F. Scott F. Scott Fitzgerald’sFitzgerald’s

The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby

About the AuthorAbout the Author Born-September 24, 1896Born-September 24, 1896 Died-December 21, 1940Died-December 21, 1940 Married Zelda SayreMarried Zelda Sayre

Had one daughterHad one daughter Zelda was hospitalized for mental illness.Zelda was hospitalized for mental illness.

Famous works include:Famous works include: The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby The Beautiful and the Damned The Beautiful and the Damned Tender is the NightTender is the Night ““The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Fitzgerald’s Impact on Fitzgerald’s Impact on SocietySociety

Fitzgerald named Fitzgerald named the 1920s “The Jazz the 1920s “The Jazz Age”.Age”.

Wrote screenplays Wrote screenplays for Metro-Goldwyn-for Metro-Goldwyn-MayerMayer

The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby is is said to be the most said to be the most accurate description accurate description of the 1920s.of the 1920s.

World War IWorld War I

Ended in 1918 Ended in 1918 Many disillusioned because of the warMany disillusioned because of the war

The generation that fought and survived has The generation that fought and survived has come to be called “the lost generation.”come to be called “the lost generation.”

Fitzgerald a lieutenant in army but was Fitzgerald a lieutenant in army but was never deployed into battlenever deployed into battle

Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway both served in Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway both served in battle in the novel; Tom Buchanan did not.battle in the novel; Tom Buchanan did not.

The Jazz AgeThe Jazz Age Prohibition was in effectProhibition was in effect Dances such as the Charleston were Dances such as the Charleston were

popularpopular Popular sayings included “23 Skidoo” Popular sayings included “23 Skidoo”

and “Bee’s Knees”and “Bee’s Knees” A rude man was called a “mook.”A rude man was called a “mook.” Economy was in a “Boom”Economy was in a “Boom” Illegal gamblingIllegal gambling

1919 World Series1919 World Series was fixed by mobster was fixed by mobster Arnold RothsteinArnold Rothstein

In novel, Rothstein is portrayed as Meyer In novel, Rothstein is portrayed as Meyer Wolfsheim Wolfsheim

FlappersFlappers

Women who Women who rebelled against rebelled against the fashion and the fashion and social norms of the social norms of the early 1900s.early 1900s.

Married at a later Married at a later age and drank and age and drank and smoked in publicsmoked in public

Known for their Known for their carefree lifestyles.carefree lifestyles.

Flapper Fashion Flapper Fashion

Flappers dressed in Flappers dressed in shapeless dresses shapeless dresses that came to the that came to the knee.knee. Dresses were made Dresses were made

to look “boy-like”.to look “boy-like”. Women would try to Women would try to

make themselves make themselves look more man-like look more man-like by cutting their hair by cutting their hair in bobs.in bobs.

Settings in Settings in The Great The Great GatsbyGatsby

West Egg- where West Egg- where Nick and Gatsby Nick and Gatsby livelive represents new represents new

moneymoney East Egg- where East Egg- where

Daisy livesDaisy lives the more fashionable the more fashionable

areaarea represents old represents old

moneymoney CombinedCombined

Conflict b/w old and Conflict b/w old and newnew

Manhattan, New York CityManhattan, New York City where the characters escape to for where the characters escape to for

work and play work and play The Valley of AshesThe Valley of Ashes

Queens, NYQueens, NY between Manhattan and West Eggbetween Manhattan and West Egg

where Wilson’s gas station iswhere Wilson’s gas station is

Manhattan, 1922Manhattan, 1922

The Valley of the Ashes &The Valley of the Ashes &Wilson’s GarageWilson’s Garage

Symbols in Symbols in The Great The Great GatsbyGatsby

Green LightGreen Light - at the end of Daisy’s - at the end of Daisy’s dock and visible from Gatsby’s dock and visible from Gatsby’s mansion. mansion. Represents Gatsby's hopes and dreams Represents Gatsby's hopes and dreams

about Daisyabout Daisy

The Valley of AshesThe Valley of Ashes – – An area in Queens between West An area in Queens between West

Egg and New York CityEgg and New York City desolate area filled with industrial desolate area filled with industrial

waste.waste. Represents the social and moral Represents the social and moral

decay of society during the 1920sdecay of society during the 1920s Also shows the negative effects of Also shows the negative effects of

greedgreed

The Eyes of Dr. T. J. EkleburgThe Eyes of Dr. T. J. Ekleburg - - A A decaying billboard in the Valley of decaying billboard in the Valley of Ashes with eyes advertising an Ashes with eyes advertising an optometrist. optometrist. Represent God’s moral judgment on Represent God’s moral judgment on

society.society.

The American DreamThe American Dream

Jay Gatsby Jay Gatsby represents an represents an idealized image of idealized image of one who has one who has achieved the achieved the American Dream.American Dream.

However:However: Achieved through Achieved through

illegal methodsillegal methods Gatsby is not Gatsby is not

accepted in Daisy’s accepted in Daisy’s world.world.

George WilsonGeorge Wilson Despite a boom on Despite a boom on

Wall Street, cannot Wall Street, cannot get aheadget ahead

Represents the Represents the exploited working exploited working classclass

Example: Tom sleeps Example: Tom sleeps with his wife Myrtle, with his wife Myrtle, yet smiles in yet smiles in George’s face and George’s face and pretends that he’ll pretends that he’ll sell George his car.sell George his car.

Old Money Versus New Old Money Versus New MoneyMoney

New Money:New Money: Jay GatsbyJay Gatsby Someone who has Someone who has

achieved the achieved the American DreamAmerican Dream

Not as respected in Not as respected in the 1920sthe 1920s

Old MoneyOld Money Tom Buchanan Tom Buchanan Money from Money from

inherited family inherited family wealthwealth

Not earned through Not earned through work work

Respected above all Respected above all in the 1920sin the 1920s

““Show me a hero Show me a hero and I'll write you a and I'll write you a

tragedy.” tragedy.”

~~ Fitzgerald~~ Fitzgerald

" 'Can't repeat the past?' he cried incredulously. 'Why of course you can!' "

~~ Jay Gatsby

Major ThemesMajor Themes

No matter hard some may work, the No matter hard some may work, the American Dream is not obtainable for American Dream is not obtainable for some.some.

One’s perception may not equal the One’s perception may not equal the reality of a situation.reality of a situation.

The establishment will retaliate The establishment will retaliate against those who disturb or rebel against those who disturb or rebel against it.against it.

Wealth does not make a person Wealth does not make a person moral.moral.