THE GREAT GATSBY KEY THEMES

• the novel is way more than a 'thwarted' love between a man and a woman
• the 1920s portrayed as an era of decayed social and moral vals due to cynicism and greed.
• G's parties = corruption of the AD, desire for money and pleasure got too much
• WW1 shunned Victorian Moral vals, along with the rise of the stock market sustaining wealth// new found materialism, massive consumption levels, anyone could make it (against Aristocrats)
• 1919 ban of alcohol- massive start up for bootlegging and gangster crime
• Old Money VS New Money // symbolic geog: East= Old  West: Self made
• Wolfshiem and G's fortune symbolize the rise of org crime and bootlegging
• As Nick (and Fitz) AD was orig about discovery, individ, and happiness
• G's love for Daisy ruined by social statuses- crime to make $$ to feed her materialistic needs
• G's dream ruined same as the US's, unworthiness of its object- money and pleasure

WEST EGG - NEWLY RICH

• Portrayed as vulgar, ostentatious and lacking soical graces and taste
• e.g. Gatsby: monstrous mansion / rolls royce / pink suit / can't pick up on social signs e.g. Sloanes
• more heart is shown- wealth from crime, sincere and loyal, waiting outside D's window till 4;
• his qualities lead to his death (loyalty and love)

EAST EGG - OLD ARISTOCRACY

• Grace, taste, subtelty and elegance
• e.g. Buchanans' tasteful home and Daisy's and Jordan's flowing white dresses
• what is possessed in tastes, lacks in heart- careless and uses money to compensate for hurt e.g. Buchanans simply move house ratheer than go to Gatsby's funeral.
• their qualities (fickleness and selishness) let them get away physicallyand psyc escape