by Editing Services

Created on: December 02, 2008

The American Dream: belief in the freedom that allows all American citizens and residents to follow their ambitions in life, by hard work and freedom of choice. It is about achieving a form of social order. There are many novels which are based around the theme of The American Dream. F.Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" is one such novel. Others include: Jack Kerouac's "On The Road" and also John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men".

The Great Gatsby is a fiction novel set in the roaring twenties' - a destruction of the American Dream takes place. It is considered to be one of the great American novels. In October 1922, Fitzgerald and his family moved to Great Neck in Long Island, which is where the story of "The Great Gatsby" is set. Some of New York's wealthiest families were living in Great Neck, at this point in American history. At one point, Fitzgerald wanted to re-name the novel "Under the red white and blue" but it was too late to change the title, so it remained as "The Great Gatsby".

The storyline is based around the summer of 1922, shortly after The First World War had ended. This was also the time of Prohibition: when the manufacture and sale of alcohol was strictly forbidden. Economy in America was booming, there was social disorder, women had recently gained the right to vote, and Jazz music was the popular form of music.

The seven main characters in the novel are: Jay Gatsby, Nick Carraway, Daisy and Thomas Buchanan, George and Myrtle Wilson, and Jordan Baker. The novel is written from the point of view of a young man named Nick Carraway. Certain events in his life begin to take place because of a man called Gatsby.

In 1922, Nick is living in West Egg, Long Island South. His distant cousins Tom and Daisy Buchanan, live in East Egg. Tom has a mistress in New York City, Myrtle Wilson, wife of George Wilson. Jay Gatsby is Nick Carraway's wealthy neighbour who regularly throws extravagant parties. One day, Gatsby's butler sends Nick a formal invitation to his party, and Nick accepts.

He turns up to the party, and begins to enjoy himself. However, as the party goes on, Nick begins to realise that none of the guests actually know Gatsby very well. Many of the guests have never met Gatsby, and the nature of the parties are such that guests are welcome to attend uninvited. Daisy's friend Jordan Baker is also at the party. Both she and Nick begin to look for Gatsby, but become separated when doing so. Nick at this point has not yet met Gatsby, and is surprised

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