The Great Gatsby
by: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Mr. Quick
Grade 11
Credit given to Ms. Amorin
About the Author:
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald
Born on Sept. 24, 1896
 Came from aristocratic (upper class) background- Irish
working class family
 Named after his relative, Francis Scott Key who wrote
“The Star Spangled Banner”
 Attended Princeton University; active in university’s
creative literary scene
 Struggled with writing at first, so
he enlisted in the army, where he
met his wife, Zelda Sayre.
 After they married, he published his
first novel, This Side of Paradise.
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F. Scott Fitzgerald cont…
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Francis Scott and Zelda had a daughter named Frances “Scottie”
Fitzgerald, then moved to France where he completed his most
famous work, The Great Gatsby.
After the success of
The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald
became an alcoholic, which
led to his downfall.
His wife suffered a nervous
breakdown and was committed to a
mental institution.
Fitzgerald moved to Hollywood as a
scriptwriter
On Dec. 21, 1940, Fitzgerald suffered a
heart attack and died.
Novel background info.
The Great Gatsby was published in
1925 between WWI (1914-1918) and
WWII (1939-1945)
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• At this time, America was
experiencing a split past by a
predominantly agrarian (farming)
society now quickly becoming
urbanized and advanced with
technological advances (automobile,
radio, movies, jazz, alcohol, etc….)
• The 1920s was the era that was
rapidly transforming all areas of
American life.
1920- The beginning of
*The Prohibition*
The Prohibition, also known as the “great
experiment” began in 1920.
 This was the cause of the Volsted Act, or
Eighteenth Amendment, which banned the sale,
manufacture, and transportation of liquor.
However, instead of making the U.S. a more
temperate nation, it encouraged thousands of
people, who otherwise might not have, to try
“booze.”
 “Bootleggers” made and sold illegal alcohol to
normally law-abiding Americans who frequented
“speakeasies” (clubs and bars that sold liquor).
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Bootleggers of the 1920s
The Prohibition also led to other
issues such as organized crime (Al
Capone, Lucky Luciano, etc…) which
was finally repealed in 1933.
The
th
19
Amendment
The 19th Amendment, giving women the right
to vote, took effect in 1920 as well.
 It was a culmination of efforts of women
suffragists who had been working since the
1850s for women’s equality.
 Freedom of the “new woman”
in the 1920s manifested itself
into the sexual and social
arena, giving ride to women.
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19th Amendment
The “New Woman” of the 1920s
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The 19th amendment led
to other “trends” for
women
- “Flappers”
- short, bobbed hair
- short skirts
- smoked in public
- danced wildly
(the Charleston,
Black Bottom)
Modernism
The 1920s were economically prosperous.
 Money and alcohol flowed
 People were careless with money- at least
those who had it for the most part.
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The Great Gatsby falls into the category of
modernism. Modernism means something
NOT of the “past.” This novel represents
the changes of the 1920s had and people
and society.
Setting= East Egg vs. West Egg
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The story takes place on the mythical
peninsulas of the East Egg and West Egg
on the Long Island coast in New York.
East Egg
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Rich $$$
A place of lavish homes
Extravagant lifestyles
Money is no object
Many who live on the
East Egg were “born into
money”
They do not know any
other lifestyle
“Upper” social class
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Characters in The Great
Gatsby, Daisy and Tom
Buchanan live on the
East Egg.
West Egg
The West Egg area is
for those of a
moderate lifestyle
 Generally have less
money
 It is where the
“middle” and “lower”
social classes live
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Characters who live in
the West Egg are:
- Nick Carraway
- Jay Gatsby (who
oddly, is extremely
wealthy)
Valley of Ashes
In contrast to the East and West Egg is
the valley of ashes.
 It is a sad, depressed, and harsh
environment.
 There is nothing beautiful or enchanting
about this place (very poor)
 This is where the Wilsons live
(Myrtle & George)
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THEMES in The Great Gatsby
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“American Dream”
Love
Social status
Parting of social
classes
Identity
Truth vs. Fiction
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Secrets/ mystery
Death
Deception
Unfulfilled Desires
“Eyes” of God
(symbol)
Characters
Nick Carraway- Nick is the first person narrator and
protagonist of the novel; every incident in interpreted by
him. He represents the middle class (West Egg).
 Jay Gatsby- Gatsby is the supposed hero of the novel.
He is a slippery character; his language home, books,
cars, and attire glimmer like gold, but no one really
knows what goes on inside of this mystery man
 Daisy Buchanan- Daisy is a Louisville, Kentucky, socialite
born into tremendous wealth. She is an empty-headed
character having a fake and airy voice. She is lovely,
careless, and lacks substance.
 Tom Buchanan- Tom is Daisy’s husband, a native from
Chicago; also a hugely wealthy man. He is rugged, big,
and brash, as well as racist, arrogant, and adulterous
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Characters…
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Jordan Baker- Jordan is a golfer- young, tan, and the
love interest of Nick’s. Jordan, too, lacks substance.
Myrtle Wilson- Myrtle is a resident of the valley of ashes,
wife of George Wilson. She is desperate to escape her
fate.
George Wilson- George is a sad proprietor of the gas
station in the valley of ashes. He is the product of
economical hardship. George is Myrtle’s husband
Doctor T.J. Eckleburg- The doctor whose advertisementa billboard featuring a pair of gigantic blue eyes behind
enormous yellow spectacles- looks down upon the valley
of ashes. George Wilson calls those eyes, the eyes of
God.
Synopsis of novel
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The Great Gatsby is the tale of mystery man,
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The narrator, Nick, questions Gatsby’s
appearances and motives as he observes his
frequently odd behavior.
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As the novel progresses, the readers come to
learn that there is more to the characters than
the facade they lead people about them.
Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire whose lavish
parties, shiny suits, and magnificent house and
care make him the talk of the town.
Enjoy the novel!!! 
Synopsis….
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The story takes place on the fictional peninsulas
of the East and West Egg on the Long Island
coast of New York during the 1920s.
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The story contrasts the lavish lifestyles of the
peninsulas with the grimy reality of the valley of
ashes, the area between West Egg and New
York City.
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The Great Gatsby highlights the gap between
those who are living the American Dream and
those who desperately want to.
PRE- Reading Questions
Do people dislike others who live lavishly and
who have a lot of money because they are
envious of them? Do they want what they have
or is there another reason?
 Do people feel like outsiders because of social
classes?
 Do people think class is important or is money
the only measure of success?
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