The Great Gatsby
In 1925, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote what was considered to be his greatest work. The Great Gatsby is considered to be the “great American novel” by many because the main character of the story is said to “embody the innocence of the American dream.” (Shute 3.) The novel ultimately manifests the failure of this American dream, as Gatsby is unsuccessful and his ultimate goal of gaining love becomes unattainable. “America’s origins are based in the political ideals of freedom and democracy, but Fitzgerald demonstrates how this ideal has failed because it is incompatible with social reality.” (Donaldson) In a way, it seems that American idealism has been trumped by social discrimination. The novel takes place throughout the twenties, when society experienced a corruption of values and a decline in spirituality. Critics say that Fitzgerald tells of this corruption in many of his novels, The Great Gatsby included. In order to show this corruption, he uses many symbols to support his cause. In the case of Gatsby, he uses light as a symbol to show our society’s “movement into darkness.” (Sutton 3) Most critics and reviews of the novel agree that the work shows corruption of some sort, whether it be social, mor
belongings, he values each item according to the worth that she places on it. When she shatters his dream by accepting Tom over him, Gatsby has no need for any of his possessions. No longer searching for his holy grail, the house, the clothes, and the cars mean nothing. Nick, who has thought Gatsby to be vulgar throughout the novel, finally realizes that his neighbor has more worth than any of the minor characters mentioned throughout the story. The American Dream remains viewed as the success which one obtains. The American Dream has had a great impact on literature as well as an impact on the changing of time periods. The American dream is sometimes even viewed as perfection, and although one can come very close, there is never perfection. This desire to be perfect often leads to unhappiness. When it comes right down to it, life is a series of imperfections that can make living really great or very unpleasant. Living the American Dream is living in perfection, and that by definition is not possible, thus deflating our precious American Dream. F. Scott Fitzgerald proves this fact in The Great Gatsby. It is also important to remember that the novel took place during a time of the prohibition in America. It is a common known fact that a number of non-caring and irresolute individuals grew rich off of contraband alcohol. “The bootlegger pirate of the modern age is seen (in the story) in a whole variety of ways-an extended social theory that starts with the guy who risks his hide to bring alcohol into the United States and ends with the big mogul who lives off him like a millionaire.” (Giardini) Gatsby is in the latter of that group and because of this he has a very mysterious heir about him. However, conflict arises with the reader because Gatsby’s seemingly optimistic view goes against the rest of the characters in the story, as they seem bitter and almost vicious.
Some topics in this essay:
Gatsby Daisy’s,
American Dream,
Gatsby Daisy,
Critics Fitzgerald,
America Americans,
Scott Fitzgerald,
Giardini Gatsby,
World War,
Daisy Nick,
Jay Gatsby,
american dream,
material possessions,
love affair,
money greed,
gatsby daisy,
affair gatsby daisy’s,
tells reader,
socially elite,
social moral,
confrontation gatsby,
dream gatsby,
love affair gatsby,
ruined unworthiness object,
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Approximate Word count = 2165
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)
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