The Great Gatsby: Chapter One Analysis of Gatsby, Hope, and American Identity

1. The Great Gatsby Chapter One

2. Gatsby and America • Nick immediately establishes the influence of his father on page 7 • Which relates to the idea of how the past influences the present • Gatsby’s past & present, America’s • The American Dream was founded on hope: Gatsby has an extraordinary gift for hope. • Nick too has hope as a pathfinder. • However this comment may be ironic

3. Names • What connotations does egg have? • Nick and Gatsby are separate on West Egg- separate from the community of the Buchanans • Daisy- connotations? Nature, delicate, pure • Carraway also the name of a plant: Homely, natural

4. The Old World • The influence of Europe is all around: • Gatsby’s house is a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy Q • What suggested by spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy? • Nick has served in Europe • The Buchanans, in contrast, spent a year in France for no particular reason • A nightingale come over on the Cunard or the White Star Line

5. Nick’s Background • Makes a point of stating his ancestry: Something of a clan…descended from the Dukes of Buccleuch. • But seems keen to put the emphasis on the American and the entrepreneurial: The actual founder of my line…started the wholesale business…look like him • This ancestor notably avoided conflict: Sent a substitute to the Civil War • Family is important: All my aunts and uncles talked it over

6. Nick • Tone of: that delayed Teutonic migration known as the Great War? • He portrays himself at times as reserved • values the fundamental decencies • And is concerned with people’s conduct • He works in finance: the bond business • He seems to revel in being near the rich: twelve or fifteen thousand a season the consoling proximity of millionaires The white palaces of East Egg glittered

7. Nick • Look at the paragraph beginning There was so much to read… • What tone does he use? • Midas- turned things to gold • Maecenas- Roman patron of the arts • Here he is looking back on his good intentions with irony. • Because he is looking back this also colours the way that he describes Tom in particular.

8. Nick’s view of Tom • Always leaning aggressively forward • Shining arrogant eyes • A body capable of enormous leverage- a cruel body • I always had the impression that he approved of me and wanted me to like him with some harsh wistfulness • Wistfulness? • Look at the paragraph beginning Sometimes she and Miss Baker pp18-19

9. Ennui • The characters seem lifeless, lacking in direction or purpose and full of ennui. • What word choice suggests this? Yawned Unobtrusively Bantering inconsequence As cool as their white dresses Impersonal eyes The absence of all desire A polite pleasant effort I meant nothing in particular

10. A change in mood • Look at pages 18-19. • What words suggest that passions do become stirred? Tom? Daisy? • Page 20: her voice compelled me forward…street at dusk. • Daisy’s daughter on page 23. • Daisy: Turbulent emotions possessed her of the ether with an utterly abandoned feeling The basic insincerity

11. Nick • There are suggestions that Nick too is suppressing emotions: • Memories of the Teutonic migration • He jokes away questions about the girl out West “I’m too poor”…I wasn’t even vaguely engaged • She may be the reason he is beginning over again.

12. Daisy’s daughter • pp23

13. Gatsby • The reader is kept in suspense about Gatsby • Like Nick we hear about him first through rumour and gossip • First description: emerged from the shadow • Language becomes quite poetic: the silver pepper of the stars • Word choice? A single green light The unquiet darkness