The Great The Great GatsbyGatsby

by: F. Scott by: F. Scott FitzgeraldFitzgerald

Mr. QuickGrade 11

Credit given to Ms. Amorin

About the Author: About the Author: Francis Scott Key Francis Scott Key

FitzgeraldFitzgerald Born on Sept. 24, 1896Born on Sept. 24, 1896 Came from aristocratic (upper class) background- Came from aristocratic (upper class) background-

Irish working class familyIrish working class family Named after his relative, Francis Scott Key who Named after his relative, Francis Scott Key who

wrote “The Star Spangled Banner”wrote “The Star Spangled Banner” Attended Princeton University; active in university’s Attended Princeton University; active in university’s

creative literary scenecreative literary scene Struggled with writing at first, so Struggled with writing at first, so

he enlisted in the army, where he he enlisted in the army, where he

met his wife, met his wife, Zelda SayreZelda Sayre.. After they married, he published his After they married, he published his

first novel, first novel, This Side of Paradise.This Side of Paradise.

F. Scott FitzgeraldF. Scott Fitzgerald cont…cont… Francis Scott and Zelda had a daughter named Frances “Scottie” Francis Scott and Zelda had a daughter named Frances “Scottie”

Fitzgerald, then moved to France where he completed his most Fitzgerald, then moved to France where he completed his most famous work, famous work, The Great GatsbThe Great Gatsbyy..

After the success of After the success of

The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby, , FitzgeraldFitzgerald

became an alcoholic, which became an alcoholic, which

led to his downfall.led to his downfall. His wife suffered a nervous His wife suffered a nervous

breakdown and was committed to abreakdown and was committed to a

mental institution.mental institution. Fitzgerald moved to Hollywood as a Fitzgerald moved to Hollywood as a

scriptwriterscriptwriter On Dec. 21, 1940, Fitzgerald suffered a On Dec. 21, 1940, Fitzgerald suffered a

heart attack and died. heart attack and died.

Novel background Novel background infoinfo..• The Great Gatsby was published

in 1925 between WWI (1914-1918) and WWII (1939-1945)

• At this time, America was experiencing a split past by a predominantly agrarian (farming) society now quickly becoming urbanized and advanced with technological advances (automobile, radio, movies, jazz, alcohol, etc….)

• The 1920s was the era that was rapidly transforming all areas of American life.

19201920- - The beginning ofThe beginning of **The Prohibition*The Prohibition*

The Prohibition, also known as the “great The Prohibition, also known as the “great experiment” began in 1920.experiment” began in 1920.

This was the cause of the Volsted Act, or This was the cause of the Volsted Act, or Eighteenth AmendmentEighteenth Amendment, which , which bannedbanned the the sale, manufacture, and transportation of sale, manufacture, and transportation of liquorliquor. However, instead of making the U.S. . However, instead of making the U.S. a more temperate nation, it encouraged a more temperate nation, it encouraged thousands of people, who otherwise might thousands of people, who otherwise might not have, to try “booze.” not have, to try “booze.”

““BootleggersBootleggers” made and sold illegal alcohol ” made and sold illegal alcohol to normally law-abiding Americans who to normally law-abiding Americans who frequented “frequented “speakeasiesspeakeasies” (clubs and bars ” (clubs and bars that sold liquor). that sold liquor).

Bootleggers of the 1920s

The Prohibition also led to other issues such as organized crime (Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, etc…) which was finally repealed in 1933.

The 19The 19thth Amendment Amendment

The The 1919thth Amendment Amendment,, giving giving womenwomen the the right to vote, took effect in 1920 as well.right to vote, took effect in 1920 as well.

It was a culmination of efforts of women It was a culmination of efforts of women suffragists who had been working since suffragists who had been working since the 1850s for women’s equality.the 1850s for women’s equality.

Freedom of the Freedom of the “new woman”“new woman”

in the in the 1920s1920s manifested itself manifested itself

into the sexual and socialinto the sexual and social

arena, giving ride to women.arena, giving ride to women.

19th Amendment

The The “New Woman”“New Woman” of the of the 1920s1920s

The 19The 19thth amendment amendment led to other led to other “trends”“trends” for for womenwomen

- “Flappers”- “Flappers”

- short, bobbed - short, bobbed hairhair

- short skirts- short skirts

- smoked in - smoked in publicpublic

- danced wildly - danced wildly

(the Charleston, (the Charleston,

Black Bottom)Black Bottom)

ModernismModernism

The The 1920s1920s were economically were economically prosperous.prosperous.

Money and alcohol flowedMoney and alcohol flowed People were careless with money- at People were careless with money- at

least those who had it for the most part.least those who had it for the most part. The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby falls into the category falls into the category

of modernism. of modernism. Modernism Modernism means means something NOT of the “past.” This novel something NOT of the “past.” This novel represents the changes of the 1920s represents the changes of the 1920s had and people and society.had and people and society.

SettingSetting= = East Egg East Egg vsvs.. West West EggEgg

The story takes place on the mythical The story takes place on the mythical peninsulas of the peninsulas of the East Egg East Egg and and West West EggEgg on the on the Long IslandLong Island coast in coast in New New YorkYork..

East EggEast Egg

Rich $$$Rich $$$ A place of lavish A place of lavish

homeshomes Extravagant lifestylesExtravagant lifestyles Money is no objectMoney is no object Many who live on the Many who live on the

East Egg were “born East Egg were “born into money”into money”

They do not know any They do not know any other lifestyleother lifestyle

““Upper” Upper” social classsocial class

Characters in Characters in The The Great GatsbyGreat Gatsby,, Daisy Daisy and Tom Buchanan and Tom Buchanan live on the East Egg.live on the East Egg.

West EggWest Egg

The West Egg area The West Egg area is for those of a is for those of a moderate lifestylemoderate lifestyle

Generally have less Generally have less moneymoney

It is where the It is where the “middle” and “middle” and “lower” “lower” social social classes classes livelive

Characters who Characters who live in the West live in the West Egg are:Egg are:

- Nick Carraway- Nick Carraway

- - Jay GatsbyJay Gatsby (who (who oddly, is extremely oddly, is extremely wealthy)wealthy)

Valley of AshesValley of Ashes

In contrast to the East and West Egg is In contrast to the East and West Egg is the the valley of ashesvalley of ashes. .

It is a sad, depressed, and harsh It is a sad, depressed, and harsh environment.environment.

There is nothing beautiful or There is nothing beautiful or enchanting about this place (very poor)enchanting about this place (very poor)

This is where the Wilsons live This is where the Wilsons live

(Myrtle & George)(Myrtle & George)

THEMESTHEMES in in The Great The Great GatsbyGatsby

““American Dream”American Dream” LoveLove Social statusSocial status Parting of social Parting of social

classesclasses IdentityIdentity Truth vs. FictionTruth vs. Fiction

Secrets/ mysterySecrets/ mystery DeathDeath DeceptionDeception Unfulfilled DesiresUnfulfilled Desires ““Eyes” of God Eyes” of God

(symbol)(symbol)

CharactersCharacters Nick Carraway- Nick Carraway- Nick is the first person narrator and Nick is the first person narrator and

protagonist of the novel; every incident in protagonist of the novel; every incident in interpreted by him. He represents the middle class interpreted by him. He represents the middle class (West Egg).(West Egg).

Jay Gatsby- Jay Gatsby- Gatsby is the supposed hero of the novel. Gatsby is the supposed hero of the novel. He is a slippery character; his language home, books, He is a slippery character; his language home, books, cars, and attire glimmer like gold, but no one really cars, and attire glimmer like gold, but no one really knows what goes on inside of this mystery manknows what goes on inside of this mystery man

Daisy Buchanan- Daisy Buchanan- Daisy is a Louisville, Kentucky, Daisy is a Louisville, Kentucky, socialite born into tremendous wealth. She is an socialite born into tremendous wealth. She is an empty-headed character having a fake and airy empty-headed character having a fake and airy voice. She is lovely, careless, and lacks substance.voice. She is lovely, careless, and lacks substance.

Tom Buchanan- Tom Buchanan- Tom is Daisy’s husband, a native Tom is Daisy’s husband, a native from Chicago; also a hugely wealthy man. He is from Chicago; also a hugely wealthy man. He is rugged, big, and brash, as well as racist, arrogant, rugged, big, and brash, as well as racist, arrogant, and adulterousand adulterous

Characters…Characters… Jordan Baker- Jordan Baker- Jordan is a golfer- young, tan, and the Jordan is a golfer- young, tan, and the

love interest of Nick’s. Jordan, too, lacks substance.love interest of Nick’s. Jordan, too, lacks substance. Myrtle Wilson- Myrtle Wilson- Myrtle is a resident of the valley of Myrtle is a resident of the valley of

ashes, wife of George Wilson. She is desperate to ashes, wife of George Wilson. She is desperate to escape her fate.escape her fate.

George Wilson- George Wilson- George is a sad proprietor of the gas George is a sad proprietor of the gas station in the valley of ashes. He is the product of station in the valley of ashes. He is the product of economical hardship. George is Myrtle’s husbandeconomical hardship. George is Myrtle’s husband

Doctor T.J. Eckleburg- Doctor T.J. Eckleburg- The doctor whose The doctor whose advertisement- a billboard featuring a pair of advertisement- a billboard featuring a pair of gigantic blue eyes behind enormous yellow gigantic blue eyes behind enormous yellow spectacles- looks down upon the valley of ashes. spectacles- looks down upon the valley of ashes. George Wilson calls those eyes, the eyes of God. George Wilson calls those eyes, the eyes of God.

SynopsisSynopsis of novelof novel The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby is the tale of mystery man, is the tale of mystery man,

Jay GatsbyJay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire whose , a self-made millionaire whose lavish parties, shiny suits, and magnificent lavish parties, shiny suits, and magnificent house and care make him the talk of the house and care make him the talk of the town.town.

The narrator, Nick, questions Gatsby’s The narrator, Nick, questions Gatsby’s appearances and motives as he observes his appearances and motives as he observes his frequently odd behavior.frequently odd behavior.

As the novel progresses, the readers come to As the novel progresses, the readers come to learn that there is more to the characters learn that there is more to the characters than the than the facade facade they lead people about them. they lead people about them.

Enjoy the novel!!!

SynopsisSynopsis….…. The story takes place on the fictional The story takes place on the fictional

peninsulas of the East and West Egg on the peninsulas of the East and West Egg on the Long Island coast of New York during the Long Island coast of New York during the 1920s1920s..

The story contrasts the lavish The story contrasts the lavish lifestyles lifestyles of of the peninsulas with the grimy reality of the the peninsulas with the grimy reality of the valley of ashes, the area between West Egg valley of ashes, the area between West Egg and New York City. and New York City.

The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby highlights the gap highlights the gap between those who are living the between those who are living the American American Dream Dream and those who desperately want to. and those who desperately want to.

PRE- Reading QuestionsPRE- Reading Questions

Do people dislike others who live lavishly Do people dislike others who live lavishly and who have a lot of money because they and who have a lot of money because they are envious of them? Do they want what are envious of them? Do they want what they have or is there another reason?they have or is there another reason?

Do people feel like outsiders because of Do people feel like outsiders because of social classes?social classes?

Do people think class is important or is Do people think class is important or is money the only measure of success?money the only measure of success?