Money,
romance and beauty wrapped up in secrecy and debauchery. A social satire all
cast under the sparkling canopy of the fabulous jazz era in the roaring
American twenties. The Great Gatsby peels away the layers of the
glamorous twenties in America to display the coldness and cruelty at its heart.
The Great Gatsby is everything you want it to be, and
more. Widely renowned as Fitzgerald’s’ magnum opus, the plot unfolds in a dazzling
manner from old rooted relationships to new and uncouth lusts with plenty of parties,
lies and money to draw you in along the way.
Nick
Carraway, the subdued narrator, moves to the affluent West Egg of Long Island
and soon realises he is the neighbour of a mysterious character known as
Gatsby. Vicious and jealous rumours surround Gatsby and his more than affluent
and desirable lifestyle.
Gatsby is
the epitome of the jazz age, throwing the biggest and most lavish parties that
are known throughout the state. Men want to be him and women want to be with
him; he is idolised beyond anything. Sadly enough, it comes to light that these
parties are all in vain of the hope that the tragically beautiful débutante Daisy Buchanan will attend. Gatsby’s love for Daisy represents the only
truthful bone in his body. Yet it is the downfall of both of them and everyone else
who is supposedly lucky enough to be within their radius.
Fitzgerald’s’
story is also regarded as a cautionary tale in regards to the renowned American
Dream. It is a memorable tale, reminding us that money cannot buy everything,
least of all happiness and love. It is a merely a cloak to disguise one’s true
self.
Gatsby’s
ironic cautionary theme is reminiscent of Thomas Hardy’s poem, ‘The Convergence
of the Twain’. An opulent cruise ship sinks and only the ugly sea creatures
snaking in between the ornate mirrors and surroundings are now able to enjoy it.
The flowing, incandescent prose is entrancing. Fitzgerald
is a natural storyteller and his literary prowess has encapsulated his readers
for decades. Fitzgerald immaculately crafted phrases ensure eyes are glued to
pages. His writing is unassailably magnificent, as he
paints a grim portrait of shallow characters that manoeuvre themselves into
complex situations.
The parties Fitzgerald attended himself in 1920s
America inspired Jay Gatsby’s parties in West Egg. Nick largely resembles
Fitzgerald himself, making it a semi autobiographical novel. It is easy to see
why this novel is now an American Classic and a twentieth century literary milestone.
