The Great Gatsby
Characters:
Jordan Baker: Is an athlete (competitive golfer). She represents one of the “new women” of the 1920s who is boyish and self-centered. On page 6 "...yawned Miss Baker, sitting down at the table as if she were getting into bed". Her actions at the dinner table suggest an “unladylike” behavior and boyish.
Daisy: She lives with the rich old-money population of New York on East Egg. Throughout chapter 1, Daisy is being described as beautiful and eloquent which shows the aura of grace and magnificence around Daisy. Yet, the glow eventually fades, and Daisy’s actual nature is revealed. According to Nick's description on page 8.
Tom: In general, Tom is an arrogant, racist, and aggressive character. It can be seen simply by his physical feature on page 4 "standing with his legs apart". adjectives such as "supercilious", "arrogant", and "aggressive" were being described to Tom’s arrogance. Moreover, Nick's description of Tom’s voice is demonstrating that Tom is aggressive and ill-tempered. The use of “fractiousness” simply shows how he is easily irritated.
Nick: Is the narrator who lives in the West Egg district of Long Island, next door to Gatsby. Nick served in the army in WWI, and now that he is home has decided to move east and try to become a bond trader on Wall Street. Nick is a graduate of Yale and grew up in a wealthy family. He is tolerant, open-minded, quiet, and a good listener, and, as a result, others tend to talk to him and tell him their secrets.
Gatsby: He is yet to be considered to be a mystery to the reader because he was briefly talked about throughout the chapter. At the end of chapter 1, Nick is sitting outside his bungalow in West Egg and first sees Gatsby. He describes him as "standing with his hands in his pockets...." He is generally is presented as new money and he is trying to behave how he thinks old money acts like. Gatsby throws party so he gets the chance to see her.
Symbols:
Colors:
Greenlight
White: "White dresses" (page 6) --> In general, the color white is often used to convey purity and innocence. In this case, white represents the lack of vitality and the artificial nature of their lifestyle.
The Greenlight act as Gatsby’s American Dream (Daisy). The act of "stretching his arm out" but it always seems to be out of reach.
Setting
East egg: Is the place where the old money elite lives in more classy luxury.
West egg: Is a lavish displays of wealth and garish poor taste. Nick's comparatively modest West Egg house is next door to Gatsby's mansion, a sprawling Gothic monstrosity.
Themes:
Old money Vs. new money: Fitzgerald describes the difference in wealth. Gatsby is forced to look across the water from his house in west egg while Tom and Daisy get to lavishly live in east egg. The west represents the new form of wealth, while the east represents old money. For instance, a "wicker settee" is places on the Buchanans porch (page 9). suggests more about their luxurious lifestyle and the way that they like to appear. An expensive piece of outdoor furniture that probably wouldn't have been comfortable. It's placed for women to see rather than actually being useful.
- Married to each-others
- Best-friends and both are from Louisville Kentucky
- Cousins with Daisy
Myrtle: She’s not thin, she’s poor, and she’s older than Tom. But she has an energy and vitality that intrigues Tom.Is constantly concerned with keeping up the appearance of having great wealth. She desires to live the extravagant lifestyle of Tom. When she is around him, she acts in a superfluous manner. For example, she "changed her dress" to try to distance herself from the reality of her low-class.
Grey is repeated more than once to emphasize the dull atmosphere in the valley. Creating a dull world, with no color, life, nor direction. Just grey dust, drifting without purpose over gray land.
Yellow: The yellow glasses is suggesting that even the holiest of people during the Roaring ’20s were still influenced by materialism and greed. "enormous yellow". Moreover, Yellow is associated with Wealth (New money) and how the other side is more cowardice. "small block of yellow brick".
American Dream: (unprosperous and bare) Nicks's description implies the poverty of the area and shops. This "unprosperous" area of Valley Of Ashes suggests the failure of "The American Dream". Furthermore, Myrtle is one of the strivers who is willing to put up with terrible treatment in exchange for a chance to climb higher. Myrtle grabs every tiny opportunity to demonstrate her slightly higher status. A simple action she would do is change her clothes.
Wilson: Based on Nicks's description Wilson is a good-looking man. However, he is beaten-down and lifeless like him cleaning his own garage. Wilson is presented as a gullible and simple man who can easily be manipulated by others and will be happy to please. Since he was eager to please his wife and does so without hesitation.
- Married to each-others
Lavender: lavender represents elegance and wealth and nobility. Myrtle's choice of a lavender taxi indicates her wanting to be with the superiors. However, the "grey upholstery" keeps on chasing her, and that she can never get rid of her past. (lavender-colored with grey upholstery,)
Cathrine: She's is introduced when Tom and Myrtle, hold an impromptu party in New York. Physically, Catherine is described as being "slender" and aged around thirty. Nick meets her at the apartment party with Myrtle and Tom.
- Myrtle's sister
Conflict:
Discrimination and dominance:
Wilson wants to stand up for himself but Tom is his source of revenue and his only source of hope. Fitzgerald uses it to show the upper class’s (Tom) mistreatment of laborers (Wilson).
New York apartment : Meeting point for partying and illegal drinking.
Valley of ashes: Area between west egg and Queens
Tom's affair:
Cause: Tom and Myrtle are not happy with their marriage and are not satisfied with their spouses.
Effect: George is not affected by it because he is not aware of the affair. While on the other hand, Daisy knows that there is something going on. Thus, she's being more cautions on everything she does.
Yellow: Fitzgerald links the color with wealth. Alcohol was, after all, banned under the Prohibition Act and yet the wealthy are surrounded by it during Gatsby’s lavish parties. (yellow cocktail music) Chap. 3
Nick uses the word “condescending” to describe the geography of East and West Egg. He also goes on and describes the people who live there. People in East Egg condescend (look down on) the new money residents of West Egg. (Chap. 3)
One of the major separations between Old Wealth and New Wealth is how New Wealth buys things to be seen, but never actually uses them. Most members of the New Wealth class fill the shelves with pieces of wood painted to look like books because they will never use them. Gatsby does otherwise, he tries to appear like a member of the highest class by buying real books. (Chap. 3)
Internal conflict: Nick is attracted to Jordan's sophistication but at the same time he is repelled by her dishonesty and consideration for other people. This line shows how Nick is trying to cope with all of his problems. "But I am slow-thinking and full of interior rules that act as brakes on my desires," (Chap. 3)
Owl Eyes: He is a strange old man who pops up as a guest at one of Gatsby's regular parties. He notices that there are real books on bookshelf rather than fake cardboard just so it would look nice. Which may imply that Gatsby is just for show and what other thinks. Being namedd as owls eyes may suggest that he realizes something about Gatsby that none knows because owls can see in the night.
Ewing Klipspringer: Piano player "the boarder" he basically lives in Gatsby's mansion and living with him. In exchange he plays the instruments for him.
Meyer Wolfsheim: In general, he's a mysterious character and he's a business associate and a friend of Gatsby's. (Shady) He's jewish and based on a real person in the 1920s.
Theme: Appearance vs. Reality - These disrespectful gestures contrasts reality with the appearance in that Gatsby’s lavish mansion seems absolutely perfect. However, in truth, it’s full of people who are far from ideal. "A maid began opening the upper windows of his house, appeared momentarily in each, and, leaning from a large central bay, spat meditatively into the garden." (Chapter 5)
Pink represents Daisy and Gatsby's love are together. "The rain was still falling, but the darkness had parted in the west, and there was a pink and" (Chapter 5)
The green light symbolizes many things, including Gatsby's aspiration to win Daisy back, which is his greatest desire. He doesn't need to see it now, so it's not visible in the mist.
Gold: The color gold suggests that Daisy is the “golden girl” who has lots of money and is like a “golden opportunity" to Gatsby. "golden billow of foamy clouds above the sea." (Chapter 5)
Dan Cody: He is a wealthy copper mogul whom Gatsby saves. In gratitude, Cody hires Gatsby as a personal assistant and introduces him to a life of wealth and luxury. In sum, Cody represents the lifestyle and wealth that Gatsby wants.
Mr Sloane: He is a man of East Egg, therefore he comes from “old money”. It's clear from the first comment he makes that he sees himself as superior to Gatsby. The reason why Mr. Sloane is staying away from the whole ordeal with Gatsby is because he does not wish to associate himself with Gatsby. Despite both possessing great fortunes, Gatsby comes from “new money”. Thus, Mr. Sloane think much highly of himself.
In Chapter 6, we see the difference between old and new money. It is significant that Gatsby doesn’t have a horse. The Old Money Sloanes are on horseback, and when Tom Buchanan is introduced, he is in riding clothes. Thus, equestrian sports are symbolic of Old Money in the novel.
Blue: “Blue nose” (chap. 6) In this case, blue stands for wealth and money. Daisy is attracted to people of high status and money. Thus, she found the producer more interesting than the others at the party.
American Dream is intangible and elusive. At first, Gatsby wanted to simply meet Daisy. Then, he wanted to spend time with her. Now, even after a dance, he is not satisfied. He will never be satisfied because whenever he achieves one goal, he moves on to another. “The dance?” He dismissed all the dances he had given with a snap of his fingers. “Old sport, the dance is unimportant.” (Chap. 6)
Gatsby’s ultimate goal in the novel is not just gaining the love of Daisy Buchanan, but rather going back to the past when Daisy was truly pure without her associations with Tom Buchanan. Gatsby doesn’t view Daisy as a woman whom he loves dearly but as a goal that must be reached in order for his life to be complete. Gatsby wants to relive the time when the two had first met and were in love as having the present Daisy as she is not satisfying for him.
Louisville: Jordan baker was born and raised there.
Chicago: Where tom and daisy lived before moving to east egg.
San Fransisco (midwest): Where Gatsby’s parents lived.
North Dakota: Where Gatsby is truly from (born there).
Forty-second street cellar: This is where Gatsby, Nick, and Mr Wolfshiem ate lunch. Also it is when Tom was spotted and Gatsby vanished as Nick wanted to introduce him to Gatsby.
The Old Metropole: The restaurant across where Gatsby, Nick, and Mr Wolfshiem ate lunch at and that was where Rosy Rosenthal was shot.
St. Olaf College In southern Minnesota: Gatsby arranged this college and dropped out within 2 weeks.
Tuolomee: Dan Cody’s boat
Suite in the plaza: It is located on the south side of Central Park. It is where things all unfolds because Gatsby and Daisy confess their affair. Daisy mentions that she loved both Gatsby and Tom. Thus, it makes Tom challenges Gatsby about his history and somewhat exposes him.
Winebrenner’s poolroom at forty-third street: Where Wolfshiem raised Gatsby.
Cause: Myrtle wants to appear rich and she wants to climb up the social ladder.
Effect: When she is near Tom, her personality changes and well as her appearance. For instance, she desperately wants a dog just to show off infant of others.
Cause: The difference people whole gain money from labor while others inherit it.
Effect: It creates both social and physical division between classes. The people with old money think they are at the top of the hierarchy in relations to people with new money.
Cause: Marriage is like a business deal because people marry each other just for their level in the hierarchy and for their money.
Effect: It is shown from two relationships in the novel first in Tom and Daisy’s relationship as well as George and Myrtle’s.
Cause: Gatsby never stopped loving daisy.
Effect: Gatsby bought a house right across Tom and Daisy’s house across the bay he is hoping to impress her with all the luxuries. He also asked Nick for a favor to invite Daisy over so he can finally meet her after all these years. He hosts all of these parties hoping for her to show up. He went through all this corruption and practiced illegal business to achieve the American dream and impress Daisy by gaining money and high social status. He even took the blame for Myrtles death and he had the guts to stay in town and wait for Daisy even though there might be a possibility that he goes through some kind of trouble.