In this project, you will plan an imaginary dinner party using characters from The Great Gatsby. Your goal is to create a cohesive experience by selecting a theme and mood, then designing different elements of the dinner to reflect your choices.

Question

Choosing the mood melancholic will help viewers of my presentation understand my theme because it captures the underlying sorrow and disillusionment that permeates F. Scott Fitzgerald's portrayal of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby. The contrast between the glamour of the 1920s and the emptiness of the characters' lives can be effectively highlighted through a melancholic ambiance. This setting will evoke feelings of nostalgia and loss, prompting guests to reflect on the consequences of chasing ideals that lead to moral decay. Ultimately, it serves as a reminder that behind the facade of joy and opulence lies a profound sense of longing and disappointment intrinsic to the human experience.

Now that you have chosen your mood, you will design your dinner party.

Drag and drop the characters so they are seated around the table.
Remember, your choices should help to create the mood of the party.
Ex: If you chose a joyful mood, seating Gatsby next to Tom would not make much sense.
In the rationale box below, type 5-7 sentences explaining how your seating chart helps to create the overall mood of the party.

Characters: Nick, Myrtle, Gatsby, Jordan, Tom, Daisy, Meyer

Answer 1

Dinner Party Seating Arrangement:

Table Layout:

• Nick - (Position: Head of the Table)
• Gatsby - (Position: Right of Nick)
• Myrtle - (Position: Left of Nick)
• Tom - (Position: Across from Gatsby)
• Daisy - (Position: Across from Myrtle)
• Jordan - (Position: Next to Daisy)
• Meyer - (Position: Next to Myrtle)

Rationale:

Seating the characters in this configuration strategically enhances the melancholic mood of the dinner party. Nick, as the narrator, sits at the head of the table, embodying the observer's role in the unfolding drama around him. Placing Gatsby to his right emphasizes his longing and obsession with Daisy, while Myrtle sits to Nick's left, representing the destructive pursuit of the American Dream and the harsh realities of her life. This juxtaposition sets the stage for an exploration of unfulfilled desires.

Tom's placement directly across from Gatsby creates an immediate tension, underscoring the conflict between the two men and highlighting the emptiness behind their wealth and status. Daisy sits opposite Myrtle, reflecting the contrasting social strata and the sadness in her life choices, with Jordan next to her, acting as a reminder of the superficiality of their world. Finally, placing Meyer next to Myrtle deepens the sense of despair, as he represents the corrupt side of the American Dream, further reinforcing the themes of moral decay and disillusionment. This arrangement encourages reflections on the characters’ complex relationships and the underlying melancholy of their lives, unearthing the sorrow behind their glamorous facades.