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

Fitzgerald deftly pulls the strings to stage-manage his characters. Gatsby and Daisy were formers lovers in Kentucky but Daisy married the affluent bully, Tom, because of his money and social status. Gatsby, pursued the dream of recovering his deified inamorata, by bootlegging. In fact, the text shows us that Gatsby is willing to do anything, legal or illegal, to gain the social status of immense wealth which he deemed necessary to snatch back Daisy from Tom's arms. Through Nick, who later became his confidante, and through Jordan, Gatsby and Daisy rekindled an affair to the consternation of Tom, who despite carrying an adulterous affair with Myrtle, George Wilson's wife, was outraged and unmasked Gatsby as a bootlegger.

When Myrtle was run over by the car driven by Daisy, Tom pointed to George, Gatsby as the one who snuffed the life of his wife. Livid with anger, George killed the disconsolate Gatsby, who was heartbroken with the realization that Daisy preferred the social status and financial stability that Tom can always provide her than Gatsby's love. Nick is the conscience that sorts out what is decadent, corrupt, hollow, and perverted from what is noble, admirable, and sincere. Daisy represents the deified icon who is unworthy of Gatsby's love because she is flawed, weak, and possessing corrupted, warped values.

Tom represents the bratty, spoiled ultra-rich who believes his wealth gives him the license to be brutal, licentious, and inconsiderate to the feelings of others. Gatsby represents the quixotic dreamer whose life is spent pursuing an impossible.