Abstract:

In the 1920s, the Unite States was transformed from a productive society to a consumeristic society. And the concept of “consumerism” was born in literature as well. Yet “American Dream” is a recurring theme in American literature that everyone can be successful by working hard. F·S·Fitzgerald, one of the most influential writers of the 20th century, experienced the period, during which he saw the rise and development of the consumerism culture in the United States and recorded romantically and poetically American people’s pursuit of their dreams. American Dream is also an important theme of Fitzgerald's novels. The Great Gatsby is Fitzgerald's perfect and influential novel, through the mouth of Nick, Fitzgerald's carefully chosen spokesman narrates Gatsby's story from success to disillusionment. This thesis plans to explore the tragic fate of Gatsby and the causes of the disillusionment of his dream from the perspective of consumerism. Firstly, it simply introduces Fitzgerald and the American dream and consumerism of The Great Gatsby. Especially it emphasizes the social background: the Jazz Age that Fitzgerald lived. Then it also makes a deep analysis of American Dream shared by Fitzgerald and Gatsby. This paper, based on previous research, focuses on the influence of consumerism on American people, aiming to exert positive impact on the development of modern society.

Key words: Consumerism; American Dream; F·S·Fitzgerald; The Great Gatsby; disillusionment

摘要：

20世纪20年代，美国经历了从生产社会向消费社会的转变，文学中也产生了“消费主义”这一概念。而“美国梦”是美国文学当中一个反复出现的主题, 即每个人都可以通过奋斗达到成功。F·S·菲茨杰拉德是美国20世纪最有影响力的作家之一，他亲身经历并以浪漫且富有诗意的文笔记录了消费主义在美国从兴起到成为潮流这一阶段，而“美国梦”也是菲茨杰拉德小说的一个重要主题。《了不起的盖茨比》是菲茨杰拉德在那一时代最优秀、最有影响力的作品之一，小说通过他的代言人尼克之口,讲述了盖茨比从发迹到毁灭的人生轨迹。本文旨在运用消费主义理论分析《了不起的盖茨比》中的美国梦。首先简单介绍了菲茨杰拉德及他的名著《了不起的盖茨比》中的美国梦和消费主义,尤其强调了菲茨杰拉德所处的社会背景:“爵士乐时代”，然后对盖茨比以及菲茨杰拉德破灭的美国梦展开深层的分析。本文在前人研究的基础上，着重探讨了消费主义对美国人的影响，旨在对当代社会的发展有着深刻的启示及指导意义。

关键词：消费主义；美国梦；F·S·菲茨杰拉德；《了不起的盖茨比》；幻灭

Introduction
    Francis Scott Fitzgerald is a famous American writer. He is the most important representative of the “Jazz Age”. The lives he has lived , the dreams he has had in his day , are the narration foundation of his works. Every one of his works touches the pulse of American society in “Jazz Age”. The Great Gatsby is his representative work and is also the best one of all his works. It’s said to be one of the greatest works of American literature. Nowadays, the novel is still unique in its content and form of its own, and shows extraordinary talent in American literature and world literature. “It is considered not only Fitzgerald’s best novel but an important American classic”.