The Great Gatsby Essay Thesis Example For Students

The Great Gatsby Essay Thesis Jay Gatsby, the central character of F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby symbolizes the American dream. The American dream offers faith in the possibility of a better life. Its attendant illusion is the belief that material wealth alone can bring that dream to fruition. Through Gatsby, Fitzgerald brings together both these ideas. Jay Gatsby thinks money is the answer to anything he encounters. He has the best of everything. The fanciest car, the largest house, and the finest clothes. Jay has everything except the object he most desires, Daisy. Gatsby believes he can win Daisy over with wealth, that he could achieve the ideal she stood for through his material possessions. We will write a custom essay on The Great Gatsby Thesis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now One look at Gatsbys past and it could be seen that he was destined to get ahead in life. Mr. Gatz told Nick, Jimmy was bound to get ahead. He always had some resolves like this or something. Do you notice what hes got about improving his mind? He was always great for that. He told me I et like a hog once and I beat him for it; (182). Gatsbys determination to gain a large bankroll is a huge part of the American dream. He believes that once he achieved his financial goal it would lead to a better life. In America the car is one of the greatest status symbols. Gatsbys gorgeous machine is one of the most majestic cars created. Nicks comments on the vehicle describe its luster, and there in its monstrous length with triumphant hatboxes and supper-boxes and tool-boxesSitting down behind many layers of glass in a sort of leather conservatory we started towards town; (68). The use of the symbolic automobile can be seen as a demonstration of how an ideal based on materialism alone can be destructive. This was the fatal car which kills Myrtle Wilson and indirectly leads to Gatsbys death. Appearance is another important factor toward Gatsbys dream. In his quest to win Daisys heart Gatsby chooses to wear his best outfit. the front door opened nervously and Gatsby in a white flannel suit, silver shirt and gold colored tie hurried in; (89). Silver and gold are the colors of wealth, Gatsbys sartorial splendor is as lavish as any of the other items he owns. Gatsbys shirts are more then just garments towards Gatsby. They are some of the many fascinating objects he possesses that were created by money. These shirts contribute towards Gatsbys vision of the American dream, that his money and belongings will create happiness for him. Another major object of Gatsbys dream was his incredible house. Jay states to Nick and Daisy, My house looks well, doesnt it? See how the whole front of it catches the light; (95). Jay gave Nick and Daisy the grand tour of his house showing of all of his worldly possessions. Room after room, everything was shown and mentioned. At the sight of his piles and piles of shirts Daisy broke down. Theyre such beautiful shirts, it makes me sad because Ive never seen suchsuch beautiful shirts before; (98). Jay Gatsbys ideals were parallel to the typical American dream. He wants to claim his objective by the use of his assets. He thinks that his money will give him happiness in life through love and his personal belongings. Even the richest man in the world cant have everything. Material wealth could provide many things for Jay Gatsby but not the thing he most desired. Although his wealth drew Daisy closer to him, he never truly could have possessed her heart. He demanded Daisy to state that she had never loved Tom Buchanan. Oh, you want too much!; she cried to Gatsby, I love you nowisnt that enough? I cant help whats past. I did love him oncebut I loved you too.; (139-140). Jays true love still remained with her uncaring husband, Tom. Jay Gatsbys dream was smashed when he found out that even all of his assets werent enough to woo Daisy to him. .u4ffdaf0c08988f3776aec013a17ed788 , .u4ffdaf0c08988f3776aec013a17ed788 .postImageUrl , .u4ffdaf0c08988f3776aec013a17ed788 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4ffdaf0c08988f3776aec013a17ed788 , .u4ffdaf0c08988f3776aec013a17ed788:hover , .u4ffdaf0c08988f3776aec013a17ed788:visited , .u4ffdaf0c08988f3776aec013a17ed788:active { border:0!important; } .u4ffdaf0c08988f3776aec013a17ed788 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4ffdaf0c08988f3776aec013a17ed788 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4ffdaf0c08988f3776aec013a17ed788:active , .u4ffdaf0c08988f3776aec013a17ed788:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4ffdaf0c08988f3776aec013a17ed788 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4ffdaf0c08988f3776aec013a17ed788 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4ffdaf0c08988f3776aec013a17ed788 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4ffdaf0c08988f3776aec013a17ed788 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4ffdaf0c08988f3776aec013a17ed788:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4ffdaf0c08988f3776aec013a17ed788 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4ffdaf0c08988f3776aec013a17ed788 .u4ffdaf0c08988f3776aec013a17ed788-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4ffdaf0c08988f3776aec013a17ed788:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Animal Farm Essay PropagandaJay Gatsbys belief in the American dream keep him from realizing reality. He believes that if he worked hard enough and made enough money that he could have anything. He wants to perceive the world as a place where sufficient wealth would enable him to recapture and recreate the past he desired with Daisy. Gatsby began planning for his dream when he was young. This can be seen from his journal he wrote as a young man which was discovered by Mr. Gatz. His attempt to accomplish his dream with cars and shirts could not have been successful. The American dream cannot be accomplished, money is just one factor towards happiness in this world. The Great Gatsby Essay Thesis Example For Students The Great Gatsby Essay Thesis The Great Gatsby paints the picture of the way life was in the twenties. Thissociety has the characteristics of an egotist and one who pays no attention thecharacter of themselves. Fitzgeralds style influences the reader to portraythis era as a carefree do what feels good society. However,Fitzgerald introduces the countless number of tragedies that take place. Throughdiction, imagery, and details Fitzgerald creates a morose tone. The writerevokes the readers feelings through particular words and their meanings. In thephrase, . . . I began to look involuntarily out the window for othercars, the word involuntarily grabs the reader. This phrase makes thereader feel melancholy for Gatsby because it its depressing for no one to cometo the funeral. It reveals how Nick and Mr. Gatz experience anticipation. Bothof them know devoutly that no one will come pay their respects to Jay Gatsby. We will write a custom essay on The Great Gatsby Thesis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Mainly because they wait half an hour for people to show up. Also, in the phrase. . . his eyes began to blink anxiously the word anxiously showsNicks dolefulness for the lack of sympathy that Gatsby fails to receive. Theword procession reflects the despair and lack of friendship that Gatsbywitnesses in his life. The lack of companionship that Gatsby has cogitates howlonely and despondent he is. Through the uses of certain words the author helpsexpress feelings and emotions of the morose tone. Through imagery Fitzgerald canmake the reader feel like they are in the story. Water, specifically evokes thesenses. It describes how the procession of cars stopped in a thick drizzle. Thisdepicts how gloomy it appears outside. The reader can hardly see the three carsbecause of continuous soaking. They describe a motor hearse as . .. horribly black and wet. A hearse normally portrays a solemn feeling, butthe words horribly, black, and wet allow the reader to feel the misery andmournfulness of death. The ground is soggy as someone splashes through it. Youcan smell the wet turf and feel the saturation beneath the feet. The use ofwater in the story aids the reader in understanding the morose setting. Fitzgerald uses certain detailed sequences to help explain the somberness of JayGatsby. In the first significant sequence Nick and Mr. Gatz wait for people toshow up at the funeral. This shows the lack of friends and well-wishers that arein Gatsbys life. The reader feels cheerless for Gatsby due to the lack offulfillment he has in his life. Next, after a half hour the procession of threecars finally reaches the cemetery. This pathetic scene shows the products ofGatsbys arrogant and cocky lifestyle. Because of his personality, very few cometo pay their respects. This is a very lugubrious situation. Finally, the scenein which the unidentified man comes to pay his respects helps the reader viewGatsby through a different perspective. Though Gatsby was not well liked, thislone stranger looked past the arrogant ways and saw an intellectual man. However, it its still poignant how no one comes to the funeral. Thesesignificant sequences give the reader better understanding of the morose toneand the emotional state of Jay Gatsby. Due to the way Fitzgerald portrays thepassage in slow motion to make the reader feel each emotion and see each imagein such vivid detail, its as if the reader is seeing it take place. Throughdiction, imagery, and details Fitzgerald produces a morose tone. The Great Gatsby Essay Thesis Example For Students The Great Gatsby Essay Thesis Man dreams of living the life of the elite social class and of the power and admiration inherent within. F. Scott Fitzgerald comes to terms with this American dream in The Great Gatsby, a novel about social life in the 1920s. The social hierarchy of the times plays a very important role in this novel. Here Fitzgerald illustrates three specific social classes: old money, new money, and lower class, with old money and new money taking center stage. Gatsby himself personifies new money; he made himself into a rich man through shady dealings. Tom Buchanan, on the other hand, represents old money. He received everything he has on a silver platter. He earned nothing but his inheritance. At the time, it was extremely desirable to be old money, because people looked at new money as vulgar and uncivilized. By illustrating social-economic class differences, Fitzgerald depicts the illusion of the corrupted American dream. We will write a custom essay on The Great Gatsby Thesis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Old money, living in the guise of the American dream, denies the entrance of new money and the lower class into their social hierarchy. In the novel, Tom has a mistress who lives in the valley of ashes, where most of the lower class citizens reside. Tom has been seeing her for years even though he married Daisy. No one objects to this because of his old money status. On page 19, Jordan Baker informs Nick of this scandal, Why- Toms got some woman in New York. Jordan also informs Nick of the commonality and wide acceptance of this fact. Toms mistress, Myrtle, despite her status as a lower class citizen, tries to pressure him into leaving Daisy. Tom refuses because marrying into a lower social class would develop into even more of a scandal than having a mistress. This corrupted American dream prevents Tom from openly allowing Myrtle into his life. Old moneys highly discriminating nature allows its members to attain superiority, while this self-serving superiority further enhances their American dream. The attempts of new money to imitate old money remain futile. For example, although Daisy truly loves Gatsby, he represents new money. Despite his attempts to become old money, the old rich have never embraced him. Daisy cannot be with him because he is not and never will be of her class. Gatsby even offers to take the blame for a murder she committed, yet she will nott even leave her husband for him. Was Daisy driving? Yes, he said after a moment. but of course Ill say I was. (p. 151). Daisy allows Gatsby to take the blame for her without showing either remorse or gratitude. In this way, Fitzgerald shows that although old money people count themselves rich monetarily, they show a lack of morality and accountability. Daisys carelessness and irresponsibility cause her to need others to clean up after her without caring who takes the fall. Old moneys arrogance and haughtiness make their misguided American dream more of an American nightmare. The elite created the American dream in order to make themselves and others think they are superior. They are not, in fact, above all others, but have created the illusion of this corrupted dream. To be of old money opens all doors, allowing you to do anything you want to anyone you want, to act without conscience, and to let others take responsibility for your actions. This portrays their perverted picture of the way life should be. This illusion of the American dream can only harm its believers and all those who aspire to attain it. Bibliography:The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald