The Connell Guide to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby offers a comprehensive analysis of the novel's themes, characters, and narrative techniques. This guide delves into the significance of the narrator, Nick Carraway, and explores the contrasting characters of Gatsby and Tom Buchanan. Key discussions include the portrayal of the American Dream, the role of wealth and class, and Fitzgerald's treatment of women. Ideal for students and literature enthusiasts, this guide provides insights into the novel's enduring relevance and its critical reception since publication. It also includes key quotes and facts about the text, making it a valuable resource for deeper understanding.

Key Points

  • Analyzes the character dynamics between Gatsby and Tom Buchanan in The Great Gatsby
  • Explores the themes of the American Dream and social class in Fitzgerald's novel
  • Discusses the significance of Nick Carraway as the unreliable narrator
  • Includes key quotes and facts that highlight the novel's critical reception
newtopiccyclegrowin
Author:John Sutherland & Jolyon Connell
Edition:2010
65 pages
Language:English
Type:Study Guide
History
newtopiccyclegrowin
Author:John Sutherland & Jolyon Connell
Edition:2010
65 pages
Language:English
Type:Study Guide
History
409
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The
Great
Gatsby
by
John Sutherland &
Jolyon Connell
The
Connell Guide
to
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s
Introduction 4
A summary of the plot 6
What is The Great Gatsby about? 10
How important is the narrator in the
novel? 21
How do Nick’s shortcomings as a man
affect the way he tells his tale? 28
How plausible is Gatsby? 35
Is Gatsby’s dream always doomed? 45
How much does money matter in the
novel? 55
How does Gatsby compare with Tom? 63
What does The Great Gatsby tell us about
the American Dream? 72
How does Fitzgerald treat women in the
novel? 87
What does the novel tell us about the
nature of dreams? 94
How great is The Great Gatsby? 104
The title 10
Why “Gatsby”? 14
Elegiac romance 19
Meet Mr Gatz 36
Six key quotes 44
What exactly is Gatsby’s “racket”? 47
Gatsby believed in the green light 50
Meyer Wolfshiem/Arnold Rothstein 54
Newly rich 56
Fitzgerald and money 58
Great? 63
Ten facts about The Great Gatsby 64
Gatsby’s heroic military career (or not) 76
Scott Fitzgerald’s unheroic military career 78
Drink and remembrance of times past 97
Fitzgeraldian overwriting 107
How the novel was received 108
A brief biography 112
What the critics say... 119
A short chronology 120
Bibliography 122
Index 124
Contents
4
5
Introduction
When The Great Gatsby was first published, in
1925, reviews were mixed. H.L. Mencken called it
“no more than a glorified anecdote”. L.P. Hartley,
author of The Go-Between, thought Fitzgerald
deserved “a good shaking”: “his imagination is
febrile and his emotion over-strained… The Great
Gatsby is evidently not a satire; but one would like
to think that Mr Fitzgerald’s heart is not in it, that
it is a piece of mere naughtiness.”
Yet gradually the book came to be seen as one
of the greatest – if not the greatest – of American
novels. Why? What is it that makes this story of a
petty hoodlum so compelling? Why has a novel so
intimately rooted in its own time “lasted” into ours?
What is it that posterity, eight decades later, finds
so fascinating in this chronicle of the long-gone
“Jazz Age”, flappers, speakeasies and wild parties?
It is, after all, scarcely a novel at all, more a long
short story. But it has a power out of all proportion
to its length. It is beautifully written, making it
feel even shorter than it is, and is full of haunting
imagery. It is also, perhaps, the most vivid literary
evocation of the “Great American Dream”, about
which it is profoundly sceptical, as it is about dreams
generally. In the end, however, as D.H. Lawrence
would put it, it is “on the side of life”.
Gatsby’s dream may be impossible, so much so
that the book can end in no other way than with his
death, but up to a point he is redeemed by it
and by the tenacity with which he clings to it. It
is this that makes the novel so moving and so
haunting.
The overwhelming majority of novels come,
enjoy their brief moment, and go into oblivion
never to return, but not this one. As George
Orwell said, “Ultimately there is no test of literary
merit except survival”. As every bookshop and
educational syllabus testifies, The Great Gatsby
has survived.
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End of Document
409

Figures

The Connell Guide to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby — Daisy drive back to Long Island together. She
THE TITLE
WHY “GATSBY”?
The Connell Guide to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby — and her freshness like new fine linen in the
ROMANCE
The Connell Guide to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby — important if limited sense genuinely “honest” –
The Connell Guide to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby — How plausible is Gatsby?
MEET MR GATZ
WHAT, EXACTLY, IS
GATSBY BELIEVED IN
MEYER WOLFSHIEM/
The Connell Guide to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby — publication, Fitzgerald worked on a long short
NEWLY RICH
FITZGERALD
GREAT?
TEN FACTS ABOUT
The Connell Guide to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby — isn’t a Catholic. Myrtle nonetheless fondly
GATSBY’S HEROIC
SCOTT FITZGERALD’S
The Connell Guide to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby — How does Fitzgerald treat
DRINK AND
The Connell Guide to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby — “everything’s terrible anyhow… Everybody thinks
FITZGERALDIAN
HOW THE NOVEL
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born in 1896 in
The Connell Guide to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby — F. SCOTT FITZGERALD
BIBLIOGRAPHY

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FAQs

What is the main theme of The Great Gatsby?
The Great Gatsby explores the theme of the American Dream, depicting its decay and the disillusionment that accompanies it. Fitzgerald critiques the idea that wealth and social status lead to happiness, illustrating how characters like Gatsby and Daisy are ultimately trapped by their illusions. The novel suggests that the pursuit of dreams can be both compelling and futile, as Gatsby's dream of rekindling his romance with Daisy proves to be unattainable.
How does Fitzgerald portray the character of Jay Gatsby?
Jay Gatsby is portrayed as a mysterious and wealthy figure, shrouded in rumors and intrigue. Born James Gatz, he reinvents himself to escape his impoverished origins, embodying the self-made man ideal. Throughout the novel, Gatsby's extravagant parties and obsessive love for Daisy Buchanan reveal his deep yearning for acceptance and validation. However, his tragic end underscores the hollowness of his dream, suggesting that despite his wealth, he remains isolated and unfulfilled.
What role does the green light play in the novel?
The green light at the end of Daisy's dock symbolizes Gatsby's unattainable dreams and aspirations. It represents his hope for a future with Daisy, who embodies his idealized vision of love and success. As the novel progresses, the significance of the green light shifts; it becomes a reminder of the distance between Gatsby's dreams and reality. When Gatsby finally reaches out for the light with Daisy by his side, its power diminishes, illustrating the futility of his longing.
How does Fitzgerald depict the social class divide in The Great Gatsby?
Fitzgerald highlights the stark contrast between 'old money' and 'new money' through the settings of East Egg and West Egg. East Egg, home to characters like Tom and Daisy Buchanan, represents the established aristocracy, characterized by inherited wealth and social elitism. In contrast, West Egg, where Gatsby resides, symbolizes the newly rich, who lack the social refinement that comes with old money. This divide underscores the novel's critique of materialism and the superficial values of the Jazz Age.
What is the significance of the Valley of Ashes in the novel?
The Valley of Ashes serves as a powerful symbol of the moral and social decay resulting from the pursuit of wealth. It represents the desolation and despair experienced by the working class, exemplified by characters like George Wilson. The juxtaposition of the Valley with the opulence of East and West Egg highlights the consequences of unchecked ambition and materialism. Fitzgerald uses this setting to critique the American Dream, suggesting that the quest for success often leads to destruction and emptiness.
How does Nick Carraway serve as the narrator of The Great Gatsby?
Nick Carraway narrates The Great Gatsby from a reflective and observant perspective, providing insight into the lives of the characters around him. His Midwestern background offers a contrast to the decadence of East and West Egg, allowing him to critique the moral decay he witnesses. Nick's judgments are often colored by his personal biases, yet he strives to remain a reliable witness to Gatsby's tragic story. His role as both participant and observer deepens the novel's exploration of illusion versus reality.
What is the outcome of Gatsby's relationship with Daisy?
Gatsby's relationship with Daisy ultimately ends in tragedy. Despite his deep love and longing for her, Daisy is unable to fully commit to him, torn between her past with Gatsby and her present with Tom Buchanan. After the fatal accident involving Myrtle Wilson, Daisy retreats into her privileged life with Tom, leaving Gatsby isolated and heartbroken. The culmination of their relationship highlights the futility of Gatsby's dreams and the harsh reality of social class and loyalty.

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