Monday, August 26, 2013

Week 2: The Great Gatsby


Why is The Great Gatsby a literary work?

Most people grew up reading The Great Gatsby. It’s one of the most well-known novels out there that describes the scene and the people in the 1900s. The plot itself is very intensely put together, showing the good times and the troubles all the characters go through regardless of it being such a wonderful time-period.

Of course, I see how The Great Gatsby can be a literary work, and I strongly believe that it is a very well executed one- because this novel jumps right into it so fast. At this time in history, everybody is trying to achieve the American Dream. Especially when it takes place in New York city, it’s a definite place where we can see people coming from different parts of the nation- like Nick from Missouri, for example- to see the new side of business, and how these great people make a living.


Of course, most of the characters in the novel are filthy rich, living the wonderful life, and having all the money and things they want- but there are darker sides to it all. There are affairs, lies and deceit. It shows themes of decadence, idealism and resistance to change. I feel like this novel really expresses and shows the era of that time extremely well. The atmosphere that is created is very precise, so it gives you a strong feeling that you’re in the time period. It ranges from the ranks of people in society, to the clothes on their backs. So not only does the culture show, but even the little things tie it all together.

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