Explain how the novelist introduces and develops the theme and show to what extent he or she has effectively engaged your interest in it. In your answer you must refer closely to the text and at least two of: theme, structure, setting, symbolism or any other appropriate feature.

Set in 1920’s America - pre stock market crash - in the rich suburbs of New York known as East and West Egg, “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald explores the positive and negative aspects of dreams. By analysing Fitzgerald’s characterisation, setting and actions in the novel and determining how effectively applied these techniques are, it is possible to better understand this theme that has attracted my interest in the text.

Although later in the text it becomes apparent that Gatsby’s dream can never be fulfilled, Fitzgerald is careful to underline the beneficial aspects of being dedicated to a dream, namely the purpose and motivation it brings to Gatsby’s life. In the Great Gatsby, no character is flawless, and it is through these imperfections that Fitzgerald highlights the importance of dreams. Fitzgerald portrays the American ‘upper-

Here Gatsby stretches his arms out towards Daisy as he stands beside his great house and the intensity of his dream, his desire to be with her, makes him “tremble”, the “enormity of the illusion“ he lives overcomes him and it is with these points that Fitzgerald is most effective and when it dawns on the reader that this dream cannot ever be fulfilled, in a way, it is too much.

because of the colossal vitality of his illusion”

Clearly a magnificent house, a “mansion” no less, but an extravagance for a man who was once content, and to an extent still is, with the simplest of possessions. All is explained however when Fitzgerald informs the reader that across the sound is Daisy’s house. The desire to be near to her has driven him to build this extravagant palace (not dissimilar to the “white palace” Daisy, the “Golden girl” is described as coming from) to appeal to her rich tastes. It is difficult to decide whether or not Fitzgerald included Gatsby’s house as a positive or a negative aspect of his dream, and it can be interpreted in either way. To look at it negatively it shows the superficiality of Daisy’s world that Gatsby must build such a house and throw such “lavish parties” to impress her and hope she “walks in to” one of them, but also as a by-product of his dream, the parties bring a lot of happiness to others, namely the guests who attend and proves he is so intense that nothing is too great, or too big a task to undergo.

Some topics in this essay:
Scott Fitzgerald, Gatsby” Daisy, Daisy Gatsby, Ville Normandy, , Fitzgerald Gatsby, gatsby’s dream, dream driven, West Egg, gatsby’s life, arms towards, bring happiness, dream fulfilled, build house, driven build, negative aspects, magnificent house,