Briefly discuss F. Scott Fitzgerald' s theme of bankruptcy of the American dream, focusing on his masterpiece The Great Gatsby.
(1) FITZGERALD NEVER SPARED AN INTIMATE TOUCH IN HIS FICTION TO DEAL WITH THE BANKRUPTCY OF THE AMERICAN DREAM, WHICH IS HIGHLIGHTED BY THE DISILLUSIONMENT OF THE PROTAGONISTS' PERSONAL DREAMS DUE TO THE CLASHES BETWEEN THEIR ROMANTIC VISION OF LIFE AND THE SORDID REALITY. AMERICAN DREAM IS A POPULAR BELIEF THAT PEOPLE CAN ACHIEVE SUCCESS, WHETHER IT IS WEALTH, FAME OR LOVE THROUGH HONEST HARD WORKING IN A NEW WORLD OF LIBERTY, EQUALITY, CHANCES AND PROMISES. YET IN THE 1920S, THE AMERICAN DREAM WAS BANKRUPT IN THE SENSE THAT THE WEALTHY PEOPLE WERE SPIRITUALLY DISORIENTATED AND MORALLY CORRUPTED.(2) AS HIS MASTERPIECE，THE GREAT GATSBY EVOKES A HAUNTING MOOD OF A GLAMOROUS, WILD TIME THAT SEEMINGLY WILL NEVER COME AGAIN. BESIDES THE LOSS OF AN IDEAL AND THE DISILLUSIONMENT THAT COMES WITH THE FAILURE ARE EXPLOITED FULLY IN THE PERSONAL TRAGEDY OF A YOUNG MAN WHOSE “INCORRUPTIBLE DREAM”IS“SMASHED INTO PIECES BY THE RELENTLESS REALITY.”GATSBY IS A MYTHICAL FIGURE WHOSE INTENSITY OF DREAM PARTAKES OF A STATE OF MIND THAT EMBODIES AMERICAN ITSELF; GATSBY IS THE LAST OF THE ROMANTIC HEROES, WHOSE ENERGY AND SENSE OF COMMITMENT TAKES HIM IN SEARCH OF HIS PERSONAL GRAIL; GATSBY’S FAILURE MAGNIFIES TO A GREAT EXTENT THE END OF THE AMERICAN DREAM. HOWEVER, THE AFFIRMATION OF HOPE AND EXPECTATION IS SELF-ASSERTED IN FITZGERALD’S ARTISTIC MANIPULATION OF THE CENTRAL SYMBOL IN THE NOVEL, THE GREEN LIGHT.
