F. Scott FITZGERALD realized corruption such a life produced realized corruption such a life produced spokesman for Lost generation spokesman for Lost generation was obsessed with the romantic dream of the rich & glamorous was obsessed with the romantic dream of the rich & glamorous searched for meaning in a society where values are meaningless searched for meaning in a society where values are meaningless

THE JAZZ AGE End of W.W.I to Crash of ‘29 End of W.W.I to Crash of ‘29 Financial prosperity & moral uncertainty Financial prosperity & moral uncertainty Youth lived only for momentary pleasures Youth lived only for momentary pleasures

JAZZ AGE Continued The boom: Money available for all The boom: Money available for all Hard work abandoned as necessary for success Hard work abandoned as necessary for success Laws openly flouted (bootlegging) Laws openly flouted (bootlegging)

Purposeless activities Purposeless activities dance contests, goldfish- swallowing, flagpole sitting dance contests, goldfish- swallowing, flagpole sitting Travel became a way of life Travel became a way of life Wandering aimless life became the norm Wandering aimless life became the norm Importance placed on parties-- the wilder the better Importance placed on parties-- the wilder the better

The Great Gatsby Strongly autobiographical Strongly autobiographical A man’s undying passion for one woman A man’s undying passion for one woman character ennobles individuals character ennobles individuals people struggling to hold onto ideals while struggling for their dreams people struggling to hold onto ideals while struggling for their dreams

Stylistic Devices Imagery Imagery Irony Irony Point of View Point of View

Methods of Characterization SPEECH, ACTION, NICK’S EVALUATION: SPEECH, ACTION, NICK’S EVALUATION: Gatsby’s clothes (always wrong) Gatsby’s clothes (always wrong) Nick’s honesty Nick’s honesty Daisy’s voice (excitement, mystery-- rich in promise--a promise never kept) Daisy’s voice (excitement, mystery-- rich in promise--a promise never kept)

Story Background Local Setting Local Setting East Egg = traditional, inherited wealth East Egg = traditional, inherited wealth West Egg- “Nouveaux riches” West Egg- “Nouveaux riches” Like eggs, both look the same.

Main Characters Nick Carroway Keen observer Occasionally makes moral judgments Only dynamic character Matures: grows in wisdom and perspective Morally repulsed by corruption/shallowness/insensitivity of the rich

Jay Gatsby= James Gatz In love with Daisy and wants her Almost an adolescent outlook on life A bit of innocence about him Realizes the American dream (illegally)

Daisy Ditz Shallow In love with Gatsby??? Afraid or Tom???

Tom Physically powerful Overbearing personality Intellectually dull/unimaginative Represents traditional culture/ values Bigot/racist Hypocrite- “big on family values”

Secondary Character Myrtle Wilson George Wilson Jordan Baker Meyer Wolfsheim

Symbolism Yellow (gold) = wealth White = unreachable? Green = hopes and dreams **Items: eggs, a daisy, Daisy’s dresses, cars Gray = ashes/desolation

More SYMBOLS The green light across the lake The green light across the lake The billboard- T.J. Eckelburg The billboard- T.J. Eckelburg West Egg Vs East Egg West Egg Vs East Egg Valley of the Ashes Valley of the Ashes

Themes- Love The whole idea of Gatsby is the unfairness of a poor man unable to marry a girl with money. Modern love = violence and egoism rather than tenderness and affection Tom’s treatment pf Daisy Tom’s treatment of Myrtle Myrtle’s attitude towards George Purest form of true love is???

Perversion of the American Dream Focus on materialism leads to a moral wasteland: “Valley of the Ashes”: Corrupt society can only produce ashes and dust. Condescending attitude of wealthy towards those not of wealth.

American ideals perverted: Meyer Wolfsheim: fixing the 1919 World Series Jordan Baker- cheats to win golf tournament **Sportsmanship perverted **”Win at all costs”