Abstract: The Great Gatsby, released in 1925, is regarded as one of the finest twentieth-century American novels. The novel written by Fitzgerald aims to illustrate the theme of American Dream and disclose the social reality in the Jazz Age. Formerly, we mainly understood the novel on the basis of American Dream and knew the tragedy of Gatsby. This thesis will study the greatness of Gatsby. I will study his greatness from his distinctive character, brave pursuit of love and American Dream, disclosing the merits of Gatsby and illustrating the greatness of Gatsby. By study, the greatness will be further studied and readers will have a deep and comprehensive understanding of Gatsby and the work itself.

Key words: Gatsby; greatness; character; love; American Dream

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction ...1

1.1 Fitzgerald and the Background of the Novel.1

1.2 Literature Review.2

2. Distinctive Character .3

2.1 An Optimistic Attitude towards Life..3

2.2 Iron Will.4

3. Brave Pursuit of True Love5

3.1 Sparing No Efforts to Meet Daisy Again...5

3.2 Taking Responsibility for Daisy’s Fault ..5

4. Pursuing American Dream.6

4.1 An Analysis of American Dream and Gatsby’s American Dream..6

4.2 Gatsby’s Efforts to Wealth Dream..7

4.3 Gatsby’s Disillusion of American Dream.8

5. Conclusion..9

Bibliography...10

Acknowledgements..11