Great Gatsby
Greatness is defined as the quality of being considerably above the normal or average. The novel, The Great Gatsby, by F.Scott Fitzgerald is set in the 1920s. During the 1920s, the American Dream was largely valued. The American Dream is the ideal that anyone can become prosperous through determination and hard work. During this era of the 1920s, people began to strive for materialistic goals. These goals gave people reasons to become corrupt. In this novel, Gatsby is great because of his characteristics other people in this specific era (the era of the American Dream) did not possess. However, some of his characteristics limit his greatness.
Society during the era of the American Dream was shallow, especially in its ideals. …show more content…
He holds characteristics such as hope, love, and loyalty that make him better than most other characters. Specifically, at the beginning of the book when Gatsby is introduced, the Nick describes Gatsby and says there is something beautiful about him “...[Gatsby had] an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as I have never found in any other person and which it is not likely I shall ever find again” (2). Nick recognizes the hope Gatsby possesses. Nick himself does not have hope. This quality is something that Gatsby possesses that makes him a little out of ordinary. Next, Gatsby possesses love and loyalty. This can be most clearly seen with his actions surrounding Daisy. When Daisy and Gatsby get together later in the story, they talk of how much time has passed: “‘We haven’t met for many years,’ said Daisy... “Five years next November.’...Gatsby’s answer set us all back at least another minute” (88). Gatsby has been paying close attention to how many days passed since the two last saw each other. He had wanted to be with Daisy for a long time, proving his loyalty. Gatsby also loves Daisy. In order to illustrate, when Gatsby and Daisy are together at his house, he “...hadn’t once ceased looking at Daisy and I think he re-valued everything in the house according to the measure of response it drew from her well-loved eyes” (92). Gatsby cares about what Daisy thinks. He is willing to make her values as his own. The quote also describes Daisy’s eyes as “well-loved” implying that he looks into her eyes, valuing her as not just a possession but a person. He cares about her as a person, contrary to the way Tom sees her: a possession to be obtained. Gatsby hopes, loves, and has loyalty, characteristics no other characters possess, making Gatsby
Greatness is defined as the quality of being considerably above the normal or average. The novel, The Great Gatsby, by F.Scott Fitzgerald is set in the 1920s. During the 1920s, the American Dream was largely valued. The American Dream is the ideal that anyone can become prosperous through determination and hard work. During this era of the 1920s, people began to strive for materialistic goals. These goals gave people reasons to become corrupt. In this novel, Gatsby is great because of his characteristics other people in this specific era (the era of the American Dream) did not possess. However, some of his characteristics limit his greatness.
Society during the era of the American Dream was shallow, especially in its ideals. …show more content…
He holds characteristics such as hope, love, and loyalty that make him better than most other characters. Specifically, at the beginning of the book when Gatsby is introduced, the Nick describes Gatsby and says there is something beautiful about him “...[Gatsby had] an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as I have never found in any other person and which it is not likely I shall ever find again” (2). Nick recognizes the hope Gatsby possesses. Nick himself does not have hope. This quality is something that Gatsby possesses that makes him a little out of ordinary. Next, Gatsby possesses love and loyalty. This can be most clearly seen with his actions surrounding Daisy. When Daisy and Gatsby get together later in the story, they talk of how much time has passed: “‘We haven’t met for many years,’ said Daisy... “Five years next November.’...Gatsby’s answer set us all back at least another minute” (88). Gatsby has been paying close attention to how many days passed since the two last saw each other. He had wanted to be with Daisy for a long time, proving his loyalty. Gatsby also loves Daisy. In order to illustrate, when Gatsby and Daisy are together at his house, he “...hadn’t once ceased looking at Daisy and I think he re-valued everything in the house according to the measure of response it drew from her well-loved eyes” (92). Gatsby cares about what Daisy thinks. He is willing to make her values as his own. The quote also describes Daisy’s eyes as “well-loved” implying that he looks into her eyes, valuing her as not just a possession but a person. He cares about her as a person, contrary to the way Tom sees her: a possession to be obtained. Gatsby hopes, loves, and has loyalty, characteristics no other characters possess, making Gatsby