https://padlet.com/20pyaeger/vai9azcuwl0b The american dream portrayed in The Great Gatsby is shown through the use of many symbols and visuals. en-us 2019-03-13 00:15:04 UTC 2019-03-13 11:38:25 UTC hello@padlet.com 20pyaeger https://padlet.com/20pyaeger/vai9azcuwl0b/wish/340668778 With most of the characters in the novel being filthy rich, we see a lot of materialism throughout the novel and film. In the story, Gatsy and Tom are the biggest presenters of this factor, considering they are the most wealthy main characters in the story. Tom had boughten all of these materialistic things to impress everyone and to bring “happiness” into his life. Tom and Gatsby both had massive mansions, full of expensive interior designs, wore wealthy clothes and also has suped-up sports cars. Gatsby on the otherhand, chose to use all of his money buy materialistic things in order to impress Daisy. He had hoped she would see his extravagant lifestyle and would leave Tom for him.”He came down with a hundred people in four private cars, and hired a whole floor of the Seelbach Hotel, and the day before the wedding he gave her a string of pearls valued at three hundred and fifty thousand dollars”(Fitzgerald, Chapter 4). This quote talks about how Tom bought Daisy super expensive pearls in order to buy her happiness, which didn’t work for long...]]> 2019-03-13 00:15:04 UTC https://padlet.com/20pyaeger/vai9azcuwl0b/wish/340668778 20pyaeger https://padlet.com/20pyaeger/vai9azcuwl0b/wish/340668780 Gatsby and Daisy share a special type of love. They fell in love 5 years ago, but he went away for war and didn’t talk to her. But she was all that was on his mind. Gatsby did some crazy things for this woman; he bought a massive, castle-like mansion, designed it to be perfect for her, threw massive parties,etc...all in hopes of her returning to his life, and falling in love with him again. She really was all that the man thought about, and she was even all he thought about when he got shot by George, when coming out of his massive pool. ]]> 2019-03-13 00:15:04 UTC https://padlet.com/20pyaeger/vai9azcuwl0b/wish/340668780 20pyaeger https://padlet.com/20pyaeger/vai9azcuwl0b/wish/340668781 In the novel and movie, social class is a huge part of the backstory. Back in the 1920’s where this story took place, social class was something that was determined by your wealth. Gatsby and Tom were in a higher social class, which is shown when they go into a speakeasy in a barbershop downtown. This is where Nick meets Mr. Wolfsheim, an extremely wealthy man who intimidated Nick greatly. Gatsby throws all of these massive parties in his massive mansion which brought him fame and power within the social class. Tom, however, inherited all of his money and was seen as just as great as Gatsby...even though he truly was not. Myrtle was an example of someone who wants to be in a higher social class because they believe they deserve better, because they live in the Valley of Ashes. Her husband worked his ass off to support them both and ended up getting treated poorly. Social class was truly something that determined fame and your future.]]> 2019-03-13 00:15:04 UTC https://padlet.com/20pyaeger/vai9azcuwl0b/wish/340668781 20pyaeger https://padlet.com/20pyaeger/vai9azcuwl0b/wish/340668782 In the past, there were many mysteries in the story. However, most of those mysteries came from Gatsby. Gatsby lives an interesting life, with all of the fame, and the money, and the power, yet no one truly knew where he got it from, except for Nick. Gatsby came from a poor family and worked for Mr.Dan Cody on his boat and then went to fight in the war, he later became rich and that is how he got his fame. He had told everyone he was an “Oxford man”, even though he actually went to college for two weeks, at St. Olaf’s in Minnesota. This is when he became a janitor. The next summer he became a fisherman. Another story from the past that brought a lot of confusion was why Gatsby didn’t come back for Daisy after he went off to war. This brought some confusion to Daisy and she later found out it was because he didn’t want her to see him while he was poor. He waited until he was at the top to confront her about his love and show up in her life again.]]> 2019-03-13 00:15:04 UTC https://padlet.com/20pyaeger/vai9azcuwl0b/wish/340668782 20pyaeger https://padlet.com/20pyaeger/vai9azcuwl0b/wish/340668783 Money in The Great Gatsby, is one of the, if not the biggest, factor for “happiness” in the story. Gatsby and Tom are two of the most revealing characters for this factor. Tom inherited all of his money from his wealthy family, and now owns one of the nicest and biggest house in the area. Gatsby worked hard for his money, and was often called a “conman” because he boomed and instantly became rich. Gatsby used his money to buy things that would attract Daisy, while Tom bought many things to make many women happy. The Valley of Ashes, is a place unlike anywhere else in the setting of the story. The valley of ashes is an area of the city where all the excess coal used was dumped and was known as a very poor place, this is where Myrtle and George had lived. In the end, all of the hard earned money Gatsby has been flaunting for years had gone to waste, he had no family to give it to, and the massive mansion became a relic of the wealthy in West Egg.]]> 2019-03-13 00:15:04 UTC https://padlet.com/20pyaeger/vai9azcuwl0b/wish/340668783 20pyaeger https://padlet.com/20pyaeger/vai9azcuwl0b/wish/340668784 Bliss is one of the most important symbols used in the story. There are many times throughout the story where satisfaction/bliss are big factors. This is shown through characters and their lives and love lives. Gatsby and Daisy are characters who fluctuate, there are moments in the story, where Daisy and Gatsby are dissatisfied. Daisy was shown to be unhappy with her marriage with Tom and she wished she had been with Gatsby all along, yet she claimed to still love Tom.”Well, suppose we take a plunge in the swimming-pool? I haven't made use of it all summer”(Fitzgerald, Chapter 5). This quote shows Gatsby isn’t truly satisfied with his lifestyle because his house is always flooded with people, yet he wants to go swimming with just one friend. ]]> 2019-03-13 00:15:04 UTC https://padlet.com/20pyaeger/vai9azcuwl0b/wish/340668784 20pyaeger https://padlet.com/20pyaeger/vai9azcuwl0b/wish/340668787 Myrtle from story, believes she deserves better than what she has been given. Myrtle is married to George Wilson, an auto mechanic, who runs a small gas station in the Valley of Ashes. They live ina small space, above the auto garage, and she doesn’t necessarily enjoy the life she lives. Myrtle and Tom had been messing around together for a while, and planned to soon move away together. Even though Tom was married to Daisy, he believed she wasn’t good enough, and cheated on her with Myrtle all the time. Nick had witnessed this when he was forced to go to a party with Tom and Myrtle, and it made him extremely uncomfortable, considering that Daisy is his cousin. Myrtle has been given extremely expensive pearls by Tom and George had noticed, which sparked a fight. This fight caused Myrtle to run outside, she saw Gatsby’s yellow sports car(that Tom had been driving earlier in the day) and ran out infront  of the car, causing her to be hit and killed.]]> 2019-03-13 00:15:04 UTC https://padlet.com/20pyaeger/vai9azcuwl0b/wish/340668787 20pyaeger https://padlet.com/20pyaeger/vai9azcuwl0b/wish/340668788 Relationships in The Great Gatsby are a big part of the book. There are many strong relationships formed within the book. In the beginning of the book, it talks about how Daisy and Nick are cousins and are decently close, Daisy is married to Tom, and Tom is in love with another woman, Myrtle. Jay Gatsby has lived his entire adult life for Daisy, and hope to marry her someday, even though she has a husband. Nick and Gatsby become best friends and Gatsby offers Nick the world in order for a few favors and for his friendship. Gatsby and Nick share eachothers’ lives with one another and Gatsby hopes by becoming closer with Nick that it’ll up his chances with Daisy. Gatsby is stuck in the past and believes that Daisy hasn’t changed a bit, even though feelings and life can change within the span of 5 years. They form a special relationship and fall in love again. Tom realizes there’s something going on and Gatsby confronts Tom about it. Once Gatsby is murdered by George for “killing Myrtle”, all of Gatsby’s “friends” were not to show during his funeral...not even Daisy. The only true relationship Gatsby has was with his best friend Nick.]]> 2019-03-13 00:15:04 UTC https://padlet.com/20pyaeger/vai9azcuwl0b/wish/340668788 20pyaeger https://padlet.com/20pyaeger/vai9azcuwl0b/wish/340668789 There were many instances within the story where work ethic came into play. We start by learning about Nick, and how he works in the bond business. Nick is a hard working man and doesn’t make much money. He makes enough to support himself, which he is happy with. We later learn about Gatsby’s real life story and find out how he dropped out of college in order to become a janitor to pay off his tuition. He worked night and day, and later became a salmon and clam fisherman. He met a wealthy man named Dan Cody and learned how to become a gentleman and made some money from working for him. Gatsby later joined the army and fought in the war. He worked his way to the top and found himself in a huge mansion throwing all of these big parties. When Gatsby and Nick became friends, Gatsby would offer Nick to hangout late and Nick would have to turn him down because he has a lot of work to do in the morning. Tom also has invited Nick to hit the town one night and he had to turn him down. We later learn about a character named George Wilson, a poor man who owns an auto shop and gas station in the Valley of Ashes. This man worked hard all day and never saw the end of it. His wife took his work within for granted and cheated on him with a super rich man, Tom. The book shows how money can create bad relationships and doesn’t make everything perfect. Nick is the perfect example, because everyone likes him and he is content with his average American life.]]> 2019-03-13 00:15:04 UTC https://padlet.com/20pyaeger/vai9azcuwl0b/wish/340668789 20pyaeger https://padlet.com/20pyaeger/vai9azcuwl0b/wish/340669487 The green light at the end of Daisy and Tom’s dock, represents all of Jay Gatsby’s hopes and dreams for the future. Gatsby purposely moved into a huge mansion, across the lake to be close to the love of his life, Daisy. Even though he knows that Daisy is married and has a child, Gatsby refuses to go down without a fight. The green light at the end of the massive deck that belongs to Daisy and Tom gives Gatsby realization that his love is close, and that brings him hope.”You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock”(Fitzgerald, Chapter 5).]]> 2019-03-13 00:19:29 UTC https://padlet.com/20pyaeger/vai9azcuwl0b/wish/340669487