Gatsby

Question 1

Disregard for Daisy’s Marriage

Answer 1

• Gatsby does not respect Daisy’s pre-existing marriage and prioritizes his own desires over her autonomy.
• “He felt married to her, that was all.”-Gatsby’s belief that he is married to Daisy reflects his disregard for her pre-existing marriage and his inability to separate love from possession.

Question 2

Warped Perception of Love

Answer 2

• Gatsby’s perception of love is warped, as he sees it as inseparable from wealth and status.
• “He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God.”-Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy and his belief that she is the key to his American Dream demonstrates his warped perception of love and his idealization of her.

Question 3

Obsession with Old Money

Answer 3

• His pursuit of the ‘Old Money’ lifestyle demonstrates his inability to separate love from wealth.
• “I gathered that he wanted to recover something, some idea of himself perhaps, that had gone into loving Daisy.”

Question 4

Belief in Erasing the Past

Answer 4

• Gatsby believes he can erase Daisy’s past with Tom and create a new life with her.
• “Can’t repeat the past?’ he cried incredulously. ‘Why of course you can!’”-enduring belief that Daisy’s marriage and past with Tom can be erased

Question 5

Ignorance of Daisy’s History

Answer 5

• He orchestrates a meeting with Daisy without considering her life and history without him.

Question 6

Idealization of Daisy

Answer 6

• Gatsby obsessively idealizes Daisy, building her up in his mind.

Question 7

Corrupted vs. Uncorrupted Dream

Answer 7

• Represents both the corrupted and uncorrupted versions of the American Dream.
• “watching over nothing”- futility of efforts to win D love.

Question 8

Promise and Downfall of the American Dream

Answer 8

• His pursuit of Daisy reflectd both Promise and failure of the American Dream
• The green light symbolizes Gatsby’s unattainable love for Daisy and the illusory nature of the American Dream.
• “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us.”
• So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”- metaphor difficulties of moving beyond the burdens of the past and highlights the struggle between reaching for the future and being anchored down by the past, which defines Gatsby’s character.

Question 9

Myopic Focus on Daisy

Answer 9

• Gatsby becomes increasingly unaware of societal constraints due to his singular focus on Daisy.
• His pursuit of Daisy’s love is ultimately unrequited and isolating.
• Gatsby’s projection onto Daisy diminishes his self-awareness and is criticized by feminist perspectives.

Question 10

Romantic Optimism

Answer 10

• Gatsby is characterized by his romantic optimism and idealized view of love.
• “He had waited five years and bought a mansion where he dispensed starlight to casual moths- so that he could ‘come over’ some afternoon to a stranger’s garden.”- Gatsby bought his mansion across the bay from Daisy’s house to be close to her, symbolizing his attempt to cross social boundaries and fulfill his aspiration of being with her.

Question 11

Unsuccessful Integration into Elite Society

Answer 11

• His forced attempts to integrate into elite society highlight his status as nouveau riche.

Question 12

Dream of Wealth and Material Acquisition

Answer 12

• Gatsby’s dream revolves around wealth and material possessions, driving his actions throughout the novel.