Post by raynamcginty on Jan 6, 2015 21:01:06 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, Tom's class, where as West Egg represents a less fashionable suburb with a desire for The American Dream. Gatsby's luxurious mansion portrays an imitation of himself. He does not originate from a wealthy background yet puts on a front by buying the opulent building to disguise his real self. Gatsby is still excluded from the aristocracy and Daisy despite his overwhelming wealth in which brings about the point that even the elite of America's social class have a divide. Ultimately through setting Fitzgerald shows it was the West Egg in which partially resulted in the death of Gatsby and then failure of The American Dream as Gatsby was never allowed to fit in with the high society.
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. Fitzgerald's symbolism of the green light is effective as it has connotations of money, jealousy and wealth. This figuratively shows how Gatsby is striving for Daisy and wealth but despite him reaching out he will never be successful in attaining her love, thus leading to the failure of the American Dream which stemmed from Gatsby's determination to win Daisy's affection.
In addition to this, Fitzgerald uses colour again to convey the importance of Gatsby's car. Gatsby's car was significant in the sense that the yellow Rolls Royce which has connotations of gold and happiness, represented his new found status of wealth in West Egg and desire for The American Dream. However in contrast to this Gatsby's car is also a symbol of his failure as it is a chilling reminder that the pursuit of The American Dream is literally what killed Myrtle: "The 'death car' as the newspapers called it, didn't stop", as it was Tom who Myrtle thought was driving the car. Overall this results in Gatsby's failure of The American Dream as it was Myrtles death that indirectly lead to the fatal shooting of Gatsby. It was Gatsby's car, a symbol of his achievement of The American Dream which caused the ultimate loss, his life.
During chapter five Gatsby and Daisy meet for the first time after five years and at this point Gatsby's inevitable failure of the dream is portrayed. This idea is conveyed when Fitzgerald writes: "the face of a defunct mantelpiece clock". This highlights Gatsby's naivety and delusion of the past as he thinks he can just pick up things from where he and Daisy had left off. Fitzgerald also uses the technique pathetic fallacy to foreshadow and hint at Gatsby's failure in chapter five of the novel when he states: "once more it was pouring" The rain hints at disappointment for Gatsby through out his awkward meeting with Daisy. The weather then changes and is described as: "pink and golden billow of foamy clouds" This description is fairytale like and represents an idea of false hope and Gatsby's unreachable goal therefore shows that Gatsby's ultimate fate resulted in the dark and tragic failure of The American Dream.
Through symbolism of the billboard of Dr T.J Eckleberg, Fitzgerald 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. Gatsby thrived for massive wealth and to win the affection from his love, Daisy. The billboard advertising healthcare is ironic being placed in the Valley of Ashes as the lower class citizens cannot afford to pay for such a service. Gatsby is similiar to this idea as he attempts to achieve The American Dream in a society that simply will not allow it. Gatsby's reach and determination to achieve The American Dream is ultimately what kills him in the end and results in his failure of the dream.
Chapter seven is the main turning point in the novel when Gatsby declares his and Daisy's love for each other to Tom. 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 Gatsby's dream and love to a measly "presumptuous little flirtation". Despite Gatsby's colossal wealth and materialistic comforts he still will never be truly happy without Daisy. Furthermore this leads to the progressive realisation of Gatsby's failure of the American Dream as this is the turning point of the novel, where Gatsby loses Daisy.
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: "there was an autumn flavour in the air" Fitzgerald uses pathetic fallacy again in chapter eight as Autumn dawns upon Gatsby. The air is cooler and leaves begin to fall from trees, the weather is changing but Gatsby cannot seem to move on from Daisy. He holds onto the past by going into his pool, one of the focal points of his lavish parties. It is Gatsby's inability to let go of his love for Daisy that aids in the overall death of him and then following the failure of The American Dream.
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 trying to find land as both aimed to experience a life of wealth and freedom, fighting to achieve the ultimate dream and pursuit of happiness. 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. Gatsby's destruction is equally as brutal and tragic as the other lower class individuals therefore the theme shows how none of the lower ranks can achieve the pursuit of The American Dream through the fault of the ruling class.
Word count: 1337
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, Tom's class, where as West Egg represents a less fashionable suburb with a desire for The American Dream. Gatsby's luxurious mansion portrays an imitation of himself. He does not originate from a wealthy background yet puts on a front by buying the opulent building to disguise his real self. Gatsby is still excluded from the aristocracy and Daisy despite his overwhelming wealth in which brings about the point that even the elite of America's social class have a divide. Ultimately through setting Fitzgerald shows it was the West Egg in which partially resulted in the death of Gatsby and then failure of The American Dream as Gatsby was never allowed to fit in with the high society.
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. Fitzgerald's symbolism of the green light is effective as it has connotations of money, jealousy and wealth. This figuratively shows how Gatsby is striving for Daisy and wealth but despite him reaching out he will never be successful in attaining her love, thus leading to the failure of the American Dream which stemmed from Gatsby's determination to win Daisy's affection.
In addition to this, Fitzgerald uses colour again to convey the importance of Gatsby's car. Gatsby's car was significant in the sense that the yellow Rolls Royce which has connotations of gold and happiness, represented his new found status of wealth in West Egg and desire for The American Dream. However in contrast to this Gatsby's car is also a symbol of his failure as it is a chilling reminder that the pursuit of The American Dream is literally what killed Myrtle: "The 'death car' as the newspapers called it, didn't stop", as it was Tom who Myrtle thought was driving the car. Overall this results in Gatsby's failure of The American Dream as it was Myrtles death that indirectly lead to the fatal shooting of Gatsby. It was Gatsby's car, a symbol of his achievement of The American Dream which caused the ultimate loss, his life.
During chapter five Gatsby and Daisy meet for the first time after five years and at this point Gatsby's inevitable failure of the dream is portrayed. This idea is conveyed when Fitzgerald writes: "the face of a defunct mantelpiece clock". This highlights Gatsby's naivety and delusion of the past as he thinks he can just pick up things from where he and Daisy had left off. Fitzgerald also uses the technique pathetic fallacy to foreshadow and hint at Gatsby's failure in chapter five of the novel when he states: "once more it was pouring" The rain hints at disappointment for Gatsby through out his awkward meeting with Daisy. The weather then changes and is described as: "pink and golden billow of foamy clouds" This description is fairytale like and represents an idea of false hope and Gatsby's unreachable goal therefore shows that Gatsby's ultimate fate resulted in the dark and tragic failure of The American Dream.
Through symbolism of the billboard of Dr T.J Eckleberg, Fitzgerald 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. Gatsby thrived for massive wealth and to win the affection from his love, Daisy. The billboard advertising healthcare is ironic being placed in the Valley of Ashes as the lower class citizens cannot afford to pay for such a service. Gatsby is similiar to this idea as he attempts to achieve The American Dream in a society that simply will not allow it. Gatsby's reach and determination to achieve The American Dream is ultimately what kills him in the end and results in his failure of the dream.
Chapter seven is the main turning point in the novel when Gatsby declares his and Daisy's love for each other to Tom. 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 Gatsby's dream and love to a measly "presumptuous little flirtation". Despite Gatsby's colossal wealth and materialistic comforts he still will never be truly happy without Daisy. Furthermore this leads to the progressive realisation of Gatsby's failure of the American Dream as this is the turning point of the novel, where Gatsby loses Daisy.
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: "there was an autumn flavour in the air" Fitzgerald uses pathetic fallacy again in chapter eight as Autumn dawns upon Gatsby. The air is cooler and leaves begin to fall from trees, the weather is changing but Gatsby cannot seem to move on from Daisy. He holds onto the past by going into his pool, one of the focal points of his lavish parties. It is Gatsby's inability to let go of his love for Daisy that aids in the overall death of him and then following the failure of The American Dream.
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 trying to find land as both aimed to experience a life of wealth and freedom, fighting to achieve the ultimate dream and pursuit of happiness. 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. Gatsby's destruction is equally as brutal and tragic as the other lower class individuals therefore the theme shows how none of the lower ranks can achieve the pursuit of The American Dream through the fault of the ruling class.
Word count: 1337