The Great Gatsby Research Paper

The Great Gatsby is considered to be “the great American Novel” because its characters are the stereotypical Americans. When we think of America when generally think of the glorious so called American Dream. While showing us how everyday people thought and lived, The Great Gatsby also showed us how some Americans were chasing an impossible dream.

First on the chopping block is Mr. Jay Gatsby. Mr. Gatsby is the book’s best example of completing the American Dream. As we know, Gatsby made the majority of his money through some sort of drug store chain, the main point being that he is self made money just as someone from the 1920’s would have. Next, as we know, he threw wild parties, of which were very 1920’s like, with the hopes of attracting

Mr. Carraway claimed to have been an honest man. “Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known.” (Page 59) Truth being he really isn’t that good of a person. He left his wife and kids because they were too much responsibility. In return, he seeks a job in the bond business. Unlike Gatsby, Nick seeks a new dream whereas Gatsby was trying to relive a pass experience. This time we can interpret Fitzgerald’s character as a foreigner who seeks a better life and is introduced to the concept of the American Dream. Regardless of what that dream may be we still see the concept of how someone was tired of their old life and wanted change which was exactly how foreigners felt during the early

As we know Daisy and Jay were planning to get married but the war prevented that from happening. Soon after Jay left, Daisy married Tom. “‘I love you now - isn’t that enough? I can’t help what’s past.’ She began to sob helplessly. ‘I did love him once - but I loved you too.’” (Page 132) This shows that rather loving Gatsby for who he was, she was in love with the idea of power and money. It’s no coincidence that Tom happened to have both those qualities. In a way Daisy is like a magnet. The closer Gatsby gets to her the more he realizes he can’t leave her. Here Fitzgerald shows us how money and power were the things people adored, not