The Great Gatsby Essay Topics

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a timeless classic that continues to captivate readers with its portrayal of the Jazz Age and the American Dream. If you have been assigned an assignment on this literary writing, you have a wealth of intriguing topics, such as the great Gatsby essay, to explore.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a classic novel that explores the decadence and excess of the 1920s, also known as the Roaring Twenties. The story is narrated by Nick Carraway, who moves to New York City and becomes involved in the lives of wealthy socialites, including the enigmatic and mysterious Jay Gatsby. As a literary work, “The Great Gatsby” offers numerous essay topics for exploration and analysis. Some possible essay topics for “The Great Gatsby” include,

The Great Gatsby Essay Topics

Theme-Based Topics

1. The American Dream

   • How does The Great Gatsby critique the American Dream?
   • Compare and contrast Gatsby’s and Tom Buchanan’s versions of the American Dream.
   • Is Gatsby’s pursuit of the American Dream noble or foolish?

2. Wealth and Class

   • How does Fitzgerald portray the divide between old money, new money, and the working class?
   • What role does materialism play in shaping the characters’ fates?
   • How does Fitzgerald use symbols (like the green light or Gatsby’s mansion) to comment on wealth?

3. Love and Relationships

   • Is Gatsby truly in love with Daisy, or is he in love with an illusion?
   • How does Tom and Daisy’s relationship reflect the values of the upper class?
   • Explore the theme of unrequited love in The Great Gatsby.

4. Society and Morality

   • How does Fitzgerald use the character of Jay Gatsby to comment on morality and ethics?
   • Is The Great Gatsby a condemnation of the Roaring Twenties lifestyle?
   • What role does dishonesty (lying, cheating, affairs) play in the novel?

5. Symbols and Motifs

   • Analyze the symbolism of the green light.
   • What does the Valley of Ashes represent in the novel?
   • Discuss the significance of eyes (Doctor T. J. Eckleburg and Gatsby watching Daisy).

Character Analysis Topics

6. Jay Gatsby

   • Is Gatsby a tragic hero? Why or why not?
   • What do Gatsby’s parties reveal about his character?
   • How does Gatsby’s past shape his present actions?

7. Daisy Buchanan

   • Is Daisy a victim of her circumstances, or does she control her fate?
   • How does Daisy represent the corruption of the American Dream?
   • Compare Daisy to Myrtle—how are they similar and different?

8. Nick Carraway

   • Is Nick a reliable narrator? Why or why not?
   • How does Nick’s perception of Gatsby change throughout the novel?
   • What role does Nick play in the moral judgment of the characters?

Comparative and Critical Analysis Topics

9. Compare The Great Gatsby to Another Work

   • Compare The Great Gatsby to Of Mice and Men in terms of the American Dream.
   • How does The Great Gatsby contrast with Death of a Salesman in depicting ambition?
   • Compare Gatsby’s character to another literary figure with a tragic flaw.

10. Film vs. Novel

• How does Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 film adaptation interpret Gatsby’s story differently?
• Do the film versions of The Great Gatsby capture Fitzgerald’s themes accurately?
• Compare the portrayal of Gatsby in the 1974 vs. 2013 film adaptations.

Read on How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay like a Pro

Various Topics Analysis

The Great Gatsby offers a rich tapestry of themes and symbols that can serve as compelling essay topics. Below is an expanded exploration of some key themes, accompanied by reliable sources to support your analysis.

1. The American Dream

Essay Topic: How does The Great Gatsby critique the American Dream?

Analysis: Fitzgerald’s novel presents the American Dream as an illusionary pursuit that leads to moral decay and unfulfilled desires. Jay Gatsby’s extravagant parties and opulent lifestyle are emblematic of his attempt to attain happiness and social status, yet they ultimately lead to his downfall. The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock symbolizes Gatsby’s unattainable aspirations, reflecting the broader theme of the American Dream’s elusiveness.

Supporting Source: According to an analysis on Wikipedia, Gatsby serves as a false prophet of the American Dream, with his pursuit leading only to dissatisfaction due to its unattainability. The green light is frequently interpreted as a symbol of Gatsby’s unrealizable goal to win Daisy and, consequently, to achieve the American Dream. Read more on en.wikipedia.org

2. Wealth and Class

Essay Topic: How does Fitzgerald portray the divide between old money, new money, and the working class?

Analysis: The novel delineates clear distinctions between characters of old money (Tom and Daisy Buchanan), new money (Jay Gatsby), and the working class (George and Myrtle Wilson). Old money characters are depicted as careless and indifferent, insulated by their longstanding wealth. In contrast, Gatsby’s newly acquired wealth fails to grant him genuine acceptance into the upper echelons of society, highlighting the rigidity of social stratification.

Supporting Source: Scholars and writers commonly ascribe Gatsby’s inability to achieve the American Dream to entrench class disparities in American society. The novel underscores the limits of the American lower class to transcend their station of birth.  Read more on en.wikipedia.org

3. Love and Relationships

Essay Topic: Is Gatsby truly in love with Daisy, or is he in love with an illusion?

Analysis: Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy is less about her as an individual and more about what she represents: wealth, status, and the fulfillment of his idealized dreams. This infatuation with an illusion leads to his tragic end, as he fails to recognize the moral emptiness behind the facade he idolizes.

Supporting Source: Fitzgerald drew on his own experiences to depict the tragic pursuit of unattainable love by Jay Gatsby, who believes that new money and glamour can help him recapture his past with Daisy Buchanan. a woman corrupted by wealth.  Read more on Vox

4. Symbols and Motifs

Essay Topic: Analyze the symbolism of the green light.

Analysis: The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock is a multifaceted symbol in the novel. It represents Gatsby’s hopes and dreams for the future, his desire for Daisy, and, more broadly, the pursuit of the American Dream. The light’s constant distance from Gatsby signifies the unattainable nature of these ideals.

Supporting Source: In this analytical context, the green light on the Buchanans’ dock (visible across Long Island Sound from Gatsby’s house) is frequently interpreted as a symbol of Gatsby’s unrealizable goal to win Daisy and, consequently, to achieve the American Dream. Read more on en.wikipedia.org

5. Society and Morality

Essay Topic: How does Fitzgerald use the character of Jay Gatsby to comment on morality and ethics?

Analysis: Gatsby’s involvement in dubious activities to amass wealth reflects the moral compromises individuals make in their pursuit of success. His lavish lifestyle masks a lack of genuine fulfillment, serving as a critique of a society that prioritizes materialism over integrity.

Supporting Source: Fitzgerald’s novel is a complex critique of wealth and the American Dream, highlighting how the pursuit of material success can lead to moral decay. Read more on Vox