book & character analyses - 'The Great Gatsby' and '1984' - English VWO
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Module
Engels
Level
VWO / Gymnasium
An analysis, elaboration and comparison of the characters and themes in the books 'The Great Gatsby' and '1984'.
I used this one myself because I had to write a comparative essay about both.
Great Gatsby characters
Jay Gatsby: main character who dies
Nick Carraway: friend of Gatsby’s who narrates the story
Daisy Buchanan: Nick’s niece, cheats on her husband with Gatsby
Tom Buchanan: Daisy’s husband
Myrtle: Tom’s mistress, dies
George Wilson: husband of Myrtle, shoots Gatsby
Meyer Wolfsheim: Gatsby’s business partner, suspicious past
Jordan Baker: gives information on Daisy and Gatsby’ past, Nick’s girlfriend
Great Gatsby symbols
poor vs rich / old money vs new money
the green light symbolizes hope and Gatsby’s dreams
eyes of Eckleburg could symbolize god’s eyes / your own higher self looking down on the
society or the loss of spirituality in Americans
Gatsby breaks a clock to show he wants to rewind time on the whole Daisy situation
Gatsby's dream (Daisy) symbolizes the American dream
Great Gatsby themes
differences in social classes
West egg = new money / East egg = old money / Valley of Ashes in between
degradation of society
American dream
Great Gatsby setting
East Egg and West egg, with the Valley of Ashes in between
the Valley of Ashes in gray and a bad place, Eckleburg’s eyes stands here
Roaring 20’s
American Dream theme
Gatsby only strived to be rich to impress Daisy, he did hot strive for happiness anymore,
which led him to mess up his moralities. The American Dream is also based on people who
worked hard to be rich, while Gatsby got rich by an inheritance.
Nick Carraway
is close friends with Gatsby
his nickname by Gatsby is ‘Old Sport’
graduated at Yale
served in the army
comes from an old money family yet is not rich himself
has a crush on ‘Jordan’
breaks up with Jordan after Gatsby is shot, because Nick decides to move and Jordan
suddenly claims to be engaged to another man
feels like Gatsby got his money in a shady way
only one to attend Gatsby’s funeral
, Daisy Buchanan
friends with Jordan
promised to wait for Gatsby while he was at war but got engaged to Tom
drove the car that killed Myrtle
had an affair with Gatsby just to get back at Tom
marries Tom for status and wealth
GOLDDIGGER
Tom Buchanan
old money
arrogant because of his old money background
abusive and acts in adultery
his arrogance leads him into thinking Gatsby deserved to die
insensitive and wants everything to go his way
engaged to Daisy
Myrtle Wilson
shows of her puppy but doesn’t care for it
complains about Daisy
mimics the wealthy
dies in a car accident that Daisy is responsible for
Jay Gatsby
is known for his weekly parties
is rich but very mysterious on how he got rich
believes the green light across the bay brings him hope and dreams
new money
had a love affair with daisy before the war
does anything to show Daisy how he is rich now
dropped out of college after two weeks
believes everything is possible with determination and money
says he felt married to Daisy even though they were not
was shot by George because Tom said he killed Daisy (Gatsby's idea)
George Wilson
shoots Gatsby and then commits suicide
thinks Gatsby killed Myrtle
abused his wife (Myrtle)
1984 characters
Winston Smith: main character who dies, loves Julia
Julia: loves Winston
O’Brien: fake alley of Winston
mister Charrington: fake alley of Winston
Big Brother: Party leader, symbol
Syme: friend of Winston who works for Newspeak and becomes an unperson
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