The American Industrial Revolution at the turn of the century, coupled with the robust economy and influx of immigrants in the 1920’s made the American dream (one’s ability to become successful through hard work and determination) a point of pride for most Americans (Cliff’s 9). On one level Gatsby’s greatness is his self-reliance, his fulfilling of the American dream. He came from a family of “shiftless and unsuccessful farm people” (104). Before earning his riches h

Nick Carraway, the book’s author, sees Gatsby as “Great”. This is surprising, given that Gatsby is extravagantly wealthy and involved with a socially elite class of people that Nick considers frivolous. Yet Nick admits that “Only Gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book, was exempt from my reaction – Gatsby who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn” (6). In Nick’s eyes Gatsby’s redeeming quality is that Gatsby is an idealist. His riches are but a means to an end, which is to impress his lost love, Daisy Buchanan, and win her back. Gatsby’s unwavering quest to win Daisy back, even when it becomes obviously impossible, is romantic and hopeful, causing Nick to see in him “an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as I have never found in any other person and which it is not likely I shall ever find again” (6). Nick identifies with Gatsby’s hopefulness. He starts out the book with his father’s advice: “’just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had’” (5). Nick takes this to mean that he must neve

Some topics in this essay:
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