Wealth Social Class and Decay

• How did George Wilson react to Myrtle's death?

  He was distraught and devastated
• How does The Great Gatsby portray social classes?

  Through "old money," "new money," and "no money"
• What class does Tom and Daisy Buchanan represent?

  Old money
• What class does Gatsby represent?

  New money
• What class do George and Myrtle Wilson represent?

  No money
• What rivalry does The Great Gatsby depict?

  Between old money and new money
• What does Fitzgerald suggest about the American Dream through Gatsby's character?

  It can be corrupted by materialism
• What are the major themes in The Great Gatsby?

  • The American Dream and its corruption
  • Class distinctions: old money vs. new money
  • The emptiness of wealth and excess
  • The impact of the Jazz Age on society
• How does Fitzgerald portray the consequences of the Jazz Age in The Great Gatsby?

  • Indulgence and recklessness
  • Corruption and moral decay
  • Disillusionment and emptiness
  • Fatal outcomes of excess
• How do the characters in The Great Gatsby reflect the themes of the novel?

  • Gatsby: Corrupted American Dream
  • Daisy: Materialism over love
  • Tom: Old money privilege and entitlement
  • Nick: Critique of societal excess
• How does the setting of The Great Gatsby contribute to its themes?

  • Long Island: Class distinctions
  • New York City: Excess and indulgence
  • Valley of Ashes: Moral decay and despair
• How does The Great Gatsby reflect the social issues of the 1920s?

  • Class struggles and rivalries
  • The impact of wealth on morality
  • The disillusionment following WWI
• How do "old money" families differ from "new money" families in The Great Gatsby?

  Old money families hide wealth; new money flaunt it
• What do the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg represent to George Wilson?

  The eyes of God that see everything
• What does the Valley of Ashes symbolize in The Great Gatsby?

  The dismal ruin of people caught in between
• How does the setting of the Valley of Ashes contrast with New York City and West Egg?

  It symbolizes the ruin between wealth and poverty
• How does the setting of the East and West reflect the characters' journeys?

  It symbolizes the pursuit of wealth and dreams
• What does the Valley of Ashes symbolize in relation to the characters' lives?

  The consequences of the pursuit of wealth
• What does the word "irrecoverable" imply about the past?

  The past cannot be regained or changed
• How does Fitzgerald use imagery to describe the Valley of Ashes?

  By contrasting normal nouns with dust
• What does the phrase "impenetrable cloud" suggest about the Valley?

  It obscures the reality of the situation
• What do the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg symbolize?

  Remnants of the past and observation
• What does the billboard's existence imply about Doctor T. J. Eckleburg?

  His practice is a thing of the past
• How do characters from old money view those who earned their wealth?

  They have little respect for them
• How does the character Ewing Klipspringer relate to Gatsby's wealth?

  He leeches off Gatsby without genuine friendship
• What attitude did the American upper crust have towards old money in the 1920s?

  Old money was seen as superior.
• What does Wolfsheim's rags-to-riches story imply about the American Dream?

  It can be achieved through dishonest means
• What critique does Fitzgerald make about friendships in the 1920s?

  They may appear fulfilling but are often empty
• How does Fitzgerald portray the American Dream through the characters' experiences?

  As unattainable and shaped by social constraints