Marxism In The Great Gatsby

America is the result of many different ideals, personalities, people, and dreams. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is similar in this sense as it exposes American ideals through its different characters. Through his characters, F. Scott Fitzgerald criticizes the class distinction and gender ideals that consumed America in the twenties and throughout a majority of American history. Even with its criticism of America, it can still be a “great American novel”. The distinction between classes is highlighted throughout Nick’s narrative. While not always in the forefront, it is always in the background of the action. This is seen in Nick’s description of the Valley of Ashes, “About half way between West Egg and New York… a certain desolate

Fitzgerald is able to criticize this aspect of the 1920s by showing how characters like George Wilson and Margot Wilson are used by the ones around them, most notably Tom Buchanan. Fitzgerald is able to show the class distinction through his creation of the Valley of the Ashes and its residents. Even within the rich themselves, there is a hierarchy, old money versus new money. New money is seen by old money as wasteful and disrespectful playing around with the new toys and status that comes with a bit of money while old money sees itself as royalty in a sense with a certain amount of dignity that cannot be simply obtained with money. Tom Buchanan, being the voice of old money throughout the story, reflects this belief through his actions and words to Jay Gatsby at Gatsby’s party, “Tom’s arrogant eyes roamed the crowd. ‘We don’t go around much,” he said; “in fact, I was just thinking I don’t know a soul here’” (Fitzgerald 104). Tom is not trying to say that he does not socialize because he does, what he is saying is that he would never socialize with the type of people who attend Gatsby’s parties. He thinks

The answer is yes. Looking at American history as a whole, criticism plays a crucial role throughout it. The Protestants criticisms of the Church of England led them to the eastern shores of the United States. The Revolutionary War was the result of criticisms of the crown’s treatment of its colonies. The Civil War was the result of the inability to find a solve to a problem that had plagued the U.S. and the criticisms of how it could not be solved in a way to satisfy all parties. All reforms and social movements are the result of a dissatisfaction with something and someone standing up to tell others about what can be done to improve. Criticism is a very American concept and much of American history could have happened without it. The fact that The Great Gatsby criticizes America does not mean that it is not a “great American novel” because criticism is very American. It is a great American novel due to the fact that it is able to show others, the problems in American in way that resonates with generations of people. It is able to stand the test of time and continue to remind those who read it how far America has come but also how much farther it needs to