The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Review:
Published in 1925, Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby captures the extravagance and emptiness of the Jazz Age. Narrator Nick Carraway tells the story of Jay Gatsby, a wealthy man who throws lavish parties in hopes of rekindling his romance with Daisy Buchanan. The novel critiques the American Dream, showing how it becomes corrupted by wealth, illusion, and social class. Gatsby is both admirable and tragic—his idealism cannot survive the harsh realities of the world.
Homework Questions & Answers
- What does the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock symbolize?
→ Gatsby’s hopes and dreams, particularly his longing for Daisy and the American Dream. - Why is Gatsby considered a tragic hero?
→ His downfall comes from his obsession with an unattainable dream. - How does Fitzgerald portray the “old money” class versus “new money”?
→ Old money characters like Tom and Daisy are careless and entitled; new money characters like Gatsby are ambitious but excluded.
