The Great Gatsby’ Setting: Critical Essay – Free Essay Example

In the novel, “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald there are a variety of themes prominent one of them, being the way you are seen in society. That is really consistent throughout the story; the novel divides people in it into social groups. The characters in this novel are the following; Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, Nick Carraway, Myrtle Wilson, Tom Buchanan, Jordan Baker, Meyer Wolfsheim, George B. Wilson, Mr. Gatz, and Trimalchio. The protagonist in this novel is Jay Gatsby a rich gentleman whose wealth originated from supposed ancestors from the back west, but in reality, it is from bootlegging and selling grain alcohol over the counter in drug stores on the low. This is a wonder to his peers and friends because there was a point when Gatsby was penniless and no resemblance of money was present. Thus building the novel up with various themes such as mystery, betrayal, power, greed, and even the chase of the “American Dream”. Not to mention that the story is told by, Nick Carraway a Yale University graduate from the Midwest who moves to New York specifically (Long Island) after World War 1 where he plans to pursue his career in the bond industry much like many of his family.

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The story takes place in the 1920s where Fitzgerald does a good job portraying the societal structure of that time. Because of the setting being post-war the presence of economic growth and its madness is painted really well and sets up the start of the novel.

The Great Gatsby is a story that shows how the working class is set in place and how the unattainability of Jay Gatsby’s dream is present. The past for Gatsby is what he is longing for he faces a challenge all throughout the novel that is hard for him to get over and soon turns into a true tragedy. The book shows how hard it is to alter one’s future the protagonist specifically Jay Gatsby, is portrayed as mysterious and wealthy and turned out to be Nick Carraway’s neighbor (the narrator in the story). At the start of the story, we know very little about Gatsby, as Nick’s intro depicts. We can assume by the title of the book that Gatsby is the center point of attention. As the novel continues and Nick becomes extremely involved in Gatsby’s complicated life, we learn that Gatsby’s desire is Daisy, the girl he once loved before even being wealthy. It is seen that anything and anyone that stands between Gatsby and Daisy becomes an antagonist mainly for Gatsby. Even Though Daisy’s husband, Tom is the obvious antagonist, there still is a variety of notational concepts that stand for antagonists such as; class differences, societal expectations, and Gatsby’s past lies. The most preeminent antagonist that Jay faces would be time itself since he can’t go back in time a rearrange the events which had led up to his impossible present desire. Now it is nothing more than a loss.