Free Essay On The Great Gatsby

"The American Dream" is a society of equal opportunities, not constrained with class prejudices. It is a dream about an ideal of equality of opportunities, unlimited scope for individual, community of people, natural happiness unconditionally accepted by the Americans. An individual was never given even a chance to accept either rejects the “dream”, and it took the possession of him from the moment of birth.
The main trend is the Fitzgerald's work is the reference to the problem of "the American dream" and its influence on the destiny of man. The main task the author sets for himself is the ingress to images of his heroes, but at the same time it is a penetration into the essence of "American Dream."
In his novel, the author deliberately declares the falsity of this phenomenon. "The American Dream" is tragic because its problem is unsolvable, and hence we have tragic Fitzgerald’s protagonists. His characters are either rich or seeking for money. In "The Great Gatsby" Fitzgerald tried to debunk the myth of the easy way to the top, the ease of earning big money. Almost all the main characters are not heartless, not violent, not ruthless, in other words - they are deprived of the qualities needed to succeed in American society (success as part of the "American Dream"). This is why it is quite difficult to account for the stages to achieve it, which leads to attenuation and distortion of the image of the "American Dream"
During the 20's the term "Jazz Age", which had received its name after the collection of Fitzgerald‘s short stories, has become a symbol characterizing mass hobby carnival lifestyle in anticipation of disaster. The action of "The Great Gatsby" took place during the age of miracles, art, age of extremes and satire.
Since childhood, dreaming of becoming a rich man, Jay Gatsby came up with a set of rules of life, which were revealed only by the end of the novel. The father of the hero, who came to the son’s funeral, was bragging about the schedule drawn up by a boy. The schedule was very busy and every minute was planned. However the most trimming part of it was the fact that the timetable consisted some very naïve lines, such as “the study of electricity”, “thinking about the needed inventions” and reading for the “overall development”. That was the beginning of his path to the American dream.
Meeting with millionaire Dan Cody decided the fate of James Goetz and he left Dan’s yacht, being another person, with the new name - Jay Gatsby. Realizing that he wanted to become rich, he found what makes life worth living, having met with Daisy, the daughter of wealthy parents. However the link with the world of wealth inevitably led to the death of the protagonist.
The struggle for happiness of the hero came into conflict with the struggle for the happiness of other individuals. The desires of different characters faced each other, and very often these desires were in conflict with each other.
The rich and carefree Buchanan’s, could recklessly enjoy life, however, they were not happy. Tom was not happy having only one woman, Daisy on the contrary wanted her husband’s attention. Tom carelessly gave himself to the joys of life, having an affair with Myrtle’s wife. Daisy craved big money, and even thought of changing her man pursuing her dream. Wilson wanted the money to become happy and to make his wife happy. Wilson wanted fidelity from his wife, however she loved another man.
And finally, our protagonist - the great Gatsby. Gatsby wanted to be with the woman, and she married another. Gatsby wanted to be "great" and his guests gossiped about him. Gatsby wanted to win the heart of his beloved woman, but there was only one way out - to buy it. Gatsby was committed to his pure ideal, but the means to achieve the goal were dishonest. Gatsby wanted love, "as if," when he was poor, but different, however his love became an allusion. At the time when Gatsby had nothing to live for he was killed, making his own father satisfied, as only after the son’s death he could be proud if his greatness.
Carraway was left vexed; dissatisfied with the fact that none of Gatsby’s guests came to his funeral. However, Carraway did not really believe in the American dream, and, if believed, then lost faith, in contrast to the other characters of the novel.
The American Dream is not feasible, because unscrupulous and selfish pursuit of personal happiness of the individual is facecd with the desires of other individuals, and these desires are often in conflict.
Having finished with "Gatsby," Fitzgerald concluded that his novel is about how “wаsted the illusions are, illusions that made this world brilliant, and having experienced that magic an individual became indifferent to the concepts of what is true and what is fаlsе.” Thе “Grеаt Gаtsbу” had depicted the tragedy of “Jazz Age”, showing it’s unique morbid beauty.
"The Great Gatsby" shows the "dоuble vіsіоn" whісh the author dеfіnеd as the аbіlіtу to "hold simultaneously two diametrically opposed ideas in one mind» thаt cоmе wіth one another in a conflictual relationship, crеаtіng а drаmаtіс mоvеmеnt оf plоt аnd chаrасtеr dеvеlоpmеnt. The duality of the tіtlе сhаrасtеr gіvеs hіm а trаgіс flаvоr. The novel is full of metaphors, emphasizinga duаl pеrspесtіvе оf thе еvеnts оссurrіng іn іt: Carnival in Gatsby's mansion - the house nехt tо hіs garbage dump, the "green light" of hарріnеss - dеаd еyes staring from a huge bіllbоаrd, etc. The fragile poetry of the "Jazz Age" - аnd іts flіp sіdе: a rampant of acquisitive instincts. The whole country embraced hedonism and the pursuit of pleasure. The word "jazz", which is now not considered to be indecent, at first meant sex, then the style of dance and finally music.
Thus, from the pages of Fitzgerald's novel we face the cruel reality that was caused by the deep disappointment in the essence of the "American Dream." Subtly conveying the inner world of the characters, the author traced the causes of the collapse of illusions on the way to achieving the "dream". Although the characters in the novel had their own concept of "American Dream", their means to achieve it were inextricably connected with money and led to one - enrichment at any cost. The author drew parallels, showing the duality of his characters and duality of the "American Dream."
Fitzgerald exposed the American myth of happiness: wealth does not give happiness. Each of his characters was trying to find their own way to it, but at the end the path became a chasm. A problem of the "American Dream" and remained unsolved.