The Great Gatsby is a famous novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald and published in 1925. It is considered one of the greatest works of American literature.
About the Story:
The novel is set in the 1920s, a time often called the "Jazz Age" in America. It follows a man named Jay Gatsby, a mysterious, wealthy young man who throws extravagant parties hoping to reunite with Daisy Buchanan, a woman he loved years ago. Daisy, however, is now married to another man, Tom Buchanan.
The story is narrated by Nick Carraway, Gatsby’s neighbor, who gets drawn into the drama of love, wealth, and betrayal. At its core, the novel explores themes like:
- The American Dream (and its corruption)
- Love and obsession
- Wealth and class divisions
- Illusion vs. reality
Despite Gatsby’s wealth, he cannot recreate the past or win Daisy’s love back, leading to a tragic ending.
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About the Author:
F. Scott Fitzgerald (full name: Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald) was an American novelist and short story writer.
- Born: September 24, 1896
- Died: December 21, 1940
He is best known for his novels portraying the Jazz Age. His life was quite glamorous at times but also troubled, especially because of financial problems and his wife Zelda's mental illness.
When Fitzgerald died, he was not very famous. Only later did The Great Gatsby gain recognition as a literary masterpiece.
Detailed Summary
The Great Gatsby takes place during the summer of 1922 on Long Island, New York, in two fictional areas called West Egg and East Egg. West Egg is home to the newly rich, while East Egg is where the old aristocratic families live. The narrator of the story, Nick Carraway, moves into a modest house in West Egg to work in the bond business. Nick is a Yale graduate and a veteran of World War I, and he is honest and tolerant by nature.
Nick’s next-door neighbor is Jay Gatsby, a wealthy and mysterious man known for throwing extravagant, glamorous parties every Saturday night. Despite his fame, very few people know anything about Gatsby’s past or how he acquired his fortune. Nick soon discovers that Gatsby is deeply in love with Daisy Buchanan, who lives across the bay in East Egg. Daisy is Nick’s cousin, and she is married to Tom Buchanan, a wealthy but arrogant and unfaithful man.
Gatsby and Daisy had been romantically involved five years earlier, but they were separated when Gatsby went to fight in the war. During that time, Daisy married Tom. However, Gatsby never stopped loving her and devoted his life to winning her back, believing he could recreate the past. Gatsby bought his mansion in West Egg solely to be near Daisy and throws grand parties hoping she might attend one.
At Gatsby’s request, Nick arranges a reunion between Gatsby and Daisy. Their love is rekindled, and for a time, it seems that Gatsby's dream of having a future with Daisy might come true. However, tension rises when Tom becomes suspicious of their relationship. In a heated confrontation at a hotel in New York City, Tom exposes Gatsby’s background, accusing him of being involved in illegal activities like bootlegging to make his fortune. Daisy, who had seemed ready to leave Tom, retreats emotionally and sides with her husband.
On their way back home, Daisy, driving Gatsby’s car, accidentally strikes and kills Myrtle Wilson, Tom’s mistress. However, Gatsby is willing to take the blame for the accident out of his deep love for Daisy. Myrtle’s husband, George Wilson, is devastated and, misled by Tom into believing Gatsby was both Myrtle’s lover and killer, shoots Gatsby dead before taking his own life.
After Gatsby’s death, almost no one comes to his funeral, despite the hundreds who had attended his parties. Nick is disillusioned by the shallow and selfish nature of the wealthy elite. He decides to return to the Midwest, recognizing that the East and its glamorous promises are ultimately hollow.
Through Gatsby’s story, Fitzgerald portrays the American Dream as corrupted by materialism and the pursuit of pleasure. Gatsby’s intense desire to recreate an idealized past with Daisy represents the human yearning for something greater but also highlights the dangers of living in illusions. The novel ends with Nick reflecting on the endless struggle to move forward while being constantly pulled back into the past, symbolized by the famous last line about "boats against the current."
Characters of the Novel
Jay Gatsby:
Gatsby is the central figure of the novel, known for his immense wealth, lavish parties, and mysterious background. Born James Gatz to a poor farming family, he reinvents himself to pursue success and win back Daisy Buchanan, the love of his life. Gatsby embodies the idea of the self-made man and the American Dream. However, his dream is based on illusion and nostalgia. His deep longing for Daisy blinds him to reality, and his refusal to let go of the past ultimately leads to his downfall. Despite his flaws, Gatsby is portrayed sympathetically as a hopeful and deeply romantic character.
Nick Carraway:
Nick is the narrator of the story and serves as the bridge between the reader and the extravagant world of Gatsby. He is a young man from a respectable Midwest family, educated at Yale, and recently moved to New York to work in finance. Nick is honest, tolerant, and somewhat reserved. Throughout the novel, he becomes increasingly disillusioned with the shallow, careless nature of the wealthy elite. Nick’s final judgments of Gatsby reveal his belief that, despite Gatsby's faults, he was morally superior to the society around him.
Daisy Buchanan:
Daisy is Gatsby’s dream and the object of his obsessive love. Beautiful, charming, and seemingly innocent, Daisy represents both Gatsby's ultimate aspiration and the empty, corrupted values of the elite class. Although she appears soft and vulnerable, Daisy is ultimately self-centered and materialistic. She chooses security with Tom over true love with Gatsby. Her voice, described as being full of "money," symbolizes her connection to wealth and status.
Tom Buchanan:
Tom is Daisy’s husband, an arrogant, aggressive man of old money. He is physically strong, racist, sexist, and believes in his social superiority. Tom has an affair with Myrtle Wilson, yet he hypocritically condemns Daisy for her relationship with Gatsby. Tom represents the cruelty, entitlement, and moral carelessness of the aristocracy. His actions contribute directly to Gatsby’s death, yet he shows no remorse.
Jordan Baker:
Jordan is Daisy’s friend and a professional golfer. She is portrayed as cynical, dishonest (having cheated in a golf tournament), and emotionally detached. Jordan symbolizes the new woman of the 1920s — independent and self-centered. She forms a romantic relationship with Nick, but it fades as Nick becomes disillusioned with the world they inhabit.
Myrtle Wilson:
Myrtle is Tom’s mistress and the wife of George Wilson, a poor mechanic. She desperately seeks to escape her lower-class life through her affair with Tom, longing for wealth and status. However, Tom treats her poorly, and her tragic death (accidentally run over by Daisy) symbolizes the destruction of lower-class dreams by the careless rich.
George Wilson:
George is Myrtle’s husband, a hardworking but downtrodden man. He represents the struggling working class. After Myrtle’s death, George is manipulated by Tom into believing Gatsby was responsible, leading him to murder Gatsby before taking his own life. His tragic end highlights the brutal consequences of the rich’s carelessness.
Meyer Wolfsheim:
Wolfsheim is a shady businessman who is connected to Gatsby and rumored to have helped him earn his fortune through illegal means. He represents the underworld of organized crime during the Prohibition era. Wolfsheim’s character shows the darker side of the American Dream and how corruption often underpins success.
Themes of the Novel
The American Dream:
At the heart of the novel is the idea of the American Dream — the belief that anyone, no matter their background, can achieve success and happiness through hard work. However, Fitzgerald shows how this dream has been corrupted. Gatsby’s rise to wealth is not through honest work but through crime, and his dream of winning Daisy is ultimately based on illusion rather than reality. The novel suggests that the American Dream has become hollow, focused more on material wealth than true happiness or moral values.
Love and Desire:
Love in The Great Gatsby is often portrayed as shallow, selfish, and illusionary. Gatsby’s love for Daisy is intense but idealized; he does not love the real Daisy as much as the dream he has created around her. Similarly, Daisy’s love for Gatsby is fleeting and practical; she chooses the security of Tom’s wealth over true passion. Love in the novel is shown as fragile and easily destroyed by societal pressures and personal flaws.
Class and Social Status:
Class divides are sharply drawn in the novel. East Egg represents old money — families with inherited wealth — while West Egg represents new money — those who earned their fortune recently. Despite Gatsby’s wealth, he is never fully accepted by the old aristocratic class. The novel criticizes the rigid social structures that determine a person’s place in society and show how wealth alone cannot buy acceptance or genuine respect.
Illusion vs. Reality:
Many characters in the novel live in a world of illusions. Gatsby is the clearest example; he believes he can recreate the past and that his wealth can win Daisy’s love back. However, reality eventually shatters his dreams. The glamorous world of parties and wealth that Gatsby creates is also an illusion, hiding loneliness, desperation, and moral decay.
Moral Decay and Materialism:
The 1920s, known as the Jazz Age, was a period of prosperity, but Fitzgerald highlights the emptiness behind the glitter. Characters like Tom, Daisy, and Jordan Baker live selfish, careless lives, indulging in luxury without regard for others. Their lack of morals leads to betrayal, heartbreak, and even death. The novel suggests that America’s focus on wealth has led to a loss of true values.
Loneliness and Isolation:
Despite being surrounded by people, Gatsby remains deeply lonely. His parties are filled with strangers who care little about him. Nick too feels isolated and disconnected from the glittering world he observes. Even Daisy, though wealthy and surrounded by luxury, is emotionally isolated. The novel portrays modern life as lonely, despite appearances of social success.
Time and the Past:
A major theme is the struggle against time. Gatsby’s dream depends on the idea that the past can be recreated — that he and Daisy can return to their idealized love. However, Nick and others understand that the past cannot be relived. The novel suggests that clinging to the past is not only impossible but also destructive.
Thank you!
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The Corruption of the American Dream
Wealth, Class, and the Empty Pursuit of Happiness
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The Sad Truth About Gatsby’s Dream
5 Major Themes in The Great Gatsby You Should Know
Character Guide: Who’s Who in The Great Gatsby
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- Novel Summary
- Character Analysis
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- Literary Criticism
Wealth and Morality
- Illusion vs Reality
- Love and Betrayal
- Literature Study Guide
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