The Great Gatsby Structures and Themes Structure Narrative
The Great Gatsby Structures and Themes
Structure • Narrative: – Fictional – First-person – Linear with flashbacks – Reflective
Structure (cont. ) • Reflective – Based on Fitzgerald’s experience – Judgmental view of 1920 s – “Most expensive orgy in history”
Structure (cont. ) • Freytag’s model _______/ _______ • Exposition: Nick meets Gatsby, goes to party • Rising action: Gatsby/Daisy reunite, Nick dates Jordan • Climax: Fight at hotel? Myrtle’s death? Gatsby’s death? • Resolution: Gatsby’s funeral
Themes • American Dream – Pessimistic (most people won’t achieve it) – Success is not about money – Lots of anti-American Dream moments • • Gatsby gets rich illegally Tom is racist Jordan is a liar and a cheater Marriage is a sham (Buchanans and Wilsons)
Themes (cont. ) • Time – Cannot be recovered – Should not be wasted (on parties, etc. ) – Past works against us – Nick uses past to shape his future (by writing about his experiences with Gatsby)
Themes (cont. ) • Honesty/sincerity – True happiness based on honesty – Nick is “the only honest person [he] know[s]” – Gatsby honestly but vainly loves Daisy – Tom, Daisy, George, Myrtle, Jordan all live on some dishonest premise
Themes (cont. ) • Eyes – Owl Eyes: only one who “sees” Gatsby – God watches people (T. J. Eckleburg) • Voyeuristic • Judgmental • Not protective – Nick watches people • Objective • Not “omniscient” but still Godlike
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