2. The setting of Gatsby is
central to understanding the
novel’s themes and events.
3. Published in 1925, The Great Gatsby is set in
New York City and Long Island during the
Prohibition era
◦ Prohibition made alcohol illegal, but that actually
increased its presence in society.
◦ Prohibition gave rise to the creation of speakeasies,
bootleggers, and other “underground” businesses.
4. The characters are living in the fictional town
of West Egg on prosperous Long Island in the
summer of 1922
Fitzgerald was inspired by the parties he had
attended while visiting Long Island's north
shore
5. Gatsby’s themes are reflective of the
time period. Especially as Fitzgerald
associated the entire period of the
1920s with materialism ("I want things!
Lots of things!") and immorality.
6. The Great Gatsby explores themes of
decadence, idealism, resistance to change,
social upheaval, and excess
It has been described as a cautionary tale
regarding the American Dream.
7. Decadence
◦ moral or cultural decline as characterized by excessive
indulgence in pleasure or luxury.
Synonyms: dissipation, degeneracy, debauchery, corruption,
depravity, vice, sin, moral decay, immorality
◦ The word decadence, which at first meant simply
"decline" in an abstract sense, is now most often used to
refer to a perceived decay in standards, morals, dignity,
religious faith, or skill at governing among the members
of the elite of a very large social structure, such as an
empire or nation state.
◦ By extension, it may refer to a decline in art or literature,
or (very loosely) to self-indulgent behavior.
8. Idealism
◦ the attitude of a person who believes that it is
possible to live according to very high standards of
behavior and honesty
◦ Consider: what is the difference among someone
who is idealistic, someone who is pessimistic,
someone who is optimistic, and someone who is
realistic?
9. Resistance to Change/ Social Upheaval
◦ The Great Gatsby captures the American experience
because it is a story about change and those who
resist it; whether the change comes in the form of a
new wave of immigrants (Southern Europeans in the
early 20th century, Latin Americans today), the
nouveau riche, or successful minorities.
◦ Americans from the 1920s have plenty of
experience with changing economic and social
circumstances
◦ Gatsby's basic conflict is between established
sources of economic and cultural power and
upstarts in virtually all aspects of American society.
10. In The Great Gatsby, the American Dream is
supposed to stand for independence and the
ability to make something of one's self with
hard work, but it ends up being more about
materialism and selfish pursuit of pleasure.
No amount of hard work can change where
Gatsby came from, and old money knows it.
Merit and hard work aren't enough, and so
the American Dream collapses.
