The Great Gatsby | Three Themes in The Great Gatsby

In the following essay, three themes are examined: the most prevalent theme of the corruption of the American dream, the theme of love and its fleetingness, and the theme of optimism.

Whilst The Great Gatsby explores a number of themes, none is more prevalent than that of the corruption of the American dream. The American dream is the concept that, in America, any person can be successful as long he or she is prepared to work hard and use his natural gifts.

Gatsby appears to be the embodiment of this dream—he has risen from being a poor farm boy with no prospects to being rich, having a big house, servants, and a large social circle attending his numerous functions. He has achieved all this in only a few short years, having returned from...

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