The Great Gatsby

1
The Great Gatsby

• by F. Scott Fitzgerald

2
The Lost Generation

• Term coined by Fitzgerald in his 1st Book
• Include authors and poets Ernest Hemingway,
  Fitzgerald, Ezra Pound, et. al.
• Compared to early Modernists, much more
  questioning and critical of American Dream
• Individualism
• New Eden
• Eternal Progress
• Why?

3
WW I

• Occurring just after World War I- many, many
  Americans coming back disfigured, emotionally
  scarred, or not at all
• Massive influx of immigrants fleeing violence and
  destruction
• Many African-Americans serve and are exposed to
  European culture

4
Changing Social Morals

• American Society shaking off the oppressive
  morality of the 19th Century (Victorian) Era
• Womens rights movement makes first big gains
• Jazz Age brings mixing of black and white
  cultures
• Scopes Monkey Trial brings into conflict
  science religion

Not saucy
saucy
5
Changing Social Morals Backlash

• Prohibition (1920 1933) Alcohol made illegal-
  ( bootleggers get rich)
• Rise of extreme religious conservative movement
• Return of the KKK
• 1st Red Scare and Palmer Raids

6
Rise of the Consumer Culture

• Progressive Era reforms allowing for greater
  standard of living for everybody
• American consumer culture and leisure class
  born- where goal of life is to acquire material
  goods- made Fitzgerald very uneasy.
• Ennui is different from boredom in that ennui
  describes weariness over a long period of time
  associated with leisure class- life is
  purposeless, dull, etc.

7
Characters and Plot

• Nick Carraway (29)- narrator- New York bond
  dealer (but from midwest)
• Jay Gatsby (late 20s)- neighbor of Nick,
  extremely wealthy businessman- holds AWESOME
  parties
• Daisy Buchanan- Nicks distant cousin- turns out
  Gatsby and she have a thing
• Tom Buchanan- Daisys boorish, stupid, cheating
  husband
• Jordan Baker- Saucy golf pro who Nick has sort
  of a crush on- minor character