The Great Gatsby is a story about a man?s great love for a woman and it?s unfortunate consequences. It also concerns the nature of wealth and its influence on people. This book was said to be F. Scott Fitzgerald?s ?finest novel?. In this essay, I will discuss the many themes as well as others of the story. I will also discuss the matter, settings, and characters. The story begins with the narrator, Nick Carraway, describing him as ?moralistic?. He also tells the reader that he has a gift that enables him to not be judgmental. We learn that Nick is moving from the west to the east attracted to the values of wealth and sophistication which he later learns were false. The story of someone trying to move and start a new life again is a common subject to which everyone can relate. At one point all of us have wanted to get away from our regular lives and make a fresh start, whether attracted to a certain location by appearance or reputation. This is exactly what Nick does, he is bored with his life in the west and goes to the east under the pretense that he hopes to learn the bonding business. Two important locations in this story are the East Egg and the West Egg. They symbolize the ?new rich? and the ?old rich?.
The East Eggers are the established rich who see the new rich as a threat to the entire structure of society. Contrasting them are the West Eggers who are the newly rich and have a flamboyant way of showing of their money. The symbolism of each egg is that both look identical at a distance, as are both of the groups of the people who inhabit each egg. However, when looked at more closely the eggs are extremely different in every way except size and shape, as are their inhabitants whose only similarity is their wealth. A common theme among this book is the effect of wealth on people. This is an obvious problem of people today as it was during the time that the story was written. Fitzgerald portrays the wealthy, both old and new, as extremely foolish and take too much faith in their money. One of the main characters, Gatsby, fits the mold of the foolish West Eggers and is confident that his new money will help him fulfill his dream. He is helplessly in love with a married friend of Nick?s who lives in the East Egg. Gatsby is sure that he can buy back the past or that it can be recovered for him simply because of his recent wealth. Although part of his dream does seem to come true for him, the reader realizes at the end of the book that it wasn?t really and no matter what you do, the past is gone.
The Essay on West Germany Government East Republic
This European country grew from a loose federation of states into one of the most powerful nations in the world. Germany is located in the very heart of Europe, bordered by the nine other countries. It became a divided nation after its overwhelming defeat in World War II. Following its surrender in 1945, Germany was occupied by military forces of the Soviet Union, France, Great Britain, and the ...
This subject in the book is universal. Everyone at one point in his or her lives have wished or believed that the past could be recovered. Some people may have even thought like Gatsby and tried to buy it back, but unfortunately as Nick pointed out to Gatsby that it couldn?t be done. The story goes into great detail about the people involved in the story. Fitzgerald uses the different settings to either compare or contrast their different personalities. At the beginning of the story, Nick gives describes himself with great detail in every way, except for his physical appearance, which allows us to concentrate on his personality traits more. By offering so much information on Huck, we are able to foreshadow how he will interact with different people throughout the book. When the other characters are introduced, however, more of their physical appearance is given than their personality traits. This contributes to the fact that all these characters never change during the book, besides Nick they all remain stagnant. This proceeds to lead many of them to their downfall. The scope of this story is mainly confined to the West Egg, East Egg and New York City. Although many references are made to the east, the story takes place mainly in the west.
The ?real world? is fairly large however, because most of the characters talk of their travels to other parts of the world. The story begins as the narrator, Nick Carraway, moves from his home in Minnesota to New York. He goes under the pretense that he is going to learn the bond business, but he feels as if he is in the ?ragged center of the universe? and is bored. When he gets to New York, he plans to have a roommate but at the last minute ends up living by himself, in a house in the West Egg. The West Egg is the home of the ?new rich?, a group of people who love to show off their recently made fortune. And Nick?s mysterious next-door neighbor, Jay Gatsby, is absolutely no exception. We learn that Gatsby lives in huge mansion and throws wild and lavish parties. As Nick describes these weekly parties, the reader is able to see that Gatsby seemingly has an unlimited budget. One night Nick drives out to the East Egg, which is the home of the ?old rich?, to see his cousin, Daisy Buchanan and her husband Tom, who went to school with Nick at Yale. While he?s there Nick is introduced to Jordan Baker, a professional golfer who Nick will soon begin to date. At this meeting Jordan tells Nick that Tom is cheating on Daisy with another woman, Myrtle Wilson.
The Essay on The Great Gatsby Daisy Tom Myrtle 2
... Hotel. The men argue, and even though Gatsby forces Daisy to say she has never loved Tom, she soon takes it back. She does ... to be directly across the bay from Daisy Buchanan. He gives his wild, extravagant parties and drives his flashy automobiles in hopes ... meets her there. On the night of the party that Nick attends, Tom grows angry with Myrtle for saying Daisy's name and ...
When Nick finds out about Tom?s affair he is not greatly surprised, though it takes a few minutes to understand when Jordan tells him. This incident shows how Nick is not judgmental, instead of commenting on his opinion of Tom after he discovers this, he simply states that he is not surprised. Nick is soon invited to one of Gatsby?s great parties. At the party, we see through his eyes the people there and their personalities. Most of the people that attend Gatsby?s parties are involved in movies or ?new money?. Nick also learns that many are not invited and just show up with other people and most show up and leave without even meeting their host. Nick soon learns more about his neighbor, and begins to spend more time with Jordan also. Nick goes to the city one day with Tom and unwillingly meets Tom?s girlfriend, Myrtle, who contrasts Daisy completely. As Nick describes her, the reader learns that she is married, yet is the perfect match for Tom because she of her single-mindedness and her selfish desires. Nick learns from Jordan that Gatsby knew Daisy from five years before when they were in love and Gatsby still loves her deeply. The main reason for his wild parties was to get her attention and impress her.
The Essay on Great Gatsby Nick Dream Daisy
In, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the story is brought to us through a "flawed" narrator, Nick Carraway. It is through his eyes and ears that we form our opinions of the other characters. This makes the audience blind to any discrimination or bias he might have towards the other characters; so Fitzgerald knowingly tries to establish Nick as a trust worthy source. This is important ...
At Gatsby?s request, Nick arranges for Daisy and him to meet. Although the meeting was uncomfortable at first, soon the two rekindle their love and they begin to have an affair. As soon as their affair begins, Gatsby stops having his famous parties because the only reason for the parties was to impress Daisy and now he has her. Although she does attend one of his parties she does not enjoy herself at all. This is ironic because the whole point of Gatsby?s parties was for Daisy and she doesn?t like them. The subject where Gatsby uses his money and newfound wealth to achieve things is repetitive throughout the whole book. Not only Gatsby but also everyone in this story who can use their status to gain possessions or people will do it. However Tom discovers Daisy?s affair and confronts Gatsby at a hotel in New York with Daisy, Jordan and Nick as witnesses. Tom tells Gatsby that he and Daisy have a history that Gatsby would never understand. Tom also reveals that Gatsby made his fortune illegally by bootlegging illegal alcohol. Gatsby responds by declaring that Daisy loves him and never loved Tom. But he is greatly upset when Daisy can not profess that she never loved Tom. She does not want to make a decision and pleads to go home, but Gatsby insists that she declare her love, for fulfillment of his ?dream?.
It is because of this that she finally goes back to Tom who realizes that he is now in control of the situation. To prove his confidence, he sends Daisy back to the East Egg with Gatsby. After they leave, Nick seems to remember that it is his thirtieth birthday, a turning point in his life. This event is compared and contrasted with Gatsby?s turning point in his life also the same day, where his dream died. When Nick, Jordan and Tom are driving back from New York, they discover that Myrtle was struck by Gatsby?s car and killed. When they reach the East Egg, Nick learns that Daisy was driving the car when it hit Myrtle, but Gatsby is willing to take the blame to protect Daisy. The next day, an upset Tom tells Myrtle?s husband who is stricken with grief over his wife?s death. That Gatsby was the driver of the car. Myrtle?s husband goes in search of Gatsby?s house and when he finds Gatsby, he kills him and then himself. Even though Nick said he is disgusted with Gatsby, he still arranges a small funeral for him. Gatsby?s death shocks and saddens Nick greatly and he decides to see it as his duty to make as many people as he can to come to the funeral. However Daisy and Tom have left the East Egg and are nowhere to be found.
The Essay on Great Gatsby Nick Pride Tom
Pride in the Great Gatsby Adam Bussey English IIIA, Period 3 5/26/99 Adam Bussey Mrs. Forchion English IIIA, Period 3 26 May 1999 Outline Thesis: F. Scott Fitzgerald uses Nick Carraway in the Great Gatsby to analyze pride and its effects in a man's life. I. Nick tells the reader about his background and family history. II. Nick Carraway's interactions between the many characters in the novel show ...
Nick is disgusted that a man who once had so many people attend his great parties, has so little friends. In the end the only people that are able to come to Gatsby?s funeral are Nick, and Gatsby?s father, and a man who once came to Gatsby?s parties and surprised at the few people there. Gatsby?s father is grief-stricken at the news of his son?s death. Yet while staying at his son?s mansion, is extremely proud of his son?s success. He shows Nick a copy of Gatsby?s ?schedule? which shows how Gatsby was hard working and had a need for adventure. At the end of the book, Nick ends his relationship with Jordan although still ?half in love with her?. He then moves back home away from the disgust he has with Daisy, Tom, and everybody else. And although Nick disapproved of Gatsby?s life, he admired the hope in which Gatsby pursued his dream. The main protagonist of this novel is Nick Carraway. At the beginning of the story, he tells us that he is not judgmental. This is proved throughout the entire book. And we though we learn very little of his physical appearance, we learn much about his personality and virtues. We learn that Nick comes from a prominent family from Minnesota, and that he has just returned from the war.
As Nick describes his friends, it is obvious that he is very tolerant. He talks of all their various negative qualities yet is accepting of their behavior. One example of this is when he realizes that Jordan is ?incurably dishonest?, he says that he was ?casually sorry? and then forgot. A major theme in the book is how this changes dramatically. Although he is passive about his friend?s behavior at the beginning of the book, by the end he is so disgusted with their behavior that he stops talking with them and moves back to his old home. He is especially shocked when he sees the reaction of everybody at Myrtle?s death. Tom acts as if he has lost a possession rather than a person, and Jordan and Daisy seem to be unaffected. Another main character is Gatsby who motivates Nick towards his change. Gatsby does not change throughout this book unlike Nick, but this is because he devotes his life to fulfillment of this ?dream? he created when he was younger. But unfortunately he believes that the way to obtain this dream is through money. He also has a personal vision, which is based on his belief that time can be ?fixed? and the past is never gone forever. He also believes that to obtain this it is through wealth.
The Review on The Great Gatsby : Nick Carraway’s Perception
Every character in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, holds significant symbolic meaning, but none support the theme of Easterners compared to Westerners as wholly as Nick Carraway. In an impartial manner, Nick narrates and states his opinion on the events in the novel. Nick’s upbringing and simplistic way of thinking juxtapose with the debauchery of the East. Fitzgerald uses the ...
Yet in the end, it is through these ?dreams? that leads up to his downfall. Tom represents the ?morals and values? of the ?old rich?, in contrast with Gatsby who represents the ?new rich?. Tom?s lack of integrity also contrasts with Nick who is full of integrity. But like Gatsby Tom fails to change throughout the book, despite the loss of a lover and the almost loss of his wife. Even though he knows that he is responsible for the fact that Myrtle?s husband killed Gatsby, he shows no great emotion about it concluding, ?he had it coming?. And we realize that it is never revealed to him that it was Daisy driving the car. Daisy was also an important character who failed to change during the book. Although she is beautiful in physical appearance, it contrasts with her personality, which is shallow and self-centered. And although she fits in perfectly with Gatsby?s dream, it is her that ends it so well. She shows no remorse about Gatsby?s death though she knew it should have been her in his place. The point of view is first person. Nick is the narrator from which we learn about the other main characters. Although he is involved with the other main characters he comments that he is ?both within and without? of the action.
However he is the one who brought Daisy and Gatsby together. By Nick being the narrator, he offers an often-nonjudgmental look at the situations. But towards the end of the book, this begins to change as he starts to get disgusted with the other characters behaviors. As Nick observes the behaviors of both the West Eggers and the East Eggers, the reader can tell the opinions that Fitzgerald has about the effects of wealth. He views both groups as foolish and often leading to their own downfall. The setting in this novel is the 1920?s a time where many changes were occurring. This affects the story as the ?old rich? try to adjust to the ?new rich?. The difference between the east and the west also contributes to the story. The east is seen as refined, and new, while in the west things are traditional and rarely changed. Toward the end of the book, Nick comments that he will be happy to get back to the west where it is ?conventional?. Although he does comment that ?Tom and Gatsby, Daisy and Jordan and I, were all Westerners, and perhaps we possessed some deficiency in common which made us subtly unadaptable to Eastern life.
The Essay on Great Gatsby 3 Nick Character Daisy
By: F. Scott Fitzgerald Write an essay about the character and function of Nick Carraway. Despite the title, Nick Carraway is the first character we meet, and appropriately his role in The Great Gatsby is crucial; without him the story would lack balance and insight. The first chapter is primarily dedicated in establishing his personality and position in the book, then moving on to Tom and Daisy. ...
Bibliography:
n/a
