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The Great Gatsby: Themes and Motifs Ch. 3-4
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The Great Gatsby: Themes and Motifs Ch. 3-4
By: Shana Liu B2
Chapter 3 Analysis
Chapter 3 Quotations:
This chapter highlights the subtle corruption of businessmen and stock market brokers in the 1920's. They took advantage of people who were to preoccupied with appearance and money. These people who encouraged participation in the market and the buying of credit cards contributed to the inevitable crash and Great Depression. Jordan Baker's corrupt nature in sporting events is also revealed in this chapter. Nick Carraway recollects news of her cheating in her first gold tournament during the semi-final round. These two types of corruption demonstrate the wide range and polarity between all kinds of misconduct.
- Englishmen: "I was sure that they were selling something: bonds or insurance or automobiles. They were at least agonizingly aware of the easy money in the vicinity and convinced that is was theirs for a few words in the right key"(42).
- Jordan Baker: "At first I was flattered to go places with her... and suddenly I remembered the story about her that had eluded me that night at Daisy's. At her first gold tournament... a suggestion that she had moved her ball from a bad lie in the semi-final round"(57).
Prompt 14
Corruption is a common motif in the novel
and during the 1920's in the United States.
Trace passages that reflect the levels of
corruption in the novel- from Jordan's
sportsmanship to Gatsby's business affairs
and associates.
Chapter 4 Quotations:
Chapter 4 Analysis
- Gatsby: "I am the son of some wealthy people in the Middle West- all dead now. I was brought up in America but educated at Oxford... San Francisco... After that I lived like a young rajah in all the capitals of Europe... Then came the war, old sport... but I seemed to bear an enchanted life"(66).
- Gatsby: "I was able to do the commissioner a favor once, and he sends me a Christmas card every year"(68).
- Meyer Wolfsheim: "He's the man who fixed the World's Series back in 1919"(73).
- Meyer Wolfsheim: "I handed the money to Katspaugh and I sid: 'All right, Katspaugh, don't pay him a penny till he shuts his mouth'"(69).
This chapter concentrates on Gatsby's equally questionable past and present. Gatsby asserts that he had roots in the Middle West, went to Oxford, fought in the war( receiving numerous medals), and became rich off of European jewels. While he produces circumstantial proof of his claims, Carraway still doesn't have full confidence his new found friend. Later, Nick finds out that Gatsby's riches have in reality come from illegal business practices with Meyer Wolfshiem. This shows this gilded nature of Gatsby. He has a likable and enigmatic exterior, yet his real motivations are fueled by criminal practice.