The Great Gatsby

A detailed Summary of The Great Gatsby

On the superficial level, The Great Gatsby tells the story of a young middle class man who happens to get mixed up in the chaotic affairs of his wealthy cousin and neighbor. F. Scott Fitzgerald's story of life in the 1920s is much more than it appears to be, though. Even such things as the colors used in description play a crucial part in the "big picture" of the entire novel. Symbolism adds a whole other level of comprehension to the story. Even from the smallest pieces of the puzzle, this symbolism broadens the view of what the "big picture" of the novel actually is. These pieces of the puzzle come even from the characters themselves when viewed merely as symbols and the setting when analyzed more closely.

The character of Jay Gatsby himself is a symbol of the "American dream." His entire life, Gatsby strives to convert himself and his life into what all Americans wish to attain. Only through hard work and an adventurous nature, though, can these goals usually be accomplished. An object that helps support the idea that Gatsby represents the "American dream" is his childhood "schedule" kept on a blank page in a copy of The Adventures of Hopalong Cassidy.

Hopalong Cassidy is a typical

"...He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God...Then he kissed her. At his lips' touch she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was complete" (112).

ly romantic American figure of heroism and adventure. Gatsby's program for self-improvement written in the back of this book reflects Gatsby's struggle to acquire the two basic qualities of the American Hero: hard-working ambition and a robust desire for adventure. Gatsby's change from James Gatz to Jay Gatsby is his first step towards his vision of reaching his goals. After that point, all his actions were devoted to becoming the manifestation of the American dream.

One of the most important of symbols in the novel is the valley of ashes. The valley, basically, represents what destroys Gatsby and his dream. The valley of ashes represents the American society poisoned by the wastes created by the "factories" of wealth. It is a desert that represents the spiritual and moral desolation of the society. Over the ash heap sits the billboard of Dr. T.J. Eckleberg. The faded eyes of the doctor represent God's disappearance from society. The idea of God is still there, but there is no real depth to the thought. Dim and worn away by time, the eyes watch over a world that has become a dumping ground fo

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 930
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English