Great gatsby

Carelessness in The Great Gatsby

• Paragraph 1- Intro

1. The world careless sums up some of the most important ideas in the book and plays an important role in The Great Gatsby2. Thesis- Jordan Baker, Jay Gatsby, Tom and Daisy Buchanan are just some of the characters in which Fitzgerald incorporates the recklessness that was characteristic of the 1920s and one of the mostsignificant themes in the story

• Paragraph 2- Jordan Baker

1. Cheats at golf

2. Leaves the top of a borrowed car down and lies about it

3. Passes so close to a pedestrianin her car that she flicks a button off the man’s coat

4. Knows she is careless: “It makes two to make an accident”

• Paragraph 3- Gatsby

1. Unconcerned with his money2. Careless ways to earn money (illegal bootlegging)

3. Wanted daisy’s love even if it meant destroying their “marriage” or anything in the way

• Paragraph 4- Tom and DaisyBuchanan

1. Tom’s mistress- let everyone know they were having affair

2. Myrtle’s death- ran away leaving blame to Gatsby (resulted in death). Other people had to pay for theirmistakes

3. Daisy goes off with Gatsby, not caring about her marriage (blinded by luxury, money). Kisses Gatsby just as Tom is leaving the room

4. Use their wealth and social status toescape whatever they want

5. “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy – they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back to their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it wasthat kept them together and let other people clean up the mess they had made…” (180-181)

• Paragraph 5- Conclusion

1. Holocaust-Victims due to carelessness and rich get awaywith it: Gatsby, Myrtle, George

2. Due to carelessness American Dream shattered


The Great Gatsby In-class Essay


The word careless sums up some of the most significant ideas and...