"The Great Gatsby" and Distortion

Paper Summary:

This paper relates that the main character of "The Great Gatsby" is Nick Carraway, who leaves Minnesota to travel to New York, believing that it is in New York where he can make his fortune and live the American Dream. The paper looks at how the values that Nick brought to New York from Minnesota are constantly challenged as Nick wends his way through the maze of relationships and deceit that snares him in his West Egg, New York life. The paper attempts to show that what Nick finds, instead of success and personal satisfaction, is disillusionment with the American Dream and a desire to return to the life that he knew at home.

Outline:
Quality of Distortion
Distorted People
Distorted Dreams
Distorted Values

From the Paper:

"Nick has a similar past to that of Jay Gatsby. Like Gatsby, he comes from the Midwest. Like Gatsby, he desires to get ahead in life. And, like Gatsby, Nick believes that going to New York is the way to accomplish that goal. However, unlike Gatsby, Nick makes an attempt to retain his personal values instead of being caught up by the vortex that swept up Gatsby. For a short time, Nick finds himself tempted by the life that Gatsby leads. He briefly flirts with the fast life, enjoying his brief love affair with Jordan Baker. After Gatsby's death, however, Nick decides to return to the more grounded life he once led."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Berman, R. (1996). Great Gatsby and modern times. San Diego, CA: Illini Books.
• Bruccoli, M. J. (2000). F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby: A literary reference. New York: Avalon-Carroll & Graf.
• Fitzgerald, F. S. (date). The Great Gatsby. *Client must fill in publication data for the volume being used*
• Parr, S. R. (1985). The idea of order at West Egg. In New essays on The Great Gatsby (The American Novel) by Matthew J. Bruccoli (ed). New York: Cambridge University Press.
• Pelzer, L. C. (2000). Student companion to F. Scott Fizgerald (Student Companions to Classic Writers). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

More papers on "The Great Gatsby" and Distortion:

• Book Review # 74633 : "The Great Gatsby" and the Class System"
• Analytical Essay # 130524 : "Distortion in "The Great Gatsby"
• Book Review # 33819 : "The Great Gatsby" and Materialism"

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