Themes in Fitzgerald's The Great GatsbyThe American DreamAt first glance, The Great Gatsby is about a romance between Gatsby and Daisy. The real theme behind this wonderful novel is not only romance, but also a very skeptical view of the extinction of the American dream in the prosperous 1919s. This loss of the American dream is illustrated by Fitzgerald's presentation of this decade as being morally deficient. He shows his incredible decadence in Gatsby's lavish and ostentatious parties. This materialistic attitude towards life stemmed from the younger generation's disillusionment with old Victorian values. Additionally, with Prohibition in effect, illegal bootlegging practices provided another way for Americans to fall down the path of greed, pleasure, and decadence. Nick and Gatsby represent the skeptical young generation, tired of the “old ways”. Gatsby's involvement in organized crime marks his turning point from the American dream of the individual's pursuit of happiness to "sit back, relax, and watch the money burn." Gatsby throws away his morals while trying to impress Daisy through...