The Great Gatsby: The Words of an Ex-patriot
By Author Unknown
Lecture notes
Teaching stance:
The Great Gatsby is often described as the quintessential American novel, meaning it is most
reflective of America and Americans. And, in fact, although we've previously discussed the
problematic nature of author's intent, according to Scribner, Fitzgerald set out to write a novel
that would be reflective of his time period.
Original title: Under the Red, White, and Blue
East coast vs. Midwest
Anti-semitism
Racism
Capitalistic
NYC as center of universe
Ties to Jazz Age lifestyle
I teach Gatsby as a novel of contradictions.
Prohibition; yet the alcohol flows
Quintessential novel; yet written by an ex-patriot
Reserving all judgments; but very judgmental language
Daisy's voice so compelling; but doesnt say much
And, perhaps in being so contradictory, it does, in fact, quintessentially represent America itself -both then and now.
Fitzgerald's ex-[atriotism comes through in his iconoclasitc approach to American institutions,
social policy, and American behaviors. Fitzgerald presents the myths of America and then
explodes them. He demonstrates how things look promising from a distance, but dont look too
closely. Like, Nick, who describes himself as both within and without.
Is the American Dream a promise, or a false promise? Fitzgerald's novel both confirms and
denies the American Dream.
Introduction:
Setting: 1925
= prohibition, tho the alcohol flows
= post WWI, and empirialistic war
breakdown of national boundaries and identities
internationalizing literature, art, culture
First person narration
Nick as unreliable narrator
retells the story from home
uses the opportunity to construct himself
contradictions make him an unfocused lens
claims objectivity but uses judgmental lang
distances himself as dispassionate observer (1)
then virtually equates himself with Gatsby (2)
established connections then suppresses them, before Gatsby shows him how to want
Nick has a personal investment in Gatsby (+ his own affection for Daisy)
Denying his own sexuality
Gatsby's desires are focused, specific = Daisy
Nick is working thru his desires
Unfocused desires: he desires to know, but when he gets close, it's too real, too messy
Ambivalence in describing scenes (36)
"within and without" are both repulsive and compelling
he's drawn to human secrecy
His boring personal life (56)
relationships are too much trouble -- curb fantasies, resist all strong connections
(except to the ever-elusive Gatsby)
"Curiosity" is all he musters for Jordan
She only hangs with "stupid" men -- only Nick
Vulnerability
always falls for Gatsby's lies
Gatsby's smile
Daisy's voice
Chapter Overviews:
I. Mid-west vs. East
(2) "When I came back from the East last autumn I felt I wanted the world to be in uniform
and at a sort of moral attention forever."
(2) Nick's family in Mid-west for 3 generations
(10) Tom and Daisy had been in Mid-west (Chicago)
(65) Gatsby lies and says he's from Mid-west
(124) When George and Myrtle Wilson want to escape, they want to go West.
1. What does the East represent to these characters?
2. What does the Mid-West represent?
3. Related to 1925 era issues? Changes in America?
II. Deus abscondi world -- the Eyes of Dr TJ Eckleburg/ Tom & Myrtle's apt
(23) "they look out of no face"
( ) George later directly ties the eyes into God
(23) God as having forsaken the valley of ashes: "sank down himself into eternal blindness, or
forgot them and moved away"
III. Gatsby's party
the event of the East
but shallow, lacking substance
(41) people just there, "not invited"
(44) gossip about Gatsby's elusive past, believing in nothing
(46) books in library -- un-cut pages
(57) Nick resisting all strong connections -- empty relationships
(58-59) Jordan as dishonest, no integrity
IV. The Essential Emptiness of Things
Gatsby and Daisy's history
(65) Gatsby from "Mid-West" = "San Francisco"
Nick knows it's a lie; he chooses to believe it.
(67) medal, picture = trying too hard
Gatsby associated with the mob
(74) World Series fixed
Tom and Daisy's marriage
(77) Daisy really didnt want to marry him
(78) Tom was cheating on their honeymoon
(81) Nick's sudden attraction for Jordan is only imitative
V. Gatsby re-meets Daisy -- the shallowness
Gatsby as a romantic idealist and the reality of having is never quite so good as wanting
Yes, Daisy cries over his shirts, but is she really completely taken and won over by it all? Or
is she always holding back? Or is it that there's just nothing there?
VI. Gatsby's real history -- the importance of new vs old money
Admire him for being the self-made man (an American concept)?
Or is he merely pathetic?
Daisy didnt have fun at his party. Why?
New vs. old monied people?
Daisy know there's a difference; Gatsby doesnt
Gatsby's real history -- previously set up, now cut down
just like what Gitzgerald does with American dreams and myths.
VII. Killing Myrtle
What Daisy likes about Gatsby is that he looks like an advertisement; he likes her monied
voice.
Hypocrisy -- Tom sees Gatsby trying to get Daisy as an assault of family values, but Tom's
own affair he doesnt consider destructive.
"fresh green breast of the new world" vs. Myrtle's flapping, destroyed breast
= the hope vs the reality
Real trouble = Daisy runs to Tom, even while Gatsby waits. Why?
Tom setting up Gatsby, misleading George.
VIII. Gatsby realizing Daisy's choice (need)
Wilson shoots Gatsby
IX. Gatsby's dad
the denial of family
no friends at Gatsby's funeral
Themes:
Novel of contradictions
quintessential American novel vs. written by ex-patriot
"reserving all judgments" vs. very judgmental lang
"family tradition" vs. "actual founder"
prohibition vs. the alcohol flows
Daisy's voice as compelling vs. it doesnt say much
So watch for contradictions as you read...
In what ways does Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby confirm and/or deny the "American Dream"?
In what way is it iconoclastic?
American Dream:
self-made man
marriage = happily ever after
new money is as good as old
poor boy woos rich girl
God keeps a protective watch over you
good ole honest, wholesome sports
Myths of America--Fitzgerald presents them, then explodes them, shows the hypocrisy/
contradiction. Looks promising from a distance, but dont look too closely. Is America just a
sham? Promises or false promises?
THESIS: The Great Gatsby is the quintessential American novel because just like America
itself...
... everyone and everything in it is dishonest or corrupt (yellow high-lites)
marriages
Tom & Daisy
Myrtle & George
sports
baseball is fixed
Jordan cheats at golf
individuals
Gatsby lied about everything about him
Meyer Wolfsheim as mobster
Nick lies to himself
... everyone and everything is superficial/shallow/empty. (pink hi-lites)
discrimination = narrow minded
Tom's racism, Nick's as well, Fitzgerald's
Gatsby's parties
the uninvited, the fascades
Nick
inability to be anything more than an observer
his relationships
his life
Daisy
airhead, but smart -- just unable to commit to what she knows if right
Gatsby himself
he lacks substance if everything about him is a lie
no real friends
... it's supposed that money buys everything, but it doesnt (green hi-lites)
Tom's money doesnt buy them a perfect married life
Daisy thought it could
Tom's money couldnt rescue Myrtle
She thought it would
Gatsby's money couldnt buy Daisy
He thought it should
... they're all leavers/restless (orange hi-lites)
Tom, Daisy, Myrtle all leave their marriages
Gatsby leaves his family
Nick leaves his family
Tom and Daisy leave every city when Tom makes a mess
God (as Dr TJ's eyes) moved (deus abscondi world)
Even Nick's dog runs away
... everyone is pursuing/wanting something, thinking that thing will make their life whole -consumerism (blue hi-lites)
Myrtle wants Tom
Gatsby wants Daisy
Nick wants Gatsby
... it doesnt pay to look at things too closely, with regard to issues both big and small.
Subtle ways in which Fitzgerald brings this out:
(1) Nick says to reserve all judgments
but dont take him too seriously b/c then he says some people are born with more of the
"fundamental decencies"
(2) Nick's family tradition -- they're descended from Dukes
but actually some man here in 1851 sent substitute to Civil War, hardware business
(hardly romantic)
(9) Daisy's unforgettable voice
but what, exactly, does she have to say? "I always wait for the longest day of the year
and then miss it."
Like Gastby's smile when he wants something (48)
(23) Eyes of Dr TJ Eckleburg that George equates as being the eyes of God.
but he moved. God left.
(36) Looking in the windows is better than being inside -- party at the Tom/Myrtle apt -compelling/enchanting from a distance, but repulsive from within
(46) books in the library -- look good -- they're real
but pages arent cut, havent been read
(48) Nick finds it charming that Jordan avoids "clever, shrewd men" but what does that say
about Nick?
(66-67) Even Nick, who at first seems discerning/discriminating, is easily duped
he know Jay is being trite. "worn phrases" but a medal and pic totally sway him
(73) Wolfsheim's cufflinks
you dont want to know.