The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby and the human response It takes a great writer and a great book to make it onto USNews magazine's Top 100 Books of All Time. Holding a close second to James Joyce's Ulysses is F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. This novel features almost every raw human emotion imaginable: happiness, depression, anger, love, and jealousy. Fitzgerald's creation is also very appealing to readers because it may or may not reflect things they may have experienced or will experience in the future. It is a glimpse into America's past and a portrait of the American dream. This book is said to be Fitzgerald's greatest book because it plays on two important themes: a promise of new beginnings and class differences.This novel takes place in the "Roaring Twenties," as Nick Carraway calls it. Carraway himself is a young and affluent Midwesterner who believes he will find his niche in New York. He moves into a giant swinging bachelor pad in West Egg right on the water. The mysterious Mr. Gatsby, whom Nick has not met, throws wild parties at his mansion. Nick also has acquaintances in East Egg, a more posh borough. His cousin Daisy and her husband Tom live there, along with Tom's secret lover, Myrtle Wilson. Nick, Tom, and Daisy
Another important theme in this book is class differences. The novel gives readers a good idea of what it was like to live in the 1920s. The green light that Gatsby looked at from his backyard was a symbol of this, to follow his dream. These characters, most prominent being Daisy and Tom Buchanan, believe that they are above other classes and therefore the law. Tragedy ensues when Myrtle Wilson is run over by Daisy (who was driving) and Gatsby, in Tom's car. On the other hand, Gatsby worked hard using his own skill to acquire his fortune. This explains why Gatsby was always unhappy and never content, because he was never with people who cared about him. Myrtle's husband is crushed, and goes out to find Gatsby. Although a bit slow at the beginning, this book reached a climax when it was found that Myrtle Wilson was hit. It also teaches the reader that everyone has flaws, no matter how rich or socially advantaged. Only Nick, a few servants, and Gatsby's father attend his funeral. It was hard to consider himself a member of the upper crust because he was not born as one. Most of the characters in The Great Gatsby were born into or bred for wealth. Jay Gatsby died with a miserable funeral, just for a chance at a better life.
Common topics in this essay:
Jay Gatsby,
Myrtle Wilson,
Fitzgerald's Gatsby,
Gatsby Tom's,
Nick Gatsby,
Daisy Myrtle's,
Nick Carraway,
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East Egg,
Gatsby Nick,
myrtle wilson,
class differences,
jay gatsby,
married tom,
promise beginnings,
american dream,
nick gatsby,
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