The Great GatsbyChapter 3By Marie and Renee

Historical- “Jazz Age”- “Roaring Twenties”Post war meant the dawn of a new modern era

Era of change● women recently obtained the right to vote- women became more adventurous (flappers) ● people of “Old money” and “New Money”● drunks filled prisons and poorhouses● alcohol was celebrated and consumed rapidly ● cars were newly invented

Historical- Prohibition The Prohibition lasted from January 6, 1920-1933 and was the only amendment revoked The manufacturing, selling and transportation of liquor was illegalLiquor however was not illegal to drink

“improve american lives”-It was made under the impression of lowering crime, corruption, reduce social problems and taxed however it became dangerous to consume as it was manufactured illegally and possibly poisonous (methanol)

Whiskey was legally “prescribed” by doctors to their new “patients”- no sort of authority stopped this

Bootlegging/ Organized Crime● Drinking became a sort of luxury

● Alcohol became a dependent for most

● Became an expanding business- black markets were created

● Bootleggers would produce, transport and sell liquor (illegally)

● Through Bootlegging, gangs were created and continued after the prohibition (Al Capone)

What Can We Assume About Gatsby in this Time period

Liquor

He is associated with bootlegging- American Dream is corrupted through dishonesty

● “gin and liquors and with cordials,” (42)● “floating rounds of cocktails”(42)● “a tray of cocktails floated towards us” (44)● “the bar,[...] was crowded” (46)● “drunk a quantity of champagne”(52)

He was able to supply enough liquor for a lot of guests and enough for his many ravishing parties

The American Dream

A·mer·i·can dreamnoun1. the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve

success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.

What suggests Gatsby is living the “American Dream” ?

The American DreamGatsby- represented as a man living the “American Dream”

● he came from nothing to being wealthy

All the extravagant luxuries and parties● “Rolls-Royce” (41) / his many cars as a social symbol● “eight servants, including an extra gardener, toiled all day with mops and ...”● “two motor boats”● “five crates of oranges and lemons” ● “a corps of caterers”● “the bar is in full swing, and floating rounds of cocktails” (42)● “the orchestra…. opera voices”● “hydroplane” (54)

What Corrupts the American Dream

● greed

● money

● illegal activities

● power

How Does Gatsby Also Represent the Corruption of the American Dream

Gatsby as the Corruption of The American Dream

The way Gatsby earns his money- how he became wealthy

Gatsby at the party:“standing alone on the marble steps and looking form one group to another…” (51)

represents a different idea of what the american dream is in contrast with the dream of people of “New money”.

He is not fully content- even with all his luxuries

American Dream Corrupted

Owl Eyes was shocked- a library with pages in the books (47)

Not materialistic:This emphasizes the idea that most rich hide the reality with false appearances.

Most hide their corruption and moral decay

Biased or accurate portrayal of the 1920’s ?

What is Fitzgerald’s perspective of the American Dream?

Bibliography

http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/bootlegging.aspx http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/bootlegging.aspx http://www.pbs.org/food/the-history-kitchen/great-gatsby-prohibition-fitzgerald/ http://classroom.synonym.com/postwar-american-attitudes-1920s-10725.htmlhttp://www.thefinertimes.com/20th-Century-Crime/organised-crime-in-the-1920s.html

Symbols in Ch. 3

What are some archetypes from this Chapter and what do they symbolize?

Yellow

- Overall them of yellow“Yellow cocktail music” (42)“girls in yellow” (44)“golden arm” (44)

- The yellow at the party in the music and the dresses, is the the symbol of corruption in that society

- Yellow can be seen as a fake gold- The yellow however isn’t as alluring as the “golden arm” of

Jordan - therefore Nick is more inclined to be with Jordan over the plenty girls who were dressed in just simply yellow

White

- Nick shows up in “white flannels” (43)- This demonstrates that he still isn’t corrupted by this

lifestyle- Still has some innocence

Blue

“Suddenly one of the gypsies, in trembling opal, seizes a cocktail out of the air”“A chauffeur in a uniform of robin’s-egg blue crossed my lawn early that Saturday morning”“It was gas blue with lavender beads.”

- Blue can be seen as confidence/stability- The chauffeur being in blue shows the confidence and wealth

that Gatsby has- Jordan is showing off her jewelry which demonstrates her

wealth and how she wants to be seen as wealthy to everyone around her

Darkness“warm darkness” (57)“enchanted metropolitan twilight… haunting loneliness” (57)

- Describes the Appearance vs Reality in Gatsby’s life- In Gatsby’s house, one is overcome by the yellow

(corruption) of it all only for when they leave, they can truly see how their lifestyle is ultimately going downhill into darkness

Grey

- Jordan’s eyes - “grey, sun-strained eyes” (59)- Mix of mystery and purity- She is surrounded by this certain appearance that she has

but it is only when you truly look into her grey eyes that you become misled by what she is originally showing you

- Full of mystery - Nick can never really get to know her

What does Nick’s invitation to Gatsby’s party symbolize?

- He is the only one actually invited to the party (43)- He is one of the only honest people there (he didn’t just show

up to the party like the others had even though he is Gatsby’s neighbor)

- Goes from being the spectator to the participant

What does this quote symbolize? “East Egg condescending to West Egg and carefully on guard

against its spectroscopic gaiety” (46)

West Egg vs East Egg

- Observable sign that he is from new money because of the way he looks down on East Egg for being from old money

- New money vs old money

How does the “Owl-Eyed spectator” (46/55) relate to the eyes in the wasteland in Ch 2?

- Uninvolved spectator- Answers questions without truly revealing anything- Doesn’t correct wrongs

- “Dr T.J. Eckleburg with all seeing eyes”- Like God observing us on earth

What symbols are seen surrounding Gatsby in this chapter?

His smile (49)

- Shows his charisma - The world sees him as this fun person- Makes people feel special and included - its like he the smile

is only for you- Seems sincere

Gatsby and Jordan (49)

- Maintains the mysterious nature of Gatsby- He keeps a certain appearance in public - he whispers to

Jordan and leaves as soon as Nick comes up to them

Gatsby’s house after the party (56)

- Appearance vs reality- You don’t realize the corruption until you leave the party

into the darkness of the night