The Great Gatsby

by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Great Gatsby: Motifs 1 key example

Definition of Motif

A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the central themes of a book... read full definition
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the... read full definition
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of... read full definition
Chapter 3
Explanation and Analysis—Driving:

The motif of driving represents The Great Gatsby’s overall critique of the irresponsibility and immorality that the novel portrays as being rampant in 1920s America. The novel continuously implies that although (or, perhaps, because) the Roaring Twenties were a decade of economic expansion and prosperity in the United States, they were also a time of overindulgence, negligence, and selfishness. Various characters own expensive cars that they drive recklessly, which reflects a broader culture of carelessness (particularly among upper-class people) in the U.S. in the 1920s.

Chapter 4
Explanation and Analysis—Driving:

The motif of driving represents The Great Gatsby’s overall critique of the irresponsibility and immorality that the novel portrays as being rampant in 1920s America. The novel continuously implies that although (or, perhaps, because) the Roaring Twenties were a decade of economic expansion and prosperity in the United States, they were also a time of overindulgence, negligence, and selfishness. Various characters own expensive cars that they drive recklessly, which reflects a broader culture of carelessness (particularly among upper-class people) in the U.S. in the 1920s.

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Chapter 7
Explanation and Analysis—Driving:

The motif of driving represents The Great Gatsby’s overall critique of the irresponsibility and immorality that the novel portrays as being rampant in 1920s America. The novel continuously implies that although (or, perhaps, because) the Roaring Twenties were a decade of economic expansion and prosperity in the United States, they were also a time of overindulgence, negligence, and selfishness. Various characters own expensive cars that they drive recklessly, which reflects a broader culture of carelessness (particularly among upper-class people) in the U.S. in the 1920s.

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Chapter 9
Explanation and Analysis—Driving:

The motif of driving represents The Great Gatsby’s overall critique of the irresponsibility and immorality that the novel portrays as being rampant in 1920s America. The novel continuously implies that although (or, perhaps, because) the Roaring Twenties were a decade of economic expansion and prosperity in the United States, they were also a time of overindulgence, negligence, and selfishness. Various characters own expensive cars that they drive recklessly, which reflects a broader culture of carelessness (particularly among upper-class people) in the U.S. in the 1920s.

Unlock with LitCharts A+