The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is widely regarded as one of the greatest novels ever written, by one of the greatest authors of all time. In this work Fitzgerald takes us on a tour of the era of American history known as the roaring twenties. Our guide is the young Nick Carraway, a native of Minnesota, who has moved to New York in the summer of 1922 in the pursuit of furthering his knowledge of the bond business. Along the way he takes a detour into the extravagant lifestyle that this era is notorious for. Through garish displays of wealth, lust and disregard for the law this novel leaves the reader pondering if this is really what the American dream has become.
Unlike the inhabitants of West Egg, where Nick has moved, he is from a wealthy family and not considered to have new money. A prime example of this new money is Nick’s next door neighbor Jay Gatsby. Gatsby, who has recently amassed a considerable amount of wealth, through what is later to be revealed as bootlegging alcohol, has few connections in society. In order to display just how well he is doing for himself and to build his status in society, he throws lavish parties that all of New York City attends. As the summer progresses Nick is finally granted an invitation to one of Gatsby’s legendary parties. It is here that he learns that Gatsby is deeply in love with his cousin Daisy, who lives just across the bay in East Egg, and that all of his parties are really an attempt to impress her enough to win her heart.
This news is brought to Nick’s attention by Jordan Baker, a young woman Daisy and her husband Tom introduced him to, and with whom he has began a romantic relationship. The news is ironic as Tom has been revealed of having a secret lover of his own in MyrtleWilson, who is also married. At Gatsby’s request Nick and Jordan arrange for a meeting between him and Daisy, which rekindles...