If we regard the two basic qualities of what is called the American Dream as the idealism and the materialism, the idealism was overwhelmed by the materialism in 1920s. At that time, the Americans seemed to estimate the value of life with money; consequently, they felt the moral devastation and the ...
If we regard the two basic qualities of what is called the American Dream as the idealism and the materialism, the idealism was overwhelmed by the materialism in 1920s. At that time, the Americans seemed to estimate the value of life with money; consequently, they felt the moral devastation and the mental barrenness. F. Scott Fitzgerald might believe in the idealism of American Dream, so in The Great Gatsby he criticized bitterly of the moral decay of the Americans in 1920s,"Jazz Age." He described it very well through the characters in the novel. Therefore, in this thesis, it is intended to study how the American Dream is presented through the characters divided into three parts: as an idealist Gatsby, materialists the Buchanans(Tom, Daisy) and Myrtle and a moralist Nick Carraway, in Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. In the hero, Gatsby, idealism is carried to an extreme degree. For him wealth is only the means of achieving his dream, Daisy who was symbolized as a green light. He is different from the Buchanans and Myrtle because he firmly believes in the idealism while living in the age of moral absence. Just as Dutch-sailors were once inspired by the green breast of New World, so also Gatsby is encouraged by the green light to challenge the impossible. Daisy's true existence, however, is never perceived by Gatsby, blinded as he is by his own extreme idealism; as the subject of the green light, she also stands for corruption by materialism. But even though Daisy, Gatsby's dream itself, is corrupted, his dream is in keeping with the American Dream because of his heightened sensitivity to the promise of life. Gatsby is a spiritual successor of the Dutch-sailors by whom the American Dream was first fashioned. So he may become a true American Dreamer and may be considered as the representative of idealism. By contrast with Gatsby, the Buchanans and Myrtle are represented materialists because of their materialistic views. Their materialism is symbolized as the valley of ashes in which a spiritless world is revealed. As the representative of the morality and values of the established rich class, Tom is contrasted with Gatsby's idealism. With Gatsby's death by the Buchanans' carelessness, idealism is defeated by materialism. Behind Gatsby's death, however, is the author's own confirmation of Gatsby's victory over the corrupt society. This is carried by Nick who is an observer, a critic and an interpreter in this novel. Nick, a moralist perceives that Gatsby's idealism has not been defeated by the Buchanans' materialism but has become everlasting in its purity. Nick who is a moral judge feels pity and sympathy for Gatsby but he does hatred and contempt for the Buchanans. He estimates Gatsby's idealism highly whereas he bitterly criticizes the Buchanans' materialism which is corrupted and lose the morality and the ideal. At last Nick declares Gatsby winner;"They're a rotten crowd. You're worth the whole damn bunch put together." It can be said that Gatsby, the Buchanans and Myrtle, and Nick represent a kind of idea respectively; Gatsby as the representative of idealism, the Buchanans and Myrtle as materialism and Nick as a moralist. And Gatsby's dream and idealism will be everlasting as an eternal American Dream as long as there is a Nick who perceives the greatness of his dream and loves him.
If we regard the two basic qualities of what is called the American Dream as the idealism and the materialism, the idealism was overwhelmed by the materialism in 1920s. At that time, the Americans seemed to estimate the value of life with money; consequently, they felt the moral devastation and the mental barrenness. F. Scott Fitzgerald might believe in the idealism of American Dream, so in The Great Gatsby he criticized bitterly of the moral decay of the Americans in 1920s,"Jazz Age." He described it very well through the characters in the novel. Therefore, in this thesis, it is intended to study how the American Dream is presented through the characters divided into three parts: as an idealist Gatsby, materialists the Buchanans(Tom, Daisy) and Myrtle and a moralist Nick Carraway, in Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. In the hero, Gatsby, idealism is carried to an extreme degree. For him wealth is only the means of achieving his dream, Daisy who was symbolized as a green light. He is different from the Buchanans and Myrtle because he firmly believes in the idealism while living in the age of moral absence. Just as Dutch-sailors were once inspired by the green breast of New World, so also Gatsby is encouraged by the green light to challenge the impossible. Daisy's true existence, however, is never perceived by Gatsby, blinded as he is by his own extreme idealism; as the subject of the green light, she also stands for corruption by materialism. But even though Daisy, Gatsby's dream itself, is corrupted, his dream is in keeping with the American Dream because of his heightened sensitivity to the promise of life. Gatsby is a spiritual successor of the Dutch-sailors by whom the American Dream was first fashioned. So he may become a true American Dreamer and may be considered as the representative of idealism. By contrast with Gatsby, the Buchanans and Myrtle are represented materialists because of their materialistic views. Their materialism is symbolized as the valley of ashes in which a spiritless world is revealed. As the representative of the morality and values of the established rich class, Tom is contrasted with Gatsby's idealism. With Gatsby's death by the Buchanans' carelessness, idealism is defeated by materialism. Behind Gatsby's death, however, is the author's own confirmation of Gatsby's victory over the corrupt society. This is carried by Nick who is an observer, a critic and an interpreter in this novel. Nick, a moralist perceives that Gatsby's idealism has not been defeated by the Buchanans' materialism but has become everlasting in its purity. Nick who is a moral judge feels pity and sympathy for Gatsby but he does hatred and contempt for the Buchanans. He estimates Gatsby's idealism highly whereas he bitterly criticizes the Buchanans' materialism which is corrupted and lose the morality and the ideal. At last Nick declares Gatsby winner;"They're a rotten crowd. You're worth the whole damn bunch put together." It can be said that Gatsby, the Buchanans and Myrtle, and Nick represent a kind of idea respectively; Gatsby as the representative of idealism, the Buchanans and Myrtle as materialism and Nick as a moralist. And Gatsby's dream and idealism will be everlasting as an eternal American Dream as long as there is a Nick who perceives the greatness of his dream and loves him.
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