Chapter 2 - Context Flashcards
What key form does Valley of Ashes show? How are people still living?
Not everyone in the US in benefitting
“Living in ash”
What 2 things does the Valley of Ashes contrast with?
East Egg/glamour of NY
What historical event does Valley of Ashes show to have an impact on?
Industrial revolution impacting the American Dream
What do Eckleburg’s eyes possibly represent?
A God-like figure looking down on chaos and pollution of humanity
What does George represent? What is his business at risk from?
The part of America that got left behind
Failing
What does Myrtle and Tom represent?What is contextual about Myrtle and Tom’s affair?
George and Myrtle's failed relationship It relates to the history of working-class Americans
How is Myrtle presented? What does she want more of? What does she seek?
A woman that is unsatisfied
Materialism
Different kind of love
What does Tom believe? What does this further represent about “old money”?
He can have anything
Arrogance
How is materialism emphasised? What is the purpose of this?
Tom’s apartment
Affair with Myrtle
What does Tom believe about his apartment? What is it actually for?
Love is there with Myrtle
Sex
Why are the characters drinking alcohol?
They aren’t fully happy
When is the novel set? What country does it have connection with?
Post-WW1
Germany
Why does Catherine fear Gatsby?
He is “a nephew/cousin of Kaiser Willheim’s”
What are scandal and gossip parts of? What do they interconnect with?
Jazz Age
Love and affairs
What does the free use of alcohol prefigure? Why?
Prohibition
It worried society
