The Great Gatsby- Maria Cuervo

Opening question: Why does this novel take place in New York? Is this setting necessary to the novel?

Core Questions:

1. How does weather parallel the narrative tone of the novel?
In chapter five Gatsby desperately wants to see Daisy, and convinces Nick to invite her over to his house for tea. In this chapter the weather parallels the narratives tone throughout the reunion. The day begins with heavy rain and Gatsby being extremely nervous and almost dropping Nick's clock. Although, Gatsby fears that the reunion was a mistake Nick decides to leave him and Daisy alone to talk. When he comes back it has stopped raining and the sun is shining. Likewise Nick finds Daisy's face "smeared with tears" and Gatsby "glowing" with happiness". Fitzgerald creates a simile comparing Gatsby to a weather man and an ecstatic patron of recurrent light in order to develop the parallelism between the tone of the reunion and the weather. " It's stopped raining... When he realized what I was taking about, that there were twinkle-bells of sunshine in the room, he smiled like a weather man, like an ecstatic patron of recurrent light, and repeated the news to Daisy." (page 89)

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1925.  Print. (89)

2.  What is the purpose of the green light?
In chapter five Gatsby tells Daisy that when he looks across the bay he can see a green light that burns at the end of her dock. Fitzgerald uses a simile to symbolize Gatsby's hopes and dream of being close to Daisy. At first Fitzgerald uses the image of the green light to describe how distant Gatsby feels from Daisy and as a sign of hope that he can see from his window. However, after their reunion Gatsby compares the distance between a star and the moon to clarify that he now feels closer to Daisy and that his hopes and dreams of being with her are closer to reach. "You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock"(page 92) "Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of the light had now vanished forever. Compared to the great distance that had separated him from Daisy it had seemed very near to her, almost toughing her. It seemed as close as a star to the moon." (page 93)


Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1925.  Print. (92-93)

Closing question: Is wealth the only factor that determines a persons social class? Is this still a factor in present day society?