The Great Gatsby- Significance of Title
The meaning of the word "great" is ambiguous before reading
the novel The Great Gatsby. It can imply that Gatsby is a superb individual, or it can mean great
in the sense of a misfortune. It is only after reading the novel that the reader is able to perceiv
e that the novel's title is ironic and that many of the themes of the story help develop this "great
" character of Gatsby. Irony is the key to understanding F. Scott Fitzgerald's title, The Great Gats
by. Many of the themes of this novel seem to mock Jay Gatsby's "greatness." Some of these themes c
an even be taken on a more social level to include society in general and imply their prominence as
well. Gatsby symbolizes the state of idealism that had been a common ideal of society when the nove
l had been published. His ideal life centered on money, greed, and carelessness that characterize l
iving the ideally reckless life. This theme implies two different meanings to the title of the nove
l. The first is an implication that the social values of the times were terrible, thus bringing out
the greatness of the tragedy. The second is more of a sarcastic connotation. Fitzgerald may have
been trying to show the reader just how great the great Gatsby was through the use of irony. For ex
ample, it is quite ironic that a person with so much wealth and fame would continue to partake in th
e illegal bootlegging and give numerous parties in search of a married woman when there are hundreds
of women dying to see him. Thus, the ironic meaning of the novel's title can be derived through th
e analysis of the true greatness of Gatsby: a moral failure who is only a success in the eyes of ot
her downfallen individuals of society. In conclusion, meaning of the title, The Great Gatsby, is ful
ly derived after reading and understanding themes brought forward in the story. After this analysis
of the themes is performed, the connotation of the novel's title can be regarded as either a sarcas
tic presentation of irony, or a representation of the downfall of Gatsby, that resulted from his emp
hasis on materialism and wealth.
great gatsby significance title meaning word great ambiguous befo
re reading novel great gatsby imply that gatsby superb individual mean sense misfortune only after r
eading novel that reader able perceive that novel title ironic many themes story help develop this c
haracter irony understanding scott fitzgerald title many themes this seem mock greatness some these
themes even taken more social level include society general imply their prominence well symbolizes s
tate idealism been common ideal society when been published ideal life centered money greed careless
ness characterize living ideally reckless life this theme implies different meanings first implicati
on social values times were terrible thus bringing greatness tragedy second more sarcastic connotati
on fitzgerald have been trying show reader just through irony example quite ironic person with much
wealth fame would continue partake illegal bootlegging give numerous parties search married woman wh
en there hundreds women dying thus ironic meaning derived through analysis true greatness moral fail
ure only success eyes other downfallen individuals society conclusion meaning fully derived after re
ading understanding brought forward story after analysis performed connotation regarded either sarca
stic presentation irony representation downfall resulted from emphasis materialism wealthEssay, essa
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