Great Gatsby Flashcards
Introduction
The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a novel that _________(refer to question)_____.__________(be more specific)_______. Fitzgerald travels through a variety of techniques such as character and setting.
Theme
American dream
- the corruption of the American dream, as the unrestrained desire for money and pleasure surpassed more noble goals.
“Youth and mystery that wealth imprisons and preserves”
Theme 1
Nick finds himself surrounded by lavish mansions, fancy cars, and an endless supply of material processions.
-Seemingly limitless excess Nick sees in the Buchanans, a throwaway mentality extending past material goods.
Quote Nick says to express the Buchanans
” they were careless people Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or vast carelessness”
Theme continued
- As F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote in 1924, while working on the Great Gatsby.
“The loss of those illusions that give such color to the world so that you don’t care whether things are true or false a as long as they partake the magical glory”
Narration
Fitzgerald uses the narrator to reveal ________.
First person narration from the perspective of Nick Carraway.
- We are influenced by him in our perception of each of the characters.
Nick Carraway
- Nick is a humble man who studied at Yale university, and is the only character in the novel who is shown to not be corrupted by wealth.
- Nick’s family are wealthy but his father wisely tutored him in the belief that
“All the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.” - Education with Tom Buchanan - Daisy’s cousin and comes from a wealthy background.
- acts as a liaison between Gatsby and Daisy.
- Despite repeatedly insisting that he prides himself on his own honesty, Nick continually aligns with next door neighbour Gatsby - whose entire existence is a fabrication - remaining loyal to his friend throughout the second half of the novel.
Setting
- the novelist uses setting ________.
- set 1922 America is shown as a place of wealth and prosperity.
- just after World War 1, and right in the middle of Prohibition.
West Egg
West egg - the new rich
- inhabited by Nick and Gatsby.
- “The less fashionable of the two” islands. Emphasises that despite Gatsby’s fabulous wealth he is not accepted by the elite.
- “My own house was an eyesore”
East Egg
- repeated references to light and gold in the description of the houses of rich.
- ” palaces” suggests royalty and aristocracy. Only the social elite live here.
- “French windows”- reference to “french” suggests classic taste and style.
Valley of Ashes
“Half way between West Egg and New York”
“Grotesque garden”
“Ashes grow like wheat”
- The overall effect of this place suggests that continued existence here extinguishes vitality.
- Overlooking the piles of ashes is the omniscient eyes of Doctor TJ Eckleburg, a faded advertisement for glasses, again seems to symbolically suggest God, all seeing, and yet incapable of changing the status quo between rich and poor.
- Fitzgerald uses the through the Valley of Ashes to symbolically remind the reader of the waste generated by unconstrained greed.
Climax
Fitzgerald uses Mrytle’s death as a tragic climax to _______.
- Fitzgerald adds to the tension through the setting. The fateful day is incredibly hot.
“Hot lawn and the weedy refuse of the dog days” - the heat reflects the rising conflict between the characters and they all set off to New you’re passing through the “ Valley of Ashes” on their way.
- Tom and Gatsby finally clash over his affair with Daisy and Tom stating
” I suppose the latest thing is to sit back and let Mr. Nobody from Nowhere make love to your wife.”
- Tom doesn’t recognise his hypocrisy when he states “Nowadays people begin by sneering at family life and family institutions”
Climax continued
- The argument results in the character heading back to East Egg hot headed and bad tempered, and ultimately Myrtle being hit by Gatsby’s car.
- Fitzgerald highlights that it is the ordinary person who is the victim of the careless rich whose greed and self- indulgence wrecks lives, both metaphorically and literally.
- It is No coincidence that the fatal accident occurs in the “Valley of Ashes.” Myrtle is killed by “the death car” but her life had already been ruined by her affair with
Tom as she could no longer be satisfied with her full existence with George.
The invented Gatsby
- plays the role of gracious host to the rich and famous who flock to his parties.
- refers to his time at Oxford as if he has been educated there- uses an old photograph and war medal to add authenticity.
- uses the phrase “old sport”
- infatuation with Daisy Buchanan -buys his mansion to be near her.
The Real Gatsby
- James Gatsby had poor beginnings in the Mid -West.
- escaped from poverty in the boat of Dan Cody - an introduction to lavish lifestyle.
- repeated hints to his criminal dealings bootlegging, stock fraud etc
- disappointed with realisation of his fantasy of attaining Daisy.
- does the honourable thing and takes the blame for Daisy.
- funeral highlights the emptiness of his life, only 3 mourners and lack of fulfilment.
