the great gatsby review

What is American dream?

------The Great Gatsby Review

The great Gatsby is a film that I watch it in the English movies curriculum this semester. I like it very much and I also learn a lot from the movie.

The movie take place in the summer of 1922, Jay Gatsby is a young millionaire, his reputation is not very good, and he is also very suspicious. He doesn’t have much contact with his associate social class and no one knows why he is so rich. Some people say he brew illegally to get fortune during prohibition. But others say that he kills people to get fortune or he is a German spy in the war. Some people even said that he is the nephew of Emperor William S. In any case, although he held many luxurious banquets, and there are many people to go to his house but he was a lonely man. What he wants is just \"a repeat of the past\": and being together with his life lover Daisy. But Daisy has now married to a steady, respected millionaire Tom Buchanan and has a daughter. For Gatsby, this does not prevent him to get Daisy's love, while Daisy felt she was dissatisfied with her marriage, loved the attention of Gatsby.

The hero of the novel Nick Callaway is a Wall Street stock business man; he was a neighbor of Gatsby. Later Callaway experience that the regardless from rich people. Tom has a lover meurthe; she is a gas station owner's wife between Long Island and New York City. One day, Gatsby let Daisy driving his car to travel; in the traffic accident Daisy accidentally killed meurthe. In order to protect Daisy, Gatsby

said he was driving the car. So Gatsby was shot by Mert's husband. After Gates compared to dies, former day’s guest did not make an appearance, the black eyebrow coloring alizarin red accompanied the husband to depart by far, Nick pertinent had pointed out societies false and the heartlessness, caused the reader compared to the American dream necessity which pursued to be disillusioned regarding Gates had the profound impression.

The novel was told the story of Gatsby by the narrator Nick. Nick is tired of his hometown’ life so that he moves to New York from the Midwest of America. He rents a small house in the suburb that happens to be next to the Gatsby’s mansion. Five years ago, Gatsby falls in love with a wealthy girl named Daisy, but he is too poor to marry her. When the First World War broke out, Gatsby had to devote himself to the army. Then Daisy is married to a rich young man Tom Buchanan. Determined to win back his lost love, Gatsby has engaged himself in bootlegging and other “shady” activities to make a fortune for the past five years. He buy a mansion just opposite to the Daisy’s house with a river lying in between. Gatsby holds dazzling parties every weekend hoping one day the married Daisy will come. With the help of Nick, the cousin of Daisy, Gatsby meet the Daisy again since five years ago. But now the lady in front of him is no longer what she used to be. She has become a vain, selfish and vulgar woman. Although he knows it, he still clings to the illusion about Daisy. One day, Daisy drives Gatsby’s car after drinking and causes an accident that kills Tom’s mistress. Daisy plots with Tom to shift the blame on Gatsby. Finally Gatsby was shot by the victim’s husband. Only Gatsby's poor father and Nick attend the funeral. Daisy and Tom were on trip to Europe at that time.

After watching, I always wonder why the Gatsby is “great”. In the view of most people, they must take for that Gatsby is silly for his blind love. He just lives in his memory and his imaginary world, which results in his tragedy. And I do think so. But when I come to realization that 1920s was named after “Jazz” and “Money” era, I change my mind. In such a material-driven society, all people are indulged in pleasure and luxury while Gatsby is persistent to pursue his sincere love for Daisy. That’s maybe the reason why he is great.

One scene in the book that impresses me most is Gatsby stand by the window, staring at the green light hung at the clock of Daisy’s house under the moonlight. The green light is a symbolism which stands for the dream and hope in Gatsby’s heart. However, the green light is distant and dim which indicates that the dream is bound to be smashed eventually. Gatsby’s self-made experience is so-called “American Dream”. But unfortunately, the dream broke up at last. It’s not the tragedy of individual but of the whole society, the fickle world full of material desire.

As far as I’m concerned, the Gatsby “Great” is to arouse the conscience of the whole society to pursue sincerity rather than the money. Money is a good thing, but not everything. If you are fervent about it, money will finally ruin the most valuable things in your life.