Abstract:F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940), the famous American novelist in the 1920s, is known as the spokesman and laureate of the “Jazz Age”. The Great Gatsby, his masterpiece, is considered an American classic and is still the hot subject by the critics. It is generally viewed among critics that it is a novel about the American society in the 1920s. 

Based on a close reading of the novel, the author finds that the novel centers around the tragic love of the protagonist Gatsby, whose irrational obsession with a vain, selfish and superficial woman leads to his demise.

This thesis is divided into four chapters. Chapter one is the introduction to the author and the novel. Chapter two introduces Gatsby’s love tragedy. Chapter three discusses the main reasons for Gatsby’s love tragedy, which are the influence of the Jazz Age, Gatsby’s corrupted American dream and his idolization for Daisy. Chapter four is the conclusion. Connecting the book with present society, the younger generation could get much insight from this excellent work.

Keywords:  The Great Gatsby  Love Tragedy  Daisy  Fitzgerald

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Brief Introduction to Fitzgerald-1

1.2 Brief Introduction to The Great Gatsby-2

1.3 Structure of the Paper-3

Chapter Two Gatsby’s Love Tragedy-4

Chapter Three Reasons for Gatsby’s Tragic Love-6

3.1 Influence of Jazz Age-6

3.2 Gatsby’s Corrupted “American Dream”-6

3.3 The Idolization of Daisy in Gatsby’s Heart-8

Chapter Four Conclusion-9

References-11