What Is The Obscene Word In The Great Gatsby?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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There is another word closer to the end of the text that seems more nearly to serve as Gatsby’s epitaph: an “obscene word, scrawled by some boy with a piece of brick ” on the “white steps” of Gatsby’s house—a word explicitly framed as a defilement of whiteness, as a mark of impurity.

Why does Nick erase the obscene word?

He wanted to erase what had happened to Gatsby, wanted to erase what happened with Jordan, wanted to erase what happened with Gatsby and Daisy, and I think in some way he wanted to erase that he had even met Gatsby. The significance of rubbing out the obscene word is open to interpretation .

What is Gatsby’s infamous line?

This is going to be an exegesis on the famous last line of The Great Gatsby: “ So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

What is the most used word in The Great Gatsby?

The SPA has correctly identified that “The Great Gatsby” follows the story of protagonist Gatsby, Tom, Daisy, and the narrator, Nick Carraway. In this analysis, we see Nick as he’s most often referred to as “ old sport ” – the most frequently used two-word keyword phrase and Gatsby’s favorite term of endearment.

Has The Great Gatsby been censored?

The book has never been formally banned from being taught , though it has faced serious challenges, most notably in 1987 by the Baptist College in Charleston, South Carolina, which challenged the book and called for its banning from public schools because of ”language and sexual references.

Is Gatsby a good person?

Gatsby is considered ‘great’ by the measurement of dreams , his wealth, his larger-than-life personality, the festivities and joviality that, to others in the novel, mark him as a man of high stature and almost god-like in personal proportions.

What is Gatsby’s dream?

Gatsby’s dream is to transform himself into a wealthy, educated aristocrat and win Daisy’s hand in marriage . Gatsby’s enormous imagination motivates him to alter his identity, distance himself from his lowly upbringing, and enter the illegal bootlegging business to amass wealth.

What does Nick literally erase at the end of the novel?

By having Nick erase “ the obscene word” from the text as Gatsby’s story draws to a close, however, Fitzgerald makes it possible for this story to emerge as the story of America itself. Gatsby the obscene be- comes Gatsby the American.

What did they write on Gatsby’s steps?

On the white steps an obscene word, scrawled by some boy with a piece of brick, stood out clearly in the moonlight and I erased it, drawing my shoe raspingly along the stone .

How did Gatsby make his money?

We are told that Gatsby came up from essentially nothing, and that the first time he met Daisy Buchanan, he was “a penniless young man.” His fortune, we are told, was the result of a bootlegging business – he “bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago” and sold illegal alcohol over the counter.

Is Fractiousness a word?

The quality or condition of being unruly : disorderliness, indocility, intractability, intractableness, obstinacy, obstinateness, obstreperousness, recalcitrance, recalcitrancy, refractoriness, uncontrollability, uncontrollableness, ungovernableness, unmanageability, unruliness, untowardness, wildness.

How would you describe The Great Gatsby?

Nick views Gatsby as a deeply flawed man, dishonest and vulgar , whose extraordinary optimism and power to transform his dreams into reality make him “great” nonetheless.

What is the favor that Gatsby wants from Nick?

Gatsby asks Jordan to ask Nick a favor. He would like for Nick to invite his cousin, Daisy, over for tea, and then have Gatsby conveniently drop by and run into her . This is because he has built his entire mansion and earned his fortune solely to catch her attention and win her affection.

Why are books being banned 2020?

More than 273 titles were challenged or banned in 2020, with increasing demands to remove books that address racism and racial justice or those that shared the stories of Black, Indigenous, or people of color . As with previous years, LGBTQ+ content also dominated the list. George by Alex Gino.

What was The Great Gatsby banned for?

WHY WAS THIS BOOK BANNED? ... The Great Gatsby was banned at challenged at the Baptist College in Charleston, SC in 1987 because of “language and sexual references in the book ” (Association). In the book, when Nick just met Tom and Daisy Buchanan their friend Miss Baker was at their house.

Why is 1984 a banned book?

Why it was banned: George Orwell’s 1984 has repeatedly been banned and challenged in the past for its social and political themes , as well as for sexual content. Additionally, in 1981, the book was challenged in Jackson County, Florida, for being pro-communism.

Kim Nguyen
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Kim Nguyen
Kim Nguyen is a fitness expert and personal trainer with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and has trained a variety of clients, from professional athletes to everyday fitness enthusiasts. Kim is passionate about helping people achieve their fitness goals and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle.