The Great Gatsby: Characters, Symbolism, and the American Dream

"The Great Gatsby" is a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, published in 1925. The story is set in the summer of 1922 in the fictional towns of West Egg and East Egg on prosperous Long Island. It focuses on the character of Jay Gatsby and the American Dream.

Character Analysis

Jay Gatsby is the wealthy, mysterious man who is known for his lavish parties. He is in love with the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, who is married to Tom Buchanan. Gatsby is determined to win Daisy back, and his ultimate goal is to achieve the American Dream. Despite his wealth, Gatsby is an outsider, never fully accepted by the upper class society.

Nick Carraway, the narrator, is Gatsby's neighbor and friend. He is a young man from the Midwest who moves to West Egg to work in the bond business. Nick is observant and moral, providing the reader with a clear picture of the characters and their motivations.

Tom Buchanan is Daisy's husband and a wealthy, arrogant man who is also married to Myrtle Wilson. Tom is a former Yale football player, and he believes in the superiority of the old money families.

Symbolism

There are several symbols in "The Great Gatsby" that represent aspects of the American Dream. The green light at the end of Daisy's dock symbolizes Gatsby's hopes and dreams. It represents the idea that the American Dream is just out of reach, but always seem to be just beyond our grasp.

The Valley of Ashes represents the moral decay of society. It is a desolate area between West Egg and East Egg, symbolizing the moral decay of society.

The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg represent the moral decay of society. The giant billboard eyes are located in the Valley of Ashes, representing the moral decay of society.

American Dream

The American Dream is a central theme in "The Great Gatsby." It is the idea that anyone, regardless of their background, can achieve success and prosperity through hard work and determination. However, the novel shows that the American Dream is an illusion. Gatsby is a perfect example of this. He has achieved wealth and success, but he is still not truly happy. He is unable to achieve the love of Daisy, and he ultimately pays the price for his obsession.

The novel also shows that the American Dream is not accessible to everyone. The old money families, like the Buchanans, are accepted into society, while the new money families, like the Gatsbys, are not.

In conclusion, "The Great Gatsby" is a novel that explores the theme of the American Dream. It shows that the American Dream is an illusion, and that it is not accessible to everyone. The characters, symbolism, and themes of the novel all contribute to the overarching message of the novel.