A Dream of American Daisys

What is the primary theme of the novel?

The theme of The Great Gatsby is the hidden flaws of the American Dream. In the book, the “green light” symbolizes the American Dream. For Gatsby, the “green light” symbolized Daisy, his American Dream. Gatsby romanticized Daisy to the point where when he finally was able to see her after so many years he became disillusioned with her (Fitzgerald, 95-96). His dream completely unraveled when Daisy could not say that she never loved her husband Tom and only love him. This was when Gatsby started to see the flaws and the impracticalities of his dream. Ever since the war was over Gatsby’s goal, like most people of the time, was to achieve a certain monetary and social status. Although Gatsby’s goal was to get a girl and not a car or house he still treated her more like an object than a person and when he found out she was not as shiny and golden as he previously though his life fell apart. It was the same with all of the people of the 1920s when their dreams of wealth and riches were crushed by the great depression.

Rainy Day For a Romance

1. In chapter 5, when Daisy and Gatsby meet, how is weather used to create mood, and what mood(s) is created?

When Gatsby and Daisy meet for the first time in years the day starts off rainy. Fitzgerald describes the day like this, “The rain cooled about half-past three to a damp mist, through which occasional thin drops swam like dew,” (Fitzgerald, 84). As the day continued the skies started to clear up, “After half an hour, the sun shone again” (Fitzgerald, 88). After Gatsby showed Daisy his shirts it began to rain again, “Outside Gatsby’s window it began to rain again,” (Fitzgerald, 92). A common occurrence throughout the book is the use of light to describe a time of hope for Gatsby. In chapter 5 when it is sunny, or light out, Gatsby is getting closer to Daisy which is his ultimate goal. When there was no sun and it was rainy Gatsby felt that meeting with Daisy was a mistake and that he would not have a chance with her. When it became sunny I believe Gatsby thought that he might finally have a chance to win Daisy back. When it starts to rain again Nick wonders if Gatsby was underwhelmed by Daisy and that he lost his meaning in the green light, the symbol of hope.

Nick's Judgment

In the first two pages of the novel, Nick Carraway claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgment." Do you find that this is true so far? Please provide textual evidence to support your position.

Nick Carraway, for the most part, matches up to his claims that he holds all judgment about people. He says that it is because his father once told him, “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages you’ve had.” (Fitzgerald, 1). I feel like this quote would speak more about judging someone because they are a professional pleasure dancer, rather than somebody who is much more well off than he is like Tom Buchanan. However, Nick also claims to hold his judgment for even the well off. He sticks relatively close to his declaration that he is not, nor has ever been, judgemental throughout the first three chapters. During the first encounter Nick had with Ms. Baker, she appeared very snobbish, yet he did not write one single note about it (Fitzgerald, 8-9). When learns of the affair Tom is having, he does not make a single disparaging comment about the situation (Fitzgerald, 15). He even went with Tom to meet his mistress without so much as giving him a crooked eye even when Tom breaks the mistress’s nose. The drunk man Nick met in Gatsby’s library that lost a wheel from his car and kept driving, although of a lesser status than the rest, is still exempt from Nick’s criticism (Fitzgerald, 53-55). Even when Nick remembers the scandal with Jordan Baker and realizes that she is a compulsive liar he continues on talking about her in the same light (Fitzgerald, 57). It could be argued that by Nick describing these people in this unflattering manner he is making a judgment about them. However, assuming that the way Nick is describing everyone is completely true and unbiased, then Nick sticks true to his word that he is a man without judgment.

Although, Nick does not put down others for their actions he does exalt himself for his own. The quotes, “I’m inclined to reserve all judgments,” (Fitzgerald, 1), and, “I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known.” (Fitzgerald, 59), are instances of him lifting himself above others. Not all instances are as clear as these are. An example would be, “A sense of fundamental decencies is parcelled out unequally at birth.” (Fitzgerald, 2). In this quote, Nick is stating that not all people have the common decencies that are attributed to being a good person. He makes other statements like this throughout the first three chapters that make him seem that he thinks that he is a better person than others because of the things he does or does not do.