Bedside Lamp English Learning Reader I: The Great Gatsby (English-Chinese Contrast)

Author: Mao Ronggui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: Plot Summary The Great Gatsby is a masterpiece by the renowned American novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896—1940), who expressed the theme of the disillusionment of the "American Dream" in perfect artistic form. Published in 1925, the novel is set in the modern upper-class white society of the United States and unfolds through the narration of Carraway. Carraway was born in the Midwest of the United States and later moved to New York to study stock trading, hoping to make a fortune. He lives in Long Island and becomes neighbors with Gatsby, the protagonist of the story, and becomes friends with him. Gatsby, originally named Gatz, is also from the Midwest, like Carraway. He was born into poverty but was ambitious and later became wealthy through bootlegging. He often hosts extravagant parties at his home, entertaining guests to display his wealth, with the purpose of attracting Daisy, his lover five years ago, and winning her heart back. Five years ago, when Gatsby was in the army, Daisy was his lover. During Gatsby's overseas service in World War I, blinded by greed, she married Tom Buchanan, a spoiled heir from a wealthy family. However, the satisfaction of material and physical desires could not fill the spiritual emptiness and lack in Daisy's life. With Carraway's help, after reuniting with Gatsby, it seemed as if their old flame had been rekindled. But Daisy was no longer the same as before; she was no longer the innocent girl Gatsby imagined, but a foolish, selfish, vulgar, and beautiful shell. Gatsby's beautiful dream finally shattered, but he still struggled in his last efforts, clinging to a sliver of hope for Daisy, which led to a more tragic and pitiful outcome. Later, Daisy, while driving Gatsby's car under the influence of alcohol, accidentally killed Tom's mistress. She then conspired with Tom to cruelly frame Gatsby, leading to the deceased's husband bursting into Gatsby's home and shooting him dead, followed by suicide. Gatsby was ultimately completely sacrificed to the selfish and cruel Daisy. Carraway and a few of his friends attended Gatsby's funeral, a stark contrast to the hundreds of lavish parties he hosted in his lifetime. After attending Gatsby's funeral, Carraway decided to return to his home in the Midwest, far away from the noisy, indifferent, hollow, and false eastern metropolis.