The Great Gatsby: Discussion Questions

Discuss the title of the novel, focusing on what makes Gatsby “great.”

The title is very ironic since Gatsby is not “great.” Further, Gatsby is not even his real name. He adopts that name when he sets about on the journey to become someone else. Gatsby, based on what is said about him by others, was a criminal who pursued illegal means to acquire wealth. His life was a mere illusion, one carefully woven with lies. His only dream and hope in life is to reunite with Daisy, the woman he loves. He leads his life with the sole aim of fulfilling this dream. In the end, he is unable to realize his dream. His death highlights that Gatsby lived only for his dream. Once that dream is shattered, Gatsby is unable to survive.

Address the role that setting and geography play in the novel, and how it dictates its characters and themes.

Each of the locations in the novel figures in Fitzgerald’s treatment of a theme or character. West Egg is extravagant, full of excesses, like Gatsby who lived there. West Egg was representative of “new money.” East Egg, on the other hand, represented not just wealth but also power and social status. Tom and Daisy live here. The differences between the two localities highlight the social disparities that existed between the two groups. The Valley of Ashes is another important location, which, many believe, represents George Wilson in the novel. It’s desolate and devoid of hope. It symbolizes the social and moral decay of the 1920s.

Setting, too, is integral to the novel. The character traits and themes are all reinforced by the setting. The weather also seems to predict the mood of the novel. When Gatsby is reunited with Daisy, there is a thunderstorm. As they reconcile and start to relive some of the past, the sun comes out. When Tom confronts Gatsby about Daisy, it is the hottest day of the year.

Consider the ways in which Gatsby represents the American Dream, and what the novel says about that dream. Address how dreams, wealth, and time relate to one another.

Fitzgerald explores the American Dream through the character of Jay Gatsby. In fact, Gatsby is a clear embodiment of the American Dream: he was born poor, but acquires wealth and social status. His journey represents the journey of many others at the time. His eventual aim was to reunite with Daisy, which he is unable to achieve. In one sense, through Gatsby, Fitzgerald conveys that the American Dream cannot be sustained if those in pursuit are mainly motivated by the prospect of outdoing others. Further, people had begun to confuse the American Dream with relentless pursuit of wealth. They did not realize that wealth alone would not lead to happiness. They were focused on realizing their dreams that they often ignored and overlooked relationships and other important aspects of life. The American Dream had been reduced to mean a constant desire to become better, and this version of the dream is unsustainable and impossible to achieve.

Explore the character of Nick. How are readers supposed to feel about him? In what ways does he come off as reliable or unreliable?

Nick is introduced to the reader in Chapter 1. He is from the Midwest and is raised with the middle-class values of honesty and integrity. We are told that he is slow to judge people and impartial, qualities that make him a reliable narrator. Like all of us, Nick is conflicted in many instances, especially when it comes to Gatsby. He is not clear about what he feels, and his expressions are not always intelligible. Still, his thoughts are offered for the reader to consider, even when they are incomplete or not altogether consistent which make him unreliable. Other characters—Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby—trust Nick and confide in him. This makes the reader more confident about Nick the narrator, compared to the other characters

Although Gatsby professed to love Daisy, there is a sense that he was not in love with her as much as he was in love with the idea of her. Discuss.

The relationship between Daisy and Gatsby is one of the most important themes in the novel. Their relationship offers a sharp critique of American society, its morals and priorities. Gatsby fell in love with Daisy right before he left for the war. Daisy had promised that she would wait for his return. However, on returning, Gatsby learns that Daisy has married Tom, since he could afford the kind of lifestyle Daisy had always wished for. Thereafter, Gatsby dedicates his time to becoming wealthy to win Daisy back.

Gatsby’s strong feelings for Daisy are unmissable. However, as the novel unfolds, one realizes that Gatsby is merely chasing the “idea” of Daisy he has created for himself. He is unfamiliar with Daisy’s emotions and opinions. Until Tom speaks up, Gatsby is unaware that wealth alone cannot please Daisy. She wants her partner to belong to a particular social class. She might spend time with Gatsby, but she is unwilling to leave Tom for him. Even though Tom has been unfaithful, Daisy chooses him over Gatsby.

Gatsby could have met with a different end had he been more aware of the reality around him. He is unable to see Daisy as a real person; in effect, he merely worships the ideal that he has created in his mind.