Satisying Ending Flashcards
What are the four paragraphs in the satisying ending?
- Failure of the American dream comes as a result of the social hierarchy (green light).
- Fitzgerald made readers think that G was actually going to achieve his dream of Daisy due to chapter 5.
- G’s failure was forshadowed by how disgusted T and D were about his parties.
- G’s death
Why is the ending satisying?
As at first, it comes a surprise to readers but in reality it was foreshadowed throughout the book and it ties up the themes of the failure of the American dream and social class.
What is the word for “the ending of a play/book”?
denouement
Failure of the American dream comes as a result of the social classes.
“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us… so we beat on, boats against the current”
~ This quotation reveals that Gatsby fully believed that he would be accepted into the upper echelons of society, however, what he didn’t realise that this was impossible as he was actually fighting against a system that was so deeply ingrained into society.
~ he was like somebody in a boat rowing against the current: he could not make it no matter how hard he tried.
~ This is because people such as the Buchanans will never accept somebody not of their own strata and will never see past their wealth as that is all that matters to them.
~ Green light symbolism. Gatsby’s dream were too big for this world.
~ Makes readers realise that the reason why the conclusion is effective is because it emphasises that until the social class system exists, the American dream cannot be achieved. However, perhaps one day when this system is eradicated, people will be able to achieve their hopes and dreams.
We were encouraged to believe that Gatsby was going to achieve his dream of eloping with Daisy Buchanan which makes the ending effective as it has a greater emotional impact.
When Gatsby re-meet Daisy after 5 years in chapter five:
“the colossal signficance of that light had now vanished forever… it was again a green light on a dock.”
~ This reveals that Gatsby had put a lot of faith in the light to symbolise his dreams, but now that Daisy was by his side on his side of the dock, he no longer had to use the light to represent his dream as he had nearly achieved it.
~ We presume that Gatsby had now achieved the dream.
~ The pathetic fallacy in chapter five further emphasises this point when we acknowledge how Gatsby felt anxious about meeting Daisy which was reflected in the intesity of the “pouring rain” yet, after half an hour of the meeting the “sun shone again” implying that Daisy and Gatsby had rekindled their love.
~ This scene acts as a turning point as prior to this moment, readers are sceptical of Gatsby and his desires. Therefore, when Fitzgerald made it seem as if Gatsby had truly won Daisy’s heart again, it makes the conclusion of the novel even more effective as readers are saddened to see that Gatsby’s narrative does not turn out in his favour as he loses Daisy in the conclusion.
~ Therefore, Fitzgerlad emphasises that although it may seem like we have escaped our background, we cannot and this further implies that the American dream is unattainable.
The message that the American dream is unattainable is further foreshadowed when the Buchanas are “disgusted” by Gatsby’s parties.
The conclusion of the novel is further develop by these points as they emphasise that the American dream is not only about becoming wealthy; it is also about belonging - and you can’t buy belonging no matter how much money you have.
When attending one of G party’s, T says:
“he certainly must have really strained himself to get this menagerie together”
~ This reveals that Tom completely disregards Gatsby's efforts to prove himself a member of the upper echelons of society. ~ Gatsby throws elaborate parties attended by notable socialities in order to attract the upper class. ~ Gatsby throws these parties in hope that one day, Daisy would arrive. When she did, she was "appalled by its raw vigour". This is also a turning point for Daisy's perception of Gatsby as hihertho, she seen him as a man of class but now that she has attended one of his parties she has came to realise that he is trying to imitate the upper class which she is not impressed by. Gatsby notices her change of attitude due to the parties which is why from this point on in the novel, there are no more parties. ~ Tom sees right through Gatsby's attempts of trying to masking his lower class identity. This is because as a member of the social elite, Tom knows that a true upper member of the social classes does not need to throw extravagant parties to show off their wealth which is how he recognises that Gatsby comes from a lower class background. That is why T calls G "Mr Nobody from nowhere" ~ The fact that Gatsby has the "meretricious beauty" (Trimalchio character) further emphasises one of the reasons of why he would never be accepted by the upper classes which impairs him from fully achieving the American dream.
Gatsby’s death - shows that the American dream is impossible to attain due to the literal death of Gatsby.
-“He must have looked up at an unfamiliar sky through frightening leaves and shivered as he found what a grotesque thing a rose is.”
~ Reveals that G, a man with “an extraordinary gift for hope” has lost his optimism when he lost Daisy.
~This is because G’s dream was to be with D but to be with her, he had to be accpeted into the upper echelons of society to be accepted by her. As D choses T over G due to the social class difference, this makes G understand that he will never be accpeted by them and thus, that he can never achieve the American dream. This make G see the world in a new perspective as he has stopped being optimistic and has realised the true which has left him distraught.
~ He realises that something as beautiful as a rose can be ugly. This is because just a rose is beautiful, you reach out to pick it, it can stab you with thorns so too when Gatsby reached out to Daisy, he is emotionally scared by her rejection.
~ He realises that the symbols were just a fallacy and that they truly represented his dreams.
~ Therefore, when G goes for a swim in the pool (which he did not use during the summer as he was preocuppied by Daisy) it foreshadows that she is not going to phone him.
~ His death is therefore an effecitve conclusion as it emphasis F’s message that the American dream is just a fallacy and that it can never be achieved.
