The Great Gatsby
Introduction
● Director : Baz Luhrmann
● Screenplay : Baz Lubrmann & Craig Pearce
● Based on Novel : The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
● Follows life & times of millionaire Jay Gatsby & his neighbour, who recounts his encounter
with Gatsby at the height of the Roaring Twenties.
Historical Setting
New York City Landscape 1920s The Plaza Hotel
Jazz & The Cotton Club The Flappers
, Alcohol Prohibition The Automobile
Al Capone - Gangster
● 1920s in American history referred to ‘Roaring Twenties’ / ‘The Jazz Age’
● WW1 over, brought great relief but also disillusionment
● Period characterized by:
1. Spectacular economic growth
2. Rise in prosperity but still great divide between rich & poor
Concept American Dream roots this time period. Defined having opportunity &
freedom allows citizens achieve goals through hard word & determination
Ideals behind American Dream
■ Based strong sense personal morality
■ America seen land of opportunity for people had vision & courage
■ Pursuit happiness intended be spiritual & material
■ Energy, courage & vision of the pioneer embodied American Dream
■ An ideal, intended to be something to which ones aspires
, Reality of American Dream
■ Materialism & selfishness replaced older, conservative values
■ Pursuit of money & good life became more important than development of
spiritual values
■ Pioneers were opportunists lead rough-and-ready lives
■ Ideal never fully realized & American Dream doomed to fail
3. Far reaching social changes
The Prohibition Law of 1919 made crime manufacture / sell alcohol. Created
atmosphere led to violence, crime, rise of gangsters, bootleggers & rumrunners.
Allowed women assert independence by drinking illegally along with men
Women’s Suffrage result women’s struggle assert their rights & independence
4. Breakdown in morals including notable scandals such as Chicago Black Sox Scandal
(Major League Baseball game-fixing scandal in which eight members of the Chicago
White Sox were accused of throwing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds
in exchange for money from a gambling syndicate led by Arnold Rothstein.)
5. The Age of Automobile - cars increased from 7 million to 23 million
Geographical Setting
● Tom & Myrtle’s Apartment (W. 158th St. [Manhattan], NY)
● Eyes of DR T. J. Eckleburg (Flushing Meadows [Queens]. NY)
● Valley of Ashes (Flushing Meadows [Queens], NY)
● Nick’s Bungalow (King’s Point, NY)
● Tom & Daisy’s Mansion (Port Washington, NY)
● Gatsby's Mansion (King’s Point, NY)
Introduction
● Director : Baz Luhrmann
● Screenplay : Baz Lubrmann & Craig Pearce
● Based on Novel : The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
● Follows life & times of millionaire Jay Gatsby & his neighbour, who recounts his encounter
with Gatsby at the height of the Roaring Twenties.
Historical Setting
New York City Landscape 1920s The Plaza Hotel
Jazz & The Cotton Club The Flappers
, Alcohol Prohibition The Automobile
Al Capone - Gangster
● 1920s in American history referred to ‘Roaring Twenties’ / ‘The Jazz Age’
● WW1 over, brought great relief but also disillusionment
● Period characterized by:
1. Spectacular economic growth
2. Rise in prosperity but still great divide between rich & poor
Concept American Dream roots this time period. Defined having opportunity &
freedom allows citizens achieve goals through hard word & determination
Ideals behind American Dream
■ Based strong sense personal morality
■ America seen land of opportunity for people had vision & courage
■ Pursuit happiness intended be spiritual & material
■ Energy, courage & vision of the pioneer embodied American Dream
■ An ideal, intended to be something to which ones aspires
, Reality of American Dream
■ Materialism & selfishness replaced older, conservative values
■ Pursuit of money & good life became more important than development of
spiritual values
■ Pioneers were opportunists lead rough-and-ready lives
■ Ideal never fully realized & American Dream doomed to fail
3. Far reaching social changes
The Prohibition Law of 1919 made crime manufacture / sell alcohol. Created
atmosphere led to violence, crime, rise of gangsters, bootleggers & rumrunners.
Allowed women assert independence by drinking illegally along with men
Women’s Suffrage result women’s struggle assert their rights & independence
4. Breakdown in morals including notable scandals such as Chicago Black Sox Scandal
(Major League Baseball game-fixing scandal in which eight members of the Chicago
White Sox were accused of throwing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds
in exchange for money from a gambling syndicate led by Arnold Rothstein.)
5. The Age of Automobile - cars increased from 7 million to 23 million
Geographical Setting
● Tom & Myrtle’s Apartment (W. 158th St. [Manhattan], NY)
● Eyes of DR T. J. Eckleburg (Flushing Meadows [Queens]. NY)
● Valley of Ashes (Flushing Meadows [Queens], NY)
● Nick’s Bungalow (King’s Point, NY)
● Tom & Daisy’s Mansion (Port Washington, NY)
● Gatsby's Mansion (King’s Point, NY)
