Read a book in 10 minutes: The Great Gatsby and its 5 quotes to remember for life

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is one of the most iconic American novels and is among the most widely read books in the world. Published in 1925, it is the sad saga of money, love, ambition, and the relentless hunt for the American Dream in the 1920s and the disappointment it led to. The protagonist of the novel is Nick Carraway. The story begins when he comes to stay in a rich neighbourhood. He watches his rich neighbor Jay Gatsby's strange life and the complicated world of rich people. The book seems to be about love and wealth, but it really looks at deeper issues like the corruption of wealth, the emptiness of material success, and the impossibility of recreating the past.The Story of The Great GatsbyNick Carraway moves from the Midwest to Long Island to work in the bond business. This is where the story begins. He rents a small house in West Egg, which is where a lot of people who have just become rich live. Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire who throws big parties every weekend, lives next door to Nick. Hundreds of people go to these parties, but not many of them know Gatsby personally. Nick quickly gets back in touch with his cousin Daisy Buchanan, who lives across the bay in East Egg with her rich but rude husband Tom Buchanan. Daisy is beautiful, charming, and delicate, but she is also stuck in a shallow world of privilege.Nick finally finds out the truth about Gatsby. Gatsby had loved Daisy deeply years before he went to war. He was poor at the time and thought he couldn't marry her until he got rich. Daisy married Tom Buchanan, who came from a very rich family, while Gatsby was away. Gatsby worked hard for years to make a lot of money so he could win Daisy back. He bought a fancy mansion right across the bay from Daisy's house so he could see it every night. Gatsby sees the famous green light at the end of Daisy's dock as a sign of hope and desire.Gatsby asks Nick to help him get back together with Daisy. Nick sets up a meeting for them, and their love story takes off again. Gatsby thinks he can bring back the past and that Daisy will leave Tom for him. But things start to go wrong. Tom gets suspicious and questions Gatsby about the relationship. Tom tells Gatsby about his illegal business dealings during a heated argument in a New York hotel. Daisy is scared and unsure about leaving her comfortable life with Tom.Daisy accidentally hits and kills Myrtle Wilson, Tom's mistress, on the way home. To keep Daisy safe, Gatsby says he was to blame for the accident. George Wilson, Myrtle's husband, thinks that Gatsby was both Myrtle's lover and her killer. He shoots Gatsby in his swimming pool out of grief and revenge, then kills himself. Nick realizes that almost none of the people who went to Gatsby's fancy parties really cared about him after he died. Daisy and Tom leave town without even going to Gatsby's funeral. Nick is disgusted by the emptiness and moral decay of the rich society he has seen.What the Book Stands For1. The American DreamThe idea that the American Dream is broken is one of the most important ones in the book. This is the idea that anyone can succeed if they work hard and are determined. Gatsby is the dreamer who thinks that money can buy love and happiness. But the story shows that having a lot of money doesn't always make you happy. Gatsby gets very rich, but in the end he loses the woman he loves and his life. The book says that greed and materialism have changed the American Dream.2. The Green LightThe green light at the end of Daisy's dock is one of the most famous symbols in the book. The green light stands for hope, dreams, and the future for Gatsby. It stands for his wish to get back together with Daisy and live the life he wants. But the green light also stands for the idea that dreams may never come true.3. The Valley of AshesThe Valley of Ashes is a dark industrial area between West Egg and New York City. This gray and dead place represents the moral and social decay that was hidden behind the wealth of the 1920s. The rich live in luxury and comfort, while the poor live in forgotten places. 4. Gatsby's House and PartiesGatsby's huge house and lavish parties are examples of how the Jazz Age was all about excess and showiness. People go to his parties for the food, drinks, and fun, but they don't really care about Gatsby. Their shallow behavior shows how empty high society is.5. The Eyes of Dr. T. J. EckleburgThere is a huge billboard with the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg that watches over the Valley of Ashes. These eyes stand for the idea of a moral observer or the loss of spiritual values in today's world.The book shows how different "old money" families (like Tom and Daisy) and "new money" people (like Gatsby) are. Even though Gatsby is wealthy, he is never fully accepted by the upper class. A lot of characters live in their own worlds. Gatsby thinks Daisy is perfect, but Daisy and Tom pretend their lives are happy even though they are morally corrupt.5 iconic quotes from the book