F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

THE GREAT GATSBY

The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is an intriguing account about love, money and life during the 1920s in New York. The story begins when Nick Carraway, a young man, moves to New York from the Midwest to join the bond business. There, he soon becomes acquainted with his wealthy neighbor Jay Gatsby, and they become good friends. Gatsby confides in Nick and tells him that he is in love with Nick's cousin, the beautiful Daisy Buchanan. However, she is already married to the young and successful Tom Buchanan, who is unfaithful and has an affair with poor George Wilson's wife. Later, Nick arranges a meeting between Gatsby and Daisy and soon thereafter, they become involved in a love affair. It is revealed that many years ago, Gatsby and Daisy were in love, but Daisy would not marry him because he was rather poor. Gatsby, however, made his fortune and became determined to win Daisy's heart. Towards the end of the story, however, Tom finds out about Gatsby and Daisy's affair. One day, while they were all in New York City, he confronts Gatsby and Daisy and a heated argument ensues. That fateful night, returning to their homes on Long Island, Daisy, while driving Gatsby's car, accidentally runs over Tom's mistress, Myrtle Wilson. Her deranged husband George Wilson discovers that it was Gatsby's car that hit his wife; as a result, he seeks out Gatsby and kills him. Consequently, The Great Gatsby represents mankind's feebleness by illustrating its blind struggle to find acceptance within society, its materialism, and its naturally sinful disposition through the characterization of Nick Carraway, Daisy Buchanan, and Tom Buchanan.

First of all, the depiction of Nick Carraway represents humankind's desperate struggle to be accepted by society. Nick Carraway, although relatively new to New York, quickly attaches himself to Jay Gatsby. Nick reflects, 'At nine o'clock, one morning late in July, Gatsby's gorgeous car lurched up the rocky drive to my door and gave out a burst of melody from its three-noted horn. It was the first time he had called on me, though I had gone to two of his parties, mounted in his hydroplane, and … made frequent use of his beach'; (Ch. 4, pg. 63-4). Nick was quite lonesome after his move to New York. He had a decent job in the bond business and lived in a small bungalow. Basicall...

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...ey hurt others physically or emotionally. Tom is a man who finds it difficult to keep his emotions to himself so he ends up expressing those emotions, whether appropriate or not; consequently, he becomes a despised character in the novel because he is portrayed as an uncouth and vile man. The author uses Tom to explain that it is human nature to express one's emotions, even if these emotions are dangerous.

The Great Gatsby is a novel that shows man's weak willpower through its anxious efforts to be accepted by society, its love for materialistic things, and its inclination to sin, as exemplified by Nick Carraway, Daisy Buchanan and Tom Buchanan. F. Scott Fitzgerald successfully captures the lifestyle of the 1920s in The Great Gatsby. This novel has a theme with historical significance, since life during the booming decade was one of extravagance and glamour. People were starving for money and love. Fitzgerald, who lived during this time period, observed first-hand the superficial lifestyle of the American population and was reminded that the human spirit is weak and selfish. He masterfully laces that message into his masterpiece The Great Gatsby to share with future generations.