StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald - Book Report/Review Example

Cite this document
Summary
In the essay “The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald” the author focuses on the novel's title character and its protagonist. Gatsby is a mysterious, fantastically wealthy young man. Every Saturday, his garish Gothic mansion in West Egg serves as the site of extravagant parties…
Download free paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER98.2% of users find it useful
The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald"

CHARACTER BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCES Jay Gatsby Gatsby is, of both the novel's character and its protagonist. Gatsby is a mysterious, fantastically wealthy young man. Every Saturday, his garish Gothic mansion in West Egg serves as the site of extravagant parties. Later in the novel, we learn that his real name is James Gatz; he was born in North Dakota to an impoverished farming family. While serving in the Army in World War I, Gatsby met Daisy Fay (now Daisy Buchanan) and fell passionately in love with her. He worked briefly for a millionaire, and became acquainted with the people and customs of high society. This, coupled with his love of Daisy, inspired Gatsby to devote his life to the acquisition of wealth. Daisy Buchanan Daisy is Nick's cousin, Tom's wife, and the woman that Gatsby loves. She had promised to wait for Jay Gatsby until the end of the war, but after meeting Tom Buchanan and comparing his extreme wealth to Gatsby's poverty, she broke her promise. Daisy uses her frailty as an excuse for her extreme immaturity. Tom Buchanan A brutal, hulking man, Tom Buchanan is a former Yale football player who, like Daisy, comes from an immensely wealthy Midwestern family. His racism and sexism are symptomatic of his deep insecurity about his elevated social position. Tom is a vicious bully, physically menacing both his wife and his mistress. He is a thoroughgoing hypocrite as well: though he condemns his wife for her infidelity, he has no qualms about carrying on an affair himself. Jordan Baker Daisy's longtime friend, Jordan Baker is a professional golfer who cheated in order to win her first tournament. Jordan is extremely cynical, with a masculine, icy demeanor that Nick initially finds compelling. The two become briefly involved, but Jordan rejects him on the grounds that he is as corrupt and decadent as she is. Myrtle Wilson An earthy, vital, and voluptuous woman, Myrtle is desperate to improve her life. She shares a loveless marriage with George Wilson, a man who runs a shabby garage. She has been having a long-term affair with Tom Buchanan, and is very jealous of his wife, Daisy. After a fight with her husband, she runs out into the street and is hit and killed by Gatsby's car. George B. Wilson George is a listless, impoverished man whose only passion is his love for his wife, Myrtle. He is devastated by Myrtle's affair with Tom. After her death, the magnitude of his grief drives Wilson to murder Jay Gatsby before committing suicide himself. 1. In your opinion, what is "The American Dream" Some say, that the American Dream has become the pursuit of material prosperity - that people work more hours to get bigger cars, fancier homes, the fruits of prosperity for their families - but have less time to enjoy their prosperity. Others say that the American Dream is beyond the grasp of the working poor who must work two jobs to insure their family's survival. Yet others look toward a new American Dream with less focus on financial gain and more emphasis on living a simple, fulfilling life. For me, The American dream is the idea held by many that through hard work, courage and determination one can achieve prosperity. The American Dream is to work hard for what you get and have the right to protect it and ensure it's safety. 2. According to the media, advertisements, salaries, and society in general, what is "The American Dream" How does this compare to your definition of "The American Dream" The concept of the American dream has been the subject of much criticism. The main criticism is that the American dream is now misleading. These critics say that, for various reasons, it simply is not possible for everyone to become prosperous through determination and hard work. The consequences of this belief can include the poor feeling that it is their fault that they are not successful. It can also result in less effort towards helping the poor since their poverty is "proof" of their laziness. The concept of the American dream also ignores other factors of success such as the family and wealth one is born into and inheritable traits such as intelligence. Perhaps a new definition of the American dream will be written. 3. List at least five elements that make up Jay Gatsby's American Dream. (you may use the chart below) to rise above the status he was born into to achieve a place in the upper echelon of wealthy society to fulfill his dream in corrupt and obsessive ways. To reunite with his lover To have a yacht that represented all the beauty and glamour in the world 4. For each of the five elements listed above, consider what is wrong with either his concept of the dream or the way he attempts to attain it. (you may use the chart below) the lengths of lying about his identity, engaging in illegal crime, and being reliant on material acquisitions and attaining high social status Gatsby idolizes money, and through bootlegging alcohol, he is able to obtain it. committing adultery 5. As you read the novel, copy down a specific quotation or quotations that most relate to the concept of the American Dream as it is presented in the novel. Gatsby says, "my house looks well, doesn't it See how the whole front of it catches the light" (95). Gatsby uses this statement to seek reassurance from Nick on the appearance of his house. This statement once again reiterates Gatsby's need for others to his excessive wealth and extravagant lifestyle. Nick says in his narration, "he hadn't once ceased looking at Daisy and I think he revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her well-loved eyes" (97). This quote shows not only how Gatsby sought approval of his wealth, but also how he based his love of Daisy on material objects. Despite being apart from Daisy for five years, Gatsby still feels that they love each other. Gatsby's love for Daisy is so immense that he "read a Chicago paper for years just on the chance of catching a glimpse of Daisy's name" (84). By describing Gatsby's love for Daisy in this manner, Fitzgerald shows the degree to which Gatsby has longed for Daisy in her absence. Understanding the Historical Context and Setting of the Novel On the surface, perhaps you can add the point that Gatsby has pursuit his dream in a wrong way, thus he pursuit his dream at the expense on others and at all cost, which finally turns out to consume his energy and life. Also, there's a "foul dust" in his dream, which symbolize something not pure in his dream. May be is his wrong vision that he can change his origin and repeat the past. Underlying that, i don't think having hardly anyone at his funeral was a reflection on him but a reflection on those he was associated with, his Chicago and Philadelphia connections of organized crime were represented by Meyer Wolfsheim who said himself about being good friends with a man while he's alive but the link breaks after he's dead. those who went to Gatsby's parties went for the entertainment and the luxury which Gatsby provided them with, he never joined them and his guests were always speculating about him anyhow showing they had no genuine appreciation for him. he was great in terms of being so focused on one particular person not even considering his dream may not come true and doing everything in order to reach that goal he makes his money for her in order to be worthy of her. one point this is shown is at his house when he shows her his shirts and she cries into them. compared to daisy and tom Gatsby is brave he's come a long way but never lost sight of his original plan the other wealthy in the novel like daisy and tom have allowed themselves to be led by money or maybe they were always that way. he is humbling, lonely and brave highlighting daisy and tom's lack of these qualities. besides if Gatsby wasn't great, Robert Redford was sure great playing him. On one hand, one can argue that nothing about Gatsby was great. He lied to everyone about his past, he made his fortune illegally, he centered his entire life around a plan which basically involved breaking up someone's marriage, he had almost no friends (witness the funeral scene with almost no one there) etc. I also think this "great" is meant ironically, or sarcastically (...as in how was the picnic "great, there were ants all over, we forgot the food and it rained. just great") This is only my opinion though, yeah the title was meant to be ironic, just like Gatsby's name REFERENCE F. Scott Fitzgerald. 1999. The Great Gatsby. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Book Report/Review, n.d.)
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Book Report/Review. https://studentshare.org/literature/1510303-the-great-gatsby-by-f-scott-fitzgerald
(The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Book Report/Review)
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Book Report/Review. https://studentshare.org/literature/1510303-the-great-gatsby-by-f-scott-fitzgerald.
“The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Book Report/Review”. https://studentshare.org/literature/1510303-the-great-gatsby-by-f-scott-fitzgerald.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald

Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

In the paper “great gatsby by f.... scott fitzgerald,” the author discusses newly acquired wealth and opulence due to the economic boom that followed World War I.... the great Bull Market created a new, lavish lifestyle that the characters wallow in.... fitzgerald deftly pulls the strings to stage-manage his characters.... nbsp;… The author states that Jay gatsby, Tom, and Daisy Buchanan, Jordan Baker, and the rest of the bacchanalian party revelers, fresh from the human carnage that was the dire result of World War I, all tried to erase the grim memory of that war and lose themselves in the pursuit of wealth, social status, and endless pleasure in the form of lavish....
3 Pages (750 words) Book Report/Review

Reaction to Theme of Great Gatsby

the great gatsby,by F.... the great gatsby, by F.... scott fitzgerald,is set in the United States in what was called the 'Roaring Twenties',the decade of Prohibition, jazz and mobsters.... scott fitzgerald, is set in the United States in what was called the 'Roaring Twenties', the decade of Prohibition, jazz and mobsters.... Gatsby is the great illusionist.... The burden which fitzgerald carried in the writing of this work was to make the lives of the two dreamers into a tale which anyone would care about, other than themselves....
6 Pages (1500 words) Book Report/Review

The varied carol i hear

And while we view this story as “myth,” the Iroquoian people truly believe in its authenticity and this belief gives it great force in their lives.... Each century has introduced us to a myriad of progressively more sophisticated literature through which we can explore many new worlds that we may otherwise not be privy to....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Book Review on the FIRST 100 PAGES of the book The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

the great gatsby title refers to a character in the book, Jay Gatsby.... His new neighbor is a wealthy man, Jay Gatsby who parties every Book Review: "the great gatsby" By F.... Scott Fitzgerald the great gatsby is a novel written by Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald.... the great gatsby title refers to a character in the book, Jay Gatsby.... the great gatsby.... His new neighbor is a wealthy man, Jay gatsby who parties every Saturday....
1 Pages (250 words) Book Report/Review

Two Paragraph Conclusion on The Great Gatsby & A Doll's House

In the great gatsby by f.... n his book, the great gatsby, Fitzgerald's writing explores how women are viewed in relationships.... In the book the great gatsby, Fitzgerald's assertion of women as mere objects of satisfaction to the male dominated and patriarch society is convincing.... scott fitzgerald and A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen, the authors explore idea of the easy-to-objectify, weak minded woman, as seen by the possessiveness towards women, materialistic and shallow traits, and how the men know best....
1 Pages (250 words) Research Paper

Role of Geography and Literature in Understanding Individuals and Societies

The paper "Role of Geography and Literature in Understanding Individuals and Societies" analyzes the impact of Literature and Geography and other subjects from social sciences on IB students.... nbsp;Therefore, studying these subjects is primary to enhance world peace.... hellip; Geography and literature are like every other subject in the IB course....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Society And The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

This essay is about the "Society And The American Dream In the great gatsby".... The epic, "The Unique Society and the American dream in the great gatsby," by F.... scott fitzgerald, is about the American Dream and the cheerful and illusionary target to achieve wealth and status.... fitzgerald uses characters in the novel to show the contamination of true love and the illusionary thought of the American Dream.... With everything taken into account, fitzgerald uses this awful story to convey his tendency about the American Long for the life of the American people during the 1920s....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Old Money Versus New Money as Shown in the Great Gatsby

Old money versus new money as shown in the great gatsby by Fitzgerald erases an issue of comfort that ordinary wealthy people have been trying to exchange, so everyone uses it as they are, like Daisy.... This essay is about the "Old Money Versus New Money as Shown in the great gatsby".... The book “the great gatsby” by F.... scott fitzgerald uses options to show that material wealth and respect are values that may be even more adjustable to social realities with time....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us