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.

Instructions
Each character has secretly bought a gift to the party. Each gift is a symbol (a concrete object) that carries great abstract meaning. For each of the gifts, explain the abstract meaning (1-2 sentences) and how the arrival of this gift at the dinner would impact the overall mood (1-2 sentences).

Example: Jay Gatsby has brought a teacup to the party. This teacup is a symbol of a rekindled relationship because he and Daisy met for tea when they first saw each other again. This might make the mood of the party a bit tense when Nick and Daisy see the teacup because they know that this sparked the relationship between Jay and Daisy. For the rest of the party goers, the mood would probably stay the same.

Gift Explanation:

Green Light:
Ad for TJ Eckleburg:
Silk Shirt:
Pearl Necklace:
Mantle Clock:
Toy Car:
Puppy:
Jar of Ashes:

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

Answer 1

Gift Explanation:

1. Green Light (Jay Gatsby):
The green light symbolizes Gatsby's unreachable dreams and desire for a future with Daisy. Its presence at the dinner would cast a shadow of longing and nostalgia over Gatsby, echoing his unattainable aspirations and fueling an undercurrent of melancholy amongst the guests.

2. Ad for TJ Eckleburg (Nick Carraway):
The billboard with the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg represents the moral decay and loss of spirituality in the characters' lives, serving as a watchful presence over their actions. As the ad’s eyes gaze down upon the gathering, it may evoke a sense of discomfort, transforming the mood into one of guilt and contemplation as guests ponder the emptiness of their pursuits.

3. Silk Shirt (Tom Buchanan):
The silk shirt symbolizes Tom’s wealth and status, but also serves as a reminder of the superficiality and moral decay that accompany such privilege. Its extravagant presence would likely provoke feelings of envy and bitterness among the other guests, enhancing the melancholic atmosphere by emphasizing the emptiness behind material success.

4. Pearl Necklace (Daisy Buchanan):
The pearl necklace represents the allure and superficial glamour that distracts from deeper emotional connections. Its arrival might infuse the party with an air of fleeting beauty; however, as guests admire it, an underlying sadness may linger, reminding them of the hollow nature of such ostentation in their lives.

5. Mantle Clock (George Wilson):
The mantle clock symbolizes the passage of time and the inevitability of change and decay. When George brings this gift, it could create an unsettling mood, as it prompts reflection on lost opportunities and irreversible choices, reinforcing the overall sense of melancholy that envelops the party.

6. Toy Car (Myrtle Wilson):
The toy car symbolizes Myrtle's yearning for a life of luxury that ultimately eludes her. Its innocent nature stands in stark contrast to Myrtle’s desperate aspirations, and its presence may evoke sympathy from the guests, amplifying the melancholic mood as they witness the tragic gap between dream and reality.

7. Puppy (Jordan Baker):
The puppy represents innocence and the potential for a future, yet ironically highlights the emptiness of the characters’ lives. Its arrival could temporarily lighten the mood, but as guests recall their own lost innocence, it would deepen the melancholy, stirring feelings of sadness for the simpler joys that they have sacrificed in pursuit of their dreams.

8. Jar of Ashes (Meyer Wolfsheim):
The jar of ashes symbolizes the remnants of dreams and the destructive outcomes of the characters’ pursuit of wealth and success. Its stark presence would cast a heavy pall over the dinner, serving as a grim reminder of the consequences of their choices, and heightening the somber atmosphere as guests come to terms with their disillusionment.