Great Gatsby Study Guide
Myrtle talking about when she met Tom
"All I kept thinking about, over and over, was 'You can't live forever; you can't live forever."
Daisy said.
"All right...I'm glad it's a girl. And I hope she'll be a fool -- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool."
Jay Gatsby
"Can't repeat the past?" ... "Why of course you can!"
Myrtle Wilson
"Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!"..."I'll say it whenever I want to."
Brings up religion to Wilson
"Have you got a church you go to sometimes, George? Maybe even if you haven't been there for a long time? Maybe I could call up the church and get a priest to come over and he could talk to you, see? "Don't belong to any." "You ought to have a church, George, for times like this. You must have gone to church once. Didn't you get married in a church? Listen, George, listen to me. Didn't you get married in a church?" "That was a long time ago." Sig: Even the most religious character in the text, George, has little use for institutionalized religion.
Jay Gatsby about Daisy
"Her Voice is full of money"
Nick Carraway
"I am one of the few honest people I have ever know.
Jordan Baker
"I like large parties. They're so intimate. At small parties there isn't any privacy."
Myrtle said..
"I married him because I thought he was a gentleman...I thought he knew something about breeding, but he wasn't fit to lick my shoe."
Tom Buchanan
"I've got a nice place here."
Catherine-referring to Wilsons and Buchanans
"Neither of them can stand the person they're married to"
Heat Imgaery
"The next day was broiling, almost the last, certainly the warmest day of the summer" (pg 114) Symbolizes the coming conflict and foreshadows the climax of emotions to come, with the confrontation in the suite, Daisy's rejection and Myrtle's death. The heat also depicts the mix and confusion of emotions, and Daisy recognizes that "it's so hot and everything is confused" (118). Symbolizes Daisy and Gatsby's relationship. It is when the weather is at it's hottest that Gatsby's and Daisy's relationship reaches a climax. What started on the rainy day they reconciled, reaches both its happiest moment, and comes to an end on this hot day.; HEAT IS THE CLIMAX AND THE COOLING DOWN IS TEH FALLING ACTION
Daisy Buchanan said
"We heard it from three people so it must be true"
Daisy Buchanan said...
"You see I think everything's terrible anyhow...Everybody thinks so...And I know I've been everywhere and seen everything and done everything"
Catholicism Excuse
"You see," cried Catherine triumphantly. She lowered her voice again. "It's really his wife that's keeping them apart. She's a Catholic, and they don't believe in divorce." Daisy was not a Catholic, and I was a little shocked at the elaborateness of the lie; When we read this, it hit us that religion is pretty much absent from all the characters' lives. Here it only serves as an excuse for Tom's not marrying Myrtle; Catherine is telling Nick at the party in New York Tom's excuse why he won't leave Daisy for Myrtle. Nick knows that Daisy is not a Catholic and that Tom was lying.
-symbolizes eyes of God
"blue and gigantic - their retinas are one yard high. They look out of no face, but instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a non-existent nose"
George Wilson
"he was a blond, spiritless man, anaemic and faintly handsome. When he saw us damp gleam of hope sprang into his light blue eyes"
about Daisy Buchanan
"her face was sad and lovely with bright things in it, bright eyes, and bright passionate mouth, but there was an excitement in her voice that men who cared for her found difficult to forget"
Mr. McKee said..
"pale, feminine man from the flat below. he had just shaved...he was most respectful in his greeting. He was a photographer"
about Jordan Baker
"she was slender, small-breasted girl, with an erect carriage, which she accentuated by throwing her body backward at the shoulders like a young cadet. her gray sun-strained eyes looked back at me with polite reciprocal curiosity out of a wan, charming, discontented face"
Mrs. McKee said..
"shrill, languid, handsome, and horrible. She told me with pridet hat her husband photographed her 127 times since they had been married"
Catherine said..
"slender, worldly girl of about thirty, with a solid, sticky bob of red hair, and complexion powdered milky white"
Owl-Eyes
"stout, middle-aged man, with enormous owl-eyed spectacles, was sitting somewhat drunk on the edge of a great table"
about Tom Buchanan
"sturdy straw-haired man of thirty with a rather hard mouth and a supercilious manner. Two shining arrogant eyes...gave him the appreance of always leaning aggressively forward. Not even the effeminate swank of his riding clothes could hide the enormous power of that body...it was a body capable of enormous leverage - a cruel body"
Myrtle Wilson is said ...
"thickish figure of a woman...she was in the middle thirties and faintly stout but she carried her surplus flesh sensuously...her face contained no facet or gleam of beauty"
nebulous
(adj.) cloudlike, resembling a cloud; cloudy in color, not transparent; vague, confused, indistinct
convivial
(adj.) festive, sociable, having fun together, genial
redolent
(adj.) fragrant, smelling strongly; tending to arouse memories or create an aura
erroneous
(adj.) incorrect, containing mistakes
provincial
(adj.) pertaining to an outlying area; local; narrow in mind or outlook, countrified in the sense of being limited and backward; of a simple, plain design that originated in the countryside; (n.) a person with a narrow point of view; a person from an outlying area; a soldier from a province or colony
Supercilious
(adj.) proud and contemptuous; showing scorn because of a feeling of superiority
amorphous
(adj.) shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character; without organization, unity, or cohesion
Contiguous
(adj.) side by side, touching; near; adjacent in time
epigram
A concise but ingenious, witty, and thoughtful statement.
contingency
A possible future event that must be prepared for or guarded against; possibility
Rotogravure
A printing system using a rotary press
Valley of Ashes Symbolism
An area halfway between New York City and West Egg, the Valley of Ashes is an industrial wasteland covered in ash and soot. If New York City represents all the "mystery and beauty in the world," and West Egg represents the people who have gotten rich off the roaring economy of the Roaring Twenties, the Valley of Ashes stands for the dismal ruin of the people caught in between; It represents the moral and social decay that results from the uninhibited pursuit of wealth, as the rich indulge themselves with regard for nothing but their own pleasure; The valley of ashes also symbolizes the plight of the poor, like George Wilson, who live among the dirty ashes and lose their vitality as a result.
Daisy/Gatsby's reunion details
At first, Gatsby's reunion with Daisy is terribly awkward. Gatsby knocks Nick's clock over and tells Nick sorrowfully that the meeting was a mistake. After he leaves the two alone for half an hour, however, Nick returns to find them radiantly happy—Daisy shedding tears of joy and Gatsby glowing. Outside, the rain has stopped, and Gatsby invites Nick and Daisy over to his house, where he shows them his possessions. Daisy is overwhelmed by his luxurious lifestyle, and when he shows her his extensive collection of English shirts, she begins to cry. Gatsby tells Daisy about his long nights spent outside, staring at the green light at the end of her dock, dreaming abou t their future happiness.As Gatsby realizes that he has reached that green light of Daisy's dock, Nick observes that it possibly has occurred to him "that the colossal significance of that ight had now vanished forever." Thus, the mystical quality of Gatsby's long desire is gone and Jay can only display for Daisy his wealth, knowing this is what attracted her to Tom Buchanan.
Sister of Myrtle Wilson who is aware of her sister's secret life and willing to partake of its benefits. Myrtle Wilson's sister in The Great Gatsbyis a stereotypical flapper. Nick meets her at the apartment party with Myrtle and Tom in Chapter 2. Fitzgerald's description of her Bohemian style and her conversation with Nick clearly represent the carefree flapper lifestyle of the 20s. Despite her apparent frivolousness and laid-back attitude in Chapter 2, is a very loyal sister. After Gatsby's murder and the ensuing inquest, she--when questioned--never mentions her sister's affair with Tom Buchanan. Of course, she might have also had more selfish motivation for keeping quiet. Instead of simply protecting her late sister's name, perhaps she was paid off by the Buchanans as they retreated into their cocoon of wealth, or perhaps she didn't want to be associated with a compromising affair that might hinder her chances to move upward in society. It is difficult to know what her true motivation is. Nonetheless, Fitzgerald does clearly present her as a traditional flapper at the novel's beginning.
Catherine
Daughter
Chapter 7 when Pammy makes her only appearance, Daisy treats her like an object, showing her off for guests, suggesting Daisy's lack of concern for her child. Daisy's life revolves around Daisy, allowing Pammy in only when it's convenient. She has a husband and child, a three year old daughter named Pammy. The reality is that Daisy is a very negligent parent who sees her child as an accessory or else simply ignores her because it is convenient for her. In Chapter 7, Daisy uses Pammy like an interesting accessory. She brings her out to show her off to her party guests with superficial intentions. She does not truly care about Pammy or even think about her very much; Pammy makes Tom and Daisy's relationship real to Gatsby; Pammy is symbolic of the five years Gatsby and Daisy have been apart-a harsh reality check for Gatsby
Myrtle's Dress At the Apartment Symbolism
Clothing plays an important role in the development of character, and is reflective of both a character's mood and his or her personality. This device emphasizes the characters' superficiality. When Myrtle changes into a cream-colored dress, she loses some of her vitality. Like Daisy, she becomes more artificial; her laughter, gestures, and speech become violently affected; she becomes more superficilous. Myrtle is a lower middle class person who tries to look like an upper class person by wearing an "elaborate afternoon dress of cream-colored chiffon"
Gatby's misconceptions
DAISY IS TRASH SHE ISN'T WHAT HE THOUGHT SHE DOESN'T EVEN REALLY LOVE HISDMFASDIOHTWE < (truth)
Nick's cousin, and the woman Gatsby loves. As a young woman in Louisville before the war, she was courted by a number of officers, including Gatsby. She fell in love with Gatsby and promised to wait for him. However, she harbors a deep need to be loved, and when a wealthy, powerful young man named Tom Buchanan asked her to marry him, she decided not to wait for Gatsby after all. Now a beautiful socialite, she lives with Tom across from Gatsby in the fashionable East Egg district of Long Island. She is sardonic and somewhat cynical, and behaves superficially to mask her pain at her husband's constant infidelity.
Daisy Bucchanan
Worldly mentor of Jay Gatsby. Cody took Gatsby under his wing when Gatsby was a young man and taught him much about living adventurously and pursuing dreams. A fifty year old multimillionaire expert in mining and precious metals, and Gatsby ends up as his assistant for five years aboard the Tuolomee, his boat; dies and leaves Gatsby $25,000, whichhe never receives due to a legal technicality; Gatsby dedicates himself to becoming rich and successful.
Dan Cody
commensurate
Equal
White Symbolism
Fitzgerald's use of white (mentioned 35 times, to say nothing about a Mr.Whitebait) to indicate Daisy's alleged freshness and innocence (as Gatsby sees her). He notes the gleaming white house, the airy, white rooms, and Daisy lounging in a white dress. Daisy also talks of her white girlhood. Fitzgerald evokes two meanings of white: one is the traditional meaning of purity; the second is the empowerment of whiteness. Daisy, as she is initially presented, represents both privilege and purity - a kind of a princess figure. The use of white helps to characterize her as the enchanted princess who becomes incarnate as Gatsby's dream. However, the different shades of white indicate that Daisy may not be an embodiment of purity and that privilege may have a corrupting effect, at least when it is used to veil or whitewash misdeeds. However it also represents being in a higher class ex. "Dressed up in white flannels I went over to his lawn a little after seven [.]" (Pg. 41) The reason Fitzgerald uses white here is because white is the color of old money, and Nick wanted to make a good first impression on his upper-upper class neighbor. White represents the high class here, and it fits right in with its usual meaning. "High in a white palace the king's daughter" (Pg. 120) Here, the king's daughter is Daisy, and white is used to portray both class and innocence. It represents class because of the nobility associated with a castle, and innocence because the palace also acts as a fortress, keeping her "high" away from the plebeians down below.
Truth about Gatsby's Past Symbolism and info
Gatsby continouisly believes that he can repeat the selected events of the past he chooses to ex. daisy; Gatsby's focus on the past prevents him from seeing how Daisy has changed. In fact, it prevents him from even considering the possibility that she could have changed; He has thrown his past away; Gatsby was born "James Gatz." And he didn't grow up wealthy; he grew up poor. "Jay Gatsby" was born the day James Gatz, at 17, rowed out to meet Dan Cody's yacht, to tell him that a "wind might catch up and break him up in half an hour." Dan Cody (sound familiar?) became his mentor and best friend. He spent the next five years as Cody's steward, mate, skipper, secretary, and, sometimes, when Cody got too drunk, jailor--and probably vomiting-head-holder, too. There's a reason Gatsby drinks so little. Nick recalls the portrait of the man in Gatsby's bedroom. We're a step ahead of you, Nick. According to Cody's will, Gatsby was supposed to inherit his money - but Cody's mistress intervened and kept it for herself; The significance of the past is critical to understanding the novel and the character of Gatsby. The love/hate relationship that Gatsby has with the past, adds to the complexity of his characterization and brings to light the duality found within the human psyche. The allure of past stemmed from something that Gatsby longed for: the comfort of a simpler, better, nobler time; a time when values such as loyalty, honor, and virtue were sacrosanct. On the other hand, the past was something that Gatsby tried to create distance from by transforming himself from James Gatz, a poor mid-western boy, to Jay Gatsby, the "great" rich entrepreneur. Nick understands that Gatsby's obsession with Daisy stems, in part, from Gatsby's need to recapture some of his past. Gatsby needs not to just recapture his past with Daisy but possibly, his past true self; Gatsby sees Daisy as embodying the past that can be again in the future. Nick tells Gatsby that the past cannot be repeated. To which Gatsby responds in incredulous disbelief: "Can't repeat the past?" ...... "Why of course you can!" Gatsby is obsessed with returning to that distant time, five years past, when he and Daisy first met and fell in love and she promised to wait for Gatsby to return from the war, when they would be reunited and live happily ever after. It was a time of innocence, idealism, and romance; which embodied Gatsby's larger dream.
Police Favors
Gatsby hands the police officer a white card. The officer lets them go on. Nick later finds out it was a bribe. The card represents corruption. This is because the commissioner of police owes Gatsby because Gatsby has done him a favor. This shows that the high officials and the police can be bought.
Kilpspringer's tennis shoes
Gatsby's "new money" friends are shallow, emotionless parasites who care only about "fun"; they don't even really care about him especially as Kilpspringer doesn't even attend the funeral. Klipspringer rudely calls up Nick, not because he wants to give his last respects to a former friend, but simply because he wants to pick up a pair of tennis shoes. OPPOSITE OF OWL EYES.
Clock on Nick's Mantle Symbolism
Gatsby's blunder with the clock is symbolic. He knocks over time just as he tries to recreate his past with Daisy; Some view the mantle clock as a crutch symbol. We all know that Gatsby wanted to go make something of himself and acquire mass wealth before presenting himself to Daisy as a suitor. After making his money Gatsby contacts Nick, Daisy's cousin, and executes a time-consuming plan to get to know his neighbor so he can make preparations for a private party to serve as an occasion for being reunited with Daisy. Fitzgerald describes Gatsby waiting rather impatiently with "his head leaned back so far that it rested against the face of a defunct mantelpiece clock" (pg. 87). The act of leaning against a clock can symbolize that Gatsby is using time as a crutch to support his hopes of winning Daisy after having lost her; Also that time is money. The fact that the clock is broken may symbolize that his money doesn't matter; that failing to make a human connection through time was what really lost Daisy to another man; It is also a symbol of never letting go: The clock may also symbolize Gatsby's inability to let Daisy go. Gatsby had spent all previous time amassing wealth to win Daisy over. That the clock is broken symbolizes his efforts to win her were broken and a complete waste of time. After catching the clock to keep it from breaking Gatsby apologizes profusely to Nick, who assures him it doesn't matter because the clock is already broken. However, Gatsby carefully places it back in its place like a precious object. Some view this as a symbol of Gatsby's refusal to let time go; Also a Cronos Complex: Some may argue the clock is a symbol of Gatsby's "Cronus Complex". Cronus was the Greek god of time and had the power to control it. (see resources further reading 1) Time is a major theme that runs throughout Fitzgerald's novel. When Gatsby caught the broken clock and saved it from smashing apart, some may view this as his attempt to change fate as dictated by time. But this is futile, as Nick makes it very clear that the clock is already broken and shows no concern that it almost splintered to pieces. If readers view this as Gatsby trying to control time, the broken clock can further symbolize his Cronus complex, considering that Gatsby's death resulted from time he spent waiting for Daisy to call him. Gatsby's wasted time resulted in him being shot suggesting time was not his puppet to control.
"circus wagon"
Gatsby's car is gaudy and contains all the latest gadgets; shows how tom is trying so hard to get at gatsby; another atttempt at insulting new money
PInk suit Symbolism
Gatsby's pink suit makes a statement to Tom; it says that Gatsby flaunts his wealth--which is "new" money. He does not dress in the tasteful, conservative, understated style adopted by those who have inherited their family fortunes, money that often has been handed down through several generations. One of the unwritten rules of Tom Buchanan's social class is that those with a great deal of money do not display it in a vulgar manner. To do so would be quite gauche. Gatsby in his pink suit shows clearly that he does not know the rules.
Myrtle's husband, the lifeless, exhausted owner of a run-down auto shop at the edge of the valley of ashes. He loves and idealizes Myrtle, and is devastated by her affair with Tom although he never finds out it is with Tom. He is consumed with grief when Myrtle is killed. He is comparable to Gatsby in that both are dreamers and both are ruined by their unrequited love for women who love Tom.
George Wilson
Gold (a bit of silver) Symbolism
Golden, brass or Gold has been used nearly 15 times in the novel. Traditionally, these colors symbolize wealth and riches and particularly old wealth. Gold and green used in the book thus contrastingly symbolize old wealth and new riches (Gold for Daisy and her husband Tom's old wealth and green for newly acquired Gatsby's wealth). (It is also believed that Tom is Gold while Gatsby is Green). Jordan, another character is also represented with Gold ('I rested my arm on Jordan's Golden shoulder' or 'with Jordan's golden arm'). This is again used for representing old money. In chapter 7, Golden tea is served at the grey tea hour which indicates the turning light. Gold turning to yellow is used often through use of sentences like Yellow press, or yellow cocktail music etc to symbolize beauty, old money and even sometimes, negativity.
Gatsby's last party
He stops having them due to the fact Daisy not only dislikes them but is not impressed by them
Father of Jay Gatsby. Comes from the Midwest to bury his son. Gatz serves as a very tangible reminder of Gatsby's humble heritage and roots.
Henry Gatz
"I understand you're looking for a business gonnegtion"
Here the author is trying to persuade us that perhaps Gatsby did not earn his fortune through the death of his family, but rather through some other unsavory financial agreement. Mr. Wolfsheim, in the business of gambling, is clearly portrayed as an immoral character and seems to defend Gatsby, whom he has known for many years. This shows that they must be connected in some way, and this quote suggests that it is most likely through illegal business and finance, supporting the idea portrayed in the first quote that perhaps there is a sinister quality to Gatsby's character.
"I want her to be a beautiful fool" symbolism
I find this to be the most indicative quotes of the book about the era. Daisy has this hope for her little girl that's rather hopeless. Daisy feels as if she already knows so much about the world, that it is almost better to not know, than to know the terrible truths about man that actually exist. You have to think of what was going on in the 20s and how the extravagance and waste and inhumane treatment of people led to a great downfall. She would rather her daughter just enjoy life (that's so like a flapper) than know of the corruption and evil that exists. We come to find Daisy a character with little moral fortitude herself throughout the book, and hope that she would have wanted more for her daughter; Daisy's remark is somewhat sardonic: while she refers to the social values of her era, she does not seem to challenge them. Instead, she describes her own boredom with life and seems to imply that a girl can have more fun if she is beautiful and simplistic. Daisy herself often tries to act such a part. She conforms to the social standard of American femininity in the 1920s in order to avoid such tension-filled issues as her undying love for Gatsby; doesn't want her daughter to realize she is only wanted for her looks
"It was a body capable of enormous leverage--a cruel body"
If you're getting the picture that our narrator doesn't much like Tom—we think you're right. But Nick is also fascinated with Tom. He probably can't help it; like Daisy, Tom is a fascinating kind of guy. Like Daisy, he's got something that everyone else wants: he's got power; The image of Tom being a menacing character is also emphasized by the words "aggressively forward" as the gutturals in the word "aggressively" creates jarring sounds that help create the impression of Tom being a harsh and cruel man. The word "forward" creates the image of Tom towering over others, which further adds onto the image of his arrogance and sense of superiority.
denizen
Inhabitant
Daisy's Voice
It is Nick who first comments on Daisy's voice and what he says is 'she's got an indiscreet voice'. Money and indiscretion are both present in her voice and are therefore linked. Her indiscretion is a factor of her money; Gatsby comments that Daisy's voice is "full of money"; Gatsby seems to half-sense that Daisy has been corrupted. To Gatsby, Daisy's seductive voice speaks of wealth, social status, glamour, family, and of course Daisy herself—everything that Gatsby wants. Daisy's voice is a verbal reminder of the wealth she symbolizes.
Henry Gatz symbolism
It is only Mr. Gatz who has been impressed with Jay Gatsby's tremendous ambition, and he is the only family member there, the only one who loved Jay;
Daisy
It makes me sad because I've never seen such — such beautiful shirts before."
The title character and protagonist of the novel, is a fabulously wealthy young man living in a Gothic mansion in West Egg. He is famous for the lavish parties he throws every Saturday night, but no one knows where he comes from, what he does, or how he made his fortune. As the novel progresses, Nick learns that he was born James Gatz on a farm in North Dakota; working for a millionaire made him dedicate his life to the achievement of wealth. When he met Daisy while training to be an officer in Louisville, he fell in love with her. Nick also learns that he made his fortune through criminal activity, as he was willing to do anything to gain the social position he thought necessary to win Daisy. Nick views him as a deeply flawed man, dishonest and vulgar, whose extraordinary optimism and power to transform his dreams into reality make him "great" nonetheless.
Jay Gatsby
Dan Cody Symbolism
Jay Gatsby's blue coat that Dan Cody bought for him represents James Gatz's created persona of Jay Gatsby, which provides an illusion to other people who do not know about his past. When James Gatz decides to join Dan Cody and leaves his identity behind, entering the world of wealth and glamour, he is entering a world that he sees for himself as very blissful and where he would want to be part of for the future. Dan Cody's yacht was James Gatz's door or mode of transportation to a new world and a more glamourous life. Upon seeing Dan Cody's yacht and rowing out to warn Cody about the upcoming storm, James Gatz throws away his identity and starts his process of rebirth as Jay Gatsby. Whilst following Cody as his assistant on the yacht, travelling to different places, Jay Gatsby is created.
Daisy's friend, a woman with whom Nick becomes romantically involved during the course of the novel. A competitive golfer, she represents one of the "new women" of the 1920s—cynical, boyish, and self-centered. She is beautiful, but also dishonest: she cheated in order to win her first golf tournament and continually bends the truth.
Jordan Baker
"Hates being at a disadvantage."
Jordan Baker;"Jordan Baker instinctively avoided clever, shrewd men, and now I saw that this was because she felt safer on a plane where any divergence from a code would be thought impossible. She was incurably dishonest. She wasn't able to endure being at a disadvantage and, given this unwillingness, I suppose she had begun dealing in subterfuges when she was very young in order to keep that cool, insolent smile turned to the world and yet satisfy the demands of her hard, jaunty body"
Jordan's Driving Record
Jordan admits to being a horrible driver and says she'll be fine as long as she doesn't meet another careless person. She says she can be careless and worry free as long as everyone else will be there to clean up after her. She and her circle are accustomed to adjusting life to suit themselves. They expect others to stay out of their way and help to make their lives smooth and comfortable. Her mistake was in assuming that Nick would go along with this corrupted version of reality.
The shallow freeloader who seems almost to live at Gatsby's mansion, taking advantage of his host's money. As soon as Gatsby dies, he disappears—he does not attend the funeral, but he does call Nick about a pair of tennis shoes that he left at Gatsby's mansion.
Klipspringer
Peremptory
Leaving no opportunity for denial or refusal
"I did love him once--but I loved you too"
Life doesn't come with take-backs or do-overs, and for all that Daisy seems a little dim, she gets it—and Gatsby doesn't. Daisy's never going to be that golden-white girl again; Daisy is telling the truth, but it is truth that Gatsby does not want to hear because it destroys the foundation of the dream he has lived for since leaving Daisy in Louisville when he was called away to World War I. daisy says she loved Gatsby in the past and she loves him now. The antecedent action in the novel supports the idea that she had indeed loved Gatsby, her young lieutenant who went to war. However, her behavior following this confrontation shows clearly that she did not love him anymore. When forced to choose between Tom and Gatsby, Daisy remains with her wealthy husband and responds in no way at all when Gatsby is soon murdered; SUPPORTS THE THEME THAT TRYING TO RECPATURE THE PAST WILL RESULT IN FAILURE
Automobile symbolism
Many different: Owl Eyes Crash: The crash is symbolic in two ways. It represents the reckless disregard of the Roaring Twenties and the inevitable plunge Fitzgerald sensed would end the boom. It also foreshadows a car accident later in the novel. Gatsbys Car: Gatsby's Rolls-Royce figures prominently in the novel. Nick first describes it as "gorgeous" with a horn that plays a three-note melody. His description then becomes more detailed: It was a rich cream color, bright with nickel, swollen here and there in its monstrous length . . . and terraced with a labyrinth of windshields that mirrored a dozen suns." The extravagance of Gatsby's car represents his enormous wealth. However, it suggests not the muted elegance of "old money," but instead the lavish, gaudy excess of "new money." Gatsby's car symbolizes his place in society; he has money, but he will never be accepted in Daisy's world of old family names and inherited wealth. Tom alludes to this distinction when he refers to Gatsby's car as a "circus wagon." Georgle WIlson Car: In looking at it as a symbol of status, I think you can definitely look at Myrtle's husband need for Tom's car. He wants to sell it to make enough money so that he and Myrtle can move away. In General: Cars are symbols in everyday life. We express a lot of attitude with our cars. Is your car big or small? Practical or playful? Powerful or economical? All of these say something about your priorities. In Gatsby's day, cars were designed to gather attention.
George Wilson's restaurateur neighbor who comforts Wilson after Myrtle is killed. One of the few charitable people to be found in the novel. Saw myrtle get killed
Michaelis
Tom's lover, whose lifeless husband George owns a run-down garage in the valley of ashes. She herself possesses a fierce vitality and desperately looks for a way to improve her situation. Unfortunately for her, she chooses Tom, who treats her as a mere object of his desire.
Myrtle Wilson
The novel's narrator, a young man from Minnesota who, after being educated at Yale and fighting in World War I, goes to New York City to learn the bond business. Honest, tolerant, and inclined to reserve judgment, often serves as a confidant for those with troubling secrets. After moving to West Egg, a fictional area of Long Island that is home to the newly rich, quickly befriends his next-door neighbor, the mysterious Jay Gatsby. As Daisy Buchanan's cousin, he facilitates the rekindling of the romance between her and Gatsby. The Great Gatsby is told entirely through their eyes; his thoughts and perceptions shape and color the story.
Nick Carraway
Rumors about gatsby
Nick hears from various people that Gatsby is a German spy, an Oxford graduate, and someone even claims Gatsby once killed a man.
Goes home to the west
Nick is repulsed by the shallow and brutal East, determines to return to the Midwest. Months after Gatsby's death, Nick runs into Tom Buchanan on New York's Fifth Avenue. I wouldn't say that Tom was happy Nick was going to return to the midwest, but Tom and his behavior were certainly a factor in Nick's decision. He simply didn't want to be associated with the actions or the people. Nick has come to realize that he's changed and will never be the same. It seems his character dilemma is never fully resolved. We do not know where he will go ("West" is pretty vague), or what he will do, only that he is leaving the house he's resided in for the course of the book. His observation that all the players in this story were "Westerners" is an apt one - it sums up one of the novel's main themes, the idea that we might be defined by where we're from, or the kinds of worlds we grow up in.
End of Jordan and Nick's relationship
Nick thought his relationship with Jordan was superficial. But Jordan implies she really loved him. Nick, too, it appears, was corrupted by the East. he breaks up with her after he finds how indifferent she is to tragedy; Nick has a relationship to end before he can become involved with her, which contrasts his ethics and her dishonesty; Nick realizes that he can no longer tolerate Jordan's callousness and indifference: "I'm thirty," I said. "I'm five years too old to lie to myself and call it honor." (Ch. 9)
Revelations in New York
On the hottest day of the summer, Daisy invites Gatsby, Nick, and Jordan to lunch. During the luncheon, Tom realizes that Gatsby and his wife are romantically involved. Gatsby stares at Daisy with undisguised passion, and Daisy recklessly remarks, within earshot of Tom, that she loves Gatsby. Tom, unsettled, goes inside to get a drink, and in his absence Nick remarks that Daisy has an indiscreet voice. When Nick goes on to say that Daisy's voice also has an indescribably seductive quality, Gatsby blurts that her voice is "full of money." Tom, desperate to pick a fight with Gatsby, forces the entire party to drive into New York. To escape from the summer heat, the group takes a suite at the Plaza Hotel. There, Tom finally confronts Gatsby, mocking his use of the phrase "old sport." Tom accuses Gatsby of never having been at Oxford; Gatsby replies that he did, in fact, study there for five months after the end of the war. Tom regards Daisy's affair with the lower-class Gatsby as one of the harbingers of the decline of civilization. Soon, Tom hisses, there will even be intermarriage between the races. Gatsby tells Tom that Daisy doesn't love him, and has never loved him; he informs him that he's "not going to take care of Daisy anymore." Tom calls Gatsby a "common swindler" and reveals that he has made his fortune in bootlegging. Daisy, in her shallowness and snobbery, sides with Tom, and refuses Gatsby when he pleads with her to say that she has never loved her husband. As the confrontation draws to a close, Nick realizes that today is his thirtieth birthday.
Buchanan dinner paty details
One night, he attends a dinner party in East Egg; the party is given by Tom Buchanan and his wife, Daisy. Daisy is Nick's cousin, while Tom was Nick's classmate at Yale. Tom comes from a wealthy, established family, and was a much-feared football player while at Yale. A friend of Daisy's is also in attendance. This woman, whose name is Jordan Baker, makes her living as a professional golfer. She has a frigid, boyish beauty and affects an air of extreme boredom; introduces the characters; fifth guest would be the telephone
The eccentric, bespectacled drunk whom Nick meets at the first party he attends at Gatsby's mansion. Nick finds him looking through Gatsby's library, astonished that the books are real. Only person who attends Gatsby's funeral.
Owl Eyes
Funeral Attendees
Owl Eyes, Nick, Servants, Henry Gatz, the mail carrier, the minister, Nick is struck by the bitter injustice of Gatsby's solitary death.
Toddler daughter of Tom and Daisy Buchanan. Little mention is made of her and she represents the children of the Jazz Agers. She has very little parental contact, yet the reader is always vaguely aware of her presence.
Pammy Bucchanan
Gatsby's Silk Shirts
Shows that she realizes that she's most in love with money. At both the first meeting and the tossing into the air of Gatsby's shirts, Daisy cries. Gatsby deludes himself into thinking it's because Daisy loves him, but in reality, she is revealing her shallow obsession with materialism. Frankly, for her, it could be anyone she's crying over, as long as he owns "such beautiful shirts." At this moment Daisy realized that she could've had wealth and true love with Jay. Also they represent the wealth he has accumulated and the time he has spent to win Daisy's love back. They show his drive and how far he is willing to go to gain her heart.
Silver Symbolism
Silver represents jewelry and richness. In The Great Gatsby the moon or moonlight or the stars are often silver: "the silver pepper of the stars" (chapter 1); "The moon had risen higher, and floating in the Sound was a triangle of silver scales" (chapter 3); "A silver curve of the moon hovered already in then western sky" (chapter 7). When Gatsby talks about Daisy dancing at a ball, he offsets her cheerful idealism with saxophones wailing "the hopeless comment of the 'Beale Street Blues' while a hundred pairs of golden and silver slippers shuffled the shining Silver represents jewelry and richness. In The Great Gatsby the moon or moonlight or the stars are often silver: "the silver pepper of the stars" (chapter 1); "The moon had risen higher, and floating in the Sound was a triangle of silver scales" (chapter 3); "A silver curve of the moon hovered already in the western sky" (chapter 7). When Gatsby talks about Daisy dancing at a ball, he offsets her cheerful idealism with saxophones wailing "the hopeless comment of the 'Beale Street Blues' while a hundred pairs of golden and silver slippers shuffled the shining
somnambulatory
Sleepwalking
The "boarder"
The "boarder" is introduced in Chapter 5. His full name is Ewing Klipspringer. He appears to be a former party guest who just made himself at home in Gatsby's big mansion, where it is very easy to lose a guest. Gatsby tolerates him out of generosity, perhaps out of loneliness, probably out of indifference because he is so used to providing for strangers. Klipspringer is described as follows: He went out of the room calling "Ewing!" and returned in a few minutes accompanied by an embarrassed, slightly worn young man, with shell-rimmed glasses and scanty blond hair. He was now decently clothed in a sport shirt, open at the neck, sneakers, and duck trousers of a nebulous hue." Klipspringer can play the piano, after a fashion, which is another reason that Gatsby puts up with him. Gatsby's kindness to people in need, as Klipspringer obviously is, presents a stark contrast to the sadistic way in which Tom Bunchanan treats the needy George Wilson, while at the same time carrying on an illicit affair with Wilson's wife. Gatsby gets Klipspringer to play the piano for his guests, Nick and Daisy.
The Rise of the Coloured Empire
The book Tom reads; The book explains that the Nordic race, with which Tom identifies himself, created civilization and is now threatened by the rise of other, inferior races. Tom urges everyone to read the book. Daisy tries to make light of his suggestion.
The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg
The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg on the billboard overlooking the Valley of Ashes represent many things at once: to Nick they seem to symbolize the haunting waste of the past, which lingers on though it is irretrievably vanished, much like Dr. Eckleburg's medical practice. The eyes can also be linked to Gatsby, whose own eyes, once described as "vacant," often stare out, blankly keeping "vigil" (a word Fitzgerald applies to both Dr.Eckleburg's eyes and Gatsby's) over Long Island sound and the green light. To George Wilson, Dr. Eckleburg's eyes are the eyes of God, which he says see everything. Also the eyes symbolize the loss of spiritual values in America. The billboard was erected to promote the business of an optometrist in Queensborough - the eyes symbolize the growing commercialism of America - life in America is all about making money, a lot of money as evidenced by the wealth of people like Tom Buchanan - a man's success is measured in terms of how much money he is worth, not on what kind of person he may be morally. The billboard, like the spiritual values of America, is neglected. Thus, the eyes also come to represent the essential meaninglessness of the world and the arbitrariness of the mental process by which people invest objects with meaning.
Green Light Symbolism
The green light at the end of Daisy's dock is the symbol of Gatsby's hopes and dreams. It represents everything that haunts and beckons Gatsby: the physical and emotional distance between him and Daisy, the gap between the past and the present, the promises of the future, and the powerful lure of that other green stuff he craves—money. In fact, the color green pops up everywhere in The Great Gatsby. Long Island sound is "green"; George Wilson's haggard tired face is "green" in the sunlight; Michaelis describes the car that kills Myrtle Wilson as "light green" (though it's yellow); Gatsby's perfect lawn is green; and the New World that Nick imagines Dutch explorers first stumbling upon is a "fresh, green breast." The symbolism of green throughout the novel is as variable and contradictory as the many definitions of "green" and the many uses of money—"new," "natural," "innocent," "naive," and "uncorrupted"; but also "rotten," "gullible," "nauseous," and "sickly"; Because Gatsby's quest for Daisy is broadly associated with the American dream, the green light also symbolizes that more generalized ideal. In Chapter 9, Nick compares the green light to how America, rising out of the ocean, must have looked to early settlers of the new nation.
Wolfshiem's Cufflinks symbolism
The molars represent how Mr:Wolfsheim treats humans as merchandise and has no scruples about harming others in order to climb his way to the top. They also reflect his arrogance and unmeasured wealth; We see in the molars that Wolfsheim is both crude and indifferent to human suffering. He is, in short, a thug. This reflects on Gatsby, or should, and portrays Gatsby as something very different than the "Oggsford man" he presents himself to be;
Gatsby's Library symbolism
The shallowness of the Roaring Twenties: the vast library of "realism" that Owl Eyes admires is full of books no one reads. The books contain "realism" but are just for show; display of false pretenses; materialism; Books used to come with their pages uncut, meaning that the sheets that are folded to make the books aren't sliced open on the top. You'd have to cut them open before reading. If you didn't, everyone would know that you hadn't actually read the book. Gatsby's uncut books tell us that much of what Gatsby presents to the world is a façade. He wants people to believe that he's a well-educated man, an Oxford man, but in fact he only spent a short time there after the war. He wants people to think that he's well-read, but he's never even cracked the covers. So, the simple answer is that the books represent the fact that Gatsby is a fraud. He's built up an image of himself that isn't consistent with the facts of his life. But you could also argue that the unopened, unread books represent Gatsby himself: eternally mysterious, eternally unopened.
Whats great about Gatsby
The way we see it, there are three ways to read the title. First, there's the surface level of Gatsby's persona. He's one of the wealthiest people on Long Island, and definitely one of the wealthiest in West Egg. He's got a mansion loaded with the nicest, most expensive stuff. And his parties... oh the parties. Any one of them would qualify as a legendary event in itself, and he hosts at least one every weekend. He gives all of his guests first-class treatment, even though he doesn't really know any of them—down to sending some rando girl a new dress after she tears hers at his party. Gatsby is a local celebrity, and everyone has a theory about how he's gotten to be so wealthy. In short, everyone seems to know his name and is endlessly interested in his life. So in that way, he's, well, "great." He seems to live a dream-like existence; he even briefly wins back the girl of his dreams; Then there's the ironic reading: Gatsby's dream-like life is a sham. He rises to the top of society in a dishonest way; he's earned his fortune through illegal activities. The "old money" folks see right through his appearance. He's not "great" to them - he's a phony. And when his house of cards crumbles, all those friends of his turn out to simply be people who take advantage of his generosity and riches; But then there's a third way of looking at that adjective. Although Nick doesn't quite approve of Gatsby's means, he knows that Gatsby's driven by a noble emotion: love. Also, Nick believes that Gatsby is truly a good person; the man is generous, loyal, and sincere. In this way, Gatsby is great. He's a victim of Tom and Daisy's selfish, shallow addiction to their wealth and lifestyle, and, in the end, Nick sides with him.
Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And then one fine morning— So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past. symbolism
These words conclude the novel and find Nick returning to the theme of the significance of the past to dreams of the future, here represented by the green light. He focuses on the struggle of human beings to achieve their goals by both transcending and re-creating the past. Yet humans prove themselves unable to move beyond the past: in the metaphoric language used here, the current draws them backward as they row forward toward the green light. This past functions as the source of their ideas about the future (epitomized by Gatsby's desire to re-create 1917 in his affair with Daisy) and they cannot escape it as they continue to struggle to transform their dreams into reality. While they never lose their optimism ("tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther . . ."), they expend all of their energy in pursuit of a goal that moves ever farther away. This apt metaphor characterizes both Gatsby's struggle and the American dream itself. Nick's words register neither blind approval nor cynical disillusionment but rather the respectful melancholy that he ultimately brings to his study of Gatsby's life; keep tryign and trying to get your dreams
The "book of resolves" aka hopalong cassidy
This was the book that Gatsby had written in when he was younger. It contains a time schedule that Gatsby made to improve himself. The schedule leaves no time to waste, every time slot of the day, starting at 6 am, is filled. The schedule has ways to improve both his mind and body, keeping him healthy. Underneath the schedule is a list of general resolves reminding himself not to waste time or money on stupid things, but rather to spend his time learning and becoming a better person. This symbolizes Gatsby's need to be successful and that he is 100 percent dedicated to making the most of himself. Gatsby's book of resolves is a demonstration of his character. A person of impressive innocence, we can see the source of Gatsby's tenacious dreaming in the determinations he made for himself as a young man. The resolves are modest, insistent, and practical. Like the example of the pool, we see Gatsby's connection to reality in the book of resolves. Yet we also see his ardent nature. This can be seen as what allows him to dedicate himself so fully to a dream. We see in the resolves also a deep urge toward self-improvement and a belief that these improvements can be made.
Reasons for Gatsby's materialism
To impress Daisy literally the entire book; daisy is in love with money
Daisy's immensely wealthy husband, once a member of Nick's social club at Yale. Powerfully built and hailing from a socially solid old family, he is an arrogant, hypocritical bully. His social attitudes are laced with racism and sexism, and he never even considers trying to live up to the moral standard he demands from those around him. He has no moral qualms about his own extramarital affair with Myrtle, but when he begins to suspect Daisy and Gatsby of having an affair, he becomes outraged and forces a confrontation.
Tom Buchanan
Toms hypocrisy
Tom is angry about daisy's affair with Gatsby, which would be justifiable if he hadn't been ensconced in his own affair with Myrtle, but there are double standards here, and Daisy is the woman. Tom's hypocritical reaction is to comdemn Daisy and to defend family solidarity'; When Tom shows up with some of his friends on horseback, Gatsby is asked to join them. Through the course of the conversation, Gatsby informs Tom that he has met his wife (Daisy) before. Tom is suspicious and wonders where he's met Daisy before. When Gatsby leaves, presumably to get his car keys, Tom remarks: I wonder where in the devil he met Daisy. By God, I may be old-fashioned in my ideas, but women run around too much these days to suit me. They meet all kinds of crazy fish. This is hypocritical because Tom "runs around" too much as well. He is having an affair with Myrtle. According to Tom's logic, he would be one of those "crazy fish." Tom is even quite open and even proud of this affair - with some people. In Chapter 2, he takes Nick to meet Myrtle as if to show off his ability to do whatever he wants. In his narrow-minded views, Tom accepts the double standard that women should not "run around" but that it is okay for men, namely himself, to do so.
Killers responsible for gatsbys death
Tom, Daisy, Wilson
The Dog Collar Symbolism
Wilson discovers "a small, expensive dog-leash, made of leather and braided silver." (Fitzgerald, 158). The Wilson's did not own a dog and this finding led George to conclude that Myrtle is having an affair with another man. The Wilson's were of a lower class and they could not afford a silver embedded collar, whereas Tom could afford to buy those gifts for Myrtle. Furthermore, on the outside, a dog may seem give off an appealing, cute and kind appearance, but in this case, it has a deeper meaning behind it. The dog and collar shows the relationship between Tom and Myrtle. On the inside, the dog carries the sins of the world and it show how nothing good can come from negative actions, like Myrtle's death; The collar confirms his assumption that Myrtle was indeed cheating on him and leads him to believe the she was killed by her lover. This event leads us to the conclusion that sometimes even the little things in life define the course of destiny.
Gatsby's friend, a prominent figure in organized crime. Before the events of the novel take place, he helped Gatsby to make his fortune bootlegging illegal liquor. His continued acquaintance with Gatsby suggests that Gatsby is still involved in illegal business.
Wolfsheim
libertine
a free thinker, usually used disparagingly; one without moral restraint
caravansary
a large inn
affectations
a show, pretense or display
euphemisms
a word used in place of another word that is viewed as more disagreeable or offensive
meretricious
attractive in a cheap, flashy way
"careless people"
couldn't forgive him or like him, but I saw that what he had done was, to him, entirely justified. It was all very careless and confused. They were careless people, Tom and Daisy - they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together and let other people clean up the mess they had made [...]. (9.136-145); There's a reason they call it white-collar crime: rich people's crimes just don't seem to count as much as poor people's crimes; rich people do not care about the consequences of their actions ex. jordan, daisy, tom
Omnibus
covering many things
expostulation
earnest and kindly protest
pandered
gratify or indulge
Honesty
honesty is a huge theme, as no one is quite what they seem. Be it Tom who plays the devoted husband, yet leads Nick to his apartment in the city where he has an open affair with a girl from the Valley of Ashes, or Daisy who appears weak and defenseless, yet later on runs over her husband's mistress in Gatsby's car, characters are very multidimensional. Gatsby refuses to give straight answers, and it is not until after he all but loses hope for achieving his goal of winning back Daisy that he comes close to being honest with Nick, the narrator. In fact, Nick doesn't get the whole picture of Gatsby's life until after he is dead, and he has an opportunity to speak with his father, Mr. Gatz, at a very poorly attended funeral. No one is what they seem. Jordan cheats at Golf, while Tom, Daisy, and Myrtle all have extramarital affairs. When Nick tells Gatsby that he's worth "the whole damn lot of the put together", he is making a valid judgement call in that no one else ever comes clean and exhibits true honesty except for Gatsby in the end. This adds a lot of meaning to the quote early on in the novel where Nick says, "No, Gatsby turned out alright in the end... it was what preyed on him" that finally got to him. Honesty is does not seem to determine which characters are sympathetic and which are not in this novel in quite the same way that it does in others. Nick is able to admire Gatsby despite his knowledge of the man's illegal dealings and bootlegging. Ironically, it is the corrupt Daisy who takes pause at Gatsby's sordid past. Her indignation at his "dishonesty," however, is less moral than class-based. Her sense of why Gatsby should not behave in an immoral manner is based on what she expects from members of her milieu, rather than what she believes to be intrinsically right. The standards for honesty and morality seem to be dependent on class and gender in this novel. Tom finds his wife's infidelity intolerable, however, he does not hesitate to lie to her about his own affair.
Hauteur
noun: overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferior
pneumatic
pertaining to air or gas
Idle Rich: aka old money/ East Egg Symbolism
represents the established aristocracy; the old aristocracy possesses grace, taste, subtlety, and elegance, epitomized by the Buchanans' tasteful home and the flowing white dresses of Daisy and Jordan Baker; careless, inconsiderate bullies who are so used to money's ability to ease their minds that they never worry about hurting others. The Buchanans exemplify this stereotype when, at the end of the novel, they simply move to a new house far away rather than condescend to attend Gatsby's funeral;
1919 world series
shows that Wolfshiem and Gatsby are scetchy and into bootlegging; An example of the corruption that was going on in the 1920s. The 1919 World Series outcome was bought monetarily, the players were bribed to lose the game.
