Narration & Themes in The Great Gatsby Ch. 1 & 2

1. The Great Gatsby Ch. 1 & 2 Important Quotes and Information

2. Narration of The Great Gatsby • First-person point of view: The narrator is a character within the story and uses the terms “I” or “We” when telling the story. • Limited point of view: The narrator knows the views and feelings of only one character within the story. • Intrusive narrator: A narrator who judges, evaluates, and comments on the motives and actions of the characters.

3. Advice to Live By • “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone… just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.” • Come back to this statement: is Nick trying to stay neutral the whole time or is he tempted to criticize people in this book? • What does the term “advantages” mean in this case? What advantage does Nick have? • Is Nick a reliable or unreliable narrator?

4. East Egg vs. West Egg • East Egg: Community in New York for those born into money. • West Egg: Community in New York for those who are considered to be the “newly rich” and earned their wealth. • Both communities are separate – though both are considered to be wealthy. East Egg members consider themselves to be better because they have always had money. (Much like royalty.)

5. Valley of Ashes • Lower class community and businesses between New York and West Egg. • It is gray and people living there shovel ash and do manual labor. It is implied that West Egg rose out of this area – much like the people who worked their way out of poverty. • Those in this area have dreams but can’t seem to be able to move out of their poverty. {Mr. Wilson and Mrs. (Myrtle) Wilson} • The ash is a side effect or result of the industrialization that is occurring in the area and represents a downside to it.

6. Hypocrisy • Much of the book is about appearances and the truth that lies beneath. Gossip plays a role in this and how a person behaves publicly versus how a person behaves privately. • This ties in to the advice that Nick brings up in the first page of the book.

7. Daisy and Tom’s Marriage • “I saw that turbulent emotions possessed her, so I asked what I thought would be some sedative questions about her little girl.” • “…You see I think everything’s terrible anyhow… Everybody thinks so – the most advanced people. And I know. I’ve been everywhere and seen everything and done everything.” • Though she says nothing directly, what shape is Daisy and Tom’s marriage in?

8. What Appears vs. What Is • “The instant her voice broke off, ceasing to compel my attention, my belief, I felt the basic insincerity of what she had said. It made me uneasy, as though the whole evening had been a trick of some sort to exact a contributary emotion from me. I waited, and sure enough, in a moment she looked at me with an absolute smirk on her lovely face as if she had asserted her membership in a rather distinguished secret society to which she and Tom belonged.” p. 22

9. Tom on Jordan Baker • “She’s a nice girl,” said Tom after a moment. “They oughtn’t let her run around the country this way.” “…Besides, Nick’s going to look after her, aren’t you Nick? She’s going to spend lots of week-ends out here this summer. I think the home influence will be very good for her.” `Daisy and Tom looked at each other for a moment in silence.’ p. 23 • Do Daisy and Tom have the type of home that would be a good influence on another individual? • What do you think is not being said between Tom and Daisy?

10. Tom’s Mistress • “So Tom Buchanan and his girl and I went up together to New York – or not quite together, for Mrs. Wilson sat discreetly in another car. Tom deferred that much to the sensibilities of those East Eggers who might be on the train.” p. 31 • Tom has a mistress, though he is careful to hide it publicly from his East Egg society.

11. American Ideal vs. American Dream • American Ideal:Therefore the American Ideal is an abstract concept of perfection that illustrates a model or goal of what is to be aimed for by American people behaviorally. • American Dream:In general, the American dream can be defined as being the opportunity and freedom for all citizens to achieve their goals and become rich and famous if only they work hard enough.

12. Things to consider while you read: • Do characters in this book represent the American Ideal or the American Dream? • Does striving for the American Dream bring happiness? • According to what happens in this book, is it even possible to achieve the American Dream?

13. The Past vs. The Present • The Past and its influence on the Present comes up quite often in the course of the book. • Gatsby and Daisy had a relationship in the past. Gatsby wants to recapture it – it is his dream:

14. Daisy’s Past • “Is she from New York?” I asked quickly. “From Louisville. Our white girlhood was passed together there. Our beautiful white - …” p. 24 • What is being implied about Daisy’s past in contrast to her present? Will that affect the story later?

15. A Vision of Gatsby • “…But I didn’t call to him for he gave a sudden intimation that he was content to be alone – he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and far as I was from him I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward – and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock….” pg. 25 - 26

16. Living in the Moment vs. Living in the Past • Myrtle regrets marrying her husband and has an affair with Tom. It seems to be the only way she can reach beyond her situation. She believes in enjoying the moment and doesn’t consider the consequences. • When you examine what happens later in the story, is Gatsby similar to Myrtle in his desires and his relationships? • How are Tom and Daisy similar in their desires and relationships?

17. Living in the Moment vs. Living in the Past • “…I was going up to New York to see my sister and spend the night. He had on a dress suit and patent leather shoes and I couldn’t keep my eyes off him but every time he looked at me I had to pretend to be looking at the advertisement over his head. When we came into the station and he was next to me and his whiteshirt front pressed against my arm – and so I told him I’d have to call a policeman but he knew I lied. … All I kept thinking about over and over was `You can’t live forever, you can’t live forever.’” p. 40 • Does this foreshadow what could happen later? • What are possible consequences for this sort of thinking?

18. The Future • … “I’m going to give you this dress as soon as I’m through with it. I’ve got to get another one tomorrow. I’m going to make a list of all the things I’ve got to get. A massage and a wave and a collar for the dog and one of those cute little ash trays where you touch a spring, and a wreath with a black silk bow for mother’s grave that’ll last all summer. I got to write down a list so I won’t forget all the things I got to do.” p. 40 – 41 • What do these plans imply for Myrtle? Does she have any long term desires? How does this connect with her views to live in the moment?