The Great Gatsby

THE PLOT

1. In spring 1922 Nick Carraway arrives to West Egg

4. Gatsby befriends Nick to get to Daisy

7. Driving Gatsby's car Daisy runs over Myrtle. Myrtle's husband thinks Gatsby was her lover and killed her.

5. Daisy and Gatsby begin an affair

8. George shoots Gatsby in a swimming pool and the shoots himself.

2. Nick dines with her cousin, Daisy, married to Tom Buchanan, and discovers that Tom has a mistress, Myrtle Wilson (The next day Nick meets her during a trip with Tom.)

3. Nick, mysterious neghbour, Gatsby throws a party and invites him.

6. Tom discovers the affair and Daisy has to take a decision. She decides to stay with Tom

9. Almost no one comes to Gatsby's funeral. Nick leaves New York. He stares at the green light.

MAIN CHARACTERS

Nick Carraway

- novel narrator

- Minnesota

- Yale

- Fought in war

- Honest

- Tolerant

- Confidant

Daisy Buchanan

- Nick's cousin

- Fell in love with Gatsby but didn't wait for him

- East Egg

- One child

- Superficial

- Cynical

- Indecisive

- Symbolizes the power of money

Jay Gatsby

- Jay Gats

- North Dakota

- Fought in war

- Dedicated his life to wealth

- Fell in love with Daisy

- Made his fortune through criminal activity

- Flawed man but still "great"

Tom Buchanan

- Hailing from a socially and economically solid family.

- Former football player

- Arrogant

- Hypocritical

- Racist

- Sexist

- Violent

- Jealous

- has an extraconiugal affair

SECONDARY CHARACTERS

Jordan Baker

- Daisy's childhood friend

- Unmarried

- Nick becomes romantically involved with her

- Competitive golfer

- represents the "new women"

- beautiful

- dishonest

Myrtle Wilson

- Tom's lover

- Goerge's wife

- Valley of Ashes

- Fierce vitality

- Wants to improve her situation

- She is an object to Tom's eyes

George Wilson

- Myrtel's husband

- Owns a run-down garage in the Valley of Ashes.

- loves and idealizes Myrtle

- Devasted by her affair and then her loss.

- He can be compared with Gatsby (both dreamers ruined by their unrequited love for women who love Tom).

THEMES

Classes

The Great Gatsby paints a picture of three different social classes:

• The "old money," represented by East Egg (Daisy and Tom)

• The "new money," represented by West Egg (Gatsby)

• The working-class poor, represented by the Valley of Ashes (Myrtle and George)

The "old money" group has had their wealth since the 19th century. They are portrayed as possesing grace, taste, subtlety, and elegance. They seem, however, to lack in heart.

The "new money" group has acquired their fortune during the 1920s economic boom. They are portrayed as being vulgar, gaudy, ostentatious, and lacking in social graces and taste. Gatsby seems to have a sincere and loyal heart. His good qualities however lead him to his death.

The working class is portrayed as being disregarded, exploited and discarded by both wealthy classes.

THEMES

The American Dream

The American Dream refers to a shared set of ideals that guide the spirit of the United States. These shared ideals include a notion of freedom that ensures all Americans the possibility of upward social mobility if they work for it.

Every character in The Great Gatsby draws inspiration from the American Dream’s ideals. However the novel itself critiques the notion of the American Dream.

Gatsby suffers the most from the American Dream's promises. Hethinks he will transcend his lower-class birth and become equal to Daisy. He will never be accepted as such.

The American Dream is both an unattainable and unwise goal.

SYMBOLS

Situated at the end of Daisy's East Egg dock

Represents hopes and goals of Gatsby especially Daisy

Long stretch of desolate land created by the dumping of industrial ashes

Represents the "forgotten" who enable the lifestyle of wealthy few.

Bespectacles eyes painted on an old advertising billboard.

May represent God

Symbols have meaning because characters instill them with meaning.

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