The Great Gatsby: Theme and Symbols Essay Sample

In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald presents a snapshot of America in the 1920s, exploring the themes of social class, wealth, morality, and the American Dream. The characters in the novel represent different aspects of 1920s society, with Gatsby representing the new millionaires, the Buchanans representing the old aristocracy, and Nick representing the average American. The novel portrays the 1920s as an era of moral decay, as evidenced by the characters’ greed, materialism, and cynicism. The American Dream has been corrupted by the pursuit of money and pleasure, and the ideals of liberty, justice, and democracy have been replaced by a culture of greed and excess. Gatsby’s dream of reuniting