The Great Gatsby Flashcards
“That’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”
In Chapter 1, Daisy expresses her lack of fulfilment and isolation as she is beautiful yet yearns for independence and freedom that she can never have. In being naive and blissfully ignorant, her daughter can enjoy life more than she ever will.
“Old sport”
Shows Gatsby’s desperation to be like the old money, but both Tom and Jordan dislike it, showing how difficult it actually is to pass as having inherited wealth.
“Can’t repeat the past? Why of course you can!”
In Chapter 6, Gatsby clearly shows his naive optimism/delusion in overcoming the impossible to be with Daisy. Hints at a sad desperation, where Gatsby will clearly do anything to achieve his American Dream.
“Your wife doesn’t love you. She never loved you.”
Chapter 7 Gatsby can’t picture Daisy changing since the years they met (likely because he mentally hasn’t, despite becoming wealthy). Gatsby is also trying to beat Tom here, in winning Daisy, he’s won their battle of her affections (when she likely doesn’t love either)
“Gatsby believed in the green light.”
Chapter 9, Nick realises Gatsby’s delusion of an American Dream, he wished for a world that could never possibly exist.
“I am one of the few honest people I’ve ever known.”
Chapter 3, highlights Nick’s insecurity and unreliable narration to the reader, makes them question whether his account of events is honest at all, and creates a level of irony in this statement, as his narration is full of contradictions.
“They’re a rotten crowd. You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together.”
Chapter 8, the final thing Nick says to Gatsby, and shows how Nick is completely romanticising Gatsby even after Myrtle’s death. In a sense, the constant cycle of one-sided admiration never ends.
“It makes me sad because I’ve never seen such beautiful shirts before.”
Chapter 5, Daisy is crying at Gatsby’s new materialism, either she’s overwhelmed by the lengths he’s gone for her, or she’s mourning the version of Gatsby she once knew.
“What’ll we do with ourselves this afternoon, and the day after that, and the next thirty years?”
Chapter 7 Daisy shows her privilege as a “bright young thing” and it expresses a sense of her nihilism and lack of purpose in life, as she just looks for the next thrill without a second thought.
“Her voice was full of money.”
Chapter 7 Gatsby ties Daisy’s voice to wealth, and his pursuit of wealth. People are drawn to Daisy as they are drawn to money, for their own selfish purpose.
“The mouth was wide open and ripped at the corners.”
Chapter 7 Myrtle’s death shows how she is sexualised and objectified even in death, to Nick Myrtle is a mistress and nothing else
“He was his wife’s man, and not his own.”
Shows Nick’s misogyny, in that he believes George’s devotion to Myrtle is his greatest failure. George and Myrtle only died trying to desperately escape the Valley of Ashes.
“God sees everything.” — “That’s an advertisement.”
Chapter 8 George with Michaelis, hints at the moral decay of America, as capitalism becomes God to the poor, and George can’t tell the difference in desperate attempts to comfort himself.
“If we don’t look out, the white race will be utterly submerged.”
In Chapter 1, Tom highlights an insecurity surrounding being dethroned, even though he’s always had financial stability. This insecurity leads to him showing off his power at all opportunities, and belittling those who aren’t of white European descent.
“Don’t believe everything you hear Nick.”
Chapter 1, Tom says this showing himself as the opposite of the naive and optimistic Gatsby, and although Nick tells the reader he is cautious, he still falls under Gatsby’s spell.
“He ran over Myrtle like you’d run over a dog and never even stopped his car.”
Chapter 9 Tom is potentially unaware that Daisy was the one driving, or he blames Gatsby anyway. Somewhat ironic, as Tom never treated Myrtle well either (breaking her nose).
“I suppose the last est thing is to sit back and let Mr Nobody from Nowhere make love to your wife.”
Chapter 7, Tom can’t picture himself being on the same level as Gatsby, and Tom is insulting Gatsby’s suspicious origins and lack of heritage (perhaps removing him from Tom’s perfect white race)
“He had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you come across four or five times in life.”
Chapter 3, Nick’s first impression of Gatsby, wherein his smile captures the visage of optimism
“He stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling.”
Chapter 1, Nick sees Gatsby watching the green light for the first time, pining helplessly for the American Dream
“They smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back to their money.”
Chapter 9, Nick’s musings on the Buchanans attitude and “carelessness” to the people they impact, and the consequences of their actions
