Gatsby Quotes and Analysis Flashcards

Front

"I am still a little afraid of missing something if I forget that, as my father snobbishly suggested, and I snobbishly repeat, a sense of the fundamental decencies is parceled out unequally at birth."

Back

Here, Nick states that money isn't the only thing that people are born with or without, but some people are naturally truthful and amiable and have a larger "sense of fundamental decencies."

Front

"Whenever you feel like criticizing any one," he told me, "just remember the advantages that you've had..." In consequence I'm inclined to reserve all judgments.

Back

Nick's use of declarative shows us that he tries not to be judgmental and persuades the reader that his view is not prejudiced. However, the whole statement is ironic as the whole novel is full of his own judgments.

Front

"When I came back from the East last autumn I felt that I wanted the world to be in uniform and at a sort of moral attention forever; I wanted no more riotous excursions with privileged glimpses into the human heart."

Back

After the events that allowed Nick to realize that " it (his tolerance) has a limit," he declares that his experiences in New York lead to a strong negative reaction and eventually returns to the Midwest in search of a less morally ambiguous environment- "(attach quote here.)." The diction of words like "uniform" and " moral attention" create a militaristic picture in the reader's mind and stands in stark contrast with morally ambiguous New York that has no clear right or wrong.

Front

"Only Gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book, was exempt from my reaction—Gatsby, who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn."

Back

However, his disgust towards the attitudes people and culture of the east had one exception: Gatsby- "(attach quote here.)" Despite Gatsby's lavish lifestyle with extravagant parties that were achieved from illegal bootlegging, Nick saw that he had "an extraordinary gift for hope" and a "gorgeous" sense of vitality and enthusiasm that impressed Nick so much. The paradoxical nature of this statement emphasizes not only the contrasting mixed feelings Nick has towards Gatsby but it leaves the reader to decide in their own interpretation the degree to which Gatsby can be called "Great."

Front

"I hope she'll be a fool—that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool."

Back

Even though Daisy is not a fool herself, she was brought up in a socially aristocratic environment that does not value intelligence in women. Although this emphasizes her shallowness and carelessness it also reinforces how women in the 1920's are financially dependent and bonded to men. This older generation values subservience and docility in females. Fitzgerald uses this attitude towards life to recreate the atmosphere of the 'Roaring 20's' in the novel. This may seem like something really foolish to say, but this is clearly one of the most 'wisest' words she ever seemed to say in the novel.

Front

"Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand."

Back

Towards the end of the New York apartment scene, Fitzgerald reveals Tom's personality through his careless and violent act towards his mistress -"(attach quote here)" The use of the two adjectives "short" and "deft" state the ease and causality of his violence towards others and emphasizes his extremely powerful body. Not only does this show Tom's chauvinism, but it also reinforces Women's place in the household in the 1920's. Fitzgerald implies how the men were superior both financially and in the household along with the subservience and docility of females.

Front

"Almost five years! There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams--not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion."

Back

When Nick see's Gatsby and Daisy back together a sudden negative idea that he notices runs through his head- "(attach quote.)" The idea of Daisy and the feels of fresh love at first has been captivating Gatsby all these years, so much that he has devoted his life and soul for this woman. All this time Gatsby spent without her had led him to create and extremely idealized illusion of perfection and "colossal vitality" in Gatsby's mind. However his dream of being with the woman he loves becomes so idealized and glorified that Daisy no matter how adequate of a woman can not live up to the expectations that Gatsby has set out for her. These expectations had founded and built upon ever since Gatsby slept with her five years ago.