Great Gatsby Essay Questions
Content
The Great Gatsby
Period 7 Test
Directions: Answer all four questions in detailed paragraphs. I’m looking for a
complete addressment of all parts of the prompt, thoughtful consideration of the
topic, support for your opinions (either implicitly or explicitly stated), and recognition
of any stylistic techniques that Fitzgerald might have used in conjunction with the
topic(s) associated with the prompt. Each prompt is worth 5 points, for a raw score
total of 20 points.
1. Nick says: “I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known.” When you consider his role as
narrator, do you believe that he is honest? Are his depictions of others honest? If he is not honest, why
does he believe he is so honest?
Despite what Nick thinks of himself, he is not an honest character in the novel. He cannot be
regarded as honest because he is heavily biased towards Gatsby, which affects the way he tells the story.
In The Great Gatsby, Gatsby was the only one who he believed “turned out all right in the end” (pg 6). He is
so biased towards Gatsby that he doesn’t even care for Daisy, whom he is related to. Also, he cannot be
considered honest because, in the end, he views everyone else as “foul dust” (pg 7). Since Nick views the
others this way, his retelling of the events and their interactions cannot be completely true. This shows in
his hatred towards Tom and annoyance by Daisy early on in the story. Nick isn’t even honest towards
Gatsby— the one person he apparently cared about— because he gives him the false sense of hope that
Daisy will choose him, even though he knows she won’t. His depictions of others cannot be honest
because the story is told based on a memory and one remembers something based on personal
experience— which is subjective and forms the basis for bias. As previously mentioned, Nick’s memory is
even more tainted because of his experiences towards the end. Nick thinks that he is honest because he
never necessarily lies, he only alters or eliminates the truth. For example, he never bluntly tells Gatsby
whether or not he has a shot with Daisy, but he does avoid telling him that she has reconciled with Tom.
2. “[Disillusion is] the feeling that gnaws at you after a dream that proves only a hallucination. It is also about
the terror of losing that illusion, and having no refuge.” –Rolling Stone Magazine, March 24, 2005.
Consider how this corresponds to the Great Gatsby. Was Gatsby motivated by a dream or an illusion? Did
he wake up disillusioned at one point, with the terror or realization that he could not or would not be able to
attain what he thought was once possible? Did this destroy him? Was there something flawed about his
dream? What is the larger statement Fitzgerald is making about dreams and illusions in the novel? Also
consider the last line of the novel when creating your thesis statement. Why do we continue to run towards
our illusions even though they continue to allude us?
Gatsby was motivated by the illusion that Daisy loved him and had always only loved him. He is
motivated by an illusion because he perceived this to be true, while he would hope for it to eventually come
true, had it been a dream. When Daisy cried out to him that she had loved both him and Tom, he was
terrified and began trying to get her to change her mind. That night, he waited for Daisy to call, but was
“standing in the moonlight watching over nothing” (pg 153). Daisy did not call and Gatsby knew that she
had slipped from his grasp. He stayed hopeful on the outside, however, and asks to keep the phone lines
open. Though he seemed fine, Gatsby had a talent of masking himself from the world. Nick was the only
one who knew the full truth about him. Nick believes that Gatsby had that moment of disillusionment and
was destroyed. Gatsby “must have felt that he had lost the warm world” and that he now lived in a haunted,
solemn place without the dream or hope of a future with Daisy (pg 169). Gatsby's dream was flawed
because it was so focused on the past— it didn't take into account the present situation that Daisy was
married to Tom. Fitzgerald states that dreams, despite being alluding, will serve as a motivating force but
can never replace reality. People, however, continue to un towards these illusions because it is a hopeful,
guiding force, and is the only assurance many have that situations can and will change since reality can be
so overbearing.
3. One critic has written that "the theme of Gatsby is the withering of the American Dream." Write a response
which outlines the evidence you can find in the novel which supports this contention.
The Great Gatsby demonstrates the withering American Dream because it renounces
American ideals such as reinvention, rags to riches, and happiness. In the novel no one is truly happy with
their current situation. In the novel, no one is truly happy because they each wish for something more in
their situation. Gatsby wishes for Daisy to reciprocate his love; Daisy wishes for Tom to let her go and for
Gatsby to accept her as who she is; Tom wishes to be able to have multiple mistresses; Jordan wishes for
a serious relationship; Myrtle wishes for Tom to leave Daisy; and Nick wishes to understand the captivity of
the elite in New York without becoming similar to those he calls shallow. Each of these characters wish for
some version of their life to make themselves happy, but are unable to attain it. Gatsby represents both the
ideal and realistic American Dream. He was born a penniless man under the name of James Gatz and was
able to create a new persona and transcend societal boundaries, which was very rare at the time.
However, this transformation also has its drawbacks. Gatsby was cheated out of his money by Dan Cody’s
mistress and was thereby left to make his riches illegally— by selling alcohol over-the-counter in drugstores
during Prohibition. Additionally, no matter how hard he tries, he cannot escape his past. Due to his humble
beginnings, he does not completely comprehend high society customs. He cannot escape his past from
loving Daisy, is not sociable at his parties, and does not fit in with other elite because he is very guarded.
Additionally, the partygoers in the novel are very rich and enjoy their time for the night, but at the end of the
day they live a shallow, materialistic life. The Great Gatsby shows the illusions of the American Dream and
counters them with more realistic situations.
4. The theme of seeing and not seeing, or variations on blindness, permeates the novel. Eyes are
everywhere: Dr. T. J. Eckleburg’s on the billboard, Owl Eyes, a dog “looking with blind eyes through the
smoke (41), a man “blinded by the glare of the headlights” (59), and Nick’s comment that the East is
“haunted for me . . . distorted beyond my eyes’ power of correction,” (185).
Analyze the treatment of blindness, and of seeing and not seeing, in the novel.
Throughout the novel, blindness and sight are important themes that demonstrate the
emotions and surroundings of the characters within certain situations. Sight is important to the novel
because it signifies a clear mind, hope for the future, and judgement. The fact that certain situations are
being seen clearly while others are not shows a greater judgement of the universe, such as a god or other
divine being. The billboard provides this sense of judgement because Eckleburg “sees everything” in New
York, thus witnessing all of the scandal and chaos that goes on within. To illustrate, Wilson threatens that
“God knows everything” while gazing at the billboard of TJ Eckleberg after he found out that Gatsby was
the one driving the car that had killed his wife (pg 167). Characters are blinded because they are selfabsorbed and are not paying attention to anything else. For example, Daisy and Tom are blinded by their
wealth and do not see how their actions affect others. When they can finally see, such as after the death of
Myrtle and torment of Gatsby, they realize what a mess they have made and move on, retreating “back into
their money or their vast carelessness”, where the cycle would continue (pg 188). Also, Gatsby is blind
because he is not in touch with reality. He is blinded by his love for Daisy and cannot see a future apart
from being with her. He cannot see beyond his own dreams and does not realize that Daisy is happily
married to Tom. Each night, Gatsby watches the green light that represents how close he is to her, until one
day he can no longer see it. This reawakening of sight makes him have the sudden realization that Daisy is
not as attainable as he had thought. Blindness permeates the novel until each character is awakened or
enlightened by their current situation.
Period 7 Test
Directions: Answer all four questions in detailed paragraphs. I’m looking for a
complete addressment of all parts of the prompt, thoughtful consideration of the
topic, support for your opinions (either implicitly or explicitly stated), and recognition
of any stylistic techniques that Fitzgerald might have used in conjunction with the
topic(s) associated with the prompt. Each prompt is worth 5 points, for a raw score
total of 20 points.
1. Nick says: “I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known.” When you consider his role as
narrator, do you believe that he is honest? Are his depictions of others honest? If he is not honest, why
does he believe he is so honest?
Despite what Nick thinks of himself, he is not an honest character in the novel. He cannot be
regarded as honest because he is heavily biased towards Gatsby, which affects the way he tells the story.
In The Great Gatsby, Gatsby was the only one who he believed “turned out all right in the end” (pg 6). He is
so biased towards Gatsby that he doesn’t even care for Daisy, whom he is related to. Also, he cannot be
considered honest because, in the end, he views everyone else as “foul dust” (pg 7). Since Nick views the
others this way, his retelling of the events and their interactions cannot be completely true. This shows in
his hatred towards Tom and annoyance by Daisy early on in the story. Nick isn’t even honest towards
Gatsby— the one person he apparently cared about— because he gives him the false sense of hope that
Daisy will choose him, even though he knows she won’t. His depictions of others cannot be honest
because the story is told based on a memory and one remembers something based on personal
experience— which is subjective and forms the basis for bias. As previously mentioned, Nick’s memory is
even more tainted because of his experiences towards the end. Nick thinks that he is honest because he
never necessarily lies, he only alters or eliminates the truth. For example, he never bluntly tells Gatsby
whether or not he has a shot with Daisy, but he does avoid telling him that she has reconciled with Tom.
2. “[Disillusion is] the feeling that gnaws at you after a dream that proves only a hallucination. It is also about
the terror of losing that illusion, and having no refuge.” –Rolling Stone Magazine, March 24, 2005.
Consider how this corresponds to the Great Gatsby. Was Gatsby motivated by a dream or an illusion? Did
he wake up disillusioned at one point, with the terror or realization that he could not or would not be able to
attain what he thought was once possible? Did this destroy him? Was there something flawed about his
dream? What is the larger statement Fitzgerald is making about dreams and illusions in the novel? Also
consider the last line of the novel when creating your thesis statement. Why do we continue to run towards
our illusions even though they continue to allude us?
Gatsby was motivated by the illusion that Daisy loved him and had always only loved him. He is
motivated by an illusion because he perceived this to be true, while he would hope for it to eventually come
true, had it been a dream. When Daisy cried out to him that she had loved both him and Tom, he was
terrified and began trying to get her to change her mind. That night, he waited for Daisy to call, but was
“standing in the moonlight watching over nothing” (pg 153). Daisy did not call and Gatsby knew that she
had slipped from his grasp. He stayed hopeful on the outside, however, and asks to keep the phone lines
open. Though he seemed fine, Gatsby had a talent of masking himself from the world. Nick was the only
one who knew the full truth about him. Nick believes that Gatsby had that moment of disillusionment and
was destroyed. Gatsby “must have felt that he had lost the warm world” and that he now lived in a haunted,
solemn place without the dream or hope of a future with Daisy (pg 169). Gatsby's dream was flawed
because it was so focused on the past— it didn't take into account the present situation that Daisy was
married to Tom. Fitzgerald states that dreams, despite being alluding, will serve as a motivating force but
can never replace reality. People, however, continue to un towards these illusions because it is a hopeful,
guiding force, and is the only assurance many have that situations can and will change since reality can be
so overbearing.
3. One critic has written that "the theme of Gatsby is the withering of the American Dream." Write a response
which outlines the evidence you can find in the novel which supports this contention.
The Great Gatsby demonstrates the withering American Dream because it renounces
American ideals such as reinvention, rags to riches, and happiness. In the novel no one is truly happy with
their current situation. In the novel, no one is truly happy because they each wish for something more in
their situation. Gatsby wishes for Daisy to reciprocate his love; Daisy wishes for Tom to let her go and for
Gatsby to accept her as who she is; Tom wishes to be able to have multiple mistresses; Jordan wishes for
a serious relationship; Myrtle wishes for Tom to leave Daisy; and Nick wishes to understand the captivity of
the elite in New York without becoming similar to those he calls shallow. Each of these characters wish for
some version of their life to make themselves happy, but are unable to attain it. Gatsby represents both the
ideal and realistic American Dream. He was born a penniless man under the name of James Gatz and was
able to create a new persona and transcend societal boundaries, which was very rare at the time.
However, this transformation also has its drawbacks. Gatsby was cheated out of his money by Dan Cody’s
mistress and was thereby left to make his riches illegally— by selling alcohol over-the-counter in drugstores
during Prohibition. Additionally, no matter how hard he tries, he cannot escape his past. Due to his humble
beginnings, he does not completely comprehend high society customs. He cannot escape his past from
loving Daisy, is not sociable at his parties, and does not fit in with other elite because he is very guarded.
Additionally, the partygoers in the novel are very rich and enjoy their time for the night, but at the end of the
day they live a shallow, materialistic life. The Great Gatsby shows the illusions of the American Dream and
counters them with more realistic situations.
4. The theme of seeing and not seeing, or variations on blindness, permeates the novel. Eyes are
everywhere: Dr. T. J. Eckleburg’s on the billboard, Owl Eyes, a dog “looking with blind eyes through the
smoke (41), a man “blinded by the glare of the headlights” (59), and Nick’s comment that the East is
“haunted for me . . . distorted beyond my eyes’ power of correction,” (185).
Analyze the treatment of blindness, and of seeing and not seeing, in the novel.
Throughout the novel, blindness and sight are important themes that demonstrate the
emotions and surroundings of the characters within certain situations. Sight is important to the novel
because it signifies a clear mind, hope for the future, and judgement. The fact that certain situations are
being seen clearly while others are not shows a greater judgement of the universe, such as a god or other
divine being. The billboard provides this sense of judgement because Eckleburg “sees everything” in New
York, thus witnessing all of the scandal and chaos that goes on within. To illustrate, Wilson threatens that
“God knows everything” while gazing at the billboard of TJ Eckleberg after he found out that Gatsby was
the one driving the car that had killed his wife (pg 167). Characters are blinded because they are selfabsorbed and are not paying attention to anything else. For example, Daisy and Tom are blinded by their
wealth and do not see how their actions affect others. When they can finally see, such as after the death of
Myrtle and torment of Gatsby, they realize what a mess they have made and move on, retreating “back into
their money or their vast carelessness”, where the cycle would continue (pg 188). Also, Gatsby is blind
because he is not in touch with reality. He is blinded by his love for Daisy and cannot see a future apart
from being with her. He cannot see beyond his own dreams and does not realize that Daisy is happily
married to Tom. Each night, Gatsby watches the green light that represents how close he is to her, until one
day he can no longer see it. This reawakening of sight makes him have the sudden realization that Daisy is
not as attainable as he had thought. Blindness permeates the novel until each character is awakened or
enlightened by their current situation.
