F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby Understanding the times helps to understand the novel
Warm Up What is the American Dream to you? Do you think that the idea of the American Dream is still possible? How does one reach the American Dream?
Influence of World War I World War I ended in Disillusioned because of the war “The Lost Generation.” First war with modern weaponry. 20 million people died.
Post WWI Influences Americans abandoned small towns in exchange for urban living Economy prospered as Americans tried to forget troubles of war - frivolous spending - illegal liquor - immorality
Roaring Twenties Economy booming America partied Organized crime Prohibition Act Decline of moral standards
SOCIAL ATMOSPHERE OF CHANGE popularity of jazz change of the status of women fascination with the dream of success ($$$$$$)
Prohibition 18 th Amendment to Constitution prohibited manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages Bootlegging Boardwalk Empire Boardwalk Empire Mob activity increased to supply the demand for what was once legal Mafia/ Al Capone/ St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Passed in 1919/ Appealed in 1933
F. Scott Fitzgerald Bio Write 5 facts you feel influenced The Great Gatsby writer F. Scott Fitzgerald
Who is F. Scott Fitzgerald? He attended Princeton University. 1917 joined the army. Published Gatsby in Regarded as the speaker of the Jazz Age. After Gatsby, considered a failure in any of his other writing, became a drunk His wife ended up in countless mental facilities.
F. Scott Fitzgerald's Purpose for Gatsby He was a part of the “Jazz Age,” participating in the wealth, decadence, and partying BUT He never felt quite comfortable in this scene. This book is criticizing the declining morals and values of society in the roaring 20’s. “I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life” –Nick Carraway The Great Gatsby
Characters of The Great Gatsby Jay Gatsby- The self-made wealthy man who lives next door to Nick Carraway and loves Daisy Buchanan
Characters of The Great Gatsby Nick Carraway- the narrator, Daisy’s cousin, Gatsby’s neighbor Daisy Buchanan- married to Tom, Gatsby’s love interest before the war, socialite
Characters in The Great Gatsby Tom Buchanan- Daisy’s husband, has an affair with Myrtle Myrtle Wilson- Tom’s woman in the city, married to George George Wilson- owns the gas station obsessed with his wife Jordan Baker- Daisy’s friend, professional golfer
Setting Long Island, NY during the 1920s (approximately 1925). West Egg: A ‘hood in the Long Island area. New money. Rich people who have made money rather than inherited it. East Egg: A ‘hood in the Long Island area. Old money. Rich people who have inherited money going back generations. The Valley of Ashes: a poor area between Long Island and Manhattan. Manhattan: Manhattan.
Settings in The Great Gatsby West Egg- where Nick and Gatsby live, represents new money East Egg- where Daisy lives, the more fashionable area, represents old money
Old Money Vs. New Money New Money: Someone who has achieved the American Dream Not as respected in the 1920’s Old Money: Money from family wealth Born rich Respected above all in the 1920’s
WHAT IS THE AMERICAN DREAM? It describes an attitude of hope and faith that looks forward to the fulfillment of human wishes and desires. “We hold these truths to be self- evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Gatsby is a character who represents this DREAM.
FAILURE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM Poverty Discrimination Exploitation Hypocrisy Corruption Suppression
Character Roundup: You will be given a list of attributes that correspond to the characters in the novel. Start by identifying who you are. Don’t show anyone this information. You need to find the other three characters in the novel. Your classmates have been given attributes for those characters. You can ask each classmates ONE question each. For example, are you rich? Are you married? Do you die at the end of the novel... Do not tell your classmates who you are. They need to figure it out. Once you have all five characters identified, you WIN!
Closure: Crash Course What elements of 1920’s contributed to the literature?