ipl-logo

Interpretation Of The Great Gatsby

1083 Words5 Pages

The critique view of the American society in the 20s makes Fitzgerald`s novel one of the great. This was a very successful and bright period in America, when new money, alcohol and parties were overflowing, a time that has come to be known as the Roaring Twenties: “The novel wasn't set in in a period called 'The Minimal Twenties'. It was called 'The Roaring Twenties'. So it had to roar.”(Baz Luhrmann)
The novel gives various ways of interpretation which makes inevitably the movie-makers to have different views of the story. This essay will analyze the most famous adaptation of “The Great Gatsby” launched in 1974 and directed by Jack Clayton.
”The Great Gatsby ”is more than a journal of the Jazz Age, the movie dramatizes the falseness of the …show more content…

[…] It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.”(“The Epic of America” by James Truslow Adams - 1931)
Although the dream of many Americans in the 20s was to achieve a great fortune and become member of the nobility, it appeared essentially impossible to be a representative of this social elite unless born into it.
The social classes are divided in new money, old money and no money and used to demonstrate how blank and spoiled have become the lives of the society when people`s goal is to accumulate money and social status. He illustrate the new rich as being vulgar, flashy, and extravagant. Presented in antithesis, the old money appear stylish, sensible, and best educated, in a period when The American Dream has been revolutionized from the ideal dream to a materialistic …show more content…

After she killed a woman from the Valley of Ashes-Myrtle, Daisy pretends to be innocent and put the guilt in Gatsby`s hands who is finally killed for the crime. More than this, she reacts to the event buying a new house and move on with her rich and careless life and she does not even attend to Gatsby`s funeral. This is the moment of truth which shows clearly and openly her real personality. ”They are careless people, Tom and Daisy – they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness of whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made. “(”The Great

Show More
Related
1160 Words | 5 Pages

As she knows about Tom cheating on her with Myrtle Wilson. She believes that relationships are not done to make her happy, but to instead increase her wealth and social standing, which is exactly why she does not protest about Tom’s mistress, as it would tint her representation. Being materialistic is another reason why Daisy begins to once again become involved with Gatsby. Fooling him into thinking that he has finally achieved his American Dream. Because of this Gatsby takes the blame for killing Myrtle, in order to save her fragile reputation.

Read More
985 Words | 4 Pages

Now that Daisy has grown up she starts to hear about her old friend Jay Gatsby a lot more. He is always throwing huge parties with tons of guests in his huge white house on the water. Daisy doesn’t believe what she hears because last time she heard from Gatsby he was poor and unsuccessful, so she has to see for herself. When Daisy finds out that Gatsby has become wealthier than her own husband Tom, she immediately wants him back. Gatsby soon is shot and killed, so Daisy returns quickly back to her husband

Read More
1306 Words | 6 Pages

Through this, Fitzgerald insinuates a larger idea surrounding 1920s America; those who are newly rich remain newly rich, and those who are the old aristocracy remain the old aristocracy. Hearne further expands on this idea, describing the American Dream as being “beautiful yet grotesquely

Read More
203 Words | 1 Pages

The 1920’s was a new era for America; the post-war economy gave rise to unprecedented levels of economic growth and new wealth to many Americans. With enough hard work, any person of any background could rise up the social ladder and make a great fortune for themselves in a land of freedom and opportunity in which”all men are created equal.” Through rose colored lenses, these ideals of equality, hard work, and success was the American Dream, but a dream was all it ever was for most. As the greed for wealth surpassed regards for morals, entire social classes, genders, and race were exploited by the established and powerful upper class. In the endless chase of consumerism and excess, the American Dream was corrupted by money.

Read More
803 Words | 4 Pages

The last few pages of the novel focus on Nick’s view of Gatsby’s life and the way that his dream with Daisy has ultimately failed. It’s a powerful and emotional moment that uses symbolism and imagery. It reminds us of the fragility of life and the importance of pursuing dreams when they seem impossible. Nick’s attitude in this passage shows pity and admiration toward Gatsby. “Gatsby’s house was still empty when I left– the grass on his lawn had grown as long as mine”(179).

Read More
751 Words | 4 Pages

Have you ever loved someone so much, but weren’t allowed to be with them? In the book/movie, The Great Gatsby, written by author F. Scott Fitzgerald. A tragic love story of a anonymous man (Jay Gatsby) in love with Daisy Buchanan who no longer knows he exists, let alone across the bay. To what lengths would you go for the person you love? Even if it meant hurting everyone around you.

Read More
1190 Words | 5 Pages

What is the real story behind The Great Gatsby? The Great Gatsby is a book written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in the 1920’s, it features the imbalances of life in the roaring 20’s and how it affected the wealthy. The Great Gatsby symbolizes love throughout the book. It highlights many different relationships, however a key relationship that isn’t read into as much is between Gatsby and Nick. Whether this is because the book was published so long ago or because people see this relationship at face value is besides the point.

Read More
410 Words | 2 Pages

The original cover for The Great Gatsby is one of the most recognizable book covers from the last two centuries. The cover features artwork from Francis Cugat, titled “Celestial Eyes.” Fitzgerald was so fond of the painting that he incorporated it into the story. The somber pair of eyes suspended over the New York City skyline inspired the T. J. Eckleburg motif seen throughout Gatsby. Due to the iconicity of the first Gatsby cover, the task of reinventing it was intimidating at first.

Read More
400 Words | 2 Pages

I have used the books as my Gatsby Symbolism Project. I feel that the book symbolized Gatsby pretending to be something and someone that he truly is not. I feel that everyone knew who Gatsby was even through his lies and charades, but his facades that he made about himself him in the worst situation and at a disadvantage. In one point and place in the book, Gatsby talked about going to Harvard and he had pictures and medals just to prove his point because he felt that what he said wasn’t enough. Most people that go to the extended level just to try to get someone to believe him and if he did that himself, he knows himself that half the things he says aren’t really true.

Read More
406 Words | 2 Pages

Since the beginning of the story, Gatsby had been painting this pretty portrait of a lavish life that he now lives. He resides in the nice part of town in a big nice mansion, and he also throws these lavish parties and flashes boatloads of money. In his house, he has a library filled from top to bottom with books that seems to impress everyone that sees them, but as the story unfolds, we start to learn that Gatsby has never read a single book in the library. I chose to use the books as a symbol from the story because it shows that Gatsby is putting on a facade about a life that he doesn’t live. He uses the books to “flex” about something that he really doesn’t have.

Read More
1228 Words | 5 Pages

“You may fool me, but you can’t fool God! (Fitzgerald 159)” George Wilson said this while staring at a billboard featuring a pair of eyes that are said to be a physical representation of God in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This quote tells us all that there are irrefutable religious themes in this novel. There are several instances of spiritual imagery that are used, however, there are many more uses of symbolism that are often looked over.

Read More
985 Words | 4 Pages

The Manipulative Nature of the American Dream It is human nature to be in constant pursuit of a dream, but when the dream is hopelessly unattainable, failure and dissatisfaction are guaranteed. This idea of the unattainable dream is expertly shown in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Thus, it is undeniable that the theme, the disintegration of the American dream, is effectively conveyed to the readers through the use of symbolism and characterization. Fitzgerald fills the novel with symbolism to prove the dangers of pursuing the American dream, in an easy to comprehend and visual manner. Characterization is another important literary element that strengthens the theme, by allowing the reader to relate to the characters, and understand

Read More
762 Words | 4 Pages

During the Great War Era in the United States, most Americans dreamt of hope, and not much more. When the country emerged from the war victorious, however, a new American Dream was on the horizon. Gone were the days of searching for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. By 1920, Americans were more interested in material culture and the never-ending quest for more. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, chronicles a man living in New York during the 1920’s, who perfectly symbolizes America’s new Dream.

Read More
228 Words | 1 Pages

F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author of The Great Gatsby portrays a reflection full of symbolism about the United States as a whole in the 1920s, and in particular about the disintegration of the American dream in an era of unprecedented prosperity and material excess. Also, Fitzgerald illustrates the 1920s as a time of devalued social and moral values, as evidenced by cynicism, greed and the pursuit of pleasure. Fitzgerald, through the eyes of the young entrepreneur Nick, will introduce us to the characters that will be the key to this novel, the Buchanan couple, composed of Tom and Daisy, the Wilson couple, composed of George and Myrtle, the young Baker and, Of course, Gatsby himself. As the novel progresses, it reveals, through different layers

Read More
1218 Words | 5 Pages

The Great Gatsby Literary Analysis “They were careless people…” says Nick Carraway, the narrator of The Great Gatsby. In a story depicting the 1920s during a time of prosperity, growth, and the emergence of the America as a major global power, this statement may seem to be contrary. But in reality, Nick Carraway’s description of his friends and the people he knew, was not only true, but is an indication of those who were striving for the American dream. F. Scott Fitzgerald suggests that the American Dream is foolish, the people who pursue it are immoral and reckless, and this pursuit is futile. First, F. Scott Fitzgerald proposes that the American dream is foolish.

Read More

More about Interpretation Of The Great Gatsby

Related Topics

Open Document