Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-4-2-chapter-four-love-and-historical-context [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [A Level](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level.md) › [English Lit](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature.md) › [AQA](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa.md) › [English Lit: AQA A Level The Great Gatsby - Specification A](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a.md) › Chapter Four: Love & Historical Context # Chapter Four: Love & Historical Context English Lit: AQA A Level The Great Gatsby - Specification A, topic 3.4.2 ## Chapter Four - Love, Historical Context and Historicism For specification A, you are specifically interested in the implication of texts in history and how the ideology of love is presented in this text. Here are some ideas relevant to that reading: ### Significance of the guest list ![Significance of the guest list](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-11/b48b5120-e5b4-48b5-bade-a2a267dcb15c/gatsby-couple0.jpg) - While the list of guests suggests that Gatsby’s parties were loved by all of the most fashionable and wealthy people in town, the reality is that they were all just using Gatsby for his __‘hospitality’__. - Again, Fitzgerald is highlighting how hollow and superficial the __‘roaring twenties’__ really were. Does love really exist in this world? ### Significance of Gatsby's car ![Significance of Gatsby's car](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-11/21ce88a3-c0b7-4919-a6eb-884a26c401df/daisy-great-gatsby-.jpg) - The status of Gatsby’s car shows how important motoring had become in this era and how cars signified class and position in society. ### Gatsby ticking boxes ![Gatsby ticking boxes](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-11/a88a81ef-32d4-4470-afb6-234a087084dc/military-medal-.png) - Gatsby believes that he will be more accepted into society if he ticks certain boxes, including things such as an Oxford University degree and a collection of war medals. - He seems to believe he is more likely to be loved then. ### Possibility of re-invention ![Possibility of re-invention](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/chemistry/OCR%20Gateway/cash.jpg) - The acquisition of money and worldly good means that in this period, it was possible to re-invent oneself. In re-invention one might then find love. ### Police corruption ![Police corruption](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/99c26524-4d1b-4d5a-8140-f042965267e7/police-officer.jpg) - The fact that Gatsby is allowed to go free after the speeding offence suggest corruption in society at this point. The policeman is also influenced by the way Gatsby speaks. ## Chapter Four - Love, Historical Context and Historicism For specification A, you are specifically interested in the implication of texts in history and how the ideology of love is presented in this text. Here are some ideas relevant to that reading: ### Significance of Meyer Wolfsheim ![Significance of Meyer Wolfsheim](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/biology/4.1.1%20Photosynthesis/money.jpg) - The character of Meyer Wolfsheim suggests that anything might be fixed with the right connections and money. This seems to have an implication that even love may be fixed in the same way. ### Dark, criminal underworld ![Dark, criminal underworld](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/f42c89c8-6068-4e52-8cc0-6f9a3b2aaf48/Crime-Criminal-BadGuy-Hood.jpg) - There is clearly a darker and criminal underworld in which Gatsby inhabits. So despite the outward glamour, there is a darker underbelly to society in the novel. - In the end, Daisy is repelled by this, and it is why she cannot love him. ### Tom and Gatsby's collision ![Tom and Gatsby's collision](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/f7988027-f437-492d-a4c5-df5b1b078cdb/arm-wrestling-fight-win-aggressive-.jpg) - Tom and Gatsby collide at this point, representing ‘old money’ and ‘new money’. They are competing for the love of one woman. ### Significance of Daisy to Gatsby ![Significance of Daisy to Gatsby](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/8c369561-23fa-4aa1-9438-ded9e7323e4c/prison-bars.jpg) - Clearly, Daisy is a motivating force in Gatsby’s life. - He is wishing to show that he can equal ‘old money’ and during this phase of history, many people would have wanted to do this. - He was denied this originally but wants to now have another go. Gatsby has used criminality and the underworld to achieve this position. ### Role of Jordan and Nick ![Role of Jordan and Nick](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/1855314d-16cc-4c0f-ab80-cd0f7102ac96/Love-Puzzle-Heart.jpg) - Jordan and Nick find themselves embroiled in the rekindling of Gatsby’s love affair with Daisy. - However, like many others of this era, they were merely pawns for people with more money, will and status. ## Test yourself on Chapter Four: Love & Historical Context - The acquisition of what made it possible to reinvent oneself in the 1920s? - What is the ultimate motivating force in Gatsby's life? - Which characters find themselves embroiled in the rekindling of Gatsby's love affair with Daisy? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/374d9d81-edad-4590-9774-fca24dd46e2f/section/e76bfdfd-c6db-453e-81da-3dec05935e27/session) - Previous topic: [3.4.1 Chapter Four](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-4-1-chapter-four.md) - Next topic: [3.4.3 End of Topic Test - Chapter Four](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-4-3-end-of-topic-test-chapter-four.md) ## English Lit: AQA A Level The Great Gatsby - Specification A contents ### 1 Specification Overview - 1.1 Specification Overview - [1.1.1 Specification A](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/1-1-1-specification-a.md) ### 2 Context - 2.1 Context - [2.1.1 F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/2-1-1-f-scott-fitzgerald.md) - [2.1.2 1920s America](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/2-1-2-1920s-america.md) - [2.1.3 Tragedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/2-1-3-tragedy.md) - 2.2 Criticism & Approaches - [2.2.1 Early & Modern Criticism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/2-2-1-early-and-modern-criticism.md) - [2.2.2 Psychoanalytic Approach](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/2-2-2-psychoanalytic-approach.md) - [2.2.3 End of Topic Test - Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/2-2-3-end-of-topic-test-context.md) ### 3 Plot Summary - 3.1 Chapter One - [3.1.1 Chapter One](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-1-1-chapter-one.md) - [3.1.2 Analysis of Chapter One](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-1-2-analysis-of-chapter-one.md) - [3.1.3 Chapter One: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-1-3-chapter-one-love-and-historical-context.md) - [3.1.4 End of Topic Test - Chapter One](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-1-4-end-of-topic-test-chapter-one.md) - 3.2 Chapter Two - [3.2.1 Chapter Two](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-2-1-chapter-two.md) - [3.2.2 Chapter Two: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-2-2-chapter-two-love-and-historical-context.md) - [3.2.3 End of Topic Test - Chapter Two](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-2-3-end-of-topic-test-chapter-two.md) - 3.3 Chapter Three - [3.3.1 Chapter Three](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-3-1-chapter-three.md) - [3.3.2 Analysis of Chapter Three](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-3-2-analysis-of-chapter-three.md) - [3.3.3 Chapter Three: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-3-3-chapter-three-love-and-historical-context.md) - [3.3.4 End of Topic Test - Chapter Three](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-3-4-end-of-topic-test-chapter-three.md) - 3.4 Chapter Four - [3.4.1 Chapter Four](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-4-1-chapter-four.md) - [3.4.2 Chapter Four: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-4-2-chapter-four-love-and-historical-context.md) - [3.4.3 End of Topic Test - Chapter Four](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-4-3-end-of-topic-test-chapter-four.md) - 3.5 Chapter Five - [3.5.1 Chapter Five](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-5-1-chapter-five.md) - [3.5.2 Chapter Five: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-5-2-chapter-five-love-and-historical-context.md) - 3.6 Chapter Six - [3.6.1 Chapter Six](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-6-1-chapter-six.md) - [3.6.2 Chapter Six: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-6-2-chapter-six-love-and-historical-context.md) - [3.6.3 End of Topic Test - Chapters Five & Six](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-6-3-end-of-topic-test-chapters-five-and-six.md) - 3.7 Chapter Seven - [3.7.1 Chapter Seven](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-7-1-chapter-seven.md) - [3.7.2 Analysis of Chapter Seven](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-7-2-analysis-of-chapter-seven.md) - [3.7.3 Chapter Seven: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-7-3-chapter-seven-love-and-historical-context.md) - [3.7.4 End of Topic Test - Chapter Seven](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-7-4-end-of-topic-test-chapter-seven.md) - 3.8 Chapter Eight - [3.8.1 Chapter Eight](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-8-1-chapter-eight.md) - [3.8.2 Chapter Eight: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-8-2-chapter-eight-love-and-historical-context.md) - 3.9 Chapter Nine - [3.9.1 Chapter Nine](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-9-1-chapter-nine.md) - [3.9.2 Chapter Nine: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-9-2-chapter-nine-love-and-historical-context.md) - [3.9.3 End of Topic Test - Chapters Eight & Nine](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-9-3-end-of-topic-test-chapters-eight-and-nine.md) ### 4 Character Profiles - 4.1 Nick Carraway - [4.1.1 Nick Carraway](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-1-1-nick-carraway.md) - [4.1.2 Nick Carraway 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-1-2-nick-carraway-2.md) - [4.1.3 End of Topic Test - Nick](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-1-3-end-of-topic-test-nick.md) - 4.2 Jay Gatsby - [4.2.1 Jay Gatsby](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-2-1-jay-gatsby.md) - [4.2.2 Jay Gatsby 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-2-2-jay-gatsby-2.md) - [4.2.3 End of Topic Test - Gatsby](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-2-3-end-of-topic-test-gatsby.md) - 4.3 Daisy Buchanan - [4.3.1 Daisy Buchanan](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-3-1-daisy-buchanan.md) - [4.3.2 Daisy Buchanan 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-3-2-daisy-buchanan-2.md) - 4.4 Tom Buchanan - [4.4.1 Tom Buchanan](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-4-1-tom-buchanan.md) - [4.4.2 Tom Buchanan 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-4-2-tom-buchanan-2.md) - [4.4.3 End of Topic Test - Daisy & Tom](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-4-3-end-of-topic-test-daisy-and-tom.md) - 4.5 Minor Characters - [4.5.1 Minor Characters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-5-1-minor-characters.md) - [4.5.2 End of Topic Test - Minor Characters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-5-2-end-of-topic-test-minor-characters.md) ### 5 Key Ideas - 5.1 Key Ideas - [5.1.1 Love](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/5-1-1-love.md) - [5.1.2 Class](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/5-1-2-class.md) - [5.1.3 Idealism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/5-1-3-idealism.md) - [5.1.4 Patriarchy & Presentation of Women](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/5-1-4-patriarchy-and-presentation-of-women.md) - [5.1.5 End of Topic Test - Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/5-1-5-end-of-topic-test-key-ideas.md) ### 6 Writing Techniques - 6.1 Structure, Genre & Narrative Voice - [6.1.1 Structure & Narrative Voice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/6-1-1-structure-and-narrative-voice.md) - [6.1.2 Genre](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/6-1-2-genre.md) - 6.2 Form & Language - [6.2.1 Form & Language](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/6-2-1-form-and-language.md) - [6.2.2 Symbolism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/6-2-2-symbolism.md) - [6.2.3 End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/6-2-3-end-of-topic-test-writing-techniques.md) ### 7 Love Through the Ages - Thematic Analysis - 7.1 Love Through the Ages - [7.1.1 The Examination](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/7-1-1-the-examination.md) - [7.1.2 Love Through the Ages Reading](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/7-1-2-love-through-the-ages-reading.md)