1、An Analysis of the Impact of Money on Gatsbys humanityin The Great Gatsby学 院：外国语学院班 级：2009 级 英语 4 班指导教师：王 欢姓 名：于 亮AbstractNick comes to live in the New York, neighboring the protagonist of the novel, Gatsby. In this new place a great banquet is held every evening. Nick and Gatsby meet each other the
2、re, in which the story begins. Nick is quite interested in exploring Gatsby. Later he finds that theres a complicated love for a girl deep in Gatsbys mind. When Gatsby was young, he was a military officer. At that time he fell in love with a girl called Daisy, who had a feeling for him too. Afterwar
3、d World War I occurred, Gatsby was dispatched to Europe. It seemed accidental but also certain that Daisy broke up with him, marrying a man called Tom who was in a wealthy family. Daisys marriage life was not very happy, because Tom was dating a mistress. Substance was not enough to fill up the empt
4、iness in her mind. Gatsby was pretty deplorable, believing that it was money that made Daisy betray, so he made up his mind to make his own wealth. Several years later, he succeeds on his wealth. He builds a mansion opposite to the mansion of Daisy. Gatsby tries all kinds of ways to draw the attenti
5、on of Daisy, in order to get back his beloved. Nick is impressed by what Gatsby did, so he goes to Daisy to deliver the deep love of Gatsby. However, Daisy loves to flirt with Gatsby whenever they meet, and Gatsby would always follow her trap, naively believing that their long-term love is going to
6、have a happy ending. However the real tragedy is barely in the beginning. At that time Daisy is never the Daisy before. She barely perceives their vagueness as a kind of excitement. Once Daisy is driving absent-minded, accidentally runs into the mistress of her husband. Under the provocation of Tom,
7、 Gatsby is shot dead by the husband of Toms mistress. Even till his death, Gatsby does not espy the contemptuous smile over Daisys face. His tragedy lies in that he has dedicated everything to his perfect dream, which is barely an impossible dream. Although Daisy left and he apparently smelt the pur
8、suit of money in her voice, he did not change his mind, totally engrossed in his own dream. When people are lamenting him, Daisy is on her journey to Europe with her husband. Nick has seen the unction of humanity and returns to his hometown from this indifferent city.Keywords： Gatsby, love, money摘要尼
9、 克 （ Nick） 从 中 西 部 故 乡 来 到 纽 约 ， 在 他 住 所 旁 边 正 是 本 书 主 人 公 盖 茨 比（ Gatsby） 的 豪 华 宅 第 。 这 里 每 晚 都 在 举 行 盛 大 的 宴 会 。 尼 克 和 盖 茨 比 相 识 ，故 事 就 这 样 开 始 了 。 尼 克 对 盖 茨 比 充 满 探 究 的 兴 趣 。 探 究 的 结 果 是 ： 尼 克了 解 到 盖 茨 比 内 心 深 处 有 一 段 不 了 之 情 。 年 轻 时 的 盖 茨 比 并 不 富 有 ， 他 是一 个 少 尉 军 官 。 他 爱 上 了 一 位 叫 黛 茜 （ Daisy） 的
10、姑 娘 ， 黛 茜 对 他 也 情 有 所钟 。 后 来 第 一 次 世 界 大 战 爆 发 ， 盖 茨 比 被 调 往 欧 洲 。 似 是 偶 然 却 也 是 必 然 ，黛 茜 因 此 和 他 分 手 ， 转 而 与 一 个 出 身 于 富 豪 家 庭 的 纨 绔 子 弟 汤 姆 （ Tom）结 了 婚 。 黛 茜 婚 后 的 生 活 并 不 幸 福 ， 因 为 汤 姆 另 有 情 妇 。 物 欲 的 满 足 并 不 能填 补 黛 西 精 神 上 的 空 虚 。 盖 茨 比 痛 苦 万 分 ， 他 坚 信 是 金 钱 让 黛 茜 背 叛 了 心 灵的 贞 洁 ， 于 是 立 志 要 成 为
11、富 翁 。 几 年 以 后 ， 盖 茨 比 终 于 成 功 了 。 他 在 黛 茜 府邸 的 对 面 建 造 起 了 一 幢 大 厦 。 盖 茨 比 挥 金 如 土 ， 彻 夜 笙 箫 ， 一 心 想 引 起 黛 茜的 注 意 ， 以 挽 回 失 去 的 爱 情 。 尼 克 为 盖 茨 比 的 痴 情 所 感 动 ， 便 去 拜 访 久 不 联系 的 远 房 表 妹 黛 茜 ， 并 向 她 转 达 盖 茨 比 的 心 意 。 黛 茜 在 与 盖 茨 比 相 会 中 时 时有 意 挑 逗 。 盖 茨 比 昏 昏 然 听 她 随 意 摆 布 ， 并 且 天 真 地 以 为 那 段 不 了 情 有
12、了 如愿 的 结 局 。 然 而 真 正 的 悲 剧 却 在 此 时 悄 悄 启 幕 。 黛 茜 早 已 不 是 旧 日 的 黛 茜 。黛 茜 不 过 将 她 俩 目 前 的 暖 昧 关 系 ， 当 做 一 种 刺 激 。 尼 克 终 于 有 所 察 觉 ， 但 为时 已 晚 。 一 次 黛 茜 在 心 绪 烦 乱 的 状 态 下 开 车 ， 偏 偏 轧 死 了 丈 夫 的 情 妇 。 盖 茨比 为 保 护 黛 茜 ， 承 担 了 开 车 责 任 ， 但 黛 茜 已 打 定 主 意 抛 弃 盖 茨 比 。 在 汤 姆 的挑 拨 下 ， 致 使 其 情 妇 的 丈 夫 开 枪 打 死 了 盖 茨
13、 比 。 盖 茨 比 最 终 彻 底 成 为 了 牺 牲品 。 盖 茨 比 至 死 都 没 有 发 现 黛 茜 脸 上 嘲 弄 的 微 笑 。 盖 茨 比 的 悲 剧 在 于 他 把 一切 都 献 给 了 自 己 编 织 的 美 丽 梦 想 ， 而 黛 茜 作 为 他 理 想 的 化 身 ， 却 只 徒 有 美 丽的 躯 壳 。 尽 管 黛 西 早 已 移 情 别 恋 ,尽 管 他 清 楚 地 听 出 “她 的 声 音 充 满 了 金 钱 ”,却 仍 不 改 初 衷 ,固 执 地 追 求 重 温 旧 梦 。 人 们 在 为 盖 茨 比 举 行 葬 礼 ， 黛 茜 和 她丈 夫 此 时 却 早
14、已 在 欧 洲 旅 行 的 路 上 。 不 了 情 终 于 有 了 了 结 。 尼 克 目 睹 了 人 类现 实 的 虚 情 寡 义 ， 深 感 厌 恶 ， 于 是 怀 着 一 种 悲 剧 的 心 情 ， 远 离 喧 嚣 、 冷 漠 、空 洞 、 虚 假 的 大 都 市 ， 黯 然 回 到 故 乡 。关 键 词 ： 盖 茨 比 ， 爱 情 ， 金 钱ContentsAbstract in EnglishiAbstract in Chinese.iiiI. Introduction.1A. A brief introduction to Fitzgerald1B. A Brief Introdu
15、ction to Gatsby.1C. Literature Review1. An Analysis of the process of tragedy of Gatsby.2A. Gatsbys Americans dream.2B. Gatsbys character2. The relationship between Gatsby and Daisy.3.The relationship between Gatsby and Fitzgerald.4V. Conclusion6Works Cited.7- 1 -I. IntroductionA. A brief introducti
16、on to FitzgeraldFrancis Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940), one of the greatest authors in the 20th century in the US. They were called the lost generation, and the signal of the roaring 20s. His writings have the exact feature of the lost generation, describing the young generations failure of pursuing t
17、heir Americas dream. In 1925, his masterpiece The Great Gatsby was published, marking his special status in the history of literature. The Great Gatsby describes the disillusioned Americas dream. The novel censures the upper class, shows compassion for Gatsby, and express that his tragedy was becaus
18、e of his perfect delusion and unawareness of the upper class. In December 1940, he passed away, aging 44.B. A Brief Introduction to GatsbyIn the 20s of 20th century in the US, the air is filled with frolic. Accidently, the deprived employee Nick gets into knowing the secret world of Gatsby. To Nicks
19、 surprise, the secret in Gatsbys mind is the girl on the other side of the river, named Daisy. However, cruel reality failes his fragile dream, and the goddess in his eyes is barely an ordinary money-pursuing woman. This novel adopts impressionism, which is significant in his status in the history o
20、f literature. C. Literature Reviewduring the time when this novel was written, the World War I just - 2 -ended(1918), and the Great Depression(1929) had not come. The traditional morality had been shattered, and hedonism took control of peoples mind. Its a generation which by Fitzgerald was called “
21、a miracle generation, an art generation, a money generation, and also a irony generation. Under his writing, the young people of the upper class were the permanent characters, who could not reject the lure of money. His novels are often filled with the dreams of young people, because those are the t
22、raits of the generation. In the meantime, his novels are also filled with emotion failure, because that is the fate of the people at that time. . An Analysis of the process of tragedy of GatsbyA. Gatsbys Americans dreamThe Great Gatsby is a novel that illustrates the society in the 1920s and the ass
23、ociated values and dreams can be summed up to be what is termed the American Dream: a dream of money, wealth, prosperity and the happiness that supposedly came with the booming economy and getting-rich schemes that formed the essential underworld of American upper class society. Fitzgerald illustrat
24、es the American Dream and the carelessness of a society that floats in the wake of this dream. According to the characters respective expectation, it can be seen that the American Dream is not confined to one social class or type of person, but to the whole nation, everyone.B. Gatsbys character- 3 -
25、In the novel, Gatsby reveals himself to be an innocent, hopeful young man who stakes everything on his dream, not realizing that his dream is unworthy of him. To Gatsby, his dream I of spiritual reunion with Daisy, but his prior dream is wealth. He thinks that wealth can solve all his problems: time
26、, Daisy, and love. In the novel, Gatsby uses the most lavish party, sumptuous mansion, and gorgeous machine to impress Daisy. And the green light, situated at the end of Daisys East Egg dock, represents Gatsbys hopes and dreams for the future. Gatsby associates it with Daisy.However, Gatsbys dream i
27、s predetermined to fail. On the one hand, he acquires immense wealth through criminal activities, for instance, bootlegging. This is the opposite idea of the American Dream, which states that only the good, virtuous and hard working are rewarded. On the other hand, he held an unrealistic view of lif
28、e and how he could recreate the past. His dreams has distorted in the reality, when his rationality realizes that the image of life and of Daisy does not coincide with the real life version. The devastating end of his dream is the finish of The Great Gatsby. Just as Fitzgerald sees the American drea
29、m crumbling in the 1920s, American powerful optimism, vitality, and individualism become subordinated to the amoral pursuit of wealth. . The relationship between Gatsby and DaisyIn Gatsbys eyes, Daisy is his American Dream. Gatsby has made Daisy a symbol of everything he values. In order to be reuni
30、ted with Daisy, he holds the lavish weekly party to draw Daisys attention and gets help from Nick. Chapter 5 - 4 -is the pivotal chapter of The Great Gatsby, as Gatsbys reunion with Daisy is the hinge on which the novel swings. Gatsbys character throughout his meeting with Daisy is the purest and mo
31、st revealing, so is Daisy.Gatsbys love for Gatsby is loyal, however, Daisys love to Gatsby is still doubtful. Gatsby blinds himself to realizing that Daisy would never desert her own class background to be with him. In Chapter 7, Gatsbys obsession with recovering in a blissful past compels him to or
32、der Daisy to tell Tom that she has never loved him. He needs to know that she has always loved him, that she has always been emotionally loyal to him. But he is defeated, and his dream has been broken totally. Daisy finally chooses Tom.And, sympathetically, Gatsby decides to revenge Daisy in order t
33、o demonstrate the deep love. But ,as Nick writes, Gatsby must have already realized that “what a grotesque thing a rose is.” Though the rose has been a conventional symbol of beauty throughout centuries of poetry, Nick suggests that roses are not inherently beautiful, and that people only view them
34、that way because they choose to do so. Daisy is grotesque in the same way: Gatsby has invented her with beauty and meaning by making her the object of his dream. Had Gatsby not imbued her with such value, Daisy would be simply an idle, bored, rich young woman with no particular moral strength or loy
35、alty.The relationship between Gatsby and FitzgeraldIn the novel, Jay Gatsby is the epitome of the self made man, in which he dedicates his life to climbing the social ladder in order to gain wealth, to - 5 -ultimately win the love of a woman. As it turns out, Gatsbys excessive extravagance and love
36、of money, together with his obsession for a womans love, are actually the autobiographical portrayal of Fitzgerald.When Gatsby, like Fitzgerald, is training to be an officer to join in the World War I, he falls in love with a beautiful girl, Daisy. However, he is very surprised to realize, despite h
37、er sexual responsiveness, that Daisy will not marry him before he had achieved financial success. To Fitzgerald, this is the same reason that Zelda rejected him before he became an extremely wealthy man. Both Gatsby and Fitzgerald are fascinated by money and power, and impressed by glamour and beaut
38、y. However, they both know that they can never fully belong to this prosperous and secure world, and that the goal of joining this careless class was an illusion. They still try their best to achieve the goal and have the same experience to earn money although they use the different ways to succeed.
39、 After acquiring the success, Fitzgerald found himself in an era of unreatrained materialism with the tone of society as well as Gatsby, particularly in the large cities of the East. But, gradually, Fitzgerald was aware of that wealth destroyed his life, rather than helped him achieve the dream. He
40、died from the irregular life and the alcoholism. So does Gatsby. After a long time waiting, Gatsby is killed by Georges gun.Gatsby becomes love-stricken. He devotes his entire life to winning the elusive love, despite realizing at the end that reaching his goal was unachievable. Fitzgerald had the s
41、ame dream as Gatsby, and also yearned to join the ranks of - 6 -the upper class and accordingly obtain the love that had escaped him. Unfortunately, they have the hopelessness and despair outcome.Obviously, Gatsby represents one part of Fitzgeralds personality: the flashy celebrity who pursued and g
42、lorified wealth in order to impress the woman he loved.V. ConclusionAlthough Jay Gatsby, Nick Carraway and Tom Buchanan, the major male characters in The Great Gatsby, have different backgrounds, experiences and endings, the metamorphic American dream has the same negative effect on them. The Great
43、Gatsby shows the three characters dissatisfaction and disappointment to the current society. The American dream of happiness, vitality and individualism become subordinated to the amoral pursuit of wealth. However, Gatsbys dream, especially, questions the idea of an American that nothing is impossib
44、le if one simply tries hard enough, while Toms dream is to pursue wealth only through prestige rather than hard working. Besides Daisy, the main heroine, is the impulse of the whole novel and an impetus to the development of the story. By means of her different relationships with the 3 male characte
45、rs, the readers can realize the male characters contradictory characters completely.Gatsby is loyal but unrealistic, Nick is sober but emotional, and Tom is rude but gentle. Besides, Fitzgerald uses fiction to tell his own storyreflecting on the superior and brutal qualities of the rich and on the i
46、mpossibility of becoming one of them. And, through the above analysis, it can be found that - 7 -Gatsby shows Fitzgeralds diligence and loyalty. Nick demonstrates Fitzgeralds sober and reflective image. Tom illuminates Fitzgeralds greed and degeneration. All of them stand for Fitzgerald in the diffe
47、rent time and places. They are 3 different kinds of “Fitzgerald”.Works Cited1 Anderson, W.R, The Fitzgerald Revival, 1940-1974M. Dissertation: University of South Carolina, 19742 Alberto Lena. Deceitful Traces of Power: An Analysis of the Decadence of Tom Buchanan in The Great GatsbyJ. Canadian Review of American Studies, 1998.3 Bloom. F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great GatsbyM. New York: Chelsea, 1991.4 Bruccoli. New Essays on The Great GatsbyM. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985.5吴建国. 菲茨杰拉德研究M. 上海. 上海外语教育出版社， 2002
