The Great Gatsby: Themes

The American Dream

The American Dream is a central theme in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby. The story takes place in the 1920s, a time of great prosperity and opportunity in America. The American Dream is a belief that anyone can achieve success and prosperity through hard work and determination, regardless of their social background or circumstances. However, the novel portrays a more complex and darker side of the American Dream, where success is not always earned through hard work and morality, but through corruption, deceit, and immorality.

Throughout the novel, Gatsby is portrayed as the epitome of the American Dream, as he is a self-made man who has achieved wealth and success through his own efforts. However, Gatsby’s pursuit of the American Dream is ultimately flawed, as he becomes consumed with his desire for wealth and social status, which he believes will enable him to win back his lost love, Daisy Buchanan.

The novel portrays the corruption and moral decay that underlies the pursuit of the American Dream. The characters in the novel are driven by their desires for wealth, social status, and material possessions, which they believe will bring them happiness and fulfillment. However, their pursuit of these goals leads them to engage in deceit, corruption, and immoral behavior. For example, Tom Buchanan’s wealth and social status allow him to get away with his infidelity and abusive behavior towards his wife, Daisy.

Furthermore, the novel also portrays the emptiness and disillusionment that can result from the pursuit of the American Dream. Gatsby’s wealth and success do not bring him happiness or fulfillment, as he is still consumed with his desire for Daisy. Similarly, Daisy’s wealth and social status do not bring her happiness or fulfillment, as she is trapped in a loveless marriage and yearns for the passion and excitement of her youth.

The theme of the American Dream is also reflected in the setting of the novel. The story takes place in the fictional towns of West Egg and East Egg, which represent the new wealth and old wealth of America, respectively. West Egg is home to the nouveau riche, including Gatsby, who have acquired their wealth through business ventures and bootlegging. East Egg, on the other hand, is home to the old aristocracy, including Tom and Daisy Buchanan, who have inherited their wealth and social status.

In conclusion, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby is a critique of the American Dream, which is portrayed as flawed and corrupted. The novel illustrates the moral decay, emptiness, and disillusionment that can result from the pursuit of wealth and social status, and the corruption and deceit that are often involved in achieving these goals. The characters in the novel are consumed with their desires for wealth and status, but their pursuit of these goals ultimately leads to their downfall. The novel serves as a cautionary tale against the dangers of the American Dream and the moral compromises that are often made in the pursuit of success.

Social Class

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, social class is a prominent theme that pervades the entire narrative. The story is set in the Roaring Twenties, a time when the United States was undergoing major changes, including economic prosperity, social and political upheavals, and a widening gap between the rich and poor. The characters in the novel are divided into different social classes, and Fitzgerald portrays their interactions and conflicts as a critique of the class system in America.

At the top of the social hierarchy are the wealthy, who are portrayed as shallow, selfish, and morally corrupt. The protagonist, Jay Gatsby, is a self-made millionaire who throws lavish parties in his mansion, but is ultimately unable to win the love of his former lover, Daisy Buchanan, who is married to Tom Buchanan, an arrogant and brutish member of the elite class. Tom and Daisy are presented as the embodiment of the decadence and superficiality of the wealthy, and their carelessness and lack of concern for the consequences of their actions leads to tragedy for the other characters.

On the other end of the spectrum are the working-class characters, such as George and Myrtle Wilson, who are struggling to make ends meet. They live in the Valley of Ashes, a desolate area between West Egg and New York City, and are shown as victims of the greed and corruption of the wealthy. Myrtle, who is having an affair with Tom Buchanan, represents the desire for upward mobility, but her attempts to escape her social class ultimately lead to her demise.

The character of Nick Carraway, the narrator of the novel, represents the middle class, caught between the worlds of the rich and the poor. He is initially drawn to the glamour and excitement of Gatsby’s parties, but eventually becomes disillusioned with the shallow and immoral behavior of the wealthy. His growing awareness of the class divisions and the corruption of the elite is reflected in his admiration for Gatsby’s dream of upward mobility, even as he recognizes the impossibility of achieving it.

Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald highlights the arbitrary nature of social class and the illusion of the American Dream. Gatsby’s success and wealth are presented as a result of his determination and hard work, but also as a product of luck and criminal activities. His pursuit of Daisy is a representation of his desire to belong to the elite class, but it is ultimately doomed because of the social barriers that separate them.

Fitzgerald’s critique of the class system in America is not limited to the characters in the novel, but is also reflected in the setting and symbolism. The Valley of Ashes represents the decay and despair of the working class, while the mansions and estates of the wealthy are presented as hollow and false. The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock, which Gatsby obsesses over, symbolizes the unattainability of the American Dream, and the idea that the pursuit of wealth and status can lead to ruin and tragedy.

In conclusion, social class is a dominant theme in The Great Gatsby, reflecting the social and cultural changes of the 1920s. Fitzgerald’s portrayal of the elite class as immoral and corrupt, and the working class as victims of their greed, highlights the arbitrary nature of the class system and the illusion of the American Dream. The novel is a critique of the social divisions and the pursuit of wealth and status at the cost of morality and humanity, and serves as a reminder of the dangers of a society that values material wealth above all else.

Love

Love is a central theme in The Great Gatsby, with multiple characters experiencing love in different ways throughout the novel. Fitzgerald portrays love as complex and often unfulfilled, highlighting how it can be driven by desire, social status, and material possessions.

One of the most significant love stories in the novel is between Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby’s love for Daisy is all-consuming, and he has spent years building his wealth and reputation in the hope of winning her back. However, their relationship is ultimately doomed, as they are from different social classes, and Daisy is unable to fully commit to Gatsby. Their love is also overshadowed by Gatsby’s obsession with the past and his desire to recreate it, leading to his tragic end.

Another love story in the novel is between Tom Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson. Their relationship is based on desire and physical attraction, and Tom uses his wealth and social status to control and manipulate Myrtle. This relationship is also doomed, as Tom is unwilling to leave Daisy and is ultimately responsible for Myrtle’s death.

Nick Carraway is also involved in a love story, albeit a less conventional one. His infatuation with Jordan Baker is based on her confidence and independence, qualities that he finds attractive in a woman. However, their relationship is ultimately superficial, and Jordan’s dishonesty and lack of morals are incompatible with Nick’s values.

Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald also explores the idea that love can be corrupted by materialism and social status. For example, Gatsby’s love for Daisy is intertwined with his desire for wealth and status, as he believes that only by achieving these can he win her back. Similarly, Tom’s relationship with Myrtle is based on his desire for physical pleasure and his need to exert power over someone from a lower social class.

Overall, Fitzgerald portrays love as a complex and multifaceted emotion that can be both transformative and destructive. Love is often driven by external factors such as wealth and social status, and it is frequently unfulfilled due to these same factors. The novel suggests that true love requires more than just desire and attraction, as it also needs honesty, trust, and a willingness to overcome societal barriers.

In conclusion, love is a central theme in The Great Gatsby, and Fitzgerald portrays it as a complex and multifaceted emotion that is often driven by external factors such as wealth and social status. The novel suggests that true love requires more than just desire and attraction and highlights how love can be both transformative and destructive. The doomed love stories between Gatsby and Daisy, and Tom and Myrtle, highlight how love can be corrupted by external factors and ultimately lead to tragedy.

Money and Wealth

One of the major themes in The Great Gatsby is money and wealth, which is closely related to social class and the American dream. Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald explores the corrupting influence of wealth and the pursuit of material success on characters’ lives and relationships.

The characters in the novel are obsessed with money and status, and they believe that wealth is the key to happiness and success. Gatsby, for example, throws lavish parties in the hope that he will be able to win back Daisy’s love, and he spends a great deal of money on expensive clothes and jewelry in order to impress her. Similarly, Tom and Daisy Buchanan’s marriage is based on wealth and social status rather than love, and their extravagant lifestyle is a symbol of their power and privilege.

However, the pursuit of money and wealth also has a dark side, as it leads characters to engage in immoral and unethical behavior. For example, Meyer Wolfsheim, Gatsby’s business partner, is involved in organized crime and corruption, and he is rumored to have helped fix the 1919 World Series. Tom, meanwhile, has an affair with Myrtle Wilson, who is married to a working-class mechanic, and he shows little regard for her feelings or well-being.

Furthermore, the pursuit of wealth ultimately proves to be empty and unsatisfying. Despite his immense wealth and success, Gatsby is unable to find happiness or fulfillment in his life, and he remains haunted by his past and his unrequited love for Daisy. Similarly, Tom and Daisy’s marriage is revealed to be hollow and loveless, and their wealth and privilege cannot shield them from the consequences of their actions.

Fitzgerald uses symbols throughout the novel to reinforce the theme of money and wealth. For example, the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock represents Gatsby’s longing for wealth and status, as well as his hope for a future with Daisy. Similarly, the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg on a billboard in the Valley of Ashes represent the moral decay and corruption that accompany the pursuit of wealth and success.

In conclusion, the theme of money and wealth in The Great Gatsby is a complex and multi-layered one. Fitzgerald portrays the destructive power of money and materialism, as well as its corrupting influence on characters’ lives and relationships. The pursuit of wealth ultimately proves to be empty and unsatisfying, and characters who prioritize money and status over love and morality are unable to find true happiness or fulfillment in their lives. The novel serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of materialism and the importance of finding meaning and purpose beyond the pursuit of wealth and success.