The Great Gatsby Overview and Chapters 1 3
The Great Gatsby Overview and Chapters 1 -3 Take notes in the Note Taking section of your notebook.
The Roaring Twenties � AKA the Jazz Age (Music largely created by African-American musicians) � Prohibition (Bootleggers and gangsters) � Flappers (short swishy dresses and bobbed hairstyles—SO outlandish!) � Harlem Renaissance (African-American poetry and prose movement in NYC) � The world was experiencing a crazy unabashedly wild new freedom—devil may care, if you will.
A Little Gatsby � Published in 1925 (Before the stock market crash of ‘ 29 and the Great Depression of the ‘ 30 s) � Paints a portrait of the era—especially the sentiment � Largely about the American Dream and class issues ◦ What is your conception of the American Dream? Pair and Share � Also about indulgence, loss of innocence, and moral decay ◦ The eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg symbolize judgement and lost innocence. Why?
A Little Fitzgerald � Ivy League educated � From the middle class and the Midwest � Fell in love with a socialite (Zelda Sayre) � Had a love/hate relationship with the decadence of the 1920’s � Problems with alcoholism/excess � Troubled marriage
Gatsby Background, Please watch Who was Jay Gatsby? How did he live?
Novel Discusses the Rise of American Social Classism 1. 2. 3. Old Money New Money Poor
Old Money: Rule #1 All children born into Old Money are required to be fiercely educated. ◦ Ivy League schools ◦ Knowledge = power ◦ Excellent educational work ethic ◦ Ensures continuation of Old Money power 1.
Old Money: Rule #2 Old Money Americans must be nice to the “peasants. ” ◦ Never make them feel inferior ◦ Be thankful for power ◦ Public service 2.
Old Money: Rule #3 Old Money marries Old Money. ◦ Fitzgerald learned this in college! 3.
Old Money vs. New Money Today � OLD $ Examples ◦ Drive black or dark blue Volvos or Mercedes ◦ Live on old estates w/extensive ground that sit back from the road (can’t see the house) ◦ Does not talk about money (seen as tacky) � NEW $ Examples ◦ Drive canary yellow Hummers ◦ Mansions w/big gates that are easily seen from road ◦ Brags about money
Old Money “Snobs” � It’s not about how much $ you have - it’s about having the right kind of money � Forbidden from social interaction w/New Money � New Money = Robber Barons ◦ Suspected of criminal activity – “cheating” � Can you become Old Money? ◦ Maybe – but will take generations and acceptance of the rules Fitzgerald was resentful of the social class (New Money) to which he wanted so desperately to belong – we will see this throughout the novel.
West Egg vs. East Egg West Egg � New Money (“less fashionable”) � Nick’s apartment � Gatsby’s house: ◦ mansion ◦ “imitation” ◦ “thin beard of raw ivy” East Egg � Old Money � Tom & Daisy’s home: ◦ “glittering palace”/ “colonial palace” ◦ “lawn runs over the house”
A Few Symbols � Time ◦ Sun Dials @ Tom’s house ◦ Summer = youth, party time – but fall is coming! � Color ◦ White, wine, brick, rose = Old Money �White = pure of social class �Muted colors = muted passion ◦ Vibrant/primary colors = new money �Blue, yellow, red
Chapter One: Nick � Old Money � Unreliable Narrator (liar/hypocrite? ) � Anti-hero: principal character of a modern literary work who lacks the attributes of the traditional protagonist or hero � Why West Egg? ◦ Single status (still a boy) ◦ Can still play & experience both worlds
Chapter One: Tom � Old Money = Powerful (physically & socially) � His “hulking” characteristic and the bruise on Daisy’s finger = dark foreshadowing � Not very intelligent (irony/incongruity=argument) � Controls Nick (Old $) = foreshadowing
Chapter One: Daisy � “Golden Girl” – Old Money � Superior in intelligence to Tom � Wears white = Pure of social class � Voice = musical & “murmuring” (people drawn to it) � Old Money = Muted passion (self control) ◦ Giggles/nonsensical conversation in place of fighting, crying, screaming, etc. (Old Money Rule) � Plays the role of the “fool”
Chapter One: Gatsby � “trembling” with emotion � Reaching toward a green light ◦ Significance? � Lives on edge of water ◦ In society, on the edge of freedom ◦ Will he break free or be content? Will society accept him?
Chapter Two: Valley of the Ashes � Grey = Poor � Railroad = American Dream ◦ Common symbol in American literature ◦ Built through West - adventure; fortune seekers � Railroad ends here = Dream ends here � River = “small and foul” ◦ No journey here ◦ American Dream is tainted
Chapter Two: The Eyes � Nietzsche: “God is Dead” ◦ If our science is going to allow us to “play God, ” we must make sure our morality is worthy of it � Eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg – eyes of God � (page 23) ◦ “look out of no face” ◦ “yellow lenses” (yellow = corruption) �Is the God corrupt, or the people being watched over? ◦ Valley of Ashes being watched by deity who is no longer relevant
Chapter Two: Wilson � Yellow house = corruption (Myrtle) � White fence = purity (Wilson) Page 24 ◦ Trying to achieve American Dream � “When he saw us, a damp gleam of hope sprang into his light blue eyes. ” Page 25 ◦ Eyes of T. J. Eckleburg ◦ Believer in old religion – believes Tom & Nick can and will help him; faith blinds him to truth ◦ Tom = ultimate power, but absolute power corrupts absolutely – Do you think he would help him?
Chapter Two: Myrtle � Literary foil to Daisy ◦ character whose personality and attitude is opposite of another character Myrtle “thickish figure” that blocks out the light (no enlightenment) Daisy Delicate figure Can be heard on the stairs; carries “floats” around herself “sensuously” Not beautiful; has “vitality” Charming; “beautiful little fool” with muted passion (Old Money) Wears brown, blue, and cream (off Wears white b/c she is pure -white) – not worthy of white “low, coarse voice” Musical voice
Chapter Two: Myrtle (cont. ) � Trying to climb the social ladder through Tom ◦ Doesn’t understand Tom’s power; ignorant ◦ Tom will never give up Daisy (symbol of power/crown jewel in his collection) � Emulate ◦ ◦ what she thinks Daisy would do Town Tattle, magazines, lavender cab, dog, etc. Wears cream, talks loudly, talks of $/servants, etc. Daisy would never do these things (Old $ rules) Dog example is on p. 28
Chapter Two: Catherine � Echo character of Myrtle (same characteristics) � Claims Daisy is preventing marriage ◦ Daisy is NOT Catholic; Old Money = Protestant faith ◦ Tom has lied to Myrtle; laughing at her ignorance � Claims Tom and Myrtle will head West � Claims to know of Europe and its culture Pages 33 -34 ◦ Tom knows she still believes in the ideals of America ◦ Nick knows this is not true; Nick also laughs Catherine and Myrtle are “trash”; Tom and Nick laugh at their ignorance.
Chapter Two: Tom’s Power � Sees the eyes and “exchanges a frown” Page 26 ◦ As powerful as God (men like him = “new Gods”) ◦ Sees devastation in Valley of Ashes but does nothing � Throws money at Rockefeller! Page 27 ◦ Rockefeller = New Money ◦ Nothing compared to power & influence of Tom and his Old Money � Why would he waste time on Myrtle? ◦ Daisy = prized possession ◦ Myrtle = “mutt” he can kick around/abuse; Tom needs a diversion from society; he is “slumming” �Not worthy to speak Daisy’s name �Bruises Daisy’s finger < Breaks Myrtle’s nose
Chapter Two: The Mckees � Mr. Page 30 Mckee = pale & feminine (gay) � Mrs. Mckee = handsome & horrible (lesbian) ◦ Married to coexist and be business partners ◦ She “wears the pants”; he is the artist ◦ Both represent the disconnect of characters throughout this chapter; there are no real personal connections (lack of emotion/feeling)
Chapter Two: The Lost Generation � “The little dog was sitting on the table looking with blind eyes through the smoke, and from time to time groaning faintly. People disappeared, reappeared, made plans to go somewhere, and then lost each other, searched for each other, found each other a few feet away. ” � One Page 37 thesis statement for rest of novel � Lost Generation (1920’s-1930’s) felt real interpersonal connection was destroyed by quest for financial gain � No true personal connection between these people
Chapter Three: Gatsby � “He smiled understandingly …one of those smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance” � Gatsby = (potential) Prophet � What’s his story? Is he a “bad boy”? Page 48 ◦ Prophets recognize truth & beauty and often point it out to others (think Jesus) ◦ Hint #1: Seemed to come out of nowhere w/money; people fear him ◦ Hint #2: Does not drink �Seems to follow a common Mob/Gangster rule: Sell it, but don’t partake; maintain clear head
Chapter Three: Gatsby’s House � “There was music from my neighbor’s house through the summer nights. In his blue gardens, men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars. ” � Thesis for Chapter Three � Moths = foreshadowing Page 39 ◦ Drawn to light/flames, but rarely ends well for them � Blue sometimes = unattainable dreams � Primary colors = New Money ◦ Blue, orange, red, green, yellow, pink, purple (bright colors) ◦ Muted passion of Old Money is not present here
Chapter Three: Gatsby’s House (cont. ) � These people = casual, careless, reckless ◦ Party because of boredom ◦ “…the air is alive with chatter and laughter, and casual innuendo and introductions forgotten on the spot, and enthusiastic meetings between men and women who never knew each other’s names” ◦ They do not even know Gatsby or each other! �No real connections Page 40
Chapter Three: Nick @ Gatsby’s � Goes only because he was invited (Old $ Rule) � Wears white and hangs w/Jordan ◦ (Jordan = Old $) � Unreliable Narrator: ◦ Liar: “I am one of the few honest people that I have Page 59 ever known. ” �Getting drunk (again) �Clearly judgmental (contrary to his claim) �Lied about engagement (someone will get hurt, but he doesn’t seem to care!) �Nick lies to himself constantly
Chapter Three: Jordan & Nick � Both accomplished liars Page 57 ◦ Jordan: lies to get out of trouble (golf) ◦ Nick: lies to himself & us; doesn’t care that Jordan has lied (“I was casually sorry, and then I forgot”) � Are they echo characters? Page 58
Chapter Three: Nick the Anti-Hero � Nick is an anti-hero because of his inability to connect with people ◦ ◦ His lunches in the city are with the “right” people Brief affair is “casual” Page 57 Feels a “haunting loneliness” (like Huck!) About Jordan… �“I wasn’t actually in love, but I felt a sort of tender curiosity. ” �doesn’t know how to truly connect with someone! ◦ Nick has a personal conflict/moral dilemma: �Decision involving personal affection for another human being vs. what society sees as acceptable �Will he be able to break free from society and make a true connection as Huck did in the end?
Chapter Three: Owl Eyes � “stout, middle-aged man, with enormous owl Page 45 -eyed spectacles…” ◦ Recognizes value of books; shocked they are real! ◦ “The Stoddard Lectures”: Pope Stoddard/Puritans �Early American theology/philosophy (basis of society) ◦ Puts back on shelf b/c “…if one brick is removed Page 46 the whole library is liable to collapse. ” ◦ Library represents American lit. and culture �This society has no use for these books ◦ Owl Eyes would be a member of what we know as the “Lost Generation”: Intellectuals who are too drunk and sad to help the generation
- Slides: 34
