The Great Gatsby by Fitz Scott Fitzgerald is considered to be one of the greatest American novels, one of the key themes in the book is Gatsby ́s dream and it will be the centre of this term paper. Out of the various approaches to the book, this paper will focus on the character constellation of the protagonist Jay Gatsby and Daisy, the woman with whom he falls in love. How does Gatsby ́s dream develop in connection with his fascination to Daisy? Claiming that, although two people are involved, his dream is only focused on himself, I will try to show, at least to a certain extent, how Gatsby ́s dream has “three basic and related parts: the desire to repeat the past, the desire for money, and the desire for incarnation of ‘unutterable visions’ in the material earth.” (Lockridge, 1968) Since Daisy represents all of these dreams when they meet for the first time, she becomes the personification of his dream, but in the course of the events their paths become separated. Therefore, this term paper will also investigate how Gatsby ́s dream further develops since being separated from Daisy and finally what happens when he meets Daisy again - why does she in the end “[tumble] short of his dreams” (Fitzgerald, 2000)?
Regarding the often discussed issue, whether or not Fitzgerald was writing a myth specifically about America and the American Dream, or whether Gatsby ́s dream can attain a wider relevance, I will not be able to refer to in much detail. The paper will also not discuss the point of narrative, but it is nevertheless crucial to mention that “Gatsby is presented almost entirely through Nick ́s puzzled and often disapproving eyes.” (Parkinson, 1988)
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
MAIN PART
I. Gatsby´s dream before meeting Daisy – an imaginary construct of himself
II. Gatsby meets Daisy – Daisy becomes the personification of his dream
III. Separated from Daisy – Gatsby building up a colossal construct around her
IV. The ‘reunion’ – Daisy “tumbles short of his dreams”
CONCLUSION
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the evolution of Jay Gatsby’s personal dream in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby," specifically focusing on its interconnection with his fascination for Daisy Buchanan. It investigates how Gatsby constructs an idealized version of himself and how Daisy eventually becomes the personification of his aspirations, leading to an inevitable conflict between his abstract idealism and the reality of human limitations.
- The role of "The American Dream" in Gatsby's personal trajectory.
- Gatsby’s psychological need to repeat the past and preserve his visions.
- Daisy Buchanan as the focal point and personification of Gatsby's material and romantic goals.
- The function of "Sehnsucht" (longing) as an unfulfilled yet self-fulfilling state.
- The collision between constructed ideals and the reality of human mortality.
Excerpt from the Book
Gatsby meets Daisy – Daisy becomes the personification of his dream
Meeting Cody provides Gatsby with the first focus of his fantasies; but after Cody´s death Gatsby remains penniless, a fact that he hides behind wearing his uniform. When meeting Daisy in this state of being, he binds his dream to her because she represents all three parts of his dream. To prove this claim, two key scenes will be analysed: firstly, the meaning of Daisy´s house for Gatsby´s dream, when he visits her house for the first time and secondly, the kiss-scene, which Parkinson claims to be Gatsby´s “moment of revelation”.
[Her house] amazed him – he had never been in such a beautiful house before. But what gave it an air of breathless intensity, was that Daisy lived there – it was as casual a thing to her as his tent out at camp was to him. There was a ripe mystery about it…” For Gatsby, it is important, that Daisy lives in such a rich house: it increases her attractiveness since she represents some kind of status he aspires, but does not have yet. Nick´s use of the metaphor “High in a white palace the King´s daughter, the golden girl” is another reference to fairy-tales and invokes a typical situation and contrast of the inaccessible highborn maiden and the poor suitor. As Parkinson further points out, it is not the house itself as a material object that is of importance, but rather Gatsby´s response to it. Associating Daisy with the house, he imagines and attributes to it a quality of radiance in terms of mystery and only wealth can sustain it. For Gatsby, wealth becomes the power to transcend the mundane and to make it ideal. He therefore “transforms and makes enchanted the prosaic and the ordinary by an act of his imagination”.
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: The introduction outlines the thematic focus of the paper, identifying Gatsby’s dream as the primary subject and establishing the research goal of analyzing its connection to Daisy.
MAIN PART: This section details the development of Gatsby’s dream, from its childhood origins through his encounter with Dan Cody, his obsession with Daisy, the period of separation, and the eventual disillusionment at their reunion.
I. Gatsby´s dream before meeting Daisy – an imaginary construct of himself: This chapter examines the early roots of Gatsby’s ambition, his rejection of his past, and the formation of his idealistic self-conception.
II. Gatsby meets Daisy – Daisy becomes the personification of his dream: This chapter analyzes how Gatsby projects his ideals onto Daisy, turning her into a symbol of both wealth and his longing for an unattainable past.
III. Separated from Daisy – Gatsby building up a colossal construct around her: This chapter explores the years of separation and how Gatsby intensified his vision of Daisy as a "holy grail" that required immense wealth to attain.
IV. The ‘reunion’ – Daisy “tumbles short of his dreams”: This chapter covers the reunion and the subsequent realization that Daisy, being a mortal human, cannot live up to the mythic proportions of Gatsby’s illusions.
CONCLUSION: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, confirming that Gatsby’s dream fails due to its inherent conflict with reality and his rigid refusal to abandon his idealism.
Keywords
The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, American Dream, Idealism, Materialism, Sehnsucht, Illusion, Nostalgia, Reality, Longing, Obsession, Unattainable, Symbolism, Past.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this term paper?
The paper explores the development of Jay Gatsby’s personal dream and how it is intrinsically linked to his obsessive fascination with Daisy Buchanan.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include the pursuit of the American Dream, the desire to repeat the past, the influence of materialism, and the psychological role of unfulfilled longing.
What is the main research question or goal?
The primary goal is to investigate how Gatsby's dream evolves in relation to Daisy, why she becomes the personification of his ideals, and why his dream ultimately fails to materialize.
Which scientific method is applied here?
The work utilizes literary analysis, focusing on character constellation, narrative perspective (Nick Carraway), and close reading of key scenes, supported by scholarly literary criticism.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section moves through a chronological analysis of Gatsby's life: from his childhood idealism, his initial meeting and subsequent obsession with Daisy, his efforts during their separation, and the final breakdown of his illusion during their reunion.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Important keywords include The Great Gatsby, American Dream, Idealism, Sehnsucht, Materialism, and Illusion.
Why does Gatsby’s dream fail according to the author?
The dream fails because it is based on abstract idealism and becomes conflict-ridden when it collides with the reality of Daisy’s humanity and the constraints of time.
How does the concept of "Sehnsucht" apply to Gatsby?
The paper uses the term "Sehnsucht" to explain Gatsby's unfulfilled longing, arguing that the longing itself provides him with a sense of purpose and fulfillment that he refuses to abandon, even until his death.
What is the significance of the "green light" mentioned in the text?
The green light serves as a symbol of the unattainable; its significance vanishes when Daisy is physically present, as reality cannot compete with the mythic nature of Gatsby's imagination.
- Quote paper
- Janina Gaiser (Author), 2014, The development of Gatsby's dream in connection with his fascination to Daisy. About "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/415671
