Quote #4

8/14/10
page 88

There is a point in the book where Daisy and Gatsby finally meet up again. While they catch up Nick gives them some time alone, he sits outside and looks over to Gatsby's huge house. He had heard a story before of the man who originally built the house, and how he wasn't much of a family man. His children ended up selling the house without hesitation as soon as he died. Nick must have some bitterness towards those types of situations because he says " Americans, while occasionally willing to be serfs, have always been obstinate about being peasantry." To me, it seems what Nick is trying to say is that although people have no problem working for another, the don't like the title that comes with the job. The children didn't appreciate how hard it was to build that house. They didn't want to be seen as common people, so they sold the house for the money. Sometimes money and social status mean more to people than family. This may not have much to do with the story, but it helps you to understand Nick's views and the way he thinks.