The Great Gatsby Essay examples -- Literary Analysis, F. Scott Fitzge

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays American society in the 1920’s after WWI has just ended, a decade of unprecedented economic prosperity. In the book, Fitzgerald critiques the loss of moral values and the degradation of American society, symbolizing it as a â€Å"valley of ashes—a fantastic farm where . . . ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke† (Fitzgerald 23). Through the characters of the book, Fitzgerald exposes the American dream from behind its dazzling veil of happiness and success, and characterizes its true form: a mad, desperate and hopeless chase towards something unattainable, turning a once innocent dream, into a shattered nightmare, destroying everything in its wake. The book is set in Long Island, New York. During the 1920’s, New York was especially prosperous, attracting many wealthy people and people whom wished to become prosperous. Nick Carraway was one of them. Originally from Minnesota, he moved to New York to learn the bond business. Through Nick, a self-proclaimed â€Å"honest man† who is â€Å"inclined to reserve all judgments, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to [him]† (Fitzgerald 1), Fitzgerald narrates the book and introduces the readers to his opinions about money and society. At first, Fitzgerald deceives the reader to believe the illusion of the American dream only to shred it to pieces later. In the beginning of the book, shortly after moving to New York, Nick meets his neighbor, Jay Gatsby, whom he will gradually get to know more intimately. Gatsby epitomizes the American dream. Once a poor boy from North Dakota, he slowly rises up in society and becomes stupendously wealthy. On weekends, he throws lavish parties where â€Å"the air is alive with chatter and laug... ...ever reached, fate already deemed it impossible. Nick laments that Gatsby â€Å"did not know that [his dream] was already behind him, somewhere back in that vast obscurity beyond the city† (Fitzgerald 180), concluding the futility of the American dream. In the last few pages of the book, through Nick’s reflections upon Gatsby’s life and the people in it, Fitzgerald reveals corrupt â€Å"valley of ashes† America has become, no longer allowing her to hide behind her veneer of glitz and glamour. Fitzgerald reinforces the hollowness of the 1920’s and the destructiveness of blindly pursuing the â€Å"American dream† and the false happiness it brings. Instead, revealing the unpleasant truth. The Great Gatsby is a story of the double-edged sword that is the â€Å"American dream†; while elevating society and bringing happiness, it also self-destructs and brings materialism and corruption. The Great Gatsby Essay examples -- Literary Analysis, F. Scott Fitzge The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays American society in the 1920’s after WWI has just ended, a decade of unprecedented economic prosperity. In the book, Fitzgerald critiques the loss of moral values and the degradation of American society, symbolizing it as a â€Å"valley of ashes—a fantastic farm where . . . ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke† (Fitzgerald 23). Through the characters of the book, Fitzgerald exposes the American dream from behind its dazzling veil of happiness and success, and characterizes its true form: a mad, desperate and hopeless chase towards something unattainable, turning a once innocent dream, into a shattered nightmare, destroying everything in its wake. The book is set in Long Island, New York. During the 1920’s, New York was especially prosperous, attracting many wealthy people and people whom wished to become prosperous. Nick Carraway was one of them. Originally from Minnesota, he moved to New York to learn the bond business. Through Nick, a self-proclaimed â€Å"honest man† who is â€Å"inclined to reserve all judgments, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to [him]† (Fitzgerald 1), Fitzgerald narrates the book and introduces the readers to his opinions about money and society. At first, Fitzgerald deceives the reader to believe the illusion of the American dream only to shred it to pieces later. In the beginning of the book, shortly after moving to New York, Nick meets his neighbor, Jay Gatsby, whom he will gradually get to know more intimately. Gatsby epitomizes the American dream. Once a poor boy from North Dakota, he slowly rises up in society and becomes stupendously wealthy. On weekends, he throws lavish parties where â€Å"the air is alive with chatter and laug... ...ever reached, fate already deemed it impossible. Nick laments that Gatsby â€Å"did not know that [his dream] was already behind him, somewhere back in that vast obscurity beyond the city† (Fitzgerald 180), concluding the futility of the American dream. In the last few pages of the book, through Nick’s reflections upon Gatsby’s life and the people in it, Fitzgerald reveals corrupt â€Å"valley of ashes† America has become, no longer allowing her to hide behind her veneer of glitz and glamour. Fitzgerald reinforces the hollowness of the 1920’s and the destructiveness of blindly pursuing the â€Å"American dream† and the false happiness it brings. Instead, revealing the unpleasant truth. The Great Gatsby is a story of the double-edged sword that is the â€Å"American dream†; while elevating society and bringing happiness, it also self-destructs and brings materialism and corruption.