Great Gatsby

Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: The classic American Dream, where money is the bricks and mortar, and love is the pillar, building a dreamlike (flying saucer) in the sky. Gatsby's story has long been regarded as the standard symbol of the rise, prosperity, and decline of the American Dream. The Great Gatsby contains all the essential elements of a romantic tale. The beautiful and dreamlike heroine, with a flower-like appearance but a snake-like heart, and the extraordinary and handsome hero, born into poverty, who rises to prominence, then spends lavishly, singing a love lament. The book tells the love story between young Gatsby and the upper-class girl Daisy. During the war, the poor young soldier Gatsby fell in love with Daisy and was deeply devoted to her but had no money to marry her. After the war, Gatsby learned that Daisy had married Tom, a wealthy heir. Their married life was not happy because Tom had a mistress. To win Daisy's love back, Gatsby worked hard to earn money and became rich through illegal trades like smuggling in just a few years. He bought a mansion near Daisy's house, threw lavish parties, and spent money recklessly to attract Daisy's attention. Later, arranged by Daisy's cousin, Gatsby and Daisy revisited their old dreams. When Daisy's husband Tom discovered this secret, he flew into a rage and hated Gatsby with a passion. Daisy was torn between Gatsby and Tom but remained ambiguous, ultimately refusing to give up Tom. In a state of distress, she drove recklessly and accidentally killed Tom's mistress. To protect Daisy, Gatsby took responsibility for the driving, but Daisy had already made up her mind to abandon Gatsby. Tom cunningly framed others, leading to the husband of Tom's mistress shooting and killing Gatsby. At Gatsby's funeral, none of his former friends or guests showed up. Tom and Daisy, however, went on a trip as if nothing had happened, not even sending a single flower.