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The Great Gatsby Research Paper

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F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby explores the motif of appearance versus reality through the character of Jay Gatsby. Gatsby establishes an identity that is based on his glorified image of the past, rather than the reality of his current life, and his pursuit of Daisy Buchanan reflects his belief in the power of perception to shape reality. This ultimately leads to his tragic downfall. Throughout his novel, Fitzgerald highlights the tension between the idealized image of success and the harsh reality of social inequality through his use of appearance versus reality. Fitzgerald uses appearance versus reality through Gatsby's extravagant parties and luxurious lifestyle to reflect the illusion of the American Dream and the superficiality …show more content…

Nick Carraway's narration describes Gatsby's mansion as "a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool, and more than forty acres of lawn and garden" (9), revealing that the mansion is not an authentic representation of wealth and luxury, but rather a copy of something else. The imagery of the mansion depicts how its features are all symbols of wealth, but they are also superficial and do not reflect the true nature of Gatsby's success. The paradox is revealed as the mansion is described as a "factual imitation," creating a sense of irony as the mansion appears to be a real symbol of Gatsby's success, but in reality, it is not. Gatsby has created an idealized image of success that is based on the appearance of wealth and luxury, rather than the reality of social inequality. His mansion is an attempt to create the appearance of success, but it is not a genuine representation of his true social status. Nick describes the guests at Gatsby's party as "men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars" (43), revealing that Gatsby's parties are designed to create the illusion of glamor and …show more content…

The diction "whisperings" and "champagne" further emphasizes the idea that Gatsby's parties are characterized by superficiality, rather than genuine social interaction. The reference to the "stars" also suggests that Gatsby's parties are an attempt to create the appearance of luxury, not the reality of it. These literary devices are utilized to display that Gatsby's parties are an attempt to create the appearance of wealth and status, but they are not a true reflection of his true social status. The people who attend his parties are drawn to the appearance of wealth and luxury, but they are not necessarily the same people who would be his equals outside of his mansion and in society. The quote, “Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever. Compared to the great distance that had separated him from Daisy it had seemed very near to her, almost touching her. It had seemed as close as a star to the moon. Now it was again a green light on a dock. His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one" (98),

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