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The Great Gatsby
The symbolic meaning of Gatsby¡¯s car
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Table of Contents
Background
2. Gatsby¡¯s car
3. Symbols of Gatsby¡¯s car
i. Social symbols
ii. Personal symbols
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1. Background
Jazz Age enjoyment, and commercialism for the poverished.
Conspicuous consumption by economic prosperity and rapid
development in scientific technology.
The National Prohibition Act (1920-1933)
Jay Gatsby
America in 1920s
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Icon of American Dream, self-made man.
Portrait of those seeking for wealth and religious freedom.
Very poor at first amassed rich from the bottom of the ladder.
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2. Gatsby¡¯s car
Book Rolls Royce
Movie Duesenberg Model J
Cars in 1920s
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-Only produced 340 of them.
-Worth 50 Ford Model T Car.
Means of luxurious lives
Rich people¡¯s possession
Horch, Bugatti, Rolls Royce, Lincoln main ¡°royal¡± cars
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2. Gatsby¡¯s car
His car i¡¦(»ý·«)
|
ch.¡±
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3. Symbols related to social background
Cf)
Harry Sinclair Lewis 1920 author about ¡°Materialism¡±
In his book ¡°Babbitt¡±(1922), he quotes:
¡°Car represents one¡¯s social status¡±, ¡°One who is rather materialistic and snobby is to be called a ¡®Babbit¡¯.¡±
Americans very positive towards Babbitt.
`You Can¡¯t Afford to Marry Me If You Can¡¯t Afford a Ford`, `Take Me on a Buick Honeymoon` were the best CM songs in mid 1920s.
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3. Symbols related to social background
2. Freedom
Providing liberation, freedom from the cruel society.
Cars for women
Let women free from forced fidelity and sex towards men
1920s, 5-20% were women drivers
Contributed to the upgraded status of women in society
¡°Cars with roof¡± provided new kind of ¡®freedom¡¯
Boosted sex disorders in society
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4. Symbols related to Gatsby
1. Materialistic
Showing off his status, and wealth as much as possible.
Pg. 87 ¡°It was a rich cream color, bright wi