The Great Gatsby Thesis

The Great Gatsby portrays the American dream and ends with tragic death and a terrible tragedy. The book starts with an immediate look at deception when the main character Nick finds out about his cousin Daisy and her cheating husband Tom. From there on Nick meets Gatsby and finds that money can win his lover Daisy back even after 5 years. Gatsby's lack of happiness led him to get everything he ever wanted until the day he died and was unfulfilled by not truly getting Daisy back. The American dream is having the opportunity to get everything you could ever dream about and how you dream and accomplish goals to fulfill that dream. Gatsby's American dream is having the opportunity to get what he wants even though he wants too much and loses it all.
Deception played a big role in the book with first Tom cheating on Daisy then Gatsby and Daisy's love "I did love him once-but I loved you too" said Daisy (Fitzgerald 140). The great Gatsby was in love the moment he laid eyes on Daisy back when he was in the army and was a very poor man and when he was sent off his love married Tom. After 5 years he still loved Daisy and when he finally acquired the money and power to win her over she was already a married woman. Nick then set up a plan for Gatsby to win her back and he did and the deception began as she fell in love with him once again and lied to her husband. Many tragedies occur when Tom's on the side girl is killed by Daisy and Gatsby takes the fall and dies for it.
All Gatsby ever wanted to be was happy and when he became a very rich man and threw the best parties around he was still unhappy. He stared across the lake hoping Daisy would come just one time so he could see her again. Even when he started winning her over once again he was unhappy wanting to have things be like they used to be in the past. "You can't repeat the past" said Nick. "Can't repeat the past?" he cried incredulously. "Why of course you can!" (Fitzgerald 116). The American dream is a life that Gatsby was living accomplishing so much, but even though he had it all in his mind he didn't have anything. Gatsby's great unhappiness led him to his grave as he pursued a goal that he should have given up on a long time ago as Tom and Daisy caused so many problems and grief.
Money and wealth also make up the American dream because with a lot of money you can have anything you want and to come to America with nothing and make something is a great dream for immigrants. He saw me looking with admiration at his car. "It's pretty, isn't it, old sport." (Fitzgerald 68) Gatsby had wealth and he found out the hard way that it cannot buy happiness. Daisy would not be with Gatsby because he was poor when they first were together so she ended up with Tom who was a very unfaithful, but rich husband. Gatsby made himself something great as he was a very rich man later in life and could have everything which is following that American Dream.
The book showed that being like Gatsby is no way to waste your life away because money and unrealistic goals cannot buy happiness and in the book he payed the ultimate price for it. I would rather die a poor happy man than a rich unhappy man because happiness in my eyes is the American dream. Many people have different views of this dream, but I think if you are happy and love life to the fullest your living that dream. The Great Gatsby has many themes and motifs, but I believe my choice was the most important because everyone should try there very best to be happy and make the best out of problems that can result in accomplishments to lead to the American dream. Having everything you want is sometimes not the greatest thing in life because personal possessions can't always make you happy. Gatsby couldn't figure that out soon enough after he died and had only three people come to his funeral when having many friends instead of a dream of a girl could have filled that void and in place could have created happiness and in my eyes the American dream.

The Great Gatsby Chapter Character List

Tom: Husband to Daisy and was on her with Myrtle at the same time. He disliked Gatsby a lot and thought very highly of himself because of his money.

Daisy: Tom's wife. She was with Gatsby in Louisville and left him because he didn't have a lot of money and moved away. She tried to make it look like nothing with wrong and was perfect in every way.

Jay Gatsby: Very rich man who lives in a mansion next to Nick Carraway. He was supposedly involved in bootlegging. He was obsessed with getting back with Daisy. He was shot and killed by George Wilson when he was lying in his pool. He had great parties at his house, trying to see Daisy.

Nick Carraway: Cousin to Daisy and was the narrator in this story. He lived next to Jay Gatsby and became for good friends with him. He came from the Midwest. He lives in West Egg in this story and dated Jordan. He was also the main character and never judged anyone.

Jordan Baker: Was a good golfer, but did cheat. She went with Nick for a while and played a big part in the story.

Myrtle: Tom's other girlfriend in the book and gets what she wants. Meets him on the train to go back to his apartment. Gets run over by a yellow car driven by Daisy and dies.

The Great Gatsby Chapter 9

Abstract- In this chapter Nick tries to have a funeral for Gatsby, but no one will come. He can't even get Daisy and Tom to come because they moved away. Tom decides he hates the east and wants to move back to the Midwest. He breaks up with Jordan and then finally sees Tom again and is reluctant to shake his hand and Tom tells him that Gatsby deserved to die. Nick then hates him and the east and before he leaves he goes to Gatsby's empty house and erases and bad word off his steps as he thinks about the bad things in the east compared to the west. He then thinks about how everyone has goals and are motivated to reach there own goals and how Gatsby never fulfilled his goal of getting his true love.
Response- Fitzgerald relates this chapter and book to his life heavily in how even with money and power you still cannot fulfill some of your biggest goals like Gatsby. Everyone has goals and try there very best to fulfill certain important goals and some never accomplish them. I liked this book because it was a good way to look at what happened and really take something from it.
Question-What does Nick do next?

The Great Gatsby Chapter 8

Abstract- In this chapter Nick goes over to Gatsby's house the next night and they talk and Nick finds out that Daisy never came to see him at four o clock in the morning and he was worried. Nick then tells him he should just forget about her and move out so he can move on. Gatsby then tells Nick that they were about to get married back in the day and he knows they love each other. He then tells Nick he is going to take a swim later and Nick leaves to go to work, but he couldn't concentrate at work. It then talks about George Wilson and how he tells Myrtle that what shes doing isn't right and that God's always watching. Wilson then thinks that whoever drove the car was probably the killer and that he was gonna get revenge. He knew it couldn't have been Tom because he came later so he knew it had to be Gatsby. He then goes to Gatsby's house and shoots Gatsby while he's swimming then shoots himself. Nick thinks that Gatsby died unfulfilled with not getting Daisy.
Response- Gatsby died for no reason and I think that they were just at the wrong place at the wrong time. Gatsby never got his true love and never got a good chance to get what he really wanted in life.
Question- What caused Wilson to want revenge?

The Great Gatsby Chapter 7

Abstract-In this Chapter Gatsby fires all his servants so they can't spread anymore rumors and quits having big party's. He then goes to Tom and Daisy house and talks to them about there love. Tom realizes that they are in love and they all go to the Plaza Hotel. Tom and Gatsby then argue a lot and Daisy confesses her love when Gatsby asks her if she does love him. He then accuses Gatsby of bootlegging and they argue until Tom sends Daisy with Gatsby. Nick then realizes its his 30Th birthday and Tom, Jordan, and Nick head back when they see a terrible accident and realize that Myrtle was hit by Gatsby and Daisy in his big yellow car. Then back at Tom's house Nick goes outside and sees Gatsby in the bushes and he wants to know if Daisy is alright and Nick says there eating chicken and not fighting anymore and he leaves Gatsby in the dark night.
Response- I don't think any of this will end well and true love isn't real love because every ones cheating on each other and can't decide what they really want.
Question-Does Myrtle get hurt?

The Great Gatsby Chapter 6

Abstract-This chapter begins with Gatsby and Nick hearing rumors around town and a newspaper writer comes to interview Gatsby. Nick jumps in and tells this elaborate story about Gatsby's past and how he worked on some yacht and was given money when the owner died. Then one day Nick comes over and Tom is at Gatsby's house, but doesn't know about the love affair, but is suspicious. Gatsby then throws a big party and Tom and Daisy come. He notices that Daisy isn't having any fun and is very troubled by it. Tom tells Daisy that Gatsby got all his money from bootlegging and she gets very upset and tells Tom that he got his from drug stores. Gatsby then wants things to be like they were in Louisville and Nick thinks that now that he has Daisy he'll just want more now.
Response- I think that Gatsby will never be truly happy because he always seems to want a little more even though he really has it all. I don't know why Tom accuses Gatsby of bootlegging when he is at his party.
Question- Why does Tom think that Gatsby is bootlegging?

The Great Gatsby Chapter 5

Abstract- In this chapter Nick is waking home from his date with Jordan and he sees Gatsby's mansion light up. He then sees Gatsby approach him and talk about business opportunities and mowing his lawn. Nick then gets the hint about the plan about meeting Daisy and agrees. He ten leaves and Daisy comes to Nick's house. Gatsby then comes over and things are awkward for the first half an hour, but then they begin to talk and have a good time. Gatsby then offers for everyone to come to his house and they do. Daisy sees his new and extravagant lifestyle and is very impressed. Nick then notices he isn't being noticed at all and leaves.
Response-Nick is a great friend for setting all this up even though it could lead to many problems, but I think he is doing the right thing. I think a lot of problems will occur even though a lot has already happened.
Question-Will Gatsby and Daisy fall in love and spark a new relationship?

The Great Gatsby Chapter 4

Abstract- In this chapter Nick tells how Gatsby takes Nick to the city with him. On the way Gatsby tells Nick about his past and some of his accomplishments. He tells Nick that he's from the Midwest in a city called San Francisco and went to college at Oxford University. Nick is very confused and skeptic about what he is told and Gatsby then shows pictures while driving to explain what he tells Nick. They then get pulled over by a cop and Gatsby shows the cop a white card and they are let go free of a ticket. They then go to lunch and after Nick goes to see Jordan she tells him that he is in love with Daisy. She tells Nick that while he was stationed in the Army he met Daisy, but was shipped away so he didn't see her again. She then married Tom and Gatsby moved to be close to Daisy so he could be around her. They then devise a plan so they can both come to Nick's house so they can talk.
Response- I think that this chapter relates to Fitzgerald's life a lot because I remember reading that he was in the Army and met Zelda, but didn't marry her until he was financially stable. I think Gatsby and Daisy will talk and may fall in love once again.
Question- Why does Gatsby wanna be close to Daisy after all these years?

The Great Gatsby Chapter 3

Abstract- In this Chapter Nick takes Jordan to a party thrown by Gatsby at his mansion. Gatsby is known for throwing great party's at his house and inviting very wealthy important guests. Jordan's friend Lucille is there and she tells them that she heard Gatsby is a German spy that has killed a man. Around midnight they go to see the entertainment and Nick sees a man that he recognizes sitting at a table and its no other that Jay Gatsby himself. He was not drunk and overall kept to himself. Jordan then was called by a butler that Gatsby wanted to talk to her. She came out saying she heard something very great and then they say good bye to him and leave. They then see a car in the ditch noticing a man they saw earlier in the library. Nick takes his friends advice and now is seeing Jordan.
Response-I think Gatsby is a very mysterious character that is hiding something to himself. This chapter was the beginning to start to understand whats going on with him. Jordan also talked to him about something important even though she doesn't say what its about and Nick doesn't find out what it is.
Question- What does Gatsby tell Jordan?

The Great Gatsby Chapter 2

Abstract- In this Chapter Nick and Tom get on a train to go to the city. Tom tells Nick that he is gonna meet his other girl. They get off the train early and go to a shop where they meet this dirty girl named Myrtle. They then get back on the train to Morning side Heights where Tom has another apartment for Myrtle and himself. Tom then buys a puppy for Myrtle because he gets her whatever she wants. They then have a party and get pretty wild. Nick also hears people talking about Gatsby's amazing party's he throws and rumors about him. Nick is feeling very awkward and when Myrtle annoys Tom by repeatedly saying Daisy he breaks her nose. Nick then catches a ride on the train back home.
Response- I think Nick had to feel very awkward throughout the whole chapter even though he doesn't really talk to much. I don't know how Tom can be so open about his affair even bringing Nick to see her not caring. Tom also showed a different side of himself when breaking Myrtle's nose when he got annoyed with her.
Question- Why does Tom show his girlfriend to Nick?

The Great Gatsby Chapter 1

Abstract-In the beginning of the book we meet Nick Carraway, the main character and narrator of the story. It begins with Nick getting advice from his father in a flash back about how he shouldn't judge other people and should treat others the way he wants to be treated. It then goes to the summer of 1922 where Nick is renting an apartment in West Egg which is where the newly rich people live. The Rich and powerful people with a good family name live in East Egg. Nick then visits his cousin Daisy and her husband Tom Buchanan, who is also Nicks friend from Yale. Tom opens the door to greet Nick and then gets a call and Daisy runs after him then Jordan Bakker, who is a golfer, tells him that its his other girl. They then have an awkward dinner and Jordan then goes to bed because she has a tournament in the morning. Tom and Daisy thinks Nick should have romantic feelings for Jordan and then Nick finally leaves see Gatsby outside of his house for the first time.
Response- I think it must have been weird for Nick being there when Tom got a call from his other girl and how did Jordan know that it was her? Gatsby seems very mysterious and important and i think he'll play a big part in the story.
Question- Why is Gatsby's holding his hands out towards the water by himself?

Citation

"Biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald." Grade Saver. 30 March, 2009.

www.gradesaver.com/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/

"Latin Sayings List." 29, October, 2007. CK Arts and Architecture. 30 March, 2009.

www.latinsayings.info/