The fundamental theme of The Great Gatsby is the decadence of the American dream. Through his insightful analysis and critique of 1920s high society, Fitzgerald argues that the American Dream no longer means the noble pursuit of progress; instead, it has become grossly materialistic and corrupt. Fitzgerald's novel is structured as an allegory (a story within another story), the terrible death of Jay Gatsby is, by extension, the death of the American dream. For Fitzgerald, the true American dream is characterized by a spirit of perseverance and hope; thanks to them, we can succeed against all odds. This ideal is embodied by young Gatsby (then James Gatz): he carefully plans the path by which he will become a great man in his journal "Hopalong Cassidy" - then follows it to the letter. When Mr. Gatz shows the tattered book to Nick, he says, "Jimmy was destined to move forward." He always had resolutions like this or something. Do you notice what he has to improve his mind? He was always great at that." The diary illustrates the continuing struggle for self-improvement that once represented the American ideal. By comparing the young James Gatz to Benjamin Franklin, Fitzgerald suggests that the American dream endures despite decline of modern society: there will always be people guided by indomitable hope Modern society, however, has no place for such dreamers: Gatsby's burning desire to win Daisy's love ultimately remains unrealized. and actually leads to his destruction Gatsby is first seen late at night, "standing with his hands in his pockets" Nick says, half-jokingly, that he is "trying to determine what part of it is his"; our local paradise". Nick observes Gatsby's movements and comments: "He stretches... middle of paper... to the Midwest with this disturbing knowledge: the American people must fight not to lose their humanity. : “So we continue to move forward. , boats against the current, constantly taken back to the past." The dream is now completely lost and can never be resurrected - at least not in its original, purest form. Through the story of a romance doomed to failure, Fitzgerald expresses the tragic decline of American values ​​Gatsby and the other characters in the novel are mere vessels for the author's true story: the American dream, once a pure and powerful ideal, has. been degraded and buried by the dehumanizing lust for money Nick Carraway is an outsider to his own story: he is an honest man, an observer who is not, in the final analysis. , a eulogy for a man named Jay Gatsby, but rather a eulogy for the idea of ​​America itself..