Contents
Acknowledgements i
Abstract in English ii
Abstract in Chinese iii
Ⅰ. Introduction 1
Ⅱ. Brief Introduction of The Great Gatsby and the Author 4
2.1 Brief Introduction to the novel and Gatsby’s dream 4
2.2 The Author Fitzgerald’s Experience and his Dream 5
Ⅲ. The American Dream in the novel 11
3.1 The Start of American Dream 11
3.2 The “Realize” of American Dream 12
3.3 The Shattering of American Dream 12
Ⅳ. The Reason Why American Dream Shatters 14
4.1 The Material “American Dream” 14
4.2 Personal Feeling of Nowadays American Dream 15
4.3 The social Condition of the 20th century 15
Ⅴ. Conclusion 16
Bibliography 17
Abstract
Fitzgerald is one of the representatives of the American “Lost Generation” and his writing career started in 1920s when The First World War just ended. What’s more, the 1920s is also the time of Renaissance in the USA. The name of the writer is one of the most outstanding writers in the 1920s America. The author described the 1920s America in his own viewpoint and called this time as “the most colorful and enjoyable time in American history”.
American Dream is a specific word which has influenced the American people from generation to generation. The United States has once been the dream of the European people after Columbus discovered the new land.
Just as mentioned above, the 1920s America is one of the best times in American history. People lived a better and richer life at that time. The whole people were encouraged by the American Dream. They believed that as long as they worked hard, they would change their life. The novel The Great Gatsby written by Fitzgerald has been vividly described that scenes especially the living condition of the rich.
This thesis mainly focuses on the American dream of the Great Gatsby and mainly analyses the shattering of the American dream. Through the description of the novel, this thesis shows a vivid scene of the American dream. The first part of the thesis gives brief introduction of the novel as well as the author; the second part analyses the American Dream in this novel; the last and the most important part the thesis analyses why the American Dreams shatters these days.
Key Words: American Dream; shattering; freedom; fortune