The Great Gatsby: Difference between revisions

''The Great Gatsby'' is a 1925 novel, [[F Scott Fitzgerald]]'s classic social critique, in which the American dream of [[Rags to Riches]] is exposed as a noble illusion and self-absorbed, emotionally bankrupt [[Rich Bitch|Rich Bitches]] are the reality. Largely because of this frank but wistful consideration of idealism vs. human nature, it has come to be considered the definitive American novel.

 

 

The true hero of the piece, in more ways than one, is his new neighbor Jay Gatsby: an enigmatic man who makes sure to flaunt his wealth to everyone close by, building a lavish mansion near Nick's home and throwing completely over-the-top weekly parties to which everyone who's anyone is invited... but seeming, himself, mysteriously detached from it all. In a darkly comic parody of celebrity culture, speculation at these extravaganzas runs rampant as to who Gatsby is and where his money came from, with the rumours getting wilder and wilder ("I heard he ''killed'' a man once!") as the guests abuse his hospitality more and more freely.

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=== This novel includes examples of: ===

* [[Abusive Parents]]: Daisy seems to not even remember how old her child is.

** She's not actively abusive, she's just [[Parental Abandonment|completely detached]]. (Which could arguably count, YMMV.) Tom isn't very interested in his daughter either. Poor kid has two parents who are only vaguely aware she exists.

* [[The Film of the Book]]: Several, although none have been hailed as masterpieces. The introspective nature of the book is hard to translate onto film, and some of Gatsby's grand romantic gestures (not to say his genial habit of calling his friends "old sport") tend to come off as incredibly affected.

** As a note, his habit of calling his friends 'old sport' ''is'' affected, especially notable when he's nervous or feeling downtrodden (especially in the scene where he's reunited with Daisy by Nick).

* [[The Flapper]]: The majority of the women in the novel.

* [[Foreshadowing]]: When a man Nick dubs "Owl-Eyes" wrecks his car. Guess what happens to another character later on, involving a car?

* [[Mood Whiplash]]: At least in the 1974 film; after the prolonged sad [[Lonely Funeral]] and Nick monologuing about the life of Gatsby over his deserted home, the credits ironically roll to the tune of 20s era girls cheerfully singing down the pier.

* [[Multiple Choice Past]]: Gatsby

* [[My Girl Is a Slut]]: When Gatsby first met Daisy, he knew she'd been involved with ''many'' men. To him, it made her "valuable."

* [[Mysterious Past]]: Gatsby at first.

* [[Screw the Rules, I Have Money]]: Pretty much every rich character in the book, escept for Nick. Although Nick comes from a very wealthy family, he works for his own money. Some might argue that, despite coming from old money, he is the only character who has moral values.

* [[Setting Update]]: ''Cena Trimalchionis'' recycled IN 1920S NEW YORK! F. Scott Fitzgerald even intended to call the book ''Trimalchio in West Egg'' until he was persuaded that his readers [[Genius Bonus|wouldn't get it.]]

* [[Shallow Love Interest]]: Daisy, as evidenced when she finally visits Gatsby in his mansion, the culmination of literally ''years'' spent single-mindedly dedicated to reconstructing himself into her ideal man. The chapter is a masterpiece of quiet irony; Gatsby achieves his dream in full-- in the famous scene wherein Daisy winds up crying with ecstasy into a pile of "such beautiful shirts!"-- but only by exposing her as not in the least worth the effort.

* [[Shipper On Deck]]: Daisy and Tom for Nick and Jordan.

* [[Shoot the Shaggy Dog]]

* [[Took a Level In Jerkass]]: Nick, albeit a short one, and under extreme provocation.

* [[Trailers Always Spoil]]: The back cover of the most common U.S. publication of the book these days spoils Gatsby and Daisy's relationship.

* [[Unfortunate Names]]: A few of the names from Nick's list of Gatsby's guests from [[What Do You Mean Its Not Symbolic|July 5th]]: The Leeches, the Fishguards, the Ripley Snells, Mrs. Ulysses Swett, S.B. Whitebait, Maurice A. Flink, Gulick, James B. "Rot-gut" Ferret, the Scullys, S.W. Belcher, and the Smirks.

* [[Unreliable Narrator]]: Nick's narration is colored by his perception of Gatsby at this particular moment. Whether that's because he's soft-hearted or just providing some poetic embellishment is up to the reader (and/or the reader's English teacher).

** Also at one point he joins some upper class friends of Tom for drinks and, as such, tells the audience that he gets drunk and the rest of the night becomes a big blur.

* [[When She Smiles|When He Smiles]]:

{{quote| He smiled understandingly -- much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced -- or seemed to face -- the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey.}}

* [[Adaptation Dye Job]]: Jordan has dark yellow "hair like an autumn leaf" in the book and dark brown hair in the film. She's also described as being tanned due to being a golfer but she's a pale-skinned brunette here.

* [[Big Fancy House]]: [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/23/great-gatsby-trailer-review_n_1541043.html#s=1015332 The Buchanan mansion].[http://foreveryoungadult.com/2012/05/23/a-highly-scientific-analysis-of-the-great-gatsby-trailer/ Gatsby's mansion] (second picture after the video) is verging on [[Big Fancy Castle]] / [[Bright Castle]].

* [[Conspicuous Consumption]]

* [[Cool Car]]s