Study Into The Great Gatsby English Literature Essay

In Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby, all of the heavily observed characters are attempting to achieve a state of prosperity in their chosen lifestyles. Although the major characters are simply trying to enhance their lives for the better, the idealism aspect of the American Dream in the novel is inevitably crushed by the harsh reality of life, leaving the characters’ lives without meaning or purpose, resulting in Wilson’s final act of taking his and Gatsby’s life. Tom and Daisy appear to having everything that they would wish for, but Tom’s initial affair with Myrtle Wilson creates another life for himself that ultimately fails. Daisy lives a life of luxury, albeit one that is emotionally empty. She is aware of Tom’s mistress, but hesitates to leave him even after learning of Gatsby’s lasting devotion to her. Daisy eventually removes Gatsby from her life and chooses to stay with Tom for a life of comfort and security. The Buchanans are an example of the wealth and prosperity side of The American Dream, but their lives are empty and unfulfilled due to their isolation from one another. Jay Gatsby’s own over idealistic view of Daisy Buchanan results in his dreams being shattered. Gatsby has, over the years of separation, built up Daisy to be the perfect woman, reinforced by Nick’s statement: “no amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart” ( Fitzgerald 101). Daisy cannot realistically fulfill his desires, so Gatsby is disappointed that the women he loves doesn’t exist as he imagines her to be. Gatsby’s own desire for a better life is abruptly ended when Daisy spiritually kills him by choosing to leave with Tom, and even more so when Wilson later physically kills him. Nick’s own opinion of The American Dream is revealed through his narrative descriptions of the characters, showing that the Dream is something that all can work toward but are ultimately doomed to failure.

From the beginning of Daisy’s relationship with Gatsby, it’s clear that they were truly in love, but she wasn’t looking for love. Daisy is materialistic and shallow, and Tom was a rich suitor that her parents approved of. When Gatsby went to war to make his fortune so he could, she passes up true love for riches and marries Tom. Although this may seem callow, but she made the right decision to get what she wanted. When Daisy and Gatsby later meet, for the most part, she has the correct decision to stay with Tom, but she shouldn’t have left Gatsby to die. Daisy was aware of the predicament that Gatsby was now in after she had hit Myrtle, but chose to shut him off and neglect warning him of Wilson’s intentions.

Jay Gatsby is most certainly an admirable character. Although he breaks the law to get rich and lies about himself, he does it all for the goal and dream of winning Daisy back while staying true to his emotions. Compared to the other character of The Great Gatsby, Gatsby doesn’t have many of their faults. Greed and laziness are major faults of other characters, while Gatsby disproves his possession of these in his pursuit of Daisy. Realizing that he would need a source of financial wealth, he opened up a “business” that supplied him with his monetary needs. With this, “James Gatz” has reinvented himself and transformed his hopes and dreams into reality, which makes him and admirable character.

I believe that that these final lines of the novel are pessimistic about The American Dream. Specifically focusing on Gatsby’s ever-lasting chase of the green light, he never made it all the way in his goal in winning back Daisy. Gatsby was trying to recreate the past and bring it back at the same time, and as time passed his attempts became grander and more forward. However, the boats against the current in the passage are people trying to progress in time and make changes in their life. They are constantly pushed back by the natural movements of life, regardless of how hard they push back.