The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, published in 1925, is an allusion to Fitzgerald's life and society containing the themes: love, corruption, and time. Gatsby and Daisy’s tumultuous love symbolize Fitzgerald’s trials in his own relationship. The corruption of the government official and men of society in the novel represent the corruption in society. Throughout the story, the concept of time is repeatedly used to show how life can change so quickly. Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby taking his own life experiences into account.
Fitzgerald entered the United States Army as an infantry second lieutenant after being on academic probation at Princeton. He never actually saw any foreign combat, which is something he always regretted. In the novel, the protagonist, Jay Gatsby “accepted a commission as first lieutenant when [World War 1] began,” (Fitzgerald 70). Gatsby is Fitzgerald’s divine version of himself. Fitzgerald saw himself as a dashing, young war hero, but in reality he was just a Princeton dropout that never got his chance to fight. Gatsby was “promoted to be a major and every Allied government gave [him] a decoration,” (Fitzgerald 70) “For Valour Extraordinary,” (Fitzgerald 71).
The early lives of Gatsby and Fitzgerald were similar. Gatsby was born to a …show more content…
The novel begins “In my younger and more vulnerable years . . .” and ends “borne back ceaselessly into the past.” It uses some 450 time-words, including 87 appearances of time. Episodes are reinforced by time symbolism: the Buchanan lawn is described as “jumping over sundials”; Nick’s famous list of people who attend Gatsby’s parties is written on a timetable; Gatsby knocks over a clock during his reunion with Daisy; and Klipspringer plays “In the meantime, In between time-”. (Bruccoli