Plot Overview About the Author Novel Notes

Nick, the narrator of the Great Gatsby, just moved

West Egg in Long Island. He was looking for his
fortune as a salesman. One day he is invited to
hang out with Tom (a man that use to be in the
The author of The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald,
joined the Army during World War 1. Being afraid of
The Great Gatsby
death in the war he quickly wrote the novel, The

same social club as him in Yale and also his
cousins husband). This is when he founds out
Toms not so secret secret. He is having affair on his
wife, Daisy, with Myrtle Wilson a woman who is also
married herself. The night of them hang out turns
into a party which ends with Tom breaking Myrtles
nose. Later on Nick gets an invite for his neighbor,
Gatsby. Rarely does anyone get an invite to his
weekly parties. They are for the rich and
fashionable. People show up, knowing they wont
be turned away. Going to the party, Nick meets with
Gatsby and Jordan Baker. As people began to leave
the party Gatsby took Jordan away and spoke with
they privately that Nick would come to find out.
Gatsby wanted to meet with Daisy once again and
he knew that Nick could do that for him. Nick told
Daisy to come and not to bring Tom with her.
Gatsby had perfectly prepared Nicks house for the
meeting to make sure it was perfect. As the summer
starts Gatsby and Daisys love for each other grows
and they see each other on a normal basis. Tom
find out about the affair and Wilson find out that his
wife was having one too, but he didnt know that
Tom was the man. In Toms fear of losing his
mistress and wife he drives to the city to confront
Gatsby. Wilsons wife, Myrtle, had been killed from a
passing car which was Gatsbys car. Nick finds out
that Daisy was the one that killed Myrtle, Gatsby
was going to take the blame. Wilson kills Gatsby for
his wifes death then points the gun at himself. Nick
moved back to the Midwest as he was disgusted in
the cruel nature that Tom, Daisy and those like them
possessed. Before leaving East Egg for good he
goes to the shore and looked out at the green light
like Gatsby once did.
Romantic Egotist. He was writing his books during
the lost generation era. The reviewer of the book
rejected it, but encouraged him to continue writing.
He fell in love with a girl named Zelda Sayre. She
suffered from mental health issues and Scott had
became an alcoholic. He died thinking of himself as
a failure since his work never received much praise
until after his death.
Historical Context
The time period the Great Gatsby is set in is the
Jazz Age, the economy was booming and
expanding. Womens rights was majorly advancing
and the style of dressing began to change for
women. Also their style of living was changing
during this time. They began to smoke and cut their
hair short along with wearing shorter clothing.
Alcohol was also illegal at this time and it was an
easy way for people to make money.
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Kalista Head
February 22, 2017
Essential Quotes
"I hope she'll be a fool that's the best thing a
girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool . . .
You see, I think everything's terrible anyhow . . .
And I know. I've been everywhere and seen
everything and done everything."
"Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic
future that year by year recedes before us. It
eluded us then, but that's no matter
tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our
arms farther . . . . And one fine morning So
we beat on, boats against the current, borne
back ceaselessly into the past."
Add Work Cited Here: Chapter 1 / Page 20
Chapter 9 / Page 193
 Character Analysis
Nick is honest, tolerant and isnt one for quick
judgement. He is shown/involved in other peoples
dirty secrets. Like Toms affair with Myrtle, then
Daisys affair with Gatsby. Gatsby tells him his real
lifestyle and where he comes from. Daisy opens up
to him about her child. He is a person that people
want to tell their secrets to and trust easily. Nicks
the narrator of this story; his cousin is Daisy and his
neighbor is James Gatsby which helps him be
involved in their love affair. Often he is used to
function as the author, F. Scott Fitzgeralds, voice as
well.
Gatsby is the protagonist and the title character. To
most he is just a fabulously wealthy man with new
money who throws parties every Saturday night. He
was born as James Gatz on a farm in North Dakota.
He made his fortune through illegal actives such as
bootlegging just for Daisy so they could be together
like before he left for war. He is extremely optimistic,
vulgar and dishonest. Many people in this story
spread rumors and come up with bizarre stories
from his past. He had dropped out of college after
only two weeks because he couldnt stand his job
that paid for it.
Daisy is Nicks cousin and the woman that is in love
with Gatsby. She had met very many officers, but
she fell in love with Gatsby and promised him that
she would wait until his return. Although she didnt.
A wealthy man named Tom Buchanan proposed to
her and Daisys need to be loved made her say yes.
She is sarcastic, somewhat cynical and constantly
masks her pain that her husband inflicts onto her.
Tom is Daisys wealthy husband that use to be a
part of Nicks social club at Yale. He is a person with
powerful old money. Tom is arrogant, sexist, racist,
a hypocritical tormentor. He doesnt live up to the
same expectations that he gives other people.
When he finds out about Daisys affairs he becomes
anger and demands confrontation, but doesnt think
that his affair is anything to worry about.
Themes
1) The 1920s decline of the American
dream. Originally the American dream was
about happiness, discovery and
individualism. In the book it showed how it
was now about money and pleasure. When
Gatsby and Daisy first met they couldnt be
together because they werent in the same
class so Gatsby had to turn to crime just to
have enough money to satisfy her.
2) Love between a man and a woman.
Gatsby and Daisy fall in love together for a
short time. The story revolves around how
they try to make what they have work and
Nick being caught up between their affairs.
3) The hollow upper class. In the book
Gatsby was portrayed as vulgar and
someone who has no social taste by other
people around him for being new money.
The wealthy people in the book have
everything they could ever want. They talk
just to talk and are essentially empty inside
since the only thing they care about are
themselves. Gatsby is different and he is
loving/loyal, but it leads him to his death.
Motifs and Symbols
1) The weather is there to represent the
emotion and tone of the story. One major
moment this is shown is when Gatsby get
shot and falls into the pool. It was the first
day of autumn and a tense chill came threw
the air as Gatsby floated to the top. It was to
show an attempt to stop time and restore his
relationship with Daisy.
2) The green light was Gatsbys hopes
and dreams. Nick points this out more
clearly at the end of the book, saying that he
was so close that he could almost barely
touch it. In Nicks eyes though he thought
that Gatsby had reached his dreams/goals
and surpassed him.
3) Other symbol in the story is the eyes
of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg. They represent the
meaninglessness of everything and the
random choice of human process where
people invest objects with meanings. In the
book it was George Wilson who can up the
idea that those eyes are the eyes of God
watching over them in their moral wasteland.