The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald
Context AO4 – the ‘Roaring 20s’ The Roaring Twenties The jazz age Flappers Prohibition Wealth and opulence of post WW1 America Growing consumerism/materialism Conspicuous consumption Mass culture American Dream Naturalism Social inequality Research Task: look up these terms and create a detailed information poster to be handed in on Tuesday. This knowledge will be valuable in helping you to interpret Fitzgerald’s social commentary and will be displayed so make it pretty!
Key Questions If all characters are representational, who or what does Gatsby symbolize? Is the novel a tragic love story, a social satire or a meditation on the fate of American ideals in the face of modernism?
The ‘GREAT’ Gatsby ‘Great’ might connote an image similar to that of a magician or conjurer: one who perhaps entertains and creates a sense of awe through trickery and illusion. ‘Great’ suggests something magnificent or extraordinary – standing out from the crowd What’s ‘great’ about an anti hero? Is it only Nick’s romantic presentation of Gatsby that makes him ‘great’?
AO2 focus on language, form and structure Chapter 1 Setting Character Narrative perspective AO2 focus on language, form and structure
Summary We are introduced to Nick Carraway, the narrator. Nick presents himself as an amiable, honest person who listens to everyone's problems and reserves judgement. Tom and Daisy Buchanan are introduced. Nick’s opinion of Tom isn’t great; he’s powerful and arrogant. Jordan Baker, the professional female golfer, is also introduced. Problems between Daisy and Tom’s marriage are alluded to with Tom having a well-publicised affair under Daisy's nose. Gatsby is seen for the first time.
What does our narrator reveal about himself? ‘In my younger and more vulnerable years…’ p7 ‘…all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.’ p7 ‘I’m inclined to reserve all judgements’ p7 ‘Reserving judgements is a matter of infinite hope.’ p7 ‘…as my father snobbishly suggested and I snobbishly repeat, a sense of fundamental decencies is parcelled out unequally at birth.’ p7 ‘tolerance…has a limit’ p7 ‘When I came back from the East last Autumn I felt that I wanted the world to be in uniform and at a sort of moral attention forever; I wanted no more riotous excursions with privileged glimpses into the human heart.’ p8
Narrative perspective Nick provides a very complex point of view as he is both observer and participant in the story. Therefore, how reliable is his account of events? As a reader we have to judge and interpret the narrator’s behaviour as well as his account of characters. Nick is a writer which allows him (like Amir) to provide poetic descriptions and commentary and detached observations (although he also gets swept up in the action at times too). The presentation of Gatsby and other characters are filtered through Nick so we have to work harder as a reader to gain an objective picture of them. Nick’s recounting of events is also filtered though time which can distort and warp reality, so it’s important that we feel we can trust him.
Voices The narrative is littered with dramatic dialogue to break up Nick’s voice. The often ridiculously empty, banal conversations contrast with Nick’s eloquent descriptions.
Nick on Gatsby ‘there was something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life.’ p8 ‘…it was an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as I have never found in any other person and which it is not likely I shall ever find again.’ p8
Setting East and West Egg Nick’s rented dwelling Gatsby’s mansion The Buchanan’s home TASK: Analyse the language in each of the extracts that describe the above settings. What is revealed about them through language? Consider connotation and symbolism. Analyse setting extracts
Characterisation Nick (as a participant in the action) Tom Daisy Jordan Task: in pairs identify and collate at least 3 key quotations for each character. Analyse the language: what is revealed through Fitzgerald’s use of symbolism and connotation? How significant are names? How do they speak, behave, move, etc.? In particular, what characteristics are being established that are important for what is to come?