The-Great-Gatsby《了不起的盖茨比》导读-英文

1、The Great Gatsby By: WendyFEDCBAuthorABack-groundsymbolismPlots Characters Comments Author-Francis Scott Key FitzgeraldFrancis Scott Key Fitzgerald(September 24, 1896 December 21, 1940) was an American author of novels and short stories, whose works are the paradigm writings of theJazz Age, a term h

2、e coined himself. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. Fitzgerald is considered a member of the “Lost Generation of the 1920s. Author-Francis Scott Key FitzgeraldHe finished four novels, This Side of Paradise, The Beautiful and Damned, Tender Is the Nigh

3、t and his most famous, the celebrated classic, The Great Gatsby. A fifth, unfinished novel, The Love of the Last Tycoon was published posthumously. Fitzgerald also wrote many short stories that treat themes of youth and promise along with despair and age.Author-Francis Scott Key FitzgeraldHis first

4、literary effort, a detective story, was published in a school newspaper when he was 13. Novels such as The Great Gatsby and Tender is the Night were made into films, and in 1958 his life from 19371940 was dramatized in Beloved Infidel.Background The great Gatsby , regard the1920s New York and long I

5、sland(长岛） as the whole background. It set in the upper middle class of the modern American society and narrated surround Callaway. The 1920s is the history of the United States ,which is a short but special period and was known as “ the hustle and bustle of the age ”（喧嚣时代）. It refers to the10 years,

6、 which from the first World War in 1919 to the debacle of the economy before the 1929. Background Several factors constitute the particularity of this era:The United States was in the old and new historical intersection, The vigorous development of capitalism The agricultural civilization turn into

7、the modern society of industrialization. After the World War 1, the U.S occupied the wealth of the war , the debtor countries became creditor nation. The government implemented the “laissez faire” economic policy（自由放任) to free market. This created the miracle of the “Coolidge boom times“(柯立芝繁荣时代）. T

8、he rapid expansion of transport, mining, construction ; Electrical appliances and automobile manufacturing industry rise sharply;Automobile, electrical equipment, household appliances ,processed food began to enter homes;Estate transactions and stock market were particularly active ,so some speculat

9、ors become upstart in these gambling industry ; The domestic economic situation is excellentwealth has become a judge of a persons success or not, people began to blindly make money;The hedonism, Spencers theory of evolution and Jamess pragmatism philosophy became popular in U.S, Traditional puritan

10、ical morality（传统清教徒观念） and the industrious and thrifty thoughts of religious belief gradually replaced by hedonism, which chase personal wealth, enjoy the material life.BackgroundreasonsresultsShe is Nicks second cousin and the wife of Tom Buchanan.Daisy once had a romantic relationship with Gatsby,

11、 before she married Tom.人物a millionaire who lives on East Egg, and Daisys husband. And he had an affair with Myrtle Wilson.He is Gatsbys next-door neighbor and a bond salesman. He also serves as the first-person narrator of the novel.A young, mysterious millionaire with shady business connections an

12、d addicted to DaisyJay GatsbyDaisy BuchananNick CarrawayTom BuchananDaisy Buchanans long-time friend with autumn-leaf yellow hair, a firm athletic body, and an aloof attitude. She is Nick Carraways girlfriend for most of the novel.人物 a Jewish friend and mentor of Gatsbys, described as a gambler who

13、fixed the World Series.Wolfshiem appears only twice in the novel, the second time refusing to attend Gatsbys funeral.Georges wife, and Tom Buchanans mistress. Myrtle, who possesses a fierce vitality, is desperate to find refuge from her complacent marriage, but unfortunately this leads to her tragic

14、 ending. a mechanic and owner of a garage. He is disliked by both his wife, Myrtle Wilson, and Tom Buchanan, who describes him as so dumb he doesnt know hes alive. Jordan BakerGeorge B. WilsonMyrtle WilsonMeyer WolfshiemPlotsAfter Nick was waking up, he received an invitation from his neighborhood-M

15、r. Gatsby. He came the party and had lunch with Gatsby, knew that he wanted to see Daisy.Nick moved to West Egg. One day, he visited his cousin-Daisy, and went to New York with Daisys husband Tom and his mistress Mrs. Wilson. There they had a party and Nick was drunk completely.Daisy and Gatsby were

16、 lovers 5 years ago. They met again and loved each others as well. They had affaris and Gatsby didnt hold the party anymore.PlotsOn the way home, Daisy was too uneasy to drive the car, as a result, she killed Toms mistress. Gatsby decied to protect her and he would confess the murder was him actuall

17、y.A hot summer day, Gatsby forced Daisy to tell truth to Tom. They had a quarrel at hotel. Daisy knew Gatsby was born from a poor family, so she was indecisive to leave Tom.Tom told Mr. Wilson that the murder was Gatsby. Mr. Wilson killed Gatsby then committed suicide. Dasiy and Tom left. Nobody cam

18、e Gatsbys funeral except his father and Nick. His whole life ended in tragedy.SymbolismThe eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg（T.J.埃克而堡大夫的眼睛）They look out from a pair of enormous spectacles. Wilson thinks it is Gods eyes which witness her wifes business. It services as a kind of comfort in Wilsons heart,

19、 standing for the morality judge.The green lightThe green light has several meanings. At first it is a remote single green light, symbolizing the nice things and life that Gatsby pursuing for. It is the incarnation(化身) of success, recognition and wealth. Later when Gatsby reunites with Daisy, the li

20、ght is covered with mist. This indicates Daisy has been corrupted in the soul society. She is now the production of the substantial society. Its just a green light in the dock. After Gatsbys death, Nick once again scrutiny the light. He knows Its Gatsbys dream, his hope and direction. And that purit

21、y and integrity is the essence of American dream.The valley of ashesThe valley is a desolate scene, prevailing with soul dusts and smoke. Coal cinder（煤渣） is piled there, which powers the pomp of the glittering city. Lots of labors toil as workers to service the running of the city. The citys propert

22、y is on the exploitation of the lower class labors and the usage of abundant resources. Such scenes intimate the tragedy life of Gatsby.Comments on The Great Gatsby- The dream and the realityScott Fitzgerald made wide use of his own life experiences in The Great Gatsby which reflects the glamour and

23、 excitement of New York life in the 1920s-a world of parties, bright lights, heavy drinking and jazz music. With the World War behind them, Americans felt that this was a time to make money and have fun. The Great Gatsby is set in the Jazz Age and the age of Prohibition, a law that forbade the selli

24、ng and drinking of alcohol. But those who wished to drink it were able to buy it illegally from bootleggers. In the novel, Gatsby makes a fortune in this illegal activity. Through this novel, Fitzgerald expressed what young Americans believed in the 1990s: that they could wipe out the past and rebui

25、lt the world into something much better, free from the ideas of the older generation. This reflected American Dream-the belief that it is possible for anyone in America, however poor, to win success and wealth by their own efforts. What Gatsby desires is Daisys love rather than material success. I a

26、lso have sympathy toward Gatsby, just like the narrator Nick says about him-Gatsby turned out all right at the end; it is what preyed on Gatsby, what soul dust floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out my interest in the abortive sorrows and short-winded elations of men. If the w

27、hole society wasnt in the wrong way to seek fame, fortune and power, then Gatsby wont have done those criminal activities. Gatsby has lost the old warm world and paid a high price for living too long with a single dream. I think Gatsby has made a wrong choose at first when he decides to win Daisy who is a selfish, cold and vain woman. I like this novel, for it reflects humans weaknesses in the material luxury society and it gives me a reminder to be always calm and self-control and never to lose myself in seeking an enjoyable life. Commen