Jay Gatsby:

he invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen-year-old boy would be likely to invent

costume –

Fitzgerald uses clothing along with many other techniques to express certain themes with Gatsby. He wears many expensive shirts and fabrics in colours such as white, gold, silver and pink to represent the wealth and personality that he wants to show others. In the past Jay wore torn clothes that indicated his lack of wealth. The sailing attire he received from Dan Cody illustrates the beginning of his ambitions of acquiring the ‘perfect’ American lifestyle. The colour white is a largely used symbol in the book, meaning beauty, purity and perfection although can also be a reference to the corruption of the American Dream at times. Pink symbolises the colour white (purity) being tainted by the red (representing love and romance), this relates to Daisy’s purity being damaged by having an affair with Gatsby. Pink and white suits are used to contrast hope and dreams often. Jay chooses to sport a white suit prior to having tea with Daisy, expressing his hope for them falling back in love with each other. He also tries to hide any imperfection or suggestion of corruption with his classic outfit of the white suit, silver shirt and gold tie. He then wore a pink suit at his meeting with Tom and Daisy, which Tom didn’t hesitate to comment on. Tom implies that pink is not a manly colour and makes him less of man, which would lead Gatsby to lying about Oxford.

quotes for costume –

“His gorgeous pink rag of a suit made a bright spot of color against the white steps..”

“‘An Oxford man!’ He was incredulous. ‘Like hell he is! He wears a pink suit.'”

“Gatsby, in a white flannel suit… hurried in.”

props –

Yellow and gold are symbolic towards moral decay and corruption. Gatsby owns a luxurious yellow Rolls Royce, which ends up killing Myrtle in a hit and run. This took place outside her yellow house and in the eyes of Dr T.J Eckleburg’s yellow spectacles. The car was originally bought as part of the ‘show’ to impress and win back Daisy but ultimately ends up being the reason his dream died. Myrtle’s death is a significant example of morality decay as Daisy literally kills a person and leaves with no remorse. In chapter 5 when Nick invites Daisy over for tea at Gatsby’s request, Gatsby also arranges for many services and assortments to be delivered to Nick’s home to make it look more appealing to Daisy. One of these is a very large array of flowers, mostly being white. This again goes towards the idea of hope, purity and perfection that Jay wants to show or give off the impression of to Daisy. Gatsby strangely hoards many photographs of his past (Daisy, Dan Cody, Oxford) almost as if they are proof to his illusion as he feels the need to show them too everyone. He also owns a mysterious white card in which he shows to officers almost as if it’s a ‘get out of jail free card.’ In this scene in the book, the colour white is not being seen as purity, but corruption.

quotes for props

“Taking a white card from his wallet, he waved it before the man’s eyes” 

setting of the stage –

Gatsby home is very extravegant, glamorous and over the top but empty on the inside. This is very similar to Gatsby himself. HIs home is purposely used and well known for its crazy parties in West Egg. In reality, his house just plays another part in his ‘show’ for Daisy. These wild parties and house conceal his past and poor upbringing and present a vivid image of how powerful and wealthy he is now. When Gatsby dies, all the possessions and parties within the house and deprived, leaving it empty. The empty house symbolises the end of Gatsby’s dream. David Belasco was a stage show director from the 1920s that was well known for his very realistic sets. By comparing Gatsby to Belasco it gives us an insight that Jay tries very hard and pushes the extremes to produce a realistic illusion of his life to everyone.

quotes for setting

“this fella’s a regular Belasco”

‘The one on my right was a colossal affair by any standard–it was a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool and more than forty acres of lawn and garden.’

speech and dialogue –

The way Gatsby speaks is another hint to us how he has taught himself and grown into this ideal man. The way he speaks and his vocabulary seems almost forced, as if it is not natural and that everything he says is carefully said. He especially imitates the phrase ‘old sport’ commonly used by upper class young British men. This helps towards his illusion of man from old money that has attended Oxford. The phrase also assists in gaining trust and friendship from others by calling them ‘old sport’. In chapter 9 during a conversation with Jay’s father, he describes how Gatsby has always been a highly driven individual and shows Nick a ‘daily schedule’ done by him as a child. One of these ‘to do’ activities was “practice elocution, poise and how to obtain it”. To have good elocution is to be well spoken and mannered, pronouncing words correctly. This gives us the idea that Gatsby has trained himself to speak like this ever since he was ‘James Gatz.’

quotes for speech and dialogue

“practice elocution, poise and how to obtain it”

He hurried the phrase “educated at Oxford,” or swallowed it, or choked on it, as though it had bothered him now. And with this doubt, his whole statement fell to pieces, and I wondered if there wasn’t something a little sinister about him, after all.

“Having a good time, old sport?”

the backstory –

Gatsby carefully constructed a ‘backstory’ that fits the theme of him being produce of a wealthy family from old money. He claims that he attended Oxford, and has that he inherited money from his Midwestern family when they passed. He then explains how he travelled through Europe to escape a ‘sad memory’ and served in WW1 and received a heroism medal presented to him by Montenegro. Gatsby goes on to present a photo of him at Oxford and the war medal to Nick which causes him to believe this whole story. However we find out later on that this is all mostly false and that he comes from a family of poor farmer in the Midwest. He became employed by Dan Cody, a wealthy sailor who left him inheritance after passing. Gatsby didn’t actually receive this due to Cody’s ex-wife. He was enlisted in the war and did receive a medal and was made an ‘officer’. He then attended Oxford for only 5 months in an officers programme. Through Meyer Wolfshiem, Gatsby got into shady business; bootlegging, gambling, to get rich. His whole false identity was only created for Daisy to make her believe he was exactly what she wanted and needed.

quotes for backstory –

“I don’t want you to get a wrong idea of me from all these stories you hear.”

He hurried the phrase “educated at Oxford,” or swallowed it, or choked on it, as though it had bothered him now. And with this doubt, his whole statement fell to pieces, and I wondered if there wasn’t something a little sinister about him, after all.