Big Ideas For The Great Gatsby

There are many different problems and situations that affected many Americans during the time period of The Great Gatsby. The different problems affect many characters lives and relationships throughout the novel in a variety of situations. Such problems with characters personal lives would be the withering of a American dream. Also, such situations during this time period is how characters aren’t achieving their highest potential and achieving their dreams. Another problem during this time period would be the very unequal wealth distribution in America, but also among all the characters families and themselves individually in The Great Gatsby. There is new money, old money, and the poor which is represented by the valley of ashes throughout this time period. Also, among the rich and poor there is always those who want more and more and are always greedy at every point in the story. Even though characters want all the money they can get there hands on they also try there hardest to achieve enough love and romance in there lives that their heart desires. Lastly, there is a great deal of betrayal throughout the entire length of the novel The Great Gatsby. It is represented by many characters, their relationships, and their personal lives. Different characters’ personal relationships and personal lives give well-distinguished representations of the problems such as a withering American dream, unequal wealth distribution in America, and betrayal in The Great Gatsby.

The stress on materialism and mentioning money and material things wherever it is possible is a characteristic trait of people representing the time period of Fitzgerald’s “American dream”. Fitzgerald reveals how Gatsby almost fulfills the dream having all of its requirements: position, money and his unique perception of the world that “attracted” people. "So he invented the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen year old boy would be likely to invent, and to this conception he was faithful to the end ."(29) He forms a new man, Jay Gatsby, and becomes successful in living his life. Yet, the last of the requirements: “ ideal love” was never achieved, and therefore the collapse of the “American Dream” started. Which love cannot be achieved with money, status, for Gatsby failed to realize. The reason he strived for all of this money was to achieve his dream; Gatsby knew that Daisy wanted to marry a rich man thus he considered this way to be the only way to unite him with his true love. The understanding of the dream by the characters in the book is misinterpreted, and that is the primary reason they fail to realize the true message of the dream.

One of the major topics that can be explored in The Great Gatsby is the sociology of wealth. Fitzgerald uses physical location – setting- as a sort of short-hand for the various aspects of American society he wants us to care about. West Egg represents the newly wealthy, the gaudy and improper; East Egg represents the moral hollowness of old wealth, prim and proper but corrupt. New York stands for the pursuit of pleasure, while the Valley of Ashes represents the social and moral decay that has resulted from the unfettered greed and gluttony of society’s uber-rich. Gatsby was not ready and prepared for the corrupt world when he joined West Egg. He is constantly surrounded by evidence of the unhappiness that success can bring. Daisy and Tom’s marriage is an example for this symptom. It is full of deceit and lies and they are both looking for something different and greater. Gatsby is blinded by the fact that money cannot buy love. Therefore, there is a reason it is said that “money cannot buy happiness” - not that rich people aren’t still going to try in Fitzgerald’s novel. As a result, money is not everything, but for certain people it seems like materialism is. Daisy chose money over love when she chose to marry Tom over waiting for Gatsby. She ends up with a cheating husband and with all the money in the world, but no real happiness or sense of fulfillment. Her attempt to find happiness in her material possessions is typical for such

The second character representation of money and materialism in the novel The Great Gatsby is shown through Daisy Buchanan. This is not only shown through the quote that began this essay in which she stated that she hoped her daughter will be beautiful fool, but also through the flashback into her wedding day with Tom. “‘I’m glad it’s a girl and I hope she’ll be a fool - that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool’”. This quote represents the theme materialism and money because Daisy recognizes that she is miserable by saying that she hopes that her daughter is a beautiful fool because then she will be too ignorant to see that her life's in ruins (as Daisy’s is) and that all she will see is the money that can give her comfort. This quote also shows that Daisy will not leave Tom even after she

Gatsby. Penguin, 2014. Print. This novel is an investigation of a double murder that happened quickly after F. Scott Fitzgerald’s return to New York. With evidence from newspapers, letters, and newly found archives, the author describes the new opinions of the readers of The Great Gatsby. The author then interweaved both stories with the hope to solve the mysteries of a murder and the success behind Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby. As the author does this, she compares and contrasts the events of the book and the murder to one another.This is a credible source because the author found many direct sources from the time era,

In The Great Gatsby, the author, F Scott Fitzgerald depicts the post - war roaring 20’s, a time of overwhelming prosperity and a new found sense of hope for the future. While this novel is often perceived as a romance, it is also a criticism on the devastating nature of the elusive american dream. The story of Jay Gatsby is a representation of what had become the values of the individual at the time. With the progression of the early 1920’s the vision of the perfect life, or the american dream, had been skewed. It was replaced with greed, and an abundance of reckless spending in which the wealthier individuals placed their misguided ideas of happiness. In the Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald chooses to expose the hidden truth behind the illustrious concept of the American dream. Through his use of literary devices such as, symbolism, metaphor, and, irony the central idea of the truly unattainable American dream is supported throughout the novel.

F. Scott Fitzgerald created a masterpiece with a multitude of themes that are prevalent throughout the entirety of The Great Gatsby. The one that shines brighter than the rest is that money and materialism leads to Corruption. Fitzgerald uses many symbols to connect this major theme with the overall tone and characters of the story. Without money the story wouldn’t have started back when Gatsby met Daisy. Without materialism Gatsby wouldn’t have been able to throw the parties to attract Daisy. This major theme is prevalent throughout every chapter of the book.

The main character; Gatsby, sees money as a way to obtain what he desires most, the love of Daisy. Regardless of the fact that he has wealth, connections, and power he struggles to get Daisy’s attention. Gatsby uses several different methods to try and gain access to her, he buys a house that is across the bay

To begin with, in the beginning of the novel the reader discovers just how rich Gatsby his, and how luxurious his life is. However, the audience later finds out that this his image of wealth all aspires to win back his true love Daisy. The beginning is important for it’s the reader’s first insight into Gatsby’s dream, and for awhile many believe that it would come true as well as Gatsby did. For instance, Nick illustrates Gatsby’s emotions, when Daisy is turning his house “I think he [Gatsby] revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her [Daisy] well-loved eyes” (Fitzgerald 91). Thus, this demonstrates Gatsby dream of making Daisy happy with his materialistic items, and luxurious lifestyle. It also relates to his hopes of making Daisy happier than her husband ever would, and making her see that as well. In addition, while at Gatsby’s house, Gatsby shows Daisy his shirts from england, Daisy confesses, “They’re such beautiful shirts (...) she sobbed (...) I’ve never seen such beautiful shirts before” (92). In reference, the real reason why Daisy is so sad and emotional is because she is such a materialistic person, that she becomes overwhelmed by Gatsby’s wealth, and also wishes she could live with Gatsby, and his lifestyle. Because of this, Gatsby begins to believe his hard work has payed off. To put all points forward, Gatsby uses his wealth to pull Daisy back into his life, and hopes that by showing her his

Is your life revolved around how much money you have, what you can buy, or what you look like? In The Great Gatsby, the lives of the characters are revolved around the importance of money and the materials they own. Tom and Daisy Buchanan are two very important people that let their money control their lives, such as Daisy marrying Tom solely for is money so that she will be provided for her entire life. Gatsby is a prime example of all the wrong reasons of wanting to accomplish the American dream. He wanted to impress Daisy, so he lied and cheated his way to the top in order to prove to her that he was worth it, and now that he has money, he allowed it to take control of him and his true purpose. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald allows the

The Great Gatsby is a novel about a man who tries to win over a woman

Write a 750 word essay in response to one of the following prompts. Be sure to include at least three quotes from the texts.

In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald utilizes many universal and timeless themes to make the novel a classic. He emphasizes that most people lack insight and can not see the truth. To the majority of the society, the reality is an illusion that they create in their minds. The characters, events, setting, symbols and imagery contribute to establishing this theme.

Materialism controls relationships in this novel. Gatsby believes that Daisy’s wealth will reflect on him, therefore earning him a higher status in society. He focuses more on her extravagant house with the “presence of the many men” she had been with before, rather than Daisy as a person. The idea of glamour and wealth holds more appeal than her love for him.

However, these materialistic pleasures do not add to Gatsby’s greatness as much as his dream does. The ‘colossal vitality’ of his dream sets Gatsby apart from everybody else. The fact that he has total belief in his dream truly shows his greatness. His idealism is utterly admirable, ‘I’m going to fix everything just the way it was before – She’ll see.’ Gatsby, unlike all of the other characters in the novel is not materialistic. He has no concern for all of his belongings, because his wealth is all for love of Daisy, who clearly states that ‘rich girls don’t love poor boys.’ Gatsby cannot be blamed for the failure of his dream, his dream was only destined to crash because it was invested in a shallow person – Daisy. Gatsby’s dream is often described by Nick. He tells us that Gatsby had ‘thrown himself into it with a creative passion.’ His dream is immense to ‘romp like the mind of God’. These vivid descriptions from Nick provoke the feeling from the reader that Gatsby is great.