Fame In The Great Gatsby

Power. Wealth. Fame. Dreams can provide the motivation to obtain all of these, while still leaving a person desperate to achieve the one unattainable something that will make their American Dream become reality. This is described in The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, which relays the turbulent lives of five young socialites over the space of one summer. Narrated by a young man named Nick Carraway, the plot focuses on Jay Gatsby, who is irrevocably in love with a married woman, Daisy Buchanan. Set during the 1920’s in New York, the book describes the elite, lavish lives of the extremely wealthy during a time of economic prosperity. However, it also weaves within fascinating symbolism and motifs, such as the passage of weather. The constant …show more content…
Over the course of five years, during which Gatsby has not seen Daisy at all, being with Daisy has become his American Dream, something he has consistently and constantly worked toward. The two of them meet in Nick’s house, with Daisy not knowing that she is about to see Gatsby at all. In the minutes before Daisy is due to arrive, Gatsby says to Nick, “‘Nobody’s coming to tea. It’s too late!’ He looked at his watch as if there was some pressing demand on his time elsewhere. ‘I can’t wait all day’”(85). Gatsby’s saying that “nobody’s coming to tea” indicates his sadness and disappointment over the possibility of Daisy not coming, which is a metaphor for his dream not being realized. Gatsby also says that “it’s too late”, despite the fact that it is not even time for her to come yet. This conveys the idea that Gatsby does not believe his dream will be realized. Him saying that “it’s too late” could also show his regret for not meeting her sooner, his regret for letting so much time pass. Gatsby then looks at his watch like there was “some pressing demand on his time”. The fact that he is acting like there is “some pressing