Keyword Guide · study-guide
The Great Gatsby is a novel about wealth, desire, and the limits of the American Dream in 1920s America. It follows a small group of characters whose pursuit of success and love leads to disillusionment and tragedy.
The story is narrated by Nick Carraway, a young man who moves to Long Island and becomes neighbors with the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is obsessed with rekindling a past romance with Daisy Buchanan, who is now married. As secrets surface, conflicts grow between characters, and Gatsby’s idealized dream collapses, revealing the emotional emptiness beneath wealth and glamour.
One central theme is the American Dream and how it can become corrupted by materialism. The novel also explores illusion versus reality, showing how characters create false images of themselves. Class division is another key theme, highlighting the tension between old money, new money, and those left behind.
Jay Gatsby represents hope and obsession, driven by his belief that the past can be recreated. Nick Carraway acts as both participant and observer, offering moral reflection. Daisy Buchanan symbolizes charm and privilege, while Tom Buchanan represents power, entitlement, and resistance to change.
Several objects carry symbolic weight. A distant green light reflects Gatsby’s unreachable dream. Lavish parties suggest excess without true connection. The contrast between wealthy neighborhoods and industrial spaces emphasizes social inequality and moral decay.
The novel suggests that chasing wealth and idealized dreams can lead to emptiness when moral values and genuine human connection are ignored.
Nick provides perspective and judgment, guiding readers through events while questioning the behavior and values of the people around him.
Focus on one theme or symbol, connect it to a main character, and explain how it develops across the story using clear examples rather than plot summary.
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