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The Great Gatsby

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Introduction: The Great Gatsby is a 1925 tragedy novel by American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. Set in the Jazz Age on Long Island, near New York City, the novel depicts first-person narrator Nick Carraway's interactions with Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire obsessed with reuniting with his former lover, Daisy Buchanan. It is considered as a literary masterpiece and also the best American literature. Summary: After a short time, Tom grows increasingly suspicious of his wife’s relationship with Gatsby. At a luncheon at the Buchanans’ house, Gatsby stares at Daisy with such undisguised passion that Tom realizes Gatsby is in love with her. Though Tom is himself involved in an extramarital affair, he is deeply outraged by the thought that his wife could be unfaithful to him. He forces the group to drive into New York City, where he confronts Gatsby in a suite at the Plaza Hotel. Tom asserts that he and Daisy have a history that Gatsby could never understand, and he announces to his wife that Gatsby is a criminal—his fortune comes from bootlegging alcohol and other illegal activities. Daisy realizes that her allegiance is to Tom, andIn the summer of 1922, a young man from Minnesota named Nick Carraway relocates to New York with the intention of delving into the world of bond trading. He secures a rental property in the West Egg area of Long Island, a prosperous yet somewhat unrefined locality inhabited by individuals who have recently acquired wealth. This group lacks deep-rooted social ties and tends to flaunt their affluence in a flamboyant manner. Jay Gatsby, an enigmatic figure residing in a sprawling Gothic-style mansion right next door to Nick in West Egg, hosts lavish gatherings every Saturday night. Nick's background makes him different from the other residents of West Egg. He received his education at Yale and maintains social connections in East Egg, a sophisticated region of Long Island that serves as the home of the upper class. One evening, Nick takes a drive to East Egg for a dinner engagement with his cousin, Daisy Buchanan, and her spouse, Tom, who once attended Yale alongside Nick. Daisy and Tom introduce Nick to Jordan Baker, a captivating young woman with whom Nick embarks on a romantic relationship. Nick also gains some information into Daisy and Tom's situationship. Jordan reveals to him that Tom is involved with Myrtle Wilson, a mistress who resides in the valley of ashes. Shortly after this , Nick accompanies Tom and Myrtle on a trip to New York City. At a gathering held in the apartment Tom uses for his extramarital affair, Myrtle provokes Tom by making remarks about Daisy, prompting Tom to step up by breaking Myrtle's nose. As the summer months unfold, Nick is eventually invited to one of Gatsby's renowned parties. He crosses paths with Jordan Baker at the party, and they are introduced to Gatsby himself, a surprisingly youthful man who has a British accent, possesses an exceptionally charming smile, and addresses everyone as "old sport. " Gatsby requests a private conversation with Jordan, and through Jordan, Nick later uncovers more details about his neighbor. Gatsby confides in Jordan that he had a romantic connection with Daisy in Louisville back in time and still has deep feelings for her. He frequently spends his evenings gazing at the green light coming from the far end of her dock, situated across the bay from his big residence. Gatsby's extravagant way of life and extravagant parties are merely a facade designed to capture Daisy's attention. Gatsby now seeks Nick's assistance in making a meeting between himself and Daisy, but he fears that Daisy will decline to see him if she realizes that he is still in love with her. Nick extends an invitation to Daisy for tea at his residence, without spilling the fact that Gatsby will also be present. Following an initial period of awkwardness, Gatsby and Daisy successfully reestablish their bond. With their affection resparked, they embark on an affair. Tom sends her away with Gatsby, full of ego, trying to show that Gatsby is no threat to him. However, as Nick, Jordan, and Tom travel through the valley of ashes, they find out that Gatsby's car has run over and killed Myrtle, who was Tom's mistress. They quickly return to Long Island, where Nick finds out from Gatsby that Daisy was the one driving when the car hit Myrtle, but Gatsby plans to accept responsibility. The following day, Tom informs George, Myrtle's husband, that Gatsby was behind the wheel. George, having already decided that the driver of the car that killed Myrtle must have been the one she was having an affair with, locates Gatsby at his mansion's pool and murders him with a gunshot. Following this, he kills himself with another dumb gunshot. Nick puts together a small funeral for Gatsby, breaks up with Jordan, and goes back to the Midwest to get away from the anger and disgust he feels for the people involved in Gatsby's life and for the lack of morals and emptiness of the rich on the East Coast. Critical analysis: Nick thinks about how Gatsby's dream of being with Daisy was ruined by money and lies, and how the American dream of freedom and joy has fallen apart and become just a chase for riches. Even though Gatsby's ability to make his dreams come true is what makes him "great," Nick realizes that the time for dreamin both Gatsby's dream and the American dream is done. Throughout this book it has been severally hinted out that the plot was to indicate the fake illusion of the American dream. And that humans are always trying to reach an impossible star, yet are always being chained up by past grievance, guilt and desires. It is not that Gatsby was shown to be doing the right thing, the book makes us focus on the part where he was obsessed with rekindling his relationship with daisy and we sympathised with him yet forget that he was once a normal poor man with just love as his determination to gain money. He went through the black way of earning money yet we don't focus on that block too much. It shows how the facade of the rich and emotional boundaries shackle us morally. Daisy was a female with whom I could never have respect on. It was true to show her as a woman of that time who lived just to find a husband who could provide them a safe paradise just handed to them. But generation gap or let's just say generation decades of gap might be the reach, I would rather her fight for her love, not just a safe facade. Conclusion: The writer never got recognition while he was still alive, after his death only did the book get the spotlight. Yet Gatsby still never got his recognition for his unbreakable love and maybe somehow obsession. This is a book filled with literary elements, I would like to recommend this book to whoever is interested in such literary elements and also tragedy. Personally I was never a fan of tragedy. I like to live in my bubble of illusion where everyone gets their happy ending. It may not be bounded by their dead rather a suitable ending. Maybe Gatsby did get his happy ending where he didn't get to live longer and realise daisy never truly loved him like he did and would rather live in a safe built life for herself rather than escaping that safe zone to fight for her love. But maybe Gatsby never got his happy ending considering that his fear and his fight everything was to not be lonely. To have someone who will fight for him as much as he did for his love. Yet no one even came to his funeral. Endings are rather a miracle of perspective. Some carry more logic but maybe some carry more emotional reasonings. This book was indeed splendid but you would not see me personally picking a book like this.

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Published on 11/28/2025

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Eshita Lal is a student at Deerwalk Sifal School who loves writing articles, exploring diverse topics, and engaging in creative discussions.

Eshita Lal

Grade 10

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