Transcript Final Test Review

Final Test Review
Why is Gatsby unable to change or
develop throughout the novel?
Gatsby’s entire life revolved around
recapturing his past w/Daisy
He cannot admit that the dream is over or
“shattered”
—His death is fitting b/c Gatsby could never
live without Daisy and his dream
His death is while he still in a pool
— Gatsby had no chance for a new
beginning or re-birth
How does Nick change by the end of the
novel?
 As the story progresses, we realize that Nick does judge
the other characters
– Nick is disgusted by the characters (Tom, Daisy,Jordan)
 He is the only character with a strong moral sense
– He is the only one to take care of Gatsby after his death
– Nick sets up the funeral and tries to call up friends to
attend
– He holds Tom and Daisy responsible for their
carelessness
– He rejects Jordan because she doesn’t care either
– He rejects the lifestyle when he leaves the East
What kind of people are Tom and
Daisy? How do they treat others?
Careless, self-absorbed, heartless
They both “killed” someone—Tom
(Gatsby) and Daisy (Myrtle)—because
these people are lower class and don’t
matter
They run away from their problems and
they never clean up the mess
Demonstrates how the wealthy are not
held accountable for their actions
They get away with much worse behavior.
How is morality important in the novel? Are an
characters conscious of their behavior?
Who (or what) reminds them of their guilt?
Lack of morality is prevalent in the
novel—Daisy and Tom’s affairs, Jordan
cheating at golf, Myrtle’s affair, Gatsby’s
affair and illegal business
No one but Nick cares about what
happened to Myrtle
Nick rejects all but Gatsby, who he sees
as a victim
George recognizes God, but still murders
Gatsby—God does nothing
How does the theme of the American
Dream apply to Gatsby?
 Gatsby raised himself from a poor background into a
very wealthy man.
 However, he does this illegally and suffers the
consequences.
His dream is “superficial success”—only based
on Daisy
He never develops himself beyond this, not much
personality
 The Anti-American Dream—no one attends the
funeral
Gatsby has no real friends, except Nick
“Poor son-of-a-bitch” says Owl Eyes (irony)
Never finds happiness
How does East and West play into the
ending of the story?
 Nick is disgusted by the behaviors of the other
characters, so he leaves the East to head home.
 He can no longer be around such superficial,
selfish, and corrupt people.
 East—Corrupt, grotesque
A night scene with a drunk woman on a stretcher
Four men carry her to the wrong house and don’t
know her name, and don’t care.
 West—Welcoming, family values
Trains returning home during Christmas time
A sense of community, love, and support
Review the major symbols
from the story.
 Dr. T.J. Eckleburg—Eyes of God, consciousness of
guilt, Nick’s eyes watching all
 East vs. West—Corruption vs. Moral stronghold, class
distinctions
 Green Light—Dreams and hope, color of money, rebirth
 Valley of Ashes—Waste, decay of morality, sinful acts
happen there, no consequences
 Parties and guests—Excess, superficiality, careless—
no one comes to the funeral
 Weather—Ch. 5 Rain: foreshadows destruction of
dream, not perfect, Ch. 7 Heat: tension between Tom
and Gatsby, Ch. 8 Cooler, Fall-like: end of Gatsby’s
dream, Ch. 9 Rain: funeral, sadness, end of an era