Summary:
The essay argues that the central theme of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is that the American dream has been destroyed by crass materialism. Plot points and scenes from the book are cited as examples. Gatsby is explored as a tragic figure.
In the book by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the Great Gatsby, there is a central theme that the American dream has been destroyed by crass materialism. This is illustrated through the themes of fabrication of self, attitudes toward women, and the destruction of the American dream. The characters that symbolize this central theme are Gatsby and Daisy. There are also symbols to support the theme; cars and the color green and white. These characters, themes, and symbols all come together to destroy the American dream.
(TS) In the Great Gatsby there are 3 themes to support the crass materialism of the American dream; fabrication of self, attitudes toward women, and the destruction of the American dream.. (CD1) Fabrication of self is represented by the quote, "There was that smile again, but this time I held out against it" on pg. 76. (CM1-1) Gatsby's smile is fake, he hides facts and who he really is behind this smile. (CM2-1) Gatsby also uses this smile to get whatever he wants, weather is just to get someone to believe him like Nick, or if it is get something bigger, like a person's hart (Daisy). (CD2) Attitudes toward women is represented by the quote, "He hadn't ceased looking at Daisy...he nearly toppled down a flight of stairs" on pg. 96-97. (CM1-2) When Gatsby says this he is objectifying Daisy, he is viewing her as a trophy, which is something he couldn't have but still wanted. (CM2-2) In Fitzgerald's view of the American dream marriage is no longer sacred, it is just a bind between two people, this shows how women are being objectified and they are only being viewed as trophy wives with no real interest in their mate, the perfect example is the marriage between Tom and Diasy. (CD3) The destruction of the American dream is represented by, "Myer Wolfshiem... to play with the faith of 50 million people" on pg. 78. (CM1-3) This character in the Great Gatsby shows the fakeness of the people that surround Gatsby, many people wanted their team to win in the 1919 world series, but those on the losing end got screwed because Myer fixed it so that whatever team he wanted would win, he played with the hopes and dreams of 50 million people. (CM2-3) His cuff links are molars, this shows that he has no regard to human life and just wants to show is power over everyone else, which is shown by the molars he is wearing as a piece of clothing. (CS) All of these themes come together to show how the American dream has been destroyed through crass materialism and the carelessness by the people who destroy the dream.
(TS) Two characters that show the destruction of the American dream through crass materialism are Daisy and Gatsby; these characters are the pinnacle of the destruction. (CD1) Daisy shows her carelessness when she tells Nick that she hopes her daughter grows up to be a beautiful simple minded little girl so she can find someone to take care of her for herself. (CM1-1) This is also related to the situation Daisy is in, she doesn't like her relationship with her husband but she stays with him because she gets whatever she wants and she is financially secure for the rest of her life. (CM2-1) Also Daisy shows more materialism when she accepted the marriage proposal from Tom right after Gatsby left, Tom gave her pearls and she married him even though she was in love with Gatsby. (CM3-1) Also another materialistic action that Daisy takes is when Tom, Daisy, Gatsby, Jordan, and Nick are all in a sauna and Nick declares his love for Daisy (she had done the same privately earlier) and she turned him down for Tom even though she really loved Gatsby, she just stayed with Tom because he had the money. (CD2) Gatsby is also very materialistic because all he does is dream about getting Daisy back through the concentration on the green light at the end of her dock. (CM1-3) This light that Gatsby concentrates on gives him the hope to get Daisy back by showing her that he has all she needed and that he could keep her just as happy as, and possibly happier than Tom has. (CM2-3) Also all of the parties that Gatsby holds are in hope that Daisy will come to one and see him as the big shot who has all of the money and power to hold such a big and expensive party, he really doesn't care who comes just as long as if Daisy has the chance to come to one. (CM3-2) When finally Daisy comes to one of Gatsby's parties she is not impressed by the party just by the people at the party, these people are all actors, the fact that she is more interested in people who act instead of live real life tells the reader that she herself is also fake and lives a life that is all pre-scripted and nothing really happens that she doesn't want to happen, she is simply an actress herself. (CS) All of these materialistic things that each character shows are a link to the destruction of the American dream simply because neither of these characters are living the actual American dream; they are just pretending they are, they actually are living a fake American dream which consists of nothing that holds any sustenance.
(TS) During the book many symbols appear, some of these symbols are; cars and the colors green and white. (CD1) The quote "You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock" pg. 98 shows how the green light applies to Gatsby. (CM1-1) This green light for Gatsby has earned him his fortune, green symbolizes money, the fact that it is on the end of Daisy's dock tells the reader that all that Gatsby did because of the green light was for Daisy. (CM2-1) Also the green light represents Gatsby's hope of getting Daisy back, but when he actually does get Daisy the light goes away because the light is with him, the light goes with Daisy, she is the hope and she is the driving force for Gatsby's money, he did it all to impress her and get her back from Tom. (CD2) During the 1920's cars were a status symbol, the nicer the car the richer you are, also if you had a car you were considered rich because they were so hard to make and still very expensive for the times. (CM1-2) Gatsby's car shows his materialism, he takes great pride in his car, it is very lavish, smooth, and flowing, this is all a power and a status symbol for Gatsby, everyone knows his car, it is one of the most noticeable cars on the island, the only other car that can compare is Tom's but even his doesn't show the money, wealth, and power like Gatsby's car does. (CM2-2) Tom also has a very nice fast car, it is a yellow car which symbolizes his money/richness, it is really the only car that can compare with Gatsby's. (CD3) Another symbol that shows up quite a bit, especially when Daisy is around, is the color white. (CM1-3) The color white is originally associated with purity, happiness, and good things, but in this book Fitzgerald associates white with people who appear good on the outside but are just plain bad on the inside, for example Daisy and Jordan. (CM2-3) Whenever the book mentions Daisy in her home she is surrounded by white and she is always wearing white, this gives off a false impression about Tom and Daisy, they both appear very pure and clean on the outside but when you actually get to know them they turn into people who are very bad, for instance Daisy is cheating on her husband Tom and he is doing the same, also Tom is racist and a sexist. (CM3-3) Jordan is also associated with white because she was described by Nick as a beautiful girl, but the book tells the reader that she is accused of cheating at a major golf tournament and at the end when Nick has to break off their relationship he learns that Jordan was married the entire time and he didn't know about it, she never told him. (CS) All of these symbols show how the people that are associated with them are in fact false people and they are simply destroying the dream by connecting themselves with materials that have these symbols in them, for instance a color of green, white, gold, etc.
Gatsby is a tragic figure because he starts out his life with the view of the American dream in mind, then he meets Daisy who he falls in love with and is taken away from him by Tom while he is off to war. He comes back to try and steal her hart away with his money and his swave behavior and she is originally persuaded by this, but she soon turns her back on Gatsby and comes back to Tom, when Daisy does that Gatsby's life goes down the drain ultimately leading to his downfall and his death, all because of this woman named Daisy.
This is the complete article, containing 1,541 words
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