... , and the unobtainable American Dream represent significant themes in understanding various interpretations of The Great Gatsby's storyline. Throughout the novel, moral decadence is displayed by many members of the wealthy, ruthless upper-class society. For example, blatant adultery takes place throughout the novel. Tom Buchannan and Myrtle Wilson, both of whom have marriages with other people, arrange a meeting together in New York ( ... Fitzgerald 30-31). Both Tom and Myrtle treat their spouses as their inferiors, and neither really respects his or her marriage at all. According to Kate...

• Word Count: 1491
• Approx Pages: 6

... a fool, that's the best thing a girl can be in this world today, a beautiful little fool."" (Pg 17). Daisy's true character was revealed when she rejected Gatsby one final time, but never owned up for the death of Myrtle Wilson, leaving Gatsby as the one responsible. Myrtle Wilson was not the greatest of characters on her own either. While Daisy's character was a balance between nave and cheery ... , Myrtle did not once show any sign of maturity or consideration. When the topic of Mr. Wilson was brought up, who was not a bad person, but unfortunate enough ... as careless as yourself."" ...

• Word Count: 744
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... Island in the 1920's. Jay Gatsby depicts the young man desperate to win the acceptance of the old money, elitist class, and in particular the love of his former partner, Daisy Buchanan. As the story unfolds, it becomes easily apparent that Fitzgerald portrays women in a negative fashion. In particular, Fitzgerald uses Daisy, Jordan Baker and Myrtle Wilson to illustrate the disapproving qualities of ... carelessness, selfishness, dishonesty and hypocrisy. Over the years, Gatsby imagines Daisy as the perfect girl that he once knew before the war. Upon his first meeting with her in five yea...

• Word Count: 591
• Approx Pages: 2
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... , and his life ended tragically as he soon would learn the rough truth that reality would reveal. From Gatsby wasting his entire life and money on hope of Daisy's return and Myrtle wanting to leave her whole past for Tom, to the artificial fantasy of a perfect life that the Buchanan ... and take life as it is brought aside from dwelling on the past. Though Gatsby may have been the base of the corruption of the American Dream throughout the book, Tom and Daisy Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson thrice reflect the disingenuous desires of the population. Another important quote in the book, ... The...

• Word Count: 1397
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... with playing the role of the woman that everyone wanted to be, Daisy is also the role of Jay Gatsby's dream. Daisy is everything that Gatsby lives for and he has addresses his whole life to her. She is responsible for Gatsby's fate when George Wilson murders him. Furthermore, Jordan is a high-middle class woman who analyzes the role of a flapper girl and dishonesty ... a golf tournament. And cheating is not exactly considered a loyal act. In addition to Daisy and Jordan, Myrtle represents the low class and plays the role of trying to be a rich woman who is always in search of improving ...

• Word Count: 726
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... J. Eckleburg. The green light at the end of Daisy Buchanan's dock helps build an understanding of the character of Jay Gatsby. In the beginning of the novel Nick Carraway finds Gatsby standing in his back yard "trembling" and reaching out to the green light. During this time Nick is not aware ... act for their own pleasure and well being. The valley of ashes is first mentioned in Chapter II as Nick is on the way to meet Tom's mistress, Myrtle Wilson. He describes the valley as a ". . . fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens . . .." This ima...

• Word Count: 760
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... no principle to hold it together (Lehan "Sugar Lumps- 95). Fitzgerald incorporates his personal background, peers and close friends, to form the personalities of the various characters in The Great Gatsby. F. Scott Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul, Minnesota (Michael Reynolds 2360). His mother's father was a self made Irish immigrant millionaire, and his father was a salesman who married above his ... attainment- (Lehan "Careless People- 71). Fitzgerald ties Ginevra in with the character of Daisy and many other women in his novels. Kenneth Eble is quoted as saying, "the details of Gatsb...

• Word Count: 1494
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... novel such as the continuous strings of insignificant parties, the recklessness of the wealthy, the cruelty of the Valley of Ashes, and Gatsby and Myrtle's tragic deaths. Nick Carraway's moral and honest view of life is the only slight relief from the feel of tragedy. Not only ... to the people of the 1920's whom Fitzgerald detested. The simple pleasures of life satisfy and excite Carraway and Fitzgerald also. The Great Gatsby was a way for Fitzgerald to verbalize his disapproval of the people of the "roaring twenties." Although most people view this period as a ... Gatsby's dream of obt...

• Word Count: 1839
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... rich man who lives in West Egg who is having an affair with a woman named Myrtle, the wife of George Wilson, a Gas Station owner. On this night Nick is introduced to Jordan Baker, a friend of Daisy's and an acquaintance of Gatsby Nick's neighbor in West Egg, who lives in a gigantic mansion and throws extravagant parties ... old life and one from the new life she is living. Nick continues to abide by his many morals, however, shuns them when in contact with Gatsby and the rest of the gang. He quickly realizes his faults and returns to his original morals of honesty, responsibility, and com...

• Word Count: 840
• Approx Pages: 3

... , but rather a more in-depth view of American history and the ordinary people living during this time. In F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel the Great Gatsby, morality played a huge factor in how the reader views the people of the 1920s. The 1920s was a period in our history, much like many ... perils would be relived if they had the opportunity to reach higher social status. Myrtle Wilson also felt this way, thus her purist of Tom Buchanan, Daisy's husband. Their love however was doomed just as Gatsby and Daisy's love was. The class lines of the 1920s were so defined that ... illegally were p...

• Word Count: 1559
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... many characters. Daisy blew off a life of happiness because she believed that material possessions were more important. Gatsby had low self-esteem because he could never have the belongings that would satisfy his love's wants. Myrtle was given all the love in the world by her husband William, but she wanted what he couldn ... their own. Gatsby may have become rich for the woman he loved, but his illegal acquisition of money made his class of wealth dirt in Tom and Daisy's eyes. He would never be worthy of her love no matter how hard he tried; he could not live without her. Myrtle Wilson ...

• Word Count: 723
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... twenties, and is about the American Dream, and the uprise and downfall of those who attempt to reach its goals. Fizgerald keenly shows us how Jay Gatsby is one of these people. Jay Gatsby, Tom, and Wilson are all characters in the novel that through their controlling ways, strive to define what the "typical" man's American dream was during the 1920's; the notion ... possessions. For example, Tom seems to view the women in his life as mere possessions, a sign of his success and wealth. His attitude and interactions with Daisy, his wife, and Myrtle, his mistress, demonstrate this. Through...

• Word Count: 534
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... others rather than his self. Yet in this novel, Gatsby did absolutely nothing. Even though he is not a tragic hero, the people around him are all partially responsible for his death. It is all like a chain reaction. This begins with the affair of Tom Buchanan and Myrtle and ended with the killing of Gatsby and Wilson's suicide action. Nick Carraway and Jordan Baker, in ... my opinion, is not responsible for the death of Gatsby because the two characters just happened to be present and are dragged, although by choice, to be involved ... and should be given to Daisy Buchanan because she ...

• Word Count: 696
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... 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 ... in a way, it is too much. Fitzgerald's aim to show that Gatsby's excessive dedication of his life to his dream could never amount to anything is tragically demonstrated when he takes the blame for running down and killing "Myrtle Wilson" (who, comically is Tom's - Daisy's husband - mistress)....

• Word Count: 1368
• Approx Pages: 5

... often considered to be very feminine and have no part in any mens business. This is displayed with the characters of Daisy Buchanan, Jordan Baker and Myrtle Wilson. Although jordan was considered to be quite masculine in the context of the book she still remains quite feminine even tho she participates in mens activities such ... their hands all the women like to attend a lot of social events whether its one of Gatsby's party's or just lazing with one another at Toms house who is Daisy's wife. The main character of the book, Gatsby had grown up in a less fortunate family and had found his...

• Word Count: 659
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... of the novel are also based on people with whom Fitzgerald had associated throughout his life (H, Nicole 1). The Characters of Nick Carroway and Jay Gatsby are both a little bit of Fitzgerald himself. Nick is like Fitzgerald in the way that they both are kind, thoughtful young men from Minnesota ... "Gatsby,"" a world famous champion polo player. From 1922-1940, with the exception of 1935, he had received the coveted 10-goal handicap rating, the highest from the US Polo Association. Tommy Hitchcock was also an aviator for France in World War I; Tom Buchanan was having an affair with Myrtl...

• Word Count: 1690
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... everything except what he most desires, Daisy. Appearance is another important factor in the American dream. In his quest to win Daisy's heart Gatsby chooses to wear his best outfit. Gatsby is so proud of his clothes that when Daisy visits his mansion, "He took out a pile of shirts and began throwing them, ... Nick and Daisy the grand tour of his house, showing off all of his "worldly" possessions. Room after room, everything was shown and mentioned. Gatsby's ideals were parallel to the typical American dream. He wants to claim Daisy by the use of his assets. He thinks that his money wil...

• Word Count: 547
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... eyes are seen in this novel is in chapter eight. This is the point in the novel when George mourns the loss of his wife Myrtle. While his neighbor, Michaelis tries to consol him,George turns to the billboard and says, "God sees everything". (Pg167) George believed the eyes ... were the eyes of God, while Michaelis assured him that it was, "only an advertisement!" (Pg167) Obviously to Wilson, the eyes had a deeper meaning, while to Michaelis it meant nothing. During the 1920's, society was breaking away from its spiritual side, and accepting ... and why they acted the way they did; beca...

• Word Count: 1284
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... . Tom is very arrogant and hypocritical. When Tom discovers that Daisy and Gatsby may be having an affair, he wants to kill Gatsby. This is very hypocritical because at the same time Tom is having an affair with a woman, Myrtle, from the valley of ashes, an industrial wasteland situated between West Egg ... and New York. There are many symbols that F. Scott Fitzgerald uses in "The Great Gatsby". The green light at the end of Daisy's dock, the giant eyes ... us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter - tomorrow we will run faster, stretch our arms out farther ." (189). This shows that G...

• Word Count: 867
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... very phrases were worn so threadbare that they evoked no image except that of a . . . "character- leaking sawdust at every pore- (70). It takes Gatsby numerous attempts before he finally tells Nick the truth. Another example of the differences in the moralities of these two characters is in the way they maintained these morals ... . . [he] was in the oil business- and that he had also inherited large amounts of his money, but it is arguable that Gatsby made most of his money through illegal bootlegging. This can be supported by the multiple rumors in the story that suggest this, his conn...

• Word Count: 928
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... its impossible goals. The attempt to capture the American Dream is used in many novels. This dream is different for different people, in The Great Gatsby, for Jay, the dream is that through wealth and power, one can acquire happiness. Fitzgerald wanted to make the reader believe that the American dream ... Daisy, who agrees to set up a meeting. Daisy has a deep need to be loved. As soon as money and power walks in the door she forgets Gatsby. Gatsby's personal dream symbolizes the larger American Dream where everyone has the opportunity to get what they want. Later, in the Plaza Hotel, J...

• Word Count: 933
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... can be tainted as well. Yellow illustrates the downfall of moral standards of the people of West Egg. Green, the most dominant color in the book, symbolizes wealth and Gatsby's impossible dream. To Gatsby, Daisy represents innocence and purity; however, Fitzgerald uses different shades of white to hide her corruption. Daisy is described as "dressed in white", she powders her face white ... win Daisy back with his money - thus he is described as wearing a "caramel-colored suit" when he lies about his past to Nick. The most important symbol, however, is Gatsby's car. The car becomes the m...

• Word Count: 550
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... Fitzgerald is an interesting piece of literature filled with many different plots and characters. But the main character in this novel is a man named James Gatsby. Gatsby, as they call him, has dreams just like everyone else in the world. Things he wants to do and things he just wants. The only ... is she knows but yet doesn't say anything because she is with Gatsby. Also Tom thinks low and bad about him. After one of Gatsby's house parties Tom says, "Who is this Gatsby anyway, some big bootlegger?"(114). With that he probably thinks that Gatsby does wrong things to earn his money. Some ...

• Word Count: 366
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... upon the reader a very specific impression of glamour and allurement in a "perfect," yet shallow, upper class society. Unlike his friends and the people that attended his parties, Jay Gatsby was a very decent person despite most of his acquaintances and his occupation.. He was also a very altruistic person. He analyzed all of the things with regard to accuracy of observation. A ... example of this regard is shown when he has all the parties of his, and he stands from afar to watch and join in all the fun from a distance. Jay Gatsby makes a potent character due to the fact that his char...

• Word Count: 281
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... his entire life to climbing the social ladder in order to gain wealth, to ultimately win the love of a woman: something that proves to be unattainable. As it turns out, Gatsby's excessive extravagance and love of money, mixed with his obsession for a woman's love, is actually the autobiographical portrayal of Fitzgerald. While attending Princeton University, Fitzgerald struggled immensely with his ... . "Its lavish weekend parties in impressive surroundings, which attracted girls from New York, Philadelphia and beyond, may well have provided the first grain of inspiration for Fitzgerald's...

• Word Count: 2254
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School