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The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby. F. Scott Fitzgerald. “The Jazz Age was wicked and monstrous and silly. Unfortunately, I had a good time.” --   Heywood Broun.

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The Great Gatsby

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  1. The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald

  2. “The Jazz Age was wicked and monstrous and silly. Unfortunately, I had a good time.” --   Heywood Broun "Hip flasks of hooch, jazz, speakeasies, bobbed hair, 'the lost generation.' The Twenties are endlessly fascinating. It was the first truly modern decade." -- "Two Views of the 1920s”

  3. The “Roaring Twenties” • Dynamic period • Art, culture, music • Frivolity • Age of heroes: sports, movies (Charlie Chaplin), history makers (Lindbergh)

  4. Flappers • Short hair • Shorter skirts than ever before • Increased use of make up • Unchaperoned dates • Their mothers were shocked!

  5. The Jazz Age • 1918-1929 • Decline in traditional values • “Lost Generation” • Jazz Music • Age of Excess • Consumerism

  6. The Automobile • Status symbol for the rich • Available to everyone • Cars were more popular than running water. As one farm wife explained, "You can't go to town in a bathtub."

  7. Slang of the 1920s • Applesauce! • Bee's Knees- An extraordinary person, thing, idea; the ultimate • Bootleg - illegal liquor • Egg - a person who lives the big life • Juice Joint - a speakeasy • Keen, Nifty – Attractive, appealing, great • Owl - a person who's outlate • Sheba – A very attractive woman • Sheik – attractive man • Spiffy - An elegant appearance

  8. Prohibition • 1920-1933; 18th Amendment • Attempt to improve society • Created more crime • Will Rogers often joked about the southern pro-prohibitionists: "The South is dry and will vote dry. That is, everybody sober enough to stagger to the polls."

  9. F. Scott Fitzgerald • 1896-1940 • The novel “Great Gatsby” is modeled partly on his own life • He married a wealthy socialite (Zelda) • He made a fortune; they spent it recklessly • Died nearly bankrupt

  10. The Characters • Nick Carraway • Narrator and the interpreter for the reader • Quiet, thoughtful, a little naïve • Not wealthy • Grows the most • Tom Buchanan • Very wealthy (inherited, “old money”) • Knew Nick at Yale • Arrogant, conceited, self-absorbed • Possessive, but not faithful to his wife

  11. The Characters • Jay Gatsby • Mysterious background • Once in love with Daisy • Newly rich • Daisy Buchanan • Old Money • Foolish, self-absorbed, superficial, materialistic • Needs status

  12. The Characters • Myrtle Wilson • Tom’s mistress • Poor, wants to be rich • Feels trapped in her life with George • George Wilson • Myrtle’s husband • Hard working, honest, but not real smart • Passive

  13. The Characters • Jordan Baker • Confident, sporty, intelligent: the “new woman” • Daisy’s foil • Has few morals, but makes no apologies

  14. Colors as Symbols • Pay attention to descriptions that include these colors: • White • Clean, pure, correct, superior • Green • Unlimited possibilities

  15. Themes • Central Theme: Loneliness • Other themes • Greed • Carelessness

  16. The Pursuit of the American Dream • Guides Gatsby in all his actions • Does he really love Daisy, or is he in love with her lifestyle? • Does money = happiness?

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