Abstract

The key perspectives are that the world is absurd, life nothingness, people find themselves in a vaguely hostile world, and every soul of individuals is lonely. But people are free. He can realize himself on the basis of freedom and choice. It is also "existence precedes essence." The Great Gatsby is one of the most outstanding literary works in the 20th century, which is in the theme of American dream and the American consciousness. On the perspective of life attitudes and values of individual, we can find significant correlation of existentialism. The tone of the whole novel is pessimistic. After the World War I, science made great progress, but civilization recessed. The world is absurd, and individual is lonely. People lost themselves in the chasing material and indulged in drinking and dancing days and nights. Only Gatsby, guarded the lodge green light in his heart forever. Even though that dream has been destroyed by the reality. However, his perseverance, self-selection and self-creation, are still the greatest. The novel reflects the thoughts of absurdity, nothingness, loneliness, freedom, choices and responsibility which existentialism expresses.

This first two parts of the thesis introduces the background and development of existentialism, the Great Gatsby and its historical background. Then the third part makes a detailed analysis to the Great Gatsby and existentialism, explores the specific existentialism manifestation in the book, and makes a further understanding to the main ideas and appreciation of the characters in the novel, which achieve an aim of thinking the value of existence, the meaning of life and attitudes towards life. At last, the thesis gets conclusion that although the world is absurd and meaningless, people can create himself via freedom and choice. Besides, he should take responsibility for his choice.

Key words: the Great Gatsby, existentialism

摘        要

存在主义哲学认为世界是荒谬的，人生虚无，人们发现自己处于一个隐隐约约具有敌意的世界，每个灵魂个体都是孤独的。但是人是自由的，可以自由选择，因此选择的基础上早就自我，存在先于本质。小说《了不起的盖茨比》也是20世纪最优秀的文学作品之一，是一部描写美国梦及美国意识的小说。但从个体人生态度和人生价值方面考虑，细细体味，便发现其与存在主义哲学具有很大的相关性。小说整体上具有悲观主义的基调。战后的美国，物质发达，文明衰退，世界荒诞，人生虚无，个体孤独。人们日日夜夜追逐金钱，纵情歌舞，迷失了自我，而只有盖茨比，永远地守着心中的那盏绿灯，守着心中的那个梦，纵然那梦实际上已被这个庸俗不堪的现实所击毁。但是，他的坚守，执着，自我选择与自我创造，仍然是最伟大的。体现了存在主义的世界荒诞虚无，人生孤独，自由、选择与责任等核心观点。
本文前两部分主要介绍存在主义的背景和发展，以及小说《了不起的盖茨比》及其时代背景。后一部分对《了不起的盖茨比》和存在主义作具体的分析，探究存在主义在书中的具体表现，实现对存在主义哲学的主要观点以及小说中人物角色的进一步理解和体会，从而对人存在的价值，人的意义以及人生态度方面进行思考，最终得出结论。虽然世界具有荒诞性和虚无性，人生难免有其痛苦，但人应该是自由的，应该在自我选择的基础上造就自我。同时，人也必须对其选择负责。

关键词：了不起的盖茨比，存在主义