Shift in values and beliefs & changing social order
Women's clothing
Underground drinking culture (speakeasies)
Organized crime
Gatsby = American Dream
“Anything can happen now that we’ve slid over this brigde, ‘I thought; ‘anything at all…’ Even Gatsby could happen, without any particular wonder.”
Slide 2 - Diapositive
A
Slide 3 - Quiz
Critical reception at the time
Mixed reviews
Rich portrayal of the Roaring Twenties
Loose structure and lack of moral compas
Relatively well sold
Masterpiece of the genre
Classic
Slide 4 - Diapositive
Symbolism: Gatsby's Mansion
Huge parties
Jazz era / Roaring Twenties
Emptiness for love
Nicks Neighbor
Not enough for acceptance
Emptiness
West egg
Slide 5 - Diapositive
Theme: American Dream
Exalted above others
Lack richness of love
Gatsby > rises from poverty to wealth
Reality > corrupt and materialistic society
Gatsby believes
False illusion
"It is the idea that anyone, regardless of their background, can achieve success and prosperity through hard work and determination"
Slide 6 - Diapositive
Love and Marriage
‘I married him because I thought he was a gentleman,’ she said finally. ‘I thought he knew something about breeding, but he wasn’t fit to lick my shoe.’ - Myrtle Wilson
Loveless marriages
Tekst
Between George and Myrtle Wilson:
Slide 7 - Diapositive
Love and Marriage
‘[H]e gave her a string of pearls... I was a bridesmaid... She... pulled out the... pearls... “Take ’em down-stairs and give ’em back to whoever they belong to. Tell ’em all Daisy’s change’ her mind. Say: ‘Daisy’s change’ her mind!’
Loveless marriages
Tekst
Between Tom and Daisy Buchanan:
Slide 8 - Diapositive
Love and Marriage
For a while I lost sight of Jordan Baker, and then in midsummer I found her again . . . . I wasn’t actually in love, but I felt a sort of tender curiosity. - Nick Carraway
Other examples
Tekst
Gatsby's all-consuming passion for Daisy
& Nick and Jordan's relationship
Slide 9 - Diapositive
The Green Light
Tekst
Slide 10 - Diapositive
The Green Light
Color symbolism
Representation of Gatsby's dreams and hope for the future
