Introduction
Francis Scott Fitzgerald characterized his main character as “great”, yet the author managed to insert several meanings into this notion. Gatsby is overwhelmed with money, luxury, parties, but this emphasis on the material things emphasizes another issue in the novel. It is possible to claim that Fitzgerald makes the main hero to disguise himself behind the trumpery of ongoing parties and mysterious reputation. The main purpose of Gatsby seems to be rather controversial, as he is clearly avoids fulfilling his mission to win his love (Matterson 5). It is difficult to find that notorious greatness in the character’s intentions as well as in the entire novel, as the central aim of the work is quite banal. “The Great Gatsby” is about the great efforts a person makes for achieving invalid purposes. It is also about the fear to fulfill the biggest dream and a misconception about the other people. Yet, Fitzgerald’s work can easily be perceived as “great” due to magnitude of the efforts made for depicting the delusiveness of the American Dream.
Analysis
Fitzgerald shows the importance of wealth in describing the details of Gatsby’s fortune. It is possible to see great parties and reception at Gatsby’s house where tables are filled with a variety of food and beverages. During a tour though the house, arranged for Daisy, the narrator notices a lot of luxury goods in the house of the protagonist. The car of the main hero strikes the reader’s imagination, and his costumes are always perfect. Still, the author emphasizes that wealth cannot give a person getaway from mental agony and turn his life into an endless holiday. Wealth enables Gatsby to be introduced to the society, which he desperately strives for. To understand the importance of this aspect, it is necessary to analyze the main character more thoroughly. The scholars insisted that Fitzgerald incorporated several attributes of wealth within Gatsby as a representative of a lower class ho managed to improve his economic situation (Maurer 36). His wealth here is aimed to create an image and to make the others jealous, as some instances of the novel shows that not all people are that fortunate. It is possible to claim that the symbol of wealth in the novel is one of the attributes of the concept of American Dream.
Gatsby is a personification of the American Dream and the main goal of Fitzgerald is to debunk it and to show its ephemerality. The basic principle of this phenomenon is the ability of a person to achieve high socio-economic status despite the humble beginnings. In addition, most importantly, happiness and wealth are similar to people practicing tenets of the American Dream. This myth includes equal opportunities for all people regardless of their initial capital and social origin. According to the studies, the author aimed to reveal the inadequacy of the American Dream in terms of its delusiveness and inconsistency with the realities of the U.S. in those days (Jones 230). He argues that a man who dedicates his whole life to gaining wealth does not become happier, but rather loses his own self, his spiritual world, and the consequent desire to live a full life. The author shows the tragedy of a man whose concentration on wealth ultimately led to his death. The American Dream was destined to become the subject of great interest to American writers. From the very beginning of American fiction, living the dream and the feeling that this dream is nothing but illusion was vivid in the novel. For instance, Gatsby is great in his aggressiveness and dedication to reach his goals. The goal of Fitzgerald here is to find values which can withstand dollar civilization, in which, apparently, there can be no place for true human feeling, untempered positive intentions and true love.
The same thought can be seen in the characteristic features of the main hero. It seems that Gatsby was always pretending to be somebody else, so he was a great actor. It is obvious that the Gatsby does not care about the money, given his willingness to splurge. He does not care about the opinions of others, as he has his own goals. Daisy is married and has a three-year-old daughter, but this does not stop Gatsby from implementing his plan of winning her back. With confidence and calmness he is ready to jump over any walls. Only one time he showed his real face when he nearly beat Thomas Buchanan, Daisy's husband. At this moment, his mask was dropped and for a few seconds we could see the real Gatsby and the absence of “greatness” in his intentions.
Another attribute of the American Dream in the novel is the relation to the upper class. Gatsby tries to act like he belongs to the society he is in. Compared to Gatsby, whose roots are far from noble, Daisy and Tom Buchanan are the true representatives of the “high” society. These characters are used to ease and privilege, which gives them their position. Tom Buchanan is invariably confident and he quietly changes his wife, talks about the inadmissibility of marriages between white and black people. He does not hesitate to buy a dog for his lover and immediately breaks the girl's nose. He can do anything, because he believes in himself, and he has money. Even in a seemingly critical situation when Daisy utters the fateful words that she is planning to leave him, he does not get lost. He begins to prove to her that she was wrong, that she loves him and that Gatsby is not the one she had imagined. Tom’s confidence in anything can be seen as superiority or supremacy, which is supported by his position. He did not hesitate to say who was driving the yellow car and actually kills Jay Gatsby, even though not personally. He is tough, but, in his opinion, this cruelty is justified. Still, even being among somebody who is noble by birth, Gatsby manages to become a member of this society and act like one of them not feeling awkward. This may let us say that he was great – great as an actor. Also, here the author shows a real face of the upper class with its snobbery, flatness, and superficiality of their thoughts. It is another evidence of Fitzgerald’s perception of the American Dream.
The history of Gatsby and Daisy is quite traditional. Gatsby and Daisy have long loved each other, but could not get married because he - then a young officer who was going to war - was poor. Gatsby returned from the war a hero, but still without a cent in his pocket. After demobilization he even nothing to buy civilian clothes. Without waiting for her lover, Daisy marries a wealthy businessman Tom Buchanan. But after a while Gatsby smiles luck and he becomes a millionaire. Yet the tragic fate of Gatsby, as is the fate of the poor. Success, recognition, celebration of love even in the bourgeois world depend on money. But remember that one of the tenets of the American dream is equality of opportunity for all Americans regardless of financial status. Fitzgerald rises are serious criticism of society that distorts human feelings and relationships, pushes a person to commit a crime, makes the tragedy, if not inevitable, in any event legitimate.
Thus, in the soul of the protagonist throughout the novel unfolds a conflict between two incompatible aspirations of two completely heterogeneous principles. One of these principles - "naive", simplicity of heart, unfading glow of "green light" stars "incredible future happiness" (Fitzgerald 57) in which Gatsby believes with all his heart. An interesting question is why Gatsby is called great. The fact is that Jay Gatsby embodies the perfect type of an American "dreamer", although this "dream" leads him along a dangerous path (Fitzgerald 156), first bootlegging, and then - in a completely alien to his nature the world of Tom Buchanan, and finally to catastrophe. Gatsby combines the feeling and the desire for wealth, love and the desire to impress, hope and dandyism. Still, he never ceases to believe and that is what makes him great.
And yet, in spite of the full implementation of the consolidation of public regulations, Jay does not become a member of New York's Upper World. Some people laugh at him, others use its capabilities, others simply ignore his presence. In addition, as we know, the way of life that leads wealthy Gatsby, there is only a means to get Daisy. It is also a society of New York he did not care about. Even Nick admits that Gatsby used it. This "hypocrisy" is the residents of Long Island adequate response. And mannered aristocrat Tom Buchanan does not think for obscenity to call him something to drink, even though they are strangers. For all of them Gatsby - another upstart, which at the first best opportunity they left as quickly as he lost them on Daisy's request. Therefore, a scene reminiscent of a public funeral, Jay silent reproach to a man who did not play by their rules.
The reader of "Great Gatsby" may notice that there is a vivid picture of bourgeois ugliness of the world. Gatsby himself is quite a mysterious person. He is incredibly rich and lives in a luxury house near in New York, on the bay, and almost every day happy grand receptions for hundreds of guests. No guests or neighbors mysterious Gatsby did not know what purpose these techniques are organized, unknown origin also host a huge capital, but this is obviously not bother anyone. When Carraway (and with it the reader) learns that Gatsby bought this house to settle near the beloved Daisy, techniques and suits, hoping to wait for her visit, mysterious Gatsby behavior is further enhanced. Finally, the author introduces the reader to the history of the protagonist of the work.
Fitzgerald makes a voice of the story to be the gleam of hope for Gatsby and the entire novel. A young person carries out the narration in the novel “The Great Gatsby”. This figure does not take part in the unfolding drama in the novel, but it is through his eyes we see what is happening, and his assessment of the events is important for the perception of the characters. It is also important that Nick, as he says of himself, is viewed as one of the few honest people that the protagonist knows (Fitzgerald 88). Therefore, some estimates of the character we perceive as a glance from the standpoint of human morality (Chambers 97). Undoubtedly, Nick is associated with sympathy in the novel. Nick – the writer and the narrator – sees duality aspirations of Gatsby, the complexity of its extraordinary nature and is in fact the only person who remained loyal to Gatsby until the end. At the same time, the very Nick makes certain conclusions from this story: thanks to Gatsby, he understands his place in life (Neha 34).
Cheerful and rich life is also tempting to him – not for nothing that he falls in love with the friend Daisy Jordan. He is no stranger to the "dream" of Gatsby and his romantic view of life. However, unlike Gatsby, Nick makes another choice: it breaks with selfish and infantile Jordan, and at the funeral of Gatsby finally realizes the terrible cruelty of the society, which surrounded him. It was Nick, though not obviously, who sums up the whole story. The collapse of the "dream" and illusions of Gatsby reveal moral inconsistency not only of the "dream", but also of the whole American society: a civilization in which the spiritual life is subject to full idea of material prosperity that cannot be humane (Miller, 17). In the final chapter of the novel, Nick overlooks a certain note of skepticism and sadness, which are inspired by the death of Gatsby and sober assessment of all that has happened.
According to many critics, the history of evolution and collapse of Gatsby's dream is the story of his futile and tragic attempts to join the standard of living of the American rich, in the voice of which the money sounds (Li and Zheng 53). Gatsby could not enter this circle. The fact is that, despite the acquired wealth for the real rich, he will forever remain a mere swindler. Daisy is not just letting him understand it, because for her the world means too much. After reading the novel any reader can really understand that this is a classic of the genre, in every sense of the perfect love story, with all its controversy, maze, and a hell of a fascinating story about the ways of man, of his dream, the pursuit of it, about the personal life failures.
Most surprising ability of the author is to dip into the atmosphere of 20-30's, which was the Jazz Age, the time of mind-blowing parties, surrounded by champagne and brightest outfits of girls. The world created by Francis Scott Fitzgerald is very expressive, colorful and easy to imagine. The author paints a world of hectic and memorable New York, but also the secular world of intrigue, wealth destruction, limited to only one Jay Gatsby, who really is great, despite some ironic overtones in the title. Gatsby is especially great for his strength of will, stubborn attempt to come to his American dream. He tries not only to climb over the wall, which was seen in his schedule, but also tries to climb over the dream, to find happiness, even if it would take on a long and painful journey.
Jay Gatsby stands out among other rich people with their inner strength and mental content. Besides money, Gatsby has a true love, a path that has already disappeared from Great Gatsby. From the outset, Nick says about the ability to be patient and keep his mouth shut, not going to condemn people. But, perhaps, the words have a big role, if you remember about them after reading the novel. Previously, to show off their abilities and respect honesty, Nick breaks the rules and make an exception, when he has to go through this unforgettable moment with Jay Gatsby and other individuals who are deeply influenced on the fate of the hero. Nick looks to have happened by trying to analyze the people that meets daily, is "good" and "bad", while really correctly placing the characters on the sides, and two of them - good and bad.
The narrator in the book tells the reader about the accident, which was caught two years before that. Then he took an abandoned house in a suburban area in New York, on the bay, where there were a lot of houses that belonged to very rich people. The main character of the narrative becomes its closest neighbor, the owner of a large palace with towers and magnificent staircase, a real library, marble pool and a huge park, an unknown, mysterious and eccentric lonely young man named Jay Gatsby - "The Great Gatsby." The figure of the narrator helps create lyrical tone and presence of ironic view simultaneously.
Conclusion
"The Great Gatsby" is a story about the "model" of American youth. Gatsby was the first world war, courage, strength, resistance to it also does not hold - it shows his military career, military insignia. Son of poor parents had since childhood not only to shape themselves, but also pave the way for society "build" their own career to worry about their future, catch a moment of temper. For Gatsby, Daisy is a grand prize to be won. Then the boy from the slums will become the true master of the world. But it is important to understand that Gatsby is not willing to divide the prize with anyone else. That is why he makes the girl say that she had never loved her husband. Silly Daisy cannot understand what is expected of her. However, his ability to use a lucky break was insufficient to defend little legacy in the world of those whose moral standards sanded life among the rich. War is not deprived of its zest for life, big dreams and a specific goal: to become rich and marry his beloved one, who may feel comfortable only in wealth. To achieve this dream, not bothering thoughts and doubts, after a period of wandering without using a gift of fate, he finds an opportunity to study at Oxford, which has provided to demobilized military men, adopt rules of postwar life rather peculiar fit into reality. Gatsby was able to get rich as a bootlegger - the illegal sale of alcohol during the "dry law".
The tragedy of Gatsby is that he is torn between two contradictory belief in myth, along with the fact that the incompatibility of desire and becomes the cause of death - wealth and happiness not identical, but pragmatism and daydreaming American indivisible. The author brings us to an understanding of the tragedy of Gatsby as a man, that he himself created, and rely only on themselves. Absolute laying themselves defeated at the level of society. Gatsby seem to take into account everything. In an effort to meet the requirements of the society, he surrounds himself with luxurious things, orders the clothes in Europe, trying to look like an enlightened man, as evidenced by its excellent library and reminders in the necessary context about Oxford. Hero of watching his looks, speaks in a language that, in his view, correspond to the level of the upper world (Neha 33). Jay is very demanding of himself and as a man, having shown exceptional courage on the front. He realized his dream - has created himself a successful and mysterious Big Gatsby, which they say so much.
On tangible connection with the music of jazz based parallelism techniques, artistic precession, retardation, and the remaining steps. This is due primarily to the fact that the main features of jazz is improvisation and build around a specific theme. And the presence of this subject, in turn, allows the improviser to return to it (hence the reception "by flashback"), constantly repeated in a modified form (parallelism), and therefore "predict" events (artistic anticipation) and play with the reader (false moves, retardation).
The fact that in "The Great Gatsby" Jazz is not only the era background, and compositional devices, says that the author's outlook is heavily influenced by this trend. If the composition of a literary work (which is a "model" of reality) has been chosen precisely this form, it means that a lot of jazz life around features - instability, surprise, improvisation, lightness and unpredictability. Fitzgerald, subtly feeling most tragic contradictions of his time (as well as in anticipation of the coming depression of the thirties), with great skill to reflect them in his novel "The Great Gatsby" in many ways with the help of a special construction of the plot and composition. To make a conclusions, we can say that Gatsby is one of the most controversial figures in the world literature. It is possible to appreciate his persistence and the fact that he does not want to give up. However, in the rush for his beloved one, who does not seem to love him, he seems to forget about who he really is. As for his greatness, he truly deserves respect for his willingness to achieve the goal.
Works Cited
Chambers, John B. The Novels of F. Scott Fitzgerald. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1989. Print.
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. London: Penguin Books, 1993. Print.
Jones, Edward T. "Green Thoughts in a Technicolor Shade: A Revaluation of the Great Gatsby." Literature/Film Quarterly 2.3 (1974): 229-242.
Li, Qin, and Lili Zheng. "The Greatness of Gatsby in ‘The Great Gatsby’." ALS Advances in Literary Study 3.2 (2015): 52-57. Print.
Matterson, Stephen. The Great Gatsby. London: MacMillan, 1990. Print.
Miller, James E. The Fictional Technique of Scott Fitzgerald. Berlin, GE: Springer, 1956. Print.
Maurer, Kate. Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. New York: Hungry Minds, 2000.
Neha, Neha. "Decline of Hero Jay Gatsby in F. Scott. Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby." Indian Journal of Applied Research 3.8 (2011): 371-372. Print.
