The Great Gatsby Research Paper

Francis Scott Fitzgerald or F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby begins during the summer of 1922 during the Roaring ’20s. The novel exposes the false reality of the American Dream and the differences in the social classes during this period. By following the novel's main character Nick Carraway, the readers become introduced into the lavish life of the rich through Gatsby’s parties. The Great Gatsby throughout the novel shows the differences between the East Egg and the West Egg in which the families of old money and the families of new money live. The novel’s deep moral issues, the false image of the American Dream, and the desire for lust. In this essay, I will show how Fitzgerald uses creative imagery to show the social class differences

Nick helps the reader understand the reality of the dream and how far away Gatsby's dream is. It also represents how the poorer social classes try so hard to achieve the level of wealth and status the elites do, but most fall short. Just like how Gatsby tried for so long to achieve, but ultimately fell short. Another use of Fitzgerald's symbolism in his creative imagery, the eye of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg, which became sort of a watchover over the Valley of Ashes. The eye’s description states, “Blue and gigantic—their retinas are one yard high. They look out of no face, but instead from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a nonexistent nose”(22). The eyes become a sort of symbolic use to tell the reader how the wealthy and powerful watch over the poor and in this position look downward onto others. It also represents the moral decay and corruption that these wealthy social classes become so blinded to the outside around them. That they live on top of the less fortunate and too morally blinded to see. Fitzgerald's use of powerful symbolism in his creative imagery shows the difference between the social classes and the reality of the depressing American Dream for so many Americans. The Green Light and the Eye allow the reader to create a vivid image in their mind of what to see to set the atmosphere and setting of the novel just right. Moral problems and self-interest in the

The behavior and attitude of the guests at Gatsby’s party shows the moral decline of the wealthy. There’s a lot of disregard for their actions, as they seemingly do not care. As stated in the novel “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy. They smashed up things and creatures and then retreated into their money or their vast carelessness” (108). This quote represents the differences between the upper and lower social classes. In which the upper social classes become protected by their money and no care for their actions or consequences. The upper classes become oblivious to the problems, and suffering they can inflict on the lower social classes by their actions. Gatsby’s party became a big example of the social class divide throughout the novel. Showing off its glamour and moral carelessness to the guests of the upper social class. Where the lower social classes struggle in the Valley of Ashes. The creative imagery behind these parties tells us how Fitzgerald tells of the unrewarding desire for lust, money, and power and the moral decay that comes with it. The characters throughout The Great Gatsby show the differences between social classes and their problems during the Roaring 20s. Jay Gatsby was born a poor farm boy who then became a wealthy man in the pursuit of the American Dream. Even though he was wealthy. Gasby’s past began to haunt him, “His parents were