What´s The Great Gatsby The Great American Novel?

The Great Gatsby is a well know American novel written in the mid 1920’s. But is The Great Gatsby “the great American novel?” The Great Gatsby is commonly referred to as “the great American novel” because of its depiction of greed, social interaction, and criminal enterprise in American society. Greed is depicted in this novel by the characters and their yearning for wealth. This book also depicts American social interaction among strangers, friends, and acquaintances. This book also depicts criminal enterprise in shadows and secrecy. The greed that is depicted in this novel begins with Jay Gatsby.

This novel depicts greed on several occasions through out the novel. One example of this is when Gatsby is left twenty five thousand dollars by Dan Cody as a legacy, but from what one is led to believe Ella Kaye refused to let

him have it and took legal action to secure her receiving the twenty five thousand. In addition to the other money one would assume was left to her by Dan Cody (108 Fitzgerald). Another example of greed in The Great Gatsby is Gatsby’s lasting yearn to maintain the luxurious lifestyle that he was able to adapt to and live preceding the death of Dan Cody (108 Fitzgerald). Also the way that one understands that Gatsby has generated his wealth known, as bootlegging is unlawful and only further depicts Gatsby’s greed (143 Fitzgerald). Finally, Tom Buchanan is greedy when he believes it is reasonable o be pursuing two love interest both Daisy and his Mistress, Myrtle Wilson (30 Fitzgerald). While this book depicts greed in American society it also depicts social interaction.
This novel depicts interaction between the wealthy, the wealthy and the non-wealthy, and interaction between friends and strangers.

One example of social interaction between the wealthy is at Gatsby’s first party (48 Fitzgerald). One example of social interaction between the wealthy and the non-wealthy is when we first see Tom speak to Mr. Wilson (28 Fitzgerald). Also, when Nick first meets Jordan he is very polite this is an example interaction between strangers (21 Fitzgerald). While social interaction was shown in this novel we also saw criminal enterprise.

In the great Gatsby criminal enterprise is visible throughout the novel. One example of this is when Gaby is pulled over by the police officer and the officer apologizes as though he is in the wrong (74 Fitzgerald). Another example is when Mr. Wolfshiem is able to get Gatsby a whole new staff for the purposes of being discreet (172 Fitzgerald). A third and final example is when the employees of jay Gatsby call after he has passed away in order to receive help getting someone out of legal trouble. One is led to believe that they got into by selling alcohol at their drugstore (177

Fitzgerald).
The Great Gatsby is frequently mentioned as “the great American novel” because of its portrayal of greed, public interaction, and entrepreneurial criminal activity in American society. Based on this information The Great Gatsby is “the great American novel” without a doubt. Fitzgerald depicts greed in American society in and throughout all of the Great Gatsby by the reasons for the characters look to attain wealth. Also, Fitzgerald depicts American social interaction in The Great Gatsby by showing how strangers, friends, coworkers, and people in general interact amongst one another. Finally, Fitzgerald depicts criminal enterprise in The Great Gatsby by describing the way in which Wolfshiem and Gatsby go about attaining their wealth. These are the reason why The Great Gatsby is commonly referred to as “The Great American Novel.”