Is Gatsby Great?after reading The Great Gatsbyby Francis Scott Fitzgerald과 목 :담 당 :학 과 :학 번 :이 름 :제출일 :Is Gatsby Great?after reading The Great GatsbyWhy does the title say Gatsby is great? When I finished reading this book, I wondered about it. Is he great in what sense? The writer, Francis Scott Fitzgerald, was in agony about what he would choose the title among Trimalchio in West Egg, Trimalchio, Valley of Ashes and Millionaire, and etc. To change the title, so he called the public company, but it was late for changing. It means that The Great Gatsby isn't fully reflected his idea. In addition, the great didn't mean really great in American in 1920s. The expression 'The Great' was used to create mysterious feeling. I think Fitzgerald intended this. Some people thinks this title is ironical in the other side. But it isn't. Because Gatsby changes his name from James Gats to Jay Gatsby. In addition, He makes his dream come true.The narrator of this novel is Nick Carraway who studies and works for a certificate company. He is Gatsby's neighbor and Daisy Buchanon's relative. He isn't a millionaire but, he goes into the culture of the people in the high income by Tom Buchanon, Daisy's husband and his friend, and Jay Gatsby. He doesn't play an important role in this novel, but he does something trivial to progress the story. Jay Gatsby is the protagonist. But he doesn't appear in the early part. He has loved Daisy from when he serves in the army. He makes a lot of money and holds a party very often to meet Daisy. A lot of people participates the party for enjoy, but Daisy doesn't know the party is for herself and doesn't go to the party even once before she meet him with Nick. Gatsby called Nick friend, and he addresses Nick very friendly. After they meet, it seems that his dream comes true and he and she are happy.However, Tom Buchanon knows that the relation between Daisy and Gatsby is strange. He pumps information about Gatsby's background and exposes that he sells the alcohol which was banned in America in 1920s in front of Daisy, Gatsby, Nick, and Jordan in a hotel. The story comes to the climax. After this, Wilson, Tom's sweetheart, is killed when Daisy drives the car with Gatsby from a hotel, but Gatsby is falsely accused of murder on purpose instead of Daisy because he loves her. Mr. Wilson hears Gatsby killed his wife, and kills Gatsby in Gatsby's pool. Nick feels sympathy and pity to Gatsby. He tries to gather people who have come to Gatsby's party to Gatsby's funeral. However, nobody except Gatsby's father and an anonymous man. Even Daisy doesn't come to his funeral. It shows the superficial relationship by money. Those who comes to his party only enjoys party however who the owner is. It isn't important who the owner is for them. It is more tragic with Gatsby's death.So, why is Gatsby great? He isn't rich at first, and he doesn't really graduate Oxford university. In this situation, his only hope is to marry Daisy. For marrying Daisy, he does everything to make money even it is illegal. He makes a lot of money, and he buys his house in front of Daisy's house across the sea. He waits for several years to meet her, and he makes friend with Nick because Nick is Daisy's relative. He does everything to meet Daisy very carefully. He achieves the goal finally though he dies because of his lover, Daisy. He seems great in this sense even if Fitzgerald didn't make the title The Great Gatsby for this idea. However, understanding and analyzing the novel is for reader.I have heard this book many times. But, I didn't pay attention to read this book. It is different from another novels which end with happy ending. It shows that how realities are hard and stern. Reality is not always rosy such as happy ending novels. Gatsby's ideal is frustrated by the reality. Like in this novel, ideal always can't be achieved. In addition, it shows 'the mammonism' that was prevailed in the American society when the scene that few people come to Gatsby's funeral. And I could see 'the discrimination of the social class'. East Egg where the Buchanons live stands for the people who are rich and polished but, West Egg where Gatsby and Nick live stands for the people who are rich but aren't born in good family. Another thing is about 'American dream'. The green light from the Buchanons' house means a kind of hope and dream. Gatsby gazes it with thinking Daisy and thinks his hope. Nick says 'we will run fast tomorrow and stretch our arms farther.' Fitzgerald made it relate to all of characters. Synthesizing this all elements, it really shows the social aspect of America in 1920s.