HOW DOES FITZGERALD TELL THE STORY IN CHAPTER 1 OF THE GREAT GATSBY?

The opening section of the novel is devoted to introducing the reader to Nick: his background, his current position and his opinions. A line of particular note concerning his views on inequality is "...as my father snobbishly suggested, and I snobbishly repeat, a sense of the fundamental decencies is parcelled out unequally at birth." This shows Nick revealing the fact that he thinks that certain people are born with better morals than other people, but also shows that he acknowledges that this viewpoint is not necessarily morally right in itself ("snobbishly"), showing that he has the capacity to question himself, again promoting his aptitude for a role as a reliable narrator.

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Explore F.Scotts Fitzgeralds presentation of class and wealth in The Great Gatsby and The Diamond as Big as the Ritz.

Gatsby's relationship with Daisy mirrors Fitzgerald's turbulent relationship with Zelda who much like Daisy, was regarded as being incredibly materialistic. Gatsby can therefore be seen as a representing Fitzgerald's pursuit of sufficient wealth to support an aristocratic love interest. He does this to the detriment of his artistic integrity which he compromised by writing short stories to fund Zelda's opulent lifestyle. This is mirrored by Gatsby compromising his integrity and personal worth by bootlegging and lying about being the 'son of some wealthy people in the Middle-West', in order to please Daisy and hopefully gain acceptance.

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To what extent and in what ways is Fitzgerald purely critical of Gatsby's dreams?

Gatsby himself is portrayed as being a very romantic character and this can be seen in his speech when he talks about the past, for example telling Nick that "His heart beat faster as Daisy's white face came up to his own. He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God". Fitzgerald clearly is making Gatsby appear to be very wistful and dreamlike, and also is making us more sympathetic to him by making his affair with Daisy and his dreams appear to be very romantic.

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'The American Dream not only fails to fulfil its promise but also contributes to the decay of social values' (Tyson 1999). How far does The Great Gatsby demonstrate this view of the American Dream?

Nick narrates in Chapter One, "I decided to go east and learn the bond business," and presents a stark contrast between his small new house and those on either side that 'rented for twelve or fifteen thousand a season'. This affirms the importance of wealth from Nick's perception and equally from that of the other inhabitants of West Egg. They are the newly rich, who have worked hard and earned their money in a relatively short period of time - their wealth is based solely upon material possessions.

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The role of minor characters in the novel, The Great Gatsby

"It was the man in that car. She ran out to speak to him and he wouldn't stop." This misconception of his was a significant piece of the novel's plot as it led to the murder of the protagonist in the novel, Jay Gatsby. In other words, George Wilson was the one responsible for Gatsby's death and this is shown in the quote; "It was after we started with Gatsby toward the house that the gardener saw Wilson's body a little way off in the grass, and the holocaust was complete." Myrtle's role in the plot along with George's decision to commit murder as a form of revenge for Myrtle's death played a major role in the progression of the plot.

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How do Scott Fitzgerald and Hunter S thompson portray the villain in 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' and 'The Great Gatsby'

obviously a tested and proved theory that has worked in the past and so is likely to work again. This can be seen as Thompson portraying Gonzo's awareness of Raoul's submissive nature and weakness to succumb to a life of grotesque self indulgence; and also his unfailing ability to manipulate this. Tom Buchanan is presented as a hypocritical bully, and in some respects Dr Gonzo can also be seen as one. Tom and Daisy can be likened to Raoul and Dr Gonzo, when Nick says that they leave other people to pay for the consequences of their actions. Raoul and Gonzo leave a path of destruction everywhere they go, and it can be argued, so do Tom and Daisy.

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Symbolism in the Great Gatsby

These parties were a corruption of 'The American Dream' because 'The Dream' was no longer about achieving a better life than your parents, however in the eyes of money americans 'better' translated to 'richer', so the thirst for money depicted in the novel, is symbolic for the attitudes of both men and women in 1920's America. Nick explains in chapter 9, that the American Dream was originally about discovery, individualism, and the pursuit of happiness. However it has been changed by the rise of the residents of West egg (the "new money"), and with them came their relaxed social values.

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Was Gatsby Great

It could also symbolise the act of Gatsby's life in the novel. Fitzgerald presents Gatsby as living a luxurious life, with plenty of friends, no worries and an honest man. Yet by the end of the novel his whole illusion unravels and the reader discovers that he has many problems, he is dishonest and has no true friends. One of the ways in which Gatsby is 'great' is the fact that he is extremely wealthy and owns many material items such as a yellow station wagon and a "Rolls-Royce". Fitzgerald uses descriptive words such as "hulking patent cabinets', "massed suits" and "shirts pilled up like bricks in stacks a dozen high" to emphasise Gatsby's luxurious lifestyle.

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What literary techniques does F. Scott Fitzgerald use to present Gatsby's party in Chapter III of the novel.

The chapter opens up with a very descriptive and detailed introduction given to us by Nick. He seems to give us a lavish description of one of Gatsby's summer night parties, Nick seems to be looking on from his house watching the party in his usual voyeuristic fashion. It's possible that he's maybe slightly envious of the guests, possibly wishing to be there himself; it seems to give the reader that impression as the chapter goes on. This could be a good reason for the extra amount of descriptiveness.

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What do you think of the view that obsession with money and the new consumer culture of the 1920s dominates human thinking and behaviour in The Great Gatsby?

Daisy and Gatsby were together in the past and before she hears Jordan mention his name she doesn't appear to have shown any interest in contacting him. She is also hesitant to go to Gatsby's house without Nick, who she then allows to leave after she's been shown around and seen what wealth Gatsby has. Gatsby associates wealth with Daisy, "Her voice is full of money". This suggests that Daisy produces a sense that she has always been provided for, and educated around rich people, so she speaks as they would, in a carefree manner that those who do not have a lot of money don't have.

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Discuss the presentation of Gatsby's character through Carraway's narrative perspective

drift casually out of nowhere and buy a place in Long Island Sand'. Here, the narrative tone is assertive, and the reader is being told outright that such a thing just didn't happen. The perspective here is perhaps a little suspicious of Gatsby, and is certainly curious; Carraway is questioning how Gatsby acquired his wealth and, in doing so, influencing the reader to do the same. Fitzgerald releases little rumours about Gatsby via guests at Gatsby's parties; due to Carraway's perspective, the reader is unable to ascertain which are true instantly, thus enhancing the mystery that seems to surround Gatsby; one persistent rumour is that 'he was a German spy during the war', another that 'he killed a man'.

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