Analysis Of The Great Gatsby

Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby is one of the most carefully structured stories of all time. The narrator, Nick, is a very clever and well spoken storyteller. Nick confides with the reader in the first pages of the novel. He says that he needs to tell the story of a man called Gatsby. It is as if Nick has to overcome disappointment and frustration with a man who has left him with painful memories. Nick says that, even though Gatsby did alright in the end, “it was the foul dust that collected in his wake” that disgusts him now. Nick, thus, begins the novel with uncomfortable memories. Time is a meaningful concept in this story. It is evident that dreams and memories are central to the overall plot and meaning. Secondly, the American Dream is a “green light” of desire that Gatsby never stops yearning for and something he will not forget over time, even as he is dying. This is so, even though no one cares about Gatsby or his dreams after he died, except maybe Nick. Finally, the fact that Fitzgerald uses flashback; that Nick is telling us about a main character after he has already died and before the story begins, is ultimate proof. The Great Gatsby is structured by Nick’s memory. Fitzgerald’s clever use of flashback throughout and within the novel is the greatest evidence that he intended his novel to be centered on memory and going back in time, which will be sort of a focus as we go further into this essay.

American society has seen its share of memorable time periods, notably the 1920's and its audacious nature. While The Great Gatsby may be known as a classic read, its impact goes far deeper than that. It also gives each generation a thorough reflection of what life/ culture was like during that period. The story presents ...

... middle of paper ...

...pparent goal of symbolizing the American obsession with irrational things is very clear.

Overall, the symbols all seem to share one similar aspect. This aspect is adjustment. Most notably, Gatsby adjusted to the changes in his life by altering his name to be more comparable to God, an obvious theistic influence referenced. The green light appears to be symbolic of faith and a better future, thus positive adjustments are made and what we value in the United States gets realized. The allusions to monetary focus and spiritual well-being represents a common idea that superficial ideas interrupt with our spiritual conquests, which are more important. At the end of it all, Gatsby’s aspirations deteriorate because he does not possess the monetary fortune necessary to achieve such things. Fitzgerald's brilliant usage of imagery and symbolism is something truly to marvel.