Abstract: By means of making a sketchy exploration of Gatsby’s short, yet splendid life full of twists and turns, this article aims at interpreting the triple tragedy in The Great Gatsby from three aspects: namely, the tragedy of love, the tragedy of destruction of American Dream, and the tragedy of the age when moral depravity and spiritual emptiness overran, which helps readers get a better understanding of the cause of Gatsby’s tragic life.

Key words: Fitzgerald; American dreams; social barriers; Jazz Age

CONTENTS 

摘要

Abstract

1. Introduction1

  1.1 F. Scott Fitzgerald and His Works

  1.2 Theme of The Great Gatsby

2. The Tragedy of Love..2

2.1 The Love Story between Gatsby and Daisy

2.2 The Causes of Doomed Tragic Love

2.2.1 The Naivety and Blindness of Gatsby

2.2.2 The Easy Virtue of Material Girl Daisy

2.2.3 The Social Class Barrier between Daisy and Gatsby

3. The Tragedy of American Dream...6

3.1 American Dream

3.2 The Causes of Gatsby’s Disillusioned American Dream

3.2.1 His Blind Worship of Money and Materials

3.2.2 His Innocent Nature and Idealism

3.2.3 His Flawed Perception toward Upper Class

4. The Tragedy of the Age9

4.1 Social Background of Jazz Age and the Roaring 20s Century

4.2 The Humanity Perverted by Money

  4.2.1 Epicureanism Prevalent in Society

4.2.2 Spiritual Emptiness and Moral Depravity beyond the Prosperity

  4.3 The Conflict between Profiteer and Upper Class

5. Conclusion...11

Bibliography....13

Acknowledgments.. 14