At the end of chapter 8, Nick explains, "...and the holocaust was complete" (Fitzgerald 162). What might the term "holocaust" mean here? What does it imply about the events of the past few chapters? Use at least one piece of evidence from the text to support your answer.
Nick uses the word "holocaust" at the end of chapter eight to signify that Gatsby's death was not a justified one. From the previous few chapters it implies that Gatsby should not have been the one who was killed as a result of Myrtle Wilson's death. There clear pieces of evidence to support this claim. After admitting that Daisy was the one driving the car he says, "but of course I'll say I was,"(143). This supports the claim that Gatsby's death was not justified because he wasnt even the one that killed her. Second, Gatsby was targeted by Wilson because he believed Gatsby was having an affair with Myrtle. In reality, it had been Tom who had been having an affair with Myrtle. As a result, Gatsby's death is referred to a "holocaust" because he died after being accused of killing and having an affair with Myrtle: both of which he did not do.
ReplyDeleteThese are both really good points as to why Gatsby's death was referred to as a "holocaust". You are exactly right. Gatsby didn't deserve any of this. Everything he did was with good intention and he got blamed for a number of things he didn't do. Gatsby definitely didn't deserve to die and his death was definitely not justified.
DeleteI agree to the connection of the holocaust and Gatsby's death. I believe your opinion because it connects to the holocaust of the unfair deaths that occurred during that time, so it is a strong connection between the death of Gatsby because he wasn't an honest man, but he didn't kill or have an affair with Myrtle. He met his demise by the faulty judgement influence by Tom.
DeleteI like how Nathan related the holocaust to Gatsby's death being unjust. It is very true and it really helps to relate the two topics so that readers can understand Fitzgerald's use of the holocaust in this book.
DeleteI like your response. Gatsby's death was all unjust and wrong. He wasn't driving, but was pulled into it by Daisy. Then, Tom, knowing something was gonna go down, sent Tom over to Gatsby's place. Gatsby was shot he wasn't doing anything majorly wrong.
DeleteI like your response. I agree to the connection between the Holocaust and Gatsby's death being unjust and not right. You are right with the statement that Gatsby didn't deserve any of this and he did nothing for it. Gatsby takes the blame for Daisy's mistake and Gatsby gets killed for it and he didn't deserve it
DeleteNathan, you bring up some excellent points. You also do a nice job of rooting the evidence in your own language.
DeleteIn this quote the holocaust may represent the complete downfall of the characters. I believe it implies that the events of the past few chapters were leading up to one great catastrophe which ended up being the death of Gatsby. The largest event leading up to Gatsby's death was by far Myrtle's death and Gatsby taking the blame for it. "Suppose tom found out that Daisy had been driving. He might think he saw a connection in it- he might think anything." (Fitzgerald 144). In this moment Nick realized why Gatsby took the blame for the awful crime even though it led him to his downfall.
ReplyDeleteNatalie, I agree with your point. To me the holocaust referred to in this scene was Gatsby's death as well, but after reading your post I feel that I missed something while I was reading. I really liked what you said about the complete downfall of the characters which were leading up to a great catastrophe. That was really interesting and unique and very out of the box. Excellent job. I agree with what you said about Nick realizing why Gatsby took the blame for the murder but I still feel so sad that Daisy totally just took Gatsby out of her life.
DeleteNatalie, really great analysis. However, you used a "floating quotation." Make sure you root your evidence in your own language.
DeleteIn chapter 8 and after a series of unfortunate events, Gatsby abruptly dies. Then after what seems like a significant and sad event left nothing in the eyes of everyone in both the Eggs. Nick then uses the term "holocaust" to describe the events that took place.
ReplyDeleteMyrtle, Gatsby, and Wilson all died wrongfully. Just like the infamous Holocaust that began in 1933, this tragedy that took place in Fitzgerald's novel left a total of unnecessary deaths. Just like the people targeted by Hitler, it was a sad beholding for Nick. The ones that died did so in vain and none of them for the causes they thought were right. When all was said and done, it left nothing but the sympathetic legacy's of these characters. Nick couldn't have helped anything, so when he named these unfortunate events a "holocaust" he did so with the knowledge that everyone that died here died without purpose...It was a sad waste of human life.
I think the last sentence sums it up very nicely, that all three of them died without a justifiable reason.
DeleteJohn, very great points! However, you are missing evidence from the text to support claims.
DeleteSince the past few chapters were filled with many horrific and energetic accidents, Nick uses the term Holocaust to describe what finally ended . In the last few chapters, nick finds himself caught between two good friends: Gatsby and Tom. Nick knows that although he cares about both of them in the end he must pick a side or never talk to one of them again. Nick named this time the Holocaust because Gatsby finally revealed his true love for Daisy but in a way that everyone knows. Finally, Gatsby reveals his true love for Daisy by stating "Your wife doesn't love you, [...] She's never loved you. She loves me[...] she only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me" (Fitzgerald 130). This is when the true Holocaust of the book started. Gatsby opened up another lifestyle for Tom to look into. After this, three people died for no good reason. If Gatsby would've moved on with his life, nobody would have been killed. The minute Gatsby was found dead was the minute that the Holocaust ended. This is because, Gatsby was the Holocaust. He started it, and it was going to end with him.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this statement. The connection between the holocaust and their lives makes sense. Gatsby died unfairly, he wasn't the one who killed Myrtle but he died for it anyways, just like all the people in the holocaust who died for no reason. Just like you stated before the holocaust was over because Gatsby was dead.
DeleteI disagree that Gatsby was considered the Holocaust himself. I think that some of his actions may have resulted in the killings, but nothing was completely his fault. Daisy is more to blame. She was the careless driver who killed Myrtle, but Gatsby took the blame because of his love for Daisy. Therefore, Gatsby was killed by Wilson, but in reality Daisy should have been the one killed. I don't think any one person is considered the Holocaust. Nick is referring to chapters 7 and 8 as a whole.
DeleteInteresting interpretation!
DeleteThey use the word holocaust to represent the brutal slaughter that has occurred in the house. The term also represents the story in the sense that lies about people begot lots of violence and death. If Gatsby never covered for Daisy then Wilson wouldn't have shot him down in an ironic way. George even states, "I'm one of those trusting fellas and I don't think any harm to nobody, but when I get to know a thing I know it. It was a man in that car. She ran out to speak to him and he wouldn't stop." (Fitzgerald Pg 158-159)
ReplyDeleteAlex, you use a very large quote here with very little analysis. Root the MOST important parts of the evidence in your own language to make it more powerful.
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