The Great Gatsby Book Review

"The Great Gatsby" is a novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald and published in 1925. Set in the Roaring Twenties, the book is a classic tale of the American Dream, wealth, and excess. It tells the story of Jay Gatsby, a mysterious and wealthy man, and his obsession with Daisy Buchanan, a beautiful and wealthy woman from his past. In this 1000-word review, I will discuss the plot, characters, themes, and my overall impression of the book.

 

The novel is narrated by Nick Carraway, a young man who moves to New York City to pursue a career in finance. He becomes involved with his wealthy cousin, Daisy Buchanan, and her husband, Tom, who are part of the social elite of New York.

 

Nick becomes intrigued by his neighbor, Jay Gatsby, a mysterious and wealthy man who throws extravagant parties at his mansion. Gatsby and Daisy had a brief romance before she married Tom, and Gatsby has spent the past five years amassing his wealth and throwing parties in the hopes of winning her back.

 

Gatsby asks Nick to arrange a meeting with Daisy, and they begin an affair. However, their relationship is complicated by the fact that Daisy is married, and Gatsby's mysterious past threatens to catch up with him.

 

The novel reaches its climax when Gatsby's true intentions are revealed, and tragedy strikes.

 

The protagonist of the novel is Jay Gatsby, a mysterious and wealthy man who is obsessed with winning back his former lover, Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby is a complex character, and his obsession with Daisy is both his strength and his downfall. He is charismatic, charming, and larger-than-life, but his past is shrouded in mystery, and his wealth is of questionable origins.

 

Daisy Buchanan is the object of Gatsby's affection and the novel's romantic interest. She is beautiful, wealthy, and charming, but she is also selfish, manipulative, and shallow. Daisy's character is a commentary on the empty values and superficiality of the social elite of the Roaring Twenties.

 

Tom Buchanan is Daisy's husband, a wealthy and powerful man who embodies the excesses and moral decay of the era. He is arrogant, racist, and abusive, and his affair with Myrtle Wilson, a working-class woman, is a symbol of the class divide and corruption of the American Dream.

 

Nick Carraway is the narrator of the novel, a young man from the Midwest who becomes involved with the social elite of New York. Nick is a moral compass for the novel, and his observations on the characters and their actions provide a critical commentary on the excesses and moral decay of the era.

 

One of the main themes of the novel is the American Dream. Gatsby's obsession with Daisy is a symbol of his desire to achieve the American Dream, to rise above his humble origins and become wealthy and successful. However, the novel also explores the corrupting influence of wealth and the emptiness of the American Dream when pursued for its own sake.

 

Another theme of the novel is the excesses and moral decay of the Roaring Twenties. The novel portrays the social elite of New York as shallow, immoral, and corrupt, and their excessive lifestyle is a commentary on the decline of  traditional values and the rise of consumerism and materialism.

 

The novel also explores the theme of love and obsession. Gatsby's obsession with Daisy is a powerful force that drives the plot of the novel. However, the novel also shows the destructive nature of obsession and the price that must be paid for pursuing it.

 

"The Great Gatsby" is a masterpiece of American literature, a timeless novel that captures the spirit of the Roaring Twenties and the complexities of the human heart. F. Scott

 

One of the strengths of the novel is Fitzgerald's writing style, which is poetic, lyrical, and evocative. He creates a vivid picture of the opulent world of the wealthy elite and immerses the reader in the atmosphere of the time. The descriptions of Gatsby's parties are particularly impressive, and Fitzgerald's use of language is memorable and eloquent.

 

Another strength of the novel is its characters, who are complex and multi-dimensional. Gatsby, in particular, is a fascinating character, with his mysterious past and obsessive pursuit of Daisy adding to his enigmatic allure. Nick Carraway, the narrator of the story, is also an interesting character, with his introspective and reflective nature providing a contrast to the extravagance and superficiality of the other characters.

 

However, one of the main criticisms of the novel is its narrow focus on the wealthy and privileged. The struggles of the working class and minority groups are largely ignored, which can make the novel feel dated and exclusionary. Additionally, the portrayal of women in the novel has also been criticized, with Daisy being seen as a one-dimensional character lacking in agency or independence.

 

One of the greatest strengths of the novel is Fitzgerald's ability to create a vivid and detailed picture of the Jazz Age, a time of excess and indulgence. Through his descriptions of Gatsby's parties and the opulent lifestyle of the wealthy elite, Fitzgerald captures the excitement and energy of the era. His use of language is also remarkable, with many memorable phrases and passages throughout the book.

 

The characters in the novel are complex and well-drawn, with Gatsby himself being one of the most fascinating and enigmatic figures in American literature. Through Gatsby's pursuit of Daisy, Fitzgerald explores themes of love, wealth, and the American Dream. The novel raises important questions about the nature of success and the emptiness that can come with material wealth.

 

However, the novel is not without its flaws. One of the main criticisms of the book is that it is overly focused on the wealthy and privileged, with little attention paid to the struggles of the working class or minority groups. This narrow focus can make the novel feel dated and exclusionary, especially in today's more diverse and inclusive society.

 

Another criticism of the novel is its portrayal of women. Daisy Buchanan, in particular, is often seen as a shallow and unsympathetic character, with little agency or independence.