Connecting Through A Common Motive

One book that is commonly recognized for the life-transforming ideas it evokes is F. Scott Fitzgerald's, Jazz Age novel, The Great Gatsby. Readers often connect with the characters in this novel as they witness a decay of morals and good intentions. The ideas F. Scott Fitzgerald presents to in this Modernist novel reveal the actions carried out in the 1920's are very similar to modern times in that people are always looking to be accepted. This novel allows the reader to connect and experience the passionate desire for security and need for wealth within each character.

First the reader can easily identify with each characters need to be accepted by the people they believe important. Readers have often seen people change their persona and beliefs to fit in by social standard and they sympathize with Gatsby's need to be accepted by Daisy, her lover, and wealthy socialites. Nick Carraway, the narrator of the story, also easily identifies with Gatsby's craving for acceptance and sees the same hunger on every one around him: "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter- tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther" (189). Nick alludes to the fact that one would do anything for wealth and popularity among peers. Gatsby manifests this need for acceptance in everything he does. He goes about doing this by trying to impress people with his wealth: wearing pink suits, driving his Rolls-Royce, and throwing extremely ornate and extravagant parties every Saturday. The reader can identify with Gatsby's actions because they too, at one time, have wanted to be accepted. The reader also can recognize Gatsby's actions because they also have wanted all of the material possessions that Gatsby has in his life. Yet, they know this passion and desire to fit in will often cause them to do something they regret. Even though it is important not to surpass the boundary of material possessions, the reader can not help but be tempted by these possessions.

Another way that the reader identifies with the characters in this novel is by discovering their motives to achieve their goals in the easiest possible way. Readers are familiar with the affinity for shortcuts in life, whether it be cheating to get good grades or taking a back road to get somewhere faster. People are always trying to find the easiest ways out of events. Nick especially sees this characteristic in Tom and Daisy: "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed

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