The Great Gatsby gives the reader a dark and pessimistic view of the lives of its characters. This tone is set by the incorporation of numerous negative aspects into the 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 does the author use a controversial point of view to attract readers, he uses many of the reader's emotions and interests to keep them mentally involved in the book. He intertwines stories of romance, alcohol and physical abuse, failure, and murder into one major plot line. Fitzgerald's surprise quality is very attracting to readers of all ages because it makes his novels completely unpredictable.
Nick Carraway, the narrator and main character of this novel, is peculiar when compared with the other characters. Carraway is an ordinary man who judges people by their nature and not by their social status or wealth. Fitzgerald modeled Nick after his own life and personality. Nick's "down to earth" persona is the absolute contrary 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 happy, enjoyable, innocent time in our countries" history, Fitzgerald had an opposing idea. Money, people believed, made you better than others and it was a determining factor in the community and in the company which one kept. In Fitzgerald's novel, the town is split into two sections which are East and West Egg. East Egg is filled with riches and arrogance and is where all the "old money" settles. Old money is when someone is born into wealth and their entire family before them has been affluent.