The Great Gatsby: Book Review

*warning spoilers*

 

By: Carina Carlos

 

The Great Gatsby is a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald published in 1925; narrated by Nick Caraway, a young man from Minnesota who also cast himself as the book’s author. His narration is a reliable source of information because he is part of the main characters lives, which include Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. The novel is  set in the fictional town of West Egg in the summer of 1922 around the time of prohibition, a time when it was illegal to produce, import, transport, and sell alcoholic beverages. The setting is a key factor in the book because Gatsby is a bootlegger who pretends to be a respectable and old money maker to win Daisy’s love back.

 

Gatsby lives in West Egg, where most of newly rich live; while Daisy and her husband Tom live in East Egg, where people who are old money live.  In addition, Nick leaves Minnesota in search of the American Dream. Nick explains the American dream was originally about discovery, individualism, and the pursuit of happiness. In the 1920s depicted in the novel, however, easy money and relaxed social values have corrupted this dream, especially on the East Coast. Gatsby’s dream is similar to the corrupted dream, he believes that as long as he has money love will be his. However, Gatsby is destroyed by his devotion to one dream.

 

I strongly recommend the book to others because it wasn’t difficult to read unlike some of Fitzgerald's other novels. For example: Tender Is the Night by Fitzgerald; also revolving around the concept of alcohol and unfaithfulness is really difficult to read and comprehend.

 

Also, because it has a connection to history-- the eighteenth amendment-- and because it is a romantic tragedy that teaches one who the real vulgar people are. As the story begins, Nick sees himself as one who reserves making personal judgements on others. By the end of the book, Nick alone has grown as a character, and finds himself making moral judgements on those around him. For anyone that wants to have a good read on a rainy day The Great Gatsby is good book choice.