The Great Gatsby context Flashcards
Colour Imagery
Yellow/Gold: Often associated with wealth, corruption, and decadence. For example, Gatsby’s car is yellow, symbolizing both his wealth and the danger it represents.
White: Frequently associated with Daisy, suggesting purity on the surface, but it also hints at emptiness and superficiality.
Green: Besides the green light, green can symbolize both hope and the destructive nature of materialistic ambition
Symbolism
The Green Light: Represents Gatsby’s unattainable dreams, particularly his idealized vision of Daisy and the American Dream. The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock becomes a recurring motif symbolizing hope and the future.
The Eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg: A billboard in the Valley of Ashes that represents the eyes of God or a higher moral authority, watching over the characters’ moral decay and corruption.
The Valley of Ashes: A bleak industrial area between West Egg and New York City that symbolizes the moral and social decay resulting from the pursuit of wealth. It’s where the poor and the consequences of the rich’s carelessness are left behind.
Class Divisions and Geography
West Egg vs. East Egg: West Egg represents new money (Gatsby, Nick), while East Egg symbolizes old money (Tom and Daisy). This geographical division mirrors the social divide between the characters.
New York City: Represents freedom, indulgence, and moral ambiguity. It’s where characters like Tom and Myrtle indulge in their extramarital affair and where the boundaries of morality blur.
Social Commentary
Gatsby’s Parties: Symbolize the excess and carelessness of the Roaring Twenties. The parties are filled with people enjoying Gatsby’s wealth, but no one really knows or cares about him. They represent the hollowness of high society.
Daisy’s Voice: Nick describes Daisy’s voice as “full of money,” highlighting her privilege and the materialism that defines her.
Historical Context
The Jazz Age/1920s Excess: The novel is set in the Roaring Twenties, a time of economic prosperity, social change, and moral looseness. Gatsby’s lavish parties and the characters’ pursuit of wealth reflect this era’s culture of excess.
Prohibition: Alcohol is illegal during this period, yet Gatsby’s parties are filled with bootleg liquor, symbolizing the era’s lawlessness and the corrupt means by which many characters achieve their wealth.
Foreshadowing
Car Accidents: Multiple car accidents throughout the novel foreshadow the destructive outcomes of characters’ recklessness and carelessness, culminating in Myrtle’s death.
Gatsby’s Tragic Fate: Early references to Gatsby’s mysterious background and his obsessive behavior toward Daisy hint at his eventual downfall.
