About The Great Gatsby
“The Great Gatsby” was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in April of 1924. The story tells the tale of Jay Gatsby in 1922. The novel is narrated from the view point of Nick Carraway, who is Jay Gatsby’s neighbor who moved to West Egg to pursue a new career and fortune as a bonds salesman. Fitzgerald was born into the Lost Generation and has a high respect for those that pursue the American Dream through hard work and grit. In this story Scott Fitzgerald says that the American Dream is elusive for those willing to chase it. However, the pursuit of the American Dream can come with consequences.
“The Great Gatsby” was based in East Egg Long Island in the summer of 1922. In America the 1920s marked a time of large social and political change. During this time the American economy was flourishing. This was a decade of tremendous prosperity. A effect of the economical is that everyone was under the impression that they could strike gold like Gatsby did. When the economy changed so did peoples interpretation of the American Dream. In “The Great Gatsby” Scott Fitzgerald constantly critiques the American Dream. Scott Fitzgerald describe the American dream as elusive and that you can never reach it. Further more he says that the American dream is a moving target in that the farther we progress so does the dream. Fitzgerald shows this throughout “The Great Gatsby”. One way he successfully demonstrates his opinion of the American Dream when Gatsby is successful in completing his mission of enticing Daisy he does not feel satisfied.
The theme of the American Dream is illustrated throughout the novel. One example of the American Dream in “The Great Gatsby” is shown through the green light at the end of daisy dock. The green light positioned at the end of Daisy look represents Gatsby’s hopes and dream for the future. Much like the elusive American Dream the green light is barely visible across the pond. However, it is just bright enough to guide Gatsby toward his goal.
F. Scott Fitzgerald was a man ahead of his time. Fitzgerald was born born into “The Lost Generation”. This generation was brought up to believe in the American Dream. The people born into this generation came to see the indulgent behavior of the 1920s. They came to know the aspiration to not just be a contributing member of society, but to dominate it. “The Lost Generation” learned that the new generation would rather be revered than respected. These where previsions of the Americans values that Fitzgerald’s generation had been taught.
Fitzgerald completed “The Great Gatsby” during the roaring twenties that led to the Great Depression. During this time Fitzgerald experienced triumph and despair, both of these qualities are shown in his works. Fitzgerald had a very high respect for those willing to pursue the American Dream. This respect is shown in Fitzgeralds work. Even though Jay Gatsby received his wealthy in an unsavory way, Fitzgerald shows that those who work hard can rise to the top of society.
Kajal Thapa once said,” “The sun does not abandon the moon to darkness.” This quote by Kajal Thapa applies to the American Dream theme in the novel “The Great Gatsby” in many ways. The pursuit of the American Dream does not come with out its consequences. In the book Myrtle is so determined to have a luxurious life that she is willing to have an affair on her loyal husband George with Tom. Myrtle firmly believes that Tom is picture perfect man and represents the American Dream.
The theme of the dark side of the American Dream is further shown in “The Great Gatsby” during Gatsby’s extensive 5 year quest for Daisy’s love. This is shown in the following quote,
“There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams — not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond everything. He had thrown himself into it with a creative passion, adding to it all the time, decking it out with every bright feather that drifted his way. No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart.”
This quote show’s Gatsby’s extensive love for Daisy. Gatsby’s love for daisy had taken over his life. He now feels that he has to acquire a ridiculous amount of wealth in order to get Daisy to love him. Gatsby’s fantasy of getting Daisy to love him built up so much over time that when Daisy finally fell in love with him she fell short of Gatsby’s expirations.
Writing an essay on ‘The Great Gatsby’
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is an iconic American novel that has been widely read and discussed since its publication in 1925. The novel is set in the Roaring Twenties and is centered around the lives of Jay Gatsby and his friends, who live in the wealthy area of Long Island known as West Egg. The novel explores the themes of wealth, ambition, love, and the American Dream, and each of those themes should be discussed and explored when writing an essay on this topic. In this section we will look at each theme in turn.
One of the most important themes in The Great Gatsby is the pursuit of the American Dream. The novel follows Jay Gatsby’s quest for wealth and success as he tries to win the heart of Daisy Buchanan, the woman he loves. Gatsby’s ambition and determination to achieve the American Dream serves as a powerful example of the power of the dream and the lengths people will go to achieve it. The novel also shows the dark side of the American Dream, as Gatsby’s attempts to win Daisy leads him to make choices that ultimately lead to his downfall.
Another important theme in The Great Gatsby is the idea of the corrupting influence of wealth and materialism. Gatsby’s obsession with wealth and material possessions is contrasted with the more down-to-earth lifestyle of Nick Carraway, the novel’s narrator. Nick is initially enamored with Gatsby’s wealth and lifestyle, but eventually comes to realize that it is ultimately worthless and pointless. The novel also examines the idea of class and status in America, as Gatsby’s wealth and social connections are not enough to overcome the prejudice of Daisy and her family.
Love and relationships are also important themes in The Great Gatsby. Gatsby’s love for Daisy is a driving force in the novel, and serves as a contrast to the shallow relationships of the other characters. Gatsby’s love for Daisy is ultimately unrequited, but his unflinching devotion serves as a powerful example of true love in the face of adversity. The novel also examines the idea of marriage and its importance in the lives of the characters. Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship is ultimately doomed, but this serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of true, lasting love in a marriage.
The Great Gatsby is also a powerful critique of the moral and social standards of the 1920s. The novel examines the idea of the “lost generation”, as the characters are all searching for something but never seem to find it. Gatsby’s idealistic pursuit of Daisy is contrasted with the shallow and amoral lifestyles of the other characters, and the novel serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of morality and values in society.
Finally, the novel examines the idea of the human condition and the limitations of the human experience. The characters in the novel are all searching for something, but ultimately cannot find it. Gatsby’s idealistic pursuit of Daisy is contrasted with the more pragmatic views of Nick and Daisy, and the novel serves as a powerful reminder of the ultimate futility of the human experience.
In conclusion, The Great Gatsby is a classic American novel that explores many important themes and ideas. The novel examines the pursuit of the American Dream, the corrupting influence of wealth and materialism, love and relationships, the moral and social standards of the 1920s, and the human condition. These themes are all explored in an engaging and thought-provoking way, making The Great Gatsby a timeless and essential work of literature.