Themes in The Great Gatsby
by F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1925
The major themes of The Great Gatsby and what each one means in the story.
The American Dream
The novel examines the idea of the American Dream, showing how it is corrupted by wealth and materialism. Gatsby's pursuit of wealth to win Daisy represents the unattainable nature of this dream.
Love and Obsession
Gatsby's love for Daisy borders on obsession, driving him to recreate the past and achieve his idealized vision of their relationship. This theme explores the destructive nature of such fixation.
Class and Society
The novel highlights the divide between the wealthy elite and the lower classes. Characters like Tom and Daisy represent the careless, privileged upper class, while George and Myrtle Wilson represent the struggling lower class.
The Past and Memory
Gatsby's desire to recreate his past with Daisy and his inability to move on from it underscores the theme of the past's inescapable influence on the present.
Moral Decay
The novel portrays the moral decay hidden beneath the glittering surface of wealth and glamour in the 1920s, as characters engage in deceit, infidelity, and crime.
See the themes in the text
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