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.

Write 5 questions to be asked at dinner. You should explain who is asking, who you think would respond, and what their response would be. You should then explain how the answer to that question will help to create your overall mood. Your explanations should be 1-2 sentences each.

Question :

Response:

Impact on Mood:

Answer 1

Question 1:

Question: "Do you think Gatsby's success made him truly happy?"
Who is asking: Daisy Buchanan
Who would respond: Jay Gatsby
Response: "No, Daisy. I realize now that all the riches in the world can’t bring back what I lost or the love I dreamed of."
Impact on Mood: Gatsby's admission highlights the emptiness behind his material success, deepening the melancholic mood as it emphasizes lost dreams and the unfulfilled pursuit of happiness.

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Question 2:

Question: "What do you remember most about the summer we spent together?"
Who is asking: Nick Carraway
Who would respond: Jordan Baker
Response: "I remember the laughter, but there was always an edge to it, wasn’t there? It felt like we were running from something, even then."
Impact on Mood: Jordan’s reflection underscores the fleeting nature of their joy and the undercurrents of despair, contributing to a feeling of nostalgia tinged with sadness.

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Question 3:

Question: "Why did you choose to live such an extravagant life, despite the emptiness?"
Who is asking: Tom Buchanan
Who would respond: Myrtle Wilson
Response: "I thought the glamour would fill the void, but it only left me feeling more isolated and empty than before."
Impact on Mood: Myrtle’s response captures the disillusionment with wealth and status, reinforcing the melancholic theme by demonstrating how the pursuit of materialism leads to greater alienation and sorrow.

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Question 4:

Question: "What does the green light symbolize for you now?"
Who is asking: Nick Carraway
Who would respond: Gatsby
Response: "It was everything to me—a dream, an ideal. But now I see it was just a light, distant and unattainable."
Impact on Mood: Gatsby’s realization about the green light deepens the melancholic mood by illustrating the futility of chasing unattainable dreams, evoking feelings of loss and longing.

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Question 5:

Question: "What advice would you give to those chasing after the American Dream?"
Who is asking: Daisy Buchanan
Who would respond: George Wilson
Response: "Don’t lose yourself in it. You end up with nothing but emptiness; look at me."
Impact on Mood: George’s poignant warning emphasizes the tragedy of unfulfilled dreams and the emotional toll of obsession, reinforcing the overall melancholic ambiance of the evening as guests ponder the consequences of their aspirations.