Category: The Great Gatsby

The novel, The Great Gatsby and the play The Streetcar Named Desire, contain two tragic female characters, namely Daisy and Stella, both of whom experience significant levels of abuse and neglect due to their spouses.

Examining both women, one can see that their lives are a reflection of the attitudes of some women the present wherein in their pursuit of what can only be described as false ideals, they end up in situations where they experience abuse and heartache. It can be seen in the case of Stella and Daisy wherein in their pursuit of what they think is their ideal love, they are, in fact, pursuing nothing more than a false ideal that they have placed on a pedestal.

In The Great Gatsby, one can see in Nicks observation of Tom and Daisy wherein he states &they were careless people, Tom and Daisy  they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money, or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made. Whereas in The Streetcar Named Desire, Blanche states: Blanche DuBois: What you are talking about is desire  just brutal Desire.

Both observations show how Daisy and Stella are merely focusing on what they believe they want; in the case of Stella, it is passionate love. At the same time, for Daisy, it is a comfortable life, yet in the end, both women wind up in situations that are less than ideal from the perspective of an observer. As such, Stella and Daisy are instruments of social commentary by their respective authors who are meant to portray the negative ramifications that dependence and unmitigated desire can have on a womans life.

One of the most comparable characteristics of Daisy and Stella is that either woman can be considered weak-willed, resulting in them willingly accepting the abuse they received from their spouses instead of fighting back. For example, in Gatsby, the character of Jordan is generally portrayed as intelligent, articulate, and generally sophisticated. In contrast, in the Streetcar named Desire, Blanche is similarly described as a woman that is intelligent, articulate, and goes for what she wants.

Such characters contrast sharply with Daisy and Stella, who are all too accepting of their respective fates. They seem resigned to accept the abuse/neglect, although they could potentially do something about it (i.e., in Stellas case, leave Stanley while Daisy could file for a divorce). Both women, in effect, become trapped within their lives; however, they are unwilling to their lack of initiative and nerve.

Another comparable trait that can be associated with Stella and Daisy is that both characters are initially charmed by a characteristic that they saw in their significant other, which they found endearing if not lovely at the time. The following quote is from Daisy as she laments on her marriage to Tom, I married him because I thought he was a gentleman. I thought he knew something about breeding, but he wasnt fit to lick my shoe.

As can be seen, the primary reason why Daisy married Tom was due to her perception that Tom was a gentleman and had good breeding. In comparison, Stanley Kowalski was initially perceived by Stella as having a considerable degree of self-confidence and passion, which contrasted sharply with the ordered, strict, and aristocratic lifestyle that she had grown up with.

Based on what can be perceived from the story, Stella did not necessarily like the way she had grown up and, as a result, viewed Stanley as a means of leaving such a life behind. The same can be said for Daisy, who regarded the money and prestige that came with marrying Tom as a means of escaping from her previous life, which was mediocre and ordinary.

Later on, it is revealed that both characters find that the charming characteristics that initially charmed them into liking their respective significant others was merely a surface facade that hid despicable personality traits. Tom and regarded Daisy as a wife supposed to be subservient and all too willing to meet his needs. Still, he was cheating on her with another woman. The indignation he felt over the concept of her cheating on him is surprising since he was doing the same thing.

He took his wife for granted and still expected her to meet his every need by being a doting and faithful wife. When it comes to Stanley and Stella, we see that he possesses violent tendencies resulting in cases of significant domestic abuse. However, despite the similar situations of both women wherein they were drawn in by characteristics they thought indicated a right partner, they have different responses to their respective cases.

For example, despite being a victim of domestic abuse, Stella finds Stanleys wild, passionate, violent, and animalistic nature to be attractive. Evidence of this can be seen from the following quote: Stella: He smashed all the light bulbs with the heel of my slipper. Blanche DuBois: And you let him? Didnt run, didnt scream? Stella: Actually, I was sort of thrilled by it.

This shows that despite the apparent abuse heaped upon her, Stella enjoys it on some level. From a particular perspective, the reason behind why this strange turn of events occurred is due to the aristocratic hierarchies that Stella endured. At the same time, she was a young girl making her yearn for experiences that are wild and passionate as opposed to the strict and dreary lifestyle that she had to endure.

On the other hand, the character of Daisy responded negatively to the abuses heaped upon her by Tom to the extent that she became disenchanted with her life. Daisy said it best when she stated that &..I hope shell be a fool  thats the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool. This shows her displeasure at her current situation and her yearning to escape.

Before proceeding, it should be noted that another similar characteristic between both female characters was their desire to escape from their spouse yet their willingness to return to them despite the abuse/disenchantment that they had to endure. Stella often escaped to her neighbor Eunices home when Stanley turned excessively violent while Daisy sought refuge with Gatsby only till the point that he was killed, resulting in her settling with Tom.

The women in either story are foolish for staying with their respective spouses despite the abuse and neglect received. However, what must be understood is that a common theme in both relationships is the degree of dependence both female characters had on their spouses. For example, in the case of Daisy, she had no alternative means of income aside from her relationship with Tom and was financially dependent on him.

As seen in the book, she had grown used to her lifestyle despite her misery at Tom effectively taking her for granted. As such, she endured her situation since, for her, this was the only way she knew how to live. A similar case can be seen between Stella and Stanley, wherein Stella is dependent on Stanley not only for finances but for emotional support as well. Stella thrived on the passion and wildness that Stanley brought into their relationship.

One can see this in the following quote, where Blanche admonishes Stella for being in an abusive relationship. Yet Stella adamantly defends that she is staying in it because she wants to: Blanche DuBois: Youre married to a madman. Stella: I wish youd stop taking it for granted that Im in something I want to get out of.

Blanche DuBois: What you are talking about is desire  just brutal Desire. From this quote alone, it can be seen that is dependence and desire. For Stella, it is a desire for passion. For Daisy, it is the desire for a comfortable life. That causes both women to stay despite the significant problems in their relationship.

Conclusion

Overall, through the various examples that have been presented, it can be stated that Stella and Daisy are instruments of social commentary. The authors meant to portray the negative ramifications that dependence and unmitigated desire can have on a womans life.

While they both achieved their respective desires of getting a comfortable life (in the case of Daisy) and of having a passionate partner (in the case of Stella), both women are neglected and abused to a considerable extent at home. Yet, neither woman truly wants to escape their situation since, for them, it is what they believe they want. Their desires have, in effect, clouded their judgment to the extent that they tend to accept the abuse they are given in exchange for the desire they want.

From such an observation, it can be assumed that the respective authors of Daisy and Stella created such characters as a cautionary tale for readers. Such characters exemplified what the authors perceived as a problem with the women during their respective times, wherein in their desire to pursue what they believed was the best outcome or the best partner, they neglected to see the problems they could face until it was too late.

Daisy said it best when she stated that &..I hope shell be a fool  thats the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool. Such a negative outlook is an excellent example of what not to become. A woman should not be a fool in the face of her desires; rather, she must judge whether her desires would improve her or be her ruin.

Introduction

Penned by a famous Minessota native and narrated by Nick Carraway, The Great Gatsby is a captivating must-read chef-doeuvre. Like Fitzgerald, Nick is a native of Minnesota and an advocate of Midwestern values. The novels setting is on the long island dominated by prosperous wealthy and poor communities of East Egg and West Egg. The year 1922 marked the dawn of a period of epochal social alterations and economic prosperity in America.

Cultural convections perceived as out of date die ushering in new ones. Women seem granted rights to participate in voting, something that causes them to see themselves as equal to men: they assimilate masculine ways and fashions into their lifestyles. Jingoism and racism rise abundantly as mechanisms to counter the benefits and opportunities acquired by non-white communities and foreigners.

Around the same time, the ardent push by religion fundamentalists to the government to prohibit the consumption of alcohol sees bootleg whiskey business greatly hampered with by people. Upon considering the use of symbolism, themes, and characters in the story, it seems evident that the author incorporated substantial elements of the traditional plot for fairy tales. Such a tale has heroes and villains.

The villains remain perceived successful at the onset of the tales but turn out as large losers at the end. Therefore one can see Daisy Buchanan as a Fairy Tale Princess. Basing on the several evident parameters, for instance, the character traits, the behavior of prince and princess, and gender distinctions amongst others, Fitzgeralds masterwork stands out as a variation and sophisticated version of the fairy tale.

Character Traits/Prince and Princess Behavior

The Great Gatsby characters exhibit traditional fairy tale traits through vividly intertwined with variations and sophistication of purely fairy tale. Daisy Buchanan is a typical princess who never grows. She rejects Gatsby and marries Tom Buchanan (wealthy snobbish West Egg resident) later again to have an affair with Gatsby.

In thought, she is shallow and lacks maturity. She says: Ive gone everywhere and seen everything and done everything (Fitzgerald 141), portraying that she is wholly bored with life. In spite of her unhappiness in marriage and the privileges she goes through in life, she is not the likes who give up simply so as not to turn out as being the loser.

She had better live with marriage challenges than live without money as Gatsby tells us, her voice is full of money (Fitzgerald 151). On the other hand, Tom Buchanan is an arrogant, fabulously wealthy and condescending character. His fellow students despised him at Yale. This is a typical response from the society towards people exhibiting wild characteristics in fairy tales. However, these characters are stereotypes of modern cultures that have an ardent love for wealth and could partake anything to attain it.

For instance, Nick says, Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but thats no matter- tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther& (Fitzgerald 153). Gatsby climbs his ladder to be among the opulence club member through participation in illegal bootleg whiskey business and organized crimes.

Gender Distinctions

Gender distinctions are evident comparable with traditional fairy tales, which more often than not tend to bring out the gender differences in terms of allocation of roles and responsibilities in the society. Gatsby and tom travel to the city to partake their respective work leaving women behind. Daisy exclaims: Im glad its a girl. And I hope shell be a fool- thats the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool (Fitzgerald 160 ).

Daisy informs that the survival of women relied on their husbands fate. Women disguise themselves as fools, just like her to benefit both socially and materially from men. The other side of the coin tends to show the plot of the writing to be somehow not purely that of traditional fairy tale since females in this society, seem to have some absolute rights. For instance, women can engage in arguments with their husbands on matters of infidelity.

Construct and Conformance to Traditional Fairy Plot

The plotting and writing employ smiles and metaphors to provide a vivid description of places and people. For example, wheat fields are compared to the valley of ashes (Chrome Para. 3). The social setting makes the novel more consistent with the traditional plot for fairy tales.

The novel is set among wealthy and educated persons who have an enormous deal for partying and shallow concern for the rest of the people who do not fall in their social milieu. Analogous to traditional fairy tales, in The Great Gatsby, no one seems to be individually worried about issues surrounding spiritual, political, and economic matters.

The primary concern is their overall perception socially. The social climate advocated for is the one, which demands conformance to some specified standards. This fact remains exemplified by Toms flaunting about his mistress, something that draws many issues to the society. Besides, in spite of suspicion of Jay Gatsbys involvement in organized crimes, people still take part in his laxative parties.

Just as fairy tale ends with a promise of a happy life ever after, The Great Gatsby sums up by promising something like happy life after convection. Nick practically appears to invent idealistic Gatsby somewhere midway to cast him to the realization of the right indulgencies affiliated to heroism.

Nick laments that &Gatsby was overwhelmingly aware of the youth and mystery that wealth imprisons and preserves, of the freshness of many clothes and Daisy, gleaming like silver, safe and proud above the hot struggles of the poor (Fitzgerald 41).

This piece looks like an attempt to achieve fairy tale quests. Symbolism and figurative language are sufficiently used by the author, who gives the novel a more feel of a fairy tale. However, the figures deployed tend to reflect much on modern-day social challenges like corruption. In real life, this represents aristocrats, which took a long time to establish. Symbolically the author tags them old money (Fitzgerald 54) and remains generally characterized by corruption accompanied by jaded ways of life.

On the other hand, west Egg residents or new money (Fitzgerald 54) are perceived by East Egg counterparts as upstart outsiders. Nick and Gatsby live in this community. The green light is yet another symbol that depicts Gatsbys dreams. As Gatsby comments, you always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock (Fitzgerald 79), The green light gives a permit to move on to pursue dreams.

Conclusion

The Great Gatsby is a tragic novel which perhaps reminiscent of tragedies such as the downfall of central characters in a tragic flaw typically called hamartia appearing in ancient Greek plays- Sophocles (497-405 B.C). The novel documents the rise and fall of two exclusive noble phenomena: American society and Gatsby. The tragedies involving flaws encountered extend from one ridge of idealistic naivety and on the other ridge enormous corrupt behavior. The tale, therefore, is a variation and sophisticated version of the fairy tale.

Works Cited

Chrome, David. The great Gatsby: Homework Online Study Guide, 2005.

Fitzgerald, Scott. The Great Gatsby. Washington: Scriber; Reissue, 1999.

Introduction

Authored by Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby is a must-read chef-doeuvre. It satirizes the events as they unfolded in the 1920s soon after World War I. Fitzgerald seeks to reveal the worthlessness and the futility of the remark great as it stood in the Jazz Age, a period dominated by moments of sadness and destruction. As the paper unveils, Jay Gatsbys contentment, prosperity, and collective recognition are no more than images that mask his sinful life.

Satire in The Great Gatsby

Satire begins right from the title of the novel. The Great Gatsby implies something great, be it a person or a society. Therefore, the reader expects greatness from the book. However, Gatsby, the protagonist of the story, is not as great as the reader expects. He is a mere thief and an extravagant person who gathers people for bashes every Saturday, not to say something great, but to win the heart of only one person in the crowd: Daisy.

Besides, the title might suggest a society that is upright from all perspectives, morally, socially, spiritually as well as politically. However, it is ironic that the title is a social satire addressing the ethical dissipation of American society with everything in pathetic conditions. Behind the title are issues concerning the unfulfilled American dream, its heightened corruption, spiritual decadence, and hopelessness, none of which denotes greatness and hence the satire.

Fitzgeralds masterwork further reveals satire in another way that arouses laughter to the reader. The irony stands out through the way Fitzgerald points out the truth concerning Gatsbys family background. Gatsby tries to induce some contentment through the way he describes his family. For instance, in his conversation with Nick, he points out that he comes from a well-able family located in a prominent place: Middle west and, in particular, San Francisco.

However, based on 1920s family situations, families underwent significant destruction, thereby leaving people in pathetic conditions subjugated by moments of sorrow rather than joy. The real terms of Gatsbys family stand out when he reveals it in chapter six. The reader then realizes that Gatsbys words are no more than a cover of the truth concerning the situations of families, not only of Gatsby but also of others as well and hence the satire.

Another aspect of satire in Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby is the wealth associated with Gatsby, as the reader observes in chapter two. Here, the reader wonders about the great party organized by Gatsby. He invites many people, some of whom cannot explain where the money comes from.

Mr. McKee associates the wealth with the fact that Gatsby is a son to a prominent person Kaiser Wilhelm, a German Emperor. However, the truth of the matter stands out in chapter 6, which reveals the money as an inheritance from Cody. He is not rich as the reader might insinuate but rather a professional criminal involved with every sort of illegal activity only to get money to impress Daisy in the name of entertaining the other people like McKee.

The author further satirizes the education of the American people. The reader might mistake Gatsby for an educated person, as he points out in chapter four, where he tells Nick about his Oxford University education. Later in chapter seven, the truth manifests itself when Gatsby tells Tom that he cannot pass for an Oxford man. Through this satire, the reader realizes the truth concerning the American people who boast of being educated while in the real sense, they are not.

Lastly, in chapter four, Jordan Baker brings to light a house that Gatsby erected, thinking that it will help in bringing Daisy closer to him. However, in chapter five, where Gatsby shows Daisy his home ground, he instead realizes the vast distance between them.

Conclusion

It is ironic that the house that the reader expects to strengthen the love between Gatsby and Daisy ends up separating them instead. There is no love at all between the two but an illusion. The novel ends with Tom and Daisy reconciling but not Gatsby as the reader expected.

Introduction

The novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald can be called a bitter satire to the American dream, which according to the ideas of the majority implies the heap of the happiness, which is missing to many, and in reality gold outer shell is converted into the empty road trunk, glued by the set of bright traveling stamps, but without any souvenirs inside.

This book is not about one person, although the personal name in title implies the opposite, but about the specific world view of group of people, which consists of the tendency toward the material might, toward wealth and luxury, which in turn, shield that part of the sincere human relations, without which any contemporary person feels lonely in the crowd.

This essay shows how the struggle of the protagonist depicted in the novel and his inability to connect as the main attribute of modernist authors.

Overview

The perspective, from which the narration is conducted, does not belong to this circle of the American elite, which is pampered by diverse enjoyment, but sometimes not enjoying this pleasure; therefore it is easier for the protagonist to look at the events proceeding there from the side.

He knows that it came close to this world only by the will of chance and at any moment will emerge from there into the more usual to him flow of life.

However, at the same time, he does not hide his trembling in front of, so called aristocracy.

This relation is especially noticeable on the first pages of the novel, where the author notes many deficiencies in his rich friends in the halo of the justification of their possibility to allow themselves everything.

Near the end he expresses his attitude more openly and gradually lessens the possibility to be manipulated. After being introduced more closely with the representatives of the cream of society it is revealed that each person is playing his role now and occasionally controls his true feelings.

The rules of the game are accepted by the ones who want to become famous, but a few surmise, that this popularity is only a myth, supported by who already entered the game, for purposes of maintaining their prestige.

If some individuals get accustomed to this mask, others find it necessary to break something inside them in order to tune in more easily. It gets very sad, because after attaining the cherished dream, he is no longer able to feel the happiness.

Analysis

If analyzing the character of Jay Gatsby, as character who is obsessed by his dream. This dream unconsciously manages Jay Gatsby.

The rules, which he established for himself since the youth, are some kind of finalized code of attitude for any believer in the dream and who solidly decided using efforts, thrift, sober calculations and hard work to open a passage in life, and proving by his own example that the chances were equal and only the qualities of the man are considered.

However, for Gatsby there were other ambitions known, which are not utilitarian. Such aspirations also were consonant to the dream.

This dream suggested that in America the man is free to select fate for himself and nothing prevents him from living in harmony with himself.

It indicated that in the country, where there is a place sufficient for all under the sun and a set of untrodden paths is opened before each one, the man can be again limitlessly free. In the 20s something seriously oscillated in the ideas about the dream.

For the first time, perhaps the dream it self began to be realized as a tragic illusion. The characters inability to connect as a form of vagueness and nebulosity is concluded in the very nature of Gatsby. He is hazy in his essence, because at Gatsbys heart the conflict of two incompatible aspirations and two diverse origins is unwrapped.

One of these sides  is naivety, simplicity of heart, the ever burning reflection of green light, and the star of the incredible future of happiness, in which Gatsby believes by his entire soul.

The other side  is the sober mind of the manager, a bootlegger accustomed to the unsafe, but profitable game, which during the happiest day for him, when Daisy steps over the threshold of his house, gives out instructions to the branches of his firm on the telephone.

At one pole dreaminess, on other  pragmatism and unintelligibility in the means, without which there would be no house, or millions. Latitude of soul and unscrupulousness, that passes one into another.

Fitzgerald is attracted to the energy and power and disturbed by wasteful misappropriation of efforts.

The means, selected by the protagonist for the achievement of happiness, are not capable of ensuring the happiness, in the way that Fitzgeralds New Adam is represented.

The dream collapses  not only because Daisy is vendible, but also because Gatsby has decided to conquer happiness, paying Daisy a price much greater than she did, a price that was gathered by Gatsby without being squeamish of any means to do so. Without the dream the existence of the new Adam is thoughtless.

Wilsons shot is similar to the impact of a dagger, by which in the Middle Ages, the dying of wounds people were finished as an act of mercy.

What is Gatsby great for? He is great in his struggle and his role of a rich person with the mysterious reputation, the host of the magnificent evening festivals, which he arranged in hope of drawing Daisys attention. He is great because of the power of his feelings, his devotion to the dream, rare gift of hope, and his sincere generosity. He is great by his steadfast adherence to the ideal of new Adam . However, if using the metaphor, by which Fitzgerald finished his novel, the ideal was noble only when a man will swim forward without any interference, as if the flow does not exist. In reality  the attempt to swim forward, fighting with the flow and it gradually carries and carries our little ships back into the past.

The Great Gatsby  is an example of a dual vision, which the author himself is defining as the ability to simultaneously retain two directly opposite ideas in the consciousness, which enter one with another in conflicting relations, thus creating the dramatic motion of the plot and the development of characters.

The duality of title character gives tragic coloring to him. Narration is saturated by metaphors, which by its contrast emphasizes this dual perspective for the proceeding events: The carnival in the Gatsbys manor, the nearby dump of garbage, the green light of happiness  the dead eyes, which look from the gigantic advertising board and etc.

One of the girls in yellow was playing the piano, and beside her stood a tall, red-haired young lady from a famous chorus in song. She had drunk a quantity of champagne, and during the course of her song she had decided, ineptly, that everything was very, very sad  she was not only singing, she was weeping too. Whenever there was a pause in the song she filled it with gasping, broken sobs, and then took up the lyric again in a quavering soprano. The tears coursed down her cheeks  not freely, however, for when they came into contact with her heavily beaded eyelashes they assumed an inky colour, and pursued the rest of their way in slow black rivulets. A humorous suggestion was made that she sing the notes on her face, whereupon she threw up her hands, sank into a chair, and went off into a deep vinous sleep. (34)

This is an example of the conscious use of the style of alienation in which the inability to connect is demonstrated. We clearly see those beings present, but we cannot perceive them as living people with the internal life inherent in people. As if they were from another world.

Describing the alienation of people from each other or the alienation from his human essence, Fitzgerald shows also his own inability to connect with them.

In The Great Gatsby the alienation of the present was demonstrated as for the first time it was openly expressed the disbelief into the fact that America indeed some time will be a terrestrial sanctuary for the loner person.

In the final scene of The Great Gatsby Carraway will foresee an ancient island, which arose there once before the look of Dutch sailors, untouched green bosom of new world. The rustle of trees, those that later disappeared, after yielding the place for the house of Gatsby, the rustle that some time was a music for last and the most great human dream; it must be, that for one short charmed moment the people harbored their breath before the new continent. And the fine morning did come.

Conclusion

As a final note in the depiction of the society The Great Gatsby is a title that is rather to a certain extent ironic, because nothing great was did by Gatsby himself, in contrary it was only the most bright example of the fact that, after changing oneself for a fairytale world, it is very easy to lose the ideal, which makes it necessary to go forward. So the main hero, after stepping over himself, yielded to a temptation to become one of the outstanding rich people, but made all this for the past love, but as a result this all remained invaluable and disappointing. The pessimistic end of the novel showed the entire mental irreparable loss.

The inability to connect of his character is depicted as his inability to find his love, to adapt to his new world and to reach the happiness that he was certainly searching and put all these efforts to do it. The character always looked as if he was isolated or alienated from the world that surrounds him, and even if he was trying to pull him self into the aristocracy community he did not enjoyed it, and merely did that for a reason to find his love.

Works Cited

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. : Scribner, 2004.

The Great Gatsby is a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, first published in 1925. When referring to the relationship between money, love, and happiness, it can be said that there is no better example illustrating such relation than Fitzgeralds novel. The novel main idea can be described as the portrayal of the destruction of norms and values going up, through the social ladders hierarchy. Nevertheless, the characters of the novel can not be described as weak-willed, where the destiny of each of them was determined through their personal distinctive characteristics, as well as tragic events.

In that regard, this paper compares and contrasts two characters from The Great Gatsby, which are Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway, who represent the novels protagonist and narrator respectively.

Describing Jay Gatsby, the question that should be answered is what is so distinctive about him, that Fitzgerald named his novel The Great Gatsby. This factor can explain through the dual nature of Gatsbys character. On the one hand, he is tawdry great in his role of the wealthy man with a mysterious reputation, and the host of absurdly-pompous parties, which he arranges in order to bring Daisys attention. Such characteristics give rise to the irony of the moralist narrator  Nick Carraway.

On the other hand, Gatsby is definitely great in the power of his feelings, in his loyalty to his dream, and extraordinary gift for hope, which as stated by Carraway, he had never found in any other person. (3) The significance of such attributes in Gatsby, who matured in the art of making money, can be seen in that as soon as he realizes that Daisy, for whom he entered this path, rejected him, loses interest in his wealth and everything related to it, and practically gave up his life before the bullet of the George Wilson reach him. (103)

Nick Carraways character can be described from the moment that he met Gatsby, as their friendship produced a moral shift in his moral values assessments. Meeting with Gatsby, Carraway said that he represented everything for which he had unaffected scorn (3), while the Buchanans, Jordan were more appealing to him. At the end of the novel, the change in perception can be seen through his statement to Gatsby that Theyre a rotten crowd and that he is worth the whole damn bunch put together (98).

The contrast between the characters can be seen in that Gatsby could not divide between the ideal of love and wealth, where such position was firm throughout the novel, while Nicks position after witnessing the tragedy made him reject moral compromises, and considered that it was of his moral responsibility to honestly retell what he saw without coloring the truth.

It can be concluded that the main differences were through the rejection of Fitzgerald to moralize Gatsby in the novel, giving the role to the moral counter-part to Nick. The closeness in the friendship, however, can be perceived as a reflection of the same position or as a justification of the events and positions. Both characters acknowledged that as soon as real emotions come to power, the illusion of shine and all this sham are destroyed.

Works Cited

Fitzgerald, Francis S. The Great Gatsby. Wordsworth Editions, 1993.

Introduction

To begin with, I should pay attention on Francis Scott Fitzgerald as one of the greatest American writers of the last century. Also we should admit his many-faceted talent in depicting the Post-World-War I society of the United States in his outstanding novel The Great Gatsby. This one is a significant part of the World Modernistic Literature being ranked the second in the World Library of the twentieth century. It is not surprising because Fitzgeralds manner of writing is individual with many symbols, stylistic devices etc.

Main Text

The main character Jay Gatsby returns after the overpast of World War I. As we see, he is a respectable veteran being newly wealthy. He settles in West Egg. And this symbolizes the fragility of the US in the 1920th, which economy soared and society prospered gaining money illegally, pointing out the structure of an egg. The business of bootlegging, in which fortunes were quickly made by evading the law, was a background of The Great Gatsby(From Wonderland to Wasteland 397). Like in Dreisers Financier there is a number of people wanting to become fast millionaires without aristocratic background, for example. As it was with Mr. Baker in Dreisers novel.

The area between West Egg and New York City where George Wilsons gas station is located is called a valley of ashes. (Gross, D., & Gross, M. 10). Ashes and crashes keep us understanding the time and atmosphere of total materialism between West and East Eggs, considering this area as one being in decline.

The antagonist has a beloved girl Daisy for whom he makes every possible attempt to hook her heart. Heart that at the very beginning until the end of the novel does not entirely belongs to Jay, unfortunately. She is very beautiful and striking. She seems to be everything for Jay as she was out of the ordinary girls.

The largest of the banners and the largest of the lawns belonged to Daisy Fays house. (The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald 50)

The author tries to empress us from the very beginning tending to picture the era of corruption, shallowness and lack of morality. By means of satire he evaluates it as Jazz Age. This term is indicative for the US, worldwide people of this period were called Lost Generation claiming needlessness in people after war.

As far as I know, people are inclined to believe that illegal riches will save them legally and afterwards they will not payback. Realizing that fact Gatesby would not possibly do such wild parties. In this way he repeats the statement of one philosopher Aim entrusts the means. The ethos of the novel contradicts this idea as amoral and doomed to failure. Soon Jay gets the idea of it. Daisy? Please dont. Her voice was cold, but the rancor was gone from it.( The Great Gatsby

By F Scott Fitzgerald 88) He emotionally comes over himself and understands that all his attempts were in vain when he sees The Greenlight of Daisys dock. This intention makes me think that in these very pictures display the author the pathos of the novel. Due to Jays great desire to get Daisy he prospered despite it was an illegal way of doing it. This is his great merit for sure! This is an illustration and implementation of the American Dream. Though, it doesnt make him happier at all.

In my opinion, such dream is a key to solve problems and achieve highest goals in life not only for Americans but also for everyone in the world. I ought to mention that authors literary talent forecast the crisis of The Great Depression and the aftereffect for the American economy as well. The unprecedented levels of prosperity lead to the organized crime in the novel describing the roaring 1920-th. Such ups provoke greater downs in growth. It is not the failure of money, but of minds. When morality loses right way, it will obligatory lead to the crisis of soul and, as a result, of economy. This is the logos of the novel. What is more, everything forgotten in past appears in present. Nowadays The World crisis projects an impression of Fitzgeralds inerrancy showing main ideas in the novel. He through the antagonist predicts the result when people consume and on the other hand the reasons of such results.

The standpoint as well as the irony of the novel expressed in the title: The Great Gatsby. Why is he great? Because he has money or found ways to obtain them? Does it really give him the right to be called The Great?

Conclusion

As far as I am concerned, great people are first people of art, those who can make this world better and give the deeper understanding of world view to keep our mindset in development. They are the builders of souls and emotional perception. Good music or true pictures of something surrounding us create thoughts for us to fancy like Alice in Wonderland. In what land appeared Jay to live: Wonderland or Wasteland? Jay Gatsby leaves much to be desired.

References

Barrett, L. (2006). From Wonderland to Wasteland: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the Great Gatsby, and the New American Fairy Tale. Papers on Language & Literature, 42(2), 150+.

Fine, S. & Brown, G. S. (Eds.). (1961). The American Past: Conflicting Interpretations of the Great Issues (Vol. 2). New York: Macmillan. Retrieved April 16, 2009, Gross, D., & Gross, M. (1998). Understanding the Great Gatsby A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald, Norman Cocks, Garth Chamberlain Published by Hayes Barton Press, 1988, ISBN 1593774419, 9781593774417, 217 pages

Background Information

The author of The Great Gatsby is F. Scott Fitzgerald. He was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1896. He attended Princeton University but dropped out after two years. After leaving college, Fitzgerald joined the army and wrote his first novel, This Side of Paradise 1920 but The Great Gatsby is widely considered to be the most important of Fitzgeralds works.¹ Sadly, the great writer died of a heart attack in 1940. It tells the story of Jay Gatsby, a wealthy man who throws lavish parties to win back the love of his life, Daisy Buchanan. The novel explores love, loss, ambition, greed, and the American Dream. It is often interpreted as a critique of the Jazz Ages excesses and the moral decline of the wealthy elite. The novel was adapted for the screen in 1974 and 2013 and continues to be widely read and discussed today.

Goal of the Book

F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote the Great Gatsby to comment on the ethics and moral downfall of the Jazz Age and the American Dream. He also wanted to examine the power of money and its impact on individuals and society. Through Gatsbys relationship with Daisy, Fitzgerald explores the corrupting influence of money and materialism, as well as the emptiness of the upper class. Gatsbys pursuit of his dream ultimately leads to his downfall, demonstrating how pursuing money and power can lead to tragedy. He is destroyed by a combination of his own ambition and the emptiness of the American Dream, which is defined by shallow materialism and social status. Fitzgerald also uses the novel to comment on the moral decline of the era, as seen through the characters behavior. Gatsbys parties and the immoral lifestyles of some characters illustrate how the Roaring Twenties was a time of decadence and excess. Similarly, the way Gatsby is eventually destroyed by his obsession with Daisy and his pursuit of the American Dream demonstrates the difficulties of achieving the American Dream in a society that values money and status over integrity and morality.

Reviews

Scholarly reviews of The Great Gatsby have generally praised the novels exploration of the culture of the Jazz Age and its commentary on the American Dream (Berman 84). Critics have noted the novels themes of disillusionment, loneliness, and the corruption of the American Dream (Kara). Fitzgeralds work reflected the goal of the American Dream in all its complexity and beauty, according to New York Times critic Jack Smith (Curnutt 260). These praises for Fitzgeralds writing in The Great Gatsby are relevant and I agree with them.² According to Curnutt, the authors use of evocative language, symbolism, and poetry helps bring the plot to life while also capturing the intricacies of the protagonists and the era (244). Overall, Fitzgeralds writing style is a big reason why The Great Gatsby has endured as a classic for so long. It is a powerful and timely reminder of the danger of pursuing the American Dream at all costs.

Thesis

The books central thesis is that American society in the Roaring Twenties is disillusionment and moral decay, where the pursuit of wealth and status often leads to tragedy. Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald shows how these themes are embodied in the characters of Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. He does not explicitly justify the thesis but instead presents it as an observation that can be seen in the characters and their struggles. Hanzo says that Gatsbys pursuit of Daisy while knowing shes married shows that people would do anything for wealth and prestige (186). Ultimately Gatsbys dreams of reclaiming Daisys love are crushed, and he dies alone, a reminder of the tragic consequences of such pursuits. Similarly, Daisy is a direct representation of the moral decay of the era. Despite being married, she is willing to have an affair with Gatsby and then carelessly leaves him when her husband offers her money. This highlights the idea that money and status have corrupted Daisys moral compass. According to Cain, Fitzgeralds portrayal of despair and moral deterioration in 19th Century America is consistent across the novel (458). Cain highlights that at the novels end, Nick reflects that despite Gatsbys death, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us (462). This is a reminder that the pursuit of wealth and status will always be present in American society and will likely continue leading to tragedy in the future.

Quality of Writing

F. Scott Fitzgeralds writing is renowned for its elegant, evocative prose and vivid characters and settings (Berman 87). His style is characterized by beautiful language and meticulous attention to detail, making his novels pleasurable to read. He also has a unique way of exploring themes such as the pursuit of the American Dream and the moral ambiguity of the Jazz Age (Berman 83). His writing is thought-provoking, complex, and layered, and he has become an influential model for modern American literature.

Fitzgeralds works are often seen as having a dreamlike quality, as he captures the beauty and sadness of life with a poetic eye. He often utilizes symbolism and metaphor to convey his themes and ideas, making his novels full of meaning and depth. His characters are often flawed and represent a range of human emotions and experiences. From the wealthy Jay Gatsby to the moral ambiguity of Daisy Buchanan, Fitzgeralds characters are both relatable and thought-provoking. He also has a talent for conveying the American Dreams disappointment together with the beauty and desolation of the Jazz Age. Fitzgeralds writing is timeless, as readers from all generations have been able to relate to his characters and ideas. He captures the human experience in a way few authors have been able to. His novels are a testament to his writers skill and ability to capture lifes beauty and complexity.

Rating of the Book

The bibliography of The Great Gatsby is extensive and includes a variety of sources, such as books, articles, and interviews. It is considered an extensive and comprehensive list of references, making it suitable for first-rate work. The bibliography provides a good literature outline, including a chronological summary, character analysis, and examination of the novels topics. In addition, the bibliography also includes biographical and critical information on the author and the story (Curnutt 263). This is especially helpful in understanding the context and meaning of the novel. The bibliography also contains sources related to the novels history. This includes information on the Roaring Twenties, prohibition, and the culture at the time, which helps to provide a comprehensive understanding of the novels social context.

Furthermore, the bibliography includes sources related to the theories of literature and literary criticism, which is vital for understanding the various literary devices and techniques used in the novel. The authorities also provide a comprehensive overview of the novels critical reception. Finally, the bibliography includes sources related to the books film adaptation, scholarly articles, and story reviews. This helps to provide an understanding of the impact of the story on popular culture. Overall, The Great Gatsby bibliography is resourceful for anyone looking to understand the novel better. It provides an overview of the story, its plot and its critical reception. This makes it an invaluable resource for students and scholars alike.

Summary

The work covers concepts of optimism, greed, and social unrest and was adapted for film and the theatre multiple times. The novels lasting appeal and study of the American Dream have earned it a 20th-century literary classic. Published in 1925, The Great Gatsby is a classic piece of American fiction.³ Kara outlines that it is a novel of triumph and tragedy, noted for how Fitzgerald captured a cross-section of American society. The novel explores themes of love, idealism, resistance to change, social upheaval, and excess, creating a portrait of the Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties that has been described as a cautionary tale regarding the American Dream. Gatsbys dream of reuniting with Daisy is ultimately unfulfilled, as she fails to appreciate his greatness, even when he finally reaches out to her. The story also explores class differences and what happens when different classes interact. Fitzgerald illustrates the newly emergent social divisions of wealth in the 1920s, comparing Gatsbys struggle to be accepted by the old-moneyed East Egg crowd with the upstart, newly wealthy West Eggers. In the end, Gatsbys dream of re-creating the past and reclaiming Daisy gets destroyed by the harsh realities of the present. His death ends the era of optimism he embodies and serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of the American Dream.

Recommendation of the Book

Yes, I recommend The Great Gatsby to others. It is a classic piece of American fiction that captures a cross-section of American society in the 1920s and offers a powerful commentary on the decline of the era and its social issues. It is a captivating story of love and loss, and the novels themes and symbols are still relevant today.

The novel is filled with vivid characters, such as the mysterious Jay Gatsby and the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, who are all drawn to the fast-paced, glamorous life of Long Island. Gatsbys pursuit of the American Dream is a poignant reminder of the cost of ambition and the pursuit of happiness. The novels intriguing and complicated themes, such as the corruptibility of the American dream and the influence of money, reflect contemporary life. There is a classic allure to the narrative as well. The novel is rich with magnificent descriptions of the scenery and the peoples emotions, and the imagery and allegory used by Fitzgerald are compelling. Those interested in the glitz of the Jazz Age and those interested in the novels deeper issues will find much to like in The Great Gatsby. Its a classic thats just as applicable now as it was back in 1925.

Works Cited

Berman, Ronald. The Great Gatsby and the Twenties. The Cambridge Companion to F. Scott Fitzgerald, 2002, pp. 79-94, Web.

Cain, William E. American Dreaming: Really Reading The Great Gatsby. Society, vol. 57, no. 4, 2020, pp. 453-470, Web.

Curnutt, Kirk. Last Kiss, The Great Gatsby, The Great Gatsby: An Edition of the Manuscript, The F. Scott Fitzgerald Review, vol. 16, no. 1, 2018, pp. 234252, Web.

Curnutt, Kirk. The Great Gatsby: A Variorum Edition Save Me the Waltzgatsbys Oxford: Scott, Zelda, And the Jazz Age Invasion of Britain: 19041929F. Scott Fitzgeralds Short Fiction: From Ragtime to Swing Time, The F. Scott Fitzgerald Review, vol. 17, no. 1, 2019, pp. 248271, Web.

Kara, Gokcen. Disillusionment and American Dream in Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald S Great Gatsby, Journal of Philology, vol. 1, no. 1, 2022, pp. 12-17, Web.

Hanzo, Thomas A. The Theme and the Narrator of The Great Gatsby. Modern Fiction Studies, 1956, pp. 183-190, Web.

Terrible Reviews of Great Books: The Great Gatsby, The Readers Room, 2016, Web.

Footnotes

1. Fitzgerald wrote several other books, including This Side of Paradise 1920, The Beautiful and Damned 1922, Tender Is the Night 1934, and The Last Tycoon 1941.
2. Independent readers have negatively reviewed The Great Gatsby for many years but no published scholarly sources were found to present negative critiques. See Terrible Reviews of Great Books: The Great Gatsby
3. The book is studied by students in high schools and colleges across America.

Among the many concepts explored in Fitzgeraldss The Great Gatsby, American Dream is one of the most notable ones. The titular character, with his extravagant lifestyle, acts like its embodiment and manifestation in the hedonistic, consumerist atmosphere of the Roaring Twenties. Yet the author questions this interpretation of the American Dream, as Gatsbys frantic yet dishonest determination to pursue his goals only leads to death and decay.

At first sight, the titular character of the novel is the living incarnation of the American Dream  a testimony that anyone can achieve his goals through ingenuity and honest effort. In the Jazz Age, these goals mainly amount to living a luxurious and extravagant lifestyle, and Gatsby certainly qualifies in this respect. His wealth and ability to spend money beyond counting is one of his defining traits, and Gatsby is happy to boast about like a young rajah in all the capitals of Europe (Fitzgerald 42). This emphasis on Gatsbys enormous wealth is paralleled by the imagery of his house, which is a colossal affair by any standard with a tower, marble swimming pool, and other things (Fitzgerald 5). To an outside observer, Gatsby may indeed seem like a man who achieved his goals and dreams to the fullest in the land of opportunity that is America.

However, this image of the triumphant American Dream swiftly shatters and comes down closer to the end of the book when the people learn about the real source of his wealth. The author gives his audience some hints early on: Gatsbys guests at one of his fashionable parties suggest he might be a bootlegger and a dangerous criminal (Fitzgerald 39). Originally, this suggestion is merely speculation adding to the mystique of an enigmatic nouveau riche, but it proves closer to the truth than anyone can expect. In Chapter 7, Buchanan reveals that Gatsby and his partner Wolfsheim got their money by selling grain alcohol over the counter  a profitable yet unlawful business in the Prohibition ear (Fitzgerald 85). One of the core notions behind the American Dream is that honest work is the path so success, yet Gatsbys welt homes from illegal alcohol sales. Thus, the lavish lifestyle of the titular character becomes a distorted and ugly version of the American Dream, where only hedonistic ends matter and the means of achieving them are irrelevant.

This disfigured representation of the American Dream comes to an equally unsavory end together with its embodiment. Learning about the death of his wife in a car accident  caused by Gatsbys mistress Daisy driving  an enraged husband kills first Gatsby and then himself (Fitzgerald 103). One again, the titular characters fate is paralleled by that of his house. Observing the neighborhood after Gatsbys death, the narrator can only refer to his once splendid dwelling as a huge incoherent failure of a house (Fitzgerald 115). Gatsbys hedonism based on dishonesty and law-breaking does not bring a happy and for the incarnation of the American Dream of the Roaring Twenties and fails to leave any lasting or meaningful impact.

As on can see, Fitzgeraldss The Great Gatsby questions the interpretation of the American Dream in the Jazz Age embodied in the novels titular character. While Gatsby may initially appear a self-made man in the land of opportunity, he is a fraud and criminal whose wealth does not come from honest work. His fitting end signifies that, while the author does not necessarily distrust the American Dream in general, he does not hold its immoral and hedonistic subversion in high regard.

Work Cited

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Wordsworth Classics, 2001.

Fitzgeralds magnum opus The Great Gatsby raises an important question about the legitimacy of the American Dream. The novel centers on Jay Gatsby, a millionaire who came from humble beginnings and spends his time trying to reunite with his former lover, Daisy. Gatsbys warped perception of success makes him see Daisy as a trophy, who he has to win over with his wealth. This way Gatsbys American Dream does not stop at gaining a large amount of money, thereby extending the point of achieving it. Even though Gatsby attains all the amenities of luxurious life, his inability to place Daisy on the list of his countless possessions demonstrates the dehumanization of one while reaching for the American Dream.

The American Dream Reflected in Jay Gatsbys Lifestyle

From the very first pages of the novel, the reader catches a glimpse of how differently Gatsby lives in comparison with other characters. Gatsby does not just live an ostentatiously costly life  he broadcasts it. All of his possessions are always on display: an enormous mansion, countless cars, and pompous parties with people he does not know. When Nick, the narrator, rents a house at west Egg, he ends up becoming a neighbor to Jay Gatsby himself. The novel describes the palace in great detail:

The one on my right was a colossal affair by any standard  it was a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool, and more than forty acres of lawn and garden. It was Gatsbys mansion.

(Fitzgerald, 2001/1925, p. 5).

The mansion is designed to catch attention. It is not just a massive block of stone that protects the owner from the prying eyes; it is meant to attract and lure newcomers. Nick even compares it to a hotel, meaning, the house does look welcoming for the quests. The construction of the house is artsy and complex, and everything is on the display, including the pool and the garden. It is difficult to imagine how does the palace manages to show all of its architectural features just from one side; however, the reader can guess that Gatsby intended it to be this way.

Gatsbys wealth is immeasurable; he has so much that he cannot possibly spend all of his money in a single lifetime. Most of his possessions are ridiculous and unnecessary  he admits to Nick that he does not swim in his giant pool, You know, old sport, Ive never used that pool all summer (Fitzgerald, 2001/1925, p. 97). It suggests that Gatsbys excessive consumerism is just for show; by organizing huge parties where everyone can see how wealthy he is, he establishes his status as an achiever of the American Dream. Hodo (2017) explains that this establishment of oneself as somebody is central to the concept of the Dream (p. 304). Indeed, the theme of identity plays one of the important roles in the novel. Gatsby has to prove to himself that he achieved the Dream, before proving it to Daisy and others. His status as a self-made man has to be adamant and indisputable because this is what Gatsby thinks will bring Daisy back. However, this makes all of his possessions worthless because they are treated not as ends but as means to win over Daisy, while the American Dream implies that prosperity is the end goal.

Daisy as a Part of Gatsbys American Dream

Gatsby fails to see Daisy as an independent person, believing that she will be happy when she reunites with him. He trivializes the complexities of her human nature and his understanding of her comes off as oversimplified: Gatsby thinks Daisys interest in men lies only in their ability to provide for her. Gatsby does not seem to notice the fallacy in his reasoning: if all money in the world could not make him happy, why would it be different for Daisy? Hauhart (2016) compares Gatsbys unsuccessful attempt to earn love from Daisy to the never-ending wants and needs of the consumerist society  the American Dream can never be reached because it has no definitive goal (p. 147). Daisy cannot be seen as a goal because she is a human being, and cannot be earned.

Green Color as a Failed Attempt to Achieve Daisy

The distance between him Gatsby and Daisy, which he is desperately trying to close, appears in a symbolic form over the course of the novel. One of these symbols is the green light hanging from Daisys dock that Gatsby watches every night. The novel ends with Gatsby seeing the light:

Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but thats no matter tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther& And one fine morning 

So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.

(Fitzgerald, 2001/1925, p. 115).

Gatsby stretches his arms towards the light in attempt to reach Daisy for the very last time. The yearning for a better life with Daisy as his wife dies with him. Ghiotto and Wijanarka analyze how the green color symbolizes the American Dream for Gatsby (2016, p. 60). Scholars explain that green is how Gatsby is longing for Daisy and that it represents his optimism about their shared future. The American Dream promises that hard work will leads success; therefore, it is the hope and constant self-reliance that lie in the basis of this concept. Gatsby spends his whole life hoping to be with Daisy, so the color of his American Dream is green. However, he never reaches this green light; it is always distant, just as distant as Daisys love. This what makes the American Dream unachievable, financial success does not guarantee success in other spheres of life.

Loss of Moral Values as Proof of the Failed Theory

Gatsbys path to success was not so innocent and shiny as everyone around seems to think. Throughout the novel, it is implied that Gatsby acquired such wealth by illegally selling bonds and participating in other criminal activities. At one point, the characters mention that Gatsby has murdered a person: Somebody told me they thought he killed a man once (Fitzgerald, 2001/1925, p. 29). This makes the reader question the legitimacy of the American Dream. For the outsiders, Gatsby represents a perfect example of a self-made man; however, for the reader and for the people who know him, Gatsbys American Dream becomes corrupted. Therefore, the warped version of the Dream infects the readers perception of Gatsbys love for Daisy  if the Dream cannot be achieved without resorting to other measures, love from Daisy cannot be achieved either.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the hope of reaching the American Dream is false, and the constant strive for success deprives one of their human qualities. Gatsby does not know any other way to get attention from Daisy except for bragging about his excessive wealth. The public demonstration of financial success suggests that Gatsby does this to not only impress other people or Daisy but also to prove to himself that he, indeed, has achieved the American Dream. Gatsby fails to see a human being in Daisy, and the reader fails to see a human being in Gatsby. Despite being surrounded by people and money, Gatsby is lonely, which shows the fallacy in the concept of the Dream.

References

Fitzgerald, F. S. (2001). The Great Gatsby. Wordsworth Editions. (Original work published 1925).

Ghiotto, M. F., & Wijanarka, H. (2016). American Dreams represented through the color in Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby. Journal of Language and Literature, 16(1), 55-62.

Hauhart, R. C. (2016). Seeking the American Dream: A sociological inquiry. Springer Nature.

Hodo, Z. (2017). The failure of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby  Fitzgerald. European Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 2(7), 299-305.

Gatsby’s Pursuit of the American Dream

The Great Gatsby is one of the best pieces written in American literature. Written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, an American novelist, and writer who shows the American Dream that is represented by Jay Gatsby, a character in his book The Great Gatsby. Gatsby has a humble background and works to gain wealth and build his social status. He believes that by achieving all of this, he will be accepted by the first class; instead, he is rejected and then later killed after mingling with them. Fitzgerald blames the notion that America is a country where anyone can surface from immersed poverty and grow to the top with enough hard work and dedication.

The American Dream is believed that any person, despite age and social status, class, and nationality, can be successful and bloom in America only if they fulfill the American Dream and work hard enough. The dream assumes crucial aspects of tax evasion, income, and class equality when the country has a well-established hierarchy of classes. In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby is from a very poor family that makes little to nothing, and the only thing that his father is good at is farming. Gatsby falls in love with and young girl named Daisy, but she does not want to marry him because he is poor (Fitzgerald 44).

The Corrupting Influence of Wealth and Morality in the 1920s

This then motivates Gatsby to work hard and earn a lot of money with the thought on the back of his head that when he returns to town, he will ask for Daisy’s hand in marriage again. This time Gatsby hopes that Daisy will accept him now that he has wealth, but to his surprise, Daisy gets married to another man with wealth named Tom. Gatsby’s wealth is corrupt with dirty money. He is involved with many drug stores that are connected to prohibition, but when his guilt awakens and torments him, he consoles himself by saying that he is doing it all for Daisy. The Great Gatsby and 1920 had powerful and rich people who had bad morals ranging from cheating, bootlegging, and even murder.

They were full of shameless and corrupt people who hid behind their wealth when things went wrong. Later the people would resurface when all the pressure had gone away with their illegal activities. “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy-They smashed up things and creatures and then retreated into their money…(Fitzgerald 187). Both Tom and Daisy cared little about other people’s life and, as shown in the book. Daisy drove into Myrtle and killed her by accident. Daisy was so heartless that she did not stop at all, even to see who she hit and if the person was okay, and if she needed any help to save her life. But Tom knew that he was the downfall of Gatsby and his death when Tom mentioned Gatsby as the murderer of George’s wife, Myrtle.

Wealth, Morality, and the Pursuit of the ‘Elect’ in the 1920s Society

Tom felt no remorse for the mess he started. The Buchanans hid behind their wealth by traveling out of town until the murder story of Myrtles dyed down. It is shown the level of irresponsibility by not owning careless actions. In 1920, the United States endorsed immigrants, which brought with them their own culture, like “The Doctrine of Elect” by John Calvin. John believed that the human race was subjected to downfall because of the sin Adam & Eve committed. Due to this, the humanity people could not be saved. John called it” The Elect” If someone failed to have a hardworking life and rich life, God would leave them and forget their status. It made humans more aggressive for money against the fact they had been instructed it was impossible.

After a lot of research, it was concluded that material wealth could be an explanation for their prayers, and dedication had finally been answered. Goodliness and money were the basic claims for one to be considered an “Elect” They set up a basic in which if a person did not earn or allow them was not only considered damaging but also a sinner. An example of this is if you did not dress in classy clothes, lived in a big house and attended a certain school, or drove an expensive car, you would be considered lesser than everyone. It was the right amount of motivation for people to strive and work to gain wealth and status within their power. It would turn and improve their ideal ways of living and empower them to have more comfortable lives by attempting the original sin and helping the human race.

The lifestyle was very different in ways where they threw a lot of parties. An individual would be recognized by the amount of cash they spent on alcohol and fancy clothes. In the search for wealth and people that lost their morals. They battle to be the best in everything, like their status, the position they have, and the amount of wealth they are worth. In chapter 4, Jordan Baker tells Nick the story of Gatsby and Daisy (Fitzgerald 22). Daisy was so dazed by the idea of gaining wealth and becoming famous. She fell in love with Gatsby but would not marry him because he had no money and was poor. Gatsby was motivated to work very hard and had the view if he got money and built up his social status, Daisy would accept him. Fitzgerald was showing how it is to portray his money and unique lifestyle that makes people lose their ethics because they are to do what they have to achieve it.

References:

1. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 1925.
2. Bloom, Harold, editor. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Infobase Publishing, 2010.
3. Bruccoli, Matthew J. Some Sort of Epic Grandeur: The Life of F. Scott Fitzgerald. University of South Carolina Press, 2002.
4. Mizener, Arthur. The Far Side of Paradise: A Biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009.
5. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 1925. (For page references, e.g., Fitzgerald 44, Fitzgerald 187, and Fitzgerald 22)
6. Johnston, Carol Siri. “The American Dream in The Great Gatsby: A Critical Consideration.” American Literature 76.4 (2004): 751-782.
7. Kazin, Alfred. “F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Man and His Work.” The American Scholar 21.1 (1951): 33-47.
8. Hochschild, Jennifer L. “Facing Up to the American Dream: Race, Class, and the Soul of the Nation.” Princeton University Press, 1995.
9. Truslow, James Adams. “The Epic of America.” Little, Brown, and Company, 1931.
10. Leuchtenburg, William E. The Perils of Prosperity, 1914-32. University of Chicago Press, 1958.
11. Scharnhorst, Gary, editor. F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Critical Reception. Camden House, 1984.