The Great Gatsby(英文读书报告).doc

The Great GatsbyI Introduction of AuthorThe Great Gatsby is written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, who was born in 1896 and died in 1940. His first novel Earthly Paradise made a hit and he rose to fame. He published the several novels such as Tender is the Night, Paradise, The Last Giant etc. and over 160 short stories, including Benjamins Fantasy Trip, Ice Palace, Winter Dream, Sensible and Back to Babylon. On the 81st Oscar Awards ceremony, the film Benjamin Button got three awards, which was adapted from his short story Benjamins Fantasy Trip. Tender is the Night and The Great Gatsby are listed in the Top 100 novels of 20 century by the United States Academic Community. And the latter even ranks the second. In 1940 at the age of 44 he died of frustration. After his death, some of his interesting writings were put together into a collection entitled The Crack-Up. The Great Gatsby is considered Fitzgeralds masterpiece. However in 1925 no one predicted the eminence of the novel in the new centurynot even Fitzgerald himself. The story of The Great Gatsby is a good illustration.II Introduction of PlotThe novel was told the story of Gatsby by the narrator Nick. Nick is tired of his hometown life so that he moves to New York from the Midwest of America. He rents a small house in the suburb that happens to be next to the Gatsbys mansion. Five years ago, Gatsby falls in love with a wealthy girl named Daisy, but he is too poor to marry her. When the First World War broke out, Gatsby had to devote himself to the army. Then Daisy is married to a rich young man Tom Buchanan. Determined to win back his lost love, Gatsby has engaged himself in bootlegging and other “shady” activities to make a fortune for the past five years. He buy a mansion just opposite to the Daisys house with a river lying in between. Gatsby holds dazzling parties every weekend hoping one day the married Daisy will come. With the help of Nick, the cousin of Daisy, Gatsby meet the Daisy again since five years ago. But now the lady in front of him is no longer what she used to be. She has become a vain, selfish and vulgar woman. Although he knows it, he still clings to the illusion about Daisy. One day, Daisy drives Gatsbys car after drinking and causes an accident that kills Toms mistress. Daisy plots with Tom to shift the blame on Gatsby. Finally Gatsby was shot by the victims husband. Only Gatsbys poor father and Nick attend the funeral. Daisy and Tom were on trip to Europe at that time.III Personal Inspiration After reading, I always wonder why the Gatsby is “great”. In the view of most people, they must take for that Gatsby is silly for his blind love. He just lives in his memory and his imaginary world, which results in his tragedy. And I do think so. But when I come to realization that 1920s was named after “Jazz” and “Money” era, I change my mind. In such a material-driven society, all people are indulged in pleasure and luxury while Gatsby is persistent to pursue his sincere love for Daisy. Thats maybe the reason why he is great. One scene in the book that impresses me most is Gatsby stand by the window, staring at the green light hung at the clock of Daisys house under the moonlight. The green light is a symbolism which stands for the dream and hope in Gatsbys heart. However, the green light is distant and dim which indicates that the dream is bound to be smashed eventually. Gatsbys self-made experience is so-called “American Dream”. But unfortunately, the dream broke up at last. Its not the tragedy of individual but of the whole society, the fickle world full of material desire.As far as Im concerned, the author titling the Gatsby “Great” is to arouse the conscience of the whole society to pursue sincerity rather than the money. Money is a good thing, but not everything. If you are fervent about it, money will finally ruin the most valuable things in your life.IV Classical sentences or paragraphs*We continue struggling forward on the counter-current and was continually pushed back until the return to the past years* Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but thats no matter - tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther.* God knows what youve been doing, everything youve been doing. You may fool me, but you cant fool God!* He knew women early, and since they spoiled him he became contemptuous of them, of young virgins because they were ignorant, of the others because they were hysterical about things which in his overwhelming self-absorption he took for granted.* Her voice is full of money.* I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsbys house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited. People were no