Introduction
The Great Gatsby is widely known as a classic piece of the U.S. fiction. The novel defines the aspects of a tragedy and triumph. Written during the Jazz Age, it is a story of an idealistic young man who finds out uncomfortable truth about the relations between real things and illusion as well as between past and present. The analysis of the study shows that through the character descriptions and plot of the narration Fitzgerald (1995) helps readers perceive the reality found within the story.
Body
In his fiction, F. Scott Fitzgerald (1995) provides readers with a character called Nick Carraway. He is both a participant and narrator as well as the main hero of the story. Despite the fact that he does not seem to play an important role in all actions, he then moves to the forefront. In such a way, he becomes an essential vehicle for the author’s messages. For example, he recommends, “Whenever you feel like criticizing any one… just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had” (Fitzgerald, 1995, p. 5). These words begin the readers’ journey through the whole narration. According to McInerney (2012), telling the tale from Nick’s point of view is the key to the actions Fitzgerald performed while narrating the improbable love story. Carraway is a witness who becomes emotionally involved in the events he narrates (McInerney, 2012). The character helps readers understand the meaning of the novel.
Jay Gatsby appears as a young male who is about thirty years old. Although he had impoverished childhood, the hero managed to become significantly wealthy (Fitzgerald, 1995). However, he earned money by taking part in organized crimes, mainly in distributing illegal beverages or trading by stolen securities (Fitzgerald, 1995). Despite the desire of being rich, Gatsby’s motivation in life is gaining the love of Daisy Buchanan. The girl is Fitzgerald’s (1995) most enigmatic character. Although the author tries to make her a person who is worth of Gatsby’s unlimited affection and love, she reveals her identity in the end. An interesting fact is that Jay’s determined love makes readers want Daisy be worthy of such devotion. However, despite being charming and beautiful, the female is a selfish and hurtful individual. Fitzgerald (1995) illustrates her character with associations of innocence and purity. However, the final episodes show that she is not the person she presents herself to be.
The plot of the story may be narrowly defined. The narrator describes the circumstances of his arrival in the East and discovery that his neighbor is a wealthy man called Jay Gatsby, who organizes famous parties (Fitzgerald, 1995). He is a person who orders his life around a goal to be reunited with Daisy, his past love. It is Nick Carraway who reunites them (McInerney, 2012). From that time, Jay imagines that he can forget his memories and be with Daisy. It also becomes evident that the whole jazz-age facade he has created is to recapture his dream of this woman (McInerney, 2012). However, a showdown in a Manhattan hotel room makes Gatsby and Daisy jump in his car and run down a pedestrian, who appears to be Daisy’s lover. The outraged husband of the dead woman shoots Gatsby not even knowing that it was Daisy who killed the woman (McInerney, 2012). As Carraway prepares for Gatsby’s funeral, he is surprised that out of many individuals who accepted Jay’s hospitality at his parties, only two come to the funeral. The story concludes with the narrator returning to his home, having been disillusioned about the life of rich people.
Such aspects help the audience perceive the reality found in the story. The Great Gatsby provides a critical social history of the United States during the roaring twenties. Readers learn the era is characterized by substantial economic prosperity, the evolution of jazz as well as the appearance of various criminal activities. These features are apparent in Fitzgerald’s (1995) novel. McInerney claims, “It’s more than an American classic; it’s become a defining document of the national psyche, a creation myth, the Rosetta Stone of the American dream” (2012, para. 2). The author uses social developments with the aim of building Gatsby’s tale from such simple things as automobiles to the subject of organized crimes that is the source of Gatsby’s wealth.The Great Gatsby also offers commentaries on such themes as justice, betrayal, power as well as the American dream. The audience may notice that the problem of social stratification is a broadly discussed issue. Fitzgerald (1995) distinguishes several groups with their problems to contend with in daily life. The division serves as a reminder of what an unreliable place the world is. The creation of social classes also helps Fitzgerald (1995) send messages about the elitism that is present in each stratum of the American society.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the analysis of the novel shows that through the character descriptions and plot of the narration, Fitzgerald (1995) helps readers perceive reality found within the story. The author’s story is a fiction made of words and dreams. The Great Gatsby serves as an example of social commentary that offers a look into American life during the 1920s. Fitzgerald (1995) also manages to reach a balance between his affection and repulsion. The writer provides the audience with the opportunity to admire Gatsby’s loyalty to his first love and the ability to keep it pure and innocent. As a result, Fitzgerald’s (1995) prose elevates a gloomy narration to the level of a myth.