...The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a story surrounding the decay of the American Dream in the 1920’s; a time when virtually anyone could achieve the dream. Jay Gatsby, the main character, encompasses every fault in the warped idea of the American Dream in the booming 20’s making The Great Gatsby, the perfect title for the story. The American dream is commonly defined as “The ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity traditionally held to be available to every American. (Dictionary) Almost any American would describe the American Dream as a stable income, a sustainable job and the chance to provide the opportunity for the following generation to do even better. In the booming 20’s, that dream was available to almost every...
Words: 837 - Pages: 4
...Throughout history, humans have struggled with the issue of morality. In America during the 1920’s, the time Period in which F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby, morality took a back seat to living a vapid life full of alcohol, adultery, and anything that would grant immediate gratification. Throughout the novel three characters, Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby show the effects of materialism, dishonesty, infidelity, and adultery. Tom shows adultery and infidelity, Daisy and Gatsby show dishonesty, and all three show the effects of materialism. The themes expressed in The Great Gatsby, as shown by the actions of Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom show us the flaws in living a life free of ethical values. Tom Buchanan truly embodies the wasteful, morally corrupt spirit of the 1920’s. He is arrogant, racist, prodigal, and has more family money than he could ever spend. Tom...
Words: 776 - Pages: 4
...president. He tried to maintain his high status through lying; however, this dishonesty backfired and forced him to resign and lose his title as president. This is similar to characters in The Great Gatsby who lie to gain or keep a high social status. Social dishonesty in The Great Gatsby, by F....
Words: 936 - Pages: 4
...The Great Gatsby, which people consider as Fitzgerald’s best literary work, portrays the journey of a man in acquiring success and love throughout the Jazz age. The protagonist is Jay Gatsby who attempts to win Daisy Buchanan’s love a high-class woman by using illegal ways to become wealthy. This paper uses themes as a literary device as it relates to The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald. The most important underlying themes of the novel however are honesty and dishonesty, American dream, class, violence, gender roles, and moral decay. Theme of honesty and dishonesty: As compared to other works, the theme of honesty in Fitzgerald’s novel fails to distinguish compassionate characters from the uncompassionate ones. Honesty and dishonesty is a major...
Words: 2349 - Pages: 10
...Feminist and Lesbian Criticism in The Great Gatsby No novel gives goose bumps to readers without the sparkle of a powerful woman. In the novel The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jordan, Daisy and Myrtle make up the scenario of the feminine force in a world ruled by men. While Daisy and Myrtle are feminine, delicate and live in the constant longing for unconditional love, Jordan is the representation of the modern, feminist woman. Jordan enjoys living life carelessly and does not find it necessary to have a man by her side, she has a masculine appearance and personal characteristics that are commonly found in men, such as dishonesty. According to Lois Tyson, the author of Critical Theory Today, "feminist criticism examines the ways in which literature (...) reinforces or undermines the economic, political, social, and psychological oppression of women" (Tyson 83). In The Great Gatsby, while Fitzgerald represents several weaknesses of women through Daisy and Myrtle, he makes Jordan the illustration of Tyson's feminist theory. Nick Carraway, the narrator of The Great Gatsby, defines Jordan as "incurably dishonest" (Fitzgerald 64). Some of the events of the novel that demonstrate Jordan's dishonesty are the "incident" that occurs at her first golf tournament, the fact that she keeps information hidden from Daisy, Tom, Nick and Gatsby, even when she is trying to help them, and the fact that she uses bribery and coercion to fix erroneous attitudes, which are characteristics...
Words: 1313 - Pages: 6
...Many people cannot live up to the description of “honest”. The description is driven through F. Scott Fitzgerald riveting story. The theme of Fitzgerald's book, The Great Gatsby, tells how honest people really are and how true colors do show over time. This theme is demonstrated through decisions the characters decide to take in the book. Tom is a man who isn’t so honest at all. Tom always lies to Daisy, his own wife. Fitzgerald’s writes,“He nodded sagely. ‘And what's more, I love Daisy too. Once in a while I go off on a spree and make a fool of myself, but I always come back, and in my heart I love her all the time.”’(Fitzgerald 131). This quote shows us how Tom does not really care for Daisy as he says he does. He thinks that just because he always comes back to her from his unknown affairs (that he still hasn’t admitted to Daisy) his situation is totally fine. Also, Tom tries to justify himself by saying his affairs weren’t as terrible as Gatsby and Daisy's relationship with each other behind his back. Tom’s dishonesty is exposed throughout this event. Tom’s dishonesty is also fully displayed during the day of Myrtle Wilson’s death. When readers see how Mr. Wilson is truly traumatized by what had just occurred, Tom decides to tell him some things that weren’t true to save himself. “He[Tom] broke off defiantly. ‘What if I did tell him?...
Words: 516 - Pages: 3
...the American Dream was an inspiration to many, young and old. To live out the American Dream was what once was on the minds of many Americans, however soon afterward those same dreams were twisted with corruption. In The Great Gatsby, the American Dream was presented as a corrupted version of what used to be a pure and honest ideal way to live. The idea that the American Dream was about the wealth and the possessions one had been ingrained, somehow, into the minds of Americans during the 1920’s. As a result of the distortion of the American Dream, the characters of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby along with many others, lived life fully believing in the American Dream, becoming completely immersed in it and in the end suffered great tragedies. Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman tells the story of the failure of a salesman, Willy Loman. Although not all Americans are salesmen, most of us share Willy’s dream of success. We are all partners in the American Dream and parties to the conspiracy of silence surrounding the fact that failures must outnumber successes. Miller amalgamates the archetypal tragic hero with the mundane American citizen. The result is the anti-hero, Willy Loman. He is a simple salesman who constantly aspires to become 'great'. Nevertheless, Willy has a waning career as a salesman and is an aging man who considers himself to be a failure but is incapable of consciously admitting it. As a result, the drama of the play lies not so much in its events...
Words: 593 - Pages: 3
...Within F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby In The Great Gatsby, greed is the root of all evil that people in the American 1920’s society that weaves its ways through the lives of many. Gatsby’s greed is evident over his obsession over Daisy which leads to them to several rash decisions. Tom Buchanan cheats his lovers because of his desire for power. And Meyer Wolfsheim pulls Gatsby down with him over his criminal organization. From this, in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby, greed plays a prominent and dangerous role through Gatsby’s obsessive desire for Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan’s affair with Myrtle Wilson, and Meyer Wolfsheim’s obsession with crime. During The Great Gatsby,...
Words: 1287 - Pages: 6
...Gatsby: The Deadly Deceiver What makes someone truly happy in life? Is it money? Power? Love? The reasons for happiness vary from person to person. But how much happiness does someone need? Are people ever truly satisfied, or does the constant "selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food", otherwise known as greed drive people(Oxford 1)? Why are some wealthy people unhappy, when they have so much? In The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald uses Gatsby's deceptive personality, bamboozling Nick, and fabricating the truth, to explain how greed leads to a deterioration of life. Gatsby's shady history was deceiving, and effectively portrays how greed can ruin a life. The many rumors circulating about Gatsby such as "he was a German spy during the war" illustrate that no one really knew who Gatsby was(Fitzgerald 48). Through his deceptive ways he never rebuffed nor verified the claims, which led to more curiosity. Gatsby did this so that his name would radiate through town and Daisy would hear his name. Gatsby used this deception to fuel his greed for Daisy. His reputation suffered, but he was willing to sacrifice his own reputation just to impress Daisy, no matter the cost. This deception represents greed of the 1920's. Gatsby is a figure of greed, because even when he had all the wealth in the world, he was never truly satisfied. Fitzgerald wanted people to realize that greed is rampant in society, and he wanted people to be happy with what...
Words: 1394 - Pages: 6
...we tell ourselves, and in that sense in order to endure existence everyone endures a certain amount of dishonesty in their everyday lives,” (Todd Rundgren). One can have known the truth and speak a lie, like committing omission or one can know a lie and speak a lie, like spreading rumors. Throughout The Great Gatsby, the narrator receives information from others and becomes a secret holder for all. But some secrets he holds are rumors and other secrets cause he to commit omission. In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the narrator, Nick Carraway, believes himself as an honest man but his honesty waives throughout the book, demonstrating...
Words: 1204 - Pages: 5
...Jordan Baker, a attractive, young, and flirtatious female golfer, can best be described as the color yellow. Yellow has many interpretations, and such negative ones like, “dishonesty, cowardism,...and egoism” (Grok) characterize Jordan. In The Great Gatsby, the narrator, Nick, states that “She is incurably dishonest. She wasn’t able to endure being at a disadvantage” (58). Just moments before in the novel, Nick remembers a scandal that Jordan was deeply involved in. She had cheated in a golf tournament and later denied it, simply because she it necessary to win. Jordan also has “autumn-leaf yellow hair” (17) which could be seen as an intentional trait made by Fitzgerald to hint at her personality. Jordan lied about her tournament, which is cowardly, because she could not accept defeat. Ms. Baker is a yellow character, dangerous, a fabricator, and careless....
Words: 558 - Pages: 3
...summarized the essay. 4. Less than five grammatical errors. Jay Gatsby vs. Tom Buchanan The Great Gatsby, exhibits several person vs. person conflicts; this novel shows one character, Gatsby, who has a problem with one of the other characters, Tom. Throughout the story, Jay Gatsby’s love for Tom’s wife, Daisy, is a reoccurring conflict. The resolution of this problem is concluded with the exposure of Tom and Gatsby, and finally the confrontation in a parlor at a hotel. The exposure of Tom was a critical element to the on-going conflict between Tom and Jay within the novel. Tom Buchanan’s affair with Myrtle Wilson was intentionally revealed to Nick, and later was discovered by Daisy Buchanan. Regardless of what ethics Tom may lack, his loyalty to his wife was no longer a priority in his life. His prolonged affair with Mrs. Wilson had more value to him then his marriage with Daisy. Furthermore, Tom, long before he met Mrs. Wilson, had several other affairs with various women. Even as a young couple who traveled the world, Tom’s dishonesty increased towards Daisy, through his numerous affairs. His desperation for love from random women consumed his life. These acts of adultery were horrendous and sickening as Tom blandly denied any involvement in them to Daisy. Thus, the conflict between Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Gatsby began to broil throughout the novel, The Great Gatsby. Along with Tom’s horrific past, Jay Gatsby withheld quite a complex past of his own. Although, Jay’s past does...
Words: 776 - Pages: 4
...In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, there is a distinct development of emotions and symbols, and one of the key vehicles for illustrating this change is the final line of each chapter. Hidden within each final sentence lies an inner message that either pulls together a major theme in the chapter leading up to the sentence, or is a harbinger of the coming chapters. Beginning with the final word in chapter one, “darkness” (21), and concluding with the novel’s final word, “past” (180), Fitzgerald uses simple closing words to represent a deeper, continuous meaning that pervades the book. By doing this, Fitzgerald is able to outline major themes in the novel, including facial expressions, honesty, and balance. Most clearly and powerfully, however, the outline of lightness through positive imagery and darkness through negative imagery is presented in the final lines of each chapter. By grouping the chapters by hopefulness shown in their respective final lines, a trend is apparent. In chapters one through three, the final lines provide a dark, sullen preview for the chapters to come, while chapter four provides a transition into the final lines of chapters five and six, which signify a brief sense of giddiness that begins to darken. Finally, the last lines of chapters seven through nine mark the development and completion of the violent “holocaust” (162). Supplying a preview at the end of chapter one as to the violence to occur later in the novel, Nick says he is “alone...
Words: 1586 - Pages: 7
...The drama, The Great Gatsby, is about a young man named Nick Carraway who moves to New York to learn about the bond business. The setting of this drama takes place in the 1920s also called the Roaring Twenties. He rents a house in West Egg, part of Long Island which is popluated by rich folk. Nick’s next-door neighbor in West Egg is a man named Jay Gatsby, who lives in a big mansion and throws parties every Saturday night. Nick becomes friends with Gatsby and learns about his extravagant life. As the play continues, the narrator meets the rest of the characters in they play. Nick's meets Daisy Buchanan and her aggressive husband Tom. He also meets Jordan Baker who becomes a love interest for Nick. Daisy's husband, Tom, has a lover named Myrtle and she lives with her husband at the industrial area between West Egg and New York. The title of this story is named after the character James Gats. He was raised in a poor family and longed for wealth and success. When he got old enough he joined the military and met a beautiful rich girl named Daisy. He couldn’t marry her because he wasn’t rich. Daisy fell for him because he was in uniform and had very good manners, so she couldn’t tell if he was poor or rich. After several years, he came back from the war, but Daisy got married with Tom. Gatsby's obsession was to become rich and win back Daisy. This obsession leads to Gatsby's downfall. Both Nick and Gatsby are similar characters. They both came from the West and worked hard...
Words: 429 - Pages: 2
...The Great Gatsby (Novel) Author Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald Purpose To show the author’s conflicting feelings about the Jazz Age Relationship with the Author and the Characters Fitzgerald and Carraway Thoughtful young man from Minnesota Educated at an Ivy League school Moves to NYC after the war Found the new extravagant lifestyle seductive and exciting Fitzgerald and Gatsby Idolizes wealth and luxury Falls in love with a beautiful young woman while at military camp Narrator Nick Carraway; he also implies that he is the book’s author Point of View Both first and third person Presents only what he himself observes Tone Ambivalent and contradictory; sometimes he seems to disapprove Gatsby, and sometimes he romanticizes and admires Gatsby, describing events in nostalgic and elegiac tone Background Year written: 1925 (the Jazz Age) American economy soared; great prosperity for majority Prohibition (18th Amendment in 1919) ‘bootleggers’ Money is everything Plot Nick Carraway moves from Minnesota to New York (West Egg) to learn about bond business West Egg: wealthy and fashionable area; where the “New Rich” live Nick has social connections with East Egg, where the “Old Rich” live Nick’s classmate at Yale, Tom Buchanan, lives with Nick’s cousin Daisy in East Egg Tom has a lover, Myrtle Wilson, in the Valley of Ashes Valley of Ashes is a gray industrial dumping ground At one party, Nick breaks...
Words: 863 - Pages: 4
