F. Scott FITZGERALDF. Scott FITZGERALDrealizedrealized corruption corruption such a life such a life

producedproducedspokesman for Lost generationspokesman for Lost generationwas was obsessed with obsessed with the romantic the romantic

dream dream of the rich of the rich & glamorous& glamorous• searched for meaning in a society where searched for meaning in a society where

values are meaninglessvalues are meaningless

THE JAZZ AGE

End of W.W.I to Crash of ‘29End of W.W.I to Crash of ‘29Financial prosperity & Financial prosperity &

moral uncertaintymoral uncertaintyYouth lived only for Youth lived only for

momentary pleasuresmomentary pleasures

JAZZ AGE ContinuedJAZZ AGE Continued

The boom: Money available The boom: Money available for allfor all

Hard work abandoned as Hard work abandoned as necessary for successnecessary for success

Laws openly flouted Laws openly flouted (bootlegging)(bootlegging)

Purposeless activitiesPurposeless activities

•dance contests, goldfish-swallowing, flagpole sitting dance contests, goldfish-swallowing, flagpole sitting

•Travel became a way of lifeTravel became a way of life

Wandering aimless life became the normWandering aimless life became the normImportance placed on parties--the wilder the betterImportance placed on parties--the wilder the better

The Great Gatsby

Strongly autobiographicalStrongly autobiographicalA man’s undying passion for one A man’s undying passion for one

womanwomancharacter ennobles individualscharacter ennobles individualspeople struggling to hold onto people struggling to hold onto

ideals while struggling for their ideals while struggling for their dreamsdreams

Stylistic Devices

ImageryImageryIronyIronyPoint of ViewPoint of View

Methods of Characterization

SPEECH, ACTION, NICK’S SPEECH, ACTION, NICK’S EVALUATION:EVALUATION:

•Gatsby’s clothes (always wrong)Gatsby’s clothes (always wrong)

•Nick’s honestyNick’s honesty

•Daisy’s voice (excitement, mystery--Daisy’s voice (excitement, mystery--rich in promise--a promise never kept)rich in promise--a promise never kept)

Story BackgroundStory Background

Local SettingLocal Setting

•East Egg = traditional, inherited East Egg = traditional, inherited wealthwealth

•West Egg- “Nouveaux riches” West Egg- “Nouveaux riches”

Like eggs, both look the same.Like eggs, both look the same.

Main Characters

Nick Carroway• Keen observer

• Occasionally makes moral judgments

• Only dynamic character

• Matures: grows in wisdom and perspective

• Morally repulsed by corruption/shallowness/insensitivity of the rich

Jay Gatsby= James Gatz

In love with Daisy and wants her Almost an adolescent outlook on life A bit of innocence about him Realizes the American dream (illegally)

Daisy

Ditz Shallow In love with Gatsby??? Afraid or Tom???

Tom

Physically powerful Overbearing personality Intellectually dull/unimaginative Represents traditional culture/ values Bigot/racist Hypocrite- “big on family values”

Secondary Character

Myrtle Wilson George Wilson Jordan Baker Meyer Wolfsheim

Symbolism

Yellow (gold) = wealth White = unreachable? Green = hopes and dreams **Items: eggs, a daisy, Daisy’s dresses,

cars Gray = ashes/desolation

More SYMBOLSMore SYMBOLS

The green light across the The green light across the lakelake

The billboard- T.J. The billboard- T.J. EckelburgEckelburg

West Egg Vs East EggWest Egg Vs East EggValley of the AshesValley of the Ashes

Themes- Love

The whole idea of Gatsby is the unfairness of a poor man unable to marry a girl with money.

Modern love = violence and egoism rather than tenderness and affection

Tom’s treatment pf Daisy Tom’s treatment of Myrtle Myrtle’s attitude towards George Purest form of true love is???

Perversion of the American Dream

Focus on materialism leads to a moral wasteland:• “Valley of the Ashes”: Corrupt society can

only produce ashes and dust.

• Condescending attitude of wealthy towards those not of wealth.

American ideals perverted:

Meyer Wolfsheim: fixing the 1919 World Series

Jordan Baker- cheats to win golf tournament

**Sportsmanship perverted **”Win at all costs”