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The Great Gatsby

Introduction to

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F. Scott Fitzgerald

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What is Happiness?

  • With a partner, come up with a detailed analysis of the idea of happiness
  • Consider identifying different aspects, characteristics, and types of happiness
  • Consider the difference between long term and short term happiness

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What is the �American Dream?

  • What are the affects of reaching or failing the American Dream?
  • How is the dream unique to the individual?
  • How does the dream change?
  • Why does the dream change?
  • Can someone maintain their moral values in a place of immorality?

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F. Scott Fitzgerald

  • Obsessed with the romantic dream of the rich and the glamorous
  • Realized the potential for corruption in response to such a lifestyle
  • Spokesperson for the “Lost Generation”
    • Search for meaning in a society where values are meaningless

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The Jazz Age

  • End of WWI
  • An era defined by prohibition
  • Moral uncertainty and exploration
    • Women
  • Youth lived for momentary pleasures
    • Live for the now with little regard for the consequences

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The Jazz Age

  • BOOM and BUST cycle
    • Stock Market Crash of 1929
  • Boom
    • Money in abundance
    • Success found without work
    • How does this affect the mentality of society?
  • Bust
    • Economic crash

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Prohibition

  • 1920-1933
  • What happens when liquor is illegal?
    • Laws will be broken
    • Social activities (boozing) moved from the public to the private
    • House parties and Speakeasies became social destinations
    • Crime and entrepreneurial ventures dominated America
    • Jazz movement is born

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People in the Jazz Age

  • the Lost Generation became engaged in unique (less expected) lifestyles
  • Parties
    • Demonstrated one’s status, class and embodiment of the time
    • the Wilder the better
  • Purposeless and Frivolous Activities
  • Aimless directions in life became the norm

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The Great Gatsby

  • Strongly autobiographical
  • A man’s undying passion for one woman
  • Character creates the individual
    • Dignity depends on someone’s character
  • People struggling to hold onto ideals, morals and values while struggling to reach their dreams

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Stylistic Devices

  • Imagery
  • Symbols
  • Irony
  • Point-of-View

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Characterization

  • Methods of Characterization
    • Dialogue
    • Actions
    • Nick’s evaluation
  • Examples
    • Gatsby’s clothes (always awkward)
    • Nick’s honesty
    • Daisy’s voice (excitement, mystery, annoying, promising)

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Character Symbolism

  • Each character is a symbol of character “stereotypes”
    • Gatsby: The American Dream gone sour
    • Dan Cody: Self-Made Man
    • Wilson: Vulnerability and Change
    • Nick: Traditional Moral Code
    • Tom Buchanan: Self-Preservation and Interest
    • Daisy: Wasted Idealism
    • Jordan: Opportunist
    • Myrtle: Impulse, Morally Vacant

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Symbolism

  • The green light across the lake
    • Hope, promise & the American dream
  • The billboard: Eyes of T.J. Eckleburg
    • The eyes of God
  • West Egg vs. East Egg
    • New money and old money, moral decay
  • Cars
    • Materialism, mystique, industrialism, innovation

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Themes

  • Materialism vs. Non-materialism
  • The American Dream
    • Disillusionment
    • Consequences in obtaining the dream
  • Search for morality in a society without morals
  • Appearance becoming Reality
  • Position – class, social standing, wealth
  • Carelessness
    • Boom and Bust

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