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The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby. F. Scott Fitzgerald. Historical Background. In the U.S. the 1920’s was known as the Jazz Age. It lasted from the end of World War I to the stock market crash in 1929. Financial prosperity and moral uncertainty. Social Background.

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The Great Gatsby

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  1. The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald

  2. Historical Background • In the U.S. the 1920’s was known as the Jazz Age. • It lasted from the end of World War I to the stock market crash in 1929. • Financial prosperity and moral uncertainty.

  3. Social Background • Generation that reached maturity in those years were disillusioned by war and lost faith in old-age values. • Questioned all morals and lived for the pleasures of the moment.

  4. Industry in the 1920’s • A “boom” period economically – the ideal of hard work as necessary for success was discarded … there were easy ways of making money. • Prohibition laws – an amendment prohibiting the manufacture, sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages. • Laws were openly flouted and the “bootlegger” who provided alcohol was regarded as merely “shady” not a vicious lawbreaker.

  5. Setting • 1920’s • Long Island, NY • West Egg (new money) • East Egg (old money)

  6. Social Status • Nouveau riche – newly rich • “New” money was considered “dirty” money and its possessor an outsider. • It takes generations for new money to lose its stigma and to become accepted. • Irony: Gatsby was looked down upon and considered to be “vulgar” but Tom’s extravagance is accepted as part of his upper-class lifestyle.

  7. Characters • Nick Carraway: son of wealthy Midwestern family, rents home in Long Island colony of West Egg. Narrator of story and claims to be author of story (1st person point of view). • Jay Gatsby: owns manshion next to Nick’s house; rich, suspicious, mysterious background; lived in West Egg (nouveay riche area).

  8. Characters Cont. • Daisy: she is married to Tom Buchanan (football star from Yale). Daisy is Nick’s rich cousin who lives in East Egg (more fashionable). • Jordan Baker: guest of Tom and Daisy. Professional golfer who is very snobbish and looks down on Nick because of his social status.

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