34. practice essay gatsby

The novel is about the loneliness and isolation of the individual. Discuss how far you agree with this view. (Oxford literature companion, p.113)

Introduction/thesis

The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald written in first person perspective of Nick Carraway, comes with individuals who have deeper or intellectual stories behind them than you think at first. The classic novel was written during the Jazz Age which we often see back in Gatsby’s colossal parties. The hidden meaning behind Gatsby’s parties is later revealed to have a soul purpose behind them. Throughout the story we find out that multiple lead characters have a certain loneliness or dejection going on. Since the characterisation of loneliness is quite a big role in these characters, you could debate that the novel is based on it.

Main body (2-3 examples, using transition words and intellectual language (student sample 1))

To prove that the novel is about loneliness, I will analyse the most mysterious character in the novel. I am clearly talking about Gatsby. Gatsby is hopelessly devoted to Daisy which causes him to push people away who do care about him such as Nick Carraway. The first person perspective of Nick Carraway perceives Gatsby as a mysterious and successful man, like he does not have any form of loneliness that haunts him. Even though the author doesn’t say Gatsby is lonely, as a reader you can still tell he is which is very impressive literature technique from Fitzgerald. An example of this is when Daisy asks Gatsby how he lives alone in such a big place, Gatsby’s answer was “I keep it always full of interesting people, night and day. People who do interesting things. Celebrated people” (page 96). Gatsby is trying to fill a certain loneliness by always having people around, which even then he still isolates himself to get to Daisy due to the fact that he is head over heels for her.