The Great Gatsby Overview PDF

The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, explores themes of the American Dream, love, and social class in 1920s America. The novel follows the life of Jay Gatsby, a wealthy man who is deeply in love with Daisy Buchanan, a married woman. Set against the backdrop of the Roaring Twenties, it examines the disillusionment and moral decay of society. This overview provides insights into key characters, plot points, and thematic elements, making it ideal for students and literature enthusiasts alike. It serves as a valuable resource for understanding the complexities of Fitzgerald's work.

Key Points

Explores the themes of the American Dream and social class in 1920s America.
Follows the story of Jay Gatsby and his love for Daisy Buchanan.
Examines the moral decay and disillusionment of the Roaring Twenties.
Provides insights into key characters and plot points for literature studies.

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34 pages

Language:English

Type:Study Guide

Literature

newtopiccyclegrowin

34 pages

Language:English

Type:Study Guide

Literature

384

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AQA English Literature A-level

The Great Gatsby

Overview of Text and Key Scenes

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This work by PMT Education is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Overview

Written by the American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald in

1925, The Great Gatsby is one of the greatest

American novels of the twentieth century and arguably Fitzgerald’s seminal text. It is set in the

summer of 1922 in New York. It has 9 chapters and is framed by Nick Carraway, an unreliable

narrator. The story follows Nick’s memories of Jay Gatsby, a man who still loves Daisy

Buchanan, now a married woman. Gatsby tries to impress Daisy, who lives across the bay from

him, with his extravagant and lavish parties. But Gatsby’s hopes and dreams of winning Daisy

are crumbled when he faces her husband, the cruel Tom Buchanan. The Great Gatsby explores

the Roaring Twenties, The American Dream, class and grapples with the past and future. In

doing so, it captures the spirit, excitement, and violence of the era Fitzgerald named ‘The Jazz

Age’. Indeed, through the symbols of the green light, the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg, the

valley of ashes, the friction between the east and west and Gatsby’s mansion, The Great

Gatsby is a classic story of hope and disillusion.

Genre and Structure

Fitzgerald was writing in the

Modernist period where technological change was rapid and this

meant society was moving towards modernity. But throughout, Fitzgerald’s poetic language

suggests his inspiration from the Romantic age.

Some critics argue that Fitzgerald was influenced by the English Romantic poet, John Keats. In

his ‘Ode to a Nightingale’, Keats’s speaker is torn between the enchanting nature of death and

the uncertainty of life. Perhaps Fitzgerald alludes to this through Daisy. When Daisy sees a

nightingale in The Great Gatsby, she says “It’s romantic, isn’t it, Tom?”. Perhaps Daisy is

enchanted by its poetic symbol. This moment ends with the “shrill” of the telephone. This shows

how modernity kills the beauty of nature, it cuts it off and thus, the conflict between science and

nature arises. Fitzgerald was also influenced by the great Modernist poet, T. S. Eliot (he called

himself a “worshipper” of Eliot’s poetry. We see the influence of Eliot’s seminal poem ‘The Waste

Land’ in the novel. The Valley of Ashes alludes to this wasteland and both writers criticise

modernity and its ruin of nature.

The Great Gatsby is a novel about America in the 1920s. Many readers consider The Great

Gatsby as a 20th-century tragedy. If we can understand what a classical tragedy entails, then we

can extrapolate this into its modern equivalent.

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The Great Gatsby is sometimes considered a Realist novel, in its realistic depiction of the world a

banknotes Fitzgerald sets his novel in a New York that readers recognise: landmarks such as the

Plaza Hotel and Central Park are familiar to readers. However, Fitzgerald alters Great Neck and

Manhasset Neck to East and West Eggs. The large landfill site at Flushing is renamed “the valley

of ashes”. Nonetheless, Fitzgerald’s use of factual figures and historical dates, like the 1919

World Series, places the novel under the genre of realism. The exploration of the themes of sex

and adultery also emphasise the novel’s realism. The novel is also considered a social satire.

Fitzgerald’s use of irony, exaggeration and ridicule mocks and exposes the hedonism of 1920s

America. Think about Nick’s long list of Gatsby’s guests: none of them knew who Gatsby really

was and the readers didn’t know who they were. Even though most social satire is superficial,

Fitzgerald exposes the tragic human tendency to be fallible. The readers see this through Myrtle

Wilson’s attempt to transcend the status quo but fate decrees she must die. With her death,

Gatsby and George Wilson die too. Only those of the lower class die in this novel. Fitzgerald

demonstrates how the lower classes are the victims of 1920s American society. Beneath all the

extravagance is a deep callousness and shallowness.

The readers understand the greatness of Gatsby through the unreliable voice of Nick Carraway.

Nick’s voice is not the same as Fitzgerald’s but sometimes Nick assumes the role of Fitzgerald’s

mouthpiece. Interestingly, Fitzgerald doesn’t use an omniscient narrator, especially since Nick

doesn’t know all the facts. And yet, the reader is expected to believe Nick. Nick’s subjective point

of view places Gatsby on a pedestal and the real victim of the novel. Nick is dishonest about his

own shortcomings: he dismisses his affairs with other women and his alcohol use. He doesn’t tell

the reader the truth about Gatsby’s past until chapter six. Thus, in many ways, Nick outlines

Gatsby through his retrospective viewpoint and leaves the reader to colour him in. Gatsby’s

backstory and tragedy are mainly told by Nick but it is also narrated by the gossiping party guests,

Jordan Baker and Meyer Wolfsheim. This means that the novel is not in the chronological order

of Gatsby’s life but the chronological order of Nick’s memories.

Here is a diagram of the novel’s structure.

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Overview

The Great Gatsby Overview

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Figures

Jordan arrive at the scene in their car. Both Tom and Wilson are

” and “Oggsford”. That Wolfsheim mispronounces

FAQs

What are the main themes explored in The Great Gatsby?

The Great Gatsby explores several key themes, including the American Dream, class struggle, and the tension between past and present. Fitzgerald critiques the notion of the American Dream by illustrating how it can be corrupted by wealth and materialism. The novel also delves into the social hierarchies of the 1920s, contrasting 'old money' represented by characters like Tom Buchanan with 'new money' epitomized by Jay Gatsby. Additionally, the theme of time is significant, as Gatsby's desire to 'repeat the past' ultimately leads to his downfall.

Who are the central characters in The Great Gatsby?

The central characters in The Great Gatsby include Jay Gatsby, the wealthy protagonist who is deeply in love with Daisy Buchanan, Nick Carraway, the unreliable narrator and Gatsby's neighbor, and Daisy Buchanan, Gatsby's former love who is now married to Tom Buchanan. Tom is portrayed as a brutish antagonist, while Jordan Baker serves as Nick's love interest. Other notable characters include Myrtle Wilson, Tom's mistress, and George Wilson, Myrtle's husband, who becomes a tragic figure in the story.

How does Fitzgerald depict the 1920s in The Great Gatsby?

Fitzgerald depicts the 1920s as a time of excess and moral decay, often referred to as the Jazz Age. The novel illustrates the hedonism and superficiality of the era through lavish parties and the characters' pursuit of wealth and status. The Valley of Ashes symbolizes the darker side of the American Dream, highlighting the social and economic disparities present during this time. Fitzgerald critiques the emptiness of the characters' lives, suggesting that their pursuit of pleasure ultimately leads to disillusionment.

What role does the green light play in The Great Gatsby?

The green light at the end of Daisy's dock serves as a powerful symbol in The Great Gatsby, representing Gatsby's hopes and dreams for the future, particularly his desire to rekindle his romance with Daisy. It embodies the idea of the unattainable American Dream, as Gatsby reaches out towards it, yet it remains perpetually out of reach. The green light also signifies the broader theme of aspiration and the illusion of the American Dream, suggesting that the pursuit of such dreams can lead to disillusionment.

What is the significance of the Valley of Ashes in the novel?

The Valley of Ashes is a crucial symbol in The Great Gatsby, representing the moral and social decay resulting from the uninhibited pursuit of wealth. It is depicted as a wasteland between West Egg and New York City, illustrating the consequences of industrialization and the neglect of the lower classes. The area houses the 'no money' class, exemplified by George and Myrtle Wilson, and serves as a stark contrast to the opulence of Gatsby's mansion. This setting underscores the disparity between the rich and the poor, highlighting the emptiness of the American Dream.

How does Nick Carraway serve as an unreliable narrator?

Nick Carraway's role as an unreliable narrator is evident throughout The Great Gatsby, as his perspective shapes the reader's understanding of the events and characters. He often admits to his own flaws and biases, which complicates his credibility. For instance, he portrays Gatsby in an idealized light while downplaying his own moral shortcomings, such as his affairs and alcohol use. This subjectivity invites readers to question the authenticity of his account, ultimately adding depth to the narrative and highlighting the theme of perception versus reality.

What is the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy?

Gatsby and Daisy's relationship is central to the narrative of The Great Gatsby, representing both idealized love and the corrupting influence of wealth. Gatsby's infatuation with Daisy drives his pursuit of wealth and status, as he believes that winning her back will validate his success. However, Daisy's character is complex; she embodies both the allure of the American Dream and the emptiness of materialism. Their reunion reveals the tension between Gatsby's romanticized vision of the past and the reality of Daisy's life, ultimately leading to tragedy.