Disillusionment In The Great Gatsby

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The Great Gatsby is a novel set in the 1920s that follows the story of Nick Carraway, a young man who moves to Long Island to conduct business. In the beginning, Nick's life takes an unexpected turn when he meets Jay Gatsby, a mysterious and wealthy man who throws extravagant parties but remains isolated from guests. As Nick becomes more acquainted with Gatsby, he uncovers how Gatsby's past influences his present decisions regarding Daisy Buchanan--a married woman previously involved in a romantic relationship with him. Despite their separation, Gatsby has accumulated great wealth to impress Daisy and win her back. However, his plan is complicated because Daisy's husband, Tom Buchanan, is having an affair with a woman named Myrtle Wilson. …show more content…

Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is the disintegration of the American Dream. The novel reflects disillusionment with the American Dream, which promises that through hard work and determination anyone can achieve success, wealth and happiness. But the novel's characters pursue the American Dream for the wrong reasons, and ultimately their devotion to materialism and excess leads to their downfall. We believe that opening up will help him achieve his dream of dating Daisy. However, his extravagance leads to a moral breakdown, ultimately leading to his tragic death. Another major theme in the novel that I think is also a major theme is the idea of social class and its influence on identity and relationships. The characters in the novel are divided into different social classes based on their wealth, education, and background. This social hierarchy creates a sense of elitism and exclusion, separating the rich from the poor and dictating the way they interact and socialize. Gatsby, who rose from a poor background to become wealthy, is constantly reminded of his lower status by the wealthy members of society, who disdain his nouveau riche status. Similarly, Tom and Daisy are seen as vulgar or uncultured because they come from old money while their peers view them as crass or vulgar because they come from new money. This division between social classes ultimately leads to isolation and a profound sense of longing as both Tom and Daisy struggle to find meaning in a society that values superficiality over