Critics Debate: The Great Gatsby

by Stephen Matterson

Part 1 Survey: "The Great Gatsby" and myth - the American myth, the non-American myth; the formalist approach - "The Great Gatsby" as craft, point of view, narrative, symbolism; the authorial perspective - "winter dreams" and "the sensible thing", "the diamond as big as the Ritz" and "the rich boy", "absolution"; the socio-historical approach, "the withering of the American dream", the discredited dream, East and West; character - Gatsby, Nick Carraway, Tom Buchanan, Daisy Buchanan, Jordan Baker. Part 2 Appraisal: the clock and the moon; a man's book - "The Great Gatsby" and women; "The Great Gatsby" and social class; "The Great Gatsby" and history.
--worldcat

80 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 1990

Reviews

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike most high school students, I didn't get the chance to read this book until well after college. With nothing to do, I searched online for a good book to read until I came upon this book.

I thought this book was a really good. It didn't really get my interest at first but a few pages into the book, I was involved in it and feel like I'm going through the whole story with the characters.

What a surprising ending though.

[CR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great but fleeting introduction to Gatby's American critical interpretative history. I wish some more theories were analyzed, or at the least mentioned (psychoanalysis, semiotics, etc.), but what is there is quality.

In the author's personal exegesis, I have to note that the analysis of 'the clock and the moon' was fantastic. I only wish the gender-oriented and sociopolitical criticism kept up with it.

[drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

really enjoyed this book. gave me my first insight into 20s america.

[Marti]

any version of the great Gatsby is fine by me. It is the 2nd greatest book of all times.

martha tucker
www.newimagewriters.com

[Betty Boop · Rating 5 out of 5]

possibly the greatest of all great american novels