The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a novel that explores the themes of love, money, and social class in the Jazz Age of the 1920s. The novel tells the story of Nick Carraway, a young man from the Midwest who moves to New York City and becomes fascinated by his mysterious neighbor, Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire who is obsessed with his former lover, Daisy Buchanan. Daisy is married to Tom Buchanan, a wealthy and arrogant man who cheats on her with Myrtle Wilson, the wife of a poor garage owner. Through Nick’s narration, the novel reveals the corruption and disillusionment of the American dream and the tragic fate of Gatsby and his idealized love for Daisy.
 |
| The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald |
The novel is renowned for its elegant and lyrical style, its use of symbolism and imagery, and its portrayal of the glamorous and decadent lifestyle of the 1920s. The novel also reflects Fitzgerald’s own experiences and emotions, such as his romance with socialite Ginevra King, his struggles with alcoholism and fame, and his disillusionment with the society he once admired. The novel has been widely praised by critics and readers alike, and has been adapted into several films, plays, and musicals.
- Nick Carraway: The narrator and protagonist of the novel. He is a young man from a well-to-do family in the Midwest who moves to New York to pursue a career in bonds. He is honest, tolerant, and curious, but also naive and impressionable. He rents a house in West Egg, a new-money area where people like Gatsby live. He is drawn to Gatsby’s charisma and mystery, but also witnesses his downfall. He is Daisy’s cousin and Tom’s friend from college. He also has a romantic relationship with Jordan Baker, a cynical and dishonest golfer.
- Jay Gatsby: The title character and antagonist of the novel. He is a mysterious and wealthy man who lives in a lavish mansion in West Egg. He is famous for throwing extravagant parties every weekend, but no one knows much about him or his past. He is actually James Gatz, a poor boy from North Dakota who changed his name and reinvented himself after meeting Dan Cody, a millionaire who became his mentor. He is obsessed with Daisy Buchanan, whom he met and fell in love with before World War I. He believes that he can win her back by becoming rich and successful. He is involved in illegal activities such as bootlegging and gambling to achieve his wealth. He is killed by George Wilson, who mistakenly thinks that he was responsible for Myrtle’s death.
- Daisy Buchanan: The love interest of both Gatsby and Tom. She is a beautiful and charming woman who lives in East Egg, an old-money area where people like Tom live. She is Nick’s cousin and Tom’s wife. She comes from a wealthy family in Louisville, Kentucky. She met and fell in love with Gatsby before he went to war, but married Tom instead because of his money and status. She is unhappy in her marriage, but also afraid to leave it. She is shallow, careless, and selfish. She rekindles her affair with Gatsby, but ultimately chooses Tom over him. She is indirectly responsible for Gatsby’s death because she was driving the car that hit Myrtle.
- Tom Buchanan: Daisy’s husband and Nick’s friend from college. He is a rich and powerful man who lives in East Egg. He comes from an old aristocratic family in Chicago. He is arrogant, aggressive, and racist. He cheats on Daisy with Myrtle Wilson, whom he treats as an object rather than a person. He is jealous of Gatsby’s relationship with Daisy, but also contemptuous of him because of his new-money background. He exposes Gatsby’s criminal activities to Daisy and tells George Wilson that Gatsby was driving the car that killed Myrtle.
- Myrtle Wilson: Tom’s mistress and George’s wife. She is a middle-aged woman who lives in the valley of ashes, a desolate area between West Egg and New York City. She is unhappy with her life and her husband, who is a poor and passive garage owner. She dreams of escaping her situation and joining Tom’s world of wealth and glamour. She is rude, vulgar, and materialistic. She is killed by Daisy’s car when she runs out to the road, thinking that it was Tom’s car.
- Jordan Baker: Nick’s girlfriend and Daisy’s friend. She is a young and attractive woman who is a professional golfer. She is cynical, dishonest, and independent. She knows about Daisy’s affair with Gatsby and helps them to meet at Nick’s house. She also knows about Tom’s affair with Myrtle and tells Nick about it. She breaks up with Nick at the end of the novel because of his involvement in the tragedy.
 |
| The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald |
Fitzgerald uses themes to convey his message and critique the American society of his time. Some of the major themes are:
- The American dream: The novel explores the idea of the American dream, which is the belief that anyone can achieve success and happiness through hard work and determination. The novel shows how this dream has been corrupted and distorted by the materialism and greed of the 1920s. Gatsby represents the idealistic version of the dream, as he pursues his love for Daisy and tries to recreate his past. However, he also represents the corrupted version of the dream, as he obtains his wealth through illegal means and lives a superficial and hollow life. He fails to realize that Daisy is not worthy of his devotion and that his dream is unattainable. He dies alone and forgotten, symbolizing the death of the American dream.
- Love and marriage: The novel explores the nature of love and marriage in relation to money and social class. The novel shows how love can be genuine or false, passionate or cold, loyal or unfaithful, depending on the characters’ motivations and values. The novel also shows how marriage can be a source of happiness or misery, stability or conflict, respect or contempt, depending on the characters’ compatibility and expectations. The novel contrasts the different relationships between Gatsby and Daisy, Tom and Daisy, Tom and Myrtle, George and Myrtle, Nick and Jordan, and Nick’s parents.
- Social class: The novel explores the differences and conflicts between different social classes in America. The novel shows how social class affects the characters’ lifestyles, behaviors, attitudes, values, and opportunities. The novel also shows how social class creates barriers and prejudices that prevent people from understanding and accepting each other. The novel divides the characters into three main groups: the old money (Tom and Daisy), the new money (Gatsby), and the no money (George and Myrtle). The novel also introduces other groups such as the middle class (Nick), the upper class (Jordan), and the lower class (the people in New York City).
Fitzgerald uses symbols to create an impact on the reader and to enhance the meaning of his themes. Some of the major symbols are:
- The green light: The green light is a symbol of Gatsby’s dream of Daisy. It is located at the end of Daisy’s dock across the bay from Gatsby’s mansion. It represents Gatsby’s hope, desire, and longing for Daisy. It also represents his illusion, as he idealizes Daisy and does not see her for who she really is. The green light also symbolizes the American dream, as it represents Gatsby’s pursuit of happiness and success.
- The eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg: The eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg are a symbol of God or fate. They are a pair of faded eyes on an old billboard in the valley of ashes. They represent the moral decay and spiritual emptiness of the society. They also represent the judgment or indifference of a higher power that watches over the characters’ actions and consequences.
In conclusion, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a novel that explores the themes of love, money, and social class in the Jazz Age of the 1920s. The novel uses characters, themes, and symbols to convey its message and create an impact on the reader. The novel shows how the American dream has been corrupted and distorted by the materialism and greed of the society, and how the characters suffer from their illusions and choices. The novel is a masterpiece of style and technique that reflects Fitzgerald’s own experiences and emotions. The novel is a classic of American literature that has influenced many writers and artists.