Contents
Abstract I
Key Words I
摘 要 II
关键词 II
Introduction 1
I. Description of Gatsby’s Dream 2
A. Origin of Gatsby’s Dream 2
B. Essence of Gatsby’s Dream 4
C. Symbol of Gatsby’s Dream 5
II. Ideal Personification: Unworthy of Name 8
A. A Worldly Beauty 8
B. Bad Virtue 10
III. Potential Destructiveness in Gatsby’s Characters 11
A. Obstinate Character 11
B. Foolish Character 11
C. Ignorance 12
D. Innocence 13
IV. The Decadent and Ruthless Social Reality 16
A. Cruel social Society of U.S.A 16
B. Social Value Trend 17
Conclusion 19
Acknowledgements 20
Bibliography 21
Abstract
The Great Gatsby is a novel written by the famous writer F. Scott. Fitzgerald in the 1920’s， which is about disillusionment of American Dream, and it is still a piece of language endowed with deep connotations and full of metaphors and mottoes. This paper analyzes Gatsby’s tragedy by examining the essence of Gatsby’s dream, the potential destructiveness in Gatsby’s characters and the social-historical backgrounds leading to Gatsby’s destruction. Fitzgerald once summarized people’s characters at that time as “all Gods have died, all the wars have been over, and all the faiths have faded away.”(Fitzgerald, 1991: 253) American people living in Jazz Age looked down on the traditional faiths and betrayed moralities and customs that their ancestors used to abide by. At the end of the novel, Gatsby’s lonely funeral ceremony and people’s indifference completely reflected humanities coolness and ugliness in the society of U.S.A in 1920’s. At the very beginning, Gatsby was destined to be isolated helpless and to fail in the end in this society.
Key Words
Gatsby; the American dream; tragedy; personification
摘 要
《了不起的盖茨比》是20 世纪20 年代美国著名作家菲茨杰拉德的一部反映美国梦破灭的小说,也是一则被赋予了深刻含义,充满譬喻和警句的语言。本文从盖茨比之梦的实质、盖茨比性格中的不足以及社会历史原因等多方面探讨了导致盖茨比梦毁人亡这一悲剧必然因素。 菲茨杰拉德曾这样总结那个时代的特点：一切神明都统统死光，所有战争都已经统统打完，所有信念都已经统统完蛋。爵士乐时代的人蔑视一切传统的价值观念，反叛老一辈人所遵从的道德风范。 小说结尾，作者更是以人们的冷漠和盖茨比葬礼的冷冷清清彻底反映了20 世纪20 年代美国社会人性的冷酷与丑恶。在这样的社会，盖茨比从一开始就注定是孤立无助，注定是要失败的。
关键词
盖茨比; 美国梦; 悲剧; 化身
