Sunshine In The Great Gatsby Essay

“Is Gatsby a natural being, a genuine bringer of sunshine? Or is the light he brings to Daisy (and Nick too) artificial - a lighting effect produced by money rather than personality?”

Reynolds, G. J. a. The adage of the adage of Introduction to The Great Gatsby.

To what extent do you consider Gatsby to be a “genuine bringer of sunshine” or an “artificial light” in your reading of the novel?

Society is built on the ambitions of the individual – though we all strive towards a dream, some prosper and some become lost along the way. This is evident in 1920s American society, where following the victory in the Great War, and the subsequent boom in the economy, many of the working and middle classes dedicated themselves to achieving the American

By looking at F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel ‘The Great Gatsby’ (1925), we can see that like the working class, Gatsby’s ambitions have led to a divided perception of his character, where he is seen as both a materialistic businessman and a sincere romantic but ultimately, is a product of both these personalities. This is crucial as Fitzgerald purposefully provides a cautionary tale regarding the complexities of facades and materialism, so that readers may move beyond becoming ‘casual moths’ blinded and consumed by the illusion of a dream in present society.

Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great Gatsby’ explores the artificial quality of its characters, most notably, Gatsby. This is attained through Fitzgerald’s characterisation of Gatsby and his behaviours, as well as his focus on side characters in reflecting the 1920 ideals widely focused on wealth. In Chapter 1, as Nick glances at an enigmatic Gatsby on his dock, he observes how Gatsby ‘...reached out...’ his arms, and upon glancing seaward to see what had caught Gatsby’s attention, he ‘...distinguished nothing except a single green light.’ Fitzgerald skillfully employs symbolism with the green light to represent Gatsby’s desire. As green commonly connotes that of wealth or the green

This is because both Gatsby’s romantic devotion to Daisy and the facade he has developed has collectively led to his demise. Again in Chapter 6, Nick discourages Gatsby’s misguided pursuit of Daisy, advising that – “You can’t repeat the past,” – and to which Gatsby responds with a cry; “Can’t repeat the past! Why of course you can!” Gatsby’s shocked tone highlights to the reader his extensive state of delusion because of his infatuation and wealth, as he believes his heartfelt feelings for Daisy and his rising fortune is enough to gain her back, despite the passing of time since their relationship. Additionally, in Chapter 7, Tom sees through Gatsby’s exalted persona in the car ride with Nick and Jordan, incredulous at the fact Gatsby was supposedly an Oxford man – “Like hell he is! He wears a pink suit.” Gatsby’s pink suit symbolises his alien and exotic character, which is deemed vulgar by Tom. Thus it is evident that Gatsby will never be able to fully integrate into the upper echelons with such an embarrassingly obvious veneer. Furthermore, once Gatsby eventually meets his demise, he is left lying hopelessly in the pool, his body compared to “the leg of a compass. a thin red circle in the water.” Fitzgerald metaphorically mirrors Gatsby’s bloodied corpse to a compass, ultimately emphasising that Gatsby himself – both his idyllic love and his