On the Ruin of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby 了不起的蓋茨比美國夢的破滅

OntheofAmericanGreatGatsbyAbstractthemostlaureateoftheJazzofAmericannovelistofHewasnotaleadingparticipanttypicallyfrivolous,moneymakinglifeofthebutalsoaofOwingtoitsextraordinaryliterarymerits,Fitzgeraldislistedamongthenotabletwentieth-centuryesisanalyzestherootsthedisillusionmentofGatsbydreamthehistoricalByexploringtheoriginsnatureofGatsbydream,naivetyinnocencehispersonalityandthecrueltyofJazzbyruthlessthedrawstheconclusionthatacombinationoftheseelementsdefinesGhispaperdonecharacterforbetterunderstandingofconnotationofKeyFitzgerald;TheGreatGatsby;disillusionmenti內(nèi)摘弗朗西斯·司科特菲茲杰拉德往往被推崇為爵士代”的編年史家和桂冠詩人，是二十世紀美國最重要的作家之一。他不僅親身經(jīng)歷了美國歷史“會縱樂、最講究炫麗”的時代的生活，而且以敏銳的目光，審視著那個時代所發(fā)生的一切代表《了不起的蓋茨比一問世便以其蘊涵的重大社會意義和表現(xiàn)的精湛藝術(shù)成就引起巨大轟動，被認為是二十世紀美國文學中最優(yōu)秀的作品之一。本論文從人物分析著手從社會、歷史、以及作者自身的經(jīng)歷和世界觀等多方面探討導致主人公蓋茨比夢毀人亡的根源所在國夢幻滅不僅有其深刻的社會歷史原因且與蓋茨比性格中的自我毀滅因素息息相關(guān)通過分析我們可以看出蓋茨比之夢的歷史淵源和實質(zhì)茨比性格中的天直單純和不諳世故以及以湯姆黛西為代表的美國社會的冷酷無情和道德淪喪這些從根本上決定了美國夢的幻滅。本文主要通過人物分析來分析作品的主題，并將二者有機地統(tǒng)一起來，意在較全面深刻地解讀作品的內(nèi)涵。關(guān)鍵詞：司科特菲茨杰拉德；了不起的蓋茨比；美國夢；幻滅iiContentsIntroduction………1I.andTheGreatGatsby……………11.1Fitzgerald'sLifeandHis…….……11.2SocialandHistoricalofGreat……………..…..2II.Theof…………….…2.1TheAmerican：HistoricalRetrospect………………..32.1.1OriginoftheAmericanDream…….……….32.1.2DevelopmentoftheAmericanDream………………..……….42.1.3CorruptionoftheAmericanDream……….42.2TheDisillusionmentGatsby'sDream……2.2.1OriginsofGatsbyDream……………62.2.2EssenceofGatsbyDream…….…...…7ElementsofGatsbyDream………………….……ADreamwithItsElementsinConflict……………8III.CrueltyoftheSociety……3.1ThebetweenNewRichEstablishedRich……..….…….93.1.1TheEconomicDifference………………93.1.2TheSocialConflict……………………103.2CrueltyoftheSocietyEpitomizedbytheImmoralBuchanans…………11……………………13References……………..………..15iiiI.Fitzgerald1.1Fitzgerald’sLifeandHisWorkswasoftheHenotonlyanactive,intypicallyfrivolous,moneymakingofalsoadetached,ofittheHisownlifewasamirrorofHeapricelesslifeandachievedduring“RoaringTwenties”,drinkinghardwhisky,drivingfastcars,andtakingmuchdelightinit.Scott.wasoninMiddleofAmerica.Hisfatherpoorbutwell-bredofthefamily.DuringaChristmasvacationspentinfallinloveaButrejectedhimbecausethathewasnotIn1917,metSayreandfellinlovehersoon.However,althoughZeldawillingtobecomeFitzgerald,notagreetomarryhimcouldhisabilitytoher.thethehiminbecameaforsoleofearningmoneyto62)In1919,hisfirstThisSideofParadise,whichanimmediatesuccess.Suddenly,richtheofthenhetoZeldamarriedher.Fitzgerald'ssorrowthroughoutlife.ForfourthestylishintosocietyoftheirTheyrecklesslytheirfromAmericatoEurope,thantheyDuringwrote1and(1922)andtheJazzIn1925,hisGreatHowever,afterthefirstinsankintoalcoholismwasfinancialproblemsbywife'sluxuryandofhiswriting.Iswasaroundtime.Heofhislifewritingstoriesanddiedinatage44.Itnotuntiltenafterdeaththatgeniusofhiswritingcameintofullrecognition.1.2HistoricalTheGreatGatsbyThedecade1920ofAmericahadsharplydefinedthanmostrecognizedWorldWarIleftallbelligerentsweakAmerica,however,havingbeeninvolvedintheWarforlong,remainedjustforcefulasbefore.Anmarkedfirstyears,materialismrapidlyallovercountry,peoplebecamemoregreedyandselfabsorption.TheAmericantobeofmoney,andtheofHoweverthegapandthewasstillpainfullyobvioussociety.ineconomyasit，lotchangesinspiritualandvalueswereplaceinaffectedattitudeoftimealsoabacklashtheexperienceofwar.turnedtoofGirlstheintheirwithboys,whichbeimpossiblebefore.Arevolutiontookplaceinpeopleattitudestowardssexandmoral.Thepursuitformaterialenjoymentbecamethedominanceofyoungpeoplelife.TheAmericanisperiodcitycrimesontherise.AlotofgroupswellasindividualstookthechancetomakeoverProhibition.2II.TheofAmerican2.1TheSo-calledDreamAHistoricalRetrospectintendstothereasonwhytheAmericanDream,attemptsinGatsby,bringscorruptioninthe1920sofitdoestheearlyyearsofAmericanbyoflookingbacktosomephenomenarelevantprogressofAmericanfromtheperiodtothatis,fromitsorigintoitsdevelopmentandtoOriginDreamTheAmericanaofbeginstoshapethestartingofthecivilizationfirstcametonewworldintheearlycentury.Therefore,oftheAmericanPuritanreligiousconceptshavegoneintothemakingoffollowingthreequalitiesofAmericanDream.First,theDreamadoptsitasallimportantexpressionofself-fulfillment.ThatthewhymaterialwhatfirstthinksofitcomestothetopicofDream.theAmericanknownsupporttheideathatthechancetomaterialsuccesswillfallsthepersonwhohasmoraldevelopmentisnecessaryformaterialsuccessintheofDream.ThisideaoffromAmericanPuritanreligiousbelief.Finally,OptimismischaracteristicofDream.WeseequalityfromheneverhisfaithconfidenceinhisabilitytohislifefromheDaisyfirstfive3untilthelastdaysoflife.DevelopmentofDreamintendstomakeoftheAmericangetsdevelopedwithofnation.First,theDreamisanthathopesforademocratic,liberalsociety,wheremanbasicdemandforsurvival,self-fulfillmentandsocialrecognitioncanensured.Itthatasociety,istohisoriginandequallytheopportunitytoachievehishappinessifheworkshardgoal.carryingforwardPuritantradition,theDreamtohealthilygrowupinAmericacapitalistdemocraticsoil.Anditsuccessfullytheofnationainmanyself-casesintheearlyageofAmerica.thesepeople,BenjaminFranklin,ThomasAbrahamLincolnthemostTheyallfrompoorwintheunanimousreverenceofthenation.Theirlegendarycareersproclaimtheworldthateverycaninifhehasaspiration,determination,ofwithworthwhileintheprogressofAmericangraduallyanunwaveringinofwholenation.CorruptionoftheAmericanDreamnothefactthattheAmericanDreamapositiveroleinofthenationindividualsinyearsofhistory.However,whenitcamethetwentiethcentury,sometotheAmericanmakeitcorruptatsametime.4First,theboomWorldoffersthesoilformaterialismhedonism.BoththetwoconceptsdrawpeopleattentionawayfromtheearlyPuritansemphasisspiritualandmaterialimprovementintomerelydesperateofmaterialsuccess.ofwar,hasrisenasthewealthiestcountryinthewithnorival.theirmoneyenjoyphysicalThewholeintoawhirlofunlimitedmaterialismtheimmediatehedonism.econdly,faithcrisistheWardecadenceofgeneralwhichtheofDream.heresultsfromtheimpactFirstWorldWarhasimposedonpeoplethoughtandfeelings,inparticularontheyouth.Atfirst,tojionintowarthehopemakingtheforwhentheyreturnfromthewar,theyaredisappointedfindthat“theGreat”hasbroughttheworldnothingbutgriefthecrisisItinvitesemotionsofdespairthegeneration.NickaccountofoneofGatsbylavishpartiesinChaptershowsawayofgettingclosetoanaccuratepictureofthetime:Gatsbyvulgarostentationofhiswealth,wildjazzthecarelessyouth,thenewdaringandtheparty.WitheffectofstrongwinetheJazzmusic,ofseemtothetoforFitzgeraldpointesoutthroughNickvoiceinTheGreatmajorityofthe1920sare“carelesspeople”(Fitzgerald1992:158).Theyfeelnoshameat“abaddriver”(Fitzgerald1992:157).Followingtheanalysis,canseethatitistheimpactofWorldWarandeconomicdoomfollowingthathavechangedAmericansoflife,5whichtheoftheAmericanDream.2.2TheDisillusionmentofDreammanycriticssaid,aromanticherowhodirectslifebyawhichhefaithfultotheend,fornooneandinAmericacanmatchthevitalityofGatsbydream.Meanwhilehisdestructionisstronglycoupleddisillusionmentofhisanofitis2.2.1ofGatsby’sDreamInthelastchapterofthenovel,GatsbyfatherproudlyshowedGatsbyschedulegeneralwrittenin1906fly-leafofthe“ragged”copybookcalledCassidy110)Nick.IttellsdeeplyhastheideasofBenjaminFranklinthroughintoambitiontobethatmancanhetoAlgerwriterofthebookHopalonCassidy,isanotherlargeinfluenceonyounginformingbelief.hasprobablythemostwidelyreadofallAmericanwriters.“Hisnovelstendtothesameaboyworkshisupfrompovertyrespectabilitythroughhardwork,thriftandgoodluck.(Matterson65)ToAlger,everythingdeterminedbytheoftheGatsbystartsbystrugglingfortheAlgerTheparallelexperienceandtheexplicitonpageof：Mostofthebigplacesnowandtherehardlylighttheglowofaferryboatthesound.rosehighertheinessentialhousesbegantomeltuntilgraduallyIofislandoocefortheDutcheyes--afresh,greennewItstrees，thetreesthathadmadewayforGatsbyhouse，inwhisperandofallhumandreams;foratransitory6manmusthisbreathinpresenceofintocontemplationfaceforinhistorywithcommensurateforwonder.115)Here,theDutchsailorsbecomerepresentativeofhumanityhaving“forthelasttimesomethingthatmatchesour“capacityforwonder".ThisspiritofthenewlydiscoveredcontinentturnisinGatsby'sat"greenlight"onparallelonlyconnectsGatsby'stragedywiththetragedyoftheAmericannationbutGatsby'swithtraditionalAmericanSo,GatsbyDream,assomecriticspointedbeenanillusionthathecouldhas2.2.2ofGatsby’sDreamElementsofGatsbyDreamThedevelopmentofGatsbydreamisthehistoryofhisinvolvementwithasocialclass,AttheplanedtoberichinimitationofofHoratioAlger.heinend.ThenhemetDanCody,whobecomesGatsbyimageofthewealthyandfromthattime,developedownsocialandlearnedhiswayofofwealth.wellforhowever,Gatsbyneedsanimageofsomethinghimtowhichhecanaspire,finalofwhenhemeetsinloveher,hekissedheratthefirsttime,hehas“wedhisineffablevisiontoherperishablebreathand“theincarnationwascompleted.”(Fitzgerald1992:71)Andeversinceshecenterofhisdream.him,isnotabutassymbolofaoflife.aboutherworldtohim:"Gatsbyoverwhelminglyawareofyouthmystery7imprisonsandpreserves,ofthefreshnessofandofDaisy,likesilver,hotstragglesofthepoor"(FitzgeraldaofGatsbytowithher.alotfromthethathesimplye“hehadnocomfortablefamilystandingbehindhim”,thathemust“thesamestatus”asherselfandenoughmoneygiveher“asenseofsecurity”(Fitzgerald1992:95)inordertowinherback.Soduringfollowedyearstheirworksevenhardertoaccumulatewealthwithoutsenseofguilt.Asanalyzedabove,Gatsbydreamismultileveled.LockridgewritesthatGatsbydreamhasthree“basicandrelatedparts:thedesireformoney,repeatthepast,anddesireforincarnationvisionsinthematerial(Lockridge1968:38)AwithItsinInTheitisthatcriticalofitsseeingitas“anillusionoflibertyandopenness，butwhichbeenhistoricallyineffectual.Itwasinvalidatedbyitscrudeassociationwithmaterialism.”(Matterson1990:33)Thisisstronglyinthecareerofwhoistheco-heiressofdream.TheconfusionofromanticwiththemakingafirstconflictAndbetweentheintensityofGatsbydevotionandthe“causetowhichheisdevotednotbeneglected.Andaboveall,anofAmericanGatsbydreamisfatallyinconflictwiththerigidreality.TheconflictofGatsbydreamwiththerealityisobviouslypresentedinhiswell-imaginedautobiography.HeofftherealofhimselfinventsforhimselfcompletelytotheofAmericaculture.Inofhisnewidentity,adoptswhatthetruesurroundshimselfwithhebelievesprops.However,Gatsby8andoftenworldheisfragileittheslightesttestofIII.CrueltyofInChapter8,TomandGatsbyquarrelwiningDaisythePlazaHotel,itcanthefightbetweenestablishedrich""therich".AndGatsbyfailureisdoomedfromtheverybeginning,heisallalieninsuchcrueltysociety.Atthebeginningofandescriptionoftheplaceswherethemainlive,EggEgg.1992:5)homeofintheBuchanans,intheEastnotonlytheoftheiralsotheofethics,simplevirtueoftheofEast.3.1TheConflictsTheDifferenceinEgg,whereisinhabitedtheGatsbytherepresentative.TheEastEgggatheredbythe“oldrich”,TomandDaisybeingtherepresentatives.Thenewcomposedofspeculators,industrialists.Thericharemainlyaristocraticfamilies.Gatsbygreatofofnewrich.evidencedofJazztunetheirTheirforallotherInordertoaccumulateenoughmoney,GatsbydoesnotcaretodoillegalDuringcourseofconfrontationbetweenGatsbyTom,TomtheadvantagesGatsbyillegalactivities.areanyhow?brokeoutTom.“Youareethat9withMeyerWolfshiemthatIhappentoknow.IalittleinvestigationintoyourandIcarryfurthertomorrow.“Yousuityourselfaboutthatoldsport,”saidGatsbysteadily.“Ifoundoutwhatyour-storewere.Heturnedtousandspokerapidly.“HeandthisWolfsheimboughtalotofsidedrug-storehereandinandsoldgrainalcoholoverthecounter.Thatoneofhislittlestunts.IpickedforbootleggerfirsttimeIhim,Iwasnfarwrong”aboutit?saidGatsbypolitely.guessyourfriendwasn'tproudcomeinit.”(Fitzgerald1992:FromtheirdialoguecanknowtheGatsbywaysofgoingriches,whatmoreimportant,fromGatsbytoneofthelastsentenceoftheconversation,itthinksisnothinginitanditpeople.thecontrary,TomDaisyisrepresentofoldrich.Theyhavethecharacteristicsofthetaste,grace,subtlety.Theycarelessandinconsideratebullieswhoareusedtomoneyabilitytorelievetheirdoesnothasnervousthepressurefromoutsideworld.ThendecisiontomarryTomTomsatisfieswithforcemoney.more,TomgivesofatthreefiftythousandSowhattowiththe"What'llweeturnedtohelplessly:“Whatdopeople(Fitzgerald1992:"What'llwedowiththiscriedDaisy,"andthat,next30years?"(Fitzgerald1992:TheirmarriageisjustonofAndherlifeisdull3.1.2TheSocialConflictTheUnitedStateshaslongbeenknownasa“melting”.TheLongIslandcanbecalleda“meltingpotTheEastEggisanareabelongstheoldrichtheanareaoftheEastthe10EggbothrichhavedifferentsocialTheEastenjoysahighersocialstatus.Asthetheywithcontempttonewriches.Theylikeothers.WhenNickgoestovisitheportraysTom:“HechangedsincehisNewHavenyears.Nowhewasasturdystraw-hairedmanofwithamouthandasuperciliousmanner.Twoshiningestablisheddominanceovergavehimtheappearanceofalwayslearningaggressivelyforward.”(Fitzgerald1925:7)Tom'svoice,"agruffhuskytenor,addedtoofheconveyed.wascontemptintowardheliked."(Bryfonski237)Hisaggressivedominant.Theofgarishness,ostentation,thewhileembracesbreeding,taste,partyfullfocus.Thewholebigtheofoffoodaofcaterersthelights,alltellanextravagantlife.AbouttheEast,“itwassharplydifferentfromphasetotowarditsclose,acontinuallyorelseinsheernervousdreadofthemomentitself.”(Bryfonski1978:235)3.2CrueltyoftheSocietyEpitomizedbytheImmoralBuchanansTheoftheirareoppositethatbuthistoricallyrelatedaspectsofAmerica.isknowntobetheorthespiritualwhileisrelatedtothebody,sincesomuchemphasisplacedonTomphysicalpresence.MyfirstofTomisthearrogantpostureofhis“cruel”.Thetruththatsocietythetwentiesaoflikefoundeverywhereinnovel.TheirindulgentluxuriouslifetypicallyinthedepictiontheofGatsbyelaboratepartiesandBuchanansmovingaroundthecountry.11InchapterNickusalonglistofGatsby'swhichasanofthesocialoftime.itpreciselyas:Theandscrapsofrumorbeinghurriedindiscriminatelyinthefreneticmoneyandpleasure--and，the，the，thethefrivolousthetheabandoned--eventheThewhiffviolenceisinandoffaraway．isthefoulthatfloatedinthewakeofGatsbycrowdthatflocktoglitteringlavishheWest．(Way1986：94)Again,theuneasyfashionableoflifeiswellgoingtodinnerthemthisway:HisfamilyenormouslywealthyevenincollegefreedomwithwasaforreproachnowleftChicagoandcomeeastinafashionthatrathertookyourbreathaway;instance,broughtdownastringponiesForest.Itwasmallwasenoughthat.Whytheycomeeastdonknow.TheyspentainFranceforparticularreason,driftedhereplayedandwererichtogether.isthelifeofestablishedrich.unlimitedinheritedthefreeforthemtheynothingtodreamofandaccordinglylackHowever,"theyarescaredthattheotherraceswillriseandbecomethe(Gary19)."Well,it'safinebookandtoreadit.Theideaisifwelookoutthewillbewillsubmerged.allscientificstuff;it'sbeenproved.""Well,booksallinsist"Thisfellowhasworkedthewholething.It'saredominantorotherwillcontrolofthings.""wegottobeatthemdown,"whisperedDaisy,winkingferociouslyferventsun."(Fitzgerald1925:10-11)SowhenGatsbychallengesTomstatusquobytryingtorelievehimfromhiswife,Tomnothesitateingivingashock,appealingDaisysnobberyby12thatanillegalparvenuasecurefamilywealth.WithcomingbackTomandtheirfinalreunion,GatsbydreamisHowever,isstillwhathewantsisnothingGatsbyfiasco.ItisimplicitenoughthatTohasdirectedWilsonforandvirtuallybecomesmurdererinend.Inthelastchapter,afterGatsbydeath,ofthepeoplewhousedtogotoGatsbyparties,exceptthe-”andNickwouldcomeforhisfuneral,whichagaintothecrueltycoldnessofsociety.ConclusionTodaythegeneralconsensusofthatrepresentativeof1920sinUnitedownlifeamirroroftimes.Hisworks,GreatGatsbyinparticular,areallepitomeof“TheJazzAge”.GreatGatsbyundoubtedlyathatcanarousehugefeelingoftheforitisnotsimplyallunfulfilledofmanGatsby.Itisalsoastorywonder,andhistory,whichnotonlytoallawithmanyissuesworthInthesistheonofAmericanGatThroughanofthemainsocialcontextthe