Gatsby's American Dream: Reading The Great Gatsby Critically, Chapter 1

In which John Green discusses the first chapter of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby, including thoughts on the role that the ideas of the self-made man and the American dream fuel the beginning of the novel. Themes, metaphors, and symbols are all discussed--although hopefully not in that boring and unlikable way you all find so reprehensible.

In the first chapter, our narrator Nick Carraway introduces us briefly to Gatsby before taking us to an awful dinner with the unhappily married Buchanans, Tom and Daisey, who live in great wealth and misery on East Egg.

HERE ARE A LOT OF LINKS TO NERDFIGHTASTIC THINGS:

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Nerdfighteria

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[staciar]

i like how this is virtually the same script you used for the crash course video XD

[cheese]

Right now, I'm having a really hard time in my life and I just wanted to thank both John and Hank for making youtube videos. Even though I cried through some of the videos of I've watched, they've cheered me up a little. So, thank you for making my life a little better. Thank so very much John, Hank, Nerdfighters. Thank you for accepting me for everything I am. It means more than you could ever know.

[shannongarrety]

I learn more from your videos than I do in my actual English class. Thank you.

[imowilliams]

I'm cram watching all of the Great Gatsby analysis videos from John (Both on Vlogbrothers and Crash Course Literature) for my a level english exam in 3 1/2 hours. If I do well I'll be forever in your debt.

[XchayudaX]

I love John Green. I got a high score on one of my Hamlet essays because of him. Thanks!

[skyzthedeer]

i just relized this was the guy who wrote "The Fault in our stars"

[IfYouHadAHailey]

you are seriously one of my favorite people in this world. i love listening to you speak and i feel like if we had a conversation it would be the best of my entire life. thank you for existing.

[MichelleJoyYT]

Thank you Nerdfighteria for all that you have done for me for the past four years. You are truly amazing.

[Papercut]

I think that the American Dream is referred to as "American" because the idea of working hard to become successful actually Was uniquely American before the 20th century.  The concept of the American Dream certainly isn't uniquely American today, and hasn't been for a long time.  But success in the age of Colonialism was largely determined by your birth and to many people of the "lower classes, " getting a fresh start in North or South America was the most likely, if not only, chance to become successful.   

[legendfsora]

3:27
damn. i thought he was going to say, "but everything changed when the fire nation attacked."

[JediBearBob]

The Great Gatsby is everything wrong with a Lit teacher's idea of a classic novel. It does nothing but state the obvious at great length and while it is quite full of its own cleverness, it is neither engaging nor fun nor profound.

[seraphiel]

You are so insanely useful John. Whenever I have an essay thats killing me I just go search on the vlogbrothers and it's like instant distinction. Thank you SOOOO much.

[alexsc]

John, I could listen to you talk about things you're passionate about forever. Please keep making these Gatsby videos.

[MennaRaafat]

I have an English oral exam tomorrow about The Great Gatsby so I had to come and rewatch this. It is unbelievably helpful. Please make more of these John, you are so flawless.

[Mcwollybob]

This video is so amazing that my English 2 Honors teacher is using this for a homework assignment. You guys are awesome. And I'm proud to say that I had already subscribed to you months before she gave us this assignment.

[runsfrompapercups]

John if there were teachers like you, the world would be a much better place. But it's such a privilege that we atleast get the chance to experience such wonderful lessons and experiences with the Vlogbrothers. Thank you.

[ImTheUnamy]

Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, PLEASE finish explaining this book! I just found out I will be reading this book in collage in September and this just make it make so much sense!!

[whistlingbanshee]

You have taught me more in 5 minutes than my teacher did in a month. Yes, it took us a month.to read chapter Please please do more it would save my future of ever passing my.exams!

[CaitlinChemical]

John, I had heard you mention this book many times and subconsciously a few weeks back I ordered the book off Amazon. I've read up to chapter six so far and I must say it's one of the best books I have read in my 16 years. So I just want to thank you, John, for showing me this book, and being made of awesome. I wish I had had you as an English teacher, the way you speak about literature is truly inspiring!

[squeegie-beckenheim]

I'm doing Higher Level International Baccalaureate English (what a mouthful), and one of our major assignments this year is an oral commentary- 20 minutes before, we get a literary excerpt of a book we've read during the year, then proceed to talk about it into a tape recorder for 15 minutes. My main strategy for this is to channel John.