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Alexander Sellers American Lit. Ms. Nohner 20 March 2014 The Great Gatsby The rollercoaster story of the life of a successful man, Jay Gatsby, chasing his dream and living in an affluent suburban area outside of New York, known in the story as West Egg, captures an era of American history referred to as “the roaring 20’s.” The 1920’s was a crazy time in American history: rapidly growing economy, extreme cultural changes, and rights movements. On the surface, the 1920’s appeared to be a great era, but upon further exploration, it wasn’t all good. If America has learned anything from it’s history, it is that you can’t judge a book by its cover. Like a crevasse in an iceberg - what may be seen as a crack covering as little as two feet in width, may be very deep - appearances vs. realities in the 1920’s can be greatly misleading. F. Scott Fitzgerald displays what he believes to be the true 1920’s through Jay Gatsby. The story starts with numerous explanations of the vast riches and belongings of the prodigal Gatsby. From a waterside mansion to festive parties and countless friends, Jay Gatsby seems to be living the dream. That is until Nick, the narrator, meets and becomes well acquainted with Gatsby. From there on the reader gets to open Gatsby up and investigate the pages that lie inside. Behind the golden fences and servants, readers, like an onion, finally get to peel back the truth in Gatsby’s life. With each layer peeled back, Fitzgerald welcomes the reader further and further into the 1920’s. Although one adjective of Gatsby could truly be “great,” there are many other words that could accurately describe him. Among them are: reckless, besotted, corrupt, lonely, pretentious, and nostalgic. The first layer Fitzgerald ... ... middle of paper ... ... the ones to start it, we pester enemies into picking fights. Then, backed by a barrage of news reporters and social media followers, the entire population ridicules and antagonizes them until we reach our final goal of making the opposing county implore for mercy. In Gatsby’s case, his goal never panned out. Similarly in America, countries aren’t surrendering as easily as we hope and expect. Gatsby was a story that was never easy to stop reading. What seems like a typical romantic story takes an odd twist when Fitzgerald releases the truth about Gatsby and all of his many hidden flaws. The Great Gatsby has been so influential to today’s society because it can be compared to what’s going on in it. Through Nick’s eyes, the reader realizes that Gatsby’s life, although extravagant, is not what it seems to be and not what the reader wants it to be.