THE GREAT GATSBY
F. SCOTT FITZGERALD
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (September 24, 1896 – December 21, 1940) was a so-called ‘Jazz Age’ novelist and short-story writer who is considered to be one of the greatest American writers of the twentieth century. His most famous and respected novel, The Great Gatsby (1925), is one of the most penetrating descriptions of American life in the 1920s.
A CURIOSITY ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
During his lifetime he was occasionally labeled as a mediocre writer and a careless drunk. It is undeniable that Fitzgerald was a heavy drinker, but since his death his worth as a writer has become highly respected. He is now widely considered one of the best American authors who has ever lived.
MAIN CHARACTERS
Nick Carraway
The novel’s narrator, Nick is a young man who goes to New York City to learn the bond business. Honest, tolerant, and inclined to reserve judgment.
In the film is represented by Tobey Maguire
Jay Gatsby
The title character and protagonist of the novel, Gatsby (also James Gatz) is a young mysterious millionaire. He is famous for the lavish parties he throws every Saturday night.
In the film is represented by Leonardo DiCaprio
Daisy Buchanan
Distant cousin to Nick Carraway, and the woman Gatsby loves. She is sardonic and somewhat cynical, and behaves superficially to mask her pain at her husband’s constant infidelity.
In the film is represented by Carey Mulligan
Tom Buchanan
Daisy’s husband, a millionaire. Powerfully built and hailing from a socially solid old family, Tom is an arrogant, hypocritical bully.
In the film is represented by Joel Edgerton.
Jordan Baker
Daisy’s friend,. A competitive golfer, Jordan represents one of the “new women” of the 1920s—cynical, boyish, and self-centered.
In the film is represented by Elizabeth Debicki.
Myrtle Wilson and George Wilson
Myrtle Wilson: Tom Buchanan's mistress.
In the film is represented by Isla Fisher.
George Wilson: Myrtle's husband, a garaje owner.
In the film is represented by Jason Clarke.
BOOK REVIEW
The Great Gatsby is a tragedy novel where Nick Carraway, the narrator, describes his life in the West Egg district of Long Island in the 1920's and how he meets with a remarkable and mysterious man called Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is a millionaire man who do parties every week and no one knows where he comes from, what he does, or how he made his fortune. The main idea of the story is love, because Gatsby is fall in love with a woman for five long years and he do parties every week hopping to meet her. Although in the novel there is a great background.
MY OPINION ABOUT THE BOOK
In my opinión is an unpredictable tragic novel with a breathtaking end, the book is easy to read but has much symbology difficult to analyze in a first reading.
When I finished the book I rented the film and from my point of view is a good representation about the book.
On the other hand, the kind of person might enjoy reading this book are people who like story-time, love stories and literature.
Finally, It's a highly entertaining read for this reason I recomment it.
A BRIEF ANALYSIS
In this book we find some of the following values: friendship, marital infidelity, faithfulness in friendship, superficial life, money, and social status.
What is the meaning about the green light?
The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock is a significant symbol within the book. To Gatsby, the green light represents his dream, which is Daisy. To attain her would be completing Gatsby’s American Dream.
VOCABULARY
Affair: a sexual relationship between two people, usually when one or both of them is married to somebody else.
Ashes: what is left after something has been destroyed by burning.
Bay: a part of the sea partly surrounded by a curve of the land.
Bootlegger: a person who sells alcohol illegally.
Breasts: the two round soft parts at the front of a woman's body.
Coward: a person who is not at all brave.
Damned: a swearword used to show annoyance.
Dazed: unable to think clearly, because of a shock.
Dog-leash: a long piece of leather used for controlling a dog.
Dumb: stupid.
Faint: to become unconscious because of the heat, a shock, etc.
Foul: extremely bad, dirty or unpleasant.
Gamble: to risk money on a card game, horse race, etc.
Grain alcohol: an extremely strong alcohol, which is usually not available legally.
Mistress: a woman who is having a sexual relationship with a married man she is not married to.
Old sport (old-fashioned): used as a friendly way of speaking to someone.
Owl: a bird with large round eyes that hunts at night.
Rubber mattress: a long thin rubber cushion, containing air, which you can lie on in a swimming pool.
Scornfully: showing, by the way you speak, your strong feeling that somebody or something is not good enough.
Shiver: to shake slightly because you are cold, frightened, etc.
Slender: thin in a attractive or elegant way.
Sorrow: a feeling of great sadness.
Stand: to bear, tolerate, or put up with something.
Unrestful: describing people who are never calm or happy or peaceful.
Wire: a message sent from a distant place, using wires that carry electrical signals, then printed and given to somebody.