F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby

“I want to write something new--something extraordinary and beautiful and simple + intricately patterned.” --Fitzgerald

About the Author September 24, 1896-December 21, 1940 Father considered a failure/Fitzgerald determined not to replicate Father considered a failure/Fitzgerald determined not to replicate Mother begged relatives for money to send him to the right schools (success vs. failure) Mother begged relatives for money to send him to the right schools (success vs. failure) Discovered his special talent at school: writing--gained acceptance Discovered his special talent at school: writing--gained acceptance 1913 accepted at Princeton (popular, good looking, intelligent) 1913 accepted at Princeton (popular, good looking, intelligent) Wrote for the literary magazine Wrote for the literary magazine Placed on academic probation because he drank/wrote too much Placed on academic probation because he drank/wrote too much Left junior year, commissioned to Montgomery, AL Left junior year, commissioned to Montgomery, AL Married Zelda Sayre, a beautiful girl from a wealthy family Married Zelda Sayre, a beautiful girl from a wealthy family Much drinking, wild parties, extravagant lifestyle, very Much drinking, wild parties, extravagant lifestyle, very expensive expensive Always in debt Always in debt

F. Scott Fitzgerald Wrote screenplays for Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer Frustrations with career drove him back to drinking At 44 he was in poor health Suicidal depression, recurring tuberculosis, alcoholism and heart trouble Suffered a massive heart attack in 1940 and died

Zelda Fitzgerald Wanted to become a ballet dancer; hospitalized for nervous exhaustion Wanted to become a ballet dancer; hospitalized for nervous exhaustion Lived in F. Scott’s shadow Lived in F. Scott’s shadow Mental condition continued to deteriorate Mental condition continued to deteriorate Diagnosed as schizophrenic Diagnosed as schizophrenic Too sick to attend husband’s funeral Too sick to attend husband’s funeral In and out of mental hospitals In and out of mental hospitals Trapped in a mental hospital during a fire in NC, where she died at age 48 Trapped in a mental hospital during a fire in NC, where she died at age 48

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Impact on Society Fitzgerald named the 1920’s “The Jazz Age” Fitzgerald named the 1920’s “The Jazz Age” Used his life as material for his fiction Used his life as material for his fiction More famous today than he could have ever dreamed More famous today than he could have ever dreamed

The Jazz Age/The Roaring Twenties U.S. involved in WWI U.S. involved in WWI Jan Prohibition (18th amendment) Jan Prohibition (18th amendment) II. Role of Women If they had jobs during the war, continued afterwards If they had jobs during the war, continued afterwards Received the right to vote Received the right to vote Took more masculine look to symbolize new freedom/power (helmet hats, bobbed hair, straight dresses to camouflage curves) Took more masculine look to symbolize new freedom/power (helmet hats, bobbed hair, straight dresses to camouflage curves) Technology- vacuum cleaners, washing machines Technology- vacuum cleaners, washing machines Automobile-offered mobility and loosened moral code Automobile-offered mobility and loosened moral code

The Jazz Age cont’d II. Prohibition ( ) 13 years of corruption War time restrictions on drinking-needed the barley to make bread for the soldiers not beer War time restrictions on drinking-needed the barley to make bread for the soldiers not beer Everyone dealing in illegal alcohol (70 million gallons each year) were called bootleggers Everyone dealing in illegal alcohol (70 million gallons each year) were called bootleggers By 1933, 219,000 illegal saloons existed By 1933, 219,000 illegal saloons existed Drinking moved from blue collar to white-collar Drinking moved from blue collar to white-collar Many women began drinking. Many women began drinking. Most liquor was made at illegal still but the rest was smuggled in from Canada Most liquor was made at illegal still but the rest was smuggled in from Canada King of the liquor racket? King of the liquor racket?

Characters of The Great Gatsby Jay Gatsby- The self-made wealthy man who lives next door to Nick Carraway Jay Gatsby- The self-made wealthy man who lives next door to Nick Carraway He is in love with Daisy Buchanan He is in love with Daisy Buchanan

Characters of The Great Gatsby Nick Carraway- the narrator, Daisy’s cousin, and Gatsby’s neighbor Nick Carraway- the narrator, Daisy’s cousin, and Gatsby’s neighbor

Characters in The Great Gatsby Daisy Buchanan- married to Tom, Gatsby’s love interest before the war Daisy Buchanan- married to Tom, Gatsby’s love interest before the war Represents “old money” Represents “old money”

Characters in The Great Gatsby Tom Buchanan- Daisy’s husband, has an affair with Myrtle Tom Buchanan- Daisy’s husband, has an affair with Myrtle Myrtle Wilson- Tom’s woman in the city, married to George Myrtle Wilson- Tom’s woman in the city, married to George George Wilson- owns a gas station, kills Gatsby George Wilson- owns a gas station, kills Gatsby Jordan Baker- Daisy’s friend, professional golfer Jordan Baker- Daisy’s friend, professional golfer

Settings in The Great Gatsby West Egg- where Nick and Gatsby live, represents new money West Egg- where Nick and Gatsby live, represents new money East Egg- where Daisy lives, the more fashionable area, represents old money East Egg- where Daisy lives, the more fashionable area, represents old money

Settings in The Great Gatsby The City- New York City, where the characters escape to for work and play The City- New York City, where the characters escape to for work and play The Valley of Ashes- between the City and West Egg, where Wilson’s The Valley of Ashes- between the City and West Egg, where Wilson’s gas station is located gas station is located

Symbols in The Great Gatsby Green Light at the end of Daisy’s dock and visible from Gatsby’s mansion. at the end of Daisy’s dock and visible from Gatsby’s mansion. Represents Gatsby's hopes and dreams about Daisy. Represents Gatsby's hopes and dreams about Daisy. Hope, rebirth, to “go”, youth, longing, choice, serenity, promise Hope, rebirth, to “go”, youth, longing, choice, serenity, promiseBlue Heaven, fantasy, lost time, unhappiness Heaven, fantasy, lost time, unhappiness White Façade behind which characters hide beauty, cleanliness, wealth, innocence, virginity and laziness Yellow (Silver & Gold) Wealth, corruption, dishonesty

Symbols Grey Industrialization, dreary, bleak, lifeless Industrialization, dreary, bleak, lifelessRed Death, abuse, violence, destruction Death, abuse, violence, destructionCar Industrialization, status symbol, carelessness, recklessness Industrialization, status symbol, carelessness, recklessness Water Barriers and boundaries Gatsby’s restraints from Daisy Abandonment Eyes Observant, omnipresent, watchful, non-judgmental

Basic Plot of The Great Gatsby Nick moves from the midwest to New York City in order to pursue a career in bonds Nick moves from the midwest to New York City in order to pursue a career in bonds Nick begins a friendship with his cousin, Daisy Nick begins a friendship with his cousin, Daisy Nick befriends his neighbor, Jay Gatsby Nick befriends his neighbor, Jay Gatsby

Basic Plot of The Great Gatsby Nick reunites Daisy with her former love, Gatsby Nick reunites Daisy with her former love, Gatsby Daisy’s husband, Tom, discovers his wife’s affair Daisy’s husband, Tom, discovers his wife’s affair A trip into the City results in the death of Tom’s lover, Myrtle, when she ran out in front of a car Daisy was driving A trip into the City results in the death of Tom’s lover, Myrtle, when she ran out in front of a car Daisy was driving

Plot of The Great Gatsby Tom tells Myrtle’s distraught husband, George, that Gatsby killed Myrtle Tom tells Myrtle’s distraught husband, George, that Gatsby killed Myrtle George kills Gatsby George kills Gatsby No one but Nick comes to Gatsby’s funeral No one but Nick comes to Gatsby’s funeral Tom and Daisy leave town Tom and Daisy leave town