Motif In The Great Gatsby

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F. Scott Fitzgerald’s use of Motifs Throughout the novel “The Great Gatsby,” Fitzgerald’s theme of lies and deceit is flourished and astonished readers for many generations by the use of the motif of cheating. Fitzgerald shows the readers many forms of cheating, infidelity, and alcoholism, in order to gain a lot of money. The motif of cheating runs throughout this classic novel, it represents the shallow quality of the characters’ lives, therefore signifying the hollowness of the American Dream. The wealthy have everything but still are not happy. However, cheating is not limited to solely the rich class, as it is present in all social classes. For instance, Tom has an affair to satisfy his boredom, and to escape from his relationship at home. There is an irony in the message …show more content…

Fitzgerald’s characters show many signs of their double crossing nature, but they also show how to use that in order to “get rich”. Gatsby was in the bootlegging business and wants to bring Nick into a “partnership” with him. “it wouldn’t take up much of your time and you might pick up a nice bit of money.it happens to be a confidential sort of thing”(Fitzgerald 83.) Gatsby was also involved with wolshiem and his gang that was responsible for the rigging of the world series the year before. May of the characters would do anything for money, even if it included murder or “bending the law for their purposes”. The motif of cheating runs through the novel as if it was an undermined character, causing Fitzgerald’s theme of lies and deceit to flourish and astonish readers of all ages for many generations. Fitzgerald shows the readers many forms of cheating such as, infidelity, and alcoholism, double crossing others in order to gain a lot of

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