Play Guide [356k PDF] - Arizona Theatre Company

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The Great GatsbySYMBOLISM“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at thesame time and still retain the ability to function.” – F. Scott FitzgeraldColor: In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald utilizes colors throughout the novel in veryprecise ways.• White: This color appears regularly throughout the novel, which logically as well assymbolically makes sense as white and soft colors are common to the color palateof summer wear (as opposed to darker, heavier colors for winter). Fitzgerald oftenuses white in association with the female characters’ clothing. Throughout the novel,Daisy and Jordan often appear in white dresses as they lounge during their listlessdays. Ironically, the women are both of dubious moral character and Fitzgerald seemsto cloak them in white perhaps to “cover up” or distract from their indiscretions.However, Fitzgerald also links his male characters with white when they are trying toput their ‘best foot forward.’ Nick wears his “white flannels” the first time he attendsone of Gatsby’s parties and Gatsby wears white when he reunites with Daisy for thefirst time. White has historically been a symbol of innocence, purity and virginity.Fitzgerald’s implication is fascinating in that the reunion between Gatsby and Daisyreignites their love, which could be said to have a purity of focus; however, anyrelationship between them must be adulterous.• Green: Fitzgerald’s use of the green light at the end of the dock which entrancesGatsby and draws him toward Daisy vividly symbolizes life and growth. Green isthe color of spring, romance and awakenings, or in this instance, re-awakenings. Thevitality and strength of Gatsby’s desire and the perfection with which he imaginesDaisy (a flower – also associated with greenery) allows for the symbolic green light tohaunt the reader’s imagination.• Yellow: The three major appearances of yellow in the novel take the form ofthe house in which George and Myrtle live, the glasses of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg andthe “death car.” The implication of using this color in this fashion is that there issomething corrupt about the color yellow. Additionally, all three of these yellowimages come together at the scene of the fatal car accident, in that the yellowcar runs over its victim outside of the yellow home/gas station under the yellowspectacles of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg. Fitzgerald’s imaginative use of yellow in lieu of themore obvious red or black speaks to his inventiveness as an author.• Pink: Gatsby appearing in a pink suit strikes a chord with many modern readers ofthe novel. A pink suit is an untraditional choice for a modern man. Tom comments onhis suit indicating that he cannot be an Oxford man because of the color of the suit,seemingly stating that the color is not something that a man of class would choose.Gatsby attempts to fit in with the wealthy elite but his mistaken outfit choice signifieshis status as nouveau riche. The pink suit, along with his over-the-top mansion anduse of the endearment “old sport” all work together to portray Gatsby as trying toohard to fit into a world in which he does not truly belong.Arizona Theatre Company Play Guide 44
The Great GatsbyGLOSSARYGLOSSARYAnon: Soon, shortly.Terms to KnowAtonement: To make up for a wrong-doing or sin.Bond man: Nick Carraway has moved to New York to becomea bond man; that is, an investment broker who sells stocks andbonds. In the early twenties the stock market was booming andthis would have appeared as a lucrative opportunity.Brute: A savage, violent, or unreasonable person.Communicative: Ready to talk or provide information; relatingto the exchange of information.Cynical: Doubtful or distrustful of others’ motivations; bitter orpessimistic.Designer Yoon Bae’s workspace whileon designing The Great GatsbyDecrepit: Old, worn out, dilapidated.Denizen: Inhabitant of a particular place.Desolate: To be dismally empty.Did You Know?The term “bootlegger” was widely used in the 1920sto refer to someone who made or sold illegal alcohol,but the term actually dates back to 1889 referring toboots in which a flask could be secretly stored.Divan: A long, low sofa without a back or arms.Ether: An inhaled general anesthetic (something that makesan individual unconscious for surgery).Exhilarated: Very happy; elated.Exulting: To express excitement or happiness over aFlapper with bootlegs, a termsuccess.describing boots in which flasks ofalcohol could be concealed, from whichArizona Theatre Company Play Guidethe term bootlegger is derived, meaninga facilitator of illegal alcohol trade.45
Page 1 and 2: The Great GatsbyPlay GuideArizona T
Page 4 and 5: The Great GatsbyINTROF. Scott Fitzg
Page 6 and 7: The Great GatsbyGeorge Wilson: The
Page 8 and 9: The Great GatsbyFITZGERALDFitzgeral
Page 14 and 15: The Great GatsbyLEVYCostume renderi
Page 16 and 17: The Great GatsbyLEVYright for the t
Page 18 and 19: The Great GatsbyTWENTIESThe urbaniz
Page 20 and 21: The Great GatsbyThe luxury of the 1
Page 22 and 23: The Great GatsbyPROHIBITIONit took
Page 25 and 26: The Great GatsbyJAZZDuke Ellington,
Page 27 and 28: The Great GatsbyDREAMCostume render
Page 35 and 36: The Great GatsbyTIMELINEJune 28, 19
Page 37: The Great Gatsby**1922 (the year in
Page 41 and 42: The Great GatsbyDIRECTINGJB: This a
Page 43: The Great GatsbySYMBOLISMalso a no-
Page 47 and 48: The Great GatsbyGLOSSARYDid You Kno
Page 49: The Great GatsbyGLOSSARYLewis Gun:
Page 54 and 55: The Great GatsbyLESSON PLANS• Ask
Page 56 and 57: The Great Gatsby• Ask students: d
Page 58 and 59: The Great Gatsby5. His/her most emb

Play Guide [356k PDF] - Arizona Theatre Company

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