The Great Gatsby — Pre-Reading Study Guide
Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Published: 1925
Setting: Long Island and New York City, early 1920s
This study guide is designed to be read before starting The Great Gatsby.
It provides background, context, and guiding ideas so students can better understand the novel as they read.
1. Main Character Guides (Who to Watch For)
You do not need to memorize every detail yet—focus on what each character represents.
Nick Carraway
- The narrator of the story
- From the Midwest; new to the East Coast
- Observant, thoughtful, sometimes judgmental
- Claims to be honest and tolerant
- Acts as both participant and outsider
Why he matters:
Nick shapes how readers see every other character. The story is filtered through his values and biases.
Jay Gatsby
- Mysterious, extremely wealthy man
- Famous for throwing extravagant parties
- Obsessed with Daisy Buchanan
- Self-made; reinvented himself
- Represents hope, ambition, and illusion
Why he matters:
Gatsby embodies the American Dream—and its limitations.
Daisy Buchanan
- Nick’s cousin
- Beautiful, charming, emotionally fragile
- Married to Tom Buchanan
- Represents wealth, comfort, and social status
Why she matters:
Daisy symbolizes what Gatsby wants, not necessarily who she truly is.
Tom Buchanan
- Daisy’s husband
- Wealthy, aggressive, arrogant
- Obsessed with power and dominance
- Holds racist and elitist views
Why he matters:
Tom represents old money, entitlement, and abuse of power.
Jordan Baker
- Professional golfer
- Cynical, independent, dishonest at times
- Represents modern women of the 1920s
Why she matters:
Jordan reflects changing gender roles and moral ambiguity.
2. Themes & Big Ideas (What the Book Is Really About)
The American Dream
- The belief that anyone can achieve success through hard work
- Gatsby achieves wealth—but not happiness
- Raises the question: Is the American Dream real or an illusion?
Wealth & Class
- Old money vs. new money
- Social status matters more than character
- Wealth creates distance rather than connection
Illusion vs. Reality
- Characters invent versions of themselves
- Appearances hide emptiness or corruption
- Gatsby’s dream is beautiful—but false
Love & Obsession
- Love is confused with possession and nostalgia
- Characters chase idealized versions of people
- The past is romanticized beyond reality
Moral Decay
- Beneath glamour lies dishonesty, cruelty, and selfishness
- The wealthy often avoid consequences
3. Historical Context (The World of the Novel)
The Roaring Twenties
- Economic boom after World War I
- Stock market growth
- Rise of consumer culture
- Parties, jazz, excess
Prohibition (1920–1933)
- Alcohol was illegal
- Speakeasies and bootlegging flourished
- Many wealthy individuals made money illegally
Changing Social Roles
- Women gaining independence
- Traditional values challenged
- Tension between modernity and tradition
Social Inequality
- Massive wealth gap
- Rigid class structures
- Racism and xenophobia widely accepted by elites
4. Key Quotes to Know Before Reading
“Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone… remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.”
Introduces themes of privilege and judgment.
“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us.”
Represents the pursuit of dreams that may never be reached.
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy.”
A warning about wealth without responsibility.
5. Connections to Modern Life
Social Media & Image
- Gatsby carefully curates his public image
- Modern parallel: social media personas and influencer culture
- Question: Who are we really vs. who we present online?
Wealth & Inequality
- Extreme wealth still shields people from consequences
- “Old money” advantages persist
- Debate: Does money equal success?
Chasing the Past
- Obsession with “what could have been”
- Romanticizing former relationships
- Difficulty accepting change
The American Dream Today
- College, career, home ownership
- Rising costs and unequal opportunities
- Is the dream still attainable—or has it changed?
6. Questions to Keep in Mind While Reading
- Who has power—and why?
- Who tells the truth?
- What do characters want vs. what they need?
- What does success actually look like?
- Who escapes consequences—and who does not?
Final Thought
The Great Gatsby is not just about wealth and parties.
It is a novel about hope, illusion, and the cost of believing that money can fix emptiness.