Disillusionment-The Significance of The Great Gatsby 英语教学论文

2022年安徽省中小学教育教学论文评选Disillusionment—TheSignificanceofTheGreatGatsbyAbstract:InTheGreatGatsby,F.ScottFitzgeraldshowsusthedisillusionmentofGatsby’sdream,whichalsosymbolizesthedisillusionmentoftheAmericandream.Thisthesisillustratesthepointfromfourparts.ThefirstpartintroducesF.ScottFitzgerald,hisnovelTheGreatGatsbyandthesocialbackground.ThesecondpartdemonstratestheAmericandreamwithitsoriginanddevelopment.ThethirdpartpresentsGatsby’sdreamanditsdisillusionmenttoexhibitthedisillusionmentoftheAmericandream.Thelastpartcomestoaconclusionaccordingtothoseanalyzedabove.FromthedisillusionmentofGatsby’sdream,theauthorF.ScottFitzgeraldshowsustheemptinessoftheAmericandreamandthehypocrisyofthesocietyaftertheFirstWorldWar.FromthetragedyofGatsbypeopleknowmoreaboutthespiritualdegenerationintheJazzAge.Keywords:disillusionment,Americandream,emptiness,JazzAge.IntroductionInthe20thcenturyoneofthemostfamousnovelistsisFrancisScottFitzgerald(1896-1940),whoisknownasthespokesmanandlaureateoftheJazzAge.HisworksgiveustheaccuratepictureoftherealsocietyoftheAmericantwenties.TheGreatGatsbyisthoughttobehisbestwork12022年安徽省中小学教育教学论文评选anditisgenerallyviewedamongcriticsthatitisanovelwhichreflectstheAmericansocietyinthe1920s.FrancisScottFitzgeraldwasbornonSeptember2,1896,inSt.Paul,MinnesotatoanuppermiddleclassIrishCatholicfamily,whoseworksaretheparadigmwritingsoftheJazzAge,atermhecoinedhimself.“TheJazzAgewasamovementthattookplaceduringthe1920s,ortheRoaringTwenties,fromwhichjazzmusicanddanceemergedwiththeintroductionofmainstreamradioandtheendofthewar.Thiseraendedinthe1930swiththebeginningofTheGreatDepressionbuthaslivedoninAmericanpopculturefordecades.WiththeintroductionofjazzcameanentirelynewculturalmovementinplacesliketheUnitedStates,FranceandEngland.ThebirthofjazzmusicisoftenaccreditedtoAfricanAmericansbutexpandedandmodifiedtobecomesociallyacceptabletomiddle-classwhiteAmericans.WhiteperformerswereusedasavehicleforthepopularizationofjazzmusicinAmerica.Eventhoughthejazzmovementwastakenoverbythemiddleclasswhitepopulation,itfacilitatedthemeshofAfricanAmericantraditionsandidealswiththewhitemiddleclasssociety.CitieslikeNewYorkandChicagowereculturalcentersforjazz,andespeciallyforAfricanAmericanartists.Inurbanareas,AfricanAmericanjazzwasplayedontheradiomoreoftenthaninthesuburbs.1920syouthusedtheinfluenceofjazztorebelagainstthetraditionalcultureofpreviousgenerations.Thisyouthrebellionofthe22022年安徽省中小学教育教学论文评选1920swenthand-in-handwithfadslikeboldfashionstatements(flappers)andnewradioconcerts.”1FitzgeraldiswidelyregardedasoneofthegreatestAmericanwritersofthe20thcentury.Heisconsideredamemberofthe“LostGeneration”ofthe1920s,togetherwithErnestHemingwayandotherwriters.HisrepresentativeworksareThisSideofParadise,TheBeautifulandDamned,TenderistheNightandhismostfamous,TheGreatGatsby.InFitzgerald’slife,especiallyhiswritinglife,ZeldaSayre(1900–1948),hiswife,playedagreatrole.Manycharactersinhisworkswerebasedonhiswife,suchastheheroineRosalindConnageinThisSideofParadise.Besides,DaisyBuchanan,theheroineinTheGreatGatsbywaspartiallybasedonZeldaFitzgerald,the“goldengirl”inFitzgerald’sterms.ZeldawasthedaughterofajusticeoftheSupremeCourtofAlabamaandoneofAlabama'sleadingjurists,andherfamilyisarichonesothatshelivedintheluxuriouswayfromherchildhood.AssoonasTheGreatGatsbywasfirstpublishedin1925,itgainedmanycritics’affirmationandpraise,becomingasoneofthemostexcellentworksinthe20thcentury.Inthisnovel,withabriefandseriousstyle,theauthorvividlydescribedatragedycausedbyAmericanDream,andsuccessfullymoldedasufferedfigureGatsby.Hewastheauthor’sfavoritecharacter,inthattheyhadmanythingsincommonsuchasmanyexperiencesandspiritualvirtuesthatweredifferentfromthe32022年安徽省中小学教育教学论文评选comprehensionandchasetoAmericanlifeofcommonpeople.Gatsbyownedmarvelousgenius,incomparableresoluteromanticvolitiontohisdreamaswellashisloyaltytohisideal,whichwonhighpraiseoftheauthor.Thethesis,ononehand,givesdeepsympathytoGatsbyforhistragedy;ontheotherhand,itindicatesthatitisvainanddangeroustoseekAmericanDreamatthattime.AstotheAmericandreamwhichwashandeddownfromtheoldergenerations,theFirstWorldWarinfluenceditandpeopleweresuspiciousaboutthetraditionalnotionsandstartedbreakingoutthem.Atthattime,nihilismandhedonismwereformed,andthepursuitofmaterial-luxurymadepeoplefeelalienandcool.Youthfulgenerationwholivedinthatperiodlookedforwardtoakindofluxuriouslifesotheyboughtcostlythings,tookpartinextravagantparties,andlookeddownuponotherswhowerepoorandsoon.ThegreatGatsbywassetintheperiodoftheFirstWorldWar,whentheAmericansocietyenjoyedprosperityduringthe“roaring”1920sastheeconomysoaredandpeopleweresuspiciousaboutthetraditionalnotionsandintendedtobreakoutthem.Inthenovel,Daisyisawomanwhowasborninarichfamily,andshealwayslivesaluxuriouslifeoftheupperclass.Obviously,thepersonwhowantstogetherlovemusthaveenoughmoneytoofferheraluxuriouslife.InordertomakehisAmericandreamcometrue,whichistowinDaisy,Gatsbytriesevery42022年安徽省中小学教育教学论文评选possiblemeansincludingillegaltradeofalcoholtomakeafortune.However,whenGatsbyhelpsDaisytoescapefromtheaccidentsuccessfully,andismistakenlymurderedbythehusbandofTom’smistress,hisAmericandreamisbroken.Thereisnothinglefttohimafterhisdeath,hiswealthnolongermeansanything,andDaisydoesnotcomebacktohim,either.AsthenovelprogressesandFitzgeralddeconstructsGatsby’sself-presentation,Gatsbyrevealshimselftobeaninnocent,hopefulyoungmanwhostakeseverythingonhisdream,notrealizingthathisdreamisunworthyofhim.GatsbypursuesDaisywithapassionatezeal,butDaisyisnolongerhisidealgirl.Finallyhisdreamcollapseswithhisdeath.TheAmericandreamTheAmericanDreamisanationalethosoftheUnitedStatesinwhichfreedomincludestheopportunityforprosperityandsuccess.Itgenerallyreferstotheideathatone’sprosperitydependsuponone’sownabilitiesandhardwork,notonarigidclassstructure.Itsessenceis“equality,liberty,andlove”.Itisthestrengththatencouragespeopletogetrichfromhardworkandbelievethatanyonecanrealizetheirdreamsfromtheirownefforts.TheAmericandreamoriginatedfromthecolonialperiodandhasdevelopedasthetimegoes.Atthesametime,themeaningoftheAmericandreamalsohaschangedoverthecourseofhistory.52022年安徽省中小学教育教学论文评选OriginoftheAmericandreamAmericandreamoriginatedfromthecolonialperiod.ItwasBenjaminFranklin,themostimportantAmericanthinkerduringtherevolutionaryperiod,whoputforwardthisbeliefaboutthepursuitofhappinessandsuccessthroughone’scourage,honestyandhardwork.Sinceitsfoundingin1776,theUnitedStateshasbeenregardedasanempireoflibertyandprosperity.TheAmericandreamhasbeendescribedasabeliefinfreedomthatallowsallcitizensandresidentsoftheUnitedStatesofAmericatoachievetheirgoalsinlifethroughhardwork.And“goingfromragstoriches”becomesasloganforthegreatAmericandream,whichplaysasignificantroleintheprocessofone'ssuccessintheAmericansociety.InthedefinitionoftheAmericandreamlifeshouldbebetterandricherandfullerforeveryone,withopportunityforeachaccordingtoabilityorachievementregardlessofsocialclassorcircumstancesofbirth.TheideaoftheAmericandreamisrootedintheUnitedStatesDeclarationofIndependencewhichproclaimsthat“allmenarecreatedequal”andthattheyare“endowedbytheirCreatorwithcertaininalienableRights”including“Life,LibertyandthepursuitofHappiness.”2DevelopmentoftheAmericandreamThemeaningofthe“AmericanDream”hadchangedoverthecourseofhistory.HistoricallytheDreamoriginatedintheNewWorld62022年安徽省中小学教育教学论文评选mystiqueregardingespeciallytheavailabilityoflow-costlandforfarmownership.AstheRoyalgovernorofVirginianotedin1774,theAmericans,foreverimaginetheLandsfurtheroffarestillbetterthanthoseuponwhichtheyarealreadysettled.HeaddedthatiftheyattainedParadise,theywouldmoveoniftheyheardofabetterplacefartherwest.3TheAmericandreamtodaysimplyindicatestheability,throughparticipationinthesocietyandeconomy,foreveryonetoachieveprosperity.Accordingtothedream,thisincludestheopportunityforone’schildrentogrowupandreceiveagoodeducationandcareerwithoutartificialbarriers.Itistheopportunitytomakeindividualchoiceswithoutthepriorrestrictionsthatlimitedpeopleaccordingtotheirclass,caste,religion,race,orethnicity.Forsome,itistheopportunitytoachievemoreprosperitythantheycouldintheircountriesoforigin;forothers,itistheopportunityfortheirchildrentogrowupwitheducationandcareeropportunities.TheFirstWorldWarinfluencedthevaluesoftheAmericandreamdrastically.Peoplewerethrownintoconfusionanddespair,andtheywantedtobreakoldvaluesandtraditions.ThewarmadepeoplechangedtheirformervaluesabouttheAmericandreamandtheybegantodoubtthe“equality,liberty,andlove”.MaterialismwasoverflowandpopularaftertheWWI.IntheJazzAgethedisillusionmentoftheAmericandreamcametobeseen.Theonlythingfortheyoungpeopleatthetime72022年安徽省中小学教育教学论文评选wastopursuematerialwealthandluxuriouslife.LatertheAmericanhistorianJamesTruslowAdamspopularizedthephrase“AmericanDream”inhis1931bookEpicofAmerica:“ButtherehasbeenalsotheAmericandream,thatdreamofalandinwhichlifeshouldbebetterandricherandfullerforeveryman,withopportunityforeachaccordingtohisabilityorachievement.ItisadifficultdreamfortheEuropeanupperclassestointerpretadequately,andtoomanyofusourselveshavegrownwearyandmistrustfulofit.Itisnotadreamofmotorcarsandhighwagesmerely,butadreamofsocialorderinwhicheachmanandeachwomanshallbeabletoattaintothefulleststatureofwhichtheyareinnatelycapable,andberecognizedbyothersforwhattheyare,regardlessofthefortuitouscircumstancesofbirthorposition.”4Andlaterhewrote:“TheAmericandreamthathasluredtensofmillionsofallnationstoourshoresinthepastcenturyhasnotbeenadreamofmerelymaterialplenty,thoughthathasdoubtlesslycountedheavily.Ithasbeenmuchmorethanthat.Ithasbeenadreamofbeingabletogrowtofullestdevelopmentasmanandwoman,unhamperedbythebarrierswhichhadslowlybeenerectedintheoldercivilizations,unrepressedbysocialorderswhichhaddevelopedforthebenefitof82022年安徽省中小学教育教学论文评选classesratherthanforthesimplehumanbeingofanyandeveryclass.”4TheAmericandreamhasbeencreditedwithencouragingpeopletorealizetheirdreamwithhardwork,buthasalsobeenblamedforunrealisticexpectations.Somecriticshavenoticedthatdespitedeep-rootedbeliefintheegalitarianAmericandream,themodernAmericanwealthstillinfluenceracialandclassinequalitiesbetweengenerations.Forexample,Dr.HeatherBethJohnson,assistantprofessorofsociologyatLehighUniversity,notesthatadvantageanddisadvantagearenotalwaysconnectedtoindividualsuccessesorfailures,butoftentopriorpositioninasocialgroup.5ThoughgenerallytheAmericandreammeansthebeliefofsuccessbyone’sowneffort,indifferenthistoricalbackgrounds,themeaningsofAmericandreamarealsodifferentfromeachother.Inthecolonialperiod,Americandreamwasthebasicwealthforlivelihood;inthelater18thcentury,Americandreamwasthefightforfreedomanddemocracy;intheCivilWarperiod,Americanshadagreatfantasyforexpansion;intheFirstWorldWar,theAmericandreamwasthepursuitofluxuriouslife.NowadaysthemeaningoftheAmericandreamisdifferentfrombeforetoo.Gatsby’sdreamanditsdisillusionmentInTheGreatGatsby,theheroJayGatsbyinsistsinpursuinghis92022年安徽省中小学教育教学论文评选dream—winningtheloveofDaisy,andhedoesanythingthatcanhelphimtostaywithDaisy,nomattertheyarerightorwrong.Hetrieshisbesttomakemoneybecausehethinksmoneyisindispensabletorealizehisdream.FinallyhebecomesrichbecauseofhisillegalbusinessandbeginstotrytogetDaisy,whoisperfectinhismindandiseverythingtohim.Buttherealityisdifferent,andevencruel.Daisyisaselfishwomanandworshipsmoneyallherlife.SheistotallydifferentfromthatDaisyintheheartofGatsby,whoistheVenus-likewoman.However,Gatsbyhasn’trealizedthetruthandhaspursuedhisdreamallhislife.Thenthedisillusionmentofhisdreamisinevitable.Attheendofthenovel,Gatsbydiedbecauseoftheillusionofhisdream,butnooneiswillingtoattendhisfuneral,evenDaisy,exceptNickandhisfather.TillnowGatsby’sdreamisnothingbutanillusionandhispursuitoftheloveofDaisyisatotalfailure.OriginofGatsby’sdreamGatsby’sdreamoriginatedfromtheAmericandream.Theso-called“AmericanDream”,inAmericansociety,especiallyintheperiodofexploitingtheNewContinent,formedanddevelopedarathercommonlyattractingideal.IthaslonghistorydatingfromtheperiodofEuropeanemigrantsexploitingtheNewContinent,andthisdreamownstremendousenoughconnotationsofAmericandesireandhopetospiritsandmaterials.Consequently,manypeopledefineditasthesynthesisof102022年安徽省中小学教育教学论文评选WealthyDream,TranscendentDreamandLoveDream.BenjaminFranklin,thefirstandwell-knownembodimentandadvocateofAmericanDreamintheworld,edifiedandencouragedpeoplehowtoenrichtheirfamiliesandtofulfillAmericanDreambytheirstruggle,especiallyinhisAutobiography.Fromthebirthofitto1920s,AmericanDreamofowingthesuccessinmaterialstotheindividualvirtuesandstruggles,wasalwayspublicizedbythepeopleaspowerfulaspossible,andthenwithoutdoubtnessitbecametheidealwhichaverageAmericanpeopletriedtheirbesttostrugglefordaybyday,andthefundamentalspiritualstrengthwhichpromptedAmericanCapitalismprosperityandmaintainedcapitalism-socialsystemgenerationbygeneration.InthelastchapterGatsby’sfatherproudlyshowGatsby’sscheduletoNick:“ThenhereturnedthewalletandpulledfromhispocketaraggedoldcopyofabookcalledHopolongCassidy‘lookhere,thisisabookhehadwhenhewasaboy.Itjustshowsyou.’Heopeneditatthebackoverandturneditaroundformetosee.Onthelastfly-leafwasprintedthewordSCHEDULEandthedateSeptember12,1906.”6Thisshowsthatonthelastfly-leafofHopolongCassidyGatsby112022年安徽省中小学教育教学论文评选usedtoreadwererecordedhistranscendingdecisionandapieceofstricttimetableforworking.Oversomanyyears,Gatsbyalwayspersistedinitandobservedit.FromtheSchedule,aseveryoneknows,FranklinandAddison,givingagoodexample,dependedonthestrugglebythemselvesandgotasuccessatlastandtheirstories,whichmadeeveryonebelievethateachyouthcouldbecomeamillionaireorthepresidentofU.Sinthefuture.AsforGatsby,hisAmericandreamistohavemuchmoneyandthenwinDaisy,whowasinlovewithGatsbyfiveyearsagobutnowisthewifeofrichTom.Gatsbythinksthatonlyifhehasmuchmoney,atleasthasmoremoneythanTom,shouldhewinDaisy’slove.SoitisreasonableforhimtopursuematerialwealthinordertowintheloveofDaisy.Gatsbyisayoungmillionaire,buthehasanunsavoryreputationofthepastandheismuchsuspiciousbymanypeoplewhohaveenjoyedhispartiesabouthiswealth.Gatsbyhaslittleconnectionwiththesocialstratumwhichhecontacts,andnobodyknowsthewayshowhegetssomuchmoney.Somesayhedidillegaltrade,somesayhehadkilledsomeone,orheisthenephewofWilliamSecond.However,heisalwaysalonelyperson,althoughhehasextravagantpartiesfrequentlyandtherearesomanyrichandfamouspeoplefromallaroundtheworldcomingtotakepartinhispartiesandeventheyareproudofhavingseenhimonce.Buttheonlythinghereallywantstoachieveistoregainthepastwhenhe122022年安徽省中小学教育教学论文评选wasinlovewithDaisy,andthisisthesymbolofhisAmericandream,too.EssenceofGatsby’sdreamEventhoughGatsby’sdreamoriginatedfromtheAmericandream,theessenceofitisdifferentfromthatoftheAmericandream.Americandreamemphasizestheliberty,equality,pursuitofhappinessandhardwork.ButinTheGreatGatsby,moneyandblindlovehavebecomeGatsby’spursuitandhewantstogetthemwithoutconsideringwhetherthewaysarelegalorillegal.Gatsby’sattempttoachievehisAmericandreamwhichistorecapturetheloveofDaisyBuchananwhomhehadknownfiveyearsbeforetheactionofthenovelbegins,whenheisayoungandpoorofficerintheUnitedStatesarmyandDaisyisayoungunmarriedwoman,whousedtolivealuxuriouslifewithmuchmoneyandgreatfame.AndtheonlywayGatsbyshouldmakehisAmericandreamcometrueistogetalotofmoneywhichismuchdifficultyforanormalsoldiertoearn.HedoesallthethingsDaisyaskshimtodo.InordertowinDaisy,Gatsbydarestohaveillegaltradeofalcoholtomakeafortune,becauseheclearlyknowsthathemustofferDaisyabetterlifewhichisluxuriantifhewantstowinDaisy.Throughhisgreateffort,hegetsmuchmoneyalthoughitisfromillegalbusiness.Gatsby'ssuccessinfortuneisgreat,hisstrongwillofloveandachievinglifegoalisalsogreat;hebecomesthebignameofthesociety,andbecomestheupperclass’sdeputy.Everyoneisgladtocometohisparty,everyoneadmires132022年安徽省中小学教育教学论文评选hisproperty,andeveryonewantstobehisfriend,evenDaisyhastakenmuchnoticeofhimandfallsinlovewithhimagain.Gatsby’sAmericandreamistogetasmuchmoneyashecaneventhrougheveryillegalmeans,andthenhecanhavetheeconomicalstrengthtoachievehisfinalgoal——wintheloveofDaisy.IntheJazzAge,peoplewanttobreakthetraditionalvaluesandthinkthatmoneyisthemostimportantthingforthemtoget.Intheirmind,iftheygetmoney,theycangeteverything.ThereforeGatsbytrieshisbesttogainmuchmoneysothathecouldwinDaisy’loveandstaywithherforever.Hedoesn’tknowthatmanythingshavechangedaswellasDaisy.Sheisneverthesamegirlwhentheywereyoungandthesocietyisalsototallydifferent.AndhisdreamdiffersfromtheAmericandreamtoo.ThecruelrealitymakesGatsby’sdreammisshapedandgofarawayfromtheAmericandream.DisillusionmentofGatsby’sdreamInthenovelTheGreatGatsby,FitzgeralddescribesandcontraststhedifferencebetweenEastandWestEgg,showingtheseparationoftheupperclassandthelowerclass.Itprovidessomeinsightwiththeuseofsymbolismofcolor.Eachofthefourimportantgeographicallocationsinthenovel—WestEgg,EastEgg,theValleyofAshes,andNewYorkCity—correspondstoaparticularthemeortypeofcharacterencounteredinthestory.WestEggislikeGatsby,fullofextravagance,symbolizing142022年安徽省中小学教育教学论文评选theemergenceofthenewrichalongsidetheestablishedaristocracyofthe1920s.EastEggislikeBuchanan,wealthy,possessinghighsocialstatus,andpowerful,symbolizingtheoldestablishmentandaristocracythatcontinuetodominatetheAmericansociallandscape.ThevalleyofashesislikeGeorgeWilson,desolate,desperate,andutterlywithouthope,symbolizingthemoraldecayofAmericansocietyhiddenbytheglitteringsurfaceofupper-classextravagance.AndthepeoplewholiveinNewYorkCityarethepresentationoftraditionalEnglish.Eachofthefourlivesadifferentlifefromothers,whichtheythinkistheperfect,becausetheyhavedifferentpointsofviewaboutliving,wealth,andlove.Andtheyallleadalifestylewhichbelongstothemonly.Gatsby’sspendshiswholelifeinattainingmoneyandstatussothathecanreachacertainpositioninlifeandthenhecanwinDaisyback.ThatiswhatmotivateshimtomovetoWestEgg,andmakesmoneybyanymeansnecessary,holdsextravagantpartiesineveryweekend,doeseverythingwhatDaisyrequireshimtodoandsoon.Thereisapositioninlifethatheyearnsforandwilldoallthatittakestoachieveit,andthefinalgoalforhisAmericandreamistogetDaisy’slove.TheGreenLightsituatedattheendofDaisy’sEastEggdockandisbarelyvisiblefromGatsby’sWestEgglawn.ItrepresentsGatsby’shopesanddreamsforthefuture.GatsbyassociatesitwithDaisy,andinChapteronehereachestowarditinthedarknessasaguidinglighttoleadhimtohisgoal.152022年安徽省中小学教育教学论文评选DaisyandTomontheotherhandshowhowpeoplecanusetheirpositiontolookdownonothersandlivetheirlifecarelessly.AsthenarratorofTheGreatGatsbyNicksaysaboutDaisy,“inamomentshelookedatmewithanabsolutesmirkonherlovelyfaceasifshehadassertedhermembershipinaratherdistinguishedsecretsocietytowhichsheandTombelonged”.7Bycomparison,GatsbyandDaisybelongtodifferentkindsofpeople,theyhavedifferentbackgroundsandlifestyles,andtheirsocialstatusesarenotthesameatall.ItisdoomedtobeafailureifGatsbywantstobeinlovewithDaisy,andlivewithherforever.IntheendDaisygoestogetherwithherhusbandtoanothercityhappilywhileGatsbyismurderedmistakenly,whichmeansGatsby’sfinalAmericandream,whichistowinDaisy,istotallyafailure.Furthermore,whenGatsbydied,nooneturnsupforhisfuneral,thoughhundredsofpeoplehaveeatenathisplace.Itisasadcommentonhumannaturethatwhenamandies,heisalone,absolutelyalone.Theonlythingsthataccompanyhimarehisgooddeedsespeciallythosedonespontaneouslyandwithoutexpectations.AndthesaddestthingisthatDaisy,neverfeelingsorryforGatsby’sdeath,hasgonetravelingwithherhusbandTom.ThereisnothingleftforGatsby.Allthethingsofhislifehavegonewithhisdeath,includinghiswealth.Whydidthishappen?AsfarasIamconcerned,thereareseveral162022年安徽省中小学教育教学论文评选reasons.Firstly,Gatsbyhimselfshouldberesponsibleforhisfailurebecausehehasn’tknownverywellabouthisdream.Hedoesn’tknowDaisyandtherealityandpursuehisdreamblindly.Secondly,DaisyandTomshouldberesponsible.Theyaretooselfishandworshipmoney.Finally,thesocietyshouldaccountforthisandthecruelrealitymaybethemostpowerfulreason.Livinginthissociety,nobodycanescapeitsinfluenceandrealizetheirdreamssuccessfully.ThedisillusionmentofGatsby’sdreamalsosymbolizesthedisillusionmentoftheAmericandream.IntheJazzAge,thereweremanypeoplelikeGatsby,whosevaluesweretwistedbythesociety.Theyranaftermaterialandignoredtheimportanceofthespirit.Thetraditionalvalueswerenothinginpeople’smindaftertheyhadexperiencedtheFirstWorldWar.Theydidn’tbelievethe“equality,freedomanddemocracy”advocatedbytheirancestors.Theyfeltdisappointedandconfusedaboutthelifeandtheworld.TheywereexperiencingthespiritualcrisisastheLostGeneration.ConclusionTheGreatGatsbyisthemasterpieceofFrancisScottFitzgerald—thefamousAmericanwriteroftheLostGeneration.HebelievedthatthefascinationforwealthcorruptedAmericanvaluesandledonetoexistentialemptiness.172022年安徽省中小学教育教学论文评选Inthenovel,thewholestoryisnarratedbyNickCarraway,ayoungmanfromMinnesota.HemovestoNewYorkinthesummerof1922tolearnthebondbusiness.Nick’snext-doorneighborinWestEggisamysteriousmannamedJayGatsby,wholivesinagiganticGothicmansionandholdsextravagantpartieseverySaturdaynight.DaisyBuchanan—Nick’scousinisthewomanGatsbyloves.SheissuperficialandselfishlikehishusbandTomBuchanan.Gatsbydoesanything,evenillegalbusinesstomakemoneysothathecangetDaisybacktohim.HeregardswinningDaisy’sloveashisdreamandrisksa