The Great Gatsby By: F. Scott Fitzgerald

Setting Long Island, New York Approximately 20 miles outside of New York City/Manhattan East Egg & West Egg 1920s

Historical Context: 1920s Beginning of decade, two major events in the country: Prohibition; women gain the right to vote Result? Many people rebel against authority because of Prohibition The rich lived recklessly: wild parties, glamorous clothing, very materialistic; life= make $$ and spend $$ Rich people first “celebrities” to average/working class; first example of gossip/tabloid magazines Known as “Age of Bigness” as cities grow, buildings taller, cars faster

Historical Context: The 1920s 3 major influences: cars, radio, movies Also known as “The Jazz Age” or “The Roaring Twenties” NYC & Urban Corruption 1919: The Black Sox Fix 1929: Stock Market Crash The Great Depression begins; lasts until World War II (approx. 10 years)

Plot Summary Story of a self-made man whose dreams of love and social acceptance lead to scandal and corruption and in the end tragedy Shows a fascination and distrust of wealthy society Spans from Spring to Fall, 1922 Told as a flashback in first person Themes: the American Dream; materialism and greed; simplicity vs. corruption and evil; wealth and power corruption; belief in romantic destiny

Other Important Themes Point of View Setting Satire Light / Dark Imagery Characterization Symbolism Modernism Conflict

Characters Nick Carraway Jay Gatsby Daisy Buchanan Tom Buchanan Jordan Baker Meyer Wolfsheim George Wilson Myrtle Wilson Pammy Buchanan Owl-Eyes Henry C. Gatz Michaelis Ewing Klipspringer Mr. and Mrs. McKee Catherine Mr. Sloane

Characters

F. Scott Fitzgerald Born in St. Paul, Minnesota; Sept. 24, 1896 Family moderately well-off; strict Protestant upbringing Attended Prep School in New Jersey; college at Princeton University Left college to serve in Army from 1917-1919; did not see any overseas action 1920 marries Zelda Sayre; have one child, a daughter, in 1921 First published in 1920, This Side of Paradise; became bestseller immediately

More about Fitzgerald - Lives the “fast life”: Long Island; France, New York, Rome; California (worked as a Hollywood scriptwriter); considered celebrity - Zelda has a nervous breakdown in 1930; institutionalized in 1934; dies in 1948 Leads to Fitzgerald “cracking up” and relying heavily on alcohol - Died Dec. 21, 1940 at the age of 44 of a heart attack - Credited with naming the era “The Jazz Age” - Died believing he was a failure; thought of as one of (if not the) greatest American writer - The Great Gatsby used as example of the classic American novel -

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