Powerful Themes In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

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Within the history of America, The Great Gatsby is considered a classic piece of literature. Fitzgerald's unique writing style is particularly notable for depicting economic events. Set in the 1920s, the novel portrays extreme credit usage to obtain luxuries, resulting in a class divide. Consequently, The Great Depression struck the United States due to these unthinkable actions. Even though the novel's publication occurred before the disaster, certain events in the story were pivotal in foreshadowing the horrid future. Many readers became infatuated and mesmerized by the past and today's society. Along with the history embedded into his writing, the use of impactful themes was a significant factor in the importance of The Great Gatsby. Including …show more content…

Especially in the case of Jay Gatsby, when he believes that the only way to to surpass his expectations of a dream is to being together with Daisy Buchanan. One reason is his unhealthy obsession with starting a life with Daisy. For example, Fitzgerald entails, "She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart, she never loved anyone except me!" (Fitzgerald 130). This incident within the novel clearly shows that he cannot get Daisy off of his mind. His striving to grasp his rendition of an "American Dream" is impossible, thus making his mental health status decline. Moreover, this ultimately led to his unfortunate demise. A primary reason is that Tom lied to Mr. Wilson about who struck his wife the night before. In the novel, Fitzgerald wrote, "What if I did tell him? That fellow had it coming to him. He threw dust into your eyes like in Daisy's, but he was tough. He ran over Myrtle like you would run over a dog and never even stopped his car" (Fitzgerald 178). The phrase showcases how Jay Gatsby's involvement with the Buchanans leads to a toxic outcome. Eventually, this leads to Tom blaming Gatsby for the crime he did not cause. In summary, the decline of the American Dream is apparent throughout Gatsby's storyline, making it one of the most intriguing themes in the …show more content…

A primary reason for this is that Tom indulged in an affair with Myrtle Wilson. This information became apparent to Nick Carraway toward the beginning of the book when Tom wanted him to meet his woman of interest. For example, Fitzgerald notes, "I want you to meet my girl" (Fitzgerald 24). This moment reflects Tom's ignorance and his meaningless relationship with Daisy. The love between them is practically nonexistent, and it is clear when Tom openly states who his mistress is to Nick. He even insists on bringing him along to their date. He later tries to justify how he still loves Daisy to make things worse. In a situation involving the argument between Tom and Gatsby, Fitzgerald states, "And what is more, I love Daisy too. Once in a while I go off on a spree and make a fool of myself, but I always come back, and in my heart, I love her all the time" (Fitzgerald 131). Tom openly admitting to cheating on Daisy shows how awful and untrusting of a character he is. His affair causes massive issues for other characters throughout the novel. As a result, the theme of cheating and betrayal is dynamic and widely demonstrated throughout the