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.

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.

For each character, choose a dish for them to bring to the party
Remember, your choices should help to create the mood of the party.
For each portion of the menu that says “why,” please explain in 1-2 sentences why your character would bring that dish.
Ex: Jay Gatsby would bring fortune cookies because he is obsessed with fortune and wanted to change his future.

Jay Gatsby
Dish:
Why:
Nick Carraway
Dish:
Why:
Daisy Buchanan
Dish:
Why:
Tom Buchanan
Dish:
Why:
George Wilson
Dish:
Why:
Myrtle Wilson
Dish:
Why:
Jordan Baker
Dish:
Why:
Meyer Wolfsheim
Dish:

1 answer

Dinner Party Theme: Melancholic Elegance

Jay Gatsby
Dish: Lavish seafood platter
Why: Gatsby would bring a lavish seafood platter, symbolizing his extravagant lifestyle and desire to impress. However, beneath the glitz, it reflects his loneliness, as the grandeur fails to fill the void of his unattainable dreams.

Nick Carraway
Dish: Simple bread and cheese
Why: Nick would choose a humble offering of bread and cheese, representing his grounded personality and contrasting with Gatsby's excess. His dish signifies his role as the observer of the lavish lives around him, highlighting his own sense of isolation amidst the opulence.

Daisy Buchanan
Dish: Delicate lemon tart
Why: Daisy would likely present a delicate lemon tart, embodying her charm and sweetness yet hinting at the sourness of her choices. The dessert reflects her superficial allure and the bittersweet nature of her yearning for something more meaningful.

Tom Buchanan
Dish: Steak with a side of bourbon
Why: Tom would bring a hearty steak accompanied by bourbon, illustrating his brute strength and dominance in both social and personal realms. The heavy dish points to his excessive nature and the moral shallowness that underlines his character.

George Wilson
Dish: A simple apple pie
Why: George would prepare a simple apple pie, representing his working-class background and the lost dreams he clings to. The pie symbolizes nostalgia for a better life and the heartache of his unfulfilled aspirations.

Myrtle Wilson
Dish: Over-the-top fruit salad
Why: Myrtle would bring an elaborate fruit salad, showing her desire to be seen as glamorous and sophisticated. The abundance of colors and textures symbolizes her attempts to escape her reality, yet the artificiality of the dish reflects her tragic attempt to elevate her social standing.

Jordan Baker
Dish: Champagne and hors d'oeuvres
Why: Jordan would arrive with a selection of champagne and upscale hors d'oeuvres, echoing her role as a symbol of the Jazz Age's carefree excess. However, the ephemeral nature of the bubbles is a nod to her dishonesty and the fleeting relationships that characterize her life.

Meyer Wolfsheim
Dish: Caviar
Why: Wolfsheim would bring caviar, a dish associated with wealth and sophistication, representing his connections to organized crime and the darker sides of the opulent lifestyle. The dish serves as a reminder of the moral decay and corruption that underpin Gatsby's glamorous world.