Question

the great gatsby is a 1925 novel by f. scott fitzgerald. the narrator, nick carraway, reflects on his experiences in new york with a mixture of disillusionment and nostalgia. throughout the narrative, fitzgerald portrays nick as maintaining a dualistic view of jay gatsby: while nick holds a deep contempt for the materialistic values and reckless lifestyle that gatsby represents, he simultaneously admires gatsby’s romantic sensitivity and exempts him from the cynical judgment he passes on the rest of the wealthy elite.
11
mark for review
which quotation from the great gatsby most effectively illustrates the claim?
a “it was an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as i have never found in any other person and which it is not likely i shall ever find again.”
b “i wanted no more riotous excursions with privileged glimpses into the human heart. only gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book, was exempt from my reaction—gatsby, who represented everything for which i have an unaffected scorn.”
c “they were careless people, tom and daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together.”
d “my family have been prominent, well - to - do people in this middle western city for three generations. the carraways are something of a clan, and we have a tradition that were descended from the dukes of buccleuch.”

Explanation:

The claim is about Nick's dualistic view of Gatsby: contempt for Gatsby's materialistic values/lifestyle but admiration for his romantic sensitivity and exemption from cynical judgment.

• Option A: Only shows admiration for Gatsby's hope/romantic readiness, no contempt. Eliminate.
• Option B: States Nick wanted no more of the wealthy's ways ("riotous excursions..."), but Gatsby was exempt from his negative reaction, even though Gatsby represented what Nick scorns. This shows the dual view (scorn for what Gatsby represents, yet exemption/admiration).
• Option C: Criticizes Tom and Daisy, not about Nick's view of Gatsby. Eliminate.
• Option D: About Nick's family background, not related to his view of Gatsby. Eliminate.

Answer:

B. "I wanted no more riotous excursions with privileged glimpses into the human heart. Only Gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book, was exempt from my reaction—Gatsby, who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn."