《了不起的盖茨比》学士学位论文

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the_great_Gatsby本科毕业论文终稿涉

the_great_Gatsby本科毕业论文终稿涉

SYMBOLISM IN THE GREAT GATSBYA Thesispresented toThe College of Foreign Languages Chongqing University of Posts and TelecommunicationsIn Partial Fulfillmentof the Requirements for the Degree ofBachelor of ArtsByYang ChunmeiJune 2014摘要象征主义是十九世纪末法国重要的文学思潮。

第一次世界大战前,它传播到欧洲多个艺术领域,许多作家认为,任何事物都应该有相应的内涵,内心世界和外部世界是相互渗透的,人们可以挖掘出隐藏在象征本体里的一切象征意义,因此,它提倡人们可以使用大量的意象来暗示微妙的内心世界,并将它们有机融合在一起。

《了不起的盖茨比》是弗·斯科特·菲茨杰拉德最具代表性和最受欢迎的作品之一,长期以来国内外众多学者从不同角度进行研究。

它强烈抨击了美国20世纪20年代物质主义盛行,人们内心世界的腐败和道德沦丧的社会现状。

作者巧妙地运用象征手法向读者展示一个灯绿梦渺的美国梦。

弗·斯科特·菲茨杰拉德挑选出小说中最能代表美国20世纪20年代期间社会现状的典型人物,通过他们各自对价值观截然不同的反应和所采取的行为,以此表明美国梦破灭的必然性。

关键词:象征主义;美国梦;物质主义;幻灭ABSTRACTSymbolism was regarded as an important literary trend in France at the end of the nineteenth century. Before World War I, it spread to various art fields in Europe, the writers who were for it believed that anything should have corresponding meaning, the inner world and outer world were inducted each other, and people can dig out hidden symbolism from everything. Therefore, it advocated that people can use substantial images to suggest the subtle inner world, and blend two of them together skillfully, one of the unique charms in the novel The Great Gatsby is the abundant use of symbols.In the novel, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses symbols to depict the various characters and deepen the theme; he connects the visual real world with the abstract inner world by using masses of potential symbolism, showing readers characteristics, personality as well as charms of protagonists vividly; meanwhile, the proper use of symbolism adds up infinite art charm and enhances ideological implication of the work, making the novel loved by a great number of readers.The Great Gatsby is one of the most representative and popular works of F. Scott Fitzgerald, it strongly criticizes the rich’s priority for materialism and the loss of morality as well as their corruption of the inner world,also in the novel the social reality of the United States in 1920s is deeply exposed with numerous symbols by F. Scott Fitzgerald. In order to show readers a lively and bright plot, he elaborately arranges each section, taking the protagonists for example, F. Scott Fitzgerald picks out the most typical characters from different social classes in the novel to reflect their respective values during 1920s in the United States, according to their different reactions and behaviors towards materialism and morality, the author aims to indicate the inevitable tragedy and evaporation of the American dream.Key words: symbolism, the American Dream, materialism, evaporationOutlineTitle: Symbolism in The Great GatsbyThesis Statement: Symbols in The Great Gatsby represent Gatsby’s disillusions of the American Dream as well as the social moral loss.1. Introduction2. Symbolism of Colors2.1 Green: Dream and Hope2.2 White: Innocence and Beauty VS Evil and Horror2.3 Blue: Gloom, Peace and Fantasy2.4 Yellow: Power, Wealth and Status3. Symbolism of Protagonists3.1 Daisy: Selfishness and Materialism3.2 Gatsby: visionary and tragic3.3 Nick: onlooking and Injustice4. The American Dream in The Great Gatsby4.1 The American Dream4.2 Disillusion of the American Dream4.3 Inevitable Evaporation of the American Dream5. ConclusionBibliography1 IntroductionThe United States had an unprecedented economic prosperity after World War I, the life quality of people showed an uprising trend, while their mental world was descending sharply under the brand--new social environment, that is, the younger generation of America were addicted to hedonism regardless of the traditional religious beliefs and morality, they indulge themselves in the unprincipled recreation, excessively emphasizing on materials but ignoring mentality, which resulted in the disillusion of the American dream.The publication of The Great Gatsby in 1925 is the reflection of “the Jazz Age” –“the period from 1918-1929, the years between the end of World War I and the start of the roaring twenties; ending with the rise of the Great Depression, the traditional values of this age see a sharp decline while the great American stock market soars.” (Wikipedia: the Jazz age) F. Scot Fitzgerald uses a unique narration way to describe hero—Gatsby’s life. As a narrator, Nick is tired of his hometown—Midwest life and comes to New York. He rents a small apartment in the suburb of West Egg. He is Daisy’s cousin, and neighbor of Gatsby who owns a luxurious mansion. Gatsby and Daisy once love each other when they are young, but end up with Gatsby’s poverty. Then he joins World War I, and Daisy marries Tom Buchanan—a wealthy guy and they give birth to a daughter. Five years later, the Buchanan move from Chicago to the west, and Nick starts to have frequent contacts with the Buchanan; during five years, Gatsby accumulates amounts of wealth by means of illegal activity and comes to New York following Daisy. He buys a luxurious villa—Gatsby mansion. Each Saturday he would hold a grand party to attract the married Daisy, fancying arousing her notice and restart the relationship. On an accidental occasion, Gatsby learns that Nick is Daisy’s cousin, so he begs Nick to arrange a meeting for them. After that date, both Daisy and Gatsby have frequent date. However, he gradually realizes that Daisy is vane and secular not as what she used tobe, Gatsby’s beautiful dream finally breaks, but he still insists on her and has a glimmer of fantasy, which makes him suffer from a miserable outcome in the end. Later, Daisy drives Gatsby’s car to run over and kills Tom’s mistress Myrtle Wilson after drunk driving, but Tom and Daisy put the blame on Gatsby with conspiracy brutally, resulting in Gatsby’s death by George Wilson’s gun shot. While Daisy and Tom travel to Europe, there are only two people—Nick and Gatsby’s father to attend Gatsby’s funeral. Gatsby becomes a victim of selfish and cruel Daisy.F. Scott Fitzgerald describes a picture of tragic American dream with poetic language and ample colors. There are many symbols in the novel. Symbolism will be analyzed respectively from the following aspects: colors, protagonists and the American Dream will be mentioned.2 Symbolism of ColorsAmong so many symbols in the novel, most of which are colors: white represents purity, innocence and emptiness, depravation; during the process of describing Gatsby’s dream, green night becomes an important image, it means not only dream and hope, but also a bubble; besides, yellow means wealth, status and evil, and so on. The following part will illustrate different colors thoroughly.2.1 GreenGreen is the color of nature, representing hope and dream. When he is seventeen, Gatsby wears a shabby green sweater, presenting an optimistic and hopeful image; when he falls in love with Daisy deeply, however, Gatsby is too poor to marry her. Daisy immediately marries a millionaire –Tom Buchanan. So Gatsby struggles out from the bottom of society, though, he is not for a life of luxurious and material comforts, but for the “pure love”, which is an ideal and indescribable romantic illusion, a permanent expectation for him. After Gatsby makes a fortune, he is still obsessed with his love—Daisy, he spares no effort to attract and pursue Daisy, since it is his only dream, in his mind, Daisy symbolizes all of what he dreams, in a word, Daisy is his hope, goals and incardination of love.And again at the end of the novel, it refers to green:“Gatsby believes in the green night: the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before Man, it eludes Man then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow Man will run faster, stretch out his arms farther…and one fine morning.”(Fitzgerald2013:113)here the symbolism of green night is American’s enthusiastic and reckless pursuit for the illusory American Dream. In Gatsby’s eyes, green night is his guide on the one hand, which makes him feel his dream is on the way and easy to grasp; on the other hand, it is so attractive, twinkling, and vague. Finally, when his ultimate dream is lost, the green light that symbolizes hope disappears forever from him, which leads to the access to dream becoming adark journey. F. Scott Fitzgerald links it with Gatsby’s blind pursuit for Daisy purposely, making the green light have an obvious irony. F. Scott Fitzgerald suggests that the American Dream is devastated by the excessive pursuit for materials, contributing to a futile effort. Green is Gatsby’s hope, but it is his impractical pursuit for the green light that results in his tragedy.2.2 YellowYellow is a symbol of power, wealth and luxury. It is one of the most widely used colors in the novel. In order to regain his true love, Gatsby conveys abundant information all the time to Daisy: his gorgeous and expensive car that he takes is yellow; his tie that he wears while dating with Daisy is golden; his cars, food, bars that he owns when he holds various, luxurious, grand, illuminated banquets, are all yellow; his comb that is shown to Daisy is also purely golden; In addition, Daisy is regarded as the golden girl, her name is a kind of flower with the color of yellow ; Jordan Baker has a withered golden hair, and his arms are golden; two of girls in the banquets are with golden skirts; it is the golden cocktail music that is played in the banquets all the time; All of the yellow symbols represent a noisy, wealthy and money-oriented atmosphere, it seems that everywhere in the society is full of the color of yellow.During the Jazz age, money is a symbol of success and status, people would rather desert their own moral conception and deceive each other without guilty just for money. In a word, yellow becomes seductive and charming, while Gatsby’s tragedy results in the golden lie, he struggles for the color all of his life, but his dream is destroyed at last. In such case, yellow symbolizes the characteristics of the society and the destiny of people.2.3 WhiteWhite generally symbolizes purity and innocence, but in the novel, it symbolizes horror and loneliness. The first time Daisy runs into Gatsby, she wears white clothes and drives a white car, which indicates that Daisy is pure and elegant, but Daisy’s inner heart is hollow and shallow; she lives in a white palace-stylebuilding and the curtains are white, all of which are a symbol of Daisy’s tiresome and empty spirit. White is a cold color, taking Daisy’s heart for instance, Gatsby almost uses up all of his youth and passion for her, including sacrificing himself, but she is so cold that ignores what Gatsby does for her and takes it for granted. In the eastern part of material world, her strong desire for money and material things has already twisted her into a greedy, selfish and vulgar woman.Besides, from the perspective of Gatsby, there are also a lot of symbols related to the white color: the villa that Gatsby buys and the suits that he wears, which means that he is as hollow as Daisy, he has nothing to do but pursue Daisy, even Gatsby owns more and more wealth, he has no way to save Daisy’s degraded soul, because it is the nature of Daisy. Gatsby spends his whole life on unpractical illusions, to some degree, he is rather stupid. Therefore, the color of white in the novel has a strong irony too.2.4 BlueBlue is the color of the sky and the sea, which means a broad scale, while it also means gloom and depression. In the novel, F. Scott Fitzgerald describes something connected with dream and unreality. He uses blue to describe Gatsby’s house: blue lawn that is an important part in his life, and blue garden; Gatsby also gets a blue navy clothes from the captain due to his upright characteristics. All of these symbolize Gatsby’s dream and melancholy.In Chapter two of the novel,the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are blue, with bleak look, watching the gray valley, indicating an unfortunate disaster. In the author’s opinion, this is God’s eyes; she knows that Gatsby’s dream is doomed to fail, so her eyes are sad and gloomy. And George Wilson believes that Doctor T. J. Eckleburg’s eyes are existence of God. After his wife dies by conspiracy:“He muttered, after a long silence. “I told her she might fool me but she couldn’tfool God. I took her to the window’—with an effort he got up and walked to therear window and leaned with his face pressed against it—‘and I said, “Godknows what you have been doing, everything you have been doing. You may foolme, but you cannot fool God!”’ standing behind him, Michaelis saw with a shockthat he was looking at the blue eyes of doctor T. J. Eckleburg, which had justemerged, pale and enormous, from the dissolving night. ” (Fitzgerald 2013:100) In other words, F. Scott Fitzgerald presents the symbolisms of various colors vividly, green, on one hand, represents Gatsby’s hope and dream, he is as energetic as others; on the other hand, it seems like a prediction that Gatsby is doomed to fail. Yellow stands for wealth and status in the novel. Gatsby makes effort to climb up and accumulate money in order to cater for Daisy and prove that he also belongs to the upper class; actually, he never realizes his illusion from the beginning to the end. White is a symbol of horror and ignorant, Daisy is a typical epitome of the Jazz age. Blue is a symbol of gloom and depression in the novel. Doctor T. J. Eckleburg’s blue eyes seem to indicate the tragedy of all the people. Besides symbolisms of colors, the symbols of protagonists are worth analyzing.3 Symbolism of the ProtagonistsIt is evident that a vivid description of main character plays a key role in advancing the plots. The Great Gatsby selects several typical protagonists to reflect their different characteristics and values, and imply the hedonism during the Jazz age.3.1 DaisyDaisy is the heroine in the novel; she is Gatsby’s dream love. As a typical material girl, she is a symbol of money. She is a girl with beautiful appearance, attractive eyes, and erogenous voice. Five years ago, the poor Gatsby falls in love with the wealthy girl at the first sight, but he is so poor that he cannot afford the wedding expenses, they have to end the relationship finally. Because in Daisy’s eyes, money is the only judge to measure anything, love is no exception. For her, money is the only almighty God, the true, the good, and the beautiful are not qualified to surpass it. Daisy once loves him, but when she finds Gatsby is penniless, she never hesitates to abandon him and turns to Tom who is wealthy and illustrious but vulgar. In the material world, Gatsby’s love with Daisy is fragile and vulnerable. Daisy believes that love is not the bread of life, she is eager to live an abundant and carefree life. Actually, she is the incardination of the American Dream, which looks beautiful and pure, almost close to touch, but it is just an illusion, and finally vanishes.Though she owns abundant materials, she is very lonely and empty. While Nick has come to dinner with her family, when Tom and Jordan are chatting in another room, she uncovers her mask, tells all of her inner feelings sincerely. She complains about her unhappiness. Besides, in her daily life, although he often says something that seems to be foolish and jokes with others, she arms herself, pretends herself to be happy and live an ideal life like a carefree child, actually, she is unhappy, and no one is reliable for her to share her miserable life except Nick.3.2 GatsbyGatsby, the hero of the novel, is a sheer dreamer. He is the symbol of the American younger generation after the First World War I. Gatsby’s pursuit and evaporation for dream are also what the youth dream: individually heroic ideal and the miraculous American Dream makes them believe that one can reach their own inner world that they yearn for only if they try their effort, so they come to the world with hope, looking forward to establishing a kingdom of their own in the new world, but eventually they find that what they desire and pursue are just self-deceptive, the American Dream is never to be achieved. In his short life time, he uses all kinds of means to pursue Daisy, but what a pity is that even though he costs too much to win her heart, he is killed by his beloved indirectly, and even no one is willing to attend his funeral. From the beginning to the end, he is blindfold in his own relationship; he has never experienced the true love. At the age of 17 to 18, Gatsby regards young ladies as ignorance, so he looks down upon the girls, but poor Gatsby only loves Daisy crazily, in his eyes, Daisy is beautiful, and she has an outstanding family background, Gatsby is the only one that attracts Daisy among so many suitors, here it can be seen that Gatsby loves not Daisy herself but the wealth and social status that Daisy stands for, he eagerly climbs up to upper class, so he thinks that he loves Daisy not anything else, but it can be inferred that Gatsby is trapped into the hypocritical love without self-conscious. In order to win Daisy, he takes various illegal measures to accumulate amounts of wealth. After reunion with Daisy, who is a frivolous and materialistic person, Gatsby tries to invite her to his villa just to show how rich he is now. In his mind, Daisy is the incarnation of a holy and pure heart, just like her white skirt, even Gatsby finds Daisy is a secular woman, not the same one as she used to be, but he doesn’t want to give her up. Actually, Gatsby just wants to use wealth, materials and Daisy to mask his poor birth, and win the social recognition and admiration. In Gatsby's mind, as long as there are material wealth and social status, he can regain Daisy, and he can prove his self—value. Gatsby, through illegal means to win a huge amount of wealth, makes up his personal life, so that he can achieve his dream.After Gatsby makes material success, then he has been very close to achieve the dream, he has almost caught the dream. But the very moment, everything is destroyed. Gatsby should have realized that his dreams are entirely on the basis of material; his pursuit of an illusory ideal just makes him realize that Daisy's mind is full of money, but he never understands they belong to different worlds, representing different values. And his total unconsciousness is destined to die. But in the process of interaction for Nick and the gang, even though he has contempt and disdains Gatsby, Gatsby treats love sincerely and selflessly.3.3 NickNick, as both the story teller and the moral judge, he has an irreplaceable place in the novel; he is indispensable to the progression of the story as well as to the in-depth exposure of the American Dream. Nick, as the novel's first narrator, in this novel, he has created a kind of immersive feeling that is rising up, making the whole novel not only fascinating but also more dramatic. He observes all of what happens to Gatsby, as Gatsby’s friend and neighbor, Daisy’s cousin, Tom’s classmate, he has an inextricable link with them. He cannot stand the eastern United States because of the vague and moral indifference, he witnesses the destruction of Gatsby’s growing, all the disappointment and disgust for the eastern community, and in the course, in order to further improve and standardize his own responsibility and morality, he decides to go back west. What happens in the eastern part of the story that makes Nick feel so disappointed and disgus ted is that something swallows Gatsby’s spiritual things and makes him temporarily lose interest in any temporary moment of joy and sorrow, so that he is no longer interested in participating in swollen treasures, and no longer occasionally catches the glimpse of the human heart's honor. He feels disgusted about the reality, but he is also immersed in the ugly environment, he describes Gatsby as a great man even though he sells wine illegally and pursues Daisy in an inappropriate way. “Whenever you feel like criticizing any one, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.”(Fitzgerald, 2013:1)According to his narration and comment, Nick shows a totally different type of life style between Gatsby and Daisy.In a sense, Daisy, from the beginning to the end, is a wretch, she never experiences a true love, for her, wealth and status are more important than love, she pursues something illusory in her whole life, which causes her empty and ignorant life. Gatsby and Nick, in the realization of their own American dream on the road, are losers. Gatsby, although achieves the material success, in spirit he collapses; Nick has been purified, although in spirit and perfection, but never gets the measure of success from the perspective of worldly material wealth. In the final analysis, all the three people are the victim of the American dream, which results in their tragedy.4 The American Dream in The Great GatsbyFor Americans, American dream is a faith that a person can achieve what he is eager for only if striving as much as possible, success would be on the way. Actually, it is not enough. The following parts will analyze the breakdown of American dream, the disillusion of American dream as well as the inevitable evaporation of American dream in detail.4.1 The American DreamWhen it comes to the breakdown of American Dream, there are two notable people that should be noticed.One is Norman Mailer. his fourth novel—An American Dream (1966),The book is written in a poetic style with metaphor that creates unique and hypnotizing narrative and dialogue. Mailer peels away the layers of the social norms to reveal a world of pure appetite and relentless cruelty.The other one is Edward Albee. He feels the reality of American society cannot be compromised and must be disclosed. In his play The American Dream (1961), he ironically criticizes people who only go for external things rather than seeking the practical, to meet the appearance of bodybuilding but ignore the internal weakness.Actually, The idea of the American Dream is rooted in the United States Declaration of Independence which proclaims that “all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights including Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”(Wikipedia: the United States Declaration of Independence)The American Dream is based on an ideal realm that everyone can develop their ability and finally become successful only if they are continuously making their own efforts; it is an equal opportunity to expect success in spite of family background. Americans have traditionally believed that only through hardwork, will they change destiny and obtain wealth. The American Dream is originally to achieve the dual progress in spirit and materials; however, it is gradually replaced by sheer money and pleasure. The American Dream is bait for encouraging young men to struggle and fight, and then can get what they seeks for. In fact, it is just an illusion that never comes true. Although it can make people inspired and enhance morale, it disappears quickly. The tragedy Gatsby can illustrate the point. Gatsby is embodied in the conflict of American life’s dream and reality; he is always living in his own fantasy and regarding it as reality, even pursuing it persistently. He was born poor, but he is eager for a better life.4.2 Disillusion of the American DreamFor each American, the American dream is a hope for success, it is a ladder from penniless to wealthy, and it attracts people to go to west and tries to become millionaires. Until the nineteenth century, the accumulation of wealth and material prosperity of the country suddenly gets to an unprecedented expansion, the American Dream is no longer full of positive and moral energy, spiritual need and material need are strongly conflicted, and people own more and more wealth but declined morality. The Great Gatsby is just the real description of the American society in 1920s, during which all traditional values turn into pure and mad pursuit for money. Gatsby’s dream is to combine love and money, at first, the reason why he pursues money is just to become wealthy and successful, and then he is to pursue his dream—the fantastic love, the two dreams belong to “love dream”. Therefore, the evaporation of love dream means all of his dreams are evaporated. Since Gatsby has rich materials, he is eager for restarting with Daisy. However, the American Dream cannot become true only with amounts of wealth in America; even Daisy is an ambitious, selfish, hypocritical and material girl, nevertheless, Gatsby regards her as the incardination of perfection, and pursues her at all costs, actually, it is just an illusion that cannot be realized. But he continues to chase the unrealistic dream blindly, which leads to his tragedy.4.3 Inevitable Evaporation of the American DreamThe Great Gatsby is considered as one of the typical American novel to reflect the atmosphere of the Jazz Age, F. Scott Fitzgerald describes Gatsby, the hero of the novel, as a “great” man, because he has no other dream except for love, although he also has many deficiencies and does illegal wine making, from the beginning to the end in the novel, Gatsby has only one goal, that is pursuing Daisy in spite of any obstacles, just because of the “great” goal, he is able to accumulate amounts of wealth to the upper social status. However, in the postwar era, true love is difficult to pursue, material is beyond love; in addition, Gatsby even sacrifices himself for his love, Gatsby is to Daisy what Americans are to the American dream. F. Scott Fitzgerald describes the image of Daisy deliberately to reveal the disillusion of American dream, Daisy’s beauty means the American Dream is attractive and attempting, and Daisy’s selfishness and emptiness means the American Dream is unrealistic and nonsense. Gatsby is incapable to distinguish the reality and the dream, so he spends the whole life in pursuing the illusion and creating a fantastic world. He only realizes that even though Daisy’s voice is full of money, he never realizes that they belong to totally different worlds and stands for various values. What makes Gatsby tragic is that he contributes his beautiful ideal to a superficial girl, the destroying of Gatsby’s illusion means the disillusion of the American Dream, his tragedy also reflects the author’s and the American dream pursuers’ tragedy. Gatsby and Daisy have different social statuses, for them, there is an insurmountable division, indicating his inevitable tragedy.5 ConclusionsIn the novel The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald successfully shapes an image of the victim--Gatsby, who has no connection with the upper class, but he becomes a millionaire through illegal means at last; From the perspective of materials, he is successful; but he fails in the unrealistic illusion; while Tom and Daisy stands for the upper class, but they have little morality, responsibility and dream, they are so poor in mental wealth. Through the novel, it seems to be an ordinary love story of Daisy and Gatsby to love and break up, but the author describes the girl as a symbol of youth, money and status who just pursues material wealth. In order to pursue his love, Gatsby pours into all his feelings and intellect, he is too naïve to believe that money is omnipotent including gaining love. Unfortunately, Daisy is a vulgar and selfish girl, he is not aware of the reality of the materialistic redundancy but spiritual boredom, he lives in fantasy, abandoned by Daisy and ignored by the society, which finally causes irreparable outcome, he is a typical American young man in 1920s, what happens to him is a portrayal of splurge century. F. Scott Fitzgerald deeply exposes the sharp social contradiction in the Jazz Age of America behind the economic prosperity and the serious moral crisis faced by the Lost Generation, and reveals the nature of American life with strong responsibility, he describes a real American situation in the 1920s. The Great Gatsby is like a dream, F. Scott Fitzgerald deliberately designs each image, on one hand, it symbolizes the tragedy of Gatsby’s life; on the other hand, it contains the ups and downs of the American Dream. It is a real portrayal of the younger generation’s disillusion and anxiety in the Jazz Age, and his dream becomes a permanent historical mirror to the era.。

从《了不起的盖茨比》看“美国梦”的破灭【毕业论文+文献综述+

从《了不起的盖茨比》看“美国梦”的破灭【毕业论文+文献综述+

本科毕业论文(二〇一一届)题目从《了不起的盖茨比》看“美国梦”的破灭学院专业汉语言文学班级学号学生姓名指导教师完成日期教务处制二〇一一年五月目录摘要.............................................................................................................. 2 关键词.. (2)Abstract............................................................................................................2 Keywords ........................................................................................................2 一、弗司各特菲茨杰拉德简介..............................................................2 二、“美国梦”的历史渊源和主题变奏......................................................4 三、作品中盖茨比“美国梦三部曲”的寻求与幻灭..................................5 (一)发财梦..........................................................................................5 (二)地位梦..........................................................................................8 (三)爱情梦..........................................................................................9 四、盖茨比美国梦破灭引起的思考............................................................12 注释........................................................................................................15 参考文献........................................................................................................16 致谢........................................................................................................18从《了不起的盖茨比》看“美国梦”的破灭摘要:对“美国梦”的形成与发展以及小说主人公盖茨比“美国梦”进行分析。

了不起的盖茨比论文范文6篇(精品推荐)

了不起的盖茨比论文范文6篇(精品推荐)

了不起的盖茨比论文范文6篇(精品推荐)了不起的盖茨比论文范文6篇(精品推荐)本文关键词:盖茨,了不起,精品,推荐,论文范文了不起的盖茨比论文范文6篇(精品推荐)本文简介:范文第一篇题目:论小说《了不起的盖茨比》的悲剧意识摘要:《了不起的盖茨比》是美国作家菲茨杰拉德的代表作品。

在菲茨杰拉德这一部作品当中,其塑造了盖茨比等悲剧性的人物,表现了极为浓厚的悲剧意识,这些包含了菲茨杰拉德对于社会与人性的彻底思考与批判。

因此,要深入分析《了不起的盖茨比》中的悲剧意识,要了不起的盖茨比论文范文6篇(精品推荐)本文内容:范文第一篇题目:论小说《了不起的盖茨比》的悲剧意识摘要:《了不起的盖茨比》是美国作家菲茨杰拉德的代表作品。

在菲茨杰拉德这一部作品当中, 其塑造了盖茨比等悲剧性的人物, 表现了极为浓厚的悲剧意识, 这些包含了菲茨杰拉德对于社会与人性的彻底思考与批判。

因此, 要深入分析《了不起的盖茨比》中的悲剧意识, 要深入到故事情节与人物塑造等方面, 充分的分析这种社会因素与个人因素交缠下的宿命悲剧, 才能够深刻的体会菲茨杰拉德的批判意识。

关键词:菲茨杰拉德; 《了不起的盖茨比》; 人生悲剧美国作家菲茨杰拉德所创作的《了不起的盖茨比》, 是一部蜚声文坛的小说。

菲茨杰拉德在自己的人生当中提取出自己的经历和感情思想, 在《了不起的盖茨比》里面创作了盖茨比这一悲剧性的人物。

《了不起的盖茨比》主要是以20世纪初期第一次世界大战之后一直到资本主义经济危机爆发之前的整个社会危机作为自己的创作背景, 以盖茨比的人生轨迹作为主要的线条, 揭示了盖茨比这一悲剧性人物的美国梦想破碎以及其个人性格的异化过程。

在这一部小说当中, 美国青年盖茨比实际上是曾经有着自己梦想的, 并且带着自己的梦想参与到第一次世界大战之中。

可是自己成为战斗英雄之后, 回到国内依然是面对着非常多的悲剧。

所以盖茨比的性格在经历了这些事件之后产生了异化, 特别是在世间无情讽刺的条件下, 盖茨比对于人生的认知有着逐渐的转化。

了不起的盖茨比论文

了不起的盖茨比论文

了不起的盖茨比论文引言《了不起的盖茨比》是一部经典的美国小说,由斯科特·菲茨杰拉德(F. Scott Fitzgerald)创作并于1925年出版。

这部小说以20世纪20年代的美国为背景,以盖茨比这个神秘的人物为中心,揭示了无尽的追求和欲望对人们的影响。

本论文将探讨《了不起的盖茨比》中的几个核心主题,包括社会阶层、幻想与现实、爱情和破灭。

通过分析这些主题,我们可以更好地理解小说中的人物关系和情节发展。

社会阶层《了不起的盖茨比》通过不同社会阶层的人物之间的关系,展示了20世纪20年代美国社会的复杂性。

小说中的人物分为新贵人士(如盖茨比)、上流社会(如汤姆·布坎南)和社会底层(如尼克·卡拉威)。

这三个社会阶层的对比反映了社会不平等和金钱对人们生活的影响。

盖茨比是一个自力更生的新贵人士,他从贫苦的家庭出身,通过努力工作和谋划,成为了一个财富拥有者。

他通过炫耀奢华的派对和奇特的装饰来吸引上流社会的注意,并试图实现他心中的幻想。

然而,尽管他已经拥有了经济财富,但他并不被上层社会真正接受,因为他没有正确的血统和教育背景。

尽管如此,盖茨比仍然坚定地相信自己可以通过金钱来克服一切,以便重返他与黛西·布坎南之间曾经的爱情。

值得注意的是,在小说中,菲茨杰拉德通过描绘不同社会阶层人物之间的交往和互动,暗示了一个社会阶层壁垒不可动摇的观点。

这种观点在小说结尾时体现得尤为明显,当盖茨比死于悲剧性的结局,他被社会所遗忘,也暗示了社会中个人努力与社会等级和约束之间的冲突。

幻想与现实《了不起的盖茨比》中的主人公盖茨比是一个相当幻想主义者。

他对黛西·布坎南抱有一种执着的爱情幻想,这种幻想驱使着他成为了一个事业有成的人,但同时也成为了他自己的枷锁。

这个主题反映了20世纪20年代的美国社会,被誉为“繁荣的疯狂”时代,被金钱和物质所主导。

盖茨比将黛西视为他的救赎和幸福的象征,他通过建造一座豪华的房子和举办流光溢彩的派对来吸引她的注意。

(英语毕业论文)《了不起的盖茨比...

(英语毕业论文)《了不起的盖茨比...

摘要“美国梦”是贯穿美国历史,最能体现美国人的传统价值观念和民族精神的理想。

是对平等、自由、进取和成功的理想主义信念。

美国梦所体现出来的机会均等、人人都能通过自身的奋斗取得成功吸引着成千上万的人奔赴到这片热土。

但是,20世纪20年代爵士时代的发言人司各特•菲茨杰拉德在他的经典之作《了不起的盖茨比》中却为世人反应出了一个看似光鲜实则堕落腐败的社会,展示了盖茨比梦想破灭, 象征着他所代表的那一代人的“美国梦”的幻灭。

本文旨在通过运用文体学理论分析《了不起的盖茨比》中的人物特性及他们各自心中所追求的“美国梦”,最后探究美国梦破灭的根本原因。

本文最后发现通过变换叙述视角,运用倒叙的时间性叙述,以及运用不同的叙述焦点将有助于展现美国梦的破灭这一主题。

关键词:美国梦盖茨比幻灭文体学A Stylistlc Analysis on the Characters’ American Dream in TheGreat GatsbyAbstractAmerican Dream has penetrated during the whole American history, which greatly accentuates the ideal of traditional values and national spirit in the concept of American, which is also an idealistic belief of equality, freedom, progressiveness as well as success. That the chance are even, everyone could achieve success through his hard work which reflected in American dream attracts a myriad of immigrants abroad flooding into this promising land. However, the illustrious work The Great Gatsby of Scott Fitzgerald who is universally acknowledged as the spokesman of the 1920s Jazz Age of flaming youth has exhibited a rotten society under the guise of prosperity with the disillusion of the protagonist Gatsby‟s American Dream, in effect, the disillusion of Gatsby‟s American Dream is the disillusion of the American Dream of that whole generation. This thesis will adopt the theory of stylistics to make an analysis about the characters together with their American Dream in The Great Gatsby, and the fundamental reason procuring the disillusion of American Dream will be analyzed. The findings in this thesis reveal that the shift of point of view, flashback as the chronological sequencing and different descriptive focuses are helpfull in presenting the disillusionment of the American Dream.Key words: American Dream Gatsby Disillusion StylisticsContents摘要 (1)Abstract (2)1 Introduction (4)1.1 Introduction of The Great Gatsby (4)1.1.1 Introduction to Scott Fitzgerald (4)1.1.2 Introduction to the Novel (4)1.2 Introduction to the History of American Dream (5)1.3 Organization of This Paper (5)2 Literature Review (6)2.1 Researches Abroad (6)2.2.Researches at Home (7)3. Theoretical Framework (9)3.1 Point of View (10)3.2 Fictional Sequencing (10)3.3 Descriptive Focus (11)4 A Stylistic Analysis of the Characters and American Dream (12)3.1 Gatsby (12)3.2 Daisy (13)3.3 Myrtle Wilson (15)3.4 Nick Carraway (16)5 Money Procuring the Disillusion of American Dream (18)6 Conclusion (21)References (21)Acknowledgement (23)1 Introduction1.1Introduction of The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby which was published in America in 1925 for the first time opened to much critical acclaim for its profound ideological content and the artistic way the author developed the topic in it. The following part will make a brief introduction of the author Scott Fitzgerald as well as this illustrious novel.1.1.1 Introduction to Scott FitzgeraldFrom 1920 to 1930, American literature boomed. It was its the golden age During those 10 years, batches of excellent writers emerged and outstanding works came out in an unending flow. At that time, America had just experienced the First World War, its economy was prosperous, but the social conscience was particularly corrupt[1]. Francis Scott Fitzgerald was a shining star in American literature circle during this period. His life was short but it was full of epic glory. His writing career was only 20 years, but he left four classical novels and 160 short articles. Those achievements made him an outstanding novelist in 20th century literary. He is called the representative writer of “Lost Generation” by his contemporaries as well as later generations and also considered as the “Poet Laureate” in “Jazz Age” and the excellent chroniclers[2].1.1.2 Introduction to the NovelWith time passed by, an increasing number of Americans began to realize that not everyone could achieve their American dream. Great Gatsby is Fitzgerald‟ s most famous novel and is also one of the greatest American novels.When it was published, it was regarded as “the first step the American novel has taken since Henry James” by T﹒S Eliot. There is a very special feature of this book that it touches the deep inside[1]常耀信。

论现实主义之《了不起的盖茨比》

论现实主义之《了不起的盖茨比》

论现实主义之《了不起的盖茨比》目睹世界,尽失初样,金迷纸醉,靡靡奢华。

时光在这首主题曲中倒回20世纪20年代的纽约长岛,随着尼克的视角,我们目睹了一场名为“了不起的盖茨比”的梦之悲剧。

《了不起的盖茨比》是菲茨杰拉德的杰出作品,讲述了20世纪的美国社会,美国人民在物欲横流的社会中,在金钱至上的价值国度里,逐渐迷失里自我,失去了精神追求。

以盖茨比为典型,最终梦想幻灭,其中,不无体现着现实主义特征。

从时代背景来看,当时美国在第一次世界大战中大发横财,经济发展迅速,出现了空前繁荣的局面,而小说正是以20年代这种繁荣的局面作为故事发生的环境背景。

欢歌载舞,奢华狂欢,纸醉金迷,灯红酒绿,这是对美国当时“爵士乐时代”的准确刻画。

就其故事取材上说,据说小说主人公盖茨比便是作者菲茨杰拉德,他们一样贫穷,一样经历过战争,一样是获得财富后才获得了爱情,因此,在情节安排上,感情流露上便多了几分真实。

对于人物形象的塑造,黛西是青春与财富的象征,是金钱的具体化。

或许之前她是爱过盖茨比的,但嫁做人妇后,他生活在优裕的生活中,她与再见的盖茨比玩起感情游戏,尽管盖茨比说:“她的声音充满了金钱。

”可他依然义无反顾的投入到与黛西的恋爱中,或许时过境迁,他并不是那么爱黛西了,他爱的是自己成功后可以追回逝去爱情的决心,他爱的是想要证明能力与金钱都拥有的自己。

可是不管怎样,黛西都是必要的证明,于是他爱黛西胜过爱自己了。

可是黛西并不这么想,他想要两个男人的爱,这种虚荣导致他不能舍弃汤姆太太的称号,在车祸事件后,黛西和汤姆退缩到金钱或者麻木不仁或者不管什么使他们留在一起的东西了,让盖茨比以死亡为代价替他们收拾烂摊子。

黛西的这种做法未免让我们有点心寒,但是我们没有权利去指责他。

人性都是自私的,爱别人前首先要爱自己,黛西只不过是爱自己胜过了爱爱情。

现在依旧也有很多女孩,宁可在宝马车里哭,也不愿在自行车上笑。

这是一个现实而又势利、物质到骨子里的社会,拜金主义之风肆虐横行,吞噬着人内心中的温暖与道德。

论现实主义之《了不起的盖茨比》[范文模版]

论现实主义之《了不起的盖茨比》[范文模版]

论现实主义之《了不起的盖茨比》[范文模版]第一篇:论现实主义之《了不起的盖茨比》[范文模版]论现实主义之《了不起的盖茨比》目睹世界,尽失初样,金迷纸醉,靡靡奢华。

时光在这首主题曲中倒回20世纪20年代的纽约长岛,随着尼克的视角,我们目睹了一场名为“了不起的盖茨比”的梦之悲剧。

《了不起的盖茨比》是菲茨杰拉德的杰出作品,讲述了20世纪的美国社会,美国人民在物欲横流的社会中,在金钱至上的价值国度里,逐渐迷失里自我,失去了精神追求。

以盖茨比为典型,最终梦想幻灭,其中,不无体现着现实主义特征。

从时代背景来看,当时美国在第一次世界大战中大发横财,经济发展迅速,出现了空前繁荣的局面,而小说正是以20年代这种繁荣的局面作为故事发生的环境背景。

欢歌载舞,奢华狂欢,纸醉金迷,灯红酒绿,这是对美国当时“爵士乐时代”的准确刻画。

就其故事取材上说,据说小说主人公盖茨比便是作者菲茨杰拉德,他们一样贫穷,一样经历过战争,一样是获得财富后才获得了爱情,因此,在情节安排上,感情流露上便多了几分真实。

对于人物形象的塑造,黛西是青春与财富的象征,是金钱的具体化。

或许之前她是爱过盖茨比的,但嫁做人妇后,他生活在优裕的生活中,她与再见的盖茨比玩起感情游戏,尽管盖茨比说:“她的声音充满了金钱。

”可他依然义无反顾的投入到与黛西的恋爱中,或许时过境迁,他并不是那么爱黛西了,他爱的是自己成功后可以追回逝去爱情的决心,他爱的是想要证明能力与金钱都拥有的自己。

可是不管怎样,黛西都是必要的证明,于是他爱黛西胜过爱自己了。

可是黛西并不这么想,他想要两个男人的爱,这种虚荣导致他不能舍弃汤姆太太的称号,在车祸事件后,黛西和汤姆退缩到金钱或者麻木不仁或者不管什么使他们留在一起的东西了,让盖茨比以死亡为代价替他们收拾烂摊子。

黛西的这种做法未免让我们有点心寒,但是我们没有权利去指责他。

人性都是自私的,爱别人前首先要爱自己,黛西只不过是爱自己胜过了爱爱情。

现在依旧也有很多女孩,宁可在宝马车里哭,也不愿在自行车上笑。

了不起的盖茨比毕业论文

了不起的盖茨比毕业论文

了不起的盖茨比毕业论文《了不起的盖茨比》是美国作家斯科特·菲茨杰拉德的经典小说之一,出版于1925年,描述了20世纪20年代的美国社会,以及其中一个富豪盖茨比与他的一段复杂的爱情故事。

本文将重点就小说中所反映的美国社会特点、人物性格以及主题等方面进行分析。

一、美国社会特点20世纪20年代的美国是一个经济快速发展的时期,许多人暴富,社会经济上的分化呈现出日益扩大的趋势。

在小说中,以盖茨比为代表的新贵阶层通过参加派对、穿着奢华、驾驶跑车等方式表现出自身的地位和财富,他们住在纽约市的豪华公寓和大别墅中,过着奢侈的生活。

另一方面,以尼克为代表的老牌贵族则更加关注传统的美国价值观,例如诚实、正直和尊重等。

他们有着良好的教育背景和社会地位,并且保持着旧时美国家族的风貌,但他们却无法抵挡派对和酗酒所带来的诱惑,也逐渐沉浸在新兴阶层所提供的激情和魅力中,不断远离了自己的信仰和价值观。

二、人物性格小说中的人物形象各异,具有鲜明的个性特点。

其中,盖茨比的形象给人以神秘感和虚幻感。

他是一个新贵富豪,拥有极端的自信和独特的魅力,但却隐藏着一个不可说的秘密,他深深地爱着黛西,而黛西则是他过去的恋人,他为了重获黛西的爱情而不择手段,甚至牺牲了自己的生命。

另一方面,尼克·卡拉威是一个明智而正直的人,他具备敏锐的洞察力和自我控制力,能够准确地分辨出真实和虚假的东西。

他尊重一个人的精神品质,而不是他/她的地位和财富。

在整个故事中,尼克一直是一个中立的定海神针,既是旁观者,也是操纵者,他以公正、善良,审慎和谦逊的态度完成了自己的任务。

三、主题《了不起的盖茨比》通过描绘20世纪20年代的美国社会与个体,探讨了许多主题,其中最主要的是爱情、财富和社会信仰。

首先是爱情,小说中黛西和盖茨比的爱情故事可以说是本书的重点所在。

盖茨比的爱情是一种强烈的爱情,充满了牺牲和情感纠葛。

他追逐黛西的过程,如同幻梦般,美好而不真实。

而黛西的心灵遭到了一次次的打击,她感到被财产和地位所左右,最终选择放弃了盖茨比和她的爱情。

了不起的盖茨比读书笔记议论文五篇

了不起的盖茨比读书笔记议论文五篇

了不起的盖茨比读书笔记议论文五篇了不起的盖茨比读书笔记谈论文1我最近始终在读渡边淳一的书,印象比较深刻的就是《红城堡》和《失乐园》,两部对于性和爱情之间的淋漓尽致的描述,让我对性有了重新的定义。

由于这两本书,我在前两个月中对于性和爱情的概念浑浑噩噩,过度的追求性,失了自我。

但一旦糊涂,我会重新端详它们之间的平衡。

对于《了不起的盖茨比》这本书耳熟能详,我身边的伴侣都听过它的名字,但很少有人读过它,以至于我没方法和别人争论我的见解、看法。

它就在我的手边放着,读其次遍的时候,我把我喜爱的句子用铅笔圈了出来,预备整理到本子上。

我刚才看了它一眼,想知道是谁译的它。

我在某APP上刷它的点评时,我看到有人说我买的这个版本是翻译的最好的。

唯一记得两个点评,其中一个就是夸我买的这个版本翻译的好,我暗自庆幸。

另外一个则是说,不明白为何村上春树对这本书的评价如此高。

关于这本书,我只能把我的拙见表达出来,假如有任何错误,请谅解。

读一遍的时候,我并没有读懂,看了其他人的影评,更是大失所望。

想起开头村上春树的序言,我打算将这本书认仔细真的再读一遍。

倒不是说我第一遍没有仔细读,这就像在做阅读理解。

我想起上学时期,语文老师说过,做题的时候,不要只读一遍。

由于每读一遍都会有更深刻的理解。

我对于这句话谨记于心。

你可以说这本书是关于爱情的,也可以说它是关于友情的。

正是由于有了黛西,我们才能看出来盖茨比的宏大。

原谅我的文笔匮乏,时隔两月有余才连续这篇文章的叙述。

在我看来,这篇读后感还不如我学校写的作文。

但太久不曾接触,不曾写读后感,难免生疏。

对于故事情节我时刻谨记于心。

对于这本书,我可能会像村上先生说的那样,反反复复要读个几遍。

第一遍读下来,一知半解。

其次遍读完,已经了解了也许的轮廓。

这篇读后感先在这里结束,后续我想我会对它重新整理。

我也盼望这篇作为的我的第一篇,能给我一个良好的开端,我会在今后写作的道路上,不断前行,吸取教训。

多学习,多看,多做。

毕业论文-浅析《了不起的盖茨比》中的美国梦

毕业论文-浅析《了不起的盖茨比》中的美国梦

本科毕业论文中文题目:浅析《了不起的盖茨比》中的美国梦外文题目:An Analysis of American Dream inThe Great Gatsby院系英语学院专业英语(翻译)年级学号浅析《了不起的盖茨比》中的美国梦摘要:《了不起的盖茨比》是美国作家弗·司各特·菲茨杰拉德1925年所写的一部以20世纪20年代的纽约市及长岛为背景的短篇小说。

《了不起的盖茨比》的问世,奠定了弗·司各特·菲茨杰拉德在现代美国文学史上的地位。

本论文讨论了美国梦与美国下层阶级之间的关系。

论文首先介绍了美国梦的基本情况,即历史回顾、历史起源和它的发展,旨在找出美国梦在20世纪20年代失败的原因。

随后论文阐述了美国梦和美国下层阶级的矛盾,论述理想美国梦和物质对美国下层阶级诱惑之间的矛盾,以及理想美国梦与美国下层阶级道德观的改变之间的矛盾。

关键词:《了不起的盖茨比》;美国梦;美国下层阶级An Analysis of American Dream in The Great GatsbyAbstractThe Great Gatsby is the most renowned masterpiece of F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925, depicting a story that happened in New York city and Long Island during the 1920s. Due to its birth, Fitzgerald has gained his reputation in contemporary American literature history. This paper consists of two parts. The first part of the paper introduces American dream which concludes historical retrospect, historical origin and its development, aiming to trace back to the reasons that give rise to the failure of American dream. Then, the paper demonstrates the conflict between American dream and the lower classes of American society, including the conflict between American dream and the lure of material world real, and the conflict between American dream and change of moral standards of American lower class.Key words: The Great Gatsby; American Dream;American lower classAcknowledgementsFirst and foremost, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my supervisor, Professor Zuo, both for her intellectual guidance and for her warm and constant encouragement during the process of writing this thesis. With patience and prudence, she labored through drafts of this thesis and pointed out defects in my theorizing. Therefore, I owe all the merits in this thesis, if any, to her, though I am fully aware that the thesis might still contain some mistakes, for which I bear the whole responsibility.My cordial and sincere thanks go to all the teachers in the College of English, whose interesting and informative courses have benefited me a lot during my college years. The profit that I gained from their profound knowledge, remarkable expertise and intellectual ingenuity will be of everlasting significance to my future life and career.I am also very grateful to my classmates, who have given me a lot of help and courage during my stay in the University and throughout the process of writing this thesis.Last but not the least, big thanks go to my family who have shared with me my worries, frustrations, and hopefully my ultimate happiness in eventually finishing this thesis.Contents中文摘要 (ⅰ)Abstract (ⅱ)Acknowledgements (ⅲ)Introduction (1)Ⅰ. The American Dream (3)A.Origin of American Dream (3)B.Development of American Dream (5)Ⅱ. The Contradiction Between American Dream and the American Lower Class in the 1920s (7)A.The Contradiction Between Ideal of American Dream and MaterialTemptation for American Lower Class in the 1920s (8)B.The Contradiction Between American Dream and Change of Moral Standardsof American Lower Class in the 1920s (12)Conclusion (15)Notes (18)Bibliography (19)An Analysis of American Dream in The Great GatsbyIntroductionFitzgerald was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on September 24, 1896. He was the only son of an upper middle class Catholic family. While he was at Princeton university, the young Fitzgerald developed his talent in writing. When the First World War broke out, he enlisted in the army, and in a training camp in Alabama, he met and felt in love with Zelda sayre, the southern belle who became his wife and who was the model for most of the beautiful and gay heroines of his fiction. His life with her was a mixture of great happiness and great misery and pain. In 1925, Fitzgerald published his most famous novel the Great Gatsby. Before long, his wife became mentally ill. Fitzgerald declined as a writer. He worked regularly as a script—writer in Hollywood from 1937 to 1939, when he succumbed to alcoholism. He died of heart attack in 1940. His wife, Zelda, was sent to a sanitarium and died in a fire started by herself in the sanitarium.Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald is widely regarded as one of the twentieth century’s greatest writers, whose works were the samples of the Jazz Age, a term he coined himself. Many critics have seen Fitzgerald’s artistic achievement in terms of his ability to depict the American society, its history and its people1. Fitzgerald is considered a member of the Lost Generation of the 1920s. He finished four novels, This Side of Paradise, The Beautiful and Damned, Tender is the Night and his most famous, the celebrated classic, The Great Gatsb y—his masterpiece which is often taken as an account of the story of America. A fifth, unfinished novel, The Love of the Last Tycoon was published posthumously. Fitzgerald also wrote many short stories that treat themes of youth and promise along with despair and age.The thesis consists of two parts. In order to tracing back to the reasons that give rise to the degradation of American Dream, the first part bases its explanation on the retrospect of American history and American Dream. Then, the second part will be primarily focused on the conflict between American Dream and the lower classes of American society, including the conflict between American Dream and reality, andthat between American Dream and the lure of material world.I. The American DreamOne of the things that makes America such an unusual place is that it is perhaps the only society in history in which a vast number of its members are living their private dream. It is a world that teaches the primacy of the personal, of oneself, which ironically leaves people powerless.1 Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States mentioned in his inaugurated speech that This is our moment. This is our time----to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth that out of many, we are one. The American dream means that everyone, no matter what social status is, can achieve his goal through his own hard work. The ideology is based on the origin of the America, as a belief carved in people’s minds.The lifestyle of Americans provides infinitive possibilities for individuals on the basis of the political economy.2 The best example is Abraham Lincoln. He was a person who had nothing at his early years, but he became the 16th president of the United States through his own efforts.A.Origin of American DreamBecause the Roman pope didn’t agree that the England king Henry Ⅷdivorced with his wife, he decided to break up with Roman pope in political relationship and establish new national church, England church. But this kind of new church didn’t reform in its meaning and ritual. This caused dissatisfaction of the protestant who wished to purify the state church, and then came the puritans. Puritans believed that one’s success on his work or career is the sign of God’s select. The moral principle of the puritans is diligent work and good qualities.3 But some ideas of puritans was a threat to the England state church which led to extreme persecution ofsome people. Some were thrown to jail, while others were punished to death. In order to escape from the political persecution or seek new life from new continent, some Englanders began their journey to the North America. In 1620, 35 puritans and 67 non-puritans drifted to North America in a ship called May Flower. Before they landed, 41 travelers signed a treaty—Mayflower Compact. The original text like this: “In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, defender of the Faith, etc.Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic; for our better ordering, and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.”4It was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony and the oldest historical document about immigrants towards North America. The compact not only regulates equality and justice, but also implies the spirit of hard work and struggling of the puritans. Even though American dream has different definitions in different periods, yet under political persecution, these Anglo-Saxons wished political equality to create new life. This is the origin of American dream. In this area with abundant resources which were not developed, people must work hard if they wanted to become wealthy and as long as they worked hard, they can improve their living standards. Since 1783, under the encouragement of federal government and state government, “ going to the West and going to the West to seek one’s American dream” has become urgent need and practical action for most of Americans. The abundant western land didn’t belong to government, didn’t belong to someone, but belonged to those who arrived earliest and developed it.B.Development of American DreamIn the early 1930s, from 1929 to 1933 when the United States went through Economic Depression, Adam, a historian mentioned American dream in an article, that is, American dream is that common people can change their own future through their own efforts in this state. When this concept was put forward, most Americans were inspired, at the same time, many Europeans and people around the world poured to the United States and tried to become a part of the American culture. Some succeeded, but most people failed. Nevertheless, American dream was still goal for most Americans.If the early American society was agricultural economy, then after industrial revolution, the realization of American dream can be finished by commercial activities.5Most of individual possessions in the United States were brought by those successful merchants and these merchants used less capital to start an enterprise. Compared with agriculture, Americans preferred business, because doing business was a quick way to make individual become wealthy. Before 100 years, the Americans established huge national industry, such as Morgan who founded bank, Fort who invented car production line whose common character was from a person with nothing to millionaire. These facts made most Americans adore these commercial heroes as heroes who developed an uncultivated land. In 1990s, people began to do business on Internet. Such companies as Amazon and Yahoo developed to big companies under the impact of the financial threat. Such successful entrepreneur as Steve Paul Jobs who invented apple computer and Bill Gates, the giant of Microsoft Corporation, their successful experiences encouraged most Americans invest to open their own companies. Americans like a word very much, that is, I’m my own boss. American dream has new connotation, that is, people can gain material success through one’s own efforts and by applying commercial wisdom. The core of American dream is high living standards.Nowadays, all kinds of immigrants with different background and skills havefound ways to enter the United States. American dream still has huge attract to immigrants from different periods, and the United States is still the melt to attract immigrants around the world. The reality is that those immigrants with powerful economy and good educational background are easy to gain success in the United States. In the end of 2006, financial crisis caused by American subprime mortgage crisis stroke the whole world and the American economy began to decline. But for most Americans, America was still a place with equal opportunities and one can gain success through one’s own efforts.II. The Contradiction Between American Dream and the AmericanLower Class in the 1920sThe American Dream is the national Dream of the United States in which freedom includes a promise of the possibility of prosperity and success. In the definition of the American Dream by James Truslow Adams in 1931, "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of social class or circumstances of birth. The idea of the American Dream is rooted in the United States Declaration of Independence which proclaims that "all men are created equal" and that they are "endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights" including "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.6The concept of a lower class in the United States is used to describe those at or near the lower end of the socio-economic hierarchy. As with all social classes in the United States, the lower class is loosely defined and its boundaries and definitions subject to debate and ambiguous popular opinions. Sociologists such as W. Lloyd Warner, Dennis Gilbert and James Hensley divide the lower classes into two. The contemporary division used by Gilbert divides the lower class into the working poor and underclass. Service and low-rung manual laborers are commonly identified as being among the working poor. Those who do not participate in the labor force and rely on public assistance as their main source of income are commonly identified as members of the underclass. Overall the term describes those in easily-filled employment positions with little prestige or economic compensation who often lack a high school education and are to some extent disenfranchised from mainstream society.7The contradiction lies in two aspects: one is between ideal of American dream and Material Temptation for American Lower Class in the 1920s; another is between Ideal of American Dream and change of moral standards of American lower class in the 1920s.A. The Contradiction between Ideal of American Dream and Material Temptation for American Lower Class in the 1920sIn An Informal History of the Nineteen Twenties, the author points out that the so-called American Dream is a fantasy to pursue one’s own happiness without following the present situation of the American society, which is an epidemic disease of the American teenagers in the 1920s. Fitzgerald sharply notices the hypocrisy and harm of this idea and beat the death knell of American Dream with the tragedy of Gatsby.8From this comment, people can see that The Great Gatsby has revealed some nature of American society from a new perspective and has exposed the huge difference between the American Dream in real life and the American spirit of the origin in the United States. The American spirit represents these thoughts adored and cherished by Americans which are democracy, freedom and equal rights. America is a society with pursuing success and in every corner of the United States, you can see the desire for success, endeavour made for success and praising for the efforts of success. The spirit of the American nation is composed of the desire for success and the faith for success. The American spirit is considered to be the spiritual power which makes the United States become a powerful nation in only 200 years and creates various kinds of American myth. The American spirit raises all efforts for achieving individual values into divine duties and rights given by God. In An Informal History of the Nineteen Twenties, the author points out that Americans believes that there is a close relationship between successes in the world and faith in God.9Those Americans who lives in North America prove and strengthen this consciousness in their independent business and social practice. Success has then become the core value of American life. Americans know that accumulating fortunes doesn't simply mean owning fortunes. Under this condition, Americans don't care whether he was a poor man in the past and don’t care his background, and as long as he wins success, he is a hero. Americans advocate wining success by one’s own qualities and efforts and advocate becoming wealthy by hard work, which forms their unique individualand independent consciousness.However, since in the 1920s, the international circumstances and economic basis of American life have taken great changes. The economic prosperity has provided unprecedented opportunities for those Americans with dream of becoming wealthy and provided unprecedented possibilities of being opportunistic. Such consciousness as honest labor and equal competence are challenged in life. Stock exchanges produce many upstarts and the illegal management has become the effective method to accumulate fortunes. Though desire for success and efforts made for success is still powerful, the way and method of fighting has been greatly changed. However, Americans who adv ocate success and praise success don’t care about it, on the contrary, they still are addicted to fighting of success and the delight of success.In The Great Gatsby, people can see that so-called success in real life has two sides. One aspect is that it shows the infinite possibilities for individual development. Another aspect is that these infinite possibilities for individual development are just about occupations --- money, fortune, rights and dignity which are just meaningless occupations. Fitzgerald emphasizes the latter aspect in The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald pointed out that money made many Americans’ original dream changed. They didn’t follow what the American spirit had taught them, on the contrary, as long as they could become wealthy, they could do anything to achieve this goal and they didn’t care whether their method was legal. What they knew and cared was just how to make themselves happy everyday.Before the 1920s, the American people have their own dreams which are very original and beautiful, they want to achieve their goal through their hard work in a legal way, and in their eyes, money doesn’t mean anything to them. While in the 1920s, Americans, especially for those who belong to American lower class, their American dream was tortured, what they cared was not achieving their dream through their hard work in a legal way. The most important thing for them was money. As long as they can become wealthy, they can do whatever they could, no matter whether their method was legal or not. Gatsby used to be deeply influenced by Benjamin Franklin, believing that industry and hard work can make him succeed. He firmly confirmedthat he could become a successful person, as long as he did what Franklin had done. However, the reality went against his willing. When he met Daisy, he was a poor guy. And because of this reason, Daisy married Tom who was rich young man belonging to American upper class. In Gatsby’s eyes, Daisy was all he had. She was the symbol of the perfect, purified and rich. Even though she married Tom, she was still the goddess in his heart. So in order to regain Dai sy’s heart, his dream changed. At this time, his dream in his life was just only one goal, that is, making money. The way to achieve this goal was not very important to him, and he didn’t care whether the way was legal or not. Therefore, he abandoned his former belief and became a person who sold alcoholic in an illegal way to accumulate fortune. He innocently believed that as long as he had money, he can achieve all his wishes, including regaining Daisy’s heart. For Gatsby, American dream only means money, he can do anything he wants as long as he has money.The United States in the 1920s was described as a period of material success and spiritual frustration or confusion and purposelessness. At that time, American dream in people’s eyes, especially in American lower class’ eyes, lost its traditional meaning. The capitalism entered into the phase of imperialism and the industry of capitalism was developing rapidly at a surprising speed, which deepens the gap between the rich and the poor. And the capitalists have accumulated a lot of fortunes. In a society like this, if a person wants to gain success through hard work and wisdom, it is just a dream which is impossible to realize. Gatsby is the typical representative. When he was young, he dreamed of becoming a person like Franklin, who gained success through his own efforts and wisdom. But in a society of the 1920s, it is impossible for Gatsby to realize his dream. Because American dream at his time has changed. At his time, success just means money. As long as you can get rich, you are successful. In fact, almost everyone at his time were pursuing money and longing for money. If illegal activities can make them earn money, they would use illegal method. All friends of Gatsby were like this. Their fortunes have been achieved through illegal activities. What Gatsby did was illegal and he got his money through these illegal activities. And we can find this point from the beginning of The Great Gatsby to itsend. The fundamental reason for this is that there is a big problem in that society and individual can’t avoid being influenced by the society.B.The Contradiction Between American Dream and Change ofMoral Standards of American Lower Class in the 1920sCompared with other countries, the history of America is rather short, but has its unique quality, that is to say, every important historical event can cause great influence on American literature. Such representatives of Lost generation as Hemingway and Fitzergerald actually were the products of the First World War,and most of writers who belonged to this school were young writers who took an antipathy to war and feared war, but can’t find the way out of thoughts. So they became the Lost generation for losing their way.10 What war brought to people was influential, change for people’s moral standards.What made the special period from any others were many aspects. During this period, the most important event was the First World War which was the United States involved in foreign affairs for the first time. The war had great influence on the United States. In order to make the world safe, people entered the war with unexpected enthusiasm. By selling munitions, America earned a huge fortune and suddenly became the wealthiest country in the world. This misled most of Americans. People in the United States believed that money was everywhere, and everyone had the opportunity to make money. Because of the war, the world’s order was broken. Any country who participated in the war got seriously wounded. The death toll of the war was 6 million. Besides, it made the economy of most of the countries decline. However, it was on the contrary for the United States. For America, there was no any fighting which led to stimulating its economy and technology. Because of the development of its economy, America decided to emphasize on developing its technology and commerce. As a result, such new products as automobiles, televisions and radios had been made. And these products helped to widen the horizon of its people and increase their knowledge. The entertainments enriched people’s life, notably Jazz music. Mass production, mass consumption, and mass leisure became essential to economic and cultural life and were soon to dominate the nation’s cultureand institutions. The trend of social revolution was going on. Furthermore, these changes were not good for Americans, because these changes changed people’s moral codes. Old moral codes were breaking down. Even though most of Americans became wealthier than before, they were becoming more indifferent, selfish and ruthless.The United States in the 1920s was described as a period of material success and spiritual frustration and confusion or purposelessness. Car has caused great influence on American society in the 1920s. Car is the pillar industry of the United States and America is called “the country on the wheel”. Without cars, it is impossible to imagine what the country will be like. So car has become a important part of the American values and has become a vital part of social status and American culture related to moral values. So after WWI, car has become the fashion pursued by young men. Preference for car then becomes adore for fortune and material and makes American society vast, vulgar and showy without real worth. In The Great Gatsby, people can see that car has many symbol meanings.This degradation of moral standards can be seen in the Great Gatsby clearly. At very beginning of the novel, people wanted to flatter Gatsby, wanted to become good friend of Gatsby, because he had a lot of money. But when Gatsby died, nobody came to attend his funeral. From this point, people can see how indifferent they were.Car has become the symbol of individual fortune and social status. In the 1920s, even though the car industry has developed very fast in the United States and the cost of car production has been dropped, at that time, car has still belonged to rare things and it is still a dream for most Americans to have a car. Naturally, car becomes the tool to show off for a few Americans. And Gatsby is one of them. He wants to regain Daisy’s heart by showing off and the expensive car is one of his tools to show off.His car was very glorious, like his mansion, liner and luxurious banquet which were all the material foundation to regain Daisy’s heart were the carriers to convey his information of being rich to Daisy. Wilson who had no his own car had a dream of owning his car and his dream had been beyond the car itself. Actually, he was dreaming that he could enjoy the life of the upper class. And Ms Wilson saw the car as the symbol of individual identity. Ms Wilson went to date with Tom. She let four cabspassed and then chose a new cab whose color was purple. The new car of course feels good than the old one and the purple is the color of the rich, as if she could become a rich lady when she sat in the impressive cab. From Ms Wilson’s choice of the cab, we can see that she was a flamboyant and treasure-loving woman.American moral standards in the 1920s collapsed, gender relationships have been heavily destroyed and the relationship between men and women are very chaotic. Some people think it is car that destroyed the traditional relationship between husband and wife, because car has increased more opportunities for date. Car may have caused impact on people’s living pleasure and moral standards. Barker was the first close contact with Nick in Tom’s car; the adultery of Tom and Ms Wilson began in a cab; the car became the new place for courting. Car was one of the reasons which destroyed the traditional gender relationships, but it was not the major reason. The main reason was the change of American people’s moral standards in the 1920s.ConclusionFitzgerald is the most representative novelist of the 1920s in the United States. His work, The Great Gatsby was the mirror of the times, the Jazz Age. On the surface, it is a brilliant dramatization of social and economic corruptions, while beyond these surface concerns, the novel points out the contradiction between American dream and the American lower class in the 1920s. The hero tries and fails to change the world of hard material objects into the ideal world of their fantasy. Their world like the world of many of their fellow Americans—is material without being real. The morbid pursuit of material and social success is doomed to failure. The dream they are chasing is vast, vulgar, and meretricious beauty. It is a fairy tale which never comes true.The basic reason why Jay Gatsby, the representative of the American Lower Class in the 1920s cannot succeed is that the American dream at that time had been changed thoroughly. The original American dream is to realize one’s value and achieve one’s goal through one’s hard work, while American dream in the 1920s is to make money which is the only motivation for them. In this condition, the American dream has been distorted. So, people in the 1920s cannot realize their American dream.Even though most of Americans cannot achieve their goals with the distortion of the American dream in the 1920s, yet people cannot say it is impossible to realize American dream under any circumstances. The 1920s was a hard time for Americans, because the values of most Americans had been distorted which led to the failure of American dream. But in contemporary times this kind of condition has changed. In contemporary times, the Americans have their faith and believe that they can succeed and realize their American dream by their hard work. And the Americans can achieve their dream by three main ways: the first way is to have American spirit; the second way is to make full use of opportunities; the last one is to take advantage of your own life experience. These three ways are presented lively in a film called Slumdog。

英语毕业论文了不起的盖茨比美国梦...

英语毕业论文了不起的盖茨比美国梦...

英语毕业论文了不起的盖茨比美国梦...On the Ruin of the American Dream in TheGreat GatsbyStudent Name:Tutor Name:Submitted as a partial fulfillment of the requirementsfor the degree ofBachelor of ArtsCollege of Foreign Languages(April, 2010)AcknowledgementsI would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all the teachers who have taught me and offered me invaluable advice during my four-year study at University.In particular I would like to thank my supervisors, . She has been available at all times with a helpful advice and a helping hand throughout my whole writing process of the thesis. She has provide me with instructive guidance in modifying the topic, in preparing the material pertinent to the topic and in writing the thesis, and has paid great patience in reading and revising the entire manuscript. Without her generous help, I could not even complete the thesis, let alone present it with the present form.Finally I would also like to thank my parents and all my friends, who have given me innumerous encouragement and critical support in my study these years.AbstractF. Scott. Fitzgerald (1896-1940), as the most famous chronicler and laureate of the Jazz Age, is one of the most representative American novelist of the 1920s. He was not only aleading participant in the typically frivolous, carefree, moneymaking life of the decade but also a detached observer of it.Owing to its extraordinary literary merits, Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby is listed among the most notable twentieth-century American novels.This thesis analyzes the roots of the disillusionment of Gatsby’s dream from the social, historical and authorial perspectives. By exploring the origins and essential nature of Gats by’s dream, the naivety and innocence in his personality and the cruelty of the Jazz Age society epitomized by the ruthless and immoral Buchanans, the paper draws the conclusion that a combination of these elements defines Gatsby’s failure and destruction in the end. Theme discussion in this paper is basically done through history and character analysis, which aims for better understanding of the connotation of the novel.Key words: Scott. Fitzgerald; The Great Gatsby; American dream; disillusionment内容摘要弗朗西斯·司科特?菲兹杰拉德往往被推崇为“爵士时代”的编年史家和桂冠诗人,是二十世纪美国最重要的作家之一。

20世纪美国文学《了不起的盖茨比》

20世纪美国文学《了不起的盖茨比》

邯郸学院外国语学院School of Foreign Languages of Handan College 20世纪美国文学学期论文论文题目:《了不起的盖茨比》中象征主义分析Title:On the symbolism in The Great Gatsby专业:英语(师范)_On the symbolism in The Great GatsbyAbstract:F. Scott Fitzgerald is a great novelist of the 20th century in American literature. The Great Gatsby is written by him and this novel is one of his best works, which is so important for researchers to study the life of “roa ring twenties”. In this novel, Fitzgerald describes the failure of American dream and crisis of values through the different characters’ life. The author stresses the themes from several aspects, among them; the symbolism is an obvious one. In this novel, the dream, the colors and the name of characters are very vivid, and all of them, have their true meaning. This thesis intends to show a comprehensive analysis of the symbols in The Great GatsbyKey words: symbolism American dream valueIntroductionThe Great Gatsby portrays a young man’s dream of pursuing of love and wealth, however, after he is successful to reach his aim of money, he is fallen into a series of fantastic accidents. The hero, Gatsby is a poor youth from Midwest, and falls in love with Daisy who is a wealthy girl, but he is too poor to marry her. After the girl married to a rich young man, he decides to make his lost love be back. Gatsby earns enough money to buy a palatial house through some improper means. In order to allure the Buchanans to come, he holds dazzling parties every weekend. However, after they finally come, Gatsby is only to find that the woman is no longer the ideal love of him. His wonderful dream is almost destroyed. At last, Gatsby is shot when Daisy kills a woman in an accident and her husband shifts the blame on him.“Fitzgerald’s greatness lies in the fact that he found intuitively, in his personal experience, the embodiment of that of the nation and created a myth out of American life. The story of The Great Gatsby is a good illustration.”(A survey of American Literature. 2008 :217)To sum up, F. Scott Fitzgerald is the great writer who is full of imagination and creation. He skillfully employs plentiful symbolism in this novel to reveal the themes.1. The symbolic meaning of charactersIn American society, the people who lived in the midst of the “roaring twenties” drove fast cars, drank hard, and just took an immense delight it. Fitzgerald describes those people’s life by using various characters.The hero, Gatsby, is a romantic dreamer; he intends to pursue his ideal love, wealth and splendid life. It is actually a mirror of the whole American life. Gatsby’s life follows a clear pattern: there is, at first, dream, then disenchantment, and finally a sense of failure and despair. So, Gatsby’s personal experience approximates the whole American experience up to the first few decades of the twentieth century.Daisy is a shadow of American woman. At the beginning, For Gatsby, Daisy is a total perfect woman, who represents noble, wealth, grace and all of beautiful things. A creature of "whiteness" indeed, Daisy is the "fairy girl" of Gatsby's dreams in more ways than one--and her essential lack of emotion provides an important link in the chain of perverted "Ideal," pathetically futile gestures, and sordid circumstances that finally destroy Gatsby and his dream. Daisy, in short, is "in love" less with Jay Gatsby the man, than with Jay Gatsby the "Knight Errant". Some comments say that she loves the gesture which Gatsby has made, the "romance" of unrequited love and noble devotion. This attitude, of course, is a basic irony of the book. ( Stanley Cooperman. 1996 :44 )2. Symbolic theme of American dreamThe American dream is based on the ideology that each one can be successful through his own efforts and cultivating his qualities. Lots of American has realized their dreams by lots of methods. Frankly speaking, American dream relates to an aspiration for spiritual and material improvement, especially the pursuit of material. This dream, after all, is one of the most glowing visions of civilized man --a vision of a New World, of unbound opportunities, of a potential Garden of Eden whose lack of limitations staggered the imagination. ( Stanley Cooperman. 1996 :42 ) From Gatsby' adolescence, in short, he has been pursuing the Holy Glow of some vaguely imagined "Succes" an "identity" gleaming like a mirage just over the horizon of tomorrow. The result is both complete romanticism and complete lack of any real identity at all. In this society, Gatsby is destined to be isolated helpless and to fail in all. Obviously, Gatsby is one of typical representatives of American Dream that all generations of American people pursued. Although Gatsby struggle for his dream, he almost can not get into the upper class entirely. What's more, Gatsby's smile is another symbol of the vacuum beneath the surface of his appearance. Representingnot a state of emotion but a state of ambition, the "smile" is an instrument to be deliberately manipulated; it is a stoical weapon rather than a personal tribute.3.Symbols about colorsSeveral colors are used for symbolism in the novel The Great Gatsby. For example the colors green, white, gray and yellow are used throughout the book.The green light at the end of the Buchanan's dock represents Gatsby's yearning for Daisy, the hope of a better life and the birth of the American Dream, because in this new found land people could have anything he wants if he works hard enough. Thus, Gatsby is driven to become rich and throw lavish parties in order to get the attention of Daisy. Over time the association changed. The green trees had made way for Gatsby’s house and now green represented the greedy thoughts on money. If one work hard enough one could have as much money as he wants, a subtle change that people don’t notice until they ha ve all the money they want and realize they still are not happy. Because of this Green also represents corruption and the failing or death of the American Dream.Besides,the color of white means innocence. Daisy's car is white, so are her clothes and the rooms of her house. But, here, Daisy is hardly the picture of girlish innocence. At the end of the novel, she's described as selfish, careless, and destructive.As for, gray, it is connected to barren lifelessness. And it stands for the waste and destruction caused by the luxurious lifestyles of the rich. The valley of the ashes is the dumping ground for all the waste from New York that has been burned and the ash covered workers there represent the forgotten working class.The color of yellow represents corruption or a lack of moral values. Gatsby’s car is yellow because he bought it with drug money. The girls at his party wear the yellow are showed that they lack of values (they go to his parties, drink he alcohol, gossip about him and try and pick up rich men), a nd the yellow rims of Dr Eckleburg’s glasses that surround his eyes indicates he has cut himself off from the world.Symbolism can make a story complete. In The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald presents a novel with intricate symbolism. Fitzgerald integrates symbolism into the heart of the novel so strongly that it is necessary for reader to read the book several times to gain any level of understanding. The overtones and connotations that Fitzgerald gives to the dialogues, settings, and actions is a major reason why The The Great Gatsby is one of the classics of the 20th century.ConclusionIn brief, F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of famous writers in American literature. Some critics point out that it is a legend of “Americans adolescence before pain set in.” Fitzgerald become “the angel of the twenties”and his writing those of a man inside that legendary period (A survey of American Literature. 2008 :215)His description of American people’s manners, dreams and attitudes provide a vivid picture about the social reality. Thus, there is no wonder that he is one of great stylists in American literature. What’s more, as The Great Gatsby is treated as Fitzgerald’s masterpiece, it marks the highest point of his artistic achievement. So a number of critics study it hardly, especially for its symbolism which is so splendid.T. S. Eliot once read The Great Gatsby and concluded that it was “the first step that American fiction has taken since Henry James”.(A survey of American Literature. 2008 :215) Therefore, in American literature, the significance of this novel is immeasurable; it is easy for readers to find that Fitzgerald put symbols with theme harmoniously to accomplish the work which is well worth studying. In addition, this style influences for a long time even for today.BibliographyBruccoli, Matthew J. The American Novel–New Essays on The Great Gatsby. Cambridge: Cambridge Press, 1985.Hoffman, J. Frederick. The Twenties. New York: Collier Books, 1965.Fahey, William A.F. F. S cott Fitzgerald and the American Dream. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell, 1973.Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Charles Scriber’s Sons, 1925.常耀信. 美国文学简史[M].天津:南开大学出版社, 2008.库普曼. 作品赏析--了不起的盖茨比[M].王小梅译.北京:外语教学与研究出版社, 1996。

英语专业毕业论文《了不起的盖茨比》

英语专业毕业论文《了不起的盖茨比》

分类号单位代码学号 00907066密级本科毕业论文院系名称外国语学院专业名称英语语言文学年级 2009级学生姓名李林源指导老师常慧2013年4月20日中文摘要美国著名作家菲兹杰拉德被称为“美国梦的代言人”,在他的小说中,我们难以区分是他的生活如一部小说,还是他的小说就是他的一段真实的生活的写照,因为他已完全融入其中。

尤其是其代表作《了不起的盖茨比》,文中主人公盖茨比是为追求美国梦而最终牺牲了自己的典例,他渴望以自己的信念和勇气来获取物质以及爱情上的收获,然而由于他的梦想是一种对虚幻的渴望,而不是建立在现实的基础之上的追求,最终导致了他美国梦的破灭,本论文通过对美国梦和小说创作历史背景的研究向我们阐述了这一梦想破灭的各种原因,从而展现作品中体现的社会意义。

关键词:美国梦;了不起的盖茨比;破灭;原因ABSTRACTF. Scott Fitzgerald is the literary spokesman of the “American Dream”. His novels include many aspects of his unique experiences in that period. It is not easy to distinguish his novels with his real life, because his works have already involved himself physically and mentally. Especially in his masterpiece The Great Gatsby, the hero reveals a typical example of those who were eager to achieve the American Dream but finally sacrificed themselves. Although Gatsby dreams of achieving material wealth and love through his courage and hard work, all kinds of external and internal factors lead to the disillusionment of his hope. Through the analysis of American Dream and the historical background of the novel, this thesis elaborates a vivid picture of the reasons leading to the disillusionment of American Dream in order to show the social significance of this work.Key words: American dream; The Great Gatsby; disillusionment; reasonTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION (1)Chapter Ⅰ BACKGROUND INFORMATION (2)1.1 Fitzgerald and His Literary Works (2)1.2 Lost Generation and the Jazz Age (2)1.3 The Main Plot of the Novel (3)1.4 American Dream (4)Chapter ⅡTHE ESTABLISHMENT AND THE DISILLUSIONMENT OF Gatsby’s AMERICAN DREAM (5)2.1 The Esta blishment of Gatsby’s American Dream (5)2.1.1 Gatsby’s Dream of Wealth (6)2.1.2 Gatsby’s Dream of High Social Position (6)2.1.3 Gatsby’s Dream of Love (7)2.2 The Disillusionment of Gatsby’s American Dream (7)Chapter ⅢTHE REASONS FOR THE DISILLUSIONMENT OF Gatsby’s AMERICAN DREAM (9)3.1 Hypocritical Interpersonal Relationship (9)3.2 The Worship of Money (10)3.3 Unrealistic Dream of High Social Position (11)3.4 The Wrong Understanding of Love (12)CONCLUSION (13)Bibliography (14)Notes (14)An Analysis of American Dream in The Great Gatsby: From the Establishment to theDisillusionmentINTRODUCTIONThe thesis is a brief longitudinal study of American Dream in the novel The Great Gatsby. This thesis analyzes the establishment of Gatsby’s American Dream and the reasons leading to his American Dream’s disillusionment. Through this thesis, we can have a dialectical view of the reasons why Gatsby can not realize his American Dream. The main body of the thesis is made up of three parts. The first part is a general introduction to the great author Fitzgerald, his novel The Great Gatsby and its writing background. In order to trace back to the reasons that result in the disillusionment of Gatsby’s American Dream, the second part reviews the establishment and the disillusionment of Gatsby’s American Dream. The third part focuses on analyzing the reasons for his American Dream’s disillusionment. In the end, the thesis comes to a conclusion that the disillusionment of Gatsby’s American Dream is unavoidable.Chapter Ⅰ BACKGROUND INFORMATION1.1 Fitzgerald and His Literary WorksFitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896 and St. Paul Minnesota was his hometown. While he was a student in Princeton University, the young man developed his hobby and skill in writing. When the First World War broke out, he became a soldier. In a training camp in Alabama, he met and fell in love with Zelda Sayre. This woman finally married Fitzgerald and became the model for most of the beautiful female characters in his novels.This Side of Paradise, the Beautiful and Damned, Tender is the Night and The Great Gatsby were his four well-known novels. The last one The Great Gatsby, which established Fitzgerald’s significant position in American modern literature, is often viewed as a mirror of American society in the 1920s.In 1925, Fitzgerald published his most famous novel The Great Gatsby. The novel reflected the selfishness and bossy of American vested interest groups represented by Tom and pointed out that Gatsby’s tragedy is caused by his fantasy of life and his lack of comprehension of theuppertendom’s essence.1.2 Lost Generation and the Jazz AgeFrancis Scott Key Fitzgerald was one of the greatest writers in the twentieth century, and his works reflected the Jazz Age. He is regarded as a member of the Lost Generation in the 1920s.Lost Generation is a term used to refer to the generation appeared after World War I. The term was popularized by Ernest Hemingway who used it for his novel The Sun Also Rises. Lost Generation were characterized by being pessimistic about the society and losing confidence for the future. Influenced by the First World War, they could not tolerate and accept the cruel reality. They lived a hopeless and degenerate life.The Jazz Age refers to the period starting from the end of World War I to the beginning of the Great Depression during which jazz became popular. In this period, the traditional puritan moral standards collapsed and hedonism was very popular. Fitzgerald once said that this is an age full of miracles, arts, luxury and irony. And due to this, Fitzgerald was titled as the representative of the Jazz Age.1.3 The Main Plot of the NovelThe Great Gatsby is a very profound and moving novel, and the main plot of the story is as following. A young man named Nick Caraway comes to New York City in the spring of 1922. He is involved in the life of his new neighbor Jay Gatsby who lives at Long Island. Gatsby is a very rich man and regularly holds parties visited by hundreds of people.Gatsby tells Nick that Daisy is his lover before the First World War. Although at that time he is very poor, Gatsby still loves her. Gatsby tries to persuade Daisy to break up with her present husband Tom. On the contrary, Tom reveals that Gatsby earns money by bootlegging. Daisy gets soimpetuous that she drives Gatsby's car and accidentally kills Myrtle Wilson who is Tom's mistress.Tom intentionally tells Myrtle's husband Wilson that Gatsby hits Myrtle when driving his car. Gatsby keeps silent to protect Daisy. At last, Wilson kills Gatsby and then commits suicide. Nick prepares a funeral for Gatsby. Although he wants to make a decent funeral, nobody wants to attend the funeral except Gatsby's father and one former guest. Nick goes back to his Midwest hometown, reflecting on Gatsby's dream and the cynical nature of the past.1.4 American DreamIn order to escape from the political persecution and seek freedom on a new continent, some Englanders started their voyage to the North America. In 1620, 35 Puritans and 67 Non-Puritans drifted to North America in a famous ship called May Flower. Before they landed, 41 travelers signed a treaty—Mayflower Compact.It was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony and the oldest historical document recording those people immigrating towards the North America. The Compact not only regulated equality and justice but also implied the struggling spirit of the Puritans. Even though American Dream has different definitions in different times, yet under political persecution these Anglo-Saxons hoped to create new life with political equality. This is the beginning of American Dream.Different people have different understandings of American Dream and the ways to achieve their American Dream are also various. The definition of American Dream can be introduced in broad sense and narrow sense respectively. For the former one, American Dream means the equality, freedom and democracy on the land of the United States. The latter one means that everyone in America who works hard and never gives up can achieve his or her dream and live a better life in this piece of land. That is to say, people should make efforts to realize their dreams rather than depend on the help from others.James Truslow Adams was the first person who put forward the term American Dream in his book The Epic of America written in 1931. “It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.” ①This ideology is based on the principle that one should be responsible for oneself, and hold every opportunity to gain success by courage and hard work.Chapter Ⅱ THE ESTABLISHMENT AND THE DISILLUSIONMENT OFGatsby’s AMERICAN DREAM2.1 The Establishment of Gatsby’s American DreamAs for the American Dream, it is a belief that a better life could be achieved through hard work and strives. “There are several factors lying in the American Dream: equal chances for each person; success is obtained by efforts, not the social background and extraction; everyone is equal; and everyone has his own rights to pursue success.”②There is no doubt that everyone living on that land actually has an American Dream and is eager to achieve it. “E veryone can work their way up from the rags to riches just like Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the US. In other words, American culture focuses on values of individuals, opportunity, pursuing of democracy and freedom, the promotion of deportation and competition and the need of realism and practicality.”③After the Industrial Revolution, American Dream can be realized by commercial activities. Most of individual possessions in the United States were brought by those successful businessmen and these merchants used some capital to build up corporations. Compared with agriculture, Americans preferred business, because engaging in business was a quicker way to make individuals gain wealth. And Gatsby is one of those Americans that pursue American Dream by engaging in the field of business. Obtaining wealth, social position and love are his three goals.2.1.1 Gatsby’s Dream of WealthBecoming wealthy is the most basic element in Gatsby’s American Dream. Gatsby’s dream of wealth reflects the gold rush in the new continent America.Born with a humble family background, Gatsby is a young person who has ambitions and dreams. In order to realize his personal ideals, he changes his original name Gatz into Gatsby that has the meaning “the son of god” and Gatsby's ambition can be seen here clearly.Gatsby is a practical, active and perseverant person. We can see from his schedule that he is an ambitious youth who does things in a planned and orderly way. His plan to realize his dream is arranged very well and he takes getting rich dream as the first step. He believes that if there is a material base, he can live a wealthy life of high social status.Therefore, in order to make the dream of wealth come true, Gatsby is willing to suffer and bear pains. He even runs risks to commit smuggling. In the end, he can hold grand banquets in his blue garden, the guests generally laughing and chatting.2.1.2 Gatsby’s Dream of High Social PositionWith enough money and wealth, the next dream of Gatsby is to become a member of the upper class in the society. And the method he uses is constantly holding a large banquet to show off his wealth and to get acquainted with characters belonging to the upper social class at the same time.Gatsby hopes that the society can accept him, and therefore feel at ease when enjoying everything that the upper classes enjoy. This kind of idea can also be considered as a microcosm of American Dream, because from the beginning of the establishment of the American society, equal opportunity and people’s subjective initiative were advocated.However, the upper classes still look down upon those who have a humble background such as Gatsby. A lot of new upstarts like these people are only smuggling guys. It is easy for us to see that Gatsby, through every struggle, can not be accepted by the society either from his appearance or from his inner world.2.1.3 Gatsby’s Dream of LoveGatsby's first two dreams are the basis of the third one. The realization of his dreams of wealth and high social position is only to makepreparation for winning back his love that is once lost because of poor economic conditions and low position.Gatsby regards Daisy as the embodiment of beauty, kindness and truth that he pursues. In this case, getting married with Daisy and living together with her forever is an important goal in his life and also one of the motive forces of his struggle. However, his pursuit is doomed to be in vain, because Daisy is just superficially beautiful but empty inside. She is a shallow and selfish girl of the bourgeoisie. All day long, the ultimate goal of her life is to seek money and enjoy pleasure.Gatsby can sacrifice his own life in order to protect her, but Daisy refuses to pay any cost for Gatsby. This is the fundamental difference between the two characters. It is also doomed that Gatsby’s dream of love cannot be realized.2.2 The Disillusionment of Gatsby’s American DreamIn this novel the protagonist Gatsby is single-minded in love, ambitious and strong-willed in career, and persistent in the pursue of dreams. The establishment of his dreams is a good beginning, but during the process of achieving the dreams he gradually takes the wrong way. He is a typical victim of the Jazz Age. All of his three dreams fail to be realized.First of all, all of his wealth that he gains through hardships is gone with the loss of his life. The original values of American Dream such as hard work, thrift and moderation are weaker and weaker, and they are replaced by money worship. The real world is an empty shell, and everyone is fond of the immediate pleasure. Gatsby cannot escape from the fashion of luxury. He spends all his money on meaningless things and gets nothing valuable. In other words, he loses his dream of wealth.Secondly, he dies without the acceptance by the upper class. He does not get his ideal social position and his death has little influence on others. Gatsby is a very idealistic person. This kind of people often seem naive or run counter to the reality,because they are not aware of their own condition correctly and the psychology of upper class clearly. He does not know the real attitude of others towards himself. People are always living in certain social groups. When one’s behavior is not consistent with the social mainstream, he or she will be sacrificed. Gatsby belongs to this type. He just pretends to be a person with high social position through such superficial methods as squandering money and making contact with decent people. However, he is no more than a speculator in essence. His behavior and his essence do not match.Thirdly, his dream of love is disillusioned before he has any chance to get Daisy’s sympathy. All the time, Daisy, the perfect girl in the mind of Gatsby, is his unrealistic dream. Deeply attracting Gatsby, she seems pure, beautiful and innocent. Gatsby’s love for Daisy is selfless, and he always wants to protect his beloved person. Even though his own life is threatened, he is willing to sacrifice for her in the end. On the contrary, Daisy's love is selfish, because it is based on material benefits and her own interests. Daisy and Gatsby’s values of love are not balanced. Although after Gatsby becomes wealthy, with Nick’s help, he could be able to meet his lover, his dream to stay with her together for a lifetime fails to be realized. When he tells Nick that “of course the past can be repeated” (Fitzgerald.F.S, 2009: 133) or that “Tom’s love for Da isy was just personal” (Fitzgerald.F.S, 2009:182), he may be just finding some excuses for his inability to recapture his former lover Daisy.His dreams are distant and unreal, and no one can touch it. The disillusionment of Gatsby's dreams is closely associated with the society he lives in, his characteristics, and his lover Daisy's personality.Chapter Ⅲ THE REASONS FOR THE DISILLUSIONMENT OF Gatsby’sAMERICAN DREAMThe Great Gatsby is a well-known novel in the history of American literature. Many scholars both home and abroad have analyzed and commented on this work from different perspectives. And the reasons leading to the disillusionment of Gatsby’s dream has always been a hot topic to discuss. Different people have different ideas. In general, those reasons can be divided into external reasons and internal ones, which depend on each other. Both the two kinds of reasons play an important role in Gatsby’s tragedy. Gatsby’s struggle for the realization of his dreams can not avoid the influence of social environment, and his personality is also one of the important reasons leading his dream to fail.3.1 Hypocritical Interpersonal RelationshipThis is the most important external reason leading to the final disillusionment of Gatsby’s American Dream.In the 1920s, most people wanted to enter the upper classes and pursue material enjoyment. They were very cynical to seek superficial enjoyment and greedy for material wealth. During that period, treasure and collapsed moral standards made the pursuit of freedom and happiness gradually impossible.The society was so cruel that a person like Gatsby could not break up the bondage. There was little sympathy in the relationship among people. And there was no doubt that people were indifferent and ruthless. The relationship among people was based on money and real love did not exist. If you did not have money, nobody would pay much attention to you.A friend indeed is a friend in need. It means that a true friend is someone who can share both happiness and sorrow together with you. However, Gatsby has no real friends, he only has friends who can share happiness together, but can not tolerate pains together. When Gatsby is rich, everyone comes to his party and curries favor with him. However, when he dies, few people attend his funeral.In the capitalist society, the relationship among people just depends on money and people do not care about one another. There are no permanent friends or enemies. There are only permanent interests. In order to make benefits, people take advantage of others.The hypocritical interpersonal relationship can also be reflected in the relationship of classes in American society where class prejudice is a very critical problem.The contradiction between upper classes and lower classes is the reason why Gatsby can not realize his dream of social position. The vested interest groups who have already stabilized their social position and gained a lot of economic benefits will not allow any poor person without high social background to share wealth and pleasure with them.Although he makes an effort to obtain a good position in the society, he still does not belong to the upper classes. He opens his mind to everyone, but others do not open to him. The old aristocrat Tom hates the new speculator Gatsby, so Tom oppresses Gatsby. In other words, there is a contradiction between Tom and Gatsby, because they are not only love rivals but also belong to different classes.Although the visitors to his parties are strangers, he is still friendly to them. Meanwhile, his guests attend the parties just for fun and wealth. They are not real friends. He is just a victim of that period. His death is a great tragedy of the age. And nobody cares about him.3.2 The Worship of MoneyThis is the internal reason why Gatsby’s dream of wealth fails.Gatsby represents those who have a wrong idea of the relationship between money and love. The novel reflects the social reality vividly. They think money talks. However, not everything can be obtained by money. The best things in life do not cost money.The most important point for realizing the dream of wealth is that one should increase income and decrease expenditure, but Gatsby earns money and consumes wealth in an irrational way.In order to win back his lost love eagerly, becoming wealthy is the most important and necessary thing for Gatsby. However, he uses a wrong way to get money. A large amount of fortune cannot be obtained honestly and legally. Gatsby earns a large amount of money by selling illegal alcohol and trading in stolen securities.After getting the money, he lives an extravagant life. He wastes a lot of wealth just to pursue fashions and high-quality material life. First of all, he gets a large house and an expensive car. Secondly, he holds parties day and night every weekend at home. He becomes famous around New York. The parties are nearly incredibly luxurious. “It looks like World Fair” (Fitzgerald.F.S, 2009: 50) He makes “friends” with famous people and makes himself elegant and noble. In general, he squanders his money.3.3 Unrealistic Dream of High Social PositionThe impossibility of realization of Gatsby’s dreams is the underlying cause resulting in the failure of Gatsby. Since Gatsby has an unrealistic idea about himself and the society he lives in, this is also the general internal reason why he can not realize his dream of high social position.Gatsby’s dream is to become a member of upper classes, but it is far away from him. Firstly, the love between Gatsby and Daisy has become the past, and there is a gap between them. It is impossible to return to the past, because all the things have changed. Secondly, Tom is his biggest enemy, because he has less money than Tom does. Tom is more ambitious than Gatsby according to their personalities. Thirdly, when Gatsby has the necessary condition to obtain a decent social position, the other people do not really accept him.In general, his unpractical dream is based on fantasy instead of reality. In the 1920s, American Dream was materialized. The inner essence of American Dream was changed. Becoming materially rich and pursuing the former spiritual principles of American Dream became a dilemma for the lower classes. He must admit the fact, because the postwar world in which he lives is meaningless and almost wholly loveless.3.4 The Wrong Understanding of LoveThe internal reason why Gatsby’s dream of love fails is that he has a wrong understanding of love itself. As it is known to all, we can not buy love by money.But Gatsby thinks he can not get Daisy’s love only because of money.Gatsby has no vigilance and trusts everyone. When he knows Daisy’s gown has been torn, he gives her a new one. He pursues his dream bravely, but he is too innocent to understand his dreamwhich is impossible to realize. He is so loyal to Daisy and loves her all the time. However, he never knows what his dream is on earth and he does not know Daisy clearly.At the very beginning, Gatsby tells a lie to Daisy. He hopes to make her believe that he can let her live a happy life. Gatsby does everything he can to make his life and possession perfect only for winning back the love between Daisy and him. In his opinion, to be rich is the easiest way. However, it can derail one’s conscience into corruption. The way would deteriorate the true meaning of life and love. Gatsby loses sight of it, so it is unavoidable for him to corrupt.CONCLUSIONAfter collecting information and completing this thesis, we can understand better the beginning, development and disillusionment of Gatsby’s American Dream. Now we can not only feel empathetic with Gatsby’s intricate and tragic life, but also see the inhumanity and cruelty of the society during that period.Through this novel, Fitzgerald shows the collapse and disillusionment of American Dream in the 1920s. Here, heroes and heroines including Gatsby, Daisy and Tom together serve as metaphors by Fitzgerald to reveal the deviation of American Dream in the 1920s. This thesis generalizes the reasons why Gatsby fails in the pursuing of his dream. Due to all kinds of factors, the disillusionment of Gatsby’s American Dream is unavoidable.All in all, this novel The Great Gatsby can be absolutely termed as the masterpiece of Fitzgerald, and it actually strengthens the famous and talented American author Fitzgerald’s honor. It takes up an important position in the history of American literature even in the whole world literature.BibliographyBurnham, T. A Re-Examination of The Great Gatsby. College English, 1952. Fitzgerald, F.Scott. The Great Gatsby. Penguin Classics, 1994.Malcolm, Cowley. What is the Meaning of the Jazz Age. New York University Press, 1986Miller, James E. F. Scott Fitzgerald: His Art and Technique. New York University Press, 1964.James Truslow Adams, The Epic of America. New York University Press, 1931 Wang Qiong. The Narrative Technique in “The Great Gatsby” from the Point View of Narration. Journal of Huzhou Teachers College, 1996.Wu Dingbai. An Outline of American Literature. Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 1998.Yang Qishen. Selected Readings in American Literature, Volume 2. Shanghai Translation Press, 1987.Zhao Hongwei. The Definition of American Dream. Shanghai Language Education Press, 1998.陈胜利, 英美文化中含“国家名”的复合词解析, 盐城师范学院学报:人文社会科学版,2010葛靓, Doom of American Dream in Great Gatsby.《文学界(理论版)》 2012.杨慧群, 菲兹杰拉德的小说了不起的盖茨比浅析.江苏广播电视大学学报, 2002.赵红石, Characters’ Lives in The Great Gatsby.《科技信息》2010.Notes(素材和资料部分来自网络,供参考。

(完整版)《了不起的盖茨比》分析英语专业毕业设计

(完整版)《了不起的盖茨比》分析英语专业毕业设计

本科生毕业设计 (论文)题目:A Contrastive Analysis of the Greatness of Gatsby and the Meanness of His Foils in The Great Gatsby教学单位外国语学院__ _ ________姓名 _朱兴春 ________年级 2007级 ________专业英语 _______指导教师文培红__________________职称 _副教授_________________2011年 5 月 14日Abstract: The scholars the book The Great Gatsby which was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, such as the writing styles of the author in the book, symbolism and metaphor, the failure of the ―American dream‖, the analysis of the protagonist —Gatsb y—the representative of ‘s selfish and mental emptiness. On the basis of these, it revealed the failure of the ―American Dream‖ people that times when they paid more attention to the materialistic Dream‖—Daisy—was doomed to failure. However, Dream关键词:了不起盖茨比大众的粗恶美国梦ContentsAbstract (I)1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………...... .12 The author‘s experiences and the socialbackground (1)2.1 The author‘s experiences (1)2.2 The social background (3)3 The analysis of Gatsby‘s greatness (4)3.1. Gatsby‘s courage and persistence (4)3.2 Gatsby‘s kindness and generosity (6)3.3 Gatsby‘s sacrifice, filial piety andself-discipline ……. ………. …….. ..64 The analysis of Daisy‘s and Tom‘smeanness (7)4.1 The analysis ofDaisy (7)4.1.1 Daisy‘s beauty and of the follies (9)6 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………..10References (12)Acknowledgements (13)1 IntroductionThe Great Gatsby is written by American author Francis Scott Fitzgerald, who is considered a member of the ―lost generation‖ of 1920s. It was first published in 1925. The following is the main plot of the novel. A young man named Nick Caraway, who came to New York City in spring of 1922. He became involved in the life of , who entertained thousands of guests who did not know each other and Gatsby at love with Nick‘s cousin Daisy before the war. However, , a rich but boring man of . When Gatsby came back after the war Daisy by earning money as a bootlegger. After . Gatsby tried return, Tom revealed that Gatsby to sob . Driving Gatsby‘s blue car, she , and she was so crazy that she did not know what she could do. Gatsby remained silent in order to protect that it was Gatsby who killed murdered Gatsby and then committed suicide. Tom and Daisy left Long Island in the afternoon when Gatsby was killed and did call neither Nick nor Gatsby. Nick was left to arrange Gatsby‘s funeral,attended only by Gatsby‘s father and one former guest. The Great Gatsby was the reflection of the times which Fitzgerald called ―the Jazz Age‖ and recorded the life people lived in that time.2 The brief introduction of the author and the social backgroundFrancis Scott Fitzgerald lived in the period that was between the WWI and the roaring twenties. He traditional value which was contradicted to the main value in those years. So to the authorFrancis Scott Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896, and named after St. Paul, Minnesota. Though an intelligent child, school and was sent to a New Jersey boarding school in 1911. Despite being a mediocre student there, in 1913. Academic troubles and apathy plagued the army in 1917, as World War I came to the end. Fitzgerald became a second lieutenant, and was stationed at Camp Sheridan, in Montgomery, Alabama. There love with a wild seventeen-year-old beauty named Zelda Sayre. Zelda finally agreed to marry , and leisure led of This Side of Paradise in 1920, Fitzgerald became a literary sensation, earning enough money and fame to convince Zelda to marry 1925. Like Fitzgerald, Nick Carraway was a thoughtful young man from Minnesota, educated at an Ivy League school (in Nick‘s case, Yale), who move d to New York after the war. Also similar to Fitzgerald was Jay Gatsby, a sensitive young man who idolized wealth and luxury and who fell in love with a beautiful young woman while stationed at a military camp in the South. Having become a celebrity, Fitzgerald fell into a wild, reckless life-style of parties and decadence, while desperately trying to please Zelda by writing to earn money. Similarly,Gatsby amassed a great deal of wealth at a relatively young age, and devoted Daisy‘s love. As the giddiness of the Roaring Twenties dissolved into the bleakness of the Great Depression, and Fitzgerald battled alcoholism, which 1934, and sold short stories to The Saturday Evening Post to support 1937, 1940, while working on , era that in 1925, The Great Gatsby was one of the greatest literary documents of this period, in which the American economy soared, bringing unprecedented levels of prosperity to the nation. Prohibition, the ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol mandated by the ―Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution‖ (1919), made millionaires out of bootleggers, and an underground culture of revelry sprang up. Sprawling private parties managed to elude police notice, and ―speakeasies‖—secret clubs that sold liquor—thrived. The chaos and violence of World War I left America in a state of shock, and the generation that fought the war turned to wild and extravagant living to compensate. The staid conservatism and timeworn values of the previous decade were turned on their ear, as money, opulence, and exuberance became the order of the day. Like Nick in The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald found this new lifestyle seductive and exciting, and, like Gatsby, an era in which unrestrained materialism set the tone of society, particularly in the large cities of the East. Even so, like Nick, Fitzgerald saw through the glitter of the Jazz Age to the moral emptiness and many ways, The Great Gatsby represented F itzgerald‘s attempt to confront by who symbolized everything as she led Dream‖ and showed the mental outlook of the ‘s in the ―waste era‖ during the Great Depression. He not only and reality,success and failure, proud and down, to revel in and decadent, love and suffer, the conflict between the American culture and Europe culture, between the east and west, between the dreams and disillusionment, etc.. With all these feelings in . So ‖.2.2 The social background between the WWI and the ―Roaring Twenti es‖The WWI was ended in 1919 and America was undoubtfully the winner. Since America afforded the munitions to the both sides of the countries at the beginning of the WWI, America got a lot of money and its economy was strengthened which made America become a creditor nation from a debtor nation. After the war, America was in an unprecedented era of economy prosperity and bountiful substance. At the same time, its society was filled with the moral decadence, because justice and faith became the cheating words which defeated the whole generation as the essence of the imperialist war was exposed gradually. Of the ruins of the ancient tradition, faith, and idea, the American youth lived in a deficit spending and pleasure life. Money was regarded as the most important thing in the world. While the traditional value faced challenge, the new value was not formed. So the people in these years . ―American Dream‖made all the people‘s eyes dazzling as a colorful balloon wandering in the air. (吴建国,p32)―All the gods f inished, all the faith all years from the year of 1919 to the year of 1929, and Fitzgerald described the atmosphere of this period as ―This is a constantly miracles era, a prosperous times, a profligate era, an era of irony.‖(Fitzgerald,p14) in age when individual effort counted, when a man could rise efforts, and when if the systemfailed, it was the fault of rapscallions and crooks; the version remained an ideal and the standard from which criticism and judgments could be made.However, WWI shattered this version. It ended once and for all the faith in individual effort that eroding since the Revolution and the fiction in this period. As Mark Schorer system and the efficacy of individual effort was the distinguishing characteristic of postwar American writing. “The rootlessness of postwar American society, its restless alienation, and its consequent reliance on money were regarded as a code for expressing emotions and identity.‖(Brueccoli,p46)3 The analysis of Gatsby‘s greatnessGatsby was a man who spared no efforts to achieve order to realize it, made money by bootlegging. However, whose wife was killed by Daisy. Though Dream‖ and a life who tried my right was a colossal affair by any standard-it was a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool, and more than forty acres of lawn and garden. It was Gatsby‘s mansion.‖(Fitzgerald,p9)From these words, we can speculate .He fell in love with Daisy when the army, Daisy again. Thus, to get some information of Daisy. For five years order to get money, inherited money from Cody. ―James Gatz-that was really, or at least legally, and at the specific moment that witnessed the beginning of Cody‘s yacht drop anchor over the most insidious flat on Lake Superior.‖(Fitzgerald, p97) At that time when Gatsby saw Cody, Cody was fifty years old and .Cody got lots of money through copper transactions in Mantana. Thus, many girls and women wanted to gain Ella Kaye got it after Cody‘s death. What ; the vague contour of Jay Gatsby .Gatsby‘s pursuit for love, Daisy, and money and Dream.‖―Gatsby‘s life was filled with dream, the dream of beauty and love. He dedicated all and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.‖(Fitzgerald, p49) ―On weekends omnibus, bearing parties to and from the city between nine in the morning and long past midnight, while wagon scampered like a brisk yellow bug to meet all trains. And on Mondays eight servants, including an extra gardener, toiled all day with mops and scrubbing-brushes and -shears, repairing the ravages of the night before.‖(Fitzgerald, p49) ―Every Friday five crates of oranges and lemons arrived from a fruiterer in New York –every Monday these same oranges and lemons left a pyramid of pulpless as a kind and generous man. When on a chair, and Gatsby asked in it. Gatsby treated all the people in it. His smile let other person feel comfortable. When Gatsby planned to meet Daisy in Carraway‘s . He wanted to introduce Carraway a job as a reward.3.3 Gatsby‘s sacrifice spirit and filial piety, self-disciplineWhen Daisy drove Gatsby‘s car on the way order to protect Daisy. And that night that afternoon. ―He spoke as if Daisy‘s reaction was the only thing that mattered.‖(Fitzgerald, p140) The next day Gatsby was murdered by George and Daisy and Tom left for. He pursued this sense, .Gatsby also loved the last fly-leaf was printed the wordSCHEDULE, and the GENERAL RESERVES. Gatsby visited front of idling away their bored life. They were selfish, irresponsible, retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they who was beautiful, elegant, lovely, and romantic but illusion. She was a cold and detached person with an empty spirit. What she pursued was the desire for material.4.1.1 Daisy‘s beauty and carraway came to Daisy‘s blown back in aftera short flight around the she asked Carraway some question in to it. Daisy‘s voice was the kind of voice that the ear followed up and down, as if each speech was an arrangement of notes that would never be played again. Her beauty and charming voice made many men propose Daisy killed Myrtle, she did not admit its master needed it. She did not love she knew that Gatsby was not belonged to did not exist in the world. To sum up, Daisy only cared about . She could desert anyone in order to protect love with each other; Gatsby took apart in the army she married Tom who was very rich because Gatsby was poor. During the five years Gatsby knew that Gatsby showed Daisy throwing them, one by one, before Daisy, shirts of sheer linen and thick silk covered the table in many colored disarray, Daisy began to cry stormily and said she never saw these beautiful shirts. ―For Daisy felling itself was not a true thing but just a ‗pose‘.‖(王晓环) As the words said by Gatsby that Daisy‘s voice was filled with money.Daisy‘s spirit was blank and empty, she when Gatsby first came tolives according to a certain social code.‖(Bruccoli, p70) He belonged to the and to what . Tom was a playboy who traveled with a waitress of a dated Myrtle in New York. ―He was foolish, selfish, arrogant and supercilious.‖(苗永敏) He could . ―She knew before we were married –God knows where!‖(Fitzgerald, p120) ―Tom was evidently perturbed at Daisy‘s running around alone, for on the following Saturday night Tom was in New Haven Carraway came to New York with Tom Tom and and Mrs Wilson discussing in impassioned voices, standing face to face. Tom beat Myrtle and broke she said Daisy‘s name. Tom was so crude that even , and Gatsby went to city by driving car. On the way to New York, -Myrtle would leave another car in order to avoid the sensibilities of those East Eggers who might be on the train. After Daisy killed of the folliesIn Gatsby‘s splendid party, all the guests were not invited by Gatsby except a few of them. They got into automobiles which took them to Gatsby‘s amusement park. They came to Gatsby‘s the party, there were some celebrities, rich men, businessmen, who came from both East and West Egg. They did not know about Gatsby, so they guessed that Gatsby was killed a man once or Gatsby was a German spy. What they could guess the role Gatsby was bad. They came for enjoying their emotion. They danced on the canvas in Gatsby‘s garden; old men pushing young girls backwards in eternal graceless circles, superior couples the corner, many young girls dancing individually or relieving the orchestra for a moment of the burden of the banjo or the traps. With the dancing continuing, theGatsby died no one came to see Gatsby; instead, they stayed away from Gatsby. When Carraway called them to take part in Gatsby‘s funeral, they all said they Carraway phoned Gatsby‘s friends to come to Gatsby‘s funeral day and they said deliberately that they would do their best to get away and attend Gatsby‘s funeral. Even when Carraway went to New York to invite Mr. Wolfshiem to attend Gatsby‘s funeral, Wolfshiem did not see Carraway at first and after seeing Carraway . On that day it was rain as if God sympathized with which Tom and Daisy lived.6 ConclusionIn the years when people desired material enjoyment, Gatsby‘s naïve and mirage ―dream‖ doomed to fail. During those years, people did not care about other‘s feeling, even if the one was the novel Fitzgerald vividly described the relation between people and people and this relationship was the reflection and refraction of the roaring twenties‘ life. Because there were Tom and Daisy who stood for the upper class, Gatsby‘s would not success for the upper class was cold and cruel. Gatsby was the incarnation of Dream‖ and contradiction that was the contradiction between ideal and reality. Gatsby and Tom stood for the two main powers-one was the idealism which broke away from the reality, the other was extremely crude pragmatism.‖(娜仁花)It showed Gatsby‘s greatness by describing Tom‘s meanness. Even if Gatsby and Classics, 1930[2] Fitzgerald F.Scott, The Crack Up [M], Wilson, Edmund New Directions, 1945[3] Fitzgerald F.Scott, The Great Gatsby [M], Peking: Foreign Language Press, 2007[4] Bruccoli, Mattew, New Essays on The Gatsby [M], Peking: Peking University Press, 2007[5] Bruccoli, Mattew, ed.F.Scott Fitzgerald: A Life in Letters, New York: Simon & Schuster Inc, 1995[6] 苗永敏.了不起的盖茨比与20世纪20年代的美国[J],扬州教育学院学报,2005年第3卷第一期[7] 娜仁花.了不起的盖茨比与美国梦的破灭[J],语文学刊-外语教育教学,2009年第二期[8] 吴建国.菲茨杰拉德研究[M],上海:外语教育出版社,2002[9] 王晓环.美丽的幻想与无情的冷漠[J],佳木斯大学社会科学学报,2000年第三期[10] 肖东波,唐骏.了不起的盖茨比-美国梦的破灭[J],湖北成人教育学院学报,2009年5月第五卷第三期[11] 杨师淮.美国梦的破灭[J],消费导刊-文化研究,2007年11月[12] 张福勇.杰伊盖茨比的了不起之处[J],烟台师范学院学报(哲学社会科学版),2001年09第十八卷第三期Acknowledgements: In writing my paper, my teachers and classmates give me a lot of peihong, my supervisor, for , this thesis could not for their kind help.致谢:在写这篇论文的过程中,我的同学和老师给了我极大的帮助。

论文论《了不起的盖茨比》中美国梦的破灭

论文论《了不起的盖茨比》中美国梦的破灭

论文论《了不起的盖茨比》中美国梦的破灭从《了不起的盖茨比》看美国梦的破灭摘要:弗朗西斯·司各特·菲茨杰拉尔德是美国“爵士时代”的代言人,他在其代表作《了不起的盖茨比》中以细腻的笔触表现了二十世纪二十年代美国的风貌,用主人公盖茨比的悲剧人生隐喻了“美国梦”的虚幻及其不可企及性,揭示了“美国梦”破灭的必然规律。

论文从作者和小说人物分析着手,通过对《了不起的盖茨比》的写作背景,作者自身的经历、故事的主要内容、小说主人公盖茨比之梦的破灭等多方面的分析和解剖,深刻地揭示了“美国梦”的发展与破灭。

本文第一部分简要介绍了菲茨杰拉尔德和他的小说《了不起的盖茨比》, 以及小说的社会和文化背景;第二部分介绍美国梦,包括它的定义,起源和内涵;第三部分分析美国梦及其破灭的原因;最后一部分我总结了一下这本小说,并提出了自己的观点。

关键词:了不起的盖茨比美国梦破灭爵士时代Analysis of the disillusion of American dream from" The Great Gatsby"Abstract: Francis ? Scott Fitzgerald, a spokesman of "the Jazz Age" in the United States.In his masterpiece,"The Great Gatsby”, he uses delicate brush strokes to show the style of American in the 1920s. Hero Gatsby's tragic life, as a metaphor for the illusory and entertainment of the "American Dream", reveals the inexorable law of the disillusion of "American dream".The paper begins with the analysis of the author and characters of the novel, which profoundly reveals the development and disillusion of “The American Dream” by analyzing and anatomizing writing background of "The Great Gatsby”, the author's own experience, the main content of the story, novel leading character Gatsby’s shattered dream andother aspects.The first part of this paper briefly introduces the Fitzgerald and his novel "The Great Gatsby", and the social and cultural background of the novel; the second part introduces the "American dream", including its definition, origin and connotation; the t hird part analyzes “the American dream” and its bursting reasons; At last, I summarize this novel and present my own point of view on the issue.Key words: the great Gatsby, the American dream, disillusion, Jazz ageCONTENTS摘要 (I)Abstract..... ............................................................................... ........................ ........ II Chapter One Introduction (I)1.1 Introduction of Scott Fitzgerald and his novel " The Great Gatsby" (1)1.1.1 Introduction of Scott Fitzgerald (1)1.2.2 Introduction of the novel " The Great Gatsby (1)1.2 Introduction of social and cultural background of the novel (2)Chapter T wo Introduction of American Dream (3)2.1 The definition of American dream (3)2.2 The origin of American dream (4)2.2.1 The traditional American dream (4)2.2.2 The American dream in 20th century (4)2.3 The connotation of American dream in different historical background (5)2.3.1 The American dream from 18th to 19th century (5)2.3.2 The American dream after Industrialization (6)2.3.3 The American dream in 21st century (6)2.4 The different interpretation to American dream (7)Chapter Three Analysis of the disillusion of American dream and its bursting reason...................................................................................(8)3.1 The disillusion of love (8)3.2 The disillusion of wealth................................................................................. .93.3 The disillusion of status (9)3.4 The bursting reason of American dream (10)3.4.1 From the point of view of the hero (10)3.4.2 From the point of view of the whole society and age (11)Chapter Four Conclusion (13)References (14)Acknowledgements (15)Chapter One Introduction1.1 Introduction of Scott Fitzgerald and his novel "The Great Gatsby"1.1.1 Introduction of Scott FitzgeraldFitzgerald was born in1896 into a St .Paul middle –class family .His father was gentlemanly but unsuccessful in business .Scott had an expensive education first in private schools ,and then at Princeton ,where he became part of the intellectual set ,the Triangle Club ,which included ,among others ,Edmund Wilson. He began to write for the shows of the club, became editor of a university magazine, and was developing a reputation .He felt that he was heading for the upper class life in which he would play a leading part as a writer.Then he had to leave Princeton ,probably partly because of his academic record that had suffered from his illness and from too heavy an extra-curriculum schedule and also because the First World War that was going on offered him a good excuse to stay away for a while . A year’s absence from the university wounded his pride and ambition so that it ironed itself into his consciousness as one of the major disappointments he suffered in his short, unhappy life .He returned to Princeton only to stay for another year in which he managed to finish the draft of his first novel, the Side of Paradise. Then in 1922, Fitzgerald finished his second novel, The Beautiful and the Damned. The Beautiful and the Damned is interesting especially as a sort of first attempt as writing is not as great .Meanwhile, the Fitzgerald were living, on the proceeds of Scott’s books and stories, the life of the people who go to Gatsby’s crazy parties. In 1925, he wrote his masterpiece, The Great Gatsby in Pairs. The Fitzgerald had gone there from Y ork and met Hemingway and Gertrude Stein, among others. (Referring to 美国文学史,第三版,南开大学出版社)1.1.2 Introduction of the novel "The Great Gatsby"" The Great Gatsby" is one of the most representative works of Fitzgerald. At the end of 20th Century, the United States academic authority selected the one hundred best novels in hundreds of years of history of English Literature," The Great Gatsby" enjoyed popular confidence, topping the second, and were proudly among the contemporary and classic ranks. The novel is use of impressionistic description, its style is of both warm and cool, and it has played an indispensable role in the history of literature of the world for the status of Fitzgerald.This novel is narrated by Nick, a young bachelor who returns to the Midwest before setting to the New Y ork City. Daisy, theheroine, is Nick’s second cousin and Nick knows of her husband, Tom. With the development of the novel, Nick knows that his next-door neighbor is the wealthy Gatsby,who always hosting lavish parties of hundreds of peoples, Jordan Baker takes interests in Nick, and he reveals that In 1917 Gatsby as Army Lieutenant stationed near Daisy’s hometown and then had fallen in love with Daisy. But Gatsby had no money to marry Daisy, so Daisy wasmarried to the wealthy T om, after that Gatsby is aiming to be a millionaire. With few years of smuggling, Gatsby accumulates a great amount of wealth. He would like Nick to arrange a meeting with Daisy, and Nick agrees to invite Gatsby and Daisy to his house, so they begin a love affair again. But actually, Daisy only treats this relationship as an exciting game. Daisy invites Gatsby and Nick to her mansion and Tom finds that Gatsby loves Daisy. Tom knows Daisy’s nature very well. And by taking away Daisy’s financial security, Tom thinks that Daisy is no w beyond his reach. Because of the situation between them, Daisy runs out of the hotel and Gatsby follows her into his car. Daisy insists on driving because it will calm her moods. But in the later Daisy knocks down and kills Myrtle, Tom’s mistress. Gatsby absolve Daisy from her guilty to protect her. After that Tom talks into Myrtle’s husband to shoot Gatsby dead. So the magic bubble of love and dreams broke up. Despite Nick’s efforts, only Gatsby’s father, a woman and Nick attend his funeral. Discussing with Tom and Daisy, Nick returns to his hometown, reflecting on Gatsby’s dreams and cyclical nature of the past.1.2 Introduction of social and cultural background of the novelIt's a special era in the history of the United States when theWorld War I (1918) ended; the Great Depression (1929) was not yet to come. During pre-war of the world warⅠ, the United States profiteered. In the post-war, it won a precious opportunity of developing economy. Due to the cruelty of the war, many people had doubtable attitude towards the traditional values, such as honor, democracy, freedom and lost faith, thus indulging in pleasure. In addition, traditional Puritan ethics disintegrated, and hedonism began to flourish. The economy of the U.S experienced a rapid development of the postwar and dramatic change that the crash of New Y ork stock market brought, so the economy of U.S has experienced recession for10 years. Affluent and easy life in the post-war made people dizzy in the bustle. While at this time, American intellectuals had fled, and spent his lonely youth in pain and confusion.What's more, it was a changeable and rebellious era when the younger generation finally chose to break with tradition. In Fitzgerald's words, "That is a miraculous era and an era full of mockery." Fitzgerald called this era the "Jazz Age".At that time, with the introduction of radio and the end of the war, jazz and dance emerged. Jazz became an entirely new cultural movement in places, such as the United States, England and France. Cities, such as New Y ork and Chicago, were cultural centers of jazz. In urban areas, African American jazz was played on the radio more often than in the suburbs. The youth of 1920s, influenced by jazz, rebelled against the traditional culture of previous generations.Chapter Two Introduction of American Dream2.1 The definition of American DreamThe term, "American dream" was first used by James Truslow Adams in his book "The Epic of American" which was written in1931. The American Dream is a dream that had land where every one could live a better and richer and fuller life. What’s more, everyone had opportunity to match ability with achievement.It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us have grown wearily and mistrusted it. It is not merely a dream of motor cars or high wages, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain the fullest stature and be recognized by others for who they are, regardless of the condition or position of birth."The so-called American Dream is a kind of belief that as long as people went through a hard struggle in the United States, they will be able to achieve a better ideal life. That is, people must work diligently, courageously, creatively, and have determination to success, rather than rely on a particular social class and the assistance of others. This usually showed the economic success of people or entrepreneur’s spirit. Many Euro pean immigrants which having the ideal of American dream moved towards the United States. Despite some criticized the American dream excessively emphasized on the role of material wealth played in the measure of victory and happiness. But many Americans really believed that such an opportunity to get success cannot be found in the world. As different from the most other countries, the United States had considerable economic freedom; the role of government is limited, making the U.S. has a great social mobility. Any person may go towards the top through their own efforts. From Independence of the United States to the end of the 19th century, large areas of land were uninhabited and unoccupied by people. Anyone could occupy, invest and reclaim to lands. By the time of the Industrial Revolution, the hugenatural resources of United States and advanced industrial technology made rapid social mobility possible, and this trend is still increasing day by day.According to the historians, they think that the reason why the economy of the United States rapidly develops and industry expand is not just because the United States has rich natural resources, but also because everyone has the opportunity to get wealth through their own struggle .2.2 The origin of American Dream2.2.1 The traditional American DreamThe term “American Dream” is first used by American writer and historian James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America written in 1931.He defined American Dream as "dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, everyone has an opportunity according to their ability or achievement"(James Truslow Adams, 1980) . Oneimportant feature of the definition is that everyone agrees with the equality of opportunity in succeeding, regardless of social class and circumstance of birth. The archetype of American Dream is Benjamin Franklin who is one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Without noble birth and top education, Franklin learned almost everything and succeeded in many aspects, including literature, science, philosophy and politics. Benjamin Franklin pioneered the spirit of self-help in America (Jim Powell, 1997). In the Declaration of Independence, there is a sentence which has been called one of the most famous sentences in the English language goes like this: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, including the right to life, liberty and the right of the pursuit ofHappiness. This sentence also represents a concept that everyone is born equal and has inalienable rights in pursuing freedom and happiness. Influenced by Dr Franklin, more and more Americans believe that in the country of equality, one can obtain both physical and spiritual wealth through one’s efforts. On the other hand, the American Dream may come from the ideals of the first group of immigrates. When settlers come to a land full of vitality and freedom, they have dreams to turn the land into their paradise. At that time, American Dream was equal to the ownership of farm, thus lead to the Westward Movement.2.2.2 The American Dream in 20th centuryIn 1920s, the American society enjoyed economic prosperity after the World War I. Such as automobiles, moving pictures and radio, these new inventions and discoveries were made significant changes to lifestyle and culture. Unprecedented industrial growth and accelerated consumer demand made the era known as “the Roaring Twenties”. The American Dream at that time has gradually changed into money-making. The Roaring Twenties is an age of explosion of social wealth and billionaire, but also is an age of spiritual poverty. Y oung generations suffered from the trauma of body and spirit; because of war they lose confidence to future. The urban society is full of depravity and corruption, consumerism and materialism become the major theme of the American Dream. People like Gatsby used all means to make money despite of moral and legal standards. From all that mentioned above, the definition of the "American Dream" has changed over the development of history. But it still acts as a core value in America and influences people from generation to generation.2.3 The connotation of American Dream in different historicalbackground300 years ago, when England emigrants to Maryland cross the Atlantic by the "May flower" and when they were looking for a piece of "pure land" in which the Puritans can lived, American Dream" has begun to quietly sprout. The United States gave everyone of the world an equal opportunity. Y ou can realize their dream as long as you work hard enough.300 years later, it has become powerful county. However," American Dream" did not die, but it has more" connotation" with the changes of history.W hat is the" American Dream"? “Many historians and sociologists have different perspectives, and different Americans have different interpretation.But generally speaking, the "American dream" includes several elements: the United States offered the chances of success for everyone. Success depends on their talents and efforts, rather than family and the background. Everyone has equal rights. Everyone has freedom of brief......These elements are inextricably linked with the history and must also be combined with the background." said Lang Mailer.2.3.1 The American Dream from 18th to 19th centuryAmerican dream in 18th-19th century is the original dream of land and gold. From 18th to 19th century, the nobility had not quit the stage of history. Social hierarchy was stern, and the distribution of wealth was inequitable, religious discrimination was serious in Europe. Montesquieu, Descartes and so many pioneers of the enlightenment movement began to praise American magical land, which sparked the "American dream" of the vulnerable groups. Immigrants which came to the United States in 18th century were vulnerable groups from Europe. Themost typical people are the Puritan of England and bankrupt small farmers of Germany. When they came to America which was still a colony, their requirements for political equality were particularly strong, and they also spontaneously carried out democracy. Thus, the "equal rights" has become a connotation of the "American dream".Mailer explained, "Everyone can succeed." Due to the vast land and small population in the early American, immigrants can get a large area of fertile land. At that time, the United States is based on agricultural economy, it is self-evident that the "land means wealth, and means success". As the western American found many gold mine in the end of the 18th century and early 19th century, and some lucky started became rich overnight because mining the gold, the legend of the "wave of gold rush" promoted the tide of immigration westward, but also casted a deep golden color for the "American dream".However, there is a bloody history behind of "American dream. The large tracts of land of European immigrants were "stateless place" and they got through killing millions of Indians; Most of cultivators of productive farmland were slaves which looting from Africa; the labors which mining gold in the westward were the drudgery of Chinese .It can be said that the early "American Dream" is European immigrants’ dream. Mailer pointed out that many of the contempor ary American history scholars are facing and reflecting this period of history, which is unjust side of the "American dream".2.3.2 The American Dream after IndustrializationDuring the Civil War, the United States began the industrialization. European immigrants mostly accessed to New Y ork, Chicago, Detroit and other emerging industrial city. Then,the "American Dream" has a new connotation. During that period, there were a lot of commercial and industrial giants. For example, Edison who depended on personal invention and created the General Electric Company, Rockefeller who mined oil, Morgan who was engaged in the bank, and Ford who invented the automobile production line. Their common characteristic is: first they are poor, but finally they founded their big career through hard work and became a legend. Perhaps, these "legend" were beautified more or less by later generations. Even the so-called "the invention of Edison” also was the results of many his assistants. Mailer thought that, at that time the United States has been in a period of rapid economic expansion. Before the first World War, the United States has became the most strongest country of economic power in the world and the domestic economy operation is in a stages of change " from disorderly to orderly" ,and the various industries appeared wealthy oligarchs.2.3.3 The American Dream in 21st centuryIn the information era of 21st century, Microsoft's Bill Gates, yahoo's jerry Y ang and Google's director, these three founders turned into new idols of the "American dream". By virtue of their own wisdom, they accumulated the huge assets of billions of dollars when they were young. Their living story seems to indicate that as long as there is wisdom and genius, you can succeed in the United States.What is the real driving force behind the "American dream"? Some historians believe that it is the desire and chase for wealth. "The pursuit of money is the same ingredients in the 'American Dream'". However, it is exactly that over pursuit of wealth that makes the "American Dream" turn sour and gradually lost its appeal to people around the world. If the early Americans alsoadvocate “honesty and diligence" to get rich, today they are increasingly keen to pursuit of "getting rich quick". For example, now Americans mostly respected the way to which gets rich is: to fight lawsuit for compensation with the big enterprises, to go gambling or to buy lottery tickets in the Las V egas, and to take part in a television game.Early Europeans immigrated to the United States believed in the equality of political rights and religious equality. Today, the American politics has evolved into a money game. V osel did not deny that success of the success of Bush family in the American politics is "the success of oil and money ". In the field of religion, the freedom advocated by the United States was limited in all denominations of Christian, and the Islam which rarely has little money to support and was only in the position of extremely weakness in the United States.In changing times, the appeal of the "American dream" to the world may be less andless.The hegemony and monopoly of American in the world politics causes many foreigners to be full of offensive as soon as they mention the word "American". An anti-terrorism bill block the way of a lot of immigrants into the United States; the speculation of economy make the common person forever fear their wealth suddenly disappears.2.4 The different interpretation to American dreamAmerican dream is not only a kind of version; some writers give the readers a new enlightenment from different perspectives. “the Grapes of Wrath" written by John Steinbeck described that the hero had to be forced to leave his hometown under the background of the" Great Depression" and drought. However, the exploitation to labor still makes their lives more distressed."Native Son" of Richard White and the" invisible man" of Ralph Ellison reflect the poverty and racism that discourage the people from the opportunity of the pursuit of development. "The Street "of Ann peltry recognizes the hardships of black mothers’raising children. From the point of view of the great social and age background, it is just a microscopic and idealized perspective that people will be able to realize the dream only through personal struggle. "Seize the Day" of Saul Bellow tells the story that the hero did not achieve the American dream, but realized his own growth. Compared with the traditional sense of American dream, a meaningful life is a better dream. The writer of “The house on Mango Street" , Sandra Cisneros ,expressed the desire for freedom, no ethnic discrimination, no sexual discrimination and a thinking of women’s pursuit of dreams through the point of view of a little girl. For women, the connotation of "a house truly belonging to their own" is richer.Chapter Three Analysis of the disillusion of American dream and itsbursting reasonAs the great depression in the 1930's put the prosperity and vanity of" Jazz Age" to an end, the failure of Gatsby finally showed that the so-called American dream is a false image. Though Gatsby lived in a seemingly extravagant life, he never successfully achieved their ultimate goal, that is to say, he lost all aspects: love, wealth and status.3.1 The disillusion of loveThe "American dream" of Gatsby was presented in his "love dream”. He believe d that money could buy Daisy's love. The reason why he was attracted by Daisy is that money decorated her as a noble princess, keeping her away from humble,unsecured life connected with poor. And thiskind of life was Gatsby familiar with in teens. As a farmers' child, the vanity of Gatsby satisfied greatly owing to staying with Daisy's, which shows his potential. He could become a rich man and a member of the high society with his own efforts. Loving a rich lady gave him great courage and driving force moving forward. However, Daisy did not Love him as deeply as he had imagined, she was just enveloped an ideal circle by his desire and his selfless love.Five years later, sometimes even if he was sure that Daisy whom he missed the day and night was not as beautiful as he imaged. But his dream beyond all, in this kind support of fantasy, Gatsby wanted to regain Daisy's heart. In fact, the determinations and motivations he wanted to regain Daisy were not from the unforgotten of Daisy, but from the call from heart to make dreams come true and his strong desire for bright future. Here, Daisy is the "love dream" of Gatsby. He put his ideal of life on Daisy, while Gatsby just chose a wrong object. Daisy is just a girl who heavily values money and status rather than love, so she only can represent illusory and worthless things. She can't be the embodiment of love and happiness, and could not bring meaning and sati sfaction to Gatsby’s life. Dais y met Gatsby again, and renewed old friendships with him, but she jointly planed Gatsby’s death with her husband. Her final selfishness, the ultimate betrayal, all these were inevitable. Daisy chose the latter between Gatsby and Tom, because the latter can provide her more stable, secure and comfortable life for her. "They are rich and cruel people. It is their maxim to destroy the others but to protect themselves.Although their world was not harmonious, the two peoplehad “little nonsense", they were partners of the same faction. If a third people threatened their Common security, it was natural for them to league to unanimously resist outside after a moment's discussion, Faced with cruel reality, Gatsby's dream was destroyed, and his efforts ended with failure. He finally realized that the past time could not come back; the unrealized dream was difficult to review. Therefore, his dreams, his soul and his body died together.In Gatsby's mind, Daisy was beautiful and pure, who symbolized all the virtues of American high society. Gatsby regarded Daisy as the incarnation of his pursuit of beauty, and then the tragedy of his life' started. In fact, his efforts to pursue the so-called beauty were alienated by money. It is not significant but tragic that he spared no efforts to realize dream. In the end, love in expense of life disil lusioned, while” America dream" of Gatsby was shattered.3.2 The disillusion of wealthThe “American Dream"of Gatsby also shows in his "wealth dream". Te former name of Gatsby known as “Jay G ats", his parents were crops person of mediocrity, he was eager to get rid of poverty ,and ranked among the upper class of society. At the age of 17years old, Gats met a man who named Dan Cody, and got fortune by the illegal behaviors. Little Gats admired him very much, and then he changed his name into Gatsby and followed Cody. Gatsby took the ideal focused on the acquiring of wealth. Because when Dan Cody was sober, he knew if he was drunk, he would do many stupid things, like profligacy. So he grew to trust Gatsby in order to prevent this kind of accidents from happening. After Dan Cody died, Gatsby used his heritage which was gained from Dan Cody to illegal sale private wine, andamassed a large of fortune.But for Gatsby no matter how rich, he still tried to blend in the upper circles which he has long wanted, just because of his humble birth. Finally, he has become their excellent material of suspicion and rumors for the upper class of the so-called celebrities. As constantly suspicion of people, his illegal businesses were eventually exposed by Tom. He worked hard to create material wealth, and it did not help him achieve pursuit, his dream of wealth was shattered. After Gatsby was died, the former guests did not show up in his funeral which Nick held for him, bleak and desolate in the funeral and hustle and bustle of the former party were clearly constituted a sharp contrast, it showed that he did not get the recognition of the upper class.3.3 The disillusion of statusAlthough during that time freedom and equality have been advocated, the social hierarchy was still exists. Jay Gatsby made all efforts to squeeze into the upper class, and he became to be admired and respected by other people. He wants everything that a man of noble birth has: a large amount of money, a splendid mansion and a satisfactory marriage. After he obtains these things, he gains money at all costs, he hosts party frequently in his mansion to show his riches, and he pursues Daisy as a qualified wife for a decent man. The description in Chapter three gives us a vivid picture about the extravagance of Gatsby’s life: There was music from my neighbor’s house through the summer nights. In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whispering and champagne and the stars … (F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1993 .26) Besides showing off his wealth, he even changed his name to cover up his humble birth. When Nick asked about his life, he。

了不起的盖茨比毕业论文

了不起的盖茨比毕业论文

了不起的盖茨比毕业论文《了不起的盖茨比》毕业论文《了不起的盖茨比》是美国作家F·斯科特·菲茨杰拉德的一部经典小说,被誉为美国文学史上最伟大的作品之一。

这部小说以20世纪20年代的美国为背景,通过对主人公盖茨比的描写,展现了爱情、财富和社会阶层的复杂关系。

本文将从几个方面探讨《了不起的盖茨比》这部小说的深度和内涵。

首先,我们可以从小说中的主人公盖茨比的形象入手。

盖茨比是一个神秘而富有的人物,他通过自己的努力成为了一个成功的商人。

然而,他的财富并没有带给他真正的幸福。

相反,他一直追求着他认为能带给他幸福的女人——黛西。

盖茨比对黛西的迷恋让他失去了自我,变得孤独而空虚。

这种对黛西的追求和对财富的追求形成了小说的主要冲突,也反映了现实生活中人们对爱情和财富的追求。

其次,小说中的社会阶层也是一个重要的主题。

20世纪20年代的美国是一个繁荣而浮华的时代,社会阶层分化明显。

小说中的人物来自不同的社会阶层,他们之间的关系复杂而纠缠。

盖茨比作为一个出身贫寒的人,通过努力跻身上流社会,但他始终无法摆脱自己的出身。

与此同时,小说中的其他人物也面临着社会阶层的限制和压力。

通过对这些人物的描写,菲茨杰拉德展示了社会阶层对人们命运的影响和人性的脆弱性。

此外,小说中的爱情也是一个重要的主题。

盖茨比对黛西的爱情是小说的核心。

他们之间的关系充满了激情和痛苦,他们的爱情也受到了财富和社会阶层的限制。

黛西作为一个上层社会的女性,对盖茨比的爱情充满了矛盾和选择。

她既渴望盖茨比的爱情,又不愿意放弃她的社会地位和财富。

通过对这段爱情的描写,小说探讨了爱情和社会的冲突,以及人们在追求爱情和财富时所面临的抉择。

最后,小说中的象征主义也值得我们关注。

菲茨杰拉德通过对物品、场景和人物的描写,展示了象征主义的力量。

例如,小说中的绿灯象征着盖茨比对黛西的追求和他对过去的留恋;而眼镜则象征着现实和理性的力量。

通过这些象征的运用,菲茨杰拉德增加了小说的深度和内涵,使读者对故事的理解更加丰富和多样化。

了不起的盖茨比象征论文

了不起的盖茨比象征论文

了不起的盖茨比象征论文【篇一:了不起的盖茨比象征论文】一、引言弗司各特菲茨杰拉德(f. scott fitzgerald)是美国喧嚣的20年代的著名作家,被誉为桂冠诗人和爵士时代的代言人,在美国现代小说家中,他是仅次于福克纳和海明威的第三号人物。

菲茨杰拉德的作品独创性极强,善于用暗喻手法,细腻地描绘出美国二十世纪二十年代的社会风貌。

菲茨杰拉德最杰出的作品《了不起的盖茨比》发表于1925年。

该小说以尼克卡罗威为叙述者,讲述了靠贩私酒发家的杰伊盖茨比试图以财富、别墅和盛大的宴会赢回旧爱黛西的芳心,最终梦破人亡的故事。

菲茨杰拉德笔下的多处场景、情节、物品、色彩和人物都有其象征意义,充满写实主义风格。

象征广泛运用于《了不起的盖茨比》突显了盖茨比的人生悲剧,并超越了狭隘的个人天地,把主观与客观联系起来,放大个人经历并赋予其代表性;表现了爵士时代人们对物质的狂热追求,日益膨胀的个人主义和腐朽的社会风气。

本文探讨小说中的绿灯、灰烬山谷和埃克尔堡大夫的眼睛三个主要象征意象在文章结构以及思想内容方面所发挥的积极作用,启发人们在新时期领悟该小说的深刻含义。

二、绿灯的象征意义绿灯的意象贯穿于整部小说的发展结构中,是整个小说的灵魂,有着深远的意义。

表面上,它象征着盖茨比的梦想;深层意义上,它象征着整个社会的美国梦。

主人公盖茨比将东卵码头那边黛西家的绿灯视为黛西的真爱,并愿为之付出一切。

盖茨比内心深深依赖这盏绿灯,看到它就会意足。

尼克第一次看到盖茨比时,他正站在月光下的草坪上,他朝着幽暗的海水把两只胳膊伸了出去,那样子真古怪,并且尽管我离他很远,我可以发誓他正在发抖。

我也情不自禁地朝海上望去---什么也看不出来,除了一盏绿灯,又小又远,也许是一座码头的尽头。

绿灯引导并激励盖茨比不懈努力。

盖茨比修建华丽的豪宅、举办晚会、展现豪华的生活方式都是吸引黛西的必要手段。

在尼克的帮助下,再次见到黛西,盖茨比说要不是有雾,我们可以看见海湾对面你家的房子。

英语硕士学位论文从《了不起的盖茨比》中看美国梦的破灭.doc

英语硕士学位论文从《了不起的盖茨比》中看美国梦的破灭.doc

浙江大学硕士学位论文从ltlt了不起的盖茨比gtgt中看美国梦的破灭The Collapse of The American Dream Represented in The GreatGatsby姓名:赵婉清申请学位级别:硕士专业:英语语言文学指导教师:殷企平谭惠娟20041201 TheCollapseoftheAmericanDreamRepresented intheGreatGatsby Abstract AmericanDreamex istedineveryAmerican’sheartbutitwasintangible.American people were proud of their American dreams and Americanmysteries fromone generation to another generationtherefore therewere alarge number of works in American literature’s history describing AmericanDream. F. Scott. Fitzgerald is famous American writer of The Lost Generationwho is also the spokesman of “Jazz Age’’. His masterpiece The Great Gatsbyfully revealed the realization and the collapse of American Dream in1920s.ThereareseveralreasonstoexplainthecollapseofAmericanDream:withtheunprecedent ed economical prosperity after WWI influencedby the AmericanDreamnumerouspeopleswarmedintotheurbanarea.Thevariousstagesofsocietyare runningformoneyandachievingtheirpurposesbydifferentwaysmany American people stuck into confused helpless idle confused mentalstate. The over fanatics of materialism was vibrating the root of traditionalconceptofAmericanDreamThereforethepursuitofultra‐highenjoymentofthe material corruption of individual moral and social reasons such as WorldWarIthrowingtheyoungmenintoanageofalienationdissentienteconomicbloomaffecti ngthepromisingmenandcorruptionofsocialmoraleventuallyled to Gatsby’s dreams and the sacred American Dream in every Americanheartshattered. This paper would briefly analyze the development American dream onthis basis people would perceive the theme of the American dream in themajor works of Fitzgerald moreover it also would analyze the rootwhichcausestheAmericandreamshattered.Keywords:AmericanDreamGayGatsbycollapser oot AcknowledgementsThecompletionofthisthesisisduetothecontributionandeffortsofseveralp eopletowhomIoweagreatdealofgratitudeandappreciation.Firstofall,1wouldliketoexpressmyheartfeltthankstoProfessorYinQipingandProfessorTanHuijuan,whohavebeengivingmeinvaluableinstructionandencouragementthroughoutthewholeproces s.Theysqueezedtimeoutofpressingschedulestoprovidemewithenlighteningsuggestionsan dtimelyhelpwithgreatpatience.Withouttheirguidanceandsupport,itscompletionwouldbeimpossible.IshouldalsoexpressmysinceregratitudetoProfessorZhu Jiongqiang,ProfessorGaoFen,ProfessorWangLiyun,ProfessorChenGang,forthevariousinsightfullecturesandconstructiveinstructionstheyhavegivenme.IRITIespec iallygratefultomycolleaguesatZhejiangNormalUniversityWangWeixin,LiHuihuaandZhengLianzhong,fortheirvaluablesuggestionsandpainstakingcorrectionsonmyoutlineanddraft.Ialsowishtot hankXuQiuhongandHuangWeizhengwhohavesearchedand copiedimportantreferencematerialsfromBeijingand Shanghairespectively.4 TheCollapseoftheAmericanDreamRepresented inTheGreatGatsby OutlineThesisStatement:JayGatsbywasahighlysymbolismofthemostAmericanson1920swhonotonlywastryinghisbesttorealizetheir American Dreams but also experienced the collapse of the Dream in an era of unprecedented economic prosperityandmaterialexcess.I. IntroductionII. DefinitionofAmericanDreamsIII. RealizationandCollapseofGatsby’sAmericanDreamsinhisWhole Life A.TheDreamofBecomingaUsefulManinChildhood B. TheDreamofBecomingarichandUpper ‐classPersoninYouth C. TheDreamofLovingaCharmingGirlIV. OriginsofCollapseofAmericanDream A. IndividualReasons‐CorruptionofIndividualMoral B. SocialReasons 1. World War I Throwing the Young Men into an Age of AlienationandDissentient 2. EconomicBloomAffectingthePromisingMen 3. CorruptionofSocialMoral V. Conclusion 5 TheCollapseoftheAmericanDreamRepresented inTheGreatGatsbyI.Introduction F. Scott. Fitzgerald is famous American writer of The Lost Generationwhoisalsothespokesmanof“JazzAge’’.HismasterpieceTheGreatGatsbyfully revealed the realization and the collapse of American Dreamin1920s.thehistoryofAmericandreamcouldbedatedbackto17thcentury.Atthattimeeveryone believedthatifheworkedbyhisowncouragevigorandefforthewouldsucceednomatterwhohew as.TheherointhenovelofTheGreat Gatsby whose name was Gatsby experienced the realization andcollapse of his three dreams‐the dream of becoming a useful man inchildhood the dream of becoming a rich and upper class person and thedreamoflovingacharminggirl.ThefailureofGatsby’sdreamwasnotcausedbysinglefactor. OnGatsby’ssidehispursuitofultra‐highenjoymentofthematerial led to the collapse of his dreams however some factors in thesociety such as degrading morality excessive material and overemphasizedopportunist influenced him and eventually caused the collapse of hisAmericandreams.II.DefinitionofAmericanDreams Generally speaking American dream was in the bud when Columbusdiscovered the new continent of America. When Nick the narrator in thenovelreferredhistwolivingplaces‐WestEggvillageandEastEggvillagehemade a metaphor: “they are not perfect ovals‐like an egg in the Colu mbusstory they are both crushed flat at the contact end”1 In this sentence thewriterreferredColumbuswhowasasymbolismasthegreatestandthelastdream of human being was beginning to develop when he first stepped onthispromisingland. In17th century Western Europe was undergoing great changes. Thepuritan migrants passed across the Atlantic Ocean and finally reachedMaryland by May Flower. At that time American dream began to sprout.What impressed the world is the freedom that America could grantforeveryone.Thenewcontinentwasapromisinglandandifsomeoneworkedbyhisownbeliefco uragedeterminationandmoralrighteousnesshecouldachievegreatsuccess.Nomatterwhomyo uareandwhereveryouwerebornyou only need to devote yourself to hard working you will find the life’sbounty. The Ameri can dream promised the deepest and richest selffulfillment for those who would make the nature abilities. American dreamalso tellspeoplethat they shouldn’t give up easily and do your best. IntheAmerican history Benjamin Franklin was the fist one to embody theAmerican Dream in his work his works as the autobiography and PoorRichardsAlmanacadvocatedtheindividualdiligentandgavesomeadvicetoAmerican people to realize their American Dream. Another example wasAbraham Lincoln who was regarded as the greatest president inAmericanhistory.AbrahamLincolnwasborninKentuckyinahousewithonlyoneroom.Hisfami lywasoneofthepoorestfamiliesinthearea.Hehadworkedallhislife.WhenhewasayoungmanLi ncolnmadeextraordinaryeffortstoattainknowledge while working on a farm splitting rails for fences and keepingstoreatNewSalemIllinois.HewasacaptainintheBlackHawkWar spenteightyearsintheIllinoislegislatureandrodethecircuitofcourtsformanyyears. After somany years’ hard work he became the president of US andmade his American dream come true. This is the original meaning ofAmericanDream. HoweverasifAmericanDreambetweengoldenpastandgoldenfuturealways suffered from the realistic betrayal and crush—the realistic worldappearing in front of people was bleakness and dejection. With the 2development of the society and blooming economy American Dreamgradually faded its own color and excessive material and overemphasizedopportunist occupied the heart of the American people and thesedegeneratedthoughtsbegantoerodetheAmericanDream.Ⅲ.RealizationandCollapseofGatsbysAmericanDreamsinHisWholeLife GayGatsbywhowasaveryrichmanlivedinalavishmansion.EverySaturdaynighthewouldhold greatpartyinhishouse.AyoungmannamedNickCarawayrentingahouseintheWestEgginvolve dhimselfinthelifeofGatsbywhotoldNickthathefellinlovewithNickscousinDaisybeforetheW WI. Because he was very poor atthattime Daisy married Tom Buchananwho is a rich and arrogant man. However he was still in love with her. HepersuadedNicktobringhimandDaisytogetheragain.WiththehelpofNickhewasrekindlingt herelationshipwithDaisyandhetriedtoconvinceDaisytoleaveher husband Tom who in turnrevealedthat Gatsby has madehismoneybybootlegging.WhenDaisyhesitatedtochoosebetweenGatsbyandTom she was driving Gatsbys car unintentionally hitting and killing Tomsmistress Myrtle Wilson. Gatsby kept this secret to protect Daisy. Tom toldMyrtles husband Wilson that it was Gatsby who killed his wife. WilsonmurderedGatsbyandthencommittedsuicide.AtlastNickwastheonlyonewholefttoarra ngeGatsbysfuneral. Nick considered Gatsby as a great and magic person as he had everrealizedhisdreamsinhislife.Gatsbydiedintheageof32butinhisshortlifejourneyhehadexp eriencedtherealizationandcollapseofhisthreedreams.A.TheDreamofBecomingaUsefulMan inChildhood Gatsby was born in a poor family of centre‐western region. In thefuneralN ickencounteredGatsby’sfatherHenryC.Gatzwhowasproudof 3his son and saved a picture of his house. He also told Nick aboutGatsby’searlylifeshowinghimabookinwhichyoungGatsbyhadwrittenaschedulefor self‐improvement: “Rise from be 6.00 A.M Dumbbell exercise anda ll‐scaling 6.15‐6.30A.M Study electricity…..7.15‐8.15A .MWork8.30‐4.30P.MBaseballandsports4.30‐5.00P.M.Practiceelocutionpoiseandhow to attain it 5.00‐6.00P.M Study needed inventions7.00‐9.00P.M.” 2 Above‐mentioned show that on the last fly‐leaf of Hopolong CassidyGatsbywasrecordedhisdecisionandapieceofstricttimetableforworking.As everyone knows many famous people depended on the struggle bythemselvesandgotasuccessatlastandtheirstorieswhichmadeeveryonebelieve that each youth could become a useful and wealthy person in thefuture. If one person was loyal to their family and friends patient andindependent he would have the same opportunity as other persons to doanythingthatistosayitispossibleforhimcomingfromthepoorfamilytobecomearichandnobl epersonsoGatsbywasoneofthebelieversofit.Thedream was so magic with endless infinite power that encouragedGatsbystruggleforitbyhisalleffort.ItmadeanimplicationthatGatsbywouldmakea fortune rely on personal virtues diligence and frugality. In hischildhoodGatsbyusedtoabidebyFran klin’steachingandfollowhisowndreamatthebackgroun dof20‐centurysocietyinU.S.OversomanyyearsGatsbyalwayspersisted in it and observed it. In brief in Gatsby early age he presentedapositiveattitudetowardhislife.Ifhewasnotinfluencedbythesocietywhichwas immoral in 20th century he would realize his American dream andbecomeapromisingperson.B.TheDreamofBecomingaRichandUpper‐classPersoninYouth Even if his dream originated from American dream the essence ofGatsby’sdreamistheessenceofAmericandream.WithhisgrowingGatsby’sAmericanDrea m wentby an evolution whenhewas young. Hedreamed ofmaking a good fortune transcending common people and getting rid ofpoornessasmuchastheheroesdescribedbyBenFranklin. Hewasbornona4NorthDakotafarmwhowasnamedJamesGatsbyandheenteredcollegeatSt. Olaf in Minnesota. He dropped out after two weeks for he loathed thehard and laborious work In the age of seventeen he met Dan Cody whowas a pirate in the Superior Lake. And then he changed his name as GayGatsby and became an assistant of Dan Cody. Traveling with Cody to theBarbaryCoastandWestIndiesGatsbyfellinlovewithmoneyandluxury. Hishumiliationathavingtoworkasajanitoratthecollegecontrastedwiththepromisehemetwith DanCodywhorepresentedtheachievementsof everything that Gatsby wants. As Gatsby was aware of his poverty theyoung Gatsby developed a powerful obsession with amazing wealth andstatus. He changed his name which symbolized his desire to jettison hislower ‐class identity and recast himself as the wealthy man he imaged. Hebelieved that he could discard his past and his background completely;howeveritwasimpossible.Hislargefortunehadnotbeenobtainedhonestly.Gatsbydidbusiness withWolfsheim—agambler.Gatsbymadelotsofmoneyalso from distributing illegal alcohol and trading in stolen securities. Aftergetting money Gatsby got luxurious possessions. “He saw me looking withadmirationathiscarRollsRoyce…itwasrichcreamcolorbrightwithnickelswollenhereand thereinitsmonstrouslength…”3Fromthattimehebegantogetridofthehisearlyagedreamwhilet heAmericandreamhadbecomecollapsed. On his way to obtain wealthy he gradually lost his innocent anddiligent characters and sake everything onhisdreams notrealizingthathisdreams are unworthy of him. However he became fabulously wealthy andrealizedhismoneydream.C.TheDreamofLovingaCharmingGirl Though Gatsby always wanted to be rich his main motivation inacquiringhisfortunewashisloveforDaisyBuchananwhomhemetwhenhewas a young military officer in Louisville before leaving to fight inWWII.GatsbyimmediatelyfellinlovewithDaisyforherluxuryelegancyandcharm.HeliedtoDa isyabouthisbackgroundinordertoconvinceherthatafterwar5shewouldmarrywithhim.BecauseofhisliesDaisypromisedtowaitforhimwhen he was left for the war. But she married Tom Buchanan in 1919.However Gatsby still loved with her in Gatsby’s mind the only way shouldGatsbywinbackdaisyistogetalotofmoneybutitwasverydifficultforanormal soldier to earn. In order to win Daisy Gatsby dared to have illegaltrade of alcohol to make a fortune because he clearly knew that he mustofferDaisyabetterlifewhichwasluxuriantifhewantedtowinDaisy. InsomedegreeGatsby’slovetoDaisyreflectedhismemoryofthepast.Four years before he met her and then loved her. During the long timeGatsby remembered that Daisy wasfantastically like a miracle story in hismind an unforgettable event with wonderful experiences and afairymeadowinamysteriousVail.TogetbacktheloveofDaisyheneededmakealargeamountof moneyandraisehisownstatueandhealsomadehimselfnoble and elegant‐‐‐he studied in Oxford University. After doing whatmentioned before he made him become a famous people He had heldparties every weekend at his mansion. The party is almost unbelievablyluxurious he made friends who are famous. When Daisy went to his partyandexclaimedshenevermetsomanycelebrities Situated at the end of Daisy’s east egg dock an d barely visible fromGatsby’s west egg lawn the green light symbolized Gatsby’s hopesanddreamsforthefuture.ThegreenlightmeantthatGatsbyhadassociatedhisAmericandreamwi thhisformalloverDaisy. Nevertheless after five years when Gatsby met Daisy again themiracleDaisyhadlostheroriginalglory.ShelivedintheeasteggdistrictofLong Land. She had become superficial and cynical with unbelievablebehaviorinordertomaskherpainathishusband’sunmorally.Daisywasnotasperfe ctasGatsbyalwaysimaginingandinhismindDaisywasagoddess.HoweverinrealityDaisywasj ustGatsby’sidealpersonificationthatwasonlyabadlyworldlybeautywithagoodappearancean demptysoul.Shewastherepresentativeofmoneyworshipers.MaybeshelovedGatsbyoncebuth er6lovewasnotrealnotpersistentshewantedherlifeshapedimmediatelyandthedecisionmustbem adenotbythepoweroflovebutthepowerofmoneythat was the most real in her world. So naturally after he met Gatsby shewouldliketoloveGatsbyagainbecauseatthistimeGatsbywaswealthyandfamous. In such a situation she w.。

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本科生毕业设计 (论文)题目:A Contrastive Analysis of the Greatness of Gatsby and the Meanness of His Foils in The Great Gatsby教学单位外国语学院__ _ ________姓名 _朱兴春 ________学号_200730701142___________年级 2007级 ________专业英语 _______指导教师文培红__________________职称 _副教授_________________2011年 5 月 14日Abstract: The scholars have already done some researches on the book The Great Gatsby which was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, such as the writing styles of the author in the book, symbolism and metaphor, the failure of the “American dream”, the analysis of the protagonist —Gatsb y—the representative of hero and Daisy’s and other women’s selfish and mental emptiness. On the basis of these, it revealed the failure of the “American Dream”people had in that times when they paid more attention to the materialistic hedonism but spiritual void by analyzing the characters such as Gatsby, Daisy and Tom. Therefore, Gatsby’s “American Dream”—Daisy—was doomed to failure. However, he was great because he speared no efforts to make his dream come true.摘要:学者们已经对《了不起的盖茨比》中作者的写作手法——象征及比喻、“美国梦”在现实中的幻灭、盖茨比的人物分析——英雄主义的代表、以及故事中黛西等女性角色空虚自私的生活等分析与评论。

因此,在这基础上,通过对盖茨比与黛西、汤姆为代表的上层人物进行逐个分析,从反面揭示出以黛西、汤姆为代表的重商主义者在美国现实社会下对物质的追求与享乐但精神空虚如同行尸走肉般的人们注定了像盖茨比一类人的“美国梦”的破灭。

因此,盖茨比的“美国梦”——黛西——注定是失败的,但是他为了实现自己的梦想不断奋斗的精神是了不起的。

Key Word: greatness Gatsby meanness of the foils American Dream 关键词:了不起盖茨比大众的粗恶美国梦Contents Abstract (I)1 Introduction (1)2 The author’s experiences and the social background (1)2.1 The author’s experiences (1)2.2 The social background (3)3 The analysis of Gatsby’s greatness (4)3.1. Gatsby’s courage and persistence (4)3.2 Gatsby’s kindness and generosity (6)3.3 Gatsby’s sacrifice, filial piety and self-discipline ……. ………. …….. ..64 The analysis of Daisy’s and Tom’s meanness (7)4.1 The analysis of Daisy (7)4.1.1 Daisy’s beauty and her attractive voice (7)4.1.2 Daisy’s apathy, indifferent, and selfish (7)4.1.3 Dais y’s desire for material and money, and her empty spirit (8)4.2 The analysis of Tom (8)4.2.1 Tom’s cruel ty and crudity (8)4.2.2 Tom’s selfishness and his awareness of his status and possessions..95 The description of the follies (9)6 Conclusion (10)References (12)Acknowledgements (13)1 IntroductionThe Great Gatsby is written by American author Francis Scott Fitzgerald, who is considered a member of the “lost generation” of 1920s. It was first published in 1925. The following is the main plot of the novel. A young man named Nick Caraway, who came to New York City in spring of 1922. He became involved in the life of his neighbor at the Long Island, Jay Gatsby, a very rich man, who entertained hundreds, even thousands of guests who did not know each other and Gatsby at his party. Gatsby revealed to Nick, that he fell in love with Nick’s cousin Daisy before the war. However, he was poor at that time. Therefore, Daisy married Tom Buchanan, a rich but boring man of high social position. When Gatsby came back after the war he found Daisy was married because he had no money but he still loved her. So he wanted to regain Daisy by earning money as a bootlegger. After he was rich, he persuaded Nick to bring him and Daisy together again. Gatsby tried his best to convince Daisy to leave Tom and live with him. Unfortunately, in return, Tom revealed that Gatsby had made his money from bootlegging. So they asked Daisy whom she loved and who she wanted to live with. Daisy had no idea and began to sob helplessly. So she wanted to escape from this situation. Driving Gatsby’s blue car, she hit and killed Tom’s mistress, Myrtle Wilson, and she was so crazy that she did not know what she could do. Gatsby remained silent in order to protect her. But Tom told Myrtle’s husband Wilson that it was Gatsby who killed his wife. Wilson murdered Gatsby and then committed suicide. Tom and Daisy left Long Island in the afternoon when Gatsby was killed and did call neither Nick nor Gatsby. Nick was left to arrange Gatsby’s funeral, attended only by Gatsby’s father and one former guest. The Great Gatsby was the reflection of the times which Fitzgerald called “the Jazz Age” and recorded the life people lived in that time.2 The brief introduction of the author and the social backgroundFrancis Scott Fitzgerald lived in the period that was between the WWI and the roaring twenties. He had his own traditional value which was contradicted to the main value in those years. So he had double and contradictory personality.2.1 The introduction to the authorFrancis Scott Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896, and named after his ancestor Francis Scott Key, the author of “The Star-Spangled Banner”. Fitzgerald was raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. Though an intelligent child, he did poorly in school andwas sent to a New Jersey boarding school in 1911. Despite being a mediocre student there, he managed to enroll at Princeton in 1913. Academic troubles and apathy plagued him throughout his time at college, and he never graduated, instead of being enlisted in the army in 1917, as World War I came to the end. Fitzgerald became a second lieutenant, and was stationed at Camp Sheridan, in Montgomery, Alabama. There he met and fell in love with a wild seventeen-year-old beauty named Zelda Sayre. Zelda finally agreed to marry him, but her overpowering desire for wealth, fun, and leisure led her to delay their wedding until he could prove a success. With the publication of This Side of Paradise in 1920, Fitzgerald became a literary sensation, earning enough money and fame to convince Zelda to marry him. Many of these eve nts from Fitzgerald’s early life appear ed in his most famous novel, The Great Gatsby, published in 1925. Like Fitzgerald, Nick Carraway was a thoughtful young man from Minnesota, educated at an Ivy League school (in Nick’s case, Yale), who moved to New York after the war. Also similar to Fitzgerald was Jay Gatsby, a sensitive young man who idolized wealth and luxury and who fell in love with a beautiful young woman while stationed at a military camp in the South. Having become a celebrity, Fitzgerald fell into a wild, reckless life-style of parties and decadence, while desperately trying to please Zelda by writing to earn money. Similarly, Gatsby amassed a great deal of wealth at a relatively young age, and devoted himself to acquiring possessions and throwing parties that he believed it would enable him to win Daisy’s love. As the giddiness of the Roaring Twenties dissolved into the bleakness of the Great Depression, however, Zelda suffered a nervous breakdown and Fitzgerald battled alcoholism, which hampered his writing. He published Tender Is the Night in 1934, and sold short stories to The Saturday Evening Post to support his lavish lifestyle. In 1937, he left for Hollywood to write screenplays, and in 1940, while working on his novel The Love of the Last Tycoon, he died of a heart attack at the age of forty-four. Fitzgerald was the most famous chronicler of 1920s America, an era that he dubbed “the Jazz Age.” Written in 1925, The Great Gatsby was one of the greatest literary documents of this period, in which the American economy soared, bringing unprecedented levels of prosperity to the nation. Prohibition, the ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol mandated by the “Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution”(1919), made millionaires out of bootleggers, and an underground culture of revelry sprang up. Sprawling private parties managed to elude police notice, and “speakeasies”—secret clubs that soldliquor—thrived. The chaos and violence of World War I left America in a state of shock, and the generation that fought the war turned to wild and extravagant living to compensate. The staid conservatism and timeworn values of the previous decade were turned on their ear, as money, opulence, and exuberance became the order of the day. Like Nick in The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald found this new lifestyle seductive and exciting, and, like Gatsby, he had always idolized the very rich. Now he found himself in an era in which unrestrained materialism set the tone of society, particularly in the large cities of the East. Even so, like Nick, Fitzgerald saw through the glitter of the Jazz Age to the moral emptiness and hypocrisy beneath, and part of him longed for this absent moral center. In many ways, The Great Gatsby represented Fitzgerald’s attempt to confront his conflicting feelings about the Jazz Age. Like Gatsby, Fitzgerald was driven by his love for a woman who symbolized everything he wanted, even as she led him toward everything he despised.Fitzgerald’s novels and stories reflected vividly the shattered “American Dream”and showed the mental outlook of the high social status men’s in the “waste era”during the Great Depression. He not only had the successful and prosperous life experiences, but also had the bitter and frustrated suffering. So he was called “the authority of the failure”. His life was intertwined with ambition and reality, success and failure, proud and down, to revel in and decadent, love and suffer, the conflict between the American culture and Europe culture, between the east and west, between the dreams and disillusionment, etc.. With all these feelings in his heart, he lose his value and direction. So he was also one of the representatives of “The Lost Generation”.2.2 The social background between the WWI and the “Roaring T wenties”The WWI was ended in 1919 and America was undoubtfully the winner. Since America afforded the munitions to the both sides of the countries at the beginning of the WWI, America got a lot of money and its economy was strengthened which made America become a creditor nation from a debtor nation. After the war, America was in an unprecedented era of economy prosperity and bountiful substance. At the same time, its society was filled with the moral decadence, because justice and faith became the cheating words which defeated the whole generation as the essence of the imperialist war was exposed gradually. Of the ruins of the ancient tradition, faith, and idea, the American youth lived in a deficit spending and pleasure life. Money was regarded as the most important thing in the world. While the traditional value facedchallenge, the new value was not formed. So the people in these years had decadent value and empty life, and they wanted to be millionaires overnight or perused material meet and get-it-while-you-can. “American Dream”made all the people’s eyes dazzling as a colorful balloon wandering in the air. (吴建国,p32)“All the gods have all death ray, all the battle has been finished, all the faith all has completely lost.”(Fitzgrald,p253) The Jazz Age referred to the ten years from the year of 1919 to the year of 1929, and Fitzgerald described the atmosphere of this period as “This is a constantly miracles era, a prosperous times, a profligate era, an era of irony.”(Fitzgerald,p14) in his article of Echoes of the Jazz Age.Before the WWI, the laissez-faire democratic ideal that America had always believed was the product of an age when individual effort counted, when a man could rise his own efforts, and when if his affairs were not succeeding he could at least escape by signing up for a whaling voyage or lighting out for the territory ahead of the rest. When the system failed, it was the fault of rapscallions and crooks; the version remained an ideal and the standard from which criticism and judgments could be made.However, WWI shattered this version. It ended once and for all the faith in individual effort that had been eroding since the Revolution and had persisted –sometimes naively and sometimes defensively-in the fiction in this period. As Mark Schorer had pointed out, disillusionment with the American system and the efficacy of individual effort was the distinguishing characteristic of postwar American writing. “The rootlessness of postwar American society, its restless alienation, and its consequent reliance on money were regarded as a code for expressing emotions and identity.”(Brueccoli,p46)3 The analysis of Gatsby’s greatnessGatsby was a man who spared no efforts to achieve his dream-Daisy and his love. In order to realize it, he changed his name first and then made money by bootlegging. However, he did not get what he wanted and his dream failed. Finally, he was murdered by a man whose wife was killed by Daisy. Though he was dead his persistence was worth to be learned by us. From the idealism he idealized his “American Dream”and his life, and he lived in a life he imaged. Thus, his dream doomed to failure, but his courage and persistence were great.3.1 Gatsby’s courage and persistenceGatsby was completely a man who tried his best to promote his social status from a lower class to higher class. His perseverance, courage and efforts made him get numerous money and stride into the higher class. “The one on my right was a colossal affair by any standard-it was a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool, and more than forty acres of lawn and garden. It was Gatsby’s mansion.”(Fitzgerald,p9)From these words, we can speculate his efforts of being a rich man.He fell in love with Daisy when he was a lieutenant and he wanted to get married with her. However, he joined the army oversea to fight. In the army, he wrote letters to Daisy to keep touch with each other. After he knew that Daisy was married to Tom who was very rich he intended to obtain Daisy again. Thus, he came back to Daisy’s hometown to get some information of Daisy. For five years he inquired about her, and he also did some business to make money to attract Daisy to him. His courage and willpower for Daisy was great though he was failed at last.In order to get money, he changed his name first and then inherited money from Cody. “James Gatz-that was really, or at least legally, his name. He had changed it at the age of seventeen and at the specific moment that witnessed the beginning of his career-when he saw Dan Cody’s yacht drop anchor over the most insidious flat on Lake Superior.”(Fitzgerald, p97) At that time when Gatsby saw Cody, Cody was fifty years old and he was a rich man. Cody got lots of money through copper transactions in Mantana. Thus, many girls and women wanted to gain his money, trying their best to achieve their dreams. Cody asked Gatsby a few questions and found that Gatsby was quick and extravagantly ambitious. A few days later, Cody took him to Duluth and bought Gatsby a blue coat, six pairs of white duck trousers, and a yacht cap. Cody left some money to Gatsby but Gatsby received no money because Cody’s woman Ella Kaye got it after Cody’s death. What he got was appropriate education; the vague contour of Jay Gatsby had filled out to the substantiality of a man.Gatsby’s pursuit for love, Daisy, and money and his continuous efforts to make them come true made him rich and obtained a higher social status. His courage and persistence were the characteristics of the “American Dream.”“Gatsby’s life was filled with dream, the dream of beauty and love. He dedicated all his life to realize his dream.”(张福勇)3.2 Gatsby’s kindness and generosityEvery week Gatsby would hold party for all the guests coming to his gorgeous house. “In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.”(Fitzgerald, p49) “On weekends his RollsRoyce became an omnibus, bearing parties to and from the city between nine in the morning and long past midnight, while his station wagon scampered like a brisk yellow bug to meet all trains. And on Mondays eight servants, including an extra gardener, toiled all day with mops and scrubbing-brushes and hammers and garden-shears, repairing the ravages of the night before.”(Fitzgerald, p49) “Every Friday five crates of oranges and lemons arrived from a fruiterer in New York –every Monday these same oranges and lemons left his back door in a pyramid of pulpless halves.”(Fitzgerald, p49) Gatsby treated his guests with sumptuous feast and from all his actions he was known as a kind and generous man. When his guest’s tore her gown on a chair, and Gatsby asked her name and address –a week later she got a package from Croirier’s with a new evening gown in it. Gatsby treated all the people in his banquet well no matter others did not know him. And his smile was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it. His smile let other person feel comfortable. When Gatsby planned to meet Daisy in Carraway’s house he asked his gardener to mow his lawn. He wanted to introduce Carraway a job as a reward.3.3 Gatsby’s sacrifice spirit and filial piety, self-disciplineWhen Daisy drove Gatsby’s car on the way home, Daisy killed Tom’s mistress Myrtle without stopping. Gatsby kept silence in order to protect Daisy. And that night he waited outside of Daisy’s house and saw if Tom tried to bother Daisy about that unpleasantness in that afternoon. “He spoke as if Daisy’s reaction was the only thing that mattered.”(Fitzgerald, p140) The next day Gatsby was murdered by George and Daisy and Tom left for. He pursued his love and sacrificed his life at last. In this sense, he was a great man.Gatsby also loved his father. After he died, his father drawn his book he owned when he was a child. On the last fly-leaf was printed the word SCHEDULE, and the GENERAL RESERVES. Gatsby visited his father two years ago and bought him a house. With the schedule and the reserves he wrote he would have a big future in front of him and ever since he made a success he was very generous with his father.4 The analysis of Daisy’s and Tom’s meannessDaisy and Tom belonged to the higher social class. “They were the representatives of the aristocrats and they pursued life’s elegance and pleasure. However, their spirit was empty so they spent money in idling away their bored life. They were selfish, irresponsible, had a degenerate moral.”(苗永敏) “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy-they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made…“(Fitzgerald, p174)From the mercantilism Tom and Daisy were cared about their wealth, not other people’s feeling.4.1 The analysis of DaisyDaisy was a woman who was beautiful, elegant, lovely, and romantic but her pretty was just an illusion. She was a cold and detached person with an empty spirit. What she pursued was the desire for material.4.1.1 Daisy’s beauty and her attractive voiceWhen carraway came to Daisy’s house for the first time she wore a white dress which was rippling and fluttering as if she had just been blown back in after a short flight around the house. When she asked Carraway some question in her low, thrilling voice Carraway was drawn his attention to it. Daisy’s voice was the kind of voice that the ear followed up and down, as if each speech was an arrangement of notes that would never be played again. Her beauty and charming voice made many men propose her.4.1.2 Daisy’s apathy, indifference, and selfishnessWhen Daisy killed Myrtle, she did not admit her mistake; instead, she and her husband Tom told George that it was Gatsby who killed Myrtle. After Gatsby went back home, she did not call him and she did not visit him as well after Gatsby’s death. All she concerned was her luxurious life. Daisy had a daughter but their relationship was not mother and daughter. Pammy just liked a toy which was brought when its master needed it. She did not love her daughter but funny. She convinced Gatsby that she would go with him, but she still cared Tom’s wealth and status and she knew that she still need them when she knew that Gatsby was not belonged to her social class.As far as Daisy was concerned, moral, responsibility, and obligation did not exist in the world. To sum up, Daisy only cared about herself without taking other people into consideration. She could desert anyone in order to protect herself.4.1.3 Daisy’s desire for material and money, and her empty spiritDaisy and Gatsby fell in love with each other; however, when Gatsby took apart in the army she married Tom who was very rich because Gatsby was poor. During the five years Gatsby knew that he tried to get her again he must become rich through his efforts to attract Daisy to him. When Gatsby showed Daisy his “achievement” to her, she was attracted. While Gatsby took out a pile of shirts and began throwing them, one by one, before Daisy, shirts of sheer linen and thick silk covered the table in many colored disarray, Daisy began to cry stormily and said she never saw these beautiful shirts. “For Daisy felling itself was not a true thing but just a ‘pose’.”(王晓环) As the words said by Gatsby that Daisy’s voice was filled with money.Daisy’s spirit was blank and empty, she had not goal or idea to pursue or set up. Just as she said she did not know how to live that afternoon when Gatsby first came to her house, what she would do the next day, and the next thirty years.4.2 The analysis of Tom“Tom Buchanan lives according to a certain social code.”(Bruccoli, p70) He belonged to the higher social class and he inherited the wealth from his family. Thus, he did not care the feeling of other person and he was cruel, selfish, and indifferent. He only paid attention to what he possessed no matter money or women. Tom was a playboy who traveled with a waitress of a hotel by driving and then dated Myrtle in New York. “He was foolish, selfish, arrogant and supercilious.”(苗永敏) He could have mistress and have a self-indulgence life but he could not bear his wife to have a man. “She knew before we were married –God knows where!”(Fitzgerald, p120) “Tom was evidently perturbed at Daisy’s running around alone, for on the following Saturday night he came with her to Gatsby’s party.”(Fitzgerald, p103)4.2.1 Tom’s cruelty and crudityWhen Tom was in New Haven he was one of the most powerful ends that ever played football. “Two shining arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face and gave him the appearance of always learning aggressively forward.” (Fitzgerald,p11) And that was the body capable of enormous leverage-a cruel body. His words and his voice were full of cruelty. When Carraway came to New York with Tom he lived in Tom and his mistress’s apartment for one night. That night Carraway heard Tom Buchanan and Mrs Wilson discussing in impassioned voices, standing face to face. Tom beat Myrtle and broke her nose when she said Daisy’s name. Tom was so crude that even his mistress he beat.4.2.2 Tom’s selfishness and his awareness of his status and his possessionsTom and his wife, Carraway and Jordan, and Gatsby went to city by driving car. On the way to New York, he refueled Gatsby’s yellow car at George’s garage and he knew that his possession-Myrtle would leave him. So he turned his head and looked back for Daisy’s driving car, and if the traffic delayed Daisy and Gatsby he slowed up until they came into sight just because he was afraid to lose Daisy and Myrtle. When he went to New York with Myrtle, he let her seated in another car in order to avoid the sensibilities of those East Eggers who might be on the train. After Daisy killed his mistress, he told George selfishly that it was Gatsby who killed his wife for owning his Daisy. All he concerned were his possessions and he did not allow anyone to grab from him. He could do anything to grasp them.5 The description of the folliesIn Gatsby’s splendid party, all the guests were not invited by Gatsby except a few of them. They got into automobiles which took them to Gatsby’s house or they were introduced by somebody who knew Gatsby. And after that they conducted themselves according to the rules of behavior associated with an amusement park. They came to Gatsby’s house without seeing him or knowing him but for a simplicity of their heart for joy. In the party, there were some celebrities, rich men, businessmen, who came from both East and West Egg. They did not know about Gatsby, so they guessed that Gatsby was killed a man once or Gatsby was a German spy. What they could guess the role Gatsby was bad. They came for enjoying their emotion. They danced on the canvas in Gatsby’s garden; old men pushing young girls backwards in eternal graceless circles, superior couples holding each other tortuously, and keeping in the corner, many young girls dancing individually or relieving the orchestra for a moment of the burden of the banjo or the traps. With the dancing continuing, the hilarity was upsurged. They came all the summer to do these.However, when Gatsby died no one came to see Gatsby; instead, they stayed away from Gatsby. When Carraway called them to take part in Gatsby’s funeral, they all said they had no time, especially Gatsby’s friend Wolfshiem. Carraway sent Gatsby’s butler to New York with a letter to him and asked him to come to see Gatsby. He did not come but returned only a letter which said that he was sad to hear this news but he was very busy and his business could not mix with Gatsby’s affairs. When Carraway phoned Gatsby’s friends to come to his funeral, his friends just said that they would have a picnic or something else on Gatsby’s funeral day and they said deliberately that they would do their best to get away and attend Gatsby’s funeral. Even when Carraway went to New York to invite Mr. Wolfshiem to attend Gatsby’s funeral, Wolfshiem did not see Carraway at first and after seeing Carraway he told him something about Gatsby’s past and said that he would not come to Gatsby’s funeral because he did not want his business disturbed by Gatsby’s affairs. Gat sby’s funeral was very cold and cheerless, without friends but his father, Carraway and the owl-glasses man. On that day it was rain as if God sympathized with him.All of Gatsby’s guests and friends were very selfish, indifferent and callous. They only concerned their wealth, money, social status and material enjoyment. They were the same class in which Tom and Daisy lived.6 ConclusionIn the years when people desired material enjoyment, Gatsby’s naïve and mirage “dream” doomed to fail. During those years, people did not care about other’s feeling, even if the one was his or her relative. In the novel Fitzgerald vividly described the relation between people and people and this relationship was the reflection and refraction of the roaring twenties’life. Because there were Tom and Daisy who stood for the upper class, Gatsby’s would not success for the upper class was cold and cruel. Gatsby was the incarnation of his idealistic “American Dream”and he did every thing to realize his unpractical ideal. He was great although his dream was failed at last and he was killed eventually compared to the cold and cruel Tom, Daisy, and all the follies. His perseverance of achieving his dream was great, his unswervingly love for Daisy was great, his kindness for his guests was great, and his filial piety for his father was great.“Gatsby was worth to sympathize with, and his life was beginning with a dream and ended with a dream. Gatsby’s tragedy reflected a main contradiction that was thecontradiction between ideal and reality. Gatsby and Tom stood for the two main powers-one was the idealism which broke away from the reality, the other was extremely crude pragmatism.”(娜仁花)It showed Gatsby’s greatness by describing Tom’s meanness. Even if Gatsby and his dream were lost he was still great for his doings.References:[1] Fitzgerald, F.Scott, This Side of Paradise [M], Penguin Classics, 1930[2] Fitzgerald F.Scott, The Crack Up [M], Wilson, Edmund New Directions, 1945[3] Fitzgerald F.Scott, The Great Gatsby [M], Peking: Foreign Language Press, 2007[4] Bruccoli, Mattew, New Essays on The Gatsby [M], Peking: Peking University Press, 2007[5] Bruccoli, Mattew, ed.F.Scott Fitzgerald: A Life in Letters, New York: Simon & Schuster Inc, 1995[6] 苗永敏.了不起的盖茨比与20世纪20年代的美国[J],扬州教育学院学报,2005年第3卷第一期[7] 娜仁花.了不起的盖茨比与美国梦的破灭[J],语文学刊-外语教育教学,2009年第二期[8] 吴建国.菲茨杰拉德研究[M],上海:外语教育出版社,2002[9] 王晓环.美丽的幻想与无情的冷漠[J],佳木斯大学社会科学学报,2000年第三期[10] 肖东波,唐骏.了不起的盖茨比-美国梦的破灭[J],湖北成人教育学院学报,2009年5月第五卷第三期[11] 杨师淮.美国梦的破灭[J],消费导刊-文化研究,2007年11月[12] 张福勇.杰伊盖茨比的了不起之处[J],烟台师范学院学报(哲学社会科学版),2001年09第十八卷第三期。

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