The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsbyby F. Scott Fitzgeraldby F. Scott Fitzgerald

A Brief History of F. Scott A Brief History of F. Scott FitzgeraldFitzgerald

Born Sept. 24, 1896 in St. Paul, MinnesotaBorn Sept. 24, 1896 in St. Paul, Minnesota Distant relative of Francis Scott Key, Distant relative of Francis Scott Key,

writer of the “Star Spangled Banner”writer of the “Star Spangled Banner” 1913-started at Princeton University 1913-started at Princeton University

(dream of his to attend a private school in (dream of his to attend a private school in the East)the East)

Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby, characters Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby, characters from the novel, are also Midwest men from the novel, are also Midwest men who go East to make it bigwho go East to make it big

Left Princeton in 1917 to join the ArmyLeft Princeton in 1917 to join the Army

Fitzgerald and His ZeldaFitzgerald and His Zelda

Met Zelda Sayre at a Met Zelda Sayre at a dance in Alabamadance in Alabama

Not allowed to marry Not allowed to marry Zelda until he could Zelda until he could support her; Zelda support her; Zelda was upset, and broke was upset, and broke off the engagementoff the engagement

Married in 1920; Married in 1920; This This Side of ParadiseSide of Paradise was was a huge success for a huge success for FitzgeraldFitzgerald

DownfallDownfall With fame and wealth With fame and wealth

now, the couple now, the couple immersed themselves immersed themselves in the Roaring Twentiesin the Roaring Twenties

1925-1925-GatsbyGatsby published; published; not as much of a not as much of a successsuccess

Zelda diagnosed with Zelda diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1932, schizophrenia in 1932, hospitalized for rest of hospitalized for rest of lifelife

Fitzgerald’s drinking Fitzgerald’s drinking increased; heart attack increased; heart attack Dec. 21, 1940 killed himDec. 21, 1940 killed him

The CoverThe Cover

Referred to as “Celestial Eyes,” the jacket Referred to as “Celestial Eyes,” the jacket cover for cover for The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby was created by was created by a little known French artist named Francis a little known French artist named Francis CugatCugat

Fitzgerald saw the cover before he finished Fitzgerald saw the cover before he finished the novel; he pleaded with his publisher to the novel; he pleaded with his publisher to procure it because he had “written it into” procure it because he had “written it into” the bookthe book

Look at the 1925 jacket cover on the first Look at the 1925 jacket cover on the first slide of the presentation. What images can slide of the presentation. What images can you pick out and what might they signify?you pick out and what might they signify?

The Move to Long IslandThe Move to Long Island The Fitzgeralds moved The Fitzgeralds moved

to Great Neck, Long to Great Neck, Long Island, home of the Island, home of the nouveau riche, in 1922nouveau riche, in 1922

Fitzgerald used Great Fitzgerald used Great Neck as a model for Neck as a model for “West Egg,” the setting “West Egg,” the setting of Gatsby, and of Gatsby, and Manhasset Neck, just Manhasset Neck, just across the bay, served across the bay, served as its opposite, the old-as its opposite, the old-money peninsula of money peninsula of “East Egg.”“East Egg.”

Long Island GeographyLong Island Geography

The “Jazz Age”The “Jazz Age” CharacteristicsCharacteristics

● ● much prosperity after WWImuch prosperity after WWI● ● Prohibition led to bootleggers making Prohibition led to bootleggers making

millions + an millions + an increase in organized crime increase in organized crime (18(18thth Amendment repealed Amendment repealed by 21by 21stst))

● ● automobile production increases automobile production increases growth of growth of suburbssuburbs

● ● 1919thth Amendment-women gain right to Amendment-women gain right to vote vote surge surge in independent behavior like in independent behavior like flappers (wore short flappers (wore short dresses, cut their dresses, cut their hair short or bobbed it, wore gaudy hair short or bobbed it, wore gaudy jewelry)jewelry)

● ● Harlem Renaissance-renewal of African-Harlem Renaissance-renewal of African-American American literature, art, and musicliterature, art, and music

Prohibition and the “Lost Prohibition and the “Lost Generation”Generation”

Rise of gambling-1919 Rise of gambling-1919 World SeriesWorld Series

Speakeasies provided Speakeasies provided illegal liquor as well as illegal liquor as well as entertainment (often entertainment (often jazz) and prostitutesjazz) and prostitutes

Fed up with America’s Fed up with America’s decadence, many decadence, many American authors American authors became expatriates in became expatriates in Europe (“Lost Europe (“Lost Generation”)Generation”)

The Plot of The Plot of GatsbyGatsby

The narrator, a young Yale graduate by The narrator, a young Yale graduate by the name of Nick Carraway, moves to the name of Nick Carraway, moves to West Egg, Long Island after graduating West Egg, Long Island after graduating and is immersed in the lavish lifestyle and is immersed in the lavish lifestyle and over-the-top parties of his neighbor, and over-the-top parties of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Gatsby pines for the upper-Jay Gatsby. Gatsby pines for the upper-class (and married) Daisy Buchanan, but class (and married) Daisy Buchanan, but the details of his past, which Nick the details of his past, which Nick discovers as the novel progresses, could discovers as the novel progresses, could have consequences for both their love have consequences for both their love and the lives of all the characters.and the lives of all the characters.

Themes/MotifsThemes/Motifs IsolationIsolation Decline of the Decline of the

American DreamAmerican Dream Upper class Upper class

emptinessemptiness Geographical Geographical

tensions (West Egg tensions (West Egg vs. East Egg)vs. East Egg)

Weather (as in Weather (as in LearLear, , weather reflects weather reflects moods or emotions)moods or emotions)