Great Gatsby Romanticism

The quote “The negative side of the American Dream comes when people pursue success at any cost, which in turn destroys the vision and the dream” by Azar Nafisi sums up the overall plot of Scott Fitzgerald 's The Great Gatsby. During the time period of the roaring twenties, people were searching for the quickest possible way to make money. The stock market boom allowed people to triple their net worth practically overnight. This economic increase had drastic effects on the social lives of the people during this time. The media glorified American prospect with a style called romanticism. This genre was a driving force for the creative minds, drawing those from all over the world, seeking the American dream. The dream that Fitzgerald depicts …show more content…
The romantic aspect of society is glorified amongst this society, which is why Fitzgerald used Gatsby’s lust for love as the final piece to completing his American dream. It is ironic that the introduction of the green light is Gatsby’s entrance into the novel. The use of a narrator during this particular scene was intended to provide an objective perspective on the minute and far away possibility of true happiness. “he stretched out his arms towards the dark water in a curious way, and, far as i was from him, I glanced seaward and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away” (10). The author creates this dramatic build to Gatsby’s dream just as Nick’s dream towards becoming a stockbroker is built up in the beginning of the novel. Both characters are used to show the optimism towards the potential of success and happiness. Gatsby’s character is then used to show what it is like when one seems to have reached their dream after being separated from the war Gatsby and Daisy are reunited. The undeniable happiness Gatsby exudes during his weeks with Daisy appear to be what people think every American love should be like. Fitzgerald would use Gatsby’s feelings of love to drive the book. Daisy, whose voice is ‘full of money’ encompasses the stereotypical high status woman, to Gatsby; her wealth and status is a motivator in his own life to create a …show more content…
The public stopped viewing life as forgiving and full of hope when the markets that had provided them with so much opportunity failed. This loss of innocence amongst America is shown throughout Gatsby 's failed attempt of winning back Daisy and the past life that he was holding on to. The green light at the end of the novel is merely a light; no longer symbolizing the promise of success. Nicks narration reveals that throughout the events in the story, Gatsby’s plans are starting to unravel but he refuses to accept the inevitable. Fitzgerald used Gatsby’s life to portray his outlook on the American dream belief. Because the people around Fitzgerald have chosen to taken on a selfish life style, he uses his writing to highlight societal flaws “He shows that people are not yet treated equally and that social discrimination still exists, which is described in the scene where Tom and Wilson talk to each other in Chapter II” (American 2). Hoping to evoke change, the plot of Gatsby’s life compiled of common feelings and actions fails repeatedly. Even though Gatsby’s ambitions are made the main focus of the reader, Fitzgerald uses the failed dream of other characters to bring Gatsby’s story to an untimely end. Wilson dreamed of having a life with his wife in a beautiful place away from their lower class upbringing. Myrtle, dreaming of a life with Tom Buchanan, a man who can move her