Rationale
In Part 4 of the course, we are doing a
detailed study of F.Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby.
Throughout this novel, despite the fact that Gatsby holds raucous parties,
readers are given the impression of Gatsby’s remote connection to the public.
Fitzgerald writes Gatsby as an unpredictable isolated figure in which society
seems to be curious about. Therefore, the objective of this written task is to
introduce Gatsby to the public and society.
In order to do this, I will
write Gatsby’s statement to the press conference where the character himself
will reveal his true stories to the public. I have chosen this type of text
because it will allow me to express my creativity in creating new a storyline in
addition to what Fitzgerald has written. In this case, Gatsby will be answering
questions about his life and in particular about his love, Daisy.
From
having done the written task, I’ve learned how to be creative in twisting the plot
around. Furthermore, I have also gained a better understanding of Gatsby’s
character because I mostly wrote from Gatsby’s perspective. In this case, I learned
to analyze and think of how Gatsby would respond to certain questions that the
news reporters ask. I now also fully understand the relationship between the
two lovers and why Fitzgerald makes Gatsby act in a certain way when he
encounters Daisy. Because love plays a huge role in Gatsby’s character, I’ve
discovered that love can sometimes be the major driving force in shaping a
person’s life.
Written Task
The room was filled a
cacophony of clicking shots and yelling voices as Gatsby made his way through
the crowd to the table before us. As he reached the table, he bowed to all of
us and took a seat as his two bodyguards stood behind him.
“Good morning, good morning
people! I am glad to see that all of you are here to attend my announcement for
the press today. Now please calm down and take a seat everyone,” he said.
The room turned from a busy
market into a complete silence.
“Now let me make a formal
introductory speech to all of you guests and news reporters who came to my
event today.” Gatsby paused for a second
and glanced around the room.
“Welcome everyone, I
invited you all today because I have the intention to answer the questions that
you may have about me. I have heard of many different kinds of rumors that went
spiraling for years ever since I’ve started to hold big parties and
celebrations. I don’t want wrong gossips about me to spread so I am gladly here
today to tell you the story of my life. Not only that, I will also leave time
for questions at the end.”
News reporters took notes
of his words and video taped his speech.
“Now let me start,” Gatsby said.
“I was born to a deadly
poor family in the Midwest of America. I had lived in the prairie grass of the
vast isolated land where millions of twinkling stars filled the night skies. Initially,
I was given the name of James Gatz.”
When I turned 17, I became
deadly tired of the impoverish lifestyle I’ve adopted for years. I ran away
from home, leaving my deadly poor parents behind, to aspire for the life I
imagined mine’s to be. I knew that I had to run far away from the place I grew
up to forget my past, and I ended up in a small town in Minnesota.
That time, I reminisce, all
I had with me were my clothes and 15 cents that I have collected from the
streets as I made my way to Minnesota. I was more than hungry but I knew that
15 cents wouldn’t buy me even a bottle of water. I had no choice but to sleep
the lonely night in the large, cold city. I wandered around the vast area of
America without knowing where I am heading or what I am getting into. All I
knew was that I had the greatest desire to find a better life.
It was in the afternoon of
May 1984 that I went to walk along the shore and saw a drunk man in the middle
of a rainstorm in the water of Lake Superior. I remember that the old, rotund
man was out there in the deep sea alone without conscious. Without a second
thought, my strong sense of humanity drove me out into the sea to rescue him.
His name was Dan Cody.
Dan Cody was a very
honorable man. He was a very very honorable man. Because he knew that I ran out
of money and I didn’t have a place to go, he offered to raise and embrace me as
if I was blood-related to him. Never had I thought that he would be such a
great impact in my life that triggered me to become a new man in the midst of
fatigue and lethargy. He is more than words can describe. Without him, I won’t
be the person I am today, Jay Gatsby.
To think back, I was such a
brave but senseless man to sail out into the dark ocean to risk my life for
someone else that I didn’t even know. To me, it appears as if God had set
out paths and that I was destined to meet him.
Though I lived the rest of
my life with the honorable Dan Cody, I was cheated of wealth and legacy after
his death. I became poor once again.
At that point in life, I
was recruited into the army and I had attended a house party one night where I
came across the most heart-striking woman I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Her
body was as white as porcelain when the stroke of sunlight hit her skin. Never
before had I seen such a smile as graceful as hers or the eyes as charming as
hers.
At that time, I knew that I
could neither resist myself from taking my eyes off of her nor resist myself
from following her upstairs. The night passed by quickly as she looked into my
eyes and as I wrapped my arms around her. I knew that things were going far
from what I intended but I couldn’t help but spend the night memorably.”
Gatsby looked up with
nostalgic eyes as he was telling his story about his woman. He seemed to be
lost in the bliss of his own life that he continued to ramble on for hours. The
crowd grew bored and tiresome of his love story.
“May I ask who that mysterious
woman is?” interrupted
a news reporter.
The crowd roared with
boastful demands. Gatsby stopped and looked straightly into the crowd.
“Ahh….ermm…..She is Daisy
Gatsby.”
“Daisy Gatsby?” the crowd fired back with astonishment. “This seems absurd! We have never heard of
this name before in the entire town. We have only heard of Daisy Butchanan!”
Gatsby’s eyes grew red with
furious and anger.
“I said Daisy Gatsby! How could my woman be
linked to the Butchanans? You are out of your mind! Now please don’t
confuse my woman’s name with anyone else’s. SHE IS DAISY GATSBY”, said Gatsby with a loud and affirmative voice.
He continued, “Now will you please excuse
me? This is the end of my announcement for the press. Thanks for attending
everyone.”
Without listening to the
guests’ demands of further questions, Gatsby stood up and walked hastily out
the door. Left puzzled and confounded, the guests in the room quickly rushed
out after Gatsby but it was too late, he jumped onto his Rolls Royce and
disappeared into the road.
