The Great Gatsby Lecture Notes Review

Gatsby Intro Quiz — What to Know

Assessment Overview

  • 30 Multiple Choice Questions
  • 70% Assessment Category

Historical Context of the 1920s

Prohibition and its Effects on Society

  • Prohibition aimed to eliminate alcohol consumption; however, it resulted in increased clandestine drinking.
    • Speakeasies emerged as secret venues for alcohol consumption.
  • Consequences of Prohibition:
    • A rise in murder rates was observed, attributed to gangsters and gang violence.
    • Increased gun use accompanied the rise of organized crime.
  • Prohibition serves as a symbol for the 1920s, as it illustrates a disregard for boundaries and regulations.

Harlem Renaissance

  • Defined as the revival of African American music, art, and culture, primarily centered in the Harlem neighborhood of New York.
  • The period is noted as a golden era for Jazz music among African Americans.
  • Key figures highlighted include:
    • Louis Armstrong
    • Bessie Smith
    • Duke Ellington
  • While celebrated, the Harlem Renaissance occurred in a context where racial segregation persisted and African Americans lacked voting rights.
  • The era was filled with music, clubs, and cultural vibrance, showcasing the most mixed cultural environment for Black Americans.

19th Amendment and the Changing Role of Women

  • The 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote, signifying a pivotal change in women's societal roles.
  • It opened doors for job opportunities, leading to increased financial independence for women.
  • The ratification catalyzed the emergence of the “new woman” in the 1920s, characterized by behavior that defied social norms:
    • Flappers: Young women embraced new fashions and makeup, actively exploring social freedoms and attracting male attention.

Economic Boom and Bust

  • The term "boom and bust" characterizes the cycle of prosperity and subsequent economic collapse in the 1920s.
  • The pivotal event marking the end of the Roaring Twenties was the stock market crash.
  • Triggers of the crash:
    • Stock brokers selling overpriced stocks, culminating in substantial financial loss ($30 million).
  • The exhilarating era ended abruptly as financial ruin ensued, extinguishing the optimistic spirit of the decade.

Modernism

Stylistic Characteristics of Modernist Literature

  • Literature viewed as a crafted art form, emphasizing techniques, skills, and artistic expression.
  • Works often characterized by unconventional approaches, referred to as “weird” writing.
  • Features include:
    • Experimentation with word choice and paragraph structure, especially in poetry.
    • Rejection of sentimentality and artificiality, focusing instead on directness in writing.
    • Usage of colloquial language over formal diction.
    • The stream of consciousness narrative technique, where a character articulates thoughts as they occur, akin to a brain dump—enhancing realism.

Thematic Characteristics

  • Modernist themes often reflected societal indulgences and critiques of decadence and materialism in the context of the 1920s.
  • Changes in gender roles and the impact of the 19th Amendment were mirrored in literature, influencing the portrayal of female characters, who often embodied “flapper” attributes.
  • The concept of the American Dream was explored, particularly its unattainability.

Historical Context as a Response to WWI

  • Modernist writers revolted against spirituality, seeking meaning in literature and poetry as a substitute for the void left by religion.

Lost Generation

  • Refers to writers and individuals who emerged during and after WWI.
  • Characterized by feelings of purposelessness and disillusionment.
  • Writers expressed a deep skepticism toward traditional values, including patriotism and religious faith.

The Definition of the American Dream

  • The American Dream is predicated on the belief that hard work leads to personal advancement and success.
  • Rooted in the ideals encapsulated by the Declaration of Independence, emphasizing the rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Fitzgerald Background

Family and Socioeconomic Background

  • Born in 1896 in Minnesota to a middle-class family.
  • His father faced financial instability, losing his job when Fitzgerald was 12 and not returning to work.
  • The family depended on the mother’s inheritance for sustenance.
  • Fitzgerald experienced financial constraints, but enjoyed enough means to socialize with wealthier peers, attend prep school, and enroll in Princeton.

Tumultuous Relationship with Zelda

  • Following a failed romance with Ginevra, Fitzgerald flunked out of Princeton and joined the military during WWI.
  • While stationed in Montgomery, he met Zelda Sayre, a vibrant young woman.
  • Their relationship oscillated between passion and turmoil:
    • Fitzgerald proposed shortly after meeting, but Zelda initially declined due to his financial instability.
    • After marriage and having a child, the couple rapidly squandered their finances, leading to relationship strain.

Publication and Initial Reaction to Gatsby

  • The novel faced critical failure upon release; it was widely panned.
  • A notable headline from the NY World stated: "Fitzgerald's Latest A Dud."
  • Fitzgerald’s reputation as a writer suffered significantly due to this backlash.

Fitzgerald’s End of Life and Downfall

  • Passed away in 1940 from a heart attack.
  • The Catholic Church denied him burial in his family plot, considering his works too risqué, necessitating interment in a Protestant cemetery.

Connections to Gatsby and Fitzgerald's Life

  • Themes in Gatsby reflect the 1920s era of extravagance and social excess:
    • The character Nick Carraway mirrors Fitzgerald’s own background as a Midwesterner moving to New York for college.
    • Similar military service experiences connect Nick and Fitzgerald.
    • Gatsby’s unrequited love for Daisy can be seen as a parallel to Fitzgerald’s struggles with Zelda.
    • The depiction of wealth in the novel reflects both Gatsby's pursuit of riches and the careless financial behavior exemplified by Tom and Daisy Buchanan.
    • Both Nick and Fitzgerald grappled with feeling like outsiders in elite social circles.

Gatsby Chapters 1 - 3

Chapter 1 Notes

Character Overview
  • Gatsby:
    • Lives next to Nick; known for his wealth and lavish parties; enigmatic presence surrounded by rumors; seems disconnected from his festivities.
  • Daisy Buchanan:
    • Nick’s cousin and Tom’s wife; characterized as beautiful yet cynical about life.
  • Jordan Baker:
    • Golfer with a strong demeanor.
  • Tom Buchanan:
    • Wealthy, egotistical, former football player; represents a brash masculinity and infidelity.
  • Nick Carraway:
    • The narrator who considers himself an outsider; observant and often judgmental.
  • Myrtle Wilson:
    • Tom’s mistress; ambitious for wealth but comes from a lowly background; desires social ascent.
  • George Wilson:
    • Myrtle’s husband; described as poor and struggling.
Character Relations
  • Gatsby: Nick's neighbor
  • Daisy: Nick's cousin, Tom's wife, Jordan's friend
  • Jordan: Friend of Daisy and an acquaintance of Nick
  • Tom: Daisy's husband and Myrtle's lover
  • Nick: Cousin of Daisy, neighbor to Gatsby
  • Myrtle: George's wife, Tom's mistress
  • George: Myrtle's husband

Key Quotes and Themes

  • Daisy expresses concern for her daughter, stating, "she'll be a fool— that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool" (p. 17).
  • Nick's initial feelings toward Gatsby:
    • Nick discredits much of Gatsby’s persona but admires him; observes Gatsby gazing at a green light across the bay.
    • Recognizes Gatsby’s smile as "rare with a quality of eternal reassurance" that is seldom encountered in life.

Settings and their Descriptions

  • West Egg:
    • Represents new wealth; less fashionable; Nick resides here near Gatsby's mansion.
  • East Egg:
    • Symbolizes old money; home to Tom and Daisy in a luxurious Georgian mansion overlooking the bay, alongside Jordan Baker.
  • Valley of Ashes:
    • A desolate area symbolizing poverty, located midway between the Eggs and New York City.
    • Features the billboard of the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg.
    • Home to George Wilson’s garage and Tom & Myrtle’s apartment in New York City.