Double Vision in "The Great Gatsby"

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how the story "The Great Gatsby" is about the lives of rich people who lead glamorous, romantic and exciting lives but, at the same time, is about characters that are crude and corrupt. The paper explains that by telling the story in an ambiguous way, Fitzgerald makes the point that the selfish pursuit of the American Dream is empty and based on moral corruption.

From the Paper:

"The central character in this novel is Jay Gatsby. Yet even this central figure is ambiguous. For a start, Jay Gatsby is not his real name - his real name is James Gatz. This prosaic name shows the reader that the reality of Jay Gatsby is much less romantic than he tries to pretend. On the one hand, we may see this as romantic - James Gatz is following the American Dream, trying to become more than he was when he started out in life. But on the other hand, he is living a lie. He is not Jay Gatsby; he is James Gatz. The fact that Gatsby lies about something as basic and fundamental as his name signifies that he is also lying about something even more basic and fundamental - he is lying about his basic character and morality."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Collier Books, 1992.

More papers on Double Vision in "The Great Gatsby":

• Analytical Essay # 134375 : "Double Vision in "The Great Gatsby"
• Analytical Essay # 133496 : "Double Meanings in "The Great Gatsby"
• Analytical Essay # 133488 : "Class in "The Great Gatsby"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: