The Great Gatsby and the American Dream

Introduction

• Lecture by: gwiglet (YouTube Channel)
• Focus: Exploring the theme of the American Dream in "The Great Gatsby"
• Goals: Provide quotes, techniques, and analysis
• Engagement: Encourages taking notes, commenting, and repeated viewings

Context of the American Dream

• Publication: "The Great Gatsby" published in 1925
• Term Popularization: American Dream popularized in 1931 by James Truslow
  • Quote: “Dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone...”

Elements of the American Dream

• Opportunity: Land of the free, freedom to create and reinvent
• Equality: Equal chance for everyone
• Upward Mobility: Rags to riches story
• Hard Work: Success earned through hard work
• Freedom: Ability to live freely and without class constraints

Jay Gatsby and the American Dream

• Opportunity: Reinvents himself from James Gatz to Jay Gatsby
• Equality: Attempts to assimilate into old money
• Freedom: His parties symbolize freedom and the carnivalesque
• Upward Mobility: Achieves wealth through dubious means (e.g., bootlegging)
• Hard Work: Pursuit of American Dream tainted by illegal activities

Barriers to Jay Gatsby's Dream

• Old Money vs. New Money: Gatsby cannot achieve the generational wealth of characters like Tom Buchanan
• Pursuit of Daisy Buchanan: Gatsby’s pursuit of wealth and Daisy are intertwined
  • Daisy = Wealth: Her voice “sounds like money”
• Rumor and Gossip: Gatsby's dubious reputation due to past associations
• Time and Past: Gatsby’s pursuit rooted in the past (e.g., five years ago with Daisy)
  • Quote from Nick Carraway: “You can’t repeat the past”

Key Quotes and Analysis

Chapter 1

• Green Light Quote:
  • Symbolism: Gatsby reaching for something unattainable (American Dream)
  • Interpretations: Green light as “go,” money, or hope
• Tom Buchanan Quote:
  • Turbulence: Seeks past glory days, slightly connects to American Dream

Chapter 3

• Buffet Table Quote:
  • Symbolism: Food connoted with wealth and richness
  • Verbs: “Bewitched” hints at darker arts and corruption

Middle Third

• Gatsby's Life Story:
  • Verbs: “Hurried,” “Swallowed,” “Choked”—Shows flaws in Gatsby’s façade
• Glowed Quote:
  • Verbs: “Glowed,” “Radiated,” “Filled”—Gatsby fulfilled with Daisy
• Nick’s Warning:
  • Idea: Pursuit of the past rather than progress
  • Nick’s take: Gatsby’s heart tied to the past (“ghostly heart”)

Final Third

• Jay Gatsby as Creation:
  • Platonic Conception: Gatsby as an artist's creation
  • Son of God: Gatsby's self-view as being destined for greatness
• Final Quote:
  • Somber Reflection: Tomorrow’s pursuit vs. ceaseless pull of the past
  • Duality: Aspiration vs. the trap of nostalgia

Conclusion

• Final Thoughts: Cautionary tale about unattainable dreams and fixations on the past
• Encouragement: Engage with content, follow on social media, and continue discussions