The Great Gatsby
A critique of the American Dream set in the Jazz Age, following the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and his obsessive pursuit of his lost love, Daisy Buchanan, narrated by Nick Carraway.
The Great Gatsby
Overview
Fitzgerald's masterpiece captures the decadence and disillusionment of the Roaring Twenties. Through the tragic story of Jay Gatsby, the novel explores the corruption of the American Dream and the emptiness of wealth without meaning.
Key Themes
- The American Dream and its corruption
- Class and social stratification
- Love and obsession
- Illusion vs. reality
- Moral decay and materialism
Notable Symbols
- The green light - Hope and the American Dream
- The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg - God watching over moral decay
- The Valley of Ashes - Moral and social decay
Personal Notes
The prose is absolutely beautiful. Fitzgerald's ability to capture both the glamour and the emptiness of the era is unmatched. Gatsby's tragic pursuit of an impossible dream is heartbreaking.