The Great Gatsby Novel Analysis

The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby, often referred to simply as Gatsby, is a novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925. Set in the fictional towns of West Egg and East Egg on prosperous Long Island, New York, the story takes place between the spring of 1922 and the autumn of 1923. The novel not only depicts the lives of these wealthy characters, their decadence and excess, their careless waste of money, but also shows their despair and loneliness, when the new things lose their meaning, and life shrinks down to the one central thought, "I want to get something more out of this thing called life.".

Plot Overview

Nick Carraway, the narrator of The Great Gatsby, moves into a house near the mansion of the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. Nick's cousin, Daisy Buchanan, and her husband Tom live across the bay in the more fashionable town of East Egg. One evening, while Nick is attending a party there, he meets Gatsby, who invites him to lunch, hoping that the introduction will improve his chances of winning back the love of Daisy with whom he fell in love before entering the armed forces during the First World War.

Gatsby recounts how he met Daisy just after arriving in Louisville, Kentucky, where she lived. He was poor at the time and used a false name – James Gatz. She became infatuated with him and married him within three months after meeting him. After the war, when Gatsby had become wealthy through illicit business dealings, they were reunited, but Daisy rejected his proposal and married Tom Buchanan instead. Gatsby hopes to rekindle the romance with Daisy by manipulating events so that she feels Tom has treated her badly enough for her to leave him.

Gatsby and Daisy begin an affair; however, Daisy is torn between her developing feelings for Gatsby and her sense of duty to Tom. Despite his wealth and charm, Gatsby cannot escape his past and remains alone even when surrounded by people. When it seems likely that Daisy may finally leave Tom, issues related to class, morality, social status, and corruption surface once again. The tragic conclusion reveals much about the characters and their motives, showing that happiness depends less upon success than in having a purpose worth living for.

Characters

Narrator

Nick Carraway serves as both the narrator of the story and the eyes through which readers see the world of Gatsby. As such, he provides context about Gatsby and its setting. In his closing remarks, he admits that he wishes he could remember Gatsby better than he does because although he lost touch with Gatsby after Daisy returned to her husband, the memory of those few days stands for him like the vanished boards of a summer cottage, to whom he would return if he might.

Gatsby

Jay Gatsby is one of the most famous characters in twentieth-century fiction. A self-made man, he became fabulously wealthy by being involved in illegal activities. He is known for throwing lavish parties, including his legendary annual event, the Green Light Party. Although he lacked a college education, Gatsby was an avid reader and developed a fascination for books and knowledge.

Daisy Buchanan

Daisy Buchanan is introduced to Gatsby through her cousin Nick Carraway. While she finds Gatsby charming and attractive, she is conflicted between her growing affection for him and her loyalty to her husband, Tom Buchanan. Her actions eventually lead to tragic consequences.

Tom Buchanan

Tom Buchanan is described as an aggressive, arrogant man who is "a brute" in domestic relations. His wife, Daisy, is unfaithful to him with Gatsby.

Major Symbolism

Symbolism plays an important role throughout The Great Gatsby. Some significant symbols in the novel include:

Eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg: These disapproving eyes represent cautionary signs along country roads warning against danger ahead. Their presence suggests that the society depicted in the novel is disappointing, deceitful, and filled with moral decay.
Green light: The green light is from Daisy's dock, signifying her as Gatsby's goal and dream. It represents hope, possibility, and desire. However, it remains beyond reach, creating a sense of loss and regret.
** Valley of Ashes**: This desolate area lies between West Egg and New York City, symbolizing the moral decay and emptiness of the world around the characters.

Themes

Some major themes explored in The Great Gatsby include:

Corruption: Corruption runs rampant throughout the novel in various forms. Characters engage in criminal activity, infidelity, dishonest business practices, and other immoral acts, demonstrating the moral decay of the era.
The Dream: Gatsby embodies the American Dream - starting off poor and becoming incredibly rich and successful. However, while it appears glamorous and beautiful from afar, it is ultimately hollow and unsatisfying.
Love and Loss: Love permeates the entire novel through the relationships of the characters. Yet, it always seems to result in loss and heartache. Gatsby's ultimate tragedy comes from his inability to win back Daisy despite his immense love for her.