Themes: Home

In this context, “homes” should be distinguished from mere “houses,” of which there are many in the novel, including Nick’s summer house and Gatsby’s palatial estate. With the one exception of Jordan, whose idea of home we’re not privy to, the main characters are itinerant, in the sense that they leave their childhood homes and spend most of their adult lives moving around, never really making new lives for themselves. Gatsby, for instance, runs...

Themes: Time

Fitzgerald first hints at the importance of time to the narrative in chapter 2, when Nick attends a party at Tom’s flat in the city. This party seems to speed up as Nick gets drunker, making events like Tom’s breaking Myrtle’s nose and Nick’s stumbling drunk into the elevator appear to happen in rapid succession. Fitzgerald indicates that Nick lost time or blacked out with an ellipsis followed by a sentence that begins, “I was standing beside his...

Themes: Safety

There are many different kinds of safety present in this novel: the financial security that comes of being wealthy; the physical safety of having someone to protect you; and the deep psychological security that stems from being privileged, well-regarded, and well-loved. Of the main characters, Daisy is the only one with all three, having been protected by Gatsby, provided for financially by Tom, and loved by both of them. This is exactly the kind...

Themes: Performance

This novel is rife with varying forms of entertainment: the gypsy’s dance number in chapter 3, the woman in yellow playing the piano (also in chapter 3), and the jazz standards the orchestra plays throughout Gatsby’s parties. Taken collectively, these performances contribute to the air of luxury and privilege that pervades the party scenes. Individually, they give readers a window into life in the Jazz Age, where excessive drinking, partying, and...

Themes: The Past

Many of the characters in the novel appear to be outrunning their past: Gatsby assumes his new identity, Daisy and Tom escape the scandal he caused in Chicago, and Jordan Baker buries the fact that she once cheated in a golf tournament. They are all in some way trying to forget who they were and what they did at that time in their lives. And yet, paradoxically, Gatsby also wants to relive select parts of his past, especially his brief affair with...

Themes: Materialism

Hand in hand with money comes materialism, which stems from the desire for not only wealth or privilege but things that will display one’s wealth. Hence Gatsby’s house, with its hired orchestra and absurdly beautiful music rooms. Perhaps the best example of materialism is Daisy’s acceptance of the pearl necklace worth $350,000 that Tom gives her. Her affections are effectively bought by this necklace and by the promise of more like it. Daisy...

Themes: Money

Money and wealth are key themes in the novel and function as identifiers of a character’s social status. Tom, for instance, descends from “old money” and carries himself like somebody who is accustomed to privilege and prestige. In contrast, the residents of West Egg, including Gatsby, are members of the nouveau riche, a class of people who have only recently earned their money, without having to rely on their family’s old money. East Egg and...

Themes: Light and Dark

Related to the themes of life and death are the themes of light and dark. At the very beginning of chapter 5, when Nick returns from his date with Jordan in New York City, Gatsby’s house is “lit from tower to cellar.” Gatsby explains this away by saying he was looking into the rooms of his house, but the effect of leaving the lights on is that the house seems like a giant, shining beacon, not unlike the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock that...

Themes: Life and Death

Fitzgerald establishes the themes of life and death late in chapter 2, when the drunk party guest crashes the car with Owl Eyes in it. Thus, cars become symbols of death or, when the characters aren’t crashing them, of one’s social status. In chapter 5, during the tour of Gatsby’s house, Nick thinks he hears Owl Eyes’s “ghostly” laughter emanating from one of the many rooms. It is almost as if Gatsby’s house has become a giant, empty tomb where...

Themes: Hope

In chapter 1, Gatsby is described as having an “extraordinary gift for hope,” meaning that he has a sensitivity to life and a sense of its possibilities that surpass those of others. His hope is more or less synonymous with his ability to dream (if not with his dream itself). The people who live in the Valley of Ashes, then, are “hopeless” specifically because they’ve lost most of their ability to dream and realize their dreams. George Wilson’s...

Themes: Honesty

In the opening passages of the novel, Nick relates a piece of advice that his father gave him in his “younger and more vulnerable years”: to remember whenever he wants to criticize someone that “all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages [he’s] had.” That his own father tells him that he should be less critical of others suggests that he’s an inherently critical person and that his privilege and wealth (his family owns a successful...

Themes: The American Dream

The American Dream (in particular, the failure to achieve it) is one of the most important themes in the novel. It’s established early on in the first chapter when a stranger asks Nick for directions, making him “a guide, a pathfinder, an original settler,” like the brave pioneers who traveled West in hopes of building better lives for themselves. Immediately after that, Nick tells us that he read a series of finance books in the hopes of making...

Themes: Social Class

Social class is a central theme in The Great Gatsby, highlighting the divide between the wealthy elite and those aspiring to join their ranks. Fitzgerald explores the rigid social hierarchy and the illusion of the American Dream, where wealth does not guarantee acceptance into the upper echelons of society. The novel portrays the stark contrast between "old money" and "new money," and the futility of trying to transcend one's social class through...

Themes: Wealth

Wealth is a central theme in The Great Gatsby, shaping the characters' lives and driving the plot. The novel explores the differences between "old money" and "new money," and the impact of wealth on personal relationships and social status. Through characters like Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby, Fitzgerald critiques the American Dream and highlights the moral decay hidden beneath the glittering surface of wealth.

Tom Buchanan represents "old money,"...

Themes: Reality vs. Illusion

The theme of reality versus illusion is central to The Great Gatsby. Characters in the novel often present facades that mask their true selves, creating a tension between appearance and reality. This theme is evident in the lives of Jay Gatsby, the Buchanans, and the social environment of West Egg and East Egg. The novel explores how these illusions are constructed and the inevitable collapse when they confront reality.

Jay Gatsby epitomizes the...

Themes: Morality

Morality in The Great Gatsbyis a complex theme, woven into the fabric of the characters' lives and actions. The novel presents a world where traditional moral values are overshadowed by materialism and the pursuit of personal desires. Characters like Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby navigate a moral landscape where wealth and status often dictate actions, leading to a decay of ethical standards. Through their stories, Fitzgerald critiques the moral...

Themes: Infidelity

Infidelity is a central theme in The Great Gatsby, highlighting the moral decay and betrayal among the characters. The novel explores unfaithfulness in marriage and the broader sense of betrayal in personal relationships and societal obligations. Tom Buchanan's affair with Myrtle Wilson and Daisy Buchanan's relationship with Jay Gatsby exemplify the breakdown of marital fidelity. The theme extends beyond romantic relationships, encompassing deceit...

Themes: Dreams

In The Great Gatsby, dreams play a central role, symbolizing the aspirations and desires of the characters, particularly Jay Gatsby. The novel explores the pursuit of these dreams and the obstacles that prevent their realization. Gatsby's dream of rekindling his romance with Daisy Buchanan is a metaphor for the larger American Dream, which promises success and happiness through hard work but often proves elusive and hollow.

Gatsby's life is a...

Themes: Disillusionment

Disillusionment is a central theme in The Great Gatsby, reflecting the shattered illusions of the American Dream and the moral decay of the 1920s. Through the characters and their experiences, Fitzgerald critiques the idea that wealth and status can bring true happiness and fulfillment. The novel reveals the emptiness behind the glamorous facade of the Jazz Age, exposing the disillusionment that follows the pursuit of superficial dreams.

One aspect...

Themes: Love

Love in The Great Gatsbyis a complex and multifaceted theme, exploring the illusions and realities of romantic relationships. The novel presents love as a social construct, often tied to wealth and status, and questions the authenticity of romantic feelings. Through the characters' relationships, Fitzgerald critiques the superficial nature of love in the context of the American Dream, where material success often overshadows genuine emotional...

Themes: Gender Roles

In The Great Gatsby, gender roles are a significant theme, highlighting the constraints and expectations placed on women in the 1920s. The novel portrays women as dependent on men for social standing and financial security, while also showing their limited power through beauty and manipulation. Despite the era's new freedoms, women like Daisy Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson remain trapped in traditional roles, unable to break free from societal norms.