Introduction
The Great Gatsby is a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, which was first published in 1925. The work is a recognized classic of American literature with the characteristic idea of that era – a dream that transforms into a tragedy eventually. Detailed characters and the irony of human relationships form the basis of the novel, which is world-famous and respected by both ordinary readers and literary critics.
Novel Summary
James Gatz, the son of a poor farmer, moves to New York, where he changes his surname to Gatsby and devotes his life to making money and striving for wealth. His efforts bring success quickly, and the feasts arranged for local celebrities become his integral attribute of life. The man seeks to create the image of a romantic hero with a mysterious background, and the rumors that the public spreads about him confirm that he succeeds.
At one of the parties, Gatsby meets Nick, the man of aristocratic descent who admires the style and behavior of the owner of the villa. The wide gestures of the eccentric rich man pursue a single goal – to attract the attention of Daisy, the wife of Tom Buchanan. In the end, Gatsby gets his beloved woman, which pleases him. The ending of the character’s rapid rise to wealth, fame, and happiness is ridiculously tragic – he is mistakenly killed by the jealous husband of Tom’s mistress.
Plot Elements
The clarity of the novel’s composition may be traced not only in a consistent narrative but also in special structural elements. Although there are many episodes that delay the immediate development of actions, against this background, Gatsby’s line continues to develop logically. The character himself periodically returns to the past and recalls his achievements, discussing them with Nick. One of his most famous sayings is as follows: “I’m going to fix everything just the way it was before” (Fitzgerald 71). One can draw a parallel with a jazz piece when improvisation is built around the main theme. These minor twists do not distract from focusing on the basic idea of the work, which is constructed clearly.
Good and Bad Points
It is hard to name negative nuances in such outstanding classic work as The Great Gatsby. The novel occupies a high position in the ranking of the world literary heritage. The detailed thoughtfulness of the images, the significance of the topics raised, and the realism of the events described are its prominent features. The only possible negative aspect of the story is the excessive romanticism of Gatsby’s image, which can distract readers from the key ideas. At the same time, this author’s approach allows revealing all the subtexts comprehensively, making the novel unique and memorable.
Personal Recommendation
I would advise everyone to read this book not only because it is a classic example of 20th-century literature but also due to its relevance today. For almost one hundred years, basic behavioral norms have changed slightly. People still strive for wealth, worry about failed love, and lose faith in values. All these topics are raised in Fitzgerald’s novel, and the work may be interesting to people of different ages.
Conclusion
The Great Gatsby is an outstanding novel with topical issues of human relationships and a classic dream story transforming into a tragedy. The plot of the work is fascinating, and the structural clarity of the narrative is one of the main plot features. Despite the excessive romantic image of Gatsby, the novel is worth reading since the themes raised in it are relevant even today.
Work Cited
Fitzgerald, Francis Scott. The Great Gatsby. Wordsworth Classics, 1993.