The Pursuers and the Pursued in The Great Gatsby Essay

is under pursuit as her affection is targeted by Jay Gatsby. This is essentially the main focus and conflict of the novel, as Gatsby who spent years amassing a vast fortune, just so he would have a chance with Daisy. There are also those who are being pursued for the sake of prosperity. Tom would be a prime example as he is being pursued by Myrtle, purely for the fact that Myrtle no longer wants to live a life in a run-down auto shop, but a life of wealth and extravagance. Additionally, Myrtle is also being chased after by Tom as well, though, Myrtle is not being sought after for her affection, but simply because Tom is bored of his life with Daisy. Therefore, having an affair with Myrtle ignites a spark of enlightenment in Tom's repetitious days. Continually, aspirations such as happiness and success are also being sought after, as both George and Gatsby wanted successful lives, and to live in financial prosperity. However, these goals were ultimately for the intention of pursuing a significant other; for Myrtle and Daisy. Therefore, in the end some individuals are pursued for relationships such as love interest and friendships, while others are pursued for materialistically purposes such as…

beyond searching for happiness and, instead, searched for constant pleasure, indulgence and a life of gross extravagance. The roaring twenties were more than worthy of their name, making them subject to social criticism in all forms. One of the more popular forms of criticism was through literature, with books like F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. These social criticism novels were often just embodiments of an author’s disgust with his/her own era, and The Great Gatsby is one of the most…