THE GREAT GATSBYCHAPTER 2

• SETTING – VALLEY OF ASHES AND NEW YORK

• SYMBOLISM – EYES AND VALLEY OF ASHES

• CHARACTERISATION – TOM, WILSON, NICK, MYRTLE

• THEMES – VISION AND AMERICAN SOCIETY

• STRUCTURE

SETTING – VALLEY OF THE ASHES• “..a fantastic farm where ashes grow

like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of ash-grey men, who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air”

• Task: Consider the word choice used in this extract – how does it compare with description of East Egg (remember connotations).

Symbolism of Valley of Ashes

• Literally it is a long stretch of desolate land created by dumping industrial ashes.

• Symbolically it represents the moral and social decay that results from the pursuit of wealth and riches. The rich indulge themselves with no regard for anything but their own pleasure.

• The Valley of Ashes could be seen to symbolise the moral decay which is hidden beneath the glitzy façade of East and West Egg – behind this façade could the same ugliness exist?

• DISCUSSION: Have there been any indications of moral decay in the first two chapters?

Setting – New York

• 4TH setting.• Opposite of the Valley of Ashes• DISCUSSION: How is this difference

emphasised? Consider the word choice used in describing elements of New York e.g. “ ...lavender-coloured with grey upholstery, and in this we slid out from the mass of the station into the glowing sunshine”

SYMBOLISM – EYES OF DR T.J. ECKLEBURG

• Literally this advertisement is a realistic detail of a culture of consumerism found in 1920’s America.

• BUT the faded paint of the eyes symbolise the extent to which this society has lost its connection with God – the sign is looking over the Valley of Ashes just like God.

• LINKS with Theme - vision

Characterisation - TOM

• “bordered on violence”• “supercilious manner”

• DISCUSSION: What elements of Tom’s character do these two quotes emphasise?

• How does Tom wield power over Wilson? What does this add to our initial impressions of Tom’s character?

Characterisation - TOM

• Events in this chapter further add to what we have learned in Chapter 1 about Tom’s character

• “Get on..” emphasises the bossy tone of his character

• “said Tom decisively” - arrogant and in charge.

Characterisation - Myrtle

• DISCUSSION: What are your initial impressions of Myrtle?

• “She was in the middle thirties, and faintly stout, but she carried her flesh sensuously as some women can”

• “She smiled slowly and, walking through her husband as if he were a ghost, shook hands with Tom, looking him flush in the eyes”

• TASK: How does Myrtle behave when away from the Valley and in New York?

• Myrtle’s behaviour in New York links with the theme of vision and appearances

• She is very concerned with creating an impression of an upper class woman,

“Throwing a regal homecoming glance around the neighbourhood...and went haughtily in.”

• “I married him because I thought he was a gentleman”

• “...he wasn’t fit to lick my shoe.”• “I knew right away I made a mistake.”• “...I lay down and cried to beat the

band all afternoon.”• DISCUSSION: Does the reader feel any

sympathy for Myrtle?

TOM AND MYRTLE

• Myrtle believes she is above Wilson and Tom is a more suited partner.

• Consider if you think Tom would ever have married Myrtle – remember that he has lied about Daisy’s religion to make excuses for staying with his wife.

• Tom’s relationship with her is physical and material.

Characterisation - Wilson

• Stands in stark contrast to Tom• He is a handsome and morally upright

man who lacks money, privilege and vitality.

• DISCUSSION: What are your initial impressions of Wilson?

• “Spiritless man, anaemic”• “walking through her husband as if he

were a ghost”• A white ashen dust veiled his dark suit• Tom says: “He’s so dumb he doesn’t

know he’s alive”

Characterisation - Nick

• “I wanted to get out and walk eastward toward the park through soft twilight, but each time I tried to go I became entangled in some wild, strident argument which pulled me back, as if by ropes, into my chair.”

• DISCUSSION: Does Nick’s behaviour at the party effect the reader’s impression of him as a narrator?

Characterisation - Nick

• He is shown to be indecisive in this section.

• Normally repelled by vulgarity and tastelessness, but he is too fascinated to leave.

Though I was curious to see her I had no desire to meet her (page 30)

• What does this suggest about Nick?• We are given a hint that he is not a

fully trustworthy narrator:Everything has a dim hazy cast over it

Structure – Delayed introduction of Gatsby

• “Well they say he’s the nephew or a cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm’s. That’s where all his money comes from”

• Continues to build an atmosphere of mystery around Gatsby – no-one has any real information about him.

Theme - Vision

• Eyes of DR T.J. Eckleburg – do they represent God staring down upon society and judging American society as a moral wasteland?

• DISCUSSION: How important are appearances in The Great Gatsby? How does this link into the theme of Vision? Are appearances deceiving in any way?

• “The little dog was sitting on the table looking with blind eyes through the smoke, and from time to time groaning faintly”

• Again we see the idea of distorted vision.

• This quote also links to the theme Shallowness of the Upper Classes

• Material possessions are tossed aside when people are finished with them.

• Myrtle bought the dog to create a certain appearance.

• Once the dog had served its purpose, Myrtle no longer had a need for it.

• This is endemic of the whole of American Society at the time.

Theme – American Society• The Wilsons live where they work• They have a lower social standing that

Nick because he lives in the Suburbs.• The very rich (Buchanans, etc) do not

appear to work and can live where they choose.

• Fitzgerald is emphasising here that America, despite its claim of democratic equality, is a society split in to a number of social classes based on wealth and property.