FAQ About The Great Gatsby

"The Great Gatsby" is a complex novel that explores a variety of themes and motifs, including the corruption of the American Dream, the disillusionment and decay of the Jazz Age, and the destructive power of obsessive love. At its core, however, the novel is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the corrupting influence of wealth and privilege.

The character of Jay Gatsby embodies the ideals of the American Dream, with his relentless pursuit of wealth and status, and his belief that he can create a new identity for himself through sheer force of will. However, his obsession with the past, specifically his desire to reclaim the love of his former flame, Daisy Buchanan, leads to his downfall.

Through Gatsby's tragic story, Fitzgerald critiques the moral emptiness and spiritual decay of the wealthy elite in the Jazz Age, and exposes the corrupting influence of money and power on the human soul. Ultimately, the novel offers a powerful commentary on the nature of human ambition and the destructive consequences of unchecked desire.