have been driving with Daisy. The thing is, if he had been driving, Daisy would never have covered for him saying that she had done it like he had done for her. If the relationship was ever going to come to fruition, she Daisy never would have let Gatsby take the blame for her. Gatsby died because of Daisy, not for her. I don’t think Wilson would have shot Daisy, especially because she was a woman. Back then there was a huge difference between the treatment of men and women. But beside the point, Gatsby had a long life ahead of him. But his dream consumed his life; it was almost an obsession. I think he would have eventually found something else was close to unattainable and been consumed by that as well. The foul dust was the cause of his death though. It hung over his head, and eventually it all just caught up with him. If he had allowed life to just continue on and move forward, he may not have died. But then maybe he wouldn’t have had his dream. So who’s to say that this was good or bad? Either way, he fought for his dreams which were the determining factor of his death.
ReplyDeleteI feel that after reading this book I can stand by my original claims to what the foul dust was. I still feel that the foul dust can represent the society in which he lived. The society used him for what he was and preyed upon his wealth, preyed upon his generosity up until and even after he died. They were truly disgusting in how they groped for all that they could get and even after Gatsby died they still wanted more, seen by people coming up to his house looking to go for a party that was not there. Also there were the people who surrounded Gatsby; each of them could be the foul dust that was around him. Every person who knew Gatsby seemed to use him in one way or another or at least hurt him emotionally or physically. Wilson only hurt him physically by killing him in the end but than what about Tom. Tom hurt Gatsby emotionally by being with the woman he loved so dearly and by hurting him with words that cause Daisy to act in a different way that Gatsby didn’t expect. Daisy hurt him the most though emotionally. She used him as she pleased and didn’t seem to actually care for him like he so cared for her. She toyed with his emotions as she pleased, pretending that she wanted him back again but truly it seems as if she would never leave Tom for Gatsby. I think that the main foul dust that floated would be Daisy and Tom though. The sort of people that they were created his dreams of richness and having all that he could obtain yet they were also the people who ruined his dream, because none of them cared enough towards him, not even the woman who supposedly loved him. This runs into the question though, “Did Gatsby die because of his dream or for his dream?” I truly believe that Gatsby died for his dream though, he died doing everything he could possibly do for her. In life he did everything he could for her to make her happy. Then he died taking the blame for her murdering another man and he died hoping that she would come back for him. Had he not died it’s obvious that he still would have done all that he could for her and I believe in a kind of sick way he allowed himself to die to make her happy. I think he may have somewhat understood that she loved Tom and he could do nothing about it and his presence would somehow bother her, allowing himself to die allowed her place in the murder to be hidden and also for her to finally let go of him and give herself fully to Tom.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI believe the foul dust is symbolic of the array of blockades on his road to his dreams. The biggest problem for Gatsby I think was Tom. Not only is the marriage between Tom and Daisy a problem for Gatsby, they also have a child together further tightening the knot that keeps Daisy and Tom together. I also think that Daisy's standards lead to Gatsby's demise in that Gatsby had no other plans but to live up to those standards, and then surpass them. Also, the time period was another thing standing in Gatsby's way of his dreams. Today, it's not uncommon for a married couple to get divorced but back then it was a big deal and society would look down upon the ex husbands and wives, even though none of it was their problem. I believe how people were viewed in the twenties was more important than these days as well, hence why Tom threw Gatsby under the bus. Now as to whether he died because of his dream, or if he died for his dream is a very scale tipping thought. I think Gatsby because of his dream. For his whole life, Gatsby spent his days trying to get Daisy back. Since Gatsby was constantly in pursuit of his goal of once again obtaining Daisy, everything he did for her he saw as another plus in Daisy's book, another rung on his ladder to Daisy. I think that when he took the blame for her, he was thinking that she would see just how genuine he is and possibly take him back and that they'd be a happy couple again and he would finally be able to rest knowing that he had what he wanted.
ReplyDeleteJay Gatsby is a truly tragic character. Describing the misfortune that haunted Gatsby’s dreams as “a foul dust” is a very fitting description considering the way the story of the Great Gatsby plays out. This “foul dust” are the various negative parts of Gatsby’s life that are brought about by the pursuit of Gatsby’s dreams. There are many elements that this consists of, the first of which is the way that Gatsby becomes wealthy. The exact methods Gatsby uses are unclear, although we know that he was involved with a man named Meyer Wolfshein, a man who is involved in gambling and other mysterious activities. The fact that people don’t really know where Gatsby’s wealth comes from leads to a great deal of speculation, which separates him from society. As much as people enjoy his lavish parties no one seems to really trust him. Another element of the “foul dust” is the dark nature of Tom Buchanon. From the beginning of the story it’s clear that Tom is the worst kind of man, a liar who is incessantly arrogant. As soon as it is revealed that Gatsby has an interest in Daisy it’s clear that Tom will be a problem for him in the future. A final element of the “foul dust” is Daisy’s own shallowness. By the end of the story she is revealed to be a person who is concerned more with money and appearance that actual love. Nick describes her and Tom’s attitude the best, “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy–they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness,”. This quote shows what a bad thing it was for Gatsby to get involved with Daisy and Tom.
ReplyDeleteIn the end, I think that Gatsby died because of his dream. While he knew that there might be serious consequences for not turning in Daisy, I don’t think that he thought he was in danger of being murdered. His unfortunate ending served as the harsh consequence for the way that he lived his life. By refusing to give up on the woman he loved, he is killed indirectly by her husband. By becoming wealthy by any means necessary he becomes distrusted by the rest of society, to the point where only three people come to his funeral. So while it could be said that Gatsby died in the pursuit of his dream, I think it would be more accurate to say that he died because of it.
After reading the novel I think that the foul dust represents Daisy. The foul dust is something that is keeping him form achieving his goals. His one goal in life is for Daisy to love him, and then only thing keeping him from that is Daisy herself. Daisy is selfish and shallow. She thought only of herself, and of no one else. She marries Tom because he is wealthy, and she loves him maybe a little. She, on the other hand, loves Gatsby but won’t marry him because her family doesn’t approve because he can’t support the lifestyle she is used to. Even when Gatsby returns for her, she won’t leave Tom because she is comfortable where she is. Gatsby put all of his energy into trying to win Daisy back. He sacrifices time, money, safety, reputation, and freedom all in the name of Daisy loving him. So the question that arises is, did Gatsby die for his dream or because of his dream? Gatsby dies because of his dream. If Daisy wasn’t selfish and took the blame for what she did instead of letting Gatsby take the fall, Gatsby wouldn’t have died. Gatsby is always trying for Daisy, he wouldn’t have given up if he hadn’t been killed. He takes the blame because he wants to protect her. This instinct comes from his deep love for her and his longing to win her back. His intentions were to save her, not die for her. He dies because of his drive for Daisy, not because he wanted to save Daisy.
ReplyDeleteThe foul dust ended up being a compilation of things. Gatsby's life was filled many people who had no feeling. The people that Gatsby immersed himself with were part of the foul dust. As we know Gatsby always wanted to be wealthy and powerful and he attached himself to the people who could get him there. The rich and famous of the time the novel was set in seem to be emotionally challenged. Daisy, Tom and Jordan all had some sort of emotional flaw. Jordan couldn't keep herself from lying, Tom had commitment issues and Daisy was a selfish rich girl who couldn't make up her mind. Gatsby love Daisy and she would lead him on and then just flee back to Tom who treated her like crap. Gatsby indirectly died for Daisy and she ran off and didn't give a backward glance. Another thing that could've been the foul dust was Gatsby's fear of his past. Gatsby took substantial steps to never be that poor, unknown, young man again. He created several masks that hid his true identity. He was so concerned about having stature that he let go of who he was in order to get it. The foul dust could also be the time Gatsby lived in. The time period Gatsby lived in was so insensitive and careless that it tore Gatsby down. The time period catered to the rich and spoiled. It let the people who never worked for anything have an easy life and made the hard workers into hard people who never get the opportunity to live their dreams.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the foul dust that floated in the wake of Gatsby’s dreams is his past. The conclusion of the novel demonstrates the consequences of letting the past overshadow the present. The reader can see that even when Gatsby appeared to moving forward, such as acquiring wealth and prestige, he was still haunted by what he couldn’t have. I think that a part of Gatsby realized that no matter how rich he became, he would never be able to buy the family history required to win over Daisy. He felt that if people had discovered his humble background, they would not have accepted him, but I don’t feel like he was accepted as part of the aristocracy either. Gatsby was able to convince himself that the more material possessions he acquired the more desirable he would seem in her eyes. Gatsby seemed to have a very strong work ethic, as proven by his rigorous schedule for personal development, and I have no doubt that he could have accomplished truly great things he if he was not so consumed by his past. He was trying so hard not to be who he used to be, that he ended up not being anyone at all.
ReplyDeleteGatsby died because of his dream to be with Daisy. He built his life around his desire to win her back. He participated in illegal activities to make money, held frequent parties with the hope of attracting her and bought a house directly across the bay from hers. If he had focused his effort elsewhere, it is unlikely that he would have become involved with Tom and the Wilsons. Gatsby must have known that he would have to pay retribution for Daisy’s crime. His death would be the ultimate end to his dream; it is because of this I feel that he died as a result of his irrational goal. In the end, it was what Gatsby wanted most in life, which caused his death.