1. Introduction

1.1 The author

Fitzgerald, F. Scott, 1896-1940, a legendary figure of the 1920s, has been widely regarded as the literary spokesman of the Jazz Age. Short as life is, he left behind over one hundred and sixty short stories and four great novels, This Side of Paradise, The Beautiful and the Damned, Tender is the Night and The Great Gatsby. He was a beautiful writer, an observant artist, and an exceptional craftsman.

Fitzgerald was honored as the possessor of ”dual visions”. For one hand, he saw the booming of the economy and fancy lives people lived. For another, he foresaw the bankrupt and crisis which came along with the prosperity. The experience of dealing with upper-class made him have a better understanding of the saying that the most beautiful thing could have been cursed.

He went down in history as a chronicler and poet laureate of the Jazz Age. In the tide of time, people#8217;s admiration of his acute observation and insightful remarks was greatly intensified.

1.2 Plots and female characters

The Great Gatsby was published in 1925. Fitzgerald portrayed a vivid look of American life in the 20th century as a bystander, coldly but with detailed description. It demonstrated American idealistic outlook, that is, its belief in life and spiritual happiness, contrasts with an interest in material advancement and possession. For one thing, the author engaged himself in the pursuit of fancy material world. For another, he watched his dream withering away and wrote down the hollow promises of the American Dream with bitter irony and acid sarcasm.

The Great Gatsby was narrated in the first person by a youth named Nick who went to New York from the west homeland with the feelings looking for spiritual incidence, got to know his neighbor --the leading character in the novel --Gatsby. Thus, the story of Gatsby was clearly seen through Nick#8217;s eyes. Originally, Gatsby fell in love with Nick#8217;s cousin Daisy during war when he was a penniless officer. Later Daisy betrayed him and married wealthy Tom, Gatsby was in anguish, firmly believed it was money that made Daisy betray the pure and chaste of mind, then he was determined to be a rich man. Through a few years#8217; illegal deal after the war, he accumulated a large amount of wealth successfully at last. He built the luxurious house opposite to Daisy#8217;s residence purposely, spent money like water, his house was ablaze with lights all night and full of guests, in order to give out silent calling to Daisy. All these efforts made their love affair rekindled .When Gatsby thought he had realized his dream and hoped that Daisy broke with Tom in public, she became hesitated and had not taken a clear-cut stand. After a quarrel, Daisy drove home with Gatsby#8217;s car and collided Tom#8217;s mistress Marta to death. Gatsby was willing to bear the responsibility for the accident in order to protect Daisy. Even when Gatsby was shot dead by Marta#8217;s husband Wilson because of her own crime, Daisy didn#8217;t show up at the funeral. Afterwards Nick learned of the truth that Tom incited Wilson privacy and caused Gatsby to die tragically. He had witnessed the unction, grimness and selfishness of rich men, then drifted again, returned to the homeland in great disappointment.

There are altogether three female characters in the book: Gatsby#8217;s lover Daisy Buchanan who was the daughter of an eminent family, Daisy#8217;s girl friend Jordan Baker, a golfer and Tom Buchanan#8217;s mistress Myrtle Wilson. These three characters belonged to different classes and were featured distinctive personalities.

2. Research Background