ByMason Seymore
The Great Gatsby
Father, Edward Fitzgerald had an allegiance to the
Old South and its valuesfailed as a manufacturer
of wicker furniture Mother, Mary (Mollie)
McQuillan became wealthy as a
wholesale grocer in St. Paul.
Dominantly Catholic
Frances Scott Fitzgerald’s Family
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on September 24, 1896
1911-1913 he attended the Newman School met Father Sigourney Fay
encouraged his ambitions for personal distinction and achievement
Princeton’s class of 1917 neglected his studies for a literary
apprenticeship. Entered the army in 1917
convinced he would die in war, but was released in 1918 before being sent over seas
Met Zelda Sayre
Frances Scott Fitzgerald’s Early Life
Finished his first novel, This Side of Paradise, in 1919 Published March 26th, 1920
Became famous overnight Frances Scott (Scottie) Fitzgerald
was born in October, 1921 Moved to France in 1924
Part of the American expatriate circle
Included Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemmingway and John Dos Passos
Reputation as a drinker inspired the myth that he was an irresponsible writer
The Great Gatsby was published in April, 1924 Received critical praise, but weak
sales
Frances Scott Fitzgerald’s Adulthood
Returned to America in 1931Zelda suffered from mental
breakdowns and was hospitalized in February 1932wrote Save Me the WaltzRecovered until 1936
Under stress, Fitzgerald fell in love with Sheilah Graham
Fitzgerald fell further into debt and alcohol
Died December 21st, 1940 of a heart attackBelieved to have been a failureZelda died in a fire in 1948
Frances Scott Fitzgerald’s Death
SignificanceOne of the few authors to write
about the social era of the 1920’s
Automatically identified with the 1920’s
He is regarded as an exemplary figure for decade embodying and expressing its charm, ebullience, waste, genius, dissipation, confidence
Reflected historically to his success in the 20’s and downfall in the 30’s
Unwillingness to distinguish between reality and fantasy
Novels The Love of the Last Tycoon (unfinished) Tender is the Night The Great Gatsby The Beautiful and the Damned This Side of Paradise
Stories “Bits of Paradise” “The Basil and Josephine Stories” “The Pat Hobby Stories” “Taps at Reveille” “Six Tales of the Jazz Age and Other Stories” “Flappers and Philosophers” “The Stories of F. Scott’s Fitzgerald” “Babylon Revisited and Other Stories” “The Short Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald”
Stories and Essays “Afternoon of and Author” “The Fitzgerald Reader”
Letters “The Letters of F. Scott Fitzgerald” “Letters to his Daughter” “Dear Scott/Dear Max”
Comedy The Vegetable
The Roaring 20’s Optimism Freedom Celebration
The Jazz Age The Flapper Era The creation of the automobile Prohibition Gambling World War I
Post Great War Physical strength and freedom Disregard for pre-war values Financial Freedom
The Great Gatsby Historical Context
The Great Gatsby Setting
Nick Carraway moves to West Egg, New YorkHis house is located right next door to Gatsby’s mansion
While there, he attends a dinner hosted by his cousin Daisy and her husband, Tom, who lives in East EggEast Egg houses the sophisticated aristocratic societyHe meets his future love interest, Jordan, that night
Jordan enlightens Nick about the affair between Tom and Myrtle WilsonTom and Nick travel to New York and go to a partyMyrtle taunts Tom about Daisy and he responds by
breaking her nose
The Great Gatsby: Plot Summary
Time passes; Nick is granted an invitation to a party hosted by Jay GatsbyNick finally meets Gatsby through Jordan Jordan enlightens Nick by telling him Gatsby is irrevocably
in love with DaisyGatsby asks Nick to figure out a way to arrange a
meeting with DaisyNick invites Daisy to tea at his home
Gatsby’s and Daisy’s rekindled love instigates an affair Tom grows suspicious of Gatsby
Gatsby stares at Daisy throughout an entire luncheon
The Great Gatsby Plot Summary
Tom is furious at Gatsby…EVEN THOUGH he is having an affair with MyrtleConfronts Gatsby at the Plaza HotelDaisy realizes her allegiance lies with Tom
Both parties return to East Egg with Daisy and Gatsby leading in his Car
*END?*
The Great Gatsby Plot Summary
Gatsby’s car strikes and kills Myrtle WilsonDaisy was the driver
Tom tells Myrtle’s husband Gatsby was the driverHe kills Gatsby, and then kills himself
Gatsby’s funeral is held later that weekNo one but his father and Nick go to the
ceremonyDisgusted with the eastern way of life, Nick
moves back MidwestHe ends his relationship with JordanDiscovers that the true “American Dream” is
dead
The Great Gatsby Plot Summary
Moves to New York in 1922 to learn the bond business
Daisy’s cousin Provides a connection between Gatsby and
Daisy Novel’s narrator because of his position and
temperament Secondary role
Prefers to observe and comment rather than take action
Inner conflict between his attraction to the bustling life of the east verses damaging and ugly way of life Brought through the novel in his
relationship with Jordan Returns to the Midwest at the end of the
novel Represents Fitzgerald’s quiet, Midwestern
personality
Character Analysis: Nick Carraway
Character of around 30 that grew up in impoverished America Always dreamed and perused a life wealth
Fell in love with Daisy in 1917 during World War I His extravagant parties, luxurious home and
life style are all used to impress her Mysteriously characterized with an
“untouchable” sense through his mass of wealth Expressed through the Fitzgerald’s use of an
ambiguous entrance Theatrical approach to life
Dichotomous depiction of Fitzgerald psyche. His love for a life extravagance and luxury
Without the mask of wealth, Gatsby persona is the opposite: Insecure Hopeful Innocent
By the end of the novel, he realizes he has become corrupted by wealth
Character Analysis: Jay Gatsby
Partially based off of Zelda Fitzgerald IN love with wealth, leisure and
luxury Gatsby’s main drive throughout the
novel A popular, wanted woman during the
Great War Chose Tom because he could provide
her with the lavish lifestyle she desired
Symbolizes a figure of “gilded” perfection Beautiful and charming Fickle, shallow, bored and careless
Indifferent to her child Lacks loyalty
Represents unethical values of the aristocratic East Egg
Character Analysis: Daisy Buchanan
WealthGeographyLeisure “Sport”Green light
Hope and dreams of the future
Valley of AshesSocial decay
The Eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg Judgment of God
The Great Gatsby Motifs
Decline of the American Dream The novel begins with an aspect of hope as Nick move out east,
however begins to deteriorate as the story progresses and eventually “dies” with the death of Gatsby Gatsby's immoral and unethical attempts to gain inner peace
Hollowness of the Upper Class The pristine group of the wealthy become “untouchable”
Daisy and Tom refer to themselves as above Nick a pseudo belief of being superiority to the rest of society Lonely
Living in the past Gatsby refuses to let go of daisy
Driving force behind his death Nick hopes to escape it
The Great Gatsby Themes
The Great Gatsby
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