英语专业论《了不起的盖茨比》中美国梦的破灭

四川大学锦城学院本科毕业论文论《了不起的盖茨比》中美国梦的破灭PAGEPAGEIII论《了不起的盖茨比》中美国梦的破灭（英语语言文学专业）学生吴桂贤指导教师杨苒苒《了不起的盖茨比》是美国著名作家菲茨杰拉德的代表作品，该书确立了他在文学史上的重要地位。小说讲述的故事发生在一战后的美国。作者采用第一人称讲述了主人公盖茨比一生追求梦想，最后梦想在残酷的现实中破灭的过程。在一次偶然机会中中，尼克（即小说叙述者）结识了靠非法贩卖私酒而发横财的大富翁盖茨比。盖茨比起初是个穷中尉，在入伍前与尼克表妹黛西热恋，然而黛西嫁给了富家子弟汤姆。富裕后的盖茨比对黛西仍然魂牵梦萦，为了引起黛西的注意在其对面买下豪宅，并想尽一切办法与之见面。但冰冷的现实已经让人们的性格冷漠，精神空虚。在金钱和物质的强大压力之下，爱情之火被浇灭，而生前风光无限的盖茨比落下被枪杀，没有人前来参加葬礼的悲剧下场。本论文试图从以下三个方面来探讨盖茨比的悲剧命运即“美国梦”的最终破灭。一、20世纪20年代美国的社会文化背景解读；二、主要人物性格特征分析；三、美国梦破灭的必然性。关键词：了不起的盖茨比；美国梦；破灭；社会文化；人物性格ABSTRACTTheGreatGatsbywaswrittenbyFrancisScottFitzgeraldwhoiswidelyregardedasoneofthegreatestAmericanwritersofthe20thcentury.ItissetonLongislandinNewYorkCityfromspringtoautumnin1922.ThenoveltakesplacefollowingtheWorldWarOne.IttellusadoomedtragedyofGatsby—amanwhochasedafterhis“Americandream”inhislifetime.Eventuallyhisdreambrokedownunderthestressofthecruelworld,andalsothemangotintodespairtowardsloveandhisdream.AtfirstGatsbywasapoorlieutenant.HebecamearichmanbysmugglingalcoholandthenarratorgottoknowGatsbybyaccident.GatsbyfellinlovewithagirlnamesDaisy,butshemarriedamillionaireTom.Gatsby,inordertoattractDaisy,heboughtavillafacetofacewithDaisy’s.AndhesparednoeffortstodatewithDaisy.However,becauseofthecruelnessoftheworldandthecoldheartofpeople,hefailedinchasinghislove.Finallyhewasshotdeadandalmostnooneattendedhisfuneralthoughhiswaspopularwhenalive.HisdeathisatragedyandindicatesthebreakdownofTheAmericandream.ThisthesisattemptstoanalyzethefactorscausingthebreakdownofTheAmericandreamintheGreatGatsbyfromthreeaspects:theAmericanculturalbackground,mainfigures’charactersandinevitabilityofthebreakdownofAmericanDream.KeyWords:TheGreatGatsby;AmericanDream;Breakdown;CulturalBackground;MainFigures’CharactersContentsIntroduction………1PartOneTheAmericanCulturalBackground……...………2BriefIntroductionofFitzgerald’slife……2TheAmericanCulturalBackground……………….……………3ALookintotheAmericanDream………………3PartTwoPersonalityofMainCharacters……...……………5Gatsby’sPersistenceandNaivety……5TheCouple’sSelfishnessandSnobbishness……………7AMaterialist-Daisy………………7AManfromtheUpperClass-Tom………..…….…..8PartThreeDisillusionoftheAmericanDream…….………….10AnalyzingTragediesofTwoClasses…...…...10TheInfluenceoftheAmericanDreamonGatsby…….…….…11Conclusion………...13Notes………………14Bibliography……………………16Acknowledgements…………….…18PAGE8IntroductionAsfaraseverybodyknows,ScottFitzgerald①isanoutstandingwriteroftheJazzAge.AndalsohisnoveltheGreatGatsbywhichwasamasterpieceinhisprimetimeiswidelyacceptedallovertheworldanditispopularallthetime.So,numerousscholarsandexperts,nomatterdomesticorabroad,havestudieditformanyyearsandproducedmanyworkslikeonTheIndicationsintheGreatGatsbybyChinesescholarsQinZeandGaoFen②.SomeotherpeoplefocusedonthenarrationstructureoftheGreatGatsby,onthedoubleeffectsofNickandanalyzingmainfigures’charactersinthestoryandeventhetragicdestinyofGatsby.However,thereisstillanimportantthemeinthestorywehaven’tanalyzeddeeplybefore.ThatistheAmericandream,essenceofAmericanculturewhichhasbeenrootedinthecountry.AstheGreatGatsbywasanautobiographyofFitzgerald,itreflectedtheAmericansocietyof1990sprofoundly.Soit’sworthanalyzingtheAmericandreamfromthenovel.However,aplentyofmeaningfulproblemsremainunresolvedfornoworkfocusontheAmericandreamsystematically.NoonehasdeconstructedtheoriginandtheessenceoftheAmericandream.Ifthetragicendingisacombinationofthecruelsocietyandtheinfluenceofthemaincharacters’personalities,thequestionis“HowdidthecruelsocietyandtheirpersonalitiesinfluenceGatsby’sdestiny?”IreadtheEnglishandChineseversionsoftheGreatGatsbyseveraltimes.ThenIdidcollectrelatedmaterialsfromprofessors’thesisandontheinternet.Inthisthesis,Iattempttodosomeresearchandanalyzetheproblemsgivenabovebasedontheplotofthenovelandonthesocialrealitythen.PartOneTheAmericanCulturalBackground1.1BriefIntroductionofFitzgerald’slifeFrancisScottFitzgeraldamemberofthe“LostGeneration”③andanAmericanauthorofnovelsandshortstoriesstandsamongthegreatestAmericanwritersofthe20thcentury.Hewasnotarichstudentbutaboyofunusualintelligenceanddrivewithakeenearlyinterestinliterature.Hismotheronceensuredthathersonhadalltheadvantagesofanupper-middle-classupbringing.Soheachievedalotinliteraturelikenovelsandshortstories.HismostimportantworkistheGreatGatsby,tosomedegreeasemi-autobiographicaloneinhiscareer.AsIhaveemphasizedbefore,helivedinthe20thcentury,rightaftertheWorldWarOne."Youareallagenerationperdue④"TheAmericanfamouswriterHemingwayputit.Henceaterm“TheLostGeneration”cameouttorefertoagroupofyoungpeoplewhocametheageoftheperiodfromtheendofWorldWarItothebeginningoftheGreatDepression.Thelitterateursduringthattimesharedsomethingincommonoftheirspiritworld:confusion,emotionalemptinessandsoon.ThereisnoexceptionwithFitzgerald.Sinceherosetofameovernightwithhisfirstworkpublished,hegetmarriedaeminentgirlwhowasyoungandfairlyattractiveandtheywerethenviewedasthesocalledperfectcouple.ThecouplewasactiveinthesocialcircleoftheNewYorkCityandofcoursedrewmuchattentionoftheupperclass.Hewasabsolutelyabsorbedinhisearlysuccess,theshininglifewithhisfriendsandhislove.Theymadethemoneyflyandenjoyedthelifefreely.WhenIrecalledthesceneofthebigpartydepictedintheGreatGatsby,Icouldn’thelpconnecttheauthor’sreallifestylewiththelifeinthebooknaturally,why?NowIsee,thelifeofFitzgeraldandpeopleinhisdayshasbeenreflectedinthenovelcompletely.ThelifestyleGatsbyandthewriterhimselfsharedmuchincommon.Thatistosay,theauthorputtherealityintogoodusetoaccomplishhisliterature.1.2TheAmericanCulturalBackgroundThe1920sintheUnitedStateshasbeencalledtheRoaringTwenties⑤orthe“LostGeneration”or“JazzAge”⑥.TheRoaringTwentieswasdescribedasaperiodofmaterialsuccessandspiritualfrustrationbysomecriticswhoobservedthegreedyandmoneyworshipofpeopleofthistime.TheaverageAmericaninthe1920sbecamemoreenamoredofwealthandeverydayluxuries.Itwasaneraofgreateconomicgrowthandprosperitydrivenbygovernmentgrowthpolicies,aboominconstruction,andtherapidgrowthofconsumergoodssuchasautomobiles.TheeconomyoftheU.S.hadsuccessfullytransformedfromawartimeeconomytoapeacetimeeconomy.TheUnitedStatesaugmenteditsstandingastherichestcountryintheworld,itsindustryalignedtomassproductionanditssocietyacculturatedintoconsumerism.Tothisend,therewereaplentyofchallengesandpotentialopportunitiesallowingtheaveragepersonsinbornwithriskyspiritandeagernesstomakeasmallfortune.Therefore,itwasquiteeasyforGatsbytodocommercialbusinessparticularlytheillegalsmugglingwhichsweptacrossthewholenationandthroughthiswaymanynouveaurichesemerged.Withoutexception,Gatsbyrosetofameandmoneyovernight.Therewassomethingworthyofbeingmentionedaboutpeople’snotionofthisera.Realizingsomanyopportunitiesinthepost-wartimeandthegovernment’sstimulatingpolicies,peopleareyearninggreedilyformaterialsuccess.Inconsequencetheyignoredthedevelopmentofspirituallife.Theywereboldtoconductillicitdealslikesmugglingliquor.Gatsby,asaliquorsmuggler,succeededwithafastpacethenherosetotheupperclass,boughtavillafacedwithDaisy’sbuilding.Ashissuccesscamefast,thefailurealsoclosedtohimimmediatelywhenhewasshotdead.Undertheexcessivegrowthofthenation’seconomy,hisdreamwaslikefoamsinthedeepseathatwereattractivebutfilledwithillusion.Soatacertainmomentthedreamwasboundtobreakdownlikethefoams.Oncethedreambrokedown,theillusionwoulddisappearforever.1.3ALookintotheAmericanDreamTheAmericanDream⑦isasignificantpartintheAmericanculturesincethebirthofthenation.Itevenrepresentsthenationalspirits.TheAmericandreamisanationalethosoftheUnitedStatesinwhichfreedomincludesapromiseofapossibilityofprosperityandsuccess.Itderivedfromthecolonialtimeanddevelopedinthe19thcentury.HereisthedefinitionoftheAmericanDreambyJamesTruslowAdams⑧in1931,‘lifeshouldbebetterandricherandfullerforeveryone,withopportunityforeachaccordingtoabilityorachievement”regardlessofsocialclassorcircumstancesofbirth.TheideaoftheAmericanDreamisrootedintheUnitedStatesDeclarationofIndependencewhichproclaimsthat“allmenarecreatedequal”andthattheyare“endowedbytheirCreatorwithcertaininalienableRights”including“Life,LibertyandthepursuitofHappiness.ItwaslaterquotedbymanyU.S.presidentslikePresidentBarackObama⑨tocheeruppeople.(加注与引号再仔细检查下)Soanypeoplenomatterpoororrich,regardlessoftheplacesoftheirbirth,byhardworkingandintelligencewillaccomplishthegoals,willmakeadifference.Onceyouhavecapability,youcanrealizeyourdreamandsomedaynobodycanbecomesomebody.Ihavetosay,Obama,asthefirstblackAmericanpresidentinthenation’spoliticalhistory,isthebestcasetoexemplifythateveryonecanmakemiraclesinAmerica.Weallknow,heisamixedbloodofaKenyanandanAmerican.Heachievedhisdream.Heonceexpressedhisappreciationtothegreatcountrywherehisdreamcametruewhenhedeliveredhisspeechintheinauguralceremonyin2008.Hesaid:“innoothercountryonearth,ismystoryevenpossible.”(2009:4)Yes,wecansee,thiscouldonlyhappeninthisnation.AndwhatwasGatsby’sdream?AsanaverageAmerican,Gatsbyhadafaithinhisdreamandheinsistedinsmallmiracles–loyallovetoDaisy.HeexpressedthetruegeniusofAmerica.CertainlyhepresentedthemeaningoftheAmericandreamvividlyinhisdramaticlife.注意打印前检查下各个单独起页的部分是否在那页的顶上。PartTwo:PersonalityofMainCharacters2.1Gatsby’sPersistenceandNaivetyFrommyperspective,disillusionofGatsby’sdream,tosomeextent,isascribedtothepersonalitiesornatureofthemaincharactersinthisnovel.Sofirstofall,IwouldliketoanalyzeGatsby’spersonalityfromthefollowingtwomajoraspects:hispersistenceandhisnaivety.Honestlyspeaking,Ihavetosay,Gatsbyhadhisownidealwhenhewasaboy,andwasendowedwithgreatpotentialbuthewasundoubtedlyamanofidealism.Therearesomedetailsinchapternineofthenovel.Gatsby’sfathershowedabooktoNick.Onthelastfly-leafwasprintedthewordSCHEDULEwhichrecordedonedayfrommorningtotheeveninginhislife.AndtherewashisGENERALRESOLVES.Soobviouslyhewasintenttochangehisdestinyradically.Ashisfathersaid,hissonwasboundtogetaheadandhehadgottenimprovinghismind.Hewasdeterminedtopursuehisowndreamofloveandfortune.Hisnaivety,however,wasexposedtoreaderscompletelybyhisdream-keenlovetoDaisy.ActuallyDaisywasatypicalmaterialistinthiseralikemanyotherAmericans.AlthoughGatsbywasattractedbyheratthefirstsight,thegirlwasnotmovedatallbyhisaffectionatenessbecausesheonlytookaman’swealthandsocialstatusintopriorconsiderationNowIwouldliketoanalyzehispersistenceindetails.OneafternoonheborrowedaboattoinformCodyawindmightcatchhimandbreakhimupinhalfanhour.AtthattimehechangedhisnametoGatsbyandit’stheturningpointofhislife.ForoverayearhehadbeenbeatinghiswayalongthesouthshoreofLakeSuperiorasaclam-diggerandasalmon-fisherorinanyothercapacitythatbroughthimfoodandbed.Hewasemployedinavaguepersonalcapacity-whileheremainedCodyhewasinturnsteward,mate,skipper,secretary,andevenjailor.Thearrangementlastedfiveyears,duringwhichtheboatwentthreetimesaroundtheContinent.TheauthorFitzgeraldhadtoldusthiswasonepersistentstory.It’sself-evidentthatifsomeonewantstomakeachange,hemustbereadyforanyhardshipandenduringpainsforalongtime.Intheend,IwouldliketofocusonGatsby’slovetoDaisy.Iponderedmuchtochooseaproperwaytodepicthisattitudetowardslove.NowIusethewordlovesick.TheoriginalcauseofhistragedywashislovetoDaisy.Hemetmanygirlsbuthewasn’tinterestedinthemintheleastuntilhemetDaisy,pureashername.Herealizedheruniquetemperamentamongherpeersandhehadacrushonher.Becauseofhislowliness,Daisydidn’tmarryhim.However,hetriedeverythingtowinherloveagainwhenhegotrich.GatsbyboughtthathousesothatDaisywouldbejustacrossthebay.Thenheheldbigpartiesatnighttodrawherattention.HeinsistedthatDaisystilllovedhimlikebeforeandhedidasmuchashecouldtosatisfyher.That’sthekeyproblem-helovedDaisytoomucheventhoughheknewDaisy’slovewastotallybasedonmaterials.Hewasidealisticandnaivealltheway.HewantedhertoleaveherhusbandTomandstartnewlifewithhim.Hesparednoeffortstomovethegirlbyhisloveandhismoney.HeinsistedthatDaisymaychangehermindeventually.ExpectedlyshebegantoshowherlovetoGatsbyforhismoney.Thenacaraccidentbrokethebeautifuldream.DaisywasdrivingacarwithGatsbyinit.Butthecar’sownerwasTom.DaisycrackedTom’smistressandfledimmediately.Thewomandied.Mr.WilsonbelievedthekillerwasGatsbyandherushedouttoGatsby’shousetokillhim.Afterafightbetweenthetwopersons,GatsbywasshotdeadbyWilson.Apparentlythetruthdidnotsoundlikethat.Themistakewasboththecoupe-Mr.Wilsonandhiswifedidn’tseethedriverinthecar.Mrs.WilsonasTom’smistress,shethoughtthedriverjustassheknewthecarwasTom’s.Soshefeltexcitedandwavesherhandstothecar.AndafterthedeathofMrs.Wilson,TomwassadandsaidsomethingunrealtoWilson,sothatWilsonmisunderstoodthatthekillerwasGatsby.Gatsbywastheonlywitnessoftheaccidentbuthedidn’twantDaisytogetinvolvedinit.Sohecoveredthetruthandwasfatallyshot.Gatsby’sdreamitselfwasanillusion.Keenlovetosuchamaterialistinevitablycausedhistragicdestiny.Soitwouldn’tcometruenomatterwhathedid.Thereasonishisidealismandnaivety.Hewasn’tawarethatunderthepressureofthecruelsocietylovedidn’tmeanasmuchasiteverdid.Inchapter8Gatsbywasoverwhelminglyawareoftheyouthandmysterythatwealthimprisonsandpreserves,ofthefreshnessofmanyclothes,andofDaisy,gleaminglikesilver,safeandproudabovethehotstrugglesofthepoor.HehadunderstoodwhatDaisywaspursuingbuthejustlovedhereventhoughhecosteverythinghehad.2.2TheCouple’sSnobbishnessandSelfishness2.2.1AMaterialist⑩-DaisyNowlet’smoveontotalkaboutpersonalityofthecoupleinthisbook-Daisy.InthissectionIwouldanalyzethemfromtwoaspects:selfishnessandsnobbishness.DaisyandTomwasacouple.ThescholarsGaofenandQinzehavedoneresearchonthesymbolsoftheGreatGatsby.Intheirthesistheysaiddaisyisakindofwhiteflowerrepresentingpurenessandfreshness.CoincidentlyDaisyalsolovedwhitethingslikewhitecarandthefirstimpressionshegavetoGatsbywaspureandunique.Seenfromherappearance,shewasattractiveandshealwayssmiledwithshiningeyes.Itseemsthatshehasalltheadvantagesthatattractedyoungmenaroundher.TheauthorpicturedDaisyvividlyinchapter1likethat:“Herfacewassadandlovelywithbightthingsinit,brighteyesandabrightpassionatemouth,buttherewasanexcitementinhervoicethatmenwhohadcaredforherfounddifficulttoforget.”(Fitzgerald.2007:13)FromthisdetailIseetheauthor-Fitzgeraldused‘bright’todescribehereyesandhermouth,andhervoicewasfullof“thesoundofcoins”.Thesoundofhervoiceindicatesthattherewasenoughmoneysoshefeltbrightandexcited.ThereisaconversationbetweenDaisyandNick:“Dotheymissme?”Shecriedecstatically“Thewholetownisdesolate.Allthecarshavetheleftrearwheelpaintedblackasamourningwreath,andthere’sapersistentwailallnightalongthenorthshore.”“Howgorgeous!Let’sgoback,Tom.Tomorrow!”(2007:13)WeseefromDaisy’sexcitingwordsthat,themoremenmissedher,themoreDaisyenjoyed.Sheconsideredhernaturalbeautyasatooltoattractyoungmen.WasthenatureofDaisyconsistentwithwhatshelookedlikeinpeople’seyes?ThisisthekeyissueIwanttopointout.Actuallyherlifewasreallydullandfilledwithartificialmatters.ShegotmarriedwithTomandtheyhadadaughter.LifewentonwhentheytraveledalongEuropeandsettleddowninEastEgg.Shelivedarichlifebutwasboringforshewasengagedwithpartiesandmeaninglesstalksandshealmosthadnofriends.What’smore,shewasartificialinmanyaspects.Firstly,shesaideverythingwasterribleandshethoughtherselfwassophisticated.Ifelttheinsincerityofherwords.Toherself,shelovedherlifeandshehadnocouragetobreakupwithprestigelife.Thisisherdream.DidsheloveGatsby?ThetruthwasshemarriedTomjustafterGatsbyleftseveralmonths.Inhermind,thevalueofeverythingandeverybodydependsondollars.Shewasusedtojudgingthatwealthwassuperiortoanythingelse.Exceptmoneyandrichlife,shecarednothing.Hermentalitywasempty.BecauseofmoneyshemarriedTomandthenforabetterlifeshecameverycloselytofollowGatsby.AfterthedeathofGatsby,sheescapedfarawayincaseofbeinginvolvedintheseriesoftroubles.Soshewasaladyofsnobbishnessfromheadtotoe.Wecanseefallinginlovewithawomanofsuchnaturesisdoomedtobeatragedy.2.2.2AManfromtheUpperClass-TomWhenwetalkaboutGatsby’stragedy,it’sinevitabletodiscussDaisy’shusband-Tom.HereisaparagraphshowingTom’sfeatureinchapter1:“Hewasasturdystraw-hairedmanofthirtywitharatherhardmouthandsuperciliousmanners.Twoshiningarroganteyeshadestablisheddominanceoverhisfaceandgavehimtheappearanceofalwaysleaningaggressivelyforward.”(2007:11)WecanjudgeeasilyfromTom'sappearanceandbehaviorsbothhisnoblebirthandthenatureofinbornarroganceandaggressiveness.Duetohisfreedomofmoney,itishardtobemodestandhumble.Butthatwasnotenoughfortherichman.Fitzgeraldconsideredhimasarepresentativeofagroupofyoungbornandgrownupinupperclass.Thereweretwotypicalexamples.Thefirstone,helovedDaisysotheygotmarried.ButhehadloveaffairswithMrs.Wilson.Onceheansweredthephonefromthewomanathome.Daisy,NickandBakerfeltembarrassed.Tompretendedtobeclearasifnothinghadhappened.Ontheonehand,hewasusedtolovingDaisysohecoveredthetruthsubtly.Ontheotherhand,helovedMrs.Wilsonandheoftenspentsomedaysoutsidewithher.ButDaisyandMr.Wilsonhadnoideaaboutit.Hisresponsibilityforloveandfamilywasfadingaway.Heputmaterialsaboveloversandrelatives.Moreyoungpeoplelikehimwereusingmoneytobreakseverelysocialrulesdaybydayinthisera.Theoldbutwidelyacceptedbelieveswerecrackingintheirminds.Inconsequencetheygotconfused,lostthemselvesandlivedinamessyworld.Theyhadlessresponsibilitytotheirfamilyandeventheirownbehaviors.Theyrefusedtobearanyburdenoflife.Thesecondone,thecaraccidentbyDaisyprovedTom’segotismandhisguiltyconscience.Whentheaccidenttookplace,Tomdidn’tinvestigatewhowasthemurderer.HewassoconvincedthatWilsonconfirmedthekillerofhiswifewasGatsbyandthenWilsonrushedofftotakerevengeonGatsby.Inthisway,onceandforall,Daisygotridofbeingaccusedofmurderingaswellashebeathisenemy.Hewascraftyandselfish.ItwasTomwhocausedGatsby’stragedyfromtwoaspects.FirstlyhewonDaisyforhisdecentbackgroundsothatGatsbyleftandattemptedtobecomearichlikehim.Itwastheindirectreason.Secondly,heframedacaseagainstGatsbybecausehesaiddeliberatelythatGatsbywasthemurderofMrs.Wilson.注意打印前检查下各个单独起页的部分是否在那页的顶上。PartThreeDisillusionoftheAmericanDream3.1AnalyzingTragediesofTwoClassesBecausethemaincharactersinthenovellivedintwooppositepartsofLongIslandeq\o\ac(○,11)-WestEggeq\o\ac(○,12)andEastEggeq\o\ac(○,13).（这几个编号不正常哈）Idividethemintotwogroups.Thefirstgroup:theWestincludingGatsby,Nick.Thesecondgroup:theEastincludingDaisyandTom.Thetwogroupshaddifferentstories.Let’sgototheWestfirst.Thiswasastoryofpersistence,strugglewithoutahappyending.AfterthedeathofGatsby,mostofthosereportswereanightmare—grotesque,circumstantial,eageranduntrue.Policeandnewspaperswerenotinterestedinthetruthofthecrime.Thereactionsofhisfriendswerecompletelydisappointing.Thesceneofthefuneralwaslikethewinter.OnlydidNickandGatsby’sfatherattendhisfuneralwhilehispartnerandfriendsdidn’tarrive.Toafriendofhim,apairoftennisshoeswasmoreimportantthanhisdeath.AndDaisyescapedwithoutamessageleft.Hispartyfriendshadgoneaway.ThenNickdidn’tmeetMissBakerandwentbackfromhere.TheoldandbigplacesandgreenlightswerestillbuttheWeststoryendedwith.Whydidtheyfailinrealizingtheirdreams?TheywerebornintheWestwithoutdecentstatusandnatureofmaterialismsotheycouldn’tintegratethemselvesintotheEastsociety.What’sworse,thehospitalityofthewholesocietyandthenatureofhypocrisyandselfishnessacceleratedbreakdownoftheirdreams.TheEaststorywasaboutacouple-TomandDaisy.TheysettleddownintheEastEgg.ThustheyweresymbolsoftheEast.TomwasamillionaireandDaisylovedmoney,sotheygotmarried.However,unexpectedlytheycausedeachother’stragedyatlast.DaisylovedGatsbyagainexactlyhisattractivelifestyleafterGatsby’sreturn.TomlovedMrs.Wilson.DaisycrackedMrs.Wilsondownandthewomandiedimmediately.SothatTomlosthismistress.Inreturn,TomkilledGatsbyindirectlybymisleadingWilsontoconfirmthatthedriverwhokilledhiswifewasGatsby.InthiswayTomeradicatedhisrivalinlove.That’stosay,thecouplekilledeachother’slover.Bothofthemweretooselfishandhypocriticaltoconfronttroubles.Theyjusttookadvantageoverotherstoachievetheirfreelife.Theywereborntobearrogantanddominant.SothatGatsbywasthevictimofthecouple’snature.3.2TheInfluenceoftheAmericanDreamonGatsbyLet’stalkabouttheinfluenceoftheAmericandreamonGatsby.HewasapoorlieutenanthavingnonotablefamilybackgroundbutunluckilyhefellinlovewithDaisy.ThisisthesourceofhistragicdestinyasDaisywasarealmaterialist.Hecouldn’tholdhisloversolongbecauseDaisygotmarriedwiththerichTom.Afterhearingofthesadnews,hewasdesperate.Butalsoherealizedhewasapoorguysohehadnocapabilityoftakinggoodcareofhisgirlfriend.Astheoldsayinggoes,therealityandtheromancealwaysspeakdifferentlanguages.Thatistosay,ifhehadnomoney,orhecan’tgetanhonorablesocialstatus,hecan’taffordaluxuriouslifeforDaisy,andhewouldloseherforever.Sohelefttemporarilybutdidn’tgiveup.Thenhefollowedaspeculatortodobusiness.Whatdidhedoduringthattime?Hebecameanalcoholsmugglerandmadeasmallfortunethroughlongtimehardworking.Whywashesoboldtomakealivingbyillegalway?Standinginmypoint,it’sbecauseoftheinfluenceoftheAmericandream.Don’tforgettheimportantfact:hewasbornandgrownupinAmerica.HewasarealAmerican.HisdreamwastomarryDaisy-agirlenamoredofwealthandeverydayluxuries.SoonlydidmakingenoughmoneycouldenablehimtogetmarriedwithDaisy.AndhesawclearlythesocialenvironmentofhisnationandalargegroupofpeoplewereencouragedbytheAmericandream.What’smore,manyofthemsucceeded.Inthepost-warperiod,togethighprofitwasnotsohardifyouhadenoughcourage.Atfirst,hefollowedamanalongtheMississippiRivertomakealiving.Laterhebecamerich.HesufferedtoomuchonthewaytoobtainhisdreamlikewonderingoutsidealongtheMississippi,joiningthewar.ButhealwaysbelievedthatanaverageAmericanlikehimwouldmakemiraclesintheirlife.Oncehesetupagoalhewouldtryhisbesttoachieveit.HeupheldthenotionthatencouragedseveralgenerationsofAmericansalthoughtheroadaheadwasperilousandunknown.Itwaspossibleforapoormantochangehisfortuneinthiscountry.Asmentionedintheprevioussection,the1920sintheUnitedStateshasbeendescribedbysomecriticsasaperiodofmaterialsuccessandspiritualfrustration.SowecanjudgethatmanyAmericanssucceededinhuntingforwealth.Undertheroaringtwenties,theeconomyintheUnitedStatesissoaringtosky.Therefore,alargenumberofpotentialdealsareprovidedinthisrichnation.Althoughlackingofmoney,Gatsbywasinspiredbythesocialsituationandothers’success.注意打印前检查下各个单独起页的部分是否在那页的顶上。ConclusionAlmostallthescholarsagreedthatthereasonofthebreakdownofGatsby’sAmericandreamwasthecircumstances-thecapitalisticnation.Basedonmyanalysis,thetragicendingwasacombinationofthesocietyandtheirpersonalities.Fitzgeraldwrotethestoryasasemi-autobiography.Heconnectedthenovelandthesocietywithwordsandputhisexperienceintoit.Inthe1920s,thegroupofyoungpeoplegotconfusedsotheywerecalledtheLostGeneration.Theroaringsocietystimulatedthemtohuntforfortunebutintheendtheygotlostinthesociety.Nomatterrichorpoor,theywerelostonthewaytostrugglefortheirdreams.Inthebeginningallthepeoplewereconfidentinthepossibilityoftheachievementoftheirdreamsinloveandwe