The Inevitability of Time:
The idea of the inevitability of time is explored throughout the Great Gatsby as the whole novel revolves around the fact that the only real factor that stands in the way of Daisy and Gatsby being together is the 5 years that they have spent apart. Gatsby thinks that time is some sort of substance that can be manipulated as evidenced by when Gatsby says “Can’t repeat the past? …Why of course you can!”. But what Gatsby can’t seem to grasp is that time can’t be changed or erased and Daisy has been getting in just fine without him for the 5 years they’ve been apart. Even if he seems to be stuck in the past, time will go on and no-one can do anything to change that. A symbol of time that is continuously implied throughout the novel is water. An example of this is when Daisy and Gatsby spend the day together or the first time in 5 years. It’s raining but while Daisy and Gatsby spend time together, the rain stops and they have a perfect day together- a glimpse of the life Gatsby dreams of. The rain represents the idea that time stops when they’re together but that can never truly happen since time must go on and can never stop or be erased. At this point, Fitzgerald is trying to convey the idea that we all wish we could stop or go back in time but its simply not possible, the continuation of time is inevitable.
The myth of the American Dream :
Throughout the novel The Great Gatsby the idea of ‘The American Dream’ is repeatedly criticised and presented as false. By definition, ‘The American Dream’ is the ideal by which equality of opportunity is available to any American, allowing the highest aspirations and goals to be achieved. In other words it is the belief that if you work hard, you can be successful regardless of race, gender or class. In The Great Gatsby the idea of “The American Dream” is just that, a dream that can never be a reality. It is impossible due to the huge divide between rich and poor (e.g. social standing of George Wilson vs that of Tom Buchanan). No-one in the novel has truly achieved “The American Dream” ; Tom and Daisy are both born into “The American Dream” and never have to put in any work to sustain their lifestyle, Gatsby has worked hard for his money, even if it is through illegitimate means, however he will never truly be accepted into Tom and Daisy’s lifestyle. He has trained himself to have the ma nerf of the upper class the one thing he is missing is money (yes he has lots of it but since it has been obtained illegally it doesn’t count in the eyes of the elite) however he thinks he can make up for his lack of legitimate money by obtaining Daisy, someone who will boost his status. “The American Dream” has failed him because the one thing he needs to live the dream is out of reach and can never be his. Another person who “The American Dream” has ultimately failed is George Wilson who works hard but never gets ANY credit and definitely doesn’t have equal opportunities. He and Myrtle are both trying to make their way into the upper class lifestyle; him by his hard work and Myrtle through her affair with Tom. Although they try to achieve “The American Dream” they will always be stuck in the Valley of Ashes- aka the lower, working class.