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The Great Gatsby
(1925)
July 9th, 2002: - We have just been informed that this book is still in copyright and therefore we have had to remove the text from the site. In place of the text we have added a chapter by chapter summary. Please note the search feature searches through this summary, not the text.
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This novel shows the basic instinct of human beings to be admired as someone special even if this instinct leads, like moths attracted by the fire, towards burned wings.--Submitted by Mahawa Cheikh Gueye
The hollow pursuit of wealth and social status results in tragedy in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Each character has their own way of showing off their wealth and status. Whether it's by the type of car you drive or the location of your house or even through marriage, it's all shown in this novel.--Submitted by Anonymous
The Great Gatsby is set in the jazz age, the 1920's. It tells the fictional story of an enigmatic and lonely millionaire named Jay Gatsby, who has been in love with the same woman for years and tries to win her back. The narrator is Nick, who lives across the lawn from Gatsby and becomes friends with him. This book written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, one of the greatest authors of all time shows that no matter how rich we are, it cannot buy us love.--Submitted by Anna
This novel is beautiful in every way. It is filled with a haunting sadness, that I have never been able to forget. The prose is beautiful -- glowing like Daisy's green light across the water. The story itself is beautifully tragic -- a poor man falls in love with a beautiful, rich woman (or what she represents) and it brings disaster. But this book is so much more than that. What F. Scott Fitzgerald shows the reader about this society we, ourselves, have created is larger than any story a person could think up. Fitzgerald creates a portrait of the hollowness, carelessness, and ugliness in American society that moved my old English teacher to tears in front of the whole class a few years ago, and brings a lump to my throat even now, as I think about it. If someone asked me what exactly The Great Gatsby "means," I couldn't tell them. I don't think anyone will ever be able to understand it enough to put it in words that will have meaning to everyone, but I think anyone who reads this book WILL have an understanding of it that they can feel in the gut. Such is the way with all great literature.--Submitted by Anonymous
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Recent Forum Posts on The Great Gatsby
Jay Gatsby Should Have Been Played By Ryan Reynolds
Why should Ryan Reynolds have played Gatsby, I hear you so desperately ask - (Well I certainly hope it's not that desperate, but still...) Well, because he was both: - Green Lantern AND - Deadpool I'll... I'll see myself out for that one...
Term paper about fun and entertainment in the 1920s in fitzgerald´s Great Gatsby
hey guys, so i had already thought about the structure of my term paper. But can you just tell me some points you think are important in the book related to entertainment. thank you & so much love
The Great Gatsby discussion
Hey, so do you know good second hand litertature to the Great Gatsby? And some more questions to discuss about: What role does entertainment play in the Great Gatsby? What does Fitzgerald wanna say with his novel? What does he want to reach? Thank you so much Helena
'Incessantly' vs 'Ceaselessly'
Fitzgerald frequently uses the word (or some form of the word) 'incessantly' throughout "The Great Gatsby." I never noticed until this read-through, but why would he choose to use the word 'ceaselessly' in the very last line of the novel?
Opinions on The Great Gatsby?
I recently read The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald and was left a little under-whelmed and in some ways, I even disliked the characters thoroughly. The whole facade of Gatsby's and the blankness of Daisy I found very frustrating. To think that people lived like that in a world of decadence, almost with a disregard of consequences or the morality of their actions made me feel like I fundamentally could not like the characters. On reflection, I like the social commentary side of things with what Fitzgerald is saying about the superficial society of 1920s America but I still can't like the characters or their thought processes. Has anyone else felt this or indeed, felt the polar opposite? I have written a blog post on my thoughts if you want to read in a bit more depth: search for criticaldan4th wordpress and you should find it. Any reads appreciated :)
IYO: What if Myrtle never died?
I was wondering what you think would happen if Myrtle never died, and Gatsby was never murdered? I think Scott Fitzgerald scripted Gatsby to die, because I believe Daisy most likely would have rejected him and death is a easier way out of the misery, I guess. I think that Gatsby would have committed suicide if Daisy didn't want him OR he would keep trying. Although the attempts would eventually get exhausting, he built everything for her, everything. What do you think?
The green light
What do you think it represents?
essay about the grat gatsby
hi i really need your help i nedd an essay that summarizes the novel the great gatsby
The Great Gatsby Discussion
So I recently read The Great Gatsby, and I wanted to ask a few questions. My Language Arts teacher in response to the quote " So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past (189). " said that Fitzgerald wanted the reader to follow his or her dreams, but the feeling I got was you should not follow your dreams. Gatsby followed his dreams and look where that got him in the end. What do you get from that quote? I had a sad feeling after reading the book, and ended up disliking all the characters. Another question: " No- Gatsby turned out all right at the end... (5)." I was thinking maybe Nick said that in the beginning of the book because Gatsby was finally free from his drive for Daisy and success, and Nick in the point of writing that quote was dissatisfied with the world. What do you think?
Questions about Gatsby .. :)
Hi ! :) Could you help me with the following questions ? : 1. Groups of characters in the book according to traits of similarities or differences. Give examples from the text which have made us establish such connections between them. 2. Which of the characters develop in the course of the story and which remain static. Give valid reasons and arguments to support our opinion. 3. To point out instances of violence and abuse. Who are the offenders, who are their victims? What are the abusers motives for resorting to aggression? What is their inner conflict and do they feel remorse? 4. To compare George and Myrtle with Daisy and Tom: moral values, conduct, dreams and desires. Support your standpoint with examples. 5. How is the family envisioned in the novel? Does it foster growth and advancement, or is it a bondage of desperation or wealth or maybe, a unit which nurtures growth and wholesomeness? Supply valid arguments for your conclusions. 6. Аnalization of the type of parties described in the book and the predominant atmosphere of each one. 7. Elaboration on the obvious and subtle reasons for Gatsby’s death. Is Gatsby’s murder justified? Define Tom and Daisy’s conduct with respect to the car accident and Gatsby’s ensuing death. 8. Nick finds a man connected to Gatsby and asks him to come and pay homage to Gatsby at the funeral. Who is this man? How is he connected to Gatsby? Why doesn’t he go to the funeral? 9. Description of the role of the owl-eyed man. How does he affect the novel even though he may be briefly mentioned? 10. Colours play a symbolic role throughout the book. How do they heighten our experience ?
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