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.