F Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby

Welcome to West Egg: An Introduction to The Great Gatsby

Hello! Welcome to your study notes for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. This novel is a centerpiece of the Prose post-1900 section of your OCR AS Level course. At first glance, it looks like a story about glitzy parties and a tragic romance, but it is actually a deep dive into the "American Dream" and whether it’s actually possible to achieve it.

Don’t worry if the 1920s slang or the complex social rules seem tricky at first. We are going to break everything down into bite-sized pieces so you can feel confident heading into your exam. By the end of these notes, you’ll understand how Fitzgerald uses language to build a world of "old money," "new money," and the people caught in between.

Section 1: The Context - The Roaring Twenties

To understand the book, you need to understand when it was written. Imagine a world that has just come out of a massive war (WWI) and a global pandemic (The Spanish Flu). People wanted to celebrate, forget the past, and get rich quick.

The Jazz Age: This was a time of loud music, shorter skirts (flappers), and a feeling that the old rules didn't apply anymore.

Prohibition: The U.S. government banned alcohol. This didn't stop people from drinking; it just meant they did it in secret clubs called "speakeasies." It also meant that criminals (like Gatsby, perhaps?) could make a fortune by selling illegal booze.

The American Dream: This is the idea that no matter where you come from, you can become successful through hard work. Fitzgerald asks a tough question: Is this dream actually real, or is it just a beautiful lie?

Analogy: Think of the 1920s like a massive, expensive influencer party. On Instagram, it looks perfect and full of success, but behind the scenes, everyone is tired, broke, or acting like someone they aren't.

Quick Review: The 1920s were a time of extreme wealth, illegal activities, and a desperate desire to be "someone."

Section 2: The Characters - Who's Who?

In your exam, you need to treat characters as constructs. This means they aren't real people; they are "tools" Fitzgerald uses to make a point about society.

Nick Carraway: Our narrator. He claims to be "one of the few honest people" he has ever known. But wait! Is he really? He is Gatsby’s neighbor and Daisy’s cousin. He watches everyone else but rarely gets involved himself.

Jay Gatsby: The man of mystery. He is "New Money"—he has millions but doesn't quite fit in with the "classy" elite. Everything he does (the house, the parties, the yellow car) is for one goal: to win back Daisy.

Daisy Buchanan: The "Golden Girl." She represents the Old Money world. She is beautiful and charming, but Fitzgerald often describes her as "careless." She is Gatsby’s "green light"—his ultimate goal.

Tom Buchanan: Daisy’s husband. He is incredibly wealthy, arrogant, and a bit of a bully. He represents the cruel side of the upper class that wants to keep everyone else out.

Did you know? Fitzgerald based many of these characters on his own life. He felt he couldn't marry the woman he loved because he wasn't "rich enough," which is exactly Gatsby’s problem.

Memory Aid (G.A.T.S.B.Y.):
Great Ambition Turned Sour By Yesterday. (Gatsby is obsessed with repeating the past!)

Key Takeaway: The characters represent different social classes. Gatsby is the striver, Tom is the protector of the status quo, and Nick is the observer.

Section 3: Key Themes - What is the book REALLY about?

Fitzgerald uses the story to explore some big ideas. Here are the ones you’ll need for your Prose post-1900 analysis:

1. Class and Wealth (Old vs. New)

In the novel, there is a big difference between East Egg (Old Money—inherited wealth, "classy") and West Egg (New Money—earned wealth, "flashy"). Even though Gatsby has more money than Tom, Tom looks down on him because Gatsby didn't "come from" the right family. This shows that the American Dream has a "glass ceiling."

2. The Corruption of the American Dream

Gatsby tries to reach his dream through criminal activity. Daisy, who is supposed to be the "prize" at the end of the dream, turns out to be shallow and unfaithful. Fitzgerald suggests that when we focus only on money, the dream becomes a nightmare.

3. The Past and Time

Gatsby’s famous line is: "Can’t repeat the past? ... Why of course you can!" He is wrong. The novel is full of symbols of time (clocks, seasons) that show we are always moving forward, whether we like it or not.

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't just summarize the plot. Instead of saying "Gatsby loves Daisy," say "Fitzgerald uses Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy to symbolize the unreachable nature of the American Dream."

Section 4: The Writer's Craft - How is it written?

The OCR syllabus wants you to look at how writers shape meanings. This means looking at symbols and narrative voice.

Symbolism (The "Big Three")

1. The Green Light: Situated at the end of Daisy’s dock. For Gatsby, it represents his hopes and dreams for the future. For the reader, it represents how we all reach for things we can't quite touch.

2. The Valley of Ashes: A gray, dusty place between the Eggs and New York. This is where the poor people (like Myrtle and George Wilson) live. It represents the "garbage" left behind by the rich people’s greed.

3. The Eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg: A fading billboard of a pair of eyes looking over the Valley of Ashes. Many characters see this as the "Eyes of God" watching their immoral behavior.

Narrative Perspective

The story is told in the first person by Nick. This is important because we only see what Nick sees. Is he biased? Probably! He likes Gatsby, so he might be making Gatsby look better than he actually was. This is called an unreliable narrator.

Quick Review Box:
- Setting: East Egg (Old Money) vs. West Egg (New Money).
- Narrator: Nick Carraway (First person, potentially biased).
- Major Symbol: The Green Light = Hope/The American Dream.

Section 5: Connecting the Text (Exam Skills)

In your Component 02 exam, you will have to compare your set text to an unseen prose extract. To do this well, look for "connections" in how writers treat similar topics.

How to practice:
1. Find a short piece of writing from another 20th-century book about wealth or a party.
2. Ask: Does this writer use symbols like Fitzgerald does?
3. Ask: Is the tone cynical (unhappy) or celebratory?
4. Look at the language: Are the sentences long and flowery (like Fitzgerald’s) or short and punchy?

Encouraging Phrase: Comparing texts can feel like a puzzle. Start by finding one thing that is the same and one thing that is different. You've got this!

Final Summary: The "Big Picture"

The Great Gatsby is a tragic story about a man who tries to buy his way into a world where he isn't wanted. It shows us that wealth doesn't equal happiness and that the "American Dream" often leaves people "beating on, boats against the current."

Key Takeaway for Revision: Focus on how Fitzgerald uses Nick’s voice and the symbols of the 1920s to critique a society that values money over people.