Chapter 3 - Analysis Flashcards
How does Nick use cocktails to describe the extravagance of Gatsby’s party? How does he describe women at the party?
“Floating rounds of cocktails”
“Enthusiastic meetings between women who never knew each other’s names”
What does the extravagance of Gatsby’s party illustrate? What was there not a shortage of?
Excess of 1920s America
Flamboyant people
What can Nick see being at Gatsby’s parties being part of Old Money? Why does Nick feel uncomfortable?
Wealthy guests are prey to the salesman
He can see the emptiness and lies of the party
What does the “vacuous” laughter suggest about the American Dream?
It is really a shallow dream
What does Owl Eyes’s surprise of Gatsby’s books illustrate?
Superficial nature of the Roaring 20s
What does Gatsby’s house seem like to Owl Eyes? What does this show about New Money?
A theatre set
Appearance is everything
What does Nick notice while leaving the party? What happened?
A “tumultuous scene”
Owl Eyes crashed his car in a ditch
What 2 things does Owl Eyes’s car crash symbolise? What does Fitzgerald suggest?
Foreshadows later events/Reckless attitudes of the Roaring 20s
People are heading into a downfall
What does Nick seem to dislike about the 1920s? Which character emphasises this?
Loose morality
Jordan
How does Nick consider himself? How does this influences who he dates?
Honest
He would rather date an honest person
What is the irony of Nick dating Jordan?
He is dishonest by dating someone he doesn’t like
How does Gatsby impress Nick with his smile? How does Gatsby start referring to Nick?
“One of those rare smiles with eternal reassurance”
“Old sport”
How does Gatsby’s smile become similar to the Roaring 20s? What are they both hiding?
It’s like a mask
Hollow reality
What is Nick intrigued about by Gatsby? What is Gatsby doing?
How he observes his party from a distance
“Standing alone on the marble steps”
How does everyone partying set apart Gatsby?
He focuses on his objectives over fun
