Introduction

I. Fitzgerald and The Great Gatsby

1.1 Fitzgerald’s Life and His Works

F. Scott. Fitzgerald was the most representative novelist of the 1920's. He was not only an active, leading participant in the typically frivolous, moneymaking life of the decade, but also a detached, profound observer of it at the same time. His own life was a mirror of the times. He led a priceless life and achieved much during the “Roaring Twenties”, drinking hard whisky, driving fast cars, and taking much delight in it.

F. Scott. Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896, in St. Paul---in the Middle West of America. His father was a poor but well-bred descendent of the family. During a Christmas vacation spent in St. Paul, Fitzgerald fall in love with Ginevra king who is a wealthy Chicago debutante. But later Ginevra king rejected him because her father thought that he was not rich. In 1917, Fitzgerald met Zelda Sayre and fell in love with her soon. However, although Zelda willing to become engaged to Fitzgerald, did not finally agree to marry him until he could show his ability to support her. So the moment the army released him in 1919, \novelist for the sole purpose of earning enough money to marry Zelda!\1982: 62) In 1919, he published his first novel This Side of Paradise, which was an immediate success. Suddenly, Fitzgerald got rich and famous at the age of twenty-three, and then he returned to Zelda and married her. Zelda caused Fitzgerald's greatest happiness and deepest sorrow throughout his life.

For four years, the stylish young couple plunged into the wealthy society of

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their generation. They recklessly pursued their pleasures from America to Europe, spending more money than they earned. During this period, Fitzgerald wrote The Beautiful and Damned (1922) and Tales of the Jazz Age (1922). In 1925, he wrote his best novel The Great Gatsby. However, everything changed after the first breakdown in 1930. Fitzgerald sank into alcoholism and was troubled by financial and psychological problems caused by his wife's luxury and jealousy of his writing. Tender Is the Night (1934) was completed around that time. He spent the rest of his life writing stories and screenplay and died in 1940, at the age of 44. It was not until ten years after his death that the great genius of his writing came into full recognition.

1.2 Social and Historical Context of The Great Gatsby

The decade of 1920?s of America had a sharply defined uniqueness than most recognized periods. World War I had left all European belligerents weak and numbed spiritually. America, however, not having been involved in the War for long, remained just as forceful as before. An economic boom marked the first few post-war years, and materialism spread rapidly all over the country, and people became more greedy and self absorption. The American dream turned to be a dream of money, and wealth became the symbol of success. However the gap between the wealthy and the poor was still painfully obvious in society.

Prosperous in economy as it was，a lot changes in spiritual and social values were taking place in the 1920s, which deeply affected the younger generation. The attitude of the time was also a backlash against the experience of the war. Young people turned their backs to the values of their parents. Girls enjoyed the freedom in their relationships with boys, which would be impossible before. A revolution took place in people?s attitudes towards sex and moral. The pursuit for material fulfillment and sensual enjoyment became the dominance of young people?s life.

The American Twenties is also a period when city crimes were on the rise. A

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lot of groups as well as individuals took the chance to make large profits over the Prohibition.

II. The Disillusion of the American Dream

2.1 The So-called American Dream：A Historical Retrospect

This chapter intends to explore the reason why the American Dream, as Fitzgerald attempts to state in his The Great Gatsby, brings about failure and corruption in the 1920s instead of success as it does in the early years of American history by means of looking back to some historical phenomena relevant to the changing progress of the American Dream from the colonial period to the 1920s, that is, from its origin to its development and finally to its corruption. 2.1.1 Origin of the American Dream

The American Dream,as a special product of the American civilization, begins to take shape at the starting point of the American civilization when the first European Puritan settlers came to the new world in the early seventeenth century. Therefore, some of the American Puritan religious and moral concepts have gone into the making of the following three essential qualities of the American Dream.

First, the American Dream adopts a positive attitude towards material success and considers it as all important expression of self-fulfillment. That explains the reason why material success is what one most likely first thinks of when it comes to the topic of the American Dream.

Secondly, the American Dream is also known to support the idea that the chance to achieve material success will falls onto the person who has high moral standards. Accordingly, spiritual development is necessary for material success in the logic of the American Dream. This idea of appreciating spiritual development equally stems from American Puritan religious belief.

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Finally, Optimism is another remarkable characteristic of the American Dream. We can see this quality from Gatsby; he never loses his faith and confidence in his ability to attain his life goal from the moment when he kisses Daisy first time five years ago until the last days of his life. 2.1.2 Development of the American Dream

This part intends to make an study of how the American Dream gets enriched and developed with the advancement of the nation.

First, the American Dream is an ideal that expresses human hopes and wishes for a democratic, liberal society, where man?s basic demand for survival, self-fulfillment and social recognition can be ensured. It is supposed that in such a society, no man is despised due to his origin and every one shall equally have the opportunity to achieve his due success and happiness if he works hard toward a goal.

Secondly, carrying forward the Puritan tradition, the American Dream goes on to healthily grow up in America?s capitalist democratic soil. And it successfully pushes the advancement of the nation and becomes a reality in many fortunate self-made men?s cases in the early age of America. Among these people, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison and Abraham Lincoln are the most famous representatives. They all come from poor origins and win the unanimous reverence of the nation. Their successful legendary careers proclaim to the world that every one can achieve success in America if he has confidence, aspiration, determination, and virtues, regardless of his origin.

Consequently, with its worthwhile role in the progress of the nation and individuals, the American Dream gradually becomes an unwavering belief in the mind of the whole nation.

2.1.3 Corruption of the American Dream

There is no denying the fact that the American Dream has played a positive role

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