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Themes of the Great Gatsby - Coggle Diagram
Themes of the Great Gatsby
class
In the Great Gatsby, class influences all aspects of life and love. It is a significant element in the book but it portrays the personalities of people belonging to different classes. The book shows that you are stuck in the class you are born into and attempting to change classes leads to tragedy and heartbreak.
In the novel, there are three main social classes portrayed; old money, new money, no money. The first example that we see in the novel that portrays social class are the islands of East, West Egg and Valley of Ashes.
Gatsby's view of Daisy is based on class and believes that if he has a higher status, he has a better chance with Daisy falling in love with him. It is clear that at the end of the novel class dynamics dictate which marriage survives. Tom and Daisy survives the storyline who are a higher class whereas George and Myrtle's relationship does not survive the storyline as they are of a lower class.
The American Dream
America is known to be the land of opportunity, that people have to work hard through painting the sentiment and to climb the social ladder to be successful.
Through the book, the writer shows that this isn't all that simple. While the character of Gatsby shows that this can be achievable, his American Dream of winning Daisy back cost him his life.
past, present and future
Time is a big theme throughout the novel where Gatsby tries to 'repeat the past' by winning Daisy back but at the same time he shatters against Tom's 'cruel body'.
Gatsby's dream is every man's dream. His 'romantic readiness' is admirable as he seeks the pure Dream of love. While doing this he dismisses the present and obliterates the future. It is recognised by Nick that he is stuck in the past.
Love and Relationships
There is only one true love in the novel, Gatsby and Daisy. However, it is an idealised, unconditional love that is shattered by the material of love that the other characters possess.
Majority of the relationships in the novel end with conflict. Fitzgerald paints relationships and friendships as inherently shallow.
religion and morality
All the characters in the novel search for new values and beliefs. Nick compares Gatsby to the 'son of God' but Gatsby's world is revolved around Daisy. She is his religion as he worships her.
The readers see how George Wilson mistakes the eyes of TJ Eckleburg as god.
Religion has been replaced by consumerism and the pursuit of pleasure. In this way, morality is secondary and is corrupted.
The roaring twenties
After WW1, America and the west found an economic boom. With all this excess money, the Roaring twenties were born.
The roaring twenties included of lavish parties and glamorous fashion. Whilst this decade was known for its optimism and extravagance, the writer of the novel highlights shallowness that dictates this hedonism.