The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald

Author Background Francis Scott Fitzgerald born September 24, 1896 Member of the Princeton Class of 1917 Joined the Army-stationed in Montgomery Alabama where he met Zelda Sayre Refused to marry him until he could publish This Side of Paradise Published 3/26/1920, week later the couple married Part of the literary party scene with Ernest Hemmingway playwright Gertrude Stein

Author Background Cont. Known as an alcoholic, led to slow writing speed Critics called him an “irresponsible writer.” Main themes focused on aspirations and the American Dream and domesticity Great Gatsby put him on the literary map Wrote it in France- Zelda had affair Zelda began dancing led to her mental breakdowns Save Me The Last Waltz- Tender is the Night is a response to this Died believing himself a failure Zelda died 1948 in an asylum fire Revival of his works in ’s

Context Published in 1925 Prohibition became law in th Amendment gave women the right to vote Modeled Gatsby, and the Buchanan's after his wife’s lover and the relationship between himself and his life. Triggered ideals of disillusionment after soldiers returned from the war as they dealt with PTSD and brought the party scene of Europe to America coined the term Jazz Age, which denoted an era of ragtime, jazz, stylish automobiles, and “uninhibited young women with bobbed hair and short skirts” " Fitzgerald wrote, "It was an age of miracles, it was an age of art, it was an age of excess, and it was an age of satire."

Setting f East and West Egg, Long Island New York West Egg-poorer side (Nick Caraway) East Egg-Beverly Hills of Long Island (Buchannan's, Gatsby) Symbolizes the grandeur and dichotomy of the American Dream Novel also travels to Gatsby’s time in the war and arrival in New York

Plot Summary: Eggs Cracked Nick Carraway, a recent Yale graduate returns home to West Egg to start a career Neighbors to the mysterious Jay Gatsby Invited to the home of his cousin Daisy and her husband Tom Buchanan on East Egg. Meets Jordan Baker, the golf pro who Daisy wants him to date Nick notices that Daisy is unhappy in her marriage, desperate to escape domesticity Tom gets a call from a mysterious woman, his mistress Myrtle Wilson

Plot Synopsis: Dichotomy of Domesticity Tom takes Nick to Queens to meet Myrtle The relationship is permitted by Tom and Myrtle’s friends because both were “vastly unhappy in their marriages.” Myrtle mocks Daisy and Tom beats her to Nick’s horror Weeks later, Nick and Jordan attend a Gatsby party, shocked that few of the guests actually know him and gossip that he is an Anti-Semite, and a murderer. Nick meets Gatsby who asks him to lunch the next day

Plot Synopsis: The “Great” Gatsby At lunch with Gatsby and Jordan the next day, Nick learns that Gatsby attended Oxford University and that his family is “all dead now.” Meets Meyor Wolfsham, who with Gatsby’s help, fixed the world series in On the car ride back to West Egg, Nick notices that Gatsby’s hand is shaking and that his “whole statement had fallen to pieces.” Gatsby reveals that Daisy Buchannan was the only woman he had ever loved and that they had a relationship five years prior to when he joined the war.

Plot Synopsis: “Red Light, Green Light” Gatsby built his house to be closer to Daisy and to watch her from afar The Green light at the end of the dock symbolizes Gatsby’s hopes that they will one day still be able to be together Daisy and Gatsby reunite and their relationship begins once again Daisy and Tom attend one of Gatsby’s parties and Daisy becomes overwhelmed with emotion The party moves to the Buchannan’s house but Daisy declares that they should move to a hotel to escape the heat. Much to Tom’s dismay, Daisy rides in Gatsby’s yellow car with him, while Tom is forced to drive Nick and Jordan. On the way into town, Tom meets with Tom Wilson who has locked Myrtle in the house because of her continued affair.

Plot Summary: Summer Heat and Heated Tempers The party moves to the Plaza Hotel where Tom confronts Daisy about her relationship with Gatsby. Gatsby brings Daisy to an ultimatum: she must choose to be with Tom or himself. Daisy is unable to make a decision and runs away with Gatsby. Furious, on the way home, Daisy seizes control of the car from Gatsby and hits Myrtle Wilson who instantly dies. Back at the Buchanan’s home, Tom and Daisy flee Long Island unable to face responsibility for their actions

Plot Summary: The Great Gatsby’s Last Illusion Determined to avenge his wife’s death, George Wilson sneaks into Gatsby’s backyard and murders both himself and Gatsby. Nick (now separated from Jordan) notifies Gatsby’s father of his son’s death. Gatsby refused to meet with father because he wanted to get rid of his past. Few present at the funeral (Owl Eyes) Nick reflects upon his experiences with Gatsby and realizes albeit loathingly, the truth of his character.

Character Analysis: Nick Carraway Yale Grad Cousins with Daisy and Tom Narrator of the story Comes of age (loss of innocence) Moral compass of the novel Conflicted both about Daisy and Gatsby and Tom and Myrtle Unable to decide whether or not Gatsby is to be trusted Gatsby creates him as a father figure to replace his own. Relationship with Jordan Baker harmed by her supremely feminist ways.

Character Analysis: Jay Gatsby Originally known as James Gatz From North Dakota Taken in by Dan Cody, a wealthy tycoon from whom Gatsby inherited his wealth Fell in love with Daisy Buchannan shortly before leaving to fight in WWI Moved to West Egg in order to see her across the bay Relentlessly lives in the past and ultimately gives up his life for Daisy hoping that she will love him again. Don Draper esque

Character Analysis: Daisy Buchannan Femme fatal Yearns to be an independent woman, suitable for her intelligence but is stuck in her domestic life. “I’m glad it’s a girl, and I hope she’ll be a fool– that’s the best that a a girl can be in this world– a beautiful fool.” (17). Ironically, she decides to stay with Tom after the vehicular homicide of Myrtle Wilson. Reader asks whether or not she truly loves Gatsby or if she is playing him to get what she ultimately wants (The death of Myrtle Wilson).

Character Analysis: Tom Buchanan Devoted husband of Daisy Buchannan Has an open affair with Myrtle Wilson Breaks Myrtle’s nose when she mention’s Daisy’s name Conniving, quick to anger Quick to leave Nick and Gatsby when the going gets tough Isolates himself from Daisy when he finds out about her affair Symbolizes the double standard between male and female adultery.

Character Analysis: Jordan Baker Golf pro Independent, stands up to men Career tanked after she was caught in a cheating scandal (possibly result of living in male dominated society). Nick’s love interest throughout the novel Finally breaks up with Nick after he is unable to rise above his morality to help Daisy and Tom in their predicament. Partially the reason Nick “hates” Gatsby

Character Analysis: Myrtle Wilson Pleasantly plump mistress of Tom Buchannan Symbol for the blunt of domesticity’s rage Beaten by both her husband and lover Death at the hands of Daisy Buchanan symbolizes the inescapability of domesticity.

Minor Characters George Wilson-the husband of Myrtle Wilson. He ultimately kills Gatsby, blaming him for his wife’s death Meyer Wolfsheim- Gatsby’s friend who famously rigged the 1919 world series. He causes Nick’s first uncertainties about Gatsby Catherine-Myrtle’s sister who accepts Tom and Myrtle’s affair later condemns Tom after her sister’s death Owl Eyes- a drunken partygoer who attends Gatsby’s funeral Dan Cody- Gatsby’s provider Henry C. Gatz-Gatsby’s estranged father Dr. T. J. Eckleburg- a pair of eyes on a billboard seen throughout Long Island Pammy Buchannan-Daisy and Tom’s daughter

Themes and Motifs Eyes Domesticity is impossible to escape even with independence The American Dream can be found, but at a price The unfulfilled dream of the past can ruin the present but may provide insight towards the future Glamour in the Prohibition Era PTSD and the Aftermath of war Omnipresence of Society

Rhetorical and Literary Devices Polysyndeton-“They knew that presently dinner would be over, and soon the evening would be over and all would be put away.” (12). Also used to emphasize the grandeur of Gatsby’s parties (40). Symbolism Dr. T. J. Eckleburg-symbol for God’s moral judgment of society. Imagery-used to heighten the plight of domesticity “The only completely stationary object in the room was an enormous couch on which two women were buoyed up as though upon an anchored balloon.” (8).

Old Money Vs. New Money New Money: Someone who has achieved the American Dream Not as respected in the 1920’s Old Money: Money from family wealth Born rich Not earned through work done by yourself Respected above all in the 1920’s

More Symbols The Owl-eyed Man - owls are a symbol of wisdom, but can also be an omen of death. Glasses denote awareness or being more perceptive. Being perceptive and all, the bespectacled man is right to be suspicious of Gatsby. He is the only guest who, in doubting Gatsby, is also wise enough to investigate further. Moving right along to the portent of death part, did you notice that it was the owl-eyed man who had the car accident outside of Gatsby’s house? And that, shortly after he got out of the car, he revealed that someone else was driving? Does any of this sound familiar?

Gatsby’s books The Owl-Eyed Man sits in amazement that all the books on Gatsby’s shelves are "real books." But does Gatsby even read them? The image works to suggest that much of what Gatsby presents to the world is a façade; for example, he wants people to believe that he’s a well- educated man, an Oxford man, but in fact he only spent a short time there after the war. The books may represent the fact that Gatsby is a fraud – that he has built up an image of himself that is not consistent with the facts of his life. But, you could also argue that the unopened, unread books represent Gatsby himself: though there are many rumors about who he is and how he earned his money, the facts remain unexamined, unopened.

More on TJ Eckleburg & The Valley of Ashes The valley of ashes can be seen as a commentary on the American Dream—ashen, decaying, barren. The “eyes” are overlooking all of this. For instance, when George takes Myrtle to the window (from which, we know, the billboard is visible) and tells her she can’t fool God. Wilson then makes the very same connection we are; the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg are always watching, and so are the eyes of God. There are a few directions you can take from here. The first is that, despite the absence of religion from the characters in this story, God is still there. He is all-seeing, ever present, and, as Nick points out, frowning. Things are not well in the valley of American ashes. The other shot you could take at this is to say that God has been replaced by capitalism. Instead of a truly religious representation, the best this world can do is manifest God in a billboard – an advertisement.

Color symbolism Yellow and Gold: Money, Money, Money. Oh, and Death Why gold and not green? Because we’re talking about the real stuff, the authentic, traditional, "old money" – not these new-fangled dollar bills. So you’ve got your "yellow cocktail music" playing at Gatsby’s party where the turkeys are "bewitched to dark gold" and Jordan and Nick sit with "two girls in yellow." It seems clear, then, that Gatsby is using these parties to try to fit in with the "old money" crowd. And it doesn’t stop there; when Gatsby is finally going to see Daisy again at Nick’s house, he wears a gold tie. While Gatsby buys a yellow car to further promote his facade, he’s really not fooling anyone. Lastly, we’ve got Daisy, who is only called "the golden girl" once Gatsby realizes that her voice, her main feature, is "full of money." Yellow is not just the color of money, but also of destruction. Yellow is the color of the car that runs down Myrtle. The glasses of Eckleburg, looking over the wasteland of America, are yellow. This dual symbolism clearly associates money with destruction; the ash heaps are the filthy result of the decadent lifestyle led by the rich.

White: Innocence and Femininity. Maybe. Daisy’s car (back before she was married) was white. So are her clothes, the rooms of her house, and about half the adjectives used to describe her (her "white neck," "white girlhood," the king’s daughter "high in a white palace.”) But come on – Daisy is hardly the picture of girlish innocence. At the end of the novel, she is described as selfish, careless, and destructive. Does this make the point that even the purest characters in Gatsby have been corrupted? Did Daisy start off all innocent and fall along the way, or was there no such purity to begin with? Or, in some way, does Daisy’s decision to remain with Tom allow her to keep her innocence? We’ll keep thinking about that one.

Green: Life, Vitality, The Future, Exploration Last one. We’re thinking green = plants and trees and stuff, so life and springtime and other happy things. Do we see this in The Great Gatsby? The most noticeable image is that green light we seem to see over and over. You know, the green light of the "orgiastic future" that we stretch our hands towards, etc. etc. We can definitely see green as being hopeful, as being the future, as being vitality and freshness. Right before these famous last lines, Nick also describes the "fresh, green breast of the new world," the new world being this land as Nick imagines it existed hundreds of years before. The new world might be green, but when Nick imagines Gatsby’s future without Daisy, he sees "a new world, material without being real, where poor ghosts, breathing dreams like air, drifted fortuitously about...like that ashen fantastic figure gliding toward him through the amorphous trees." Nick struggles to define what the future really means, especially as he faces the new decade before him (the dreaded thirties). Is he driving on toward grey, ashen death through the twilight, or reaching out for a bright, fresh green future across the water?