1、the Great Gatsby ...
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The Great Gatsby
Fitzgerald is author of the book. Gatsby\'s story is partly based on reality, or the experiences of Fitzgerald and his wife. The book was written in the 1920s—a very special time. It was the height of American’s growth decade between the twice world war. Gatsby\'s life is the epitome of the luxurious social life in this period of the United States. Behind the booming economy and various recreational activities lies a huge spiritual void among this generation of young Americans.
The storyteller is Nick, Gatsby\'s neighbor and a witness to his life. Gatsby, a wealthy man, invited Nick to a party because he fell in love with Nick’s cousin Daisy five years ago. However, at that time Gatsby was sent off to war, therefore they broke up eventually. Time flies. Five years later, Gatsby was very rich, but Daisy had married Tom Buchanan, an old money who inherited a lot of money from his parents. He bought a luxurious castle across from Daisy\'s manor and often hosted large parties and invited many guests to attract Daisy. Later, he persuaded Nick to bring him and Daisy together again. He tried to convince Daisy to leave Tom. Daisy killed her husband’s lover –Myrtle Wilson, while driving Gatsby’s car. To protect Daisy, Gatsby kept silent and wanted to leave the city with Daisy. But Tom told Myrtle’s husband that Gatsby killed Myrtle, and her husband shot Gatsby and then took his own life.
The book reflects the pleasure-seeking and materialistic social reality of the U.S. at that time. Tom and Daisy represent people who are rich but have no spiritual pursuit. Fitzgerald wrote in his book: they were careless people, Tom and Daisy-- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together and let people clean up the mess they had made. Gatsby represents the kind of people who pursue spiritual satisfaction in a society full of material desires. Nick complimented him: They are a rotten crowd, you are worth the whole damn bunch put together. Gatsby was born in poverty, but he had an American Dream since he was a child and struggled for it. He believed he could succeed as long as he worked hard. He died in pursuit of the ideal. After Gatsby had a lot of money, he still didn’t stop chasing for his ideal. This is a very precious quality in that impetuous society. I think that is what makes Gatsby great.
I saw the movie adaptation of this book about three years ago, and I liked the story so much. To be honest, it is very difficult for me now to read and understand this book. In order to better understand the book, I watched the movie again before I started reading the book. Taking the book and the movie together, I felt a little different from the first time I saw the movie. The first time I saw the film, I thought it was a romantic love story and really liked the line: I might still be a great man if I could forget that I once lost Daisy, but my life has got to be like this. But now I watch the movie and read the book after three years, I suddenly understand something different from love. Gatsby is sincere and idealistic, however, Daisy is hypocritical and materialistic. Gatsby even knew that. He only saw Daisy as a symbol of his dream. So Gatsby didn’t die for love but for his ideal. His life ended as his American Dream shattered. The line also has another sense: Gatsby has to chase his
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第1章 the Great Gatsby
