The Great Gatsby

Francis Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940)

The Great Gatsby is an example of literary realism because it depicts the
world as it really is. Realist novels employ geographically precise settings and
locations, factual historic events, and accurate descriptions of social systems to
reflect and implicitly critique contemporary society.
Francis Scott Fitzgerald was born in 1896, in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. His
father was an unsuccessful businessman, so the family lived off Fitzgerald's mother's
sizable inheritance. His mother's wealth provided opportunities for young Fitzgerald
to mingle with the social elite in his hometown, but the family wasn't quite rich
enough to be welcomed into the highest class of the social hierarchy. Much like
Nick's character in The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald left his Minnesota hometown for an
Ivy League education (Fitzgerald attended Princeton), joined the army, and later
moved to New York City. When he was 22 years old, he fell in love with socialite
Zelda Sayre. Although Zelda claimed to love Fitzgerald, she refused to marry him
until he was rich. It wasn't until Fitzgerald published his first novel, This Side of
Paradise, in 1920 that Zelda deemed him appropriate to marry.
As Fitzgerald's writing career blossomed, he and his wife enjoyed their celebrity with
lavish parties, heavy drinking, and extensive travels. Despite the glamorous facade
the family displayed to the public, the style and pace of the Fitzgeralds' life came at a
price. For years Fitzgerald struggled with alcoholism and depression. Ultimately,
these factors contributed to the heart attack that killed him on December 21, 1940, at
age 44.

Many aspects of Fitzgerald's life—his successes and struggles—are mirrored

in his work, including The Great Gatsby. The details are scattered throughout his
stories in the form of character traits, story settings, and conflicts. When The Great
Gatsby was first released it was sold poorly. However, the total sales for The Great
Gatsby in 1944 reached 120 copies, while today the book regularly sells 500,000
copies per year.

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Historical Context:
The Great Gatsby is set in 1920s' America, an era marked by tremendous
change in the country's culture and lifestyle. Sometimes called the "Roaring
Twenties," this period may be depicted best by another of its nicknames, the "Jazz
Age,".
With the end of the Great War (World War I), a sense of liberation took hold of the
country. The economy, as if infused with that spirit, began to grow by leaps and
bounds. By the latter part of the decade, the United States had become the world's
wealthiest country, with mass production spurring a massive consumer economy.
Stark changes in America came at multiple levels: women won the right to vote and
played a larger role in the workforce; appliances were becoming common in the
home; automobile ownership started to become widespread; and people were leaving
rural areas search for life in cities, resulting in the country's urban population
outnumbering its rural population for the first time.
All of these movements combined to create an American society
characterized by more freedom, more free time, and more disposable income than in
any previous generation. And, while much progress was made, a stark chasm
developed between society's haves and its have-nots.
Socially and politically, the rich were regarded with esteem simply because
of their wealth. They were awarded tax benefits and were widely admired. Many in
society's lower levels had a burning desire to join the ranks of the wealthy. Frivolous
spending and recreational leisure were prevalent among the wealthy, while those in
the middle and lower classes—with little income or status—suffered greatly.
Advances in technology fueled consumption by the elite, as they purchased luxuries
such as automobiles, homes, radios, phones, and other items that were outside the
reach of most Americans.

The story was narrated by the first-person narrator, an observant Nick Carraway.
The protagonist of the story is “Great Gatsby,” a self-made man who is desperate to
be seen as part of the social elite and whose ill-gotten wealth is always on display
through his lavish lifestyle. He is convinced that he can "repeat the past" and win

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back the love of his life, Daisy Buchanan. Unfortunately, his quest to recapture the
past and the woman he loves become ultimately his downfall.

The style of The Great Gatsby is wry, sophisticated, and elegiac, employing
extended metaphors, figurative imagery, and poetic language to create a sense of
nostalgia and loss.
The book can be read as an extended elegy, or poetic lament, for Gatsby – “the man
who gives his name to this book… who represented everything for which I have an
unaffected scorn.”
Analysis Chapter 1:
- From the very beginning of the novel Nick quotes his father as having said,
“Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this
world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.” (p. 3). At first the reader might
think the advantages he alludes to are monetary, but then Nick acknowledges that he
agrees with his father: “A sense of the fundamental decencies is parceled out
unequally at birth.” (p. 4). Clearly, decency, not wealth, is the supreme value. Nick
revealed to be an honest narrator. His father's advice to avoid criticizing people
because "all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had"
suggest that he is nonjudgmental and moral, which is the perfect lens through which
to view this story of deception, superficiality, and immorality. Because Nick is well-
educated and comes from a good background, it's clear that he will fit easily into
both social circles—the old money of East Egg and the new money of West Egg.
Residents of East Egg are accustomed to a life of privilege, and generations of wealth
have made many residents, like Tom Buchanan, arrogant. On the other side of the
bay, new-money residents, like Jay Gatsby, aren't quite accustomed to their great
wealth yet, making them emotionally vulnerable (they know what they have to lose).
Nick is the perfect, balanced narrator to navigate both groups without bias.

During the dinner in East Egg, much is revealed about the Buchanans and
their superficiality. Fitzgerald uses detailed descriptions to highlight the luxury in
which these characters live: they have a grand mansion, a butler and silver polisher,
stables, and more. In the first descriptions of the women, they are twice described as
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"balloons," suggesting they simply float through life—an apt description of the
novel's old-money characters. In these opening scenes, both Daisy and Jordan are
seen as foolish and flighty, while Tom is opinionated, insensitive, and expects to
have his way—particularly around women. On his drive home Nick feels slightly
confused and disgusted with what he's learned about the Buchanans and the way they
live their lives.

Nick immediately captures the confidence of the reader and grabs his
attention. Often “privy to the secret griefs of wild, unknown men” (p.4). Nick is
trustworthy narrator. He acknowledges at the beginning that Gatsby “represented
everything” (p.4) for which he had “an unaffected scorn”; paradoxically, however, he
finds in Gatsby “something gorgeous,” a dream quality with “some heightened
sensitivity to the promises of life.” (P.4). It was not Gatsby that, ultimately, Nick
rejected in New York; it was “what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the
wake of his dreams” that brought closure and finality to Nick’s rite of passage. Thus,
the brief introduction to Nick, a reliable narrator, takes on singular importance in
understanding Fitzgerald’s message.

Analysis Chapter 2

The valley of ashes again uses geography as a motif for differentiating social
classes. Fitzgerald uses the stark contrast between the valley of ashes, the Eggs, and
New York to vividly represent the socioeconomic status of the people living in these
areas. Against these backdrops he examines the concept of class and, specifically, the
elite versus the lower class. Using the gathering at Wilson's garage in the valley of
ashes as a backdrop, the contrast between the Buchanans and the Wilsons is clear.
George seems content with his station in life, while Myrtle (like Jay Gatsby) longs
for attention and affluence.

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Analysis Chapter 3

Gatsby is symbolic of the new money of West Egg: people who aren't used to being
rich and are thus prone to lavish displays of wealth, such as his opulent parties. No
one seems to know who Gatsby is or how he got rich, but they're more than happy to
take advantage of his generosity by partying into the wee hours of the morning,
eating the food and drinking the wine of a host they cannot even identify. Despite
having few facts, people happily swap rumors about Gatsby—that he was a German
spy, or that he killed a man. The theme of superficiality versus truth or facade versus
reality continues when Nick meets Gatsby. Despite Gatsby's fame, Nick is taken
aback by how humble the man seems, and is surprised to learn that they served in the
same military division during the war. Gatsby's accent, however, seems fake; he
throws parties where he knows none of the guests, and in touring his home, it's clear
that each detail has been painstakingly chosen to create the appearance of vast
wealth. In the library, for example, one guest is amazed that the books are real, not
just ornate cardboard fashioned to look like real books.
In this chapter Fitzgerald uses Nick's perceptions to elaborate on the
superficiality of the individuals and events he is experiencing. Although he is
absorbed in the exciting lifestyle that the East Coast offers, Nick is not completely
won over. Nick's personal ethics can be glimpsed as he muses on what he calls
Jordan's "incurabl[e] dishonest[y]." He is drawn to both Gatsby and Jordan despite
their seeming dishonesty (or hidden truths). This is interesting because morality and
honesty are at the core of Nick's character. He calls himself "one of the few honest
people that I have ever known," yet he is willing to overlook these flaws in others—
perhaps due to his father's advice at the novel's opening not to criticize anyone.
Nick also seems concerned with how his character comes across in the novel,
speaking directly to readers to assure them that he didn't fritter away his summer
with mindless partying—he worked hard in New York and tried to date other
women. In the end, though, he was drawn back to the mystery and opulence of West
Egg.

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Analysis Chapter 4

This chapter continues the theme of superficiality versus truth, or facade versus
reality. In creating a new life for himself—one to impress Daisy—Gatsby has
obviously left the reality of his past behind him. His personal history is fabricated,
and the origin of his money is just as murky. Through these lies, the true picture of
Gatsby is beginning to emerge: like many other characters in the novel, he is
dishonest and obsessed with appearances. He may, in fact, even be a criminal. Nick's
fears of Gatsby being involved in organized crime are a sharp contrast to Jordan's
perception of Gatsby as a brokenhearted soldier who would stop at nothing to win
back the woman he loves. Both interpretations of Gatsby's characters are somewhat
true. After hearing both sides of the story, Nick is equally perplexed about his
feelings for Gatsby: he admires the man's determination and drive, yet is disgusted
by his (seemingly) illegal means of amassing wealth.
While driving to meet Wolfsheim for lunch, Gatsby is pulled over for
speeding. He simply waves a card at the officer, however, and is let go without even
a warning. This is another clue that Gatsby occupies a high rank in society and that
he may have come by his celebrity immorally. Gatsby's clout hints again at his
involvement in organized crime—the officer practically apologizes to Gatsby for
pulling him over, rather than reminding him of the law.
Gatsby's past relationship with Daisy provides more insight into her
character. It appears that she truly was in love with Gatsby but was discouraged from
marrying him because he was poor. Even though she said she would wait for him,
she chose to marry Tom, a man capable of gifting her with pearls worth more than
$350,000. For Daisy—and clearly for her old-money family—good breeding is more
important than love. Perhaps this is why Daisy chooses to stay with Tom despite his
abusive behavior and obvious adultery. Again, appearances are more important than
reality in her circle, and to East Eggers, Tom is the catch of a lifetime.
Analysis Chapter 5

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Gatsby's dream, which he has spent five years working toward, is finally realized
when he is reunited with Daisy. The build-up to their meeting is comically awkward,
although Nick insists "it wasn't a bit funny." Gatsby, who has been controlled and
measured throughout the novel, is suddenly nervous, emotional, and vulnerable.
When he knocks on Nick's door after Daisy's arrival, he is "pale as death." Gatsby
wants everything to be perfect for Daisy, so he micromanages every detail to ensure
it's as beautiful as he's always dreamed, hiring a landscaper to cut Nick's lawn, and
sending over a "greenhouse" of flowers. He dresses in white, gold, and silver to
ensure Daisy doesn't miss the fact that he's rich now. When they actually meet,
however, it's awkward—foreshadowing the fact that reality is never as beautiful as
the dream. In a bumbling attempt to appear relaxed, Gatsby breaks Nick's clock, a
vivid symbol of his botched attempt to rewind time.
After some time alone, however, it's clear that Gatsby and Daisy's love has been
rekindled. Daisy's eyes are filled with tears twice in this short chapter, most notably
after she sees Gatsby's fine shirts. Daisy married Tom hastily, attracted to his money,
leaving Gatsby because he was too poor. Now he has more money than he knows
what to do with, and Daisy's tears suggest a realization that she made a terrible
mistake. Had she waited for Gatsby, she could have had love and wealth, but she
sold herself short. Gatsby's vulnerability is also seen when he offers to pay Nick for
helping him arrange the meeting. Nick is offended by the offer—he would have
helped Gatsby simply because they're friends. The offer suggests that Gatsby has few
true friends. Since becoming rich and shedding his past, Gatsby has had to pay for
everything, including friendship. His superficiality has caused him to lose touch with
reality. The interaction leaves Nick in deep thought, as he questions again just how
much of the person known as Gatsby is a facade.
Analysis Chapter 6
Insight into Gatsby's true past highlights the transformation his character has
undergone. At the age of 17, Gatsby abandoned his past, even changing his name, to
chase a dream. In all this time his character hasn't matured past his teenage dreams—
he still naively believes that with enough determination (and money) anything is
possible. His dream won't be complete until Daisy admits that she never loved Tom,

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leaves him, and runs back to Louisville to marry Gatsby. Nick tries to shake sense
into Gatsby by warning that he can't re-create the past, but Gatsby responds
incredulously, "Of course you can!" Gatsby has been so dedicated to chasing a dream
that he no longer sees its impossibility.
Gatsby's crucial flaw is that he believes money can buy him anything. Unfortunately,
Gatsby is new money and will never be accepted in the old-money social circle. This
is painfully obvious when the riding party visits for a drink. They haven't come to
socialize with Gatsby—they use him for a rest and free booze. Gatsby foolishly
thinks he can buy their friendship, just as he tried to do with Nick in Chapter 5, and
he becomes a laughingstock. Tom and his friends sneak out of Gatsby's house, both
horrified and amused that he believed their dinner invitation to be sincere.
The clash between old money and new money is further highlighted during the
unsuccessful party that weekend. Even Nick finds the garish opulence of the party
appalling. He, like the Buchanans, is impressed with what Gatsby can buy but finds
the gluttony and excess disgusting.
Analysis Chapter 71
It is the turning point in the novel. The tension that has been mounting blows open in
the climactic moment when, after a heated fight, Daisy chooses Tom over Gatsby.
Gatsby's dream is shattered, and everything he has worked to achieve slips away.
Everyone in the hotel room feels the excruciating tension as both men vie for Daisy's
commitment. In the end, Gatsby's fantasy cannot trump the reality of the life Daisy
and Tom have created, despite its obvious flaws.
After the hotel room fight, Daisy's intentions in her relationship with Gatsby are
revealed. Like everyone else in Gatsby's life, Daisy has been using him—to get back
at Tom for his infidelity. Realizing that he might lose Daisy, Tom admits his affairs,
and promises "I'm going to take better care of you from now on." This seems to be
enough for Daisy.
At the end of the chapter, Nick is disgusted by the self-serving behavior of everyone
he's met. Nothing, not even a woman's death, can pull them from their spoiled,
selfish pettiness. Gatsby gave up everything—his past, his name, his morality—in

1
See https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Great-Gatsby/quotes/

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pursuit of Daisy. He is desperate and would do anything to be welcomed into their
elite circle. The difference between Gatsby and the Buchanans is made clear one
final time: while the Buchanans are united in their perverse view that everyone is
disposable (Myrtle and Gatsby, for example) and are able to calmly sit and eat dinner
together, Gatsby still wants to protect his perfect image of Daisy. Despite her crime,
he is willing to sacrifice himself for her. In pursuing her, he's given up everything
and no longer has anything to lose.

Analysis Chapter 8

When Gatsby returns from outside Daisy's home, he is surprised that Daisy didn't
need him. Gatsby has fantasized his relationship with Daisy for so long that he
cannot come to grips with the idea that she has changed since he first met her. The
reality is, Gatsby doesn't really know her. He still clings to the idea that Daisy has
lost her way and needs him to save her.
Morally shaken by the events surrounding Myrtle's death, Nick even ends his
relationship with Jordan, realizing that it is shallow. He shows genuine care for
Gatsby, more concerned about his friend than his family (Daisy), urging him to leave
Long Island until the dust has settled around Myrtle's death. Unfortunately, Gatsby
has worked too long, given up too much, to slink away in hiding. He cannot admit,
even to himself, that his dream of living a happy life with Daisy has died.

The symbolism of Dr. Eckleburg's eyes returns in this chapter, with George insisting
that while Myrtle may have been able to fool him, she "can't fool God." When
George looks up at the faded billboard, the reader is reminded how easily the
characters have shed their morality in pursuit of personal gains (wealth, romance,
and so on).
George sets out to find Myrtle's murderer. This belief, and the unfortunate mistaken
identity of Gatsby as the killer, is just another example of distorted reality. Daisy, the
truly guilty party, continues her life without consequence while Gatsby is sacrificed.
Fitzgerald is here again examining the idea of class struggle, with Myrtle, George,

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and Gatsby representing collateral damage—casualties of the games the rich can
afford to play.

Analysis Chapter 9
This final chapter ties up the novel's loose ends and brings many of the themes full
circle. Tom's blind arrogance allows him to blame Gatsby for the accident, and to
feel no remorse for the false accusation or for Gatsby's death. Initially, Nick does not
want to shake Tom's hand, but relents before saying goodbye because it would be
"silly not to." Nick realizes that there is no point in being angry with Tom, despite his
horrific behavior. Tom, like Daisy, is too self-involved, too shallow, and too spoiled
to realize the tragedy he caused. Although Nick doesn't have the extreme wealth
Gatsby enjoyed, he is representative of the same social circle: privileged, but not
elite. Nick's time in West Egg gave him a taste of an upscale lifestyle filled with
riches and leisure foreign to his Midwestern upbringing. Through his friendship with
Gatsby and the Buchanans, he sees what people are willing to sacrifice in pursuit of
social standing, and what they will trample on to cling to their positions. Like
Gatsby, Nick must decide if the ends justify the means.

Nick, like many other characters in the novel (Gatsby, Myrtle), grapples with the
trappings of the American dream. America is the land of opportunity, where rags-to-
riches stories are celebrated. Gatsby was able to create an entirely different persona
for himself and amass unimaginable wealth, but he was never able to fully achieve
his dream. When Nick visits Gatsby's house one last time, he sees the green light and
imagines how Gatsby must have believed his dream to be just out of grasp, not
realizing that "it was already behind him, somewhere back in that vast obscurity."
For Myrtle and Gatsby, being born poor prevented them from being truly accepted
into the elite rank of social hierarchy, and no matter what either accomplished,
acceptance would be impossible. In this way, their dreams were always doomed.
Nick has the social breeding to be accepted into the elite circle (he is Daisy's cousin,
after all), but not the wealth. Had he worked to gain a fortune like Gatsby did, he

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might have a chance of acceptance, but for Nick, the reward is not worth losing his
morality. Instead, he packs his bags and moves home to the Midwest, leaving the
green light and the valley of ashes behind him.

- In the opening chapter, also, there are references to color, images which
proliferate throughout the novel. In addition to the red and gold books, (p.6) white
—here white describe “palaces of fashionable East Egg,” (p.8). Daisy and Jordan’s
dresses (10), and, most ironically, their “beautiful white girlhood” (p.22)—deepens
in symbolic interpretation. Inverting the universal symbol, in this work white
represents impurity, or loss of innocence.
Almost immediately, gray images are associated with decadence, decay, desolation,
and waste—wasted vitality, wasted morals, and wasted dreams.
Jordan Baker has “gray sun-strained eyes” (p.14) looking out of a “wan” or pale,
“discontented face”; (p.14) she has “autumn-leaf yellow” (p.189) hair, autumn being
the archetypal symbol of death or dying. Although Nick is attracted to her, ultimately
her lack of character closes out his interest. Being so often described with “gray” and
autumn images connects her with decadence.
Finally, at the end of the chapter, Gatsby appears under the “silver pepper of the
stars,” (p. 24) looking longingly at “a single green light.” (p. 24)
The green, introduced first as the light at the end of a dock, has ambivalent
interpretations. Green typically is associated with growth, spring, and new life. It
signals “Go! Go! Go!” presumably for any generation. It is the color of money. All
of these meanings apply in The Great Gatsby. Primarily, it is connected with Daisy,
who turns out to be an unworthy dream.
Colors, then, not only vivify images and create a picturesque view for the reader but
also facilitate Fitzgerald’s thematic commentary about reality and dreams.

In this narrative, the heavy use of simile and metaphor also serves as a
reflection on the life of the1920s. On one hand there is the East Egg, the symbol of
the upper class with its money and the power it bestows upon its holder, on the other

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 hand there is the Valley of ashes which serves as a symbol of the lower middle class
and the dull life its inhabitants are living.
The writer, Fitzgerald, also uses the figures of speech to emphasize the contrasts
within the novel.

The Great Gatsby is rich in contrast.

A- There is the moral corruption of Tom and Daisy against the noble and romantic
dream of Gatsby. Also, there are the old traditional family values of the West and the
modern way of life of the East.
B- The eggs are dissimilar in “every particular except shape and size.” (p.7). On West
Egg, “the less fashionable of the two,” (p .7) appear houses designed and built with
no apparent restrictions or codes, a bungalow sandwiched between two mansions.
(p.5) By contrast, the houses on fashionable East Egg “glittered” with “white
palaces” (p.8). The contrasting descriptions focus on nouveau riche or new money,
with the possible implication of lack of refinement or class, and old money, with
well-groomed houses and lawns accompanying well-groomed, well-bred occupants,
who, at least superficially, are characterized by gentility.

Themes, motifs and symbols play an important part in the story.

- They point to something deeper which lies within the plot. Because Fitzgerald‘s
style is full of symbols that hold second or even third hidden meaning it is especially
important that the reader understands them.
- In fact, the contrast between the American East and West becomes very significant
in explaining the main theme of the novel, which Is the romantic quest of Gatsby.
- Also, the lure of the East represents a profound displacement of the American
dream.
Symbolism:
1- The Green Light:
Situated at the end of Daisy’s East Egg dock and barely visible from Gatsby’s West
Egg lawn, the green light represents Gatsby’s hopes and dreams for the future.
Gatsby associates it with Daisy, and in Chapter 1 he reaches toward it in the darkness

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 as a guiding light to lead him to his goal. Because Gatsby’s quest for Daisy is
broadly associated with the American dream, the green light also symbolizes that
more generalized ideal. Also,in literature, green is often symbolic of money, and
Nick later realizes that the light emanates from the end of the Buchanans' dock. As
the novel progresses, it is revealed that Gatsby has amassed all his wealth in the
hopes of winning Daisy's love—a desire perfectly symbolized in this scene.
2- The Valley of Ashes:
First introduced in Chapter 2, the valley of ashes between West Egg and New York
City consists of a long stretch of desolate land created by the dumping of industrial
ashes. The valley of ashes is a hugely symbolic place, literally covered in the waste
of capitalism. 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.

3- The Eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg

The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are a pair of fading, bespectacled eyes painted on
an old advertising billboard over the valley of ashes. They may represent God staring
down upon and judging American society as a moral wasteland, though the novel
never makes this point explicitly. Instead, throughout the novel, Fitzgerald suggests
that symbols only have meaning because characters instill them with meaning. The
connection between the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg and God exists only in
George Wilson’s grief-stricken mind. This lack of concrete significance contributes
to the unsettling nature of the image. 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. Nick explores these ideas in Chapter 8,
when he imagines Gatsby’s final thoughts as a depressed consideration of the
emptiness of symbols and dreams.
Hovering over the valley of ashes are the faded eyes of Dr. Eckleburg, eyes
George Wilson refers to as the eyes of God. The fact that they are faded suggests that

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 spirituality and religion are long-forgotten institutions, which further highlights the
immorality and corruption of the novel.

The moral and social decay of America, and New York City the uninhibited, amoral
quest for money and pleasure. Additionally, the East is connected to the moral decay
and social cynicism of New York, while the West (including Midwestern and
northern areas such as Minnesota) is connected to more traditional social values and
ideals.
 The East, where Gatsby sees the green light, inspires in him a romantic hope of
future. But it only shatters his dream and leads to his violent end. The East Egg
appears attractive as “the city seen for the first time, in its wild promise of all the
mystery and beauty in the world." But it appears so only from a distance and when
one goes near, it is seen to be an “unreal city”(74) with “ash-grey men who move
dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air.
 It is important to note that Gatsby is not destroyed by his bootlegging and the under-
world connections. Coming from the West, he is unable to comprehend the
materialistic ethic of the East. Daisy’s selfishness and Tom’s hard malice lead to the
murder of Gatsby. Gatsby, whose romantic belief is firmly rooted in the ability to
repeat the disembodied past, utterly fails to see through the falsity of the present.
Though he is faintly aware that each step towards the green light is going to make the
romantic glow less bright, he persists in his efforts towards attaining his goal,
namely, winning Daisy. Even as the story reaches its climax and culminates in the
violent death of Gatsby, Fitzgerald, in a highly poetic language, suggests Gatsby's
essential connection with the West which represents his simplicity of heart and his
romantic dream.

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 Themes:
1- Class:
The theme of class, particularly the elite versus the middle and lower classes, is
pronounced throughout The Great Gatsby. This theme is demonstrated via
geography: East Egg represents the elite with old money, West Egg represents the
elite with new money, and the "valley of ashes" represents the middle and lower
classes. Those who are not in one of the wealthier communities strive to be there, as
portrayed through the character of Myrtle Wilson. The central character, Jay Gatsby,
is obsessed with being seen as one of the greatest of those in West Egg so that he can
be reunited with his love, Daisy Buchanan, who lives in East Egg. Fitzgerald's strong
characterization vividly captures the contrasts between the classes.

2- Superficiality versus Truth:

Superficiality versus truth, or facade versus reality, permeates The Great Gatsby and
is best examined by looking at the characters of Jay Gatsby, Tom and Daisy
Buchanan, and Jordan Baker. Gatsby's entire existence personifies superficiality—
from his pseudonym, to his fabricated past, to the lavish parties he throws.
At his core, Gatsby is motivated by his love for Daisy; he seeks power and
money to be accepted among the wealthy and deserving of her love. By the time this
story begins, however, he is so entrenched in the lifestyle of the elite that he has lost
his way; he has given himself over to his goals and has lied for so long—even to
himself—that he is unable to recognize truth or achieve depth in his relationships.
Nick discovers this early on when Gatsby attempts to buy his friendship.

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 The Buchanans and Jordan Baker also lead superficial lives—directionless
existences characterized by luxury, wealth, power, and the never-ending pursuit for
more.
3- American Dream:
The Great Gatsby can be seen as a reflection of the rise and fall of the American
dream. Fitzgerald sets the story in the frivolous 1920s—before anyone could even
have imagined the crash that ushered in the Great Depression four years after the
book was published—and focuses on how individuals can re-create themselves and
become successful no matter where they begin.
Chasing the American dream comes with harsh realities for some, which
Fitzgerald shares through the character of Nick Carraway. For example, while Nick
perceives Jay Gatsby to be wealthy and successful, he also recognizes the man's
insecurities and lack of social skills, and sees that Gatsby—to his own detriment—
has spent his life chasing a love he has idealized beyond all realistic boundaries.
4- Degradation of Society:
Following World War I, the population's postwar emotional relief, accessibility of
consumer goods, and affluence (in some levels of society) soon led to an
unrestrained pursuit of wealth, pleasure, and material goods. The destructive nature
of materialism and the society's crumbling moral values are vividly portrayed in the
novel's characters.
Gatsby's simplistic view of life—his abiding belief that Daisy will leave Tom
Buchanan and marry him—is evidenced regularly in his attempts to buy people's
loyalty, friendship, and love. He tries to pay Nick for setting up the meeting with
Daisy, gives Nick the gift of a car, and holds elaborate parties for social hangers-on
—many of whom don't even know him.
Nick feels the pull of his Midwestern moral values, but is swayed by the
allure of the East's excitement and easy pleasures. Although Daisy loved Gatsby
when they first met, she decides not to wait for him when tempted by Tom's offer of
marriage. After all, Tom comes from an elite family and showers her with expensive
presents. Later, despite her renewed feelings for Gatsby, she remains with the safe
choice of old money and social status.

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 Myrtle, mesmerized by the glamour she sees in the elite, is willing to trade
the moral haven of her marriage for the chance to join the upper class. In that pursuit,
she eventually loses her life.

Here are some extracts from the novel that has some figurative devices:
EX: Page 5:
1- “Instead of being the warm center of the world the middle-west now seemed like
the ragged edge of the universe—so I decided to go east and learn the bond
business.” (p.5). Nick uses this simile, comparing the Midwest to the far edges of the
universe, to explain how his hometown no longer felt like home after he returned
from World War I, and why he felt compelled to move East.
Ex page 7:
2- Twenty miles from the city a pair of enormous eggs, identical in contour and
separated only by a courtesy bay, jut out into the most domesticated body of salt
water in the WesternHemisphere, the great wet barnyard of Long Island Sound. (P.7)
In this metaphor, Nick compares Long Island Sound to a barnyard and East Egg and
West Egg to a pair of actual eggs, suggesting that humans have tamed and
domesticated this area for their own purposes.
EX: Page 11 para 2 :
Nick uses an extended simile to characterize the condescending way that Jordan
looks down her nose at him when they first meet, comparing her snobbish posture to
that of a person trying to balance something on her chin.

She was extended full length at her end of the divan (sofa), completely motionless,
and with her chin raised a little, as if she were balancing something on it which was
quite likely to fall. . . . Miss Baker’s lips fluttered, she nodded at me almost
imperceptibly, and then quickly tipped her head back again—the object she was
balancing had obviously tottered a little and given her something of a fright.
EX: Page 14 para 2 :
. . wedging his tense arm imperatively undermines, Tom Buchanan compelled me
from the room as though he were moving a checker to another square.

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Here Nick uses a simile to convey Tom’s brute strength and commanding nature,
likening himself (Nick) to a piece in a game of checkers that Tom can push around
the board with minimal effort.
EX: Page 23/24 para 1 :
As for Tom, the fact that he “had some woman in New York” was really less
surprising than that he had been depressed by a book. Something was making him
nibble at the edge of stale ideas, as if his sturdy physical egotism no longer nourished
his peremptory heart.
In this metaphor, Nick derides Tom’s obsession with the white-supremacist book
“The Rise of the Colored Empires,” comparing the book’s ideas to stale bread that
Tom is using to feed his sense of entitlement.

EX: Page 32 para 2 :

At 158th Street the cab stopped at one slice in a long white cake of apartment houses.
This metaphor compares a row of apartment buildings in New York to a white cake
in which each building is a slice, suggesting that all of the buildings are identical and
white.

EX: Page 39 Last para :

Yet high over the city our line of yellow windows must have contributed their share
of human secrecy to the casual watcher in the darkening streets, and I was him too,
looking up and wondering. I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and
repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life

Fitzgerald uses rhetorical devices such as alliteration Dan's dog dove deep in the
dam, drinking dirty water as he dove. and repetition to contribute to the text’s
evocative mood. For example, when Gatsby and Tom visit Myrtle in the city, Nick
imagines someone looking up at them illuminated in a window, saying: “Yet high
over the city our line of yellow windows must have contributed their share of human
secrecy to the casual watcher in the darkening streets. The list of contrasts (“within”

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and “without,” “enchanted” and “repelled”) illustrate Nick’s restlessness and
fascination with the city.
Chapter 1: "A beautiful little fool" page 20 before the last para:
I said, ‘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.’
Daisy speaks these words in Chapter 1 as she describes to Nick and Jordan her hopes
for her infant daughter. While not directly relevant to the novel’s main themes, this
quote offers a revealing glimpse (hint) into Daisy’s character.
Daisy is not a fool herself but is the product of a social environment that, to a
great extent, does not value intelligence in women. The older generation values
subservience and docility in females, and the younger generation values thoughtless
giddiness (lack of seriousness; lightheartedness.) and pleasure-seeking. Daisy’s
remark is somewhat ironic: 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. The pursuit of this distorted American Dream leads to worship at
unworthy shrines: beauty, youth, and pleasure become icons.

1- “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that ... [everyone
hasn't] had the advantages that you've had”.
Mr. Carraway, Chapter 1

In the opening of the novel, Nick recalls this advice from his father and says that it
causes him to reserve judgment on people and to be open to those who want to share
their thoughts. This establishes Nick as a fair and moral narrator. It also defines the
divide between the rich and poor in the novel: a reminder that wealth and opportunity
aren't equally divided.

2.“I hope she'll be a fool—that's the best thing a girl can be.”
Daisy Buchanan, Chapter 1

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This quote shows that Daisy is not truly content with her role as a frivolous, wealthy
wife. Although that role is the most she can foresee for her daughter, she is not happy
about that either.

3.“I told that boy about the ice. ... You have to keep after them all the time”.
Myrtle Wilson, Chapter 2

Through her affair with Tom, Myrtle believes she is part of the elite and pretends to
be a snob at the hotel. She is distorting reality, ignorant that she will never be fully
accepted.

4. “Before the wedding he gave her a string of pearls valued at three hundred and
fifty thousand dollars.”
Jordan Baker, Chapter 4

Jordan explains why Daisy married Tom, even though she was in love with Gatsby.
Tom offered financial security and social prestige that she couldn't pass up.

5. “They're such beautiful shirts ... I've never seen such beautiful shirts”.
Daisy Buchanan, Chapter 5

Daisy sobs when she sees the wealth Gatsby has amassed. She realizes that she could
have had it all—love and money—if she had waited for him as she promised she
would.

6. “He invented ... the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen-year-old boy would ...
invent”.
Nick Carraway, Chapter 6

In pursuing his version of the American dream, Gatsby remakes himself into what he
believes, on a superficial level, to be the ideal man: a wealthy socialite moving
upward on the social scale.

7. “You always look so cool.”

Daisy Buchanan, Chapter 7

This is Daisy's roundabout way of telling Gatsby that she loves him, but it focuses on
his appearance, serving as a reminder of how shallow Daisy's love is.

8. “I go off ... and make a fool of myself, but I always come back” .
Tom Buchanan, Chapter 7

Tom justifies his extramarital affairs because in his heart, he loves Daisy and always
comes back to her, which highlights his immorality and selfishness.

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9.“What'll we do ... this afternoon ... and the day after that, and the next thirty
years?”
Daisy Buchanan, Chapter 7

Although Daisy usually maintains a cheerful demeanor, this line reveals that she is
sad about what she sees as the meaninglessness of her life.

10. “So we drove on toward death through the cooling twilight.”

Nick Carraway, Chapter 7

This line from Nick, as the narrator, carries a double meaning. Nick, musing on his
30th birthday, sees ahead of him a rather gloomy future of dwindling social prospects
and loneliness, leading eventually to death. The line also foreshadows the evening's
events: Gatsby and Daisy are ahead of them in Gatsby's car and will soon have the
tragic accident that results in the death of Myrtle Wilson.

11.“ You're worth the whole damn bunch put together”.

Nick Carraway, Chapter 8

Nick has come to truly care about Gatsby, despite his criminal behavior. Gatsby
embodies passion and single-minded determination, which Nick respects much more
than being born into an elite position.

12. “You may fool me but you can't fool God!”

George Wilson, Chapter 8

After Myrtle is killed, George tells his neighbor Michaelis that he had warned her
that God is all-seeing. Despite the disregard for institutionalized religion during the
1920s, George reminded his wife that there are still consequences for immoral
behavior.

13. “They smashed up things ... and then retreated back into ... their vast
carelessness”.
Nick Carraway, Chapter 9

Describing Tom and Daisy, Nick realizes that the wealthy can always hide behind
their money, which perpetuates their immorality and sense of entitlement.

14.“Gatsby believed in the green light, the ... future that year by year recedes before
us”.
Nick Carraway, Chapter 9

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This quote repeats Gatsby's dream of a future based on his past romance with Daisy.
Although he believed that his idealized future was possible, his attempt to re-create
their past love failed because Daisy's present, including Tom and their daughter,
could not be ignored. Daisy still had feelings for Gatsby, but her love for Tom and
Pammy could not be overcome; her current life destroyed any possibility for Gatsby's
longed-for future.

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