The Great Gatsby represents the Lost Generation in its exploration of themes of alienation, emotional emptiness, unrestrained longing, and missed opportunities. The novel features a group of wealthy, largely aimless young people living in a shallow, superficial world, which reflects the disillusionment and disaffection of those who lived in the aftermath of World War I. Gatsby himself longs for a love he can never have and is described as having essentially wasted his life chasing a dream.