In my last post, I have summarized about the characters that have been characterized in chapter one of The Great Gatsby. In this post, I will explain the setting in more detail than the last post based on the analysis of two quotes. The setting in The Great Gatsby might be hard to relate to right now, as for the book has been written in the 1920's, so the quote will need thorough analysis. The author thoroughly explains the setting of where Nick lives and the surroundings of his home; we will be using that to draw out inferences. The following quote tells the location of his house:
"It was a matter of chance that I should have rented a house in one of the strangest communities in North America. It was on that slender riotous island which extends itself due east of New York — and where there are, among other natural curiosities, two unusual formations of land."
-Pg. of The Great Gatsby
Based on this quote, it can be understood that Nick lives on Long Island, because that is the only island in New York. Obviously, it is known that New York is the one in the United States, because it talks about it being in North America. We also can tell, based on this quote, that Nick lives in a house in a strange or unique community. This strangest community can be defined or interpreted in many ways. First, it can be defined as unknown to Nick, because he recently moved there. Also it can also mean that the community itself has awkward things or customs; since this story is written in his view, we can interpret that it is based on his opinion. Overall, the setting described in this quote from the book is that Nick lives on Long Island and in a weird and awkward community, as he explains it to be.
"I lived at West Egg, the — well, the less fashionable of the two, though this is a most superficial tag to express the bizarre and not a little sinister contrast between them. My house was at the very tip of the egg, only fifty yards from the Sound, and squeezed between two huge places that rented for twelve or fifteen thousand a season. The one on my right was a colossal affair by any standard — it was a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool, and more than forty acres of lawn and garden. It was Gatsby’s mansion. Or, rather, as I didn’t know Mr. Gatsby, it was a mansion inhabited by a gentleman of that name. My own house was an eyesore, but it was a small eyesore, and it had been overlooked, so I had a view of the water, a partial view of my neighbor’s lawn, and the consoling proximity of millionaires — all for eighty dollars a month."
-Pg. of The Great Gatsby
This quote is quite long; however, it thoroughly describes the envirnoment that Nick inhabits. In the first sentence, he tells that he lives in the less fashionable of the two communities. He says that he lives in a house that is small, because he says that his house is squeezed between to expensive houses, since it costs twelve to fifteen thousand dollars per season. Also it can be inferred that he lives in a small house based on this quote only, because it says that his house was squeezed, which means that he isn't that rich, as in terms of his house, or that his house isn't that big. Anyways, if his house were big, the author would probably compare the houses and tell the differences between them. Overall, this quote states that Nick lives in a small house, as I inferred, and that his neighbors are rick, which is obviously stated.
Based on the quotes above, we can tell that Nick lives on Long Island and in a strange community or just an unknown community based on his opinion. Also we inferred that Nick lived in a small house and supported it with an explanation, even though it is stated in the book later on. Finally, we also know that he lives next to very rich neighbors, who are millionaires as it stated in the second quote. Overall, the author uses great writing that can be understood through careful analysis.
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