The Great Gatsby

Brief Overview

«The Great Gatsby» by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a novel about disillusionment and the impossibility of reclaiming the past. The main character, Jay Gatsby, a wealthy man with a mysterious past, lives in a lavish mansion in West Egg, near New York City, during the era of the 'Roaring Twenties.' His goal is to rekindle a past romance with a young woman named Daisy Buchanan, who is now married to Tom Buchanan. Gatsby throws extravagant parties, hoping to catch her attention. The narrator, Nick Carraway, Gatsby's neighbor, gradually uncovers the truth about Gatsby's wealth and his unwavering love for Daisy. The novel explores themes of the American Dream, class differences, illusion, and disappointment. As the plot unfolds, Gatsby's dream collides with harsh reality, leading to a tragic end.

Main Ideas

• The destructive power of the American Dream
• The influence of the past on the present
• Class differences and their impact on people's destinies
• The illusion of wealth and happiness
• The moral decay of 1920s society
• The search for and impossibility of achieving true love
• The emptiness and lack of spiritual values in the 'Jazz Age'

Historical Context and Significance

«The Great Gatsby» by F. Scott Fitzgerald, first published in 1925, is one of the most outstanding works of 20th-century American literature. It is a novel about the disillusionment and destruction of the American Dream, depicted through the lives and relationships of its characters in the 1920s—a period known as the Roaring Twenties. The book describes the emptiness and vice inherent in the upper society living on the East Coast of the United States, as well as the tragedy of a man striving to regain his lost love. The novel did not receive recognition during Fitzgerald's lifetime, but after his death, «The Great Gatsby» gained classic status, influencing many generations of readers and writers, as well as pop culture, becoming a symbol of the era and the tumultuous 1920s.

Main Characters and Their Development

• Jay Gatsby - a mysterious millionaire whose mansion is the site of constant lavish parties. His obsessive love for Daisy Buchanan drives him to amass wealth to win her heart. Over time, Gatsby is revealed as a man caught in the illusion and impossibility of reclaiming the past.
• Daisy Buchanan - a beautiful, charming, yet superficial and selfish woman, Gatsby's former love. Married to Tom, she embodies the object of Gatsby's desire and the world he aspires to but can never fully attain.
• Tom Buchanan - a wealthy aristocrat, Daisy's husband. His aggressive, domineering nature and infidelities portray him as a man confident in his superiority and entitlement to privileges.
• Nick Carraway - the novel's narrator. Daisy's cousin and Gatsby's neighbor, he befriends Gatsby and witnesses his tragedy. Through his eyes, we see the events of the novel, evolving from an interested observer to a critical thinker about the morals and values of the upper society.
• Myrtle Wilson - Tom's mistress, George Wilson's wife. Her desire to improve her life and escape her miserable existence with George leads to tragic consequences.
• George Wilson - an unhappy garage owner, Myrtle's husband. His shattered hopes and illusions intensify when he learns of his wife's infidelity, driving him to a desperate act.

Style and Technique

«The Great Gatsby» by F. Scott Fitzgerald is characterized by vivid and evocative language that captures the atmosphere of luxury and decadence of the early 20th century. Fitzgerald employs numerous symbols (the green light, the valley of ashes), allegories, and metaphors to enrich the text's meaning and create layers of interpretation. The narrative structure is nonlinear, with events from the characters' pasts interwoven into the present storytelling to expose the American Dream and highlight the tragedy of constant pursuit of illusory happiness. The narrative is occasionally interrupted by reflections and internal monologues of the characters, emphasizing their inner conflicts and motivations.

Interesting Facts

• The main character, Jay Gatsby, was actually born as James Gatz.
• The novel is set in 1922, during the Jazz Age and Prohibition in the United States.
• Gatsby throws lavish parties every week in the hope that his beloved Daisy Buchanan will one day attend one of them.
• The green light at the end of Daisy's dock symbolizes Gatsby's dream of a future with her.
• Fitzgerald uses the image of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg's eyes on a billboard as a symbol of divine observation and moral judgment.
• The novel was initially met with lukewarm reviews and did not achieve significant commercial success during the author's lifetime.
• Tom Buchanan, Daisy's husband, represents old money and contrasts with Gatsby, who earned his wealth himself.
• The final scene of the novel takes place on Long Island, where Gatsby is killed in his pool.
• Nick Carraway, the novel's narrator, is Daisy's cousin and Gatsby's neighbor.
• The novel is considered one of the greatest works of American literature and is often included in school curricula.

Book Review

«The Great Gatsby» by F. Scott Fitzgerald embodies the American Dream of the early 20th century through the story of Jay Gatsby. A young millionaire surrounded by luxury and parties, he attempts to reclaim the love of his youth, Daisy Buchanan. The book thoughtfully and deeply explores themes of love, illusions, the supremacy of money, and the spiritual emptiness of society. Fitzgerald's brilliant style, his ability to express complex ideas through symbols and metaphors, makes the novel a literary masterpiece, still relevant today. Critics highlight the irony and critique of the American Dream, making the novel not just a love story but a profound social commentary.