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Title: The Great Gatsby
Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Author Background
Birth: September 24, 1896, St. Paul, Minnesota
Childhood: Intelligent, but performed poorly in school, resulting in attendance at a New Jersey boarding school.
Education: Enrolled at Princeton in 1913, but academic difficulties and apathy led to not graduating.
Military Service: Enlisted in the army in 1917; stationed at Camp Sheridan, Montgomery, Alabama.
Romantic Interest: Met and fell in love with Zelda Sayre while in the army. Zelda initially declined to marry him due to his lack of success.
First Publication: Published his first novel, This Side of Paradise, in 1920, which led to Zelda agreeing to marry him.
Status: The couple was referred to as the “prince and princess” of the generation. They had a daughter named Scotty in 1921.
Tragic Endings
Zelda's Mental Health:
In 1930, Zelda was briefly placed in a sanatorium.
Diagnosed with schizophrenia; by 1932, she was in a mental institution.
Scott remained devoted but resentful towards her condition.
Zelda's Death: Died in a hospital fire in 1948, and is now viewed as a tragic icon.
Scott's Struggles:
Struggled with alcoholism throughout his life, leading to poor health.
Worked in Hollywood, which he found demeaning.
Died of a heart attack in 1940, believing himself a failure.
Posthumous Recognition: After his death, his work gained new readership, and he became recognized as one of the most influential American writers.
Media Reference: An Amazon series about their lives aired from 2015-2017.
Understanding the 1920s
Coined the term “The Jazz Age.”
Gatsby as a Document: The Great Gatsby serves as a primary document capturing the essence of the 1920s.
Publication Date: The novel was published in 1925 and is set in 1921.
Contextual Events Referenced:
Sinking of the Titanic (1912)
World War I (1914-1918)
Reading Considerations
Novel's Composition: Fitzgerald aimed to create a new type of novel, with Gatsby being more poetic than narrative, primarily composed of images rather than event sequences.
Reader Experience:
Early parts of the novel have been dismissed as boring, sometimes called “the cure for insomnia.”
Every word is intentional.
Fitzgerald’s character choices are meant to elicit strong reader responses.
Key Observations:
Nick Carraway as an unreliable narrator.
Consideration that Gatsby may not be as “great” as he is portrayed.
Fitzgerald's Reflection on an Era
Fitzgerald's Quote: “It was an age of miracles, it was an age of art, it was an age of excess, and it was an age of satire.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald
Cover Art: The 1925 first edition features a cover painting by Francis Cugat, known as Celestial Eyes, which Fitzgerald appreciated so much that he revised aspects of his writing to align with the painting’s themes.
Significance of the Novel
Five Reasons for Greatness:
Acts as a societal critique, particularly relevant to both the 1920s and contemporary times.
Aimed to be the ‘great American novel,’ and has shown enduring relevance.
Serves as a defining narrative of the 1920s, promoting themes of individualism, materialism, and rebellion.
Explores the concept of the American Dream.
Potentially addresses themes of true and enduring love.
Autobiographical Elements: Many connections can be drawn between Fitzgerald and Jay Gatsby—both men came from humble beginnings, achieved wealth, and were motivated by love.
1920s Cultural Lingo
Jazz Slang Vocabulary:
Roaring Twenties
Flapper
Bootlegger
Champagne
WWOOPEE! (Expression of excitement)
Geographic Context
Key Locations in the Novel:
Manhattan: Represents urban excess and escape for characters.
Long Island Sound: The surrounding water areas influencing the setting.
West Egg vs. East Egg:
West Egg: Location of Nick and Gatsby's residence; symbolizes new money.
East Egg: Location of Daisy’s home; symbolizes old money and established wealth.
The City: New York City as a place where characters engage in excesses.
The Valley of Ashes: Represents desolation and the reality outside the wealth of Eggs.
Key Settings Explained
West Egg:
Home to Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby; symbolizes the newly rich and their lifestyles.
East Egg:
Location of Daisy Buchanan's home; represents established wealth, privilege, and sophistication.
New York City: A symbol of escapism, freedom, and excess during the 1920s, where characters seek adventure and indulgence.
The Valley of Ashes:
Described as a desolate wasteland, underscores the disparity between the rich and the poor, represented by George Wilson's gas station.
Literary Concepts
Characterization:
Direct Characterization: The author makes explicit statements about a character.
Indirect Characterization: The author reveals character traits implicitly through dialogue, actions, and other characters' responses.
Foils: Contrasting characters designed to highlight traits in primary characters.
Point of View:
The story is narrated in the first-person perspective by Nick Carraway, shaping readers' understanding through his judgments and relations.
Narrative Structure: Organization of the novel utilizing techniques like flashbacks to unveil Jay Gatsby's background.
Symbolism:
Objects and motifs that represent larger ideas; including the green light, the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg, and Gatsby's mansion.
Conflict: Focuses on both internal conflicts within characters and external conflicts with society and each other.
Theme: Explores profound insights about life, including critiques of the American Dream and the illusions constructed by society.
Social Context and Etiquette
Understanding Social Manners:
Formality in addressing individuals (using titles rather than first names until invited) reflects the social etiquette of the era.
Invitations were structured, and formal dining protocols were observed at social gatherings.
Social Interactions:
Greetings to hosts and expressions of gratitude post-event were customary social practices.
Character Analysis
Nick Carraway:
Introduced as a peripheral narrator, providing insight into his own values and judgments regarding the events he recounts.
Quotes reflecting his moral stance: “… I’m inclined to reserve all judgments… Reserving judgments is a matter of infinite hope.”
Character Introduction and Role:
Main characters introduced include:
Nick Carraway
Tom Buchanan
Daisy Buchanan
Jordan Baker
George Wilson
Myrtle Wilson
Jay Gatsby
Symbolism and Motifs
Key Symbols:
The Green Light: Vision and unattainable goals, located at the end of Daisy's dock.
T.J. Eckleburg's Eyes: Represent the moral decay of society and the emptiness of the materialistic pursuits.
Gatsby's Mansion: The facade of success and the hollowness of wealth.
The Valley of Ashes: Represents the moral and social decay resulting from the uninhibited pursuit of wealth.
Additional Motifs:
Money, the American Dream, automobiles, ashes/dust, time/clocks, significant colors (grey, green, white, blue, yellow, gold, red).
Major Themes and Arguments
Central Arguments:
The decline and disillusionment of the American Dream, particularly through the lens of the characters’ aspirations and failures.
Examination of the hollowness of the upper class, focusing on their moral shortcomings and corrupt behaviors.
The interplay between reality and illusion, notably in aspirations versus societal expectations.
The importance of materialism as depicted in characters' lives and their relationships.
Social Issues Addressed
Themes of Domestic Violence, Adultery, and Racism: Examine how these issues are portrayed within the plot, revealing the changing moral landscape of the era.
Materialism: An ongoing critique throughout the novel that reflects both historical and contemporary concerns about wealth and ethics.
Conclusion: The Party Has Begun
Final Note: Acknowledgment of the culture and time period in which the story unfolds, echoing Fitzgerald's critiques of society.
*This document serves as a comprehensive study guide for understanding the various elements present in *The Great Gatsby* and its cultural significance.*