Alexa Courey 3/20/24 English 10H A Dream’s Awakening In his novel The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald explores themes of love, wealth, illusion, and the American Dream, offering commentary on the complexities of human desire and societal aspirations. Fitzgerald centers the narrative around Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire well-known for his extravagant parties. Narrated by Nick Carraway, the story builds up to Gatsby's pursuit to reclaim his lost love, Daisy Buchanan, after becoming wealthy and a worthy suitor. Seemingly a collection of meaningless social encounters, the novel delves into the consequences of individuals outside the established "old money" class becoming entangled with those who embody traditional wealth and status. F. …show more content…
He came alive to [him], delivered suddenly from the womb of his purposeless splendor" (78). The phrase "it had not been merely the stars to which he had aspired on that June night" suggests Gatsby's ambitions extend beyond superficial desires, like wealth, to more romantic pursuits, like his love for Daisy, hinting at the depth of his character. The act of coming “alive” to Nick serves as a metaphor for his view of Gatsby, or wealthy elites, in a new light. The “deliver[y]” of Gatsby from “the womb of his purposeless splendor” refers to Gatsby’s separation from Nick’s previous perception of him as a man lacking substance. The characters’ secrecy not only poses a threat to those not privy to the inner circle, but also deepens the divisions among those excluded from the elite's inner workings. Through Nick’s observation of Daisy's manipulation and self-preservation tactics, Fitzgerald sheds light on the moral and social divisions of 1920s society. Despite her apparent agency, Daisy's choices ultimately reveal the hollowness and dissatisfaction of her