F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald Facts Born in Minnesota in 1896 Born in Minnesota in 1896 Went to Princeton but did not graduate Went to Princeton but did not graduate Was in the army during WWI in 1917 Was in the army during WWI in 1917 Met and fell in love with Zelda Sayre, a rebellious flapper with a scandalous and stubborn nature Met and fell in love with Zelda Sayre, a rebellious flapper with a scandalous and stubborn nature Published Gatsby in 1925 Published Gatsby in 1925 Was filthy rich at times and struggled to make ends meet at other times Was filthy rich at times and struggled to make ends meet at other times Was an alcoholic (as were many authors of this time period) Was an alcoholic (as were many authors of this time period) Died of a heart attack at the age of 44. Died of a heart attack at the age of 44.

Literature - Modernism Modernism: was a direct response to the social and cultural changes of WWI. A pessimistic picture of a culture of disarray. Modernism: was a direct response to the social and cultural changes of WWI. A pessimistic picture of a culture of disarray. Marks a distinctive shift from the Victorian bourgeois morality- rejecting 19 th century optimism. Marks a distinctive shift from the Victorian bourgeois morality- rejecting 19 th century optimism. Embraces a scientific, technological, mechanized lifestyle reflecting the innovative world which erupted at the turn of the century. Embraces a scientific, technological, mechanized lifestyle reflecting the innovative world which erupted at the turn of the century. Vision and viewpoint became vital! The point of view from which the story is told is as important as the story itself. Vision and viewpoint became vital! The point of view from which the story is told is as important as the story itself.

More on Modernism In attempt to throw off the aesthetic burden of realist novels, the modernist writer introduced a variety of literary tactics: In attempt to throw off the aesthetic burden of realist novels, the modernist writer introduced a variety of literary tactics: Characters in modernist words are almost always alienated from “mass culture”, they are unresponsive, withdrawn, hurt, etc. Characters in modernist words are almost always alienated from “mass culture”, they are unresponsive, withdrawn, hurt, etc. Stream of consciousness writing style developed – meandering patterns of thought Stream of consciousness writing style developed – meandering patterns of thought Fragmentation – no traditional beginnings or end (think Pulp Fiction), OR only getting bits and pieces of information but not the whole story. Fragmentation – no traditional beginnings or end (think Pulp Fiction), OR only getting bits and pieces of information but not the whole story. Themes are implied rather than overtly stated. Themes are implied rather than overtly stated. The reader is left to figure out what is going on. The reader is left to figure out what is going on. This is much more demanding for readers – they must put the pieces together on their own. There are no CLEAR answers – just like there were no clear answers about life for people during this time period. All of their truths were destroyed during WWI. This is much more demanding for readers – they must put the pieces together on their own. There are no CLEAR answers – just like there were no clear answers about life for people during this time period. All of their truths were destroyed during WWI.

The Great Gatsby In 1925, The Great Gatsby was published and hailed as an artistic and material success for its young author, F. Scott Fitzgerald. It is considered a vastly more mature and artistically masterful treatment of Fitzgerald's themes than his earlier fiction. These works examine the results of the Jazz Age generation's adherence to false material values. In 1925, The Great Gatsby was published and hailed as an artistic and material success for its young author, F. Scott Fitzgerald. It is considered a vastly more mature and artistically masterful treatment of Fitzgerald's themes than his earlier fiction. These works examine the results of the Jazz Age generation's adherence to false material values. In nine chapters, Fitzgerald presents the rise and fall of Jay Gatsby, as related in a first-person narrative by Nick Carraway. Carraway reveals the story of a farmer's son-turned racketeer, named Jay Gatz. His ill-gotten wealth is acquired solely to gain acceptance into the sophisticated, moneyed world of the woman he loves, Daisy Fay Buchanan. His romantic illusions about the power of money to buy respectability and the love of Daisy—the "golden girl" of his dreams—are skillfully and ironically interwoven with episodes that depict what Fitzgerald viewed as the callousness and moral irresponsibility of the affluent American society of the 1920s. In nine chapters, Fitzgerald presents the rise and fall of Jay Gatsby, as related in a first-person narrative by Nick Carraway. Carraway reveals the story of a farmer's son-turned racketeer, named Jay Gatz. His ill-gotten wealth is acquired solely to gain acceptance into the sophisticated, moneyed world of the woman he loves, Daisy Fay Buchanan. His romantic illusions about the power of money to buy respectability and the love of Daisy—the "golden girl" of his dreams—are skillfully and ironically interwoven with episodes that depict what Fitzgerald viewed as the callousness and moral irresponsibility of the affluent American society of the 1920s.

Understanding the Times

World War I WWI ends in 1918 WWI ends in 1918 Disillusioned because of the war, the generation that fought and survived has come to be called the “lost generation” Disillusioned because of the war, the generation that fought and survived has come to be called the “lost generation”

WWI Soldiers get over there and it is hell Soldiers get over there and it is hell Trench warfare Trench warfare No man’s land No man’s land 10 million soldiers die and almost 10 million civilians die 10 million soldiers die and almost 10 million civilians die End of the war End of the war Come back on ships - pandemic flu Come back on ships - pandemic flu 100 million people die – In Philadelphia during one week 1,000 people died every day = over 7,000 deaths in one city in one week. 100 million people die – In Philadelphia during one week 1,000 people died every day = over 7,000 deaths in one city in one week.

End of WWI After soldiers get home they: After soldiers get home they: Want to forget the horror Want to forget the horror They don’t want to sacrifice themselves for any cause. They don’t want to sacrifice themselves for any cause. People become very self-centered People become very self-centered The world no longer makes sense to people, they don’t trust, government, people begin to question God. The world no longer makes sense to people, they don’t trust, government, people begin to question God. People think, “well we’re going to die anyways, we may as well have a good time.” People think, “well we’re going to die anyways, we may as well have a good time.” People turned to alcohol, parties, and excess; they wanted to drown themselves. People turned to alcohol, parties, and excess; they wanted to drown themselves.

The Roaring Twenties America threw itself back into a decade of madcap behavior and materialism, a decade that has come to be called the Roaring Twenties. America threw itself back into a decade of madcap behavior and materialism, a decade that has come to be called the Roaring Twenties. The Jazz Age The Jazz Age The era is also know on as the Jazz Age, when Jazz music swept New Orleans. The era is also know on as the Jazz Age, when Jazz music swept New Orleans. Improvised and wild, jazz broke the rules of music. Improvised and wild, jazz broke the rules of music.

The New Woman Among the rules broken were the age-old conventions guiding the behavior of women. The new woman demanded the right to vote and to work outside the home. Among the rules broken were the age-old conventions guiding the behavior of women. The new woman demanded the right to vote and to work outside the home. Symbolically, she cut her hair into a boyish “bob” and bared her calves in the short skirts of the fashionable twenties “flapper”. Symbolically, she cut her hair into a boyish “bob” and bared her calves in the short skirts of the fashionable twenties “flapper”. View the following youtube video and reflect… View the following youtube video and reflect… 0sLJI1ro 0sLJI1ro

Prohibition Another rule often broken was the 18 th Amendment to the Constitution, or Prohibition, which banned the public sale of alcoholic beverages from 1919 until its appeal in Another rule often broken was the 18 th Amendment to the Constitution, or Prohibition, which banned the public sale of alcoholic beverages from 1919 until its appeal in Speak-easies, nightclubs, and taverns that sold liquor were often raided, and gangsters made illegal fortunes as bootleggers, smuggling alcohol into America from abroad. Speak-easies, nightclubs, and taverns that sold liquor were often raided, and gangsters made illegal fortunes as bootleggers, smuggling alcohol into America from abroad.

The Automobile The Jazz Age was also an era of reckless spending and consumption, and the most conspicuous status symbol was a flashy new automobile. The Jazz Age was also an era of reckless spending and consumption, and the most conspicuous status symbol was a flashy new automobile.

The American Dream and The Great Gatsby The American Dream is the idea held by many in the United States of America that through hard work, courage, and determination one can achieve financial and personal success. These were values held by many early European settlers, and have been passed down to subsequent generations. The American Dream is the idea held by many in the United States of America that through hard work, courage, and determination one can achieve financial and personal success. These were values held by many early European settlers, and have been passed down to subsequent generations. What the American dream has become is a question under constant discussion, and some believe that it has led to an emphasis on material wealth as a measure of success and/or happiness. What the American dream has become is a question under constant discussion, and some believe that it has led to an emphasis on material wealth as a measure of success and/or happiness.