Literary essay notes on the Great Gatsby, achieved an aggregate above 85% for these notes. Includes all themes and quotes. Has been approved by various IEB english teachers.
- Gatsby symbolizes both the corrupted Dream and the original uncorrupted
Dream. He sees wealth as the solution to his problems, pursues money via
shady schemes, and reinvents himself. Yet Gatsby's corrupt dream of wealth is
motivated by an incorruptible love for Daisy. Gatsby's failure does not prove the
folly of the American Dream—rather it proves the folly of short-cutting that
dream by allowing corruption and materialism to prevail over hard work,
integrity, and real love. And the dream of love that remains at Gatsby's core
condemns nearly every other character in the novel, all of whom are empty
beyond just their lust for money.
- The American Dream refers to a shared set of ideals that include a notion of
freedom that ensures all Americans the possibility of upward social mobility, as
long as they work for it. Every character in The Great Gatsby draws inspiration
from the American Dream’s promise of wealth and prosperity. At the same
time, the novel itself critiques the notion of the American Dream. Gatsby suffers
the most from the promise of social mobility. He spends his life believing that if
he makes enough money and acquires enough possessions, he can transcend
his lower-class birth and become equal to Daisy and Tom. However, even
though Gatsby succeeds in acquiring wealth, he is never accepted by the upper
class.
- The “green light” is a symbol for Gatsby’s hopes and dreams for the future. One
could argue it is also a symbol of Daisy which to Gatsby is just one step closer to
the American dream and achieving his goals. He was in love with the idea of
Daisy and what she represented: Daisy's love gave Gatsby an identity as a young
man, and made his manufactured "new money" identity legitimate. To preserve
that identity, he had to have her.Everyone has something they long or yearn for
and Nick draws the green light to everyone and how at the end of the day
consciously or not everyone is chasing after the American dream.
- Although Tom and Daisy embody the American dream and receive comments
like “Her voice is full of money” they were still not happy, not content with what
they had, all the money and status was not enough. People just like Gatsby
longed for that life unknowing of the cracks in its so-called brilliance.
- “There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy and the tired.” Every one of
the characters fall into one of these categories - Tom and Daisy are old money,
they have pursued the dream whereas Gatsby is still pursuing it and very
earnestly.
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