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The Great Gatsby Research Paper

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“The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a classic piece of American literature, which ironically demonstrates how, for most, the American Dream will never become reality. In “The Great Gatsby”, the titular Jay Gatsby, a wealthy man of working class origins, seeks out the love of Daisy, an even wealthier heiress who is already married. To get what he wants, he befriends the main character Nick Carraway and uses their friendship to get close to Daisy. Eventually, they do get together and have a relationship, even if not for long. Soon, Tom takes notice and steps in, competing with Gatsby over Daisy’s love. In the end, Gatsby and his American Dream are in shambles as he loses Daisy, and only a few days later, his life. When Gatsby was a younger …show more content…

Gatsby could have millions and millions, with flashy cars and gaudy mansions and huge parties every weekend, but what he’ll never have is status. For a short time, Gatsby grew closer and closer to his dreams, though even at his highest, he was never truly there. In the start, before Nick even meets Gatsby officially, he sees Gatsby outside at night, acting strangely. According to Nick, “-he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way,and, as far away as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward–and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been at the end of a dock”(Fitzgerald 20-21). For years, Gatsby has lived across the water from his “love”. He’s known this fact for as long as he’s owned this house, it’s half the reason he bought it in the first place. The green light isn’t just a green light on Daisy’s dock, it’s his whole dream. That light represents her, or as Strong puts it, “However, for Gatsby, the light stands not only for Daisy herself, but also for the dream of recapturing her love; that is why it loses its meaning for him after his reunion with Daisy”

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