As I mentioned in class, I find it interesting how Anderson seems to liken ambition to a disease. It is referred to as something “incurable” that can take “possession” of people, and the way in which Anderson starts his piece (“My father was, I am sure, intended by nature to be a cheerful, kindly man.”) indicates that ambition brought about this negative change in his father. How does Anderson’s framing of ambition as a vice compare to the other works we have read thus far, and do you think this is something we will see in future texts?

The narration, often from Faith’s perspective, refers to Faith’s father as Mr. Darwin and the mother as Mrs. Darwin. Social Darwinism is the theory that there is a survival of the fittest among groups, countries, races, etc. Further, Tom’s ideas about race in Gatsby embody social darwinism. Thus, I wonder how the parents’ last name of Darwin relate to social darwinism? Surely, Mr. Darwin’s holocaust joke has something to do with it, but otherwise I’m pretty stumped.

In Grace Paley’s piece, Faith boldly declares her love for three different men. To this, her father becomes agitated, asking, “What did your mother and me do? We only tried to do our best”(280). First, the statement is potent as, several moments prior, Mr. Darwin acknowledges his ambivalence towards his “marriage” with his wife.  Thus, Paley seems to be playing with the theme of perception, asking, how could Mr. Darwin be so blind to his own actions?  Further, this quotation is also powerful as it ponders themes of parenting, posing the question, do Mr. Darwin’s actions truly affect Faith’s love life?

Ultimately, in The Great Gatsby, how does Fitzegerald respond to these questions regarding perception and parenthood? Would he answer them differently from Paley?

The part I found the most fascinating in Anderson’s piece was in regards to ambition. The narrator’s parents were perfectly happy and content with their simple life together at the beginning. Once they had a child, however, they became ambitious people (though at different times), although not for themselves. What I found particularly interesting was that the parents were ambitious for their child. This reminded me of the theme we discussed earlier about the American Dream having to do with providing for future generations. Do you think this plays into the version of the American Dream seen in Gatsby at all? Why / why not?

The narrator’s use of his father in Anderson’s story really makes me think of Jay Gatsby. Both men tried to put on a performance to win over the affection of people, Daisy for Gatsby and the towns people for the narrator’s father. Nonetheless, both ultimately failed. Just how Daisy is a representation to Gatsby of money (success, fulfillment), so are the towns people to the narrator’s father. Coincidentally, both Daisy and the towns people are wealthier and more well off than their constituents.  The disdain felt by both Daisy and the Joe Kane (he laughed at the narrator’s father attempt to entertain him) connects to their status and rubs in the lack of importance of both Gatsby and the narrator’s father.

I also think that the fact that the family remains nameless to us reinforces their unfortunate irrelevance in the grand scheme of things.