Explain how the novelist introduces and develops the theme and show to what extent he or she has effectively engaged your interest in it. In your answer you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: theme, structure, setting, symbolism or any other appropriate feature.

--------------------------------------------------

In F. Scott Fitzgerald's engaging novel "The Great Gatsby", the author effectively uses imagery and symbolism to portray his main theme of dreams, and the positive and negative effects the can have. Fitzgerald uses the narrator, Nick Carraway, to introduce the main character, the very wealthy Jay Gatsby, and it is Nick's perceptive ability as well as his non-judgemental outlook that allows the reader to fully understand Gatsby. It is Gatsby's dream of winning back a previous lover, Nick's cousin Daisy, that Fitzgerald develops throughout the novel and cleverly engages the reader's interest to show how the power of Gatsby's dream can not only give the reader reason to admire Gatsby but also brings out undesirable aspects to his personality and his life.

er is intrigued as to how Gatsby will develop when Nick comments that "Gatsby turned out alright in the end; it is...what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out my interest in...men". This comment engages the reader's interest because Nick only says Gatsby was alright "in the end", suggesting that Gatsby had many flaws which Nick became aware of throughout the novel. The reference to Gatsby's dream and the "foul dust" that follows it, generates interest because of the ambiguity of the statement. Initially Nick meets Gatsby when he moves to New York in an attempt to make some money in the "roaring twenties", and he moves into a small house next door to Gatsby's mansion on the island of West Egg. At this point Nick is unaware of Gatsby's dream, and even that he had ever had anything to do with Daisy. However, Gatsby quickly sets about trying to persuade Nick into arranging a meeting between Gatsby and Daisy at Nick's house. This effectively shows Gatsby's steadfast pursuit of his dream, as he wastes no time in trying to rekindle his love with Daisy. This positive effect Gatsby's dream has on him is introduced very effectively through the moving image of Gatsby reaching out to the green light at the end of Daisy's dock: "he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was form him, I could have sworn he was trembling." This symbolises Gatsby's quest for his dream as he is always so close but so far, while the power of his dream is evident as he is physically "trembling" due to the intensity of his love for Daisy. This undoubtedly causes the reader to admire Gatsby, as he does not allow the obstacles that he faces get in the way of him finding Daisy and winning back her love. His sense of purpose sets him apart form the other wealthy people on West Egg as he does not rest on his laurels and continually motivates himself to realise his dream.

Perhaps Gatsby's greatest downfall was that he could not let go of the past and, instead, tried to live his version of a dream instead of living for the life he had. Nick describes Gatsby's dream as "the colossal vitality of his illusion" and how he had "committed himself to the following of a grail," emphasising Gatsby's obsession with Daisy for the five years they were apart, although essentially, in the end, it was not enough. Ironically, it was his undeniable belief in his dream - a quality that could easily be admired - that led to Gatsby's death following a jealous attack. From the beginning of the novel until this point and Nick's final conclusion, Fitzgerald very effectively engaged the reader's interest in how Gatsby's dream affected him. The intelligent use of symbolism and imagery, along with Nick's perceptive narrative clearly depicted an important theme in today's society, while posing many questions to the reader.

Fitzgerald's theme o

Some common words found in the essay are:
World War, Daisy Gatsby, Daisy Nick's, West Egg, Daisy Gatsby's, Daisy Fitzgerald, Gatsby Choose, Immediately Nick, Nick Gatsby, Scott Fitzgerald's, gatsby's dream, engages reader's, foul dust, nick's perceptive, love daisy, realise dream, dream gatsby, nick notices gatsby's, including getting, life novel, gatsby alright, effect gatsby's dream, dream gatsby created,
Approximate Word count = 1944
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)