Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.
The Decline of the American Dream in the 1920s
On the surface,
Fitzgerald portrays the 1920s as an era of decayed social and moral values, evidenced in its overarching cynicism, greed, and empty pursuit of pleasure. The reckless jubilance that led to decadent parties and wild jazz music—epitomized in
When World War I ended in 1918, the generation of young Americans who had fought the war became intensely disillusioned, as the brutal carnage that they had just faced made the Victorian social morality of early-twentieth-century America seem like stuffy, empty hypocrisy. The dizzying rise of the stock market in the aftermath of the war led to a sudden, sustained increase in the national wealth and a newfound materialism, as people began to spend and consume at unprecedented levels. A person from any social background could, potentially, make a fortune, but the American aristocracy—families with old wealth—scorned the newly rich industrialists and speculators. Additionally, the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment in 1919, which banned the sale of alcohol, created a thriving underworld designed to satisfy the massive demand for bootleg liquor among rich and poor alike.
Fitzgerald positions the characters of
As Fitzgerald saw it (and as Nick explains in Chapter 9), the American dream was originally about discovery, individualism, and the pursuit of happiness. In the 1920s depicted in the novel, however, easy money and relaxed social values have corrupted this dream, especially on the East Coast. The main plotline of the novel reflects this assessment, as Gatsby’s dream of loving Daisy is ruined by the difference in their respective social statuses, his resorting to crime to make enough money to impress her, and the rampant materialism that characterizes her lifestyle.
Additionally, places and objects in
Just as Americans have given America meaning through their dreams for their own lives, Gatsby instills Daisy with a kind of idealized perfection that she neither deserves nor possesses. Gatsby’s dream is ruined by the unworthiness of its object, just as the American dream in the 1920s is ruined by the unworthiness of its object—money and pleasure. Like 1920s Americans in general, fruitlessly seeking a bygone era in which their dreams had value, Gatsby longs to re-create a vanished past—his time in Louisville with Daisy—but is incapable of doing so. When his dream crumbles, all that is left for Gatsby to do is die; all Nick can do is move back to Minnesota, where American values have not decayed.
The Hollowness of the Upper Class
One of the major topics explored in
What the old aristocracy possesses in taste, however, it seems to lack in heart, as the East Eggers prove themselves careless, inconsiderate bullies who are so used to money’s ability to ease their minds that they never worry about hurting others. The Buchanans exemplify this stereotype when, at the end of the novel, they simply move to a new house far away rather than condescend to attend Gatsby’s funeral. Gatsby, on the other hand, whose recent wealth derives from criminal activity, has a sincere and loyal heart, remaining outside Daisy’s window until four in the morning in Chapter 7 simply to make sure that Tom does not hurt her. Ironically, Gatsby’s good qualities (loyalty and love) lead to his death, as he takes the blame for killing Myrtle rather than letting Daisy be punished, and the Buchanans’ bad qualities (fickleness and selfishness) allow them to remove themselves from the tragedy not only physically but psychologically.
Class
In the monied world of
The American Dream
The
Love and Marriage
The ideals of love and marriage are profoundly strained in
FAQs
What is the universal theme of The Great Gatsby? ›
The Great Gatsby, by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a novel set on Long Island in the 1920s that uses its characters to explore themes of materialism and the American Dream.
What is the overall meaning of The Great Gatsby? ›Every character in The Great Gatsby draws inspiration from the American Dream's promise of wealth and prosperity. At the same time, the novel itself critiques the notion of the American Dream. Readers may end the novel wondering if the American Dream is actually attainable at all.
What is a good thesis statement for The Great Gatsby? ›The thesis explores the manner in which F. Scott Fitzgerald highlights the failure of the American Dream through the lives of his characters. Gatsby's dream is to win Daisy back and so he relentlessly pursues what he did not have, namely material wealth. In the process he loses himself and fails to attain his dream.
Who is the most moral character in The Great Gatsby? ›A moral voice
Nick can therefore be seen as the moral compass of the story. He refuses Gatsby's offer of a dubious scheme that could make him a nice bit of money . When he meets Jordan, nothing happens between them at first because of the interior rules that act as brakes on my desires… .
In The Great Gatsby, love plays a vital role in the play. It is a theme that colours and permeates all the relationships in one way or another. Many have misunderstood the novel as a simple tragic romance, which ends with the main character's death - an outcome of many romantic tragedies.
What is the most essential symbol in The Great Gatsby? ›The Green Light at the end of Daisy's dock is by far the most important symbol in the novel. An artificial light that flashes to make incoming boats aware of the dock, it is key in understanding the novel. The light is symbolic of Gatsby's American Dream; his pursuit to “change the past'' and regain Daisy's love.
How is money a theme in The Great Gatsby? ›In the Great Gatsby, money is one of the majors themes in the book. Not only how much money someone has, but how they went about getting that money. Fitzgerald makes it very clear that the wealth that Tom and Daisy has is superior to the wealth that Jay Gatsby has.
Why is The Great Gatsby so important? ›It embodies the American spirit, the American will to reinvent oneself." West says it is no coincidence that The Great Gatsby is probably the American novel most often taught in the rest of the world. "It is our novel, how we present ourselves. ... He captured and distilled the essence of the American spirit."
What is Nick's final message to the reader? ›Nicks Final message to the reader is that society is composed of Boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."
What does Nick Carraway represent? ›What does Nick Carraway symbolize? Nick symbolizes the outsider's perspective of the way things were in the 1920s. He is not as wealthy as the other characters in the novel and thus recognizes how morally corrupt they are.
What does Gatsby's house symbolize? ›
Gatsby's mansion symbolizes two broader themes of the novel. First, it represents the grandness and emptiness of the 1920s boom: Gatsby justifies living in it all alone by filling the house weekly with "celebrated people." Second, the house is the physical symbol of Gatsby's love for Daisy.
What is The Great Gatsby message about the American Dream? ›The Great Gatsby depicts the American Dream as one of materialism. It shows that, while wealth and extravagance may appear to equal happiness to an outsider, money cannot buy the characters love, and thus, the American Dream is a fallible concept, just out of reach to even the richest characters.
What does the green light symbolize in The Great Gatsby? ›The green light
Nick first sees Gatsby stretching his arms towards a green light at the end of Daisy's dock. Here, the green light is a symbol of hope.
Gatsby's actions were for the purpose of gaining wealth and power to attract Daisy, and this represents the American Dream taking precedence over him. In his attempts to charm Daisy, he ends up corrupting himself because he's living in a fantasy that is unattainable.
Is Nick in love with Gatsby? ›In that novel, Nick loves Gatsby, the erstwhile James Gatz of North Dakota, for his capacity to dream Jay Gatsby into being and for his willingness to risk it all for the love of a beautiful woman. In a queer reading of Gatsby, Nick doesn't just love Gatsby, he's in love with him.
Why is Nick Carraway immoral? ›Nick Carraway is not moral by any means; he is responsible for an affair between two major characters, Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. Jay Gatsby does show some moral qualities when he attempts to go back and rescue Myrtle after she had been hit by Daisy. Overall Gatsby is unquestionably an immoral person.
Who is real antagonist in Great Gatsby? ›Tom Buchanan is the main antagonist in The Great Gatsby . An aggressive and physically imposing man, Tom represents the biggest obstacle standing between Gatsby and Daisy's reunion. For much of the novel Tom exists only as an idea in Gatsby's mind.
Did Gatsby truly love Daisy? ›Gatsby fell in love with Daisy and the wealth she represents, and she with him (though apparently not to the same excessive extent), but he had to leave for the war and by the time he returned to the US in 1919, Daisy has married Tom Buchanan.
Does Daisy love Tom or Gatsby? ›Although Daisy may have loved Gatsby once, she does not love him more than the wealth, status, and freedom that she has with Tom.
Why is Gatsby obsessed with Daisy? ›He is obsessed with her, he idolizes her. Daisy is an embodiment of his dreams more than she is a real woman. But indeed she is real and she can't choose between Jay and Tom, she loved Tom Buchanan at the beginning of their marriage and she confesses it to Gatsby.
What does Daisy Buchanan symbolize? ›
Daisy Buchannan is made to represent the lack of virtue and morality that was present during the 1920s. She is the absolute center of Gatsby's world right up to his death, but she is shown to be uncaring and fickle throughout the novel.
Why does Daisy cry about the shirts? ›Daisy cries because she has never seen such beautiful shirts, and their appearance makes her emotional. The scene solidifies her character and her treatment of Gatsby. She is vain and self-serving, only concerned with material goods.
How is irony used in The Great Gatsby? ›In perhaps one of the great ironies of the novel, Daisy kills Myrtle when Myrtle runs in front of Gatsby's car. It is a hit and run. The irony is that the wife kills her husband's mistress without knowing that it's his mistress. This irony leads the novel toward the conclusion.
What does West Egg symbolize? ›F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, "The Great Gatsby," uses the fictional locations of West Egg, East Egg, and the Valley of Ashes to represent some of New York's historical class disparities. West Egg is home to the nouveau riche, or "New Money." East Egg residents come from generations of familial wealth.
Who found Gatsby's body? ›Nick finds Gatsby's body floating in the pool and, while starting to the house with the body, the gardener discovers Wilson's lifeless body off in the grass. Chapter 8 displays the tragic side of the American dream as Gatsby is gunned down by George Wilson.
Why did Gatsby's American dream fail? ›Obsessed with the idea of having Daisy's love back unconditionally, he forgot to pay attention to the moral and social principles. Instead of being a noble wealthy man, he became more like Tom and Daisy, careless people. The representations of parties, automobiles and houses resulted in the failure of Gatsby's dream.
How is The Great Gatsby still relevant today? ›Despite being a commentary on a different age and people, Gatsby's story is as relevant today as it was when it was written. Because it explores universal themes — human follies, the hopelessness of societal constructs and man's struggle with time and fate.
What is Gatsby obsessed with? ›Gatsby's obsession for money, “the instrument which will enable him to fulfil his dream”, is closely related to his dream of regaining “the peace Daisy once gave him”, and with this desire goes the obsession to repeat the past.
Why is The Great Gatsby a tragedy? ›The Great Gatsby can be considered a tragedy in that it revolves around a larger-than-life hero whose pursuit of an impossible goal blinds him to reality and leads to his violent death.
Why did no one attend Gatsby's funeral? ›Nobody came” (Fitzgerald 174) No one came to his funeral because they had nothing to get out of it. Fitzgerald is making the comment that humans are naturally self-centered. We see this before Gatsby even dies though, “I like to come,” Lucille said.
Why couldn't Nick come to Gatsby's funeral? ›
Why couldn't Nick get anyone to come to Gatsby's funeral? Gatsby had no close friends. All of the party people were too shallow to hardly even meet him.
What were Gatsby's last words? ›This is going to be an exegesis on the famous last line of The Great Gatsby: “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
Is The Great Gatsby LGBT? ›The protagonist of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby was queer, while the modern film version of him is decidedly straight, says Noah Berlatsky in The Atlantic.
Who is the most admirable character in The Great Gatsby? ›The most admirable character in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is, without a doubt, Jay Gatsby. Jay Gatsby was the main character in the novel, but not the narrator. It is revealed that Gatsby did not always have a lot of fortune, and he grew up with a poor background.
Why is Nick attracted to Jordan? ›In the first chapter of The Great Gatsby, Nick finds himself immediately attracted to Jordan Baker. Much of his description of her is physical. Slender and charming are two terms he uses to describe her and he also admires her discontentment and apparent superiority to the situation she is in.
What does Gatsby's pink suit symbolize? ›Gatsby's pink suit represents the love he still has for Daisy and the hope he has that they will be able to start a life together. It taints the white steps with that pink color. This shows the purity in Daisy is being tainted because of the love she has with Gatsby is causing her to cheat on her husband and lie.
What does cheating symbolize in The Great Gatsby? ›First, based on structural analysis, it can be concluded that the character of the affair that appears in the novel The Great Gatsby, which has a moral message that this novel involves love and forbidden lust which creates disloyalty between one and other.
What do cars symbolize in Great Gatsby? ›What role do automobiles play in The Great Gatsby? For many of Fitzgerald's characters, the automobile represents American progress. Fitzgerald, however, remains unconvinced. Despite its superficial role as an emblem of man's ingenuity, Fitzgerald suggests that the automobile is actually a tool of destruction.
Was Great Gatsby a dream or a lie? ›Is Gatsby a Lie or a Dream? While the book doesn't speak of the story being a dream, the truth is that Gatsby himself is driven by his dreams. Gatsby dreams of being incredibly wealthy and living a beautiful life with the love of his life, Daisy. The lie is that Gatsby earned his money through bootlegging of liquor.
How does Nick represent the American Dream? ›Nick believes the American Dream is no longer alive and the reason for it is that we can't overcome the past . Nick's past , not having an upper class family , is the reason why he is never going to be equal to East Egg people (Old money ) .
What do Gatsby's shirts symbolize? ›
Gatsby's clothing symbolizes his wealth through his torn shirt, his silver and gold suit, and his English shirts. In Gatsby's past he wore a torn shirt which represents his lack of wealth.
What does the owl eyed man symbolize in The Great Gatsby? ›Owls represent wisdom as well as a symbol for death. This man is a symbol for both within the novel. The man seems to represent the entity of Death or is at least a harbinger or omen for Gatsby's death.
What does valley of ashes symbolize? ›The Valley of Ashes
It represents the moral and social decay that results from the uninhibited pursuit of wealth, as the rich indulge themselves with regard for nothing but their own pleasure.
It is ironic that Daisy was the one that killed her, since Myrtle was having an affair with her husband, Tom. This shows how the desire for a luxurious life and having the American dream, only caused destruction in this novel and destroyed someone's life.
What are the themes of The Great Gatsby? ›In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald offers up commentary on a variety of themes -- justice, power, greed, betrayal, the American dream, and so on. Of all the themes, perhaps none is more well developed than that of social stratification.
What does The Great Gatsby ultimately suggest about human perception? ›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.
What is the theme of The Great Gatsby quizlet? ›In The Great Gatsby, the American Dream is supposed to stand for independence and the ability to make something of one's self with hard work, but it ends up being more about materialism and selfish pursuit of pleasure. No amount of hard work can change where Gatsby came from, and old money knows it.
What is the most essential symbol in The Great Gatsby? ›The Green Light at the end of Daisy's dock is by far the most important symbol in the novel. An artificial light that flashes to make incoming boats aware of the dock, it is key in understanding the novel. The light is symbolic of Gatsby's American Dream; his pursuit to “change the past'' and regain Daisy's love.
How is the American Dream a theme in The Great Gatsby? ›The American Dream is the hope that anyone can earn success if they work hard enough. Gatsby's love for Daisy led him to achieve extravagant wealth. In the sense of rising up social rank and obtaining financial success, Gatsby achieved the American Dream.
What is the most important quote in The Great Gatsby? ›"Why of course you can!" He looked around him wildly, as if the past were lurking here in the shadow of his house, just out of reach of his hand. This is probably Gatsby's single most famous quote.
What message is Fitzgerald conveying about the class structure of the 1920s? ›
By creating distinct social classes — old money, new money, and no money — Fitzgerald sends strong messages about the elitism running throughout every strata of society. The first and most obvious group Fitzgerald attacks is, of course, the rich.
Who coined the term Jazz Age quizlet? ›What was the jazz age"? Term coined by F. Scott Fitzgerald to describe life in the 1920's.
When was the Great Gatsby published? ›The Great Gatsby, third novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, published in 1925 by Charles Scribner's Sons.
What does Daisy Buchanan symbolize? ›Daisy Buchannan is made to represent the lack of virtue and morality that was present during the 1920s. She is the absolute center of Gatsby's world right up to his death, but she is shown to be uncaring and fickle throughout the novel.
Why does Daisy cry about the shirts? ›Daisy cries because she has never seen such beautiful shirts, and their appearance makes her emotional. The scene solidifies her character and her treatment of Gatsby. She is vain and self-serving, only concerned with material goods.
How is irony used in The Great Gatsby? ›In perhaps one of the great ironies of the novel, Daisy kills Myrtle when Myrtle runs in front of Gatsby's car. It is a hit and run. The irony is that the wife kills her husband's mistress without knowing that it's his mistress. This irony leads the novel toward the conclusion.
How is Gatsby's death symbolic of the American Dream? ›The American dream expounds that through hard-work anyone can find success and happiness. However, when Gatsby died, he eliminated this possibility for all the characters.
Why is The Great Gatsby so important? ›Despite being a commentary on a different age and people, Gatsby's story is as relevant today as it was when it was written. Because it explores universal themes — human follies, the hopelessness of societal constructs and man's struggle with time and fate.
How does The Great Gatsby relate to current society? ›Gatsby tries to control people with his wealth and it works we see this happening today people try to use their money to take advantage of others and to fit in. The book describes ways on how money rules the world and people and we still see cases of this today. People also are divided by money today in many places.
Who found Gatsby's body? ›Nick finds Gatsby's body floating in the pool and, while starting to the house with the body, the gardener discovers Wilson's lifeless body off in the grass. Chapter 8 displays the tragic side of the American dream as Gatsby is gunned down by George Wilson.
What is the meaning of the last line in The Great Gatsby? ›
Jay Gatsby built a life of material excess in hopes of winning Daisy's heart, but in building a life this way, our narrator reminds us that no matter how hard he beats against the current, he will only be “borne back ceaselessly into the past.” Daisy's love, which hides behind the green light, will continue to elude ...
What is Gatsby's catchphrase? ›Gatsby has one catchphrase that he loves using: 'Old sport!' .