The Great Gatsby: American Romance Much of this lecture is based on a lecture by Arthur Weinstein, P.H.D. Harvard, and current American Literature Professor at Brown University Objectives Upon completion of this lecture, you should be able to Make connections between Fitzgerald’s life and the book Explain three interpretations of the book Provide several examples of the Romantic interpretation of the novel Biographical Info Hometown College Relationship Historical Standing Why were they the right ones to tell the story? Bibliography Fitzgerald’s Role Books Include: Most Successful? Most Complex? Academic Standing Not in vogue Why not? Three Interpretations Love story or romance between two people Moralistic tale Love story to capitalism Which is most common? Gatsby seems to have many sides that fulfill these various interpretations. A Moralistic Tale The Great Con? Think about the rumors and subtle portentous details A Love Story to Capitalism Gatsby the self-made man A Love Story Between Two People Unlike Franklin, he did it all for love. Gatsby the Romantic Gatsby the Romantic “There was something gorgeous about this man, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life, It was an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as I have never found in any other person.” Chapter One Gatsby the Romantic “He smiled understandingly, much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced- or seemed to face- the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresisitible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself and assured you that is had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey” (Fitzgerald 53). From Chapter 3 Great Parties!! In the party scenes, Fitzgerald delivers the flavor of the Jazz Age. “In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars” “By seven o’clock the orchestra had arrived… a whole pit full of oboes and trombones and saxophones and viols and cornets and piccolos and low and high drums.” “The moon had risen higher and floating in the sound was a triangle of silver scales trembling a little to the stiff tinny drip of the banjos on the lawn..” Chapter III Gatsby the Romantic Why all the hubbub? There’s Something About Daisy “…her low thrilling voice. It was the kind of voice that the ear follows up and down, as if each speech is an arrangement of notes that will never be played again. Her face was sad and lovely with bright things in it, bright eyes and a bright passionate mouth, but there was an excitement in her voice that men who had cared for her found difficult to forget:” (Fitzgerald, 9) Does Daisy Love Gatsby? Here, deares;.” “Take ‘em downstairs and give ‘em back to whoever they belong to. Tell ‘em all Daisy’s change’ her mine. Say;”Daisy’s change’ her mine!” (Fitzgerald 76). What would you do if you were Daisy, and you got the letter from Gatsby the day before your wedding to Tom? Does Daisy Love Gatsby? “ Out of the corner of his eye Gatsby saw that the blocks of the sidewalks really formed a ladder and mounted to a secret place above the trees– he could climb to it, if he climbed alone, and once there he could suck on the pap of life, gulp down the incomparable milk of wonder. (Fitzgerald, 110) Chapter 6 Does Daisy Love Gatsby? “His heart beat faster and faster as Daisy’s white face came up to his own. He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God. So he waited, listening for a moment longer to the tuning-fork that had been struck upon a star. Then he kissed her. At his lip’s touch she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was complete. (Fitzgerald, 110) Chapter 6 The Great Goofy Gatsby How is Gatsby humanized in his initial meeting with Daisy? The Colossal Vitality of Gatsby “But I didn’t call to Him, for he gave a sudden intimation that He was content to be alone– he stretched out His arms toward the dark water in a curious way… I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seawardand distinguished nothing except a single green light” (Fitzgerald 20). Gatsby, like America is multi-faceted There are three ways of looking at GatsbyAmericaAmerica- the romantic America- the corrupt… America- the Self Made Country Discussion Questions Summarize how The Great Gatsby continues the notion of the American dream first articulated in Franklin's Autobiography. Describe the tug-of-war between the critical, deflating tendencies of The Great Gatsby and the counterforces of creation and romance.