The Great Gatsby as a literary work

The Great Gatsby

To start this discussion about the Great Gatsby it’s necessary to first define the meaning of literary work. I consider a written piece to be a literary work if it has a plot, a setting, characterization and a theme; it also need to be written with a purpose, a meaning and with a point of view.

I believe that The Great Gatsby satisfies these aspects in every-way creating it a literary work.  The plot of the story is clear, even thought narrated in a “diary like” way in first person, there is a clear storytelling behind the writing; the setting in this piece is evidently present and its an essential part of the piece, the story is set in the East of the United States at a time of incredible wealth and economical growing (1920’s). There are also identifiable characters throughout the story, the main character can be controversial to define, between Nick the narrator and Gatsby, but there is no doubt of the characterization of this piece. The theme is the decline of the American dream on the 20^th century. I believe the piece’s aims to criticize and analyze this decline of the American dream. It emphasis on material excess and the wealth fever, possibly as the result of the end of World War, consequently criticizing the results of the War on the veterans and society in general. Through the way Gatsby deals with his ruined dream and love relating it to wealth and money, the author compares it to the way the American dream is in the 20’s, ruined by the worthlessness of its object, money and pleasure.

Furthermore, The Great Gatsby also uses literary devises such as symbols like the green light as hope for Gatsby but also for the American dream, which confirms even more the fact that this is a literary work.