Themes and Tone in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Although the Fitzgerald’s differ in certain aspects of the plot, both Scott and Zelda’s conduct and character parallel that of the story through the love that proves faulty in the end; wealth that creates a boundary between old money and new money results in inevitable judgment towards the owner of new money; ambition and aspirations guiding both men, Fitzgerald and Gatsby, down the path of eminent opportunity presented in the well-known American Dream . The second world war of the 1900’s brought F. Scott Fitzgerald and Jay Gatsby the woman of their wondrous dreams, Zelda and Daisy (Fitzgerald, Brief Life of Fitzgerald). Young, beautiful, and with porcelain white skin, Fitzgerald and Gatsby began to mount their impractical expectations of Zelda and Daisy when they extended their patience to the limit while waiting for them to return from the prolonged war (Fitzgerald, Brief Life of Fitzgerald). In order for Fitzgerald and Gatsby to undo their unrequited love, their social status became a priority; ther... ... middle of paper ... ...6261>. Fitzgerald, F. Scott.

Gatsby feels the need to be successful and wealthy, and his participation in a bootlegging operation allows him to acquire the wealth and social status needed to attract Daisy. In his narration, Nick focuses on Gatsby's fixation of Daisy and how he longs for her presence in his life. Gatsby's greatness comes from his power to dream, his competence in turning dreams into reality, and his absolute love for Daisy. In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby uses his dreams as motivation for his existence. Fitzgerald uses wealth and social status to define Gatsby?s character, which is exemplified by his lavish parties and the dignitaries who attend them.

Gatsby believes he can win Daisy over with wealth, that he could achieve the ideal she stood for through his material possessions. One look at Gatsby?s past and it could be seen that he was destined to get ahead in life. Mr. Gatz told Nick, ?Jimmy was bound to get ahead. He always had some resolves like this or something. Do you notice what he?s got about improving his mind?

The most obvious, and also most effective of which is the narration from Nick’s perspective. Throughout this novel it is Nick’s views of Gatsby which we read, not Fitzgerald’s and not anyone else’s. Only Nick’s. And even Nick seems to be some what in the dark as to Gatsby’s character, he often switches tact throughout the novel on his impression of Gatsby. This seems to insinuate that he has been ponderous over Gatsby for some time.

it was an extraordinary gift for hope, a romanti... ... middle of paper ... ...ross just as he would like to be perceived at the start of the novel. As his relentless quest for Daisy demonstrates, Gatsby has an extraordinary ability to transform his hopes and dreams into reality. This talent for self-invention is what gives Gatsby his quality of ?greatness? : indeed, the title ?The Great Gatsby? is reminiscent of names for such magicians as ?The Great Houdini?

Through his clever wittiness and assertiveness toward others, Tom easily shows that he was in control in the story and that is why he ended up as the most successful portraying what masculinity was truly like during the time when Fitzgerald wrote the story. Even though he almost had his life turned upside down multiple times in the story, Tom pulled through in the end through his cleverness and assertiveness dealing with certain problems, which helped create the dominant masculinity of the story. Miles 7 Work Cited Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1925.

Through this description Fitzgerald shows that Gatsby’s house is alive and thriving much like his love for Daisy. Gatsby is in love with what he remembers daisy to be like and what he believes she is like now. In order to rekindle their past flame he throws extravagant parties, hoping that one day Daisy would wander in and they would pick up where they left off. Gatsby bases the importance of life off the value of his possessions because he knows Daisy is attracted to wealth and will do anything to win her back. When Gatsby returns from Tom and Daisy’s house his hopes and dreams have been destroyed.

In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Daisy Buchanan’s powerful allure hypnotizes Jay Gatsby into believing she is his “dream girl”. At first read, one would assume the novel to convey a passionate love story, however Fitzgerald proves otherwise as he writes about a materialistic desire between the two. Gatsby, throughout the novel, is infatuated with Daisy in a narcissistic way, because he is so in love with her glamour, sophistication, social status, and all the benefits given to the wealthy. Daisy’s voice reflects upon her personality and symbolizes her indecisiveness, her selfishness, and her demand for money. The narrator and only friend of Gatsby, Nick Caraway, acts as a credible eyewitness to Daisy’s cruelty.

Chapter 1 Analysis of The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby- this title is merely an adjective or epithet for the main character of the story, which brings about the importance of characterization in the book. Fitzgerald has a rather unique style of characterization in his writing- especially in this book. His use of irony, strong diction and symbolism plays a significant role in conveying his certain ideologies about the people of this certain era, and the embodiment of the "great American dream". The eye of the story- Fitzgerald's weapon of observation is Nick Carraway. This character is established as a neutral narrator of the whole story and its characters, who are obsessed with class and privilege.

Enter Dorian, whose innocence and beauty present an irresistible challenge. Before Harry, Dorian was unaware of his beauty. "The sense of his own beauty came on him like a revelation. He had never felt it before." (p. 18) It is Harry who makes him see and fall in love with his own beauty, and realize the brevity of youth.