Themes In The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, "the second greatest literary work penned in the twentieth century," is an example of the American Dream gone amiss. There are several themes in the novel, including the immorality of the "Roaring Twenties," social discrimination, the recurrence of the past, and the need to possess hopes and dreams, among other things. While all of the following are prevalent themes, the main theme of The Great Gatsby is the ongoing search for the American Dream leading ultimately to the death of the American Dream.
Taking place during the Jazz Age, the story begins with an introduction to Nick Carraway, The Great Gatsby's narrator. He is portrayed as an honest, ...
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despite her marriage to Tom. Thus, we are introduced to the American Dream, as seen in the eyes of Jay Gatsby. A surprising twist occurs at the end, however, when Daisy kills her husband's married lover, Myrtle Wilson, with Gatsby's car, causing the deceased's husband to seek revenge by killing Gatsby and then himself. With the death of Gatsby, we also see the death of the American Dream.
Throughout the novel, we are taken through a plethora of settings. On an obvious level, we see the decadence of the rich upper-class lifestyle. The Buchanan home, for instance, is an excellent example of American aristocracy. "…he moved a broad flat hand along the front vista, including in its sweep a sunken Italian garden, a half acre of deep, pungent roses…" (p. 8) As a contrast, Gatsby's home is introduced. "On week-ends his Rolls-Royce became an omnibus, bearing parties to and from the city between nine in the morning and long past midnight . . . And on Mondays, eight servants, ...
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"Themes In The Great Gatsby." Essayworld.com. May 8, 2005. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Themes-In-The-Great-Gatsby/26598.
"Themes In The Great Gatsby." Essayworld.com. May 8, 2005. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Themes-In-The-Great-Gatsby/26598.
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