Essay on The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald - 1802 Words

The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald Thesis: The pursuit of the American Dream is a dominant theme throughout The Great Gatsby, which is carried out in various ways by F. Scott Fitzgerald, how the author represents this theme through his characters and their actions is one small aspect of it. Fitzgeralds dominant theme in The Great Gatsby focuses on the corruption of the American Dream. By analyzing high society during the 1920s through the eyes of narrator Nick Carraway, the author reveals that the American Dream has transformed from a pure ideal of security into a convoluted scheme of materialistic power. In support of this message, Fitzgerald highlights the original aspects as well as the new aspects of the American Dream in†¦show more content†¦Gatsby realizes that life of the high-class demands wealth to become priority; wealth becomes his superficial goal overshadowing his quest for love. He establishes his necessity to acquire wealth, which allows him to be with Daisy. The social elite of Gatsby?s time sacrifice morality in order to attain wealth. Tom Buchanan, a man from an enormously wealthy family, ?seems to Nick to have lost all sense of being kind.?(Lehan, pg.60) Nick describes Tom?s physical attributes as a metaphor for his true character when remark ing that Tom had a ?hard mouth and a supercilious manner?arrogant eyes has established dominance over his face?always leaning aggressively forward?a cruel body?his speaking voice?added to the impression of fractiousness he conveyed? (Lehan, p.61) The product of hard work is the wistful Jay Gatsby, who epitomizes the purest characteristics of the American Dream: everlasting hope. His burning desire to win Daisy?s love symbolizes the basis of the old dream: an ethereal goal and a never-ending search for the opportunity to reach that goal. Gatsby is first seen late at night, ?standing with his hands in his pockets? and supposedly ?out to determine what share is his of our local heavens? (Fitzgerald, pg25). Nick watches Gatsby?s movements and comments: ?-He stretches out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and as far as I am from him I can swear he is trembling. Involuntarily I glance seaward-and distinguish nothing except a singleShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby By F. Fitzgerald1558 Words   |  7 Pagesreaders that he is an honest, true individual in the beginning. He demonstrates that he is the innocent bystander who is simply just observing everyone around him, and describes himself as â€Å"one of the few most honest people that I have ever known† (Fitzgerald 59). He is immensely charismatic and can make friends with almost everyone, therefore his narration can be described as unbiased and he seems to be merely telling the story as it is. He begins the novel as stating that â€Å"In my younger and more vulnerableRead MoreThe Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald1695 Words   |  7 Pagespeople and events, or even to be deliberately misleading the reader.† (Margree par. 1). The well-known novel The Gr eat Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald, introduces readers to a story where everything may not be necessarily true. The beauty of this novel is that the readers actually get to decide what they want or do not want to believe. This is all due to Nick Carraway, the narrator of The Great Gatsby. Nick is prejudice and has various faults like dishonesty and being oblivious to himself. A character/narratorRead MoreThe Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald 1249 Words   |  5 PagesThe Great Gatsby-one of the most interesting books that describes American life and society in the 1920s.Novel was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925. Story primarily describes the young, mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and his passion for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan. Novel includes themes of idealism, resistance to change, social differences, American dream, Injustice, power, betrayal, Importance of money, careless, callousness. Scott Fitzgerald sets up his novel into separate social groupsRead MoreThe Great Gatsb y By F. Fitzgerald Essay1548 Words   |  7 Pagespossibility, thusly giving the lower class hope of social mobility and economic success. Two tales written during this era epitomize the American Dream through lower class protagonists who find financial fortune. The first is The Great Gatsby, written by Scott F. Fitzgerald in the midst of this extreme social hierarchy he witnessed in 1920’s New York. Secondly, Stella Dallas: originally a novel by Olive Higgins Prouty which was adapted into the 1937 film of the same name; directed by King Vidor. HoweverRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Fitzgerald1302 Words   |  6 Pagestwo texts â€Å"The Great Gatsby† (Scott F. Fitzgerald), and the acclaimed poem â€Å"19† (W. H. Auden), as proven by the use of green light, the role of religion and strong imagery in society and analysis of the lives of those both lavished alongside those who possess only their pity for one’s self. Firstly, Green is represented in The Great Gatsby as a symbol of Gatsby’s unacquainted love for Daisy and its meaning of hope considering it is where she resides at the time. To Gatsby the green lightRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Fitzgerald906 Words   |  4 Pagesthis earth. In the Great Gatsby, by Thomas F. Fitzgerald, having a large sum of money just isn’t enough. In this novel, money symbolizes a social evil and it corrupts people with wealth and ultimately destroys their life. Desire is an unavoidable instinct of human nature. This instinctive behavior will continue whether or not the person fulfills their initial desire. Our desires are proportionate to the possessions we own and accumulate over time. In the Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby follows his dreamsRead MoreThe Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald726 Words   |  3 PagesF. Scott Fitzgerald showcases characters illusions in the novel The Great Gatsby. Each of the characters gets wrapped up in the drea m that they all wanted to live. The Great Gatsby is a novel about the American dream and the illusion is that one can be happy through wealth, power or fame. Gatsby, Myrtle, and George all had an illusion thinking they can live the american dream. Fitzgerald shows many illusions in the Great Gatsby. Throughout the novel Gatsby always wanted to be wealthy, thinking thatRead MoreThe Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald768 Words   |  3 Pageswith your life and most importantly, yourself. In the fictitious novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the characters who have money at their disposal are constantly looking for something else to fulfill their longing to have a meaningful life. Despite it’s problem-solving reputation, money isn’t what it’s chalked up to be, the characters with excessive money aren’t sincerely happy with their lives. Jay Gatsby, Tom Buchanan, Daisy Buchanan, and Jordan Baker and never satisfied with theirRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Fitzgerald1296 Words   |  6 Pages The Great Gatsby Told by Nick Caraway, and written by Scott F. Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby is a classic novel that gives readers a glimpse inside the lives of the wealthy during the roaring 20s. The story follows the lives of Jay Gatsby, a man of new money, Daisy Buchanan, a married girl of old money, and Tom Buchanan, Daisy’s deceitful husband. Jay Gatsby is a man of mystery, with seemly unlimited funds, who throws ridiculous outrageous parties for no apparent reason. It’s learned that he hasRead MoreThe Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald574 Words   |  2 PagesTake a look around you, and you will find a myriad of different colors in which you might not think much of, but in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald colors represent different ideas. Fitzgerald utilizes symbolism in the colors of certain objects throughout the novel to reveal a deeper meanings and to enhance the reader’s experience. Fitzgerald introduces Gatsby while he is reaching his hand out to a green light across the bay; the color green stands for something unattainable yet desirable