The Great Gatsby

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The Great Gatsby

by F. Scott Fitzgerald
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Chapter Seven

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Characterisation Gatsby, Daisy,
Tom, Nick Style Theme
American Upper
Class, Importance
of Time and the
Past Structure
Turning Point, End Symbolism
Weather, Gatsby
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Characterisation - Gatsby
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Characterisation - Gatsby

• His career as Trimalchio was over
  Trimalchio was a vulgar social upstart, therefore
  this description has negative connotations
• Task
• Discuss why the description of a vulgar
  upstart might be an appropriate one for Gatsby.

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Characterisation - Gatsby

• Theyre some people Wolfshiem wanted to do
  something for - this again adds doubt in our
  minds about Gatsbys judgement and wisdom.
• Wolfshiem is a shady character. What does it
  suggest about Gatsby that he is prepared to
  surround himself by people like this?

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Characterisation - Gatsby

• It is in this chapter that Gatsbys fortune is
  revealed as illegally acquired
• I found out what your drug stores were. He
  turned to us and spoke rapidly. He and this
  Wolfshiem bought up a lot of side-street
  drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain
  alcohol over the counter...I picked him for a
  bootlegger the first time I saw him.

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Characterisation - Gatsby

• He spoke as if Daisys reaction was the only
  thing that mattered
• Again, this conveys another negative aspect to
  Gatsbys characterisation. He is only worried
  about Daisy and completely ignores the fact that
  Myrtle was killed
• Of course Ill say I was shows how much he is
  in love with Daisy. He is prepared to take the
  blame for Myrtles death

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Characterisation - Nick

• Again this chapter calls into question Nicks
  reliability as a narrator.
• Discuss the way in which the following quote is
  significant in arousing the readers suspicions
  regarding his reliability
• I had one of those renewals of complete
  faith in him that Id experienced before

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Characterisation - Daisy
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Characterisation - Daisy

• This chapter again conveys Daisys lack of
  maternalistic qualities and again reinforces our
  impression of her being non-maternal
• Discuss the way in which the following quote
  reveals this-
• The child, relinquished by the nurse, rushed
  across the room and rooted shyly into her
  mothers dress

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Characterisation - Daisy

• Consider the following quote. In what way does
  it convey negative connotations regarding Daisys
  characterisation-
• Thats because your mother wanted to show
  you off

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Characterisation - Daisy

• Daisy sat back upon the couch. The nurse took a
  step forward and held out her hand....Good-bye,
  sweetheart!
• Her daughters reluctant backward glance
  suggests she would like to stay with her mother.
  However, Daisy simply dismisses her and does not
  even refer to her by her name. This again adds
  to our negative impression of Daisy.

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Characterisation - Daisy

• Her voice is full of money, he said suddenly
• Gatsbys description of Daisy again adds to our
  negative connotations. This description once
  again suggests a materialistic nature and a lack
  of emotion and spirit.

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Characterisation - Daisy

• Daisys negative portrayal continues when
  Gatsbys past is revealed
• With every word she was drawing further and
  further into herself
• It is further reinforced at the end of the
  chapter- I walked away and left him standing
  there in the moonlight watching over nothing
• Daisy has chosen to ignore the fact that Gatsby
  is prepared to take the blame for Myrtles death
  and has decided to stay with Tom

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Characterisation - Daisy

• Task
• Brainstorm the reasons why Daisy has decided
  to stay with Tom
• What impression does her decision to stay with
  Tom make on the reader?

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Characterisation - Tom

• Your wife does, exclaimed Tom, startled.
• Tom has just heard that his lover is leaving him.
  In addition, his wife is having an affair. His
  world has crashed around him in one afternoon
• Discuss - why the reader feels very little
  sympathy for Tom

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Characterisation - Tom

• Ill be damned if I see how you got within a
  mile of her unless you brought the groceries to
  the back door
• This is a clear example of class distinction.
  Tom tries to assert his superiority over Gatsby
  and emphasises how unsuitable a suitor he is for
  Daisy

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Characterisation - Tom

• Toms hypocrisy shines through in the following
  quote
• And whats more, I love Daisy too. Once in a
  while I go off on a spree and make a fool of
  myself, but I always come back, and in my heart I
  love her all the time

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Characterisation - Tom

• This is totally hypocritical of Tom. He has no
  qualms about his extra marital affairs, but feels
  a victim when Daisys affair is revealed

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Symbolism Hot Weather

• The next day was broiling, almost the last,
  certainly the warmest of the summer
• In this chapter, the hot weather reflects the
  climax of Gatsby and Daisys relationship

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Symbolism - Hot Weather

• In this heat every extra gesture was an affront
  to the common store of life
• The oppressive heat adds to the uncomfortable
  atmosphere and contributes to what happens in the
  chapter not just Myrtles accident, but also
  the confrontation between Tom and Gatsby
• The fiery and intense sun symbolises Toms fiery
  confrontation with Gatsby

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Symbolism - Gatsby in the bushes

• I hadnt gone twenty yards when I heard my name
  and Gatsby stepped from between two bushes into
  the path
• This signifies the reality of his love for Daisy.
  She is not concerned about him, but he is still
  keeping watch. This makes the reader feel sorry
  for Gatsby and almost forget his criminal past

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Theme Shallowness of the American
Upper Classes

• Ive heard of making a garage out of a stable,
  Tom was saying to Gatsby, but Im the first man
  who ever made a stable out of a garage.
• This symbolises his shallowness. The stables
  will be for his polo ponies as he does not need
  to work. Wilson depends on his garage for
  survival.

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Theme Importance of Time and the Past

• You loved me too? he repeated.
• Gatsbys obsession with having a blissful past
  continue into the present makes him want Daisy to
  tell Tom that she never loved him.

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Theme Importance of Time and the Past

• However, Tom reminding Daisy of their past, is
  clever. He is using their personal history to
  remind Daisy that she had feelings for him.
• BY CONTROLLING THE PAST, TOM ERADICATES GATSBYS
  VISION OF THE FUTURE

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Structure/ Style

• One of the most important moments in the chapter
  is when Tom becomes certain of Gatsby and Daisys
  feelings for each other
• She had told him that she loved him, and Tom
  Buchanan saw. He was astounded. His mouth opened
  a little, and he looked at Gatsby, and then back
  at Daisy

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Structure/ Style

• The turning point of Gatsbys relationship with
  Daisy occurs with the line, But with every word
  she was drawing further and further into herself
• This is a critical part of the novel as it is now
  clear that Gatsby has lost Daisy for good

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Structure/ Style

• This is reinforced by Toms words I think he
  realises that his presumptuous little flirtation
  is over
• Here, Tom feels secure enough to send Daisy back
  to East Egg with Gatsby. This confirms Nicks
  observation that Gatsbys dream is dead.

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Structure/Style

• The ending of the chapter with Gatsby hiding in
  the bushes clearly parallels Gatsby pining for
  Daisy at the end of Chapter One.
• In Chapter One he was optimistic about their
  future, but now he has made it past the green
  light onto the lawn of Daisys house. However,
  now his dream is gone for ever as Daisy and Tom
  have reconciled their differences His hand had
  fallen upon and covered her own