Gatsby

**The Great Gatsby**, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald and published in 1925, is widely regarded as one of the greatest American novels and a defining work of the Jazz Age. Set in the summer of 1922, it explores themes of decadence, idealism, resistance to change, social upheaval, and excess, creating a portrait of the American Dream in disarray.

### Summary of Key Plot Points and Characters

1. **Nick Carraway**: The novel’s narrator, Nick Carraway, moves to West Egg, Long Island, seeking a fresh start. He is quickly drawn into the world of his enigmatic neighbor, Jay Gatsby, and the East Egg elite, including his cousin Daisy Buchanan and her husband, Tom.

2. **Jay Gatsby**: The titular character is a wealthy and mysterious man known for his extravagant parties. Born James Gatz, Gatsby transforms himself from a poor farm boy into a rich socialite in an attempt to win back his lost love, Daisy Buchanan.

3. **Daisy Buchanan**: Daisy is Nick's cousin and the object of Gatsby’s obsession. She is married to Tom Buchanan, a wealthy and arrogant man having an affair with Myrtle Wilson. Daisy's choices and actions drive much of the novel’s plot.

4. **Tom Buchanan**: Daisy’s wealthy, aggressive, and unfaithful husband. Tom's affair with Myrtle Wilson and his manipulative nature create tension and ultimately lead to tragedy.

5. **Jordan Baker**: A professional golfer and Daisy's friend, Jordan becomes romantically involved with Nick. She represents the modern woman of the 1920s—cynical, self-centered, and dishonest.

6. **Myrtle Wilson**: Tom Buchanan’s mistress, Myrtle, is married to George Wilson, who owns a garage in the Valley of Ashes. Her desire to escape her life with George and her affair with Tom lead to her tragic death.

7. **The Green Light**: Situated at the end of Daisy’s dock, the green light symbolizes Gatsby’s hopes and dreams for the future. He often gazes at it from his mansion in West Egg, representing his longing for Daisy and the American Dream.

8. **Dr. T.J. Eckleburg**: The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg are depicted on a faded commercial billboard overlooking the Valley of Ashes. They symbolize the moral decay hidden behind the façade of wealth and the empty pursuit of the American Dream.

9. **The Valley of Ashes**: This desolate industrial area between West Egg and New York City represents the social and moral decay resulting from the uninhibited pursuit of wealth. It is also where Myrtle Wilson meets her tragic end.

10. **The Climax and Resolution**:

    - **Myrtle’s Death**: Myrtle is hit and killed by Gatsby’s car, driven by Daisy. George Wilson, her husband, believes Gatsby was driving and kills him before taking his own life.

    - **Gatsby’s Demise**: Gatsby’s death occurs in his pool, a symbol of his unfulfilled dreams and the consequences of his relentless pursuit of wealth and Daisy.

11. **Nick’s Final Reflections**: After Gatsby’s death, Nick reflects on the American Dream and the moral shortcomings of the people he has encountered. He returns to the Midwest, disillusioned by the East Coast's empty pursuit of pleasure and success.

### Key Symbols and Themes

- **The American Dream**: The novel critiques the American Dream, depicting it as corrupt and unattainable. Gatsby’s rise to wealth and pursuit of Daisy represent the flawed ideal that hard work and ambition inevitably lead to success.

- **Class and Social Status**: The characters' relationships and actions underscore the rigid social hierarchy and the disparities between old money (East Egg) and new money (West Egg).

- **Moral Decay**: Through the characters’ moral failures and the setting of the Valley of Ashes, Fitzgerald explores the idea that the pursuit of materialism and pleasure leads to moral decay.

- **Illusion vs. Reality**: Gatsby's persona and his romanticized view of Daisy highlight the theme of illusion versus reality, showing how people construct façades to escape their past and achieve their desires.

### Common Clues in Quizbowl Questions

1. **The Green Light**:

   - Often referenced as a symbol of Gatsby's unattainable dreams and his idealization of Daisy Buchanan.

   - "Gatsby often gazes at a green light at the end of Daisy’s dock."

2. **Dr. T.J. Eckleburg’s Eyes**: 👁👁

   - These eyes symbolize the moral and social decay in the novel and often appear in questions about the Valley of Ashes.

   - "The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg loom over the Valley of Ashes."

3. **Valley of Ashes**:

   - Represents the moral and social decay of society, juxtaposed with the wealth of East and West Egg.

   - "Myrtle Wilson is killed in the Valley of Ashes, overlooked by the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg."

4. **Jay Gatsby’s Parties**:

   - Gatsby’s lavish parties are symbolic of the excess and decadence of the Jazz Age.

   - "Gatsby hosts extravagant parties hoping Daisy Buchanan will attend."

5. **Nick Carraway**:

   - The novel’s narrator and Gatsby’s neighbor in West Egg.

   - "Nick Carraway narrates the story and becomes disillusioned with the East Egg elite."

6. **Meyer Wolfsheim**:

   - A shady character who is Gatsby’s business associate and is rumored to have fixed the 1919 World Series.

   - "Meyer Wolfsheim, with his molar cufflinks, is a gangster who associates with Gatsby."

7. **Tom and Daisy Buchanan**:

   - Represent the careless and destructive nature of the elite class.

   - "Tom Buchanan is Daisy’s wealthy husband who is having an affair with Myrtle Wilson."

8. **Gatsby’s Past**:

   - Gatsby’s transformation from James Gatz into Jay Gatsby is often noted.

   - "Jay Gatsby was originally James Gatz, who rose from a poor background."

### Related Quizbowl Facts That Appeared in More Than One Toss-Up

1. **Green Light**: Represents Gatsby’s hope and dreams for the future and his longing for Daisy.

   - Clues: "The green light at the end of Daisy Buchanan’s dock," "Gatsby stretches his arms toward a green light."

2. **Eyes of T.J. Eckleburg**: Symbolize moral and social decay, as they watch over the Valley of Ashes.

   - Clues: "The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg overlook the Valley of Ashes," "A faded billboard with eyes."

3. **Nick Carraway as Narrator**: The story is told from Nick's perspective, often leading to discussions of his role and viewpoint.

   - Clues: "Narrated by Nick Carraway," "Nick Carraway describes his interactions with Gatsby and the Buchanans."

4. **Jay Gatsby’s Transformation**: Gatsby's rise from James Gatz to a wealthy socialite.

   - Clues: "James Gatz transforms into Jay Gatsby," "Gatsby’s background as a poor farm boy."

5. **Gatsby’s Parties**: Symbolize the decadence of the Jazz Age and Gatsby’s desire to attract Daisy.

   - Clues: "Gatsby’s lavish parties in West Egg," "Extravagant gatherings hoping Daisy will come."

6. **Meyer Wolfsheim**: His role as Gatsby’s business associate and the implication in fixing the 1919 World Series.

   - Clues: "Meyer Wolfsheim, who wears cufflinks made of human molars," "Fixed the 1919 World Series."

7. **Myrtle Wilson’s Death**: A pivotal event leading to the climax of the novel.

   - Clues: "Myrtle Wilson is run over by a yellow car," "Daisy Buchanan accidentally kills Myrtle."

8. **The Valley of Ashes**: Depicts the disparity between the rich and the poor.

   - Clues: "The Valley of Ashes symbolizes moral decay," "Located between West Egg and New York City."

### Related Quizbowl Facts

1. Gatsby stares longingly at the **___1___** light, which represents his dream of being with Daisy Buchanan.

2. Dr. T.J. **___2___**'s eyes watch over the Valley of Ashes, symbolizing the moral decay of society.

3. Narrated by **___3___** Carraway, this novel critiques the American Dream and the excesses of the Jazz Age.

4. Gatsby, originally named James **___4___**, rises from a poor background to wealth and social prominence.

5. **___5___** Wolfsheim, who wears human molar cufflinks, is a gangster involved with Gatsby.

6. Myrtle Wilson is tragically killed by a yellow car driven by **___6___** Buchanan.

7. The **___7___** of Ashes represents the social and moral decay hidden by the pursuit of wealth and success.

Answers:

1. Green

2. Eckleburg

3. Nick

4. Gatz

5. Meyer

6. Daisy

7. Valley

### Frequency: 27

- **Nick Carraway (Narrator)**

  - **Explanation:** The novel's narrator who observes and recounts the events. He is Gatsby's neighbor and cousin to Daisy Buchanan.

### Frequency: 23

- **Daisy Buchanan (Gatsby's Love Interest)**

  - **Explanation:** Gatsby’s former lover, married to Tom Buchanan. She symbolizes Gatsby’s idealized vision of the American Dream.

### Frequency: 20

- **Green Light (Symbol on Daisy's Dock)**

  - **Explanation:** The light at the end of Daisy's dock, visible from Gatsby's mansion, representing his hopes and dreams.

### Frequency: 19

- **Valley of Ashes (Area Watched Over by T.J. Eckleburg's Eyes)**

  - **Explanation:** A bleak, industrial wasteland between West Egg and New York City, symbolizing decay and moral corruption, overseen by a billboard featuring the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg.

### Frequency: 19

- **Myrtle Wilson (Tom Buchanan's Mistress, Killed by Daisy)**

  - **Explanation:** Tom Buchanan’s mistress who lives in the Valley of Ashes. She is accidentally killed by Daisy driving Gatsby’s car.

### Frequency: 19

- **Tom Buchanan (Daisy's Husband)**

  - **Explanation:** Daisy's wealthy, aggressive, and prejudiced husband who has an affair with Myrtle Wilson.

### Frequency: 18

- **Jay Gatsby (Title Character)**

  - **Explanation:** The wealthy and mysterious protagonist of the novel, who is in love with Daisy Buchanan and hosts lavish parties in hopes of rekindling their romance.

### Frequency: 17

- **T.J. Eckleburg's Eyes (Billboard Overlooking the Valley of Ashes)**

  - **Explanation:** A faded billboard for an oculist, symbolizing the eyes of God watching over the moral decay of society.

### Frequency: 14

- **George Wilson (Myrtle's Husband, Kills Gatsby)**

  - **Explanation:** Myrtle Wilson’s husband, who owns a garage in the Valley of Ashes. He kills Gatsby, believing he was driving the car that killed Myrtle.

### Frequency: 14

- **Parties at Gatsby's Mansion**

  - **Explanation:** Extravagant gatherings hosted by Gatsby at his West Egg mansion, symbolizing the excess and opulence of the Roaring Twenties.

### Frequency: 12

- **Meyer Wolfsheim (Gatsby's Associate, Fixer of the 1919 World Series)**

  - **Explanation:** A shady businessman and Gatsby's associate, known for having fixed the 1919 World Series.

### Frequency: 11

- **Jordan Baker (Professional Golfer and Nick's Love Interest)**

  - **Explanation:** A professional golfer and Daisy’s friend, who becomes romantically involved with Nick Carraway.

### Frequency: 10

- **West Egg (Gatsby’s Residence)**

  - **Explanation:** The less fashionable area where Gatsby and Nick live, representing new money and modernity.

### Frequency: 9

- **East Egg (Daisy and Tom’s Residence)**

  - **Explanation:** The more fashionable area across the bay from West Egg, home to the Buchanans, symbolizing old money and established social status.

### Frequency: 8

- **Dan Cody (Gatsby’s Mentor)**

  - **Explanation:** A wealthy copper magnate who takes a young Gatsby under his wing, helping to shape his ambitions and future.

### Frequency: 7

- **Owl-Eyes (Party Guest)**

  - **Explanation:** A man Nick encounters in Gatsby’s library who is amazed that Gatsby’s books are real. He attends Gatsby's funeral.

### Frequency: 5

- **Gatsby’s Background and Reinvention**

  - **Explanation:** Gatsby’s transformation from a poor farm boy named James Gatz to a wealthy, enigmatic figure through bootlegging and other illicit activities.

### Frequency: 5

- **Gatsby’s War Medal and Oxford Claim**

  - **Explanation:** Gatsby's medal from the war and his brief attendance at Oxford, used to bolster his fabricated backstory and social standing.

### Frequency: 5

- **Dr. T.J. Eckleburg’s Billboard (Eyes Watching Over)**

  - **Explanation:** Often seen as a symbol of God's judgment, the billboard's eyes look over the desolate Valley of Ashes, observing the characters' moral failures.

### Frequency: 4

- **Car Accidents**

  - **Explanation:** Several key moments involve car accidents, including the fatal crash that kills Myrtle Wilson, highlighting the recklessness of the characters.

### Frequency: 4

- **Gatsby’s Wealth and Lavish Lifestyle**

  - **Explanation:** Gatsby's immense wealth and opulent lifestyle are central to his persona and his attempts to win back Daisy.

### Frequency: 4

- **The Plaza Hotel Confrontation**

  - **Explanation:** The intense argument between Gatsby and Tom Buchanan at the Plaza Hotel, where tensions culminate over Daisy's affections and Gatsby's background.