specifically noticeable in the book. His only ambition is to be reunited with Daisy, and in doing so,
he neglects all the senses of reality. Throughout the story, Jay Gatsby is consistently in conflict with
himself and the society surrounding him. His desperate heart cannot tolerate the acrid fact that Daisy has already been married
to Tom Buchanan, and shares a child with him. Gatsby strongly assumes that with his tremendous and appealing wealth
and social standing, he can travel back in time and rekindle their once treasured flame. Gatsby is
extremely naïve and destined in an inevitably downfall of his life, which is later proven
towards the conclusion of the story. Gatsby also speculates that he can be included in the elite social
class with his fortune, however, he does not realize that the society he is forcefully trying to be a part of
does not accept his physical being. Furthermore, Gatsby’s living lifestyle in West Egg, results in him not understanding the differences
between of the location of his residence and East Egg. This is another example that portrays how naïve
and amateur he is to the world that he thinks he understands. Tom Buchanan on the other hand, trots
around town finding different women to satisfy his one-dimensional, male ego. Additionally, Gatsby openly admits his infidelity without shame or remorse in front of Daisy, making him
the best example of the reckless actions and attitude that characterize the 1920 era.
Secondly, Fitzgerald uses symbolism throughout the story in order convey the feelings of
despair. The green light on the end of Daisy’s dock not only clearly represents Gatsby’s dreams
and hopes, but also his biggest fears. Most importantly, it symbolizes the impossible
chances of winning Daisy’s love back. Everything that he knows and desires, is out of his grasp,
as he reaches for that faraway light. Another way that the author used symbolism is when Gatsby
knocks off the clock at Nick’s house when he is reunited with Daisy for the first time
after numerous years. This exemplifies Gatsby’s aggressive ambition to cruise back time, and
relive what he once experienced with Daisy. The clock, on the other hand, also ends up breaking, which is allegorical
to his inability to turn back time and foreshadows his own death.
The 1920’s was an era of lost personalities. People mislaid their sense of identities, in
pursuit of wealth, power, and personal satisfaction. The antagonism contained in this story does not
lie only within the characters, but also in the society that they live. Fitzgerald does an excellent
job in demonstrating this fact. Daisy Buchanan for example, who was once a sweet and
carefree girl that Gatsby fell in love with, eventually positioned herself into a wasted
life along with Tom. Even the admirable Jay Gatsby lost his identity in the quest for superficial and shallow wealth
and power. By changing his authentic name, Gatsby has turned his back on his genuine self, and
blindly walked into a world of no returns. The only exception among these characters
would be Nick Caraway. Not only is he is the only one who kept his personality true to himself,
but Nick also generated the realization of the emptiness within the life in the east coast, which is
signified by the valley of ashes and returns to Minnesota.
On the plain surface, The Great Gatsby may fool its readers and disguises as a catastrophic love story, nevertheless,
the entire story portrays the fall of the American Dream during the 1920’s as well. As it
is depicted, dreams are frequently failed by individuals, such as Gatsby, because of the seduction of easy money
and the corrupted social values people followed.
