The45Girl
My Old Notes
The Great Gatsby
For the H.L. Discussion in the I.O.C.
By The45Girl
What is the significance of the novel’s title? To what extent is
Fitzgerald calling his protagonist “The Great Gatsby” justified?
To some extent. (This is I.B.).
● Gatsby is great in a material sense, in that he has conquered his roots to amass great wealth.
He has achieved the American Dream.
● Gatsby is great in that he has “capacity to hope”. He truly believes in the American Dream
and his belief in this dream or illusion, symbolised by Daisy, is something he would do
anything for. In contrast, Tom Buchanan is not great because he cares only about himself
and exists outside the world of the American Dream.
● However, he is not great in the sense that he has amassed his fortune illegally and upper-
class people like Tom see through his pretences easily.
● “Great Gatsby”sounds like a stage name (magician or performer); related to the façade
Gatsby puts on throughout his life. The way he creates the façade: his massive house,
extravagant parties, speech -> therefore clear that his life is a a façade. Overreacts to things
like performers do. Gatsby’s life is only an act.
● Impact of Nick’s characterisation makes readers think he is great. Nick adores Gatsby and
therefore the reader is compelled to view Gatsby as great.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using Nick Carraway
as a first-person narrator? What effect does Nick’s narration have on
your response to the novel?
● An advantage of using Nick as a first-person narrator is that he is kind of detached from the
Daisy-Gatsby-Buchanan conflict but, unlike someone like Jordan, has a lot of insight into
these people’s thinking and motives.
● A disadvantage is that Nick may colour certain events to make himself look good. For
example, readers view the characterisation of Jordan as an important symbol of the
carelessness of the upper-class but this portrayal of Jordan is fully dependent on Nick’s
perspective. Therefore, it can be seen that Nick could be interpreting various situations,
knowingly and unknowingly, to further his ideas.
● Furthermore, Nick has been known to be drunk during some scenes, which significantly
reduces his reliability as a narrator.
, The45Girl
● Nick’s narration is intended to make readers feel sympathy for Gatsby and disgust for
everybody else. He says “Gatsby is worth the rest of the characters put together”. Thus, he is
not objective as he is promoting agenda of making Gatsby appear good.
● Nick describes himself as one of the most honest people he has ever known. Upper-class.
“reserves all judgements” and thus has become the confidant of people. Downplays how he
jilted a woman whom he was expected to marry in the Midwest.
● Advantaged: “fundamental decencies are not parcelled out evenly at birth”. The quote from
his father: “Whenever you feel like criticising anyone” implies he criticised or judged people
a lot before.
● He mentions the stranger who looks up into the apartment from darkening street. Similarly,
he is an observer looking into Gatsby-Buchanan conflicts.
Fitzgerald is commenting on American society – what do you think he
is saying and what stylistic device, in your opinion, best helps to
convey his overall message?
I believe Fitzgerald uses the stylistic device of symbolism to convey his message.
● He criticises the American Dream for becoming corrupted through the car. The car
represents wealth and status and is one thing that brings a “damp hope” into George’s eyes.
Tom already has a car and so does Gatsby. However, it is this flashy symbol of wealth that
kills Myrtle. Interestingly, she had been chasing after wealth and status through Tom but it is
that aspiration towards the American Dream that kills her.
● The colour white symbolises false innocence or corrupted innocence. Daisy frequently wears
white and, in fact, she and Jordan are introduced in the novel in white. Nick himself has been
known to wear white but he is not particularly innocent either. White is the elusive upper-
class that exists beyond the basic, materialistic American Dream. They may seem pure but
they are “careless” with others.
How does Fitzgerald present the history of Gatsby’s life? What does
Fitzgerald mean when he writes that “Jay Gatsby of West Egg, Long
Island, sprang from his Platonic conception of himself”?
● Fitzgerald means that Gatsby reinvented his identity as Gatsby from James Gatz. Gatsby is
his ideal, what he aspires to become.
● Fitzgerald presents the history of Gatsby’s life in a rather factual manner, implying that Nick
believes what Gatsby has told him.
What character do you find most affecting? Why? Consider the
construction of character in relation to the exploration of
themes/ideas
● The most affecting character is Daisy. Daisy is shows the rift between the old and new
money and lacks the ability to follow her heart but instead follows comfort.
My Old Notes
The Great Gatsby
For the H.L. Discussion in the I.O.C.
By The45Girl
What is the significance of the novel’s title? To what extent is
Fitzgerald calling his protagonist “The Great Gatsby” justified?
To some extent. (This is I.B.).
● Gatsby is great in a material sense, in that he has conquered his roots to amass great wealth.
He has achieved the American Dream.
● Gatsby is great in that he has “capacity to hope”. He truly believes in the American Dream
and his belief in this dream or illusion, symbolised by Daisy, is something he would do
anything for. In contrast, Tom Buchanan is not great because he cares only about himself
and exists outside the world of the American Dream.
● However, he is not great in the sense that he has amassed his fortune illegally and upper-
class people like Tom see through his pretences easily.
● “Great Gatsby”sounds like a stage name (magician or performer); related to the façade
Gatsby puts on throughout his life. The way he creates the façade: his massive house,
extravagant parties, speech -> therefore clear that his life is a a façade. Overreacts to things
like performers do. Gatsby’s life is only an act.
● Impact of Nick’s characterisation makes readers think he is great. Nick adores Gatsby and
therefore the reader is compelled to view Gatsby as great.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using Nick Carraway
as a first-person narrator? What effect does Nick’s narration have on
your response to the novel?
● An advantage of using Nick as a first-person narrator is that he is kind of detached from the
Daisy-Gatsby-Buchanan conflict but, unlike someone like Jordan, has a lot of insight into
these people’s thinking and motives.
● A disadvantage is that Nick may colour certain events to make himself look good. For
example, readers view the characterisation of Jordan as an important symbol of the
carelessness of the upper-class but this portrayal of Jordan is fully dependent on Nick’s
perspective. Therefore, it can be seen that Nick could be interpreting various situations,
knowingly and unknowingly, to further his ideas.
● Furthermore, Nick has been known to be drunk during some scenes, which significantly
reduces his reliability as a narrator.
, The45Girl
● Nick’s narration is intended to make readers feel sympathy for Gatsby and disgust for
everybody else. He says “Gatsby is worth the rest of the characters put together”. Thus, he is
not objective as he is promoting agenda of making Gatsby appear good.
● Nick describes himself as one of the most honest people he has ever known. Upper-class.
“reserves all judgements” and thus has become the confidant of people. Downplays how he
jilted a woman whom he was expected to marry in the Midwest.
● Advantaged: “fundamental decencies are not parcelled out evenly at birth”. The quote from
his father: “Whenever you feel like criticising anyone” implies he criticised or judged people
a lot before.
● He mentions the stranger who looks up into the apartment from darkening street. Similarly,
he is an observer looking into Gatsby-Buchanan conflicts.
Fitzgerald is commenting on American society – what do you think he
is saying and what stylistic device, in your opinion, best helps to
convey his overall message?
I believe Fitzgerald uses the stylistic device of symbolism to convey his message.
● He criticises the American Dream for becoming corrupted through the car. The car
represents wealth and status and is one thing that brings a “damp hope” into George’s eyes.
Tom already has a car and so does Gatsby. However, it is this flashy symbol of wealth that
kills Myrtle. Interestingly, she had been chasing after wealth and status through Tom but it is
that aspiration towards the American Dream that kills her.
● The colour white symbolises false innocence or corrupted innocence. Daisy frequently wears
white and, in fact, she and Jordan are introduced in the novel in white. Nick himself has been
known to wear white but he is not particularly innocent either. White is the elusive upper-
class that exists beyond the basic, materialistic American Dream. They may seem pure but
they are “careless” with others.
How does Fitzgerald present the history of Gatsby’s life? What does
Fitzgerald mean when he writes that “Jay Gatsby of West Egg, Long
Island, sprang from his Platonic conception of himself”?
● Fitzgerald means that Gatsby reinvented his identity as Gatsby from James Gatz. Gatsby is
his ideal, what he aspires to become.
● Fitzgerald presents the history of Gatsby’s life in a rather factual manner, implying that Nick
believes what Gatsby has told him.
What character do you find most affecting? Why? Consider the
construction of character in relation to the exploration of
themes/ideas
● The most affecting character is Daisy. Daisy is shows the rift between the old and new
money and lacks the ability to follow her heart but instead follows comfort.
