Analysis
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a profound critique of the American Dream set in the summer of 1922, during the height of the Jazz Age. Through the narrator, Nick Carraway, the novel explores themes of wealth, class, love, and illusion in the fictional communities of West Egg and East Egg on Long Island. Fitzgerald presents the American Dream as corrupted by materialism and superficial values. The characters’ relentless pursuit of wealth and status reflects a society obsessed with appearance rather than substance, suggesting that the promise of success and happiness is often hollow.
At the center of the novel is Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire who dedicates his life to rekindling his past romance with Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby embodies both the hope and the tragedy of the American Dream. His transformation from James Gatz into the glamorous Gatsby represents ambition and reinvention, yet his dream is rooted in illusion. Daisy becomes less a real person and more a symbol of wealth, status, and unattainable perfection. Gatsby’s inability to see Daisy’s flaws or accept the passage of time ultimately leads to his downfall, illustrating the destructive power of obsessive idealism.
Fitzgerald also contrasts old money and new money through characters like Tom Buchanan and Gatsby. Tom represents inherited wealth, arrogance, and moral carelessness, while Gatsby represents newly acquired wealth and hopeful aspiration. Despite Gatsby’s fortune, he is never fully accepted into the established social elite, revealing the rigid class divisions of American society. The novel further exposes moral decay through the characters’ recklessness—Tom’s infidelity, Daisy’s irresponsibility, and the tragic fate of Myrtle Wilson—highlighting the emptiness behind the glittering façade of the Jazz Age.
Ultimately, The Great Gatsby is a meditation on illusion, time, and the impossibility of recapturing the past. The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock symbolizes Gatsby’s unreachable dream and, more broadly, the endless striving that defines the human condition. Nick’s final reflections suggest that people are driven forward by hope, even when that hope is based on illusion. Fitzgerald’s lyrical prose and symbolic imagery create a timeless commentary on ambition and disillusionment, making the novel a lasting exploration of the costs of chasing an idealized dream.
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Characters
Jay Gatsby (James Gatz)
Jay Gatsby is the central character of the novel The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Gatsby is a mysterious and wealthy young man who lives in a grand mansion in West Egg. His real name is James Gatz, and he comes from a poor farming family. He changes his name and creates a new identity for himself because he wants to become rich and successful. Gatsby believes strongly in dreams and hard work. His biggest dream is to win back his lost love, Daisy Buchanan.
Gatsby is known for throwing huge and luxurious parties every weekend, but he rarely joins them. He throws these parties hoping that Daisy will come one day. He is romantic, hopeful, and deeply loyal to Daisy, even though she is married to Tom Buchanan. Gatsby represents the American Dream — the idea that anyone can achieve success through effort. However, his dream is based on illusion because he believes he can repeat the past and bring Daisy back exactly as she was before.
Although Gatsby appears confident and powerful, inside he is lonely and emotional. He earns his money through illegal business activities, which shows that his success is not completely honest. In the end, Gatsby dies tragically, still believing in his dream. His life shows that dreams based only on wealth and illusion can lead to disappointment. Gatsby is a symbol of hope, love, ambition, and the failure of the American Dream.
Nick Carraway
Nick Carraway is the narrator of the novel The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. He comes from a respectable and wealthy family in the Midwest and moves to New York to learn the bond business. Nick lives in a small house in West Egg, next to Jay Gatsby’s large mansion. He is honest, calm, and thoughtful. At the beginning of the novel, he says that he does not judge others, which makes him a reliable narrator.
Nick becomes close to Gatsby and admires his hope and determination. He helps Gatsby meet Daisy again and supports him during difficult times. Unlike other characters, Nick is simple and morally responsible. He sees the selfishness and carelessness of Tom and Daisy Buchanan and feels disappointed with their lifestyle. By the end of the story, Nick understands that the rich people around him are careless and empty. He returns to the Midwest because he feels unhappy with the dishonesty and corruption of New York life. Nick represents honesty, morality, and the voice of reason in the novel.
Daisy Buchanan is one of the main characters in The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. She is beautiful, charming, and comes from a wealthy family. Daisy is married to Tom Buchanan and lives a luxurious life in East Egg. She has a sweet and attractive voice, which Gatsby describes as “full of money,” showing that her identity is closely connected with wealth and status.
Daisy was once in love with Jay Gatsby, but she married Tom because he was rich and secure. When Gatsby returns and becomes wealthy, she begins to meet him again. However, Daisy is weak and confused. She loves Gatsby but cannot leave her comfortable life with Tom. She is emotional but also selfish and careless. At the end of the novel, after Gatsby’s death, Daisy does not take responsibility and quietly leaves with Tom.
Daisy represents beauty, wealth, and the shallow values of the upper class. Through her character, Fitzgerald shows how money and social status can destroy true love and moral values.
Jordan Baker
Jordan Baker is an important character in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. She is a professional golfer and a friend of Daisy Buchanan. Jordan represents the modern woman of the 1920s—independent, confident, stylish, and bold. She has a calm and careless attitude, and she does not show much emotion. She is also known for being dishonest; there is a rumor that she cheated in a golf tournament. This shows her moral weakness and lack of honesty. Jordan becomes romantically involved with Nick Carraway, the narrator of the novel. However, their relationship does not last because Nick feels that she is too careless and dishonest. Through Jordan’s character, Fitzgerald shows the moral corruption and emptiness of the rich class during the Jazz Age. She symbolizes freedom and modernity, but at the same time, she reflects selfishness and lack of strong moral values.
Tom Buchanan
Tom Buchanan is a major character in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. He is a wealthy, powerful, and arrogant man who belongs to the old rich class of America. Tom is physically strong and was a famous football player at Yale University. He is married to Daisy Buchanan, but he is not faithful to her and has an affair with Myrtle Wilson. Tom is proud of his social position and believes that people from old money are superior to others. He looks down upon Jay Gatsby because Gatsby is from new money. Tom is selfish, aggressive, and controlling, and he often behaves in a rude and racist manner. Throughout the novel, he represents the corruption, carelessness, and moral emptiness of the upper class in the 1920s. In the end, Tom avoids responsibility for the tragic events, showing his lack of guilt and concern for others.
Other characters
Myrtle Wilson
Geroge B.Wilson
Henry Gatz
Meyer Wolfsheim
Dan Cody
Michaelis
Owl Eyes
Essay
Themes
1. The American Dream
One of the most important themes of The Great Gatsby is the idea of the American Dream. The American Dream means that anyone can achieve success and happiness through hard work. Jay Gatsby represents this dream because he rises from a poor background to become very rich. However, his dream is not only about money but also about winning Daisy’s love. In the novel, Fitzgerald shows that the American Dream has become corrupted. Instead of hard work and honesty, people use illegal methods and material wealth to achieve success. Gatsby becomes rich through illegal business, and in the end, his dream fails. Through this, the author shows that the American Dream is no longer pure and is difficult to achieve in a materialistic society.
2. Love and Illusion
Love in the novel is often shown as an illusion rather than true emotion. Gatsby is deeply in love with Daisy Buchanan, but he loves the idea of her more than the real person. Daisy represents beauty, wealth, and social status. Gatsby believes that money can bring back the past and recreate his romantic dream. However, Daisy is weak and practical; she does not leave her husband Tom. Their love is based on fantasy and unrealistic expectations. Fitzgerald shows that love, when mixed with money and social position, becomes shallow and disappointing.
3. Social Class and Division
The novel clearly shows the difference between social classes in 1920s America. There are three main groups: the “old rich” (like Tom and Daisy Buchanan), the “new rich” (like Gatsby), and the poor (like George and Myrtle Wilson). The old rich are careless and powerful, and they look down on others. Gatsby, even though he is wealthy, is not fully accepted because his money is new. The poor struggle to survive and suffer the most. Fitzgerald shows that social class creates division and unfairness in society. No matter how much Gatsby earns, he cannot truly belong to the upper class.
4. Wealth and Materialism
Wealth plays a central role in the novel. Almost every character values money and luxury. Gatsby throws grand parties to show his wealth and attract Daisy. Tom and Daisy live in a luxurious mansion and enjoy a comfortable life. However, money does not bring true happiness. Despite their riches, the characters feel empty and dissatisfied. Myrtle desires wealth and tries to escape her poor life, but her dream ends in tragedy. Fitzgerald suggests that excessive love for money leads to moral decay and spiritual emptiness.
5. Carelessness and Moral Decay
Another important theme is carelessness. Tom and Daisy are careless people who hurt others without taking responsibility. Daisy drives the car that kills Myrtle, but Gatsby takes the blame. After Gatsby’s death, Tom and Daisy leave town without facing any consequences. The wealthy characters destroy lives but remain safe because of their social power. Fitzgerald criticizes the moral decline of society in the 1920s. He shows that people have become selfish, irresponsible, and unconcerned about others.
Conclusion
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald ends on a tragic and thoughtful note. The novel shows the failure of Gatsby’s dream and the corruption of the American Dream. Despite his wealth and hard work, Gatsby cannot win true love or social acceptance. The rich characters like Tom and Daisy remain careless and avoid responsibility, while Gatsby dies alone. Through this tragic ending, Fitzgerald shows that blind hope, materialism, and obsession with the past can lead to disappointment and destruction. The novel finally suggests that people continue to chase their dreams, even when those dreams may never truly be achieved.
Reference
https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/gatsby/characters/
https://www.scribd.com/document/175532955/The-Great-Gatsby-Themes-and-Historical-Context
https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Great-Gatsby
