Post by raynamcginty on Nov 13, 2014 22:35:35 GMT
The Great Gatsby - Rayna McGinty
In the novel 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald the fate of the main character is important in conveying the writer's theme. Jay Gatsby, a working class, self made man, dies a lonely death caused by the actions of the aristocracy, having failed to achieve his dream. This effectively conveys the novel's theme: the failure of the American Dream. The writer uses setting, symbolism and characterisation to convey this.
The novel is set in America, New York. Nick and Gatsby lived in the West Egg (new money) where as Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan and Jordan Baker lived in East Egg (old money). East Egg symbolises a society who have said to have 'made' the American Dream where as West Egg represents a less fashionable city with a desire for The American Dream. Gatsby arrived into the city having self made his wealth all entirely to find the missing piece of his American Dream, Daisy. Ultimately, it was the West Egg in which partially resulted in the death of Gatsby and then failure of the American Dream.
Gatsby lusts for Daisy and to win her over he must achieve the American Dream. This is conveyed when Gatsby is seen to be transfixed, holding his arms out to a green light at the dock of East Egg: "he stretched out his arms towards the dark water in a curious way". Without Gatsby's unconditional love for Daisy he would not have aspired to achieve the mass wealth and extravagant lifestyle he lead in West Egg as she desired money and material comforts. Thus leading to the failure of the American Dream which stemmed from Gatsby's determination to win Daisy's affection.
Fitzgerald uses colour imagery to convey the importance of Gatsby's car. Gatsby's car was significant in the sense that the yellow Rolls Royce represented his new found status of wealth in West Egg. Gatsby hoped his swanky and luxurious new car would lure Daisy right into his arms: "it was a rich cream colour... labyrinth of windshields that mirrored a dozen suns." The colour yellow has connotations of gold, wealth and happiness therefore portrays Gatsby's desire for the American Dream. However in contrast to this it was actually Gatsby's car in which killed Myrtle and destroyed her American Dream furthermore sparking the rage that lead George Wilson to murder him.
During chapter five Gatsby and Daisy meet for the first time after five years and at this point Gatsbys inevitable failure of the dream is portrayed. This idea is conveyed when Fitzgerald describes Daisy's voice as a "deathless song". Daisy's voice is a powerful asset and this metaphor suggests vitality, youth and life furthermore these things combined are impossible. Gatsby's dream, to be with Daisy, can also be referred to as an impossible desire. This emphasises how determined Gatsby is to be with Daisy and the extent of his affection as he tries to see past this unavoidable fate.
Through symbolism of the billboard of Dr T.J Eckleberg, shows how materialism prevents the lower class from truely achieving the American Dream. George Wilson refers to the billboard as: "God see's everything." By referring to an advertisement as 'God', Fitzgerald highlights the attitude that the Americans had at this time, they worshipped money. It was this obsession with wealth that indirectly lead to the death of the originally lower class individual that is Jay Gatsby.
Chapter seven is the main turning point in the novel when Gatsby declares his and Daisy's love for each other to Tom and also indicates the failure of the American dream. Gatsby attempts to prompt Daisy to tell Tom that she never loved him but she refuses: "oh you want too much... I did love him once - but I loved you too." suggesting that Daisy is not fully committed to Gatsby. This leaves Gatsby emotionally distraught whilst Tom is continuously gaining confidence. Gatsby's dream begins to fall apart in front of him as Tom gets a final word in: "I think he realises that his presumptuous little flirtation is over." Tom is very condescending and reduces Gatsbys dream and love to a measley "presumptuous little flirtation". Despite Gatsbys colossal wealth and materialistic comforts he still will never be truely happy without Daisy. Furthermore this leads to the failure of the American dream as Daisy falls back into Toms arms showing that the aristocracy stick together and do not welcome Gatsby which is new money.
Later on in chapter seven Myrtle is hit by Gatsbys car with Daisy driving as she runs out onto the road thinking it was Tom. The car does not stop despite ripping Myrtle clean open: "her left breast was swinging loose like a flap." The Rolls Royce represented the aristocracy not caring for the poor, the Valley of Ashes, and only for themselves. It brings about the failure of Myrtle and Gatsbys American dream as Tom was Myrtles key to the dream. Highlighting the fact that the poor or new money are not accepted into aristocracy
Fitzgerald's symbolism of the swimming pool is used to establish Gatsby's decline in fortune and emotionally after his rejection from Daisy. Gatsby tries to cling onto normality as he does not allow his butler to empty the pool, despite the bulters best attempt to get Gatsby to move on: "don't do it today". To Gatsby, the draining of the pool symbolises his and Daisy's relationship fading away and becoming less significant as he longs for her to call him. This conveys a feeling of sympathy for Gatsby as he is murdered whilst bathing in the pool. Gatsby was killed by his dream and unwillingness to let go, along with his love for Daisy.
Gatsby is made to be sympathetic at the end of the novel as he was proven to be a courageous and determined individual set out to achieve one dream but the aristocracy would just not allow it. Gatsby's dream is compared to that of the Dutch settlers as both aimed to experience a life of wealth and freedom, fighting to achieve the ultimate dream. The last line of the novel: "so we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past" is important as this highlights the meaning of the 'Great' in 'The Great Gatsby'. Gatsby is optimistic and just as boats sailing against the current is a strenuous and difficult journey so to Gatsby always remained adamant and never gave up on his American Dream, to be with Daisy for eternity.
Word count: 1089
In the novel 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald the fate of the main character is important in conveying the writer's theme. Jay Gatsby, a working class, self made man, dies a lonely death caused by the actions of the aristocracy, having failed to achieve his dream. This effectively conveys the novel's theme: the failure of the American Dream. The writer uses setting, symbolism and characterisation to convey this.
The novel is set in America, New York. Nick and Gatsby lived in the West Egg (new money) where as Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan and Jordan Baker lived in East Egg (old money). East Egg symbolises a society who have said to have 'made' the American Dream where as West Egg represents a less fashionable city with a desire for The American Dream. Gatsby arrived into the city having self made his wealth all entirely to find the missing piece of his American Dream, Daisy. Ultimately, it was the West Egg in which partially resulted in the death of Gatsby and then failure of the American Dream.
Gatsby lusts for Daisy and to win her over he must achieve the American Dream. This is conveyed when Gatsby is seen to be transfixed, holding his arms out to a green light at the dock of East Egg: "he stretched out his arms towards the dark water in a curious way". Without Gatsby's unconditional love for Daisy he would not have aspired to achieve the mass wealth and extravagant lifestyle he lead in West Egg as she desired money and material comforts. Thus leading to the failure of the American Dream which stemmed from Gatsby's determination to win Daisy's affection.
Fitzgerald uses colour imagery to convey the importance of Gatsby's car. Gatsby's car was significant in the sense that the yellow Rolls Royce represented his new found status of wealth in West Egg. Gatsby hoped his swanky and luxurious new car would lure Daisy right into his arms: "it was a rich cream colour... labyrinth of windshields that mirrored a dozen suns." The colour yellow has connotations of gold, wealth and happiness therefore portrays Gatsby's desire for the American Dream. However in contrast to this it was actually Gatsby's car in which killed Myrtle and destroyed her American Dream furthermore sparking the rage that lead George Wilson to murder him.
During chapter five Gatsby and Daisy meet for the first time after five years and at this point Gatsbys inevitable failure of the dream is portrayed. This idea is conveyed when Fitzgerald describes Daisy's voice as a "deathless song". Daisy's voice is a powerful asset and this metaphor suggests vitality, youth and life furthermore these things combined are impossible. Gatsby's dream, to be with Daisy, can also be referred to as an impossible desire. This emphasises how determined Gatsby is to be with Daisy and the extent of his affection as he tries to see past this unavoidable fate.
Through symbolism of the billboard of Dr T.J Eckleberg, shows how materialism prevents the lower class from truely achieving the American Dream. George Wilson refers to the billboard as: "God see's everything." By referring to an advertisement as 'God', Fitzgerald highlights the attitude that the Americans had at this time, they worshipped money. It was this obsession with wealth that indirectly lead to the death of the originally lower class individual that is Jay Gatsby.
Chapter seven is the main turning point in the novel when Gatsby declares his and Daisy's love for each other to Tom and also indicates the failure of the American dream. Gatsby attempts to prompt Daisy to tell Tom that she never loved him but she refuses: "oh you want too much... I did love him once - but I loved you too." suggesting that Daisy is not fully committed to Gatsby. This leaves Gatsby emotionally distraught whilst Tom is continuously gaining confidence. Gatsby's dream begins to fall apart in front of him as Tom gets a final word in: "I think he realises that his presumptuous little flirtation is over." Tom is very condescending and reduces Gatsbys dream and love to a measley "presumptuous little flirtation". Despite Gatsbys colossal wealth and materialistic comforts he still will never be truely happy without Daisy. Furthermore this leads to the failure of the American dream as Daisy falls back into Toms arms showing that the aristocracy stick together and do not welcome Gatsby which is new money.
Later on in chapter seven Myrtle is hit by Gatsbys car with Daisy driving as she runs out onto the road thinking it was Tom. The car does not stop despite ripping Myrtle clean open: "her left breast was swinging loose like a flap." The Rolls Royce represented the aristocracy not caring for the poor, the Valley of Ashes, and only for themselves. It brings about the failure of Myrtle and Gatsbys American dream as Tom was Myrtles key to the dream. Highlighting the fact that the poor or new money are not accepted into aristocracy
Fitzgerald's symbolism of the swimming pool is used to establish Gatsby's decline in fortune and emotionally after his rejection from Daisy. Gatsby tries to cling onto normality as he does not allow his butler to empty the pool, despite the bulters best attempt to get Gatsby to move on: "don't do it today". To Gatsby, the draining of the pool symbolises his and Daisy's relationship fading away and becoming less significant as he longs for her to call him. This conveys a feeling of sympathy for Gatsby as he is murdered whilst bathing in the pool. Gatsby was killed by his dream and unwillingness to let go, along with his love for Daisy.
Gatsby is made to be sympathetic at the end of the novel as he was proven to be a courageous and determined individual set out to achieve one dream but the aristocracy would just not allow it. Gatsby's dream is compared to that of the Dutch settlers as both aimed to experience a life of wealth and freedom, fighting to achieve the ultimate dream. The last line of the novel: "so we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past" is important as this highlights the meaning of the 'Great' in 'The Great Gatsby'. Gatsby is optimistic and just as boats sailing against the current is a strenuous and difficult journey so to Gatsby always remained adamant and never gave up on his American Dream, to be with Daisy for eternity.
Word count: 1089