The Role of Desire and Consequences in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925)

The Role of Desire and Consequences in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925)

Expanding the Roles:
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a classic American novel that explores the decadence and disillusionment of the Jazz Age. The story follows Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire who is obsessed with rekindling his lost love, Daisy Buchanan. The novel delves into themes of desire, ambition, and the American Dream. For literature students, The Great Gatsby is a rich exploration of how the pursuit of desire can lead to tragic consequences.

• Desire and the Illusion of the American Dream:
  Gatsby’s desire to recreate an idealized past with Daisy drives the novel’s plot. Students can explore how Fitzgerald critiques the notion of the American Dream and how the characters’ desires for wealth, status, and love ultimately lead to their downfall.

• Consequences of Desire:
  The novel illustrates the consequences of Gatsby’s obsessive desire for Daisy and the lengths he goes to in order to achieve his dream. Students can analyze how Fitzgerald uses the tragic outcome of Gatsby’s pursuit to reflect on the destructive nature of unchecked ambition and desire.

What We Learn:
The Great Gatsby provides literature students with an essential study of the consequences of desire and the illusions surrounding the American Dream. The novel teaches about the dangers of excessive ambition and the inevitable disappointment that often follows the pursuit of unattainable dreams.