To a large extent, I agree that the author F. Scott Fitzgerald is trying to show the illusions carried by the main characters reflecting to the nature of people in the particular period. According to the statement, the keywords are clearly "illusions" and "reality". The literal meaning of "illusions" is something that deceives by producing a false or misleading impression of reality, things may not be what they think (Dictionary.com). The literal meaning of "reality" is something that constitutes a real or actual thing, as distinguished from something that is merely apparent (Dictionary.com). From my point of view, it seems that the key theme of the story is about the comparison of illusions and reality, as readers are provided with a lot …show more content…
The personalities of the main characters may not match up to their wealth and status. Nick Carraway, the narrator of the story, switches from illusions to reality. In the beginning of the story, Nick was studying literature at Yale, he wanted to become a writer in his future. However, Nick decided to learn the bond business in New York, as everyone that he knew was also working in the same industry, his illusion is that bond business was flourishing and he may succeed by selling bonds. Unfortunately, he is not successful at all. Moreover, when Nick was young, his father gave him some advice on moral and spiritual standards, "[w]henever you feel like criticizing any one, just remember that all the people in this world haven 't had the advantages that you 've had"(p.3). Nick has an impression that he inclined to reserve all judgments, he became much more tolerant but there was still a limit. Until he met Gatsby, everything has changed. Initially, when Nick first met Gatsby, his illusion of Gatsby was mysterious and full of hope, he said "it was an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic …show more content…
Tom Buchanan, Daisy 's husband, who was a professional footballer. Referencing from the book, the author tends to show that Tom was showing off his power through wealthy, as in the past whether a man is successful or not people will determine by their wealth, instead of what kind of person he may be morally. The impression of people may think Tom is rich and respectful man, but in reality he is not, he is even a racist, sexist and violent to her wife. He said "[t]he idea is if we don 't look out the white race will be — will be utterly submerged" (p.16). In the scene when Tom and Nick went to Wilson 's garage, it is showing readers about the differences between upper class and lower class, and how upper class looks down to lower class. The valley of ashes symbolizes the absolute poverty and hopelessness at that time. Jordan, who was known as a golf champion, other may think that she was a elegant and strong golfer, but in reality she cheated in a golf match and while Myrtle was calling Tom during the meal, she told Nick to stop talking because she wanted to listen to the conversation, it tells us that Jordan loves to
In life, what we perceive tends to show misconception in how the thought plays out. A good example would be the character Jay Gatsby in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s American classic: The Great Gatsby. Gatsby was unable to distinguish between his love for Daisy, a reality, versus the illusion that he could recapture her love by establishing and inventing a fraudulent past. He believed he could repeat the past, and acquire a flaunting wealth. In the novel, Jay Gatsby seems incompetent in establishing a difference between the realities of his life versus the illusion he made out.
Nick Carroway is not a very judgmental person, in fact, he himself states that he withholds judgment so that he can get the entire story out of the person to whom he is listening. To say that Nick is both approving and disapproving is not suspiring, for Nick rarely looks at things from only one perspective. Nick finds Gatsby to be ignorantly honest, in that Gatsby could not fathom the idea of saying something without really meaning it. He respects Gatsby for his determination to fit in with the East Egg crowd, though Gatsby does not realize that he does not really fit in with them. On the other hand, Nick sees Gatsby to be excessively flashy and, in the words of Holden Caulfield, 'phony.' Gatsby's whole life is a lie from the moment he left behind the name James Gatz and became Jay Gatsby. Gatsby lies about his past to try to have people perceive him as an 'old money' guy when that really is not necessary. Gatsby's valiant efforts to lure Daisy are respectable, yet they show Gatsby's failure to accept reality and give up on his long lost dream.
“Me, I'm dishonest, and you can always trust a dishonest man to be dishonest. Honestly, it's the honest ones you have to watch out for.” This quote from Johnny Depp is his most famous quote. Johnny is a very well respected Hollywood actor and has become wise over his years. This quote is full of truth and is really thought provoking. People that you know are dishonest are hard to trust to do something, but at least you know that they are not trustworthy. Someone that you believe is trustworthy may be a dishonest person and you do not know it. So you put your trust in them and they take advantage of your trust and betray you. That is not always the case, but sadly it does happen more than you would know.
The narrator, Nick Carraway, is Gatsby's neighbor in West Egg. Nick is a young man from a prominent Midwestern family. Educated at Yale, he has come to New York to enter the bond business. In some sense, the novel is Nick's memoir, his unique view of the events of the summer of 1922; as such, his impressions and observations necessarily color the narrative as a whole. For the most part, he plays only a peripheral role in the events of the novel; he prefers to remain a passive observer.
“Every one suspects himself of one of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people I have ever known.“ This quote by Nick from The Great Gatsby ties well with The Great Gatsby’s theme: People may use dishonesty to get what they want, but in the end it may only serve to destroy them and the things and people they love. Outlined below are some examples where this theme can be found in the book.
Illusion Vs. Reality in The Great Gatsby "A confusion of the real with the ideal never goes unpunished," is how Goethe states not to mistake fantasy for reality. In the novel, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, many of the characters live in an illusory world, though few can see reality. Fitzgerald presents Jay Gatsby as a character who cannot see reality. Can't repeat the past?
The Great Gatsby is narrated by Nick Carraway. Nick tells the story of the things he experienced when he moved to New York City to work in the bonds business. The reader is told the story, which includes Nick’s perception and opinion in certain events. The reader wants to believe that Nick is a reliable narrator and he seems to be one, in the beginning. Nick describes himself as “one of the few honest people that I have ever known” (Fitzgerald, 59). Although, Nick thinks this of himself, there are many things in the story that hint otherwise. In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Nick is not a reliable narrator. This is seen through his negative judgments of others, his friendship with Gatsby, and because he does not know everything about Daisy and Gatsby.
Like the author Garrison Keillor once said “ I believe in looking reality in the face and denying it” ,but in this tale , isn’t very wise. In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, some of the character are in disillusionment, but the one that is constantly in it is Jay Gatsby.Although, people can do this, Gatsby tries to recreates the past and never considers Daisy’s reality.Through Gatsby’s choices, Fitzgerald displays his argument that people should accept reality .
What distinguishes a dream from reality? Many combine the two, often creating confusing and disappointing results. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald emphasizes the impact that reality has on an individual by examining the life of Jay Gatsby. This twentieth-century piece of literature holistically portrays the Jazz Age and accurately captures life in the 1920s. This decade was a time in which many individuals strove towards fulfilling the American Dream. The extravagant and lavish lifestyle which many people lived depicted their romantic desire for wealth. This constant greed and artificial attitude consequentially produced fantastic misconceptions of reality. Jay Gatsby’s life parallels the lives of those who lived during the 1920s because similarly to Gatsby, they too had no astonishing beginnings and created deceptions that were the only route to the American dream. The significance of understanding the difference between what is fantasy and what is reality is crucial, as Gatsby is the epitome of the result of dreams dictating a person’s actions. Fitzgerald suggests that fantasy never matches reality and successfully proves this by comparing the fantasy that Gatsby creates to reality.
At first, the only function of Nick in the novel seems to be to act as a reporter, telling us the truth by telling us his shrewd, objective perceptions. Then, as the novel progresses, it turns out that the opposite is the case, and he is siding with Gatsby to make this character stand above all others and shine. Nick Carraway could be one of the finest examples of reader manipulation in literature. But his sympathy towards Gatsby is exaggerated, not so much in actions, but in the much praised language of the novel.
From the beginning of The Great Gatsby by Francis Scott Fitzgerald, Nick Carraway is developed as a reliable narrator. His honesty and sense of duty are established as he remarks on his own objectivity and willingness to withhold judgment. However, as the book progresses and Nick’s relationship with Jay Gatsby grows more intimate, it is revealed that Nick is not as reliable as previously thought when it comes to Gatsby. Nick perceives Gatsby as pure and blameless, although much of Gatsby's persona is false. Because of his friendship and love for Gatsby, his view of the events is fogged and he is unable to look at the situation objectively.
In society, many people mistakably blind themselves from the truth of reality in order to achieve the materialistic things life offers. They become intrigued by these ideas and dreams of another life and turn it into an obsession, unable to understand the consequences. In the novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Jay Gatsby’s perception of life exemplifies this by allowing his dreams to overpower reality. His belief happiness can be found through wealth, love and possessions causes him to think everything should and will be capable of his reach. Motivated by obsession with love and success, Gatsby creates an impractical dream for himself and Daisy.
Nick Carraway, Gatsby’s neighbor and close friend, considers Gatsby to have achieved greatness. Nick sees greatness in Gatsby that he has never seen in any other man; unfortunately, all great characters do not always have happy endings. Gatsby’s ambition from a young age, along with his desire to please others, pave the road to his prosperity, but, ultimately, his enduring heroic love for Daisy, steers him to his demise. Several individuals mark Gatsby as a man of great wealth, with a beautiful estate, and an abundance of friends.
Fitzgerald effectively uses metaphors to entice the reader by creating visuals of scenes through descriptions, emotions, and feelings. When Nick describes the climax of the party, he portrays the air as “alive with chatter and laughter,” and that “laughter is easier minute by minute, spilled with prodigality,
perhaps even one of the greatest novels of all time. In order to be revered as a