Irony
Although Gatsby "earns" massive amounts of money to win "Daisy," this ironic fact makes his dream completely forgettable.
What is that Daisy likes the stability of being married and keeping her status more than she will ever really care about Gatsby’s success, or even Gatsby? Gatsby just wants to be gratified, and Daisy is going for more than that. It turns out he's the shallow one, and she's not.
This setting, located between West Egg and New York City, symbolizes that for some reason we -- as in our mainstream culture -- should care more about hands-on jobs than we do. I mean, mechanic work is awesome. Working on cars is fun, and people should get paid way more for it than they do.
What is the Valley of Ashes?
Gatsby’s belief that he can "repeat the past" reveals this major theme of the novel.
What is the ridiculousness of living up to the American Dream? For examples, the way that business will try to push new versions of the same products on consumers and expect the same success with them, or the way industries understandably wish they could dial back the clock before a stock market crash
Gatsby’s life story is a metaphor for this American ideal—one that the novel calls into question.
What is the "self-made" person in America. Are people like Jeff Bezos, Peter Thiel, Sam Altman, Donald Trump, and Elon Musk self-made? Along the way were some "favors" done for them in exchange for their political support?
Gatsby’s greatest conflict is between his romanticized vision of Daisy and this harsher truth.
What is the reality of who Daisy truly is and what she values?
This is ironic about Gatsby’s funeral, considering the lavish parties he once hosted to hundreds and hundreds of people.
What is that practically nobody attends? (OK, Owl Eyes and Nick do, and Meyer Wolfsheim "calls" on the phone.)
The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg symbolize this about, well, Trump's America.
They used to symbolize the eyes of God, but in 2026 you can now update the "spin" you as a reader puts on this object to include the absence of simplicity and modesty (compassion, honesty, integrity, and charity) in mainstream US culture and politics? Of course we're talking about this new "America" which is controlled by the big technology companies and the oligarchs.
Gatsby is described as having “an extraordinary gift for hope.” This metaphor emphasizes this paradox in his character.
What is that his optimism is both admirable (because we see a part of ourselves in Gatsby) and tragically misguided?
This external conflict takes place when Gatsby confronts Tom in the Plaza Hotel (in Manhattan).
What is the complete discord between Gatsby’s illusion and Tom’s brutal reality?
It is ironic that this major character, who to be fair is guilty of cheating and is racist, still ends up being one of the least hypocritical characters.
Who is Tom Buchanan? He just is who he is -- a really flawed person almost in an unforgivable way, but not really pretending to be someone he's not.
Gatsby’s shirts, which Daisy cries over, symbolize this.
What fabricating an alter ego, and that it's quite easy?
Nick’s disillusionment at the end of the novel reflects this larger theme about the American experience.
What is the the lack of integrity in America, and that everything and anyone can be bought?
Nick says, “So we beat on, boats against the current.” This metaphor suggests this paradox about the human condition.
What is the pull between aspiring to be someone incredibly successful and prosperous in America, but that to ever get to that level, we must be willing every time to put it all on the line and risk losing everything?
This broader social conflict underlies what drives Myrtle to tragically pursue what she pursues.
What is trying to get out of the valley of ashes? Also, what is to cross the huge gap between the rich and the poor?
Gatsby’s parties are a metaphor for this aspect of living in "America" during the Jazz Age and now.
What is the instant gratification that is meant to cover up things like the existential dread people unconsciously sense?
Gatsby’s _____________ symbolizes this duality or paradox: the grandiosity of the dreams we have and the emptiness we feel once we've achieved what we set out to achieve.
What is an oversized house?
Gatsby’s internal conflict revolves around this impossible desire and exemplifies this major theme.
What is his longing to repeat the past and recreate his love with Daisy?
Gatsby’s transformation from James Gatz into Jay Gatsby reflects this paradox at the heart of his success.
What is the idea that reinvention requires self-denial and self-glorification?
Nick’s goes through this moral conflict.
What is that he is torn between his admiration for Gatsby and his scorn of him?