The Great Gatsby Quotes With Analysis

I am still a little afraid of missing something if I forget that, as my father snobbishly suggested, and I snobbishly repeat, a sense of the fundamental decencies is parceled out unequally at birth.

Here, Nick states that money isn't the only thing that people are born with or without, but some people are naturally truthful and amiable and have a larger "sense of fundamental decencies.

Whenever you feel like criticizing any one," he told me, "just remember the advantages that you've had..." In consequence I'm inclined to reserve all judgments.

Nicks use of declaratives show's us that he tries not to be judgmental and pursuades the reader that his view is not prejudiced. However, the whole statement is ironic as the whole novel is full of his own judgements.

When I came back from the East last autumn I felt that I wanted the world to be in uniform and at a sort of moral attention forever; I wanted no more riotous excursions with privileged glimpses into the human heart.

After the events that allowed Nick to realise that " it (his tolerance) has a limit", he declares that his experiences in New York lead to a strong negative reaction and eventually returns to the Midwest in search of a less morally ambiguous environment-

Only Gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book, was exempt from my reaction�Gatsby, who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn.

However, his disgust towards the attitudes people and culture of the east had one exception: Gatsby- "(attach quote here.)" Despite Gatsby's lavish lifestyle with extravagent parties that were achieved from illegal bootlegging, Nick saw that he had "an ex

I hope she'll be a fool�that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.

Even thuo Daisy is not a fool herself, she was brought up in a socially aristocratic enviroment that does not value intelligence in women. Althrough this emphsises her shallowness and carelessness it also reinforces how women in the 1920's are financially

Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand.

Towards the end of the New York apartment scene, Fitzgerald reveals Tom's personality through his careless and violent act towards his mistress -"(attach quote here)" The use of the two adjectives "short" and "deft" state the ease and causuality of his vi

Almost five years! There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams--not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion.

When Nick see's Gatsby and Daisy back together a sudden negative idea that he notices runs through his head- "(attach quote.)" The idea of Daisy and the feels of fresh love at first has been captivating Gatsby all these years, so much that he has devoted

It had gone beyond her, beyond everything. He had thrown himself into it with a creative passion, adding to it all the time, decking it out with every bright feather that drifted his way.

Additionally, Nick declares "(attach quote)." the idea of his idealised and perfect dream is far beyond the capibility of Daiys is emphasised. The senses of desperatelessness in the statements "decking out with every bright feather" and "ghostly heart" co

He wanted nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say: "I never loved you." After she had obliterated four years with that sentence they could decide upon the more practical measures to be taken.

Nick reveals Gatsby's perfectionism that ultimately contributed towards his downfall. The quote exemplifies Gatsby's uncontrollable desire to repeat and remodel the past. Simply stealing a man's wife, albeit a despicable man's wife, isn't enough for Gatsb

That's because your mother wanted to show you off.

Daisy reveals her inner lack of responsibility and carelessness when we meet her daughter, Pammy- "(attach quote here.)" Not only does she reveal her lack of attention and carelessness towards her own daughter, Daisy treats her like an object. Thus, empha

He had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life .It faced, or seemed to face, the whole external world for an instant and then concentrated on you with an irresistible preju

On Nick's first close examination of Gatsby's appearance he first realises his anomalous nature- "(Attach quote here)." The depictation of Gatsby's smile captures his charisma and encapsulates the demeanor he presents to others.

After Gatsby's death the East was haunted for me like that, distorted beyond my eyes' power of correction.

Nick declares that "(attach quote here.)" He wants to return to the east because he was sick of the careless behaviour and amoral values of the east. He is tired and disappointed with the corruption and superficiality that accompanies wealth and success.

They were careless people, Tom and Daisy � they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money of their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.

Although Nick is "inclined to reserve all judgements," here he clearly presents a judgment. The repitition of the word "careless" emphasises their real selfish nature. Their social enviroment that they were born to has led them to be incapable of acceptin

Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter � tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther . . . . And one fine morning � So we beat on, boats against th

Fitzgerald makes the clear connection between the American dream and Gatsby's dream. Gatsby's dream only acts as a symbol for the overarching idea of the American dream that led to a corrupt, materialistic and amoral society that was obsessed with wealth

It excited him, too, that many men had already loved Daisy � it increased her value in his eyes.

The race and competition for the 'Holy Grail' only adds value in Gatsby's eyes. It does suggest that even thuo Gatsby genuinely loves her there is a part of him that loved her becuase of the challenge and pursuit that was involved in the process. A part o

This is a valley of ashes � a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and a

The valley of ashes is an image of complete desolation and poverty. It symbolizes the moral decay and inner emptyness that is hidden between the glamorous facades of 'the eggs' and Manhatten.

Gatsby turned out all right at the end; it is what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out my interest in the abortive sorrows and short-winded elations of men.

Nick suggest's that after all Gatsby's hopeless dreams, his perfection and desire to repeat the past was not what actually lead to his ultimate downfall. But he was in fact prey to the "foul dust," The "foul dust that floated in the wake of his dreams." T

I drove over there to have dinner with the Tom Buchanans.

How the "Buchanans" is replaced by "the Tom Buchanans" shows Tom's dominance and that the girl Gatsby was in love with no longer exists

He's so dumb he doesn't know he's alive.

This not only shows how Wilson is oblivious to the fact that his wife is Tom's mistress but reinforces Tom's elitism towards people how are inferior in terms of either status or wealth. This elitism ultimately contributed to Gatsby's downfall. How the wor

I suppose the latest thing is to sit back and let Mr. Nobody from Nowhere make love to your wife. Well, if that's the idea you can count me out... next they'll throw everything overboard and have intermarriage between black and white

Fitzgerald shows Tom's reaction to finding out about his wife's love affair with Gatsby with this strongly opinionated and racist speech. The repitition of associating Gatsby to "nobody" show's his elitist nature His strong dissagreement to inter-racial m

Can't repeat the past?" he cried incredulously. "Why of course you can

Gatsby, on Nick's assertion that he can't repeat the past: "(attach quote here.)" Fitzgerald shows that Gatsby wished to relive the past and wanted to reconstruct and remodel it until perfection rather than accept what has happened during the five years.

I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.

While drunk at Tom's apartment in NY Nick has a sharp, sudden and clear moment of insight- "(Attach quote here)." At this moment, he becomes both participant and observer. Looking over the events of his experiences in the east, Nick is often simultaneousl

They're a rotten crowd," I shouted across the lawn. "You're worth the whole damn bunch put together.

Ever since the start Nick has only given Gatsby a single complement- "(attach quote here.)" Nick, who said that he was "inclined to reseve all judgements," makes a very strong judgment here, accusing Daisy, Tom etc of lacking conscience. He feels that Gat

And so it happened that on a warm windy evening I drove over to East Egg to see two old friends whom I scarcely knew at all.

Nick's declaritive is ironic as the words "old friends" imply that their realtionship goes back a long way, but also he states that he hardly even knows them. Fitzgerlad uses irony to show Nicks superficial relationship with every character (with an excep

He was a blond, spiritless man, anaemic, and faintly handsome.

...

...it was an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as I have never found in any other person and which it is not likely I shall ever find again.

Nick describes gatsbys personality saying that "(attach quote here.)" Althrough Nick is "inclined to reserve all judgements" he clearly views Gatsby positively (despite his "unaffected scorn") and implies that gatsby is an UNIQUE, loyal, perservearing pes

[Gatsby gazed at] a single green light, minute and faraway, that might have been the end of a dock.

To Gatsby, the green light is a symbol for his dream, which is Daisy along with the status that comes with it. To attain her would be completing Gatsby's American Dream. The diction of words "minute" and "faraway" has the implication that to achieve the d

He was a son of God...So he invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen year old boy would be likely to invent, and to this conception he was faithful to the end.

Nick uses a striking metaphor to compare Gatsby to Jeseus Christ to highlight Gatsby's creation of his current identity. Gatsby transforms himself into the ideal that he envisioned for himself as a youngster(a "Platonic conception of himself") and remains

Her [Daisy] voice is full of money," he [Gatsby] said suddenly. That was it. I'd never understood before. It was full of money�that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals' song of it...

Fitzgerald's use of synecdoche reveals why the siren like voice captivated men.She is the ultimate status symbol, at her core she is not a person but a commodity. Sometimes, Gatsby truely seems to love Daisy but most of the time the reader is forced to as

The dust-covered wreck of a Ford crouched in a dim corner.

The personifiation of cars is a prominent motif throughout the novel. It emphasises that this commodity of the American Dream that was supposed to make life easier and give us freedom is not what it seems. In reality, it is dangerous, notoriously unreliab

They're such beautiful shirts," she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds." part 1

Suddenly in this line the meaning of the novel's epigraph becomes clear: the four-line poem of Thomas Park d'Invilliers that Fitzgerald quotes on the title page describes exactly what Gatsby has done. He has symbolically worn the gold hat; he has "bounced

They're such beautiful shirts," she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds." part 2

The diction of how her voice is described as "muffled in the thick folds" demonstrates how well Gatsby hides his true identity. she, the is tricked into thinking that Gatsby is as beautiful as his costumes and was ALWAYS as beautiful as these clothes. Her

They're such beautiful shirts," she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds." part 3

What really shows the corruption and extent of this obssesion with material is that Daisy falls for it. However the reader could have expected this due to the fact that Tom just basically stole Daisy from Gatsby by buying her a pearl necklace worth $350,0

They're such beautiful shirts," she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds." part 4

It also seems silly of course to cry over shirts. But not only does it reveal Daisy's inner swallowness But it is not the shirts themselves that overwhelm her but what they symbolize: Gatsby's extraordinary dedication to his dream. Wouldn't you be moved t

It makes me sad because I've never seen such � such beautiful shirts before.

Daisy cries out about seeing the beautiful shirts because they are so uncharacteristically like her memories of Gatsby before his transformation. These shirts are made of rich material and have monograms. It is hard to tell whether she is shocked and impr

His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one.

Not only does this passage continue to establish the symbolic significance of the green light and reveal that Daisy may not be meeting Gatsby's built-up expectations after all these years, but Nick provides an excellent definition of symbolism: that symbo

So I walked away and left him standing there in the moonlight�watching over nothing.

Before the trip into the city and the accident, Gatsby was convinced that Daisy was in love with him and would without a doubt leave Tom for him. When he watches Daisy and Tom in the kitchen, the reality of the situation is starting to fall on him. Ever s

Your wife doesn't love you," said Gatsby. "She's never loved you. She loves me"..."She never loved you, do you hear?" he cried. "She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she

After 6 � chapters of slow progression to this moment, we finally reach the boiling point (Notice the use of pathhttp://farm5.staticflickr.com/4134/4926598654_981f0fea9e_m.jpgetic fallacy, since it is the hottest day of the year). Gatsby confronts Tom at

Your wife doesn't love you," said Gatsby. "She's never loved you. She loves me"..."She never loved you, do you hear?" he cried. "She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she

Note the certainty and finality in his tone. He doesn't even consider the fact that Daisy might not agree with everything he says. He probably played this scenario through his mind a million times the last 5 years, but never even imagined that anything co

Your wife doesn't love you," said Gatsby. "She's never loved you. She loves me"..."She never loved you, do you hear?" he cried. "She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she

Most readers are sympathetic towards Gatsby's incredible devotion towards Daisy, no matter how delusional it can seem at times. This admiration of the character is what makes him a TRAGIC HERO. But by choosing Gatsby over Tom she would essentially be wrec

Gatsby's eyes opened and closed "You loved me too?" he repeated...The words seemed to bite physically into Gatsby.

Because of the expectations Gatsby has set for her during the long years of separation, Daisy has become a symbol of happiness and love for him. He could not bear the notion that who he considers to be his divine and only love has affection for someone el

He knew that Daisy was extraordinary, but he didn't realize just how extraordinary a "nice" girl could be. She vanished into her rich house, into her rich, full life, leaving Gatsby � nothing. He felt married to her, that was all.

Chapter 6 mentions that Gatsby had "known women from a young age." He's dated (and slept with) people before, but it's not until Gatsby dates Daisy that he feels hopelessly attached to somebody.
Nick suggests that it's because Daisy is a "nice" girl�she's

I'm going to drain the pool to-day, Mr. Gatsby. Leaves'll start falling pretty soon, and then there's always trouble with the pipes." "Don't do it to-day," Gatsby answered.

Gatsby tries to defy the passage of time and cling on to the past; even as the autumn leaves are beginning to fall, he won't let the servant clean the pool, and instead decides to go swimming as though it were still the height of summer. This becomes an e

If that was true he must have felt that he had lost the old warm world, paid a high price for living too long with a single dream. He must have looked up at an unfamiliar sky through frightening leaves and shivered as he found what a grotesque thing a ro

Nick is putting himself in Gatsby's shoes, trying to imagine what it's like to have lost your entire dream, to have reality revealed. Daisy is gone, and if Gatsby has finally realized this, Nick imagines what it's like to have everything you worked for re

His gorgeous pink rag of a suit made a bright spot of color against the white steps...and he had stood on those steps, concealing his incorruptible dream, as he waved them good-bye." part 1

Notice the juxtaposition between Gatsby's trademarked pink and Daisy's "white". How Gatsby is "pink" implies that he is imperfect and of a different class of the established rich But how it stood out as a "bright spot of color" places emphasis on Gatsby's

His gorgeous pink rag of a suit made a bright spot of color against the white steps...and he had stood on those steps, concealing his incorruptible dream, as he waved them good-bye." part 2

But it does highlight Gatsby's optimism, his "extraordinary gift for hope." This is what makes us admire Gatsby. It is ironic as, Tom and Daisy attained their wealth the old fashioned way (which was looked up to in the 'Roaring twenties') and we view them

Go on!" He started. "Why, my God! they used to go there by the hundreds.

Through his lavish and extravagent parties Gatsby has managed to attain thousands of "friends." THe relationship between Gatsby and his geusts are so superficial that the man who was staying in Gatsby's house, won't even show up to the funeral. Not only t

...his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. He did not know that it was already behind him, somewhere back in that vast obscurity beyond the city, where the dark fields of the republic rolled on under the night.

The "dream" is a metaphor for Daisy along with the wealth and status she represents to him. Gatsby felt that he was so close from attaining this no physical obstacle could ever slow his pursuit. His pursuit for Daisy was fruitless eversince he fell in lov

He took off his glasses and wiped them again, outside and in.

Nick and Owl-eyes are the only ones to attend the funeral: they are the characters that could see clearer than the others. Notice how Fitzgerald repetitively mentions his glasses making sure the reader does not miss the hidden message. Glasses are tools c

East egg...West egg

How they are metaphorically "eggs" not only vividly depicts their circular shape but is symbolic. Like an egg the Egg's are 'white' (representing purity) on the outside and and yellow on the inside. This convey's the corruption that the upper class tries