Key Points Flashcards
Why do men and their dream fail?
They are based on spectacle rather than substance
Significance of platonic conception
Is a reference to Plato’s myth - an allegory for a world of illusions being used to replace real world.
Gatsby is simply a world of illusion - he has no real perception of reality - can’t create anything meaningful
Why does man strive for their dream ?
Appearance of achievement not because he values the strength of the journey is takes
“Ladder” into “secret place” is the route to life he has envisioned but he must go alone as his dream is simply impossible.
Once he reaches his securely destination he can “suck on the pap of life” he gulps down “incomparable milk of wonder” as that’s all he is capable of - wonder.
While mans dream might seem attractive and full…
It is unattainable by men when it’s insincere and impossible
“It had not merely been the stars to which he had aspired to on that June night. He came alive to me, delivered suddenly from the womb of his purposeless splendour”
Significance of “it had not merely been the stars to which he had aspired to”
Insinuates he was reaching for something past the cosmos - dream truly unattainable by man- greater than normal man “great Gatsby”
“Purposeless splendour” although it looks grand his entire existence is based on his aspired he is merely hollow - what lies behind the dream is not magnificent
What is Gatsby the embodiment of ?
The American dream
- poor boy from poor family to having a mansion / servants / associated with glamour
Why has Gatsbys not grasped the American dream ?
Although wealth was attainable
He is status and happiness aren’t - he can’t attain proper dream anyway of daisy / new money we’re judged
His dream is a facade
How is the American dream corrupted ?
Gatsbys ‘dirty money’ - criminal.
Tom cheats on daisy
Daisy kills myrtle and essentially Gatsby
Nick lies
