Great Gatsby (chap 1-3) Flashcards
Background abt F. Scott Fitzgerald:
Father was wealthy
Hung out with the wealthy crowd
Father then became bankrupt
Setting
America
1920s - roaring 20s (war just ended, ppl are partying)
(Prohibition act = rebellion)
Theme:
Money
The American Dream
Judgement
pretending to be someone you’re not
POV:
1st person Nick (narrator)
What are some questions that arise w/ a first person POV?
Do we believe what he’s saying?
Everything he could be saying is a lie
How does the book start?
With legacy
What’s east egg - also who’s apart of it
What’s west egg - who’s apart of that
Where’s Nick?
East egg = old money: daisy, Tom, and Jordan Baker
West egg = new money/poor: Gatsby
(Nick is so far above all because he doesn’t rlly have a place)
Renter =
Not stable, temporary = Nick
What’s a little history abt daisy and Tom?
They lived in France, moved to east egg no explanation = sus = running away from something
Tom:
What’s his hobby and what do we get from this?
Arrogant, dominant power
Riding horses = filthy rich
Based on how Tom is shown, what’s the author trying to tell us?
Ppl w/ money = snobby
Daisy:
Manipulative “paralyzed with happiness”
Has a baby
Jordan Baker:
Doesn’t acknowledge Nick, head help up high = stuck up,
What are the 2 kinds of judgement:
- from ppl
- from GD
What’s Toms American dream?
White race being dominant = still stuck in the past
What’s daisy and Jordan’s American dream?
Status Quo = wanting nothing to change
When the affair is brought up, what bothers Jordan the most?
That the mistress has no manners
“And I hope she’ll be a fool, a beautiful little fool.”
Daisy is saying this abt her_____
What is this implying?
1) daughter
2) it’s implying she knows that Tom cheated, but she doesn’t want anything to change
Ignorance is bliss = status quo
Gatsby:
wants to be alone
trembling, green light
money envy
Gatsby is ….
Myrtle is …..
1) new money
2) poor - married to a mechanic
what does tom do w/ nick?
he (tom) is bringing his wife’s cousin (nick) to meet his mistress which Is normal for him
what is the valley of ashes?
queens = poor
why is tom having an affair w/ someone not in his class?
if he were to have an affair w/ someone of his status = things can go wrong and someone of his class has power to destroy him vs someone like myrtle who is powerless
whats another message f Scott Fitzgerald has abt ppl w/money?
they can get away w/ things more easily
what do eyes from the optometrist billboard symbolize
someone is always watching you = judgement
“changes her costume”
“elaborate afternoon dress”
when myrtle is w/ tom she becomes a new person
what does nick think of myrtle?
bigger, unflattering dress
what is our first impression of myrtle - how does she act?
judge of the help
“I told that boy about the ice”
“these people!” - lol she is these ppl
at gatsbys party -
no one knows who he is
two faced/pretenindg to be someone you’re not
the theme connecting w/ Gatsby
nick noticed Gatsbys “mask” faded and he became a rough neck, his speech was absurd
gatsbys words are so well thought out meaning
hes hiding something or he’s pretending to be someone he’s not
nick hangs out w/Jordan implying
he wants to be with the old money crowd
two sides of nick:
1) he enjoys the attention from the old money crowd, dating Jordan, follows romantic women
2) sometimes he enjoys the small lonely moments
golf -
no consequences for old money
if Jordan dated someone smart then
she wouldn’t be able to manipulate them
driving -
no consequences
saying she can drive however she wants
