5b7f2d4d-5e1e-46cc-a8fb-4e80cbfe01dd.pptx

# Narrative introduction and character initial impressions This section of the narrative introduces the protagonist and narrator, Nick Carraway, and establishes the initial perceptions of key characters, including Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan, and Jordan Baker, which subtly foreshadow their future roles and complexities. ### 1.1 The narrator: Nick Carraway Nick Carraway is presented as the narrator, a Yale graduate from the Midwest who has moved to West Egg, Long Island. His initial self-portrayal is that of an honest and observant individual who tends to reserve judgment. He emphasizes his reliability as a storyteller. * **Initial Impression:** Honest, observant, somewhat detached. * **Narrative Function:** A seemingly reliable observer who guides the reader's understanding of the events and characters. * **Reader's Consideration:** Despite his claims of objectivity, Fitzgerald prompts the reader to question Nick's reliability and acknowledge his inherent biases, particularly his favoritism towards Gatsby and his judgmental attitude towards Tom and Daisy. > **Tip:** Pay close attention to Nick's descriptions and judgments, as they reveal as much about his own perspective and biases as they do about the characters he observes. ### 1.2 Initial impressions of key characters The introductory chapter carefully stages the introductions of the main characters, with their initial perceptions serving to foreshadow their deeper truths and eventual roles in the narrative. #### 1.2.1 Tom Buchanan Tom Buchanan is introduced as a man of considerable wealth, power, and arrogance. His physical description emphasizes his imposing and aggressive nature. * **Initial Impression:** Wealthy, aggressive, and arrogant. * **Physical Description:** Possesses a "cruel body" with a "hard mouth and a supercilious manner." * **Foreshadowing:** His immediate association with power and brutality, exemplified by his racist remarks about "the white race" and his harsh treatment of Myrtle, foreshadows his destructive influence on the lives of others. > **Example:** Tom's immediate assertion of dominance and his prejudiced comments upon meeting Nick signal his character as a force of potential destruction and moral bankruptcy. #### 1.2.2 Daisy Buchanan Daisy Buchanan is initially perceived as beautiful and enchanting, often presented in a dreamlike or idealized manner. Her voice is notably captivating. * **Initial Impression:** Beautiful, enchanting, yet shallow. * **Setting of Introduction:** Introduced in a "dreamy scene," often associated with the color white, creating an ethereal image. * **Key Feature:** Her voice is described as "an arrangement of notes that will never be played again," highlighting its unique and alluring quality. * **Foreshadowing:** While initially appearing romantic and idealized, this initial impression gradually reveals her underlying carelessness and materialism, traits that become more prominent as the narrative unfolds. #### 1.2.3 Jordan Baker Jordan Baker is presented as a modern and detached figure. Her initial depiction suggests a cool, almost sculpted, presence. * **Initial Impression:** Cool, modern, detached. * **Depiction:** Described as reclining on a couch, giving an impression of elegant repose. * **Representation:** She embodies the "new woman" of the 1920s, characterized by her independence and athletic prowess as a professional golfer. * **Foreshadowing:** Her initial impression of independence and fashionability masks a fundamental dishonesty, as she is later revealed to be a cheat, hinting at her moral carelessness. --- # Setting analysis in The Great Gatsby The settings in The Great Gatsby are not merely backdrops but potent symbols that reflect and drive the novel's core themes, particularly concerning the American Dream, social class, and moral decay. ### 2.1 Gatsby's mansion Gatsby's mansion is characterized by its grandeur and extravagance, serving as the site for the lavish parties Gatsby hosts in his pursuit of Daisy. * **Symbolism:** * It symbolizes Gatsby himself and his materialistic pursuit of the American Dream, equating material success with romantic and social achievement. * It represents Gatsby's grand vision, aspirations, and idealism, embodying the belief in the self-made man. * The mansion's opulent yet "incoherent" nature parallels Gatsby's persona: grand, mysterious, and richly adorned, but ultimately a manifestation of a flawed and shortsighted dream. * It highlights the illusory nature of the American Dream, suggesting that material wealth alone does not guarantee status or happiness. ### 2.2 East Egg and West Egg These two distinct fictional enclaves on Long Island represent the stark social and economic divisions within the novel's world. * **East Egg:** * Characterized by chic residences and old, inherited wealth. * Represents the established aristocracy and their inherent arrogance. * Inhabitants, like the Buchanans, embody corruption and a sense of entitlement. * They may condescend to attend Gatsby's parties but ultimately despise him and his "new money" associations. * **West Egg:** * Characterized by residences of the nouveau riche, those with new money who are not yet accepted into high society. * Represents independence, innovation, and the pioneering spirit associated with new wealth. * Gatsby, as a West Egg inhabitant, exemplifies the aspiration to a social status that remains largely unattainable. ### 2.3 New York City New York City serves as a locale for significant, often illicit, events that expose the characters' irresponsibility and moral failings. * **Symbolism:** * It is where Tom takes his mistress, Myrtle, and where Gatsby's affair with Daisy is revealed. * It is a place associated with excessive alcohol consumption and a general atmosphere of carelessness. * The city symbolizes irresponsibility, immorality, and a pervasive sense of carelessness among the wealthy elite. * It reflects the extravagance and excesses of the 1920s, a hub for writers, socialites, and wealthy businessmen. ### 2.4 The Valley of Ashes This desolate, industrial wasteland stands in stark contrast to the opulent settings and symbolizes the grim consequences of the unfulfilled American Dream. * **Description:** * A gray, dead, powdery area where even the homes appear to be made of ashes. * Motorcars travel through it en route to New York. * It is the home of George and Myrtle Wilson, who operate a garage and gasoline station there. * **Symbolism:** * Represents the wasteland that the American Dream can become when divorced from ethics and morality. * It is a place where individuals like George and Myrtle are victimized by the wealthy, whose lives are dictated by pleasure, boredom avoidance, and dishonesty. * The giant blue eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg on a billboard overlooking the valley symbolize a god-like, judgmental presence, witnessing the moral decay. ### 2.5 First impressions and foreshadowing F. Scott Fitzgerald masterfully uses initial descriptions of characters and settings to foreshadow deeper truths about their personalities and roles in the narrative. * **Nick Carraway:** * **First Impression:** Honest, observant, and detached, presenting himself as non-judgmental. * **Foreshadowing:** While initially seeming reliable, his biases (favoring Gatsby, judging Tom and Daisy) lead readers to question his ultimate objectivity. * **Tom Buchanan:** * **First Impression:** Wealthy, aggressive, and arrogant, with a "cruel body" and "supercilious manner." * **Foreshadowing:** His overt racism and aggressive demeanor immediately link him to power and brutality, foreshadowing his destructive impact on the lives of others. * **Daisy Buchanan:** * **First Impression:** Beautiful, enchanting, and ethereal, often depicted in dreamy, white attire. Her voice is described as a captivating "arrangement of notes." * **Foreshadowing:** The initial romantic and idealized portrayal masks her later revealed shallowness, carelessness, and materialism. * **Jordan Baker:** * **First Impression:** Cool, modern, and detached, presented as a sculpted figure and a symbol of the independent "new woman" of the 1920s. * **Foreshadowing:** Her athletic prowess and fashionable independence hint at her underlying dishonesty and moral carelessness, exemplified by her reputation for cheating. --- ## Common mistakes to avoid - Review all topics thoroughly before exams - Pay attention to formulas and key definitions - Practice with examples provided in each section - Don't memorize without understanding the underlying concepts

| Term | Definition | |------|------------| | Narrator | The person telling the story, through whose perspective the events of the novel are presented to the reader. In this document, Nick Carraway serves as the narrator. | | West Egg | A fictionalized area of Long Island Sound representing new money and the nouveau riche, characterized by its residents who are not yet fully accepted into established high society. | | East Egg | A fictionalized area of Long Island Sound representing old, inherited wealth, characterized by its more fashionable and established elite society. | | American Dream | The belief that anyone in the US can become successful and happy if they work hard, often associated with material prosperity and upward social mobility. The document discusses its materialistic and sometimes empty interpretation. | | Materialism | A philosophical stance or a way of life that emphasizes the importance of material possessions and physical comfort. In the context of Gatsby, it is linked to the pursuit of the American Dream. | | Symbolism | The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. The document highlights how settings like Gatsby's mansion and the Valley of Ashes symbolize broader concepts within the narrative. | | Nouveau Riche | A French term referring to people who have recently acquired wealth and social status, often contrasted with those who have inherited their wealth and social standing. | | Foreshadowing | A literary device in which a writer gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story. The document suggests that initial character introductions foreshadow their deeper truths. | | Carelessness | A lack of attention or concern, often leading to negative consequences for others. This trait is attributed to characters like Tom and Daisy Buchanan. | | Irresponsibility | The state of not having any accountability or reliability. This is linked to the actions and behaviors of characters, particularly in the setting of New York City. | | Valley of Ashes | A desolate, industrial wasteland between West Egg and New York City, symbolizing the moral and social decay resulting from the unprincipled pursuit of wealth and pleasure. | | Billboard | A large outdoor board for displaying advertisements. The billboard with the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg is a prominent symbol in the Valley of Ashes. | | Idealism | The belief in or the pursuit of a vision or an ideal state, often characterized by optimism and a focus on principles rather than practical considerations. Gatsby's aspirations are described as idealistic. |