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Timeless Themes In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

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The Great Gatsby (1925) by F. Scott Fitzgerald displays timeless themes and issues that were prominent in the 1920s, which can be seen to be still relevant in modern times as well. The simple description of the novel can be said to be of a thwarted love between two lovers, though the many inferences that can be made on the story go far more into serious topics than just a romantic plotline. Gatsby is the protagonist in this novel and showcases many of these themes himself with the decline of the American dream being represented by his failure of dream to win back Daisy and recreate the past. This reminiscences over the past are also displayed in the novel with most major characters displaying this quality representing the unrealistic dreams …show more content…

All these themes explored in the novel, through the use of various literary devices and techniques, continue to have relevance to readers and society to this day as even if it has been over a century, many issues still are the same just slightly changed. The novel links the American dream to how the pursuit of wealth and pleasure can corrupt the original ideas of individualism and happiness due to greed influencing people and their choices, which holds true to this day. These ideas are displayed in the portrayal of the 1920s by Fitzgerald as being a period of decayed social and moral values with cynicism, greed and primarily pleasure being prominent, this is signified by the atmosphere and imagery at both Gatsby’s parties and what guests he hosts. An example of this is, “young Englishmen” talking to “solid and prosperous Americans” about “selling something; bonds or insurance or automobiles.” It can be …show more content…

The novel exposes the hypocrisy and emptiness of the upper class, and highlights the struggles of the working class, which can still be seen in modern times making it both relatable and relevant to today’s society. There are few major characters from the working class; Myrtle, George, and Gatsby, all of whom die tragically by the makings of the upper class; Daisy and Tom. Myrtle dies from a car crash by Gatsby’s car though “Daisy had been driving,” Tom then implies the car was someone else’s, leading to the murder of Gatsby setting a sombre mood for the rest of the novel. It can be seen from this flow of events that and as Nick says, “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and . . . then retreated back into their money . . . and let other people clean up the mess they had made.” This characterisation of Tom and Daisy highlights the attitude and emptiness of the upper class as they ruin the lower classes lives in their greed and pleasure and then promptly forget about it as Daisy did as she “hadn’t sent a message or a flower” to Gatsby’s funeral. The upper class lavish in their wealth while the working class struggles in life, this can be inferred to be true back then and

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Gatsby's pursuit of Daisy, a member of this privileged class, is a reflection of his desire to advance socially and obtain acceptance from the privileged classes. Tom Buchanan, a member of the Old Money, serves as a vehicle for Fitzgerald to stress the sense of entitlement that comes with being born into a well-off family. Tom embodies the arrogance and cruelty of the upper class, using his wealth and power to control and manipulate those around him. Fitzgerald also critiques the American Dream through the character of Gatsby, who’s despite all his effort he is unable to escape his lower-class trappings, suggesting that the pursuit of wealth and status can lead to moral decay and disillusionment. Gatsby's obsession with his past and his longing for the unattainable Daisy ultimately leads to his tragic demise.

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The Analytical Gatsby Fitzgerald has countless themes in his novel The Great Gatsby. One of these many themes is that even when no one is around to witness your actions there is always a moral force that knows what you have done, this moral force keeps the actions of the community under a strict moral code. This theme has been amplified by the use of a Motif, a giant billboard of T.J. Eckleburg which only shows two large eyes behind a large pair of glasses. This Motif helps you visualize how the community associates the moral force into their lives, also it shows that even when no one is watching God is.

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One of the major themes that was present throughout the novel, the Great Gatsby, by F.Scott Fitzgerald, is the shallow and hollowness of the upper class people. Throughout the novel a series of events occur that support the idea of the upper class having a shallow life. Firstly, the relationship between the two characters Daisy and Tom, whom have been married for 5 years, seems to proceed towards a broken marriage. The two individuals lack loyalty and faithfulness to one another, even after being bonded in a marriage, for up to 5 years they have no attachment or feelings to one another. Tom is portrayed as a womanizer and has never been fully committed to his wife, and on the other hand his wife continuously has a new love interest, depicting both of the individuals as shallow and feeling-less.

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