Research Paper Outline For The Great Gatsby

422 Words2 Pages

I. Introduction A. Hook: The phrase, “The American Dream” was first openly described by historian, James Truslow Adams in his novel, The Epic of America, published in 1931. B. Introduce novel: The Great Gatsby (setting 1920s; a decade before Epic America) C. Thesis: In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the characters of the novel to demonstrate how “The American Dream” was mangled into what is no longer a pursuit of happiness.

II. Body of evidence to prove thesis

A. In the beginning of the novel, Fitzgerald used character, Jay Gatsby and his famous rags-to-riches story to first represent an average American’s view of The American Dream, however Gatsby’s American Dream failed greatly. …show more content…

It had gone beyond her, beyond everything. He had thrown himself into it with a creative passion, adding to it all the time, decking it out with every bright feather that drifted his way.” (Fitzgerald 89-90) 1. Description - Daisy was Gatsby’s dream; he was only in love with the idea of Daisy; his dream failed - Gatsby’s main purpose for having a rich and luxurious lifestyle was to impress Daisy - Gatsby feels that he can simply buy Daisy’s love, and that with money, the sky is the limit. - Gatsby stared at the green light at Daisy’s dock, literally reaching and yearning for her; the green light disappeared, and lost its importance to Gatsby once he was with Daisy - When Gatsby and Daisy were together, it didn’t live up to the times they had been together in the past - Jay Gatsby’s character embodied the most genuine facet of The American Dream, an infinite hope. 2. Related symbol - Daisy’s green light across