The Great Gatsby initial notes
The Great Gatsby
Symbolism of ‘Egg’
New birth, new start, new wealth.
Inside egg, yellow- gold and wealth, fear, sickness, sexuality.
Outside egg, white- pure, fragile- fragile community.
About Nick’s situation
He would like to be in East Egg but he is ok with being surrounded by the new millionaires. Although they are close to New York, all the people we have met are from the Midwest.
The East Egg house
Sunken Italian garden
Lots of roses
Pink hallway
Lots of French windows
White curtains
White decretive ceiling
White rugs
The people are shown as part of the house ‘even more elaborate than I expected’
¼ mile of lawn
Overlooking the bay
Sun dials and brick walks
Tom has lots and wants more
They own a divan.
The east egg house is coloured red and white, this shows Tom’s nobility and links to the American flag. Colours of the house link to the patriotic nature of Tom, who seems too patriotic and hints are given which link Tom to the Klu Klux Klan and the view of WASP superiority.
“Conduct may be founded on the hard rock or on the wet marshes”
“A sense of fundamental decencies is parcelled out unequally at birth”
[Above] The narrator is aware of unequal nature of the American society in the early 20th Century.
[Above] He seems to be criticising this – he is socialist/ communist – challenging the unequal society.
[Above] ‘Decencies’ – basics & more required for good quality of life – life is unfair, general theme – Why is he not judgemental?
Emotive language
“vulnerable”
Young was unaware. Needed his Father’s advice.
Easily led, victim and target
Father has had a strong impact on him- still remembers the words he said to him
Makes us trust him more. Are we vulnerable?
“Secret griefs”
Heart aches, upet
“wild”
Not nice, aggressive? Not civilised towards him
“hostile levity”
Dismissive, unfriendly, light hearted attitude
The secrets of other people don’t matter to him
He doesn’t want to know the problems of others
Symbolism of ‘Egg’
New birth, new start, new wealth.
Inside egg, yellow- gold and wealth, fear, sickness, sexuality.
Outside egg, white- pure, fragile- fragile community.
About Nick’s situation
He would like to be in East Egg but he is ok with being surrounded by the new millionaires. Although they are close to New York, all the people we have met are from the Midwest.
The East Egg house
Sunken Italian garden
Lots of roses
Pink hallway
Lots of French windows
White curtains
White decretive ceiling
White rugs
The people are shown as part of the house ‘even more elaborate than I expected’
¼ mile of lawn
Overlooking the bay
Sun dials and brick walks
Tom has lots and wants more
They own a divan.
The east egg house is coloured red and white, this shows Tom’s nobility and links to the American flag. Colours of the house link to the patriotic nature of Tom, who seems too patriotic and hints are given which link Tom to the Klu Klux Klan and the view of WASP superiority.
“Conduct may be founded on the hard rock or on the wet marshes”
“A sense of fundamental decencies is parcelled out unequally at birth”
[Above] The narrator is aware of unequal nature of the American society in the early 20th Century.
[Above] He seems to be criticising this – he is socialist/ communist – challenging the unequal society.
[Above] ‘Decencies’ – basics & more required for good quality of life – life is unfair, general theme – Why is he not judgemental?
Emotive language
“vulnerable”
Young was unaware. Needed his Father’s advice.
Easily led, victim and target
Father has had a strong impact on him- still remembers the words he said to him
Makes us trust him more. Are we vulnerable?
“Secret griefs”
Heart aches, upet
“wild”
Not nice, aggressive? Not civilised towards him
“hostile levity”
Dismissive, unfriendly, light hearted attitude
The secrets of other people don’t matter to him
He doesn’t want to know the problems of others