The Great Gatsby Analysis

F. Scott Fitzgerald, widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century, has written novels and short stories, including The Great Gatsby. Portraying the Jazz Age and the Lost Generation of the 1920s, the Great Gatsby follows a cast of characters living in the fictional towns of West Egg and East Egg on prosperous Long Island in the summer of 1922. Jay Gatsby, the mysterious millionaire protagonist, holds an unwavering passion for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan; the unfolding of their relationship allows Fitzgerald to convey the American Dream. The American Dream is a national icon for the United States; it is a set of ideals that includes the opportunity for prosperity, success, and an upward social mobility through dedication. From the time of its origin, the American Dream has prompted individuals to immigrate to America and has allowed previously established citizens to aspire for a leisurely longevity. However, many argue that the imaginative concept of the American dream is not tangible in society. Through the character’s personalities, Gatsby’s lies, and Gatsby’s eventual death, F. Scott Fitzgerald condemns the American dream in his classic novel, The Great Gatsby.

Through an analysis of the character’s personalities, it becomes evident that they do not depict the typical American dream. The traits attained by the characters define their personalities, which determine their actions, and this further supports Fitzgerald’s condemnation of the American dream. Throughout the novel Fitzgerald intentionally gives affluent characters negative personalities. The characters with money appear to be miserable, dysfunctional, and immoral. The grief of the upper class is portrayed by Fitzgerald’s poetic style. ...

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...fulfill the renowned discipline of the American dream. Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald condemns the American dream through his character’s personalities, their lies, and their downfalls. Fitzgerald intended for Gatsby to be an embodiment of the American dream, but through the character’s longevity, the talented author reveals the ineffectuality of the American dream. Through his attempt to achieve the American dream, Gatsby sets himself up for the preordained failure for which his anticipation set him up. If Fitzgerald was praising this American dream, one would have had Gatsby and Daisy pursue a relationship. The protagonist, with his everlasting love for Daisy Buchanan and his willpower to win her over, exemplifies the corrupted American Dream. F. Scott Fitzgerald is not only condemning this idea of the American Dream, but stressing the point that it is a myth.