The closing passage of F. Scott Fitzgerald's “The Great Gatsby” provides a meaningful insight that illuminates the essence of Gatsby’s world and encapsulates the book's major thematic elements. The multiple themes that come to light are: the omnipresent sense of loneliness that fills the halls of Gatsby's mansion, the distinct signs of deterioration that mirror the life and death of Gatsby, and the persistent reminders of the passage of time that reflect Gatsby’s failures. Altogether, these themes paint a vivid picture that not only enriches our understanding of Gatsby’s world, but also the profound flaws within Gatsby himself. Throughout the entirety of the novel, the theme of loneliness comes up time and time again, manifesting both openly …show more content…
Similarly to the theme of loneliness, the disintegration of Gatsby's world unfolds both physically and metaphorically, portraying the unavoidable decay of Gatsby’s aspirations. Gatsby attempts to make every facet of his world perfect, down to the most minute details, yet such endeavors prove futile, as “the grass on his lawn had grown as long as mine” (179). This call back to the earlier chapter, where Gatsby insists Nick gets his grass cut in preparation for Daisy, provides a somewhat obvious representation of the unavoidable deterioration and change ingrained in all aspects of life. Yet, beneath the surface, the gradual decline of Gatsby's once pristine lawn mirrors the inexorable erosion of the most profound fantasies. Moreover, consumed by the pursuit of an unattainable dream, Gatsby remained oblivious to the reality of his situation until his world was irreparably crumbling around him. As proved by Gatsby’s experience, regardless of one's social standing or material possessions, the deterioration of life can affect anyone. This point is further fortified when Nick, gazing upon Gatsby's house one final time, calls it an “incoherent failure”
having a companion, Americans consider themselves better “socially” just by their companion. Overcoming loneliness is a major theme in American literature and Americans will risk their reputation and wealth in order to attain it. In order to overcome loneliness, Americans will search for a companion. Americans need someone to support them. Without someone supporting them, Americans face loneliness and are not motivated to keep going. There are many advantages to having a companion to support you. Companions
faced they were left confused and aimless. From this generation emerged many notable writers who portrayed varying viewpoints and aspects of the Lost Generation. The preeminent writers of this time were F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. Two of their most widely known novels, The Great Gatsby and The Sun Also Rises respectively; reflect the author’s experience in WWI, and despite their seemingly contradicting depiction of early 1920’s life, both are stories that illustrate the Lost Generation
Kyle Reser B. Lowery English 1301 9 April 2017 Is Gatsby Great? F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is a story that is widely understood to be about the American dream. Jay Gatsby, the main character, is a successful self-made man who at first glance seems to be living in the way that every American would aspire to: he throws fabulous parties in his huge house and seems to have many friends. However, at second glance, it is clear that Gatsby does not truly represent the American dream—if his is
“It’s pretty, isn't it, old sport?”(Fitzgerald 53), hollow words that describe an era precisely. The Great Gatsby is a wonderfully depressing novel about a man who literally made a name for himself and died in search of the American Dream. It was set in the Roaring Twenties, also known as the Jazz Age, a time about dynamic subcultures all around the world, and their grand art, social lives and music. This book is set by F. Scott Fitzgerald in the North East of the United States, New York, and Long
like F. Scott Fitzgerald who had many issues dealing with alcohol and other problems throughout the course of his life. Some of these obstacles were difficult to deal with, so F. Scott Fitzgerald found inspiration through his wife Zelda Sayre, who was reason behind many books. As proof by his willingness to his wife and dedication to his work, leads to conclude F. Scott Fitzgerald was ambitious and goal driven by not only outer surroundings but his ever so important American Dream. Fitzgerald was
Love In the novel The Great Gatsby author F. Scott Fitzgerald expresses the different experiences of love that each character goes through. Fitzgerald takes his readers on a journey of not only how the 1920s were like as but also what the idea of love was in the era. Fitzgerald informs us on how love truly worked. The definition of love is an intense feeling of deep affection, but The Great Gatsby definition involves lies, status, and forbidden love. Nick Carraway is a character in the novel that
the bottom of society were constantly striving for the top of the economic ladder. This time era, in Long Island, is the basis of F. Scott’s Fitzgerald’s book, The Great Gatsby. It has become one of the great classics in American literature and is well known for its commentary on social status. Through the introduction of many “status” oriented characters, Fitzgerald comments on the social lives of those living in the twenties. But does it go beyond the social status issues it addresses, and focus
The portrayal of loneliness in John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice And Men and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby caused isolation between the characters. Their emotions emerged which led to major catastrophes. “A guy needs somebody to be near him… A guy goes nuts if he aint got nobody. Dont make no difference who the guy is as long he’s with you. I tell ya a guy gets too lonely and he gets sick. He got nothing to measure by” (Steinbeck ). When loneliness is strucken upon the farm, the inner feelings
This is because no matter what people’s personal memories of Fitzgerald may have been of, it was universally agree that his books and fiction writings were remarkable achievements. And to this day, Fitzgerald is one of the world’s most renowned authors of all time in the history of American literature. Although Fitzgerald craved the wealth that came with being a celebrity, no price was set high enough for his inspirational writings. Heschel
Money as the Root of Loneliness in The Great Gatsby The 1920's in the United States was a time of economic growth in which people lived frivolous lives by believing their money would make them happy. It was a time of alcoholic prohibition and a time of emancipation for women. Thus, it was a time of parties, drinking and wild women for those who could afford it. Those who were at the bottom of society were constantly striving for the top of the economic ladder. This time era, in Long
democracy, and material prosperity, but the gold is but a mere gilding obscuring the hidden and unobtainable natures of the American Dream. Jay Gatsby, in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s American classic The Great Gatsby, is a self-made millionaire that ultimately pays the price of achieving the American Dream with his life, both physically and emotionally. The life that Gatsby experiences in his pursuit of material prosperity reflects both the lives of those in modern America who have reached or want to reach the
The Nature of the Past in The Ice Palace and The Great Gatsby In "The Ice Palace" and The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald explores the nature of the past. He shows us that we can neither return to nor escape from the past. In "The Ice Palace" he writes about the pasts of two different societies, the North and the South. In The Great Gatsby he writes about Daisy's relationships with two men, Tom and Gatsby. “In both of these stories some characters want to escape from the past and others want
they help the reader understand the deeper meaning of the topic. The Great Gatsby novel is one of the most well-known books ever to be written. In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the narrator, Nick Carraway, describes a tragic story of a rich man, Jay Gatsby, in search for his true love, Daisy Buchanen. Daisy and Gatsby were previously in love, but Gatsby left for war and Daisy left him for more money. Jay Gatsby constantly throws extravagant parties hoping that his true love will
the Jazz age, this belief was seen to be false in a time where status and wealth showed a person’s worth. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby displayed the prominent characteristics of the Jazz age while identifying the factors in society that contradicted the American dream. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s the Great Gatsby is a statement on the intangibility of the American Dream and the loneliness that results from the pursuit of the dream. It is believed that if you were to achieve your American dream
The Great Gatsby – For the Love of Money F. Scott Fitzgerald's most famous novel, The Great Gatsby (1925), is about many things that have to do with American life in the "Roaring Twenties," things such as the abuse of alcohol and the pursuit of other pleasures, including that elusive entity, the "American dream." Mainly it is the story of Jay Gatsby, told by Gatsby's friend and neighbor, Nick Carraway, a bonds salesman in New York. Three other important characters are Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan