The Great Gatsby Blog #1

Having talked about hero, antihero, and villain in class, I am sure that you are completely clear on what all three are. And knowing that, you also are aware that how you classify chraracters into one of these categories is a very personal thing.
Looking at first three chapters of The Great Gatsby, make some predictions about these characters and (unlike Nick) classify them into one of the three categories - hero, antihero, and villain. Give ample reasons for your classification, with support for the text (that means quotes...and page numbers).

The narrator of this story is Nick. He is assumed to be a nice guy because on page 1 he says, "In that consequence, I'm inclined to reserve all judgments, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me" Since he is the narrator of the book and he lets all of his deepest thoughts out, I can see that he has nothing to hide and that makes me like him, because I know that he is honest. He is a hero because his values match up to the audience and we know he wants good.

Jay Gatsby, for whom the book is titled is a man of great power and wealth. He has good qualities like he is polite and kind, and he also throws lavish parties, so people find him kindly. In the book it said that Gatsby, "understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey." (Pg 31) On the contrary, there are a few rumors floating around about Gatsby that are un-favorable. For example, On page 44 it was states that, "Somebody told me they thought [Gatsby] killed a man once." And when the audience is introduces to Gatsby, you can't help but think some of these rumors are true. While I got to know him, however, I thought Gatsby had moral judgment, but still did kill a man. Therefore he is classified as an antihero.

Tom Buchanan is an aggressive and conceited character. Many times in this story there are instances of his viciousness and crude behavior. For example, on page 37 it says, "Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand." The fact that he did this so swiftly, with no sense of embarassment or astonishment at himself classifies Tom as a villian.