Context & Writer's Techniques (AQA A-Level English Literature A): Revision Notes

Context & Writer's Techniques

Introduction

The Great Gatsby takes place in 1922 during the era known as the Jazz Age, set in New York and Long Island. F. Scott Fitzgerald examines themes of wealth, social class, and the corruption of the American Dream through the tragic story of Jay Gatsby's rise and fall. The novel employs modernist writing techniques, a distinctive narrative perspective, and rich symbolic imagery to reveal the hollowness beneath the glamorous surface of 1920s society.

Historical and social context

The Roaring Twenties

The novel is set during the Roaring Twenties, a period characterised by post-war prosperity, consumerism, and rapid social transformation in the United States. This era saw widespread economic growth following the First World War, leading to increased spending and a culture focused on pleasure and excess.

Class divisions: East Egg vs West Egg

The geographical contrast between East Egg and West Egg represents a rigid class hierarchy in American society:

• East Egg symbolises old money—established wealth passed down through generations, associated with social prestige and acceptance
• West Egg symbolises new money—recently acquired wealth, often viewed as vulgar or inferior regardless of the actual amount

This division demonstrates that wealth alone cannot purchase social status or genuine acceptance into elite circles. Gatsby's mansion in West Egg, despite its grandeur, cannot bridge the social gap between him and Daisy, who resides in East Egg.

Authorial and biographical context

Fitzgerald's personal experiences

Fitzgerald drew upon his own life experiences to shape the novel's themes and characters. His personal history included:

• Ambition and desire to join wealthy social circles
• Romantic disappointment and unattainable love
• Fascination with the lifestyle of the rich
• Relationships with socialites such as Ginevra King
• Marriage to Zelda Sayre

These experiences directly informed the novel's exploration of unattainable love and the allure yet toxicity of high society. The relationship between Gatsby and Daisy reflects Fitzgerald's own understanding of how social class can create insurmountable barriers in romantic relationships.

Literary Modernism

The novel is shaped by literary Modernism, a movement that questioned traditional values and narrative forms.

Fitzgerald employs these modernist techniques to expose the emptiness beneath the American Dream's promise of success through hard work, revealing instead a world of moral decay and disappointed hopes.

Narrative voice and structure

Nick Carraway as first-person narrator

Fitzgerald uses a limited first-person narrator, Nick Carraway, who observes and reports events rather than controlling them. This narrative choice creates several important effects:

• Intimacy: The reader experiences events closely, as if hearing a personal account
• Uncertainty: Nick's partial knowledge creates gaps in understanding, building mystery around Gatsby
• Bias: Nick's own judgements and limitations affect how the story is told, making readers question the reliability of the account
• Realism: The I-narration feels immediate and authentic, as if telling a true story

Narrative structure and time

Within Nick's first-person frame, Fitzgerald manipulates perspective and time through several techniques:

• Flashbacks reveal Gatsby's past gradually, controlling the release of information
• Stories within stories create layers of narrative, as characters recount their own versions of events
• Non-linear structure means the past and present interweave, reflecting how memory and longing shape the characters' lives

These structural choices maintain Gatsby's mystery whilst gradually building a complete picture, controlling the distance between readers and characters to maximum dramatic effect.

Key stylistic techniques

Blending realism and lyricism

Fitzgerald's distinctive style combines realistic details with poetic, musical language. He presents credible settings and social observations whilst simultaneously employing:

• Imagery: Vivid visual descriptions that create atmosphere
• Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds for emphasis and rhythm
• Repetition: Repeated words or phrases that emphasise themes

This combination allows Fitzgerald to establish mood and emphasise key themes, such as the glamour and menace of the city or the emptiness behind the parties.

Modernist ambiguity and irony

Rather than providing straightforward moral commentary, Fitzgerald uses modernist techniques to create complexity:

• Ambiguity: Events and characters remain open to multiple interpretations, forcing readers to form their own judgements
• Irony: The gap between appearance and reality, such as Gatsby's parties being both glamorous and lonely
• Symbolic description: Objects and settings carry deeper meanings beyond their literal presence

These techniques mean readers must actively engage with the text, judging characters and events themselves rather than relying on clear authorial guidance.

Symbolism and motifs

Key symbols

Fitzgerald uses symbolism extensively throughout the novel. Three major symbols carry particular significance:

The green light

Located at the end of Daisy's dock, the green light represents multiple interconnected ideas:

• Gatsby's longing for Daisy and the past
• Hope for the future and what might be achieved
• The ever-receding American Dream that remains always just out of reach

The light's distance emphasises the gap between desire and reality, suggesting that what we long for may be unattainable.

The Valley of Ashes

This desolate industrial wasteland between West Egg and New York symbolises:

• Moral decay and spiritual emptiness
• The human cost of wealth and pleasure
• The destruction left behind by the wealthy in their pursuit of excess

The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg

The enormous eyes on the billboard overlooking the Valley of Ashes function as:

• A symbol of judgement or moral oversight
• A godlike or divine gaze watching over a corrupt society
• The loss of genuine spiritual values in modern America

These unseeing eyes suggest that whilst some form of judgement exists, it may be blind or indifferent, unable to prevent moral corruption.

Recurring motifs

Motifs are recurring elements that develop themes through repetition. Key motifs include:

• Cars: Represent speed, modernity, and recklessness; often associated with death and destruction
• Parties: Emphasise superficial living, excess, and the emptiness of constant entertainment
• Alcohol: Highlights illegal activity (due to Prohibition), loss of control, and escapism

These motifs emphasise speed, recklessness, and the dangers of superficial living. They culminate in violence and death, demonstrating how the pursuit of pleasure and excess leads to destruction. Through these recurring elements, Fitzgerald connects personal tragedy to the broader failure of the American Dream in 1920s America.

Remember!