Theme Of The Great Gatsby

There are several setting within the novel “The Great Gatsby.” Each of the setting within the story contributes to the growth of the story, the Midwest, East and West Egg of Long Island and Manhattan and an industrial area of Queens the novel calls the Valley of Ashes. The main setting of “the Great Gatsby” is the time period during prohibition. In a time period where alcohol was illegal we find all of the charters enjoying social drinking at every event. Gatsby throws elaborate parties where free food, music and lots of alcohol were the theme. You did not need an invitation and his hopes were to draw in Daisy and her friends to the events. Although the story is set in the time of prohibition the characters did not seem to worry about
Each were wealthy however, it is the attitudes of the residents of this part of Long Island that tells them apart. East Egg resident are snobbish and looked down on the residents of West Egg. West Egg was made up of newly rich who came from moderate families and made their money recently. East and West Egg are small in contrast to the rest of the city and everyone is in everyone else’s business. Although this is the place to live it was hard to keep the rumor mill from spreading the newest news even if untrue. Nick is the exception as he lives in East Egg but came from a middle class family. Nick comes from the mid-west which he describes as “The center of all things moral and wholesome.” He also finds the mid-west boring and decides to move
This is an area of Queens between the Eggs and Manhattan. It is an industrial area and there is a lot of manufacturing going on here. This is where George Wilson has his gas station. It is a dim and bleak place. This is also where tragically Myrtle dies at the hands of Daisy Tom’s wife.
We understand from the story that Gatsby throws luxurious parties and is the center of attention. No one knows where his money comes from as he is a bootlegger in a time of probation. Gatsby would not have his money of his fame without his illegal dealings. Although he blends in when he is in the city in West Egg he is a focal point of attention. Due to the amount of alcohol consumed during the social events the story ends tragically.
There are several settings within the story that help to describe the characters and their lifestyles. It helps the reader to understand how their lives are entangles and how each of them plays a role in the final ending of the story. The main setting is prohibition and that alcohol is illegal. Without this Gatsby would not be as wealthy as he