1) Many times in the story, Fitzgerald deliberately mentions the billboard of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg. What is this supposed to represent?
I think that Eckleburg represents 1920's high society. He looms above the Valley of Ashes, watching over the place where industry happens and the poor people live, as if he controls it. The fact that most of his face is worn away represents that the rich aren't nearly as powerful as they think, but the watchful eyes still remain. It is also significant that Wilson mistakes Eckleburg's eyes for the Eyes of God, as sort of a literal jab at the reverence with which the working class see the rich.
2) Why did Gatsby always throw wild parties, even though he tended to be so anti-social?
He wanted for Daisy to show up to one of his semi-famous parties, so the parties sort of acted as a lure. The wildness and extravagance was so that if Daisy ever did show up, she would be impressed by the wealth and status of it all. His sole goal was Daisy's attraction and approval; he couldn't care less for the actual parties or his invitees.
3) Gatsby makes a point of befriending Nick, despite being a much richer, higher-class person with more acquaintances than he could count. Why is this?
Part of me wants to say that Gatsby could connect with Nick, both having served in the Great War and being from the West. However, it seems to me that Gatsby's motivation for everything he does in this book is Daisy. As much as I hate to admit it, I think Gatsby befriended Nick not to be friendly, but to get closer to Daisy, since Nick was her cousin. Which he did do, later in the book, convincing Nick to invite over Daisy so that Gatsby could reunite with her.
4) Right before Gatsby's death, Nick states that "I disapproved of him from the beginning to the end." Yet Nick spends the entire story idolizing him and painting him in a positive light. Why did he make this statement, which is so out of place?
I honestly have no idea what the answer to this is. Nick suddenly pulls a little flip-flop move after liking Gatsby the whole book, and says that he had always disapproved of him. Maybe this is because liking and approving of are not the same thing. While Nick clearly liked Gatsby, Gatsby was involved in some very shady business, and it seems that Nick didn't approve of this. He could have also disapproved of Gatsby's methods, like trying to further destroy Daisy's marriage. Other than that, I have no idea.
These are interesting and insightful questions, which you answer pretty well. However, this is your first entry for the book. Some of the questions are things that we have touched on in class already, but they are good nonetheless. I really like the last question, and will be intersted to hear others' response to it.
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