The Great Gatsby - Themes Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the central theme related to money in The Great Gatsby?

It serves as a means of happiness.

It is wholly positive.

It represents true love.

It creates a social divide. (correct)

What does Daisy's voice symbolize in The Great Gatsby?

Money

The American Dream in The Great Gatsby is depicted as uncorrupted and pure.

False

Gatsby's wealth initially represents his ambition to win _____'s love.

Daisy Signup and view all the answers

How does Nick Carraway's view of wealth change throughout the novel?

He becomes confused about wealth, seeing both its allure and its emptiness. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following characters is described as being cold and materialistic?

Myrtle Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of the American Dream does Gatsby's character symbolize?

Hope, hard work, and ambition Signup and view all the answers

The characters in The Great Gatsby successfully overcome social barriers through hard work.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant barrier that Gatsby faces in achieving his dreams?

Not being born into wealth Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

MONEY - GAP BETWEEN RICH AND THE POOR

Wealthy characters contrast sharply with the bleak description of the valley of ashes.
The novel's tone reflects a rich, glamorous atmosphere, highlighting a superficial lifestyle.
Glamour is revealed as hollow; characters face existential boredom despite their luxurious lives.
Friendships are often shallow, exemplified by Gatsby's parties where guests remain unnamed.
Tragic destinies of Gatsby's guests reveal deep unhappiness beneath the wealthy facade.
Fitzgerald critiques the 1920s' materialistic values, showcasing their emptiness alongside glamorous superficiality.

MONEY - ATTITUDES TOWARDS DIFFER

Characters’ relationships with money define their actions and how they are perceived by others.
Nick embodies ambivalence towards wealth, idolizing figures like Midas while criticizing Gatsby's values.
Daisy and Tom exhibit arrogance and carelessness with their wealth, viewing it as a natural entitlement.
Gatsby’s wealth initially symbolizes ambition but evolves into a means to win Daisy’s love.
Myrtle equates money with happiness, revealing her materialistic nature despite her lower-class status.
Money transcends financial significance; Gatsby conflates it with love, viewing Daisy’s voice as inherently wealthy.

East Egg represents old money with inherited wealth, exemplified by the Buchanans.
West Egg symbolizes new money and self-made figures like Gatsby.
East Egg residents perceive themselves as superior, viewing the West Egg's opulence as vulgar.
Gatsby realizes wealth alone cannot bridge the social divide, leading him to imitate upper-class behavior to win Daisy's admiration.

AMERICAN DREAM - CORRUPTED BY GREED

The American moral ideal of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" contrasts with the 1920s focus on money.
The novel critiques the corruption of the American dream through class divides among characters.
The pursuit of wealth replaces genuine ideals of success and freedom, reflecting societal decay.

AMERICAN DREAM - GATSBY SYMBOLISES

Gatsby embodies the American dream as a self-made man, transforming his identity through ambition.
His childhood aspirations of greatness and self-improvement align with the dream's core ideals.
Gatsby's desire to become wealthy to win Daisy reflects the dream's corruption, reducing it to mere financial gain.
Nick observes that Gatsby's singular ambition to "win" Daisy limits his potential for true greatness.

DAISY AS A MATERIAL SYMBOL

Daisy is portrayed with materialistic descriptors, such as "gleaming like silver" and "made of money."
Her popularity among men likens her to an object of value, emphasizing the commodification of love.

TRAP OF THE AMERICAN DREAM - ILLUSIONARY NATURE

The narrative promotes the belief in equal opportunity for success through hard work, regardless of origins.
Characters ultimately fail to transcend class barriers, revealing the dream as illusory.
Gatsby's ascent through wealth does not alter his class status, underscoring the limitations imposed by social structures.

Description

Explore the significant themes of wealth and social disparity in 'The Great Gatsby'. This quiz will help you understand how Fitzgerald juxtaposes lavish lifestyles with a sense of purposelessness among the affluent. Delve into the meaning behind money and its implications within the narrative.