The Great Gatsby Themes
The main themes of The Great Gatsby include the American Dream, money, and death.
- The American Dream: As a self-made man who pulled himself out of poverty, Jay Gatsby personifies the American Dream. His unhappiness and eventual death signifies the end of the illusory American Dream.
- Money: Fitzgerald distinguishes between old money (Tom and Daisy) and new (Gatsby). This divide is represented by the bay between East Egg and West Egg.
- Death: The novel sees the death of three important characters: Myrtle Wilson, George Wilson, and Gatsby himself. It also sees the death of the abstract American Dream.
Themes: All Themes
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...
(Read more)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...
(Read more)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...
(Read more)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...
(Read more)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...
(Read more)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...
(Read more)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...
(Read more)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...
(Read more)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...
(Read more)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...
(Read more)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...
(Read more)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...
(Read more)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...
(Read more)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,"...
(Read more)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...
(Read more)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...
(Read more)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...
(Read more)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...
(Read more)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...
(Read more)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...
(Read more)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.
(Read more)Expert Q&A
Which quotes from The Great Gatsby describe the theme of "eyes watching"?
In The Great Gatsby, the theme of "eyes watching" is symbolized by the billboard of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg in the Valley of Ashes. George Wilson, in his grief, mistakes these eyes for those of God, believing they witness the moral corruption around him. This reflects the novel's theme that despite the characters' belief in their invulnerability, actions have consequences. Wilson's belief in divine observation leads him to seek retribution, symbolizing moral judgment.
What is the central question in The Great Gatsby?
The central question in The Great Gatsby revolves around the attainability of the American Dream and whether wealth can bring happiness. The novel explores themes of class, ambition, and the illusion of success, questioning if money is enough to achieve one's dreams and if the past can be revisited. Characters like Gatsby and Tom Buchanan illustrate that wealth does not equate to happiness, highlighting the illusory nature of the American Dream.
How does The Great Gatsby portray the themes of restlessness and impermanence?
The themes of restlessness and impermanence in The Great Gatsby are portrayed through fleeting relationships and transient events. Gatsby's extravagant parties epitomize impermanence, as guests attend without genuine connection, highlighted by the rumors about Gatsby himself. Relationships are similarly short-lived, such as Daisy and Gatsby's affair, and Nick's friendship with Gatsby, which ends with Gatsby's death. Restlessness is evident in characters' actions, like Nick's move to New York and the infidelities of Tom and Daisy.
What are the common themes in The Great Gatsby and My Antonia?
Both The Great Gatsby and My Ántonia explore themes of American identity, the longing for a lost past, and the pursuit of the American Dream. In both novels, characters strive to reshape themselves to fit an ideal American identity, often with bittersweet results. Gatsby's quest for a past love and Ántonia's immigrant struggles highlight the complexities of achieving the American Dream, questioning whether it truly brings happiness or fulfillment.
What are the similarities and differences between Jay Gatsby and Hamlet regarding the theme of illusion vs reality?
Both Jay Gatsby and Hamlet grapple with illusion versus reality, yet from differing perspectives. Gatsby is trapped in the illusion of reviving a past romance with Daisy, believing he can alter reality to fit his dreams. Hamlet, conversely, seeks to uncover the truth amidst the deceit of the Danish court, questioning the ghost's authenticity and others' honesty. Both create personal illusions: Gatsby feigns wealth, and Hamlet feigns madness, yet neither convincingly sustains these facades.
Themes in The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is rich with themes and symbols, particularly in Chapter 3, where symbols of wealth and opulence, such as Gatsby's Rolls-Royce, the library of unread books, and the use of colors like yellow, reflect the novel's exploration of the American Dream and moral decay. The novel controversially critiques the American Dream, suggesting its unattainability, as seen through Gatsby's tragic pursuit of wealth and love. Themes of love, social class, and moral corruption are central, with conflicts arising from Gatsby's aspirations clashing with societal realities. Contentious topics include the morality of Gatsby's wealth, Tom's actions, and the nature of happiness tied to wealth.
The theme of superficiality in The Great Gatsby
The theme of superficiality in The Great Gatsby is evident through the characters' obsession with wealth, status, and appearances. This is seen in Gatsby's lavish parties intended to impress Daisy, Daisy's marriage to Tom for his financial stability, and the general hollowness of the social elite. These elements highlight the emptiness beneath their glamorous facades.
The main ideas, themes, and symbols in various chapters of The Great Gatsby
Each chapter of The Great Gatsby explores themes such as the American Dream, class disparity, and the illusion of love. Key symbols include the green light representing Gatsby's hopes, the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg symbolizing moral scrutiny, and the Valley of Ashes illustrating societal decay. These elements interweave to critique the Jazz Age's moral and social values.
The role of sports and race in contributing to the themes and atmosphere of The Great Gatsby
Sports and race contribute to the themes and atmosphere of The Great Gatsby by highlighting social stratification and the pursuit of the American Dream. Tom Buchanan's involvement in polo signifies wealth and privilege, while his racist remarks reveal the era's prejudices. These elements intensify the novel's critique of the American upper class and the moral decay hidden beneath their opulent lifestyles.
Symbolism in The Great Gatsby: Revealing Characters and Themes
In The Great Gatsby, symbolism plays a crucial role in revealing characters and themes. The green light at Daisy's dock symbolizes Gatsby's unattainable dreams and the illusion of the American Dream, highlighting his longing for Daisy and the insurmountable social divide between them. The eyes of T.J. Eckleberg symbolize the moral decay of society and the consequences of one's actions. The Valley of Ashes represents the stark contrast between wealth and poverty, underscoring the moral corruption of the wealthy elite.
What are the themes of love and the American dream in The Great Gatsby?
Writing a speech about the themes of love and the American dream in The Great Gatsby could include how both pivot on the idea that the past can be erased so that people can start over. Gatsby fails at realizing his dream but achieves greatness in Nick's eyes for daring to dream big.
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