F. Scott F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Fitzgerald’s

The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby

About the AuthorAbout the Author

Born-September 24, 1896Born-September 24, 1896 Died-December 21, 1940Died-December 21, 1940 Married Zelda SayreMarried Zelda Sayre Famous works include Famous works include The Great The Great

Gatsby Gatsby

The Beautiful and the Damned The Beautiful and the Damned

Tender is the Night Tender is the Night

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Impact F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Impact on Societyon Society

Fitzgerald named the Fitzgerald named the 1920’s “The Jazz 1920’s “The Jazz Age”Age”

Wrote screenplays Wrote screenplays for Metro-Goldwyn-for Metro-Goldwyn-MayerMayer

Created the The Created the The Great Gatsby which Great Gatsby which is said to be the most is said to be the most accurate description accurate description of the 1920’sof the 1920’s

The Jazz AgeThe Jazz Age

Prohibition was in effectProhibition was in effect Dances such as the Charleston were Dances such as the Charleston were

popularpopular Popular sayings included 23 Skidoo, Popular sayings included 23 Skidoo,

Bee’s KneesBee’s Knees Economy was in a “Boom”Economy was in a “Boom”

World War IWorld War I World War I ended in 1918. World War I ended in 1918.

Disillusioned because of the war, Disillusioned because of the war, the generation that fought and the generation that fought and survived has come to be called survived has come to be called “the lost generation.”“the lost generation.”

The Roaring The Roaring TwentiesTwenties

America seemed to throw itself headlong America seemed to throw itself headlong into a decade of madcap behavior and into a decade of madcap behavior and materialism, a decade that has come to be materialism, a decade that has come to be called the Roaring Twenties.called the Roaring Twenties.

The New WomanThe New Woman

Among the rules broken were the age-old Among the rules broken were the age-old conventions guiding the behavior of conventions guiding the behavior of women. The new woman demanded the women. The new woman demanded the right to vote and to work outside the home. right to vote and to work outside the home.

Symbolically, she cut her hair into a boyish Symbolically, she cut her hair into a boyish “bob” and bared her calves in the short “bob” and bared her calves in the short skirts of the fashionable twenties “flapper.”skirts of the fashionable twenties “flapper.”

The FlappersThe Flappers

Flappers were Flappers were women who rebelled women who rebelled against the fashion against the fashion and social norms of and social norms of the early 1900’s.the early 1900’s.

They married at a They married at a later age and drank later age and drank and smoked in publicand smoked in public

Flappers were Flappers were known for their known for their carefree lifestyles.carefree lifestyles.

Flapper Fashion Flapper Fashion

Flappers dressed in Flappers dressed in shapeless dresses shapeless dresses that came to the that came to the knee.knee.

Dresses were made Dresses were made to look “boy-like”to look “boy-like”

Gender bending was Gender bending was common. Women common. Women would try to make would try to make themselves look themselves look more man-like.more man-like.

ProhibitionProhibition Another rule often broken was the Another rule often broken was the

Eighteenth Amendment to the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, or Prohibition, which Constitution, or Prohibition, which banned the public sale of alcoholic banned the public sale of alcoholic beverages from 1919 until its appeal beverages from 1919 until its appeal in 1933.in 1933.

Speak-easies, nightclubs, and taverns Speak-easies, nightclubs, and taverns that sold liquor were often raided, that sold liquor were often raided, and gangsters made illegal fortunes and gangsters made illegal fortunes as bootleggers, smuggling alcohol as bootleggers, smuggling alcohol into America from abroad.into America from abroad.

Gambling Gambling Another gangland activity was illegal Another gangland activity was illegal

gambling. gambling.

Perhaps the worst scandal involving Perhaps the worst scandal involving gambling was the so-called Black Sox gambling was the so-called Black Sox Scandal of 1919, in which eight members Scandal of 1919, in which eight members of the Chicago White Sox were indicted of the Chicago White Sox were indicted for accepting bribes to throw baseball’s for accepting bribes to throw baseball’s World Series.World Series.

The AutomobileThe Automobile The Jazz Age was also an era of reckless The Jazz Age was also an era of reckless

spending and consumption, and the most spending and consumption, and the most conspicuous status symbol of the time was a conspicuous status symbol of the time was a flashy new automobile. flashy new automobile.

Advertising was becoming the major Advertising was becoming the major industry that it is today, and soon industry that it is today, and soon advertisers took advantage of new advertisers took advantage of new roadways by setting up huge billboards at roadways by setting up huge billboards at their sides. their sides.

Both the automobile and a bizarre billboard Both the automobile and a bizarre billboard play important roles in play important roles in The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby..

The American DreamThe American Dream Gatsby is the ideal Gatsby is the ideal

image of one who has image of one who has achieved the American achieved the American Dream.Dream.

The The American DreamAmerican Dream is the concept widely is the concept widely held in the United held in the United States of America, that States of America, that through hard work, through hard work, courage and courage and determination one can determination one can achieve prosperity. achieve prosperity.

Old Money Vs. New Old Money Vs. New MoneyMoney

New Money:New Money: Someone who has Someone who has

achieved the achieved the American DreamAmerican Dream

Not as respected Not as respected in the 1920’sin the 1920’s

Old Money:Old Money: Money from family Money from family

wealthwealth Born richBorn rich Not earned Not earned

through work done through work done by yourselfby yourself

Respected above Respected above all in the 1920’sall in the 1920’s

Symbolism Symbolism in in

Literature Literature Sometimes, there’s more to Sometimes, there’s more to

literature than meets the eye….literature than meets the eye…. CharactersCharacters ItemsItems ColorsColors NamesNames

Symbolism and Symbolism and The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby

Just as characterization, Just as characterization, dialogue, and plot work on the dialogue, and plot work on the surface to move the story along, surface to move the story along, symbolism works under the symbolism works under the surface to tie the story's external surface to tie the story's external action to a universal theme.action to a universal theme.

Symbolism Symbolism Continued…Continued…

The mere sight of a skull and crossbones figure The mere sight of a skull and crossbones figure and you know that there is something that you and you know that there is something that you are being warned against. Roses and images of are being warned against. Roses and images of hearts have become synonymous with love. hearts have become synonymous with love. Different colors have come to symbolize Different colors have come to symbolize different emotions, for example purple for different emotions, for example purple for royalty, green for envy and red for passion or royalty, green for envy and red for passion or anger.anger.

Symbolism in literature has been a writing Symbolism in literature has been a writing method of choice for many authors and writers method of choice for many authors and writers due to the allowance of subtlety that this due to the allowance of subtlety that this literary device enables you with.literary device enables you with.

Characters as Characters as SymbolsSymbols

Authors sometimes create characters who Authors sometimes create characters who represent societal influencesrepresent societal influences Ex. The Wicked Witch represents the evil that Ex. The Wicked Witch represents the evil that

exists in societyexists in society Ex. Glenda the good witch symbolizes the Ex. Glenda the good witch symbolizes the

benevolent side of societybenevolent side of society

Characters can also represent ideas, Characters can also represent ideas, prejudices, beliefs, etc.prejudices, beliefs, etc.

Colors as SymbolsColors as Symbols The color “green” is normally associated The color “green” is normally associated

with jealousy; however, it can also with jealousy; however, it can also represent money/wealth. Ex. Green eyed represent money/wealth. Ex. Green eyed monster– Shakespeare made up in monster– Shakespeare made up in Othello Othello

The color white is most often used to The color white is most often used to represent purity or goodness whereas represent purity or goodness whereas darker colors such as black or gray darker colors such as black or gray symbolize wickedness or evilsymbolize wickedness or evil

Places as SymbolsPlaces as Symbols

Water/rivers are often used Water/rivers are often used to symbolize a cleansing or to symbolize a cleansing or freedomfreedom

Hollywood is a known symbol Hollywood is a known symbol for wealth and famefor wealth and fame

It’s time for you to decide,

Old Sport…

So what do the people, places, and items in the novel we are about to read actually represent?

Symbols in Symbols in The Great The Great GatsbyGatsby

Green Light- Visible from Gatsby’s Green Light- Visible from Gatsby’s mansion~ Not going to tell you what mansion~ Not going to tell you what this symbolizes…. You have to figure this symbolizes…. You have to figure this out on your own. this out on your own.

Symbols in Symbols in The Great The Great GatsbyGatsby

The Valley of Ashes- the area The Valley of Ashes- the area between West Egg and New York between West Egg and New York City. It is a desolate area filled with City. It is a desolate area filled with industrial waste.industrial waste.

Interesting… what could this symbolize????Interesting… what could this symbolize????

Symbols in Symbols in The Great The Great GatsbyGatsby

The Eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg- A The Eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg- A decaying billboard in the Valley of decaying billboard in the Valley of Ashes with eyes advertising an Ashes with eyes advertising an optometrist. There are multiple optometrist. There are multiple proposed meanings, I wonder what proposed meanings, I wonder what they are….they are….

Symbols in Symbols in The Great The Great Gatsby Gatsby

East and West Egg- The two major East and West Egg- The two major settings of the novel act as a settings of the novel act as a physical symbol. The barrier that the physical symbol. The barrier that the water creates between these worlds water creates between these worlds is symbolic of the barrier that keeps is symbolic of the barrier that keeps these people apart from one another these people apart from one another and from much of what they want.and from much of what they want.

Topics in Topics in The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby (which you will make into (which you will make into

themes…)themes…) Marriage and Marriage and

InfidelityInfidelity LoveLove Society and Class Society and Class Wealth Wealth Isolation Isolation GenderGender DissatisfactionDissatisfaction

Lies and Truth Lies and Truth RelationshipsRelationships American DreamAmerican Dream Compassion and Compassion and

ForgivenessForgiveness Culture Clash Culture Clash Carelessness and Carelessness and

Selfishness Selfishness

Characters of Characters of The Great The Great GatsbyGatsby

Jay Gatsby- The self-made wealthy Jay Gatsby- The self-made wealthy man who lives next door to Nick man who lives next door to Nick Carraway and loves Daisy BuchananCarraway and loves Daisy Buchanan

Characters of Characters of The Great The Great GatsbyGatsby

Nick Carraway- the narrator, Daisy’s Nick Carraway- the narrator, Daisy’s cousin, and Gatsby’s neighborcousin, and Gatsby’s neighbor

Characters in Characters in The Great The Great GatsbyGatsby

Daisy Buchanan- married to Tom, Daisy Buchanan- married to Tom, Gatsby’s love interest before the Gatsby’s love interest before the war, socialitewar, socialite

Other Characters in Other Characters in The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby

Tom Buchanan- Daisy’s husband, has Tom Buchanan- Daisy’s husband, has an affair with Myrtlean affair with Myrtle

Myrtle Wilson- Tom’s woman in the Myrtle Wilson- Tom’s woman in the city, married to Georgecity, married to George

George Wilson- owns the gas stationGeorge Wilson- owns the gas station Jordan Baker- Daisy’s friend, Jordan Baker- Daisy’s friend,

professional golfer professional golfer

Settings in Settings in The Great The Great GatsbyGatsby

West Egg- where West Egg- where Nick and Gatsby Nick and Gatsby live, represents new live, represents new moneymoney

East Egg- where East Egg- where Daisy & Tom live, Daisy & Tom live, the more the more fashionable area, fashionable area, represents old represents old moneymoney

Settings in Settings in The Great The Great GatsbyGatsby

The City- New York City, where the The City- New York City, where the characters escape to for work and characters escape to for work and play play

The Valley of Ashes- between the The Valley of Ashes- between the City and West Egg, where Wilson’sCity and West Egg, where Wilson’s

gas station isgas station is

Important QuotesImportant Quotes

““I hope she’ll be a fool- that’s the I hope she’ll be a fool- that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”a beautiful little fool.”

Daisy’s description of her daughterDaisy’s description of her daughter

““So we beat on, boats against the So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” –the last line of the novelthe past.” –the last line of the novel

Important QuotesImportant Quotes

"They were careless people, Tom and "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had people clean up the mess they had made." – Nick’s description of Tom made." – Nick’s description of Tom and Daisyand Daisy