Great Gatsby quotes - A level English

Tom says to Nick showing how he feels power is key in life

"Life is something you dominate Nick, if you're any good at it"

Tom says to Nick downgrading the East Egg residents as they are not established money

"Social climbing primitive new money types"

Tom racist comment at dinner table with Nick over to see Daisy

"Have you read 'The rise of the coloured empires'... it's up to us who are the dominant race to watch out or these other races will have control of things"

Daisy says to Nick about the fulfilment of life with Tom

"I've been everywhere, seen everything"

Daisy to Nick about finding out the gender of her child

"She said it was a girl and I wept"

Daisy to Nick about having a baby girl

"I'm glad it's a girl and I hope she'll be a fool-that's the best thing a girl can be in this world. A beautiful little fool"

Daisy looking at green light, quote about how time moves on and life continues, leaving the best things behind. (Arguably about her past with Gatbsy)

"All the bright little things fade so fast and they don't come back"

Description of the Valley of Ashes

"The valley of Ashes was a grotesque place"

Nick says about the Valley of Ashes and it's decline for the cities boom

"Where the burnt out coal that powered the booming golden city, was discarded"

Myrtles sister to Nick about why Tom and Myrtle have affair in the New York appartment

"Neither of them can stay on the person they're married to"

Nick says this twice throughout, the first whilst at the party in New York where they get very drunk and the second when Gatsby and Daisy meet again for the first time at Nick's house. About not being one of them

"I was within and without"

Jordan to Nick about having an invite to Gatsby's parties

"People aren't invited to Gatsby's"

Description of Gatsby's parties

"It's like an amusement park"

About Gatsby's wealth

"Certainly richer than God"

Owl eyed man says to Nick and Jordan about Gatsby's house being a fake

"This house and everything in it are all part of an elaborate disguise"

Owl eyed man to Jordan and Nick about how everyone has different rumours about Gatsby

"I cannot find anyone who knows anything real about Mr Gatsby"

Jordan contradictory idea about size of parties

"I like large parties, they're so intimate. At small parties there isn't any privacy"

Quote about how one marries within their social class (about Jordan to Nick)

"Look around you, rich girls don't marry poor boys"

Before Nick has ever met Gatsby, at his first party, what he says to Gatsby reiterating the rumours that circulate about him

"They say he's a cousin of the Kaiser and second cousin to the devil"

Gatsby to Nick where he uses his wealth to please

"If there's anything you want just ask for it old sport"

Nick to Jordan, confused about where Gatsby got his wealth from

"Young men don't just drift cooly out of nowhere and buy a palace on Long Island"

Jordan to Nick about where to find her, illustrating the importance of reputation

"I'm in the phone book"

Gatsby to Nick as they drive into New York, tries to sound established money and set the rumours straight, where he got his wealth from

"I'm the son of some very wealthy people from the mid west"

Nick says about how when in the car with Gatsby going to New York for lunch he then tells him about how victorious he was in the war

"Then he became a war hero who had single-handedly defeated the German army"

Gatsby tells Nick about how well he did in the war and how he was rewarded

"Every allied government gave me a medal"

Gatsby reassures Nick that Wolfshiem would vouch for his good character. Gatsby feels reassurance is necessary and is concerned about what Nick thinks, all an image

"I didn't want you to think I was some nobody"

What does Wolfshiem say about his human molar pin on his tie

"Finest specimens of human molar"

Gatsby says about how Wolfshiem was able to fix the World Games. Could be said to be linked to how Gatsby made his money and his reconnection with Daisy

"Saw the opportunity I suppose"

Jordan says to Nick about Gatsby and Daisy's love

"The way he looked at her is the way all girls want to be looked at"

Quote about Tom's wedding present to Daisy

"A string of peals worth three hundred and fifty thousand dollars"

What does Daisy tell people on the morning of her marriage to Tom

"Tell them Daisy's changed her mind"

What does Gatsby tell Daisy he keeps his house filled with when she asks how he can live in it all alone?

"I keep it always full of interesting celebrated people"

What does Daisy say to Gatsby after they visit his mansion following their meeting over tea at Nick's. Showing Daisy choosing Gatsby slightly regret

"I wish I'd done everything on earth with you"

Tom about Gatsby's guests to Daisy and Nick

"You know a lot of these newly rich people are just filthy bootleggers"

Nick about why Gatsby puts on such a show for Daisy despite not being in contact

"All that for a girl he hasn't seen in 5 years"

What does Gatsby say to Daisy when she attends one of his parties?

"You were there all along, in every idea, every decision, of course if anything is not to your liking I'll change it"

Daisy to Gatsby showing her love for him rather than Tom

"I wish we could just run away"

Nick to Gatsby encouraging him to move on

"Jay, you can't repeat the past"

What does Gatsby say in retaliation after Nick suggests you can't repeat the past?

"Can't repeat the past? Why of course you can!"

Nick notes that Gatsby is fascinated by the past

"He talked a lot about the past as if he wanted to recover something"

Gatsby content when Daisy is in his house

"She makes it look so splendid don't you think old sport"

What does Nick say about the green light once Gatsby has Daisy in his house?

"His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one"

What did Nick say Gatsby had dreamed of as a boy?

"In his own imagination he was the son of God destined for future glory."

Who did young James Gatz sail around the world with for 5 years?

Dan Cody

What does Nick say about how Gatsby had been intending to inherit money?

"Gatsby hoped to inherit Cody's fortune"

"What did Nick say about what Cody had left Gatsby with following his death?

"He'd been left to play the gentleman but he was once again dirt poor"

What two illegal places is it noted that the Senator attends?

Gatsby's parties and the illegal underground bar (barbers shop)

What does Tom say to Daisy about Gatsby's ability to have such an incredible house when they leave his party?

"He certainly must have strained himself to get this menagerie together"

Gatsby says to Nick about the parties when Daisy leaves to go back home with Tom

"I couldn't care less about the parties"

Gatsby says to Nick about how he's created everything with Daisy in mind when Daisy goes back home with Tom

"I've gotten all these things for her and now she wants to run away"

How does Nick describe the people that come to the parties (moths)

"In his blue garden, men and girls came and went"

Explain the significance of who rides in who's car

Gatsby and Daisy ride in Tom's car, Tom and the others ride in Gatsby's. Tom stops at Wilson's garage to top up with fuel, Myrtle sees. On the way home, Gatsby and Daisy ride in Gatsby's car so when Myrtle sees it she presumes Tom is driving and runs out which causes her to be killed.

Why Tom was upset and angry at Gatsby and growingly towards his wife

"She had told Gatsby she loved him and Tom had seen"

What does Wilson say about him and Myrtle moving away?

"My wife and I, we want to go West"

Nick about how Tom was loosing control over his women

"His mistress and wife an hour ago so secure were both slipping from his control"

What does Tom say is the reason he is being so harsh on Gatsby when Daisy tries to intervene?

"I suppose the latest thing is to sit back and let Mr Nobody from nowhere make love to your wife"

What racist remark does Tom make about not letting Gatsby get in the way of his and Daisy's marriage?

"Next thing you'll know we'll be throwing everything overboard and having intermarriage between black and white"

Gatsby's reasoning to Tom of why Daisy married him

"She never loved you. She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting"

Tom changes to acting as though he loves Daisy when he thinks he's loosing control over her, what does he say about his infidelity?

"Every once in a while I go off on a spree but I always come back and in my heart I love you"

Did Daisy never love Tom?

"I can't say I never loved Tom, it wouldn't be true"

What does Tom imply Gatsby made his money in following his 'research'

That Gatsby made his wealth through buying lots of drugstores and selling illegal alcohol.

What Gatsby tells Tom makes them equal, showing he has tried to get such a vast wealth as it would match Tom and get him to Daisy

"The only thing respectable about you old sport is your money, your money, that's it. I've just as much as you that means we're equal"

How does Nick describe Gatsby's rage towards Tom in the New York apartment after Tom told Gatsby he doesn't fit in with the rest of them as he's not established money

"Gatsby looked in that moment as though he had killed a man"

What did Gatsby's parents do?

Dirt poor farmers from North Dakota but he never accepted them as his parents at all.

Gatsby's real name?

Jay Gatz

What does Tom say to Wilson after blaming Gatsby for having and affair with Myrtle and killing her.

"Gatsby, something must be done about a fellow like that"

Gatsby to Nick whilst waiting for Daisy to call so they can run away following Myrtle's death

"I have a lot of things, but the truth is, I'm empty"

Quote by Nick about Gatsby's hope

"Gatsby's extraordinary gift for hope"

What reason does Gatsby give Nick for having done everything for Daisy?

"I felt married to her"

What does Nick realise everything Gatsby has ever done has been for?

"It was all for her, the house, the parties, everything"

Example of Nick's admiration for Gatsby?

"Jay, they're a rotten crowd, you're worth the whole damn bunch put together"

What does Nick say about the carelessness of Tom and Daisy?

"They were careless people, Tom and Daisy - they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness...and let other people clean up the mess they had made"

What does Nick say that is sad about the lack of people that go to Gatsby's funeral?

"Not a single one of the sparkling hundreds that enjoyed his hospitality, attended the funeral. And from Daisy, not even a flower"

Nick describing how he had originally viewed New York prior to Gatsby's death

"Golden shimmering mirage"

When Nick returns to Gatsby's house before leaving New York, why is it empty?

"Wolfshiem's associates...had cleaned it out"

After Gatsby's death, and learning about his real background, what does Nick say about the rumours that had circulated?

"We'd all come to Gatsby's and guessed at his corruption whilst he stood before us concealing an incorruptible dream"

Final quote by Nick about how despite only having hope, Gatsby would each day continue to attempt at achieving his dream of Daisy

"tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther...So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past"

Who was the producer of the film

Baz Lurhmann

Who is the narrator and what's the significance?

Nick. Show's his admiration for Gatsby and his life

About Tom and Daisy's useless life because so rich can do whatever

"drifted here and there unrestfully wherever people played polo and were rich together"

What does Nick say about Wolfshiem staging the world series

"It never occurred to me that one man could start to play with the faith of fifty million people - with the single-mindedness of a burglar blowing a safe"

Quote about Gatsby not wanting any trouble at parties, all about pleasing guests to buys a guest a new dress when she ripped it

"When I was here last I tore my gown on a chair, and he asked me my name and address - inside of a week I got a package...with a new evening gown in it...Two hundred and sixty-five dollars"