F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby

About The Author

His Life Born-September 24, 1896 Died-December 21, 1940 Married Zelda Sayre They had an infamously rocky relationship, which influenced his writings Famous works include: The Great Gatsby, The Beautiful and the Damned, and Tender is the Night

Fitzgerald’s Impact on Society Fitzgerald named the 1920’s “The Jazz Age” Wrote screenplays for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Wrote The Great Gatsby, which is said to be the most accurate description of the 1920’s

The Historical Time Period of the Novel

World War I World War I ended in 1918. Disillusioned because of the war, the generation that fought and survived has come to be called “the lost generation.”

The Roaring Twenties The sense of loss was most apparent in expatriate American artists who remained in Europe after the war Back home the disillusionment took a less obvious form. The Roaring Twenties was a decade of madcap behavior and materialism.

The Jazz Age Jazz swept up from New Orleans to capture the national imagination. Improvised and wild, jazz broke the rules of music, just as the Jazz Age thumbed its nose at the rules of the past. Prohibition was in effect Dances such as the Charleston were popular The 20s had its own slang, such as “giggle water” and “the cat’s meow” Economy was in a “Boom”

The Flappers (The New Woman) Flappers were women who rebelled against the fashion and social norms of the early 1900’s. They married at a later age and drank and smoked in public Flappers were known for their carefree lifestyles.

Flapper Fashion Flappers dressed in shapeless dresses that came to the knee. Dresses were made to look “boy-like” Gender bending was common. Women would try to make themselves look more man-like.

Consumerism The Jazz Age was an era of reckless spending and consumption. The most conspicuous status symbol of the time was a flashy new automobile. Advertising was becoming a major industry Advertisers took advantage of new roadways by setting up huge billboards at their sides. Both the automobile and a bizarre billboard play important roles in The Great Gatsby.

The Novel

Characters of The Great Gatsby All of Gatsby’s characters, human and nonhuman, are scrutinized through a Modernist perspective Industry and social class power, as well as their by-products, are represented by each character

Jay Gatsby: self-made, wealthy man; lives next door to Nick Carraway; loves Daisy Buchanan Nick Carraway: the narrator; Daisy’s cousin; Gatsby’s neighbor Daisy Buchanan: married to Tom; Gatsby’s love interest before the war; a socialite Tom Buchanan: Daisy’s husband; has an affair with Myrtle Myrtle Wilson: Tom’s woman in the city; married to George George Wilson: owns the gas station in The Valley of Ashes Jordan Baker: Daisy’s friend; professional golfer

Settings in The Great Gatsby West Egg - where Nick and Gatsby live; represents new money East Egg - where Daisy lives; the more fashionable area, represents old money

The City - New York City, where the characters escape to for work and play The Valley of Ashes - between the City and West Egg; where Wilson’s gas station is

The American Dream “Rags to Riches” Born poor and obtain wealth through hard work Gatsby is the ideal image of one who has achieved the American Dream. In Modernism, the American Dream is a farce

Old Money vs. New Money New Money: Someone who has achieved the American Dream Not as respected as Old Money in the 1920’s Old Money Money from family wealth (born rich) Not earned through work done by yourself Highest social standing through the 1920s